1
|
Crees ZD, Shearrow C, Lin L, Girard J, Arasi K, Bhoraskar A, Berei J, Eckburg A, Anderson AD, Garcia C, Munger A, Palani S, Smith TJ, Sreenivassappa SB, Vitali C, David O, Puri N. EGFR/c-Met and mTOR signaling are predictors of survival in non-small cell lung cancer. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2020; 12:1758835920953731. [PMID: 32973931 PMCID: PMC7493230 DOI: 10.1177/1758835920953731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND EGFR/c-Met activation/amplification and co-expression, mTOR upregulation/activation, and Akt/Wnt signaling upregulation have been individually associated with more aggressive disease and characterized as potential prognostic markers for lung cancer patients. METHODS Tumors obtained from 109 participants with stage I-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were studied for EGFR/c-Met co-localization as well as for total and active forms of EGFR, c-Met, mTOR, S6K, beta-catenin, and Axin2. Slides were graded by two independent blinded pathologists using a validated scoring system. Protein expression profile correlations were assessed using Pearson correlation and Spearman's rho. Prognosis was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS Protein expression profile analysis revealed significant correlations between EGFR/p-EGFR (p = 0.0412) and p-mTOR/S6K (p = 0.0044). Co-localization of p-EGFR/p-c-Met was associated with increased p-mTOR (p = 0.0006), S6K (p = 0.0018), and p-S6K (p < 0.0001) expression. In contrast, active beta-catenin was not positively correlated with EGFR/c-Met nor any activated proteins. Axin2, a negative regulator of the Wnt pathway, was correlated with EGFR, p-EGFR, p-mTOR, p-S6K, EGFR/c-Met co-localization, and p-EGFR/p-c-Met co-localization (all p-values <0.03). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed shorter median survival in participants with high expression of Axin2, total beta-catenin, total/p-S6K, total/p-mTOR, EGFR, and EGFR/c-Met co-localization compared with low expression. After controlling for stage of disease at diagnosis, subjects with late-stage disease demonstrated shorter median survival when exhibiting high co-expression of EGFR/c-Met (8.1 month versus 22.3 month, p = 0.050), mTOR (6.7 month versus 22.3 month, p = 0.002), and p-mTOR (8.1 month versus 25.4 month, p = 0.004) compared with low levels. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that increased EGFR/c-Met signaling is correlated with upregulated mTOR/S6K signaling, which may in turn be associated with shorter median survival in late-stage NSCLC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary D Crees
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Caleb Shearrow
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Leo Lin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Jennifer Girard
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Kavin Arasi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Aayush Bhoraskar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Joseph Berei
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Adam Eckburg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Austin D. Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Christian Garcia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Ariana Munger
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Sunil Palani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, IL, USA
| | - Thomas J Smith
- College of Education, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL, USA
| | | | - Connie Vitali
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford IL, USA
| | - Odile David
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Neelu Puri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Room Number E-632, Rockford, IL 61107, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ali N, Venkateswaran G, Garcia E, Landry T, McColl H, Sergi C, Persad A, Abuetabh Y, Eisenstat DD, Persad S. Osteosarcoma progression is associated with increased nuclear levels and transcriptional activity of activated β-Catenin. Genes Cancer 2019; 10:63-79. [PMID: 31258833 PMCID: PMC6584208 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is an aggressive primary bone malignancy that has peak incidence in children and young adults <25 years of age. Despite current multimodal treatments, no significant change in patient outcome has been observed in two decades. Presently, there is a lack of established, reliable baseline prognostic markers for aggressive OS, other than extent and site of disease involvement. The canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway controls multiple cellular processes, and is known to be a critical pathway in OS progression. This pathway regulates cellular levels of β-catenin, which is a significant player in the oncogenesis and progression of many cancers. We investigated the relationship between β-catenin, more specifically, the transcriptionally active form of β-catenin, Activated β-Catenin (ABC), and OS progression. Using an in vitro model, we observed that cellular/nuclear ABC levels, but not cellular/nuclear β-catenin levels, increase with the degree of aggressiveness in OS. Our results demonstrate a strong association between nuclear-ABC levels and aggressive OS in vitro. Furthermore, we observed significant correlation between positive nuclear-ABC and patient age and tumor stage. Our results support the potential use of ABC as a predictive marker for risk stratification in OS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noureen Ali
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Elizabeth Garcia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Takaaki Landry
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hunter McColl
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Consolato Sergi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Amit Persad
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yasser Abuetabh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - David D Eisenstat
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sujata Persad
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
An immunohistochemical approach to detect oncogenic CTNNB1 mutations in primary neoplastic tissues. J Transl Med 2019; 99:128-137. [PMID: 30177831 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-018-0121-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is dysregulated in different types of neoplasms including colorectal cancer (CRC). Aberrant activation of this signaling pathway is a key early event in the development of colorectal neoplasms, and is mainly caused by loss of function mutations in Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC), and less frequently by β-catenin stabilization mutations via missense or interstitial genomic deletions in CTNNB1. In this study, we have defined an immunohistochemical algorithm to dissect Wnt pathway alterations in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded neoplastic tissues. Basically, consecutive sections of tumor specimens were stained by immunohistochemistry with two different monoclonal antibodies against β-catenin: one (anti-active β-catenin antibody) recognizes hypo-phosphorylated β-catenin and the other recognizes the total pool of β-catenin. We validated the strategy in the HCT116 CRC cell line which has an in-frame deletion of β-catenin serine 45, and then studied human tumor microarrays containing colon adenomas, CRCs, solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas as well as the whole tissue sections of CRCs, desmoid fibromatosis, and pilomatrixoma of the skin. In some tumors, we found strong β-catenin cytoplasmic and/or nuclear staining with the total β-catenin antibody but no staining with the anti-active β-catenin antibody. This was inferred to be an altered/mutant β-catenin staining pattern. All six colon adenomas of the 126 total adenomas studied for the altered/mutant β-catenin staining pattern had presumptively pathogenic point mutations or deletions in CTNNB1. Four of 10 CRCs with the alterated/mutant β-catenin staining pattern studied in depth, from 181 total CRCs from tissue microarray, had pathogenic CTNNB1 mutations. The frequencies of CTNNB1 alterations in non-colonic tumors with altered/mutant β-catenin staining ranged between 46 and 100%. Our results demonstrate that the immunohistochemical approach described here can detect oncogenic forms of β-catenin in primary tissue samples and can also highlight other tumors with presumptive novel defects activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang X, Kim KY, Zheng Z, Kim HS, Cha IH, Yook JI. Snail and Axin2 expression predict the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia. Oral Oncol 2017; 73:48-55. [PMID: 28939076 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2017.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Oral leukoplakia (OL) has a well-documented potential risk of malignant transformation into oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), although biomarker(s) predicting malignant potential are limited in capability. The aim of this cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study was to investigate the predictive role of canonical Wnt genes Axin2 and Snail (SNAI1) expression in the malignant transformation of OL lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes Snail and Axin2, which are regulated by the canonical Wnt pathway, were determined using immunohistochemical staining in an OL cohort consisting of 154 samples of patients with long-term follow-up and then evaluated as risk factors for malignant transformation of OL. RESULTS Increased Axin2 and Snail abundance were found in 107 (69.5%) and 58 (37.7%) of OL patients, respectively. In a multivariate analysis using gender, age, lesion site, Axin2, and Snail as cofactors, both Axin2 and Snail were independent risk factors for malignant transformation with a hazard ratio of 7.47 (95% confidence interval, 2.23-25.02; P=0.001) and 4.41 (95% confidence interval, 1.78-10.93; P=0.001), respectively. A nomogram for predicting 5-, 10-, and 15-year cancer-free survival probability was developed in patients with OL by including gender, age, lesion site, Axin2, and Snail expression with ac-index of 0.760. CONCLUSION The increased abundance of Snail and Axin2 is highly correlated to malignant transformation of OL, making them novel biomarker(s) predicting oral cancer development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianglan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China; Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Cancer Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Yeol Kim
- Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhenlong Zheng
- Department of Dermatology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji City, Jilin Province, China
| | - Hyun Sil Kim
- Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Cancer Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In Ho Cha
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jong In Yook
- Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Cancer Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
PS1/ γ-Secretase-Mediated Cadherin Cleavage Induces β-Catenin Nuclear Translocation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:3865315. [PMID: 28053606 PMCID: PMC5178376 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3865315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are considered a promising tool for bone bioengineering. However, the mechanisms controlling osteoblastic commitment are still unclear. Osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs requires the activation of β-catenin signaling, classically known to be regulated by the canonical Wnt pathway. However, BMSCs treatment with canonical Wnts in vitro does not always result in osteogenic differentiation and evidence indicates that a more complex signaling pathway, involving cadherins, would be required to induce β-catenin signaling in these cells. Here we showed that Wnt3a alone did not induce TCF activation in BMSCs, maintaining the cells at a proliferative state. On the other hand, we verified that, upon BMSCs osteoinduction with dexamethasone, cadherins were cleaved by the PS1/γ-secretase complex at the plasma membrane, and this event was associated with an enhanced β-catenin translocation to the nucleus and signaling. When PS1/γ-secretase activity was inhibited, the osteogenic process was impaired. Altogether, we provide evidence that PS1/γ-secretase-mediated cadherin cleavage has as an important role in controlling β-catenin signaling during the onset of BMSCs osteogenic differentiation, as part of a complex signaling pathway responsible for cell fate decision. A comprehensive map of these pathways might contribute to the development of strategies to improve bone repair.
Collapse
|
6
|
Layton MJ, Church NL, Faux MC, Ji H, Goode RJA, Kapp EA, Burgess AW, Simpson RJ. Solubilisation of the armadillo-repeat protein β-catenin using a zwitterionic detergent allows resolution of phosphorylated forms by 2DE. Electrophoresis 2012; 33:1804-13. [PMID: 22740469 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201100671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
β-catenin is a member of the armadillo repeat family of proteins and has important functions in cell-cell adhesion and Wnt signalling. Different protein species of β-catenin have been shown to exist in the cell and the relative proportions of these species are altered upon stimulation of cells with Wnt-3a (Gottardi and Gumbiner, 2004). In order to determine whether posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of β-catenin underlie these different protein species, we have used 2DE separation and immunoblotting with an antibody specific for β-catenin. High-resolution separation of differentially modified species of β-catenin in 2DE required the addition of ASB-16, a zwitterionic detergent that can solubilise integral membrane proteins. ASB-16 was also necessary for focussing of other armadillo repeat proteins, such as γ-catenin and p120-catenin. 2DE using ASB-16 allowed detection of a previously unreported phosphorylation site in the transcriptionally active form of β-catenin that binds to GST-Tcf in response to Wnt signalling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meredith J Layton
- The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mant A, Chinnery F, Elliott T, Williams AP. The pathway of cross-presentation is influenced by the particle size of phagocytosed antigen. Immunology 2012; 136:163-75. [PMID: 22260486 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2012.03558.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cross-presentation is the presentation by MHC class I of antigenic peptides from exogenous proteins that have been internalized and processed by professional antigen-presenting cells, e.g. dendritic cells. We have investigated the influence of particle size and antigen load on cross-presentation following antigen delivery on microspheres (MS). Cross-presentation from small particles (0·8-μm) is sensitive to proteasome inhibition and the blockade of endoplasmic reticulum-resident MHC class I complex export, whereas cross-presentation from larger particles (aggregated clumps of 0·8-μm MS) is resistant to these antagonists. This observation may have been overlooked previously, because of the heterogeneity of particle size and MS uptake in unsorted dendritic cell populations. Larger particles carry more antigen, but we show that antigen load does not influence the cross-presentation pathway used. Whereas early endosome autoantigen 1 (EEA1) could be observed in all phagosomes, we observed endoplasmic reticulum SNARE of molecular weight 24 000 (ERS24) and cathepsin S in association with 3·0-μm and aggregated 0·8-μm MS, but not individual 0·8-μm MS. A potential mechanism underlying our observations may be the activation of β-catenin by disruption of E-cadherin-mediated adhesion. Activated β-catenin was detected in the cytoplasm of cells after phagocytosis of MS (highest levels for the largest particles). We propose that particle size can direct the use of different pathways for the cross-presentation of an identical antigen. Furthermore, these pathways have differing yields of MHC class I-peptide complexes, which is an important variable in designing vaccination strategies for maximal antigen expression and CD8(+) T-cell priming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Mant
- Cancer Sciences Division, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sharma M, Jamieson C, Johnson M, Molloy MP, Henderson BR. Specific armadillo repeat sequences facilitate β-catenin nuclear transport in live cells via direct binding to nucleoporins Nup62, Nup153, and RanBP2/Nup358. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:819-31. [PMID: 22110128 PMCID: PMC3256910 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.299099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2011] [Revised: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
β-Catenin transduces the Wnt signal from the membrane to nucleus, and certain gene mutations trigger its nuclear accumulation leading to cell transformation and cancer. β-Catenin shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm independent of classical Ran/transport receptor pathways, and this movement was previously hypothesized to involve the central Armadillo (Arm) domain. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) assays were used to delineate functional transport regions of the Arm domain in living cells. The strongest nuclear import/export activity was mapped to Arm repeats R10-12 using both in vivo FRAP and in vitro export assays. By comparison, Arm repeats R3-8 of β-catenin were highly active for nuclear import but displayed a comparatively weak export activity. We show for the first time using purified components that specific Arm sequences of β-catenin interact directly in vitro with the FG repeats of the nuclear pore complex (NPC) components Nup62, Nup98, and Nup153, indicating an independent ability of β-catenin to traverse the NPC. Moreover, a proteomics screen identified RanBP2/Nup358 as a binding partner of Arm R10-12, and β-catenin was confirmed to interact with endogenous and ectopic forms of Nup358. We further demonstrate that knock-down of endogenous Nup358 and Nup62 impeded the rate of nuclear import/export of β-catenin to a greater extent than that of importin-β. The Arm R10-12 sequence facilitated transport even when β-catenin was bound to the Arm-binding partner LEF-1, and its activity was stimulated by phosphorylation at Tyr-654. These findings provide functional evidence that the Arm domain contributes to regulated β-catenin transport through direct interaction with the NPC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Sharma
- From the Westmead Institute for Cancer Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales 2145 and
| | - Cara Jamieson
- From the Westmead Institute for Cancer Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales 2145 and
| | - Michael Johnson
- From the Westmead Institute for Cancer Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales 2145 and
| | - Mark P. Molloy
- the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| | - Beric R. Henderson
- From the Westmead Institute for Cancer Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales 2145 and
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Influence of human adipose-derived stromal cells on Wnt signaling in organotypic skin culture. J Craniofac Surg 2011; 22:694-8. [PMID: 21415638 DOI: 10.1097/scs.0b013e3182077fa2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human adipose-derived stromal cells (hASCs) produce various cytokines. Also, there is a growing opinion that a large proportion of the useful effects of cell therapy may be attributable to the secretion of cytokines. Several reports suggested beneficial effects of hASCs on skin. These include antioxidant activity, accelerated wound healing, whitening effects, and antiaging. We investigated the effect of hASCs on skin Wnt signaling, which is associated with skin regeneration and differentiation. METHODS Pieces of human skin were cocultured with hASCs, and 2 chambered transwell culture plates were used to prevent direct contact between hASCs and skin. In the control group, pieces of skin were cultured without hASCs. Wnt1, Axin2, TCF1, LEF1, and DKK1 mRNA expressions were quantitatively assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of β-catenin were compared using Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. RESULTS The Wnt1 and LEF1 mRNA expression of cultured skin was positively influenced by the presence of hASCs in culture medium (P<0.05). The total β-catenin protein level in hASC-cocultured skin was higher than that of the control group. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the β-catenin-stained area of dermis was larger in the hASC-cocultured group than in the control group, and most of the positively stained cells in the dermis were fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study showed that hASCs promoted canonical Wnt signaling in organotypic skin culture through paracrine effects, and the increased Wnt signaling was mainly due to dermal fibroblasts.
Collapse
|
10
|
Howard S, Deroo T, Fujita Y, Itasaki N. A positive role of cadherin in Wnt/β-catenin signalling during epithelial-mesenchymal transition. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23899. [PMID: 21909376 PMCID: PMC3166074 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2011] [Accepted: 07/27/2011] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway shares a key component, β-catenin, with the cadherin-based adhesion system. The signalling function of β-catenin is conferred by a soluble cytoplasmic pool that is unstable in the absence of a Wnt signal, whilst the adhesion function is based on a cadherin-bound, stable pool at the membrane. The cadherin complex is dynamic, allowing for cell-cell rearrangements such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), where the complex turns over through internalisation. Potential interplay between the two pools remains poorly understood, but cadherins are generally considered negative regulators of Wnt signalling because they sequester cytoplasmic β-catenin. Here we explore how cellular changes at EMT affect the signalling capacity of β-catenin using two models of EMT: hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) treatment of MDCK cells, and gastrulation in embryonic development. We show that EMT not only provides a pool of signalling-competent β-catenin following internalisation of cadherin, but also significantly facilitates activation of the Wnt pathway in response to both Wnt signals and exogenous β-catenin. We further demonstrate that availability of β-catenin in the cytoplasm does not necessarily correlate with Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity, since blocking endocytosis or depleting endogenous cadherin abolishes pathway activation despite the presence of β-catenin in the cytoplasm. Lastly we present data suggesting that cadherins are required for augmented activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vivo. This suggests that cadherins play a crucial role in β-catenin-dependent transcription.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Howard
- MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Deroo
- MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yasuyuki Fujita
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Cell Biology Unit, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Nobue Itasaki
- MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Jamieson C, Sharma M, Henderson BR. Regulation of β-Catenin Nuclear Dynamics by GSK-3β Involves a LEF-1 Positive Feedback Loop. Traffic 2011; 12:983-99. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2011.01207.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
12
|
Campa VM, Kypta RM. Issues associated with the use of phosphospecific antibodies to localise active and inactive pools of GSK-3 in cells. Biol Direct 2011; 6:4. [PMID: 21261990 PMCID: PMC3039639 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6150-6-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2010] [Accepted: 01/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Background Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) kinase comprising two isoforms, GSK-3α and GSK-3β. Both enzymes are similarly inactivated by serine phosphorylation (GSK-3α at Ser21 and GSK-3β at Ser9) and activated by tyrosine phosphorylation (GSK-3α at Tyr279 and GSK-3β at Tyr216). Antibodies raised to phosphopeptides containing the sequences around these phosphorylation sites are frequently used to provide an indication of the activation state of GSK-3 in cell and tissue extracts. These antibodies have further been used to determine the subcellular localisation of active and inactive forms of GSK-3, and the results of those studies support roles for GSK-3 phosphorylation in diverse cellular processes. However, the specificity of these antibodies in immunocytochemistry has not been addressed in any detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Campa
- Cell Biology and Stem Cells Unit, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Maher MT, Mo R, Flozak AS, Peled ON, Gottardi CJ. Beta-catenin phosphorylated at serine 45 is spatially uncoupled from beta-catenin phosphorylated in the GSK3 domain: implications for signaling. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10184. [PMID: 20419129 PMCID: PMC2855705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2010] [Accepted: 03/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
C. elegans and Drosophila generate distinct signaling and adhesive forms of β-catenin at the level of gene expression. Whether vertebrates, which rely on a single β-catenin gene, generate unique adhesive and signaling forms at the level of protein modification remains unresolved. We show that β-catenin unphosphorylated at serine 37 (S37) and threonine 41 (T41), commonly referred to as transcriptionally Active β-Catenin (ABC), is a minor nuclear-enriched monomeric form of β-catenin in SW480 cells, which express low levels of E-cadherin. Despite earlier indications, the superior signaling activity of ABC is not due to reduced cadherin binding, as ABC is readily incorporated into cadherin contacts in E-cadherin-restored cells. β-catenin phosphorylated at serine 45 (S45) or threonine 41 (T41) (T41/S45) or along the GSK3 regulatory cassette S33, S37 or T41 (S33/37/T41), however, is largely unable to associate with cadherins. β-catenin phosphorylated at T41/S45 and unphosphorylated at S37 and T41 is predominantly nuclear, while β-catenin phosphorylated at S33/37/T41 is mostly cytoplasmic, suggesting that β-catenin hypophosphorylated at S37 and T41 may be more active in transcription due to its enhanced nuclear accumulation. Evidence that phosphorylation at T41/S45 can be spatially separated from phosphorylations at S33/37/T41 suggests that these phosphorylations may not always be coupled, raising the possibility that phosphorylation at S45 serves a distinct nuclear function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meghan T. Maher
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Integrated Graduate Program in the Life Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Rigen Mo
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Annette S. Flozak
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Ofra N. Peled
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Louis University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Cara J. Gottardi
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Verheyen EM, Gottardi CJ. Regulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling by protein kinases. Dev Dyn 2010; 239:34-44. [PMID: 19623618 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway plays essential roles during development and adult tissue homeostasis. Inappropriate activation of the pathway can result in a variety of malignancies. Protein kinases have emerged as key regulators at multiple steps of the Wnt pathway. In this review, we present a synthesis covering the latest information on how Wnt signaling is regulated by diverse protein kinases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther M Verheyen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Flozak AS, Lam AP, Russell S, Jain M, Peled ON, Sheppard KA, Beri R, Mutlu GM, Budinger GRS, Gottardi CJ. Beta-catenin/T-cell factor signaling is activated during lung injury and promotes the survival and migration of alveolar epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 2009; 285:3157-67. [PMID: 19933277 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.070326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling cascade activates genes that allow cells to adopt particular identities throughout development. In adult self-renewing tissues like intestine and blood, activation of the Wnt pathway maintains a progenitor phenotype, whereas forced inhibition of this pathway promotes differentiation. In the lung alveolus, type 2 epithelial cells (AT2) have been described as progenitors for the type 1 cell (AT1), but whether AT2 progenitors use the same signaling mechanisms to control differentiation as rapidly renewing tissues is not known. We show that adult AT2 cells do not exhibit constitutive beta-catenin signaling in vivo, using the AXIN2(+/LacZ) reporter mouse, or after fresh isolation of an enriched population of AT2 cells. Rather, this pathway is activated in lungs subjected to bleomycin-induced injury, as well as upon placement of AT2 cells in culture. Forced inhibition of beta-catenin/T-cell factor signaling in AT2 cultures leads to increased cell death. Cells that survive show reduced migration after wounding and reduced expression of AT1 cell markers (T1alpha and RAGE). These results suggest that AT2 cells may function as facultative progenitors, where activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling during lung injury promotes alveolar epithelial survival, migration, and differentiation toward an AT1-like phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annette S Flozak
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|