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Golo M, Newman PLH, Kempe D, Biro M. Mechanoimmunology in the solid tumor microenvironment. Biochem Soc Trans 2024:BST20231427. [PMID: 38856041 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231427] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that adjoins the cancer cells within solid tumors and comprises distinct components such as extracellular matrix, stromal and immune cells, blood vessels, and an abundance of signaling molecules. In recent years, the mechanical properties of the TME have emerged as critical determinants of tumor progression and therapeutic response. Aberrant mechanical cues, including altered tissue architecture and stiffness, contribute to tumor progression, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. Moreover, burgeoning immunotherapies hold great promise for harnessing the immune system to target and eliminate solid malignancies; however, their success is hindered by the hostile mechanical landscape of the TME, which can impede immune cell infiltration, function, and persistence. Consequently, understanding TME mechanoimmunology - the interplay between mechanical forces and immune cell behavior - is essential for developing effective solid cancer therapies. Here, we review the role of TME mechanics in tumor immunology, focusing on recent therapeutic interventions aimed at modulating the mechanical properties of the TME to potentiate T cell immunotherapies, and innovative assays tailored to evaluate their clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Golo
- EMBL Australia, Single Molecule Science node, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Peter L H Newman
- EMBL Australia, Single Molecule Science node, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Daryan Kempe
- EMBL Australia, Single Molecule Science node, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Maté Biro
- EMBL Australia, Single Molecule Science node, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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2
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Radman BA, Alhameed AMM, Shu G, Yin G, Wang M. Cellular elasticity in cancer: a review of altered biomechanical features. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:5299-5324. [PMID: 38742281 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00328d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
A large number of studies have shown that changes in biomechanical characteristics are an important indicator of tumor transformation in normal cells. Elastic deformation is one of the more studied biomechanical features of tumor cells, which plays an important role in tumourigenesis and development. Altered cell elasticity often brings many indications. This manuscript reviews the effects of altered cellular elasticity on cell characteristics, including adhesion viscosity, migration, proliferation, and differentiation elasticity and stiffness. Also, the physical factors that may affect cell elasticity, such as temperature, cell height, cell-viscosity, and aging, are summarized. Then, the effects of cell-matrix, cytoskeleton, in vitro culture medium, and cell-substrate with different three-dimensional structures on cell elasticity during cell tumorigenesis are outlined. Importantly, we summarize the current signaling pathways that may affect cellular elasticity, as well as tests for cellular elastic deformation. Finally, we summarize current hybrid materials: polymer-polymer, protein-protein, and protein-polymer hybrids, also, nano-delivery strategies that target cellular resilience and cases that are at least in clinical phase 1 trials. Overall, the behavior of cancer cell elasticity is modulated by biological, chemical, and physical changes, which in turn have the potential to alter cellular elasticity, and this may be an encouraging prediction for the future discovery of cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bakeel A Radman
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Education, Albaydha University, Yemen
| | | | - Guang Shu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
- China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Gang Yin
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Maonan Wang
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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3
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Bosmans C, Ginés Rodriguez N, Karperien M, Malda J, Moreira Teixeira L, Levato R, Leijten J. Towards single-cell bioprinting: micropatterning tools for organ-on-chip development. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:739-759. [PMID: 38310021 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.11.014] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Organs-on-chips (OoCs) hold promise to engineer progressively more human-relevant in vitro models for pharmaceutical purposes. Recent developments have delivered increasingly sophisticated designs, yet OoCs still lack in reproducing the inner tissue physiology required to fully resemble the native human body. This review emphasizes the need to include microarchitectural and microstructural features, and discusses promising avenues to incorporate well-defined microarchitectures down to the single-cell level. We highlight how their integration will significantly contribute to the advancement of the field towards highly organized structural and hierarchical tissues-on-chip. We discuss the combination of state-of-the-art micropatterning technologies to achieve OoCs resembling human-intrinsic complexity. It is anticipated that these innovations will yield significant advances in realization of the next generation of OoC models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Bosmans
- Department of Developmental BioEngineering, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Núria Ginés Rodriguez
- Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel Karperien
- Department of Developmental BioEngineering, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Jos Malda
- Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Liliana Moreira Teixeira
- Department of Advanced Organ bioengineering and Therapeutics, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Riccardo Levato
- Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jeroen Leijten
- Department of Developmental BioEngineering, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
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4
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Anderson SM, Kelly M, Odde DJ. Glioblastoma Cells Use an Integrin- and CD44-Mediated Motor-Clutch Mode of Migration in Brain Tissue. Cell Mol Bioeng 2024; 17:121-135. [PMID: 38737451 PMCID: PMC11082118 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-024-00799-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive malignant brain tumor with 2 year survival rates of 6.7% (Stupp et al. in J Clin Oncol Off J Am Soc Clin Oncol 25:4127-4136, 2007; Mohammed et al. in Rep Pract Oncol Radiother 27:1026-1036, 2002). One key characteristic of the disease is the ability of glioblastoma cells to migrate rapidly and spread throughout healthy brain tissue (Lefranc et al. in J Clin Oncol Off J Am Soc Clin Oncol 23:2411-2422, 2005; Hoelzinger et al. in J Natl Cancer Inst 21:1583-1593, 2007). To develop treatments that effectively target cell migration, it is important to understand the fundamental mechanism driving cell migration in brain tissue. Several models of cell migration have been proposed, including the motor-clutch, bleb-based motility, and osmotic engine models. Methods Here we utilized confocal imaging to measure traction dynamics and migration speeds of glioblastoma cells in mouse organotypic brain slices to identify the mode of cell migration. Results We found that nearly all cell-vasculature interactions reflected pulling, rather than pushing, on vasculature at the cell leading edge, a finding consistent with a motor-clutch mode of migration, and inconsistent with an osmotic engine model or confined bleb-based migration. Reducing myosin motor activity, a key component in the motor-clutch model, was found to decrease migration speed at high doses for all cell types including U251 and 6 low-passage patient-derived xenograft lines (3 proneural and 3 mesenchymal subtypes). Variable responses were found at low doses, consistent with a motor-clutch mode of migration which predicts a biphasic relationship between migration speed and motor-to-clutch ratio. Targeting of molecular clutches including integrins and CD44 slowed migration of U251 cells. Conclusions Overall we find that glioblastoma cell migration is most consistent with a motor-clutch mechanism to migrate through brain tissue ex vivo, and that both integrins and CD44, as well as myosin motors, play an important role in constituting the adhesive clutch. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-024-00799-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Marcus Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - David J. Odde
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
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5
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Massey A, Stewart J, Smith C, Parvini C, McCormick M, Do K, Cartagena-Rivera AX. Mechanical properties of human tumour tissues and their implications for cancer development. NATURE REVIEWS. PHYSICS 2024; 6:269-282. [PMID: 38706694 PMCID: PMC11066734 DOI: 10.1038/s42254-024-00707-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
The mechanical properties of cells and tissues help determine their architecture, composition and function. Alterations to these properties are associated with many diseases, including cancer. Tensional, compressive, adhesive, elastic and viscous properties of individual cells and multicellular tissues are mostly regulated by reorganization of the actomyosin and microtubule cytoskeletons and extracellular glycocalyx, which in turn drive many pathophysiological processes, including cancer progression. This Review provides an in-depth collection of quantitative data on diverse mechanical properties of living human cancer cells and tissues. Additionally, the implications of mechanical property changes for cancer development are discussed. An increased knowledge of the mechanical properties of the tumour microenvironment, as collected using biomechanical approaches capable of multi-timescale and multiparametric analyses, will provide a better understanding of the complex mechanical determinants of cancer organization and progression. This information can lead to a further understanding of resistance mechanisms to chemotherapies and immunotherapies and the metastatic cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Massey
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jamie Stewart
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Jamie Stewart, Chynna Smith
| | - Chynna Smith
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Jamie Stewart, Chynna Smith
| | - Cameron Parvini
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Moira McCormick
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kun Do
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alexander X. Cartagena-Rivera
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Johnston AC, Alicea GM, Lee CC, Patel PV, Hanna EA, Vaz E, Forjaz A, Wan Z, Nair PR, Lim Y, Chen T, Du W, Kim D, Nichakawade TD, Rebecca VW, Bonifant CL, Fan R, Kiemen AL, Wu PH, Wirtz D. Engineering self-propelled tumor-infiltrating CAR T cells using synthetic velocity receptors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.13.571595. [PMID: 38168186 PMCID: PMC10760159 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.13.571595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells express antigen-specific synthetic receptors, which upon binding to cancer cells, elicit T cell anti-tumor responses. CAR T cell therapy has enjoyed success in the clinic for hematological cancer indications, giving rise to decade-long remissions in some cases. However, CAR T therapy for patients with solid tumors has not seen similar success. Solid tumors constitute 90% of adult human cancers, representing an enormous unmet clinical need. Current approaches do not solve the central problem of limited ability of therapeutic cells to migrate through the stromal matrix. We discover that T cells at low and high density display low- and high-migration phenotypes, respectively. The highly migratory phenotype is mediated by a paracrine pathway from a group of self-produced cytokines that include IL5, TNFα, IFNγ, and IL8. We exploit this finding to "lock-in" a highly migratory phenotype by developing and expressing receptors, which we call velocity receptors (VRs). VRs target these cytokines and signal through these cytokines' cognate receptors to increase T cell motility and infiltrate lung, ovarian, and pancreatic tumors in large numbers and at doses for which control CAR T cells remain confined to the tumor periphery. In contrast to CAR therapy alone, VR-CAR T cells significantly attenuate tumor growth and extend overall survival. This work suggests that approaches to the design of immune cell receptors that focus on migration signaling will help current and future CAR cellular therapies to infiltrate deep into solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian C Johnston
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | | | - Cameron C Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Payal V Patel
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Eban A Hanna
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Eduarda Vaz
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - André Forjaz
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Zeqi Wan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Praful R Nair
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Yeongseo Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Tina Chen
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Wenxuan Du
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Dongjoo Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University
| | - Tushar D Nichakawade
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Vito W Rebecca
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Challice L Bonifant
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Rong Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University
| | - Ashley L Kiemen
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Pei-Hsun Wu
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Denis Wirtz
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
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7
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Mittelheisser V, Gensbittel V, Bonati L, Li W, Tang L, Goetz JG. Evidence and therapeutic implications of biomechanically regulated immunosurveillance in cancer and other diseases. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 19:281-297. [PMID: 38286876 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01535-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Disease progression is usually accompanied by changes in the biochemical composition of cells and tissues and their biophysical properties. For instance, hallmarks of cancer include the stiffening of tissues caused by extracellular matrix remodelling and the softening of individual cancer cells. In this context, accumulating evidence has shown that immune cells sense and respond to mechanical signals from the environment. However, the mechanisms regulating these mechanical aspects of immune surveillance remain partially understood. The growing appreciation for the 'mechano-immunology' field has urged researchers to investigate how immune cells sense and respond to mechanical cues in various disease settings, paving the way for the development of novel engineering strategies that aim at mechanically modulating and potentiating immune cells for enhanced immunotherapies. Recent pioneer developments in this direction have laid the foundations for leveraging 'mechanical immunoengineering' strategies to treat various diseases. This Review first outlines the mechanical changes occurring during pathological progression in several diseases, including cancer, fibrosis and infection. We next highlight the mechanosensitive nature of immune cells and how mechanical forces govern the immune responses in different diseases. Finally, we discuss how targeting the biomechanical features of the disease milieu and immune cells is a promising strategy for manipulating therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Mittelheisser
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valentin Gensbittel
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France
| | - Lucia Bonati
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Weilin Li
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Li Tang
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Jacky G Goetz
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France.
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France.
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.
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Alaimo A, Genovesi S, Annesi N, De Felice D, Subedi S, Macchia A, La Manna F, Ciani Y, Vannuccini F, Mugoni V, Notarangelo M, Libergoli M, Broso F, Taulli R, Ala U, Savino A, Cortese M, Mirzaaghaei S, Poli V, Bonapace IM, Papotti MG, Molinaro L, Doglioni C, Caffo O, Anesi A, Nagler M, Bertalot G, Carbone FG, Barbareschi M, Basso U, Dassi E, Pizzato M, Romanel A, Demichelis F, Kruithof-de Julio M, Lunardi A. Sterile inflammation via TRPM8 RNA-dependent TLR3-NF-kB/IRF3 activation promotes antitumor immunity in prostate cancer. EMBO J 2024; 43:780-805. [PMID: 38316991 PMCID: PMC10907604 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00040-5] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a common condition of prostate tissue, whose impact on carcinogenesis is highly debated. Microbial colonization is a well-documented cause of a small percentage of prostatitis cases, but it remains unclear what underlies the majority of sterile inflammation reported. Here, androgen- independent fluctuations of PSA expression in prostate cells have lead us to identify a prominent function of the Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel Subfamily M Member 8 (TRPM8) gene in sterile inflammation. Prostate cells secret TRPM8 RNA into extracellular vesicles (EVs), which primes TLR3/NF-kB-mediated inflammatory signaling after EV endocytosis by epithelial cancer cells. Furthermore, prostate cancer xenografts expressing a translation-defective form of TRPM8 RNA contain less collagen type I in the extracellular matrix, significantly more infiltrating NK cells, and larger necrotic areas as compared to control xenografts. These findings imply sustained, androgen-independent expression of TRPM8 constitutes as a promoter of anticancer innate immunity, which may constitute a clinically relevant condition affecting prostate cancer prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Alaimo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
| | - Sacha Genovesi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Nicole Annesi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Dario De Felice
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Saurav Subedi
- Department for BioMedical Research, Urology Research Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alice Macchia
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Federico La Manna
- Department for BioMedical Research, Urology Research Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yari Ciani
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Federico Vannuccini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Vera Mugoni
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Michela Notarangelo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Michela Libergoli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Francesca Broso
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Riccardo Taulli
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies (CeRMS), AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Ugo Ala
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Aurora Savino
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Martina Cortese
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Somayeh Mirzaaghaei
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center (MBC) "Guido Tarone", University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Valeria Poli
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center (MBC) "Guido Tarone", University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Ian Marc Bonapace
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Busto Arsizio, VA, Italy
| | - Mauro Giulio Papotti
- Department of Pathology, University of Torino and AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Molinaro
- Department of Pathology, University of Torino and AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Claudio Doglioni
- Division of Pathology, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS Vita Salute, San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Orazio Caffo
- Medical Oncology Department, Santa Chiara Hospital-APSS, Trento, Italy
| | - Adriano Anesi
- Operative Unit of Clinical Pathology, Santa Chiara Hospital-APSS, Trento, Italy
| | - Michael Nagler
- Department of Urology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Bertalot
- Operative Unit of Anatomy Pathology, Santa Chiara Hospital-APSS, Trento, Italy
- Centre for Medical Sciences-CISMed, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Mattia Barbareschi
- Operative Unit of Anatomy Pathology, Santa Chiara Hospital-APSS, Trento, Italy
- Centre for Medical Sciences-CISMed, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Umberto Basso
- Oncology 1 Unit, Department of Oncology, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Erik Dassi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Massimo Pizzato
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Alessandro Romanel
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Francesca Demichelis
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Marianna Kruithof-de Julio
- Department for BioMedical Research, Urology Research Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Urology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Lunardi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
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9
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Jeffreys N, Brockman JM, Zhai Y, Ingber DE, Mooney DJ. Mechanical forces amplify TCR mechanotransduction in T cell activation and function. APPLIED PHYSICS REVIEWS 2024; 11:011304. [PMID: 38434676 PMCID: PMC10848667 DOI: 10.1063/5.0166848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Adoptive T cell immunotherapies, including engineered T cell receptor (eTCR) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapies, have shown efficacy in treating a subset of hematologic malignancies, exhibit promise in solid tumors, and have many other potential applications, such as in fibrosis, autoimmunity, and regenerative medicine. While immunoengineering has focused on designing biomaterials to present biochemical cues to manipulate T cells ex vivo and in vivo, mechanical cues that regulate their biology have been largely underappreciated. This review highlights the contributions of mechanical force to several receptor-ligand interactions critical to T cell function, with central focus on the TCR-peptide-loaded major histocompatibility complex (pMHC). We then emphasize the role of mechanical forces in (i) allosteric strengthening of the TCR-pMHC interaction in amplifying ligand discrimination during T cell antigen recognition prior to activation and (ii) T cell interactions with the extracellular matrix. We then describe approaches to design eTCRs, CARs, and biomaterials to exploit TCR mechanosensitivity in order to potentiate T cell manufacturing and function in adoptive T cell immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yunhao Zhai
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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10
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Schmidt CJ, Stehbens SJ. Microtubule control of migration: Coordination in confinement. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 86:102289. [PMID: 38041936 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
The microtubule cytoskeleton has a well-established, instrumental role in coordinating cell migration. Decades of research has focused on understanding how microtubules couple intracellular trafficking with cortical targeting and spatial organization of signaling to facilitate locomotion. Movement in physically challenging environments requires coordination of forces generated by the actin cytoskeleton to drive cell shape changes, with microtubules acting to spatially regulate contractility. Recent work has demonstrated that the mechanical properties of microtubules are adaptive to stress, leading to a new understanding of their roles in cell migration. Herein we review new developments in how microtubules sense and adapt to changes in the physical properties of their environment during migration. We frame our discussion around our current understanding of how microtubules target cell-matrix adhesions, and their role in the spatiotemporal coordination of signaling to form mechano feedback loops. We expand on how these mechanisms may influence cell morphology in confined three-dimensional settings, and the importance of locally tuning the mechanical stability of polymers in response to mechanical cues. Finally, we discuss new roles for Golgi-derived microtubules in mechanosensing, and how preferential motor use may influence polymer stability to resist the physical constraints cells experience in confined environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christanny J Schmidt
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Samantha J Stehbens
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia.
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11
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Teer L, Yaddanapudi K, Chen J. Biophysical Control of the Glioblastoma Immunosuppressive Microenvironment: Opportunities for Immunotherapy. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:93. [PMID: 38247970 PMCID: PMC10813491 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11010093] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
GBM is the most aggressive and common form of primary brain cancer with a dismal prognosis. Current GBM treatments have not improved patient survival, due to the propensity for tumor cell adaptation and immune evasion, leading to a persistent progression of the disease. In recent years, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has been identified as a critical regulator of these pro-tumorigenic changes, providing a complex array of biomolecular and biophysical signals that facilitate evasion strategies by modulating tumor cells, stromal cells, and immune populations. Efforts to unravel these complex TME interactions are necessary to improve GBM therapy. Immunotherapy is a promising treatment strategy that utilizes a patient's own immune system for tumor eradication and has exhibited exciting results in many cancer types; however, the highly immunosuppressive interactions between the immune cell populations and the GBM TME continue to present challenges. In order to elucidate these interactions, novel bioengineering models are being employed to decipher the mechanisms of immunologically "cold" GBMs. Additionally, these data are being leveraged to develop cell engineering strategies to bolster immunotherapy efficacy. This review presents an in-depth analysis of the biophysical interactions of the GBM TME and immune cell populations as well as the systems used to elucidate the underlying immunosuppressive mechanisms for improving current therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Landon Teer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
| | - Kavitha Yaddanapudi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Immuno-Oncology Program, Brown Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Division of Immunotherapy, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Joseph Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
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12
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Zhovmer AS, Manning A, Smith C, Nguyen A, Prince O, Sáez PJ, Ma X, Tsygankov D, Cartagena-Rivera AX, Singh NA, Singh RK, Tabdanov ED. Septins provide microenvironment sensing and cortical actomyosin partitioning in motile amoeboid T lymphocytes. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadi1788. [PMID: 38170778 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi1788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The all-terrain motility of lymphocytes in tissues and tissue-like gels is best described as amoeboid motility. For amoeboid motility, lymphocytes do not require specific biochemical or structural modifications to the surrounding extracellular matrix. Instead, they rely on changing shape and steric interactions with the microenvironment. However, the exact mechanism of amoeboid motility remains elusive. Here, we report that septins participate in amoeboid motility of T cells, enabling the formation of F-actin and α-actinin-rich cortical rings at the sites of cell cortex-indenting collisions with the extracellular matrix. Cortical rings compartmentalize cells into chains of spherical segments that are spatially conformed to the available lumens, forming transient "hourglass"-shaped steric locks onto the surrounding collagen fibers. The steric lock facilitates pressure-driven peristaltic propulsion of cytosolic content by individually contracting cell segments. Our results suggest that septins provide microenvironment-guided partitioning of actomyosin contractility and steric pivots required for amoeboid motility of T cells in tissue-like microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S Zhovmer
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Alexis Manning
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Chynna Smith
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ashley Nguyen
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Olivia Prince
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Pablo J Sáez
- Cell Communication and Migration Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Xuefei Ma
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Denis Tsygankov
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alexander X Cartagena-Rivera
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Niloy A Singh
- Department of Hematology Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Rakesh K Singh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Erdem D Tabdanov
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey-Hummelstown, PA, USA
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA
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13
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Zhou Z, Pang Y, Ji J, He J, Liu T, Ouyang L, Zhang W, Zhang XL, Zhang ZG, Zhang K, Sun W. Harnessing 3D in vitro systems to model immune responses to solid tumours: a step towards improving and creating personalized immunotherapies. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24:18-32. [PMID: 37402992 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00896-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
In vitro 3D models are advanced biological tools that have been established to overcome the shortcomings of oversimplified 2D cultures and mouse models. Various in vitro 3D immuno-oncology models have been developed to mimic and recapitulate the cancer-immunity cycle, evaluate immunotherapy regimens, and explore options for optimizing current immunotherapies, including for individual patient tumours. Here, we review recent developments in this field. We focus, first, on the limitations of existing immunotherapies for solid tumours, secondly, on how in vitro 3D immuno-oncology models are established using various technologies - including scaffolds, organoids, microfluidics and 3D bioprinting - and thirdly, on the applications of these 3D models for comprehending the cancer-immunity cycle as well as for assessing and improving immunotherapies for solid tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Zhou
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Pang
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
| | - Jingyuan Ji
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Jianyu He
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Tiankun Liu
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Liliang Ouyang
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Immunology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaitai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Aetiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Sun
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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14
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Wu Z, Huang D, Wang J, Zhao Y, Sun W, Shen X. Engineering Heterogeneous Tumor Models for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2304160. [PMID: 37946674 PMCID: PMC10767453 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Tumor tissue engineering holds great promise for replicating the physiological and behavioral characteristics of tumors in vitro. Advances in this field have led to new opportunities for studying the tumor microenvironment and exploring potential anti-cancer therapeutics. However, the main obstacle to the widespread adoption of tumor models is the poor understanding and insufficient reconstruction of tumor heterogeneity. In this review, the current progress of engineering heterogeneous tumor models is discussed. First, the major components of tumor heterogeneity are summarized, which encompasses various signaling pathways, cell proliferations, and spatial configurations. Then, contemporary approaches are elucidated in tumor engineering that are guided by fundamental principles of tumor biology, and the potential of a bottom-up approach in tumor engineering is highlighted. Additionally, the characterization approaches and biomedical applications of tumor models are discussed, emphasizing the significant role of engineered tumor models in scientific research and clinical trials. Lastly, the challenges of heterogeneous tumor models in promoting oncology research and tumor therapy are described and key directions for future research are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuhao Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Danqing Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325035China
| | - Weijian Sun
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325027China
| | - Xian Shen
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325035China
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15
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Cho DH, Aguayo S, Cartagena-Rivera AX. Atomic force microscopy-mediated mechanobiological profiling of complex human tissues. Biomaterials 2023; 303:122389. [PMID: 37988897 PMCID: PMC10842832 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Tissue mechanobiology is an emerging field with the overarching goal of understanding the interplay between biophysical and biochemical responses affecting development, physiology, and disease. Changes in mechanical properties including stiffness and viscosity have been shown to describe how cells and tissues respond to mechanical cues and modify critical biological functions. To quantitatively characterize the mechanical properties of tissues at physiologically relevant conditions, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as a highly versatile biomechanical technology. In this review, we describe the fundamental principles of AFM, typical AFM modalities used for tissue mechanics, and commonly used elastic and viscoelastic contact mechanics models to characterize complex human tissues. Furthermore, we discuss the application of AFM-based mechanobiology to characterize the mechanical responses within complex human tissues to track their developmental, physiological/functional, and diseased states, including oral, hearing, and cancer-related tissues. Finally, we discuss the current outlook and challenges to further advance the field of tissue mechanobiology. Altogether, AFM-based tissue mechanobiology provides a mechanistic understanding of biological processes governing the unique functions of tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Cho
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sebastian Aguayo
- Dentistry School, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Schools of Engineering, Medicine, and Biological Sciences, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexander X Cartagena-Rivera
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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16
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Nguyen DT, Liu R, Ogando-Rivas E, Pepe A, Pedro D, Qdaisat S, Nguyen NTY, Lavrador JM, Golde GR, Smolchek RA, Ligon J, Jin L, Tao H, Webber A, Phillpot S, Mitchell DA, Sayour EJ, Huang J, Castillo P, Gregory Sawyer W. Bioconjugated liquid-like solid enhances characterization of solid tumor - chimeric antigen receptor T cell interactions. Acta Biomater 2023; 172:466-479. [PMID: 37788737 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.09.042] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has demonstrated remarkable success as an immunotherapy for hematological malignancies, and its potential for treating solid tumors is an active area of research. However, limited trafficking and mobility of T cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) present challenges for CAR T cell therapy in solid tumors. To gain a better understanding of CAR T cell function in solid tumors, we subjected CD70-specific CAR T cells to a challenge by evaluating their immune trafficking and infiltration through a confined 3D microchannel network in a bio-conjugated liquid-like solid (LLS) medium. Our results demonstrated successful CAR T cell migration and anti-tumor activity against CD70-expressing glioblastoma and osteosarcoma tumors. Through comprehensive analysis of cytokines and chemokines, combined with in situ imaging, we elucidated that immune recruitment occurred via chemotaxis, and the effector-to-target ratio plays an important role in overall antitumor function. Furthermore, through single-cell collection and transcriptomic profiling, we identified differential gene expression among the immune subpopulations. Our findings provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics of CAR T cell function in solid tumors, informing future research and development in this promising cancer treatment approach. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The use of specialized immune cells named CAR T cells to combat cancers has demonstrated remarkable success against blood cancers. However, this success is not replicated in solid tumors, such as brain or bone cancers, mainly due to the physical barriers of these solid tumors. Currently, preclinical technologies do not allow for reliable evaluation of tumor-immune cell interactions. To better study these specialized CAR T cells, we have developed an innovative in vitro three-dimensional model that promises to dissect the interactions between tumors and CAR T cells at the single-cell level. Our findings provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics of CAR T cell function in solid tumors, informing future research and development in this promising cancer treatment approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duy T Nguyen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Ruixuan Liu
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, University of Florida Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Elizabeth Ogando-Rivas
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, University of Florida Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Alfonso Pepe
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Diego Pedro
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Sadeem Qdaisat
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, University of Florida Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; University of Florida Genetics Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Nhi Tran Yen Nguyen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Julia M Lavrador
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Griffin R Golde
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Ryan A Smolchek
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - John Ligon
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Linchun Jin
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, University of Florida Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Haipeng Tao
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, University of Florida Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Alex Webber
- Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Simon Phillpot
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Duane A Mitchell
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, University of Florida Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Elias J Sayour
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, University of Florida Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Jianping Huang
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, University of Florida Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States.
| | - Paul Castillo
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States.
| | - W Gregory Sawyer
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States.
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17
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Yan B, Liao P, Shi L, Lei P. Pan-cancer analyses of senescence-related genes in extracellular matrix characterization in cancer. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:208. [PMID: 37985530 PMCID: PMC10660488 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00828-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aged microenvironment plays a crucial role in tumor onset and progression. However, it remains unclear whether and how the aging of the extracellular matrix (ECM) influences cancer onset and progression. Furthermore, the mechanisms and implications of extracellular matrix senescence-related genes (ECM-SRGs) in pan-cancer have not been investigated. METHODS We collected profiling data from over 10,000 individuals, covering 33 cancer types, 750 small molecule drugs, and 24 immune cell types, for a thorough and systematic analysis of ECM-SRGs in cancer. RESULTS We observed a significant correlation between immune cell infiltrates and Gene Set Variation Analysis enrichment scores of ECM-SRGs in 33 cancer types. Moreover, our results revealed significant differences in immune cell infiltration among patients with copy number variations (CNV) and single nucleotide variations (SNV) in ECM-SRGs across various malignancies. Aberrant hypomethylation led to increased ECM-SRGs expression, and in specific malignancies, a connection between ECM-SRGs hypomethylation and adverse patient survival was established. The frequency of CNV and SNV in ECM-SRGs was elevated. We observed a positive correlation between CNV, SNV, and ECM-SRGs expression. Furthermore, a correlation was found between the high frequency of CNV and SNV in ECM-SRGs and poor patient survival in several cancer types. Additionally, the results demonstrated that ECM-SRGs expression could serve as a predictor of patient survival in diverse cancers. Pathway analysis unveiled the role of ECM-SRGs in activating EMT, apoptosis, and the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway while suppressing the cell cycle, hormone AR, and the response to DNA damage signaling pathway. Finally, we conducted searches in the "Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer" and "Genomics of Therapeutics Response Portal" databases, identifying several drugs that target ECM-SRGs. CONCLUSIONS We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the genomes and immunogenomics of ECM-SRGs, along with their clinical features in 33 solid tumors. This may provide insights into the relationship between ECM-SRGs and tumorigenesis. Consequently, targeting these ECM-SRGs holds promise as a clinical approach for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yan
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Geriatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300052, China
- Tianjin Geriatrics Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Pan Liao
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Geriatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300052, China
- Tianjin Geriatrics Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300052, China
- The School of Medicine, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Liqiu Shi
- Inner Mongolia Forestry General Hospital, 81 Lincheng North Road, Yakeshi, 022150, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Ping Lei
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Geriatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300052, China.
- Tianjin Geriatrics Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300052, China.
- The School of Medicine, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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18
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Kumari A, Veena SM, Luha R, Tijore A. Mechanobiological Strategies to Augment Cancer Treatment. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:42072-42085. [PMID: 38024751 PMCID: PMC10652740 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells exhibit aberrant extracellular matrix mechanosensing due to the altered expression of mechanosensory cytoskeletal proteins. Such aberrant mechanosensing of the tumor microenvironment (TME) by cancer cells is associated with disease development and progression. In addition, recent studies show that such mechanosensing changes the mechanobiological properties of cells, and in turn cells become susceptible to mechanical perturbations. Due to an increasing understanding of cell biomechanics and cellular machinery, several approaches have emerged to target the mechanobiological properties of cancer cells and cancer-associated cells to inhibit cancer growth and progression. In this Perspective, we summarize the progress in developing mechano-based approaches to target cancer by interfering with the cellular mechanosensing machinery and overall TME.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ajay Tijore
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
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19
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Anderson SM, Kelly M, Odde DJ. Glioblastoma cells use an integrin- and CD44-mediated motor-clutch mode of migration in brain tissue. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.23.563458. [PMID: 37961475 PMCID: PMC10634749 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.23.563458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive malignant brain tumor with 2-year survival rates of 6.7% [1], [2]. One key characteristic of the disease is the ability of glioblastoma cells to migrate rapidly and spread throughout healthy brain tissue[3], [4]. To develop treatments that effectively target cell migration, it is important to understand the fundamental mechanism driving cell migration in brain tissue. Here we utilized confocal imaging to measure traction dynamics and migration speeds of glioblastoma cells in mouse organotypic brain slices to identify the mode of cell migration. Through imaging cell-vasculature interactions and utilizing drugs, antibodies, and genetic modifications to target motors and clutches, we find that glioblastoma cell migration is most consistent with a motor-clutch mechanism to migrate through brain tissue ex vivo, and that both integrins and CD44, as well as myosin motors, play an important role in constituting the adhesive clutch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Marcus Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - David J. Odde
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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20
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Zhou M, Ma Y, Rock EC, Chiang CC, Luker KE, Luker GD, Chen YC. Microfluidic single-cell migration chip reveals insights into the impact of extracellular matrices on cell movement. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4619-4635. [PMID: 37750357 PMCID: PMC10615797 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00651d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Cell migration is a complex process that plays a crucial role in normal physiology and pathologies such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and mental disorders. Conventional cell migration assays face limitations in tracking a large number of individual migrating cells. To address this challenge, we have developed a high-throughput microfluidic cell migration chip, which seamlessly integrates robotic liquid handling and computer vision to swiftly monitor the movement of 3200 individual cells, providing unparalleled single-cell resolution for discerning distinct behaviors of the fast-moving cell population. This study focuses on the ECM's role in regulating cellular migration, utilizing this cutting-edge microfluidic technology to investigate the impact of ten different ECMs on triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. We found that collagen IV, collagen III, and collagen I coatings were the top enhancers of cell movement. Combining these ECMs increased cell motility, but the effect was sub-additive. Furthermore, we examined 87 compounds and found that while some compounds inhibited migration on all substrates, significantly distinct effects on differently coated substrates were observed, underscoring the importance of considering ECM coating. We also utilized cells expressing a fluorescent actin reporter and observed distinct actin structures in ECM-interacting cells. ScRNA-Seq analysis revealed that ECM coatings induced EMT and enhanced cell migration. Finally, we identified genes that were particularly up-regulated by collagen IV and the selective inhibitors successfully blocked cell migration on collagen IV. Overall, the study provides insights into the impact of various ECMs on cell migration and dynamics of cell movement with implications for developing therapeutic strategies to combat diseases related to cell motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengli Zhou
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Yushu Ma
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Edwin C Rock
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Chun-Cheng Chiang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Kathryn E Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Gary D Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel, Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2099, USA
| | - Yu-Chih Chen
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- CMU-Pitt Ph.D. Program in Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Zhovmer AS, Manning A, Smith C, Wang J, Ma X, Tsygankov D, Dokholyan NV, Cartagena-Rivera AX, Singh RK, Tabdanov ED. Septins Enable T Cell Contact Guidance via Amoeboid-Mesenchymal Switch. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.26.559597. [PMID: 37808814 PMCID: PMC10557721 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.26.559597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Lymphocytes exit circulation and enter in-tissue guided migration toward sites of tissue pathologies, damage, infection, or inflammation. By continuously sensing and adapting to the guiding chemo-mechano-structural properties of the tissues, lymphocytes dynamically alternate and combine their amoeboid (non-adhesive) and mesenchymal (adhesive) migration modes. However, which mechanisms guide and balance different migration modes are largely unclear. Here we report that suppression of septins GTPase activity induces an abrupt amoeboid-to-mesenchymal transition of T cell migration mode, characterized by a distinct, highly deformable integrin-dependent immune cell contact guidance. Surprisingly, the T cell actomyosin cortex contractility becomes diminished, dispensable and antagonistic to mesenchymal-like migration mode. Instead, mesenchymal-like T cells rely on microtubule stabilization and their non-canonical dynein motor activity for high fidelity contact guidance. Our results establish septin's GTPase activity as an important on/off switch for integrin-dependent migration of T lymphocytes, enabling their dynein-driven fluid-like mesenchymal propulsion along the complex adhesion cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S Zhovmer
- Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Alexis Manning
- Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Chynna Smith
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jian Wang
- Departments of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Xuefei Ma
- Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Denis Tsygankov
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Departments of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University Hershey-Hummelstown, PA, USA
| | - Alexander X Cartagena-Rivera
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rakesh K Singh
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Erdem D Tabdanov
- Departments of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA
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22
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Jiang W, Yu X, Dong X, Long C, Chen D, Cheng J, Yan B, Xu S, Lin Z, Chen G, Zhuo S, Yan J. A nomogram based on collagen signature for predicting the immunoscore in colorectal cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1269700. [PMID: 37781377 PMCID: PMC10538535 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1269700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The Immunoscore can categorize patients into high- and low-risk groups for prognostication in colorectal cancer (CRC). Collagen plays an important role in immunomodulatory functions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the correlation between collagen and the Immunoscore in the TME is unclear. This study aimed to construct a collagen signature to illuminate the relationship between collagen structure and Immunoscore. Methods A total of 327 consecutive patients with stage I-III stage CRC were included in a training cohort. The fully quantitative collagen features were extracted at the tumor center and invasive margin of the specimens using multiphoton imaging. LASSO regression was applied to construct the collagen signature. The association of the collagen signature with Immunoscore was assessed. A collagen nomogram was developed by incorporating the collagen signature and clinicopathological predictors after multivariable logistic regression. The performance of the collagen nomogram was evaluated via calibration, discrimination, and clinical usefulness and then tested in an independent validation cohort. The prognostic values of the collagen nomogram were assessed using Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier method. Results The collagen signature was constructed based on 16 collagen features, which included 6 collagen features from the tumor center and 10 collagen features from the invasive margin. Patients with a high collagen signature were more likely to show a low Immunoscore (Lo IS) in both cohorts (P<0.001). A collagen nomogram integrating the collagen signature and clinicopathological predictors was developed. The collagen nomogram yielded satisfactory discrimination and calibration, with an AUC of 0.925 (95% CI: 0.895-0.956) in the training cohort and 0.911 (95% CI: 0.872-0.949) in the validation cohort. Decision curve analysis confirmed that the collagen nomogram was clinically useful. Furthermore, the collagen nomogram-predicted subgroup was significantly associated with prognosis. Moreover, patients with a low-probability Lo IS, rather than a high-probability Lo IS, could benefit from chemotherapy in high-risk stage II and stage III CRC patients. Conclusions The collagen signature is significantly associated with the Immunoscore in the TME, and the collagen nomogram has the potential to individualize the prediction of the Immunoscore and identify CRC patients who could benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xian Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chenyan Long
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Division of Colorectal & Anal Surgery, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Dexin Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxin Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Botao Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuoyu Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zexi Lin
- School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Precision Medicine Center, Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shuangmu Zhuo
- School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jun Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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23
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Chia DKA, Demuytere J, Ernst S, Salavati H, Ceelen W. Effects of Hyperthermia and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion on the Peritoneal and Tumor Immune Contexture. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4314. [PMID: 37686590 PMCID: PMC10486595 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174314] [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: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperthermia combined with intraperitoneal (IP) drug delivery is increasingly used in the treatment of peritoneal metastases (PM). Hyperthermia enhances tumor perfusion and increases drug penetration after IP delivery. The peritoneum is increasingly recognized as an immune-privileged organ with its own distinct immune microenvironment. Here, we review the immune landscape of the healthy peritoneal cavity and immune contexture of peritoneal metastases. Next, we review the potential benefits and unwanted tumor-promoting effects of hyperthermia and the associated heat shock response on the tumor immune microenvironment. We highlight the potential modulating effect of hyperthermia on the biomechanical properties of tumor tissue and the consequences for immune cell infiltration. Data from translational and clinical studies are reviewed. We conclude that (mild) hyperthermia and HIPEC have the potential to enhance antitumor immunity, but detailed further studies are required to distinguish beneficial from tumor-promoting effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daryl K. A. Chia
- Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Jesse Demuytere
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Experimental Surgery Lab, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.); (S.E.); (H.S.)
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sam Ernst
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Experimental Surgery Lab, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.); (S.E.); (H.S.)
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hooman Salavati
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Experimental Surgery Lab, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.); (S.E.); (H.S.)
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Ceelen
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Experimental Surgery Lab, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.); (S.E.); (H.S.)
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of GI Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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24
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Callaway MK, Dos Santos CO. Gestational Breast Cancer - a Review of Outcomes, Pathophysiology, and Model Systems. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2023; 28:16. [PMID: 37450228 PMCID: PMC10348943 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-023-09546-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The onset of pregnancy marks the start of offspring development, and represents the key physiological event that induces re-organization and specialization of breast tissue. Such drastic tissue remodeling has also been linked to epithelial cell transformation and the establishment of breast cancer (BC). While patient outcomes for BC overall continue to improve across subtypes, prognosis remains dismal for patients with gestational breast cancer (GBC) and post-partum breast cancer (PPBC), as pregnancy and lactation pose additional complications and barriers to several gold standard clinical approaches. Moreover, delayed diagnosis and treatment, coupled with the aggressive time-scale in which GBC metastasizes, inevitably contributes to the higher incidence of disease recurrence and patient mortality. Therefore, there is an urgent and evident need to better understand the factors contributing to the establishment and spreading of BC during pregnancy. In this review, we provide a literature-based overview of the diagnostics and treatments available to patients with BC more broadly, and highlight the treatment deficit patients face due to gestational status. Further, we review the current understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving GBC, and discuss recent advances in model systems that may support the identification of targetable approaches to block BC development and dissemination during pregnancy. Our goal is to provide an updated perspective on GBC, and to inform critical areas needing further exploration to improve disease outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Camila O Dos Santos
- , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cancer Center, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA.
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25
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Höglsperger F, Vos BE, Hofemeier AD, Seyfried MD, Stövesand B, Alavizargar A, Topp L, Heuer A, Betz T, Ravoo BJ. Rapid and reversible optical switching of cell membrane area by an amphiphilic azobenzene. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3760. [PMID: 37353493 PMCID: PMC10290115 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39032-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular membrane area is a key parameter for any living cell that is tightly regulated to avoid membrane damage. Changes in area-to-volume ratio are known to be critical for cell shape, but are mostly investigated by changing the cell volume via osmotic shocks. In turn, many important questions relating to cellular shape, membrane tension homeostasis and local membrane area cannot be easily addressed because experimental tools for controlled modulation of cell membrane area are lacking. Here we show that photoswitching an amphiphilic azobenzene can trigger its intercalation into the plasma membrane of various mammalian cells ranging from erythrocytes to myoblasts and cancer cells. The photoisomerization leads to a rapid (250-500 ms) and highly reversible membrane area change (ca 2 % for erythrocytes) that triggers a dramatic shape modulation of living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Höglsperger
- Organic Chemistry Institute, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Center for Soft Nanoscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bart E Vos
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Arne D Hofemeier
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maximilian D Seyfried
- Organic Chemistry Institute, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Center for Soft Nanoscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bastian Stövesand
- Organic Chemistry Institute, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Center for Soft Nanoscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Azadeh Alavizargar
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Leon Topp
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Andreas Heuer
- Center for Soft Nanoscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Timo Betz
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Bart Jan Ravoo
- Organic Chemistry Institute, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
- Center for Soft Nanoscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
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26
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Chen J, Vishweshwaraiah YL, Mailman RB, Tabdanov ED, Dokholyan NV. A noncommutative combinatorial protein logic circuit controls cell orientation in nanoenvironments. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg1062. [PMID: 37235645 PMCID: PMC10219599 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Single-protein-based devices that integrate signal sensing with logical operations to generate functional outputs offer exceptional promise for monitoring and modulating biological systems. Engineering such intelligent nanoscale computing agents is challenging, as it requires the integration of sensor domains into a functional protein via intricate allosteric networks. We incorporate a rapamycin-sensitive sensor (uniRapR) and a blue light-responsive LOV2 domain into human Src kinase, creating a protein device that functions as a noncommutative combinatorial logic circuit. In our design, rapamycin activates Src kinase, causing protein localization to focal adhesions, whereas blue light exerts the reverse effect that inactivates Src translocation. Focal adhesion maturation induced by Src activation reduces cell migration dynamics and shifts cell orientation to align along collagen nanolane fibers. Using this protein device, we reversibly control cell orientation by applying the appropriate input signals, a framework that may be useful in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
| | | | - Richard B. Mailman
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
| | - Erdem D. Tabdanov
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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27
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Jiang W, Wang H, Chen W, Zhao Y, Yan B, Chen D, Dong X, Cheng J, Lin Z, Zhuo S, Wang H, Yan J. Association of collagen deep learning classifier with prognosis and chemotherapy benefits in stage II-III colon cancer. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10526. [PMID: 37206212 PMCID: PMC10189440 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The current tumor-node-metastasis staging system does not provide sufficient prognostic prediction or adjuvant chemotherapy benefit information for stage II-III colon cancer (CC) patients. Collagen in the tumor microenvironment affects the biological behaviors and chemotherapy response of cancer cells. Hence, in this study, we proposed a collagen deep learning (collagenDL) classifier based on the 50-layer residual network model for predicting disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The collagenDL classifier was significantly associated with DFS and OS (P < 0.001). The collagenDL nomogram, integrating the collagenDL classifier and three clinicopathologic predictors, improved the prediction performance, which showed satisfactory discrimination and calibration. These results were independently validated in the internal and external validation cohorts. In addition, high-risk stage II and III CC patients with high-collagenDL classifier, rather than low-collagenDL classifier, exhibited a favorable response to adjuvant chemotherapy. In conclusion, the collagenDL classifier could predict prognosis and adjuvant chemotherapy benefits in stage II-III CC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- School of ScienceJimei UniversityXiamenFujianPeople's Republic of China
| | - Huaiming Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery & Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Supported by National Key Clinical DisciplineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongPeople's Republic of China
| | - Weisheng Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Yandong Zhao
- Department of Pathology, the Sixth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongPeople's Republic of China
| | - Botao Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Dexin Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxin Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Zexi Lin
- School of ScienceJimei UniversityXiamenFujianPeople's Republic of China
| | - Shuangmu Zhuo
- School of ScienceJimei UniversityXiamenFujianPeople's Republic of China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery & Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Supported by National Key Clinical DisciplineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongPeople's Republic of China
| | - Jun Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
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28
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Hanafy NAN. Extracellular alkaline pH enhances migratory behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma cells as a caution against the indiscriminate application of alkalinizing drug therapy: In vitro microscopic studies. Acta Histochem 2023; 125:152032. [PMID: 37119607 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2023.152032] [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: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
The migratory process is a highly organized, differentiated, and polarized stage by which many signaling pathways are regulated to control cell migration. Since the significant evidence of migrating cells is the reorganization of the cytoskeleton. In the recent study, the cell migration model was assessed on the fact that any disruption obtained in the cellular monolayer confluent, may cause stimulation for surrounding cells to migrate. We attempt to demonstrate the morphological alterations associated with these migrating cells. In this case, sterilized 1 N NaOH (1 µl) was used as alkaline burnt. It leads to scratching the monolayer of hepatocellular carcinoma (HLF cell line) allowing cells to lose their connection. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence microscopy, light inverted microscopy, and dark field were used for discovering the morphological alterations associated with migrating cancer cells. The findings show that cells exhibited distinctive alterations including a polarizing stage, accumulation of the actin nodules in front of the nucleus, and protrusions. Nuclei appeared as lobulated shapes during migration. Lamellipodia and uropod were extended as well. Additionally, TGFβ1 proved its expression in HLF and SNU449 after their stimulation. It is demonstrated that hepatocellular carcinoma cells can migrate after their stimulation and there is a caution against the indiscriminate application of alkalinizing drug therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nemany A N Hanafy
- Nanomedicine group, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516 Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.
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29
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Heussner RK, Zhang H, Qian G, Baker MJ, Provenzano PP. Differential contractility regulates cancer stem cell migration. Biophys J 2023; 122:1198-1210. [PMID: 36772795 PMCID: PMC10111274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are known to have a high capacity for tumor initiation and the formation of metastases. We have previously shown that in collagen constructs mimetic of aligned extracellular matrix architectures observed in carcinomas, breast CSCs demonstrate enhanced directional and total motility compared with more differentiated carcinoma populations. Here, we show that CSCs maintain increased motility in diverse environments including on 2D elastic polyacrylamide gels of various stiffness, 3D randomly oriented collagen matrices, and ectopic cerebral slices representative of a common metastatic site. A consistent twofold increase of CSC motility across platforms suggests a general shift in cell migration mechanics between well-differentiated carcinoma cells and their stem-like counterparts. To further elucidate the source of differences in migration, we demonstrate that CSCs are less contractile than the whole population (WP) and develop fewer and smaller focal adhesions and show that enhanced CSC migration can be tuned via contractile forces. The WP can be shifted to a CSC-like migratory phenotype using partial myosin II inhibition. Inversely, CSCs can be shifted to a less migratory WP-like phenotype using microtubule-destabilizing drugs that increase contractility or by directly enhancing contractile forces. This work begins to reveal the mechanistic differences driving CSC migration and raises important implications regarding the potentially disparate effects of microtubule-targeting agents on the motility of different cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K Heussner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Hongrong Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Guhan Qian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Mikayla J Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Paolo P Provenzano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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30
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Hyun J, Kim SJ, Cho SD, Kim HW. Mechano-modulation of T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Biomaterials 2023; 297:122101. [PMID: 37023528 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy, despite its promise for future anti-cancer approach, faces significant challenges, such as off-tumor side effects, innate or acquired resistance, and limited infiltration of immune cells into stiffened extracellular matrix (ECM). Recent studies have highlighted the importance of mechano-modulation/-activation of immune cells (mainly T cells) for effective caner immunotherapy. Immune cells are highly sensitive to the applied physical forces and matrix mechanics, and reciprocally shape the tumor microenvironment. Engineering T cells with tuned properties of materials (e.g., chemistry, topography, and stiffness) can improve their expansion and activation ex vivo, and their ability to mechano-sensing the tumor specific ECM in vivo where they perform cytotoxic effects. T cells can also be exploited to secrete enzymes that soften ECM, thus increasing tumor infiltration and cellular therapies. Furthermore, T cells, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, genomic engineered to be spatiotemporally controllable by physical stimuli (e.g., ultrasound, heat, or light), can mitigate adverse off-tumor effects. In this review, we communicate these recent cutting-edge endeavors devoted to mechano-modulating/-activating T cells for effective cancer immunotherapy, and discuss future prospects and challenges in this field.
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31
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Comelles J, Fernández-Majada V, Acevedo V, Rebollo-Calderon B, Martínez E. Soft topographical patterns trigger a stiffness-dependent cellular response to contact guidance. Mater Today Bio 2023; 19:100593. [PMID: 36923364 PMCID: PMC10009736 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100593] [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: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Topographical patterns are a powerful tool to study directional migration. Grooved substrates have been extensively used as in vitro models of aligned extracellular matrix fibers because they induce cell elongation, alignment, and migration through a phenomenon known as contact guidance. This process, which involves the orientation of focal adhesions, F-actin, and microtubule cytoskeleton along the direction of the grooves, has been primarily studied on hard materials of non-physiological stiffness. But how it unfolds when the stiffness of the grooves varies within the physiological range is less known. Here we show that substrate stiffness modulates the cellular response to topographical contact guidance. We find that for fibroblasts, while focal adhesions and actin respond to topography independently of the stiffness, microtubules show a stiffness-dependent response that regulates contact guidance. On the other hand, both clusters and single breast carcinoma epithelial cells display stiffness-dependent contact guidance, leading to more directional and efficient migration when increasing substrate stiffness. These results suggest that both matrix stiffening and alignment of extracellular matrix fibers cooperate during directional cell migration, and that the outcome differs between cell types depending on how they organize their cytoskeletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Comelles
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona (UB), Martí I Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vanesa Fernández-Majada
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona (UB), Feixa Llarga, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Verónica Acevedo
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Rebollo-Calderon
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Martínez
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona (UB), Martí I Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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32
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Rodríguez-Merced NJ, Callaway MK, Provenzano PP. Protocol to culture and image pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumor slices to study T cell migration. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102135. [PMID: 36861840 PMCID: PMC9988667 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102135] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we describe a protocol for culture and live cell imaging of tumor slices. This approach studies carcinoma and immune cell dynamics in complex tumor microenvironments (TME) with nonlinear optical imaging platforms. Using a tumor-bearing mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), we detail steps to isolate, activate, and label CD8+ T lymphocytes and later introduce them to live murine PDA tumor slice explants. The techniques described in this protocol can improve our understanding of cell migration in complex microenvironments ex vivo. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Tabdanov et al. (2021).1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson J Rodríguez-Merced
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences and Oncology Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Mackenzie K Callaway
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences and Oncology Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Paolo P Provenzano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences and Oncology Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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33
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Legátová A, Pelantová M, Rösel D, Brábek J, Škarková A. The emerging role of microtubules in invasion plasticity. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1118171. [PMID: 36860323 PMCID: PMC9969133 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1118171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of cells to switch between different invasive modes during metastasis, also known as invasion plasticity, is an important characteristic of tumor cells that makes them able to resist treatment targeted to a particular invasion mode. Due to the rapid changes in cell morphology during the transition between mesenchymal and amoeboid invasion, it is evident that this process requires remodeling of the cytoskeleton. Although the role of the actin cytoskeleton in cell invasion and plasticity is already quite well described, the contribution of microtubules is not yet fully clarified. It is not easy to infer whether destabilization of microtubules leads to higher invasiveness or the opposite since the complex microtubular network acts differently in diverse invasive modes. While mesenchymal migration typically requires microtubules at the leading edge of migrating cells to stabilize protrusions and form adhesive structures, amoeboid invasion is possible even in the absence of long, stable microtubules, albeit there are also cases of amoeboid cells where microtubules contribute to effective migration. Moreover, complex crosstalk of microtubules with other cytoskeletal networks participates in invasion regulation. Altogether, microtubules play an important role in tumor cell plasticity and can be therefore targeted to affect not only cell proliferation but also invasive properties of migrating cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Legátová
- Department of Cell Biology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia,Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University (BIOCEV), Vestec u Prahy, Czechia
| | - Markéta Pelantová
- Department of Cell Biology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia,Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University (BIOCEV), Vestec u Prahy, Czechia
| | - Daniel Rösel
- Department of Cell Biology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia,Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University (BIOCEV), Vestec u Prahy, Czechia
| | - Jan Brábek
- Department of Cell Biology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia,Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University (BIOCEV), Vestec u Prahy, Czechia
| | - Aneta Škarková
- Department of Cell Biology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia,Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University (BIOCEV), Vestec u Prahy, Czechia,*Correspondence: Aneta Škarková,
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34
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Alatoom A, ElGindi M, Sapudom J, Teo JCM. The T Cell Journey: A Tour de Force. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200173. [PMID: 36190140 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200173] [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: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
T cells act as the puppeteers in the adaptive immune response, and their dysfunction leads to the initiation and progression of pathological conditions. During their lifetime, T cells experience myriad forces that modulate their effector functions. These forces are imposed by interacting cells, surrounding tissues, and shear forces from fluid movement. In this review, a journey with T cells is made, from their development to their unique characteristics, including the early studies that uncovered their mechanosensitivity. Then the studies pertaining to the responses of T cell activation to changes in antigen-presenting cells' physical properties, to their immediate surrounding extracellular matrix microenvironment, and flow conditions are highlighted. In addition, it is explored how pathological conditions like the tumor microenvironment can hinder T cells and allow cancer cells to escape elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aseel Alatoom
- Laboratory for Immuno Bioengineering Research and Applications Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Campus, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, UAE.,Department of Mechanical Engineering Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, 6 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
| | - Mei ElGindi
- Laboratory for Immuno Bioengineering Research and Applications Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Campus, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Jiranuwat Sapudom
- Laboratory for Immuno Bioengineering Research and Applications Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Campus, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Jeremy C M Teo
- Laboratory for Immuno Bioengineering Research and Applications Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Campus, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, UAE.,Department of Mechanical Engineering Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, 6 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, 6 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
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35
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Pawluchin A, Galic M. Moving through a changing world: Single cell migration in 2D vs. 3D. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1080995. [PMID: 36605722 PMCID: PMC9810339 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1080995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Migration of single adherent cells is frequently observed in the developing and adult organism and has been the subject of many studies. Yet, while elegant work has elucidated molecular and mechanical cues affecting motion dynamics on a flat surface, it remains less clear how cells migrate in a 3D setting. In this review, we explore the changing parameters encountered by cells navigating through a 3D microenvironment compared to cells crawling on top of a 2D surface, and how these differences alter subcellular structures required for propulsion. We further discuss how such changes at the micro-scale impact motion pattern at the macro-scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pawluchin
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Münster, Germany,Cells in Motion Interfaculty Centre, University of Münster, Münster, Germany,CIM-IMRPS Graduate Program, Münster, Germany
| | - Milos Galic
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Münster, Germany,Cells in Motion Interfaculty Centre, University of Münster, Münster, Germany,*Correspondence: Milos Galic,
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36
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The Forces behind Directed Cell Migration. BIOPHYSICA 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/biophysica2040046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Directed cell migration is an essential building block of life, present when an embryo develops, a dendritic cell migrates toward a lymphatic vessel, or a fibrotic organ fails to restore its normal parenchyma. Directed cell migration is often guided by spatial gradients in a physicochemical property of the cell microenvironment, such as a gradient in chemical factors dissolved in the medium or a gradient in the mechanical properties of the substrate. Single cells and tissues sense these gradients, establish a back-to-front polarity, and coordinate the migration machinery accordingly. Central to these steps we find physical forces. In some cases, these forces are integrated into the gradient sensing mechanism. Other times, they transmit information through cells and tissues to coordinate a collective response. At any time, they participate in the cellular migratory system. In this review, we explore the role of physical forces in gradient sensing, polarization, and coordinating movement from single cells to multicellular collectives. We use the framework proposed by the molecular clutch model and explore to what extent asymmetries in the different elements of the clutch can lead to directional migration.
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37
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Dixit A, Sarver A, Zettervall J, Huang H, Zheng K, Brekken RA, Provenzano PP. Targeting TNF-α-producing macrophages activates antitumor immunity in pancreatic cancer via IL-33 signaling. JCI Insight 2022; 7:153242. [PMID: 36256464 PMCID: PMC9746819 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.153242] [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: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) remains resistant to immune therapies, largely owing to robustly fibrotic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. It has been postulated that excessive accumulation of immunosuppressive myeloid cells influences immunotherapy resistance, and recent studies targeting macrophages in combination with checkpoint blockade have demonstrated promising preclinical results. Yet our understanding of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) function, complexity, and diversity in PDA remains limited. Our analysis reveals significant macrophage heterogeneity, with bone marrow-derived monocytes serving as the primary source for immunosuppressive TAMs. These cells also serve as a primary source of TNF-α, which suppresses expression of the alarmin IL-33 in carcinoma cells. Deletion of Ccr2 in genetically engineered mice decreased monocyte recruitment, resulting in profoundly decreased TNF-α and increased IL-33 expression, decreased metastasis, and increased survival. Moreover, intervention studies targeting CCR2 with a new orthosteric inhibitor (CCX598) rendered PDA susceptible to checkpoint blockade, resulting in reduced metastatic burden and increased survival. Our data indicate that this shift in antitumor immunity is influenced by increased levels of IL-33, which increases dendritic cell and cytotoxic T cell activity. These data demonstrate that interventions to disrupt infiltration of immunosuppressive macrophages, or their signaling, have the potential to overcome barriers to effective immunotherapeutics for PDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Dixit
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Aaron Sarver
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jon Zettervall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Huocong Huang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research and Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kexin Zheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research and Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Paolo P Provenzano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation.,Institute for Engineering in Medicine.,Stem Cell Institute; and.,Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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38
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Joglekar MM, Nizamoglu M, Fan Y, Nemani SSP, Weckmann M, Pouwels SD, Heijink IH, Melgert BN, Pillay J, Burgess JK. Highway to heal: Influence of altered extracellular matrix on infiltrating immune cells during acute and chronic lung diseases. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:995051. [PMID: 36408219 PMCID: PMC9669433 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.995051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental insults including respiratory infections, in combination with genetic predisposition, may lead to lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung fibrosis, asthma, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Common characteristics of these diseases are infiltration and activation of inflammatory cells and abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover, leading to tissue damage and impairments in lung function. The ECM provides three-dimensional (3D) architectural support to the lung and crucial biochemical and biophysical cues to the cells, directing cellular processes. As immune cells travel to reach any site of injury, they encounter the composition and various mechanical features of the ECM. Emerging evidence demonstrates the crucial role played by the local environment in recruiting immune cells and their function in lung diseases. Moreover, recent developments in the field have elucidated considerable differences in responses of immune cells in two-dimensional versus 3D modeling systems. Examining the effect of individual parameters of the ECM to study their effect independently and collectively in a 3D microenvironment will help in better understanding disease pathobiology. In this article, we discuss the importance of investigating cellular migration and recent advances in this field. Moreover, we summarize changes in the ECM in lung diseases and the potential impacts on infiltrating immune cell migration in these diseases. There has been compelling progress in this field that encourages further developments, such as advanced in vitro 3D modeling using native ECM-based models, patient-derived materials, and bioprinting. We conclude with an overview of these state-of-the-art methodologies, followed by a discussion on developing novel and innovative models and the practical challenges envisaged in implementing and utilizing these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mugdha M. Joglekar
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Mehmet Nizamoglu
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, Netherlands
| | - YiWen Fan
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Sai Sneha Priya Nemani
- Department of Paediatric Pneumology &Allergology, University Children’s Hospital, Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Germany
- Epigenetics of Chronic Lung Disease, Priority Research Area Chronic Lung Diseases; Leibniz Lung Research Center Borstel; Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Germany
| | - Markus Weckmann
- Department of Paediatric Pneumology &Allergology, University Children’s Hospital, Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Germany
- Epigenetics of Chronic Lung Disease, Priority Research Area Chronic Lung Diseases; Leibniz Lung Research Center Borstel; Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Germany
| | - Simon D. Pouwels
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonology, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Irene H. Heijink
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonology, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Barbro N. Melgert
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen Research Institute for Pharmacy, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Janesh Pillay
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Critical Care, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Janette K. Burgess
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, W.J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science-FB41, Groningen, Netherlands
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39
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Esfahani P, Sun B. Patterning ECM microstructure to investigate 3D cellular dynamics under multiplexed mechanochemical guidance. F1000Res 2022; 11:1071. [PMID: 37901154 PMCID: PMC10603315 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.125171.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Biochemical and biophysical factors jointly regulate the cellular dynamics in many physiological processes. It is therefore imperative to include multiplexed microenvironment cues when employing {in vitro} cell-based assays to model physiological processes. Methods: To meet this need, we have developed a modular platform of 3D cell culture, Modular Control of Microenvironment for Cell Migration and Culture Assay (MC33A), that incorporates directed chemical and mechanical cues in the forms of chemotaxis and contact guidance, respectively. Taking advantage of the functionalities of MC33A, we study the migration and morphology of breast cancer cells in 3D engineered extracellular matrix (ECM) following a serum gradient for chemotaxis. Results: We show that when chemotaxis is facilitated by contact guidance in the same direction as the serum gradient, cells demonstrate dimensional-reduction in their motility and highly elongated ellipsoidal shape. When the direction of ECM alignment diverges from the direction of serum gradient, chemotactic motion is significantly suppressed, and cells are generally more protrusive and rounded in their morphology. Conclusions: These examples demonstrate MC33A as a powerful tool for engineering complex microenvironments of cells that will advance the state-of-the-art of cell-based analysis in drug development, regenerative medicine, and other research areas in bioengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bo Sun
- Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97330, USA
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40
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Hopkins K, Buno K, Romick N, Freitas dos Santos AC, Tinsley S, Wakelin E, Kennedy J, Ladisch M, Allen-Petersen BL, Solorio L. Sustained degradation of hyaluronic acid using an in situ forming implant. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac193. [PMID: 36714867 PMCID: PMC9802073 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In pancreatic cancer, excessive hyaluronic acid (HA) in the tumor microenvironment creates a viscous stroma, which reduces systemic drug transport into the tumor and correlates with poor patient prognosis. HA can be degraded through both enzymatic and nonenzymatic methods to improve mass transport properties. Here, we use an in situ forming implant to provide sustained degradation of HA directly at a local, targeted site. We formulated and characterized an implant capable of sustained release of hyaluronidase (HAase) using 15 kDa poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid and bovine testicular HAase. The implant releases bioactive HAase to degrade the HA through enzymatic hydrolysis at early timepoints. In the first 24 h, 17.9% of the HAase is released, which can reduce the viscosity of a 10 mg/mL HA solution by 94.1% and deplete the HA content within primary human pancreatic tumor samples and ex vivo murine tumors. At later timepoints, as lower quantities of HAase are released (51.4% released in total over 21 d), the degradation of HA is supplemented by the acidic by-products that accumulate as a result of implant degradation. Acidic conditions degrade HA through nonenzymatic methods. This formulation has potential as an intratumoral injection to allow sustained degradation of HA at the pancreatic tumor site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Hopkins
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Kevin Buno
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Natalie Romick
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Antonio Carlos Freitas dos Santos
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA,Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Samantha Tinsley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Elizabeth Wakelin
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Jacqueline Kennedy
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Michael Ladisch
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA,Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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41
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Tian Q, Gao H, Ma Y, Zhu L, Zhou Y, Shen Y, Wang B. The regulatory roles of T helper cells in distinct extracellular matrix characterization in breast cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:871742. [PMID: 36159822 PMCID: PMC9493030 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.871742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tumors are characterized by extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and stiffening. The ECM has been recognized as an important determinant of breast cancer progression and prognosis. Recent studies have revealed a strong link between ECM remodeling and immune cell infiltration in a variety of tumor types. However, the landscape and specific regulatory mechanisms between ECM and immune microenvironment in breast cancer have not been fully understood. Methods Using genomic data and clinical information of breast cancer patients obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, we conducted an extensive multi-omics analysis to explore the heterogeneity and prognostic significance of the ECM microenvironment. Masson and Sirius red staining were applied to quantify the contents of collagen in the ECM microenvironment. Tissue immunofluorescence (IF) staining was applied to identify T helper (Th) cells. Results We classified breast cancer patients into two ECM-clusters and three gene-clusters by consensus clustering. Significant heterogeneity in prognosis and immune cell infiltration have been found in these distinct clusters. Specifically, in the ECM-cluster with better prognosis, the expression levels of Th2 and regulatory T (Treg) cells were reduced, while the Th1, Th17 and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells-associated activities were significantly enhanced. The correlations between ECM characteristics and Th cells infiltration were then validated by clinical tissue samples from our hospital. The ECM-associated prognostic model was then constructed by 10 core prognostic genes and stratified breast cancer patients into two risk groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the overall survival (OS) of breast cancer patients in the high-risk group was significantly worse than that of the low-risk group. The risk scores for breast cancer patients obtained from our prognostic model were further confirmed to be associated with immune cell infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB) and stem cell indexes. Finally, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of antitumor agents for patients in different risk groups were calculated to provide references for therapy targeting distinct ECM characteristics. Conclusion Our findings identify a novel strategy for breast cancer subtyping based on the ECM characterization and reveal the regulatory roles of Th cells in ECM remodeling. Targeting ECM remodeling and Th cells hold potential to be a therapeutic alternative for breast cancer in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Tian
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Huan Gao
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yingying Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Lizhe Zhu
- Department of Breast Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yanwei Shen
- Department of Surgery Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yanwei Shen, ; Bo Wang,
| | - Bo Wang
- Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yanwei Shen, ; Bo Wang,
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Li Y, Wong IY, Guo M. Reciprocity of Cell Mechanics with Extracellular Stimuli: Emerging Opportunities for Translational Medicine. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2107305. [PMID: 35319155 PMCID: PMC9463119 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202107305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Human cells encounter dynamic mechanical cues in healthy and diseased tissues, which regulate their molecular and biophysical phenotype, including intracellular mechanics as well as force generation. Recent developments in bio/nanomaterials and microfluidics permit exquisitely sensitive measurements of cell mechanics, as well as spatiotemporal control over external mechanical stimuli to regulate cell behavior. In this review, the mechanobiology of cells interacting bidirectionally with their surrounding microenvironment, and the potential relevance for translational medicine are considered. Key fundamental concepts underlying the mechanics of living cells as well as the extracelluar matrix are first introduced. Then the authors consider case studies based on 1) microfluidic measurements of nonadherent cell deformability, 2) cell migration on micro/nano-topographies, 3) traction measurements of cells in three-dimensional (3D) matrix, 4) mechanical programming of organoid morphogenesis, as well as 5) active mechanical stimuli for potential therapeutics. These examples highlight the promise of disease diagnosis using mechanical measurements, a systems-level understanding linking molecular with biophysical phenotype, as well as therapies based on mechanical perturbations. This review concludes with a critical discussion of these emerging technologies and future directions at the interface of engineering, biology, and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Ian Y Wong
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Brown University, 184 Hope St Box D, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Ming Guo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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Laoharawee K, Johnson MJ, Lahr WS, Sipe CJ, Kleinboehl E, Peterson JJ, Lonetree CL, Bell JB, Slipek NJ, Crane AT, Webber BR, Moriarity BS. A Pan-RNase Inhibitor Enabling CRISPR-mRNA Platforms for Engineering of Primary Human Monocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:9749. [PMID: 36077152 PMCID: PMC9456164 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Monocytes and their downstream effectors are critical components of the innate immune system. Monocytes are equipped with chemokine receptors, allowing them to migrate to various tissues, where they can differentiate into macrophage and dendritic cell subsets and participate in tissue homeostasis, infection, autoimmune disease, and cancer. Enabling genome engineering in monocytes and their effector cells will facilitate a myriad of applications for basic and translational research. Here, we demonstrate that CRISPR-Cas9 RNPs can be used for efficient gene knockout in primary human monocytes. In addition, we demonstrate that intracellular RNases are likely responsible for poor and heterogenous mRNA expression as incorporation of pan-RNase inhibitor allows efficient genome engineering following mRNA-based delivery of Cas9 and base editor enzymes. Moreover, we demonstrate that CRISPR-Cas9 combined with an rAAV vector DNA donor template mediates site-specific insertion and expression of a transgene in primary human monocytes. Finally, we demonstrate that SIRPa knock-out monocyte-derived macrophages have enhanced activity against cancer cells, highlighting the potential for application in cellular immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanut Laoharawee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Matthew J. Johnson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Walker S. Lahr
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Christopher J. Sipe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Evan Kleinboehl
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Joseph J. Peterson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Cara-lin Lonetree
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jason B. Bell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Slipek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Andrew T. Crane
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Beau R. Webber
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Branden S. Moriarity
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Bhaskar D, Hruska AM, Wong IY. The need for speed: Migratory cells in tight spaces boost their molecular clock. Cell Syst 2022; 13:509-511. [PMID: 35863324 PMCID: PMC10071288 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Cells migrating in spatial confinement exhibit higher intracellular calcium levels, which increases the oscillation frequency of a "molecular clock" that synchronizes guanine nucleotide exchange factor GEF-H1 and microtubule polymerization for more frequent bursts of speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhananjay Bhaskar
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, and Legoretta Cancer Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Alex M Hruska
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, and Legoretta Cancer Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Ian Y Wong
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, and Legoretta Cancer Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
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Cellular kinetics: A clinical and computational review of CAR-T cell pharmacology. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 188:114421. [PMID: 35809868 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
To the extent that pharmacokinetics influence the effectiveness of nonliving therapeutics, so too do cellular kinetics influence the efficacy of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) -T cell therapy. Like conventional therapeutics, CAR-T cell therapies undergo a distribution phase upon administration. Unlike other therapeutics, however, this distribution phase is followed by subsequent phases of expansion, contraction, and persistence. The magnitude and duration of these phases unequivocally influence clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the "pharmacodynamics" of CAR-T cells is truly dynamic, as cells can rapidly become exhausted and lose their therapeutic efficacy. Mathematical models are among the translational tools commonly applied to assess, characterize, and predict the complex cellular kinetics and dynamics of CAR-T cells. Here, we provide a focused review of the cellular kinetics of CAR-T cells, the mechanisms underpinning their complexity, and the mathematical modeling approaches used to interrogate them.
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46
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Staros R, Michalak A, Rusinek K, Mucha K, Pojda Z, Zagożdżon R. Perspectives for 3D-Bioprinting in Modeling of Tumor Immune Evasion. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133126. [PMID: 35804898 PMCID: PMC9265021 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In a living organism, cancer cells function in a specific microenvironment, where they exchange numerous physical and biochemical cues with other cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Immune evasion is a clinically relevant phenomenon, in which cancer cells are able to direct this interchange of signals against the immune effector cells and to generate an immunosuppressive environment favoring their own survival. A proper understanding of this phenomenon is substantial for generating more successful anticancer therapies. However, classical cell culture systems are unable to sufficiently recapture the dynamic nature and complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) to be of satisfactory use for comprehensive studies on mechanisms of tumor immune evasion. In turn, 3D-bioprinting is a rapidly evolving manufacture technique, in which it is possible to generate finely detailed structures comprised of multiple cell types and biomaterials serving as ECM-analogues. In this review, we focus on currently used 3D-bioprinting techniques, their applications in the TME research, and potential uses of 3D-bioprinting in modeling of tumor immune evasion and response to immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Staros
- Department of Immunology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland; (R.S.); (K.M.)
| | - Agata Michalak
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (A.M.); (K.R.); (Z.P.)
| | - Kinga Rusinek
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (A.M.); (K.R.); (Z.P.)
| | - Krzysztof Mucha
- Department of Immunology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland; (R.S.); (K.M.)
| | - Zygmunt Pojda
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (A.M.); (K.R.); (Z.P.)
| | - Radosław Zagożdżon
- Department of Immunology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland; (R.S.); (K.M.)
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (A.M.); (K.R.); (Z.P.)
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-22-502-14-72; Fax: +48-22-502-21-59
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Nguyen DT, Ogando-Rivas E, Liu R, Wang T, Rubin J, Jin L, Tao H, Sawyer WW, Mendez-Gomez HR, Cascio M, Mitchell DA, Huang J, Sawyer WG, Sayour EJ, Castillo P. CAR T Cell Locomotion in Solid Tumor Microenvironment. Cells 2022; 11:1974. [PMID: 35741103 PMCID: PMC9221866 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The promising outcomes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in hematologic malignancies potentiates its capability in the fight against many cancers. Nevertheless, this immunotherapy modality needs significant improvements for the treatment of solid tumors. Researchers have incrementally identified limitations and constantly pursued better CAR designs. However, even if CAR T cells are armed with optimal killer functions, they must overcome and survive suppressive barriers imposed by the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we will discuss in detail the important role of TME in CAR T cell trafficking and how the intrinsic barriers contribute to an immunosuppressive phenotype and cancer progression. It is of critical importance that preclinical models can closely recapitulate the in vivo TME to better predict CAR T activity. Animal models have contributed immensely to our understanding of human diseases, but the intensive care for the animals and unreliable representation of human biology suggest in vivo models cannot be the sole approach to CAR T cell therapy. On the other hand, in vitro models for CAR T cytotoxic assessment offer valuable insights to mechanistic studies at the single cell level, but they often lack in vivo complexities, inter-individual heterogeneity, or physiologically relevant spatial dimension. Understanding the advantages and limitations of preclinical models and their applications would enable more reliable prediction of better clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duy T. Nguyen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (D.T.N.); (W.W.S.); (W.G.S.)
| | - Elizabeth Ogando-Rivas
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Ruixuan Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Theodore Wang
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Jacob Rubin
- Warrington College of Business, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Linchun Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Haipeng Tao
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - William W. Sawyer
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (D.T.N.); (W.W.S.); (W.G.S.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Hector R. Mendez-Gomez
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Matthew Cascio
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Duane A. Mitchell
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Jianping Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - W. Gregory Sawyer
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (D.T.N.); (W.W.S.); (W.G.S.)
| | - Elias J. Sayour
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Paul Castillo
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
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Immune Checkpoint Proteins, Metabolism and Adhesion Molecules: Overlooked Determinants of CAR T-Cell Migration? Cells 2022; 11:cells11111854. [PMID: 35681548 PMCID: PMC9180731 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T cells genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) has demonstrated striking efficacy for the treatment of several hematological malignancies, including B-cell lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. However, many patients still do not respond to this therapy or eventually relapse after an initial remission. In most solid tumors for which CAR T-cell therapy has been tested, efficacy has been very limited. In this context, it is of paramount importance to understand the mechanisms of tumor resistance to CAR T cells. Possible factors contributing to such resistance have been identified, including inherent CAR T-cell dysfunction, the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and tumor-intrinsic factors. To control tumor growth, CAR T cells have to migrate actively enabling a productive conjugate with their targets. To date, many cells and factors contained within the tumor microenvironment have been reported to negatively control the migration of T cells and their ability to reach cancer cells. Recent evidence suggests that additional determinants, such as immune checkpoint proteins, cellular metabolism, and adhesion molecules, may modulate the motility of CAR T cells in tumors. Here, we review the potential impact of these determinants on CAR T-cell motility, and we discuss possible strategies to restore intratumoral T-cell migration with a special emphasis on approaches targeting these determinants.
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49
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Simsek H, Klotzsch E. The solid tumor microenvironment-Breaking the barrier for T cells: How the solid tumor microenvironment influences T cells: How the solid tumor microenvironment influences T cells. Bioessays 2022; 44:e2100285. [PMID: 35393714 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in the behavior and development of solid tumors as well as shaping the immune response against them. As the tumor cells proliferate, the space they occupy and their physical interactions with the surrounding tissue increases. The growing tumor tissue becomes a complex dynamic structure, containing connective tissue, vascular structures, and extracellular matrix (ECM) that facilitates stimulation, oxygenation, and nutrition, necessary for its fast growth. Mechanical cues such as stiffness, solid stress, interstitial fluid pressure (IFP), matrix density, and microarchitecture influence cellular functions and ultimately tumor progression and metastasis. In this fight, our body is equipped with T cells as its spearhead against tumors. However, the altered biochemical and mechanical environment of the tumor niche affects T cell efficacy and leads to their exhaustion. Understanding the mechanobiological properties of the TME and their effects on T cells is key for developing novel adoptive tumor immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Simsek
- Institute for Biology, Experimental Biophysics/Mechanobiology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Enrico Klotzsch
- Institute for Biology, Experimental Biophysics/Mechanobiology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Department for Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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50
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Esfahani P, Levine H, Mukherjee M, Sun B. Three-dimensional cancer cell migration directed by dual mechanochemical guidance. PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH 2022; 4:L022007. [PMID: 37033157 PMCID: PMC10081505 DOI: 10.1103/physrevresearch.4.l022007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Directed cell migration guided by external cues plays a central role in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. The microenvironment of cells often simultaneously contains various cues and the motility response of cells to multiplexed guidance is poorly understood. Here we combine experiments and mathematical models to study the three-dimensional migration of breast cancer cells in the presence of both contact guidance and a chemoattractant gradient. We find that the chemotaxis of cells is complicated by the presence of contact guidance as the microstructure of extracellular matrix (ECM) vary spatially. In the presence of dual guidance, the impact of ECM alignment is determined externally by the coherence of ECM fibers and internally by cell mechanosensing Rho/Rock pathways. When contact guidance is parallel to the chemical gradient, coherent ECM fibers significantly increase the efficiency of chemotaxis. When contact guidance is perpendicular to the chemical gradient, cells exploit the ECM disorder to locate paths for chemotaxis. Our results underscore the importance of fully characterizing the cancer cell microenvironment in order to better understand invasion and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedram Esfahani
- Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Departments of Physics and Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Mrinmoy Mukherjee
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Bo Sun
- Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA
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