Transforming Growth Factor β and Ras/MEK/ERK Signaling Regulate the Expression Level of a Novel Tumor Suppressor Lefty

Objectives: The objectives of the present study were (i) to identify a novel tumor suppressor gene whose expression level was regulated by transforming growth factor (TGF-β) and (ii) to evaluate the effect of Ras/MEK/ERK signaling on TGF-β-dependent Lefty up-regulation.

Methods: Human pancreatic cancer cell lines were used. The effect of Ras/MEK/ERK pathway on TGF-β-mediated Lefty up-regulation was tested by adding K-ras small interfering RNA, MEK inhibitor U0126, or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor LY294002.

Results: Transforming growth factor β upregulated Lefty messenger RNA levels within 6 of the 7 cell lines. Lefty exerts an antagonistic effect against the tumor-promoting molecule, Nodal, as recombinant Lefty suppressed Nodal-mediated proliferation. Interestingly, inhibition of the Ras/MEK/ERK pathway dramatically enhanced TGF-mediated Lefty up-regulation, suggesting that Ras/MEK/ERK signaling suppresses TGF-β-Lefty pathway.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that Lefty is a novel TGF-β target molecule that mediates growth inhibition of pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, activation of the Ras/MEK/ERK pathway serves as a mechanism by which pancreatic cancer escapes from growth inhibition by the TGF-β-Lefty axis. The results imply a novel therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer, that is, combination treatment with Ras/MEK/ERK inhibitors and TGF-β.