Figure 6. ITGβ1 and CRKL knockdown suppress the TGFβ-induced cell invasion and inhibition of CRKL reduces metastases in vivo.

344SQ cells with ITGβ1 (a) or CRKL (b) knockdown grown in 3D Matrigel and treated with TGFβ (treatment started at day 6). Pictures were taken at day 10. For each condition, 30 structures were measured in size and 90 structures scored for invasive protrusions. Scale bar represents 200 μm. (c) Primary tumor weight and lung metastases in mice injected with control or 344SQ_shCRKL knockdown cells (top graphs), and as visualized by the H&E staining of lung sections (d). (e) Proposed model of the interaction of ITGβ1-collagen I leading to activation of FAK regulated by the mir-200 target CRKL to produce downstream invasion and metastasis.