Disruption of transforming growth factor-β signaling through β-spectrin ELF leads to hepatocellular cancer through cyclin D1 activation

K. Kitisin, N. Ganesan, Y. Tang, W. Jogunoori, E. A. Volpe, S. S. Kim, V. Katuri, B. Kallakury, M. Pishvaian, C. Albanese, J. Mendelson, M. Zasloff, A. Rashid, T. Fishbein, S. R.T. Evans, A. Sidawy, E. P. Reddy, B. Mishra, L. B. Johnson, K. ShettyL. Mishra

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling members, TGF-β receptor type II (TBRII), Smad2, Smad4 and Smad adaptor, embryonic liver fodrin (ELF), are prominent tumor suppressors in gastrointestinal cancers. Here, we show that 40% of elf+/- mice spontaneously develop hepatocellular cancer (HCC) with markedly increased cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4), c-Myc and MDM2 expression. Reduced ELF but not TBRII, or Smad4 was observed in 8 of 9 human HCCs (P<0.017). ELF and TBRII are also markedly decreased in human HCC cell lines SNU-398 and SNU-475. Restoration of ELF and TBRII in SNU-398 cells markedly decreases cyclin D1 as well as hyperphosphorylated-retinoblastoma (hyperphosphorylated-pRb). Thus, we show that TGF-β signaling and Smad adaptor ELF suppress human hepatocarcinogenesis, potentially through cyclin D1 deregulation. Loss of ELF could serve as a primary event in progression toward a fully transformed phenotype and could hold promise for new therapeutic approaches in human HCCs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7103-7110
Number of pages8
JournalOncogene
Volume26
Issue number50
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cell cycle
  • Cyclin D1
  • ELF
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Transforming growth factor-β

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Research

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