IL-13/IL-13RA2 signaling promotes colorectal cancer stem cell tumorigenesis by inducing ubiquitinated degradation of p53.

ABSTRACT: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered tumor-initiating cells and the main drivers of disease progression. Targeting these rare cancer cells, however, remains challenging with respect to therapeutic benefit. Here, we report the up-regulation of IL-13RA2 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and spheroid cells. The expression of IL-13RA2 was positively correlated with canonical stemness markers in CRC. We further demonstrated that the level of IL-13 was up-regulated in the serum of CRC patients. Biologically, recombinant IL-13 (rIL-13) stimulation promoted the sphere formation, proliferation, and migration of CRC cells in vitro and enhanced tumorigenesis in vivo. This phenotype could be reversed by knocking down IL-13RA2. Mechanistically, IL-13 activated autophagy by

SUBMITTER: He B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10425805 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature