Adrenergic microenvironment driven by cancer-associated Schwann cells contributes to chemoresistance in patients with lung cancer.

ABSTRACT: Doublecortin (DCX)-positive neural progenitor-like cells are purported components of the cancer microenvironment. The number of DCX-positive cells in tissues reportedly correlates with cancer progression; however, little is known about the mechanism by which these cells affect cancer progression. Here we demonstrated that DCX-positive cells, which are found in all major histological subtypes of lung cancer, are cancer-associated Schwann cells (CAS) and contribute to the chemoresistance of lung cancer cells by establishing an adrenergic microenvironment. Mechanistically, the activation of the Hippo transducer YAP/TAZ was involved in the acquisition of new traits of CAS and DCX positivity. We further revealed that CAS express catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes and synthesize adrenaline, whic

SUBMITTER: Otani Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11247558 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature