1
|
Tsang M, Quesnel K, Vincent K, Hutchenreuther J, Postovit LM, Leask A. Insights into Fibroblast Plasticity: Cellular Communication Network 2 Is Required for Activation of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in a Murine Model of Melanoma. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2019; 190:206-221. [PMID: 31610176 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumor stroma resembles a fibrotic microenvironment, being characterized by the presence of myofibroblast-like cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). In wild-type mice injected with melanoma cells, we show that the stem cell transcription factor Sox2 is expressed by tumor cells and induced in CAFs derived from synthetic fibroblasts. These fibroblasts were labeled postnatally with green fluorescent protein using mice expressing a tamoxifen-dependent Cre recombinase under the control of a fibroblast-specific promoter/enhancer. Conversely, fibroblast activation was impaired in mice with a fibroblast-specific deletion of cellular communication network 2 (Ccn2), associated with reduced expression of α-smooth muscle actin and Sox2. Multipotent Sox2-expressing skin-derived precursor (SKP) spheroids were cultured from murine back skin. Using lineage tracing and flow cytometry, approximately 40% of SKPs were found to be derived from type I collagen-lineage cells and acquired multipotency in culture. Inhibition of mechanotransduction pathways prevented myofibroblast differentiation of SKPs and expression of Ccn2. In SKPs deleted for Ccn2, differentiation into a myofibroblast, but not an adipocyte or neuronal phenotype, was also impaired. In human melanoma, CCN2 expression was associated with a profibrotic integrin alpha (ITGA) 11-expressing subset of CAFs that negatively associated with survival. These results suggest that synthetic dermal fibroblasts are plastic, and that CCN2 is required for the differentiation of dermal progenitor cells into a myofibroblast/CAF phenotype and is, therefore, a therapeutic target in melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Tsang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katherine Quesnel
- Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Krista Vincent
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Hutchenreuther
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Andrew Leask
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hammam OA, Elkhafif N, Attia YM, Mansour MT, Elmazar MM, Abdelsalam RM, Kenawy SA, El-Khatib AS. Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells combined with praziquantel as a potential therapy for Schistosoma mansoni-induced liver fibrosis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21005. [PMID: 26876222 PMCID: PMC4753476 DOI: 10.1038/srep21005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is one of the most serious consequences of S. mansoni infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential anti-fibrotic effect of human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) combined with praziquantel (PZQ) in S. mansoni-infected mice. S. mansoni-infected mice received early (8th week post infection) and late (16th week post infection) treatment with WJMSCs, alone and combined with oral PZQ. At the 10th month post infection, livers were collected for subsequent flow cytometric, histopathological, morphometric, immunohistochemical, gene expression, and gelatin zymographic studies. After transplantation, WJMSCs differentiated into functioning liver-like cells as evidenced by their ability to express human hepatocyte-specific markers. Regression of S. mansoni-induced liver fibrosis was also observed in transplanted groups, as evidenced by histopathological, morphometric, and gelatin zymographic results besides decreased expression of three essential contributors to liver fibrosis in this particular model; alpha smooth muscle actin, collagen-I, and interleukin-13. PZQ additionally enhanced the beneficial effects observed in WJMSCs-treated groups. Our results suggest that combining WJMSCs to PZQ caused better enhancement in S. mansoni-induced liver fibrosis, compared to using each alone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olfat A Hammam
- Department of Pathology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Warrak El-Hadar, Imbaba, P.O. Box 30, Giza 12411, Egypt
| | - Nagwa Elkhafif
- Department of Electron Microscopy, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Warrak El-Hadar, Imbaba, P.O. Box 30, Giza 12411, Egypt
| | - Yasmeen M Attia
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt (BUE), El-Sherouk City, P.O. Box 43, Cairo 11837, Egypt
| | - Mohamed T Mansour
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini, Cairo 11712, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Elmazar
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt (BUE), El-Sherouk City, P.O. Box 43, Cairo 11837, Egypt
| | - Rania M Abdelsalam
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Sanaa A Kenawy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Aiman S El-Khatib
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Idziak M, Pędzisz P, Burdzińska A, Gala K, Pączek L. Uremic toxins impair human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells functionality in vitro. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 66:187-94. [PMID: 24548687 DOI: 10.1016/j.etp.2014.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are becoming therapeutic agents of interest in many areas of medicine, including renal diseases and kidney transplantations. However, the effect of uremia on cell properties is still unclear. Therefore, we examined the in vitro influence of uremic toxins, p-cresol (PC) and indoxyl sulfate (IS), on human bone marrow-derived MSC functionality. Cultured MSCs were treated with PC and IS at concentrations corresponding to subsequent stages of chronic kidney disease. Cell viability was characterized by metabolic activity (MTT assay) and proliferation rate (BrdU assay). Apoptosis (Annexin V test) and cell membrane damage (LDH assay) were also tested. MSC secretory properties were determined by measuring cytokine/growth factor levels in media from toxin-treated cells (ELISA). Uremic concentrations of PC and IS resulted in significant inhibition of MSC metabolic activity and proliferation. Toxins did not induce apoptosis, but damaged cell membranes. MSC paracrine activity was also altered - a decrease of VEGF and TGF-β1 levels and an increase in IGF-1 and IL-8 secretion was detected. Presented data indicate a negative influence of uremic toxins on functional characteristics of human bone marrow-derived MSCs. Therefore, their use as autologous therapeutic agents for kidney disease may be questionable and requires further investigations. The observed phenomenon may be attributable to many other MSC therapies, because of the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease in adult population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Idziak
- Department of Immunology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Transplantation Institute, Warsaw Medical University, Poland.
| | - Piotr Pędzisz
- Department of Orthopaedy and Traumatology of the Motor System, Warsaw Medical University, Poland
| | - Anna Burdzińska
- Department of Immunology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Transplantation Institute, Warsaw Medical University, Poland
| | - Kamila Gala
- Department of Immunology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Transplantation Institute, Warsaw Medical University, Poland
| | - Leszek Pączek
- Department of Immunology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Transplantation Institute, Warsaw Medical University, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Activation of latent TGFβ by αvβ 1 integrin: of potential importance in myofibroblast activation in fibrosis. J Cell Commun Signal 2014; 8:171-2. [PMID: 24458847 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-014-0221-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-mediated activation of latent TGF-β1 is intimately involved with tissue repair and fibrosis in all organs. Previously, it was shown that the integrin β1 subunit was required for activation of latent TGF-β1 and skin fibrosis. A recent study by Henderson and colleagues (Nature Medicine 19,1617-1624, 2013) used three different in vivo models of fibrosis to show that integrin αv subunit was required for fibrogenesis. Through a process of elimination, the authors conclude that in vivo, the little-studied αvβ1 could be the major integrin responsible for TGF-β activation by myofibroblasts. Thus targeting this integrin might be a useful therapy for fibrosis.
Collapse
|