Autophagy contributes to homeostasis in esophageal epithelium where high autophagic vesicle level marks basal cells with limited proliferation and enhanced self-renewal potential.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Autophagy plays roles in esophageal pathologies both benign and malignant. Here, we aim to define the role of autophagy in esophageal epithelial homeostasis.

METHODS: We generated tamoxifen-inducible, squamous epithelial-specific Atg7 (autophagy related 7) conditional knockout mice to evaluate effects on esophageal homeostasis and response to the carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) using histological and biochemical analyses. We FACS sorted esophageal basal cells based upon fluorescence of the autophagic vesicle (AV)-identifying dye Cyto-ID, then subjected these cells to transmission electron microscopy, image flow cytometry, 3D organoid assays, RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq), and cell cycle analysis. 3D organoids were subjected to passaging, single cell (sc) RNA-Seq, cell cycle analysis, and immunostaining.

RESULTS: Genetic autophagy inhibition in squamous epithelium resulted in increased proliferation of esophageal basal cells under homeostatic conditions and also was associated with significant weight loss in mice treated with 4NQO that further displayed perturbed epithelial tissue architecture. Esophageal basal cells with high AV level (Cyto-IDHigh ) displayed limited organoid formation capability upon initial plating but passaged more efficiently than their counterparts with low AV level (Cyto-IDLow ). RNA-Seq suggested increased autophagy in Cyto-IDHigh esophageal basal cells along with decreased cell cycle progression, the latter of which was confirmed by cell cycle analysis. scRNA-Seq of 3D organoids generated by Cyto-IDLow and Cyto-IDHigh cells identified expansion of 3 cell populations, and enrichment of G2/M-associated genes in the Cyto-IDHigh group. Ki67 expression was also increased in organoids generated by Cyto-IDHigh cells, including in basal cells localized beyond the outermost cell layer.

CONCLUSIONS: Autophagy contributes to maintenance of the esophageal proliferation-differentiation gradient. Esophageal basal cells with high AV level exhibit limited proliferation and generate 3D organoids with enhanced self-renewal capacity.