Crif1 is Required for Proper Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition

The epithelial to mesenchymal and the mesenchymal to epithelial transitions (EMT and MET) are fundamental developmental processes required for shaping the embryo but are also hijacked by cancer cells during metastasis. The regulation of EMT is very well studied, and major regulators have been identified. A similar understanding of the regulation of MET is needed. Recently we and others have described essential factors for the initiation and progression of MET; among them is the ETS transcription factor Elf3. Recent reports showed that Crif1 is critical for the function of Elf3, yet the influence on MET has not been reported. Here, we studied the involvement of Crif1 in MET using a loss of function approach in NMuMG cells. We found that the depletion of Crif1 resulted in an impaired MET. We have also noticed that Cdh1 mRNA and protein expression was not affected; instead, E-cadherin, the protein product of Cdh1, was localized to the cytoplasm. These results are in agreement with our previous findings following the depletion of Elf3. In conclusion, Crif1 was essential for the mesenchymal to epithelial transition, and it may exert its function in cooperation with Elf3