HIC1 attenuates Wnt signaling by recruitment of TCF-4 and β-catenin to the nuclear bodies

The hypermethylated in cancer 1 (HIC1) gene is epigenetically inactivated in cancer, and in addition, the haploinsufficiency of HIC1 is linked to the development of human Miller–Dieker syndrome. HIC1 encodes a zinc-finger transcription factor that acts as a transcriptional repressor. Additionally, the HIC1 protein oligomerizes via the N-terminal BTB/POZ domain and forms discrete nuclear structures known as HIC1 bodies. Here, we provide evidence that HIC1 antagonizes the TCF/β-catenin-mediated transcription in Wnt-stimulated cells. This appears to be due to the ability of HIC1 to associate with TCF-4 and to recruit TCF-4 and β-catenin to the HIC1 bodies. As a result of the recruitment, both proteins are prevented from association with the TCF-binding elements of the Wnt-responsive genes. These data indicate that the intracellular amounts of HIC1 protein can modulate the level of the transcriptional stimulation of the genes regulated by canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling.