Expression data from Control or TRIB3-silenced HCT-8 cells

To determine the critical mediator of TRIB3-enhanced Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, we examined the expression profile of genes that might regulate Wnt/beta-catenin by using mRNA microarrays. Aberrant activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is a major reason for the tumorigenesis of Colon cancer. However, no specific drug targeting this pathway has been in the market. Surgery combined with cytotoxic drugs are still the major therapy methods toward colon cancer. These highlighted the need for therapeutics with alternative mechanisms of action. Here we report that the elevated TRIB3 expression associates positively with Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. TRIB3 interacts with beta-catenin and TCF4 to enhance the associations between TCF4/beta-catenin target genes’ promoters, which upregulates the transcriptional activity of beta-catenin, thus to promote the CSC stemness and colon cancer tumorigenesis. Total RNA from HCT-8 cells expressing Control-shRNA or TRIB3-shRNA were obtained. RNA quantity and quality were measured by NanoDrop ND-1000. RNA microarrays were performed.