CD133+ Intercellsome Mediates Direct Cell-Cell Communication to Offset Intracellular Signaling Deficit

Kaneko, K.; Liang, Y.; Liu, Q.; Chen, W. S.; Feng, G.-S.

doi:10.1101/2022.05.16.492226

Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.05.16.492226

CD133+ Intercellsome Mediates Direct Cell-Cell Communication to Offset Intracellular Signaling Deficit

Kaneko, K.·Liang, Y.·Liu, Q.·Chen, W. S.·Feng, G.-S.

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

CD133 (prominin 1) is widely viewed as a cancer stem cell marker in association with drug resistance and cancer recurrence. Herein we report that with impaired RTK-Shp2 Ras-Erk signaling, heterogenous hepatocytes form clusters that manage to divide during liver regeneration. These hepatocytes are characterized by upregulated CD133 while negative for other progenitor cell markers. Pharmaceutical inhibition of proliferative signaling also induced CD133 expression in various cancer cell types, suggesting an inherent and common mechanism of stress response. Super-resolution and electron microscopy localize CD133 on intracellular vesicles that apparently migrate between cells, which we name "intercellsome". Isolated CD133+ intercellsomes are enriched with mRNAs rather than miRNAs. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals lower intracellular diversity (entropy) of mitogenic mRNAs in Shp2-deficient cells, which may be remedied by intercellular mRNA exchanges between CD133+ cells. CD133-deficient cells are more sensitive to proliferative signal inhibition in livers and intestinal organoids. These data suggest a mechanism of intercellular communication to compensate intracellular signal deficit in various cell types.

Source connections

Published article ↗

Explore related subjects

cell biology Preprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Kaneko, K., Liang, Y., Liu, Q., Chen, W. S., Feng, G.-S.. 2022-05-17. CD133+ Intercellsome Mediates Direct Cell-Cell Communication to Offset Intracellular Signaling Deficit. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.16.492226

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Sequence context and partner availability specify divergent cell fates from a single transcription factor

Transcription factors drive the gene regulatory networks that control developmental transitions, yet which of their many targets a cell uses remains unresolved. Expressing Cebp, Cebp{beta} or Cebp{delta} identically, alone or with Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and cMyc, gave four outcomes: adipocyte from fibroblasts and neural stem cells, trophectoderm from embryonic stem cells, and myeloid from B cells. Raising Cebp levels changed how many sites it reached, not which sequence it read: clustered motifs maintained somatic enhancers, while spillover onto low-copy sites created de novo enhancers carrying composites of Cebp and cell-type-restricted partners. In fibroblasts, Cebp also redistributed Oct4, Sox2 and Klf4 from early targets, blocking iPSC formation. Supplying the predicted partners rewrote the output: Spi1 redirected Cebp into parallel adipogenic and myeloid programs, via a transient PpargCD45 state using separate enhancers for each; TFAP2C abolished adipogenic conversion. Motif density and partner composites therefore assemble a factor's instructive output in the receiving cell.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Tracking the conformational dynamics of single molecules in live cells; GTPase cycling in Cdc42 gradients and microclusters

The Rho family of GTPases play a critical role in many cellular processes by acting as molecular switches relying on conformational changes to transition between active and inactive states. The spatial distribution and kinetics of these conformational changes are complex and vary across the cell. We describe here biosensors based on environment-responsive fluorescent dyes, capable of reporting the conformational changes of individual GTPase molecules as they traffic within living cells (SPARC Cdc42 and SPARC Rac1, 'Single Particle Activation Reporter Constructs'). We use SPARC Cdc42 to determine the rates of different steps in GTPase regulation, activation/inactivation and membrane insertion, that together generate localized gradients of Cdc42 activity driving cell motility. The biosensors also revealed heterogeneously distributed clusters of Cdc42, the mechanisms of their activation, and potential roles in polarized motility.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2026

High-content screening identifies FDA-approved activators of mitophagy

Mitochondrial diseases are highly heterogeneous disorders caused by defects in oxidative phosphorylation, for which only limited therapeutic options are available. The elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria via mitophagy activation is an attractive strategy to treat several mitochondrial diseases, irrespective of the underlying genetic defect. To identify pharmacological activators of this pathway, we performed a high-content screening of 1,971 FDA-approved compounds using cellular reporters of TFEB nuclear translocation and mitophagy. This screening identified 294 compounds that promoted TFEB translocation, nine of which increased the number of mitolysosomes without compromising cell viability or damaging mitochondria. Among the selected compounds, Meptazinol and Ponatinib emerged as the top-ranked mitophagy inducers in fibroblasts from patients with complex I and IV deficiency, respectively, and were prioritised for further characterisation. However, they did not rescue the bioenergetic defect, suggesting that the stimulation of mitophagy per se is not sufficient to ameliorate the OXPHOS defect in mitochondrial diseases. Overall, our findings establish a scalable platform for the identification of pharmacological activators of TFEB and identify candidate compounds for therapeutic modulation of mitophagy.

cell biology↗