TargetRx Atlas

MRNA basic information

  • mRNA ID:ENST00000220812
  • Gene Name:DKK4
  • mRNA database:Ensembl
  • mRNA expression :down-regulated
  • mRNA Method:RT-PCR
  • mRNA Pathway:NA
  • Evidence:validated
  • (mRNA-drug)

Drug basic information

  • Drug ID:DB00136 (NUTR00003, APRD00246, DB05314)
  • Drug Name:Calcitriol (1-alpha-25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3)
  • Drug Method:down-regulated the gene expression the gene expression

Disease basic infommation

  • Disease:colon cancer
  • Tissue:cell lines (HMVEC,SW480-ADH,DLD-1)

Other information

  • Title:DICKKOPF-4 is induced by TCF/beta-catenin and upregulated in human colon cancer, promotes tumour cell invasion and angiogenesis and is repressed by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3
  • Journal:Oncogene
  • Published:2008
  • PubMed ID:18408752
  • Abstract:Aberrant activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is a hallmark of colon cancer. We show that the Wnt antagonist DICKKOPF-4 (DKK-4) gene is repressed by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) in human colon cancer cells. This effect correlated with the inhibition of the DKK-4 promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that 1,25(OH)2D3 induces early and transient binding of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the SMRT corepressor to the region adjacent to the transcription start site of DKK-4. Additionally, we demonstrate that the DKK-4 gene is a new downstream target of TCF/beta-catenin. Remarkably, expression of DKK-4 messenger RNA (mRNA) was not detected in a series of 29 human normal (N) colon biopsies but expression was upregulated in all the matched tumour (T) tissues. An inverse correlation existed between the expression of DKK-4 and VDR RNA in the Ts. Ectopic DKK-4 expression increased the migration and invasion properties of colon cancer cells and conditioned media (CM) from DKK-4-expressing cells enhanced the capacity to migrate and form capillary-like tubules of human primary microvascular endothelial cells. In conclusion, DKK-4 is upregulated in colon cancer and is associated with the acquisition of malignant properties by neoplastic cells. DKK-4 downregulation is a novel effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 that may contribute to its anticancer action.