Loss of BCL9/9l suppresses Wnt driven tumourigenesis in models that recapitulate human cancer

Nat Commun. 2019 Feb 13;10(1):723. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-08586-3.

Abstract

Different thresholds of Wnt signalling are thought to drive stem cell maintenance, regeneration, differentiation and cancer. However, the principle that oncogenic Wnt signalling could be specifically targeted remains controversial. Here we examine the requirement of BCL9/9l, constituents of the Wnt-enhanceosome, for intestinal transformation following loss of the tumour suppressor APC. Although required for Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells and regeneration, Bcl9/9l deletion has no impact upon normal intestinal homeostasis. Loss of BCL9/9l suppressed many features of acute APC loss and subsequent Wnt pathway deregulation in vivo. This resulted in a level of Wnt pathway activation that favoured tumour initiation in the proximal small intestine (SI) and blocked tumour growth in the colon. Furthermore, Bcl9/9l deletion completely abrogated β-catenin driven intestinal and hepatocellular transformation. We speculate these results support the just-right hypothesis of Wnt-driven tumour formation. Importantly, loss of BCL9/9l is particularly effective at blocking colonic tumourigenesis and mutations that most resemble those that occur in human cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells
  • Oncogenes
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • BCL9 protein, human
  • BCL9L protein, human
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • LGR5 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Transcription Factors
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin