[PDF][PDF] Focal adhesion kinase is required for intestinal regeneration and tumorigenesis downstream of Wnt/c-Myc signaling

GH Ashton, JP Morton, K Myant, TJ Phesse… - Developmental cell, 2010 - cell.com
GH Ashton, JP Morton, K Myant, TJ Phesse, RA Ridgway, V Marsh, JA Wilkins, D Athineos
Developmental cell, 2010cell.com
The intestinal epithelium has a remarkable capacity to regenerate after injury and DNA
damage. Here, we show that the integrin effector protein Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is
dispensable for normal intestinal homeostasis and DNA damage signaling, but is essential
for intestinal regeneration following DNA damage. Given Wnt/c-Myc signaling is activated
following intestinal regeneration, we investigated the functional importance of FAK following
deletion of the Apc tumor suppressor protein within the intestinal epithelium. Following Apc …
Summary
The intestinal epithelium has a remarkable capacity to regenerate after injury and DNA damage. Here, we show that the integrin effector protein Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is dispensable for normal intestinal homeostasis and DNA damage signaling, but is essential for intestinal regeneration following DNA damage. Given Wnt/c-Myc signaling is activated following intestinal regeneration, we investigated the functional importance of FAK following deletion of the Apc tumor suppressor protein within the intestinal epithelium. Following Apc loss, FAK expression increased in a c-Myc-dependent manner. Codeletion of Apc and Fak strongly reduced proliferation normally induced following Apc loss, and this was associated with reduced levels of phospho-Akt and suppression of intestinal tumorigenesis in Apc heterozygous mice. Thus, FAK is required downstream of Wnt Signaling, for Akt/mTOR activation, intestinal regeneration, and tumorigenesis. Importantly, this work suggests that FAK inhibitors may suppress tumorigenesis in patients at high risk of developing colorectal cancer.
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