Expression of μ-protocadherin is negatively regulated by the activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway in normal and cancer colorectal enterocytes

Cell Death Dis. 2016 Jun 16;7(6):e2263. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2016.163.

Abstract

Mu-protocadherin (MUCDHL) is an adhesion molecule predominantly expressed by colorectal epithelial cells which is markedly downregulated upon malignant transformation. Notably, treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells with mesalazine lead to increased expression of MUCDHL, and is associated with sequestration of β-catenin on the plasma membrane and inhibition of its transcriptional activity. To better characterize the causal relationship between β-catenin and MUCDHL expression, we performed various experiments in which CRC cell lines and normal colonic organoids were subjected to culture conditions inhibiting (FH535 treatment, transcription factor 7-like 2 siRNA inactivation, Wnt withdrawal) or stimulating (LiCl treatment) β-catenin activity. We show here that expression of MUCDHL is negatively regulated by functional activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway. This finding was observed in cell culture systems representing conditions of physiological stimulation and upon constitutive activation of β-catenin in CRC. The ability of MUCDHL to sequester and inhibit β-catenin appears to provide a positive feedback enforcing the effect of β-catenin inhibitors rather than serving as the primary mechanism responsible for β-catenin inhibition. Moreover, MUCDHL might have a role as biomarker in the development of CRC chemoprevention drugs endowed with β-catenin inhibitory activity.

MeSH terms

  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cadherin Related Proteins
  • Cadherins / genetics*
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Enterocytes / drug effects
  • Enterocytes / metabolism*
  • Enterocytes / pathology
  • Feedback, Physiological
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Lithium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology
  • Tissue Culture Techniques
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein / genetics
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects
  • beta Catenin / genetics*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • CDHR5 protein, human
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Cadherin Related Proteins
  • Cadherins
  • FH535
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Sulfonamides
  • TCF7L2 protein, human
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • beta Catenin
  • Lithium Chloride