β-Catenin Expression Regulates Cell Migration of Human Colonic Adenocarcinoma Cells Through Gelsolin.

BACKGROUND/AIM: β-Catenin is one of the key players in colonic carcinogenesis. Being part of the E-cadherin complex, it regulates cell-cell adhesion and the migratory ability of cells. However, the role of nuclear β-catenin in the cell migration process is poorly understood. Gelsolin is one of the most abundant actin-binding proteins, and is implicated in tumour cell motility and invasiveness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential association between expression of β-catenin and gelsolin, and their influence on the migration ability of colon adenocarcinoma LS180 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The colonic adenocarcinoma cell line LS180, its more motile sublines (EB3, 3LNLN, 5W) and β-catenin-knockdown LS180 cells were used to investigate the expression levels and subcellular localization of β-catenin and gelsolin.

RESULTS: Increased motility of colonic cancer cells was accompanied by a reduction of β-catenin and up-regulation of gelsolin.

CONCLUSION: β-Catenin seems to be involved in the regulation of gelsolin expression, which in turn affects the migratory ability of colonic cancer cells. Our results could have important implications for the design of new anticancer therapies.