Kim et al. 2017a Gastroenterology 152: 616–630

BACKGROUND & AIMS—Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is mediator of inflammation that regulates tissue regeneration, but its continual activation has been associated with carcinogenesis. Little is known about factors in the PGE2 signaling pathway that contribute to tumor formation. We investigated whether yes associated protein 1 (YAP1), a transcriptional co-activator in the Hippo signaling pathway, mediates PGE2 function.

METHODS—DLD-1 and SW480 colon cancer cell lines were transfected with vectors expressing transgenes or small hairpin RNAs and incubated with recombinant PGE2, with or without pharmacologic inhibitors of signaling proteins, and analyzed by immunoblot, immunofluorescence, quantitative reverse transcription PCR, transcriptional reporter, and proliferation assays. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was given t…