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Updated: Dec 30, 2025

A Three-dimensional Model of Spheroids to Study Colon Cancer Stem Cells
Published on: January 22, 2021
CD147 Promotes Cell Small Extracellular Vesicles Release during Colon Cancer Stem Cells Differentiation and Triggers
Donatella Lucchetti1,2, Filomena Colella2, Luigi Perelli2
1Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy.
Abstract:
Cancer cells secrete small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) that are involved in the remodeling of tumor microenvironment (TME) and can promote tumor progression. The role of sEVs and their molecular key players in colon cancer stem cells differentiation are poorly understood. This study aimed to analyze the role and content of sEVs released during the differentiation of colorectal cancer stem cells. Here we show that sEVs secretion during colon cancer stem cells differentiation is partially controlled by CD147, a well-known player involved in colon cancer tumorigenesis. CD147 + sEVs activate a signaling cascade in recipient cells inducing molecular invasive features in colon cancer cells. CD147 knockdown as well as anti-CD147 antibodies impaired sEVs release and downstream effects on recipient cells and blocking multivesicular body maturation prevented sEVs release during the differentiation. Our findings reveal a functional role of CD147 in promoting sEVs release during the differentiation of colon cancer stem cells and in triggering cellular changes in recipient cells.
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