Frontiers in Physiology (Jan 2016)

Na,K-ATPase isozymes in colorectal cancer and liver metastases

  • Marc eBaker Bechmann,
  • Deborah eRotoli,
  • Deborah eRotoli,
  • Manuel eMorales,
  • Manuel eMorales,
  • María del Carmen eMaeso,
  • María del Pino eGarcía,
  • Julio eÁvila,
  • Ali eMobasheri,
  • Ali eMobasheri,
  • Pablo eMartin-Vasallo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2016.00009
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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The goal of this study was to define Na,K-ATPase α and β subunit isoform expression and isozyme composition in colorectal cancer cells and liver metastases. The α1, α3 and β1 isoforms were the most highly expressed in tumor cells and metastases; in the plasma membrane of non-neoplastic cells and mainly in a cytoplasmic location in tumor cells. α1β1 and α3β1 isozymes found in tumor and metastatic cells exhibit the highest and lowest Na+ affinity respectively and the highest K+ affinity. Mesenchymal cell isozymes possess an intermediate Na+ affinity and a low K+ affinity. In cancer, these ions are likely to favor optimal conditions for the function of nuclear enzymes involved in mitosis, especially a high intra-nuclear K+ concentration. A major and striking finding of this study was that in liver, metastasized CRC cells express the α3β1 isozyme. Thus, the α3β1 isozyme could potentially serve as a novel exploratory biomarker of CRC metastatic cells in liver.

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