Fusion of HepG2 cells with mesenchymal stem cells increases cancer‑associated and malignant properties: An in vivo metastasis model

  • Authors:
    • Hong Li
    • Zhenqing Feng
    • Tom C. Tsang
    • Tian  Tang
    • Xiaoqin  Jia
    • Xianghui  He
    • Michael  E. Pennington
    • Michael  S. Badowski
    • Anna  K.M. Liu
    • Deyu  Chen
    • David  T. Harris
    • Jesse  Martinez
    • Linda  C. Meade-Tollin
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 13, 2014     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2014.3264
  • Pages: 539-547
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Abstract

In the present study, we have tested the hypothesis that fusion between an altered cell and a mesenchymal stem cell produces a hybrid cell with enhanced characteristics associated with metastatic cancer cells, and we have developed a flexible model for investigating the mechanisms of metastasis. Human HepG2 cells with low metastatic potential were induced to fuse with rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and the progeny were compared with the parental cells for possession of enhanced in vitro and in vivo characteristics of malignant cells. Compared to the parental cells, the fused cells exhibited enhanced expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, Twist, Snail, matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 activities, aneuploidy and enhanced in vitro invasion and migration. In an in vivo xenograft assay, the fused cells generated increased numbers of metastatic liver and lung lesions. This model system is a flexible tool for investigation of the mechanisms of stem cell fusion in carcinogenesis and metastasis and for the discovery of new therapeutic targets to inhibit metastasis.
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August-2014
Volume 32 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Li H, Feng Z, Tsang TC, Tang T, Jia X, He X, Pennington ME, Badowski MS, Liu AK, Chen D, Chen D, et al: Fusion of HepG2 cells with mesenchymal stem cells increases cancer‑associated and malignant properties: An in vivo metastasis model. Oncol Rep 32: 539-547, 2014
APA
Li, H., Feng, Z., Tsang, T.C., Tang, T., Jia, X., He, X. ... Meade-Tollin, L.C. (2014). Fusion of HepG2 cells with mesenchymal stem cells increases cancer‑associated and malignant properties: An in vivo metastasis model. Oncology Reports, 32, 539-547. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2014.3264
MLA
Li, H., Feng, Z., Tsang, T. C., Tang, T., Jia, X., He, X., Pennington, M. E., Badowski, M. S., Liu, A. K., Chen, D., Harris, D. T., Martinez, J., Meade-Tollin, L. C."Fusion of HepG2 cells with mesenchymal stem cells increases cancer‑associated and malignant properties: An in vivo metastasis model". Oncology Reports 32.2 (2014): 539-547.
Chicago
Li, H., Feng, Z., Tsang, T. C., Tang, T., Jia, X., He, X., Pennington, M. E., Badowski, M. S., Liu, A. K., Chen, D., Harris, D. T., Martinez, J., Meade-Tollin, L. C."Fusion of HepG2 cells with mesenchymal stem cells increases cancer‑associated and malignant properties: An in vivo metastasis model". Oncology Reports 32, no. 2 (2014): 539-547. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2014.3264