Influence of CXCR4/SDF-1 axis on E-cadherin/β-catenin complex expression in HT29 colon cancer cells.

To study the influence of CXCR4/stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) axis on E-cadherin/β-catenin complex expression in HT29 colon cancer cells and its underlying mechanisms. Effect of SDF-1 on E-cadherin/β-catenin expression was detected by immunocytochemistry. E-cadherin and β-catenin mRNA expression levels were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. SDF-1-induced phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and β-catenin was detected by Western blotting. The E-cadherin and β-catenin mRNA expression levels in HT29 cells were lower 48 h after incubated with SDF-1 at the concentrations of 20 and 40 ng/mL (P<0.05). SDF-1-induced significant phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and β-catenin. AMD3100 and LY294002 inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and β-catenin. SDF-1 down-regulates the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex expression in HT29 cells by decreasing mRNA synthesis and increasing β-catenin phosphorylation.