Proteomic analysis of the TGF-beta signaling pathway in pancreatic carcinoma cells using stable RNA interference to silence Smad4 expression

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 May 21;318(1):289-96. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.04.029.

Abstract

Smad4 is a tumor-suppressor gene that is lost or mutated in 50% of pancreatic carcinomas. Smad4 is also an intracellular transmitter of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signals. Although its tumor-suppressor function is presumed to reside in its capacity to mediate TGF-beta-induced growth inhibition, there seems to be a Smad4-independent TGF-beta signaling pathway. Here, we succeeded in establishing Smad4 knockdown (S4KD) pancreatic cancer cell lines using stable RNA interference. Smad4 protein expression and TGF-beta-Smad4 signaling were impaired in S4KD cells, and we compared the proteomic changes with TGF-beta stimulation using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry. We identified five proteins that were up-regulated and seven proteins that were down-regulated; 10 of them were novel targets for TGF-beta. These proteins function in processes such as cytoskeletal regulation, cell cycle, and oxidative stress. Introducing siRNA-mediated gene silencing into proteomics revealed a novel TGF-beta signal pathway that did not involve Smad4.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteins / analysis
  • Proteome / genetics
  • Proteome / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Smad4 Protein
  • Trans-Activators / biosynthesis*
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / pharmacology

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Flavonoids
  • Proteins
  • Proteome
  • SMAD4 protein, human
  • Smad4 Protein
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • 2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one