by Abo Akademi University
"Our results show, for the first time, that the contacts between cells, known as cell adhesion, are essential for cells to survive stress. The findings also suggest that impaired cell adhesion may sensitize cancer cells to drugs that damage cell proteins and cause stress," Sistonen explains.
"Cell-to-cell contacts are essential for normal tissue functioning and mechanisms. Cancer cells are known to utilize these contacts to form aggressive tumours and metastases. Our results show, indeed, that cancer cells become more vulnerable to drug treatment, when their cell contacts are weakened," says Sistonen.
Pancreatic cancer: Mutable cancer cells are more dangerous
More information: Jenny Joutsen et al, Heat Shock Factor 2 Protects against Proteotoxicity by Maintaining Cell-Cell Adhesion, Cell Reports (2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.12.037
Provided by Abo Akademi University
Citation: Cells protect themselves against stress by keeping together (2020, January 16) retrieved 9 December 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2020-01-cells-stress.html