Deletion of Core 1 β3GalT-specific molecular chaperone (Cosmc) in murine intestinal epithelia leads to major alterations in glycocalyx and tumorigenesis

mice beginning at ∼3 to 9 months spontaneously developed colorectal adenocarcinomas, some with invasive features evidenced by mesenteric metastases, which were potentially associated with activation of TGFβ signaling. Thus, deletion of Cosmc results in expression of CD175 and loss of extended O-glycans in IEC, which is associated with dysregulation of epithelial cell surfaces, leading to spontaneous tumor development.