1
|
Krotenberg Garcia A, Ledesma-Terrón M, Lamprou M, Vriend J, van Luyk ME, Suijkerbuijk SJE. Cell competition promotes metastatic intestinal cancer through a multistage process. iScience 2024; 27:109718. [PMID: 38706869 PMCID: PMC11068562 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell competition plays an instrumental role in quality control during tissue development and homeostasis. Nevertheless, cancer cells can exploit this process for their own proliferative advantage. In our study, we generated mixed murine organoids and microtissues to explore the impact of cell competition on liver metastasis. Unlike competition at the primary site, the initial effect on liver progenitor cells does not involve the induction of apoptosis. Instead, metastatic competition manifests as a multistage process. Initially, liver progenitors undergo compaction, which is followed by cell-cycle arrest, ultimately forcing differentiation. Subsequently, the newly differentiated liver cells exhibit reduced cellular fitness, rendering them more susceptible to outcompetition by intestinal cancer cells. Notably, cancer cells leverage different interactions with different epithelial populations in the liver, using them as scaffolds to facilitate their growth. Consequently, tissue-specific mechanisms of cell competition are fundamental in driving metastatic intestinal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Krotenberg Garcia
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mario Ledesma-Terrón
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), University City of Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Lamprou
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joyce Vriend
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Merel Elise van Luyk
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Saskia Jacoba Elisabeth Suijkerbuijk
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ribosome impairment regulates intestinal stem cell identity via ZAKɑ activation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4492. [PMID: 35918345 PMCID: PMC9345940 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32220-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The small intestine is a rapidly proliferating organ that is maintained by a small population of Lgr5-expressing intestinal stem cells (ISCs). However, several Lgr5-negative ISC populations have been identified, and this remarkable plasticity allows the intestine to rapidly respond to both the local environment and to damage. However, the mediators of such plasticity are still largely unknown. Using intestinal organoids and mouse models, we show that upon ribosome impairment (driven by Rptor deletion, amino acid starvation, or low dose cyclohexamide treatment) ISCs gain an Lgr5-negative, fetal-like identity. This is accompanied by a rewiring of metabolism. Our findings suggest that the ribosome can act as a sensor of nutrient availability, allowing ISCs to respond to the local nutrient environment. Mechanistically, we show that this phenotype requires the activation of ZAKɑ, which in turn activates YAP, via SRC. Together, our data reveals a central role for ribosome dynamics in intestinal stem cells, and identify the activation of ZAKɑ as a critical mediator of stem cell identity. Intestinal stem cells are responsible for replenishing cells within the high-turnover intestinal epithelium. Here they show that ribosome dynamics affect intestinal stem cell identity through a mechanism that is triggered by changes in nutrient availability.
Collapse
|