TMEM9-v-ATPase Activates Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Via APC Lysosomal Degradation for Liver Regeneration and Tumorigenesis

Youn Sang Jung, Sabrina A. Stratton, Sung Ho Lee, Moon Jong Kim, Sohee Jun, Jie Zhang, Biyun Zheng, Christopher L. Cervantes, Jong Ho Cha, Michelle C. Barton, Jae Il Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Aims: How Wnt signaling is orchestrated in liver regeneration and tumorigenesis remains elusive. Recently, we identified transmembrane protein 9 (TMEM9) as a Wnt signaling amplifier. Approach and Results: TMEM9 facilitates v-ATPase assembly for vesicular acidification and lysosomal protein degradation. TMEM9 is highly expressed in regenerating liver and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. TMEM9 expression is enriched in the hepatocytes around the central vein and acutely induced by injury. In mice, Tmem9 knockout impairs hepatic regeneration with aberrantly increased adenomatosis polyposis coli (Apc) and reduced Wnt signaling. Mechanistically, TMEM9 down-regulates APC through lysosomal protein degradation through v-ATPase. In HCC, TMEM9 is overexpressed and necessary to maintain β-catenin hyperactivation. TMEM9–up-regulated APC binds to and inhibits nuclear translocation of β-catenin, independent of HCC-associated β-catenin mutations. Pharmacological blockade of TMEM9-v-ATPase or lysosomal degradation suppresses Wnt/β-catenin through APC stabilization and β-catenin cytosolic retention. Conclusions: Our results reveal that TMEM9 hyperactivates Wnt signaling for liver regeneration and tumorigenesis through lysosomal degradation of APC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)776-794
Number of pages19
JournalHepatology
Volume73
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology

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