Vitamin D Deficiency Promotes Liver Tumor Growth in Transforming Growth Factor-β/Smad3-Deficient Mice Through Wnt and Toll-like Receptor 7 Pathway Modulation

Sci Rep. 2016 Jul 26:6:30217. doi: 10.1038/srep30217.

Abstract

Disruption of the TGF-β pathway is associated with liver fibrosis and suppression of liver tumorigenesis, conditions associated with low Vitamin D (VD) levels. However, potential contributions of VD to liver tumor progression in the context of TGF-β signaling remain unexplored. Our analyses of VD deprivation (VDD) in in vivo models of liver tumor formation revealed striking three-fold increases in tumor burden in Smad3(+/-) mice, with a three-fold increase in TLR7 expression compared to controls. ChIP and transcriptional assays confirm Smad3 binding at two TLR7 promoter SBE sites. Molecular interactions between TGF-β pathway and VDD were validated clinically, where an absence of VD supplementation was associated with low TGF-β pathway member expression levels and β-catenin activation in fibrotic/cirrhotic human liver tissues. Subsequent supplementing VD led to restoration of TGF-β member expression with lower β-catenin levels. Bioinformatics analysis provides positive supportive correlation between somatic mutations for VD-related genes and the TGF-β pathway. We conclude that VDD promotes tumor growth in the context of Smad3 disruption, potentially through regulation of TLR7 expression and β-catenin activation. VD could therefore be a strong candidate for liver cancer prevention in the context of aberrant Smad3 signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / complications
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology*
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Signal Transduction
  • Smad3 Protein / genetics*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics*
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Smad3 Protein
  • Smad3 protein, mouse
  • Tlr7 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Vitamin D