title: The TGFbeta/Smad 3-signaling pathway is involved in butyrate-mediated vitamin D receptor (VDR)-expression.
abstract: Previously, we demonstrated the pivotal role of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mediating the butyrate-induced differentiation in colon cancer cells. Smad 3, a downstream component of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) signaling, has been shown to act as a coactivator of VDR and to possibly regulate the vitamin D signaling pathway. In this study, we demonstrate a distinct impact of the TGFbeta/Smad 3-signaling pathway in the butyrate-mediated VDR expression and induction of differentiation. Butyrate treatment resulted in a significant induction of the phosphorylation level of Smad 3, while the combination of butyrate and a specific TGFbeta1-antibody or a TGFbeta-receptor inhibitor considerably diminished the butyrate-induced upregulation of VDR expression. Using a specific inhibitor, we were also able to demonstrate an involvement of the p38 MAPK in the increase of Smad 3 phosphorylation following butyrate treatment, thus opening the view to further elucidate possible mechanisms mediating the upregulation of VDR expression following butyrate treatment in colon cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, ZAFES, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schroder
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zahn
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gaschott
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinhilber
authors.forename: Jurgen M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D002087:Butyrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; C497790:SMAD3 protein, human; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta