CDK5RAP2 is a Wnt target gene and promotes stemness and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Yuehong Shen; Yuling Chen; Yuntao Lin; Yicun Li; Pengfei Liu; Biru Zhang; Yufan Wang; King-Chi Chan; Nai-Ki Mak; Michael Kahn; Robert Z. Qi; Hongyu Yang

doi:10.1038/s41419-023-05652-z

Cell Death and Disease (Feb 2023)

CDK5RAP2 is a Wnt target gene and promotes stemness and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Yuehong Shen,
Yuling Chen,
Yuntao Lin,
Yicun Li,
Pengfei Liu,
Biru Zhang,
Yufan Wang,
King-Chi Chan,
Nai-Ki Mak,
Michael Kahn,
Robert Z. Qi,
Hongyu Yang

Affiliations

Yuehong Shen: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty; Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment; The Institute of Stomatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center
Yuling Chen: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty; Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment; The Institute of Stomatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center
Yuntao Lin: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty; Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment; The Institute of Stomatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center
Yicun Li: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty; Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment; The Institute of Stomatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center
Pengfei Liu: Division of Life Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Biru Zhang: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty; Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment; The Institute of Stomatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center
Yufan Wang: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty; Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment; The Institute of Stomatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center
King-Chi Chan: Centre for PanorOmic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
Nai-Ki Mak: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University
Michael Kahn: Department of Molecular Medicine, City of Hope, Beckman Research Institute
Robert Z. Qi: Division of Life Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Hongyu Yang: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty; Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment; The Institute of Stomatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-023-05652-z
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 2
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a highly aggressive and frequently lethal malignancy, the role and action mechanism of the microtubule regulatory protein CDK5RAP2 have not been fully understood. Here, we show that CDK5RAP2 is highly expressed in OSCC and its expression correlates with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis of the disease. The expression of CDK5RAP2 is regulated by the Wnt signaling pathway. Depletion of CDK5RAP2 inhibits the tumorigenesis and migration of OSCC cells and alters the OSCC cancer stem (-like) cell (CSC) signature. Notably, suppression of CDK5RAP2 expression disrupts spindle orientation during mitosis. Collectively, these results identify CDK5RAP2 as a potential CSC marker and reveal a mechanism that controls the CSC population in OSCC.

Published in Cell Death and Disease

ISSN: 2041-4889 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Cytology
Website: http://www.nature.com/cddis/index.html

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