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Kulus M, Farzaneh M, Bryja A, Zehtabi M, Azizidoost S, Abouali Gale Dari M, Golcar-Narenji A, Ziemak H, Chwarzyński M, Piotrowska-Kempisty H, Dzięgiel P, Zabel M, Mozdziak P, Bukowska D, Kempisty B, Antosik P. Phenotypic Transitions the Processes Involved in Regulation of Growth and Proangiogenic Properties of Stem Cells, Cancer Stem Cells and Circulating Tumor Cells. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:967-979. [PMID: 38372877 PMCID: PMC11087301 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10691-w] [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: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial process with significance in the metastasis of malignant tumors. It is through the acquisition of plasticity that cancer cells become more mobile and gain the ability to metastasize to other tissues. The mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) is the return to an epithelial state, which allows for the formation of secondary tumors. Both processes, EMT and MET, are regulated by different pathways and different mediators, which affects the sophistication of the overall tumorigenesis process. Not insignificant are also cancer stem cells and their participation in the angiogenesis, which occur very intensively within tumors. Difficulties in effectively treating cancer are primarily dependent on the potential of cancer cells to rapidly expand and occupy secondarily vital organs. Due to the ability of these cells to spread, the concept of the circulating tumor cell (CTC) has emerged. Interestingly, CTCs exhibit molecular diversity and stem-like and mesenchymal features, even when derived from primary tumor tissue from a single patient. While EMT is necessary for metastasis, MET is required for CTCs to establish a secondary site. A thorough understanding of the processes that govern the balance between EMT and MET in malignancy is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kulus
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Maryam Farzaneh
- Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Artur Bryja
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Mojtaba Zehtabi
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shirin Azizidoost
- Atherosclerosis Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mahrokh Abouali Gale Dari
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Golcar-Narenji
- Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Hanna Ziemak
- Veterinary Clinic of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Mikołaj Chwarzyński
- Veterinary Clinic of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Hanna Piotrowska-Kempisty
- Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Basic and Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Piotr Dzięgiel
- Division of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Zabel
- Division of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- Division of Anatomy and Histology, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Paul Mozdziak
- Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Physiology Graduate Faculty, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Dorota Bukowska
- Department of Diagnostics and Clinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Bartosz Kempisty
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland.
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
- Physiology Graduate Faculty, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital and Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Paweł Antosik
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
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Sandbhor P, Palkar P, Bhat S, John G, Goda JS. Nanomedicine as a multimodal therapeutic paradigm against cancer: on the way forward in advancing precision therapy. NANOSCALE 2024. [PMID: 38470224 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr06131k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed dramatic improvements in nanotechnology-based cancer therapeutics, and it continues to evolve from the use of conventional therapies (chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy) to increasingly multi-complex approaches incorporating thermal energy-based tumor ablation (e.g. magnetic hyperthermia and photothermal therapy), dynamic therapy (e.g. photodynamic therapy), gene therapy, sonodynamic therapy (e.g. ultrasound), immunotherapy, and more recently real-time treatment efficacy monitoring (e.g. theranostic MRI-sensitive nanoparticles). Unlike monotherapy, these multimodal therapies (bimodal, i.e., a combination of two therapies, and trimodal, i.e., a combination of more than two therapies) incorporating nanoplatforms have tremendous potential to improve the tumor tissue penetration and retention of therapeutic agents through selective active/passive targeting effects. These combinatorial therapies can correspondingly alleviate drug response against hypoxic/acidic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments and promote/induce tumor cell death through various multi-mechanisms such as apoptosis, autophagy, and reactive oxygen-based cytotoxicity, e.g., ferroptosis, etc. These multi-faced approaches such as targeting the tumor vasculature, neoangiogenic vessels, drug-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs), preventing intra/extravasation to reduce metastatic growth, and modulation of antitumor immune responses work complementary to each other, enhancing treatment efficacy. In this review, we discuss recent advances in different nanotechnology-mediated synergistic/additive combination therapies, emphasizing their underlying mechanisms for improving cancer prognosis and survival outcomes. Additionally, significant challenges such as CSCs, hypoxia, immunosuppression, and distant/local metastasis associated with therapy resistance and tumor recurrences are reviewed. Furthermore, to improve the clinical precision of these multimodal nanoplatforms in cancer treatment, their successful bench-to-clinic translation with controlled and localized drug-release kinetics, maximizing the therapeutic window while addressing safety and regulatory concerns are discussed. As we advance further, exploiting these strategies in clinically more relevant models such as patient-derived xenografts and 3D organoids will pave the way for the application of precision therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja Sandbhor
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
| | - Pranoti Palkar
- Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology & Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - Sakshi Bhat
- Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology & Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - Geofrey John
- Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology & Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - Jayant S Goda
- Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology & Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, 400012, India
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Strippoli R, Niayesh-Mehr R, Adelipour M, Khosravi A, Cordani M, Zarrabi A, Allameh A. Contribution of Autophagy to Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Induction during Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:807. [PMID: 38398197 PMCID: PMC10886827 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040807] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a dedifferentiation process implicated in many physio-pathological conditions including tumor transformation. EMT is regulated by several extracellular mediators and under certain conditions it can be reversible. Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process in which intracellular components such as protein/DNA aggregates and abnormal organelles are degraded in specific lysosomes. In cancer, autophagy plays a controversial role, acting in different conditions as both a tumor suppressor and a tumor-promoting mechanism. Experimental evidence shows that deep interrelations exist between EMT and autophagy-related pathways. Although this interplay has already been analyzed in previous studies, understanding mechanisms and the translational implications of autophagy/EMT need further study. The role of autophagy in EMT is not limited to morphological changes, but activation of autophagy could be important to DNA repair/damage system, cell adhesion molecules, and cell proliferation and differentiation processes. Based on this, both autophagy and EMT and related pathways are now considered as targets for cancer therapy. In this review article, the contribution of autophagy to EMT and progression of cancer is discussed. This article also describes the multiple connections between EMT and autophagy and their implication in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Strippoli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, I.R.C.C.S., 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Reyhaneh Niayesh-Mehr
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran P.O. Box 14115-331, Iran;
| | - Maryam Adelipour
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz 61357-15794, Iran;
| | - Arezoo Khosravi
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Okan University, Istanbul 34959, Türkiye;
| | - Marco Cordani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Istanbul 34396, Türkiye;
- Department of Research Analytics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, India
| | - Abdolamir Allameh
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran P.O. Box 14115-331, Iran;
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Mierke CT. Phenotypic Heterogeneity, Bidirectionality, Universal Cues, Plasticity, Mechanics, and the Tumor Microenvironment Drive Cancer Metastasis. Biomolecules 2024; 14:184. [PMID: 38397421 PMCID: PMC10887446 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020184] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor diseases become a huge problem when they embark on a path that advances to malignancy, such as the process of metastasis. Cancer metastasis has been thoroughly investigated from a biological perspective in the past, whereas it has still been less explored from a physical perspective. Until now, the intraluminal pathway of cancer metastasis has received the most attention, while the interaction of cancer cells with macrophages has received little attention. Apart from the biochemical characteristics, tumor treatments also rely on the tumor microenvironment, which is recognized to be immunosuppressive and, as has recently been found, mechanically stimulates cancer cells and thus alters their functions. The review article highlights the interaction of cancer cells with other cells in the vascular metastatic route and discusses the impact of this intercellular interplay on the mechanical characteristics and subsequently on the functionality of cancer cells. For instance, macrophages can guide cancer cells on their intravascular route of cancer metastasis, whereby they can help to circumvent the adverse conditions within blood or lymphatic vessels. Macrophages induce microchannel tunneling that can possibly avoid mechanical forces during extra- and intravasation and reduce the forces within the vascular lumen due to vascular flow. The review article highlights the vascular route of cancer metastasis and discusses the key players in this traditional route. Moreover, the effects of flows during the process of metastasis are presented, and the effects of the microenvironment, such as mechanical influences, are characterized. Finally, the increased knowledge of cancer metastasis opens up new perspectives for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Faculty of Physics and Earth System Science, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Biological Physics Division, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Yan Q, Su X, Chen Y, Wang Z, Han W, Xia Q, Mao Y, Si J, Li H, Duan S. LINC00941: a novel player involved in the progression of human cancers. Hum Cell 2024; 37:167-180. [PMID: 37995050 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-01002-5] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
LINC00941, also known as lncRNA-MUF, is an intergenic non-coding RNA located on chromosome 12p11.21. It actively participates in a complex competing endogenous RNA network, regulating the expression of microRNA and its downstream proteins. Through transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, LINC00941 plays a vital role in multiple signaling pathways, influencing cell behaviors such as tumor cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion. Noteworthy is its consistently high expression in various tumor types, closely correlating with clinicopathological features and cancer prognoses. Elevated LINC00941 levels are associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including increased tumor size, extensive lymphatic metastasis, and distant metastasis, leading to poorer survival rates across different cancers. Additionally, LINC00941 and its associated genes are linked to various targeted drugs available in the market. In this comprehensive review, we systematically summarize existing studies, detailing LINC00941's differential expression, clinicopathological and prognostic implications, regulatory mechanisms, and associated therapeutic drugs. Our analysis includes relevant charts and incorporates bioinformatics analyses to verify LINC00941's differential expression in pan-cancer and explore potential transcriptional regulation patterns of downstream targets. This work not only establishes a robust data foundation but also guides future research directions. Given its potential as a significant cancer biomarker and therapeutic target, further investigation into LINC00941's differential expression and regulatory mechanisms is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qibin Yan
- Institute of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Hangzhou City University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinming Su
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yunzhu Chen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenbo Han
- Department of Pharmacy, Hangzhou City University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Institute of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yunan Mao
- Department of Pharmacy, Hangzhou City University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiahua Si
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hanbing Li
- Institute of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Shiwei Duan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Matsuoka T, Yashiro M. Molecular Insight into Gastric Cancer Invasion-Current Status and Future Directions. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:54. [PMID: 38201481 PMCID: PMC10778111 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. There has been no efficient therapy for stage IV GC patients due to this disease's heterogeneity and dissemination ability. Despite the rapid advancement of molecular targeted therapies, such as HER2 and immune checkpoint inhibitors, survival of GC patients is still unsatisfactory because the understanding of the mechanism of GC progression is still incomplete. Invasion is the most important feature of GC metastasis, which causes poor mortality in patients. Recently, genomic research has critically deepened our knowledge of which gene products are dysregulated in invasive GC. Furthermore, the study of the interaction of GC cells with the tumor microenvironment has emerged as a principal subject in driving invasion and metastasis. These results are expected to provide a profound knowledge of how biological molecules are implicated in GC development. This review summarizes the advances in our current understanding of the molecular mechanism of GC invasion. We also highlight the future directions of the invasion therapeutics of GC. Compared to conventional therapy using protease or molecular inhibitors alone, multi-therapy targeting invasion plasticity may seem to be an assuring direction for the progression of novel strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masakazu Yashiro
- Molecular Oncology and Therapeutics, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 5458585, Japan;
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Shen J, Su X, Pan M, Wang Z, Ke Y, Wang Q, Dong J, Duan S. Current insights into the oncogenic roles of lncRNA LINC00355. CANCER INNOVATION 2023; 2:448-462. [PMID: 38125763 PMCID: PMC10730005 DOI: 10.1002/cai2.91] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of nonprotein-coding transcripts that are longer than 200 nucleotides. LINC00355 is a lncRNA located on chromosome 13q21.31 and is consistently upregulated in various cancers. It regulates the expression of downstream genes at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, including eight microRNAs (miR-15a-5p, miR-34b-5p, miR-424-5p, miR-1225, miR-217-5p, miR-6777-3p, miR-195, and miR-466) and three protein-coding genes (ITGA2, RAD18, and UBE3C). LINC00355 plays a role in regulating various biological processes such as cell cycle progression, proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. It is involved in the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and p53 signaling pathway. Upregulation of LINC00355 has been identified as a high-risk factor in cancer patients and its increased expression is associated with poorer overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and disease-free survival. LINC00355 upregulation has been linked to several unfavorable clinical characteristics, including advanced tumor node metastasis and World Health Organization stages, reduced Karnofsky Performance Scale scores, increased tumor size, greater depth of invasion, and more extensive lymph node metastasis. LINC00355 induces chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells by regulating five downstream genes, namely HMGA2, ABCB1, ITGA2, WNT10B, and CCNE1 genes. In summary, LINC00355 is a potential oncogene with great potential as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinze Shen
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Xinming Su
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Ming Pan
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Zehua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Yufei Ke
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Qurui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Jingyin Dong
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Shiwei Duan
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
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Joshi AS, Madhusudanan M, Mijakovic I. 3D printed inserts for reproducible high throughput screening of cell migration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1256250. [PMID: 37711850 PMCID: PMC10498783 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1256250] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell migration is a fundamental and complex phenomenon that occurs in normal physiology and in diseases like cancer. Hence, understanding cell migration is very important in the fields of developmental biology and biomedical sciences. Cell migration occurs in 3 dimensions (3D) and involves an interplay of migrating cell(s), neighboring cells, extracellular matrix, and signaling molecules. To understand this phenomenon, most of the currently available techniques still rely on 2-dimensional (2D) cell migration assay, also known as the scratch assay or the wound healing assay. These methods suffer from limited reproducibility in creating a cell-free region (a scratch or a wound). Mechanical/heat related stress to cells is another issue which hampers the applicability of these methods. To tackle these problems, we developed an alternative method based on 3D printed biocompatible cell inserts, for quantifying cell migration in 24-well plates. The inserts were successfully validated via a high throughput assay for following migration of lung cancer cell line (A549 cell line) in the presence of standard cell migration promoters and inhibitors. We also developed an accompanying image analysis pipeline which demonstrated that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art methodologies for assessing the cell migration in terms of reproducibility and simplicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhayraj S. Joshi
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mukil Madhusudanan
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ivan Mijakovic
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Division of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
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