Transforming growth factor-beta 1 signaling contributes to Caco-2 cell growth inhibition induced by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3).

Growth of Caco-2 and many cancer cells is inhibited by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). Whereas TGF-beta 1 inhibits normal colonic epithelial cell growth, most human colon cancer-derived cells, including Caco-2 and SW480 cells, are resistant to it. The mechanisms underlying these antiproliferative actions and resistance to TGF-beta growth inhibition are largely unknown. We observed that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] sensitized Caco-2 and SW480 cells to TGF-beta 1 growth inhibitory effects. Versus 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) alone, the combination of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and TGF-beta 1 significantly reduced cell numbers. Also, the amount of active TGF-beta 1 was increased (~4-fold) by this secosteroid in conditioned media from Caco-2 cells. The 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) increased the expression of IGF-II receptors (IGF-IIR), which facilitated activation of latent TGF-beta 1, and was found to activate TGF-beta signaling in Caco-2 cells. By using neutralizing antibodies to human TGF-beta 1, we showed that this cytokine contributes to secosteroid-induced inhibition of Caco-2 cell growth. Also, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) was found to enhance the type I TGF-beta receptor mRNA and protein abundance in Caco-2 cells. Whereas the 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced sensitization of Caco-2 cells to TGF-beta 1 was IGF-IIR independent, the type I TGF-beta 1 receptor was required for this sensitization. Thus 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) treatment of Caco-2 cells results in activation of latent TGF-beta 1, facilitated by the enhanced expression of IGF-IIR by this secosteroid. Also, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) sensitized Caco-2 cells to growth inhibitory effects of TGF-beta 1, contributing to the inhibition of Caco-2 cell growth by this secosteroid.

Apobec-1 transcription in rat colon cancer: decreased apobec-1 protein production through alterations in polysome distribution and mRNA translation associated with upstream AUGs.

Apobec-1 catalyzes C to U editing of apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA in the mammalian intestine. Rat apobec-1 is transcribed from three distinct promoters, which contain distinct 5' untranslated regions (5'UTRs) accompanied by variable numbers of in-frame upstream AUGs (uAUGs). We have observed a shift in apobec-1 promoter usage in an experimental model of colon carcinogenesis, resulting in transcripts loaded with 5'AUGs. In colon cancer, apobec-1 protein levels decreased by 90% in the cancer tissue as compared to normal tissue, suggesting an inhibitory effect of the 5'UTR on apobec-1 translation. We investigated the effects of these different 5'UTRs by site-directed mutagenesis coupled with in vitro translation studies. These studies established that the uAUGs within the 5'UTR of the alternative transcripts inhibit apobec-1 translation. This effect was independent of the length of the 5'UTR. Further analysis demonstrated that these uAUGs altered the polysome distribution, shifting the mRNA towards a denser, post-polyribosomal fraction. These findings were confirmed in transient transfection studies in vivo using HepG2 cells, where functional expression of apobec-1 was restored by mutagenesis of the uAUGs. Taken together, these data imply that rat apobec-1 gene expression is downregulated through alternative promoter usage. This dominant translational control of apobec-1 gene expression is most plausibly exerted through uAUGs.