1
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Wieder R. Fibroblasts as Turned Agents in Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072014. [PMID: 37046676 PMCID: PMC10093070 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiated epithelial cells reside in the homeostatic microenvironment of the native organ stroma. The stroma supports their normal function, their G0 differentiated state, and their expansion/contraction through the various stages of the life cycle and physiologic functions of the host. When malignant transformation begins, the microenvironment tries to suppress and eliminate the transformed cells, while cancer cells, in turn, try to resist these suppressive efforts. The tumor microenvironment encompasses a large variety of cell types recruited by the tumor to perform different functions, among which fibroblasts are the most abundant. The dynamics of the mutual relationship change as the sides undertake an epic battle for control of the other. In the process, the cancer “wounds” the microenvironment through a variety of mechanisms and attracts distant mesenchymal stem cells to change their function from one attempting to suppress the cancer, to one that supports its growth, survival, and metastasis. Analogous reciprocal interactions occur as well between disseminated cancer cells and the metastatic microenvironment, where the microenvironment attempts to eliminate cancer cells or suppress their proliferation. However, the altered microenvironmental cells acquire novel characteristics that support malignant progression. Investigations have attempted to use these traits as targets of novel therapeutic approaches.
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2
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Tiong KL, Lin YW, Yeang CH. Characterization of gene cluster heterogeneity in single-cell transcriptomic data within and across cancer types. Biol Open 2022; 11:275538. [PMID: 35665803 PMCID: PMC9235070 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059256] [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: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the remarkable progress in probing tumor transcriptomic heterogeneity by single-cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNAseq) data, several gaps exist in prior studies. Tumor heterogeneity is frequently mentioned but not quantified. Clustering analyses typically target cells rather than genes, and differential levels of transcriptomic heterogeneity of gene clusters are not characterized. Relations between gene clusters inferred from multiple datasets remain less explored. We provided a series of quantitative methods to analyze cancer sc-RNAseq data. First, we proposed two quantitative measures to assess intra-tumoral heterogeneity/homogeneity. Second, we established a hierarchy of gene clusters from sc-RNAseq data, devised an algorithm to reduce the gene cluster hierarchy to a compact structure, and characterized the gene clusters with functional enrichment and heterogeneity. Third, we developed an algorithm to align the gene cluster hierarchies from multiple datasets to a small number of meta gene clusters. By applying these methods to nine cancer sc-RNAseq datasets, we discovered that cancer cell transcriptomes were more homogeneous within tumors than the accompanying normal cells. Furthermore, many gene clusters from the nine datasets were aligned to two large meta gene clusters, which had high and low heterogeneity and were enriched with distinct functions. Finally, we found the homogeneous meta gene cluster retained stronger expression coherence and associations with survival times in bulk level RNAseq data than the heterogeneous meta gene cluster, yet the combinatorial expression patterns of breast cancer subtypes in bulk level data were not preserved in single-cell data. The inference outcomes derived from nine cancer sc-RNAseq datasets provide insights about the contributing factors for transcriptomic heterogeneity of cancer cells and complex relations between bulk level and single-cell RNAseq data. They demonstrate the utility of our methods to enable a comprehensive characterization of co-expressed gene clusters in a wide range of sc-RNAseq data in cancers and beyond. Summary: We propose quantitative methods to analyze cancer sc-RNAseq data: measures of intra-tumoral heterogeneity, characterization of a hierarchy of gene clusters, and alignment of gene cluster hierarchies from multiple datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khong-Loon Tiong
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Section 2, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wei Lin
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Section 2, Taipei 115, Taiwan.,The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, School of Health Profession, Master Program of Diagnostic Genetics, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Chen-Hsiang Yeang
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Section 2, Taipei 115, Taiwan
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3
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Altered Tumor Plasticity after Different Cancer Cell Fusions with MSC. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218347. [PMID: 33172211 PMCID: PMC7664391 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
While cell fusion demonstrates an important pathway during tissue development and regeneration of distinct organs, this process can also contribute to pathophysiological phenotypes during tumor progression. Hybrid cell formation after heterofusion between cancer cells and various other cell types within the tumor microenvironment is observed in vitro and in vivo. In particular, mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC) perform diverse levels of communication with cancer cells by exhibiting anti- and pro-tumorigenic effects. During these cellular interactions, MSC can eventually fuse with cancer cells. Thereby, the newly generated disparate hybrid populations display aneuploidy associated with chromosomal instability. Based upon a subsequent post-hybrid selection process (PHSP), fused cancer cells can undergo apoptosis/necroptosis, senescence, dormancy, or a proliferative state by acquisition of new properties. Consequently, PHSP-surviving hybrid cancer cells demonstrate altered functionalities within the tumor tissue. This is accompanied by changes in therapeutic responsiveness and a different metastatic behavior. Accordingly, enhanced tumor plasticity interferes with successful therapeutic interventions and aggravates patient prognoses. The present review article focusses on fusion of MSC with different human cancer cells, in particular breast cancer populations and resulting characteristics of various cancer hybrid cells. Moreover, some mechanisms of cancer cell fusion are discussed together with multiple PHSP pathways.
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4
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Echeagaray O, Sussman MA. Transcribing the heart: faithfully interpreting cardiac transcriptional insights. Regen Med 2019; 14:805-810. [PMID: 31464566 PMCID: PMC6770408 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2019-0063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional profiling continues to produce phenotypical data essential for understanding of basic cardiac biology and required to improve efficiency of cardiac regenerative and therapeutic approaches after injury. Accurate interpretation of cardiac transcriptional data comes with the unique challenges of heart biology including cardiomyocyte morphology, cryopreservation of limited samples and adequate selection of transcriptional platform at a single-cell resolution. Consequently, development and implementation of novel transcriptional platforms and creative bioinformatic analysis are essential to resolve standing questions in the field of cardiac regenerative medicine. Targeted bioinformatic approaches, advancing technological access, increase technical availability and fostering communication between interdisciplinary groups is critical to improve therapeutic approaches and to overcome challenges inherent to transcriptomic cardiac research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Echeagaray
- San Diego Heart Research Institute and Integrated Regenerative Research Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4650, USA
| | - Mark A Sussman
- San Diego Heart Research Institute and Integrated Regenerative Research Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4650, USA
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5
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Volk-Draper L, Patel R, Bhattarai N, Yang J, Wilber A, DeNardo D, Ran S. Myeloid-Derived Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Progenitors Significantly Contribute to Lymphatic Metastasis in Clinical Breast Cancer. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2019; 189:2269-2292. [PMID: 31421071 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Lymphatic metastasis is a high-impact prognostic factor for mortality of breast cancer (BC) patients, and it directly depends on tumor-associated lymphatic vessels. We previously reported that lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory lymphangiogenesis is strongly promoted by myeloid-derived lymphatic endothelial cell progenitors (M-LECPs) derived from the bone marrow (BM). As BC recruits massive numbers of provascular myeloid cells, we hypothesized that M-LECPs, within this recruited population, are specifically programmed to promote tumor lymphatics that increase lymph node metastasis. In support of this hypothesis, high levels of M-LECPs were found in peripheral blood and tumor tissues of BC patients. Moreover, the density of M-LECPs and lymphatic vessels positive for myeloid marker proteins strongly correlated with patient node status. It was also established that tumor M-LECPs coexpress lymphatic-specific, stem/progenitor and M2-type macrophage markers that indicate their BM hematopoietic-myeloid origin and distinguish them from mature lymphatic endothelial cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphoid cells, and tissue-resident macrophages. Using four orthotopic BC models, we show that mouse M-LECPs are similarly recruited to tumors and integrate into preexisting lymphatics. Finally, we demonstrate that adoptive transfer of in vitro differentiated M-LECPs, but not naïve or nondifferentiated BM cells, significantly increased metastatic burden in ipsilateral lymph nodes. These data support a causative role of BC-induced lymphatic progenitors in tumor lymphangiogenesis and suggest molecular targets for their inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Volk-Draper
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois
| | - Radhika Patel
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois
| | - Nihit Bhattarai
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois
| | - Andrew Wilber
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois; Simmons Cancer Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois
| | - David DeNardo
- Department of Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Sophia Ran
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois; Simmons Cancer Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois.
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6
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Sussman
- Department of Biology & Integrated Regenerative Research Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
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7
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Yuan C, Freeman BT, McArdle TJ, Jung JP, Ogle BM. Conserved pathway activation following xenogeneic, heterotypic fusion. FASEB J 2019; 33:6767-6777. [PMID: 30807240 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801700r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Fusion between cells of different organisms (i.e., xenogeneic hybrids) can occur, and for humans this may occur in the course of tissue transplantation, animal handling, and food production. Previous work shows that conferred advantages are rare in xenogeneic hybrids, whereas risks of cellular dysregulation are high. Here, we explore the transcriptome of individual xenogeneic hybrids of human mesenchymal stem cells and murine cardiomyocytes soon after fusion and ask whether the process is stochastic or involves conserved pathway activation. Toward this end, single-cell RNA sequencing was used to analyze the transcriptomes of hybrid cells with respect to the human and mouse genomes. Consistent with previous work, hybrids possessed a unique transcriptome distinct from either fusion partner but were dominated by the cardiomyocyte transcriptome. New in this work is the documentation that a few genes that were latent in both fusion partners were consistently expressed in hybrids. Specifically, human growth hormone 1, murine ribosomal protein S27, and murine ATP synthase H+ transporting, mitochondrial Fo complex subunit C2 were expressed in nearly all hybrids. The consistent activation of latent genes between hybrids suggests conserved signaling mechanisms that either cause or are the consequence of fusion of these 2 cell types and might serve as a target for limiting unwanted xenogeneic fusion in the future.-Yuan, C., Freeman, B. T., McArdle, T. J., Jung, J. P., Ogle, B. M. Conserved pathway activation following xenogeneic, heterotypic fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ce Yuan
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brian T Freeman
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Tanner J McArdle
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jangwook P Jung
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brenda M Ogle
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; and.,Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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8
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Melzer C, von der Ohe J, Hass R. Involvement of Actin Cytoskeletal Components in Breast Cancer Cell Fusion with Human Mesenchymal Stroma/Stem-Like Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E876. [PMID: 30781614 PMCID: PMC6412741 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20040876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell fusion as a rare event was observed following the co-culture of human MDA-MB-231cherry breast cancer cells or benign neoplastic MCF10Acherry breast epithelial cells together with different mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSCGFP) cultures, respectively, resulting in the generation of double-fluorescing hybrid cells. Analysis of potential molecular mechanisms for the formation of cancer hybrid cells revealed cytoskeletal components, including F-actin. Thus, a sub-lethal concentration of cytochalasin D, which blocks elongation of actin filaments, was able to significantly reduce cancer hybrid cell formation. Simultaneously, cell cycle progression of the different co-cultures remained unaffected following treatment with cytochalasin D, indicating continued proliferation. Moreover, exposure to 50 nM cytochalasin D revealed little if any effect on the expression of various integrins and cell adhesion molecules in the different co-cultures. However, LC-MS proteome analysis of the different control co-cultures compared to corresponding cytochalasin-treated co-cultures demonstrated predominant differences in the expression of actin-associated cytoskeletal proteins. In addition, the requirement of structured actin to provide an appropriate cytoskeletal network for enabling subsequent fusion processes was also substantiated by the actin filament disrupting latrunculin B, which inhibits the fusion process between the breast cancer populations and mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC). Together, these findings suggest an important role of distinct actin structures and associated cytoskeletal components during cell fusion and the formation of breast cancer hybrid cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catharina Melzer
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Juliane von der Ohe
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Ralf Hass
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
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9
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Melzer C, von der Ohe J, Hass R. In Vivo Cell Fusion between Mesenchymal Stroma/Stem-Like Cells and Breast Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E185. [PMID: 30764554 PMCID: PMC6406489 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11020185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular communication within the tumor microenvironment enables important interactions between cancer cells and recruited adjacent populations including mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC). These interactions were monitored in vivo following co-injection of GFP-labeled human MSC together with mcherry-labeled MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in NODscid mice. Within 14 days of tumor development the number of initially co-injected MSC had significantly declined and spontaneous formation of breast cancer/MSC hybrid cells was observed by the appearance of double fluorescing cells. This in vivo fusion displayed a rare event and occurred in less than 0.5% of the tumor cell population. Similar findings were observed in a parallel in vitro co-culture. Characterization of the new cell fusion products obtained after two consecutive flow cytometry cell sorting and single cell cloning revealed two populations, termed MDA-hyb3 and MDA-hyb4. The breast cancer fusion cells expressed both, GFP and mcherry and displayed more characteristics of the MDA-MB-231 cells than of the parental MSC. While little if any differences were determined in the proliferative capacity, a significant delay of MDA-hyb3 cells in tumor formation was observed when compared to the parental MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, MDA-hyb3 cells developed an altered pattern of distant organ metastases. These findings demonstrated dynamic tumor changes by in vivo and in vitro fusion with the development of new breast cancer hybrid cells carrying altered tumorigenic properties. Consequently, cancer cell fusion contributes to progressively increasing tumor heterogeneity which complicates a therapeutic regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catharina Melzer
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
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10
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In situ transcriptome characteristics are lost following culture adaptation of adult cardiac stem cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12060. [PMID: 30104715 PMCID: PMC6089936 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30551-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Regenerative therapeutic approaches for myocardial diseases often involve delivery of stem cells expanded ex vivo. Prior studies indicate that cell culture conditions affect functional and phenotypic characteristics, but relationship(s) of cultured cells derived from freshly isolated populations and the heterogeneity of the cultured population remain poorly defined. Functional and phenotypic characteristics of ex vivo expanded cells will determine outcomes of interventional treatment for disease, necessitating characterization of the impact that ex vivo expansion has upon isolated stem cell populations. Single-cell RNA-Seq profiling (scRNA-Seq) was performed to determine consequences of culture expansion upon adult cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) as well as relationships with other cell populations. Bioinformatic analyses demonstrate that identity marker genes expressed in freshly isolated cells become undetectable in cultured CPCs while low level expression emerges for thousands of other genes. Transcriptional profile of CPCs exhibited greater degree of similarity throughout the cultured population relative to freshly isolated cells. Findings were validated by comparative analyses using scRNA-Seq datasets of various cell types generated by multiple scRNA-Seq technology. Increased transcriptome diversity and decreased population heterogeneity in the cultured cell population may help account for reported outcomes associated with experimental and clinical use of CPCs for treatment of myocardial injury.
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11
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Chitwood CA, Dietzsch C, Jacobs G, McArdle T, Freeman BT, Banga A, Noubissi FK, Ogle BM. Breast tumor cell hybrids form spontaneously in vivo and contribute to breast tumor metastases. APL Bioeng 2018; 2:031907. [PMID: 31069316 PMCID: PMC6324215 DOI: 10.1063/1.5024744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cell fusion was suggested as a mechanism of metastasis about a century ago. Since then, many additional modes of material transfer (i.e., tunneling nanotubes, and exosomes) to generate cell hybrids have been identified. However, studies documenting spontaneous tumor hybrid formation in vivo as a mechanism that enables metastasis are still lacking. Here, we tested whether spontaneous hybrid formation in vivo contributes to bona fide metastatic tumors. We first used single cell RNASeq to analyze the gene expression profile of spontaneously formed cancer cell-stromal hybrids, and results revealed that hybrids exhibit a clustering pattern that is distinct from either parental cell and suggestive of substantial diversity of individual hybrids. Despite the newly gained diversity, hybrids can retain expression of critical genes of each parental cell. To assess the biological impact of cancer cell hybrids in vivo, we transfected murine mammary tumor cells, isolated from FVB/N-Tg(MMTV-PyVT)634Mul/J mice (PyVT) with Cre recombinase prior to injection to the murine fat pad of FVB.129S6(B6)-Gt(ROSA)26Sortm1(Luc)Kael/J mice such that luciferase expression is induced with hybrid formation; luciferase expression was tracked for up to four months. We observed that hybrid formation occurs spontaneously in vivo and that a significantly higher number of hybrids reside in metastases compared to the primary tumor, supporting the possibility that hybrids can emerge from the primary tumor and proliferate to help create a new tumor at a distant site. Additional studies are now warranted to delineate the mechanisms of cancer cell hybrid transit to metastases since drugs to inhibit hybrid formation might prevent metastatic spread.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Felicite K Noubissi
- Department of Biology/RCMI, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, USA
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12
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Developmental Pathways Pervade Stem Cell Responses to Evolving Extracellular Matrices of 3D Bioprinted Microenvironments. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:4809673. [PMID: 29765414 PMCID: PMC5896227 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4809673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental studies and 3D in vitro model systems show that the production and engagement of extracellular matrix (ECM) often precede stem cell differentiation. Yet, unclear is how the ECM triggers signaling events in sequence to accommodate multistep process characteristic of differentiation. Here, we employ transcriptome profiling and advanced imaging to delineate the specificity of ECM engagement to particular differentiation pathways and to determine whether specificity in this context is a function of long-term ECM remodeling. To this end, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were cultured in 3D bioprinted prisms created from ECM proteins and associated controls. We found that exogenous ECM provided in 3D microenvironments at early time points impacts on the composition of microenvironments at later time points and that each evolving 3D microenvironment is uniquely poised to promote stem cell differentiation. Moreover, 2D cultures undergo minimal ECM remodeling and are ill-equipped to stimulate pathways associated with development.
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13
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Melzer C, von der Ohe J, Hass R. In Vitro Fusion of Normal and Neoplastic Breast Epithelial Cells with Human Mesenchymal Stroma/Stem Cells Partially Involves Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Signaling. Stem Cells 2018; 36:977-989. [PMID: 29569804 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Formation of hybrid cells by "accidental cell fusion" of normal and neoplastic breast epithelial cells with local tissue-associated mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC) in an inflammatory microenvironment can generate new cancer cell populations whereby molecular signaling mechanisms of this process remain unclear. Fusions of lentiviral enhanced green fluorescent protein-labeled MSC with mcherry-labeled breast epithelial cells were quantified and effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and receptor downstream signaling were investigated. Cocultures of MSC with normal human mammary epithelial cells, with neoplastic MCF10A, or with MDA-MB-231 or MCF7 breast cancer cells demonstrated hybrid cell formation between 0.1% and about 2% of the populations within 72 hours, whereby the fusion process occurred in less than 5 minutes. Addition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α significantly enhanced MCF10A-MSC cell fusion. Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown experiments revealed an involvement of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-1 and -2 in this process. This was also substantiated by siRNA knockdown of tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1-associated death domain which abolished TNF-α-stimulated fusion. While TNF receptor signaling can be relayed via the Mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8), NF-κB or cell death pathways, examination of further downstream signaling exhibited little if any effects of MAPK8 or RelA (p65) on TNF-α-mediated cell fusion, respectively. These data suggested that cell fusion between MSC and MCF10A breast epithelial cells can be stimulated by TNF-α involving TNF receptor-activated cell death pathways or additional NF-κB signaling. Stem Cells 2018;36:977-989.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catharina Melzer
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Juliane von der Ohe
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ralf Hass
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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14
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Melzer C, von der Ohe J, Hass R. Enhanced metastatic capacity of breast cancer cells after interaction and hybrid formation with mesenchymal stroma/stem cells (MSC). Cell Commun Signal 2018; 16:2. [PMID: 29329589 PMCID: PMC5795285 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-018-0215-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fusion of breast cancer cells with tumor-associated populations of the microenvironment including mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC) represents a rare event in cell communication whereby the metastatic capacity of those hybrid cells remains unclear. Methods Functional changes were investigated in vitro and in vivo following spontaneous fusion and hybrid cell formation between primary human MSC and human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Thus, lentiviral eGFP-labeled MSC and breast cancer cells labeled with mcherry resulted in dual-fluorescing hybrid cells after co-culture. Results Double FACS sorting and single cell cloning revealed two different aneuploid male hybrid populations (MDA-hyb1 and MDA-hyb2) with different STR profiles, pronounced telomerase activities, and enhanced proliferative capacities as compared to the parental cells. Microarray-based mRNA profiling demonstrated marked regulation of genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and increased expression of metastasis-associated genes including S100A4. In vivo studies following subcutaneous injection of the breast cancer and the two hybrid populations substantiated the in vitro findings by a significantly elevated tumor growth of the hybrid cells. Moreover, both hybrid populations developed various distant organ metastases in a much shorter period of time than the parental breast cancer cells. Conclusion Together, these data demonstrate spontaneous development of new tumor cell populations exhibiting different parental properties after close interaction and subsequent fusion of MSC with breast cancer cells. This formation of tumor hybrids contributes to continuously increasing tumor heterogeneity and elevated metastatic capacities. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12964-018-0215-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catharina Melzer
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, D-30625, Germany
| | - Juliane von der Ohe
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, D-30625, Germany
| | - Ralf Hass
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, D-30625, Germany.
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15
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Liu T, Wu H, Wu S, Wang C. Single-Cell Sequencing Technologies for Cardiac Stem Cell Studies. Stem Cells Dev 2017; 26:1540-1551. [PMID: 28859577 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2017.0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Today with the rapid advancements in stem cell studies and the promising potential of using stem cells in clinical therapy, there is an increasing demand for in-depth comprehensive analysis on individual cell transcriptome and epigenome, as they play critical roles in a number of cell functions such as cell differentiation, growth, and reprogramming. The development of single-cell sequencing technologies has helped in revealing some exciting new perspectives in stem cells and regenerative medicine research. Among the various potential applications, single-cell analysis for cardiac stem cells (CSCs) holds tremendous promises in understanding the mechanisms of heart development and regeneration, which might light up the path toward cell therapy for cardiovascular diseases. This review briefly highlights the recent progresses in single-cell sequencing analysis technologies and their applications in CSC research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Liu
- 1 Center for Genomics & Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University , Loma Linda, California
| | - Hongjin Wu
- 1 Center for Genomics & Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University , Loma Linda, California.,2 Cancer Research Institute, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital , Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
| | - Shixiu Wu
- 2 Cancer Research Institute, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital , Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
| | - Charles Wang
- 1 Center for Genomics & Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University , Loma Linda, California
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Mesenchymal stem cells generate distinct functional hybrids in vitro via cell fusion or entosis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36863. [PMID: 27827439 PMCID: PMC5101832 DOI: 10.1038/srep36863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Homotypic and heterotypic cell-to-cell fusion are key processes during development and tissue regeneration. Nevertheless, aberrant cell fusion can contribute to tumour initiation and metastasis. Additionally, a form of cell-in-cell structure called entosis has been observed in several human tumours. Here we investigate cell-to-cell interaction between mouse mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs). MSCs represent an important source of adult stem cells since they have great potential for regenerative medicine, even though they are also involved in cancer progression. We report that MSCs can either fuse forming heterokaryons, or be invaded by ESCs through entosis. While entosis-derived hybrids never share their genomes and induce degradation of the target cell, fusion-derived hybrids can convert into synkaryons. Importantly we show that hetero-to-synkaryon transition occurs through cell division and not by nuclear membrane fusion. Additionally, we also observe that the ROCK-actin/myosin pathway is required for both fusion and entosis in ESCs but only for entosis in MSCs. Overall, we show that MSCs can undergo fusion or entosis in culture by generating distinct functional cellular entities. These two processes are profoundly different and their outcomes should be considered given the beneficial or possible detrimental effects of MSC-based therapeutic applications.
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Noubissi FK, Ogle BM. Cancer Cell Fusion: Mechanisms Slowly Unravel. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17091587. [PMID: 27657058 PMCID: PMC5037852 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17091587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Although molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways driving invasion and metastasis have been studied for many years, the origin of the population of metastatic cells within the primary tumor is still not well understood. About a century ago, Aichel proposed that cancer cell fusion was a mechanism of cancer metastasis. This hypothesis gained some support over the years, and recently became the focus of many studies that revealed increasing evidence pointing to the possibility that cancer cell fusion probably gives rise to the metastatic phenotype by generating widespread genetic and epigenetic diversity, leading to the emergence of critical populations needed to evolve resistance to the treatment and development of metastasis. In this review, we will discuss the clinical relevance of cancer cell fusion, describe emerging mechanisms of cancer cell fusion, address why inhibiting cancer cell fusion could represent a critical line of attack to limit drug resistance and to prevent metastasis, and suggest one new modality for doing so.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brenda M Ogle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
- Institute for Engineering and Medicine, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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Poirion OB, Zhu X, Ching T, Garmire L. Single-Cell Transcriptomics Bioinformatics and Computational Challenges. Front Genet 2016; 7:163. [PMID: 27708664 PMCID: PMC5030210 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2016.00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) technology holds the promise to revolutionize our understanding of diseases and associated biological processes at an unprecedented resolution. It opens the door to reveal intercellular heterogeneity and has been employed to a variety of applications, ranging from characterizing cancer cells subpopulations to elucidating tumor resistance mechanisms. Parallel to improving experimental protocols to deal with technological issues, deriving new analytical methods to interpret the complexity in scRNA-Seq data is just as challenging. Here, we review current state-of-the-art bioinformatics tools and methods for scRNA-Seq analysis, as well as addressing some critical analytical challenges that the field faces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier B Poirion
- Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Xun Zhu
- Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer CenterHonolulu, HI, USA; Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI, USA
| | - Travers Ching
- Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer CenterHonolulu, HI, USA; Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI, USA
| | - Lana Garmire
- Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center Honolulu, HI, USA
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