β-Catenin-dependent lysosomal targeting of internalized tumor necrosis factor-α suppresses caspase-8 activation in apoptosis-resistant colon cancer cells

Mol Biol Cell. 2013 Feb;24(4):465-73. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E12-09-0662. Epub 2012 Dec 21.

Abstract

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is constitutively activated in more than 90% of human colorectal cancer. Activated β-catenin stimulates cell proliferation and survival, however, its antiapoptotic mechanisms are not fully understood. We show here that activated β-catenin is required to suppress caspase-8 activation, but only in colon cancer cells that are resistant to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF)-induced apoptosis. We found that lysosomal delivery of internalized TNF occurred at a faster pace in apoptosis-resistant than in apoptosis-sensitive colon cancer cells. Retardation of endosomal trafficking through vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) inhibition enhanced caspase-8 activation in apoptosis-resistant but not apoptosis-sensitive cells. Interestingly, knockdown of β-catenin also prolonged TNF association with the early endosome and enhanced caspase-8 activation in apoptosis-resistant but not apoptosis-sensitive colon cancer cells. In a mouse model of inflammation-associated colon tumors, we found nuclear expression of β-catenin, resistance to TNF-induced apoptosis, and reactivation of apoptosis in vivo after cotreatment of TNF with a V-ATPase inhibitor. Together these results suggest that activated β-catenin can facilitate endosomal trafficking of internalized TNF to suppress caspase-8 activation in colon cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caspase 8 / genetics*
  • Caspase 8 / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colonic Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Endocytosis / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic* / drug effects
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / drug effects*
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology*
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / genetics
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • beta Catenin / genetics*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • beta Catenin
  • Caspase 8
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases