title: Smad7 induces tumorigenicity by blocking TGF-beta-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis.
abstract: Smad proteins play a key role in the intracellular signaling of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of extracellular polypeptides that initiate signaling to regulate a wide variety of biological processes. The inhibitory Smad, Smad7, has been shown to function as intracellular antagonists of TGF-beta family signaling and is upregulated in several cancers. To determine the effect of Smad7-mediated blockade of TGF-beta signaling, we have stably expressed Smad7 in a TGF-beta-sensitive, well-differentiated, and non-tumorigenic cell line, FET, that was derived from human colon adenocarcinoma. Smad7 inhibits TGF-beta-induced transcriptional responses by blocking complex formation between Smad 2/3 and Smad4. While Smad7 has no effect on TGF-beta-induced activation of p38 MAPK and ERK, it blocks the phosphorylation of Akt by TGF-beta and enhances TGF-beta-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun. FET cells expressing Smad7 show anchorage-independent growth and enhance tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice. Smad7 blocks TGF-beta-induced growth inhibition by preventing TGF-beta-induced G1 arrest. Smad7 inhibits TGF-beta-mediated downregulation of c-Myc, CDK4, and Cyclin D1, and suppresses the expression of p21(Cip1). As a result, Smad7 inhibits TGF-beta-mediated downregulation of Rb phosphorylation. Furthermore, Smad7 inhibits the apoptosis of these cells. Together, Smad7 may increase the tumorigenicity of FET cells by blocking TGF-beta-induced growth inhibition and by inhibiting apoptosis. Thus, this study provides a mechanism by which a portion of human colorectal tumors may become refractory to tumor-suppressive actions of TGF-beta that might result in increased tumorigenicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1161 21st Avenue South, D5230 MCN, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Sunil K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Halder
authors.forename: R Daniel
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Beauchamp
authors.forename: Pran K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Datta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; C497806:SMAD7 protein, human; D051906:Smad7 Protein; C497807:Smad7 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta