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Flamingo participates in multiple models of cell competition
Pablo Sanchez Bosch1, Bomsoo Cho1, Jeffrey D Axelrod1
1Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States.
Elife
|January 24, 2025
Summary
The planar cell polarity (PCP) protein Flamingo (Fmi) is crucial for cell competition in Drosophila, acting independently of PCP to regulate winner cell proliferation and survival in both development and tumorigenesis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Cell competition regulates the growth and survival of cells with varying fitness levels.
- This process is vital in development for tissue integrity and in cancer surveillance to eliminate pre-malignant cells.
- Malignant cells also leverage cell competition for their own expansion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms governing cell competition, particularly common pathways in development and tumorigenesis.
- To investigate the role of the planar cell polarity (PCP) protein Flamingo (Fmi) in cell competition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized *Drosophila* as a model organism.
- Investigated the function of Flamingo (Fmi) in various cell competition scenarios, including malignant tumors, pre-malignant cells, and supercompetitors.
- Assessed the impact of Fmi on cell proliferation and competitive outcomes.
Main Results:
- Flamingo (Fmi) is essential for 'winner' cells to maintain their status and outcompete others in malignant tumors and developmental contexts.
- Loss of Fmi prevents 'would-be' winner cells from overproliferating, causing them to become 'losers'.
- Fmi's role in cell competition is independent of its function in PCP, suggesting a distinct mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Flamingo (Fmi) plays a critical, non-PCP-dependent role in mediating cell competition in *Drosophila*.
- This mechanism is conserved across different biological contexts, from development to cancer.
- Fmi's function in cell competition may involve pathways distinct from its canonical PCP roles.
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