title: beta-catenin/Tcf signaling in squamous differentiation of porcine airway epithelial cells.
abstract: For a preliminary study of the role of beta-catenin/Tcf signaling in squamous differentiation of airway (tracheobronchial) epithelial cells, a stable mutant of beta-catenin was transfected into primarily cultured porcine airway epithelial cells. Western blotting revealed that exogenous protein was observed in large quantity in cytoplasm and nucleus. When co-transfected with Tcf luciferase reporter plasmids, beta-catenin mutant increased the reporter's transcriptional activities. However, mRNA expression of a squamous differentiation marker, small proline-rich protein (SPRP), was not elevated, as shown by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. These findings suggest that beta-catenin/Tcf signaling may not be directly involved in the squamous differentiation of porcine airway epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Department of Pathology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji, China. cwenshu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Wenshu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Renliang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055233:Cornified Envelope Proline-Rich Proteins; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013552:Swine; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D055233:Cornified Envelope Proline-Rich Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051176:beta Catenin