Non-autocrine, constitutive activation of Met in human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells in culture
1999
Constitutive Activation of Met in Thyroid Cancer Cells
Sample size: 6
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Bergström J D, Hermansson A, Ståhl T Diaz de, Heldin N-E
Primary Institution: Department of Genetics and Pathology, Unit of Pathology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
Hypothesis
The study investigates the expression and activation of Met in human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells.
Conclusion
The study found ligand-independent constitutively activated Met in four out of six anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell lines.
Supporting Evidence
- High Met expression was found in four cell lines compared to non-neoplastic human thyrocytes.
- The size differences in Met were due to variances in glycosylation.
- The receptor proteins were found to be constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated in high Met expressing cell lines.
- None of the cell lines expressed HGF mRNA.
- Addition of suramin did not affect the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of Met in unstimulated cells.
- No MET gene amplification, activating mutations, or phosphatase defects were observed.
- The tyrosine phosphorylated receptors were functionally active as they associated with the adaptor molecule Shc.
Takeaway
Some thyroid cancer cells have a part called Met that is always turned on, even without its usual signal.
Methodology
The study examined Met expression and activation in various human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell lines.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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