Journal: Frontiers in Oncology
Article Title: Chemotherapy induces feedback up-regulation of CD44v6 in colorectal cancer initiating cells through β -catenin/MDR1 signaling to sustain chemoresistance
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.906260
Figure Lengend Snippet: CICs isolated from resistant cells demonstrate resistance to FOLFOX treatment through WNT3A/ β -catenin signaling. (A) , QPCR (Upper panel) and western blot (Lower Panel) data are shown for CD44v6 mRNA (Upper panel) and protein expression (Lower panel) in CICs isolated from SQ tumors of SW480-FR, SW480-OXA, SW-5-FU, and SW480-S cells that were treated with or without either 1 x FOLFOX for 12 hours, Inset: CICs isolated from SQ tumors of SW480-FR, SW480-OXA, SW-5-FU, and SW480-S cells that were treated with either 1 x FOLFOX, or 1.2 ng/ml of WNT inhibitor LGK974 (IC 50, for LGK974 in SW480-S and SW480-FR cells are 0.8 ng/ml and 1.15 ng/ml [data not shown]), or 1 x FOLFOX + LGK974 for 12 hours. QPCR analysis was done with total RNA extracted from these treated cells and data are shown for CD44v6 mRNA. (B) , Secretion of WNT3A was measured by ELISA in sensitive and FR cells of SW480 after treatment with DMSO. Or 1 x FOLFOX, or 1.2ng/ml of LGK974, or 1 x FOLFOX + LGK974 for the indicated times. (C) , Sensitive and FR cells of SW480 were transfected with 50 ng TOPFlash and 50 ng TK-Renilla vectors, or with 50 ng FOPFlash and 50 ng TK-Renilla vectors. The TOPFlash/FOPFlash promoter was activated by treatment with FOLFOX (1x) for 12 hours. Cells were lysed and subjected to luciferase measurements. (D-E) , Validations of β -catenin shRNAs ( β -catenin sh1 and β -catenin sh2) (D) and of constitutively active β -actin (E) used in the following experiments (H-K) were examined. In “D”, the indicated shRNA mediated knockdown and the corresponding knock-in (KI) gene transfections were dune as described in Methods. Target proteins were analyzed by WB analysis ( β -tubulin, internal control). (F) , CD44v6 negative PD-FR/NON-CICs were transfected with either TOPFlash and control TK-Renilla vectors, or with FOPFlash and TK-Renilla vectors together with increasing time of incubation with CD44v6 cDNAs. After 48 hours, the cells were stimulated with or without 20 ng/ml WNT3A for the indicated times. Then the cells were lysed and subjected to luciferase measurements (upper panel) or, in parallel, to WB analysis for CD44v6 and Flag. (G) , PD-FR CICs were transfected with NT sh1, or with CD44v6 sh1. After 48 hours, cells were analyzed for WNT3A stimulated β -catenin/TCF4 promoter luciferase activity as shown in upper panel or, in parallel, to WB analysis with the indicated proteins (lower panel). (H, J) , SW480-FR CICs were transfected with NT sh1, or CD44v6 sh1 (v6 sh1), or β -catenin sh1, or treated with DMSO, or 1.2 ng/ml of LGK974. 48 hours after the transfections, and 12 hours after the LGK974 treatment, cell growth was assessed by counting colonies in a clonogenic growth assay (H) , and apoptosis was assessed by the Annexin V positive stain assay (J) . (I, K) , SW480-FR Non-CICs were transfected with vector control, v6 cDNA, or CA β -catenin cDNA. 48 hours after the transfections, cell growth was assessed by clonogenic growth assay (I) , and apoptosis was assessed by the Annexin V positive stain assay (K) . Data are presented as Mean ± SD from n = 3-4 replicates in three independent experiments. All WB data are representative of 4 independent experiments. (A) * P < 0.05 was considered significant for red asterisks, CD44v6 mRNA levels of FOLFOX treated cells were compared with the DMSO treated cells; * P < 0.05 considered significant for the green and blue asterisks, CD44v6 mRNA levels of 1.2 ng/ml, LGK974 and FOLFOX + LGK974 treated cells were compared with DMSO, or FOLFOX treated controls. (B) , *P < 0.05, was considered significant, secreted WNT3A in LGK974 treated cells of SW480-S and SW480-FR were compared with their respective DMSO treated controls. (C) , *P < 0.05, was considered significant, FOLFOX treated cells of SW480-S and SW480-FR were compared with their respective DMSO treated controls. (D-E) , *P < 0.05, was considered significant, WNT3A treated PD-FR NON-CICs (D) and PD-FR CICs (E) at various time points were compared with their respective untreated controls. (F, H) , *P < 0.05, was considered significant, v6 shRNA1, β -catenin shRNA1, and LGK974 treated clonogenic growth (F) , and Annexin V positive (H) CICs were compared with their appropriate vector + NTshRNA, and DMSO controls. (G, I) , *P < 0.05, was considered significant, v6 cDNA, CA- β -catenin CDNA overexpressed clonogenic growth (G) , and Annexin V positive (I) NON-CICs were compared with their appropriate vector controls.
Article Snippet: The M50 Super 8x TOPFlash vector (plasmid 12456) with a luciferase gene under the control of seven TCF/LEF-binding sites and the corresponding M51 Super 8x FOPFlash vector (plasmid 12457) with mutated TCF/LEF-binding sites were obtained from Addgene (Cambridge, MA, USA).
Techniques: Isolation, Western Blot, Expressing, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Transfection, Luciferase, shRNA, Knockdown, Knock-In, Control, Incubation, Activity Assay, Growth Assay, Staining, Plasmid Preparation