Nerve Growth Factor Promotes Gastric Tumorigenesis through Aberrant Cholinergic Signaling.

ABSTRACT: Within the gastrointestinal stem cell niche, nerves help to regulate both normal and neoplastic stem cell dynamics. Here, we reveal the mechanisms underlying the cancer-nerve partnership. We find that Dclk1⁺ tuft cells and nerves are the main sources of acetylcholine (ACh) within the gastric mucosa. Cholinergic stimulation of the gastric epithelium induced nerve growth factor (NGF) expression, and in turn NGF overexpression within gastric epithelium expanded enteric nerves and promoted carcinogenesis. Ablation of Dclk1⁺ cells or blockade of NGF/Trk signaling inhibited epithelial proliferation and tumorigenesis in an ACh muscarinic receptor-3 (M3R)-dependent manner, in part through suppression of yes-associated protein (YAP) function. This feedforward ACh-NGF axis acti

SUBMITTER: Hayakawa Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5225031 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature