Abstract
We have found that integrins control apoptosis in epithelial cells, and have named this general phenomenon “anoikis,” the ancient Greek word meaning “homelessness” (1). Epithelial cells that have lost interaction with their extracellular matrix—or that interact with matrix through inappropriate integrin types (2) or other molecules—cannot colonize elsewhere, because of anoikis. This process is developmentally critical, and its loss can contribute significantly to tumor malignancy (reviewed in ref. 3).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Frisch, S. M. and Francis, H. (1994) Disruption of epithelial cell-matrix interactions induces apoptosis. J. Cell Biol. 124, 619–626.
Bourdreau, N., Sympson, C., Werb, Z., and Bissell, M. (1995) Supression of ICE and apoptosis in mammary epithelial cells by extracellular matrix. Science 267, 891–893.
Frisch, S. and Ruoslahti, E. (1997) Integrins and anoikis. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 9, 701–706.
Frisch, S. Vuori, K., Ruoslahti, E., and Chan, P. Y. (1996) Control of adhesion-dependent cell survival by focal adhesion kinase. J. Cell Biol. 134, 793–799.
Cardone, M., Salvesen, G., Widmann, C., Johnson, G., and Frisch, S. (1997) Regulation of anoikis: caspases activate MEKK-1. Cell 90, 315–323.
Morgenstern, J. and Land, H. (1990) Adevanced mammalian gene transfer: high titre retroviral vectors with multiple drug selection markers and a complementary helper-free packaging cell line. Nucleic. Acids Res. 18, 3587–3596.
Kinsella, T. and Nolan, G. (1996) Episomal vectors rapidly and stably produce high-titer recombinant retrovirus. Human Gene Ther. 7, 1405–1413.
Caulin, C., Salvesen, G., and Oshima, R. (1997) Caspase cleavage of keratin 18 and reorganization of intermediate filaments during epithelial cell apoptosis. J. Cell Biol. 138, 1379–1394.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Humana Press Inc.
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Frisch, S.M. (1999). Methods for Studying Anoikis. In: Howlett, A. (eds) Integrin Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 129. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-249-X:251
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-249-X:251
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-569-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-249-4
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols