Project description:WNT2 is important for placenta vascularization and acts as a pro-angiogenic factor for liver and other endothelial cells (ECs). WNT2 induction has been shown in many carcinomas and is associated with tumor progression. In colorectal cancer (CRC) WNT2 is selectively elevated in cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), leading to increased invasion and metastasis. However, if there is a role for WNT2 in colon cancer angiogenesis has not been addressed so far. Here, we demonstrate that WNT2 enhances EC migration and invasion, while it induces ß catenin dependent signaling in only a small subset of HUVECs. We show that siRNA-mediated knockdown of WNT2 in CAFs reduced the growth of vessel-like structures significantly in a co-culture assay, while the overexpression of WNT2 in skin fibroblasts otherwise being devoid of WNT2 led to increased angiogenesis in vitro. In a xenograft model, overexpression of WNT2 in HCT116 led to enhanced tumor volume and vessel density. Moreover, WNT2 expression correlates with vessel markers in human CRC. Secretome profiling of CAFs revealed that proteins related to angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling are regulated by WNT2. Thus, stroma-derived WNT2 positively affects angiogenesis in CRC by shifting the balance towards pro-angiogenic signals.
Project description:The Wnt/M-NM-2-catenin pathway plays multiple/diverse roles in development by regulating gene expression via Tcf/Lef DNA binding factors. Misregulation of this pathway is thought to initiate colon adenoma formation. It is controversial whether Tcf4 (Tcf7L2) functions as an oncogene or tumor suppressor gene in colon carcinogenesis. We show here that Tcf4 haploinsufficiency results in colon tumor formation in a mouse tumor model that normally only develops small intestinal tumors. Further, we show that loss of Tcf4 early in development and in adult colon results in increased cell proliferation. These findings strongly suggest that Tcf4 normally modulates proliferation of the colonic epithelium and that disruption of Tcf4 activity increases proliferation leading to colon tumorigenesis. Taken together our in vivo studies favor a tumor suppressor function for Tcf4. 4 Normal Colon and 4 colon tumor from independent mouse tissue samples
Project description:We previously identified Synbindin promoted gastric and colon cancer development by activating ERK on the Golgi in vitro. Advanced in vivo evidence is required.In this study, we genetically manipulated Synbindin expression in the intestinal epithelium using loss-of-function mouse models and subject them to AOM/DSS induced colitis-associated cancer model. At the end of the model, mice were sacrificed and colon tumors and adjacent colon epithelium were scraped and used for RNA-seq.
Project description:The Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays multiple/diverse roles in development by regulating gene expression via Tcf/Lef DNA binding factors. Misregulation of this pathway is thought to initiate colon adenoma formation. It is controversial whether Tcf4 (Tcf7L2) functions as an oncogene or tumor suppressor gene in colon carcinogenesis. We show here that Tcf4 haploinsufficiency results in colon tumor formation in a mouse tumor model that normally only develops small intestinal tumors. Further, we show that loss of Tcf4 early in development and in adult colon results in increased cell proliferation. These findings strongly suggest that Tcf4 normally modulates proliferation of the colonic epithelium and that disruption of Tcf4 activity increases proliferation leading to colon tumorigenesis. Taken together our in vivo studies favor a tumor suppressor function for Tcf4.
Project description:expression analysis in colon cancer from Msh2 and Tgfbr2 intestinal epithelium inactivated mouse model detailed gene expression analysis in colon cacer developed in mouse model with Msh2 and Tgfbr2 inactivated eary n from Villin Cre recombnase exclusively in the intestine
Project description:Background & Aims: We have recently established long-term culture conditions under which single crypts or stem cells derived from murine small intestine expand over long periods of time. Growing crypts undergo multiple crypt fission events, whilst simultaneously generating villus-like epithelial domains in which all differentiated cell types are present. We have now adapted the culture conditions to grow similar epithelial organoids from mouse colon and human small intestine and colon. Methods: Based on the murine small intestinal culture system, we optimized the murine and human colon culture system. Results: Addition of Wnt3A to the growth factor cocktail allowed mouse colon crypts to expand indefinitely. Further addition of nicotinamide, a small molecule Alk inhibitor and a p38 inhibitor was essential for long-term human small intestine and colon culture. The culture system also allowed growth of murine Apcmin adenomas, human colorectal cancer and human esophageal metaplastic Barrett’s epithelium. Conclusion: The culture technology should be widely applicable as a research tool for infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic pathologies of the human gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, regenerative applications may become feasible with ex vivo expanded intestinal epithelia.
Project description:Epithelial cells play an important role in the protection of the colon mucosa from the resident microbiota and are involved in the initiation and maintenance of intestinal inflammation. LMD is a technique that allows the extraction of specific cell types, such as colonic epithelial cells, to analyse gene expression. LMD of colon epithelial cells followed by microarray analysis could be of more value than microarray analysis of intact colon for determining which pathways are active in the colon mucosa in the early and late stages of inflammation due to increased sensitivity to changes in specific cell populations. An experiment was performed using microarray analysis of intact colon samples and microdissected colon epithelial cell samples from Il10-/- and C57BL/6J mice at 6 and 12 weeks of age to study the molecular changes that occur in early and late inflammation stages in colon epithelium of a mouse model of colitis. Results showed that intact colon and colon epithelial cell gene expression profiles were similar in terms of pathways between Il10-/- and C57BL/6J mice at 12 weeks of age and between Il10-/- mice at 12 and 6 weeks of age. More immune-related pathways were identified at 6 weeks of age in epithelial cells than intact colon. This suggests that LMD and targeting of specific cell types may be of particular use when studying the early stages of inflammation before the intestinal morphology is detectably altered, by increasing analysis sensitivity to mucosal gene expression changes. 2x2 factorial with two tissue types analysed. Two strains of mouse (Il10 knockout mouse and the background strain C57BL/6J) were sampled at 2 timepoints (6 and 12 weeks of age) and intact proximal colon and colon epithelium harvested from each mouse (6 mice per group except for group colon epithelium C57 mouse 12 weeks where only 5 samples reached quality control standards).
Project description:Epithelial cells play an important role in the protection of the colon mucosa from the resident microbiota and are involved in the initiation and maintenance of intestinal inflammation. LMD is a technique that allows the extraction of specific cell types, such as colonic epithelial cells, to analyse gene expression. LMD of colon epithelial cells followed by microarray analysis could be of more value than microarray analysis of intact colon for determining which pathways are active in the colon mucosa in the early and late stages of inflammation due to increased sensitivity to changes in specific cell populations. An experiment was performed using microarray analysis of intact colon samples and microdissected colon epithelial cell samples from Il10-/- and C57BL/6J mice at 6 and 12 weeks of age to study the molecular changes that occur in early and late inflammation stages in colon epithelium of a mouse model of colitis. Results showed that intact colon and colon epithelial cell gene expression profiles were similar in terms of pathways between Il10-/- and C57BL/6J mice at 12 weeks of age and between Il10-/- mice at 12 and 6 weeks of age. More immune-related pathways were identified at 6 weeks of age in epithelial cells than intact colon. This suggests that LMD and targeting of specific cell types may be of particular use when studying the early stages of inflammation before the intestinal morphology is detectably altered, by increasing analysis sensitivity to mucosal gene expression changes.