Introduction

Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related death (1). Mutations in the Apc gene in intestinal epithelial cells cause adenoma formation by dys-regulation of Wnt signaling (2). Accumulating oncogenic mutations in Kras, Tp53 and Smad4 genes facilitate colorectal carcinogenesis and metastasis (3–5). Recent studies have identified that Lgr5 positive cells are required for metastasis in the murine models of colorectal cancer (6, 7). Lgr5 positive cells include stem cells, transit amplifying cells and Paneth cells (8). Ablation of Lgr5 positive cells in the primary tumor in mice restricted metastatic progression of colon cancer cells (6). Time-lapse live imaging analysis of metastatic cancer cells in the murine primary colon tumors revealed that both Lgr5 positive and negative cancer cells are able to escape from the primary tumors and circulate in the blood stream (7). Importantly, generation or presence of Lgr5 positive cells is necessary to form metastases suggesting that cancer stem cells and their niche formation upon metastases seeding is a prerequisite of metastatic tumor growth.

The stem cell niche provides so called ‘stem cell niche factors’ in order to regulate proliferation and differentiation of stem cells (9, 10). In the homeostatic condition, Paneth cells function as stem cell niche cells by providing Wnt3, EGF, Notch ligand, and Dll4 to intestinal stem cells (11). Paneth cell-mediated glucose conversion into lactate promotes proliferation of intestinal stem cells that lack glucose metabolism (12). Stem cell niche factors not only maintain stem cells but also generate new stem cells by dedifferentiation from the progenitors when the original stem cells are damaged by intestinal injury or inflammation (13–15). Regeneration of stem cells by niche factors also occurs in the context of colorectal cancer (6, 16, 17). However, the underlying mechanisms of cancer stem cell niche cell development in the primary and metastatic colon tumors are largely unknown.

In normal mucosa, the balance between Wnt and Notch signaling determines the fate of intestinal stem cells differentiating to secretory or absorptive precursors (18–20). Atoh1 expression in the secretory precursors directs their differentiation to Paneth or goblet cells (21). Sox9 expression then induces Paneth cell differentiation (22, 23) in the small intestine. Recent findings has identified the presence of Paneth-like cells in the large intestine (24–26). However, the existence of Paneth or Paneth-like cells in colon cancers remains unknown. Using colon cancer organoids carrying mutations in Apc, Kras and Tp53 genes, we showed here that Dkk2 knockout disrupted Lysozyme (LYZ) positive cell formation in colon cancer organoids as well as metastatic nodules in vivo. Single cell RNA sequencing analyses for mouse and human metastatic colon cancer samples have identified the existence of LYZ+ cells exhibiting Paneth cell properties including metabolic support for stem cells (27). Mechanistically, DKK2 protein deficiency recovered protein levels of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 alpha (HNF4A) in colon cancer cells (28). HNF4A binding on the Sox9 promoter inhibited the formation of LYZ+ cancer cells exhibiting Paneth cell characteristics. The loss of LYZ+ cells by Dkk2 knockout rescued mice from the liver metastasis of colorectal cancer induced by cancer organoid transplantation. Our findings suggest that DKK2 promotes LYZ+ cell formation exhibiting Paneth cell properties to develop cancer stem cell niches for outgrowth of metastasized colon cancers.

Materials and Methods

Splenic injection

Generation of AKP, Dkk2 knockout AKP, HNF4α1 knockdown and Dkk2 knockout AKP organoids and their culture protocols have been published in the previous study (28). We used the previously reported splenic injection methodology to develop organoid-derived liver metastasis in mice (29). Cultured organoids were prepared as single cells following 10-30 min of digestion in TrypLE solution (Thermo, 12605010) at 37°C, followed by centrifugation with advanced DMEM-F12 (Thermo, 12634010). The isolated single cells were re-suspended with PBS as 300,000 cells per 100 μl of PBS. Surgical instruments were sterilized by steam autoclave (250 ° F., 15 p.s.i. for 30 minutes). 8-12 weeks old C57BL/6 mice were anesthetized with Ketamine (100 mg/kg) plus Xylazine (10 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection. Puralube Vet ointment was applied to the eyes to prevent drying while surgery. Spleen was divided by two Horizon medium size ligating clips (Teleflex, 002200) in the center of the spleen and one hemi-spleen was returned into the peritoneum. Using a 26-½ Gauge needle, 100-200 μl volume of cells was injected underneath of the splenic capsule over the course of 30 s. A small Horizon clip (Teleflex, 001200) was applied to ligate the pancreas and splenic vessels and the injected hemi-spleen was removed. The incision was closed with a 5-0 running stitch using Vicryl (Ethicon, J493G) and 2-3 skin clips. Meloxicam (0.3 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously to alleviate postsurgical pain at 24-72 h post-surgery.

In vivo imaging

Noninvasive in vivo imaging was performed using a Microfocus X-ray imaging source (Kodak). Mice were anesthetized by isoflurane inhalation and their abdominal hair was shaved. Tandem repeat Tomato (tdTomato) fluorescence in liver metastatic tumors was recorded for 30 sec. tdTomato signals were statistically analyzed using the Bruker image analysis system. X-ray image was captured by 10 sec exposure and merged with the tdTomato image.

Data availability

All data are included in the article and SI Appendix. All the sequencing data reported in this study have been deposited in the Gene Expression Omnibus as follows; Bulk RNA-seq: GSE157531, ATAC-seq: GSE157529, Chip-seq: will be available before publication. scRNA-seq: GSE157645.

Results

DKK2 is indispensable for liver metastasis of colorectal cancer

Metastatic potential of Lgr5-expressing cells has been reported in colorectal cancer (30). The ablation of Lgr5-expressing cells in primary colon tumors inhibited metastasis whereas the growth of primary tumors quickly recovered by dedifferentiation of non-stem cells into Lgr5-expressing stem cells (6). Moreover, Fumagalli et al. have shown that Lgr5-expressing cells are indispensable for the growth of metastases (7). We have recently reported that DKK2 enhanced Lgr5 expression in colon cancers through activation of c-Src (28). Enhanced activation of c-Src has been reported in metastatic colon cancers as well (31). Based on these observations, we queried whether DKK2 is required for metastasis of colorectal cancer. We developed colon cancer organoids carrying oncogenic mutations in Apc, Kras and Tp53 genes (AKP) (28). Splenic injection of the Dkk2 knockout AKP (KO) organoids into wild type C57BL/6 mice resulted in significantly less liver metastasis and mortality compared to the control (AKP) organoids (Fig. 1A-D). Quantitative gene expression analyses revealed that the levels of Dkk2 and Lgr5 were still decreased in KO-derived liver metastasized cells compared to AKP-derived cells (Fig. 1E). Lgr5 protein expression and c-Src phosphorylation were reduced in KO tumor samples (Fig. 1F and G). The percentage of Lgr5-expressing cells with c-Src phosphorylation in KO tumor tissues was decreased about 2-fold compared to AKP tissues (Fig. 1H). These data suggest the necessity of DKK2 in the growth of Lgr5-expressing cancer stem cells in liver metastasized nodules originated from the splenic injection of cancer organoids.

Figure 1.

DKK2 is required for lysozyme positive cell formation in colon cancer organoids

To understand the underlying mechanisms of the DKK2-mediated increase of Lgr5-expressing stem cells in liver metastases, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis on AKP and Dkk2 knockout (KO) organoids. KO organoids were generated using the CRISPR technique and DKK2 reconstitution was followed using recombinant mouse DKK2 protein (Fig. 2A). Consistent with our previous report using a colitis-induced tumor model, expression of stem cell marker genes including Lgr5 was reduced in KO organoids (Fig. S1A) (28). In particular, the expression of Paneth cell marker genes such as Lyz1, Lyz2, and alpha defensins were significantly reduced in KO organoids (Fig. 2B and S1B). Paneth cells are derived from Lgr5-expressing stem cells by asymmetric division and maintain their Lgr5 expression (15). These cells produce stem cell niche factors such as Wnt3A in order to facilitate stem cell proliferation and differentiation into other epithelial lineage cells (11). Paneth cells are also crucial for the glycolysis of intestinal stem cells that lack of glucose metabolism (12). Our bulk RNA-seq data showed that Paneth cell-derived Wnt3a as well as Fgfr3, a marker of Paneth cell-induced expansion of stem cells were reduced by Dkk2 knockout, indicating that the formation of stem cell niche might be disrupted in KO organoids (Fig. S1C) (32). Indeed, formation of Lysozyme positive (LYZ+) cells was disrupted by Dkk2 knockout during organoid culture (Fig. 2C). LYZ+ cells were detected in AKP organoids from day 2 after plating a single or multiple cells of enzyme-digested organoids whereas those cells were less frequently observed in KO organoids. It correlates to the expression pattern of Lgr5 in our previous report (28). A significant increase of Lgr5 expression was observed between day 2 and day 4 and peaked at day 4 to day 6 in AKP organoid culture. Lgr5 expression was reduced about 3-fold in KO organoids compared to AKP organoids at day 8 (28). Likewise, the markers of Paneth cells, Lyz1 and Lyz2 were reduced in KO organoids at day 8 and recombinant mouse DKK2 protein treatment into KO organoids rescued it (Fig. 2D). These data indicate that DKK2 is necessary for LYZ+ cell formation in colon cancer organoids that might be required for the cancer stem cell niche formation.

Figure 2.

LYZ+ cancer cells exhibit Paneth cell properties in both mouse and human systems

To investigate the necessity of DKK2 in the formation of LYZ+ cancer cells during colon cancer metastasis, we employed the murine in vivo model of liver metastasis shown in Figure 1. In order to analyze transcriptome changes by Dkk2 knockout in each cell type of metastasized tumors, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis on liver metastasized AKP and KO tumor cells. The Louvain method revealed 4 clusters in our dataset. A cell type was assigned to each cluster on the basis of gene expression patterns and visualized in a Uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) representation (Fig. 3A). Epithelial tumor cells were sub-clustered as 7 clusters and the cluster 6 has been identified as cancer cells with Paneth cell properties based on the expression of Paneth marker genes using the Panglao database (Fig. 3A, S2A-D). Total of 17 cells in cluster 6 were further defined as cancer cells with Paneth cell properties (Paneth+) or goblet cell properties (Goblet+) using the relevant marker genes expression, Lyz1, Muc2 and Atoh1 (Fig. S2E and S2F). The calculated ratio between Paneth+ cells and Goblet+ cells in KO metastasized tumors was 0.43, reduced as half compared to the ratio in the AKP control, 1 (Fig. S2F). This suggests a reduction of LYZ+ cells in metastasized colon tumors by knockout a Dkk2 gene, which was confirmed by flow cytometry analysis of LYZ+ cells in metastasized mouse colon cancers in the liver (Fig. 6H and 6I).

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Figure 6.

To analyze the consequence of the loss of LYZ+ cells by Dkk2 knockout in cancer stem cell niche formation, we enriched Lgr5 positive cells that consist of stem cells, stem cell niche cells and transit amplifying cells in the homeostatic condition (Fig. S3A and S3B) (8). Elevated expression of stem cell marker genes represents cancer stemness in Lgr5 positive cells compared to Lgr5 negative cells (Fig. S3C). The UMAP plot of Lgr5 positive cells displayed 2 clusters (Fig. S3D). Interestingly, expression of Noggin (Nog), one of the stem cell niche factors was detected mostly in cluster 1 where only 1 cell was counted in KO (Fig. S3E-S3G). Noggin is an inhibitor of BMP signaling, which restricts stemness of Lgr5 positive stem cells in the gut (33, 34). Following the reduction of Nog, Bmp4 expression was reversed in KO tumor epithelial cells in the scRNA-seq data (Fig. S3H). This has been confirmed by quantitative gene expression analysis of Bmp4 in KO organoids (Fig. S3I). The correlative expression between Dkk2 and the stem cell marker gene, Lgr5 has been also confirmed in the scRNA-seq data (Fig. 3B). Furthermore, pathways enrichment analysis of the scRNA-seq data using IPA suggested that the glycolysis I pathway was significantly inhibited in KO Lgr5 positive tumor epithelial cells (Fig. 3C). Expression of glycolysis-related genes such as Aldoa, Aldoc and Fbp2 was reduced by Dkk2 knockout in Lgr5 positive cells (Fig. 3D) (35). Previous studies have defined that Paneth cells participate in the regulation of energy metabolism in intestinal stem cells (12, 36). Since stem cells are not able to generate lactate, Paneth cells instead process glucose in order to provide lactate to stem cells (12). Therefore, reduction of the glycolysis I pathway in the absence of DKK2 indicates the impaired stem cell niche formation by the loss of LYZ+ cells carrying Paneth cell properties.

Paneth cells constitute the stem cell niche in the small intestine (21). Recent studies have identified the presence of Paneth-like cells in the colon (25, 26). However, the presence of Paneth cells or Paneth-like cells within the tumor microenvironment is elusive. To discern the existence of cancer cells exhibiting Paneth cell properties in humans, we conducted an analysis of scRNA-seq data obtained from colorectal cancer patients (37). Our analysis focused on CD45-EpCAM+ epithelial cells, excluding hematopoietic cells. UMAP plotted 31 clusters of single cells derived from normal tissue, primary tumor and metastasis samples (Fig. 4A and B). Employing lysozyme expression and Paneth cell module scores (Pangalo database) as criteria, we have identified LYZ+ cancer cells harboring Paneth cell properties across 5 clusters (Fig. 4C-H, Fig. S4 and S5). LYZ+ cancer cell population is distinct in metastasis samples (Fig. 4E and 4F). LYZ expression over 2.0 (3^rd Quantile, round 1) and Paneth module scores over 0.2 (3^rd Quantile, round 2 to avoid getting 0) single cells were identified as LYZ+ cancer cells harboring Paneth cell properties, 1%, 13% and 24% in normal, primary tumor and metastasis samples, respectively. This delineates the distribution of LYZ+ cancer cells with Paneth cell characteristics in different stages of colorectal cancer progression.

To unravel the functional significance of LYZ+ cancer cells, we performed gene set enrichment analysis for the scRNA-seq data obtained from colon cancer patients. In correlation with our murine scRNA-seq data IPA results, glycolysis emerged as the 2^nd-ranked enriched pathway in LYZ+ cancer cells compared to LYZ-cancer cells (Fig 5A). Notably, key players in glycolysis such as ALDOB and KDELR3 genes are increased in LYZ+ cancer cells (Fig. 5B). Also, the hallmark of protein secretion was the top-ranked enriched pathway, which is essential for Paneth cell activity including secretion of anti-microbial peptides (Fig. 5A). These results suggest the existence of a distinct population of LYZ+ colon cancer cells endowed with Paneth cell properties. Collectively, DKK2 is required for the generation of LYZ+ cells to form the cancer stem cell niche, a prerequisite for the outgrowth of metastasized colorectal cancer cells.

HNF4A mediates the formation of Lysozyme positive colon cancer cells by DKK2

Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) of the human scRNA-seq data from primary tumor and metastasis samples suggested hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4A) as an upstream regulator of LYZ+ cancer cells compared to LYZ-cancer cells (Fig. 5C). In line with this, IPA of the bulk RNA-seq data using mouse colon cancer organoids suggested that HNF4A is activated in KO organoids (Fig. 6A). This is consistent with our previous report that DKK2 enhanced Lgr5 expression in colitis-induced cancer cells via HNF4α1, an isoform of HNF4A (28). Significant enrichment of the HNF4A binding motif was also detected in the open chromatin regions of KO organoids compared to AKP controls determined by assay for transposase-associated chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) (Fig. 6B). In comparison with normal colonic organoids, the HNF4A motif was listed as the most reduced motif in AKP indicating significant reduction of HNF4A-regulated transcription whereas it might be rescued by Dkk2 knockout (Fig. 6C). Notably, HNF4A was the only molecule suggested by all of these multi-omics data analyses in both mouse and human. These results suggest HNF4A as a key transcription factor in downstream signaling of DKK2 in colon cancer cells.

HNF4A is necessary for maturation of fetal intestine and barrier functions of intestinal epithelium in the homeostatic condition (38, 39). Two Hnf4a isoforms—Hnf4α1 and Hnf4α7— are involved in intestinal homeostasis and regeneration (40). Intestinal inflammation induces expression of the HNF4α1 isoform in the crypt epithelial cells to regenerate the epithelium whereas loss of the HNF4α1 isoform occurs in colitis-induced tumor cells (40). Loss of the HNF4α1 isoform was also observed in AKP organoids while Dkk2 knockout restored the presence of HNF4α1 protein in the nucleus of AKP organoid cells (28). This allowed us to investigate the binding regions of HNF4α1 in colon cancer cells using KO organoids. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (Chip-seq) analysis using the Chip-seq grade anti-HNF4A antibody revealed that HNF4A binds to the promoter region of Sox9 in KO organoid cells (Fig. 6D). Sox9 is a transcription factor required for the secretory lineage of epithelial cell differentiation including Paneth cells (23). Quantitative gene expression analysis showed that Dkk2 knockout reduced Sox9 expression in AKP organoids, which was rescued by recombinant DKK2 protein treatment (Fig. 6E). Reduced Sox9 expression in KO organoids was also reversed by HNF4α1 knockdown (Fig. 6F). These data indicate that DKK2-driven loss of HNF4α1 protein leads to Sox9 expression followed by formation of LYZ+ colon cancer cells. Confocal microscopy analysis confirmed that HNF4α1 knockdown rescued the presence of LYZ+ cancer cells in KO organoids (Fig. 6G). In order to quantify LYZ+ cancer cells in the mouse model of liver metastasis, tdTomato positive cells in the liver were identified as the implanted organoid-derived cancer cells then, LYZ+ cells were calculated (Fig. 6H). The percentile of LYZ+ cells in total cancer cells was decreased about 3-fold in Dkk2 knockout metastasized cells (KO) compared to the AKP control cells in liver (Fig. 6I). Simultaneously, HNF4α1 positive cells were tripled to about 60 percent in KO (Fig. 6H and 6I). These findings suggest that DKK2 is indispensable for the generation of LYZ+ cancer cells in liver metastasized nodules by reducing protein levels of HNF4α1. Further analyses for human colorectal cancer scRNA-seq data revealed that HNF4A regulation activity is reduced in LYZ+ human colon cancer cells compared to the LYZ-cancer cells while SOX9 regulation activity is significantly increased (Fig. 6J-6K and S5) suggesting the key roles of HNF4A and SOX9 in LYZ+ cancer cell formation in human. Taken together, DKK2-driven loss of HNF4α1 protein enhances Sox9 expression in colon cancer cells to generate LYZ+ cells with Paneth cell properties.

Discussion

We have shown that DKK2 is indispensable for metastatic tumor growth of colorectal cancer in the murine model developed by transplantation of colon cancer organoids carrying mutation in the Apc, Kras and Tp53 genes. Bulk RNA-seq analysis of DKK2-deficient colon cancer organoids showed reduction of the marker genes of Paneth cells, which play a role in the stem cell niche development. Single cell RNA-seq analyses for mouse and human metastatic colon cancers have identified the existence of LYZ+ cancer cells harboring Paneth cell properties, in particular, glycolysis for stem cells. In the absence of DKK2, both pathway enrichment analysis of the RNA-seq and ATAC-seq data suggested that HNF4A is activated. This is consistent with our previous report in the murine model of colitis-induced tumorigenesis (28). ChIP-seq analysis using an anti-HNF4A antibody revealed that HNF4A directly binds to the promoter region of Sox9, a transcriptional factor required for epithelial differentiation into Paneth cells (22, 23). Notably, DKK2 induces the loss of HNF4α1 isoform in colon cancer cells followed by elevation of Sox9 expression lead to the formation of LYZ+ cancer cells exhibiting Paneth cell properties. DKK2-deficient colon cancer cells possessed high levels of HNF4α1 protein and failed to generate LYZ+ cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. DKK2 deficiency resulted in reduced glycolysis in mouse liver metastasized colon cancer cells. These results demonstrate the significant reduction of liver metastasis in DKK2 knockout (KO) colon cancer cells infused mice.

Fumagalli et al. have recently shown that the generation of Lgr5 positive cells from the metastasized Lgr5 negative cancer cells is necessary for their outgrowth using in vivo time-lapse imaging and organoid culture of metastatic cancer cells that escaped from the primary colon cancer tissues (7). This finding implies the necessity of both cancer stem cells and their niche for metastatic outgrowth. Indeed, Paneth cell-derived stem cell niche factors such as Wnt3, EGF and Dll4 are essential for the maintenance of stem cells (11). Dietary induced mouse sporadic intestinal cancer showed elevation of Paneth cell marker genes in the intestinal epithelium (41). IDO1+ Paneth cells contribute to the immune evasion of colon cancer (42). Depletion of Paneth cells or Paneth cell-derived Wnt3 in Apc^Min mice impaired intestinal adenoma formation (43). The plasticity of Paneth cells allows dedifferentiation of Paneth cells into intestinal stem cells (15, 44). These reports indicate the necessity of the Paneth cells during the development of colon cancer. However, the existence of Paneth cells in large intestine or tumor tissues remains unclear. In 2016, Reg4+ secretory cells have been suggested as Paneth-like cells in the colon (24). Single cell transcriptome analysis showed the presence of Paneth-like cells in human colon (25). Recent study further supported the presence of Paneth-like cells within the colonic stem cell niche during bifidobacterium-induced intestinal stem cell regeneration (26). Our study suggests the presence of LYZ+ cells exhibiting Paneth cell properties in the context of colon cancer and metastasis. This extends our knowledge of colorectal cancer progression that DKK2 is required for the generation of LYZ+ cells forming cancer stem cell niches.

Further investigation will be needed to characterize LYZ+ cancer cells with Paneth cell properties observed in colon cancers carrying mutations in Apc, Kras and Tp53 genes compared to normal Paneth cells in order to identify their roles in cancer stem cell niche development. Recent studies have reported stem cell niche remodeling in the primary tumor in the presence of oncogenic mutations. Cancer stem cells outcompete their neighboring normal stem cells during intestinal tumorigenesis, which is known as clonal fixation (45). Apc-mutant cancer cells secrete several Wnt antagonists such as NOTUM to inhibit proliferation of normal intestinal stem cells and facilitate their differentiation (46). Other oncogenic mutations in Kras or Pik3ca genes lead to paracrine secretion of BMP ligands, remodeling the stem cell niche that is detrimental for maintaining normal stem cells (47). These changes are beneficial for the outgrowth of cancer stem cells in the crypt where the stem cell niche had been developed prior to tumorigenesis. In the context of metastasis, the formation of stem cell niches is required upon metastases seeding in the liver. We have shown that DKK2 is required for the formation of LYZ+ cancer cells carrying Paneth cell properties. DKK2 expression is induced by Apc knockout and further increased by additional oncogenic mutations in Kras and Tp53 genes (28). Characterization of DKK2-induced LYZ+ cancer cells will provide better understanding of the biology of cancer stem cell niches, particularly in liver metastases of colorectal cancer.

DKK2 expression in colon cancer promotes LYZ+ cancer cell generation through the regulation of HNF4α1, which suppresses expression of Sox9, the transcription factor for Paneth cell differentiation. It has been recently reported that HNF4α2 isoform acts as an upstream regulator of Wnt3 and Paneth cell differentiation implying the roles of HNF4A for Paneth cell differentiation in the homeostatic condition (48). Using Villin^Cre-Apc^floxed mice, Suzuki et al. have confirmed that HNF4A proteins are completely absent in cancer cells with high β-catenin activity along with increased Sox9 expression (49). Sox9 regulates cell proliferation and is required for Paneth cell differentiation (22, 23). Bi-allelic inactivation of the Apc gene induces Sox9 expression in colon cancer (50). Likewise, Apc inactivation induces Dkk2 expression (28). Here we showed that DKK2-mediated HNF4α1 protein degradation enhanced Sox9 expression in colon cancer (Fig. 7). Notably, Apc mutation-driven Sox9 expression blocks intestinal differentiation and activates stem cell-like program (50). This is consistent with our previous report that DKK2 enhances Lgr5 expression in colon cancer (28). In sum, our findings suggest that a Wng ligand, DKK2 is an upstream regulator of SOX9 expression for enhanced stem cell activity via the formation of LYZ+ cells with Paneth cell characteristics in colorectal cancers.

Figure 7.

In this study, we have shown that DKK2 promotes liver metastasis of colon cancer. DKK2 is required for the formation of LYZ+ colon cancer cells exhibiting Paneth cell properties such as glycolysis for stem cells. Glycolysis in Lgr5 expressing cancer cells was reduced along with the loss of LYZ+ cells by Dkk2 knockout. As a result, metastatic growth of colon cancer cells was significantly inhibited in vivo. These findings suggest the necessity of DKK2 in the development of cancer stem cell niches for developing metastases. Mechanistically, DKK2-mediated degradation of HNF4α1 protein elevated Sox9 expression followed by LYZ+ cell formation. Given that DKK2 expression is intestinal tumor specific, inhibition of DKK2 may have promising therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of metastatic colon cancer.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Gouzel Tokmulina for the FACS sorting.

Author contributions

J.H.S. and A.L.M.B. designed research; J.H.S., J.L., J.J., R.K.D, S.E.M., and J.Y.H. performed research; J.H.S., J.L., J.J., J.P., R.K.D., S.E.M., J.Y.H., and A.L.M.B. contributed new reagents/analytic tools; J.H.S., J.J., J.L., J.P., J.C., J.W. and A.L.M.B. analyzed data; and J.H.S., J.J., J.L., J.C. and A.L.M.B. wrote the paper.

This work was supported by NIH RO1 CA168670-01 (awarded to A.L.M.B) and Yonsei University Future-Leading Research Initiative 2023-22-0438 (awarded to J.H.S.).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.