title: Differential expression of Wnt genes, beta-catenin and E-cadherin in human brain tumors.
abstract: Wnt regulates developmental and oncogenic processes through its downstream effector, beta-catenin, and a set of other intracellular regulators that are largely conserved among species. E-cadherin was discovered as a protein associated with beta-catenin which plays a crucial role in cell-cell adhesion. To further understand the molecular basis of Wnt signaling pathway and E-cadherin in brain tumorigenesis, the expression of four Wnt genes (Wnt1, Wnt5a, Wnt10b and Wnt13) and E-cadherin were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, their downstream effector, beta-catenin, was also investigated. The results showed that the expression of Wnt5a (41/45), Wnt10b (37/45), and Wnt13 (35/45) were found in brain tumors, whereas Wnt1 (6/45) was shown to be less related. Interestingly, E-cadherin was only expressed in a few cases of astrocytoma (2/16), whereas it was expressed in most meningioma (14/15) and pituitary adenoma tumors (12/14). There was no apparent difference of beta-catenin expression profile in brain tumors; however, the sequencing data of beta-catenin showed two mutations on speculative phosphorylation sites, S73F and S23G in astrocytoma. Furthermore, an in vitro functional assay showed that S73F and S23G mutants of beta-catenin did not affect transcriptional activity in TCF-4-leuciferase reporter construct, suggesting that they may need more complex factors to participate in astrocytoma. Taken together, our data suggest that the mutations of beta-catenin together with E-cadherin and Wnt signaling might be involved in brain tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, 80708, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shen-Long
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Howng
authors.forename: Chia-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tai-Shan
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wei-Di
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Sy
authors.forename: Pi-Chu K
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chihuei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-Ren
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C495247:WNT1 protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases