TGF-beta signaling from receptors to the nucleus

The transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway in tumorigenesis

Transforming growth factor-beta is believed to play a dual role in carcinogenesis. Through its ability to inhibit cellular proliferation it suppresses tumor development in its early stages, but in the course of tumor progression malignant cells often acquire resistance to growth inhibition by transforming growth factor-beta and themselves secrete large amounts of this cytokine. Transforming growth factor-beta furthers malignant progression in two ways: for one, it acts on nontransformed cells present in the tumor mass to suppress antitumor immune responses and to augment angiogenesis. Secondly, it promotes invasion and the formation of metastases in a cell-autonomous manner that requires transforming growth factor-beta signaling activity, albeit at reduced levels, to be present in the tumor cells themselves.

Structural and functional characterization of the transforming growth factor-beta -induced Smad3/c-Jun transcriptional cooperativity

Smads are intracellular proteins that act as central effectors for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and related proteins from the activated receptor into the nucleus, where they regulate ligand-induced gene expression. AP-1 binding sites have been functionally linked to the transcriptional activation of various genes in response to TGF-beta. Accordingly, we have previously shown that the heteromeric complex of Smad3 and Smad4 synergizes with c-Jun/c-Fos at the AP-1 binding site of the collagenase I promoter to induce transcriptional activation in response to TGF-beta. Using the collagenase I promoter as model system, we have now investigated the role of the c-Jun and Smad3 interactions with the promoter DNA and have further characterized the physical basis of the c-Jun/Smad3 interaction in the transcriptional response. Mutational analyses of the c-Jun protein and the AP-1 binding site in the promoter revealed that the interaction of c-Jun with DNA is necessary for transcriptional activation by TGF-beta and Smad3. Similar analyses of Smad3 and the Smad binding sites revealed that binding of Smad3 to DNA is also required, but that its DNA sequence-specific recognition is not essential. We also found that the basic leucine zipper domain of c-Jun and a short sequence close to the N terminus of Smad3 mediate their physical interaction, and that these regions are critical for their DNA-binding function. Our studies provide a basis for understanding the functional cooperativity of Smads with the diversity of transcription factors, which underlies the Smad-induced transcriptional activation in response to TGF-beta and related factors.

Influence of decorin expression on transforming growth factor-beta-mediated collagen gel retraction and biglycan induction

Complex formation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) with the small proteoglycan decorin has been considered to inactivate the cytokine. However, neither the TGF-beta-mediated stimulation of the retraction of collagen lattices in culture nor the enhanced transcription of biglycan were influenced by an excess of native decorin in the culture medium. In contrast, when MG-63 osteosarcoma cells were transfected with sense- or antisense-decorin-cDNA, which led to an over- or under-expression of the proteoglycan, they responded to TGF-beta differently. An inverse correlation between decorin expression and the TGF-beta-mediated stimulation of collagen gel retraction and biglycan induction, respectively, was found. These results are best explained by assuming that decorin is not inactivating but sequestering TGF-beta in the extracellular matrix.

Smurf2 is a ubiquitin E3 ligase mediating proteasome-dependent degradation of Smad2 in transforming growth factor-beta signaling

Smads are important intracellular signaling effectors for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and related factors. Proper TGF-beta signaling requires precise control of Smad functions. In this study, we have identified a novel HECT class ubiquitin E3 ligase, designated Smurf2, that negatively regulates Smad2 signaling. In both yeast two-hybrid and in vitro binding assays, we found that Smurf2 could interact with receptor-activated Smads (R-Smads), including Smad1, Smad2, and Smad3 but not Smad4. Ectopic expression of Smurf2 was sufficient to reduce the steady-state levels of Smad1 and Smad2 but not Smad3 or Smad4. Significantly, Smurf2 displayed preference to Smad2 as its target for degradation. Furthermore, Smurf2 exhibited higher binding affinity to activated Smad2 upon TGF-beta stimulation. The ability of Smurf2 to promote Smad2 destruction required the HECT catalytic activity of Smurf2 and depended on the proteasome-dependent pathway. Consistent with these results, Smurf2 potently reduced the transcriptional activity of Smad2. These data suggest that a ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent mechanism is important for proper regulation of TGF-beta signaling.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase function is required for transforming growth factor beta-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition and cell migration

We have studied the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling in transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta)-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). In NMuMG mammary epithelial cells, exogenous TGFbeta1 induced phosphorylation of Akt at Ser-473 and Akt in vitro kinase activity against GSK-3beta within 30 min. These responses were temporally correlated with delocalization of E-cadherin, ZO-1, and integrin beta(1) from cell junctions and the acquisition of spindle cell morphology. LY294002, an inhibitor of the p110 catalytic subunit of PI3K, and a dominant-negative mutant of Akt blocked the delocalization of ZO-1 induced by TGFbeta1, whereas transfection of constitutively active p110 induced loss of ZO-1 from tight junctions. In addition, LY294002 blocked TGFbeta-mediated C-terminal phosphorylation of Smad2. Consistent with these data, TGFbeta-induced p3TP-Lux and p(CAGA)(12)-Lux reporter activities were inhibited by LY294002 and transiently expressed dominant-negative p85 and Akt mutants in NMuMG and 4T1 cells. Dominant-negative RhoA inhibited TGFbeta-induced phosphorylation of Akt at Ser-473, whereas constitutively active RhoA increased the basal phosphorylation of Akt, suggesting that RhoA in involved in TGFbeta-induced EMT. Finally, LY294002 and neutralizing TGFbeta1 antibodies inhibited ligand-independent constitutively active Akt as well as basal and TGFbeta-stimulated migration in 4T1 and EMT6 breast tumor cells. Taken together, these data suggest that PI3K-Akt signaling is required for TGFbeta-induced transcriptional responses, EMT, and cell migration.

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.

Transforming growth factor beta -inducible independent binding of SMAD to the Smad7 promoter

SMAD proteins can mediate transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)-inducible transcriptional responses. Whereas SMAD can recognize specific DNA sequences, it is usually recruited to a promoter through interaction with a DNA-binding partner. In an effort to search for TGF-beta-inducible genes, we used a subtractive screening method and identified human Smad7, which can antagonize TGF-beta signaling and is rapidly up-regulated by TGF-beta. In this report, we show that TGF-beta can stabilize Smad7 mRNA and activate Smad7 transcription. The Smad7 promoter is the first TGF-beta responsive promoter identified in vertebrates that contains the 8-bp palindromic SMAD-binding element (SBE), an optimal binding site previously identified by a PCR-based selection from random oligonucleotides by using recombinant Smad3 and Smad4. We demonstrate that on TGF-beta treatment, endogenous SMAD complex can bind to a Smad7 promoter DNA as short as 14 or 16 bp that contains the 8-bp SBE in gel mobility shift and supershift assays. Our studies provide strong evidence that SMAD proteins can bind to a natural TGF-beta responsive promoter independent of other sequencespecific transcription factors. We further show that, whereas recombinant Smad3 binds to the SBE, endogenous or even transfected Smad3 cannot bind to the SBE in the absence of Smad4. These findings have important implications in the identification of target genes of the TGF-beta/SMAD signaling pathways.

TGF-beta influences the life and death decisions of T lymphocytes

TGF-beta is a powerful mediator of immune cell phenotype and function. In TGF-beta1 homozygous null mice, aberrant regulation of the immune response culminates in lethal cardiopulmonary inflammation. In dissecting the underlying mechanisms leading to the attack of self, a role for TGF-beta1 in controlling apoptosis and T cell selection patterns was uncovered. Increased levels of apoptosis and TCR mediated cell death disrupted normal negative and positive T cell selection in the thymus. Moreover, in peripheral T cell populations, increased T lymphocyte death was associated with increased expression of apoptosis-inducing receptors. Persistent activation of T cells engendered unchecked apoptosis which, rather than reducing, further exacerbated, tissue inflammation due to the absence of TGF-beta1. TGF-beta, normally generated by macrophages during clearance of apoptotic cells contributes to dampening of inflammatory sequelae associated with phagocytosis. Collectively, these data demonstrate a pivotal role for TGF-beta in multiple stages of T cell apoptosis, selection, activation and clearance.