PTEN/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways regulate the proliferation of Lgr5+ cells in liver cancer

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2023 Nov 26:683:149117. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.10.049. Epub 2023 Oct 13.

Abstract

The progression and spread of tumors are believed to be primarily caused by cancer stem cells (CSCs). Nevertheless, the task of focusing on CSCs for cancer treatment continues to be difficult. Lgr5, a G-protein-coupled receptor containing leucine-rich repeats, is highly expressed in different types of cancer and serves as a distinctive marker for cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this study, we employed the Cre-loxP system and Lgr5 tracking mice of male to selectively remove PTEN and β-catenin in Lgr5+ cells of DEN-induced liver cancer and monitor the behavior of Lgr5+ cells. The tracking data revealed that the activation of PTEN-mediated AKT signaling in Lgr5 led to a significant rise in the quantity of Lgr5+ cells, whereas the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling decreased the number of cells in DEN-induced liver cancer. Therefore, we have shown that the growth of Lgr5+ cells can be controlled by the PTEN/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, offering a potential treatment option for fighting against liver cancer.

Keywords: Cancer stem cells; Lgr5; Liver cancer; PTEN; β-catenin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • beta Catenin
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Lgr5 protein, mouse