Cancer-associated fibroblasts enhance the chemoresistance of CD73+ hepatocellular carcinoma cancer cells via HGF-Met-ERK1/2 pathway.

Background Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stroma that are critically involved in HCC cancer chemoresistance, but the mechanism has not been elucidated. Previous studies have reported CD73 exerted an immunosuppressive function in cancer. Here, we explored the mechanism by which CAFs regulates CD73+ HCC cells and clarified whether CAFs promote chemoresistance of CD73+ cells. Methods We used the co-culture method to study the relationship between CAFs and HCC cells. Immunohistochemistry was applied to evaluate the correlation between α-smooth-muscle actin (α-SMA) and CD73. CD73 mRNA and protein were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blotting was used to explore the regulated pathway of CD73+ HCC. We then knocked down CD73 in cells, and then assessed the effect of CD73 on the apoptosis by flow cytometry. Finally, a sphere formation assay was applied to investigate the stemness of cancer cells, and xenograft tumors in nude mice were built to investigate the tumorigenicity. Results We found that the proportion of CAFs was positively correlated with CD73 expression in HCC cells. Mechanistically, c-Met and the MEK-ERK1/2 pathway were activated by HGF from CAFs which upregulated CD73 expression in HCC cells. Also, we found that CD73 promote sorafenib and cisplatin resistance in HCC, and CD73+ HCC cells indicated the higher capability of tumorigenicity compared to CD73- HCC cells in vivo. Furthermore, HGF further enhanced the chemoresistant characteristics of CD73+ tumor cells. Conclusions Our findings collectively suggest that CD73 is a vital HCC-chemoresistance force controlled by cross-talking between CAFs and HCC cells, thereby establishing CD73 as a potential new therapeutic target for HCC.

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