CD147 regulates the Rap1 signaling pathway to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells

Abstract The malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) is intimately associated with the abnormal regulation of transmembrane glycoprotein CD147. However, the molecular mechanism via the Rap1/Rap1GAP signaling axis has not been elucidated. This study, through integrated bioinformatics analysi...

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Main Authors: Fu Xiaoxia, Li Rui, Chen Meiru, Yuan Lu, Jin Ying
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98266-8
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author Fu Xiaoxia
Li Rui
Chen Meiru
Yuan Lu
Jin Ying
author_facet Fu Xiaoxia
Li Rui
Chen Meiru
Yuan Lu
Jin Ying
author_sort Fu Xiaoxia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) is intimately associated with the abnormal regulation of transmembrane glycoprotein CD147. However, the molecular mechanism via the Rap1/Rap1GAP signaling axis has not been elucidated. This study, through integrated bioinformatics analysis, discovered that the expression of CD147 in CRC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues, and patients with high expression had a shorter overall survival. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot confirmed that the expression level of CD147 protein in CRC tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues. Moreover, qRT-PCR verified a positive correlation between the expressions of CD147 and Rap1. Immunofluorescence clearly indicated that CD147 was specifically enriched in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of SW620 cells. The knockdown of CD147 mediated by shRNA could inhibit the proliferation of HCT116/SW620 cells, induce apoptosis, and weaken the migration and invasion capabilities. The mechanism involved the downregulation of c-Myc, Bcl-2 and the upregulation of Bax, E-cadherin. The mechanistic study found that the knockdown of CD147 increased the expression of Rap1GAP and inhibited Rap1 activity. Overexpression of Rap1 could reverse the inhibitory effects of CD147 knockdown on proliferation, apoptosis, and EMT phenotypes. This study revealed that CD147 upregulated Rap1 expression while inhibiting Rap1GAP, thereby maintaining Rap1 activity and driving the malignant progression of CRC through the c-Myc/Bcl-2/Bax axis and EMT program, providing experimental evidence for precise treatment targeting the CD147-Rap1 signaling axis.
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spelling doaj-art-c87a4efeb8e44bb785f37e9f475617ed2025-08-20T02:36:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-98266-8CD147 regulates the Rap1 signaling pathway to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis in colorectal cancer cellsFu Xiaoxia0Li Rui1Chen Meiru2Yuan Lu3Jin Ying4Department of Pathology, Xinzhou Hospital, Shanxi Medical UniversityClinical Discipline Building Center, Shanxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Xinzhou Hospital, Shanxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Xinzhou Hospital, Shanxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Xinzhou Hospital, Shanxi Medical UniversityAbstract The malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) is intimately associated with the abnormal regulation of transmembrane glycoprotein CD147. However, the molecular mechanism via the Rap1/Rap1GAP signaling axis has not been elucidated. This study, through integrated bioinformatics analysis, discovered that the expression of CD147 in CRC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues, and patients with high expression had a shorter overall survival. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot confirmed that the expression level of CD147 protein in CRC tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues. Moreover, qRT-PCR verified a positive correlation between the expressions of CD147 and Rap1. Immunofluorescence clearly indicated that CD147 was specifically enriched in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of SW620 cells. The knockdown of CD147 mediated by shRNA could inhibit the proliferation of HCT116/SW620 cells, induce apoptosis, and weaken the migration and invasion capabilities. The mechanism involved the downregulation of c-Myc, Bcl-2 and the upregulation of Bax, E-cadherin. The mechanistic study found that the knockdown of CD147 increased the expression of Rap1GAP and inhibited Rap1 activity. Overexpression of Rap1 could reverse the inhibitory effects of CD147 knockdown on proliferation, apoptosis, and EMT phenotypes. This study revealed that CD147 upregulated Rap1 expression while inhibiting Rap1GAP, thereby maintaining Rap1 activity and driving the malignant progression of CRC through the c-Myc/Bcl-2/Bax axis and EMT program, providing experimental evidence for precise treatment targeting the CD147-Rap1 signaling axis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98266-8Colorectal cancerCD147Rap1/Rap1GAP signaling pathwayApoptosisEpithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
spellingShingle Fu Xiaoxia
Li Rui
Chen Meiru
Yuan Lu
Jin Ying
CD147 regulates the Rap1 signaling pathway to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells
Scientific Reports
Colorectal cancer
CD147
Rap1/Rap1GAP signaling pathway
Apoptosis
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
title CD147 regulates the Rap1 signaling pathway to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells
title_full CD147 regulates the Rap1 signaling pathway to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells
title_fullStr CD147 regulates the Rap1 signaling pathway to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells
title_full_unstemmed CD147 regulates the Rap1 signaling pathway to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells
title_short CD147 regulates the Rap1 signaling pathway to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells
title_sort cd147 regulates the rap1 signaling pathway to promote proliferation migration and invasion and inhibit apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells
topic Colorectal cancer
CD147
Rap1/Rap1GAP signaling pathway
Apoptosis
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98266-8
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