Decreased stratifin expression leads to decreased desmosomal adhesion and increased cell migration.

<p>A431 cells expressing a control shRNA (A431/control) (panels A and C) and A431 cells expressing shRNA targeting stratifin (panels B and D) were immunostained using anti plakophilin-3 (panels A and B) and anti stratifin antibodies (panels C and D). A431 cells stably expressing a control shRNA or shSFN targeting stratifin were subjected to a dispase adhesion assay (panel E). A431/control epithelial sheets remained intact following mechanical shearing while A431 cells expressing shSFN fragmented more readily after mechanical shearing. The graph represents triplicate cultures (p-value < 0.0001; Student’s t-test). Cell migration was measured using a Boyden chamber assay (panel F). Cells were plated on top of a filter insert and 24 hours later non migratory cells were removed while cells that migrated to the bottom of the filter were fixed, stained and counted. The assay was done in triplicate and the graph depicts the average number of cells per field of view (p-value < 0.0001, Student’s t-test).