A C/EBPα-Wnt connection in gut homeostasis and carcinogenesis

Life Sci Alliance. 2018 Dec 26;2(1):e201800173. doi: 10.26508/lsa.201800173. eCollection 2019 Feb.

Abstract

We explored the connection between C/EBPα (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α) and Wnt signaling in gut homeostasis and carcinogenesis. C/EBPα was expressed in human and murine intestinal epithelia in the transit-amplifying region of the crypts and was absent in intestinal stem cells and Paneth cells with activated Wnt signaling. In human colorectal cancer and murine APCMin/+ polyps, C/EBPα was absent in the nuclear β-catenin-positive tumor cells. In chemically induced intestinal carcinogenesis, C/EBPα KO in murine gut epithelia increased tumor volume. C/EBPα deletion extended the S-phase cell zone in intestinal organoids and activated typical proliferation gene expression signatures, including that of Wnt target genes. Genetic activation of β-catenin in organoids attenuated C/EBPα expression, and ectopic C/EBPα expression in HCT116 cells abrogated proliferation. C/EBPα expression accompanied differentiation of the colon cancer cell line Caco-2, whereas β-catenin stabilization suppressed C/EBPα. These data suggest homeostatic and oncogenic suppressor functions of C/EBPα in the gut by restricting Wnt signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / metabolism
  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Animals
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / genetics*
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / metabolism*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Carcinogenesis / chemically induced
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Homeostasis*
  • Humans
  • Intestines / physiopathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Organoids / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Burden
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • beta Catenin / genetics

Substances

  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • beta Catenin