Neoplasma Vol.58, No.3, p.239-244, 2011
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| Title: Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates MAPK and Akt1 expression and growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells |
| Author: X. H. WANG, X. W. MENG, X. SUN, B. R. LIU, M. Z. HAN, Y. J. DU, Y. Y. SONG, W. XU |
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Abstract: In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Wnt/β-catenin, Ras/MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways form a complex network and play important roles during HCC genesis and development. To study their relationship and the influence on cell growth, the siRNA directed against β-catenin was transfected into HCC HepG2 cells. β-catenin mRNA and protein levels were measured respectively at various times by RT-PCR and Western blot. Furthermore, HCC cell growth was measured by MTT assay. Finally, MAPK family and Akt1 protein levels were also measured by Western blot. After the transfection, β-catenin mRNA levels were markedly inhibited at 24 h and increased gradually at 48, 72 and 96 h; β-catenin protein levels decreased gradually at 24, 48 and 72 h and slightly increased at 96 h. HCC cell growth was inhibited from 24–72 h, but this inhibition decreased at 96 h. ERK1/2 (p42/p44 MAPK), JNK/SAPK, p38 MAPK, and Akt1 protein levels showed no change following transfection, while their phosphorylated protein levels showed changes. Thus, siRNA directed against β-catenin markedly decreased β-catenin gene expression and inhibited cell growth. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway might regulate Ras/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways through regulation of the phosphorylation state of ERK1/2, JNK/SAPK and Akt1 protein in HCC HepG2 cells. These pathways might compensate for the inhibitory effect of β-catenin, thereby affecting tumor cell growth and others downstream factors.
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| Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma; β-catenin; MAPK; AKT1; signaling pathway |
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| Year: 2011, Volume: 58, Issue: 3 |
Page From: 239, Page To: 244 |
doi:10.4149/neo_2011_03_239
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