Abstract |
Beta-catenin signaling has been shown to play a fundamental role in embryonic development and tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the role of beta-catenin (Ctnnb1) in corneal homeostasis and tumorigenesis. Conditional expression of a murine Ctnnb1 gain-of-function mutation alone caused corneal neoplasia and neovascularization, resembling human ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). These corneas displayed an upregulation of cell proliferative markers ( PCNA and p63), while presenting downregulation of both the Pax-6 transcription factor and the corneal differentiation marker cytokeratin 12. In addition, the expression of limbal-type keratin 15 ectopically extended to cornea, but the pattern of conjunctival keratin 4 and epidermal keratin 10 were unchanged. Moreover, epithelial E-cadherin and laminins decreased concomitantly with elevated levels of MMP-7. We also noticed a dramatic upregulation of pro-angiogenic factors (Vegf-A, Vegfr1) and angiopoietins in these corneas. Interestingly, all human OSSN specimens examined revealed nuclear beta-catenin immunoreactivity. Taken together, these results argue that beta-catenin activation is a crucial step during OSSN pathogenesis. Thus, inhibition of beta-catenin might be beneficial for treating this disease.
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Authors | Yujin Zhang, Mindy K Call, Lung-Kun Yeh, Hongshan Liu, Tyler Kochel, I-Jong Wang, Pao-Hsien Chu, Makoto M Taketo, James V Jester, Winston W-Y Kao, Chia-Yang Liu |
Journal | Journal of cell science
(J Cell Sci)
Vol. 123
Issue Pt 8
Pg. 1285-94
(Apr 15 2010)
ISSN: 1477-9137 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 20332116
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Cadherins
- Mutant Proteins
- beta Catenin
- Matrix Metalloproteinase 7
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Topics |
- Aging
(pathology)
- Animals
- Basement Membrane
(enzymology, pathology)
- Cadherins
(metabolism)
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Membrane
(metabolism, pathology)
- Cell Nucleus
(metabolism)
- Cell Proliferation
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
(metabolism, pathology)
- Cornea
(metabolism, pathology)
- Down-Regulation
- Epithelium, Corneal
(metabolism, pathology)
- Eye Neoplasms
(metabolism, pathology)
- Humans
- Hyperplasia
- Matrix Metalloproteinase 7
(metabolism)
- Mice
- Models, Biological
- Mutant Proteins
(metabolism)
- Neoplasms, Squamous Cell
(metabolism, pathology)
- Protein Transport
- Up-Regulation
- beta Catenin
(metabolism)
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