Novel TCF21high pericyte subpopulation promotes colorectal cancer metastasis by remodelling perivascular matrix

Objective Haematogenous dissemination is a prevalent route of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. However, as the gatekeeper of vessels, the role of tumour pericytes (TPCs) in haematogenous metastasis remains largely unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the heterogeneity of TPCs and their effects on CRC metastasis. Design TPCs were isolated from patients with CRC with or without liver metastases and analysed by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Clinical CRC specimens were collected to analyse the association between the molecular profiling of TPCs and CRC metastasis. RNA-sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing and bisulfite-sequencing were performed to investigate the TCF21-regulated genes and mechanisms underlying integrin alpha 5 on TCF21 DNA hypermethylation. Pericyte-conditional Tcf21-knockout mice were constructed to investigate the effects of TCF21 in TPCs on CRC metastasis. Masson staining, atomic force microscopy, second-harmonic generation and two-photon fluorescence microscopy were employed to observe perivascular extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling. Results Thirteen TPC subpopulations were identified by scRNA-seq. A novel subset of TCF21(high) TPCs, termed 'matrix-pericytes', was associated with liver metastasis in patients with CRC. TCF21 in TPCs increased perivascular ECM stiffness, collagen rearrangement and basement membrane degradation, establishing a perivascular metastatic microenvironment to instigate colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM). Tcf21 depletion in TPCs mitigated perivascular ECM remodelling and CRCLM, whereas the coinjection of TCF21(high) TPCs and CRC cells markedly promoted CRCLM. Mechanistically, loss of integrin alpha 5 inhibited the FAK/PI3K/AKT/DNMT1 axis to impair TCF21 DNA hypermethylation in TCF21(high) TPCs. Conclusion This study uncovers a previously unidentified role of TPCs in haematogenous metastasis and provides a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for CRC metastasis.

Automated summary

This study discovered a previously unidentified subset of TPCs, TCF21(high) TPCs, which were associated with liver metastasis in patients with CRC. TCF21 in TPCs increased perivascular ECM stiffness, collagen rearrangement, and basement membrane degradation, establishing a perivascular metastatic microenvironment for colorectal cancer liver metastasis. Furthermore, loss of integrin alpha 5 inhibited the FAK/PI3K/AKT/DNMT1 axis, impairing TCF21 DNA hypermethylation in TCF21(high) TPCs. Overall, this study uncovers a new role of TPCs in haematogenous metastasis and provides potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for CRC metastasis.