SLPI facilitates cell migration by regulating lamellipodia/ruffles and desmosomes, in which Galectin4 plays an important role

Cell Adh Migr. 2020 Dec;14(1):195-203. doi: 10.1080/19336918.2020.1829264.

Abstract

To elucidate the underlying mechanism of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI)-induced cell migration, we compared SLPI-deleted human gingival carcinoma Ca9-22 (ΔSLPI) cells and original (wild-type: wt) Ca9-22 cells using several microscopic imaging methods and gene expression analysis. Our results indicated reduced migration of ΔSLPI cells compared to wtCa9-22 cells. The lamellipodia/dorsal ruffles were smaller and moved slower in ΔSLPI cells compared to wtCa9-22 cells. Furthermore, well-developed intermediate filament bundles were observed at the desmosome junction of ΔSLPI cells. In addition, Galectin4 was strongly expressed in ΔSLPI cells, and its forced expression suppressed migration of wtCa9-22 cells. Taken together, SLPI facilitates cell migration by regulating lamellipodia/ruffles and desmosomes, in which Galectin4 plays an important role.

Keywords: Carcinoma; Galectin4; SLPI; microscopic analysis; migration.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Desmosomes / metabolism*
  • Desmosomes / ultrastructure
  • Galectin 4 / genetics
  • Galectin 4 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism*
  • Pseudopodia / ultrastructure
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor / metabolism*

Substances

  • Galectin 4
  • RNA, Messenger
  • SLPI protein, human
  • Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers 17K15541 (to Y. Mizutani), 18K07226 (to Y. Mikami), and 16H03868 (to T. Ushiki).