KLF4-dependent perivascular cell plasticity mediates pre-metastatic niche formation and metastasis.

ABSTRACT: A deeper understanding of the metastatic process is required for the development of new therapies that improve patient survival. Metastatic tumor cell growth and survival in distant organs is facilitated by the formation of a pre-metastatic niche that is composed of hematopoietic cells, stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). Perivascular cells, including vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) and pericytes, are involved in new vessel formation and in promoting stem cell maintenance and proliferation. Given the well-described plasticity of perivascular cells, we hypothesized that perivascular cells similarly regulate tumor cell fate at metastatic sites. We used perivascular-cell-specific and pericyte-specific lineage-tracing models to trace the fate of perivascular cells in the pre-met

SUBMITTER: Murgai M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5724390 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature