RESUMEN
Basal progenitor cells are crucial for maintaining foregut (the esophagus and forestomach) homeostasis. When their function is dysregulated, it can promote inflammation and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain largely unclear. Here, we employ genetic mouse models to reveal that Jag1/2 regulate esophageal homeostasis and foregut tumorigenesis by modulating the function of basal progenitor cells. Deletion of Jag1/2 in mice disrupts esophageal and forestomach epithelial homeostasis. Mechanistically, Jag1/2 deficiency impairs activation of Notch signaling, leading to reduced squamous epithelial differentiation and expansion of basal progenitor cells. Moreover, Jag1/2 deficiency exacerbates the deoxycholic acid (DCA)-induced squamous epithelial injury and accelerates the initiation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the forestomach. Importantly, expression levels of JAG1/2 are lower in the early stages of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) carcinogenesis. Collectively, our study demonstrates that Jag1/2 are important for maintaining esophageal and forestomach homeostasis and the onset of foregut SCC.
Asunto(s)
Carcinogénesis , Neoplasias Esofágicas , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Esófago , Esófago , Homeostasis , Proteína Jagged-1 , Proteína Jagged-2 , Células Madre , Animales , Proteína Jagged-1/metabolismo , Proteína Jagged-1/genética , Neoplasias Esofágicas/genética , Neoplasias Esofágicas/patología , Neoplasias Esofágicas/metabolismo , Esófago/patología , Esófago/metabolismo , Células Madre/metabolismo , Ratones , Proteína Jagged-2/metabolismo , Proteína Jagged-2/genética , Humanos , Carcinogénesis/genética , Carcinogénesis/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Esófago/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Esófago/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Esófago/metabolismo , Ratones Noqueados , Transducción de Señal , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/metabolismo , Receptores Notch/metabolismo , Receptores Notch/genética , Diferenciación Celular , Masculino , FemeninoRESUMEN
Basal progenitor cells serve as a stem cell pool to maintain the homeostasis of the epithelium of the foregut, including the esophagus and the forestomach. Aberrant genetic regulation in these cells can lead to carcinogenesis, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating the function of basal progenitor cells remain largely unknown. Here, we use mouse models to reveal that Hippo signaling is required for maintaining the homeostasis of the foregut epithelium and cooperates with p53 to repress the initiation of foregut SCC. Deletion of Mst1/2 in mice leads to epithelial overgrowth in both the esophagus and forestomach. Further molecular studies find that Mst1/2-deficiency promotes epithelial growth by enhancing basal cell proliferation in a Yes-associated protein (Yap)-dependent manner. Moreover, Mst1/2 deficiency accelerates the onset of foregut SCC in a carcinogen-induced foregut SCC mouse model, depending on Yap. Significantly, a combined deletion of Mst1/2 and p53 in basal progenitor cells sufficiently drives the initiation of foregut SCC. Therefore, our studies shed light on the collaborative role of Hippo signaling and p53 in maintaining squamous epithelial homeostasis while suppressing malignant transformation of basal stem cells within the foregut.