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The Wnt/Wg signal transducer beta-catenin controls fibronectin expression.

ABSTRACT: beta-Catenin stabilizes the cadherin cell adhesion complex but, as a component of the Wnt/Wg signaling pathway, also controls gene expression by forming a heterodimer with a transcription factor of the LEF-TCF family. We demonstrate that the substrate adhesion molecule fibronectin is a direct target of Wnt/Wg signaling. Nuclear depletion of beta-catenin following cadherin transfection in Xenopus fibroblasts resulted in downregulation of fibronectin expression which was restored by activating the Wnt/Wg signaling cascade via LiCl treatment or transfection of either Xwnt-8 or beta-catenin. We isolated the Xenopus fibronectin gene (FN) promoter and found four putative LEF-TCF binding sites. By comparing the activities of different fibronectin gene reporter constructs in fibroblasts and cadherin transfectants, the LEF-TCF site at position -368 was identified as a Wnt/Wg response element. LEF-1-related proteins were found in nuclei of the fibroblasts but were absent in a kidney epithelial cell line. Consistent with the lack of these transcription factors, the FN promoter was silent in the epithelial cells but was activated upon transfection of LEF-1. Wild-type Xenopus Tcf-3 (XTcf-3) was unable to activate FN promoter reporter constructs, while a mutant lacking the groucho binding region behaved like LEF-1. In contrast to XTcf-3, LEF-1 does not interact with groucho proteins, which turn TCFs into activators or repressors (J. Roose, M. Molenaar, J. Hurenkamp, J. Peterson, H. Brantjes, P. Moerer, M. van de Wetering, O. Destreé, and H. Clevers, Nature 395:608-612, 1998). Together these data provide evidence that expressing LEF-1 enables fibroblasts, in contrast to epithelial cells, to respond to the Wnt/Wg signal via beta-catenin in stimulating fibronectin gene transcription. Our findings further promote the idea that due to its dual function, beta-catenin regulates the balance between cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion.

SUBMITTER: Gradl D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC84410 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The Wnt/Wg signal transducer beta-catenin controls fibronectin expression.

Gradl D D Kühl M M Wedlich D D

Molecular and cellular biology 19990801 8

beta-Catenin stabilizes the cadherin cell adhesion complex but, as a component of the Wnt/Wg signaling pathway, also controls gene expression by forming a heterodimer with a transcription factor of the LEF-TCF family. We demonstrate that the substrate adhesion molecule fibronectin is a direct target of Wnt/Wg signaling. Nuclear depletion of beta-catenin following cadherin transfection in Xenopus fibroblasts resulted in downregulation of fibronectin expression which was restored by activating the ...[more]

PMID: 10409747

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Project description:AimsAngiotensin (Ang) II signalling has been suggested to promote cardiac fibrosis in inflammatory heart diseases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Using Agtr1a-/- mice with genetic deletion of angiotensin receptor type 1 (ATR1) and the experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) model, we aimed to elucidate the role of Ang II-ATR1 pathway in development of heart-specific autoimmunity and post-inflammatory fibrosis.Methods and resultsEAM was induced in wild-type (WT) and Agtr1a-/- mice by subcutaneous injections with alpha myosin heavy chain peptide emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. Agtr1a-/- mice developed myocarditis to a similar extent as WT controls at day 21 but showed reduced fibrosis and better systolic function at day 40. Crisscross bone marrow chimaera experiments proved that ATR1 signalling in the bone marrow compartment was critical for cardiac fibrosis. Heart infiltrating, bone-marrow-derived cells produced Ang II, but lack of ATR1 in these cells reduced transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-mediated fibrotic responses. At the molecular level, Agtr1a-/- heart-inflammatory cells showed impaired TGF-β-mediated phosphorylation of Smad2 and TAK1. In WT cells, TGF-β induced formation of RhoA-GTP and RhoA-A-kinase anchoring protein-Lbc (AKAP-Lbc) complex. In Agtr1a-/- cells, stabilization of RhoA-GTP and interaction of RhoA with AKAP-Lbc were largely impaired. Furthermore, in contrast to WT cells, Agtr1a-/- cells stimulated with TGF-β failed to activate canonical Wnt pathway indicated by suppressed activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3)β and nuclear β-catenin translocation and showed reduced expression of Wnts. In line with these in vitro findings, β-catenin was detected in inflammatory regions of hearts of WT, but not Agtr1a-/- mice and expression of canonical Wnt1 and Wnt10b were lower in Agtr1a-/- hearts.ConclusionAng II-ATR1 signalling is critical for development of post-inflammatory fibrotic remodelling and dilated cardiomyopathy. Our data underpin the importance of Ang II-ATR1 in effective TGF-β downstream signalling response including activation of profibrotic Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

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The Wnt/Wg signal transducer beta-catenin controls fibronectin expression.

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The Wnt/Wg signal transducer beta-catenin controls fibronectin expression.

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