P120ctn overexpression enhances beta-catenin-E-cadherin binding and down regulates expression of survivin and cyclin D1 in BEL-7404 hepatoma cells.

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 beta-catenin and E-cadherin binding as well as p120ctn and beta-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. RESULTS: 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. Beta-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.

[The relationship between p120ctn translocation and malignant features of hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of catenin p120 (p120ctn) translocation on the malignant features of hepatocellular carcinoma and its interrelation with beta-catenin in E-cadherin-mediated cell signaling. METHODS: Expression and translocation of p120ctn, tyrosine phosphorylation, and its binding capacity to E-cadherin were detected by DNA transfection, immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation. Cellular localization of p120ctn and beta-catenin was detected by immunofluorescent microscopy. Cell adhesion, cell migration and cell proliferation were also studied. RESULTS: Expression of p120ctn increased after cells transfected with p120ctn isoform 3A, and it was located mainly at cell-cell contact region. Its binding to E-cadherin was enhanced. After EGF stimulation, tyrosine phosphorylation of p120ctn was increased, membrane expression of p120ctn and beta-catenin was decreased while cytosol expression was increased. It was translocated into the nucleus, cell adhesiveness was increased but mobility decreased. With over-expression of p120ctn, beta-catenin was recruited by nucleus export. Cell proliferation was reduced but it was increased after EGF treatment. CONCLUSION: p120tn plays an important role in cell adhesion, migration and proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma, and its tyrosine phosphorylation might contribute to this mechanism. There might be a competitive relationship between p120ctn and beta-catenin.

[p120(ctn) tyrosine phosphorylation are involved in the biologic behavior changes of hepatocellular carcinoma cells].

OBJECTIVE: In hepatocellular carcinoma cells, the tyrosine phosphorylation of p120(ctn) was stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) to investigate the relationship between the tyrosine phosphorylation of p120(ctn) and the translocation of p120(ctn), also the relationship between the tyrosine phosphorylation of p120(ctn) and the biological behaviour of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The role of p120(ctn) in the cell adhesion and signaling of hepatocellular carcinoma is to be investigated. METHODS: In BEL-7404 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, the tyrosine phosphotyrosine of p120(ctn) stimulated by EGF were detected by immunoprecipitation (IP) and Immunoblotting (IB). The cellular distribution and translocation of p120(ctn) and beta-catenin were detected and examined by indirect intracellular immunofluorescence. Cell morphology and cell adhesion potential were also detected using correspondent methods. Antisense nucleotide of p120(ctn) was transfected into BEL-7404 cells. RESULTS: The tyrosine phosphorylation of p120(ctn) was enhanced after EGF treatment than control, especially at 20min after EGF treatment; When BEL-7404 cells were transfected with antiseuse nucleotide of p120(ctn) before EGF treatment, the tyrosine phosphorylation of p120(ctn) stimulated by EGF was obviously lowered. We also observed that the tyrosine phosphorylation of p120(ctn) stimulated by EGF was accompanied by the nuclear translocation of p120(ctn); the similar translocation was also observed in beta-catenin after EGF stimulation. At the meantime, cell adhesion potential was reduced after EGF treatment and cell morphology became thin, elongated and irregular, speudopods increased. CONCLUSIONS: In BEL-7404 cells,the tyrosine phosphorylation of p120(ctn) could be stimulated by EGF, which was accompanied by the nuclear accumulation of p120(ctn). The tyrosine phosphorylation of p120(ctn) stimulated by EGF was also in correlation with the changes of cell adhesion and cell morphology. The results indicated that the tyrosine phosphorylation of p120(ctn) cell correlated with the translocation of p120(ctn) and the biological behavior of cells.