1
|
Yao Y, Tian G, Zhang J, Zhang S, Liu X, Hou J. Integrating bulk and single-cell sequencing reveals metastasis-associated CAFs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Life Sci 2024; 351:122768. [PMID: 38851417 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122768] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been shown to promote the metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify gene in CAFs that are associated with metastasis and to preliminarily validate its impact on the metastasis of HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS Scissor analysis was utilized to process single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing datasets, identifying genes associated with the metastasis of HNSCC through differential gene expression analysis. A risk model was constructed using LASSO regression analysis. Quantitative real time-PCR and Western blot were employed to measure mRNA and protein expressions, respectively. Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) was used to assess protein expression in CAFs. siRNA was utilized to achieve gene knockdown. CCK-8 and Transwell assays were employed to evaluate the biological characteristics of HNSCC cells. KEY FINDINGS Compare to the nonmetastatic primary CAFs (nmCAFs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1) was founded to be overexpressed in the cells and tissues of metastatic primary CAFs (mCAFs). Knocking down TIMP1 in CAFs can signifucantly inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HNSCC cells. SIGNIFICANCE CAFs facilitate HNSCC cell metastasis by upregulating TIMP1, highlighting TIMP1 as a potential therapeutic target in HNSCC metastasis management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yihuan Yao
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Ling-yuan west Street, Guangzhou 510000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhong Shan Er Road 74, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Guoli Tian
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Ling-yuan west Street, Guangzhou 510000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhong Shan Er Road 74, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jiaqiang Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Ling-yuan west Street, Guangzhou 510000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhong Shan Er Road 74, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shuaiyuan Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Ling-yuan west Street, Guangzhou 510000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhong Shan Er Road 74, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiaoyong Liu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Ling-yuan west Street, Guangzhou 510000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhong Shan Er Road 74, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jingsong Hou
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Ling-yuan west Street, Guangzhou 510000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhong Shan Er Road 74, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dai S, Liu Y, Liu Z, Li R, Luo F, Li Y, Dai L, Peng X. Cancer-associated fibroblasts mediate resistance to anti-EGFR therapies in cancer. Pharmacol Res 2024; 206:107304. [PMID: 39002870 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Over the last decade, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapies have transformed the treatment landscape for patients with advanced solid tumors. Despite these advances, resistance to anti-EGFR therapies is still a significant clinical challenge. While cell-autonomous mechanisms of resistance are well-documented, they do not fully elucidate the complexity of drug resistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), key mediators within the tumor microenvironment (TME), have emerged as pivotal players in cancer progression and chemoresistance. Recent evidence implicates CAFs in resistance to anti-EGFR therapies, suggesting they may undermine treatment efficacy. This review synthesizes current data, highlighting the critical role of CAFs in resistance pathogenesis and summarizing recent therapeutic strategies targeting CAFs. We underscore the challenges and advocate for the exploration of CAFs as a potential dual-targeted approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Dai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yingtong Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Zheran Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan, China
| | - Ruidan Li
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan, China
| | - Feng Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Lei Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Xingchen Peng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tang J, Chen Y, Wang C, Xia Y, Yu T, Tang M, Meng K, Yin L, Yang Y, Shen L, Xing H, Mao X. The role of mesenchymal stem cells in cancer and prospects for their use in cancer therapeutics. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e663. [PMID: 39070181 PMCID: PMC11283587 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.663] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recruited by malignant tumor cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and play a crucial role in the initiation and progression of malignant tumors. This role encompasses immune evasion, promotion of angiogenesis, stimulation of cancer cell proliferation, correlation with cancer stem cells, multilineage differentiation within the TME, and development of treatment resistance. Simultaneously, extensive research is exploring the homing effect of MSCs and MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSCs-EVs) in tumors, aiming to design them as carriers for antitumor substances. These substances are targeted to deliver antitumor drugs to enhance drug efficacy while reducing drug toxicity. This paper provides a review of the supportive role of MSCs in tumor progression and the associated molecular mechanisms. Additionally, we summarize the latest therapeutic strategies involving engineered MSCs and MSCs-EVs in cancer treatment, including their utilization as carriers for gene therapeutic agents, chemotherapeutics, and oncolytic viruses. We also discuss the distribution and clearance of MSCs and MSCs-EVs upon entry into the body to elucidate the potential of targeted therapies based on MSCs and MSCs-EVs in cancer treatment, along with the challenges they face.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Tang
- Central LaboratoryXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
| | - Yu Chen
- Central LaboratoryXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
- Medical Affairs, Xiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
| | - Chunhua Wang
- Department of Clinical LaboratoryXiangyang No. 1 People's HospitalHubei University of MedicineXiangyangHubei ProvinceChina
| | - Ying Xia
- Central LaboratoryXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
| | - Tingyu Yu
- Central LaboratoryXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
| | - Mengjun Tang
- Central LaboratoryXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
| | - Kun Meng
- Central LaboratoryXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
| | - Lijuan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and SafetyKey Laboratory of Industrial MicrobiologyMinistry of EducationTianjin Key Laboratory of Industry MicrobiologyNational and Local United Engineering Lab of Metabolic Control Fermentation TechnologyChina International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal ChemistryCollege of BiotechnologyTianjin University of Science & TechnologyTianjinChina
| | - Yang Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and ImmunityNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseaseState Key Discipline of Infectious DiseaseShenzhen Third People's HospitalSecond Hospital Affiliated to Southern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
| | - Liang Shen
- Central LaboratoryXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
| | - Hui Xing
- Central LaboratoryXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and SciencesXiangyangChina
| | - Xiaogang Mao
- Central LaboratoryXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and SciencesXiangyangChina
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liu X, Ren B, Ren J, Gu M, You L, Zhao Y. The significant role of amino acid metabolic reprogramming in cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:380. [PMID: 39069612 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01760-1] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Amino acid metabolism plays a pivotal role in tumor microenvironment, influencing various aspects of cancer progression. The metabolic reprogramming of amino acids in tumor cells is intricately linked to protein synthesis, nucleotide synthesis, modulation of signaling pathways, regulation of tumor cell metabolism, maintenance of oxidative stress homeostasis, and epigenetic modifications. Furthermore, the dysregulation of amino acid metabolism also impacts tumor microenvironment and tumor immunity. Amino acids can act as signaling molecules that modulate immune cell function and immune tolerance within the tumor microenvironment, reshaping the anti-tumor immune response and promoting immune evasion by cancer cells. Moreover, amino acid metabolism can influence the behavior of stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, regulate ECM remodeling and promote angiogenesis, thereby facilitating tumor growth and metastasis. Understanding the intricate interplay between amino acid metabolism and the tumor microenvironment is of crucial significance. Expanding our knowledge of the multifaceted roles of amino acid metabolism in tumor microenvironment holds significant promise for the development of more effective cancer therapies aimed at disrupting the metabolic dependencies of cancer cells and modulating the tumor microenvironment to enhance anti-tumor immune responses and inhibit tumor progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P.R, 100023, China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China
| | - Bo Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P.R, 100023, China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China
| | - Jie Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P.R, 100023, China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China
| | - Minzhi Gu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P.R, 100023, China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China
| | - Lei You
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P.R, 100023, China.
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China.
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China.
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P.R, 100023, China.
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China.
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, P.R, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Agorku DJ, Bosio A, Alves F, Ströbel P, Hardt O. Colorectal cancer-associated fibroblasts inhibit effector T cells via NECTIN2 signaling. Cancer Lett 2024; 595:216985. [PMID: 38821255 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216985] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts play a crucial role within the tumor microenvironment. However, a comprehensive characterization of CAF in colorectal cancer (CRC) is still missing. We combined scRNA-seq and spatial proteomics to decipher fibroblast heterogeneity in healthy human colon and CRC at high resolution. Analyzing nearly 23,000 fibroblasts, we identified 11 distinct clusters and verified them by spatial proteomics. Four clusters, consisting of myofibroblastic CAF (myCAF)-like, inflammatory CAF (iCAF)-like and proliferating fibroblasts as well as a novel cluster, which we named "T cell-inhibiting CAF" (TinCAF), were primarily found in CRC. This new cluster was characterized by the expression of immune-interacting receptors and ligands, including CD40 and NECTIN2. Co-culture of CAF and T cells resulted in a reduction of the effector T cell compartment, impaired proliferation, and increased exhaustion. By blocking its receptor interaction, we demonstrated that NECTIN2 was the key driver of T cell inhibition. Analysis of clinical datasets showed that NECTIN2 expression is a poor prognostic factor in CRC and other tumors. In conclusion, we identified a new class of immuno-suppressive CAF with features rendering them a potential target for future immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David J Agorku
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany; University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Institute of Pathology, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Andreas Bosio
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany; University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Translational Molecular Imaging, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Institute of Pathology, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Olaf Hardt
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang H, Liang Y, Liu Z, Zhang R, Chao J, Wang M, Liu M, Qiao L, Xuan Z, Zhao H, Lu L. POSTN + cancer-associated fibroblasts determine the efficacy of immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008721. [PMID: 39067872 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008721] [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] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a significant clinical challenge because the long-term benefits of immune checkpoint blockade therapy are limited. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying immunotherapy resistance in HCC is imperative for improving patient prognosis. DESIGN In this study, to systematically investigate the characteristics of cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subsets and the dynamic communication among the tumor microenvironment (TME) components regulated by CAF subsets, we generated an HCC atlas by compiling single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets on 220 samples from six datasets. We combined spatial transcriptomics with scRNA-seq and multiplexed immunofluorescence to identify the specific CAF subsets in the TME that determine the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC patients. RESULTS Our findings highlight the pivotal role of POSTN+ CAFs as potent immune response barriers at specific tumor locations, as they hinder effective T-cell infiltration and decrease the efficacy of immunotherapy. Additionally, we elucidated the interplay between POSTN+ CAFs and SPP1+ macrophages, whereby the former recruits the latter and triggers increased SPP1 expression via the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated a spatial correlation between POSTN+ CAFs and SPP1+ macrophages, revealing an immunosuppressive microenvironment that limits the immunotherapy response. Notably, we found that patients with elevated expression levels of both POSTN+ CAFs and SPP1+ macrophages achieved less therapeutic benefit in an immunotherapy cohort. CONCLUSION Our research elucidates light on the role of a particular subset of CAFs in immunotherapy resistance, emphasizing the potential benefits of targeting specific CAF subpopulations to improve clinical responses to immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Liang
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiashuo Chao
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingming Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mu Liu
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Qiao
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhengfeng Xuan
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haitao Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Ling Lu
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Miao Y, Chen Q, Liu X, Bu J, Zhang Z, Liu T, Yue Z, Huang L, Sun S, Li H, Yang A, Yang Z, Chen C. Comprehensive analysis of endoplasmic reticulum stress related signature in head and neck squamous carcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16972. [PMID: 39043683 PMCID: PMC11266686 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65090-5] [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: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC) is a prevalent malignant disease, with the majority of patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is considered to be a process that promotes tumorigenesis and impacts the tumor microenvironment (TME) in various cancers. The study aims to investigate the predictive value of ERS in HNSC and explore the correlation between ERS-related genes and TME. A series of bioinformatics analyses were carried out based on mRNA and scRNA-seq data from the TCGA and GEO databases. We conducted RT-qPCR and western blot to validate the signature, and performed cell functional experiments to investigate the in vitro biological functions of the gene. We identified 63 ERS-related genes that were associated with outcome and stage in HNSC. A three-gene signature (ATF6, TRIB3, and UBXN6) was developed, which presents predictive value in the prognosis and immunotherapy response of HNSC patients. The high-risk group exhibited a worse prognosis but may benefit from immunotherapy. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the signature and immune infiltration. In the high-risk group, fibroblasts were more active in intercellular communication, and more T cells were observed at the end of the sequential phase. The genes in the ERS-related signature were overexpressed in HNSC cells, and the knockdown of TRIB3 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration. This study established a novel ERS-related signature that has potential implications for HNSC therapy and the understanding of TME.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Miao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, 16th Floor, No. 2 Inpatient Building, Qingyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaorong Chen
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Bu
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuoqi Zhang
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China
| | - Tongjing Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, 16th Floor, No. 2 Inpatient Building, Qingyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenjie Yue
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, 16th Floor, No. 2 Inpatient Building, Qingyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lizhen Huang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, 16th Floor, No. 2 Inpatient Building, Qingyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuaishuai Sun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, 16th Floor, No. 2 Inpatient Building, Qingyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Li
- The Second Clinical College of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570100, People's Republic of China
| | - Ankui Yang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongyuan Yang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China.
| | - Cuifang Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, 16th Floor, No. 2 Inpatient Building, Qingyuan, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Assouline B, Kahn R, Hodali L, Condiotti R, Engel Y, Elyada E, Mordechai-Heyn T, Pitarresi JR, Atias D, Steinberg E, Bidany-Mizrahi T, Forkosh E, Katz LH, Benny O, Golan T, Hofree M, Stewart SA, Atlan KA, Zamir G, Stanger BZ, Berger M, Ben-Porath I. Senescent cancer-associated fibroblasts in pancreatic adenocarcinoma restrict CD8 + T cell activation and limit responsiveness to immunotherapy in mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6162. [PMID: 39039076 PMCID: PMC11263607 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50441-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Senescent cells within tumors and their stroma exert complex pro- and anti-tumorigenic functions. However, the identities and traits of these cells, and the potential for improving cancer therapy through their targeting, remain poorly characterized. Here, we identify a senescent subset within previously-defined cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) and in premalignant lesions in mice and humans. Senescent CAFs isolated from mouse and humans expressed elevated levels of immune-regulatory genes. Depletion of senescent CAFs, either genetically or using the Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-199 (venetoclax), increased the proportion of activated CD8+ T cells in mouse pancreatic carcinomas, whereas induction of CAF senescence had the opposite effect. Combining ABT-199 with an immune checkpoint therapy regimen significantly reduced mouse tumor burden. These results indicate that senescent CAFs in PDAC stroma limit the numbers of activated cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, and suggest that their targeted elimination through senolytic treatment may enhance immunotherapy.
Collapse
Grants
- R01 CA217208 NCI NIH HHS
- R01 CA276512 NCI NIH HHS
- R00 CA252153 NCI NIH HHS
- 2621/18 Israel Science Foundation (ISF)
- R01 CA252225 NCI NIH HHS
- R01 AG059244 NIA NIH HHS
- Israel Cancer Research Fund (Israel Cancer Research Fund, Inc.)
- This study was supported by grants from the Israel Science Foundation - Broad Institute program (2621/18, I.B.-P.), Israel Precision Medicine Partnership (3755/21, I.B.-P.), Israel Science Foundation Mid-Career Program (1923/22, I.B.-P.), the Israel Ministry of Science and Technology DKFZ-MOST program (4062, I.B.-P.), the Chief Scientist of the Israel Ministry of Health (3-15017, I.B.-P.), the Alex U. Soyka Program (I.B.-P., B.A., R.K., L.H.), the Israel Cancer Research Fund International Collaboration Program (I.B.-P)
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Assouline
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rachel Kahn
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Lutfi Hodali
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Reba Condiotti
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yarden Engel
- The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ela Elyada
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tzlil Mordechai-Heyn
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jason R Pitarresi
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Dikla Atias
- Pancreatic Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Oncology Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Eliana Steinberg
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tirza Bidany-Mizrahi
- The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Esther Forkosh
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hadassah Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Lior H Katz
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hadassah Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ofra Benny
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Talia Golan
- Pancreatic Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Oncology Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Matan Hofree
- The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Sheila A Stewart
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Karine A Atlan
- Department of Pathology, Hadassah Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gideon Zamir
- Department of Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Medicine and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Michael Berger
- The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ittai Ben-Porath
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cantoni C, Falco M, Vitale M, Pietra G, Munari E, Pende D, Mingari MC, Sivori S, Moretta L. Human NK cells and cancer. Oncoimmunology 2024; 13:2378520. [PMID: 39022338 PMCID: PMC11253890 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2024.2378520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The long story of NK cells started about 50 y ago with the first demonstration of a natural cytotoxic activity within an undefined subset of circulating leukocytes, has involved an ever-growing number of researchers, fascinated by the apparently easy-to-reach aim of getting a "universal anti-tumor immune tool". In fact, in spite of the impressive progress obtained in the first decades, these cells proved far more complex than expected and, paradoxically, the accumulating findings have continuously moved forward the attainment of a complete control of their function for immunotherapy. The refined studies of these latter years have indicated that NK cells can epigenetically calibrate their functional potential, in response to specific environmental contexts, giving rise to extraordinarily variegated subpopulations, comprehensive of memory-like cells, tissue-resident cells, or cells in various differentiation stages, or distinct functional states. In addition, NK cells can adapt their activity in response to a complex body of signals, spanning from the interaction with either suppressive or stimulating cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cells or dendritic cells, respectively) to the engagement of various receptors (specific for immune checkpoints, cytokines, tumor/viral ligands, or mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity). According to this picture, the idea of an easy and generalized exploitation of NK cells is changing, and the way is opening toward new carefully designed, combined and personalized therapeutic strategies, also based on the use of genetically modified NK cells and stimuli capable of strengthening and redirecting their effector functions against cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cantoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Michela Falco
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Vitale
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Daniela Pende
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Simona Sivori
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Martínez-Hernández R, Sánchez de la Blanca N, Sacristán-Gómez P, Serrano-Somavilla A, Muñoz De Nova JL, Sánchez Cabo F, Heyn H, Sampedro-Núñez M, Marazuela M. Unraveling the molecular architecture of autoimmune thyroid diseases at spatial resolution. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5895. [PMID: 39003267 PMCID: PMC11246508 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50192-5] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) such as Graves' disease (GD) or Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) are organ-specific diseases that involve complex interactions between distinct components of thyroid tissue. Here, we use spatial transcriptomics to explore the molecular architecture, heterogeneity and location of different cells present in the thyroid tissue, including thyroid follicular cells (TFCs), stromal cells such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and thyroid infiltrating lymphocytes. We identify damaged antigen-presenting TFCs with upregulated CD74 and MIF expression in thyroid samples from AITD patients. Furthermore, we discern two main fibroblast subpopulations in the connective tissue including ADIRF+ myofibroblasts, mainly enriched in GD, and inflammatory fibroblasts, enriched in HT patients. We also demonstrate an increase of fenestrated PLVAP+ vessels in AITD, especially in GD. Our data unveil stromal and thyroid epithelial cell subpopulations that could play a role in the pathogenesis of AITD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Martínez-Hernández
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER GCV14/ER/12), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Nuria Sánchez de la Blanca
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER GCV14/ER/12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Sacristán-Gómez
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER GCV14/ER/12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Serrano-Somavilla
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER GCV14/ER/12), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Muñoz De Nova
- Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fátima Sánchez Cabo
- Bioinformatics Unit, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Holger Heyn
- Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (CNAG), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Sampedro-Núñez
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER GCV14/ER/12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica Marazuela
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER GCV14/ER/12), Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhu H, Jin RU. The role of the fibroblast in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2024; 40:319-327. [PMID: 38626060 PMCID: PMC11155289 DOI: 10.1097/mog.0000000000001032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the number one risk factor for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a deadly cancer with limited treatment options that has been increasing in incidence in the US. In this report, we discuss current studies on the role of mesenchyme and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in BE and EAC, and we highlight translational prospects of targeting these cells. RECENT FINDINGS New insights through studies using single-cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNA seq) have revealed an important emerging role of the mesenchyme in developmental signaling and cancer initiation. BE and EAC share similar stromal gene expression, as functional classifications of nonepithelial cells in BE show a remarkable similarity to EAC CAFs. Several recent sc-RNA seq studies and novel organoid fibroblast co-culture systems have characterized the subgroups of fibroblasts in BE and EAC, and have shown that these cells can directly influence the epithelium to induce BE development and cancer progression. Targeting the CAFs in EAC with may be a promising novel therapeutic strategy. SUMMARY The fibroblasts in the surrounding mesenchyme may have a direct role in influencing altered epithelial plasticity during BE development and progression to EAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huili Zhu
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Mu W, Gu P, Li H, Zhou J, Jian Y, Jia W, Ge Y. Exposure of benzo[a]pyrene induces HCC exosome-circular RNA to activate lung fibroblasts and trigger organotropic metastasis. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2024; 44:718-738. [PMID: 38840551 PMCID: PMC11260768 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12574] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a carcinogen pollutant produced by combustion processes, is present in the western diet with grilled meats. Chronic exposure of B[a]P in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells promotes metastasis rather than primary proliferation, implying an unknown mechanism of B[a]P-induced malignancy. Given that exosomes carry bioactive molecules to distant sites, we investigated whether and how exosomes mediate cancer-stroma communications for a toxicologically associated microenvironment. METHOD Exosomes were isolated from B[a]P stimulated BEL7404 HCC cells (7404-100Bap Exo) at an environmental relevant dose (100 nmol/L). Lung pre-education animal model was prepared via injection of exosomes and cytokines. The inflammatory genes of educated lungs were evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription PCR array. HCC LM3 cells transfected with firefly luciferase were next injected to monitor tumor burdens and organotropic metastasis. Profile of B[a]P-exposed exosomes were determined by ceRNA microarray. Interactions between circular RNA (circRNA) and microRNAs (miRNAs) were detected using RNA pull-down in target lung fibroblasts. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and RNA immunoprecipitation assay was used to evaluate the "on-off" interaction of circRNA-miRNA pairs. We further developed an adeno-associated virus inhalation model to examine mRNA expression specific in lung, thereby exploring the mRNA targets of B[a]P induced circRNA-miRNA cascade. RESULTS Lung fibroblasts exert activation phenotypes, including focal adhesion and motility were altered by 7404-100Bap Exo. In the exosome-educated in vivo model, fibrosis factors and pro-inflammatory molecules of are up-regulated when injected with exosomes. Compared to non-exposed 7404 cells, circ_0011496 was up-regulated following B[a]P treatment and was mainly packaged into 7404-100Bap Exo. Exosomal circ_0011496 were delivered and competitively bound to miR-486-5p in recipient fibroblasts. The down-regulation of miR-486-5p converted fibroblast to cancer-associated fibroblast via regulating the downstream of Twinfilin-1 (TWF1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) cascade. Additionally, increased TWF1, specifically in exosomal circ_0011496 educated lungs, could promote cancer-stroma crosstalk via activating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These modulated fibroblasts promoted endothelial cells angiogenesis and recruited primary HCC cells invasion, as a consequence of a pre-metastatic niche formation. CONCLUSION We demonstrated that B[a]P-induced tumor exosomes can deliver circ_0011496 to activate miR-486-5p/TWF1/MMP9 cascade in the lung fibroblasts, generating a feedback loop that promoted HCC metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Mu
- School of Public HealthCenter for Single‐cell OmicsShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Pengfei Gu
- School of Public HealthCenter for Single‐cell OmicsShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Huating Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes MellitusDepartment of Endocrinology and MetabolismShanghai Diabetes InstituteShanghai Clinical Center for DiabetesShanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Jinjin Zhou
- School of Public HealthCenter for Single‐cell OmicsShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Yulun Jian
- School of Public HealthCenter for Single‐cell OmicsShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Weiping Jia
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes MellitusDepartment of Endocrinology and MetabolismShanghai Diabetes InstituteShanghai Clinical Center for DiabetesShanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Yang Ge
- School of Public HealthCenter for Single‐cell OmicsShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiP. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ye J, Baer JM, Faget DV, Morikis VA, Ren Q, Melam A, Delgado AP, Luo X, Bagchi SM, Belle JI, Campos E, Friedman M, Veis DJ, Knudsen ES, Witkiewicz AK, Powers S, Longmore GD, DeNardo DG, Stewart SA. Senescent CAFs Mediate Immunosuppression and Drive Breast Cancer Progression. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:1302-1323. [PMID: 38683161 PMCID: PMC11216870 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0426] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) profoundly influences tumorigenesis, with gene expression in the breast TME capable of predicting clinical outcomes. The TME is complex and includes distinct cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subtypes whose contribution to tumorigenesis remains unclear. Here, we identify a subset of myofibroblast CAFs (myCAF) that are senescent (senCAF) in mouse and human breast tumors. Utilizing the MMTV-PyMT;INK-ATTAC (INK) mouse model, we found that senCAF-secreted extracellular matrix specifically limits natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity to promote tumor growth. Genetic or pharmacologic senCAF elimination unleashes NK cell killing, restricting tumor growth. Finally, we show that senCAFs are present in HER2+, ER+, and triple-negative breast cancer and in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) where they predict tumor recurrence. Together, these findings demonstrate that senCAFs are potently tumor promoting and raise the possibility that targeting them by senolytic therapy could restrain breast cancer development. Significance: senCAFs limit NK cell-mediated killing, thereby contributing to breast cancer progression. Thus, targeting senCAFs could be a clinically viable approach to limit tumor progression. See related article by Belle et al., p. 1324.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Ye
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - John M. Baer
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Douglas V. Faget
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Vasilios A. Morikis
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Qihao Ren
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Anupama Melam
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ana Paula Delgado
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Xianmin Luo
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Satarupa Mullick Bagchi
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jad I. Belle
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Edward Campos
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael Friedman
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Deborah J. Veis
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo 63110, USA
| | | | | | - Scott Powers
- Department of Pathology and Cancer Center, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Gregory D. Longmore
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- ICCE Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - David G. DeNardo
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- ICCE Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Sheila A. Stewart
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- ICCE Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Kader A, Snellings J, Adams LC, Gottheil P, Mangarova DB, Heyl JL, Kaufmann JO, Moeckel J, Brangsch J, Auer TA, Collettini F, Sauer F, Hamm B, Käs J, Sack I, Makowski MR, Braun J. Sensitivity of magnetic resonance elastography to extracellular matrix and cell motility in human prostate cancer cell line-derived xenograft models. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2024; 161:213884. [PMID: 38723432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.213884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a significant health problem in the male population of the Western world. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), an emerging medical imaging technique sensitive to mechanical properties of biological tissues, detects PCa based on abnormally high stiffness and viscosity values. Yet, the origin of these changes in tissue properties and how they correlate with histopathological markers and tumor aggressiveness are largely unknown, hindering the use of tumor biomechanical properties for establishing a noninvasive PCa staging system. To infer the contributions of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and cell motility, we investigated fresh tissue specimens from two PCa xenograft mouse models, PC3 and LNCaP, using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), quantitative histology, and nuclear shape analysis. Increased tumor stiffness and impaired water diffusion were observed to be associated with collagen and elastin accumulation and decreased cell motility. Overall, LNCaP, while more representative of clinical PCa than PC3, accumulated fewer ECM components, induced less restriction of water diffusion, and exhibited increased cell motility, resulting in overall softer and less viscous properties. Taken together, our results suggest that prostate tumor stiffness increases with ECM accumulation and cell adhesion - characteristics that influence critical biological processes of cancer development. MRE paired with DWI provides a powerful set of imaging markers that can potentially predict prostate tumor development from benign masses to aggressive malignancies in patients. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Xenograft models of human prostate tumor cell lines, allowing correlation of microstructure-sensitive biophysical imaging parameters with quantitative histological methods, can be investigated to identify hallmarks of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Avan Kader
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Technical University of Munich, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Joachim Snellings
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Lisa C Adams
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Technical University of Munich, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Pablo Gottheil
- Peter Debye Institute for Soft Matter Physics, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dilyana B Mangarova
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jennifer L Heyl
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jan O Kaufmann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Division 1.5 Protein Analysis, Richard-Willstätter-Str. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jana Moeckel
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Julia Brangsch
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Technical University of Munich, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Timo A Auer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Insitute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Federico Collettini
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Insitute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Frank Sauer
- Peter Debye Institute for Soft Matter Physics, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Bernd Hamm
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Josef Käs
- Peter Debye Institute for Soft Matter Physics, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Ingolf Sack
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Marcus R Makowski
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Technical University of Munich, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; King's College London, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.
| | - Jürgen Braun
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Chapple RH, Liu X, Natarajan S, Alexander MIM, Kim Y, Patel AG, LaFlamme CW, Pan M, Wright WC, Lee HM, Zhang Y, Lu M, Koo SC, Long C, Harper J, Savage C, Johnson MD, Confer T, Akers WJ, Dyer MA, Sheppard H, Easton J, Geeleher P. An integrated single-cell RNA-seq map of human neuroblastoma tumors and preclinical models uncovers divergent mesenchymal-like gene expression programs. Genome Biol 2024; 25:161. [PMID: 38898465 PMCID: PMC11186099 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03309-4] [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: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroblastoma is a common pediatric cancer, where preclinical studies suggest that a mesenchymal-like gene expression program contributes to chemotherapy resistance. However, clinical outcomes remain poor, implying we need a better understanding of the relationship between patient tumor heterogeneity and preclinical models. RESULTS Here, we generate single-cell RNA-seq maps of neuroblastoma cell lines, patient-derived xenograft models (PDX), and a genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM). We develop an unsupervised machine learning approach ("automatic consensus nonnegative matrix factorization" (acNMF)) to compare the gene expression programs found in preclinical models to a large cohort of patient tumors. We confirm a weakly expressed, mesenchymal-like program in otherwise adrenergic cancer cells in some pre-treated high-risk patient tumors, but this appears distinct from the presumptive drug-resistance mesenchymal programs evident in cell lines. Surprisingly, however, this weak-mesenchymal-like program is maintained in PDX and could be chemotherapy-induced in our GEMM after only 24 h, suggesting an uncharacterized therapy-escape mechanism. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our findings improve the understanding of how neuroblastoma patient tumor heterogeneity is reflected in preclinical models, provides a comprehensive integrated resource, and a generalizable set of computational methodologies for the joint analysis of clinical and pre-clinical single-cell RNA-seq datasets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard H Chapple
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Xueying Liu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Sivaraman Natarajan
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Margaret I M Alexander
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Yuna Kim
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Anand G Patel
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Christy W LaFlamme
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Min Pan
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - William C Wright
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Hyeong-Min Lee
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Yinwen Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Meifen Lu
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Selene C Koo
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Courtney Long
- Animal Resources Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - John Harper
- Animal Resources Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Chandra Savage
- Animal Resources Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Melissa D Johnson
- Center for In Vivo Imaging and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Thomas Confer
- Center for In Vivo Imaging and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Walter J Akers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Michael A Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Heather Sheppard
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - John Easton
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Paul Geeleher
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Xiao Y, Wang Z, Gu M, Wei P, Wang X, Li W. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: heterogeneity and their role in the tumor immune response. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:126. [PMID: 38864912 PMCID: PMC11169017 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01375-3] [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: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, many reports have been published on the composition and function of the tumor microenvironment (TME), among which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have received much attention. CAFs have different degrees of heterogeneity in terms of their origin, phenotype, and function and can be divided into different subpopulations. These subgroups may play different roles in the occurrence and development of tumors. In addition, CAFs are closely associated with tumor immunity and have been found to regulate immune cell activity and to suppress the tumor immune response. In this review, we systematize the heterogeneity and characteristics of CAFs, discuss how specific CAF subgroups contribute to cancer progression by inducing an immunosuppressive microenvironment, and finally, we examine the future clinical applications of CAF subgroups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Xiao
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Ziyu Wang
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Gu
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Panjian Wei
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojue Wang
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Weiying Li
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chen J, Chen R, Huang J. A pan-cancer single-cell transcriptional analysis of antigen-presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1372432. [PMID: 38903527 PMCID: PMC11187094 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1372432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the primary stromal cells found in tumor microenvironment, and display high plasticity and heterogeneity. By using single-cell RNA-seq technology, researchers have identified various subpopulations of CAFs, particularly highlighting a recently identified subpopulation termed antigen-presenting CAFs (apCAFs), which are largely unknown. Methods We collected datasets from public databases for 9 different solid tumor types to analyze the role of apCAFs in the tumor microenvironment. Results Our data revealed that apCAFs, likely originating mainly from normal fibroblast, are commonly found in different solid tumor types and generally are associated with anti-tumor effects. apCAFs may be associated with the activation of CD4+ effector T cells and potentially promote the survival of CD4+ effector T cells through the expression of C1Q molecules. Moreover, apCAFs exhibited highly enrichment of transcription factors RUNX3 and IKZF1, along with increased glycolytic metabolism. Conclusions Taken together, these findings offer novel insights into a deeper understanding of apCAFs and the potential therapeutic implications for apCAFs targeted immunotherapy in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Chen
- Shenshan Medical Center, Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shanwei, China
| | - Renhui Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingang Huang
- Medical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Zhang Q, Wang C, Qin M, Ye Y, Mo Y, Meng Q, Yang G, Feng G, Lin R, Xian S, Wei J, Chen S, Wang S, Mo Z. Investigating cellular similarities and differences between upper tract urothelial carcinoma and bladder urothelial carcinoma using single-cell sequencing. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1298087. [PMID: 38903524 PMCID: PMC11187293 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1298087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) both originate from uroepithelial tissue, sharing remarkably similar clinical manifestations and therapeutic modalities. However, emerging evidence suggests that identical treatment regimens may lead to less favorable outcomes in UTUC compared to BLCA. Therefore, it is imperative to explore molecular processes of UTUC and identify biological differences between UTUC and BLCA. Methods In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on three UTUC cases and four normal ureteral tissues. These data were combined with publicly available datasets from previous BLCA studies and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data for both cancer types. This pooled analysis allowed us to delineate the transcriptional differences among distinct cell subsets within the microenvironment, thus identifying critical factors contributing to UTUC progression and phenotypic differences between UTUC and BLCA. Results scRNA-seq analysis revealed seemingly similar but transcriptionally distinct cellular identities within the UTUC and BLCA ecosystems. Notably, we observed striking differences in acquired immunological landscapes and varied cellular functional phenotypes between these two cancers. In addition, we uncovered the immunomodulatory functions of vein endothelial cells (ECs) in UTUC, and intercellular network analysis demonstrated that fibroblasts play important roles in the microenvironment. Further intersection analysis showed that MARCKS promote UTUC progression, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining revealed that the diverse expression patterns of MARCKS in UTUC, BLCA and normal ureter tissues. Conclusion This study expands our multidimensional understanding of the similarities and distinctions between UTUC and BLCA. Our findings lay the foundation for further investigations to develop diagnostic and therapeutic targets for UTUC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingyun Zhang
- Department of Urology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Chengbang Wang
- Department of Urology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Min Qin
- Human Sperm Bank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Yu Ye
- Department of Emergency, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yingxi Mo
- Department of Research, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Qinggui Meng
- Department of Urology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Guanglin Yang
- Department of Urology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Guanzheng Feng
- Department of Urology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Rui Lin
- Department of Urology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shinan Xian
- Department of Urology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jueling Wei
- Department of Urology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shaohua Chen
- Department of Urology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shan Wang
- Department of Research, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Zengnan Mo
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Kimura T, Akazawa T, Mizote Y, Nakamura H, Sakaue M, Maniwa T, Shintani Y, Honma K, Tahara H, Okami J. Progressive changes in the protein expression profile of alveolar septa in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. Int J Clin Oncol 2024; 29:771-779. [PMID: 38600426 DOI: 10.1007/s10147-024-02507-1] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adenocarcinomas show a stepwise progression from atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) through adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) to invasive adenocarcinoma (IA). Immunoglobulin superfamily containing leucine-rich repeat (ISLR) is a marker of tumor-restraining cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are distinct from conventional, strongly α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA)-positive CAFs. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) has been focused on as a potential therapeutic and diagnostic target of CAFs. METHODS We investigated the changes in protein expression during adenocarcinoma progression in the pre-existing alveolar septa by assessing ISLR, αSMA, and FAP expression in normal lung, AAH, AIS, and IA. Fourteen AAH, seventeen AIS, and twenty IA lesions were identified and randomly sampled. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to evaluate cancer-associated changes and FAP expression in the pre-existing alveolar structures. RESULTS Normal alveolar septa expressed ISLR. The ISLR level in the alveolar septa decreased in AAH and AIS tissues when compared with that in normal lung tissue. The αSMA-positive area gradually increased from the adjacent lung tissue (13.3% ± 15%) to AIS (87.7% ± 14%), through AAH (70.2% ± 21%). Moreover, the FAP-positive area gradually increased from AAH (1.69% ± 1.4%) to IA (11.8% ± 7.1%), through AIS (6.11% ± 5.3%). Protein expression changes are a feature of CAFs in the pre-existing alveolar septa that begin in AAH. These changes gradually progressed from AAH to IA through AIS. CONCLUSIONS FAP-positive fibroblasts may contribute to tumor stroma formation in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, and this could influence the development of therapeutic strategies targeting FAP-positive CAFs for disrupting extracellular matrix formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Toru Kimura
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69, Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan.
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2-L5, Yamadaoka, , Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Takashi Akazawa
- Department of Cancer Drug Discovery and Development, Research Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69, Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan
| | - Yu Mizote
- Department of Cancer Drug Discovery and Development, Research Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69, Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan
| | - Harumi Nakamura
- Laboratory of Genomic Pathology, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69, Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan
| | - Miki Sakaue
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69, Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Maniwa
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69, Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan
| | - Yasushi Shintani
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2-L5, Yamadaoka, , Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Keiichiro Honma
- Department of Pathology, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69, Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan
| | - Hideaki Tahara
- Department of Cancer Drug Discovery and Development, Research Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69, Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan
- Project Division of Cancer Biomolecular Therapy, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan
| | - Jiro Okami
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69, Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Li Y, Yue L, Zhang S, Wang X, Zhu YN, Liu J, Ren H, Jiang W, Wang J, Zhang Z, Liu T. Proteomic, single-cell and bulk transcriptomic analysis of plasma and tumor tissues unveil core proteins in response to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy in triple negative breast cancer. Comput Biol Med 2024; 176:108537. [PMID: 38744008 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108537] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment has achieved durable responses in TNBC patients, whereas a fraction of them showed non-sensitivity to the treatment and the mechanism is still unclear. METHODS Pre- and post-treatment plasma samples from triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients treated with immunotherapy were measured by tandem mass tag (TMT) mass spectrometry. Public proteome data of lung cancer and melanoma treated with immunotherapy were employed to validate the findings. Blood and tissue single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of TNBC patients treated with or without immunotherapy were analyzed to identify the derivations of plasma proteins. RNA-seq data from IMvigor210 and other cancer types were used to validate plasma proteins in predicting response to immunotherapy. RESULTS A random forest model constructed by FAP, LRG1, LBP and COMP could well predict the response to immunotherapy. The activation of complement cascade was observed in responders, whereas FAP and COMP showed a higher abundance in non-responders and negative correlated with the activation of complements. scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq analysis suggested that FAP, COMP and complements were derived from fibroblasts of tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS We constructe an effective plasma proteomic model in predicting response to immunotherapy, and find that FAP+ and COMP+ fibroblasts are potential targets for reversing immunotherapy resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingpu Li
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150000, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China
| | - Liang Yue
- Center for Intelligent Proteomics, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310030, China; Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310030, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China
| | - Sifan Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Xinxuan Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150000, China
| | - Yu-Nan Zhu
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150000, China
| | - Jianyu Liu
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150000, China
| | - He Ren
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150000, China
| | - Wenhao Jiang
- Center for Intelligent Proteomics, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310030, China; Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310030, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China
| | - Jingxuan Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150000, China.
| | - Zhiren Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China; Institute of Metabolic Disease, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Science, Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Metabolic Disorder and Cancer Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150001, China.
| | - Tong Liu
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150000, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Salminen A, Kaarniranta K, Kauppinen A. Tissue fibroblasts are versatile immune regulators: An evaluation of their impact on the aging process. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 97:102296. [PMID: 38588867 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102296] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Fibroblasts are abundant stromal cells which not only control the integrity of extracellular matrix (ECM) but also act as immune regulators. It is known that the structural cells within tissues can establish an organ-specific immunity expressing many immune-related genes and closely interact with immune cells. In fact, fibroblasts can modify their immune properties to display both pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities in a context-dependent manner. After acute insults, fibroblasts promote tissue inflammation although they concurrently recruit immunosuppressive cells to enhance the resolution of inflammation. In chronic pathological states, tissue fibroblasts, especially senescent fibroblasts, can display many pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties and stimulate the activities of different immunosuppressive cells. In return, immunosuppressive cells, such as M2 macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), evoke an excessive conversion of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, thus aggravating the severity of tissue fibrosis. Single-cell transcriptome studies on fibroblasts isolated from aged tissues have confirmed that tissue fibroblasts express many genes coding for cytokines, chemokines, and complement factors, whereas they lose some fibrogenic properties. The versatile immune properties of fibroblasts and their close cooperation with immune cells indicate that tissue fibroblasts have a crucial role in the aging process and age-related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antero Salminen
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio FI-70211, Finland.
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio FI-70211, Finland; Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, KYS FI-70029, Finland
| | - Anu Kauppinen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio FI-70211, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Su X, Feng Y, Qu Y, Mu D. Association between methyltransferase-like 3 and non-small cell lung cancer: pathogenesis, therapeutic resistance, and clinical applications. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2024; 13:1121-1136. [PMID: 38854947 PMCID: PMC11157379 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-24-85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a malignant cancer that with high incidence, recurrence, and mortality rates in human beings, posing significant threats to human health. Moreover, effective early diagnosis of NSCLC remains limited primarily by the lack of accurate biomarkers. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms underlying NSCLC pathogenesis and treatment failure. Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is a prototypical member of a family of which its members transfer methyl groups. It has been implicated in modulating the pathogenesis of NSCLC, as well as conferring resistance to NSCLC therapeutics. The targeting of METTL3 for NSCLC treatment has been reported. However, the relationship between METTL3 and NSCLC remains to be demonstrated. In this review, we discuss relevant interrelationships by summarising the studies on METTL3 in NSCLC pathogenesis, therapeutic resistance, and clinical applications. Current research suggests that the upregulation of METTL3 expression propels the tumorigenesis, progression, and treatment resistance of NSCLC. Therefore, we propose that METTL3 is an excellent candidate biomarker for NSCLC diagnosis and prognosis. Therapeutic targeting of METTL3 has significant potential for NSCLC treatment. This review provides a summary of the association between METTL3 and NSCLC, which would be a valuable reference for both basic and clinical research.
Collapse
|
23
|
Deng Z, Luo J, Ma J, Jin YN, Yu YV. Glutathione metabolism-related gene signature predicts prognosis and treatment response in low-grade glioma. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:9518-9546. [PMID: 38819225 PMCID: PMC11210255 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205881] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells can induce molecular changes that reshape cellular metabolism, creating specific vulnerabilities for targeted therapeutic interventions. Given the importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumor development and drug resistance, and the abundance of reduced glutathione (GSH) as the primary cellular antioxidant, we examined an integrated panel of 56 glutathione metabolism-related genes (GMRGs) across diverse cancer types. This analysis revealed a remarkable association between GMRGs and low-grade glioma (LGG) survival. Unsupervised clustering and a GMRGs-based risk score (GS) categorized LGG patients into two groups, linking elevated glutathione metabolism to poorer prognosis and treatment outcomes. Our GS model outperformed established clinical prognostic factors, acting as an independent prognostic factor. GS also exhibited correlations with pro-tumor M2 macrophage infiltration, upregulated immunosuppressive genes, and diminished responses to various cancer therapies. Experimental validation in glioma cell lines confirmed the critical role of glutathione metabolism in glioma cell proliferation and chemoresistance. Our findings highlight the presence of a unique metabolic susceptibility in LGG and introduce a novel GS system as a highly effective tool for predicting the prognosis of LGG.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zaidong Deng
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Ma
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Youngnam N. Jin
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanxun V. Yu
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Lior C, Barki D, Halperin C, Iacobuzio-Donahue CA, Kelsen D, Shouval RS. Mapping the tumor stress network reveals dynamic shifts in the stromal oxidative stress response. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114236. [PMID: 38758650 PMCID: PMC11156623 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114236] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) presents cells with challenges such as variable pH, hypoxia, and free radicals, triggering stress responses that affect cancer progression. In this study, we examine the stress response landscape in four carcinomas-breast, pancreas, ovary, and prostate-across five pathways: heat shock, oxidative stress, hypoxia, DNA damage, and unfolded protein stress. Using a combination of experimental and computational methods, we create an atlas of stress responses across various types of carcinomas. We find that stress responses vary within the TME and are especially active near cancer cells. Focusing on the non-immune stroma we find, across tumor types, that NRF2 and the oxidative stress response are distinctly activated in immune-regulatory cancer-associated fibroblasts and in a unique subset of cancer-associated pericytes. Our study thus provides an interactome of stress responses in cancer, offering ways to intersect survival pathways within the tumor, and advance cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Lior
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Debra Barki
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Coral Halperin
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Christine A Iacobuzio-Donahue
- Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research and Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Kelsen
- Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruth Scherz- Shouval
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ramos C, Gerakopoulos V, Oehler R. Metastasis-associated fibroblasts in peritoneal surface malignancies. Br J Cancer 2024:10.1038/s41416-024-02717-4. [PMID: 38783165 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02717-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Over decades, peritoneal surface malignancies (PSMs) have been associated with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. However, advancements in perioperative systemic chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery (CRS), and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have significantly improved clinical outcomes. PSMs predominantly result from the spread of intra-abdominal neoplasia, which then form secondary peritoneal metastases. Colorectal, ovarian, and gastric cancers are the most common contributors. Despite diverse primary origins, the uniqueness of the peritoneum microenvironment shapes the common features of PSMs. Peritoneal metastization involves complex interactions between tumour cells and the peritoneal microenvironment. Fibroblasts play a crucial role, contributing to tumour development, progression, and therapy resistance. Peritoneal metastasis-associated fibroblasts (MAFs) in PSMs exhibit high heterogeneity. Single-cell RNA sequencing technology has revealed that immune-regulatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAFs) seem to be the most prevalent subtype in PSMs. In addition, other major subtypes as myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs) and matrix CAFs (mCAFs) were frequently observed across PSMs studies. Peritoneal MAFs are suggested to originate from mesothelial cells, submesothelial fibroblasts, pericytes, endothelial cells, and omental-resident cells. This plasticity and heterogeneity of CAFs contribute to the complex microenvironment in PSMs, impacting treatment responses. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing targeted and local therapies to improve PSMs patient outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Ramos
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vasileios Gerakopoulos
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Oehler
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Qian H, Deng C, Chen S, Zhang X, He Y, Lan J, Wang A, Shi G, Liu Y. Targeting pathogenic fibroblast-like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2024; 26:103. [PMID: 38783357 PMCID: PMC11112866 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-024-03343-4] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) play a central role in RA pathogenesis and are the main cellular component in the inflamed synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). FLSs are emerging as promising new therapeutic targets in RA. However, fibroblasts perform many essential functions that are required for sustaining tissue homeostasis. Direct targeting of general fibroblast markers on FLSs is challenging because fibroblasts in other tissues might be altered and side effects such as reduced wound healing or fibrosis can occur. To date, no FLS-specific targeted therapies have been applied in the clinical management of RA. With the help of high-throughput technologies such as scRNA-seq in recent years, several specific pathogenic FLS subsets in RA have been identified. Understanding the characteristics of these pathogenic FLS clusters and the mechanisms that drive their differentiation can provide new insights into the development of novel FLS-targeting strategies for RA. Here, we discuss the pathogenic FLS subsets in RA that have been elucidated in recent years and potential strategies for targeting pathogenic FLSs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Qian
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Chaoqiong Deng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Shiju Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Xinwei Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Yan He
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Jingying Lan
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Aodi Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Guixiu Shi
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
| | - Yuan Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Del Rio D, Masi I, Caprara V, Ottavi F, Albertini Petroni G, Salvati E, Trisciuoglio D, Giannitelli SM, Bagnato A, Mauri E, Spadaro F, Rosanò L. The β-arrestin1/endothelin axis bolsters ovarian fibroblast-dependent invadosome activity and cancer cell metastatic potential. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:358. [PMID: 38777849 PMCID: PMC11111729 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06730-6] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Recruitment of fibroblasts to tumors and their activation into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is a strategy used by tumor cells to direct extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, invasion, and metastasis, highlighting the need to investigate the molecular mechanisms driving CAF function. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) regulates the communication between cancer and stroma and facilitates the progression of serous ovarian cancer (SOC). By binding to Endothelin A (ETA) and B (ETB) receptors, ET-1 enables the recruitment of β-arrestin1 (β-arr1) and the formation of signaling complexes that coordinate tumor progression. However, how ET-1 receptors might "educate" human ovarian fibroblasts (HOFs) to produce altered ECM and promote metastasis remains to be elucidated. This study identifies ET-1 as a pivotal factor in the activation of CAFs capable of proteolytic ECM remodeling and the generation of heterotypic spheroids containing cancer cells with a propensity to metastasize. An autocrine/paracrine ET-1/ETA/BR/β-arr1 loop enhances HOF proliferation, upregulates CAF marker expression, secretes pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increases collagen contractility, and cell motility. Furthermore, ET-1 facilitates ECM remodeling by promoting the lytic activity of invadosome and activation of integrin β1. In addition, ET-1 signaling supports the formation of heterotypic HOF/SOC spheroids with enhanced ability to migrate through the mesothelial monolayer, and invade, representing metastatic units. The blockade of ETA/BR or β-arr1 silencing prevents CAF activation, invadosome function, mesothelial clearance, and the invasive ability of heterotypic spheroids. In vivo, therapeutic inhibition of ETA/BR using bosentan (BOS) significantly reduces the metastatic potential of combined HOFs/SOC cells, associated with enhanced apoptotic effects on tumor cells and stromal components. These findings support a model in which ET-1/β-arr1 reinforces tumor/stroma interaction through CAF activation and fosters the survival and metastatic properties of SOC cells, which could be counteracted by ETA/BR antagonists.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danila Del Rio
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Ilenia Masi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Valentina Caprara
- Unit of Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Flavia Ottavi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Gabriele Albertini Petroni
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Erica Salvati
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Daniela Trisciuoglio
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Sara Maria Giannitelli
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, University Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, 00128, Italy
| | - Anna Bagnato
- Unit of Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Emanuele Mauri
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering, University Politecnico di Milano, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Spadaro
- Confocal Microscopy Unit, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Laura Rosanò
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Mori Y, Okimoto Y, Sakai H, Kanda Y, Ohata H, Shiokawa D, Suzuki M, Yoshida H, Ueda H, Sekizuka T, Tamura R, Yamawaki K, Ishiguro T, Mateos RN, Shiraishi Y, Yatabe Y, Hamada A, Yoshihara K, Enomoto T, Okamoto K. Targeting PDGF signaling of cancer-associated fibroblasts blocks feedback activation of HIF-1α and tumor progression of clear cell ovarian cancer. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101532. [PMID: 38670097 PMCID: PMC11149410 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101532] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a gynecological cancer with a dismal prognosis; however, the mechanism underlying OCCC chemoresistance is not well understood. To explore the intracellular networks associated with the chemoresistance, we analyze surgical specimens by performing integrative analyses that combine single-cell analyses and spatial transcriptomics. We find that a chemoresistant OCCC subpopulation with elevated HIF activity localizes mainly in areas populated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with a myofibroblastic phenotype, which is corroborated by quantitative immunostaining. CAF-enhanced chemoresistance and HIF-1α induction are recapitulated in co-culture assays, which show that cancer-derived platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) contributes to the chemoresistance and HIF-1α induction via PDGF receptor signaling in CAFs. Ripretinib is identified as an effective receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor against CAF survival. In the co-culture system and xenograft tumors, ripretinib prevents CAF survival and suppresses OCCC proliferation in the presence of carboplatin, indicating that combination of conventional chemotherapy and CAF-targeted agents is effective against OCCC.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Female
- Humans
- Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/metabolism
- Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/pathology
- Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/drug effects
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics
- Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology
- Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism
- Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics
- Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Animals
- Mice
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Disease Progression
- Coculture Techniques
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Mice, Nude
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/metabolism
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/pathology
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/drug therapy
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/genetics
- Feedback, Physiological/drug effects
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yutaro Mori
- Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-0003, Japan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8520, Japan
| | - Yoshie Okimoto
- Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-0003, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Sakai
- Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-0003, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kanda
- Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-0003, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Ohata
- Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-0003, Japan
| | - Daisuke Shiokawa
- Ehime University Hospital Translational Research Center, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan
| | - Mikiko Suzuki
- Division of Molecular Pharmacology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yoshida
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Haruka Ueda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8520, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Sekizuka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8520, Japan
| | - Ryo Tamura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8520, Japan
| | - Kaoru Yamawaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8520, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Ishiguro
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8520, Japan
| | - Raul Nicolas Mateos
- Division of Genome Analysis Platform Development, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Yuichi Shiraishi
- Division of Genome Analysis Platform Development, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Yasushi Yatabe
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Akinobu Hamada
- Division of Molecular Pharmacology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Kosuke Yoshihara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8520, Japan
| | - Takayuki Enomoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8520, Japan
| | - Koji Okamoto
- Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-0003, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Groza Y, Lacina L, Kuchař M, Rašková Kafková L, Zachová K, Janoušková O, Osička R, Černý J, Petroková H, Mierzwicka JM, Panova N, Kosztyu P, Sloupenská K, Malý J, Škarda J, Raška M, Smetana K, Malý P. Small protein blockers of human IL-6 receptor alpha inhibit proliferation and migration of cancer cells. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:261. [PMID: 38715108 PMCID: PMC11075285 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01630-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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that controls the immune response, and its role has been described in the development of autoimmune diseases. Signaling via its cognate IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) complex is critical in tumor progression and, therefore, IL-6R represents an important therapeutic target. METHODS An albumin-binding domain-derived highly complex combinatorial library was used to select IL-6R alpha (IL-6Rα)-targeted small protein binders using ribosome display. Large-scale screening of bacterial lysates of individual clones was performed using ELISA, and their IL-6Rα blocking potential was verified by competition ELISA. The binding of proteins to cells was monitored by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy on HEK293T-transfected cells, and inhibition of signaling function was examined using HEK-Blue IL-6 reporter cells. Protein binding kinetics to living cells was measured by LigandTracer, cell proliferation and toxicity by iCELLigence and Incucyte, cell migration by the scratch wound healing assay, and prediction of binding poses using molecular modeling by docking. RESULTS We demonstrated a collection of protein variants called NEF ligands, selected from an albumin-binding domain scaffold-derived combinatorial library, and showed their binding specificity to human IL-6Rα and antagonistic effect in HEK-Blue IL-6 reporter cells. The three most promising NEF108, NEF163, and NEF172 variants inhibited cell proliferation of malignant melanoma (G361 and A2058) and pancreatic (PaTu and MiaPaCa) cancer cells, and suppressed migration of malignant melanoma (A2058), pancreatic carcinoma (PaTu), and glioblastoma (GAMG) cells in vitro. The NEF binders also recognized maturation-induced IL-6Rα expression and interfered with IL-6-induced differentiation in primary human B cells. CONCLUSION We report on the generation of small protein blockers of human IL-6Rα using directed evolution. NEF proteins represent a promising class of non-toxic anti-tumor agents with migrastatic potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaroslava Groza
- Laboratory of Ligand Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV Research Center, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Lacina
- Institute of Anatomy, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 3, Prague 2, 12800, Czech Republic.
- Department of Dermatovenerology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 2, Prague 2, 12000, Czech Republic.
| | - Milan Kuchař
- Laboratory of Ligand Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV Research Center, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Leona Rašková Kafková
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Hněvotínská 3, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Zachová
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Hněvotínská 3, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Olga Janoušková
- Centre of Nanomaterials and Biotechnologies, University of J. E. Purkyně in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632/15, Ústí nad Labem, 400 96, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Osička
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Bacterial Pathogens, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, Prague, 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Černý
- Laboratory of Structural Bioinformatics of Proteins, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV Research Center, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Petroková
- Laboratory of Ligand Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV Research Center, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Joanna Maria Mierzwicka
- Laboratory of Ligand Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV Research Center, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Natalya Panova
- Laboratory of Ligand Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV Research Center, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kosztyu
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Hněvotínská 3, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Kristýna Sloupenská
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Hněvotínská 3, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Malý
- Centre of Nanomaterials and Biotechnologies, University of J. E. Purkyně in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632/15, Ústí nad Labem, 400 96, Czech Republic
| | - Jozef Škarda
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hněvotínská 3, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Raška
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Hněvotínská 3, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Smetana
- Institute of Anatomy, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 3, Prague 2, 12800, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Malý
- Laboratory of Ligand Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV Research Center, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Hoffmann MH, Kirchner H, Krönke G, Riemekasten G, Bonelli M. Inflammatory tissue priming: novel insights and therapeutic opportunities for inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Ann Rheum Dis 2024:ard-2023-224092. [PMID: 38702177 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-224092] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Due to optimised treatment strategies and the availability of new therapies during the last decades, formerly devastating chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic sclerosis (SSc) have become less menacing. However, in many patients, even state-of-the-art treatment cannot induce remission. Moreover, the risk for flares strongly increases once anti-inflammatory therapy is tapered or withdrawn, suggesting that underlying pathological processes remain active even in the absence of overt inflammation. It has become evident that tissues have the ability to remember past encounters with pathogens, wounds and other irritants, and to react more strongly and/or persistently to the next occurrence. This priming of the tissue bears a paramount role in defence from microbes, but on the other hand drives inflammatory pathologies (the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde aspect of tissue adaptation). Emerging evidence suggests that long-lived tissue-resident cells, such as fibroblasts, macrophages, long-lived plasma cells and tissue-resident memory T cells, determine inflammatory tissue priming in an interplay with infiltrating immune cells of lymphoid and myeloid origin, and with systemically acting factors such as cytokines, extracellular vesicles and antibodies. Here, we review the current state of science on inflammatory tissue priming, focusing on tissue-resident and tissue-occupying cells in arthritis and SSc, and reflect on the most promising treatment options targeting the maladapted tissue response during these diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Henriette Kirchner
- Institute for Human Genetics, Epigenetics and Metabolism Lab, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Gerhard Krönke
- Department of Rheumatology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriela Riemekasten
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Michael Bonelli
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Wang L, Xiong B, Lu W, Cheng Y, Zhu J, Ai G, Zhang X, Liu X, Cheng Z. Senolytic drugs dasatinib and quercetin combined with Carboplatin or Olaparib reduced the peritoneal and adipose tissue metastasis of ovarian cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116474. [PMID: 38518604 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy and targeted drugs-induced senescent ovarian cancer cells that accumulate in peritoneal adipose tissue contribute significantly to chronic inflammation, disrupt homeostasis, and may fuel various aspects of cancer progression. However, the pro-senescence effects of chemotherapy and targeted drugs on adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) within peritoneal adipose tissue remain poorly understood. In this study, we show that the first-line chemotherapy and targeted drugs can induce the cellular senescence of ADSCs in vitro and increase the aging of peritoneal adipose tissue in vivo. These treatments significantly promoted the dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, including insulin resistance and liver lipid accumulation. Our study shows that dasatinib and quercetin, as senolytics, effectively restore glucose homeostasis in mice with ovarian cancer and significantly reduce adipose tissue aging. Importantly, combining these drugs with Carboplatin or Olaparib results in a marked decrease in both peritoneal and adipose tissue metastasis of ovarian cancer cells. Mechanistically, we revealed that there is crosstalk between ovarian cancer cells and senescent ADSCs. The crosstalk increases inflammatory cytokines and chemokines production in ADSCs and notably upregulates chemokine receptors on cancer cells. Collectively, these data indicate that senescent ADSCs induced by chemotherapy and targeted therapy drugs impair adipose tissue function. However, the senolytic drugs dasatinib and quercetin, can significantly ameliorate organ aging and damage induced by these treatments. Notably, dasatinib and quercetin combined with Carboplatin or Olaparib reduced the peritoneal and adipose tissue metastasis of ovarian cancer, ultimately benefiting the mice undergoing chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lian Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Xiong
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Wei Lu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; School of medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
| | - Yujie Cheng
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; School of medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
| | - Jihui Zhu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Guihai Ai
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Xiaojie Zhang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Department of Gynecology, Jing'an District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.
| | - Xiuni Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.
| | - Zhongping Cheng
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Ho NCW, Yap JYY, Zhao Z, Wang Y, Fernando K, Li CH, Kwang XL, Quah HS, Arcinas C, Iyer NG, Fong ELS. Bioengineered Hydrogels Recapitulate Fibroblast Heterogeneity in Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2307129. [PMID: 38493497 PMCID: PMC11132030 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307129] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Recently mapped transcriptomic landscapes reveal the extent of heterogeneity in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) beyond previously established single-gene markers. Functional analyses of individual CAF subsets within the tumor microenvironment are critical to develop more accurate CAF-targeting therapeutic strategies. However, there is a lack of robust preclinical models that reflect this heterogeneity in vitro. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing datasets acquired from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tissues to predict microenvironmental and cellular features governing individual CAF subsets are leveraged. Some of these features are then incorporated into a tunable hyaluronan-based hydrogel system to culture patient-derived CAFs. Control over hydrogel degradability and integrin adhesiveness enabled derivation of the predominant myofibroblastic and inflammatory CAF subsets, as shown through changes in cell morphology and transcriptomic profiles. Last, using these hydrogel-cultured CAFs, microtubule dynamics are identified, but not actomyosin contractility, as a key mediator of CAF plasticity. The recapitulation of CAF heterogeneity in vitro using defined hydrogels presents unique opportunities for advancing the understanding of CAF biology and evaluation of CAF-targeting therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Ching Wei Ho
- Translational Tumor Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biomedical EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore119276Singapore
| | - Josephine Yu Yan Yap
- Translational Tumor Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biomedical EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore119276Singapore
| | - Zixuan Zhao
- The N.1 Institute for HealthNational University of SingaporeSingapore117456Singapore
| | - Yunyun Wang
- Translational Tumor Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biomedical EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore119276Singapore
| | - Kanishka Fernando
- Translational Tumor Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biomedical EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore119276Singapore
| | - Constance H Li
- Cancer Therapeutics Research LaboratoryNational Cancer Centre SingaporeSingapore168583Singapore
- Duke‐NUS Medical SchoolNational University of SingaporeSingapore169857Singapore
| | - Xue Lin Kwang
- Cancer Therapeutics Research LaboratoryNational Cancer Centre SingaporeSingapore168583Singapore
| | - Hong Sheng Quah
- Cancer Therapeutics Research LaboratoryNational Cancer Centre SingaporeSingapore168583Singapore
- Duke‐NUS Medical SchoolNational University of SingaporeSingapore169857Singapore
| | - Camille Arcinas
- Duke‐NUS Medical SchoolNational University of SingaporeSingapore169857Singapore
| | - N. Gopalakrishna Iyer
- Cancer Therapeutics Research LaboratoryNational Cancer Centre SingaporeSingapore168583Singapore
- Duke‐NUS Medical SchoolNational University of SingaporeSingapore169857Singapore
| | - Eliza Li Shan Fong
- Translational Tumor Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biomedical EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore119276Singapore
- The N.1 Institute for HealthNational University of SingaporeSingapore117456Singapore
- Cancer Science InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingapore117599Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Li X, Chen Y, Lu R, Hu M, Gu L, Huang Q, Meng W, Zhu H, Fan C, Zhou Z, Mo X. Colorectal cancer cells secreting DKK4 transform fibroblasts to promote tumour metastasis. Oncogene 2024; 43:1506-1521. [PMID: 38519641 PMCID: PMC11090838 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03008-1] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signalling is aberrantly activated in most colorectal cancer (CRC) and is one key driver involved in the initiation and progression of CRC. However, mutations of APC gene in CRC patients retain certain activity of APC protein with decreased β-catenin signalling and DKK4 expression significantly upregulates and represses Wnt/β-catenin signalling in human CRC tissues, suggesting that a precisely modulated activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is essential for CRC formation and progression. The underlying reasons why a specifically reduced degree, not a fully activating degree, of β-catenin signalling in CRC are unclear. Here, we showed that a soluble extracellular inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signalling, DKK4, is an independent factor for poor outcomes in CRC patients. DKK4 secreted from CRC cells inactivates β-catenin in fibroblasts to induce the formation of stress fibre-containing fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in culture conditions and in mouse CRC xenograft tissues, resulting in restricted expansion in tumour masses at primary sites and enhanced CRC metastasis in mouse models. Reduced β-catenin activity by a chemical inhibitor MSAB promoted the CRC metastasis. Our findings demonstrate why reduced β-catenin activity is needed for CRC progression and provide a mechanism by which interactions between CRC cells and stromal cells affect disease promotion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yulin Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ran Lu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Min Hu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lei Gu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qiaorong Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Wentong Meng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Hongyan Zhu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chuanwen Fan
- Department of Gastrointestinal, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Research Center for Nutrition, Metabolism & Food Safety, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Institute of Digestive Surgery and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Zongguang Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Institute of Digestive Surgery and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Xianming Mo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Kou Z, Liu C, Zhang W, Sun C, Liu L, Zhang Q. Heterogeneity of primary and metastatic CAFs: From differential treatment outcomes to treatment opportunities (Review). Int J Oncol 2024; 64:54. [PMID: 38577950 PMCID: PMC11015919 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2024.5642] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Compared with primary tumor sites, metastatic sites appear more resistant to treatments and respond differently to the treatment regimen. It may be due to the heterogeneity in the microenvironment between metastatic sites and primary tumors. Cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are widely present in the tumor stroma as key components of the tumor microenvironment. Primary tumor CAFs (pCAFs) and metastatic CAFs (mCAFs) are heterogeneous in terms of source, activation mode, markers and functional phenotypes. They can shape the tumor microenvironment according to organ, showing heterogeneity between primary tumors and metastases, which may affect the sensitivity of these sites to treatment. It was hypothesized that understanding the heterogeneity between pCAFs and mCAFs can provide a glimpse into the difference in treatment outcomes, providing new ideas for improving the rate of metastasis control in various cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zixing Kou
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250355, P.R. China
| | - Cun Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
| | - Wenfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa Island 999078, Macau SAR, P.R. China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 621000, P.R. China
| | - Lijuan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 621000, P.R. China
| | - Qiming Zhang
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250355, P.R. China
- Department of Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100007, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Liang J, Lei K, Liang R, Huang J, Tan B, Lin H, Wang M. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the MIF-ACKR3 receptor-ligand interaction between iCAFs and tumor cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Signal 2024; 117:111093. [PMID: 38336189 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111093] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The heterogeneity of ESCC poses challenges in treatment and contributes to the poor prognosis of patients. Therefore, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity and identify novel therapeutic targets. METHODS To solve this problem, we performed a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of ESCC samples obtained from the GEO database. RESULTS A total of 31,283 single cells were categorized into nine cell types, which included four non-immune cells (epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, schwann cells) and five immune cells (T cells, macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils, B cells). Our study revealed the presence of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments in ESCC. We have also identified not only inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblast (iCAFs) and myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts (myCAFs) but also a subset of antigen presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts (apCAFs) which express high levels of HLA class II molecules in ESCC. Furthermore, our analysis of cell communication showed up-regulation of MIF-ACKR3 interaction between iCAFs and tumor cells in tumors compared to normal tissues. Finally, it was demonstrated that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) facilitates tumor cell migration and invasion through interacting with ACKR3 in vitro. CONCLUSIONS This study exposes the features of the tumor microenvironment of ESCC via scRNA-seq and examines the dynamics of various cellular subpopulations, thus facilitating the identification of future therapeutic targets for ESCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jialu Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Lei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruihao Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Binhua Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huayue Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Minghui Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Ye Z, Li Q, Hu Y, Hu H, Xu J, Guo M, Zhang W, Lou X, Wang Y, Gao H, Jing D, Fan G, Qin Y, Zhang Y, Chen X, Chen J, Xu X, Yu X, Liu M, Ji S. The stromal microenvironment endows pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with spatially specific invasive and metastatic phenotypes. Cancer Lett 2024; 588:216769. [PMID: 38438098 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216769] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in a variety of cancers. However, the role of tumor stroma in nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PanNETs) is often neglected. Profiling the heterogeneity of CAFs can reveal the causes of malignant phenotypes in NF-PanNETs. Here, we found that patients with high stromal proportion had poor prognosis, especially for that with infiltrating stroma (stroma and tumor cells that presented an infiltrative growth pattern and no regular boundary). In addition, myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs), characterized by FAP+ and α-SMAhigh, were spatially closer to tumor cells and promoted the EMT and tumor growth. Intriguingly, only tumor cells which were spatially closer to myCAFs underwent EMT. We further elucidated that myCAFs stimulate TGF-β expression in nearby tumor cells. Then, TGF-β promoted the EMT in adjacent tumor cells and promoted the expression of myCAFs marker genes in tumor cells, resulting in distant metastasis. Our results indicate that myCAFs cause spatial heterogeneity of EMT, which accounts for liver metastasis of NF-PanNETs. The findings of this study might provide possible targets for the prevention of liver metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zeng Ye
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistr.15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Yuheng Hu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Haifeng Hu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Junfeng Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Muzi Guo
- Department of Medicine, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Wuhu Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xin Lou
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Heli Gao
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Desheng Jing
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Guixiong Fan
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yi Qin
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China
| | - Xuemin Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xiaowu Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Mingyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Shunrong Ji
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Center for Neuroendocrine Tumors, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Desai B, Miti T, Prabhakaran S, Miroshnychenko D, Henry M, Marusyk V, Gatenbee C, Bui M, Scott J, Altrock PM, Haura E, Anderson ARA, Basanta D, Marusyk A. Peristromal niches protect lung cancers from targeted therapies through a combined effect of multiple molecular mediators. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.24.590626. [PMID: 38712093 PMCID: PMC11071426 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.24.590626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Targeted therapies directed against oncogenic signaling addictions, such as inhibitors of ALK in ALK+ NSCLC often induce strong and durable clinical responses. However, they are not curative in metastatic cancers, as some tumor cells persist through therapy, eventually developing resistance. Therapy sensitivity can reflect not only cell-intrinsic mechanisms but also inputs from stromal microenvironment. Yet, the contribution of tumor stroma to therapeutic responses in vivo remains poorly defined. To address this gap of knowledge, we assessed the contribution of stroma-mediated resistance to therapeutic responses to the frontline ALK inhibitor alectinib in xenograft models of ALK+ NSCLC. We found that stroma-proximal tumor cells are partially protected against cytostatic effects of alectinib. This effect is observed not only in remission, but also during relapse, indicating the strong contribution of stroma-mediated resistance to both persistence and resistance. This therapy-protective effect of the stromal niche reflects a combined action of multiple mechanisms, including growth factors and extracellular matrix components. Consequently, despite improving alectinib responses, suppression of any individual resistance mechanism was insufficient to fully overcome the protective effect of stroma. Focusing on shared collateral sensitivity of persisters offered a superior therapeutic benefit, especially when using an antibody-drug conjugate with bystander effect to limit therapeutic escape. These findings indicate that stroma-mediated resistance might be the major contributor to both residual and progressing disease and highlight the limitation of focusing on suppressing a single resistance mechanism at a time.
Collapse
|
38
|
Hu S, Xiao Q, Gao R, Qin J, Nie J, Chen Y, Lou J, Ding M, Pan Y, Wang S. Identification of BGN positive fibroblasts as a driving factor for colorectal cancer and development of its related prognostic model combined with machine learning. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:516. [PMID: 38654221 PMCID: PMC11041013 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12251-4] [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: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous studies have indicated that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, there are still many unknowns regarding the exact role of CAF subtypes in CRC. METHODS The data for this study were obtained from bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomic sequencing data. Bioinformatics analysis, in vitro experiments, and machine learning methods were employed to investigate the functional characteristics of CAF subtypes and construct prognostic models. RESULTS Our study demonstrates that Biglycan (BGN) positive cancer-associated fibroblasts (BGN + Fib) serve as a driver in colorectal cancer (CRC). The proportion of BGN + Fib increases gradually with the progression of CRC, and high infiltration of BGN + Fib is associated with poor prognosis in terms of overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in CRC. Downregulation of BGN expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) significantly reduces migration and proliferation of CRC cells. Among 101 combinations of 10 machine learning algorithms, the StepCox[both] + plsRcox combination was utilized to develop a BGN + Fib derived risk signature (BGNFRS). BGNFRS was identified as an independent adverse prognostic factor for CRC OS and RFS, outperforming 92 previously published risk signatures. A Nomogram model constructed based on BGNFRS and clinical-pathological features proved to be a valuable tool for predicting CRC prognosis. CONCLUSION In summary, our study identified BGN + Fib as drivers of CRC, and the derived BGNFRS was effective in predicting the OS and RFS of CRC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shangshang Hu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, 210006, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qianni Xiao
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 211122, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Gao
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 211122, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Qin
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, 210006, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junjie Nie
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, 210006, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuhan Chen
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 211122, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinwei Lou
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 211122, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Muzi Ding
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 211122, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuqin Pan
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, 210006, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center on Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, 211100, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Shukui Wang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, 210006, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 211122, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center on Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, 211100, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Chapple RH, Liu X, Natarajan S, Alexander MIM, Kim Y, Patel AG, LaFlamme CW, Pan M, Wright WC, Lee HM, Zhang Y, Lu M, Koo SC, Long C, Harper J, Savage C, Johnson MD, Confer T, Akers WJ, Dyer MA, Sheppard H, Easton J, Geeleher P. An integrated single-cell RNA-seq map of human neuroblastoma tumors and preclinical models uncovers divergent mesenchymal-like gene expression programs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.04.13.536639. [PMID: 38712039 PMCID: PMC11071300 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.13.536639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a common pediatric cancer, where preclinical studies suggest that a mesenchymal-like gene expression program contributes to chemotherapy resistance. However, clinical outcomes remain poor, implying we need a better understanding of the relationship between patient tumor heterogeneity and preclinical models. Here, we generated single-cell RNA-seq maps of neuroblastoma cell lines, patient-derived xenograft models (PDX), and a genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM). We developed an unsupervised machine learning approach ('automatic consensus nonnegative matrix factorization' (acNMF)) to compare the gene expression programs found in preclinical models to a large cohort of patient tumors. We confirmed a weakly expressed, mesenchymal-like program in otherwise adrenergic cancer cells in some pre-treated high-risk patient tumors, but this appears distinct from the presumptive drug-resistance mesenchymal programs evident in cell lines. Surprisingly however, this weak-mesenchymal-like program was maintained in PDX and could be chemotherapy-induced in our GEMM after only 24 hours, suggesting an uncharacterized therapy-escape mechanism. Collectively, our findings improve the understanding of how neuroblastoma patient tumor heterogeneity is reflected in preclinical models, provides a comprehensive integrated resource, and a generalizable set of computational methodologies for the joint analysis of clinical and pre-clinical single-cell RNA-seq datasets.
Collapse
|
40
|
Noh SU, Lim J, Shin SW, Kim Y, Park WY, Batinic-Haberle I, Choi C, Park W. Single-Cell Profiling Reveals Immune-Based Mechanisms Underlying Tumor Radiosensitization by a Novel Mn Porphyrin Clinical Candidate, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP 5+ (BMX-001). Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:477. [PMID: 38671924 PMCID: PMC11047573 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13040477] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Manganese porphyrins reportedly exhibit synergic effects when combined with irradiation. However, an in-depth understanding of intratumoral heterogeneity and immune pathways, as affected by Mn porphyrins, remains limited. Here, we explored the mechanisms underlying immunomodulation of a clinical candidate, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+ (BMX-001, MnBuOE), using single-cell analysis in a murine carcinoma model. Mice bearing 4T1 tumors were divided into four groups: control, MnBuOE, radiotherapy (RT), and combined MnBuOE and radiotherapy (MnBuOE/RT). In epithelial cells, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, TNF-α signaling via NF-кB, angiogenesis, and hypoxia-related genes were significantly downregulated in the MnBuOE/RT group compared with the RT group. All subtypes of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were clearly reduced in MnBuOE and MnBuOE/RT. Inhibitory receptor-ligand interactions, in which epithelial cells and CAFs interacted with CD8+ T cells, were significantly lower in the MnBuOE/RT group than in the RT group. Trajectory analysis showed that dendritic cells maturation-associated markers were increased in MnBuOE/RT. M1 macrophages were significantly increased in the MnBuOE/RT group compared with the RT group, whereas myeloid-derived suppressor cells were decreased. CellChat analysis showed that the number of cell-cell communications was the lowest in the MnBuOE/RT group. Our study is the first to provide evidence for the combined radiotherapy with a novel Mn porphyrin clinical candidate, BMX-001, from the perspective of each cell type within the tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun Up Noh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea; (S.U.N.); (S.-W.S.); (Y.K.)
- Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinyeong Lim
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea; (J.L.); (W.-Y.P.)
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Won Shin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea; (S.U.N.); (S.-W.S.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yeeun Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea; (S.U.N.); (S.-W.S.); (Y.K.)
| | - Woong-Yang Park
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea; (J.L.); (W.-Y.P.)
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Ines Batinic-Haberle
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Changhoon Choi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea; (S.U.N.); (S.-W.S.); (Y.K.)
| | - Won Park
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea; (S.U.N.); (S.-W.S.); (Y.K.)
- Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Shen L, Li A, Cui J, Liu H, Zhang S. Integration of single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data to construct and validate a cancer-associated fibroblast-related prognostic signature for patients with ovarian cancer. J Ovarian Res 2024; 17:82. [PMID: 38627854 PMCID: PMC11020192 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-024-01399-z] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To establish a prognostic risk profile for ovarian cancer (OC) patients based on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and gain a comprehensive understanding of their role in OC progression, prognosis, and therapeutic efficacy. METHODS Data on OC single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and total RNA-seq were collected from the GEO and TCGA databases. Seurat R program was used to analyze scRNA-seq data and identify CAFs clusters corresponding to CAFs markers. Differential expression analysis was performed on the TCGA dataset to identify prognostic genes. A CAF-associated risk signature was designed using Lasso regression and combined with clinicopathological variables to develop a nomogram. Functional enrichment and the immune landscape were also analyzed. RESULTS Five CAFs clusters were identified in OC using scRNA-seq data, and 2 were significantly associated with OC prognosis. Seven genes were selected to develop a CAF-based risk signature, primarily associated with 28 pathways. The signature was a key independent predictor of OC prognosis and relevant in predicting the results of immunotherapy interventions. A novel nomogram combining CAF-based risk and disease stage was developed to predict OC prognosis. CONCLUSION The study highlights the importance of CAFs in OC progression and suggests potential for innovative treatment strategies. A CAF-based risk signature provides a highly accurate prediction of the prognosis of OC patients, and the developed nomogram shows promising results in predicting the OC prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, 67 Dongchang West Road, Liaocheng, Shandong, 252000, P.R. China
- Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China
- Department of Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 324 Jingwuweiqi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, P.R. China
| | - Aihua Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, 67 Dongchang West Road, Liaocheng, Shandong, 252000, P.R. China.
| | - Jing Cui
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Jinan Stomatology Hospital, 101 Jingliu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250001, P.R. China
- Central Laboratory of Jinan Stamotological Hospital, Jinan Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration, 101 Jingliu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250001, P.R. China
| | - Haixia Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 324 Jingwuweiqi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, P.R. China
| | - Shiqian Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Isaacson A, Barki D, Scherz-Shouval R. Unlocking the Role of Age-Related Changes to Fibroblasts in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1185-1187. [PMID: 38616657 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-24-0439] [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: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer prevalence increases with age, and disease prognosis is poorer in older individuals. The increased prevalence is driven, undoubtedly, by the multistep accumulation of oncogenic mutations in cancer cells with age. However, fibroblasts are major constituents and key players in pancreatic cancer, and they too undergo age-related changes that may contribute to disease severity. In this issue of Cancer Research, Zabransky and colleagues set out to dissect the effect of age-related changes in pancreatic fibroblasts on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma growth and metastasis. They discovered that aged fibroblasts secrete GDF-15, which in turn activates AKT signaling and accelerates tumor progression. These findings provide a mechanistic role for aged fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer, underpinning the importance of normal physiologic processes in tumor progression. See related article by Zabransky et al., p. 1221.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Achinoam Isaacson
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Debra Barki
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ruth Scherz-Shouval
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Wang ZB, Zhang X, Fang C, Liu XT, Liao QJ, Wu N, Wang J. Immunotherapy and the ovarian cancer microenvironment: Exploring potential strategies for enhanced treatment efficacy. Immunology 2024. [PMID: 38618976 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13793] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite progress in cancer immunotherapy, ovarian cancer (OC) prognosis continues to be disappointing. Recent studies have shed light on how not just tumour cells, but also the complex tumour microenvironment, contribute to this unfavourable outcome of OC immunotherapy. The complexities of the immune microenvironment categorize OC as a 'cold tumour'. Nonetheless, understanding the precise mechanisms through which the microenvironment influences the effectiveness of OC immunotherapy remains an ongoing scientific endeavour. This review primarily aims to dissect the inherent characteristics and behaviours of diverse cells within the immune microenvironment, along with an exploration into its reprogramming and metabolic changes. It is expected that these insights will elucidate the operational dynamics of the immune microenvironment in OC and lay a theoretical groundwork for improving the efficacy of immunotherapy in OC management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Bin Wang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Xiu Zhang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Chao Fang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of the Research and Development of Novel Pharmaceutical Preparations, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiao-Ting Liu
- The Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
| | - Qian-Jin Liao
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Nayiyuan Wu
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Guo T, Xu J. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: a versatile mediator in tumor progression, metastasis, and targeted therapy. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024:10.1007/s10555-024-10186-7. [PMID: 38602594 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-024-10186-7] [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: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) has been demonstrated to play a significant role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the major component of TME and exhibit heterogeneous properties in their communication with tumor cells. This heterogeneity of CAFs can be attributed to various origins, including quiescent fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), adipocytes, pericytes, endothelial cells, and mesothelial cells. Moreover, single-cell RNA sequencing has identified diverse phenotypes of CAFs, with myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs) and inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs) being the most acknowledged, alongside newly discovered subtypes like antigen-presenting CAFs (apCAFs). Due to these heterogeneities, CAFs exert multiple functions in tumorigenesis, cancer stemness, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, metabolism, and metastasis. As a result, targeted therapies aimed at the TME, particularly focusing on CAFs, are rapidly developing, fueling the promising future of advanced tumor-targeted therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianchen Guo
- Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junfen Xu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Guo D, Sheng K, Zhang Q, Li P, Sun H, Wang Y, Lyu X, Jia Y, Wang C, Wu J, Zhang X, Wang D, Sun Y, Huang S, Yu J, Zhang J. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals the landscape of epithelial-mesenchymal transition molecular heterogeneity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2024; 587:216723. [PMID: 38342234 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216723] [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: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent and highly lethal malignant disease. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial in promoting ESCC development. However, the molecular heterogeneity of ESCC and the potential inhibitory strategies targeting EMT remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed high-resolution single-cell transcriptome data encompassing 209,231 ESCC cells from 39 tumor samples and 16 adjacent samples obtained from 44 individuals. We identified distinct cell populations exhibiting heterogeneous EMT characteristics and identified 87 EMT-associated molecules. The expression profiles of these EMT-associated molecules showed heterogeneity across different stages of ESCC progression. Moreover, we observed that EMT primarily occurred in early-stage tumors, before lymph node metastasis, and significantly promoted the rapid deterioration of ESCC. Notably, we identified SERPINH1 as a potential novel marker for ESCC EMT. By classifying ESCC patients based on EMT gene sets, we found that those with high EMT exhibited poorer prognosis. Furthermore, we predicted and experimentally validated drugs targeting ESCC EMT, including dactolisib, docetaxel, and nutlin, which demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting EMT and metastasis in ESCC. Through the integration of scRNA-seq, RNA-seq, and TCGA data with experimental validation, our comprehensive analysis elucidated the landscape of EMT during the entire course of ESCC development and metastasis. These findings provide valuable insights and a reference for refining ESCC clinical treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dianhao Guo
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Kaiwen Sheng
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Qi Zhang
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Pin Li
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Haoqiang Sun
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Yongjie Wang
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Xinxing Lyu
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Yang Jia
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Caifan Wang
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Jing Wu
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Xiaohang Zhang
- Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macau.
| | - Dandan Wang
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Yawen Sun
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Shuhong Huang
- School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China; Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Jingze Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Boelaars K, Rodriguez E, Huinen ZR, Liu C, Wang D, Springer BO, Olesek K, Goossens-Kruijssen L, van Ee T, Lindijer D, Tak W, de Haas A, Wehry L, Nugteren-Boogaard JP, Mikula A, de Winde CM, Mebius RE, Tuveson DA, Giovannetti E, Bijlsma MF, Wuhrer M, van Vliet SJ, van Kooyk Y. Pancreatic cancer-associated fibroblasts modulate macrophage differentiation via sialic acid-Siglec interactions. Commun Biol 2024; 7:430. [PMID: 38594506 PMCID: PMC11003967 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06087-8] [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: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advances in cancer immunotherapy, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unresponsive due to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which is characterized by the abundance of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Once identified, CAF-mediated immune inhibitory mechanisms could be exploited for cancer immunotherapy. Siglec receptors are increasingly recognized as immune checkpoints, and their ligands, sialic acids, are known to be overexpressed by cancer cells. Here, we unveil a previously unrecognized role of sialic acid-containing glycans on PDAC CAFs as crucial modulators of myeloid cells. Using multiplex immunohistochemistry and transcriptomics, we show that PDAC stroma is enriched in sialic acid-containing glycans compared to tumor cells and normal fibroblasts, and characterized by ST3GAL4 expression. We demonstrate that sialic acids on CAF cell lines serve as ligands for Siglec-7, -9, -10 and -15, distinct from the ligands on tumor cells, and that these receptors are found on myeloid cells in the stroma of PDAC biopsies. Furthermore, we show that CAFs drive the differentiation of monocytes to immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages in vitro, and that CAF sialylation plays a dominant role in this process compared to tumor cell sialylation. Collectively, our findings unravel sialic acids as a mechanism of CAF-mediated immunomodulation, which may provide targets for immunotherapy in PDAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Boelaars
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ernesto Rodriguez
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Zowi R Huinen
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Chang Liu
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pulmonary Medicine, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Di Wang
- Leiden University Medical Center, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Babet O Springer
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna Olesek
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Goossens-Kruijssen
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas van Ee
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dimitri Lindijer
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willemijn Tak
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aram de Haas
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laetitia Wehry
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joline P Nugteren-Boogaard
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aleksandra Mikula
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte M de Winde
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Reina E Mebius
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Medical Oncology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start-Up Unit, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maarten F Bijlsma
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Manfred Wuhrer
- Leiden University Medical Center, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sandra J van Vliet
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yvette van Kooyk
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Huang Q, Ge Y, He Y, Wu J, Tong Y, Shang H, Liu X, Ba X, Xia D, Peng E, Chen Z, Tang K. The Application of Nanoparticles Targeting Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:3333-3365. [PMID: 38617796 PMCID: PMC11012801 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s447350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are the most abundant stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), especially in solid tumors. It has been confirmed that it can not only interact with tumor cells to promote cancer progression and metastasis, but also affect the infiltration and function of immune cells to induce chemotherapy and immunotherapy resistance. So, targeting CAF has been considered an important method in cancer treatment. The rapid development of nanotechnology provides a good perspective to improve the efficiency of targeting CAF. At present, more and more researches have focused on the application of nanoparticles (NPs) in targeting CAF. These studies explored the effects of different types of NPs on CAF and the multifunctional nanomedicines that can eliminate CAF are able to enhance the EPR effect which facilitate the anti-tumor effect of themselves. There also exist amounts of studies focusing on using NPs to inhibit the activation and function of CAF to improve the therapeutic efficacy. The application of NPs targeting CAF needs to be based on an understanding of CAF biology. Therefore, in this review, we first summarized the latest progress of CAF biology, then discussed the types of CAF-targeting NPs and the main strategies in the current. The aim is to elucidate the application of NPs in targeting CAF and provide new insights for engineering nanomedicine to enhance immune response in cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiu Huang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Ge
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu He
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yonghua Tong
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haojie Shang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaozhuo Ba
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ding Xia
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ejun Peng
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kun Tang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Cai G, Hua Z, Zhang L, Chen Y, Li X, Ma K, Xia Z, Li Z. Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals tumoral microenvironment heterogenicity and hypervascularization in human carotid body tumor. J Cell Physiol 2024; 239:e31175. [PMID: 38214142 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31175] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Carotid body tumor (CBT) is a rare neck tumor located at the adventitia of the common carotid artery bifurcation. The prominent pathological features of CBT are high vascularization and abnormal proliferation. However, single-cell transcriptome analysis of the microenvironment composition and molecular complexity in CBT has yet to be performed. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis on human CBT to define the cells that contribute to hypervascularization and chronic hyperplasia. Unbiased clustering analysis of transcriptional profiles identified 16 distinct cell populations including endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), neuron cells, macrophage cells, neutrophil cells, and T cells. Within the ECs population, we defined subsets with angiogenic capacity plus clear signs of later endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to normal ECs. Two populations of macrophages were detectable in CBT, macrophage1 showed enrichment in hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and as well as an early EPCs cell-like population expressing CD14 and vascular endothelial growth factor. In addition to HIF-1-related transcriptional protein expression, macrophages1 also display a neovasculogenesis-promoting phenotype. SMCs included three populations showing platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta and vimentin expression, indicative of a cancer-associated fibroblast phenotype. Finally, we identified three types of neuronal cells, including chief cells and sustentacular cells, and elucidated their distinct roles in the pathogenesis of CBT and abnormal proliferation of tumors. Overall, our study provided the first comprehensive characterization of the transcriptional landscape of CBT at scRNA-seq profiles, providing novel insights into the mechanisms underlying its formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaopo Cai
- Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhaohui Hua
- Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Linfeng Zhang
- Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yutian Chen
- Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xu Li
- Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ke Ma
- Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zongping Xia
- Clinical Systems Biology Laboratories, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Wang Y, Xu M, Yao Y, Li Y, Zhang S, Fu Y, Wang X. Extracellular cancer‑associated fibroblasts: A novel subgroup in the cervical cancer microenvironment that exhibits tumor‑promoting roles and prognosis biomarker functions. Oncol Lett 2024; 27:167. [PMID: 38449793 PMCID: PMC10915806 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor invasion and metastasis are the processes that primarily cause adverse outcomes in patients with cervical cancer. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which participate in cancer progression and metastasis, are novel targets for the treatment of tumors. The present study aimed to assess the heterogeneity of CAFs in the cervical cancer microenvironment through single-cell RNA sequencing. After collecting five cervical cancer samples and obtaining the CAF-associated gene sets, the CAFs in the cervical cancer microenvironment were divided into myofibroblastic CAFs and extracellular (ec)CAFs. The ecCAFs appeared with more robust pro-tumorigenic effects than myCAFs according to enrichment analysis. Subsequently, through combining the ecCAF hub genes and bulk gene expression data for cervical cancer obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Ontology databases, univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analyses were performed to establish a CAF-associated risk signature for patients with cancer. The established risk signature demonstrated a stable and strong prognostic capability in both the training and validation cohorts. Subsequently, the association between the risk signature and clinical data was evaluated, and a nomogram to facilitate clinical application was established. The risk score was demonstrated to be associated with both the tumor immune microenvironment and the therapeutic responses. Moreover, the signature also has predictive value for the prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and bladder urothelial carcinoma, which were also associated with human papillomavirus infection. In conclusion, the present study assessed the heterogeneity of CAFs in the cervical cancer microenvironment, and a subgroup of CAFs that may be closely associated with tumor progression was defined. Moreover, a signature based on the hub genes of ecCAFs was shown to have biomarker functionality in terms of predicting survival rates, and therefore this CAF subgroup may become a therapeutic target for cervical cancer in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuehan Wang
- Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Mingxia Xu
- Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Yeli Yao
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Songfa Zhang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Yunfeng Fu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P.R. China
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Wang J, Xi M, Lu Q, Xia B, Liu Y, Yang J. Single-cell and bulk transcriptomics identifies a tumor-specific CD36 + cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulation in colorectal cancer. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2024; 44:495-498. [PMID: 37990474 PMCID: PMC11024678 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
- Sichuan University‐University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Center for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular NetworkWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
| | - Ming‐Jia Xi
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
- Sichuan University‐University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Center for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular NetworkWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
| | - Qing Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
- Sichuan University‐University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Center for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular NetworkWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
| | - Bi‐Han Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
- Sichuan University‐University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Center for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular NetworkWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
| | - Yu‐Zhi Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
- Sichuan University‐University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Center for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular NetworkWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
| | - Jin‐Lin Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
- Sichuan University‐University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Center for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular NetworkWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
| |
Collapse
|