with control cells (Fig. 4E). Moreover, p-FAK appeared to be increased and more homogeneously distributed at the cell membrane as compared with control cells in shRNA-a and shRNA-b cells after 48 h of HGF stimulation in a wound scratch assay (Fig. 4F). Further, DS-epi1-downregulated shRNA-a and shRNA-b cells displayed an altered morphology with less prominent plasma membrane protrusions (Fig. 4F, upper panel), and with relatively few cytoplasmic stress fibers compared to control cells (Fig. S2C). In conclusion, these data show that cell surface located IdoA is involved in the migratory and invasive behavior of ESCC cells, especially in the context of HGF signaling, and suggest a novel role of DS-epi1 in the regulation of cell motility and cytoskeleton modulation.
