Calponin h1 induced a flattened morphology and suppressed the growth of human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells

Calponin h1 (CNh1) is an actin-binding protein that is expressed mainly in smooth muscle cells and is known to regulate smooth muscle contraction. Recently, re-expression of CNh1 in leiomyosarcoma cell lines is reported to suppress cell proliferation and tumorigenicity. However, little is known about the associated cellular structural and functional changes. Since CNh1 is also detected in normal fibroblasts, we hypothesised that CNh1 would also inhibit cell proliferation of the fibrosarcoma cells, HT1080, in which CNh1 is suppressed. An expression vector of human CNh1 complementary DNA was transfected into human HT1080 cells by a calcium-phosphate precipitation method. CNh1-transfected cells exhibited a flattened morphology with organised actin filaments, a significant decrease in cell motility and enhancement in adhesion to fibronectin in association with an increase in integrin alpha5beta1 expression. Anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenicity in nude mice were suppressed in the CNh1-transfected cells. Our results suggest that CNh1 may have a role as a tumour suppressor in human fibrosarcoma by influencing cytoskeletal activities.