1. 5-Fluorouracil upregulates the activity of Wnt signaling pathway in CD133-positive colon cancer stem-like cells
- Author
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Jian Xiao, Xing Xiang Pu, Edward H. Lin, Jia Ming Zhou, Yan Hong Deng, Tong yu Lin, and Mei Jin Huang
- Subjects
Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Colorectal cancer ,Apoptosis ,medicine.disease_cause ,Metastasis ,fluids and secretions ,Downregulation and upregulation ,Antigens, CD ,Cell Line, Tumor ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,AC133 Antigen ,Wnt Signaling Pathway ,neoplasms ,Cell Proliferation ,Glycoproteins ,Cell growth ,business.industry ,Wnt signaling pathway ,Transfection ,medicine.disease ,carbohydrates (lipids) ,Endocrinology ,Oncology ,Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ,Colonic Neoplasms ,embryonic structures ,Neoplastic Stem Cells ,cardiovascular system ,Cancer research ,Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ,Fluorouracil ,Peptides ,business ,Carcinogenesis - Abstract
Background and Objective: CD133-positive colon cancer stem like cells (CSLCs) are resistant to the conventional cytotoxic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Wnt signaling pathway plays important roles in colon cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis, and regulates the self-renewal capacity of CSLCs. In the present study, we explored the impact of 5-FU on Wnt signaling pathway of CD133-positive colon CSLCs, and the relation between Wnt signaling pathway and drug resistance of CD133-positive colon CSLCs. Methods: Magnetic activation cell separation was used to collect CD133-positive cells from colon cancer cell line DLD1, which was transfected with luciferase reporter for Wnt signaling activity. The activity of Wnt signaling pathway was compared between CD133-positive and CD133-negative cells. After the treatment with 1μg/mL of 5-FU, the cell proliferation rates of DLD1 cells, CD133-positive cells, and CD133-negative cells were compared. After the treatment with 1μg/mL and 10μg/mL of 5-FU for 48h, Wnt activity was compared between CD133-positive and CD133-negative cells. The expression of CD133 and cell apoptosis of CD133-positive cells was detected after exposure to 50ng/mL of dickkopf (DKK)-1, a Wnt pathway inhibitor. Results: After the treatment with 5-FU, the cell proliferation rate of CD133-positive cells was higher than that of CD133-negative cells and the sensitivity of CD133-positive cells to 5-FU decreased. Wnt activity was higher in CD133-positive cells than in CD133-negative cells [(46.3±0.3)% vs. (33.9±2.7)%, P=0.009]. After the treatment with 1μg/mL and 10μg/mL of 5-FU, Wnt activity of CD133-positive cells was (90.1±10.0)% (P=0.012) and (52.9±2.5)% (P=0.047), respectively, whereas that of CD133-negative cells was (35.5±3.3)% (P=0.434) and (26.5±0.4)% (P=0.046), respectively. CD133 expression in CD133-positive cells decreased from (87.2±5.3)% to (60.6±3.1)% (P=0.022) after treatment with DKK-1, whereas the cell apoptosis rate increased from (11.8±0.2)% to (28.3±0.6)% (P=0.013). Conclusions: Wnt activity is higher in CD133-positive DLD1 cells than in CD133-negative DLD1 cells. 5-FU can upregulate Wnt activity of CD133-positive colon CSLCs. Blocking Wnt activity may reverse drug sensitivity of CD133-positive cells to 5-FU.
- Published
- 2010