β-Catenin promotes colitis and colon cancer through imprinting of proinflammatory properties in T cells.

ABSTRACT: The density and type of lymphocytes that infiltrate colon tumors are predictive of the clinical outcome of colon cancer. High densities of T helper 17 (T(H)17) cells and inflammation predict poor outcome, whereas infiltration by T regulatory cells (Tregs) that naturally suppress inflammation is associated with longer patient survival. However, the role of Tregs in cancer remains controversial. We recently reported that Tregs in colon cancer patients can become proinflammatory and tumor-promoting. These properties were directly linked with their expression of RORγt (retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-γt), the signature transcription factor of T(H)17 cells. We report that Wnt/β-catenin signaling in T cells promotes expression of RORγt. Expression of β-catenin was elevated in T cells, incl

SUBMITTER: Keerthivasan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4020714 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature