Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

Enormous influence of TNIK knockdown on intracellular signals and cell survival

Jinghua Gui1, Baotian Yang, Jinyun Wu

  • 1Xinyuan Institute of Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Room 201, Building No. 6, Xiasha, Hangzhou 310018, China.

Human Cell
|June 29, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK) is crucial for Wnt and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway activation. TNIK knockdown in colon cancer cells inhibits cell proliferation and triggers apoptosis, highlighting its pro-survival role.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular signaling pathways
  • Molecular biology
  • Cancer research

Background:

  • Intracellular signals regulate cell activities, with Wnt signaling impacting tissue polarity and cell movement via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway.
  • Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK) is a key transcription factor mediating Wnt target gene activation and JNK pathway activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of TNIK in colon cancer by examining its role in intracellular signaling pathways.
  • To elucidate the impact of TNIK modulation on Wnt and JNK signaling, gene expression, and apoptosis in colon cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Short-hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of TNIK in colon cancer cell lines.
  • Analysis of gene expression (CD44, c-MYC, cyclin D1) and TCF-4 reporter activity.
  • Assessment of JNK1/JNK2 activation by TNFα and AP1 luciferase activity.
  • Adenovirus-mediated TNIK downregulation to induce apoptosis via caspase-9 and PARP-1 activation.

Main Results:

  • TNIK knockdown reduced CD44, c-MYC, and cyclin D1 expression, correlating with TCF-4 reporter assay results.
  • TNIK knockdown inhibited TNFα-induced activation of JNK1 and JNK2, subsequently reducing AP1 luciferase activity.
  • Adenovirus-mediated TNIK downregulation induced intrinsic apoptosis in SW480 cells by activating caspase-9 and PARP-1.

Conclusions:

  • TNIK is essential for activating both the canonical Wnt and JNK signaling pathways.
  • TNIK functions as a pro-survival factor in colon cancer cells.
  • Targeting TNIK presents a potential therapeutic strategy for colon cancer by disrupting key survival pathways.

More Related Videos

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion09:23

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion

Published on: April 2, 2020

Characterization of MLKL-mediated Plasma Membrane Rupture in Necroptosis08:55

Characterization of MLKL-mediated Plasma Membrane Rupture in Necroptosis

Published on: August 7, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway

The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Cells of the Innate Immune Response01:28

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...