Positive inter-regulation between beta-catenin/T cell factor-4 signaling and endothelin-1 signaling potentiates proliferation and survival of prostate cancer cells

Mol Pharmacol. 2006 Feb;69(2):520-31. doi: 10.1124/mol.105.019620. Epub 2005 Nov 16.

Abstract

Both malignant and normal prostate epithelial cells produce endothelin-1 (ET-1), a critical factor in prostate cancer (CaP) progression. beta-Catenin (beta-cat), a key component of the Wnt signaling pathway, is also implicated in CaP progression via beta-cat/T cell factor (Tcf) signaling. We recently demonstrated that beta-cat/Tcf-4 regulates transcription of ET-1 in colon cancer cells. In the present study, we found that Tcf-4 specifically bound to and activated the ET-1 promoter in vivo in human CaP cells and mouse prostate tissue. Expression of ET-1 in DU145 CaP cells was down-regulated by knocking down endogenous beta-cat or Tcf-4. Ectopic activation of beta-cat/Tcf-4 signaling significantly elevated expression of ET-1 in LNCaP cells. In addition, genetic ablation of beta-cat significantly inhibited transcription of ET-1 in primary prostate epithelial cells. Meanwhile, exogenous ET-1 enhanced beta-cat/Tcf signaling and ET-1 expression in DU145 cells, which was blocked by both selective phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002) and endothelin-A receptor antagonist cyclo(L-Leu-D-Trp-D-Asp-L-Pro-D-Val) (BQ123). Furthermore, knockdown of either beta-cat or Tcf-4 substantially reduced cell proliferation and potentiated paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in DU145 cells, which largely were rescued by treatment with exogenous ET-1. Together, our results suggest that beta-cat/Tcf-4 signaling transcriptionally activates ET-1 in CaP cells; meanwhile, ET-1 enhances beta-cat/Tcf-4 signaling and in turn further increases ET-1 expression in a PI3K-dependent manner. The positive inter-regulation between beta-cat/Tcf-4 signaling and ET-1 signaling potentiates proliferation and survival of CaP cells, thereby representing a novel mechanism that contributes to CaP progression.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists
  • Endothelin-1 / genetics*
  • Endothelin-1 / metabolism
  • Endothelin-1 / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • TCF Transcription Factors / genetics
  • TCF Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Thymidine / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists
  • Endothelin-1
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • TCF Transcription Factors
  • TCF7L2 protein, human
  • Tcf7l2 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • beta Catenin
  • Paclitaxel
  • Thymidine