title: Caco-2 cell differentiation is associated with a decrease in stat protein levels and binding.
abstract: Novel proteins of the Stat (signal transducers and activators of transcription) family have been associated with proliferation and differentiation of certain cells; the role of these transcription factors in gut differentiation has not been examined. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the cellular levels and actual binding of the Stat proteins are altered with intestinal differentiation using the Caco-2 cell line that spontaneously differentiates to a small bowel phenotype after confluency. We found that both Stat3 and Stat5 protein levels were increased in preconfluent and confluent Caco-2 cells; levels then decreased with postconfluency. Mobility shift assays demonstrated maximal binding of Stat3 and Stat5 at confluency and, similar to protein levels, binding activity decreased with postconfluency. The intestinal differentiation marker gene sucrase-isomaltase was increased by postconfluent day 1 with maximal levels by day 6. The progressive decrease of Stat3 and Stat5 protein levels and binding activity, occurring at a time associated with increased Caco-2 cell differentiation, suggests that a decrease in the cellular levels of these proteins may potentially play a role in subsequent intestinal cell differentiation. Delineating the cellular mechanisms responsible for intestinal differentiation is crucial to a better understanding of both normal gut development and aberrant gut growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0533, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Evers
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018938:Caco-2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008894:Milk Proteins; D011485:Protein Binding; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013394:Sucrase-Isomaltase Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008894:Milk Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D012313:RNA; D013394:Sucrase-Isomaltase Complex