CD147 Promotes Cell Small Extracellular Vesicles Release during Colon Cancer Stem Cells Differentiation and Triggers Cellular Changes in Recipient Cells

Cancer cells secrete small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) that are involved in the remodeling of tumor microenvironment (TME) and can promote tumor progression. The role of sEVs and their molecular key players in colon cancer stem cells differentiation are poorly understood. This study aimed to analyze the role and content of sEVs released during the differentiation of colorectal cancer stem cells. Here we show that sEVs secretion during colon cancer stem cells differentiation is partially controlled by CD147, a well-known player involved in colon cancer tumorigenesis. CD147 + sEVs activate a signaling cascade in recipient cells inducing molecular invasive features in colon cancer cells. CD147 knockdown as well as anti-CD147 antibodies impaired sEVs release and downstream effects on recipient cells and blocking multivesicular body maturation prevented sEVs release during the differentiation. Our findings reveal a functional role of CD147 in promoting sEVs release during the differentiation of colon cancer stem cells and in triggering cellular changes in recipient cells.