• BMB Reports
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• 제53권12호
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• pp.628-633
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• 2020

WNT11 is a member of the non-canonical Wnt family and plays a crucial role in tumor progression. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying WNT11 expression are unclear. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) is a major inflammatory cytokine produced in the tumor microenvironment and contributes to processes associated with tumor progression, such as tumor invasion and metastasis. By using site-directed mutagenesis and introducing a serial deletion in the 5'-regulatory region of WNT11, we observed that TNFα activates the early growth response 1 (EGR1)-binding sequence (EBS) in the proximal region of WNT11 and that the transcription factor EGR1 is necessary for the TNFα-induced transcription of WNT11. EGR1 bound directly to the EBSs within the proximal 5'-regulatory region of WNT11 and ectopic expression of EGR1 stimulated WNT11 promoter activity, whereas the knockdown of EGR1 expression by RNA interference reduced TNFα-induced WNT11 expression in T47D breast cancer cells. We also observed that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 kinase mediated TNFα-induced transcription of WNT11 via EGR1. Our results suggest that EGR1 directly targets WNT11 in response to TNFα stimulation in breast cancer cells.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.89-92
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• 2014

Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin 신호전달체계는 세포 증식, 분화, 그리고 기관 발생과 같은 다양한 생명현상에 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 세포기반 스크리닝 기법을 사용하여 Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin 신호전달체계를 저해하는 bryostatin-1을 발굴하였다. Bryostain 1은 ${\beta}$-catenin의 mRNA 수준에는 영향을 미치지 않는 반면 세포 내 ${\beta}$-catenin 단백질 수준을 감소시킴으로 Wnt3a-CM에 의해 활성화 된 ${\beta}$-catenin response transcription (CRT)을 억제하였다. 또한 프로테아좀의 활성을 저해하였을 경우 bryostatin-1에 의한 ${\beta}$-catenin 수준 감소가 억제되었다. 본 연구의 결과들로부터 bryostatin-1이 프로테아좀에 의한 ${\beta}$-catenin 단백질 분해를 촉진함으로써 Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin 신호전달체계를 저해함을 확인하였다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.1489-1495
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• 2014

Wnt is a powerful signaling pathway that plays a crucial role in cell fate determination, survival, proliferation and motility during development, in adult tissues and cancer. The aims of the present study were three fold: i) to assess Wnt11 immunoexpression and its possible relationship with Wnt5a in high- and low-grade human serous ovarian cancer (HGSC and LGSC) specimens; ii) to assess Wnt11 expression levels in Wnt5a overexpressing SKOV-3 cells; iii) to reveal the role of Wnt11 in viability, adhesion, migration and invasion of SKOV-3 cells using recombinant human Wnt11 (rhWnt11). Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant difference in Wnt11 expression between HGSC and LGSC groups (p=0.001). Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between Wnt5a and Wnt11 expression in the HGSC (r=0.713, p=0.001), but not the LGSC group. The expression of Wnt11 was decreased by 35% in Wnt5a overexpressing cells (SKOV-3/Wnt5a) compared to mock controls. Similarly Wnt11 expression levels were decreased by 47% in the presence of exogenous Wnt5a compared to untreated cells. In the presence of rhWnt11, 31% increased cell viability (p<0.001) and 21% increased cell adhesion to matrigel (p<0.01) were observed compared to control. Cell migration was increased by 1.6-fold with rhWnt11 as revealed by transwell migration assay (p<0.001). However, 45% decreased cell invasion was observed in the presence of rhWnt11 compared to control (p<0.01). Our results may suggest that differential Wnt11 immunoexpression in HGSC compared to LGSC could play important roles in serous ovarian cancer progression and may be modulated by Wnt5a expression levels.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.50-56
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• 2012

Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin 신호전달체계는 세포의 분화와 증식, 기관의 발생과 조절을 담당하는 중요한 세포내 신호전달체계이다. 발생과정에서 Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin 신호전달체계의 작용이 지방세포로의 분화를 억제하고 조골세포와 신경세포로의 분화는 촉진한다는 많은 연구들이 보고되어 있으며, 현재 Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin 신호전달체계의 조절을 통한 여러 질병의 치료와 예방에 대한 관심이 대두되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 세포를 기반으로 한 초고속 저분자 스크리닝 시스템을 이용하여 Wnt의 상승제인 silybin을 발굴하였다. silybin은 Wnt가 존재 않을 경우에는 ${\beta}$-catenin 단백질의 수준에 영향을 미치지 않지만 Wnt가 존재할 경우, mRNA 발현양의 변화 없이 세포질내의 ${\beta}$-catenin 단백질의 수준을 증가시킨다. 또한 silybin에 의해 증가된 ${\beta}$-catenin으로 인해 지방세포분화에 중요한 전사인자라고 알려진 PPAR-${\gamma}$와 C/EBP-${\alpha}$의 발현을 억제한다. 따라서 이 연구에서는 silybin이 세포질내 ${\beta}$-catenin 단백질의 수준을 증가시킴으로써 Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin 신호전달체계를 활성한다는 사실을 제시하였다.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.53-59
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• 2009

Periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue is a connective tissue that is interposed between the roots of the teeth and the inner wall of the alveolar bone socket. PDL is always exposed to physiologic mechanical force such as masticatory force and PDL cells play important roles during orthodontic tooth movement by synthesizing and secreting different mediators involved in bone remodeling. The Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway was recently shown to play a significant role in the control of bone formation. In the present study, we applied cyclic tensile stress of 20% elongation to cultured human PDL cells and assessed its impact after six days upon components of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway. RTPCR analysis showed that Wnt1a, Wnt3a, Wnt10b and the Wnt receptor LRP5 were down-regulated, whereas the Wnt inhibitor DKK1 was up-regulated in response to these stress conditions. In contrast, little change was detected in the mRNA expression of Wnt5a, Wnt7b, Fz1, and LRP6. By western blotting we found decreased expression of the ${\beta}$-catenin and p-GSK-3${\beta}$ proteins. Our results thus show that mechanical stress suppresses the canonical Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway in PDL cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.307-319
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• 2021

Dysregulation of the Wnt pathway causes various diseases including cancer, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, osteoporosis, obesity and chronic kidney diseases. The modulation of dysregulated Wnt pathway is absolutely necessary. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect and the mechanism of action of Wnt-C59, a Wnt signaling inhibitor, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated epithelial cells and macrophage cells. Wnt-C59 showed a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines including IL6, CCL2, IL1A, IL1B, and TNF in LPS-stimulated cells. The dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in LPS stimulated cells was suppressed by WntC59 treatment. The level of β-catenin, the executor protein of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, was elevated by LPS and suppressed by Wnt-C59. Overexpression of β-catenin rescued the suppressive effect of Wnt-C59 on proinflammatory cytokine expression and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity. We found that the interaction between β-catenin and NF-κB, measured by co-immunoprecipitation assay, was elevated by LPS and suppressed by Wnt-C59 treatment. Both NF-κB activity for its target DNA binding and the reporter activity of NF-κB-responsive promoter showed identical patterns with the interaction between β-catenin and NF-κB. Altogether, our findings suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of Wnt-C59 is mediated by the reduction of the cellular level of β-catenin and the interaction between β-catenin and NF-κB, which results in the suppressions of the NF-κB activity and proinflammatory cytokine expression.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권5호
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• pp.705-715
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• 2021

Objective : Through our previous clinical trials, the demonstrated therapeutic effects of MSC in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) were found to be not sufficient. Therefore, the need to develop stem cell agent with enhanced efficacy is increased. We transplanted enhanced Wnt3-asecreting human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) into injured spines at 6 weeks after SCI to improve axonal regeneration in a rat model of chronic SCI. We hypothesized that enhanced Wnt3a protein expression could augment neuro-regeneration after SCI. Methods : Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were injured using an Infinite Horizon (IH) impactor at the T9-10 vertebrae and separated into five groups : 1) phosphate-buffered saline injection (injury only group, n=7); 2) hMSC transplantation (MSC, n=7); 3) hMSC transfected with pLenti vector (without Wnt3a gene) transplantation (pLenti-MSC, n=7); 4) hMSC transfected with Wnt3a gene transplantation (Wnt3a-MSC, n=7); and 5) hMSC transfected with enhanced Wnt3a gene (1.7 fold Wnt3a mRNA expression) transplantation (1.7 Wnt3a-MSC, n=8). Six weeks after SCI, each 5×10⁵ cells/15 µL at 2 points were injected using stereotactic and microsyringe pump. To evaluate functional recovery from SCI, rats underwent Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor test on the first, second, and third days post-injury and then weekly for 14 weeks. Axonal regeneration was assessed using growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), and neurofilament (NF) immunostaining. Results : Fourteen weeks after injury (8 weeks after transplantation), BBB score of the 1.7 Wnt3a-MSC group (15.0±0.28) was significantly higher than that of the injury only (10.0±0.48), MSC (12.57±0.48), pLenti-MSC (12.42±0.48), and Wnt3a-MSC (13.71±0.61) groups (p<0.05). Immunostaining revealed increased expression of axonal regeneration markers GAP43, MAP2, and NF in the Wnt3a-MSC and 1.7 Wnt3a-MSC groups. Conclusion : Our results showed that enhanced gene expression of Wnt3a in hMSC can potentiate axonal regeneration and improve functional recovery in a rat model of chronic SCI.

• 한국해양바이오학회지
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• 제1권4호
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• pp.305-310
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• 2006

Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin 신호전달계의 비정상적인 활성화는 ${\beta}$-catenin response transcription (CRT)를 증가시킬 뿐 아니라 대장암의 발생과 밀접한 관련이 있다. 따라서 Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin 신호전달계는 대장암에 대한 항암제 개발 및 대장암 치료에 중요한 표적이 된다. 본 연구에서는 세포기반 초고속 스크리닝 기법을 사용하여 Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin 신호를 저해하는 참그물 바탕말 추출물을 발굴하였다. 참그물 바탕말 추출물은 세포내 ${\beta}$-catenin 단백질 수준에는 영향을 미치지 않았으며 ${\beta}$-catenin/TCF에 의해 조절되는 유전자 중의 하나인 cyclin D1의 발현을 저해하였다. 또한 참그물 바탕말 추출물은 다양한 대장암의 증식을 저해하였다. 본 연구의 결과들로부터 참그물 바탕말 추출물이 잠재적으로 대장암을 포함하는 새로운 암 예방 및 치료제로 사용될 수 있을 것이다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.469-478
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• 2022

WNT signaling plays an important role in cardiac development, but abnormal activity is often associated with cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, remodeling, and heart failure. The effect of WNT signaling on regulation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion is unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Wnt agonist 1 (Wnta1) on ANP secretion and mechanical dynamics in beating rat atria. Wnta1 treatment significantly increased atrial ANP secretion and pulse pressure; these effects were blocked by U73122, an antagonist of phospholipase C. U73122 also abolished the effects of Wnta1-mediated upregulation of protein kinase C (PKC) β and γ expression, and the PKC antagonist Go 6983 eliminated Wnta1-induced secretion of ANP. In addition, Wnta1 upregulated levels of phospho-transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 (p-TAK1), TAK1 banding 1 (TAB1) and phospho-activating transcription factor 2 (p-ATF2); these effects were blocked by both U73122 and Go 6983. Wnta1-induced ATF2 was abrogated by inhibition of TAK1. Furthermore, Wnta1 upregulated the expression of T cell factor (TCF) 3, TCF4, and lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF1), and these effects were blocked by U73122 and Go 6983. Tak1 inhibition abolished the Wnta1-induced expression of TCF3, TCF4, and LEF1 and Wnta1-mediated ANP secretion and changes in mechanical dynamics. These results suggest that Wnta1 increased the secretion of ANP and mechanical dynamics in beating rat atria by activation of PKC-TAK1-ATF2-TCF3/LEF1 and TCF4/LEF1 signaling mainly via the WNT/Ca²⁺ pathway. It is also suggested that WNT-ANP signaling is implicated in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology.

• BMB Reports
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• 제51권9호
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• pp.425-426
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• 2018

As highly conserved signaling cascades of multicellular organisms, Wnt and Hippo pathways control a wide range of cellular activities, including cell adhesion, fate determination, cell cycle, motility, polarity, and metabolism. Dysregulation of those pathways are implicated in many human diseases, including cancer. Similarly to ${\beta}-catenin$ in the Wnt pathway, the YAP transcription co-activator is a major player in Hippo. Although the intracellular dynamics of YAP are well-known to largely depend on phosphorylation by LATS and AMPK kinases, the molecular effector of YAP cytosolic translocation remains unidentified. Recently, we reported that the Dishevelled (DVL), a key scaffolding protein between canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathway, is responsible for nuclear export of phosphorylated YAP. The DVL is also required for YAP intracellular trafficking induced by E-cadherin, ${\alpha}-catenin$, or metabolic stress. Note that the p53/LATS2 and LKB1/AMPK tumor suppressor axes, commonly inactivated in human cancer, govern the reciprocal inhibition between DVL and YAP. Conversely, loss of the tumor suppressor allows co-activation of YAP and Wnt independent of epithelial polarity or contact inhibition in human cancer. These observations provide novel mechanistic insight into (1) a tight molecular connection merging the Wnt and Hippo pathways, and (2) the importance of tumor suppressor contexts with respect to controlled proliferation and epithelial polarity regulated by cell adhesion.