SALL4 - KHDRBS3 network enhances stemness by modulating CD44 splicing in basal-like breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the mechanism by which cancer cells enhance stemness facilitates cancer therapies. Here, we revealed that a stem cell transcription factor, SALL4, functions to enhance stemness in basal-like breast cancer cells. We used shRNA-mediated knockdown and gene overexpression systems to analyze gene functions. To evaluate stemness, we performed a sphere formation assay. In SALL4 knockdown cells, the sphere formation ability was reduced, indicating that SALL4 enhances stemness. CD44 is a membrane protein and is known as a stemness factor in cancer. CD44 splicing variants are involved in cancer stemness. We discovered that SALL4 modulates CD44 alternative splicing through the upregulation of KHDRBS3, a splicing factor for CD44. We cloned the KHDRBS3-regulated CD44 splicing isoform (CD4

SUBMITTER: Matsumoto Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5806117 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature