BMI-1 activates hepatic stellate cells to promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer cells.
World J Gastroenterol
; 29(23): 3606-3621, 2023 Jun 21.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37398890
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) are the major source of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the liver. Although the crosstalk between aHSCs and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells supports liver metastasis (LM), the mechanisms are largely unknown.AIM:
To explore the role of BMI-1, a polycomb group protein family member, which is highly expressed in LM, and the interaction between aHSCs and CRC cells in promoting CRC liver metastasis (CRLM).METHODS:
Immunohistochemistry was carried out to examine BMI-1 expression in LM and matched liver specimens of CRC. The expression levels of BMI-1 in mouse liver during CRLM (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d) were detected by Western blotting (WB) and the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. We overexpressed BMI-1 in HSCs (LX2) by lentivirus infection and tested the molecular markers of aHSCs by WB, qPCR, and the immunofluorescence assay. CRC cells (HCT116 and DLD1) were cultured in HSC-conditioned medium (LX2 NC CM or LX2 BMI-1 CM). CM-induced CRC cell proliferation, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß)/SMAD pathway changes were investigated in vitro. A mouse subcutaneous xenotransplantation tumor model was established by co-implantation of HSCs (LX2 NC or LX2 BMI-1) and CRC cells to investigate the effects of HSCs on tumor growth and the EMT phenotype in vivo.RESULTS:
Positive of BMI-1 expression in the liver of CRLM patients was 77.8%. The expression level of BMI-1 continued to increase during CRLM in mouse liver cells. LX2 overexpressed BMI-1 was activated, accompanied by increased expression level of alpha smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, TGF-ß1, matrix metalloproteinases, and interleukin 6. CRC cells cultured in BMI-1 CM exhibited enhanced proliferation and migration ability, EMT phenotype and activation of the TGF-ß/SMAD pathway. In addition, the TGF-ßR inhibitor SB-505124 diminished the effect of BMI-1 CM on SMAD2/3 phosphorylation in CRC cells. Furthermore, BMI-1 overexpressed LX2 HSCs promoted tumor growth and the EMT phenotype in vivo.CONCLUSION:
High expression of BMI-1 in liver cells is associated with CRLM progression. BMI-1 activates HSCs to secrete factors to form a prometastatic environment in the liver, and aHSCs promote proliferation, migration, and the EMT in CRC cells partially through the TGF-ß/SMAD pathway.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias Colorretais
/
Neoplasias Hepáticas
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
World J Gastroenterol
Assunto da revista:
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
China