Retinol decreases beta-catenin protein levels in retinoic acid-resistant colon cancer cell lines

Mol Carcinog. 2007 Apr;46(4):315-29. doi: 10.1002/mc.20280.

Abstract

The beta-catenin signaling pathway is dysregulated in most cases of colon cancer resulting in an accumulation of nuclear beta-catenin and increased transcription of genes involved in tumor progression. This study examines the effect of retinol on beta-catenin protein levels in three all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-resistant human colon cancer cell lines: HCT-116, WiDr, and SW620. Each cell line was treated with increasing concentrations of retinol for 24 or 48 h. Retinol reduced beta-catenin protein levels and increased ubiquitinated beta-catenin in all cell lines. Treatment with the proteasomal inhibitor MG132 blocked the retinol-induced decrease in beta-catenin indicating retinol decreases beta-catenin by increasing proteasomal degradation. Multiple pathways direct beta-catenin to the proteasome for degradation including a p53/Siah-1/adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), a Wnt/glycogen synthase kinase-3beta/APC, and a retinoid "X" receptor (RXR)-mediated pathway. Due to mutations in beta-catenin (HCT-116), APC (SW620), and p53 (WiDr), only the RXR-mediated pathway remains functional in each cell line. To determine if RXRs facilitate beta-catenin degradation, cells were treated with the RXR pan-antagonist, PA452, or transfected with RXRalpha small interfering RNA (siRNA). The RXR pan-antagonist and RXRalpha siRNA reduced the ability of retinol to decrease beta-catenin protein levels. Nuclear beta-catenin induces gene transcription via interaction with T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) proteins. Retinol treatment decreased the transcription of a TOPFlash reporter construct and mRNA levels of the endogenous beta-catenin target genes, cyclin D1 and c-myc. These results indicate that retinol may reduce colon cancer cell growth by increasing the proteasomal degradation of beta-catenin via a mechanism potentially involving RXR.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology
  • Vitamin A / pharmacology*
  • Vitamin A / therapeutic use
  • Vitamins / pharmacology*
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use
  • beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid
  • Vitamins
  • beta Catenin
  • Vitamin A
  • Tretinoin