Transforming growth factor-beta 1-induced apoptosis is blocked by beta 1-integrin-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in human hepatoma cells.

Growth factors and extracellular matrices cooperatively regulate cellular behavior. However, the interactions between transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and integrins in hepatic cells are not fully understood. We investigated the effects of beta 1-integrin on TGF-beta 1-regulated growth of hepatoma cells. Human hepatoma cell lines HepG2, Huh7, and Hep3B were stably transfected with beta 1-integrin, and the parental, and mock- and beta 1-integrin-transfected hepatoma cells were treated with TGF-beta 1. Modulation of apoptosis and pathways involved in the process were investigated. TGF-beta 1 suppressed the growth of hepatoma cells, and apoptosis was observed in Hep3B and Huh7. Hepatoma cells transfected with beta 1-integrin were protected from TGF-beta 1-induced apoptosis. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitors, PD98059, SB203580, and SP600125, abolished this protective effect of beta 1-integrin, but herbimycin A and wortmannin were ineffective. Hepatoma cells overexpressing beta 1-integrin showed increased activities of MAP kinases, and TGF-beta 1 induced sustained activation of MAP kinases in these cells, but only transient activation in mock-transfected cells. These data suggest that MAP kinases activated by beta 1-integrin provide a strong anti-apoptotic signal during TGF-beta 1-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma cells. Therefore beta 1-integrin-mediated signals may contribute to the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.