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Remsik J, Boire A. The path to leptomeningeal metastasis. Nat Rev Cancer 2024:10.1038/s41568-024-00700-y. [PMID: 38871881 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00700-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
The leptomeninges, the cerebrospinal-fluid-filled tissues surrounding the central nervous system, play host to various pathologies including infection, neuroinflammation and malignancy. Spread of systemic cancer into this space, termed leptomeningeal metastasis, occurs in 5-10% of patients with solid tumours and portends a bleak clinical prognosis. Previous, predominantly descriptive, clinical studies have provided few insights. Recent development of preclinical leptomeningeal metastasis models, alongside genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing efforts, has provided groundwork for mechanistic understanding and identification of long-needed therapeutic targets. Although previously understood as an anatomically isolated compartment, the leptomeninges are increasingly appreciated as a major conduit of communication between the systemic circulation and the central nervous system. Despite the unique nature of the leptomeningeal microenvironment, the general principles of metastasis hold true: cells metastasizing to the leptomeninges must gain access to the new environment, survive within the space and evade the immune system. The study of leptomeningeal metastasis has the potential to uncover novel site-specific metastatic principles and illuminate the physiology of the leptomeningeal space. In this Review, we provide a biology-focused overview of how metastatic cells reach the leptomeninges, thrive in this nutritionally sparse environment and evade the detection of the omnipresent immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Remsik
- Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Laboratory for Immunology of Metastatic Ecosystems, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrienne Boire
- Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Brain Tumour Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Aureli A, Marziani B, Venditti A, Sconocchia T, Sconocchia G. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Immunotherapy Treatment: Now, Next, and Beyond. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3346. [PMID: 37444456 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a blood cancer that primarily affects children but also adults. It is due to the malignant proliferation of lymphoid precursor cells that invade the bone marrow and can spread to extramedullary sites. ALL is divided into B cell (85%) and T cell lineages (10 to 15%); rare cases are associated with the natural killer (NK) cell lineage (<1%). To date, the survival rate in children with ALL is excellent while in adults continues to be poor. Despite the therapeutic progress, there are subsets of patients that still have high relapse rates after chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and an unsatisfactory cure rate. Hence, the identification of more effective and safer therapy choices represents a primary issue. In this review, we will discuss novel therapeutic options including bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based therapies, and other promising treatments for both pediatric and adult patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Aureli
- CNR Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Via Carducci 32, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Beatrice Marziani
- Emergency Medicine Department, Sant'Anna University Hospital, Via A. Moro, 8, Cona, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Adriano Venditti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, The University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Tommaso Sconocchia
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Giuseppe Sconocchia
- CNR Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Via Carducci 32, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
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3
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Huang Y, Guo DM, Bu S, Xu W, Cai QC, Xu J, Jiang YQ, Teng F. Systematic Analysis of the Prognostic Significance and Roles of the Integrin Alpha Family in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers. Adv Ther 2023; 40:2186-2204. [PMID: 36892810 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-023-02469-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lung cancer is one of the most common cancer malignancies and the principal cause of cancer-associated deaths worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) account for more than 80% of all lung cancer cases. Recent studies showed that the genes of the integrin alpha (α) (ITGA) subfamily play a fundamental role in various cancers. However, little is known about the expression and roles of distinct ITGA proteins in NSCLCs. METHODS Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis and UALCAN (University of ALabama at Birmingham CANcer) web resources and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), ONCOMINE, cBioPortal, GeneMANIA, and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource databases were used to evaluate differential expression, correlations between the expression levels of individual genes, the prognostic value of overall survival (OS) and stage, genetic alterations, protein-protein interactions, and the immune cell infiltration of ITGAs in NSCLCs. We used R (v. 4.0.3) software to conduct gene correlation, gene enrichment, and clinical correlation of RNA sequencing data of 1016 NSCLCs from TCGA. To evaluate the expression of ITGA5/8/9/L at the expression and protein levels, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) were performed, respectively. RESULTS Upregulated levels of ITGA11 messenger RNA and downregulated levels of ITGA1/3/5/7/8/9/L/M/X were observed in the NSCLC tissues. Lower expression of ITGA5/6/8/9/10/D/L was discovered to be expressively associated with advanced tumor stage or poor patient prognosis in patients with NSCLC. A high mutation rate (44%) of the ITGA family was observed in the NSCLCs. Gene Ontology functional enrichment analyses results revealed that the differentially expressed ITGAs could be involved in roles related to extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, collagen-containing ECM cellular components, and ECM structural constituent molecular functions. The results of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that ITGAs may be involved in focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interaction, and amoebiasis; the expression of ITGAs was significantly correlated with the infiltration of diverse immune cells in NSCLCs. ITGA5/8/9/L was also highly correlated with PD-L1 expression. The validation results for marker gene expression in NSCLC tissues by qRT-PCR, IHC, and H&E staining indicated that the expression of ITGA5/8/9/L decreased compared with that in normal tissues. CONCLUSION As potential prognostic biomarkers in NSCLCs, ITGA5/8/9/L may fulfill important roles in regulating tumor progression and immune cell infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Huang
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 181 of Hanyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Dong-Ming Guo
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 181 of Hanyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Shi Bu
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 181 of Hanyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 181 of Hanyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Qing-Chun Cai
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 181 of Hanyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 181 of Hanyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Yue-Quan Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 181 of Hanyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China.
| | - Fei Teng
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 181 of Hanyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China.
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Modvig S, Jeyakumar J, Marquart HV, Christensen C. Integrins and the Metastasis-like Dissemination of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia to the Central Nervous System. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092504. [PMID: 37173970 PMCID: PMC10177281 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092504] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) disseminates with high prevalence to the central nervous system (CNS) in a process resembling aspects of the CNS surveillance of normal immune cells as well as aspects of brain metastasis from solid cancers. Importantly, inside the CNS, the ALL blasts are typically confined within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled cavities of the subarachnoid space, which they use as a sanctuary protected from both chemotherapy and immune cells. At present, high cumulative doses of intrathecal chemotherapy are administered to patients, but this is associated with neurotoxicity and CNS relapse still occurs. Thus, it is imperative to identify markers and novel therapy targets specific to CNS ALL. Integrins represent a family of adhesion molecules involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, implicated in the adhesion and migration of metastatic cancer cells, normal immune cells, and leukemic blasts. The ability of integrins to also facilitate cell-adhesion mediated drug resistance, combined with recent discoveries of integrin-dependent routes of leukemic cells into the CNS, have sparked a renewed interest in integrins as markers and therapeutic targets in CNS leukemia. Here, we review the roles of integrins in CNS surveillance by normal lymphocytes, dissemination to the CNS by ALL cells, and brain metastasis from solid cancers. Furthermore, we discuss whether ALL dissemination to the CNS abides by known hallmarks of metastasis, and the potential roles of integrins in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Modvig
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jenani Jeyakumar
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanne Vibeke Marquart
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Claus Christensen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Drug-tolerant persister B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.28.530540. [PMID: 36909619 PMCID: PMC10002708 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.28.530540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Reduced responsiveness of precursor B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) to chemotherapy can be inferred when leukemia cells persist after 28 days of initial treatment. Survival of these long-term persister (LTP) / minimal residual disease (MRD) cells is partly due to bone marrow stromal cells that protect them under conditions of chemotherapy stress. We used RNA-seq to analyse BCP-ALL cells that survived a long-term, 30-day vincristine chemotherapy treatment while in co-culture with bone marrow stromal cells. RNAs of as many as 10% of the protein-encoding genes were differentially expressed. There was substantial overlap with genes associated with MRD cell persistence reported in other studies. The top pathway regulated in the LTP cells was that involving p53, a master regulator of a spectrum of responses relevant to drug resistance and cytotoxic drug exposure including control of autophagy. We tested a select number of genes for contribution to BCP-ALL cell survival using Cas9/CRISPR in a 2-step selection, initially for overall effect on cell fitness, followed by 21 days of exposure to vincristine. Many genes involved in autophagy and lysosomal function were found to contribute to survival both at steady-state and during drug treatment. We also identified MYH9, NCSTN and KIAA2013 as specific genes contributing to fitness of BCP-ALL cells. CD44 was not essential for growth under steady state conditions but was needed for survival of vincristine treatment. Finally, although the drug transporter ABCC1/MRP1 is not overexpressed in BCP-ALL, a functional gene was needed for DTP cells to survive treatment with vincristine. This suggests that addition of possible ABCC1 inhibitors during induction therapy could provide benefit in eradication of minimal residual disease in patients treated with a chemotherapy regimen that includes vincristine.
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Sethi B, Kumar V, Mahato K, Coulter DW, Mahato RI. Recent advances in drug delivery and targeting to the brain. J Control Release 2022; 350:668-687. [PMID: 36057395 PMCID: PMC9884093 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.08.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Our body keeps separating the toxic chemicals in the blood from the brain. A significant number of drugs do not enter the central nervous system (CNS) due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Certain diseases, such as tumor growth and stroke, are known to increase the permeability of the BBB. However, the heterogeneity of this permeation makes it difficult and unpredictable to transport drugs to the brain. In recent years, research has been directed toward increasing drug penetration inside the brain, and nanomedicine has emerged as a promising approach. Active targeting requires one or more specific ligands on the surface of nanoparticles (NPs), which brain endothelial cells (ECs) recognize, allowing controlled drug delivery compared to conventional targeting strategies. This review highlights the mechanistic insights about different cell types contributing to the development and maintenance of the BBB and summarizes the recent advancement in brain-specific NPs for different pathological conditions. Furthermore, fundamental properties of brain-targeted NPs will be discussed, and the standard lesion features classified by neurological pathology are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharti Sethi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE 68198, USA
| | - Virender Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE 68198, USA
| | - Kalika Mahato
- College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE 68198, USA
| | - Donald W Coulter
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Ram I Mahato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE 68198, USA.
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Sharma ND, Keewan E, Matlawska-Wasowska K. Metabolic Reprogramming and Cell Adhesion in Acute Leukemia Adaptation to the CNS Niche. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:767510. [PMID: 34957100 PMCID: PMC8703109 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.767510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Involvement of the Central Nervous System (CNS) in acute leukemia confers poor prognosis and lower overall survival. Existing CNS-directed therapies are associated with a significant risk of short- or long-term toxicities. Leukemic cells can metabolically adapt and survive in the microenvironment of the CNS. The supporting role of the CNS microenvironment in leukemia progression and dissemination has not received sufficient attention. Understanding the mechanism by which leukemic cells survive in the nutrient-poor and oxygen-deprived CNS microenvironment will lead to the development of more specific and less toxic therapies. Here, we review the current literature regarding the roles of metabolic reprogramming in leukemic cell adhesion and survival in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitesh D Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Esra'a Keewan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Ksenia Matlawska-Wasowska
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Zhdanovskaya N, Firrincieli M, Lazzari S, Pace E, Scribani Rossi P, Felli MP, Talora C, Screpanti I, Palermo R. Targeting Notch to Maximize Chemotherapeutic Benefits: Rationale, Advanced Strategies, and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205106. [PMID: 34680255 PMCID: PMC8533696 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The Notch signaling pathway regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, stem cell self-renewal, and differentiation in a context-dependent fashion both during embryonic development and in adult tissue homeostasis. Consistent with its pleiotropic physiological role, unproper activation of the signaling promotes or counteracts tumor pathogenesis and therapy response in distinct tissues. In the last twenty years, a wide number of studies have highlighted the anti-cancer potential of Notch-modulating agents as single treatment and in combination with the existent therapies. However, most of these strategies have failed in the clinical exploration due to dose-limiting toxicity and low efficacy, encouraging the development of novel agents and the design of more appropriate combinations between Notch signaling inhibitors and chemotherapeutic drugs with improved safety and effectiveness for distinct types of cancer. Abstract Notch signaling guides cell fate decisions by affecting proliferation, apoptosis, stem cell self-renewal, and differentiation depending on cell and tissue context. Given its multifaceted function during tissue development, both overactivation and loss of Notch signaling have been linked to tumorigenesis in ways that are either oncogenic or oncosuppressive, but always context-dependent. Notch signaling is critical for several mechanisms of chemoresistance including cancer stem cell maintenance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, tumor-stroma interaction, and malignant neovascularization that makes its targeting an appealing strategy against tumor growth and recurrence. During the last decades, numerous Notch-interfering agents have been developed, and the abundant preclinical evidence has been transformed in orphan drug approval for few rare diseases. However, the majority of Notch-dependent malignancies remain untargeted, even if the application of Notch inhibitors alone or in combination with common chemotherapeutic drugs is being evaluated in clinical trials. The modest clinical success of current Notch-targeting strategies is mostly due to their limited efficacy and severe on-target toxicity in Notch-controlled healthy tissues. Here, we review the available preclinical and clinical evidence on combinatorial treatment between different Notch signaling inhibitors and existent chemotherapeutic drugs, providing a comprehensive picture of molecular mechanisms explaining the potential or lacking success of these combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadezda Zhdanovskaya
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
| | - Mariarosaria Firrincieli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
- Center for Life Nano Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Lazzari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
| | - Eleonora Pace
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
| | - Pietro Scribani Rossi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
| | - Maria Pia Felli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Claudio Talora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
- Correspondence: (I.S.); (R.P.)
| | - Rocco Palermo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
- Center for Life Nano Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (I.S.); (R.P.)
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Duguid A, Mattiucci D, Ottersbach K. Infant leukaemia - faithful models, cell of origin and the niche. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm049189. [PMID: 34713888 PMCID: PMC8560498 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
For patients and their families, the diagnosis of infant leukaemia is devastating. This disease has not seen the improvements in outcomes experienced with other paediatric leukaemias and it is becoming ever more apparent that infant leukaemia is a distinct biological entity. Insights into some of the distinguishing features of infant leukaemia, such as a single mutation - the MLL-gene rearrangement, the biology of disease aggressiveness and lineage plasticity, and the high incidence of central nervous system involvement, are likely to be gained from understanding the interactions between leukaemic cells and their environment or niche. The origins of infant leukaemia lie in the embryonic haematopoietic system, which is characterised by shifting locations and dynamic changes in the microenvironment. Understanding this foetal or embryonic context is integral to understanding infant leukaemia development. Owing to its rarity and prenatal origins, developing accurate modelling systems for further investigation of infant leukaemia is essential. In this Review, we discuss how available in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo infant leukaemia models contribute to our current understanding of the leukaemia niche in embryonic development, established disease and specialised non-haematopoietic niches. The mechanistic insights provided by accurate models will help identify viable novel therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Katrin Ottersbach
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
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Erb U, Hikel J, Meyer S, Ishikawa H, Worst TS, Nitschke K, Nuhn P, Porubsky S, Weiss C, Schroten H, Adam R, Karremann M. The Impact of Small Extracellular Vesicles on Lymphoblast Trafficking across the Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155491. [PMID: 32752027 PMCID: PMC7432056 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155491] [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: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Central nervous System (CNS) disease in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a major concern, but still, cellular mechanisms of CNS infiltration are elusive. The choroid plexus (CP) is a potential entry site, and, to some extent, invasion resembles CNS homing of lymphocytes during healthy state. Given exosomes may precondition target tissue, the present work aims to investigate if leukemia-derived exosomes contribute to a permissive phenotype of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB). Leukemia-derived exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation from the cell lines SD-1, Nalm-6, and P12-Ichikawa (P12). Adhesion and uptake to CP epithelial cells and the significance on subsequent ALL transmigration across the barrier was studied in a human BCSFB in vitro model based on the HiBCPP cell line. The various cell lines markedly differed regarding exosome uptake to HiBCPP and biological significance. SD-1-derived exosomes associated to target cells unspecifically without detectable cellular effects. Whereas Nalm-6 and P12-derived exosomes incorporated by dynamin-dependent endocytosis, uptake in the latter could be diminished by integrin blocking. In addition, only P12-derived exosomes led to facilitated transmigration of the parental leukemia cells. In conclusion, we provide evidence that, to a varying extent, leukemia-derived exosomes may facilitate CNS invasion of ALL across the BCSFB without destruction of the barrier integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Erb
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (U.E.); (J.H.); (S.M.); (H.S.); (R.A.)
| | - Julia Hikel
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (U.E.); (J.H.); (S.M.); (H.S.); (R.A.)
| | - Svenja Meyer
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (U.E.); (J.H.); (S.M.); (H.S.); (R.A.)
| | - Hiroshi Ishikawa
- Laboratory of Clinical Regenerative Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1–1–1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305–8575, Japan;
| | - Thomas S. Worst
- Department of Urology and Urosurgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (T.S.W.); (K.N.); (P.N.)
| | - Katja Nitschke
- Department of Urology and Urosurgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (T.S.W.); (K.N.); (P.N.)
| | - Philipp Nuhn
- Department of Urology and Urosurgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (T.S.W.); (K.N.); (P.N.)
| | - Stefan Porubsky
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55101 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Christel Weiss
- Department of Medical Statistics and Biomathematics, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany;
| | - Horst Schroten
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (U.E.); (J.H.); (S.M.); (H.S.); (R.A.)
| | - Rüdiger Adam
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (U.E.); (J.H.); (S.M.); (H.S.); (R.A.)
| | - Michael Karremann
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (U.E.); (J.H.); (S.M.); (H.S.); (R.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-621-383-2393
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