RACK1 suppresses gastric tumorigenesis by stabilizing the β-catenin destruction complex

Gastroenterology. 2012 Apr;142(4):812-823.e15. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2011.12.046. Epub 2012 Jan 10.

Abstract

Background & aims: Dysregulation of Wnt signaling has been involved in gastric tumorigenesis by mechanisms that are not fully understood. The receptor for activated protein kinase C (RACK1, GNB2L1) is involved in development of different tumor types, but its expression and function have not been investigated in gastric tumors.

Methods: We analyzed expression of RACK1 in gastric tumor samples and their matched normal tissues from 116 patients using immunohistochemistry. Effects of knockdown with small interfering RNAs or overexpression of RACK1 in gastric cancer cell lines were evaluated in cell growth and tumor xenograft. RACK1 signaling pathways were investigated in cells and zebrafish embryos using immunoblot, immunoprecipitation, microinjection, and in situ hybridization assays.

Results: Expression of RACK1 was reduced in gastric tumor samples and correlated with depth of tumor infiltration and poor differentiation. Knockdown of RACK1 in gastric cancer cells accelerated their anchorage-independent proliferation in soft agar, whereas overexpression of RACK1 reduced their tumorigenicity in nude mice. RACK1 formed a complex with glycogen synthase kinase Gsk3β and Axin to promote the interaction between Gsk3β and β-catenin and thereby stabilized the β-catenin destruction complex. On stimulation of Wnt3a, RACK1 repressed Wnt signaling by inhibiting recruitment of Axin by Dishevelled 2 (Dvl2). Moreover, there was an inverse correlation between expression of RACK1 and localization of β-catenin to the cytoplasm/nucleus in human gastric tumor samples.

Conclusions: RACK1 negatively regulates Wnt signaling pathway by stabilizing the β-catenin destruction complex and act as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Axin Signaling Complex / genetics
  • Axin Signaling Complex / metabolism*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Female
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Receptors for Activated C Kinase
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Time Factors
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway* / genetics
  • Wnt3A Protein / metabolism
  • Zebrafish / embryology
  • Zebrafish / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Axin Signaling Complex
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • DVL2 protein, human
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Dvl2 protein, mouse
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RACK1 protein, human
  • Receptors for Activated C Kinase
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • WNT3A protein, human
  • Wnt3A Protein
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, mouse
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • GTP-Binding Proteins