Smad7 abrogates transforming growth factor-beta1-mediated growth inhibition in COLO-357 cells through functional inactivation of the retinoblastoma protein

Smad7 is overexpressed in 50% of human pancreatic cancers. COLO-357 pancreatic cancer cells engineered to overexpress Smad7 are resistant to the actions of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) with respect to growth inhibition and cisplatin-induced apoptosis but not with respect to modulation of gene expression. To delineate the mechanisms underlying these divergent consequences of Smad7 overexpression, we studied the effects of Smad7 on TGF-beta1-dependent signaling pathways and cell cycle regulating proteins. TGF-beta1 induced the phosphorylation of MAPK, p38 MAPK, and AKT2 irrespective of the levels of Smad7, and inhibitors of these pathways did not alter TGF-beta1 actions on cell growth. By contrast, Smad7 overexpression interfered with TGF-beta1-mediated attenuation of cyclin A and B levels, inhibition of cdc2 dephosphorylation and CDK2 inactivation, up-regulation of p27, and the maintenance of the retinoblastoma protein (RB) in a hypophosphorylated state. Smad7 also suppressed TGF-beta1-mediated inhibition of E2F activity but did not alter TGF-beta1-mediated phosphorylation of Smad2, the nuclear translocation of Smad2/3/4, or DNA binding of the Smad2/3/4 complex. Although Smad7 did not associate with the type I TGF-beta receptor (TbetaRI), SB-431542, an inhibitor of the kinase activity of this receptor, blocked TGF-beta1-mediated effects on Smad-2 phosphorylation. These findings point toward a novel paradigm whereby Smad7 acts to functionally inactivate RB and de-repress E2F without blocking the activation of TbetaRI and the nuclear translocation of Smad2/3, thereby allowing for TGF-beta1 to exert effects in a cancer cell that is resistant to TGF-beta1-mediated growth inhibition.     

IGF-binding proteins mediate TGF-beta 1-induced apoptosis in bovine mammary epithelial BME-UV1 cells

TGF-beta 1 is an antiproliferative and apoptogenic factor for mammary epithelial cells (MEC) acting in an auto/paracrine manner and thus considered an important local regulator of mammary tissue involution. However, the apoptogenic signaling pathway induced by this cytokine in bovine MEC remains obscure. The present study was focused on identification of molecules involved in apoptogenic signaling of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in the model of bovine mammary epithelial cell line (BME-UV1). Laser scanning cytometry (LSC), Western blot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were used for analysis of expression and activity of TGF-beta 1-related signaling molecules. The earliest response occurring within 1-2 h after TGF-beta 1 administration was an induction and activation of R-Smads (Smad2 and Smad3) and Co-Smad (Smad4). An evident formation of Smad-DNA complexes began from 2nd hour after MEC exposure to TGF-beta 1. Similarly to Smads, proteins of AP1 complex: phosphorylated c-Jun and JunD appeared to be early reactive molecules; however, an increase in their expression was detected only in cytosolic fraction. In the next step, an increase of IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and IGFBP-4 expression was observed from 6th hour followed by a decrease in the activity of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), which occurred after 24 h of MEC exposure to TGF-beta 1. The decrease in PKB/Akt activity coincided in time with the decline of phosphorylated Bad expression (inactive form). Present study supported additional evidence that stimulation of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) was associated with complete abrogation of TGF-beta 1-induced activation of Bad and Bax and in the consequence protection against apoptosis. In conclusion, apoptotic effect of TGF-beta 1 in bovine MEC is mediated by IGFBPs and occurs through IGF-I sequestration, resulting in inhibition of PKB/Akt-dependent survival pathway.     

Smad7 and Smad6 differentially modulate transforming growth factor beta -induced inhibition of embryonic lung morphogenesis

Transforming growth factors beta (TGF-beta) are known negative regulators of lung development, and excessive TGF-beta production has been noted in pulmonary hypoplasia associated with lung fibrosis. Inhibitory Smad7 was recently identified to antagonize TGF-beta family signaling by interfering with the activation of TGF-beta signal-transducing Smad complexes. To investigate whether Smad7 can regulate TGF-beta-induced inhibition of lung morphogenesis, ectopic overexpression of Smad7 was introduced into embryonic mouse lungs in culture using a recombinant adenovirus containing Smad7 cDNA. Although exogenous TGF-beta efficiently reduced epithelial lung branching morphogenesis in control virus-infected lung culture, TGF-beta-induced branching inhibition was abolished after epithelial transfer of the Smad7 gene into lungs in culture. Smad7 also prevented TGF-beta-mediated down-regulation of surfactant protein C gene expression, a marker of bronchial epithelial differentiation, in cultured embryonic lungs. Moreover, we found that Smad7 transgene expression blocked Smad2 phosphorylation induced by exogenous TGF-beta ligand in lung culture, indicating that Smad7 exerts its inhibitory effect on both lung growth and epithelial cell differentiation through modulation of TGF-beta pathway-restricted Smad activity. However, the above anti-TGF-beta signal transduction effects were not observed in cultured embryonic lungs with Smad6 adenoviral gene transfer, suggesting that Smad7 and Smad6 differentially regulate TGF-beta signaling in developing lungs. Our data therefore provide direct evidence that Smad7, but not Smad6, prevents TGF-beta-mediated inhibition of both lung branching morphogenesis and cytodifferentiation, establishing the mechanistic basis for Smad7 as a novel target to ameliorate aberrant TGF-beta signaling during lung development, injury, and repair.     

Smad7 antagonizes transforming growth factor beta signaling in the nucleus by interfering with functional Smad-DNA complex formation

Smad7 plays an essential role in the negative-feedback regulation of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signaling by inhibiting TGF-beta signaling at the receptor level. It can interfere with binding to type I receptors and thus activation of receptor-regulated Smads or recruit the E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf to receptors and thus target them for degradation. Here, we report that Smad7 is predominantly localized in the nucleus of Hep3B cells. The targeted expression of Smad7 in the nucleus conferred superior inhibitory activity on TGF-beta signaling, as determined by reporter assay in mammalian cells and by its effect on zebrafish embryogenesis. Furthermore, Smad7 repressed Smad3/4-, Smad2/4-, and Smad1/4-enhanced reporter gene expression, indicating that Smad7 can function independently of type I receptors. An oligonucleotide precipitation assay revealed that Smad7 can specifically bind to the Smad-responsive element via its MH2 domain, and DNA-binding activity was further confirmed in vivo with the promoter of PAI-1, a TGF-beta target gene, by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Finally, we provide evidence that Smad7 disrupts the formation of the TGF-beta-induced functional Smad-DNA complex. Our findings suggest that Smad7 inhibits TGF-beta signaling in the nucleus by a novel mechanism.     

Opposite effects of dihydrosphingosine 1-phosphate and sphingosine 1-phosphate on transforming growth factor-beta/Smad signaling are mediated through the PTEN/PPM1A-dependent pathway

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is an important regulator of physiological connective tissue biosynthesis and plays a central role in pathological tissue fibrosis. Previous studies have established that a biologically active lipid mediator, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), mimics some of the profibrotic functions of TGF-beta through cross-activation of Smad signaling. Here we report that another product of sphingosine kinase, dihydrosphingosine 1-phosphate (dhS1P), has an opposite role in the regulation of TGF-beta signaling. In contrast to S1P, dhS1P inhibits TGF-beta-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation and up-regulation of collagen synthesis. The effects of dhS1P require a lipid phosphatase, PTEN, a key modulator of cell growth and survival. dhS1P stimulates phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of PTEN and its subsequent translocation into the nucleus. We demonstrate a novel function of nuclear PTEN as a co-factor of the Smad2/3 phosphatase, PPM1A. Complex formation of PTEN with PPM1A does not require the lipid phosphatase activity but depends on phosphorylation of the serine/threonine residues located in the C-terminal domain of PTEN. Upon complex formation with PTEN, PPM1A is protected from degradation induced by the TGF-beta signaling. Consequently, overexpression of PTEN abrogates TGF-beta-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation. This study establishes a novel role for nuclear PTEN in the stabilization of PPM1A. PTEN-mediated cross-talk between the sphingolipid and TGF-beta signaling pathways may play an important role in physiological and pathological TGF-beta signaling.     

Smad and p38-MAPK signaling mediates apoptotic effects of transforming growth factor-beta1 in human airway epithelial cells

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) belongs to a family of multifunctional cytokines that regulate a variety of biological processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. The effects of TGF-beta1 are cell context and cell cycle specific and may be signaled through several pathways. We examined the effect of TGF-beta1 on apoptosis of primary human central airway epithelial cells and cell lines. TGF-beta1 protected human airway epithelial cells from apoptosis induced by either activation of the Fas death receptor (CD95) or by corticosteroids. This protective effect was blocked by inhibition of the Smad pathway via overexpression of inhibitory Smad7. The protective effect is associated with an increase in the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 and was blocked by the overexpression of key gatekeeper cyclins for the G1/S interface, cyclins D1 and E. Blockade of the Smad pathway by overexpression of the inhibitory Smad7 permitted demonstration of a TGF-beta-mediated proapoptotic pathway. This proapoptotic effect was blocked by inhibition of the p38 MAPK kinase signaling with the inhibitor SB-203580 and was associated with an increase in p38 activity as measured by a kinase assay. Here we demonstrate dual signaling pathways involving TGF-beta1, an antiapoptotic pathway mediated by the Smad pathway involving p21, and an apoptosis-permissive pathway mediated in part by p38 MAPK.     

Growth inhibition by insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in T47D breast cancer cells requires transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta ) and the type II TGF-beta receptor

This study explores the relationship between anti-proliferative signaling by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in human breast cancer cells. In MCF-7 cells, the expression of recombinant IGFBP-3 inhibited proliferation and sensitized the cells to further inhibition by TGF-beta1. To investigate the mechanism, we used T47D cells that lack type II TGF-beta receptor (TGF-betaRII) and are insensitive to TGF-beta1. After introducing the TGF-betaRII by transfection, the basal proliferation rate was significantly decreased. Exogenous TGF-beta1 caused no further growth inhibition, but immunoneutralization of endogenous TGF-beta1 restored the proliferation rate almost to the control level. The addition of IGFBP-3 did not inhibit the proliferation of control cells but caused dose-dependent inhibition in TGF-betaRII-expressing cells when exogenous TGF-beta1 was also present. Similarly, receptor-expressing cells showed dose-dependent sensitivity to exogenous TGF-beta1 only in the presence of exogenous IGFBP-3. This indicates that in these cells, anti-proliferative signaling by exogenous IGFBP-3 requires both the TGF-betaRII and exogenous TGF-beta1. To investigate this synergism, the phosphorylation of TGF-beta signaling intermediates, Smad2 and Smad3, was measured. Phosphorylation of each Smad was stimulated by TGF-beta1 and, independently, by IGFBP-3 with the two agents together showing a cumulative effect. These data suggest that IGFBP-3 inhibitory signaling requires an active TGF-beta signaling pathway and implicate Smad2 and Smad3 in IGFBP-3 signal transduction.