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Fang JS, Hultgren NW, Hughes CCW. Regulation of Partial and Reversible Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Angiogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:702021. [PMID: 34692672 PMCID: PMC8529039 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.702021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During development and in several diseases, endothelial cells (EC) can undergo complete endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT or EndMT) to generate endothelial-derived mesenchymal cells. Emerging evidence suggests that ECs can also undergo a partial EndoMT to generate cells with intermediate endothelial- and mesenchymal-character. This partial EndoMT event is transient, reversible, and supports both developmental and pathological angiogenesis. Here, we discuss possible regulatory mechanisms that may control the EndoMT program to dictate whether cells undergo complete or partial mesenchymal transition, and we further consider how these pathways might be targeted therapeutically in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S. Fang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Nan W. Hultgren
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Christopher C. W. Hughes
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Ewald ML, Chen YH, Lee AP, Hughes CCW. The vascular niche in next generation microphysiological systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:3244-3262. [PMID: 34396383 PMCID: PMC8635227 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00530h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, microphysiological system (MPS, also known as, organ-on-a-chip or tissue chip) platforms have emerged with great promise to improve the predictive capacity of preclinical modeling thereby reducing the high attrition rates when drugs move into trials. While their designs can vary quite significantly, in general MPS are bioengineered in vitro microenvironments that recapitulate key functional units of human organs, and that have broad applications in human physiology, pathophysiology, and clinical pharmacology. A critical next step in the evolution of MPS devices is the widespread incorporation of functional vasculature within tissues. The vasculature itself is a major organ that carries nutrients, immune cells, signaling molecules and therapeutics to all other organs. It also plays critical roles in inducing and maintaining tissue identity through expression of angiocrine factors, and in providing tissue-specific milieus (i.e., the vascular niche) that can support the survival and function of stem cells. Thus, organs are patterned, maintained and supported by the vasculature, which in turn receives signals that drive tissue specific gene expression. In this review, we will discuss published vascularized MPS platforms and present considerations for next-generation devices looking to incorporate this critical constituent. Finally, we will highlight the organ-patterning processes governed by the vasculature, and how the incorporation of a vascular niche within MPS platforms will establish a unique opportunity to study stem cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makena L Ewald
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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Yuan C, Wu C, Xue R, Jin C, Zheng C. Suppression of human colon tumor by EERAC through regulating Notch/DLL4/Hes pathway inhibiting angiogenesis in vivo. J Cancer 2021; 12:5914-5922. [PMID: 34476005 PMCID: PMC8408117 DOI: 10.7150/jca.61581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Ethanol extracted from radix of Actinidia chinensis (EERAC) has been proved to be effective to inhibit colorectal cancer (CRC). Notch signaling pathway and angiogenesis in tumors are closely related with the progression of CRC. However, if EERAC could influence CRC through Notch signaling pathway and angiogenesis remains unclear. Methods: Flow cytometry, transwell, wound healing methods were used to measure cell apoptosis, invasion, migration, and proliferation. Protein and mRNA expression were detected using qRT-PCR and western blotting. Immunofluorescence staining was applied to detect the expression of target protein in the tissues. Results: The invasion, migration, and proliferation of CRC cells were remarkably suppressed by ERRAC. Significant promotion of cell apoptosis and cell ration in S stage were observed after EERAC treatment. The Notch1/DLL4/Hes1 signaling pathway and angiogenesis were suppressed by EERAC. Overexpression of LIM domain-binding 2 (LDB2) remarkably weakened the influence of ERRAC on the viability of CRC cells. Conclusions: EERAC might suppress CRC through targeting Notch/DLL4/Hes1 pathway and inhibiting angiogenesis in tumors. This study might provide novel thought for the prevention and therapy of CRC through targeting Notch/DLL4/Hes1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Yuan
- Department of Coloproctology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, P.R. China
| | - Chenchen Wu
- Department of Coloproctology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, P.R. China
| | - Rong Xue
- Department of Coloproctology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, P.R. China
| | - Chun Jin
- Department of Coloproctology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, P.R. China
| | - Chenguo Zheng
- Department of Coloproctology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, P.R. China
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Zeng A, Wang SR, He YX, Yan Y, Zhang Y. Progress in understanding of the stalk and tip cells formation involvement in angiogenesis mechanisms. Tissue Cell 2021; 73:101626. [PMID: 34479073 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Vascular sprouting is a key process of angiogenesis and mainly related to the formation of stalk and tip cells. Many studies have found that angiogenesis has a great clinical significance in promoting the functional repair of impaired tissues and anti-angiogenesis is a key to treatment of many tumors. Therefore, how the pathways regulate angiogenesis by regulating the formation of stalk and tip cells is an urgent problem for researchers. This review mainly summarizes the research progress of pathways affecting the formation of stalk and tip cells during angiogenesis in recent years, including the main signaling pathways (such as VEGF-VEGFR-Dll4-Notch signaling pathway, ALK-Smad signaling pathway,CCN1-YAP/YAZ signaling pathway and other signaling pathways) and cellular actions (such as cellular metabolisms, intercellular tension and other actions), aiming to further give the readers an insight into the mechanism of regulating the formation of stalk and tip cells during angiogenesis and provide more targets for anti-angiogenic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Zeng
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, China
| | - Shu-Rong Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, China
| | - Yu-Xi He
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, China
| | - Yu Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, China.
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55
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Zhao G, Lu H, Liu Y, Zhao Y, Zhu T, Garcia-Barrio MT, Chen YE, Zhang J. Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals Endothelial Plasticity During Diabetic Atherogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:689469. [PMID: 34095155 PMCID: PMC8170046 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.689469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases, which is also the primary cause of mortality among diabetic patients. Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is a critical early step in the development of atherosclerosis and aggravated in the presence of concurrent diabetes. Although the heterogeneity of the organ-specific ECs has been systematically analyzed at the single-cell level in healthy conditions, their transcriptomic changes in diabetic atherosclerosis remain largely unexplored. Here, we carried out a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) study using EC-enriched single cells from mouse heart and aorta after 12 weeks feeding of a standard chow or a diabetogenic high-fat diet with cholesterol. We identified eight EC clusters, three of which expressed mesenchymal markers, indicative of an endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Analyses of the marker genes, pathways, and biological functions revealed that ECs are highly heterogeneous and plastic both in normal and atherosclerotic conditions. The metabolic transcriptomic analysis further confirmed that EndMT-derived fibroblast-like cells are prominent in atherosclerosis, with diminished fatty acid oxidation and enhanced biological functions, including regulation of extracellular-matrix organization and apoptosis. In summary, our data characterized the phenotypic and metabolic heterogeneity of ECs in diabetes-associated atherogenesis at the single-cell level and paves the way for a deeper understanding of endothelial cell biology and EC-related cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guizhen Zhao
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Haocheng Lu
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Yuhao Liu
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Tianqing Zhu
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Minerva T Garcia-Barrio
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Guo Q, Dong Y, Zhang Y, Fu H, Chen C, Wang L, Yang X, Shen M, Yu J, Chen M, Zhang J, Duan Y. Sequential Release of Pooled siRNAs and Paclitaxel by Aptamer-Functionalized Shell-Core Nanoparticles to Overcome Paclitaxel Resistance of Prostate Cancer. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:13990-14003. [PMID: 33739080 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c00852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Paclitaxel (PTX) is a first-line chemotherapeutic agent to treat prostate cancer (PCa), but a large number of patients acquired drug resistance after short-term treatment. To develop combinational therapeutics to overcome PTX-resistant PCa, we established PTX-resistant LNCaP (LNCaP/PTX) cells and found that the LNCaP/PTX cells exhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and enhanced metastasis during the selection process. We revealed that β-tubulin III, androgen receptor, and CXCR4 expressions were significantly increased in LNCaP/PTX cells and directly contributed to PTX resistance and EMT. Therefore, we developed prostate-specific membrane antigen aptamer (Apt)-functionalized shell-core nanoparticles (PTX/siRNAs NPs-Apt); the hydrophobic DSPE encapsulating PTX formed the dense inner core and the hydrophilic Apt-PEG2K with calcium phosphate (CaP) absorbing siRNAs formed the outer shell to sequentially release siRNAs and PTX, where CaP could trigger lysosomal escape to ensure that pooled siRNAs efficiently released into the cytoplasm to reverse EMT and resensitize PTX, while the PTX located in the core was subsequently released to exert the killing effect of chemotherapy to achieve the best synergistic effect. PTX/siRNAs NPs-Apt showed an enhanced tumor-targeting ability and achieved superior efficacy in the subcutaneous and orthotopic PCa tumor model with minimal side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hao Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chuanrong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Liting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xupeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ming Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Meiwan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Jiali Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yourong Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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Akil A, Gutiérrez-García AK, Guenter R, Rose JB, Beck AW, Chen H, Ren B. Notch Signaling in Vascular Endothelial Cells, Angiogenesis, and Tumor Progression: An Update and Prospective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:642352. [PMID: 33681228 PMCID: PMC7928398 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.642352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway plays an essential role in a wide variety of biological processes including cell fate determination of vascular endothelial cells and the regulation of arterial differentiation and angiogenesis. The Notch pathway is also an essential regulator of tumor growth and survival by functioning as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor in a context-dependent manner. Crosstalk between the Notch and other signaling pathways is also pivotal in tumor progression by promoting cancer cell growth, migration, invasion, metastasis, tumor angiogenesis, and the expansion of cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this review, we provide an overview and update of Notch signaling in endothelial cell fate determination and functioning, angiogenesis, and tumor progression, particularly in the development of CSCs and therapeutic resistance. We further summarize recent studies on how endothelial signaling crosstalk with the Notch pathway contributes to tumor angiogenesis and the development of CSCs, thereby providing insights into vascular biology within the tumor microenvironment and tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdellah Akil
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Ana K. Gutiérrez-García
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Rachael Guenter
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - J. Bart Rose
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Adam W. Beck
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Herbert Chen
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Bin Ren
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Context Matters: NOTCH Signatures and Pathway in Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010094. [PMID: 33430387 PMCID: PMC7827494 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway is a critical player in embryogenesis but also plays various roles in tumorigenesis, with both tumor suppressor and oncogenic activities. Mutations, deletions, amplifications, or over-expression of Notch receptors, ligands, and a growing list of downstream Notch-activated genes have by now been described for most human cancer types. Yet, it often remains unclear what may be the functional impact of these changes for tumor biology, initiation, and progression, for cancer therapy, and for personalized medicine. Emerging data indicate that Notch signaling can also contribute to increased aggressive properties such as invasion, tumor heterogeneity, angiogenesis, or tumor cell dormancy within solid cancer tissues; especially in epithelial cancers, which are in the center of this review. Notch further supports the “stemness” of cancer cells and helps define the stem cell niche for their long-term survival, by integrating the interaction between cancer cells and the cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The complexity of Notch crosstalk with other signaling pathways and its roles in cell fate and trans-differentiation processes such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) point to this pathway as a decisive player that may tip the balance between tumor suppression and promotion, differentiation and invasion. Here we not only review the literature, but also explore genomic databases with a specific focus on Notch signatures, and how they relate to different stages in tumor development. Altered Notch signaling hereby plays a key role for tumor cell survival and coping with a broad spectrum of vital issues, contributing to failed therapies, poor patient outcome, and loss of lives.
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