Impact of COSMC on stem cell-like properties of gastric cancer cells and its underlying mechanisms
10.3969/j.issn.1000-4718.2025.02.001
- VernacularTitle:COSMC对胃癌细胞干细胞样特性的影响及机制研究
- Author:
Wenyan LI
1
;
Yuhan ZHANG
;
Yuxuan HE
;
Yiming LEI
;
Yuecheng ZHANG
;
Jing ZHANG
;
Lingbo SUN
Author Information
1. 延安大学医学院,陕西 延安 716000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
COSMC protein;
gastric cancer stem cells;
Tn structure;
glycosylation
- From:
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology
2025;41(2):209-218
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
AIM:To investigate the impact of core 1 β3-galactosyltransferase-specific molecular chaperone(COSMC)on the stem cell-like properties of gastric adenocarcinoma cells,and to elucidate its underlying mechanism.METHODS:GEPIA(Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis),TIMER(Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource),Wei Sheng Xin platform,UALCAN(University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Data Analysis Portal)and UCSC(Uni-versity of California,Santa Cruz)Xena databases were employed to analyze COSMC expression levels across various carci-noma types.The COSMC expression in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines was evaluated using Western blot analysis.Transfection of small interfering RNA was used to knock down COSMC in MKN-45 cell line.In vitro experiments were con-ducted to explore the relationship between the COSMC expression and the stem cell-like properties of gastric cancer.The qPCR,sphere formation assay,soft agar colony formation assay and CCK-8 assay were used to evaluate the effect of COSMC on the stem cell-like properties of gastric cancer cells.Tn+and Tn-cells were isolated using Vicia villosa lectin(VVL)-conjugated immunomagnetic beads to investigate the influence of Tn structure on the stem cell-like characteristics of gastric cancer cells.Finally,the effect of COSMC knockdown on the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)signal-ing pathway was evaluated by Western blot analysis.RESULTS:(1)The COSMC exhibited differential expression across pancarcinoma,gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cell lines,with elevated expression levels in gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cell lines compared with normal tissues and gastric epithelial cell line.(2)Knockdown of COSMC sig-nificantly down-regulated the mRNA levels of stem cell markers NANOG,OCT-4 and CD44 in gastric cancer cells,re-duced the efficiency of soft agar colony formation and sphere formation,and increased the sensitivity of the cells to 5-fluo-rouracil(5-FU).(3)The efficiency of tumor sphere formation and soft agar colony formation in Tn-cells,and the resis-tance to 5-FU were significantly higher than those in Tn+cells.(4)Knockdown of COSMC decreased the protein levels of MAPK signaling pathway-related molecules,including c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK),p38 and phosphorylated extracel-lular signal-regulated kinase(p-ERK).CONCLUSION:The COSMC has the potential to enhance the stem cell-like properties of gastric cancer cells,which was likely mediated through the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway.
