Hypoxic microenvironment activates GLI2 through synergistic action of TGF-β2 and HIF-1α to confer chemoresistance and poor clinical outcome in colorectal cancer [IlluminaExpr_2_CAF_SF_SD208]
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ABSTRACT: Microenvironment has been suggested as an important factor contributing to how the colorectal cancer cells escape therapy, but the exact mechanism leading to chemoresistance remains elusive. Here, through modeling in vitro by cocultivation of patient-derived cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with cancer stem cells (CSCs), we show that CAFs-secreted TGF-β2 is a key stromal factor that coordinates with hypoxia to promote CSC stemness and resistance to chemotherapy. GLI2, a key transcription factor of Hedgehog pathway, was identified as both necessary and sufficient in this process in which TGF-β and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) synergize to directly induce GLI2 expression. Conversely, CSC-secreted TGF-β is also important to support the growth of CAFs but instead induce death of normal fibroblasts, suggesting a reciprocal mechanism to selectively support the CAF-CSC interaction. Small molecule inhibition of both TGF-β and GLI2 effectively reversed the chemoresistance. Finally, expression of TGFB2/HIF1A/GLI2 gene signature as a functional readout of this resistance pathway defines worse clinical outcomes and predicts patients relapse. Our observations uncover a key role of TGF-β/HIF-1α/GLI2 in microenvironment-mediated chemoresistance and reveal novel biomarker and targeting strategies to identify and treat the high risk CRC patients.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE93254 | GEO | 2019/01/30
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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