fig1

Figure 1. IL-8 plasticity in regulating stemness and TSI. In intestinal niche, MSC interact with CRC cells and increase IL-8 levels in TME. By the binding to CXCR1, IL-8 promotes stemness induction and maintenance through several mechanisms such as: Oct4-/SNAIL-dependent EMT, Glut3 and glycolysis induction and CD44 upregulation. CXCR1 is expressed in different cell types (i.e., endothelial and immune cells), thereby highlighting the complex role of IL-8 in regulating TSI. ISC: intestinal stem cells; EMT; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; GLUT: GLUcose transporter; IL: interleukin