ARHGAP4/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun positive feedback loop promotes colorectal cancer stemness

Abstract Rho GTPase-activating protein 4 (ARHGAP4) is implicated in poor prognosis across multiple malignancies. However, its role in driving stemness in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that ARHGAP4 drives CRC stemness through a positive feedback loop involving...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shaolin Liu, Yizhen Chen, Song Tan, Yifan Chen, Changshun Yang, Yulong Mi, Shengtao Lin, Weihua Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:npj Precision Oncology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-025-01022-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849238017129054208
author Shaolin Liu
Yizhen Chen
Song Tan
Yifan Chen
Changshun Yang
Yulong Mi
Shengtao Lin
Weihua Li
author_facet Shaolin Liu
Yizhen Chen
Song Tan
Yifan Chen
Changshun Yang
Yulong Mi
Shengtao Lin
Weihua Li
author_sort Shaolin Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Rho GTPase-activating protein 4 (ARHGAP4) is implicated in poor prognosis across multiple malignancies. However, its role in driving stemness in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that ARHGAP4 drives CRC stemness through a positive feedback loop involving MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun, as validated by integrated bioinformatics analysis, in vitro and in vivo tumor stemness assays, co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. These findings identify ARHGAP4 as a promising therapeutic target in CRC, particularly for addressing cancer stem cells (CSCs).
format Article
id doaj-art-bc761822473e4bbd84841ce262cacac3
institution Kabale University
issn 2397-768X
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Precision Oncology
spelling doaj-art-bc761822473e4bbd84841ce262cacac32025-08-20T04:01:47ZengNature Portfolionpj Precision Oncology2397-768X2025-08-019111710.1038/s41698-025-01022-4ARHGAP4/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun positive feedback loop promotes colorectal cancer stemnessShaolin Liu0Yizhen Chen1Song Tan2Yifan Chen3Changshun Yang4Yulong Mi5Shengtao Lin6Weihua Li7Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical UniversityShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical UniversityShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical UniversityShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial HospitalAbstract Rho GTPase-activating protein 4 (ARHGAP4) is implicated in poor prognosis across multiple malignancies. However, its role in driving stemness in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that ARHGAP4 drives CRC stemness through a positive feedback loop involving MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun, as validated by integrated bioinformatics analysis, in vitro and in vivo tumor stemness assays, co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. These findings identify ARHGAP4 as a promising therapeutic target in CRC, particularly for addressing cancer stem cells (CSCs).https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-025-01022-4
spellingShingle Shaolin Liu
Yizhen Chen
Song Tan
Yifan Chen
Changshun Yang
Yulong Mi
Shengtao Lin
Weihua Li
ARHGAP4/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun positive feedback loop promotes colorectal cancer stemness
npj Precision Oncology
title ARHGAP4/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun positive feedback loop promotes colorectal cancer stemness
title_full ARHGAP4/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun positive feedback loop promotes colorectal cancer stemness
title_fullStr ARHGAP4/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun positive feedback loop promotes colorectal cancer stemness
title_full_unstemmed ARHGAP4/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun positive feedback loop promotes colorectal cancer stemness
title_short ARHGAP4/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun positive feedback loop promotes colorectal cancer stemness
title_sort arhgap4 myh9 β catenin c jun positive feedback loop promotes colorectal cancer stemness
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-025-01022-4
work_keys_str_mv AT shaolinliu arhgap4myh9bcatenincjunpositivefeedbacklooppromotescolorectalcancerstemness
AT yizhenchen arhgap4myh9bcatenincjunpositivefeedbacklooppromotescolorectalcancerstemness
AT songtan arhgap4myh9bcatenincjunpositivefeedbacklooppromotescolorectalcancerstemness
AT yifanchen arhgap4myh9bcatenincjunpositivefeedbacklooppromotescolorectalcancerstemness
AT changshunyang arhgap4myh9bcatenincjunpositivefeedbacklooppromotescolorectalcancerstemness
AT yulongmi arhgap4myh9bcatenincjunpositivefeedbacklooppromotescolorectalcancerstemness
AT shengtaolin arhgap4myh9bcatenincjunpositivefeedbacklooppromotescolorectalcancerstemness
AT weihuali arhgap4myh9bcatenincjunpositivefeedbacklooppromotescolorectalcancerstemness