SMAD6 contributes to patient survival in non-small cell lung cancer and its knockdown reestablishes TGF-beta homeostasis in lung cancer cells.
The malignant transformation in several types of cancer, including lung cancer, results in a loss of growth inhibition by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Here, we show that SMAD6 expression is associated with a reduced survival in lung cancer patients. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of SMAD6 in lung cancer cell lines resulted in reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis as well as inhibition of cell cycle progression. However, these results were not seen in Beas2B, a normal bronchial epithelial cell line. To better understand the mechanism underlying the association of SMAD6 with poor patient survival, we used a lentivirus construct carrying shRNA for SMAD6 to knock down expression of the targeted gene. Through gene expression analysis, we observed that knockdown of SMAD6 led to the activation of TGF-beta signaling through up-regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and phosphorylation of SMAD2/3. Furthermore, SMAD6 knockdown activated the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathway and reduced phosphorylation of Rb-1, resulting in increased G0-G1 cell arrest and apoptosis in the lung cancer cell line H1299. These results jointly suggest that SMAD6 plays a critical role in supporting lung cancer cell growth and survival. Targeted inactivation of SMAD6 may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for lung cancers expressing this gene.
Jeon
Hyo-Sung
HS
Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Dracheva
Tatiana
T
Yang
Sei-Hoon
SH
Meerzaman
Daoud
D
Fukuoka
Junya
J
Shakoori
Abbas
A
Shilo
Konstantin
K
Travis
William D
WD
Jen
Jin
J
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051905:Smad6 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C497802:SMAD6 protein, human; D051905:Smad6 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases