Background/aim: Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is a member of the ATF/CREB transcription factor family and has been proposed as a molecular target for cancer therapy. The present study was undertaken in order to investigate whether ATF3 influences cancer-related phenotypes in colorectal cancer.
Materials and methods: ATF3 was overexpressed in human colorectal cancer cells and the effects of ATF3 on apoptosis, cell cycle, cell migration and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) were investigated. B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) promoter was cloned and used for luciferase assay in cells transfected with control or ATF3 expression vector.
Results: ATF3 down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and promoter activity of the Bcl-2 gene. ATF3 increased collective cell migration and expression of cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) and decreased retinoblastoma (Rb) expression. In addition, ATF3 down-regulated EMT-inducing transcription factors and β-catenin.
Conclusion: ATF3 may play a dichotomous role in apoptosis and metastasis in human colorectal cancer cells.
Keywords: Activating transcription factor 3; Bcl-2; apoptosis; colorectal cancer; migration.
Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.