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Cells Expressing the C/EBPbeta Isoform, LIP, Engulf Their Neighbors

Descriptions of various processes that lead to cell-in-cell structures have been reported for decades. The exact molecular mechanism(s) of their formation and the physiological significance of cell-in-cell structures remain poorly understood. We had previously shown that an isoform of the CCAAT/enha...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Abreu, Maria, Sealy, Linda
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Public Library of Science 2012
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3409234/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22860016
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0041807
Descripción
Sumario:Descriptions of various processes that lead to cell-in-cell structures have been reported for decades. The exact molecular mechanism(s) of their formation and the physiological significance of cell-in-cell structures remain poorly understood. We had previously shown that an isoform of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) transcription factor, liver-enriched inhibitory protein (LIP), induces cell death in human breast cancer cells and stimulates autophagy. Here we describe a non-apoptotic cell death process where LIP mediates the engulfment of neighboring cells. We provide evidence of LIP-mediated engulfment via DNA profiling, fluorescent imaging and cell sorting studies, as well as ultrastructure analysis of LIP-expressing MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. Our work illustrates that expression of a specific transcription factor, LIP, can mediate cell engulfment.