The effects of activation of canonical Wnt signaling on the proliferation and differentiation of gastric epithelial cells

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24790381
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Experimental pathology
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: HIRATA Akihiro 岐阜大学, 生命科学総合研究支援センター, 助教 (30397327)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 胃癌 / Wntシグナル / 細胞増殖 / 細胞分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is frequently activated in gastric cancers but it remains poorly understood how Wnt signaling contributes to the gastric carcinogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of activation of Wnt signaling in gastric epithelial cells using doxycycline-inducible β-catenin mice. When we fed adult mice doxycycline for 5 days, cytoplasmic and nuclear β-catenin accumulation were observed in both fundic and pyloric glands of the stomach and the number of Ki-67-positive proliferating cells significantly increased in the isthmus and gastric pits with significant decrease in mucus production. Gene expression analysis revealed that β-catenin induction led to the up-regulations of gastric and intestinal epithelial stem cell markers. Our data indicate that Wnt activation maintains gastric epithelial cells in an undifferentiated and proliferative state.

Free Research Field

実験病理学