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Loss of aquaporin-1 triggers epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human cholangiocarcinoma

ABSTRACT: Background and Aims: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in metastatic dissemination and associated with the progression of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is a water channel expressed by cholangiocytes described to modulate cell proliferation and invasion in several cancers. However, the role of AQP1 in CCA remains unknown. Our aim was to study the function of AQP1 in CCA. Material and methods: AQP1 expression was evaluated in 39 human intrahepatic CCA (iCCA) by transcriptomic analysis. AQP1-KO in CCA cells, HucCCT1 was achieved by CRISPR/Cas9. Incucyte live-cell imaging system was used for functional studies. Next-generation sequencing (RNAseq) was used to further study the consequences of AQP1 KO. EMT and signaling pathways were evaluated by RT-qPCR, western blot, and immunostaining. In vivo experiments were performed using a xenograft CCA model. Results: AQP1 expression correlated positively with overall survival in patients with iCCA and negatively with EMT, stemness, and proliferative signatures. In vitro, RNA-seq analysis of CCA cells depleted for AQP1 showed a downregulation of epithelial markers (CDH1 and KRT19; p< 0.001) and an upregulation of mesenchymal markers (VIM and FN1; p < 0.001). In these cells, we observed a phenotypic change with induction of cell scattering, a loss of cell-cell junction protein E-cadherin, and a higher expression of vimentin and ZEB1, an EMT-inducing transcription factor. Functionally, loss of AQP1 is associated with increased cell migration and proliferation. Moreover, we found an activation of the IGF2/IGF1R/IR pathway in AQP1-depleted CCA cells. In vivo, AQP1-depleted CCA cells displayed a higher tumorigenic potential and tumor burden than control cells. Conclusion: Our data suggest that AQP1 acts as a tumor suppressor in CCA by acting both on cell proliferation and migration through an EMT process. Therefore, AQP1 might have an important role in the regulation of CCA progression.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE255001 | GEO | 2025/10/06

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background: Nephroblastoma, also known as Wilms’ tumor (WT), is an embryonic malignant tumor and one of the most common malignant tumors in the abdominal region of children. Previous studies have demonstrated that aquaporin 1 (AQP1), a highly expressed channel protein in the kidneys, is closely associated with various diseases and also plays a significant role in tumorigenesis and progression. However, the exact role and underlying mechanisms of AQP1 in the occurrence and development of nephroblastoma remain unclear. Methods: After overexpression of AQP1, cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK-8 proliferation assay and EdU staining. Flow cytometry was employed to detect cell apoptosis, and Western blotting (WB) analysis was conducted to validate the expression of relevant protein markers. mRNA Sequencing (mRNA-Seq) was performed on WT cells with AQP1 overexpression to predict and characterize the associated mechanisms. Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to observe changes in the ultrastructure of WT cells undergoing apoptosis and pyroptosis following AQP1 overexpression. Functional in vivo validation was conducted through animal experiments. Results: We validated at both in vitro and in vivo levels that overexpression of AQP1 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis and pyroptosis. mRNA-Seq analysis of WT cells with AQP1 overexpression suggested that these effects might be mediated through the inhibition of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which was further experimentally validated. Additionally, we discovered that overexpression of AQP1 activated the classical pyroptosis signaling pathway dependent on Caspase-1, thereby promoting pyroptosis in WT. Conclusion: These findings highlight the significant functional role of AQP1 in the pathobiology of nephroblastoma, providing novel insights into the development of this disease. Moreover, these results offer new perspectives on the potential therapeutic targeting of AQP1 as a treatment strategy for nephroblastoma.

Project description:Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a hepatobiliary malignancy with dismal prognosis. Currently available models fail to recapitulate the full complexity of CCA, particularly the desmoplastic environment and the interplay between cancer cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). We aimed to study the role of epithelial tumor cells in ECM deposition and desmoplasia by designing a model encompassing primary epithelial CCA organoids (CCAOs) and native liver and tumor scaffolds obtained by decellularization Background & Aims: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a hepatobiliary malignancy with dismal prognosis. Currently available models fail to recapitulate the full complexity of CCA, particularly the desmoplastic environment and the interplay between cancer cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). We aimed to study the role of epithelial tumor cells in ECM deposition and desmoplasia by designing a model encompassing primary epithelial CCA organoids (CCAOs) and native liver and tumor scaffolds obtained by decellularization. Results: Decellularization resulted in effective removal of cells while preserving ECM structure and retaining important characteristics of the tissue origin. When culturing CCAOs in CCA-M, compared to TFL-M and BME, the genome-wide gene expression profile much more resembled the transcriptome of primary CCA tumor tissue in vivo, with an accompanying increase in chemoresistance. CCAOs in decellularized matrix, both CCA-M and TFL-M, exhibited the formation of complex morphological structures, and revealed environment-dependent proliferation and migration dynamics, driven by the occurrence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). CCA-M induced specific extracellular matrix protein production in CCAOs, such as fibronectin 1 (FN1), which is related to desmoplasia and patient survival. In TFL-M, lacking the desmoplastic environment, CCAOs were able to initiate a desmoplastic reaction directly through increased production of multiple collagen types. Conclusions: This improved model of cholangiocarcinoma, combining organoids and native extracellular matrix, recapitulates key components of CCA tumor biology, including transcriptome profiles, migration patterns, EMT, and ECM protein production. The increased production of extracellular matrix proteins suggests that epithelial tumor cells can contribute to their own desmoplastic environment.

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Loss of aquaporin-1 triggers epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human cholangiocarcinoma

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