Transforming growth factor beta 1 induces proliferation in colon carcinoma cells by Ras-dependent, smad-independent down-regulation of p21cip1.
Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) can act as a tumor suppressor or a tumor promoter depending on the characteristics of the malignant cell. We recently demonstrated that colon carcinoma cells transfected with oncogenic cellular K-rasV12, but not oncogenic cellular H-rasV12, switched from TGFbeta1-insensitive to TGFbeta1-growth-stimulated and also became more invasive (Yan, Z., Deng, X., and Friedman, E. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 1555-1563). We now demonstrate that TGFbeta1 growth stimulation of colon carcinoma cells is Ras-dependent and smad-independent. In U9 colon carcinoma cells, which are responsive to TGFbeta1 by growth stimulation, a truncating mutation at Gln-311 was found in the smad4 gene. Very little smad4 protein was detected in these cells. Loss of smad4 protein was confirmed by functional studies. In U9 cells co-transfected wild-type smad4, but not mutant smad4, mediated response of the 3TP-lux and pSBE promoter reporter constructs to TGFbeta1. Proliferation initiated by TGFbeta1 in U9 cells required Ras-mediated down-regulation of p21cip1 protein. Less p21cip1 was associated with cdk2 small middle dotcyclin complexes in TGFbeta1-treated U9 cells, and the cdk2 complexes had increased kinase activity. Elevation of p21cip1 levels diminished proliferative response to TGFbeta1. U9 cells expressing DN-N17ras neither proliferated in response to TGFbeta1 nor down-regulated the cdk inhibitor p21cip1, and TGFbeta1 activation of 3TP-lux in U9 cells was inhibited by DN-N17ras in a dose-dependent manner. TGFbeta1 also decreased p21cip1 levels and stimulated proliferation in SW480 cells, which express mutant K-Ras but no smad4 protein. TGFbeta1 did not activate or inhibit the p21cip1 promoter construct in U9 cells even in the presence of co-transfected smad4, or alter p21cip1 mRNA levels. Thus the decrease in p21cip1 levels was mediated by a TGFbeta-initiated Ras-dependent, but smad-independent post-transcriptional mechanism.
Yan
Zhongfa
Z
Pathology Department, Upstate Medical University, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
Kim
Geum-Yi
GY
Deng
Xiaobing
X
Friedman
Eileen
E
D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D042846:CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; D002455:Cell Division; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D042846:CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; C495894:CDK2 protein, human; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins