Fibroblast-derived Gremlin1 localises to epithelial cells at the base of the intestinal crypt

Dutton, L. R. et al. (2019) Fibroblast-derived Gremlin1 localises to epithelial cells at the base of the intestinal crypt. Oncotarget, 10(45), pp. 4630-4639. (doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.27050) (PMID:31384391) (PMCID:PMC6659803)

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Abstract

Gremlin1 (GREM1) is a secreted glycoprotein member of the differential screening-selected gene in aberrant neuroblastoma (DAN) family of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists, which binds to BMPs preventing their receptor engagement. Previous studies have identified that stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with high levels of GREM1 gene expression in their tumour tissue have a poorer prognosis. Using a series of in silico and in situ methodologies, we demonstrate that GREM1 gene expression is significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in CRC consensus molecular subtype 4 (CMS4), compared to the other CMS subtypes and correlates (p < 0.0001) with levels of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the CRC tumour microenvironment (TME). Our optimised immunohistochemistry protocol identified endogenous GREM1 protein expression in both the muscularis mucosa and adjacent colonic crypt bases in mouse intestine, in contrast to RNA expression which was shown to localise specifically to the muscularis mucosa, as determined by in situ hybridisation. Importantly, we demonstrate that cells with high levels of GREM1 expression display low levels of phospho-Smad1/5, consistent with reduced BMP signalling. Taken together, these data highlight a novel paracrine signalling circuit, which involves uptake of mature GREM1 protein by colonic crypt cells following secretion from neighbouring fibroblasts in the TME.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Dutton, Ms Louise
Authors: Dutton, L. R., Hoare, O. P., McCorry, A. M.B., Redmond, K. L., Adam, N. E., Canamara, S., Bingham, V., Mullan, P. B., Lawler, M., Dunne, P. D., and Brazil, D. P.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Journal Name:Oncotarget
Publisher:Impact Journals
ISSN:1949-2553
ISSN (Online):1949-2553
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 Dutton et al.
First Published:First published in Oncotarget 10(45): 4630-4639
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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