TGF-beta modulates beta-Catenin stability and signaling in mesenchymal proliferations

Exp Cell Res. 2007 Aug 1;313(13):2887-95. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2007.05.024. Epub 2007 Jun 2.

Abstract

Here for the first time we showed, despite the oncogenic mutations in beta-Catenin, that TGF-beta is a modulator of beta-Catenin levels in tumoral fibroblasts as well as non-tumoral fibroblasts. The results show that the TGF-beta pathway is active in desmoids cells and in in situ tumors. A dose dependent increase in beta-Catenin protein levels was observed after TGF-beta treatment in combination with an increased repression of GSK-3beta both in normal and tumoral fibroblasts. TGF-beta stimulation also led to an altered -- up to 5 fold -- transcriptional activity of beta-Catenin responsive promoters, such as IGFBP6 as well as increase of TOPflash activity. TGF-beta stimulation increased cell proliferation and BrdU incorporation 2.5 times. Taken together, we propose that TGF-beta is a modulator of beta-Catenin levels in tumoral fibroblasts and non-tumoral fibroblasts, despite the oncogenic mutations already present in this gene in tumoral fibroblasts of desmoid tumors. This modulation of beta-Catenin levels by TGF-beta may be involved in determining the tumoral phenotype of the cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Fibromatosis, Aggressive / genetics
  • Fibromatosis, Aggressive / metabolism*
  • Fibromatosis, Aggressive / pathology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 6 / genetics
  • Mesoderm / metabolism
  • Mesoderm / pathology
  • Mice
  • Phosphorylation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / drug effects
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / pharmacology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 6
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Serine
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, mouse
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3