All-trans-retinoic Acid-dependent Inhibition of E-Cadherin-based Cell Adhesion with Concomitant Dephosphorylation of β-Catenin in Metastatic Human Renal Carcinoma Cells

We previously described an in vitro invasion assay model, using a monolayer of vascular endothelial cells grown on collagen gel, that mimics the metastatic abilities of the highly metastatic human renal carcinoma cell lines, MM-1,3 and 8 and their poorly metastatic counterparts, SN12C and Q-8. MM-1, 3 and 8 cells were observed to penetrate the monolayer of vascular endothelial cells and grew in a spreading or scattering manner with loose cell-cell contact on collagen gel or on vascular endothelial cells. SN12C and Cl-8 cells failed to penetrate and grew in a clustering manner with tight cell-cell contact. Treatment with all- trans -retinoic acid (ATRA) at non-toxic concentrations induced clustering or growth of MM-1, 3 and 8 cells on collagen gel or on vascular endothelial cells with tight cell-cell contact, and inhibited penetration. The clustering induced by ATRA was virtually blocked in the presence of anti-E cadherin antibody. E-Cadherin and β -catenin were each localized mainly at the cell-cell adherent junctions of colonizing cell populations that had been treated with ATRA. While the cellular levels of E-cadherin and β -catenin did not change significantly following ATRA treatment, the tyrosine residue of β -catenin was rapidly dephosphorylated. The concomitant administration of Na vanadate, an inhibitor of tyrosine dephosphorylase, inhibited both the ATRA-induced clustering and the dephosphorylation of β -catenin tyrosine. ATRA-induced clustering of MM-3 cells may be linked to the state of tyrosine phosphorylation of β -catenin.