title: Nuclear translocation of β-catenin during mesenchymal stem cells differentiation into hepatocytes is associated with a tumoral phenotype.
abstract: Wnt/β-catenin pathway controls biochemical processes related to cell differentiation. In committed cells the alteration of this pathway has been associated with tumors as hepatocellular carcinoma or hepatoblastoma. The present study evaluated the role of Wnt/β-catenin activation during human mesenchymal stem cells differentiation into hepatocytes. The differentiation to hepatocytes was achieved by the addition of two different conditioned media. In one of them, β-catenin nuclear translocation, up-regulation of genes related to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, such as Lrp5 and Fzd3, as well as the oncogenes c-myc and p53 were observed. While in the other protocol there was a Wnt/β-catenin inactivation. Hepatocytes with nuclear translocation of β-catenin also had abnormal cellular proliferation, and expressed membrane proteins involved in hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic behavior and cancer stem cells. Further, these cells had also increased auto-renewal capability as shown in spheroids formation assay. Comparison of both differentiation protocols by 2D-DIGE proteomic analysis revealed differential expression of 11 proteins with altered expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cathepsin B and D, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, triosephosphate isomerase, inorganic pyrophosphatase, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A or lactate dehydrogenase β-chain were up-regulated only with the protocol associated with Wnt signaling activation while other proteins involved in tumor suppression, such as transgelin or tropomyosin β-chain were down-regulated in this protocol. In conclusion, our results suggest that activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway during human mesenchymal stem cells differentiation into hepatocytes is associated with a tumoral phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Maimónides Institute for Biomedical Research (IMIBIC)/Reina Sofia University Hospital/University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herencia
authors.forename: Julio M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martínez-Moreno
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corrales
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santiago-Mora
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espejo
authors.forename: Monserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barco
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Almadén
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Mata
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Ariza
authors.forename: Juan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Castañeda
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000502:physiology; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin