Dickkopf-1 antagonizes Wnt signaling independent of β-catenin in human mesothelioma

AY Lee, B He, L You, Z Xu, J Mazieres… - Biochemical and …, 2004 - Elsevier
AY Lee, B He, L You, Z Xu, J Mazieres, N Reguart, I Mikami, S Batra, DM Jablons
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2004Elsevier
Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) is a secreted protein that acts as a potent inhibitor of the Wnt signal
transduction pathway. It is thought that the antagonistic effect of Dkk-1 is specific to the
canonical (Wnt/β-catenin) pathway. In this study, we demonstrate that restoration of Dkk-1
expression suppresses cell growth and induces apoptotic cell death in β-catenin-deficient
mesothelioma cell lines H28 and MS-1. Furthermore, we found that a small-molecule
inhibitor of JNK inhibited the apoptosis induced by Dkk-1 overexpression in these cells …
Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) is a secreted protein that acts as a potent inhibitor of the Wnt signal transduction pathway. It is thought that the antagonistic effect of Dkk-1 is specific to the canonical (Wnt/β-catenin) pathway. In this study, we demonstrate that restoration of Dkk-1 expression suppresses cell growth and induces apoptotic cell death in β-catenin-deficient mesothelioma cell lines H28 and MS-1. Furthermore, we found that a small-molecule inhibitor of JNK inhibited the apoptosis induced by Dkk-1 overexpression in these cells. Together, our data suggest that Dkk-1 may be able to antagonize Wnt signaling and exert its tumor suppressive effects through β-catenin-independent non-canonical pathways (i.e., the Wnt/JNK pathway).
Elsevier