Smad4 is Essential for Down-regulation of E-cadherin Induced by TGF- in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Line PANC-1

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Abstract
Smad4 is a tumour suppressor gene frequently deleted in pancreatic cancer. To investigate the roles of Smad4 deficiency in invasive and matastatic capabilities of pancreatic cancer, we examined the effects of Smad4 deficiency on regulation of the invasion suppressor E-cadherin in pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1. TGF-β decreased expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin proteins at the plasma membrane, increased Snail and Slug mRNA expression, and induced fibroblastoid morphology in PANC-1 cells. These effects of TGF-β were abrogated in Smad4-knocked-down PANC-1 cells. We also found that TGF-β-induced down-regulation of E-cadherin expression was partially inhibited in Snail- and Slug-knocked-down PANC-1 cells. Thus, Smad4 mediates down-regulation of E-cadherin induced by TGF-β in PANC-1 cells, at least in part, through Snail and Slug induction. These results suggest that Smad4 deficiency observed in invasive and metastatic pancreatic cancer might not be linked to the loss of E-cadherin.

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