The Links between Transcription, β-catenin/JNK Signaling, and Carcinogenesis

Abstract

Interactions between transcription and signaling are fundamentally important for understanding both the structure and function of genetic pathways and their role in diseases such as cancer. The finding that β-catenin/TCF4

The interaction of Wnt-11 and signalling cascades in prostate cancer

“…JNKs become activated during cellular stress due to exposure to UV, hypoxia, osmotic pressure and variation in cytokines and growth factors. Moreover, JNKs play a vital role in the inflammatory signalling network; therefore the hyper-activation of JNKs is not surprisingly associated with oncogenic transformation (Saadeddin et al, 2009).…”

“…Moreover JNK participates in mRNA stabilization, cell migration, and integrity of the cell skeleton (Saadeddin et al, 2009). Members of the JNK family are robustly involved in the regulation of certain transcriptional factors such as ATF2, stat3, c-myc and members of the Bcl-2 family.…”

“…There is gathering evidence to show that JNK is involved in carcinogenesis and the blocking of JNK signalling with small molecule JNK inhibitors can be beneficial in the treatment of cancer. TGFβ-1 has been identified as a key activator of JNK1, which in turn phosphorylates p21, a cell cycle regulator, and up-regulates its stability through a SMAD independent mechanism (Saadeddin et al, 2009). …”

The Wnt Signalling Pathways: A Short Review and Specific Roles in Bone Biochemistry

“…Among these JNK1 and JNK2 are ubiquitously present, whereas JNK3 is expressed mainly in the brain. Various types of proteins are targets for the JNKs, mainly transcription factors, which are responsible for cell proliferation or cell apoptosis (ATF2 -activating transcription factor 2; Bcl-2 protein -B-cell lypohoma-2; BAD -Bcl-2 associated death promoter) [15]. Interactions between the JNK and β-catenin pathways have also been described.…”

Hepatitis B virus X (HBX) protein upregulates β-catenin in a human hepatic cell line by sequestering SIRT1 deacetylase

“…During Wnt/β-catenin signaling, β-catenin is translocated into the nucleus. There, it forms a complex with members of the T cell factor/lymphocyte enhancer factor(TCF/LEF) family of transcription factors, and thereby activates the expression of β-catenin responsive genes, such as cyclin-D1, c-Jun, c-Myc, and peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor-δ (PPAR-δ) (31)(32)(33)(34), which play important roles in oncogenesis.…”