DEXAMETHASONE UP-REGULATES CADHERIN EXPRESSION AND COHESION OF HT-1080 HUMAN FIBROSARCOMA CELLS

The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone markedly decreases the inva siveness of HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cells. We show here that dexame thasone treatment of HT-1080 cell aggregates more than doubles their c ohesivity from 3.9 to 9.7 dyne/cm. Western blot analysis shows a corre sponding increase in cadherin expression, This was accompanied bg an i ncrease in the rate of calcium-dependent aggregation. Dexamethasone-tr eated aggregates spread to form a monolayer in Matrigel spreading assa ys, but the cells remained much more contiguous than their untreated c ounterparts. Invasion-suppression by dexamethasone may therefore be du e, at least in part, to a previously unsuspected increase in cadherin- mediated cohesion.