Extracellular matrix educates an immunoregulatory tumor macrophage phenotype found in ovarian cancer metastasis

High-dimensional deconstruction of ovarian cancer at single-cell precision reveals HEBP2 that reshape the TIME and drive carboplatin resistance

BACKGROUND

Single-cell sequencing was employed to analyze the tumor immune microenvironment in ovarian cancer (OC) patients, exploring the evolutionary roles of various macrophage subgroups in OC progression and their correlation with fatty acid metabolism-related genes in contributing to drug resistance.

METHODS

This study aimed to decipher the mechanisms underlying OC chemoresistance (OC-CR) and carboplatin resistance by integrating and analyzing multiple single-cell RNA sequencing datasets from OC patients. The tumor immune microenvironment in OC-CR patients exhibited notable alterations in cellular interactions and the proportions of different immune cell populations, in contrast to the cohort sensitive to OC chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The study demonstrates that the fatty acid-associated gene HEBP2 not only accelerates OC progression but also modifies the immune landscape of OC, driving the polarization from M0_TAM to M2_TAM. This shift results in a diminished efficacy of chemotherapy in OC. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo experiments underscored HEBP2's role in boosting the proliferation of OC-resistant cell lines and suppressing apoptosis, thereby facilitating carboplatin resistance.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the immune microenvironments of OC-CR significantly differ from those sensitive to chemotherapy, underscoring HEBP2's role in fostering OC resistance. This establishes HEBP2 as a promising prognostic marker and a novel target for therapeutic strategies against OC resistance.

Targets in the Tumour Matrisome to Promote Cancer Therapy Response

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of complex fibrillar proteins, proteoglycans, and macromolecules, generated by stromal, immune, and cancer cells. The components and organisation of the matrix evolves as tumours progress to invasive disease and metastasis. In many solid tumours, dense fibrotic ECM has been hypothesised to impede therapy response by limiting drug and immune cell access. Interventions to target individual components of the ECM, collectively termed the matrisome, have, however, revealed complex tumour-suppressor, tumour-promoter, and immune-modulatory functions, which have complicated clinical translation. The degree to which distinct components of the matrisome can dictate tumour phenotypes and response to therapy is the subject of intense study. A primary aim is to identify therapeutic opportunities within the matrisome, which might support a better response to existing therapies. Many matrix signatures have been developed which can predict prognosis, immune cell content, and immunotherapy responses. In this review, we will examine key components of the matrisome which have been associated with advanced tumours and therapy resistance. We have primarily focussed here on targeting matrisome components, rather than specific cell types, although several examples are described where cells of origin can dramatically affect tumour roles for matrix components. As we unravel the complex biochemical, biophysical, and intracellular transduction mechanisms associated with the ECM, numerous therapeutic opportunities will be identified to modify tumour progression and therapy response.

Extracellular matrix stiffness and tumor-associated macrophage polarization: new fields affecting immune exclusion

In the malignant progression of tumors, there is deposition and cross-linking of collagen, as well as an increase in hyaluronic acid content, which can lead to an increase in extracellular matrix stiffness. Recent research evidence have shown that the extracellular matrix plays an important role in angiogenesis, cell proliferation, migration, immunosuppression, apoptosis, metabolism, and resistance to chemotherapeutic by the alterations toward both secretion and degradation. The clinical importance of tumor-associated macrophage is increasingly recognized, and macrophage polarization plays a central role in a series of tumor immune processes through internal signal cascade, thus regulating tumor progression. Immunotherapy has gradually become a reliable potential treatment strategy for conventional chemotherapy resistance and advanced cancer patients, but the presence of immune exclusion has become a major obstacle to treatment effectiveness, and the reasons for their resistance to these approaches remain uncertain. Currently, there is a lack of exact mechanism on the regulation of extracellular matrix stiffness and tumor-associated macrophage polarization on immune exclusion. An in-depth understanding of the relationship between extracellular matrix stiffness, tumor-associated macrophage polarization, and immune exclusion will help reveal new therapeutic targets and guide the development of clinical treatment methods for advanced cancer patients. This review summarized the different pathways and potential molecular mechanisms of extracellular matrix stiffness and tumor-associated macrophage polarization involved in immune exclusion and provided available strategies to address immune exclusion.

Identification of extracellular matrix-related biomarkers in colon adenocarcinoma by bioinformatics and experimental validation

Backgrounds

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important component of tumor microenvironment, and its abnormal expression promotes tumor formation, progression and metastasis.

Methods

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify ECM-related hub genes based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) data. COAD clinical samples were used to verify the expression of potential biomarkers in tumor tissues, and siRNA was used to explore the role of potential biomarkers in cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Results

Three potential biomarkers (LEP, NGF and PCOLCE2) related to prognosis of COAD patients were identified and used to construct ERGPI. Immunohistochemical analysis of clinical samples showed that the three potential biomarkers were highly expressed in tumor tissues of COAD patients. Knockdown of LEP, NGF or PCOLCE2 inhibited COAD cell proliferation and EMT. Dictamnine inhibited tumor cell growth by binding to these three potential biomarkers based on molecular docking and transplanted tumor model.

Conclusion

The three biomarkers can provide new ideas for the diagnosis and targeted therapy of COAD patients.

Crosstalk between T lymphocyte and extracellular matrix in tumor microenvironment

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex three-dimensional structure composed of proteins, glycans, and proteoglycans, constituting a critical component of the tumor microenvironment. Complex interactions among immune cells, extracellular matrix, and tumor cells promote tumor development and metastasis, consequently influencing therapeutic efficacy. Hence, elucidating these interaction mechanisms is pivotal for precision cancer therapy. T lymphocytes are an important component of the immune system, exerting direct anti-tumor effects by attacking tumor cells or releasing lymphokines to enhance immune effects. The ECM significantly influences T cells function and infiltration within the tumor microenvironment, thereby impacting the behavior and biological characteristics of tumor cells. T cells are involved in regulating the synthesis, degradation, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix through the secretion of cytokines and enzymes. As a result, it affects the proliferation and invasive ability of tumor cells as well as the efficacy of immunotherapy. This review discusses the mechanisms underlying T lymphocyte-ECM interactions in the tumor immune microenvironment and their potential application in immunotherapy. It provides novel insights for the development of innovative tumor therapeutic strategies and drug.

Versican Associates with Tumor Immune Phenotype and Limits T-cell Trafficking via Chondroitin Sulfate

Immunotherapies for cancers of epithelial origin have limited efficacy, and a growing body of evidence links the composition of extracellular matrix (ECM) with the likelihood of a favorable response to treatment. The ECM may be considered an immunologic barrier, restricting the localization of cytotoxic immune cells to stromal areas and inhibiting their contact with tumor cells. Identifying ECM components of this immunologic barrier could provide targets that whether degraded in situ may support antitumor immunity and improve immunotherapy response. Using a library of primary triple-negative breast cancer tissues, we correlated CD8+ T-cell tumor contact with ECM composition and identified a proteoglycan, versican (VCAN), as a putative member of the immunologic barrier. Our analysis reveals that CD8+ T-cell contact with tumor associates with the location of VCAN expression, the specific glycovariant of VCAN [defined through the pattern of posttranslational attachments of glycosaminoglycans (GAG)], and the cell types that produce the variant. In functional studies, the isomers of chondroitin sulfate presented on VCAN have opposing roles being either supportive or inhibiting of T-cell trafficking, and removal of the GAGs ameliorates these effects on T-cell trafficking. Overall, we conclude that VCAN can either support or inhibit T-cell trafficking within the tumor microenvironment depending on the pattern of GAGs present, and that VCAN is a major component of the ECM immunologic barrier that defines the type of response to immunotherapy.

SIGNIFICANCE

The response to immunotherapy has been poor toward solid tumors despite immune cells infiltrating into the tumor. The ECM has been associated with impacting T-cell infiltration toward the tumor and in this article we have identified VCAN and its structural modification, chondroitin sulfate as having a key role in T-cell invasion.

Promoting Diabetic Wound Healing through a Hydrogel-Based Cascade Regulation Strategy of Fibroblast-Macrophage

The management of diabetic wounds (DWs) continues to pose a significant challenge in the field of medicine. DWs are primarily prevented from healing due to damage to macrophage efferocytosis and fibroblast dysfunction. Consequently, a treatment strategy that involves both immunoregulation and the promotion of extracellular matrix (ECM) formation holds promise for healing DWs. Nevertheless, existing treatment methods necessitate complex interventions and are associated with increased costs, for example, the use of cytokines and cell therapy, both of which have limited effectiveness. In this study, a new type of ruthenium (IV) oxide nanoparticles (RNPs)-laden hybrid hydrogel dressing with a double network of Pluronic F127 and F68 has been developed. Notably, the hybrid hydrogel demonstrates remarkable thermosensitivity, injectability, immunoregulatory characteristics, and healing capability. RNPs in hydrogel effectively regulate both fibroblasts and macrophages in a cascade manner, stimulating fibroblast differentiation while synergistically enhancing the efferocytosis of macrophage. The immunoregulatory character of the hydrogel aids in restoring the intrinsic stability of the immune microenvironment in the wound and facilitates essential remodeling of the ECM. This hydrogel therefore offers a novel approach for treating DWs through intercellular communication.

Rebuilding the microenvironment of primary tumors in humans: a focus on stroma

Conventional tumor models have critical shortcomings in that they lack the complexity of the human stroma. The heterogeneous stroma is a central compartment of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that must be addressed in cancer research and precision medicine. To fully model the human tumor stroma, the deconstruction and reconstruction of tumor tissues have been suggested as new approaches for in vitro tumor modeling. In this review, we summarize the heterogeneity of tumor-associated stromal cells and general deconstruction approaches used to isolate patient-specific stromal cells from tumor tissue; we also address the effect of the deconstruction procedure on the characteristics of primary cells. Finally, perspectives on the future of reconstructed tumor models are discussed, with an emphasis on the essential prerequisites for developing authentic humanized tumor models.

Application Prospect of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Organoids and Cell Therapy

Since its inception, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has been hailed as a powerful tool for comprehending disease etiology and advancing drug screening across various domains. While earlier iPSC-based disease modeling and drug assessment primarily operated at the cellular level, recent years have witnessed a significant shift towards organoid-based investigations. Organoids derived from iPSCs offer distinct advantages, particularly in enabling the observation of disease progression and drug metabolism in an in vivo-like environment, surpassing the capabilities of iPSC-derived cells. Furthermore, iPSC-based cell therapy has emerged as a focal point of clinical interest. In this review, we provide an extensive overview of non-integrative reprogramming methods that have evolved since the inception of iPSC technology. We also deliver a comprehensive examination of iPSC-derived organoids, spanning the realms of the nervous system, cardiovascular system, and oncology, as well as systematically elucidate recent advancements in iPSC-related cell therapies.

Mechanobiology of myeloid cells

Tissue-resident myeloid cells sense and transduce mechanical signals such as stiffness, stretch and compression. In the past two years, our understanding of the mechanosensitive signalling pathways in myeloid cells has significantly expanded. Moreover, it is increasingly clear which mechanical signals induce myeloid cells towards a pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotype. This is especially relevant in the context of altered matrix mechanics in immune-related pathologies or in the response to implanted biomaterials. A detailed understanding of myeloid cell mechanosensing may eventually lead to more effective cell-based immunotherapies for cancer, the development of mechanically inspired therapies to target fibrosis, and the engineering of safer implants. This review covers these recent advances in the emerging field of mechanoimmunology of myeloid cells.

Limitations and potential of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the third most common gynecological cancer and alone has an emergence rate of approximately 308,069 cases worldwide (2020) with dire survival rates. To put it into perspective, the mortality rate of OC is three times higher than that of breast cancer and it is predicted to only increase significantly by 2040. The primary reasons for such a high rate are that the physical symptoms of OC are detectable only during the advanced phase of the disease when resistance to chemotherapies is high and around 80% of the patients that do indeed respond to chemotherapy initially, show a poor prognosis subsequently. This highlights a pressing need to develop new and effective therapies to tackle advanced OC to improve prognosis and patient survival. A major advance in this direction is the emergence of combination immunotherapeutic methods to boost CD8+ T cell function to tackle OC. In this perspective, we discuss our view of the current state of some of the combination immunotherapies in the treatment of advanced OC, their limitations, and potential approaches toward a safer and more effective response.

TonEBP expression is essential in the IL-1β-induced migration and invasion of human A549 lung cancer cells

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among all cancers, in part because it readily metastasizes. The tumor microenvironment, comprising blood vessels, fibroblasts, immune cells, and macrophages [including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs)], is closely related to cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion. TAMs secrete several cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, which participate in cancer migration and invasion. p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), an important signaling molecule, induces cell migration and invasion in several carcinomas. Tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein (TonEBP) is also known to participate in cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion. However, the mechanisms by which it increases lung cancer migration remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which IL-1β and TonEBP affect lung cancer cell migration and invasion. We found that A549 cocultured-MΦ-secreted IL-1β induced A549 cell migration and invasion via the PAK1 pathway. TonEBP deficiency reduced A549 cell migration and invasion and increased responsiveness to IL-1β-induced migration and invasion. PAK1 phosphorylation, which was promoted by IL-1β, was reduced when TonEBP was depleted. These results suggest that TonEBP plays an important role in IL-1β induction and invasiveness of A549 cells via the PAK1 pathway. These findings could be valuable in identifying potential targets for lung cancer treatment.

The extracellular matrix - immune microenvironment crosstalk in cancer therapy: Challenges and opportunities

Targeting the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) by cancer immunotherapy has led to improved patient outcomes. However, response to these treatments is heterogeneous and cancer-type dependant. The therapeutic activity of classical cancer therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical oncology is modulated by alterations of the TIME. A major regulator of immune cell function and resistance to both immune and classical therapies is the extracellular matrix (ECM). Concurrently, cancer therapies reshape the TIME as well as the ECM, causing both pro- and anti-tumour responses. Accordingly, the TIME-ECM crosstalk presents attractive opportunities to improve therapy outcomes. Here, we review the molecular crosstalk between the TIME and the ECM in cancer and its implications in cancer progression and clinical intervention. Additionally, we discuss examples and future directions of ECM and TIME co-targeting in combination with oncological therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

ECM Composition Differentially Regulates Intracellular and Extracellular pH in Normal and Cancer Pancreatic Duct Epithelial Cells

Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation is a challenge for the exocrine pancreas, where the luminal secretion of bicarbonate-rich fluid is accompanied by interstitial flows of acid. This acid-base transport requires a plethora of ion transporters, including bicarbonate transporters and the Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1), which are dysregulated in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PDAC progression is favored by a Collagen-I rich extracellular matrix (ECM) which exacerbates the physiological interstitial acidosis. In organotypic cultures of normal human pancreatic cells (HPDE), parenchymal cancer cells (CPCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) growing on matrices reproducing ECM changes during progression, we studied resting pHi, the pHi response to fluxes of NaHCO₃ and acidosis and the role of NHE1 in pHi regulation. Our findings show that: (i) on the physiological ECM, HPDE cells have the most alkaline pHi, followed by CSCs and CPCs, while a Collagen I-rich ECM reverses the acid-base balance in cancer cells compared to normal cells; (ii) both resting pHi and pHi recovery from an acid load are reduced by extracellular NaHCO₃, especially in HPDE cells on a normal ECM; (iii) cancer cell NHE1 activity is less affected by NaHCO₃. We conclude that ECM composition and the fluctuations of pHe cooperate to predispose pHi homeostasis towards the presence of NaHCO₃ gradients similar to that expected in the tumor.