Exosome release of β-catenin: a novel mechanism that antagonizes Wnt signaling

J Cell Biol. 2010 Sep 20;190(6):1079-91. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201002049. Epub 2010 Sep 13.

Abstract

CD82 and CD9 are tetraspanin membrane proteins that can function as suppressors of tumor metastasis. Expression of CD9 and CD82 in transfected cells strongly suppresses β-catenin-mediated Wnt signaling activity and induces a significant decrease in β-catenin protein levels. Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is independent of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and of the proteasome- and lysosome-mediated protein degradation pathways. CD82 and CD9 expression induces β-catenin export via exosomes, which is blocked by a sphingomyelinase inhibitor, GW4869. CD82 fails to induce exosome release of β-catenin in cells that express low levels of E-cadherin. Exosome release from dendritic cells generated from CD9 knockout mice is reduced compared with that from wild-type dendritic cells. These results suggest that CD82 and CD9 down-regulate the Wnt signaling pathway through the exosomal discharge of β-catenin. Thus, exosomal packaging and release of cytosolic proteins can modulate the activity of cellular signaling pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Exosomes / metabolism*
  • Exosomes / ultrastructure
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • Kangai-1 Protein / metabolism
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Protein Stability
  • Protein Transport
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Tetraspanin 29
  • Transfection
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • CD82 protein, human
  • CD9 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • Cd9 protein, mouse
  • Kangai-1 Protein
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Tetraspanin 29
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, mouse
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex