In the tumor microenvironment, TGF-β induces transdifferentiation of quiescent pericytes and related stromal cells into myofibroblasts that promote tumor growth and metastasis. The mechanisms governing myofibroblastic activation remain poorly understood, and its role in the tumor microenvironment has not been explored. Here, we demonstrate that IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) binds to TGF-β receptor II (TβRII) and suppresses TβRII-mediated signaling in pericytes to prevent myofibroblastic differentiation in the tumor microenvironment. We found that TGF-β1 recruited IQGAP1 to TβRII in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the resident liver pericytes.
Chunsheng Liu, Daniel D. Billadeau, Haitham Abdelhakim, Edward Leof, Kozo Kaibuchi, Carmelo Bernabeu, George S. Bloom, Liu Yang, Lisa Boardman, Vijay H. Shah, Ningling Kang
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