Here we report using a colon cancer cell line LS-174T, which displays Notch inhibition-dependent Atoh1 expression as a surrogate cellular model to screen for inducers of Atoh1 expression.
Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) pathway and Mucin 2 (MUC2) were the potential downstream proteins of miR-613/ATOH1. miR-613 is an oncogene in CC and promotes the proliferation, invasion and migration of CC cells by targeting ATOH1 likely via activating JNK1 pathway and upregulating MUC2.
Although we have reported that the Atoh1 protein was degraded in colon cancer by aberrant Wnt signaling, a recent study has indicated that the Atoh1 protein is expressed in mucinous colon cancer (MC) and signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC).
Hence, this study suggests that Hath1 may be a novel factor downstream of the Wnt pathway capable of suppressing anchorage-independent growth of colon cancer cell lines.