Identification of a link between Wnt/beta-catenin signalling and the cell fusion pathway

作者：Matsuura Ken; Jigami Takafumi; Taniue Kenzui; Morishita Yasuyuki; Adachi Shungo; Senda Takao; Nonaka Aya; Aburatani Hiroyuki; Nakamura Tsutomu; Akiyama Tetsu^*

来源：Nature Communications, 2011, 2: 548.

DOI：10.1038/ncomms1551

Cell fusion has a critical role in various developmental processes, immune response, tissue homeostasis and regeneration, and possibly, in cancer. However, the signals that regulate cell fusion remain poorly understood. In a screen for novel targets of Wnt/beta-catenin signalling, we identified glial cells missing 1 (GCM1), which encodes a transcription factor that is involved in epigenetic regulation and is critical for the fusion of syncytiotrophoblast (ST) cells. Here we show that beta-catenin/BCL9-Like (BCL9L)/T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) signalling directly targets the GCM1/syncytin pathway and thereby regulates the fusion of human choriocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, we show that the GCM1/syncytin-B pathway is significantly downregulated in the placenta of BCL9L-deficient mice and that the fusion and differentiation of ST-II cells are blocked. Our results demonstrate a signal transduction pathway that regulates cell fusion, and may provide intriguing perspectives into the various biological and pathological processes that involve cell fusion.

• 出版日期2011-11