Journal
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Volume 7, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13568
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Funding
- Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC) [C7038-14G, C7027-14G, HKU/7668/11M, 767313, CUHK/766613]
- NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme [N_HKU712/12]
- Hong Kong Health and Medical Research Found [02133366]
- National Basic Research Program of China [2012CB967001]
- China National Key Sci-Tech Special Project of Infectious Diseases [2013ZX10002-011-005]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [81272416, 81372583]
- Science and Technology Foundation of Shenzhen [CXZZ20150430092951135, KQTD20140630100658078]
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Non-CG methylation has been associated with stemness regulation in embryonic stem cells. By comparing differentially expressed genes affected by non-CG methylation between tumour and corresponding non-tumour tissues in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we find that Integrin alpha 7 (ITGA7) is characterized as a potential cancer stem cell (CSC) marker. Clinical data show that a high frequency of ITGA7(+) cells in OSCC tissues is significantly associated with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis and worse prognosis. Functional studies demonstrate that both sorted ITGA7(+) cells and ITGA7 overexpressing cells display enhanced stemness features, including elevated expression of stemness-associated genes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition features, as well as increased abilities to self-renew, differentiate and resist chemotherapy. Mechanistic studies find that ITGA7 regulates CSC properties through the activation of the FAK-mediated signalling pathways. As knockdown of ITGA7 can effectively reduce the stemness of OSCC cells, ITGA7 could be a potential therapeutic target in OSCC treatment.
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