Identification of Piezo1 as a potential target for therapy of colon cancer stem-like cells

• Published in: Discover. Oncology Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 95
• Main Authors: Li, Rong, Wang, Dongmei, Li, Huijuan, Lei, Xianhua, Liao, Weilian, Liu, Xiao-Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 12.06.2023; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: Antibodies; Calcium; Cancer Research; Cell cycle; Cell growth; Colon cancer stem-like cells; Colorectal cancer; Internal Medicine; Laboratory animals; Medical prognosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Molecular Medicine; NFAT1; Oncology; Physiology; Piezo1; Radiotherapy; Statistical analysis; Stem cells; Stemness; Surgical Oncology; Stemness; Piezo1; Colon cancer stem-like cells; Calcium; NFAT1
• ISSN: 2730-6011; 2730-6011
• DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00712-4

Colon cancer is a common malignancy of the digestive tract. Colon cancer stem-like cells (CCSCs) are theoretically one of the key drivers of the initiation, relapse, metastasis, and chemo-resistance of colon tumors. Piezo1 is a mechanosensitive cationic channel protein involved in cancer progression. However, little is known regarding the possible role of Piezo1 in maintaining the stemness of CCSCs. In this study, we found that Piezo1 was highly expressed in CD133 + /CD44 +  colon cancer tissues, and the Piezo1 high /CD133 + CD44 + population was associated with the clinical stage. Furthermore, CCSCs isolated from colon cell lines expressed higher Piezo1 levels compared to the non-CCSCs, and Piezo1 knockdown inhibited their tumorigenicity and self-renewal capacity. Mechanistically, Piezo1 maintained the stemness of CCSCs through Ca 2+ /NFAT1 signaling, and knocking down Piezo1 promoted degradation of NFAT1. Taken together, Piezo1 is involved in the stage of colon cancer and is a promising therapeutic target.