Apicidin-resistant HA22T hepatocellular carcinoma cells strongly activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and MMP-2 expression via the IGF-IR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway enhancing cell metastatic effect

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2013;77(12):2397-404. doi: 10.1271/bbb.130503. Epub 2013 Dec 7.

Abstract

The IGF-IR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway inhibited GSK3-β activity by phosphorylation and this promoted β-catenin nuclear localization. Our previous study indicated that β-catenin mRNA level was significantly higher in tumor areas than in non-tumor ones, especially in late pathologic stage tumors. However, β-catenin inhibition resulted in significantly suppressed migration and invasion ability of HA22T cells. Thus, Wnt/β-catenin pathway over-activation might be involved in metastatic enhancement of apicidin-resistant HA22T cell metastasis. Apicidin-resistant (AR) HA22T cells showed higher β-catenin nuclear accumulation and significantly decreased GSK-3-β protein level, in relation to parental cells. Results also indicated that AR cells increased abundantly in Tbx3, a downstream target of Wnt/β-catenin that it is implicated in liver cancer. AR cells also inhibited the MEK/ERK/PEA3 pathway which promoted MMP-2 activation. But, apicidin-resistant effect was totally reversed by LY294002 and AG1024. In conclusion, Apicidin-R HA22T cells activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and induced, MMP-2 expression via IGF-IR/PI3K/Akt signaling further enhancing cell the metastatic effects.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Peptides, Cyclic / pharmacology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • Wnt Proteins
  • apicidin
  • beta Catenin
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2