β-catenin/Tcf signaling in squamous differentiation of porcine airway epithelial cells

Abstract

For a preliminary study of the role of β-catenin/Tcf signaling in squamous differentiation of airway (tracheobronchial) epithelial cells, a stable mutant of β-catenin was transfected into primarily cultured porcine airway epithelial cells. Western blotting revealed that exogenous protein was observed in large quantity in cytoplasm and nucleus. When co-transfected with Tcf luciferase reporter plasmids, β-catenin mutant increased the reporter’s transcriptional activities. However, mRNA expression of a squamous differentiation marker, small proline-rich protein (SPRP), was not elevated, as shown by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. These findings suggest that β-catenin/Tcf signaling may not be directly involved in the squamous differentiation of porcine airway epithelial cells.

Keywords

β-catenin / squamous differentiation / airway epithelial cell / small proline-rich protein