Dynamic Reprogramming of Stromal Pdgfra-expressing cells during WNT-Mediated Transformation of the Intestinal Epithelium

Stromal fibroblasts regulate critical signaling gradients along the intestinal crypt-villus axis ¹ and provide a niche that supports adjacent epithelial stem cells. Here we report that Pdgfra -expressing fibroblasts secrete ligands that promote a regenerative-like state in the intestinal mucosa during early WNT-mediated tumorigenesis. Using a mouse model of WNT-driven oncogenesis and single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of mesenchyme cell populations, we revealed a dynamic reprogramming of Pdgfra ⁺ fibroblasts that facilitates WNT-mediated tissue transformation. Functional assays of potential mediators of cell-to-cell communication between these fibroblasts and the oncogenic epithelium revealed that TGFB signaling is notably induced in Pdgfra ⁺ fibroblasts in the presence of oncogenic epithelium, and TGFB was essential to sustain regenerative-like growth of organoids ex vivo . Genetic reduction of Cdx2 in the β-catenin mutant epithelium elevated the fetal-like/regenerative transcriptome and accelerated WNT-dependent onset of oncogenic transformation of the tissue in vivo . These results demonstrate that Pdgfra ⁺ fibroblasts are activated during WNT-driven oncogenesis to promote a regenerative state in the epithelium that precedes and facilitates formation of tumors.