Matrix metalloproteinase(s) mediate(s) NO-induced dissociation of β-catenin from membrane bound E-cadherin and formation of nuclear β-catenin/LEF-1 complex

Modulation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)-beta-catenin pathway by inflammatory mediators and extracellular matrix may be important in colon carcinogenesis. We have recently shown that nitric oxide (NO) induces the accumulation of cytosolic beta-catenin and subsequent formation of the nuclear beta-catenin/lymphocyte enhancing factor (LEF)-1 complex in conditionally immortalized young mouse colonic epithelial (YAMC) cells. In the present study, we explored the mechanism(s) through which NO exerts its effect on cytosolic beta-catenin accumulation and nuclear beta-catenin/LEF-1 complex formation. We found that NO-induced degradation of the membrane bound E-cadherin at tight junctions. Using an anti-E-cadherin antibody specific for its extracellular domain, we detected a 50 kDa degradation fragment of E-cadherin (120 kDa) from the culture medium conditioned by YAMC cells exposed to the NO-releasing drug, NOR-1, for 4 and 24 h. As beta-catenin is normally bound to transmembrane E-cadherin and thus anchored to the cytoskeleton structure, the degradation of E-cadherin induced by NO may cause dissociation of beta-catenin from membrane bound E-cadherin. This was demonstrated by the detection of beta-catenin accumulation in the soluble cytosolic fractions in YAMC after exposure to NO-releasing drugs. Furthermore, the degradation of E-cadherin and the release of beta-catenin to cytosol were accompanied by the formation of nuclear beta-catenin/LEF-1 complex, demonstrating the dissociation of beta-catenin from E-cadherin may be responsible for the activation of beta-catenin/LEF-1 transcription complex. Co-treatment with NO donors and broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors TIMP-1 (100 ng/ml), GM6001 (10 muM) and GM1489 (10 muM) abolished the degradation of E-cadherin induced by NO as demonstrated by western blot analysis. These MMP inhibitors also blocked the cytosolic accumulation of beta-catenin and nuclear formation of beta-catenin/LEF-1 complex. The sum effect of MMP inhibitors demonstrated that NO-induced activation of MMP may cause the degradation of E-cadherin and the subsequent dissociation of beta-catenin, thereby contributing to the cytosolic accumulation of beta-catenin and nuclear formation of beta-catenin/LEF-1 complex.