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Pericytes promote metastasis by regulating tumor local vascular tone and hemodynamics

Xiaobo Li, Sishan Yan, Xiaoyu Wu, Qun Miao, Dong Zhang, Wenfeng Mai, Shuai Han, Zhongshun Tang, Mingfang Ye, Shuo Zhang, Ji-an Wei, Jinghua Pan, Dandan Huang, Shenghui Qiu, Zhan Zhao, Xiaotong Zhong, Maohua Huang, Ming Qi, Junqiu Zhang, Chenran Wang, Jingwen Xie, Sheng Wang, Oscar Junhong Luo (), Dongmei Zhang (), Wencai Ye () and Minfeng Chen ()
Additional contact information
Xiaobo Li: Jinan University
Sishan Yan: Jinan University
Xiaoyu Wu: Jinan University
Qun Miao: Jinan University
Dong Zhang: Jinan University
Wenfeng Mai: Jinan University
Shuai Han: Southern Medical University
Zhongshun Tang: Southern Medical University
Mingfang Ye: Jinan University
Shuo Zhang: Southeast University
Ji-an Wei: Jinan University
Jinghua Pan: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University
Dandan Huang: Sun Yet-sen University
Shenghui Qiu: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University
Zhan Zhao: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University
Xiaotong Zhong: Jinan University
Maohua Huang: Jinan University
Ming Qi: Jinan University
Junqiu Zhang: Jinan University
Chenran Wang: Jinan University
Jingwen Xie: Jinan University
Sheng Wang: Jinan University
Oscar Junhong Luo: Jinan University
Dongmei Zhang: Jinan University
Wencai Ye: Jinan University
Minfeng Chen: Jinan University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Abstract Hemodynamics are important for survival and extravasation of circulating tumor cells, whereas the effects of hemodynamics on tumor cell intravasation remain mostly unknown. Here, we show that colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis are characterized by increased diameter and blood flow in the primary tumor compared with non-metastatic patients. A subpopulation of NKX2-3high tumor pericytes (TPCs) in the primary tumor is associated with hematogenous metastasis of patients. Mechanistically, long noncoding RNA NEAT1-enriched extracellular vesicles induce NKX2-3 upregulation in TPCs. NKX2-3 suppresses calcium influx in TPCs via PDE1C/cAMP/PKA signaling axis, inducing tumor vasodilation and increasing blood flux and vascular leakage. Genetic deletion of Nkx2-3 or pharmacological blocking the transcriptional activity of NKX2-3 in TPCs with designed peptide induce tumor local vasoconstriction and decrease blood flow to mitigate tumor metastasis. These findings reveal that TPCs-regulated vasodilation and hemodynamics facilitate tumor metastasis, and provide a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic strategy for tumor metastasis.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62475-6

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