β-catenin基因在人骨肉瘤MG63细胞系的表达变化

目的:观察分析β-catenin基因在人骨肉瘤MG63细胞系的表达变化。方法:培养MG63细胞株,用不同浓度的Wnt3a蛋白或相同浓度、不同时间段的Wnt3a蛋白刺激液MG63细胞生长,用FQ-PCR在m RNA水平检测β-catenin在MG63细胞系的表达变化。培养MG63细胞株,用相同浓度的Wnt3a蛋白刺激,比较刺激组与空白对照组的细胞数目的差别。结果:在细胞生长的第0,1天两组的MG63细胞数量对比没有统计学差异(P0.05);而在第2,3,4天对照组细胞增殖速度较刺激组缓缓,经比较(t=4.109,3.892,5.215,均P0.05)。β-catenin基因表达不会因为Wnt3a的浓度增加而增加。100 ng/m L的Wnt3a蛋白刺激β-catenin基因表达最高,其他几个浓度的β-catenin基因表达对比没有统计学差异(P0.05)。在100 ng/m L的Wnt3a蛋白刺激下,β-catenin基因表达会随时间延长而增加,6 h时β-catenin基因表达最高(P0.05),随后β-catenin基因表达则没有统计学差异(P0.005)。结论:Wnt蛋白对MG63细胞有正向增加增殖作用。激活Wnt/β-catenin信号通路能促进MG63的细胞增殖。     

Wnt/beta-catenin 信号通路活化的人滑膜细胞对软骨细胞的影响

目的：研究Wnt/beta-catenin 信号通路活化的人滑膜细胞对软骨细胞的作用,探讨骨关节炎（OA）发生及进展的可能途径和分子 机制。方法：beta-catenin 过表达慢病毒载体转染正常人滑膜细胞,荧光显微镜观察病毒转染情况,Western blot方法检测滑膜细胞核 内beta-catenin 蛋白表达。Transwell 小室共培养人滑膜细胞与正常人软骨细胞,倒置显微镜观察滑膜细胞对软骨细胞生长形态变化 的影响。酶联免疫吸附（ELISA）法检测不同时间点共培养体系中软骨细胞培养上清液中MMP-7 的变化,找出MMP-7 变化最明 显的时间点。同时在最佳时间点ELISA 方法检测软骨细胞培养上清液CTX-II、COMP的水平。结果：慢病毒转染滑膜细胞后,荧 光显微镜下可见多数滑膜细胞表达荧光,Western blot检测发现滑膜细胞胞浆及胞核中茁-catenin 表达明显上调（P<0.01）。通路活 化的人滑膜细胞与软骨细胞共培养后,光镜下观察软骨细胞生长形态变化不明显,但随共培养时间的延长软骨细胞生长受到抑 制,胞体边缘发白,贴壁强度降低。ELISA 结果显示通路活化的人滑膜细胞与软骨细胞共培养后软骨细胞上清液中MMP-7表达 明显升高,与正常组相比有显著差异（P<0.01）,软骨细胞上清液MMP-7 的变化有一定的时间依赖性,在共培养2 h、6 h、12 h时逐 渐升高,24 h 时略有降低,且在共培养6 h 时变化最为明显。而共培养6 h时通路激活组软骨细胞培养上清液中COMP、CTX-II水 平与正常对照组相比均明显升高（P<0.01）。结论：茁-catenin 过表达慢病毒转染正常人滑膜细胞可成功激活Wnt/茁-catenin 信号通 路,Wnt/茁-catenin 信号通路活化的滑膜细胞可影响正常软骨细胞的生长,并引起滑膜- 软骨体系内环境异常,促使软骨基质的降 解,这可能是滑膜炎促进OA 发生、发展的机制之一。     

Wnt/beta-catenin 信号通路相关蛋白在胃癌组织中的表达和 肿瘤转移的关系

目的：探讨了Wnt信号通路相关蛋白在胃癌组织中的表达及与肿瘤转移的关系。方法：选取2011 年6 月到2012 年6 月我 院胃癌术后47 例肿瘤标本作为研究对象,并选取同一患者的正常胃组织作为对照研究。采用实时荧光定量PCR 和Western blot 对胃癌组织和正常胃组织Wnt 信号通路相关蛋白进行分析,并分析了肿瘤转移和非转移患者Wnt信号通路相关蛋白的变化。结 果：与正常胃组织比较,胃癌组织中Wnt1、Wnt3、Wnt3a、beta-catenin、CyclinD1 和c-Myc 等分子的mRNA 水平明显上调,差异有显 著统计学意义（P<0.05）。胃癌组织中总beta-catenin 和核内beta-catenin蛋白较正常胃组织明显增加,而磷酸化beta-catenin 较正常组明显 下降、差异有显著统计学意义（P<0.05）。与非转移组比较,转移组患者胃癌组织中Wnt1、Wnt3、Wnt3a 等分子mRNA水平显著上 调,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：Wnt信号通路异常激活在胃癌发生和癌细胞转移中发挥着重要的作用,为临床治疗提供了 一定靶点。     

基于Wnt/β-catenin信号通路探讨miR-613对宫颈癌SiHa细胞增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响

摘要 目的：研究基于Wnt/β-catenin信号通路探讨微小RNA（miR）-613对宫颈癌SiHa细胞增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响。方法：体外培养宫颈癌SiHa细胞和正常宫颈上皮细胞H8,检测细胞中miR-613表达。根据转染miR-613 mimic浓度不同,将SiHa细胞分为0 μmol/L组,100 μmol/L和200 μmol/L组。MTT法检测细胞增殖情况,划痕实验检测细胞迁移能力,Transwell实验检测细胞侵袭能力。蛋白免疫印迹法检测miR-613表达对Wnt/β-catenin信号通路蛋白β-catenin、Vimentin、E-cadherin和MMP9表达的影响。结果：宫颈癌SiHa细胞中miR-613表达水平均显著低于正常宫颈上皮细胞H8,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。转染miR-613 mimic后,100 μmol/L、200 μmol/L 组SiHa细胞中miR-613表达水平显著上调,并且具有浓度依赖性(P<0.05)。与0 μmol/L组相比,100 μmol/L、200 μmol/L组的SiHa细胞增殖,迁移,侵袭能力均明显下降,并且具有浓度依赖性(P<0.05)。免疫印迹结果,与0 μmol/L组相比,100 μmol/L、200 μmol/L各浓度组的SiHa细胞Wnt/β-catenin信号通路蛋白β-catenin、Vimentin和MMP9表达显著下调,E-cadherin表达显著上调,并且具有浓度依赖性(P<0.05)。结论：miR-613能通过抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路抑制人宫颈癌细胞系SiHa细胞的增殖,迁移和侵袭。     

STAT3, beta-catenin 在原发性肝细胞癌组织中的表达及其与临床病理参数的关系

目的：探讨信号转导子和转录激活子3（STAT3）及beta- 连环素蛋白（beta-catenin）在原发性肝细胞癌（HCC）中的表达及其与临床 病理特征的关系。方法：使用免疫组化SP两步法检测120例HCC、30 例癌旁肝组织、30例肝硬化组织及30 例肝血管瘤标本中正 常肝组织的STAT3 蛋白及beta-catenin的表达,分析STAT3 蛋白和beta-catenin 表达与HCC 临床病理特征的关系,并采用Spearman 等级相关分析法探讨HCC 组织中STAT3 蛋白与beta-catenin 的相关性。结果：STAT3 蛋白在HCC、癌旁组织、肝硬化组织、正常肝 组织中的阳性率分别为64.17%、13.33%、43.33％及0.00%,阳性表达主要位于细胞质,茁-catenin 在HCC、癌旁组织、肝硬化组织、 正常肝组织中的阳性率分别为62.50%、16.67%、33.33%及0.00%,阳性表达亦主要位于细胞质。STAT3 及beta-catenin 在上述各类组 织中阳性率,差异均具有显著性（P<0.05）。HCC中STAT3蛋白阳性率在不同年龄、肿瘤大小、甲胎蛋白（AFP）、病理分化程度及门 脉癌栓组间差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。HCC 中STAT3 与beta-catenin 表达呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。结论：STAT3 及beta-catenin 在 HCC 的发生、发展中起着重要作用,且二者表达强度呈显著正相关。     

Wnt/β-catenin信号途径在高糖诱导肾小管上皮细胞转分化中的作用

目的探讨Wnt/β-catenin信号途径在高糖诱导肾小管上皮细胞转分化中的作用。方法体外培养人近端肾小管上皮细胞（HKC）,分为正常糖组、甘露醇对照组及高糖组。采用免疫细胞化学观察β-连环蛋白（β-catenin）表达情况;Westernblot检测Wnt4、β-catenin、E-钙粘蛋白（E-cadherin）和α-平滑肌肌动蛋白（α-SMA）表达水平;逆转录-聚合酶链反应检测Wnt4和β-cateninmRNA表达水平。结果高糖组较正常糖及渗透浓度对照组Wnt4蛋白及mRNA、α-SMA蛋白表达增高,E-cadherin表达降低,β-catenin总蛋白及mRNA水平无明显变化,细胞浆及核内蛋白表达增强。高糖刺激肾小管上皮细胞Wnt4及核β-catenin蛋白表达呈时间依赖性,于高糖刺激后12h增强,24h达到高峰。结论Wnt/β-catenin信号通路可能参与了高糖介导的肾小管上皮细胞转分化过程。     

EBP50通过Wnt3a/β-catenin信号通路抑制乳腺癌细胞的侵袭和转移

EBP50通过抑制LIMK/cofilin信号通路和PI3K/Akt/m TOR/MMP信号通路抑制乳腺癌细胞的侵袭和转移。然而,EBP50是否可以通过其他机制抑制乳腺癌细胞的侵袭和转移尚未可知。本研究发现,EBP50能通过Wnt3a/β-catenin信号通路影响乳腺癌细胞的侵袭和转移。Western印迹结果显示,EBP50在低转移细胞株MCF-7和正常乳腺细胞株MCF-10A中高表达,而在高转移细胞株MDA-MB-231低表达。采用RNAi技术将小RNA质粒瞬时转染乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7,同时将质粒pc DNA3.1-EBP50转入乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231。Western印迹结果显示,Si EBP50/MCF-7细胞组的EBP50表达水平明显下调,MDA231/EBP50细胞组的EBP50表达水平明显上调。Transwell侵袭实验和划痕实验结果显示,用Wnt3a刺激后,Si EBP50/MCF-7细胞组体外迁移和侵袭能力明显增强,MDA231/EBP50细胞组体外迁移和侵袭能力明显减弱。Western印迹结果显示,与未用Wnt3a或同时用Wnt3a和抑制剂Dkk1刺激的相比,Si EBP50/MCF-7细胞组上皮-钙粘蛋白(Ecadherin)下调,波形蛋白(vimentin)上调,细胞核中β-联蛋白(β-catenin)的表达水平升高,而MDA231/EBP50细胞组上皮-钙粘蛋白上调,波形蛋白下调,细胞核中β-联蛋白表达下降。上述结果表明,EBP50通过Wnt3a/β-catenin信号通路影响β-联蛋白的转核,抑制EMT的发生,进而抑制乳腺癌细胞的侵袭和转移。     

DLX1过表达对骨肉瘤细胞MG63迁移、侵袭、凋亡和增殖的影响

前期经基因芯片筛选发现,同源盒基因1(distal-less homeobox 1,DLX1)低表达是导致骨肉瘤形成的关键基因。该研究在此基础上,拟通过过表达DLX1探讨其对骨肉瘤细胞MG63迁移和侵袭等生物学特征的影响,并初步揭示其作用途径。采用含DLX1基因的重组腺病毒Ad DLX1(adenovirus distal-less homeobox 1)和空载腺病毒Ad RFP(adenovirus red fl uorescence protein)分别感染人骨肉瘤细胞MG63,观察细胞荧光表达情况,并用RT-PCR和Western blot验证DLX1表达水平;Transwell实验检测细胞迁移和侵袭能力;DAPI染色和流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡水平;CCK-8检测细胞增殖能力;RT-PCR和Western blot检测Wnt/β-catenin信号通路中β-catenin的表达。结果显示,与对照组(Ad RFP感染组)相比,Ad DLX1能显著增加MG63细胞中DLX1的表达,并导致细胞迁移和侵袭能力下降,但细胞增殖和凋亡情况无明显改变。DLX1过表达还可以上调Wnt/β-catenin信号通路中β-catenin的表达。该研究表明,DLX1可通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路抑制骨肉瘤细胞MG63的迁移和侵袭。     

siRNA沉默整合素beta1 基因对子宫内膜癌细胞侵袭、转移的影响

目的：探讨siRNA 沉默整合素茁1 基因对子宫内膜癌细胞侵袭、转移的影响。方法：选取子宫内膜癌ECC-1细胞系(ER阳性) 和KLE细胞系(ER阴性)，分别转染Integrin beta1 siRNA 质粒(Integrin beta1 siRNA 组)、无义序列siRNA质粒(无义序列对照组)和空载 质粒(空载对照组)，利用实时荧光定量PCR 检测各组细胞中Integrin 茁1 mRNA的表达，Western blot 检测各组细胞中Integrin beta1、 beta-catenin 和C-Myc 蛋白的表达，Transwell 小室检测各组细胞迁移和侵袭能力，MTT 法检测各组细胞的增殖情况。结果：Integrin beta1 siRNA 组ECC-1 细胞和KLE 细胞中Integrin beta1 mRNA 和蛋白相对表达量均低于无义序列对照组和空载对照组(P<0.05)； Integrin beta 1 siRNA组ECC-1 细胞和KLE细胞中beta-catenin 蛋白和C-Myc 蛋白相对表达量均低于无义序列对照组和空载对照组， 差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)；Integrin beta1 siRNA组ECC-1 细胞和KLE 细胞中迁移细胞数和侵袭细胞数均低于无义序列对照组 和空载对照组(P<0.05)；Integrin beta1 siRNA 组ECC-1细胞和KLE 细胞的A 值均低于无义序列对照组和空载对照组(P<0.05)。结 论：特异性抑制Integrin beta1 基因可抑制子宫内膜癌细胞迁移、侵袭和增殖，可能与抑制Wnt信号传导有关。     

冬凌草甲素对人结肠癌细胞株HCT116生长的影响及其机制研究

目的：研究冬凌草甲素（ORI）对人结肠癌细胞株HCT116生长的影响及其可能机制。方法：以体外培养的HCT116细胞为研究对象,给予不同浓度（0、2.5、5、10、20μM）ORI处理HCT116细胞不同时间（0、24、48、72 h）,通过MTT法检测其对HCT116细胞增殖的影响,DAPI染色观察其对细胞核的形态的影响,western blot检测细胞内β-catenin、c-myc蛋白表达的变化。结果：1ORI可显著抑制HCT116细胞的增殖,且此作用随着浓度和作用时间的增加或延长而增强（P〈0.05）。2ORI处理HCT116细胞24小时后,细胞核固缩的百分率随药物作用浓度的增加而增加。35、10、20μM ORI处理HCT116细胞24小时后,细胞内的β-catenin、c-myc蛋白水平均显著下调,且随着ORI浓度的增加逐渐减少。结论：ORI能以浓度和时间依赖性的方式抑制HCT116细胞的增殖,其机制可能与Wnt/β-catenin信号通路有关。     

Wnt5a regulates the cell proliferation and adipogenesis via MAPK‐independent pathway in early stage of obesity

The early stage of obesity is an important stage in the development of obesity. However, there are few studies which explored the property or changes in obesity at early stage especially involving Wnt5a. The associated gene expression of Wnt5a on cell regeneration and the effect of Wnt5a on rat adipose‐derived stem cell (rASC) proliferation and adipogenesis need additional study. Here, we investigated the changes in obesity at early stage and how Wnt5a regulates rASC regeneration, proliferation, and adipogenesis. Our data revealed that obesity at early stage measured by Lee index presented a state with impaired adipogenesis and more infiltrated inflammatory cells but without significant changes in adipocyte sizes and inflammatory factors. The process might be associated with anti‐canonical Wnt pathway and a reciprocal Wnt5a/JNK pathway. Besides the gene expression of Wnt5a decreased from cell passage 1 to passage 3. The cell proliferation was regulated by increasing dose of Wnt5a with the maximal effect at 50 ng/mL and 50 ng/mL Wnt5a suppressed adipogenic differentiation at middle‐late stage of adipogenesis via anti‐β‐catenin and a mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling‐independent manner. Accordingly, the research helps to gain further insights into the early stage of obesity and its associated changes on a cellular and molecular level.     

Effects of Wnt/β-catenin signalling on proliferation and differentiation of apical papilla stem cells

Objectives: The Wnt signalling pathway has been shown to play an important role in tooth development, however its effects with stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAP) have remained unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine effects of Wnt/β‐catenin on proliferation and differentiation of SCAP in vitro. Materials and methods: SCAP were obtained, identified and cultured. Cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mRNA expression of mineralization‐related genes and mineralized nodule formation were measured in presence or absence of various concentrations of lithium chloride. Results: MTT assay and flow cytometry demonstrated that Wnt/β‐catenin activity could promote proliferation of SCAP. Real‐time PCR analysis found that Wnt/β‐catenin strongly upregulated expression of dentine sialophosphoprotein, osteocalcin and ALP in SCAP after incubation with mineralization induction medium, while ALP and alizarin red staining indicated that Wnt/β‐catenin enhanced ALP activity and formation of mineralized nodules. Conclusion: Our results suggest that canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signalling promotes proliferation and odonto/osteogenic differentiation of SCAP.     

Endogenous protein kinase CK2 participates in Wnt signaling in mammary epithelial cells

Protein kinase CK2 (formerly casein kinase II) is a serine/threonine kinase overexpressed in many human tumors, transformed cell lines, and rapidly proliferating tissues. Recent data have shown that many cancers involve inappropriate reactivation of Wnt signaling through ectopic expression of Wnts themselves, as has been seen in a number of human breast cancers, or through mutation of intermediates in the Wnt pathway, such as adenomatous polyposis coli or beta-catenin, as described in colon and other cancers. Wnts are secreted factors that are important in embryonic development, but overexpression of certain Wnts, such as Wnt-1, leads to proliferation and transformation of cells. We report that upon stable transfection of Wnt-1 into the mouse mammary epithelial cell line C57MG, morphological changes and increased proliferation are accompanied by increased levels of CK2, as well as of beta-catenin. CK2 and beta-catenin co-precipitate with the Dvl proteins, which are Wnt signaling intermediates. A major phosphoprotein of the size of beta-catenin appears in in vitro kinase reactions performed on the Dvl immunoprecipitates. In vitro translated beta-catenin, Dvl-2, and Dvl-3 are phosphorylated by CK2. The selective CK2 inhibitor apigenin blocks proliferation of Wnt-1-transfected cells, abrogates phosphorylation of beta-catenin, and reduces beta-catenin and Dvl protein levels. These results demonstrate that endogenous CK2 is a positive regulator of Wnt signaling and growth of mammary epithelial cells.     

Involvement of Hex in the initiation of feather morphogenesis

In a previous study, we showed that the proline-rich divergent homeobox gene Hex/Prh is expressed in dorsal skin of the chick embryo before and during feather bud development and that the pattern of Hex mRNA expression in the epidermis is similar to that of Wnt7a mRNA. In order to study the function of Hex and the relationship between Hex and Wnt7a in feather bud development, sense and/or antisense sequences of Hex or Wnt7a were ectopically and transiently expressed in the dorsal skin with the epidermal side toward the cathode by electroporation at the placode stage and then the skin was cultured. Increased expression of Wnt7a and beta-catenin mRNA was observed in the same region where Hex-EGFP fusion protein was expressed 2 days after culture, which was followed by extra bud formation a few days later as a result of the stimulation of cell proliferation. Concomitantly, expression of Notch1 mRNA, which is expressed in normal bud development, increased in Hex-overexpressing skin. However, ectopic Wnt7a expression induced neither Hex expression nor extra bud formation in normal skin. Antisense Wnt7a specifically inhibited bud initiation in Hex-overexpressing skin but did not in normal skin. Taken together, these results suggest that Hex is upstream of Wnt7a and beta-catenin and regulates the Wnt signaling pathway in feather bud initiation and that some other Wnt signals in addition to Wnt7a may be required for bud initiation.     

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling suppresses Rapsyn expression and inhibits acetylcholine receptor clustering at the neuromuscular junction

The dynamic interaction between positive and negative signals is necessary for remodeling of postsynaptic structures at the neuromuscular junction. Here we report that Wnt3a negatively regulates acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering by repressing the expression of Rapsyn, an AChR-associated protein essential for AChR clustering. In cultured myotubes, treatment with Wnt3a or overexpression of beta-catenin, the condition mimicking the activation of the Wnt canonical pathway, inhibited Agrin-induced formation of AChR clusters. Moreover, Wnt3a treatment promoted dispersion of AChR clusters, and this effect was prevented by DKK1, an antagonist of the Wnt canonical pathway. Next, we investigated possible mechanisms underlying Wnt3a regulation of AChR clustering in cultured muscle cells. Interestingly, we found that Wnt3a treatment caused a decrease in the protein level of Rapsyn. In addition, Rapsyn promoter activity in cultured muscle cells was inhibited by the treatment with Wnt3a or beta-catenin overexpression. Forced expression of Rapsyn driven by a promoter that is not responsive to Wnt3a prevented the dispersing effect of Wnt3a on AChR clusters, suggesting that Wnt3a indeed acts to disperse AChR clusters by down-regulating the expression of Rapsyn. The role of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in dispersing AChR clusters was also investigated in vivo by electroporation of Wnt3a or beta-catenin into mouse limb muscles, where ectopic Wnt3a or beta-catenin caused disassembly of postsynaptic apparatus. Together, these results suggest that Wnt/beta-catenin signaling plays a negative role for postsynaptic differentiation at the neuromuscular junction, probably by regulating the expression of synaptic proteins, such as Rapsyn.     

MicroRNA‐130b targets PTEN to induce resistance to cisplatin in lung cancer cells by activating Wnt/β‐catenin pathway

More and more studies indicate the relevance of miRNAs in inducing certain drug resistance. Our study aimed to investigate whether microRNA‐130b‐3p (miR‐130b) mediates the chemoresistance as well as proliferation of lung cancer (LC) cells. MTS assay and apoptosis analysis were conducted to determine cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Binding sites were identified using a luciferase reporter system, whereas mRNA and protein expression of target genes was determined by RT‐PCR and immunoblot, respectively. Mouse xenograft model was used to evaluate the role of miR‐130b in cisplatin resistance in vivo. The rising level of miR‐130b in cisplatin resistance LC cell lines (A549/CR and H446/CR ) versus its parental cell lines, indicated its crucial relevance for LC biology. We identified PTEN as miR‐130b's major target and inversely correlated with miR‐130b expression in LC. Moreover, excessive miR‐130b expression promoted drug resistance and proliferation, decreased apoptosis of A549 cells. Suppression of miR‐130b enhanced drug cytotoxicity and reduced proliferation of A549/CR cells both internally and externally. Particularly, miR‐130b mediated Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway activities, chemoresistance and proliferation in LC cell, which was partially blocked following knockdown of PTEN. These findings suggest that miR‐130b targets PTEN to mediate chemoresistance, proliferation, and apoptosis via Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. The rising level of miR‐130b in cisplatin resistance LC cell lines (A549/CR and H446/CR) versus its parental cell lines, indicated its crucial relevance for LC biology. Moreover, excessive miR‐130b expression promoted drug resistance and proliferation, decreased apoptosis of A549 cells. These findings suggest that miR‐130b targets PTEN to mediate chemoresistance, proliferation, and apoptosis via Wnt/β‐catenin pathway.     

Regulation of GSK-3 beta in the proliferation and apoptosis of human thyrocytes investigated using a GSK-3 beta-targeting RNAi adenovirus expression vector: involvement the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway

Disorders in the proliferation and apoptosis of thyrocytes may induce goitre, adenoma and carcinoma in the thyroid. The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway has been demonstrated to be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in various cell lines. The regulatory mechanism on the proliferation and differentiation of thyrocytes is not well characterized. In the present study, a GSK-3beta-targeting RNA interference (RNAi) adenovirus vector was constructed and delivered to primary human thyrocytes. Results showed that the expression of beta-catenin protein in primary human thyrocytes was increased after GSK-3beta-targeting RNAi adenovirus infection, the proliferation of primary human thyrocytes was significantly stimulated using Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay, while cell apoptosis was slightly affected which was observed through flow cytometry. It is concluded that the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway plays a significant role in the regulation of the proliferation of primary human thyrocytes.     

Zinc finger protein 521 suppresses osteogenic differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells by inhibiting the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway

Zinc finger protein 521 (Zfp521) is involved in a number of cellular processes in a variety of cells and tissues. In the present study, the effects of Zfp521 on osteogenic differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were investigated. The results showed that, in rat MSCs, knocking down cellular Zfp521 by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) decreases cell proliferation while promoting ALP activity, calcium accumulation, and the expression of mRNA that encodes bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteocalcin (OCN) and Runx2. Furthermore, in Zfp521-depleted cells, the up-regulation of phospho-Wnt (p-Wnt) and beta-catenin expression levels was detected. However, over-expression of Zfp521 played the opposite role in proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat MSCs. To further demonstrate the functions of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in Zfp521 regulated-osteogenic differentiation, the activation of Wnt/beta-catenin was blocked with IWP-2 inhibitor. The suppression of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway completely abrogated the effects of Zfp521 knockdown on osteogenic differentiation of rat MSCs. Therefore, we conclude that Zfp521 regulates osteogenic differentiation of rat MSCs through the suppression of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.