TGF-β promotes cell migration and invasion, an attribute that is linked to the pro-metastasis function of this cytokine in late stage cancers. The LIM 1863 colon carcinoma organoid undergoes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in response to TGF-β. This process is markedly accelerated by TNF-α, and we found that the levels of miR-21 and miR-31 were prominently elevated under the synergistic actions of TGF-β/TNF-α. Consistent with this, overexpression of either miR-21 or miR-31 significantly enhanced the effect of TGF-β alone on LIM 1863 morphological changes. More importantly, transwell assays demonstrated the positive effects of both miR-21 and miR-31 in TGF-β regulation of LIM 1863 motility and invasiveness. Elevated levels of miR-21 and miR-31 also enhanced motility and invasiveness of other colon carcinoma cell lines. We present compelling evidence that TIAM1, a guanidine exchange factor of the Rac GTPase, is a direct target of both miR-21 and miR-31. Indeed in LIM 1863 cells, suppression of TIAM1 is required for miR-21/miR-31 to enhance cell migration and invasion. Therefore, we have uncovered miR-21 and miR-31 as downstream effectors of TGF-β in facilitating invasion and metastasis of colon carcinoma cells.

Trafficking of Smad proteins between the cytoplasm and nucleus is a critical component of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signal transduction. Smad4 translocates into the nucleus either in response to TGF-beta stimulation or when its nuclear export is blocked by leptomycin B (LMB). We demonstrate that both TGF-beta-induced and basal state spontaneous nuclear import of Smad4 require importin 7 and 8 (Imp7,8). Our data suggest that in the nuclear import of Smad4, the role of Imp8 is irreplaceable by Imp7, and that Smads preferentially bind Imp8. Interestingly, in contrast to its mammalian counterpart Smad4, Drosophila Medea appears to utilize different mechanisms for TGF-beta-induced or basal state nuclear accumulation, with the latter independent of Msk (Drosophila Imp7/8) function. In addition, overexpression of Imp8 alone was sufficient to cause an increased concentration of Smad1, 3 and 4 in the nucleus, but had very limited effects on Smad2. These observations suggest selective involvement of Imp8/Msk in nuclear import of different Smads under different conditions.