Endothelial cell heterogeneity in colorectal cancer: tip cells drive angiogenesis.

ABSTRACT: This study aims to uncover the heterogeneity of endothelial cells (ECs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and their crucial role in angiogenesis, with a special focus on tip cells. Using single-cell RNA sequencing to profile ECs, our data suggests that CRC ECs predominantly exhibit enhanced angiogenesis and decreased antigen presentation, a shift in phenotype largely steered by tip cells. We also observed that an increase in the density and proportion of tip cells correlates with CRC occurrence, progression, and poorer patient prognosis. Furthermore, we identified endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1), specifically expressed in tip cells, sustains a VEGFA-KDR-ESM1 positive feedback loop, promoting angiogenesis and CRC proliferation and migration. We also found the enrichment of KDR in tip c

SUBMITTER: Xie Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11342913 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature