C3G down-regulation enhances pro-migratory and stemness properties of oval cells by promoting an epithelial-mesenchymal-like process

Palao, Nerea; Sequera, Celia; Cuesta, Ángel M; Baquero, Cristina; Bragado, Paloma; Gutierrez-Uzquiza, Alvaro; Sánchez, Aránzazu; Guerrero, Carmen; Porras, Almudena

doi:10.7150/ijbs.73192

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Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18(15):5873-5884. doi:10.7150/ijbs.73192 This issue Cite

Research Paper

C3G down-regulation enhances pro-migratory and stemness properties of oval cells by promoting an epithelial-mesenchymal-like process

Nerea Palao^1,2, Celia Sequera^1,2,3, Ángel M Cuesta^1,2, Cristina Baquero^1,2, Paloma Bragado^1,2, Alvaro Gutierrez-Uzquiza^1,2, Aránzazu Sánchez^1,2, Carmen Guerrero^4,5,6✉*, Almudena Porras^1,2✉*

1. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 28040 Madrid, Spain.
2. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain.
3. Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, 13009 Marseille, France.
4. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), Universidad de Salamanca-CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
5. Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
6. Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
*Co-senior investigators.

Citation:

Palao N, Sequera C, Cuesta ÁM, Baquero C, Bragado P, Gutierrez-Uzquiza A, Sánchez A, Guerrero C, Porras A. C3G down-regulation enhances pro-migratory and stemness properties of oval cells by promoting an epithelial-mesenchymal-like process. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18(15):5873-5884. doi:10.7150/ijbs.73192. https://www.ijbs.com/v18p5873.htm

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Abstract

Previous data indicate that C3G (RapGEF1) main isoform is highly expressed in liver progenitor cells (or oval cells) compared to adult mature hepatocytes, suggesting it may play an important role in oval cell biology. Hence, we have explored C3G function in the regulation of oval cell properties by permanent gene silencing using shRNAs. We found that C3G knock-down enhanced migratory and invasive ability of oval cells by promoting a partial epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). This is likely mediated by upregulation of mRNA expression of the EMT-inducing transcription factors, Snail1, Zeb1 and Zeb2, induced in C3G-silenced oval cells. This EMT is associated to a higher expression of the stemness markers, CD133 and CD44. Moreover, C3G down-regulation increased oval cells clonogenic capacity by enhancing cell scattering. However, C3G knock-down did not impair oval cell differentiation into hepatocyte lineage. Mechanistic studies revealed that HGF/MET signaling and its pro-invasive activity was impaired in oval cells with low levels of C3G, while TGF-β signaling was increased. Altogether, these data suggest that C3G might be tightly regulated to ensure liver repair in chronic liver diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Hence, reduced C3G levels could facilitate oval cell expansion, after the proliferation peak, by enhancing migration.

Keywords: C3G, oval cells, migration, epithelial mesenchymal transition, stemness

Citation styles

APA

Palao, N., Sequera, C., Cuesta, Á.M., Baquero, C., Bragado, P., Gutierrez-Uzquiza, A., Sánchez, A., Guerrero, C., Porras, A. (2022). C3G down-regulation enhances pro-migratory and stemness properties of oval cells by promoting an epithelial-mesenchymal-like process. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 18(15), 5873-5884. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.73192.

ACS

Palao, N.; Sequera, C.; Cuesta, Á.M.; Baquero, C.; Bragado, P.; Gutierrez-Uzquiza, A.; Sánchez, A.; Guerrero, C.; Porras, A. C3G down-regulation enhances pro-migratory and stemness properties of oval cells by promoting an epithelial-mesenchymal-like process. Int. J. Biol. Sci. 2022, 18 (15), 5873-5884. DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.73192.

NLM

CSE

Palao N, Sequera C, Cuesta ÁM, Baquero C, Bragado P, Gutierrez-Uzquiza A, Sánchez A, Guerrero C, Porras A. 2022. C3G down-regulation enhances pro-migratory and stemness properties of oval cells by promoting an epithelial-mesenchymal-like process. Int J Biol Sci. 18(15):5873-5884.

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