151
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Sivitilli A, Ghiasi P, Attisano L. Production of Phenotypically Uniform Human Cerebral Organoids from Pluripotent Stem Cells. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e3985. [PMID: 34124288 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in stem cell technology have allowed researchers to generate 3D cerebral organoids (COs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Indeed, COs have provided an unprecedented opportunity to model the developing human brain in a 3D context, and in turn, are suitable for addressing complex neurological questions by leveraging advancements in genetic engineering, high resolution microscopy, and tissue transcriptomics. However, the use of this model is limited by substantial variations in the overall morphology and cellular composition of organoids derived from the same pluripotent cell line. To address these limitations, we established a robust, high-efficiency protocol for the production of consistent COs by optimizing the initial phase of embryoid body (EB) formation and neural induction. Using this protocol, COs can be reproducibly generated with a uniform size, shape, and cellular composition across multiple batches. Furthermore, organoids that developed over extended periods of time (3-6 months) showed the establishment of relatively mature features, including electrophysiologically active neurons, and the emergence of oligodendrocyte progenitors. Thus, this platform provides a robust experimental model that can be used to study human brain development and associated disorders. Graphic abstract: Overview of cerebral organoid development from pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Sivitilli
- Department of Biochemistry, Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Parisa Ghiasi
- Department of Biochemistry, Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Liliana Attisano
- Department of Biochemistry, Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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152
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Patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells transfer mitochondria through tunneling nanotubes in tumor organoids. Biochem J 2021; 478:21-39. [PMID: 33245115 PMCID: PMC7800365 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive brain cancer and its relapse after surgery, chemo and radiotherapy appears to be led by GBM stem cells (GSCs). Also, tumor networking and intercellular communication play a major role in driving GBM therapy-resistance. Tunneling Nanotubes (TNTs), thin membranous open-ended channels connecting distant cells, have been observed in several types of cancer, where they emerge to drive a more malignant phenotype. Here, we investigated whether GBM cells are capable to intercommunicate by TNTs. Two GBM stem-like cells (GSLCs) were obtained from the external and infiltrative zone of one GBM from one patient. We show, for the first time, that both GSLCs, grown in classical 2D culture and in 3D-tumor organoids, formed functional TNTs which allowed mitochondria transfer. In the organoid model, recapitulative of several tumor's features, we observed the formation of a network between cells constituted of both Tumor Microtubes (TMs), previously observed in vivo, and TNTs. In addition, the two GSLCs exhibited different responses to irradiation in terms of TNT induction and mitochondria transfer, although the correlation with the disease progression and therapy-resistance needs to be further addressed. Thus, TNT-based communication is active in different GSLCs derived from the external tumoral areas associated to GBM relapse, and we propose that they participate together with TMs in tumor networking.
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153
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Thomas TM, Miyaguchi K, Edwards LA, Wang H, Wollebo H, Aiguo L, Murali R, Wang Y, Braas D, Michael JS, Andres AM, Zhang M, Khalili K, Gottlieb RA, Perez JM, Yu JS. Elevated Asparagine Biosynthesis Drives Brain Tumor Stem Cell Metabolic Plasticity and Resistance to Oxidative Stress. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 19:1375-1388. [PMID: 33863814 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) is a gene on the long arm of chromosome 7 that is copy-number amplified in the majority of glioblastomas. ASNS copy-number amplification is associated with a significantly decreased survival. Using patient-derived glioma stem cells (GSC), we showed that significant metabolic alterations occur in gliomas when perturbing the expression of ASNS, which is not merely restricted to amino acid homeostasis. ASNS-high GSCs maintained a slower basal metabolic profile yet readily shifted to a greatly increased capacity for glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation when needed. This led ASNS-high cells to a greater ability to proliferate and spread into brain tissue. Finally, we demonstrate that these changes confer resistance to cellular stress, notably oxidative stress, through adaptive redox homeostasis that led to radiotherapy resistance. Furthermore, ASNS overexpression led to modifications of the one-carbon metabolism to promote a more antioxidant tumor environment revealing a metabolic vulnerability that may be therapeutically exploited. IMPLICATIONS: This study reveals a new role for ASNS in metabolic control and redox homeostasis in glioma stem cells and proposes a new treatment strategy that attempts to exploit one vulnerable metabolic node within the larger multilayered tumor network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom M Thomas
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ken Miyaguchi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Lincoln A Edwards
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Hongqiang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Hassen Wollebo
- Department of Neuroscience, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Li Aiguo
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ramachandran Murali
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Yizhou Wang
- Genomics Core, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Daniel Braas
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Justin S Michael
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Allen M Andres
- Mitochondria and Metabolism Core, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Miqin Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kamel Khalili
- Department of Neuroscience, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Roberta A Gottlieb
- Mitochondria and Metabolism Core, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - J Manuel Perez
- Department of Neurosurgery, and Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - John S Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
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154
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Wang M, Zhang C, Wang X, Yu H, Zhang H, Xu J, Zhao J, Jiang X. Tumor-treating fields (TTFields)-based cocktail therapy: a novel blueprint for glioblastoma treatment. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:1069-1086. [PMID: 33948346 PMCID: PMC8085847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in the central nervous system. Due to the high plasticity, heterogeneity and complexity of the tumor microenvironment, these tumors are resistant to almost all therapeutic strategies when they reach an advanced stage. Along with being a unique and effective way to kill cancer cells, tumor-treating fields (TTFields) has emerged as a breakthrough among glioblastoma therapies since the advent of temozolomide (TMZ), and the combination of these treatments has gradually been promoted and applied in the clinic. The combination of TTFields with other therapies is particularly suitable for this type of "cold" tumors and has attracted a large amount of attention from clinicians and researchers in the era of cancer cocktail therapy. Here, we introduced the current treatment regimen for glioblastoma, highlighting the unique advantages of TTFields in the treatment of glioblastoma. Then, we summarized current glioblastoma clinical trials that combine TTFields and other therapies. In addition, the main and potential mechanisms of TTFields were introduced to further understand the rationale for each combination therapy. Finally, we focused on the most advanced technologies applied in glioblastoma research and treatment and the prospect of their combination with TTFields. This review provides a unique overview of glioblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjie Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430022, China
| | - Chaocai Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hainan General Hospital/Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical UniversityHaikou 570311, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430022, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430022, China
| | - Hemei Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hainan General Hospital/Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical UniversityHaikou 570311, China
| | - Junnv Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical UniversityHaikou 570311, China
| | - Jiannong Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hainan General Hospital/Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical UniversityHaikou 570311, China
| | - Xiaobing Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430022, China
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155
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Lim J, Ching H, Yoon JK, Jeon NL, Kim Y. Microvascularized tumor organoids-on-chips: advancing preclinical drug screening with pathophysiological relevance. NANO CONVERGENCE 2021; 8:12. [PMID: 33846849 PMCID: PMC8042002 DOI: 10.1186/s40580-021-00261-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments of organoids engineering and organ-on-a-chip microfluidic technologies have enabled the recapitulation of the major functions and architectures of microscale human tissue, including tumor pathophysiology. Nevertheless, there remain challenges in recapitulating the complexity and heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment. The integration of these engineering technologies suggests a potential strategy to overcome the limitations in reconstituting the perfusable microvascular system of large-scale tumors conserving their key functional features. Here, we review the recent progress of in vitro tumor-on-a-chip microfluidic technologies, focusing on the reconstruction of microvascularized organoid models to suggest a better platform for personalized cancer medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungeun Lim
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- George W, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Hanna Ching
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Kee Yoon
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Noo Li Jeon
- George W, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - YongTae Kim
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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156
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Tissues and Tumor Microenvironment (TME) in 3D: Models to Shed Light on Immunosuppression in Cancer. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040831. [PMID: 33917037 PMCID: PMC8067689 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppression in cancer has emerged as a major hurdle to immunotherapy efforts. Immunosuppression can arise from oncogene-induced signaling within the tumor as well as from tumor-associated immune cells. Understanding various mechanisms by which the tumor can undermine and evade therapy is critical in improving current cancer immunotherapies. While mouse models have allowed for the characterization of key immune cell types and their role in tumor development, extrapolating these mechanisms to patients has been challenging. There is need for better models to unravel the effects of genetic alterations inherent in tumor cells and immune cells isolated from tumors on tumor growth and to investigate the feasibility of immunotherapy. Three-dimensional (3D) organoid model systems have developed rapidly over the past few years and allow for incorporation of components of the tumor microenvironment such as immune cells and the stroma. This bears great promise for derivation of patient-specific models in a dish for understanding and determining the impact on personalized immunotherapy. In this review, we will highlight the significance of current experimental models employed in the study of tumor immunosuppression and evaluate current tumor organoid-immune cell co-culture systems and their potential impact in shedding light on cancer immunosuppression.
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157
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Krieger TG, Tirier SM, Park J, Jechow K, Eisemann T, Peterziel H, Angel P, Eils R, Conrad C. Modeling glioblastoma invasion using human brain organoids and single-cell transcriptomics. Neuro Oncol 2021; 22:1138-1149. [PMID: 32297954 PMCID: PMC7594554 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) consists of devastating neoplasms with high invasive capacity, which have been difficult to study in vitro in a human-derived model system. Therapeutic progress is also limited by cellular heterogeneity within and between tumors, among other factors such as therapy resistance. To address these challenges, we present an experimental model using human cerebral organoids as a scaffold for patient-derived GBM cell invasion. METHODS This study combined tissue clearing and confocal microscopy with single-cell RNA sequencing of GBM cells before and after co-culture with organoid cells. RESULTS We show that tumor cells within organoids extend a network of long microtubes, recapitulating the in vivo behavior of GBM. Transcriptional changes implicated in the invasion process are coherent across patient samples, indicating that GBM cells reactively upregulate genes required for their dispersion. Potential interactions between GBM and organoid cells identified by an in silico receptor-ligand pairing screen suggest functional therapeutic targets. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our model has proven useful for studying GBM invasion and transcriptional heterogeneity in vitro, with applications for both pharmacological screens and patient-specific treatment selection on a time scale amenable to clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa G Krieger
- Digital Health Center, Berlin Institute of Health and Charité, Berlin, Germany.,Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephan M Tirier
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jeongbin Park
- Digital Health Center, Berlin Institute of Health and Charité, Berlin, Germany.,Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Jechow
- Digital Health Center, Berlin Institute of Health and Charité, Berlin, Germany.,Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tanja Eisemann
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, DKFZ/ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Heike Peterziel
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, DKFZ/ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany.,Present affiliation: Hopp Children's Tumor Center Heidelberg and Clinical Cooperation Unit Paediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Angel
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, DKFZ/ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Eils
- Digital Health Center, Berlin Institute of Health and Charité, Berlin, Germany.,Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.,Health Data Science Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Conrad
- Digital Health Center, Berlin Institute of Health and Charité, Berlin, Germany.,Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
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158
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Li Z, Langhans SA. In Vivo and Ex Vivo Pediatric Brain Tumor Models: An Overview. Front Oncol 2021; 11:620831. [PMID: 33869004 PMCID: PMC8047472 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.620831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
After leukemia, tumors of the brain and spine are the second most common form of cancer in children. Despite advances in treatment, brain tumors remain a leading cause of death in pediatric cancer patients and survivors often suffer from life-long consequences of side effects of therapy. The 5-year survival rates, however, vary widely by tumor type, ranging from over 90% in more benign tumors to as low as 20% in the most aggressive forms such as glioblastoma. Even within historically defined tumor types such as medulloblastoma, molecular analysis identified biologically heterogeneous subgroups each with different genetic alterations, age of onset and prognosis. Besides molecularly driven patient stratification to tailor disease risk to therapy intensity, such a diversity demonstrates the need for more precise and disease-relevant pediatric brain cancer models for research and drug development. Here we give an overview of currently available in vitro and in vivo pediatric brain tumor models and discuss the opportunities that new technologies such as 3D cultures and organoids that can bridge limitations posed by the simplicity of monolayer cultures and the complexity of in vivo models, bring to accommodate better precision in drug development for pediatric brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sigrid A. Langhans
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
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159
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Oksdath Mansilla M, Salazar-Hernandez C, Perrin SL, Scheer KG, Cildir G, Toubia J, Sedivakova K, Tea MN, Lenin S, Ponthier E, Yeo ECF, Tergaonkar V, Poonnoose S, Ormsby RJ, Pitson SM, Brown MP, Ebert LM, Gomez GA. 3D-printed microplate inserts for long term high-resolution imaging of live brain organoids. BMC Biomed Eng 2021; 3:6. [PMID: 33789767 PMCID: PMC8015192 DOI: 10.1186/s42490-021-00049-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organoids are a reliable model used in the study of human brain development and under pathological conditions. However, current methods for brain organoid culture generate tissues that range from 0.5 to 2 mm of size, which need to be constantly agitated to allow proper oxygenation. The culture conditions are, therefore, not suitable for whole-brain organoid live imaging, required to study developmental processes and disease progression within physiologically relevant time frames (i.e. days, weeks, months). RESULTS Here we designed 3D-printed microplate inserts adaptable to standard 24 multi-well plates, which allow the growth of multiple organoids in pre-defined and fixed XYZ coordinates. This innovation facilitates high-resolution imaging of whole-cerebral organoids, allowing precise assessment of organoid growth and morphology, as well as cell tracking within the organoids, over long periods. We applied this technology to track neocortex development through neuronal progenitors in brain organoids, as well as the movement of patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells within healthy brain organoids. CONCLUSIONS This new bioengineering platform constitutes a significant advance that permits long term detailed analysis of whole-brain organoids using multimodal inverted fluorescence microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Oksdath Mansilla
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.
| | - Camilo Salazar-Hernandez
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Sally L Perrin
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Kaitlin G Scheer
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Gökhan Cildir
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - John Toubia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- ACRF Cancer Genomics Facility, Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Kristyna Sedivakova
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Melinda N Tea
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Sakthi Lenin
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Elise Ponthier
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Erica C F Yeo
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Vinay Tergaonkar
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A-STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Santosh Poonnoose
- Department of Neurosurgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia
- Flinders Health & Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Ormsby
- Flinders Health & Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia
| | - Stuart M Pitson
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Michael P Brown
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Lisa M Ebert
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Guillermo A Gomez
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.
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160
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Advanced Spheroid, Tumouroid and 3D Bioprinted In-Vitro Models of Adult and Paediatric Glioblastoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22062962. [PMID: 33803967 PMCID: PMC8000246 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The life expectancy of patients with high-grade glioma (HGG) has not improved in decades. One of the crucial tools to enable future improvement is advanced models that faithfully recapitulate the tumour microenvironment; they can be used for high-throughput screening that in future may enable accurate personalised drug screens. Currently, advanced models are crucial for identifying and understanding potential new targets, assessing new chemotherapeutic compounds or other treatment modalities. Recently, various methodologies have come into use that have allowed the validation of complex models—namely, spheroids, tumouroids, hydrogel-embedded cultures (matrix-supported) and advanced bioengineered cultures assembled with bioprinting and microfluidics. This review is designed to present the state of advanced models of HGG, whilst focusing as much as is possible on the paediatric form of the disease. The reality remains, however, that paediatric HGG (pHGG) models are years behind those of adult HGG. Our goal is to bring this to light in the hope that pGBM models can be improved upon.
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161
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review provides an overview of recent updates in understanding the mechanisms by which glioblastoma cells interact with their cellular and molecular partners within the microenvironment. RECENT FINDINGS We have now a better knowledge of the cell populations involved in Glioblastoma (GBM) invasion. Recent works discovered the role of new molecular players in GBM invasion, and, most importantly, better models are emerging which better recapitulate GBM invasion. SUMMARY Invasive properties of glioblastoma make complete surgical resection impossible and highly invasive cells are responsible for tumor recurrence. In this review, we focus on recent updates describing how invasive cells progress in the surrounding tissue along brain structures. We also provide an overview of the current knowledge on key cells and molecular players within the microenvironment that contribute to the invasive process. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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162
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Lopes MB, Martins EP, Vinga S, Costa BM. The Role of Network Science in Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1045. [PMID: 33801334 PMCID: PMC7958335 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Network science has long been recognized as a well-established discipline across many biological domains. In the particular case of cancer genomics, network discovery is challenged by the multitude of available high-dimensional heterogeneous views of data. Glioblastoma (GBM) is an example of such a complex and heterogeneous disease that can be tackled by network science. Identifying the architecture of molecular GBM networks is essential to understanding the information flow and better informing drug development and pre-clinical studies. Here, we review network-based strategies that have been used in the study of GBM, along with the available software implementations for reproducibility and further testing on newly coming datasets. Promising results have been obtained from both bulk and single-cell GBM data, placing network discovery at the forefront of developing a molecularly-informed-based personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta B. Lopes
- Center for Mathematics and Applications (CMA), FCT, UNL, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics (NOVA LINCS), FCT, UNL, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Eduarda P. Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (E.P.M.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Susana Vinga
- INESC-ID, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1000-029 Lisbon, Portugal;
- IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (E.P.M.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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163
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Rauth S, Karmakar S, Batra SK, Ponnusamy MP. Recent advances in organoid development and applications in disease modeling. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1875:188527. [PMID: 33640383 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
An improved understanding of stem cell niches, organogenesis, and disease models has paved the way for developing a three-dimensional (3D) organoid culture system. Organoid cultures can be derived from primary tissues (single cells or tissue subunits), adult stem cells (ASCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), or embryonic stem cells (ESCs). As a significant technological breakthrough, 3D organoid models offer a promising approach for understanding the complexities of human diseases ranging from the mechanistic investigation of disease pathogenesis to therapy. Here, we discuss the recent applications, advantages, and limitations of organoids as in vitro models for studying metabolomics, drug development, infectious diseases, and the gut microbiome. We further discuss the use of organoids in cancer modeling using high throughput sequencing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanchita Rauth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Saswati Karmakar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Moorthy P Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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164
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Goenka A, Tiek D, Song X, Huang T, Hu B, Cheng SY. The Many Facets of Therapy Resistance and Tumor Recurrence in Glioblastoma. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030484. [PMID: 33668200 PMCID: PMC7995978 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal type of primary brain cancer. Standard care using chemo- and radio-therapy modestly increases the overall survival of patients; however, recurrence is inevitable, due to treatment resistance and lack of response to targeted therapies. GBM therapy resistance has been attributed to several extrinsic and intrinsic factors which affect the dynamics of tumor evolution and physiology thus creating clinical challenges. Tumor-intrinsic factors such as tumor heterogeneity, hypermutation, altered metabolomics and oncologically activated alternative splicing pathways change the tumor landscape to facilitate therapy failure and tumor progression. Moreover, tumor-extrinsic factors such as hypoxia and an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) are the chief causes of immunotherapy failure in GBM. Amid the success of immunotherapy in other cancers, GBM has occurred as a model of resistance, thus focusing current efforts on not only alleviating the immunotolerance but also evading the escape mechanisms of tumor cells to therapy, caused by inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Here we review the various mechanisms of therapy resistance in GBM, caused by the continuously evolving tumor dynamics as well as the complex TME, which cumulatively contribute to GBM malignancy and therapy failure; in an attempt to understand and identify effective therapies for recurrent GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shi-Yuan Cheng
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-312-503-3043; Fax: +1-312-503-5603
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165
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Ao Z, Cai H, Wu Z, Ott J, Wang H, Mackie K, Guo F. Controllable fusion of human brain organoids using acoustofluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:688-699. [PMID: 33514983 PMCID: PMC8464403 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01141j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The fusion of human organoids holds promising potential in modeling physiological and pathological processes of tissue genesis and organogenesis. However, current fused organoid models face challenges of high heterogeneity and variable reproducibility, which may stem from the random fusion of heterogeneous organoids. Thus, we developed a simple and versatile acoustofluidic method to improve the standardization of fused organoid models via a controllable spatial arrangement of organoids. By regulating dynamic acoustic fields within a hexagonal acoustofluidic device, we can rotate, transport, and fuse one organoid with another in a contact-free, label-free, and minimal-impact manner. As a proof-of-concept to model the development of the human midbrain-to-forebrain mesocortical pathway, we acoustically fused human forebrain organoids (hFOs) and human midbrain organoids (hMOs) with the controllable alignment of neuroepithelial buds. We found that post-assembly, hMO can successfully project tyrosine hydroxylase neurons towards hFO, accompanied by an increase of firing rates and synchrony of excitatory neurons. Moreover, we found that our controllable fusion method can regulate neuron projection (e.g., range, length, and density), projection maturation (e.g., higher firing rate and synchrony), and neural progenitor cell (NPC) division in the assembloids via the initial spatial control. Thus, our acoustofluidic method may serve as a label-free, contact-free, and highly biocompatible tool to effectively assemble organoids and facilitate the standardization and robustness of organoid-based disease models and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Ao
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
| | - Hongwei Cai
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
| | - Zhuhao Wu
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
| | - Jonathan Ott
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
| | - Huiliang Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Ken Mackie
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Feng Guo
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
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166
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Azzarelli R, Ori M, Philpott A, Simons BD. Three-dimensional model of glioblastoma by co-culturing tumor stem cells with human brain organoids. Biol Open 2021; 10:bio056416. [PMID: 33619017 PMCID: PMC7928227 DOI: 10.1242/bio.056416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging three-dimensional (3D) cultures of glioblastoma are becoming powerful models to study glioblastoma stem cell behavior and the impact of cell-cell and cell-microenvironment interactions on tumor growth and invasion. Here we describe a method for culturing human glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) in 3D by co-culturing them with pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids. This requires multiple coordinated steps, including the generation of cerebral organoids, and the growth and fluorescence tagging of GSCs. We highlight how to recognize optimal organoid generation and how to efficiently mark GSCs, before describing optimized co-culture conditions. We show that GSCs can efficiently integrate into brain organoids and maintain a significant degree of cell fate heterogeneity, paving the way for the analysis of GSC fate behavior and lineage progression. These results establish the 3D culture system as a viable and versatile GBM model for investigating tumor cell biology and GSC heterogeneity.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Azzarelli
- Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
- Department of Biology, Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pisa, S.S. 12 Abetone e Brennero 4, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Michela Ori
- Department of Biology, Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pisa, S.S. 12 Abetone e Brennero 4, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna Philpott
- Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Benjamin D Simons
- Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
- The Wellcome Trust - Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge, CB3 0WA, UK
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167
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Lee J, Koehler KR. Skin organoids: A new human model for developmental and translational research. Exp Dermatol 2021; 30:613-620. [PMID: 33507537 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Culturing skin cells outside of the body has been a cornerstone of dermatological investigation for many years; however, human skin equivalent systems typically lack the full complexity of native skin. Notably, skin appendages, such as hair follicles and sweat glands, remain a challenge to generate or maintain in cell cultures and reconstruct in damaged skin. Recent work from our lab has demonstrated methods for generating appendage-bearing skin tissue-known as skin organoids-from pluripotent stem cells. Here, we will summarize this work and other related works, and then discuss the potential future applications of skin organoids in dermatological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyoon Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karl R Koehler
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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168
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Jacob F, Schnoll JG, Song H, Ming GL. Building the brain from scratch: Engineering region-specific brain organoids from human stem cells to study neural development and disease. Curr Top Dev Biol 2021; 142:477-530. [PMID: 33706925 PMCID: PMC8363060 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Human brain development is an intricate process that involves precisely timed coordination of cell proliferation, fate specification, neuronal differentiation, migration, and integration of diverse cell types. Understanding of these fundamental processes, however, has been largely constrained by limited access to fetal brain tissue and the inability to prospectively study neurodevelopment in humans at the molecular, cellular and system levels. Although non-human model organisms have provided important insights into mechanisms underlying brain development, these systems do not fully recapitulate many human-specific features that often relate to disease. To address these challenges, human brain organoids, self-assembled three-dimensional neural aggregates, have been engineered from human pluripotent stem cells to model the architecture and cellular diversity of the developing human brain. Recent advancements in neural induction and regional patterning using small molecules and growth factors have yielded protocols for generating brain organoids that recapitulate the structure and neuronal composition of distinct brain regions. Here, we first provide an overview of early mammalian brain development with an emphasis on molecular cues that guide region specification. We then focus on recent efforts in generating human brain organoids that model the development of specific brain regions and highlight endeavors to enhance the cellular complexity to better mimic the in vivo developing human brain. We also provide examples of how organoid models have enhanced our understanding of human neurological diseases and conclude by discussing limitations of brain organoids with our perspectives on future advancements to maximize their potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadi Jacob
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Medical Scientist Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jordan G Schnoll
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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169
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Tilak M, Holborn J, New LA, Lalonde J, Jones N. Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling and Targeting in Glioblastoma Multiforme. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1831. [PMID: 33673213 PMCID: PMC7918566 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is amongst the deadliest of human cancers, with a median survival rate of just over one year following diagnosis. Characterized by rapid proliferation and diffuse infiltration into the brain, GBM is notoriously difficult to treat, with tumor cells showing limited response to existing therapies and eventually developing resistance to these interventions. As such, there is intense interest in better understanding the molecular alterations in GBM to guide the development of more efficient targeted therapies. GBM tumors can be classified into several molecular subtypes which have distinct genetic signatures, and they show aberrant activation of numerous signal transduction pathways, particularly those connected to receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) which control glioma cell growth, survival, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. There are also non-canonical modes of RTK signaling found in GBM, which involve G-protein-coupled receptors and calcium channels. This review uses The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) GBM dataset in combination with a data-mining approach to summarize disease characteristics, with a focus on select molecular pathways that drive GBM pathogenesis. We also present a unique genomic survey of RTKs that are frequently altered in GBM subtypes, as well as catalog the GBM disease association scores for all RTKs. Lastly, we discuss current RTK targeted therapies and highlight emerging directions in GBM research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nina Jones
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (M.T.); (J.H.); (L.A.N.); (J.L.)
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170
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Duzagac F, Saorin G, Memeo L, Canzonieri V, Rizzolio F. Microfluidic Organoids-on-a-Chip: Quantum Leap in Cancer Research. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:737. [PMID: 33578886 PMCID: PMC7916612 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Organ-like cell clusters, so-called organoids, which exhibit self-organized and similar organ functionality as the tissue of origin, have provided a whole new level of bioinspiration for ex vivo systems. Microfluidic organoid or organs-on-a-chip platforms are a new group of micro-engineered promising models that recapitulate 3D tissue structure and physiology and combines several advantages of current in vivo and in vitro models. Microfluidics technology is used in numerous applications since it allows us to control and manipulate fluid flows with a high degree of accuracy. This system is an emerging tool for understanding disease development and progression, especially for personalized therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment, which provide well-grounded, cost-effective, powerful, fast, and reproducible results. In this review, we highlight how the organoid-on-a-chip models have improved the potential of efficiency and reproducibility of organoid cultures. More widely, we discuss current challenges and development on organoid culture systems together with microfluidic approaches and their limitations. Finally, we describe the recent progress and potential utilization in the organs-on-a-chip practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahriye Duzagac
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, 30123 Venezia, Italy; (F.D.); (G.S.)
| | - Gloria Saorin
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, 30123 Venezia, Italy; (F.D.); (G.S.)
| | - Lorenzo Memeo
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Mediterranean Institute of Oncology (IOM), 95029 Catania, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo Canzonieri
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy;
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Flavio Rizzolio
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, 30123 Venezia, Italy; (F.D.); (G.S.)
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy;
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171
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Ghiaseddin A, Hoang Minh LB, Janiszewska M, Shin D, Wick W, Mitchell DA, Wen PY, Grossman SA. Adult precision medicine: learning from the past to enhance the future. Neurooncol Adv 2021; 3:vdaa145. [PMID: 33543142 PMCID: PMC7846182 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaa145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite therapeutic advances for other malignancies, gliomas remain challenging solid tumors to treat. Complete surgical resection is nearly impossible due to gliomas’ diffuse infiltrative nature, and treatment is hampered by restricted access to the tumors due to limited transport across the blood–brain barrier. Recent advances in genomic studies and next-generation sequencing techniques have led to a better understanding of gliomas and identification of potential aberrant signaling pathways. Targeting the specific genomic abnormalities via novel molecular therapies has opened a new avenue in the management of gliomas, with encouraging results in preclinical studies and early clinical trials. However, molecular characterization of gliomas revealed significant heterogeneity, which poses a challenge for targeted therapeutic approaches. In this context, leading neuro-oncology researchers and clinicians, industry innovators, and patient advocates convened at the inaugural annual Remission Summit held in Orlando, FL in February 2019 to discuss the latest advances in immunotherapy and precision medicine approaches for the treatment of adult and pediatric brain tumors and outline the unanswered questions, challenges, and opportunities that lay ahead for advancing the duration and quality of life for patients with brain tumors. Here, we provide historical context for precision medicine in other cancers, present emerging approaches for gliomas, discuss their limitations, and outline the steps necessary for future success. We focus on the advances in small molecule targeted therapy, as the use of immunotherapy as an emerging precision medicine modality for glioma treatment has recently been reviewed by our colleagues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Ghiaseddin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Lan B Hoang Minh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | | | - David Shin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Neurology Clinic, Heidelberg University Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Duane A Mitchell
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Patrick Y Wen
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stuart A Grossman
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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172
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Rybin MJ, Ivan ME, Ayad NG, Zeier Z. Organoid Models of Glioblastoma and Their Role in Drug Discovery. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:605255. [PMID: 33613198 PMCID: PMC7892608 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.605255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating adult brain cancer with high rates of recurrence and treatment resistance. Cellular heterogeneity and extensive invasion of surrounding brain tissues are characteristic features of GBM that contribute to its intractability. Current GBM model systems do not recapitulate some of the complex features of GBM and have not produced sufficiently-effective treatments. This has cast doubt on the effectiveness of current GBM models and drug discovery paradigms. In search of alternative pre-clinical GBM models, various 3D organoid-based GBM model systems have been developed using human cells. The scalability of these systems and potential to more accurately model characteristic features of GBM, provide promising new avenues for pre-clinical GBM research and drug discovery efforts. Here, we review the current suite of organoid-GBM models, their individual strengths and weaknesses, and discuss their future applications with an emphasis on compound screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Rybin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Michael E Ivan
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Nagi G Ayad
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Zane Zeier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
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173
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Fawal MA, Jungas T, Davy A. Inhibition of DHFR targets the self-renewing potential of brain tumor initiating cells. Cancer Lett 2021; 503:129-137. [PMID: 33545223 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Brain tumors are a heterogeneous group of benign and malignant tumors arising from the brain parenchyma and its surrounding structures, with in general a poor clinical outcome due to high recurrence. One of the underlying causes for this somber prognostic is the presence of brain tumor initiating cells (BTIC) endowed with self-renewal potential, multi-lineage differentiation and resistance to treatment. One promising therapeutic avenue for brain tumors is targeting BTIC self-renewal potential and forcing their differentiation. A compelling candidate is one-carbon metabolism shown to play a key role in maintaining stem cell self-renewal in several lineages. Here, we focus on dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a key enzyme in one-carbon metabolism, and demonstrate this enzyme's overexpression in several human brain tumors and its expression in human BTIC. We show that DHFR inhibition, either by Methotrexate (MTX) or EphB activation with synthetic ligands, reduces the tumorigenic potential of 4 human BTIC lines, by reducing their self-renewal capacities both in vitro and in a cerebral organoid glioma (GLICO) model. Our data indicate that driving BTIC differentiation by inhibiting DHFR may provide a new therapeutic approach to treating highly refractory aggressive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad-Ali Fawal
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD), Center for Integrative Biology (CBI), University of Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Thomas Jungas
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD), Center for Integrative Biology (CBI), University of Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Alice Davy
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD), Center for Integrative Biology (CBI), University of Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France.
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174
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Ene CI, Fueyo J, Lang FF. Delta-24 adenoviral therapy for glioblastoma: evolution from the bench to bedside and future considerations. Neurosurg Focus 2021; 50:E6. [PMID: 33524949 DOI: 10.3171/2020.11.focus20853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Delta-24-based oncolytic viruses are conditional replication adenoviruses developed to selectively infect and replicate in retinoblastoma 1 (Rb)-deficient cancer cells but not normal cell with intact Rb1 pathways. Over the years, there has been a significant evolution in the design of Delta-24 based on a better understanding of the underlying basis for infection, replication, and spread within cancer. One example is the development of Delta-24-RGD (DNX-2401), where the arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) domain enhances the infectivity of Delta-24 for cancer cells. DNX-2401 demonstrated objective biological and clinical responses during a phase I window of opportunity clinical trial for recurrent human glioblastoma. In long-term responders (> 3 years), there was evidence of immune infiltration (T cells and macrophages) into the tumor microenvironment with minimal toxicity. Although more in-depth analysis and phase III studies are pending, these results indicate that Delta-24-based adenovirus therapy may induce an antitumor response in glioblastoma, resulting in long-term antitumor immune response. In this review, the authors discuss the preclinical and clinical development of Delta-24 oncolytic adenoviral therapy for glioblastoma and describe structural improvements to Delta-24 that have enhanced its efficacy in vivo. They also highlight ongoing research that attempts to address the remaining obstacles limiting efficacy of Delta-24 adenovirus therapy for glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Fueyo
- Departments of1Neurosurgery and.,2Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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175
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Majc B, Novak M, Kopitar-Jerala N, Jewett A, Breznik B. Immunotherapy of Glioblastoma: Current Strategies and Challenges in Tumor Model Development. Cells 2021; 10:265. [PMID: 33572835 PMCID: PMC7912469 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common brain malignant tumor in the adult population, and immunotherapy is playing an increasingly central role in the treatment of many cancers. Nevertheless, the search for effective immunotherapeutic approaches for glioblastoma patients continues. The goal of immunotherapy is to promote tumor eradication, boost the patient's innate and adaptive immune responses, and overcome tumor immune resistance. A range of new, promising immunotherapeutic strategies has been applied for glioblastoma, including vaccines, oncolytic viruses, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and adoptive cell transfer. However, the main challenges of immunotherapy for glioblastoma are the intracranial location and heterogeneity of the tumor as well as the unique, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Owing to the lack of appropriate tumor models, there are discrepancies in the efficiency of various immunotherapeutic strategies between preclinical studies (with in vitro and animal models) on the one hand and clinical studies (on humans) on the other hand. In this review, we summarize the glioblastoma characteristics that drive tolerance to immunotherapy, the currently used immunotherapeutic approaches against glioblastoma, and the most suitable tumor models to mimic conditions in glioblastoma patients. These models are improving and can more precisely predict patients' responses to immunotherapeutic treatments, either alone or in combination with standard treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernarda Majc
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 111 Večna pot, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.M.); (M.N.)
- International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, 39 Jamova ulica, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Metka Novak
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 111 Večna pot, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.M.); (M.N.)
| | - Nataša Kopitar-Jerala
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, 39 Jamova ulica, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Anahid Jewett
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, University of California School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
| | - Barbara Breznik
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 111 Večna pot, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.M.); (M.N.)
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176
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Gómez-Oliva R, Domínguez-García S, Carrascal L, Abalos-Martínez J, Pardillo-Díaz R, Verástegui C, Castro C, Nunez-Abades P, Geribaldi-Doldán N. Evolution of Experimental Models in the Study of Glioblastoma: Toward Finding Efficient Treatments. Front Oncol 2021; 10:614295. [PMID: 33585240 PMCID: PMC7878535 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.614295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common form of brain tumor characterized by its resistance to conventional therapies, including temozolomide, the most widely used chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of GBM. Within the tumor, the presence of glioma stem cells (GSC) seems to be the reason for drug resistance. The discovery of GSC has boosted the search for new experimental models to study GBM, which allow the development of new GBM treatments targeting these cells. In here, we describe different strategies currently in use to study GBM. Initial GBM investigations were focused in the development of xenograft assays. Thereafter, techniques advanced to dissociate tumor cells into single-cell suspensions, which generate aggregates referred to as neurospheres, thus facilitating their selective expansion. Concomitantly, the finding of genes involved in the initiation and progression of GBM tumors, led to the generation of mice models for the GBM. The latest advances have been the use of GBM organoids or 3D-bioprinted mini-brains. 3D bio-printing mimics tissue cytoarchitecture by combining different types of cells interacting with each other and with extracellular matrix components. These in vivo models faithfully replicate human diseases in which the effect of new drugs can easily be tested. Based on recent data from human glioblastoma, this review critically evaluates the different experimental models used in the study of GB, including cell cultures, mouse models, brain organoids, and 3D bioprinting focusing in the advantages and disadvantages of each approach to understand the mechanisms involved in the progression and treatment response of this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Gómez-Oliva
- Área de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Samuel Domínguez-García
- Área de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Livia Carrascal
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain.,Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Ricardo Pardillo-Díaz
- Área de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Cristina Verástegui
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain.,Departamento de Anatomía y Embriología Humanas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Carmen Castro
- Área de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Pedro Nunez-Abades
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain.,Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Noelia Geribaldi-Doldán
- Departamento de Anatomía y Embriología Humanas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
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177
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Blue R, Miranda SP, Gu BJ, Chen HI. A Primer on Human Brain Organoids for the Neurosurgeon. Neurosurgery 2021; 87:620-629. [PMID: 32421821 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Human brain organoids emerged in 2013 as a technology that, unlike prior in Vitro neural models, recapitulates brain development with a high degree of spatial and temporal fidelity. As the platform matured with more accurate reproduction of cerebral architecture, brain organoids became increasingly valuable for studying both normal cortical neurogenesis and a variety of congenital human brain disorders. While the majority of research utilizing human brain organoids has been in the realm of basic science, clinical applications are forthcoming. These present and future translational efforts have the potential to make a considerable impact on the field of neurosurgery. For example, glioma organoids are already being used to study tumor biology and drug responses, and adaptation for the investigation of other neurosurgery-relevant diseases is underway. Moreover, organoids are being explored as a structured neural substrate for repairing brain circuitry. Thus, we believe it is important for our field to be aware and have an accurate understanding of this emerging technology. In this review, we describe the key characteristics of human brain organoids, review their relevant translational applications, and discuss the ethical implications of their use through a neurosurgical lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Blue
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Stephen P Miranda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ben Jiahe Gu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - H Isaac Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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178
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Wang L, Ye Z, Jang YY. Convergence of human pluripotent stem cell, organoid, and genome editing technologies. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:861-875. [PMID: 33467883 DOI: 10.1177/1535370220985808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The last decade has seen many exciting technological breakthroughs that greatly expanded the toolboxes for biological and biomedical research, yet few have had more impact than induced pluripotent stem cells and modern-day genome editing. These technologies are providing unprecedented opportunities to improve physiological relevance of experimental models, further our understanding of developmental processes, and develop novel therapies. One of the research areas that benefit greatly from these technological advances is the three-dimensional human organoid culture systems that resemble human tissues morphologically and physiologically. Here we summarize the development of human pluripotent stem cells and their differentiation through organoid formation. We further discuss how genetic modifications, genome editing in particular, were applied to answer basic biological and biomedical questions using organoid cultures of both somatic and pluripotent stem cell origins. Finally, we discuss the potential challenges of applying human pluripotent stem cell and organoid technologies for safety and efficiency evaluation of emerging genome editing tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Zhaohui Ye
- Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Yoon-Young Jang
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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179
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Finch A, Solomou G, Wykes V, Pohl U, Bardella C, Watts C. Advances in Research of Adult Gliomas. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020924. [PMID: 33477674 PMCID: PMC7831916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse gliomas are the most frequent brain tumours, representing 75% of all primary malignant brain tumours in adults. Because of their locally aggressive behaviour and the fact that they cannot be cured by current therapies, they represent one of the most devastating cancers. The present review summarises recent advances in our understanding of glioma development and progression by use of various in vitro and in vivo models, as well as more complex techniques including cultures of 3D organoids and organotypic slices. We discuss the progress that has been made in understanding glioma heterogeneity, alteration in gene expression and DNA methylation, as well as advances in various in silico models. Lastly current treatment options and future clinical trials, which aim to improve early diagnosis and disease monitoring, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Finch
- Institute of Cancer Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (A.F.); (G.S.); (V.W.)
| | - Georgios Solomou
- Institute of Cancer Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (A.F.); (G.S.); (V.W.)
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5NL, UK
| | - Victoria Wykes
- Institute of Cancer Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (A.F.); (G.S.); (V.W.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK
| | - Ute Pohl
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK;
| | - Chiara Bardella
- Institute of Cancer Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (A.F.); (G.S.); (V.W.)
- Correspondence: (C.B.); (C.W.)
| | - Colin Watts
- Institute of Cancer Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (A.F.); (G.S.); (V.W.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK
- Correspondence: (C.B.); (C.W.)
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180
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Advances in 3D neuronal microphysiological systems: towards a functional nervous system on a chip. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2021; 57:191-206. [PMID: 33438114 PMCID: PMC7802613 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-020-00532-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPS) designed to study the complexities of the peripheral and central nervous systems have made marked improvements over the years and have allowed researchers to assess in two and three dimensions the functional interconnectivity of neuronal tissues. The recent generation of brain organoids has further propelled the field into the nascent recapitulation of structural, functional, and effective connectivities which are found within the native human nervous system. Herein, we will review advances in culture methodologies, focused especially on those of human tissues, which seek to bridge the gap from 2D cultures to hierarchical and defined 3D MPS with the end goal of developing a robust nervous system-on-a-chip platform. These advances have far-reaching implications within basic science, pharmaceutical development, and translational medicine disciplines.
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181
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Bakhshinyan D, Savage N, Salim SK, Venugopal C, Singh SK. The Strange Case of Jekyll and Hyde: Parallels Between Neural Stem Cells and Glioblastoma-Initiating Cells. Front Oncol 2021; 10:603738. [PMID: 33489908 PMCID: PMC7820896 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.603738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
During embryonic development, radial glial precursor cells give rise to neural lineages, and a small proportion persist in the adult mammalian brain to contribute to long-term neuroplasticity. Neural stem cells (NSCs) reside in two neurogenic niches of the adult brain, the hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ). NSCs in the SVZ are endowed with the defining stem cell properties of self-renewal and multipotent differentiation, which are maintained by intrinsic cellular programs, and extrinsic cellular and niche-specific interactions. In glioblastoma, the most aggressive primary malignant brain cancer, a subpopulation of cells termed glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) exhibit similar stem-like properties. While there is an extensive overlap between NSCs and GSCs in function, distinct genetic profiles, transcriptional programs, and external environmental cues influence their divergent behavior. This review highlights the similarities and differences between GSCs and SVZ NSCs in terms of their gene expression, regulatory molecular pathways, niche organization, metabolic programs, and current therapies designed to exploit these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bakhshinyan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Neil Savage
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sabra Khalid Salim
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Chitra Venugopal
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sheila K Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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182
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Akter F, Simon B, de Boer NL, Redjal N, Wakimoto H, Shah K. Pre-clinical tumor models of primary brain tumors: Challenges and opportunities. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1875:188458. [PMID: 33148506 PMCID: PMC7856042 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Primary brain tumors are a heterogeneous group of malignancies that originate in cells of the central nervous system. A variety of models tractable for preclinical studies have been developed to recapitulate human brain tumors, allowing us to understand the underlying pathobiology and explore potential treatments. However, many promising therapeutic strategies identified using preclinical models have shown limited efficacy or failed at the clinical trial stage. The inability to develop therapeutic strategies that significantly improve survival rates in patients highlight the compelling need to revisit the design of currently available animal models and explore the use of new models that allow us to bridge the gap between promising preclinical findings and clinical translation. In this review, we discuss current strategies used to model glioblastoma, the most malignant brain tumor in adults and highlight the shortcomings of specific models that must be circumvented for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhana Akter
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging (CSTI), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Brennan Simon
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging (CSTI), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Nadine Leonie de Boer
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging (CSTI), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Navid Redjal
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging (CSTI), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Hiroaki Wakimoto
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging (CSTI), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
| | - Khalid Shah
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging (CSTI), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States of America.
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183
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Sidhaye J, Knoblich JA. Brain organoids: an ensemble of bioassays to investigate human neurodevelopment and disease. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:52-67. [PMID: 32483384 PMCID: PMC7853143 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-020-0566-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding etiology of human neurological and psychiatric diseases is challenging. Genomic changes, protracted development, and histological features unique to human brain development limit the disease aspects that can be investigated using model organisms. Hence, in order to study phenotypes associated with human brain development, function, and disease, it is necessary to use alternative experimental systems that are accessible, ethically justified, and replicate human context. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived brain organoids offer such a system, which recapitulates features of early human neurodevelopment in vitro, including the generation, proliferation, and differentiation of neural progenitors into neurons and glial cells and the complex interactions among the diverse, emergent cell types of the developing brain in three-dimensions (3-D). In recent years, numerous brain organoid protocols and related techniques have been developed to recapitulate aspects of embryonic and fetal brain development in a reproducible and predictable manner. Altogether, these different organoid technologies provide distinct bioassays to unravel novel, disease-associated phenotypes and mechanisms. In this review, we summarize how the diverse brain organoid methods can be utilized to enhance our understanding of brain disorders. FACTS: Brain organoids offer an in vitro approach to study aspects of human brain development and disease. Diverse brain organoid techniques offer bioassays to investigate new phenotypes associated with human brain disorders that are difficult to study in monolayer cultures. Brain organoids have been particularly useful to study phenomena and diseases associated with neural progenitor morphology, survival, proliferation, and differentiation. OPEN QUESTION: Future brain organoid research needs to aim at later stages of neurodevelopment, linked with neuronal activity and connections, to unravel further disease-associated phenotypes. Continued improvement of existing organoid protocols is required to generate standardized methods that recapitulate in vivo-like spatial diversity and complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaydeep Sidhaye
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of Austrian academy of sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen A Knoblich
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of Austrian academy of sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
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184
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Horne EA, Diaz P, Cimino PJ, Jung E, Xu C, Hamel E, Wagenbach M, Kumasaka D, Wageling NB, Azorín DD, Winkler F, Wordeman LG, Holland EC, Stella N. A brain-penetrant microtubule-targeting agent that disrupts hallmarks of glioma tumorigenesis. Neurooncol Adv 2021; 3:vdaa165. [PMID: 33506204 PMCID: PMC7813200 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaa165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioma is sensitive to microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs), but most MTAs do not cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). To address this limitation, we developed the new chemical entity, ST-401, a brain-penetrant MTA. METHODS Synthesis of ST-401. Measures of MT assembly and dynamics. Cell proliferation and viability of patient-derived (PD) glioma in culture. Measure of tumor microtube (TM) parameters using immunofluorescence analysis and machine learning-based workflow. Pharmacokinetics (PK) and experimental toxicity in mice. In vivo antitumor activity in the RCAS/tv-a PDGFB-driven glioma (PDGFB-glioma) mouse model. RESULTS We discovered that ST-401 disrupts microtubule (MT) function through gentle and reverisible reduction in MT assembly that triggers mitotic delay and cell death in interphase. ST-401 inhibits the formation of TMs, MT-rich structures that connect glioma to a network that promotes resistance to DNA damage. PK analysis of ST-401 in mice shows brain penetration reaching antitumor concentrations, and in vivo testing of ST-401 in a xenograft flank tumor mouse model demonstrates significant antitumor activity and no over toxicity in mice. In the PDGFB-glioma mouse model, ST-401 enhances the therapeutic efficacies of temozolomide (TMZ) and radiation therapy (RT). CONCLUSION Our study identifies hallmarks of glioma tumorigenesis that are sensitive to MTAs and reports ST-401 as a promising chemical scaffold to develop brain-penetrant MTAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Horne
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Stella Therapeutics, Inc., Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Philippe Diaz
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
- DermaXon LLC, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Patrick J Cimino
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Erik Jung
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cong Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ernest Hamel
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael Wagenbach
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Debra Kumasaka
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Daniel D Azorín
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Winkler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Linda G Wordeman
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Eric C Holland
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nephi Stella
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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185
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Yin Y, Liu PY, Shi Y, Li P. Single-Cell Sequencing and Organoids: A Powerful Combination for Modelling Organ Development and Diseases. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 179:189-210. [PMID: 33619630 DOI: 10.1007/112_2020_47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The development and function of a particular organ and the pathogenesis of various diseases remain intimately linked to the features of each cell type in the organ. Conventional messenger RNA- or protein-based methodologies often fail to elucidate the contribution of rare cell types, including some subpopulations of stem cells, short-lived progenitors and circulating tumour cells, thus hampering their applications in studies regarding organ development and diseases. The scRNA-seq technique represents a new approach for determining gene expression variability at the single-cell level. Organoids are new preclinical models that recapitulate complete or partial features of their original organ and are thought to be superior to cell models in mimicking the sophisticated spatiotemporal processes of the development and regeneration and diseases. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the field of scRNA-seq, organoids and their current applications and summarize the advantages of using a combination of scRNA-seq and organoid technology to model diseases and organ development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuebang Yin
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peng-Yu Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Oncology, The Clinical Innovation & Research Centre, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yinghua Shi
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture; Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China.
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186
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Abstract
Tumor progression is profoundly influenced by interactions between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Among the various non-neoplastic cells present, immune cells are critical players in tumor development and have thus emerged as attractive therapeutic targets. Malignant gliomas exhibit a unique immune landscape characterized by high numbers of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Despite encouraging preclinical results, targeting TAMs has yielded limited clinical success as a strategy for slowing glioma progression. The slow translational progress of TAM-targeted therapies is due in part to an incomplete understanding of the factors driving TAM recruitment, differentiation, and polarization. Furthermore, the functions that TAMs adopt in gliomas remain largely unknown. Progress in addressing these gaps requires sophisticated culture platforms capable of capturing key cellular and physical TME features. This review summarizes the current understanding of TAMs in gliomas and highlights the utility of in vitro TME models for investigating TAM-cancer cell cross talk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin A. Akins
- University of California, Berkeley – University of California, San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Manish K. Aghi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- University of California, Berkeley – University of California, San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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187
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Das D, Li J, Cheng L, Franco S, Mahairaki V. Human Forebrain Organoids from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Novel Approach to Model Repair of Ionizing Radiation-Induced DNA Damage in Human Neurons. Radiat Res 2020; 194:191-198. [PMID: 32845994 DOI: 10.1667/rr15567.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can generate virtually any cell type and therefore are applied to studies of organ development, disease modeling, drug screening and cell replacement therapy. Under proper culture conditions in vitro induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be differentiated to form organ-like tissues, also known as "organoids", which resemble organs more closely than cells, in vivo. We hypothesized that human brain organoids can be used as an experimental model to study mechanisms underlying DNA repair in human neurons and their progenitors after radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), the most severe form of DNA damage. To this end, we customized a protocol for brain organoid generation that is time efficient. These organoids recapitulate key features of human cortical neuron development, including a subventricular zone containing neural progenitors that mature to postmitotic cortical neurons. Using immunofluorescence to measure DNA DSB markers, such as γ-H2AX and 53BP1, we quantified the kinetics of DSB repair in neural progenitors within the subventricular zone for up to 24 h after a single 2 Gy dose of ionizing radiation. Our data on DNA repair in progenitor versus mature neurons indicate a similar timeline: both repair DNA DSBs which is mostly resolved by 18 h postirradiation. However, repair kinetics are more acute in progenitors than mature neurons in the mature organoid. Overall, this study supports the use of 3D organoid culture technology as a novel platform to study DNA damage responses in developing or mature neurons, which has been previously difficult to study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debamitra Das
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Department of Neurology
| | | | - Linzhao Cheng
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, and Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287
| | - Sonia Franco
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
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188
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Combinatorial Effect of Magnetic Field and Radiotherapy in PDAC Organoids: A Pilot Study. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8120609. [PMID: 33327494 PMCID: PMC7765003 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8120609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly refractory to systemic treatment, including radiotherapy (RT) either as alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Magnetic resonance (MR)-guided RT is a novel treatment technique which conjugates the high MR imaging contrast resolution to the possibility of re-adapting treatment plan to daily anatomical variations. Magnetic field (MF) might exert a biological effect that could be exploited to enhance radiation effect. The aim of the present study was to lay the preclinical basis of the MF effect by exploring how it modifies the response to radiation in organoid cultures established from PDAC. The short-term effect of radiation, alone or in combination with MF, was evaluated in patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and monolayer cell cultures. Cell viability, apoptotic cell death, and organoid size following exposure to the treatment were evaluated. PDOs demonstrated limited sensitivity at clinically relevant doses of radiation. The combination of radiation and MF demonstrated superior efficacy than monotherapy in almost all the PDOs tested. PDOs treated with combination of radiation and MF were significantly smaller in size and some showed increased cell death as compared to the monotherapy with radiation. Long-time exposure to 1.5T MF can increase the therapeutic efficacy of radiation in PDAC organoids.
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189
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Civita P, Valerio O, Naccarato AG, Gumbleton M, Pilkington GJ. Satellitosis, a Crosstalk between Neurons, Vascular Structures and Neoplastic Cells in Brain Tumours; Early Manifestation of Invasive Behaviour. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3720. [PMID: 33322379 PMCID: PMC7763100 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The secondary structures of Scherer commonly known as perineuronal and perivascular satellitosis have been identified as a histopathological hallmark of diffuse, invasive, high-grade gliomas. They are recognised as perineuronal satellitosis when clusters of neoplastic glial cells surround neurons cell bodies and perivascular satellitosis when such tumour cells surround blood vessels infiltrating Virchow-Robin spaces. In this review, we provide an overview of emerging knowledge regarding how interactions between neurons and glioma cells can modulate tumour evolution and how neurons play a key role in glioma growth and progression, as well as the role of perivascular satellitosis into mechanisms of glioma cells spread. At the same time, we review the current knowledge about the role of perineuronal satellitosis and perivascular satellitosis within the tumour microenvironment (TME), in order to highlight critical knowledge gaps in research space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prospero Civita
- Brain Tumour Research Centre, Institute of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (IBBS), School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2DT, UK
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK;
| | - Ortenzi Valerio
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa University Hospital, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (O.V.); (A.G.N.)
| | - Antonio Giuseppe Naccarato
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa University Hospital, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (O.V.); (A.G.N.)
| | - Mark Gumbleton
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK;
| | - Geoffrey J. Pilkington
- Brain Tumour Research Centre, Institute of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (IBBS), School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2DT, UK
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK;
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry & Neurology, King’s College London, London SE5 9RX, UK
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190
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Current and Future Perspectives of the Use of Organoids in Radiobiology. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122649. [PMID: 33317153 PMCID: PMC7764598 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of cancer patients will be treated with radiotherapy, either alone or together with chemotherapy and/or surgery. Optimising the balance between tumour control and the probability of normal tissue side effects is the primary goal of radiation treatment. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the effects that irradiation will have on both normal and cancer tissue. The more classical lab models of immortal cell lines and in vivo animal models have been fundamental to radiobiological studies to date. However, each of these comes with their own limitations and new complementary models are required to fill the gaps left by these traditional models. In this review, we discuss how organoids, three-dimensional tissue-resembling structures derived from tissue-resident, embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells, overcome the limitations of these models and thus have a growing importance in the field of radiation biology research. The roles of organoids in understanding radiation-induced tissue responses and in moving towards precision medicine are examined. Finally, the limitations of organoids in radiobiology and the steps being made to overcome these limitations are considered.
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191
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Klein E, Hau AC, Oudin A, Golebiewska A, Niclou SP. Glioblastoma Organoids: Pre-Clinical Applications and Challenges in the Context of Immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2020; 10:604121. [PMID: 33364198 PMCID: PMC7753120 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.604121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors remain uniformly fatal, even with the best-to-date treatment. For Glioblastoma (GBM), the most severe form of brain cancer in adults, the median overall survival is roughly over a year. New therapeutic options are urgently needed, yet recent clinical trials in the field have been largely disappointing. This is partially due to inappropriate preclinical model systems, which do not reflect the complexity of patient tumors. Furthermore, clinically relevant patient-derived models recapitulating the immune compartment are lacking, which represents a bottleneck for adequate immunotherapy testing. Emerging 3D organoid cultures offer innovative possibilities for cancer modeling. Here, we review available GBM organoid models amenable to a large variety of pre-clinical applications including functional bioassays such as proliferation and invasion, drug screening, and the generation of patient-derived orthotopic xenografts (PDOX) for validation of biological responses in vivo. We emphasize advantages and technical challenges in establishing immunocompetent ex vivo models based on co-cultures of GBM organoids and human immune cells. The latter can be isolated either from the tumor or from patient or donor blood as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We also discuss the challenges to generate GBM PDOXs based on humanized mouse models to validate efficacy of immunotherapies in vivo. A detailed characterization of such models at the cellular and molecular level is needed to understand the potential and limitations for various immune activating strategies. Increasing the availability of immunocompetent GBM models will improve research on emerging immune therapeutic approaches against aggressive brain cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliane Klein
- NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Ann-Christin Hau
- NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Anaïs Oudin
- NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Anna Golebiewska
- NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Simone P. Niclou
- NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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192
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Trends and challenges in modeling glioma using 3D human brain organoids. Cell Death Differ 2020; 28:15-23. [PMID: 33262470 PMCID: PMC7707134 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-020-00679-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The human brain organoids derived from pluripotent cells are a new class of three-dimensional tissue systems that recapitulates several neural epithelial aspects. Brain organoids have already helped efficient modeling of crucial elements of brain development and disorders. Brain organoids’ suitability in modeling glioma has started to emerge, offering another usefulness of brain organoids in disease modeling. Although the current state-of-the organoids mostly reflect the immature state of the brain, with their vast cell diversity, human brain-like cytoarchitecture, feasibility in culturing, handling, imaging, and tractability can offer enormous potential in reflecting the glioma invasion, integration, and interaction with different neuronal cell types. Here, we summarize the current trend of employing brain organoids in glioma modeling and discuss the immediate challenges. Solving them might lay a foundation for using brain organoids as a pre-clinical 3D substrate to dissect the glioma invasion mechanisms in detail.
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193
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Papaioannou MD, Sangster K, Sajid RS, Djuric U, Diamandis P. Cerebral organoids: emerging ex vivo humanoid models of glioblastoma. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:209. [PMID: 33261657 PMCID: PMC7706050 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-01077-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer that has seen only marginal improvements in its bleak survival outlook of 12-15 months over the last forty years. There is therefore an urgent need for the development of advanced drug screening platforms and systems that can better recapitulate glioblastoma's infiltrative biology, a process largely responsible for its relentless propensity for recurrence and progression. Recent advances in stem cell biology have allowed the generation of artificial tridimensional brain-like tissue termed cerebral organoids. In addition to their potential to model brain development, these reagents are providing much needed synthetic humanoid scaffolds to model glioblastoma's infiltrative capacity in a faithful and scalable manner. Here, we highlight and review the early breakthroughs in this growing field and discuss its potential future role for glioblastoma research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail-Dimitrios Papaioannou
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 101 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program, Department of Pathology, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Kevin Sangster
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 101 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Rifat Shahriar Sajid
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 101 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ugljesa Djuric
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 101 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program, Department of Pathology, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Phedias Diamandis
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 101 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
- Laboratory Medicine Program, Department of Pathology, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
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194
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Lopes-Ramos CM, Quackenbush J, DeMeo DL. Genome-Wide Sex and Gender Differences in Cancer. Front Oncol 2020; 10:597788. [PMID: 33330090 PMCID: PMC7719817 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.597788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their known importance in clinical medicine, differences based on sex and gender are among the least studied factors affecting cancer susceptibility, progression, survival, and therapeutic response. In particular, the molecular mechanisms driving sex differences are poorly understood and so most approaches to precision medicine use mutational or other genomic data to assign therapy without considering how the sex of the individual might influence therapeutic efficacy. The mandate by the National Institutes of Health that research studies include sex as a biological variable has begun to expand our understanding on its importance. Sex differences in cancer may arise due to a combination of environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors, as well as differences in gene regulation, and expression. Extensive sex differences occur genome-wide, and ultimately influence cancer biology and outcomes. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge about sex-specific genetic and genome-wide influences in cancer, describe how differences in response to environmental exposures and genetic and epigenetic alterations alter the trajectory of the disease, and provide insights into the importance of integrative analyses in understanding the interplay of sex and genomics in cancer. In particular, we will explore some of the emerging analytical approaches, such as the use of network methods, that are providing a deeper understanding of the drivers of differences based on sex and gender. Better understanding these complex factors and their interactions will improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes for all individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila M Lopes-Ramos
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - John Quackenbush
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States.,Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dawn L DeMeo
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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195
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Andreatta F, Beccaceci G, Fortuna N, Celotti M, De Felice D, Lorenzoni M, Foletto V, Genovesi S, Rubert J, Alaimo A. The Organoid Era Permits the Development of New Applications to Study Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3303. [PMID: 33182346 PMCID: PMC7695252 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GB) is the most frequent and aggressive type of glioma. The lack of reliable GB models, together with its considerable clinical heterogeneity, has impaired a comprehensive investigation of the mechanisms that lead to tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and response to treatments. Recently, 3D cultures have opened the possibility to overcome these challenges and cerebral organoids are emerging as a leading-edge tool in GB research. The opportunity to easily engineer brain organoids via gene editing and to perform co-cultures with patient-derived tumor spheroids has enabled the analysis of cancer development in a context that better mimics brain tissue architecture. Moreover, the establishment of biobanks from GB patient-derived organoids represents a crucial starting point to improve precision medicine therapies. This review exemplifies relevant aspects of 3D models of glioblastoma, with a specific focus on organoids and their involvement in basic and translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Andreatta
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; (F.A.); (G.B.); (N.F.); (M.C.); (D.D.F.); (M.L.); (V.F.); (S.G.); (J.R.)
| | - Giulia Beccaceci
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; (F.A.); (G.B.); (N.F.); (M.C.); (D.D.F.); (M.L.); (V.F.); (S.G.); (J.R.)
| | - Nicolò Fortuna
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; (F.A.); (G.B.); (N.F.); (M.C.); (D.D.F.); (M.L.); (V.F.); (S.G.); (J.R.)
| | - Martina Celotti
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; (F.A.); (G.B.); (N.F.); (M.C.); (D.D.F.); (M.L.); (V.F.); (S.G.); (J.R.)
| | - Dario De Felice
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; (F.A.); (G.B.); (N.F.); (M.C.); (D.D.F.); (M.L.); (V.F.); (S.G.); (J.R.)
| | - Marco Lorenzoni
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; (F.A.); (G.B.); (N.F.); (M.C.); (D.D.F.); (M.L.); (V.F.); (S.G.); (J.R.)
| | - Veronica Foletto
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; (F.A.); (G.B.); (N.F.); (M.C.); (D.D.F.); (M.L.); (V.F.); (S.G.); (J.R.)
| | - Sacha Genovesi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; (F.A.); (G.B.); (N.F.); (M.C.); (D.D.F.); (M.L.); (V.F.); (S.G.); (J.R.)
| | - Josep Rubert
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; (F.A.); (G.B.); (N.F.); (M.C.); (D.D.F.); (M.L.); (V.F.); (S.G.); (J.R.)
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Alessandro Alaimo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; (F.A.); (G.B.); (N.F.); (M.C.); (D.D.F.); (M.L.); (V.F.); (S.G.); (J.R.)
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196
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Modeling cancer progression using human pluripotent stem cell-derived cells and organoids. Stem Cell Res 2020; 49:102063. [PMID: 33137568 PMCID: PMC7849931 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2020.102063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional cancer cell lines and animal models have been mainstays of cancer research. More recently, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and hPSC-derived organoid technologies, together with genome engineering approaches, have provided a complementary platform to model cancer progression. Here, we review the application of these technologies in cancer modeling with respect to the cell-of-origin, cancer propagation, and metastasis. We further discuss the benefits and challenges accompanying the use of hPSC models for cancer research and discuss their broad applicability in drug discovery, biomarker identification, decoding molecular mechanisms, and the deconstruction of clonal and intra-tumoral heterogeneity. In summary, hPSC-derived organoids provide powerful models to recapitulate the pathogenic states in cancer and to perform drug discovery.
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197
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APOE4 exacerbates synapse loss and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease patient iPSC-derived cerebral organoids. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5540. [PMID: 33139712 PMCID: PMC7608683 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19264-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To address the underlying mechanism, we develop cerebral organoid models using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with APOE ε3/ε3 or ε4/ε4 genotype from individuals with either normal cognition or AD dementia. Cerebral organoids from AD patients carrying APOE ε4/ε4 show greater apoptosis and decreased synaptic integrity. While AD patient-derived cerebral organoids have increased levels of Aβ and phosphorylated tau compared to healthy subject-derived cerebral organoids, APOE4 exacerbates tau pathology in both healthy subject-derived and AD patient-derived organoids. Transcriptomics analysis by RNA-sequencing reveals that cerebral organoids from AD patients are associated with an enhancement of stress granules and disrupted RNA metabolism. Importantly, isogenic conversion of APOE4 to APOE3 attenuates the APOE4-related phenotypes in cerebral organoids from AD patients. Together, our study using human iPSC-organoids recapitulates APOE4-related phenotypes and suggests APOE4-related degenerative pathways contributing to AD pathogenesis. APOE4 is a strong genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Here, the authors show that APOE4 is associated with AD features in hiPSCs-derived cerebral organoids. Isogenic conversion of APOE4 to APOE3 attenuates the AD-associated phenotype.
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198
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Shi Y, Wu Q, Wang X. Modeling brain development and diseases with human cerebral organoids. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 66:103-115. [PMID: 33130409 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms that underlie human brain development and neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders is one of the key topics of neurobiology. Because of the poor accessibility of human and non-human primate brain tissues, the current perception and understanding of human brain development have been mainly derived from studies of rodents. However, some human-specific features of neural development cannot be well characterized by these animal models. Thanks to the advances in stem cell technologies, brain organoids are being under rapid development, showing the promising applications in decoding the human brain development and uncovering the pathology of brain diseases. In this review, we mainly summarized the recent advances in the development of brain organoid technology and discussed the limitations, applications and future prospects of this promising field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingchao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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199
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Pamies D, Zurich MG, Hartung T. Organotypic Models to Study Human Glioblastoma: Studying the Beast in Its Ecosystem. iScience 2020; 23:101633. [PMID: 33103073 PMCID: PMC7569333 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a very aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, with very low survival rates and no curative treatments. The high failure rate of drug development for this cancer is linked to the high-cost, time-consuming, and inefficient models used to study the disease. Advances in stem cell and in vitro cultures technologies are promising, however, and here we present the advantages and limitations of available organotypic culture models and discuss their possible applications for studying glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Pamies
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Switzerland
| | - Marie-Gabrielle Zurich
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Switzerland
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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200
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Shou Y, Liang F, Xu S, Li X. The Application of Brain Organoids: From Neuronal Development to Neurological Diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:579659. [PMID: 33195219 PMCID: PMC7642488 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.579659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain organoids are derived from induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells under three-dimensional culture condition. The generation of an organoid requires the self-assembly of stem cells, progenitor cells, and multiple types of differentiated cells. Organoids display structures that resemble defined brain regions and simulate specific changes of neurological disorders; thus, organoids have become an excellent model for investigating brain development and neurological diseases. In the present review, we have summarized recent advances of the methods of culturing brain organoids and the applications of brain organoids in investigating neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yikai Shou
- The Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shunliang Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xuekun Li
- The Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
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