Pituitary tumor transforming gene induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition by regulation of Twist, Snail, Slug, and E-cadherin

Pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) is an oncogene with its expression levels correlating with tumor development and metastasis. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial step in tumor progression and metastasis. Using ovarian epithelial tumor cell line (A2780) for loss-of-function or gain-of-function of PTTG in our experiments, we observed up regulation of TGF-β, Twist, Snail, Slug, vimentin and down regulation of E-cadherin on infection of cells with Ad-PTTG cDNA. In contrast reverse phenomena was observed on depletion of PTTG on infection of cells with Ad-PTTG siRNA, suggesting an important role of PTTG in induction of EMT in ovarian cancer cells.

► In the present study first time we showed the important role of PTTG in the regulation of TGF-β expression and secretion. ► Regulation of TGF-β expression by PTTG resulted in decrease in expression of E-cadherin by regulation of repressor genes Twist, Snail and Slug. ► PTTG induces EMT in human ovarian epithelial cancer cells through the regulation of TGF-β, Twist, Snail, Slug, E-cadherin and vimentin.