Regulatory Molecule Responsible for Epithelial Cells Becoming Invasive and Cancerous, Study Reveals

Epithelial cells are a type of cell that lines the surfaces of organs of the body and are found in the skin, blood vessels, and urinary tract. They can protect themselves from cancer via a mechanism called "apical extrusion," wherein damaged cells are forcibly removed from the healthy cells.

However, the reason and mechanism for how they sometimes become invasive and cancerous remain unknown. A team of researchers at Osaka University in Japan has identified a molecule that plays a key role in the said process.

Overview of Epithelial Cells

According to an article on the website of Arizona State University, epithelial cells are safety shields of the body that act as a barrier between the internal cells and the dirt and microbes. They are stretchable, so it is easy to move the arms and other organs into many positions.

Moreover, epithelial cells also cool down the body by producing sweat after physical activity or when it is hot outside. Other epithelial cells also have sensors called receptors that collect signals that will inform the brain what to do. For example, it could tell the brain the food's taste or the flower's scent.

In terms of epithelial cells inside the body, it helps absorb and transport nutrients from the food and processes them for energy so the body can use them. It employs the help of enzymes to convert food to energy and secretes hormones to the blood vessels to trigger other bodily functions like producing breast milk so mothers can feed their young.

Epithelial cells come in different shapes, which depend on which part of the body they are located. Examples of epithelial cells include the squamous, cuboidal, columnar, and ciliated columnar.

Molecule Activation Triggers Epithelial Cells to Become Cancerous

Researchers said that the molecule called "Src" plays a crucial part in triggering epithelial cells to become invasive and cancerous. Phys.org reported that it is a key regulator of cell migration and adhesion and is known to be encoded by an oncogene that can potentially cause cancer. That means abnormal activation or increased expression of Src could cause various types of cancer.

But even with its known role in cancer progression, scientists do not know the precise process of turning it into a cancerous cell. The study's researchers explain that cell membranes contain a dynamic arrangement of different molecules and lipids that assemble into lipid rafts. The team found that when Src was located inside a lipid raft, it allowed cancer cells to overcome the protective mechanisms of the epithelial cells.

To show that the location of Src is controlled, researchers pinpointed another molecule called CDCP1. Lead author Kentaro Kajiwara said that CDCP1 forms a molecule scaffold that activates the Src molecule and promotes cancer cell invasion. On the other hand, inhibition of this molecule triggers apical extrusion to eliminate cancerous cells.

Senior author Masato Okada emphasized that the spatial control of Src activation by CDCP1 in lipid rafts is crucial in resisting the apical extrusion and allows epithelial cells to become invasive and promote cancer. The expression of the CDCP1 molecule has long been known to promote some cancer types and the new study provides insights into how it is being done.

The study titled "Src Activation in Lipid Rafts Confers Epithelial Cells With Invasive Potential to Escape From Apical Extrusion During Cell Competition," published in Current Biology also shows that CDCP1 is a promising target for developing new drug treatments for early-stage cancers.

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