Liver Cancer
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2006; 12(8): 1187-1191
Published online Feb 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i8.1187
P120ctn overexpression enhances β-catenin-E-cadherin binding and down regulates expression of survivin and cyclin D1 in BEL-7404 hepatoma cells
Chao-Zan Nong, Li-Li Pan, Wei-Sheng He, Xi-Liang Zha, Hai-Hong Ye, Hua-Yi Huang
Chao-Zan Nong, Li-Li Pan, Wei-Sheng He, Hai-Hong Ye, Hua-Yi Huang, Department of Experimental Center, Guangxi Hospital for Nationalities, Nanning 530001, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
Xi-Liang Zha, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30160096 and Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, No. 0007037 and No. 0342020
Correspondence to: Hua-Yi Huang, PhD, Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, New York, United States. huayi.huang@roswellpark.org
Telephone: +716-845-5736 Fax: +716-845-3427
Received: May 3, 2005
Revised: July 25, 2005
Accepted: August 26, 2005
Published online: February 28, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To understand the role of P120ctn in E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion and signaling as well as in hepatoma cell biological function.

METHODS: We stably overexpressed p120ctn isoform 3A in BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells and studied the effect of p120ctn on β-catenin and E-cadherin binding as well as p120ctn and β-catenin subcellular localization using immunoprecipitation, Western blotting and confocal microscopy. We also investigated the inhibitory effect of p120ctn transfection on the expression of apoptotic protein survivin survivin and cell cycle regulator cyclin D1 in the cells.

RERULTS: Western blotting indicated that p120ctn expression increased after cells were transfected with p120ctn isoform 3A. The protein was located mainly at membrane under immunofluorescent microscope. β-catenin nuclear expression was reduced after overexpression of p120ctn isoform 3A. The p120ctn-E-cadherin binding increased after transfection of p120ctn isoform 3A. Furthermore, overexpression of p120ctn down regulated the expression of apoptotic protein survivin and cell cycle regulator cyclin D1. These effects led to reduction of cell proliferation.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that p120ctn plays an important role in regulating the formation of E-cadherin and -catenin complex, cell apoptosis, cell cycle and cancer cell biological function.

Keywords: P120ctn; β-catenin; Hepatoma; Cyclin D1; Survivin