Retinoic acid signaling drives differentiation toward the absorptive lineage in colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACT: Retinoic acid (RA) signaling is an important and conserved pathway that regulates cellular proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, perturbed RA signaling is implicated in cancer initiation and progression. However, the mechanisms by which RA signaling contributes to homeostasis, malignant transformation, and disease progression in the intestine remain incompletely understood. Here, we report, in agreement with previous findings, that activation of the Retinoic Acid Receptor and the Retinoid X Receptor results in enhanced transcription of enterocyte-specific genes in mouse small intestinal organoids. Conversely, inhibition of this pathway results in reduced expression of genes associated with the absorptive lineage. Strikingly, this latter effect is conserved in a human organoid mod

SUBMITTER: Wester RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8633980 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature