Anchorage-dependent multicellular aggregate formation induces CD44 high cancer stem cell-like ATL cells in an NF-kappa B- and vimentin-dependent manner

HANDLE Open Access

Abstract

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an intractable T-cell malignancy accompanied by massive invasion of lymphoma cells into various tissues. We demonstrate here that ATL cells cultured on a layer of epithelial-like feeder cells form anchorage-dependent multicellular aggregates (Ad-MCAs) and that a fraction of MCA-forming ATL cells acquire CD44 high cancer stem cell-like phenotypes. ATL cells forming Ad-MCAs displayed extracellular microvesicles with enhanced expression of CD44v9 at cell synapses, augmented expression of multidrug resistance protein 1, and increased NF-kappa B activity. Blockade of the NF kappa B pathway dramatically reduced Ad-MCA formation by ATL cells and the emergence of CD44 high ATL cells, but left a considerable number of ATL cells adhering to the feeder layer. Disruption of vimentin cytoskeleton by treatment with withaferin A, a natural steroidal lactone, suppressed not only the adhesion of ATL cells to the feeder layer but also subsequent Ad-MCA formation by ATL cells, suggesting the involvement of vimentin in anchoring ATL cells to the feeder layer. Ad-MCA formation by ATL cells on a layer of epithelial-like feeder cells may mimic critical events that occur in metastatic colonization. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Journal

  • Cancer letters

    Cancer letters 357 (1), 355-363, 2015-02-01

    Elsevier Ireland

Details

  • CRID
    1050845763948178816
  • NII Article ID
    120005575007
  • HANDLE
    2115/58276
  • ISSN
    03043835
  • Text Lang
    en
  • Article Type
    journal article
  • Data Source
    • IRDB
    • CiNii Articles

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