[PDF][PDF] An oncogenic phenoscape of colonic stem cell polarization

X Qin, FC Rodriguez, J Sufi, P Vlckova, J Claus… - Cell, 2023 - cell.com
X Qin, FC Rodriguez, J Sufi, P Vlckova, J Claus, CJ Tape
Cell, 2023cell.com
Cancer cells are regulated by oncogenic mutations and microenvironmental signals, yet
these processes are often studied separately. To functionally map how cell-intrinsic and cell-
extrinsic cues co-regulate cell fate, we performed a systematic single-cell analysis of 1,107
colonic organoid cultures regulated by (1) colorectal cancer (CRC) oncogenic mutations,(2)
microenvironmental fibroblasts and macrophages,(3) stromal ligands, and (4) signaling
inhibitors. Multiplexed single-cell analysis revealed a stepwise epithelial differentiation …
Summary
Cancer cells are regulated by oncogenic mutations and microenvironmental signals, yet these processes are often studied separately. To functionally map how cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic cues co-regulate cell fate, we performed a systematic single-cell analysis of 1,107 colonic organoid cultures regulated by (1) colorectal cancer (CRC) oncogenic mutations, (2) microenvironmental fibroblasts and macrophages, (3) stromal ligands, and (4) signaling inhibitors. Multiplexed single-cell analysis revealed a stepwise epithelial differentiation phenoscape dictated by combinations of oncogenes and stromal ligands, spanning from fibroblast-induced Clusterin (CLU)+ revival colonic stem cells (revCSCs) to oncogene-driven LRIG1+ hyper-proliferative CSCs (proCSCs). The transition from revCSCs to proCSCs is regulated by decreasing WNT3A and TGF-β-driven YAP signaling and increasing KRASG12D or stromal EGF/Epiregulin-activated MAPK/PI3K flux. We find that APC loss and KRASG12D collaboratively limit access to revCSCs and disrupt stromal-epithelial communication—trapping epithelia in the proCSC fate. These results reveal that oncogenic mutations dominate homeostatic differentiation by obstructing cell-extrinsic regulation of cell-fate plasticity.
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