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Liu X, Gao R, Wu Q, Li G, Xu X, Li W, Liu P, Wang X, Cai J, Li M, Wang Z. ITGA7 loss drives the differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to cancer-associated fibroblasts. Mol Carcinog 2024; 63:479-493. [PMID: 38174862 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent a major cellular component of the tumor (pre-)metastatic niche and play an essential role in omental dissemination of ovarian cancer. The omentum is rich in adipose, and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) have been identified as a source of CAFs. However, the molecular events driving the phenotype shift of ADSCs remain largely unexplored. In this research, we focus on integrins, transmembrane receptors that have been widely involved in cellular plasticity. We found that integrin α7 (ITGA7) was the only member of the integrin family that positively correlated with both overall survival and progression-free survival in ovarian cancer through GEPIA2. The immunohistochemistry signal of ITGA7 was apparent in the tumor stroma, and a lower omental ITGA7 level was associated with metastasis. Primary ADSCs were isolated from the omentum of patients with ovarian cancer and identified by cellular morphology, biomarkers, and multilineage differentiation. The conditional medium of ovarian cancer cells induced ITGA7 expression decrease and phenotypic changes in ADSCs. Downregulation of ITGA7 in primary omental ADSCs led to decrease in stemness properties and emerge of characteristic morphology and biomarkers of CAFs. Moreover, the conditioned medium of ADSCs with ITGA7 depletion exhibited enhanced abilities to improve the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Overall, these findings indicate that loss of ITGA7 may induce the differentiation of ADSCs to CAFs that contribute to a tumor-supportive niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Rui Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qiulei Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Guoqing Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaohan Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenhan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Pan Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoman Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Min Li
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Gong L, Li G, Yi X, Han Q, Wu Q, Ying F, Shen L, Cao Y, Liu X, Gao L, Li W, Wang Z, Cai J. Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles facilitate omental metastasis of ovarian cancer by triggering activation of mesenchymal stem cells. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:47. [PMID: 38233863 PMCID: PMC10795335 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01413-9] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Omental metastasis is the major cause of ovarian cancer recurrence and shortens patient survival, which can be largely attributed to the dynamic evolution of the fertile metastatic microenvironment driven by cancer cells. Previously, we found that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) undergoing a phenotype shift toward cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) participated in the orchestrated omental premetastatic niche for ovarian cancer. Here, we aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Small extracellular vesicles were isolated from ovarian cancer cell lines (ES-2 and its highly metastatic subline, ES-2-HM) and patient ascites using ultracentrifugation. Functional experiments, including Transwell and EdU assays, and molecular detection, including Western blot, immunofluorescence, and RT-qPCR, were performed to investigate the activation of ADSCs in vitro. High-throughput transcriptional sequencing and functional assays were employed to identify the crucial functional molecules inducing CAF-like activation of ADSCs and the downstream effector of miR-320a. The impact of extracellular vesicles and miR-320a-activated ADSCs on tumor growth and metastasis was assessed in subcutaneous and orthotopic ovarian cancer xenograft mouse models. The expression of miR-320a in human samples was evaluated using in situ hybridization staining. RESULTS Primary human ADSCs cocultured with small extracellular vesicles, especially those derived from ES-2-HM, exhibited boosted migration, invasion, and proliferation capacities and elevated α-SMA and FAP levels. Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles increased α-SMA-positive stromal cells, fostered omental metastasis, and shortened the survival of mice harboring orthotopic ovarian cancer xenografts. miR-320a was abundant in highly metastatic cell-derived extracellular vesicles, evoked dramatic CAF-like transition of ADSCs, targeted the 3'-untranslated region of integrin subunit alpha 7 and attenuated its expression. miR-320a overexpression in ovarian cancer was associated with omental metastasis and shorter survival. miR-320a-activated ADSCs facilitated tumor cell growth and omental metastasis. Depletion of integrin alpha 7 triggered CAF-like activation of ADSCs in vitro. Video Abstract CONCLUSIONS: miR-320a in small extracellular vesicles secreted by tumor cells targets integrin subunit alpha 7 in ADSCs and drives CAF-like activation, which in turn facilitates omental metastasis of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanqing Gong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Guoqing Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiaoqing Yi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Qing Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443000, China
| | - Qiulei Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Feiquan Ying
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ying Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Lingling Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Wenhan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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Guo J, Ying F, Cai J, Wang Z. A protocol for selection in mice of highly metastatic ovarian cancer cell with omental tropism. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102642. [PMID: 37924519 PMCID: PMC10656258 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102642] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Preclinical models mimicking spontaneous omental metastasis from ovarian cancer (OC) can benefit the study of anti-metastatic therapies for OC patients. Here, we present a protocol to establish a highly metastatic (HM) mouse model with omental tropism by in vivo selection. We describe the processes of implanting OC cells in the ovaries of mice and obtaining HM sublines from their omental metastases. HM cells can metastasize from the ovary to the omentum within 2 weeks. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ying et al.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical Collage, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Feiquan Ying
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical Collage, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical Collage, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical Collage, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
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