Tensional homeostasis and the malignant phenotype

Matthew J. Paszek, Nastaran Zahir, Kandice R. Johnson, Johnathon N. Lakins, Gabriela I. Rozenberg, Amit Gefen, Cynthia A. Reinhart-King, Susan S. Margulies, Micah Dembo, David Boettiger, Daniel A. Hammer, Valerie M. Weaver*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3203 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tumors are stiffer than normal tissue, and tumors have altered integrins. Because integrins are mechanotransducers that regulate cell fate, we asked whether tissue stiffness could promote malignant behavior by modulating integrins. We found that tumors are rigid because they have a stiff stroma and elevated Rho-dependent cytoskeletal tension that drives focal adhesions, disrupts adherens junctions, perturbs tissue polarity, enhances growth, and hinders lumen formation. Matrix stiffness perturbs epithelial morphogenesis by clustering integrins to enhance ERK activation and increase ROCK-generated contractility and focal adhesions. Contractile, EGF-transformed epithelia with elevated ERK and Rho activity could be phenotypically reverted to tissues lacking focal adhesions if Rho-generated contractility or ERK activity was decreased. Thus, ERK and Rho constitute part of an integrated mechanoregulatory circuit linking matrix stiffness to cytoskeletal tension through integrins to regulate tissue phenotype.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)241-254
Number of pages14
JournalCancer Cell
Volume8
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2005

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of HealthCA078731
U.S. Department of DefenseDAMD17-01-1-0367, DAMD1701-1-0368, 17-03-1-0421, T32HL00795404, 1703-1-0496, BRP HL6438801A1, HL57204, W81XWH-05-1-330
National Institute of General Medical SciencesR01GM057388

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