Homophilic ATP1A1 binding induces activin A secretion to promote EMT of tumor cells and myofibroblast activation

Abstract

Direct contact between tumour cells and fibroblasts influences tumour cell behaviour. Here the authors show that pancreatic cancer cells and fibroblasts directly interact via homophilic ATP1A1 binding, which induces fibroblasts to secrete activin A to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition of tumour cells and myofibroblast activation.