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TEAD4 overexpression suppresses thyroid cancer progression and metastasis in vitro by modulating Wnt signaling

Buyong Zhang1, Qingqing Wang, Yanting Ji

  • 1Department of Thyroid and Breast, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, China.

Journal of Biosciences
|December 24, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Thyroid cancer (TC) progression is suppressed by TEAD4, a gene typically acting as oncogenic. TEAD4 overexpression inhibits tumor growth and metastasis by modulating Wnt signaling pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • TEAD4 is implicated as an oncogene in multiple cancers.
  • Its specific role and regulatory mechanisms in thyroid cancer (TC) require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function and regulatory mechanisms of TEAD4 in thyroid cancer.
  • To determine if TEAD4 influences TC progression and metastasis.

Main Methods:

  • Gene expression analysis (GEPIA, qRT-PCR, Western blot) of TEAD4 and wnt3a in TC tissues and cells.
  • In vitro assays (MTT, Transwell) to assess TC cell viability, migration, and invasion following TEAD4 overexpression and Wnt signaling inhibition (IWR-1-endo).
  • Analysis of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin).

Main Results:

  • TEAD4 was found to be downregulated in TC tissues and cells.
  • Overexpression of TEAD4 suppressed TC cell viability, migration, and invasion.
  • TEAD4 overexpression promoted E-cadherin and wnt3a expression while downregulating N-cadherin and Vimentin.
  • TEAD4 expression positively correlated with wnt3a expression.
  • Inhibition of Wnt signaling reversed the effects of TEAD4 overexpression.

Conclusions:

  • TEAD4 acts as a tumor suppressor in thyroid cancer, contrary to its oncogenic role in other cancers.
  • TEAD4 overexpression inhibits TC progression and metastasis in vitro.
  • TEAD4 exerts its suppressive effects through the modulation of Wnt signaling.

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