Abstract
Purpose:
To examine the role of TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced EMT in human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells.
Methods:
ARPE-19 cells were incubated with/ without TNF-α and TAK1 inhibitor, (5Z)-7-oxozeaenol in serum-free medium. After 24 hours trasnsfection with TAK1 siRNA (siTAK1) or control siRNA (siCTL), cells were stimulated with TNF-α for 48 hours in serum-free medium. Whole cell lysates were subjected to immunoblot analysis with antibodies to TAK1, phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK), cytokeratin18 (CK18), fibronectin, or α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). p38MAPK and β-actin were used as loading controls. Cells were subjected to immunostaining analysis with N-cadherin after 24 hours TNF-α and (5z)-7-oxozeaenol treatment. For wound healing assay in vitro, a confluent cell monolayer was scratched by a plastic tip and cells migrating into wounded area were photographed.
Results:
Immunofluorescence analysis showed that N-cadherin was located at cell-cell junction in control cells and the linear staining was disrupted by TNF-α stimulation. TNF-α-treated cells maintained the cell-cell contact in the presence of (5z)-7-oxozeaenol. In addition, (5z)-7-oxozeaenol inhibited TNF-α-induced high motility in wound healing assay. Immunoblot analysis showed that transfection of siTAK1 depleted endogenous TAK1 expression and TNF-α-induced high levels of mesenchymal markers (fibronectin and α-SMA) were decreased in siTAK1-transfetecd cells. Epithelial marker, CK18 was downregulated by TNF-α and siTAK1 inhibited the reduction of CK18 in the presence of TNF-α. Furthermore, TNF-α promoted phosphorylation of p38MAPK through TAK1.
Conclusions:
Our findings indicate that TAK1 is essential for TNF-α-induced EMT in ARPE-19 cells and is a potential therapeutic target of proliferative fibrosis in vitreoretinal disorders.