Estramustine induces disorganization of microtubules, perinuclear retraction of vimentin and endoplasmatic reticulum, and inhibits cell migration.

• The effects of the mitotic inhibitor estramustine on the cytoskeleton of DU 145 and AG 1518 cells were studied. Estramustine caused a partial disassembly of microtubules and withdrawal of microtubules from the cell periphery, disorganized microtubules and delayed regrowth of disassembled microtubules. It also induced a spheroid cellular morphology and affected cellular adhesion and survival. Sometimes microtubules seemed to be organized from several microtubule-organizing centers. The cytoskeleton-dependent cell migration was inhibited in the presence of estramustine and the microtubule-interacting vimentin and endoplasmatic reticulum retracted to the perinuclear area. Our results show that not only a complete disassembly of microtubules, but also disturbances of the microtubule network can have dramatic effects on microtubule-dependent processes and localization of cellular organelles. These effects could be of importance in the treatment of prostatic carcinoma with estramustine.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biokemi och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Cell Adhesion

drug effects

Cell Line

Cell Movement

drug effects

Cell Nucleus

drug effects

metabolism

ultrastructure

Cell Survival

drug effects

Endoplasmic Reticulum

drug effects

ultrastructure

Estramustine

administration & dosage

pharmacology

Humans

Immunohistochemistry

Microscopy

Electron

Scanning

Microtubules

drug effects

ultrastructure

Vimentin

immunology

metabolism

Vinblastine

pharmacology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)