Overexpression of the retinoic acid-responsive gene Stra6 in human cancers and its synergistic induction by Wnt-1 and retinoic acid

Cancer Res. 2001 May 15;61(10):4197-205.

Abstract

Genetic defects in the Wnt-1 signaling pathway contribute to human tumor progression and are especially prevalent in colorectal cancer. We screened mouse C57MG cells to isolate mRNAs induced by Wnt-1 and identified Stra6, an mRNA known to be up-regulated by retinoic acid. Up-regulation of Stra6 mRNA was also observed in hyperplastic mammary tissue and mammary gland tumors from transgenic mice expressing Wnt-1 and in human tumors that frequently harbor defects in Wnt-1 signaling. Stimulation of C57MG cells with retinoic acid plus Wnt-1 resulted in expression of Stra6 transcript to levels greatly exceeding that observed with either stimulus alone. This synergy could be explained in part by the up-regulation of retinoic acid receptor-gamma that was observed in response to Wnt-1 signaling. Accordingly, treatment of human colorectal cancer cell lines with retinoic acid resulted in the up-regulation of Stra6 mRNA and accumulation of Stra6 protein at the cell membrane. The data support a model in which Wnt-1 signaling synergizes with retinoids to activate retinoic acid receptor-gamma-responsive genes in human cancers.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA, Complementary / isolation & purification
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Wnt1 Protein
  • Zebrafish Proteins*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Stra6 protein, mouse
  • WNT1 protein, human
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Wnt1 Protein
  • Wnt1 protein, mouse
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • Tretinoin