Cripto-1-Induced Increase in Vimentin Expression Is Associated with Enhanced Migration of Human Caski Cervical Carcinoma Cells

Cripto-1 (CR-1), a member of the EGF–CFC peptide family, plays an essential role during mesoderm formation in vertebrates as well as in cancer development. Using cDNA gene expression array, Western blot, and indirect immunofluorescence, an increase in vimentin expression was demonstrated in CR-1-transfected human Caski cervical carcinoma cells compared to control vector-transfected cells. In parental Caski cells, recombinant CR-1 induced a dose-dependent increase of vimentin protein expression within 24 h. Since vimentin expression has been demonstrated to correlate with a more aggressive phenotype in human cervical cancer, the migration capacity of CR-1-transfected or CR-1-treated Caski cells was studied in the Boyden chamber assay. Compared to the vector-transfected or untreated Caski cells, CR-1-transfected cells or cells treated with recombinant CR-1 exhibit enhanced migration, both through collagen- and through gelatin-coated membranes. Additionally, CR-1 can function as a chemoattractant for Caski cells. These findings are of biological significance since CR-1 is overexpressed in several types of human carcinomas. The present data demonstrate that CR-1 can increase vimentin expression and modulate migration in human cervical carcinoma cells.