TAFs contributes the function of PTPN2 in colorectal carcinogenesis through activating JAK/STAT signaling pathway

The morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks fourth worldwide, moreover, the tumor microenvironment (TME) of CRC is quite complex, and is one of the necessary factors affecting promotion of tumor metastasis. PTPN2 is a tumor suppressor which plays an important role in cancer-related downstream molecular pathway. FSP-1 is highly-expressed in multiple types of tumor tissues and is a biomarker of stromal fibroblasts. To examine the function of PTPN2 in the metastasis of CRC, the study evaluated the co-expression level of PTPN2 and FSP-1 in CRC tissues by double staining, and demonstrated the relationship with clinical information about each patient. The roles of PTPN2 and FSP-1 were detected in vitro by proliferation and transwell assay through knockdown of expression level of PTPN2. Lower PTPN2 with higher FSP-1 expression was correlated with poor survival outcomes in CRC. TAFs contribute to the migration function of PTPN2 in CRC in vitro through inducing changes in the level of TGF-β1. Western blot and qRT-PCR assays were used to detect the mechanism of PTPN2 regulation of migration with TAFs in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, moreover, TAFs contributed the function of PTPN2 in colorectal carcinogenesis in vivo. In summary, the study shed light on the effect of TAFs contributes the function of PTPN2 in colorectal carcinogenesis through activating JAK/STAT signaling pathway. In addition, double-staining assay could give us a unique perspective from which to study TME in CRC.