The Wnt/β-catenin signaling/Id2 cascade mediates the effects of hypoxia on the hierarchy of colorectal-cancer stem cells

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 11:6:22966. doi: 10.1038/srep22966.

Abstract

Hypoxia, a feature common to most solid tumors, is known to regulate many aspects of tumorigenesis. Recently, it was suggested that hypoxia increased the size of the cancer stem-cell (CSC) subpopulations and promoted the acquisition of a CSC-like phenotype. However, candidate hypoxia-regulated mediators specifically relevant to the stemness-related functions of colorectal CSCs have not been examined in detail. In the present study, we showed that hypoxia specifically promoted the self-renewal potential of CSCs. Through various in vitro studies, we found that hypoxia-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling increased the occurrence of CSC-like phenotypes and the level of Id2 expression in colorectal-cancer cells. Importantly, the levels of hypoxia-induced CSC-sphere formation and Id2 expression were successfully attenuated by treatment with a Wnt/β-catenin-signaling inhibitor. We further demonstrated, for the first time, that the degree of hypoxia-induced CSC-sphere formation (CD44(+) subpopulation) in vitro and of tumor metastasis/dissemination in vivo were markedly suppressed by knocking down Id2 expression. Taken together, these data suggested that Wnt/β-catenin signaling mediated the hypoxia-induced self-renewal potential of colorectal-cancer CSCs through reactivating Id2 expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Cell Hypoxia / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / genetics*
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2 / biosynthesis*
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2 / genetics
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Spheroids, Cellular / metabolism
  • Spheroids, Cellular / pathology
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / genetics
  • beta Catenin / genetics

Substances

  • CD44 protein, human
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • ID2 protein, human
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2
  • beta Catenin