E‐Cadherin/β‐Catenin Complex and the Epithelial Barrier

Abstract

E-Cadherin/β-catenin complex plays an important role in maintaining epithelial integrity and disrupting this complex affect not only the adhesive repertoire of a cell, but also the Wnt-signaling pathway. Aberrant expression of the complex is associated with a wide variety of human malignancies and disorders of fibrosis resulting from epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These associations provide insights into the complexity that is likely responsible for the fibrosis/tumor suppressive action of E-cadherin/β-catenin.

Alterations of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinomas associated with hepatitis C virus

“…The cytoplasmic domain of classical cadherins is highly conserved, while its catenin-binding site has been mapped to 72 aa of the C-terminal portion of the E-cadherin molecule. This fragment of E-cadherin participates in interactions with cytoplasmic proteins and controls functions of cadherins [18,45]. Six subfamilies of cadherins are distinguished, including the classical ones (type I), atypical ones (type II), present in desmosomes -desmocollin and desmoglein, protocadherins and Flamingo cadherin [46].…”

“…The process is closely linked to decreased expression of E-cadherin and overexpression of β-catenin with its cytoplasmic translocation, which results in a loss of intercellular junctions [45]. Such alterations were detected in cells of biliary duct epithelium in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and in alcohol-induced hepatitis [50].…”

“…The cadherin/catenin complex actively participates in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), which are important both in physiology (embryonic development) and in pathology (fibrosis of organs, carcinogenesis) [45]. The EMT process is characterized by de-differentiation of epithelial cells to fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, which produce components of extracellular matrix.…”

Mechanism of Fatty Acid Synthase in Drug Tolerance Related to Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition of Breast Cancer

“…The stability of the E-caherin/β-catenin compound decreases, which negatively affects the E-cadherin-mediated adhesion function. Thus, adhesion reduction and migration increase among tumour cells, which consequently increase the ability of tumour invasion and metastasis (Tian et al, 2011). The Wnt-1/β-catenin signalling pathway is also related to anti-cancer treatment.…”

Differential Effects of Dishevelled 2 and 3 on TCF/LEF- Mediated Transcriptional Activation in Wnt-3a-Treated Breast Cancer Cell Line MDA-MB-231

“…2 The Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in cancer metastasis. [3][4][5] A previous study has shown an increased frequency of nucleocytoplasmic β-catenin expression in 56% of ductal carcinoma in-situ, indicating activation of canonical Wnt signaling in the early stages of human breast neoplasia. 6 Basal-like breast cancer, also known as triple negative breast cancer, is negative in expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is difficult to treat.…”