Annexin A8 regulates Wnt signaling to maintain the phenotypic plasticity of retinal pigment epithelial cells

Sci Rep. 2020 Jan 27;10(1):1256. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-58296-w.

Abstract

Wnt signalling mediates complex cell-cellinteractions during development and proliferation. Annexin A8 (AnxA8), a calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, and canonical Wnt signalling mechanisms have both been implicated in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell differentiation. The aim here was to examine the possibility of cross-talk between AnxA8 and Wnt signalling, as both are down-regulated upon fenretinide (FR)-mediated RPE transdifferentiation. AnxA8 suppression in RPE cells via siRNA or administration of FR induced neuronal-like cell transdifferentiation and reduced expression of Wnt-related genes, as measured by real-time PCR and western blotting. AnxA8 gene expression, on the other hand, remained unaltered upon manipulating Wnt signalling, suggesting Wnt-related genes to be downstream effectors of AnxA8. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed an interaction between AnxA8 and β-catenin, which was reduced in the presence of activated TGF-β1. TGF-β1 signalling also reversed the AnxA8 loss-induced cell morphology changes, and induced β-catenin translocation and GSK-3β phosphorylation in the absence of AnxA8. Ectopic over-expression of AnxA8 led to an increase in active β-catenin and GSK-3β phosphorylation. These data demonstrate an important role for AnxA8 as a regulator of Wnt signalling and a determinant of RPE phenotype, with implications for regenerative medicine approaches that utilise stem cell-derived RPE cells to treat conditions such as age-related macular degeneration.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Annexins / metabolism*
  • Annexins / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelium / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics
  • Humans
  • Phenotype
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / metabolism*
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / physiology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / physiology*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Annexins
  • beta Catenin