NOTCH3 SIGNALING REGULATES MUSASHI-1 EXPRESSION IN METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER CELLS.
By: Anna Pasto, Valentina Serafin, Giorgia Pilotto, Claudia Lago, Chiara Bellio, Livio Trusolino, Andrea Bertotti, Timothy Hoey, Michelina Plateroti, Giovanni Esposito, Marica Pinazza, Marco Agostini, Donato Nitti, Alberto Amadori, Stefano Indraccolo

Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS.
2014-2-15; doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-13-2022
Abstract

Musashi-1 (Msi-1) is a well-established stem cell marker in both normal and malignant colon cells and it acts by positively regulating the Notch pathway through inactivation of Numb, a Notch signalling repressor. To date, the mechanisms of regulation of Msi-1 levels remain largely unknown. Here we investigated the regulation of Msi-1 by Notch signalling in the colorectal cancer cell lines MICOL-14tum and LoVo and in primary cultures of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases. Stimulation by the Notch ligand DLL4 was associated with an increase of Msi-1 mRNA and protein levels, and this phenomenon was prevented by the addition of antibody neutralizing Notch2/3 but not Notch1. Moreover, forced expression of activated Notch3 increased Msi-1 levels, whereas silencing of Notch3 by shRNA reduced Msi-1 levels in both CRC cells and tumor xenografts. Consistent with these findings, forced Notch3 expression or stimulation by DLL4 increased levels of activated Notch1 in MICOL-14tum and LoVo cells. Finally, treatment of CRC cells with anti-Notch2/3 antibody increased Numb protein while significantly reducing formation of spheroids in both MICOL-14tum cells and primary tumor cultures. This novel feed-forward circuit involving DLL4, Notch3, Msi-1, Numb and Notch1 may be relevant for regulation of Notch signalling in physiological processes as well as in tumor development. With regard to therapeutic implications, Notch3-specific drugs could represent a valuable strategy to limit Notch signaling in the context of colorectal cancers overexpressing this receptor.





PMID:24525742






Copyright 2026 InterMDnet | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | System Requirements