GREB1 induced by Wnt signaling promotes development of hepatoblastoma by suppressing TGFβ signaling

Nat Commun. 2019 Aug 28;10(1):3882. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-11533-x.

Abstract

The β-catenin mutation is frequently observed in hepatoblastoma (HB), but the underlying mechanism by which Wnt/β-catenin signaling induces HB tumor formation is unknown. Here we show that expression of growth regulation by estrogen in breast cancer 1 (GREB1) depends on Wnt/β-catenin signaling in HB patients. GREB1 is localized to the nucleus where it binds Smad2/3 in a competitive manner with p300 and inhibits TGFβ signaling, thereby promoting HepG2 HB cell proliferation. Forced expression of β-catenin, YAP, and c-Met induces HB-like mouse liver tumor (BYM mice), with an increase in GREB1 expression and HB markers. Depletion of GREB1 strongly suppresses marker gene expression and HB-like liver tumorigenesis, and instead enhances TGFβ signaling in BYM mice. Furthermore, antisense oligonucleotides for GREB1 suppress the formation of HepG2 cell-induced tumors and HB-like tumors in vivo. We propose that GREB1 is a target molecule of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and required for HB progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Hepatoblastoma / genetics
  • Hepatoblastoma / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / pharmacology
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / therapeutic use
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • GREB1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • beta Catenin