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Blanco‐Fernandez B, Gaspar VM, Engel E, Mano JF. Proteinaceous Hydrogels for Bioengineering Advanced 3D Tumor Models. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2003129. [PMID: 33643799 PMCID: PMC7887602 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202003129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The establishment of tumor microenvironment using biomimetic in vitro models that recapitulate key tumor hallmarks including the tumor supporting extracellular matrix (ECM) is in high demand for accelerating the discovery and preclinical validation of more effective anticancer therapeutics. To date, ECM-mimetic hydrogels have been widely explored for 3D in vitro disease modeling owing to their bioactive properties that can be further adapted to the biochemical and biophysical properties of native tumors. Gathering on this momentum, herein the current landscape of intrinsically bioactive protein and peptide hydrogels that have been employed for 3D tumor modeling are discussed. Initially, the importance of recreating such microenvironment and the main considerations for generating ECM-mimetic 3D hydrogel in vitro tumor models are showcased. A comprehensive discussion focusing protein, peptide, or hybrid ECM-mimetic platforms employed for modeling cancer cells/stroma cross-talk and for the preclinical evaluation of candidate anticancer therapies is also provided. Further development of tumor-tunable, proteinaceous or peptide 3D microtesting platforms with microenvironment-specific biophysical and biomolecular cues will contribute to better mimic the in vivo scenario, and improve the predictability of preclinical screening of generalized or personalized therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Blanco‐Fernandez
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of AveiroCampus Universitário de SantiagoAveiro3810‐193Portugal
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBaldiri Reixac 10–12Barcelona08028Spain
| | - Vítor M. Gaspar
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of AveiroCampus Universitário de SantiagoAveiro3810‐193Portugal
| | - Elisabeth Engel
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBaldiri Reixac 10–12Barcelona08028Spain
- Materials Science and Metallurgical EngineeringPolytechnical University of Catalonia (UPC)Eduard Maristany 16Barcelona08019Spain
- CIBER en BioingenieríaBiomateriales y NanomedicinaCIBER‐BBNMadrid28029Spain
| | - João F. Mano
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of AveiroCampus Universitário de SantiagoAveiro3810‐193Portugal
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Druzhkova I, Shirmanova M, Ignatova N, Dudenkova V, Lukina M, Zagaynova E, Safina D, Kostrov S, Didych D, Kuzmich A, Sharonov G, Rakitina O, Alekseenko I, Sverdlov E. Expression of EMT-Related Genes in Hybrid E/M Colorectal Cancer Cells Determines Fibroblast Activation and Collagen Remodeling. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218119. [PMID: 33143259 PMCID: PMC7662237 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Collagen, the main non-cellular component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), is profoundly reorganized during tumorigenesis and has a strong impact on tumor behavior. The main source of collagen in tumors is cancer-associated fibroblasts. Cancer cells can also participate in the synthesis of ECM; however, the contribution of both types of cells to collagen rearrangements during the tumor progression is far from being clear. Here, we investigated the processes of collagen biosynthesis and remodeling in parallel with the transcriptome changes during cancer cells and fibroblasts interactions. Combining immunofluorescence, RNA sequencing, and second harmonic generation microscopy, we have explored the relationships between the ratio of epithelial (E) and mesenchymal (M) components of hybrid E/M cancer cells, their ability to activate fibroblasts, and the contributions of both cell types to collagen remodeling. To this end, we studied (i) co-cultures of colorectal cancer cells and normal fibroblasts in a collagen matrix, (ii) patient-derived cancer-associated fibroblasts, and (iii) mouse xenograft models. We found that the activation of normal fibroblasts that form dense collagen networks consisting of large, highly oriented fibers depends on the difference in E/M ratio in the cancer cells. The more-epithelial cells activate the fibroblasts more strongly, which correlates with a dense and highly ordered collagen structure in tumors in vivo. The more-mesenchymal cells activate the fibroblasts to a lesser degree; on the other hand, this cell line has a higher innate collagen remodeling capacity. Normal fibroblasts activated by cancer cells contribute to the organization of the extracellular matrix in a way that is favorable for migratory potency. At the same time, in co-culture with epithelial cancer cells, the contribution of fibroblasts to the reorganization of ECM is more pronounced. Therefore, one can expect that targeting the ability of epithelial cancer cells to activate normal fibroblasts may provide a new anticancer therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Druzhkova
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
| | - Marina Shirmanova
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
| | - Nadezhda Ignatova
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
| | - Varvara Dudenkova
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
| | - Maria Lukina
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
| | - Elena Zagaynova
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
- Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Dina Safina
- Department of Molecular-Genetic Basis of Biotechnology and Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.); (S.K.); (I.A.); (E.S.)
| | - Sergey Kostrov
- Department of Molecular-Genetic Basis of Biotechnology and Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.); (S.K.); (I.A.); (E.S.)
| | - Dmitry Didych
- Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of The Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.D.); (O.R.)
| | - Alexey Kuzmich
- Department of Molecular-Genetic Basis of Biotechnology and Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.); (S.K.); (I.A.); (E.S.)
- Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of The Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.D.); (O.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - George Sharonov
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
- Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of The Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.D.); (O.R.)
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Rakitina
- Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of The Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.D.); (O.R.)
| | - Irina Alekseenko
- Department of Molecular-Genetic Basis of Biotechnology and Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.); (S.K.); (I.A.); (E.S.)
- Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of The Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.D.); (O.R.)
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, FSBI «National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov» Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugene Sverdlov
- Department of Molecular-Genetic Basis of Biotechnology and Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.); (S.K.); (I.A.); (E.S.)
- National Research Center «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia
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Mierke CT. Mechanical Cues Affect Migration and Invasion of Cells From Three Different Directions. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:583226. [PMID: 33043017 PMCID: PMC7527720 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.583226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell migration and invasion is a key driving factor for providing essential cellular functions under physiological conditions or the malignant progression of tumors following downward the metastatic cascade. Although there has been plentiful of molecules identified to support the migration and invasion of cells, the mechanical aspects have not yet been explored in a combined and systematic manner. In addition, the cellular environment has been classically and frequently assumed to be homogeneous for reasons of simplicity. However, motility assays have led to various models for migration covering only some aspects and supporting factors that in some cases also include mechanical factors. Instead of specific models, in this review, a more or less holistic model for cell motility in 3D is envisioned covering all these different aspects with a special emphasis on the mechanical cues from a biophysical perspective. After introducing the mechanical aspects of cell migration and invasion and presenting the heterogeneity of extracellular matrices, the three distinct directions of cell motility focusing on the mechanical aspects are presented. These three different directions are as follows: firstly, the commonly used invasion tests using structural and structure-based mechanical environmental signals; secondly, the mechano-invasion assay, in which cells are studied by mechanical forces to migrate and invade; and thirdly, cell mechanics, including cytoskeletal and nuclear mechanics, to influence cell migration and invasion. Since the interaction between the cell and the microenvironment is bi-directional in these assays, these should be accounted in migration and invasion approaches focusing on the mechanical aspects. Beyond this, there is also the interaction between the cytoskeleton of the cell and its other compartments, such as the cell nucleus. In specific, a three-element approach is presented for addressing the effect of mechanics on cell migration and invasion by including the effect of the mechano-phenotype of the cytoskeleton, nucleus and the cell's microenvironment into the analysis. In precise terms, the combination of these three research approaches including experimental techniques seems to be promising for revealing bi-directional impacts of mechanical alterations of the cellular microenvironment on cells and internal mechanical fluctuations or changes of cells on the surroundings. Finally, different approaches are discussed and thereby a model for the broad impact of mechanics on cell migration and invasion is evolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Biological Physics Division, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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