1
|
Filipe EC, Velayuthar S, Philp A, Nobis M, Latham SL, Parker AL, Murphy KJ, Wyllie K, Major GS, Contreras O, Mok ETY, Enriquez RF, McGowan S, Feher K, Quek L, Hancock SE, Yam M, Tran E, Setargew YFI, Skhinas JN, Chitty JL, Phimmachanh M, Han JZR, Cadell AL, Papanicolaou M, Mahmodi H, Kiedik B, Junankar S, Ross SE, Lam N, Coulson R, Yang J, Zaratzian A, Da Silva AM, Tayao M, Chin IL, Cazet A, Kansara M, Segara D, Parker A, Hoy AJ, Harvey RP, Bogdanovic O, Timpson P, Croucher DR, Lim E, Swarbrick A, Holst J, Turner N, Choi YS, Kabakova IV, Philp A, Cox TR. Tumor Biomechanics Alters Metastatic Dissemination of Triple Negative Breast Cancer via Rewiring Fatty Acid Metabolism. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2307963. [PMID: 38602451 PMCID: PMC11186052 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307963] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, the role of tumor biomechanics on cancer cell behavior at the primary site has been increasingly appreciated. However, the effect of primary tumor biomechanics on the latter stages of the metastatic cascade, such as metastatic seeding of secondary sites and outgrowth remains underappreciated. This work sought to address this in the context of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a cancer type known to aggressively disseminate at all stages of disease progression. Using mechanically tuneable model systems, mimicking the range of stiffness's typically found within breast tumors, it is found that, contrary to expectations, cancer cells exposed to softer microenvironments are more able to colonize secondary tissues. It is shown that heightened cell survival is driven by enhanced metabolism of fatty acids within TNBC cells exposed to softer microenvironments. It is demonstrated that uncoupling cellular mechanosensing through integrin β1 blocking antibody effectively causes stiff primed TNBC cells to behave like their soft counterparts, both in vitro and in vivo. This work is the first to show that softer tumor microenvironments may be contributing to changes in disease outcome by imprinting on TNBC cells a greater metabolic flexibility and conferring discrete cell survival advantages.
Collapse
|
2
|
Li W, Guo J, Hobson EC, Xue X, Li Q, Fu J, Deng CX, Guo Z. Metabolic-Glycoengineering-Enabled Molecularly Specific Acoustic Tweezing Cytometry for Targeted Mechanical Stimulation of Cell Surface Sialoglycans. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401921. [PMID: 38498603 PMCID: PMC11073901 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401921] [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: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we developed a novel type of dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)-functionalized microbubbles (MBs) and validated their attachment to azide-labelled sialoglycans on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) generated by metabolic glycoengineering (MGE). This enabled the application of mechanical forces to sialoglycans on hPSCs through molecularly specific acoustic tweezing cytometry (mATC), that is, displacing sialoglycan-anchored MBs using ultrasound (US). It was shown that subjected to the acoustic radiation forces of US pulses, sialoglycan-anchored MBs exhibited significantly larger displacements and faster, more complete recovery after each pulse than integrin-anchored MBs, indicating that sialoglycans are more stretchable and elastic than integrins on hPSCs in response to mechanical force. Furthermore, stimulating sialoglycans on hPSCs using mATC reduced stage-specific embryonic antigen-3 (SSEA-3) and GD3 expression but not OCT4 and SOX2 nuclear localization. Conversely, stimulating integrins decreased OCT4 nuclear localization but not SSEA-3 and GD3 expression, suggesting that mechanically stimulating sialoglycans and integrins initiated distinctive mechanoresponses during the early stages of hPSC differentiation. Taken together, these results demonstrated that MGE-enabled mATC uncovered not only different mechanical properties of sialoglycans on hPSCs and integrins but also their different mechanoregulatory impacts on hPSC differentiation, validating MGE-based mATC as a new, powerful tool for investigating the roles of glycans and other cell surface biomolecules in mechanotransduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jiatong Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Eric C. Hobson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Xufeng Xue
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Qingjiang Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Cheri X. Deng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Zhongwu Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu J, Dong X, Xie R, Tang Y, Thomas AM, Li S, Liu S, Yu M, Qin H. N-linked α2,6-sialylation of integrin β1 by the sialyltransferase ST6Gal1 promotes cell proliferation and stemness in gestational trophoblastic disease. Placenta 2024; 149:18-28. [PMID: 38490094 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.03.004] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) encompasses a spectrum of rare pre-malignant and malignant entities originating from trophoblastic tissue, including partial hydatidiform mole, complete hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma. β-galactoside α2,6 sialyltransferase 1 (ST6Gal1), the primary sialyltransferase responsible for the addition of α2,6 sialic acids, is strongly associated with the occurrence and development of several tumor types. However, the role of ST6Gal1/α2,6 -sialylation of trophoblast cells in GTD is still not well understood. METHODS The expression of ST6Gal1 was investigated in GTD and human immortalized trophoblastic HTR-8/SVneo cells and human gestational choriocarcinoma JAR cells. We evaluated the effect of ST6Gal1 on proliferation and stemness of trophoblastic cells. We also examined the effect of internal miR-199a-5p on ST6Gal1 expression. The role of ST6Gal1 in regulating α2,6-sialylated integrin β1 and its significance in the activation of integrin β1/focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling pathway were also explored. RESULTS ST6Gal1 was observed to be highly expressed in GTD. Overexpression of ST6Gal1 promoted the proliferation and stemness of HTR-8/SVneo cells, whereas knockdown of ST6Gal1 suppressed the viability and stemness of JAR cells. MiR-199a-5p targeted and inhibited the expression of ST6Gal1 in trophoblastic cells. In addition, we revealed integrin β1 was highly α2,6-sialylated in JAR cells. Inhibition of ST6Gal1 reduced α2,6-sialylation on integrin β1 and suppressed the integrin β1/FAK pathway in JAR cells, thereby affecting its biological functions. DISCUSSION This study demonstrated that ST6Gal1 plays important roles in promoting proliferation and stemness through the integrin β1 signaling pathway in GTD. Therefore, ST6Gal1 may have a potential role in the occurrence and development of GTD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian, China
| | - Xinyue Dong
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China; Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ru Xie
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Aline M Thomas
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shen Li
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian, China
| | - Ming Yu
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Huamin Qin
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Takahashi H, Ito R, Matsumura Y, Sakai J. Environmental factor reversibly determines cellular identity through opposing Integrators that unify epigenetic and transcriptional pathways. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300084. [PMID: 38013256 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Organisms must adapt to environmental stresses to ensure their survival and prosperity. Different types of stresses, including thermal, mechanical, and hypoxic stresses, can alter the cellular state that accompanies changes in gene expression but not the cellular identity determined by a chromatin state that remains stable throughout life. Some tissues, such as adipose tissue, demonstrate remarkable plasticity and adaptability in response to environmental cues, enabling reversible cellular identity changes; however, the mechanisms underlying these changes are not well understood. We hypothesized that positive and/or negative "Integrators" sense environmental cues and coordinate the epigenetic and transcriptional pathways required for changes in cellular identity. Adverse environmental factors such as pollution disrupt the coordinated control contributing to disease development. Further research based on this hypothesis will reveal how organisms adapt to fluctuating environmental conditions, such as temperature, extracellular matrix stiffness, oxygen, cytokines, and hormonal cues by changing their cellular identities.
Collapse
Grants
- JP20gm1310007 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- JP16H06390 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- JP21H04826 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- JP20H04835 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- JP20K21747 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- JP22K18411 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- JP21K21211 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- JP19J11909 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- JPMJPF2013 Japan Science and Technology Agency
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Takahashi
- Division of Molecular Physiology and Metabolism, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Division of Metabolic Medicine, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Ito
- Division of Molecular Physiology and Metabolism, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Matsumura
- Division of Molecular Physiology and Metabolism, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Division of Metabolic Medicine, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Juro Sakai
- Division of Molecular Physiology and Metabolism, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Division of Metabolic Medicine, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tulchinsky M, Weihs D. Mechanobiological cell adaptations to changing microenvironments determine cancer invasiveness: Experimentally validated finite element modeling. J Biomed Mater Res A 2023; 111:1951-1959. [PMID: 37606496 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Metastases are the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. A key process in metastasis is cell invasiveness, which is driven and controlled by cancer cell interactions with their microenvironment. We have previously shown that invasive cancer cells forcefully push into and indent physiological stiffness gels to cell-scale depths, where the percentage of indenting cells and their attained depths provide clinically relevant predictions of tumor invasiveness and the potential metastatic risk. The cell-attained, invasive indentation depths are directly affected by gel-microenvironment mechanics, which can concurrently modulate the cells' mechanics and force application capacity, in a complex, coordinated mechanobiological response. As it is impossible to experimentally isolate the different contributions of cell and gel mechanics to cancer cell invasiveness, we perform finite element modeling with literature-based parameters. Under average-scale, cell cytoplasm and nucleus mechanics and cell-applied force levels, increasing gel stiffness 1-50 kPa significantly reduced the attained indentation depth by >200%, while the gel's Poisson ratio reduced depths only by up to 20% and only when the ratio was >0.4; this reveals microenvironment mechanics that can promote invasiveness. Experiments with varying-invasiveness cancer cells exhibited qualitative variations in their responses to gel stiffness increase, for example large/small reduction in indentation depth or increase and then reduction. We quantitatively and qualitatively reproduced the different experimental responses via coordinated changes in cell mechanics and applied force levels. Thus, the different cancer cell capacities to adapt their mechanobiology in response to mechanically changing microenvironments likely determine the varying cancer invasiveness and metastatic risk levels in patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Tulchinsky
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Daphne Weihs
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Xu R, Yin P, Wei J, Ding Q. The role of matrix stiffness in breast cancer progression: a review. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1284926. [PMID: 37916166 PMCID: PMC10616305 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1284926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The significance of matrix stiffness in cancer development has been investigated in recent years. The gradual elastic force the extracellular matrix imparts to cells, known as matrix stiffness, is one of the most important types of mechanical stimulation. Increased matrix stiffness alters the biological activity of cells, which promotes the growth of numerous malignancies, including breast cancer. Comprehensive studies have demonstrated that increasing matrix stiffness activates molecular signaling pathways that are closely linked to breast cancer progression. There are many articles exploring the relationship between mechanism hardness and breast cancer, so we wanted to provide a systematic summary of recent research advances. In this review, we briefly introduce the mechanism of matrix stiffness in breast cancer, elaborate on the effect of extracellular matrix stiffness on breast cancer biological behavior and signaling pathways, and finally, we will talk about breast cancer treatment that focuses on matrix stiffness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruoxi Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Yin
- Jiangsu Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jifu Wei
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiang Ding
- Jiangsu Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dabaghi M, Carpio MB, Saraei N, Moran-Mirabal JM, Kolb MR, Hirota JA. A roadmap for developing and engineering in vitro pulmonary fibrosis models. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:021302. [PMID: 38510343 PMCID: PMC10903385 DOI: 10.1063/5.0134177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe form of pulmonary fibrosis. IPF is a fatal disease with no cure and is challenging to diagnose. Unfortunately, due to the elusive etiology of IPF and a late diagnosis, there are no cures for IPF. Two FDA-approved drugs for IPF, nintedanib and pirfenidone, slow the progression of the disease, yet fail to cure or reverse it. Furthermore, most animal models have been unable to completely recapitulate the physiology of human IPF, resulting in the failure of many drug candidates in preclinical studies. In the last few decades, the development of new IPF drugs focused on changes at the cellular level, as it was believed that the cells were the main players in IPF development and progression. However, recent studies have shed light on the critical role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in IPF development, where the ECM communicates with cells and initiates a positive feedback loop to promote fibrotic processes. Stemming from this shift in the understanding of fibrosis, there is a need to develop in vitro model systems that mimic the human lung microenvironment to better understand how biochemical and biomechanical cues drive fibrotic processes in IPF. However, current in vitro cell culture platforms, which may include substrates with different stiffness or natural hydrogels, have shortcomings in recapitulating the complexity of fibrosis. This review aims to draw a roadmap for developing advanced in vitro pulmonary fibrosis models, which can be leveraged to understand better different mechanisms involved in IPF and develop drug candidates with improved efficacy. We begin with a brief overview defining pulmonary fibrosis and highlight the importance of ECM components in the disease progression. We focus on fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in the context of ECM biology and fibrotic processes, as most conventional advanced in vitro models of pulmonary fibrosis use these cell types. We transition to discussing the parameters of the 3D microenvironment that are relevant in pulmonary fibrosis progression. Finally, the review ends by summarizing the state of the art in the field and future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadhossein Dabaghi
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health—Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada
| | - Mabel Barreiro Carpio
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Arthur N. Bourns Science Building, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - Neda Saraei
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Engineering Technology Building, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
| | | | - Martin R. Kolb
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health—Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Almeida JA, Mathur J, Lee YL, Sarker B, Pathak A. Mechanically primed cells transfer memory to fibrous matrices for invasion across environments of distinct stiffness and dimensionality. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:ar54. [PMID: 36696158 PMCID: PMC10208097 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e22-10-0469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells sense and migrate across mechanically dissimilar environments throughout development and disease progression. However, it remains unclear whether mechanical memory of past environments empowers cells to navigate new, three-dimensional extracellular matrices. Here, we show that cells previously primed on stiff, compared with soft, matrices generate a higher level of forces to remodel collagen fibers and promote invasion. This priming advantage persists in dense or stiffened collagen. We explain this memory-dependent, cross-environment cell invasion through a lattice-based model wherein stiff-primed cellular forces remodel collagen and minimize energy required for future cell invasion. According to our model, cells transfer their mechanical memory to the matrix via collagen alignment and tension, and this remodeled matrix informs future cell invasion. Thus, memory-laden cells overcome mechanosensing of softer or challenging future environments via a cell-matrix transfer of memory. Consistent with model predictions, depletion of yes-associated protein destabilizes the cellular memory required for collagen remodeling before invasion. We release tension in collagen fibers via laser ablation and disable fiber remodeling by lysyl-oxidase inhibition, both of which disrupt cell-to-matrix transfer of memory and hamper cross-environment invasion. These results have implications for cancer, fibrosis, and aging, where a potential cell-to-matrix transfer of mechanical memory of cells may generate a prolonged cellular response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José A. Almeida
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Jairaj Mathur
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Ye Lim Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Bapi Sarker
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Amit Pathak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Heussner RK, Zhang H, Qian G, Baker MJ, Provenzano PP. Differential contractility regulates cancer stem cell migration. Biophys J 2023; 122:1198-1210. [PMID: 36772795 PMCID: PMC10111274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are known to have a high capacity for tumor initiation and the formation of metastases. We have previously shown that in collagen constructs mimetic of aligned extracellular matrix architectures observed in carcinomas, breast CSCs demonstrate enhanced directional and total motility compared with more differentiated carcinoma populations. Here, we show that CSCs maintain increased motility in diverse environments including on 2D elastic polyacrylamide gels of various stiffness, 3D randomly oriented collagen matrices, and ectopic cerebral slices representative of a common metastatic site. A consistent twofold increase of CSC motility across platforms suggests a general shift in cell migration mechanics between well-differentiated carcinoma cells and their stem-like counterparts. To further elucidate the source of differences in migration, we demonstrate that CSCs are less contractile than the whole population (WP) and develop fewer and smaller focal adhesions and show that enhanced CSC migration can be tuned via contractile forces. The WP can be shifted to a CSC-like migratory phenotype using partial myosin II inhibition. Inversely, CSCs can be shifted to a less migratory WP-like phenotype using microtubule-destabilizing drugs that increase contractility or by directly enhancing contractile forces. This work begins to reveal the mechanistic differences driving CSC migration and raises important implications regarding the potentially disparate effects of microtubule-targeting agents on the motility of different cell populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K Heussner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Hongrong Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Guhan Qian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Mikayla J Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Paolo P Provenzano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Piskova T, Kozyrina AN, Di Russo J. Mechanobiological implications of age-related remodelling in the outer retina. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 147:213343. [PMID: 36801797 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The outer retina consists of the light-sensitive photoreceptors, the pigmented epithelium, and the choroid, which interact in a complex manner to sustain homeostasis. The organisation and function of these cellular layers are mediated by the extracellular matrix compartment named Bruch's membrane, situated between the retinal epithelium and the choroid. Like many tissues, the retina experiences age-related structural and metabolic changes, which are relevant for understanding major blinding diseases of the elderly, such as age-related macular degeneration. Compared with other tissues, the retina mainly comprises postmitotic cells, making it less able to maintain its mechanical homeostasis over the years functionally. Aspects of retinal ageing, like the structural and morphometric changes of the pigment epithelium and the heterogenous remodelling of the Bruch's membrane, imply changes in tissue mechanics and may affect functional integrity. In recent years, findings in the field of mechanobiology and bioengineering highlighted the importance of mechanical changes in tissues for understanding physiological and pathological processes. Here, we review the current knowledge of age-related changes in the outer retina from a mechanobiological perspective, aiming to generate food for thought for future mechanobiology studies in the outer retina.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teodora Piskova
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Aleksandra N Kozyrina
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jacopo Di Russo
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany; DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstrasse 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Peyton SR, Platt MO, Cukierman E. Challenges and Opportunities Modeling the Dynamic Tumor Matrisome. BME FRONTIERS 2023; 4:0006. [PMID: 37849664 PMCID: PMC10521682 DOI: 10.34133/bmef.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
We need novel strategies to target the complexity of cancer and, particularly, of metastatic disease. As an example of this complexity, certain tissues are particularly hospitable environments for metastases, whereas others do not contain fertile microenvironments to support cancer cell growth. Continuing evidence that the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues is one of a host of factors necessary to support cancer cell growth at both primary and secondary tissue sites is emerging. Research on cancer metastasis has largely been focused on the molecular adaptations of tumor cells in various cytokine and growth factor environments on 2-dimensional tissue culture polystyrene plates. Intravital imaging, conversely, has transformed our ability to watch, in real time, tumor cell invasion, intravasation, extravasation, and growth. Because the interstitial ECM that supports all cells in the tumor microenvironment changes over time scales outside the possible window of typical intravital imaging, bioengineers are continuously developing both simple and sophisticated in vitro controlled environments to study tumor (and other) cell interactions with this matrix. In this perspective, we focus on the cellular unit responsible for upholding the pathologic homeostasis of tumor-bearing organs, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and their self-generated ECM. The latter, together with tumoral and other cell secreted factors, constitute the "tumor matrisome". We share the challenges and opportunities for modeling this dynamic CAF/ECM unit, the tools and techniques available, and how the tumor matrisome is remodeled (e.g., via ECM proteases). We posit that increasing information on tumor matrisome dynamics may lead the field to alternative strategies for personalized medicine outside genomics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Edna Cukierman
- Cancer Signaling & Microenvironment Program, Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Liu C, Nguyen RY, Pizzurro GA, Zhang X, Gong X, Martinez AR, Mak M. Self-assembly of mesoscale collagen architectures and applications in 3D cell migration. Acta Biomater 2023; 155:167-181. [PMID: 36371004 PMCID: PMC9805527 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
3D in vitro tumor models have recently been investigated as they can recapitulate key features in the tumor microenvironment. Reconstruction of a biomimetic scaffold is critical in these models. However, most current methods focus on modulating local properties, e.g. micro- and nano-scaled topographies, without capturing the global millimeter or intermediate mesoscale features. Here we introduced a method for modulating the collagen I-based extracellular matrix structure by disruption of fibrillogenesis and the gelation process through mechanical agitation. With this method, we generated collagen scaffolds that are thickened and wavy at a larger scale while featuring global softness. Thickened collagen patches were interconnected with loose collagen networks, highly resembling collagen architecture in the tumor stroma. This thickened collagen network promoted tumor cell dissemination. In addition, this novel modified scaffold triggered differences in morphology and migratory behaviors of tumor cells. Altogether, our method for altered collagen architecture paves new ways for studying in detail cell behavior in physiologically relevant biological processes. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Tumor progression usually involves chronic tissue damage and repair processes. Hallmarks of tumors are highly overlapped with those of wound healing. To mimic the tumor milieu, collagen-based scaffolds are widely used. These scaffolds focus on modulating microscale topographies and mechanics, lacking global architecture similarity compared with in vivo architecture. Here we introduced one type of thick collagen bundles that mimics ECM architecture in human skin scars. These thickened collagen bundles are long and wavy while featuring global softness. This collagen architecture imposes fewer steric restraints and promotes tumor cell dissemination. Our findings demonstrate a distinct picture of cell behaviors and intercellular interactions, highlighting the importance of collagen architecture and spatial heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Ryan Y Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Gabriela A Pizzurro
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Xingjian Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Xiangyu Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | | | - Michael Mak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Niu J, Guo W, Chen YZ, Jiang N. Identification of the collagen family as prognostic biomarkers in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Endocrine 2022; 78:491-506. [PMID: 36070051 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-022-03175-9] [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: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to construct a collagen-related prognostic model for thyroid cancer and to investigate prognostic value of collagen family genes for thyroid cancer. METHODS A LASSO Cox regression model for thyroid cancer was developed based on the expression profiles of collagen-related genes. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed for high and low risk groups. The ROC method was used to assess its predictive performance. Predictive independence was verified by multivariate Cox regression analysis. The relationship between this feature and immune cell infiltration was analyzed by tumor microenvironment. COL18A1 was validated by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR in thyroid cancer tissues. The effect of COL18A1 on cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability of tumor cells were further valuated by CCK-8 assay and transwell assay. The effect of COL18A1 on the immune escape ability of tumor cells was further valuated by cytotoxicity assays. RESULTS A model including 4 collagen family genes was developed to predict thyroid cancer prognosis. Patients with high-risk score had a poorer prognosis than those with low-risk scores for 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5- year survival. The model independently predicted prognosis after adjusting for other prognostic factors. A nomogram combining risk score and age was constructed with high sensitivity and specificity. This feature was significantly associated with immune cell infiltration. COL18A1 was aberrantly over-expressed in thyroid cancer compared with control tissues and significantly increased proliferative capacity, migration capacity, invasion capacity, and immune escape ability of tumor cells. CONCLUSION Our findings establish a signature associated with collagen family genes that can be a promising tool to predict the prognosis of thyroid cancer. High COL18A1 expression significantly correlates with the poor prognosis of patients and enhances the immune escape ability of tumor cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Niu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenyu Guo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yu-Zhou Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, the Second Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zhang Z, Li J, Jiao S, Han G, Zhu J, Liu T. Functional and clinical characteristics of focal adhesion kinases in cancer progression. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1040311. [PMID: 36407100 PMCID: PMC9666724 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1040311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase and an adaptor protein that primarily regulates adhesion signaling and cell migration. FAK promotes cell survival in response to stress. Increasing evidence has shown that at the pathological level, FAK is highly expressed in multiple tumors in several systems (including lung, liver, gastric, and colorectal cancers) and correlates with tumor aggressiveness and patient prognosis. At the molecular level, FAK promotes tumor progression mainly by altering survival signals, invasive capacity, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the tumor microenvironment, the Warburg effect, and stemness of tumor cells. Many effective drugs have been developed based on the comprehensive role of FAK in tumor cells. In addition, its potential as a tumor marker cannot be ignored. Here, we discuss the pathological and pre-clinical evidence of the role of FAK in cancer development; we hope that these findings will assist in FAK-based clinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyu Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jinlong Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Simin Jiao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Guangda Han
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jiaming Zhu
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Tianzhou Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ingavle G, Das M. Bench to Bedside: New Therapeutic Approaches with Extracellular Vesicles and Engineered Biomaterials for Targeting Therapeutic Resistance of Cancer Stem Cells. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:4673-4696. [PMID: 36194142 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00484] [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: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cancer has recently been the second leading cause of death worldwide, trailing only cardiovascular disease. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), represented as tumor-initiating cells (TICs), are mainly liable for chemoresistance and disease relapse due to their self-renewal capability and differentiating capacity into different types of tumor cells. The intricate molecular mechanism is necessary to elucidate CSC's chemoresistance properties and cancer recurrence. Establishing efficient strategies for CSC maintenance and enrichment is essential to elucidate the mechanisms and properties of CSCs and CSC-related therapeutic measures. Current approaches are insufficient to mimic the in vivo chemical and physical conditions for the maintenance and growth of CSC and yield unreliable research results. Biomaterials are now widely used for simulating the bone marrow microenvironment. Biomaterial-based three-dimensional (3D) approaches for the enrichment of CSC provide an excellent promise for future drug discovery and elucidation of molecular mechanisms. In the future, the biomaterial-based model will contribute to a more operative and predictive CSC model for cancer therapy. Design strategies for materials, physicochemical cues, and morphology will offer a new direction for future modification and new methods for studying the CSC microenvironment and its chemoresistance property. This review highlights the critical roles of the microenvironmental cues that regulate CSC function and endow them with drug resistance properties. This review also explores the latest advancement and challenges in biomaterial-based scaffold structure for therapeutic approaches against CSC chemoresistance. Since the recent entry of extracellular vesicles (EVs), cell-derived nanostructures, have opened new avenues of investigation into this field, which, together with other more conventionally studied signaling pathways, play an important role in cell-to-cell communication. Thus, this review further explores the subject of EVs in-depth. This review also discusses possible future biomaterial and biomaterial-EV-based models that could be used to study the tumor microenvironment (TME) and will provide possible therapeutic approaches. Finally, this review concludes with potential perspectives and conclusions in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ganesh Ingavle
- Symbiosis Centre for Stem Cell Research (SCSCR) and Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences (SSBS), SIU, Lavale, Pune 412115, India
| | - Madhurima Das
- Symbiosis Centre for Stem Cell Research (SCSCR) and Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences (SSBS), SIU, Lavale, Pune 412115, India
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bera K, Kiepas A, Zhang Y, Sun SX, Konstantopoulos K. The interplay between physical cues and mechanosensitive ion channels in cancer metastasis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:954099. [PMID: 36158191 PMCID: PMC9490090 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.954099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical cues have emerged as critical influencers of cell function during physiological processes, like development and organogenesis, and throughout pathological abnormalities, including cancer progression and fibrosis. While ion channels have been implicated in maintaining cellular homeostasis, their cell surface localization often places them among the first few molecules to sense external cues. Mechanosensitive ion channels (MICs) are especially important transducers of physical stimuli into biochemical signals. In this review, we describe how physical cues in the tumor microenvironment are sensed by MICs and contribute to cancer metastasis. First, we highlight mechanical perturbations, by both solid and fluid surroundings typically found in the tumor microenvironment and during critical stages of cancer cell dissemination from the primary tumor. Next, we describe how Piezo1/2 and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels respond to these physical cues to regulate cancer cell behavior during different stages of metastasis. We conclude by proposing alternative mechanisms of MIC activation that work in tandem with cytoskeletal components and other ion channels to bestow cells with the capacity to sense, respond and navigate through the surrounding microenvironment. Collectively, this review provides a perspective for devising treatment strategies against cancer by targeting MICs that sense aberrant physical characteristics during metastasis, the most lethal aspect of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaustav Bera
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alexander Kiepas
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Alexander Kiepas, ; Konstantinos Konstantopoulos,
| | - Yuqi Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sean X. Sun
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Konstantinos Konstantopoulos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Alexander Kiepas, ; Konstantinos Konstantopoulos,
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Meng L, Song K, Li S, Kang Y. Exosomes: Small Vesicles with Important Roles in the Development, Metastasis and Treatment of Breast Cancer. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12080775. [PMID: 36005690 PMCID: PMC9414313 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12080775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) has now overtaken lung cancer as the most common cancer, while no biopredictive marker isolated from biological fluids has yet emerged clinically. After traditional chemotherapy, with the huge side effects brought by drugs, patients also suffer from the double affliction of drugs to the body while fighting cancer, and they often quickly develop drug resistance after the drug, leading to a poor prognosis. And the treatment of some breast cancer subtypes, such as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), is even more difficult. Exosomes (Exos), which are naturally occurring extracellular vesicles (EVs) with nanoscale acellular structures ranging in diameter from 40 to 160 nm, can be isolated from various biological fluids and have been widely studied because they are derived from the cell membrane, have extremely small diameter, and are widely involved in various biological activities of the body. It can be used directly or modified to make derivatives or to make some analogs for the treatment of breast cancer. This review will focus on the involvement of exosomes in breast cancer initiation, progression, invasion as well as metastasis and the therapeutic role of exosomes in breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling’ao Meng
- Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang 110042, China
| | - Kedong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian R&D Center for Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Shenglong Li
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang 110042, China
- Correspondence: (S.L.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yue Kang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang 110042, China
- Correspondence: (S.L.); (Y.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Vahala D, Choi YS. Modelling the Tumor Microenvironment: Recapitulating Nano- and Micro-Scale Properties that Regulate Tumor Progression. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:908799. [PMID: 35800896 PMCID: PMC9254080 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.908799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer remains a significant burden with 1 in 8 women affected and metastasis posing a significant challenge for patient survival. Disease progression involves remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In breast cancer, tissue stiffness increases owing to an increase in collagen production by recruited cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). These stromal modifications are notable during primary tumor growth and have a dualistic action by creating a hard capsule to prevent penetration of anti-cancer therapies and forming a favorable environment for tumor progression. Remodeling of the tumor microenvironment immediately presented to cells can include changes in protein composition, concentration and structural arrangement and provides the first mechanical stimuli in the metastatic cascade. Not surprisingly, metastatic cancer cells possess the ability to mechanically adapt, and their adaptability ensures not only survival but successful invasion within altered environments. In the past decade, the importance of the microenvironment and its regulatory role in diseases have gained traction and this is evident in the shift from plastic culture to the development of novel biomaterials that mimic in vivo tissue. With these advances, elucidations can be made into how ECM remodeling and more specifically, altered cell-ECM adhesions, regulate tumor growth and cancer cell plasticity. Such enabling tools in mechanobiology will identify fundamental mechanisms in cancer progression that eventually help develop preventative and therapeutic treatment from a clinical perspective. This review will focus on current platforms engineered to mimic the micro and nano-properties of the tumor microenvironment and subsequent understanding of mechanically regulated pathways in cancer.
Collapse
|
19
|
Differential Impacts on Tensional Homeostasis of Gastric Cancer Cells Due to Distinct Domain Variants of E-Cadherin. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14112690. [PMID: 35681670 PMCID: PMC9179447 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In epithelia, breakdown of tensional homeostasis is closely associated with E-cadherin dysfunction and disruption of tissue function and integrity. In this study, we investigated the effect of E-cadherin mutations affecting distinct protein domains on tensional homeostasis of gastric cancer cells. We used micropattern traction microscopy to measure temporal fluctuations of cellular traction forces in AGS cells transfected with the wild-type E-cadherin or with variants affecting the extracellular, the juxtamembrane, and the intracellular domains of the protein. We focused on the dynamic aspect of tensional homeostasis, namely the ability of cells to maintain a consistent level of tension, with low temporal variability around a set point. Cells were cultured on hydrogels micropatterned with different extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins to test whether the ECM adhesion impacts cell behavior. A combination of Fibronectin and Vitronectin was used as a substrate that promotes the adhesive ability of E-cadherin dysfunctional cells, whereas Collagen VI was used to test an unfavorable ECM condition. Our results showed that mutations affecting distinct E-cadherin domains influenced differently cell tensional homeostasis, and pinpointed the juxtamembrane and intracellular regions of E-cadherin as the key players in this process. Furthermore, Fibronectin and Vitronectin might modulate cancer cell behavior towards tensional homeostasis.
Collapse
|
20
|
Bouzid T, Esfahani AM, Safa BT, Kim E, Saraswathi V, Kim JK, Yang R, Lim JY. Rho/ROCK mechanosensor in adipocyte stiffness and traction force generation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 606:42-48. [PMID: 35339750 PMCID: PMC9035097 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.03.078] [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: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
It is increasingly recognized that interaction of adipose cells with extracellular mechanophysical milieus may play a role in regulating adipogenesis and differentiated adipocyte function and such interaction can be mediated by the mechanics of adipose cells. We measured the stiffness and traction force of adipose cells and examined the role of Rho/ROCK, the upstream effector of actin cytoskeletal contractility, in affecting these mechanical properties. Cellular Young's modulus obtained from atomic force microscopy (AFM) was significantly reduced by ROCK inhibitor (Y-27632) but elevated by Rho activator (CN01), for both preadipocytes and differentiated adipocytes. Immunofluorescent imaging suggested this could be attributed to the changes in Rho/ROCK-induced stressed actin filament formation. AFM also confirmed that differentiated adipocytes had higher stiffness than preadipocytes. On the other hand, traction force microscopy (TFM) revealed differentiated adipocytes exerted lower traction forces than preadipocytes. Traction forces of both preadipocytes and adipocytes were decreased by ROCK inhibition, but not significantly altered by Rho activation. Notably, an increasing trend of traction force with respect to cell spreading area was detected, and this trend was substantially amplified by Rho activation. Such traction force-cell area correlation was an order-of-magnitude smaller for differentiated adipocytes relative to preadipocytes, potentially due to disrupted force transmission through cytoskeleton-focal adhesion linkage by lipid droplets. Our work provides new data evidencing the Rho/ROCK control in adipose cell mechanics, laying the groundwork for adipocyte mechanotransduction studies on adipogenesis and adipose tissue remodeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tasneem Bouzid
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Amir Monemian Esfahani
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Bahareh Tajvidi Safa
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Eunju Kim
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Viswanathan Saraswathi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center and VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, 68105, USA
| | - Jason K Kim
- Program in Molecular Medicine and Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Ruiguo Yang
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA.
| | - Jung Yul Lim
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Burkel BM, Inman DR, Virumbrales-Muñoz M, Hoffmann EJ, Ponik SM. A Label-Free Segmentation Approach for Intravital Imaging of Mammary Tumor Microenvironment. JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS : JOVE 2022:10.3791/63413. [PMID: 35695521 PMCID: PMC9327791 DOI: 10.3791/63413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The ability to visualize complex and dynamic physiological interactions between numerous cell types and the extracellular matrix (ECM) within a live tumor microenvironment is an important step toward understanding mechanisms that regulate tumor progression. While this can be accomplished through current intravital imaging techniques, it remains challenging due to the heterogeneous nature of tissues and the need for spatial context within the experimental observation. To this end, we have developed an intravital imaging workflow that pairs collagen second harmonic generation imaging, endogenous fluorescence from the metabolic co-factor NAD(P)H, and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) as a means to non-invasively compartmentalize the tumor microenvironment into basic domains of the tumor nest, the surrounding stroma or ECM, and the vasculature. This non-invasive protocol details the step-by-step process ranging from the acquisition of time-lapse images of mammary tumor models to post-processing analysis and image segmentation. The primary advantage of this workflow is that it exploits metabolic signatures to contextualize the dynamically changing live tumor microenvironment without the use of exogenous fluorescent labels, making it advantageous for human patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and future clinical use where extrinsic fluorophores are not readily applicable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian M. Burkel
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - David R. Inman
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - María Virumbrales-Muñoz
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison,Department of Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Erica J. Hoffmann
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Suzanne M. Ponik
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison,Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Camacho-Gómez D, García-Aznar JM, Gómez-Benito MJ. A 3D multi-agent-based model for lumen morphogenesis: the role of the biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix. ENGINEERING WITH COMPUTERS 2022; 38:4135-4149. [PMID: 36397878 PMCID: PMC9653332 DOI: 10.1007/s00366-022-01654-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The correct function of many organs depends on proper lumen morphogenesis, which requires the orchestration of both biological and mechanical aspects. However, how these factors coordinate is not yet fully understood. Here, we focus on the development of a mechanistic model for computationally simulating lumen morphogenesis. In particular, we consider the hydrostatic pressure generated by the cells' fluid secretion as the driving force and the density of the extracellular matrix as regulators of the process. For this purpose, we develop a 3D agent-based-model for lumen morphogenesis that includes cells' fluid secretion and the density of the extracellular matrix. Moreover, this computer-based model considers the variation in the biological behavior of cells in response to the mechanical forces that they sense. Then, we study the formation of the lumen under different-mechanical scenarios and conclude that an increase in the matrix density reduces the lumen volume and hinders lumen morphogenesis. Finally, we show that the model successfully predicts normal lumen morphogenesis when the matrix density is physiological and aberrant multilumen formation when the matrix density is excessive. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00366-022-01654-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Camacho-Gómez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Manuel García-Aznar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María José Gómez-Benito
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Rocha DN, Carvalho ED, Relvas JB, Oliveira MJ, Pêgo AP. Mechanotransduction: Exploring New Therapeutic Avenues in Central Nervous System Pathology. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:861613. [PMID: 35573316 PMCID: PMC9096357 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.861613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells are continuously exposed to physical forces and the central nervous system (CNS) is no exception. Cells dynamically adapt their behavior and remodel the surrounding environment in response to forces. The importance of mechanotransduction in the CNS is illustrated by exploring its role in CNS pathology development and progression. The crosstalk between the biochemical and biophysical components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are here described, considering the recent explosion of literature demonstrating the powerful influence of biophysical stimuli like density, rigidity and geometry of the ECM on cell behavior. This review aims at integrating mechanical properties into our understanding of the molecular basis of CNS disease. The mechanisms that mediate mechanotransduction events, like integrin, Rho/ROCK and matrix metalloproteinases signaling pathways are revised. Analysis of CNS pathologies in this context has revealed that a wide range of neurological diseases share as hallmarks alterations of the tissue mechanical properties. Therefore, it is our belief that the understanding of CNS mechanotransduction pathways may lead to the development of improved medical devices and diagnostic methods as well as new therapeutic targets and strategies for CNS repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Nogueira Rocha
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eva Daniela Carvalho
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Engenharia (FEUP), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Bettencourt Relvas
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biomedicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria José Oliveira
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Paula Pêgo
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
The Mammary Gland: Basic Structure and Molecular Signaling during Development. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073883. [PMID: 35409243 PMCID: PMC8998991 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammary gland is a compound, branched tubuloalveolar structure and a major characteristic of mammals. The mammary gland has evolved from epidermal apocrine glands, the skin glands as an accessory reproductive organ to support postnatal survival of offspring by producing milk as a source of nutrition. The mammary gland development begins during embryogenesis as a rudimentary structure that grows into an elementary branched ductal tree and is embedded in one end of a larger mammary fat pad at birth. At the onset of ovarian function at puberty, the rudimentary ductal system undergoes dramatic morphogenetic change with ductal elongation and branching. During pregnancy, the alveolar differentiation and tertiary branching are completed, and during lactation, the mature milk-producing glands eventually develop. The early stages of mammary development are hormonal independent, whereas during puberty and pregnancy, mammary gland development is hormonal dependent. We highlight the current understanding of molecular regulators involved during different stages of mammary gland development.
Collapse
|
25
|
Kim CF, Jou D, Ganor O, Boskey ER, Kozakewich H, Vargas SO. Prostatic metaplasia and pilar differentiation in gender-affirming mastectomy specimens. Mod Pathol 2022; 35:386-395. [PMID: 34689157 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00951-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
With the increasing practice of gender-affirming mastectomy as a therapeutic procedure in the setting of gender dysphoria, there has come a profusion of literature on the pathologic findings within these specimens. Findings reported in over 1500 patients have not included either prostatic metaplasia or pilar metaplasia of breast epithelium. We encountered both of these findings in the course of routine surgical pathology practice and therefore aimed to analyze these index cases together with a retrospective cohort to determine the prevalence, anatomic distribution, pathologic features, and associated clinical findings of prostatic metaplasia and pilar metaplasia in the setting of gender-affirming mastectomy. In addition to the 2 index cases, 20 additional archival gender-affirming mastectomy specimens were studied. Before mastectomies, all but 1 patient received testosterone cypionate, 6/22 patients received norethindrone, and 21/22 practiced breast binding. Prostatic metaplasia, characterized by glandular proliferation along the basal layer of epithelium in breast ducts, and in one case, within lobules, was seen in 18/22 specimens; 4/22 showed pilar metaplasia, consisting of hair shafts located within breast ducts, associated with squamoid metaplasia resembling hair matriceal differentiation. By immunohistochemistry, prostatic metaplasia was positive for PSA in 16/20 cases and positive for NKX3.1 in 15/20 cases. Forty-three reduction mammoplasty control cases showed no pilar metaplasia and no definite prostatic metaplasia, with no PSA and NKX3.1 staining observed. We demonstrate that prostatic metaplasia and pilar metaplasia are strikingly common findings in specimens from female-assigned-at-birth transgender patients undergoing gender-affirming mastectomy. Awareness of these novel entities in the breast is important, to distinguish them from other breast epithelial proliferations and to facilitate accrual of follow-up data for better understanding their natural history.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte F Kim
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine and Pavilion for Women at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David Jou
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Oren Ganor
- Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Boskey
- Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harry Kozakewich
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara O Vargas
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Matrix Stiffness Contributes to Cancer Progression by Regulating Transcription Factors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14041049. [PMID: 35205794 PMCID: PMC8870363 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14041049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Matrix stiffness is recognized as a critical factor in cancer progression. Recent studies have shown that matrix stiffening is caused by the accumulation, contraction, and crosslinking of the extracellular matrix by cancer and stromal cells. Cancer and stromal cells respond to matrix stiffness, which determines the phenotypes of these cells. In addition, matrix stiffness activates and/or inactivates specific transcription factors in cancer and stromal cells to regulate cancer progression. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of cancer stiffening and progression that are regulated by transcription factors responding to matrix stiffness. Abstract Matrix stiffness is critical for the progression of various types of cancers. In solid cancers such as mammary and pancreatic cancers, tumors often contain abnormally stiff tissues, mainly caused by stiff extracellular matrices due to accumulation, contraction, and crosslinking. Stiff extracellular matrices trigger mechanotransduction, the conversion of mechanical cues such as stiffness of the matrix to biochemical signaling in the cells, and as a result determine the cellular phenotypes of cancer and stromal cells in tumors. Transcription factors are key molecules for these processes, as they respond to matrix stiffness and are crucial for cellular behaviors. The Yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) is one of the most studied transcription factors that is regulated by matrix stiffness. The YAP/TAZ are activated by a stiff matrix and promotes malignant phenotypes in cancer and stromal cells, including cancer-associated fibroblasts. In addition, other transcription factors such as β-catenin and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) also play key roles in mechanotransduction in cancer tissues. In this review, the mechanisms of stiffening cancer tissues are introduced, and the transcription factors regulated by matrix stiffness in cancer and stromal cells and their roles in cancer progression are shown.
Collapse
|
27
|
Mierke CT. Viscoelasticity, Like Forces, Plays a Role in Mechanotransduction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:789841. [PMID: 35223831 PMCID: PMC8864183 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.789841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Viscoelasticity and its alteration in time and space has turned out to act as a key element in fundamental biological processes in living systems, such as morphogenesis and motility. Based on experimental and theoretical findings it can be proposed that viscoelasticity of cells, spheroids and tissues seems to be a collective characteristic that demands macromolecular, intracellular component and intercellular interactions. A major challenge is to couple the alterations in the macroscopic structural or material characteristics of cells, spheroids and tissues, such as cell and tissue phase transitions, to the microscopic interferences of their elements. Therefore, the biophysical technologies need to be improved, advanced and connected to classical biological assays. In this review, the viscoelastic nature of cytoskeletal, extracellular and cellular networks is presented and discussed. Viscoelasticity is conceptualized as a major contributor to cell migration and invasion and it is discussed whether it can serve as a biomarker for the cells' migratory capacity in several biological contexts. It can be hypothesized that the statistical mechanics of intra- and extracellular networks may be applied in the future as a powerful tool to explore quantitatively the biomechanical foundation of viscoelasticity over a broad range of time and length scales. Finally, the importance of the cellular viscoelasticity is illustrated in identifying and characterizing multiple disorders, such as cancer, tissue injuries, acute or chronic inflammations or fibrotic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Biological Physics Division, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Miller B, Sewell-Loftin MK. Mechanoregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Angiogenesis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 8:804934. [PMID: 35087885 PMCID: PMC8787114 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.804934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelial cells that compose the vascular system in the body display a wide range of mechanotransductive behaviors and responses to biomechanical stimuli, which act in concert to control overall blood vessel structure and function. Such mechanosensitive activities allow blood vessels to constrict, dilate, grow, or remodel as needed during development as well as normal physiological functions, and the same processes can be dysregulated in various disease states. Mechanotransduction represents cellular responses to mechanical forces, translating such factors into chemical or electrical signals which alter the activation of various cell signaling pathways. Understanding how biomechanical forces drive vascular growth in healthy and diseased tissues could create new therapeutic strategies that would either enhance or halt these processes to assist with treatments of different diseases. In the cardiovascular system, new blood vessel formation from preexisting vasculature, in a process known as angiogenesis, is driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binding to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) which promotes blood vessel development. However, physical forces such as shear stress, matrix stiffness, and interstitial flow are also major drivers and effectors of angiogenesis, and new research suggests that mechanical forces may regulate VEGFR-2 phosphorylation. In fact, VEGFR-2 activation has been linked to known mechanobiological agents including ERK/MAPK, c-Src, Rho/ROCK, and YAP/TAZ. In vascular disease states, endothelial cells can be subjected to altered mechanical stimuli which affect the pathways that control angiogenesis. Both normalizing and arresting angiogenesis associated with tumor growth have been strategies for anti-cancer treatments. In the field of regenerative medicine, harnessing biomechanical regulation of angiogenesis could enhance vascularization strategies for treating a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including ischemia or permit development of novel tissue engineering scaffolds. This review will focus on the impact of VEGFR-2 mechanosignaling in endothelial cells (ECs) and its interaction with other mechanotransductive pathways, as well as presenting a discussion on the relationship between VEGFR-2 activation and biomechanical forces in the extracellular matrix (ECM) that can help treat diseases with dysfunctional vascular growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bronte Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Mammary collagen is under reproductive control with implications for breast cancer. Matrix Biol 2021; 105:104-126. [PMID: 34839002 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mammographically-detected breast density impacts breast cancer risk and progression, and fibrillar collagen is a key component of breast density. However, physiologic factors influencing collagen production in the breast are poorly understood. In female rats, we analyzed gene expression of the most abundantly expressed mammary collagens and collagen-associated proteins across a pregnancy, lactation, and weaning cycle. We identified a triphasic pattern of collagen gene regulation and evidence for reproductive state-dependent composition. An initial phase of collagen deposition occurred during pregnancy, followed by an active phase of collagen suppression during lactation. The third phase of collagen regulation occurred during weaning-induced mammary gland involution, which was characterized by increased collagen deposition. Concomitant changes in collagen protein abundance were confirmed by Masson's trichrome staining, second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging, and mass spectrometry. We observed similar reproductive-state dependent collagen patterns in human breast tissue obtained from premenopausal women. SHG analysis also revealed structural variation in collagen across a reproductive cycle, with higher packing density and more collagen fibers arranged perpendicular to the mammary epithelium in the involuting rat mammary gland compared to nulliparous and lactating glands. Involution was also characterized by high expression of the collagen cross-linking enzyme lysyl oxidase, which was associated with increased levels of cross-linked collagen. Breast cancer relevance is suggested, as we found that breast cancer diagnosed in recently postpartum women displayed gene expression signatures of increased collagen deposition and crosslinking compared to breast cancers diagnosed in age-matched nulliparous women. Using publically available data sets, we found this involution-like, collagen gene signature correlated with poor progression-free survival in breast cancer patients overall and in younger women. In sum, these findings of physiologic collagen regulation in the normal mammary gland may provide insight into normal breast function, the etiology of breast density, and inform breast cancer risk and outcomes.
Collapse
|
30
|
ECM stiffness-tuned exosomes drive breast cancer motility through thrombospondin-1. Biomaterials 2021; 279:121185. [PMID: 34808560 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer progression features ECM stiffening due to excess deposition and crosslinking of collagen, which dramatically influence tumor behaviour and fate. The mechanisms by which extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening drives breast cancer invasion is an area of active research. Here we demonstrate the role of exosomes in ECM stiffness triggered breast cancer invasiveness. Using stiffness tuneable hydrogel ECM scaffolds, we show that stiff ECMs promote exosome secretion in a YAP/TAZ pathway-dependent manner. Interestingly, blocking exosome synthesis and secretion by GW4869 abrogated stiffness regulated motility and contractility in breast cancer cells. Reciprocally, exogenous addition of ECM stiffness-tuned exosomes orchestrated a series of changes in cell morphology, adhesion, protrusion dynamics resulting in fostered cell motility and invasion. Proteomic analysis of exosomal lysates followed by overrepresentation analysis and interactome studies revealed enrichment of cell adhesion and cell migration proteins in exosomes from stiff ECM cultures compared to that of soft ones. Quantitative proteomics of exosomes combined with genomic analysis of human breast tumor tissues (TCGA database) identified thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) as a prospective regulator of stiffness-dependent cancer invasion. Knockdown studies confirmed that the pro-invasive effects of stiffness-tuned exosomes are fuelled by exosomal THBS1. We further demonstrated that exosomal THBS1 mediates these stiffness-induced effects by engaging matrix metalloproteinase and focal adhesion kinase. Our studies establish the pivotal role of exosomal communication in ECM stiffness dependent cell migration with exosomal THBS1 as a master regulator of cancer invasion, which can be further exploited as a potential theranostic for improved breast cancer management.
Collapse
|
31
|
Katsuno-Kambe H, Teo JL, Ju RJ, Hudson J, Stehbens SJ, Yap AS. Collagen polarization promotes epithelial elongation by stimulating locoregional cell proliferation. eLife 2021; 10:e67915. [PMID: 34661524 PMCID: PMC8550756 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial networks are commonly generated by processes where multicellular aggregates elongate and branch. Here, we focus on understanding cellular mechanisms for elongation using an organotypic culture system as a model of mammary epithelial anlage. Isotropic cell aggregates broke symmetry and slowly elongated when transplanted into collagen 1 gels. The elongating regions of aggregates displayed enhanced cell proliferation that was necessary for elongation to occur. Strikingly, this locoregional increase in cell proliferation occurred where collagen 1 fibrils reorganized into bundles that were polarized with the elongating aggregates. Applying external stretch as a cell-independent way to reorganize the extracellular matrix, we found that collagen polarization stimulated regional cell proliferation to precipitate symmetry breaking and elongation. This required β1-integrin and ERK signaling. We propose that collagen polarization supports epithelial anlagen elongation by stimulating locoregional cell proliferation. This could provide a long-lasting structural memory of the initial axis that is generated when anlage break symmetry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Katsuno-Kambe
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Jessica L Teo
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Robert J Ju
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - James Hudson
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Samantha J Stehbens
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Alpha S Yap
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Stuelten CH, Zhang YE. Transforming Growth Factor-β: An Agent of Change in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:764727. [PMID: 34712672 PMCID: PMC8545984 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.764727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) is a key regulator of embryonic development, adult tissue homeostasis, and lesion repair. In tumors, TGF-β is a potent inhibitor of early stage tumorigenesis and promotes late stage tumor progression and metastasis. Here, we review the roles of TGF-β as well as components of its signaling pathways in tumorigenesis. We will discuss how a core property of TGF-β, namely its ability to change cell differentiation, leads to the transition of epithelial cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts to a myofibroblastoid phenotype, changes differentiation and polarization of immune cells, and induces metabolic reprogramming of cells, all of which contribute to the progression of epithelial tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina H. Stuelten
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ying E. Zhang
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Biofabrication of advanced in vitro and ex vivo cancer models for disease modeling and drug screening. FUTURE DRUG DISCOVERY 2021. [DOI: 10.4155/fdd-2020-0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioengineered in vitro models have advanced from 2D cultures and simple 3D cell aggregates to more complex organoids and organ-on-a-chip platforms. This shift has been substantial in cancer research; while simple systems remain in use, multi-tissue type tumor and tissue chips and patient-derived tumor organoids have grown rapidly. These more advanced models offer new tools to cancer researchers based on human tumor physiology and the potential for interactions with nontumor tissue physiology while avoiding critical differences between human and animal biology. In this focused review, the authors discuss the importance of organoid and organ-on-a-chip platforms, with a particular focus on modeling cancer, to highlight oncology-focused in vitro model platform technologies that improve upon the simple 2D cultures and 3D spheroid models of the past.
Collapse
|
34
|
Pozzi S, Scomparin A, Israeli Dangoor S, Rodriguez Ajamil D, Ofek P, Neufeld L, Krivitsky A, Vaskovich-Koubi D, Kleiner R, Dey P, Koshrovski-Michael S, Reisman N, Satchi-Fainaro R. Meet me halfway: Are in vitro 3D cancer models on the way to replace in vivo models for nanomedicine development? Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113760. [PMID: 33838208 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The complexity and diversity of the biochemical processes that occur during tumorigenesis and metastasis are frequently over-simplified in the traditional in vitro cell cultures. Two-dimensional cultures limit researchers' experimental observations and frequently give rise to misleading and contradictory results. Therefore, in order to overcome the limitations of in vitro studies and bridge the translational gap to in vivo applications, 3D models of cancer were developed in the last decades. The three dimensions of the tumor, including its cellular and extracellular microenvironment, are recreated by combining co-cultures of cancer and stromal cells in 3D hydrogel-based growth factors-inclusive scaffolds. More complex 3D cultures, containing functional blood vasculature, can integrate in the system external stimuli (e.g. oxygen and nutrient deprivation, cytokines, growth factors) along with drugs, or other therapeutic compounds. In this scenario, cell signaling pathways, metastatic cascade steps, cell differentiation and self-renewal, tumor-microenvironment interactions, and precision and personalized medicine, are among the wide range of biological applications that can be studied. Here, we discuss a broad variety of strategies exploited by scientists to create in vitro 3D cancer models that resemble as much as possible the biology and patho-physiology of in vivo tumors and predict faithfully the treatment outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Pozzi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Anna Scomparin
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Sahar Israeli Dangoor
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Daniel Rodriguez Ajamil
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Paula Ofek
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Lena Neufeld
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Adva Krivitsky
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Daniella Vaskovich-Koubi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ron Kleiner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Pradip Dey
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Shani Koshrovski-Michael
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Noa Reisman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ronit Satchi-Fainaro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Directional cues in the tumor microenvironment due to cell contraction against aligned collagen fibers. Acta Biomater 2021; 129:96-109. [PMID: 33965625 PMCID: PMC8848478 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.04.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It is well established that collagen alignment in the breast tumor microenvironment provides biophysical cues to drive disease progression. Numerous mechanistic studies have demonstrated that tumor cell behavior is driven by the architecture and stiffness of the collagen matrix. However, the mechanical properties within a 3D collagen microenvironment, particularly at the scale of the cell, remain poorly defined. To investigate cell-scale mechanical cues with respect to local collagen architecture, we employed a combination of intravital imaging of the mammary tumor microenvironment and a 3D collagen gel system with both acellular pNIPAAm microspheres and MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells. Within the in vivo tumor microenvironment, the displacement of collagen fiber was identified in response to tumor cells migrating through the stromal matrix. To further investigate cell-scale stiffness in aligned fiber architectures and the propagation of cell-induced fiber deformations, precise control of collagen architecture was coupled with innovative methodology to measure mechanical properties of the collagen fiber network. This method revealed up to a 35-fold difference in directional cell-scale stiffness resulting from contraction against aligned fibers. Furthermore, the local anisotropy of the matrix dramatically altered the rate at which contractility-induced fiber displacements decayed over distance. Together, our results reveal mechanical properties in aligned matrices that provide dramatically different cues to the cell in perpendicular directions. These findings are supported by the mechanosensing behavior of tumor cells and have important implications for cell-cell communication within the tissue microenvironment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: It is widely appreciated that the architecture of the extracellular matrix impacts cellular behavior in normal and disease states. Numerous studies have determined the fundamental role of collagen matrix architecture on cellular mechanosensing, but effectively quantifying anisotropic mechanical properties of the collagen matrix at the cell-scale remains challenging. Here, we developed innovative methodology to discover that collagen alignment results in a 35-fold difference in cell-scale stiffness and alters contractile force transmission through the fiber network. Furthermore, we identified bias in cell response along the axis of alignment, where local stiffness is highest. Overall, our results define cell-scale stiffness and fiber deformations due to collagen architecture that may instruct cell communication within a broad range of tissue microenvironments.
Collapse
|
36
|
Rauner G, Kuperwasser C. Microenvironmental control of cell fate decisions in mammary gland development and cancer. Dev Cell 2021; 56:1875-1883. [PMID: 34256927 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cell fate decisions are critical for adequate tissue development, maintenance and regeneration. In the mammary gland, epithelial cell fates are tightly controlled by the microenvironment. Here, we review how cell fate decisions are regulated by components of the microenvironment during mammary gland development and how pathological changes in the microenvironment can alter cell fates, leading to malignancy. Specifically, we describe the current understanding of how mammary cell fate is controlled and directed by three elements: the extracellular matrix, the immune microenvironment, and hormones-and how these elements can converge to create microenvironments that promote a fourth element: DNA damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gat Rauner
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Charlotte Kuperwasser
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA; Laboratory for the Convergence of Biomedical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
In this review, Shen and Kang provide an overview of the tumor-intrinsic and microenvironment- and treatment-induced stresses that tumor cells encounter in the metastatic cascade and the molecular pathways they develop to relieve these stresses. Metastasis is the ultimate “survival of the fittest” test for cancer cells, as only a small fraction of disseminated tumor cells can overcome the numerous hurdles they encounter during the transition from the site of origin to a distinctly different distant organ in the face of immune and therapeutic attacks and various other stresses. During cancer progression, tumor cells develop a variety of mechanisms to cope with the stresses they encounter, and acquire the ability to form metastases. Restraining these stress-releasing pathways could serve as potentially effective strategies to prevent or reduce metastasis and improve the survival of cancer patients. Here, we provide an overview of the tumor-intrinsic, microenvironment- and treatment-induced stresses that tumor cells encounter in the metastatic cascade and the molecular pathways they develop to relieve these stresses. We also summarize the preclinical and clinical studies that evaluate the potential therapeutic benefit of targeting these stress-relieving pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minhong Shen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Yibin Kang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
ECM Remodeling in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Aerodigestive Tract: Pathways for Cancer Dissemination and Emerging Biomarkers. Cancers (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112759
expr 955442319 + 839973387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) include a number of different types of tumors developing in the skin, in hollow organs, as well as the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) including the head and neck region and the esophagus which will be dealt with in this review. These tumors are often refractory to current therapeutic approaches with poor patient outcome. The most important prognostic determinant of SCC tumors is the presence of distant metastasis, significantly correlating with low patient survival rates. Rapidly emerging evidence indicate that the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and remodeling profoundly affect SSC metastatic dissemination. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge on the role of ECM and its remodeling enzymes in affecting the growth and dissemination of UADT SCC. Taken together, these published evidence suggest that a thorough analysis of the ECM composition in the UADT SCC microenvironment may help disclosing the mechanism of resistance to the treatments and help defining possible targets for clinical intervention.
Collapse
|
39
|
ECM Remodeling in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Aerodigestive Tract: Pathways for Cancer Dissemination and Emerging Biomarkers. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112759. [PMID: 34199373 PMCID: PMC8199582 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Local and distant metastasis of patients affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract predicts poor prognosis. In the latest years, the introduction of new therapeutic approaches, including targeted and immune therapies, has improved the overall survival. However, a large number of these patients do not benefit from these treatments. Thus, the identification of suitable prognostic and predictive biomarkers, as well as the discovery of new therapeutic targets have emerged as a crucial clinical need. In this context, the extracellular matrix represents a suitable target for the development of such therapeutic tools. In fact, the extracellular matrix is composed by complex molecules able to interact with a plethora of receptors and growth factors, thus modulating the dynamic crosstalk between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the role of the extracellular matrix in affecting squamous cell carcinoma growth and dissemination. Despite extracellular matrix is known to affect the development of many cancer types, only a restricted number of these molecules have been recognized to impact on squamous cell carcinoma progression. Thus, we consider that a thorough analysis of these molecules may be key to develop new potential therapeutic targets/biomarkers. Abstract Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) include a number of different types of tumors developing in the skin, in hollow organs, as well as the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) including the head and neck region and the esophagus which will be dealt with in this review. These tumors are often refractory to current therapeutic approaches with poor patient outcome. The most important prognostic determinant of SCC tumors is the presence of distant metastasis, significantly correlating with low patient survival rates. Rapidly emerging evidence indicate that the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and remodeling profoundly affect SSC metastatic dissemination. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge on the role of ECM and its remodeling enzymes in affecting the growth and dissemination of UADT SCC. Taken together, these published evidence suggest that a thorough analysis of the ECM composition in the UADT SCC microenvironment may help disclosing the mechanism of resistance to the treatments and help defining possible targets for clinical intervention.
Collapse
|
40
|
Avoiding tensional equilibrium in cells migrating on a matrix with cell-scale stiffness-heterogeneity. Biomaterials 2021; 274:120860. [PMID: 34004486 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular stresses affect various cell functions, including proliferation, differentiation and movement, which are dynamically modulated in migrating cells through continuous cell-shaping and remodeling of the cytoskeletal architecture induced by spatiotemporal interactions with extracellular matrix stiffness. When cells migrate on a matrix with cell-scale stiffness-heterogeneity, which is a common situation in living tissues, what intracellular stress dynamics (ISD) emerge? In this study, to explore this issue, finite element method-based traction force microscopy was applied to cells migrating on microelastically patterned gels. Two model systems of microelastically patterned gels (stiff/soft stripe and stiff triangular patterns) were designed to characterize the effects of a spatial constraint on cell-shaping and of the presence of different types of cues to induce competing cellular taxis (usual and reverse durotaxis) on the ISD, respectively. As the main result, the prolonged fluctuation of traction stress on a whole-cell scale was markedly enhanced on single cell-size triangular stiff patterns compared with homogeneous gels. Such ISD enhancement was found to be derived from the interplay between the nomadic migration of cells to regions with different degrees of stiffness and domain shape-dependent traction force dynamics, which should be an essential factor for keeping cells far from tensional equilibrium.
Collapse
|
41
|
Yang L, Pijuan-Galito S, Rho HS, Vasilevich AS, Eren AD, Ge L, Habibović P, Alexander MR, de Boer J, Carlier A, van Rijn P, Zhou Q. High-Throughput Methods in the Discovery and Study of Biomaterials and Materiobiology. Chem Rev 2021; 121:4561-4677. [PMID: 33705116 PMCID: PMC8154331 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The complex interaction of cells with biomaterials (i.e., materiobiology) plays an increasingly pivotal role in the development of novel implants, biomedical devices, and tissue engineering scaffolds to treat diseases, aid in the restoration of bodily functions, construct healthy tissues, or regenerate diseased ones. However, the conventional approaches are incapable of screening the huge amount of potential material parameter combinations to identify the optimal cell responses and involve a combination of serendipity and many series of trial-and-error experiments. For advanced tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, highly efficient and complex bioanalysis platforms are expected to explore the complex interaction of cells with biomaterials using combinatorial approaches that offer desired complex microenvironments during healing, development, and homeostasis. In this review, we first introduce materiobiology and its high-throughput screening (HTS). Then we present an in-depth of the recent progress of 2D/3D HTS platforms (i.e., gradient and microarray) in the principle, preparation, screening for materiobiology, and combination with other advanced technologies. The Compendium for Biomaterial Transcriptomics and high content imaging, computational simulations, and their translation toward commercial and clinical uses are highlighted. In the final section, current challenges and future perspectives are discussed. High-throughput experimentation within the field of materiobiology enables the elucidation of the relationships between biomaterial properties and biological behavior and thereby serves as a potential tool for accelerating the development of high-performance biomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Yang
- University
of Groningen, W. J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and
Materials Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sara Pijuan-Galito
- School
of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University
of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Hoon Suk Rho
- Department
of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Aliaksei S. Vasilevich
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University
of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Aysegul Dede Eren
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University
of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Lu Ge
- University
of Groningen, W. J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and
Materials Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pamela Habibović
- Department
of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Morgan R. Alexander
- School
of Pharmacy, Boots Science Building, University
of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Jan de Boer
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University
of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Aurélie Carlier
- Department
of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick van Rijn
- University
of Groningen, W. J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and
Materials Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Qihui Zhou
- Institute
for Translational Medicine, Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated
Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao
University, Qingdao 266003, China
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Pokki J, Zisi I, Schulman E, Indana D, Chaudhuri O. Magnetic probe-based microrheology reveals local softening and stiffening of 3D collagen matrices by fibroblasts. Biomed Microdevices 2021; 23:27. [PMID: 33900463 PMCID: PMC8076128 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-021-00547-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Changes in extracellular matrix stiffness impact a variety of biological processes including cancer progression. However, cells also actively remodel the matrices they interact with, dynamically altering the matrix mechanics they respond to. Further, cells not only react to matrix stiffness, but also have a distinct reaction to matrix viscoelasticity. The impact of cell-driven matrix remodeling on matrix stiffness and viscoelasticity at the microscale remains unclear, as existing methods to measure mechanics are largely at the bulk scale or probe only the surface of matrices, and focus on stiffness. Yet, establishing the impact of the matrix remodeling at the microscale is crucial to obtaining an understanding of mechanotransduction in biological matrices, and biological matrices are not just elastic, but are viscoelastic. Here, we advanced magnetic probe-based microrheology to overcome its previous limitations in measuring viscoelasticity at the cell-size-scale spatial resolution within 3D cell cultures that have tissue-relevant stiffness levels up to a Young's modulus of 0.5 kPa. Our magnetic microrheometers exert controlled magnetic forces on magnetic microprobes within reconstituted extracellular matrices and detect microprobe displacement responses to measure matrix viscoelasticity and determine the frequency-dependent shear modulus (stiffness), the loss tangent, and spatial heterogeneity. We applied these tools to investigate how microscale viscoelasticity of collagen matrices is altered by fibroblast cells as they contract collagen gels, a process studied extensively at the macroscale. Interestingly, we found that fibroblasts first soften the matrix locally over the first 32 hours of culture, and then progressively stiffen the matrix thereafter. Fibroblast activity also progressively increased the matrix loss tangent. We confirmed that the softening is caused by matrix-metalloproteinase-mediated collagen degradation, whereas stiffening is associated with local alignment and densification of collagen fibers around the fibroblasts. This work paves the way for the use of measurement systems that quantify microscale viscoelasticity within 3D cell cultures for studies of cell-matrix interactions in cancer progression and other areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juho Pokki
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.
| | - Iliana Zisi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ester Schulman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Dhiraj Indana
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Ouyang M, Yu JY, Chen Y, Deng L, Guo CL. Cell-extracellular matrix interactions in the fluidic phase direct the topology and polarity of self-organized epithelial structures. Cell Prolif 2021; 54:e13014. [PMID: 33615615 PMCID: PMC8016639 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In vivo, cells are surrounded by extracellular matrix (ECM). To build organs from single cells, it is generally believed that ECM serves as scaffolds to coordinate cell positioning and differentiation. Nevertheless, how cells utilize cell‐ECM interactions for the spatiotemporal coordination to different ECM at the tissue scale is not fully understood. Methods Here, using in vitro assay with engineered MDCK cells expressing H2B‐mCherry (nucleus) and gp135/Podocalyxin‐GFP (apical marker), we show in multi‐dimensions that such coordination for epithelial morphogenesis can be determined by cell‐soluble ECM interaction in the fluidic phase. Results The coordination depends on the native topology of ECM components such as sheet‐like basement membrane (BM) and type I collagen (COL) fibres: scaffold formed by BM (COL) facilitates a close‐ended (open‐ended) coordination that leads to the formation of lobular (tubular) epithelium. Further, cells form apicobasal polarity throughout the entire lobule/tubule without a complete coverage of ECM at the basal side, and time‐lapse two‐photon scanning imaging reveals the polarization occurring early and maintained through the lobular expansion. During polarization, gp135‐GFP was converged to the apical surface collectively in the lobular/tubular structures, suggesting possible intercellular communications. Under suspension culture, the polarization was impaired with multi‐lumen formation in the tubules, implying the importance of ECM biomechanical microenvironment. Conclusion Our results suggest a biophysical mechanism for cells to form polarity and coordinate positioning at tissue scale, and in engineering epithelium through cell‐soluble ECM interaction and self‐assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Ouyang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy & School of Medicine, Changzhou University, Changzhou, China.,Department of Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| | - Jiun-Yann Yu
- Department of Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| | - Yenyu Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| | - Linhong Deng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy & School of Medicine, Changzhou University, Changzhou, China
| | - Chin-Lin Guo
- Department of Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Wong KU, Zhang A, Akhavan B, Bilek MM, Yeo GC. Biomimetic Culture Strategies for the Clinical Expansion of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021. [PMID: 33599471 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01538] [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: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) typically require significant ex vivo expansion to achieve the high cell numbers required for research and clinical applications. However, conventional MSC culture on planar (2D) plastic surfaces has been shown to induce MSC senescence and decrease cell functionality over long-term proliferation, and usually, it has a high labor requirement, a high usage of reagents, and therefore, a high cost. In this Review, we describe current MSC-based therapeutic strategies and outline the important factors that need to be considered when developing next-generation cell expansion platforms. To retain the functional value of expanded MSCs, ex vivo culture systems should ideally recapitulate the components of the native stem cell microenvironment, which include soluble cues, resident cells, and the extracellular matrix substrate. We review the interplay between these stem cell niche components and their biological roles in governing MSC phenotype and functionality. We discuss current biomimetic strategies of incorporating biochemical and biophysical cues in MSC culture platforms to grow clinically relevant cell numbers while preserving cell potency and stemness. This Review summarizes the current state of MSC expansion technologies and the challenges that still need to be overcome for MSC clinical applications to be feasible and sustainable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Un Wong
- Charles Perkins Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Anyu Zhang
- School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.,School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Behnam Akhavan
- School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.,School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.,The University of Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Marcela M Bilek
- Charles Perkins Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.,School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.,School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.,The University of Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Giselle C Yeo
- Charles Perkins Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Stejskalová A, Fincke V, Nowak M, Schmidt Y, Borrmann K, von Wahlde MK, Schäfer SD, Kiesel L, Greve B, Götte M. Collagen I triggers directional migration, invasion and matrix remodeling of stroma cells in a 3D spheroid model of endometriosis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4115. [PMID: 33603041 PMCID: PMC7892880 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83645-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a painful gynecological condition characterized by ectopic growth of endometrial cells. Little is known about its pathogenesis, which is partially due to a lack of suitable experimental models. Here, we use endometrial stromal (St-T1b), primary endometriotic stromal, epithelial endometriotic (12Z) and co-culture (1:1 St-T1b:12Z) spheroids to mimic the architecture of endometrium, and either collagen I or Matrigel to model ectopic locations. Stromal spheroids, but not single cells, assumed coordinated directional migration followed by matrix remodeling of collagen I on day 5 or 7, resembling ectopic lesions. While generally a higher area fold increase of spheroids occurred on collagen I compared to Matrigel, directional migration was not observed in co-culture or in 12Z cells. The fold increase in area on collagen I was significantly reduced by MMP inhibition in stromal but not 12Z cells. Inhibiting ROCK signalling responsible for actomyosin contraction increased the fold increase of area and metabolic activity compared to untreated controls on Matrigel. The number of protrusions emanating from 12Z spheroids on Matrigel was decreased by microRNA miR-200b and increased by miR-145. This study demonstrates that spheroid assay is a promising pre-clinical tool that can be used to evaluate small molecule drugs and microRNA-based therapeutics for endometriosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Stejskalová
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, D11, 48149, Münster, Germany.
| | - Victoria Fincke
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, D11, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Melissa Nowak
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, D11, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Institut für Molekulare Medizin III, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Yvonne Schmidt
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, D11, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Katrin Borrmann
- Department of Radiotherapy-Radiooncology, Münster University Hospital, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Marie-Kristin von Wahlde
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, D11, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Sebastian D Schäfer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, D11, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Ludwig Kiesel
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, D11, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Burkhard Greve
- Department of Radiotherapy-Radiooncology, Münster University Hospital, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Götte
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, D11, 48149, Münster, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Ouellette JN, Drifka CR, Pointer KB, Liu Y, Lieberthal TJ, Kao WJ, Kuo JS, Loeffler AG, Eliceiri KW. Navigating the Collagen Jungle: The Biomedical Potential of Fiber Organization in Cancer. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:17. [PMID: 33494220 PMCID: PMC7909776 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8020017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research has highlighted the importance of key tumor microenvironment features, notably the collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) in characterizing tumor invasion and progression. This led to great interest from both basic researchers and clinicians, including pathologists, to include collagen fiber evaluation as part of the investigation of cancer development and progression. Fibrillar collagen is the most abundant in the normal extracellular matrix, and was revealed to be upregulated in many cancers. Recent studies suggested an emerging theme across multiple cancer types in which specific collagen fiber organization patterns differ between benign and malignant tissue and also appear to be associated with disease stage, prognosis, treatment response, and other clinical features. There is great potential for developing image-based collagen fiber biomarkers for clinical applications, but its adoption in standard clinical practice is dependent on further translational and clinical evaluations. Here, we offer a comprehensive review of the current literature of fibrillar collagen structure and organization as a candidate cancer biomarker, and new perspectives on the challenges and next steps for researchers and clinicians seeking to exploit this information in biomedical research and clinical workflows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan N. Ouellette
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (J.N.O.); (C.R.D.); (T.J.L.); (W.J.K.)
- Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (K.B.P.); (Y.L.)
| | - Cole R. Drifka
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (J.N.O.); (C.R.D.); (T.J.L.); (W.J.K.)
- Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (K.B.P.); (Y.L.)
| | - Kelli B. Pointer
- Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (K.B.P.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yuming Liu
- Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (K.B.P.); (Y.L.)
| | - Tyler J Lieberthal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (J.N.O.); (C.R.D.); (T.J.L.); (W.J.K.)
| | - W John Kao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (J.N.O.); (C.R.D.); (T.J.L.); (W.J.K.)
- Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - John S. Kuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
| | - Agnes G. Loeffler
- Department of Pathology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA;
| | - Kevin W. Eliceiri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (J.N.O.); (C.R.D.); (T.J.L.); (W.J.K.)
- Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (K.B.P.); (Y.L.)
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Mechanical strain induces phenotypic changes in breast cancer cells and promotes immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. J Transl Med 2020; 100:1503-1516. [PMID: 32572176 PMCID: PMC7686122 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-020-0452-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BCa) proliferates within a complex, three-dimensional microenvironment amid heterogeneous biochemical and biophysical cues. Understanding how mechanical forces within the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulate BCa phenotype is of great interest. We demonstrate that mechanical strain enhanced the proliferation and migration of both estrogen receptor+ and triple-negative (TNBC) human and mouse BCa cells. Furthermore, a critical role for exosomes derived from cells subjected to mechanical strain in these pro-tumorigenic effects was identified. Exosome production by TNBC cells increased upon exposure to oscillatory strain (OS), which correlated with elevated cell proliferation. Using a syngeneic, orthotopic mouse model of TNBC, we identified that preconditioning BCa cells with OS significantly increased tumor growth and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and M2 macrophages in the TME. This pro-tumorigenic myeloid cell enrichment also correlated with a decrease in CD8+ T cells. An increase in PD-L1+ exosome release from BCa cells following OS supported additive T cell inhibitory functions in the TME. The role of exosomes in MDSC and M2 macrophage was confirmed in vivo by cytotracking fluorescent exosomes, derived from labeled 4T1.2 cells, preconditioned with OS. In addition, in vivo internalization and intratumoral localization of tumor-cell derived exosomes was observed within MDSCs, M2 macrophages, and CD45-negative cell populations following direct injection of fluorescently-labeled exosomes. Our data demonstrate that exposure to mechanical strain promotes invasive and pro-tumorigenic phenotypes in BCa cells, indicating that mechanical strain can impact the growth and proliferation of cancer cell, alter exosome production by BCa, and induce immunosuppression in the TME by dampening anti-tumor immunity.
Collapse
|
48
|
Roig-Rosello E, Rousselle P. The Human Epidermal Basement Membrane: A Shaped and Cell Instructive Platform That Aging Slowly Alters. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1607. [PMID: 33260936 PMCID: PMC7760980 DOI: 10.3390/biom10121607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most important functions of skin is to act as a protective barrier. To fulfill this role, the structural integrity of the skin depends on the dermal-epidermal junction-a complex network of extracellular matrix macromolecules that connect the outer epidermal layer to the underlying dermis. This junction provides both a structural support to keratinocytes and a specific niche that mediates signals influencing their behavior. It displays a distinctive microarchitecture characterized by an undulating pattern, strengthening dermal-epidermal connectivity and crosstalk. The optimal stiffness arising from the overall molecular organization, together with characteristic anchoring complexes, keeps the dermis and epidermis layers extremely well connected and capable of proper epidermal renewal and regeneration. Due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors, a large number of structural and biological changes accompany skin aging. These changes progressively weaken the dermal-epidermal junction substructure and affect its functions, contributing to the gradual decline in overall skin physiology. Most changes involve reduced turnover or altered enzymatic or non-enzymatic post-translational modifications, compromising the mechanical properties of matrix components and cells. This review combines recent and older data on organization of the dermal-epidermal junction, its mechanical properties and role in mechanotransduction, its involvement in regeneration, and its fate during the aging process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Roig-Rosello
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique, UMR 5305, CNRS-Université Lyon 1, SFR BioSciences Gerland-Lyon Sud, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France;
- Roger Gallet SAS, 4 rue Euler, 75008 Paris, France
| | - Patricia Rousselle
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique, UMR 5305, CNRS-Université Lyon 1, SFR BioSciences Gerland-Lyon Sud, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France;
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Mondal C, Di Martino JS, Bravo-Cordero JJ. Actin dynamics during tumor cell dissemination. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 360:65-98. [PMID: 33962751 PMCID: PMC8246644 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The actin cytoskeleton is a dynamic network that regulates cellular behavior from development to disease. By rearranging the actin cytoskeleton, cells are capable of migrating and invading during developmental processes; however, many of these cellular properties are hijacked by cancer cells to escape primary tumors and disseminate to distant organs in the body. In this review article, we highlight recent work describing how cancer cells regulate the actin cytoskeleton to achieve efficient invasion and metastatic colonization. We also review new imaging technologies that are capable of revealing the complex architecture and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton during motility and invasion of tumor cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chandrani Mondal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Julie S Di Martino
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jose Javier Bravo-Cordero
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Wei Z, Chen L, Meng L, Han W, Huang L, Xu A. LncRNA HOTAIR promotes the growth and metastasis of gastric cancer by sponging miR-1277-5p and upregulating COL5A1. Gastric Cancer 2020; 23:1018-1032. [PMID: 32583079 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-020-01091-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging studies have shown that HOTAIR acts as an oncogene in gastric cancer (GC). However, its role in the extracellular matrix and in tumor immune infiltration remains unknown. METHODS HOTAIR and COL5A1 levels were analyzed by bioinformatics analysis and validated by qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays. The regulatory relationships between components of the HOTAIR/miR-1277-5p/COL5A1 axis and the role of this axis in GC were predicted by bioinformatics analysis, and validated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The correlation between COL5A1 and GC immune infiltration was assessed by bioinformatics analysis and a COL5A1-based predictive nomogram was established using the Stomach Adenocarcinoma dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas. RESULTS We found that HOTAIR and COL5A1 were overexpressed in GC compared to normal controls, which predicted poor prognosis. The regulatory relationship of the HOTAIR/miR-1277-5p/COL5A1 axis in GC was demonstrated, and HOTAIR and COL5A1 were found to promote GC growth while miR-1277-5p exerted the reverse effects. In addition, COL5A1 was negatively associated with tumor purity but positively associated with immune infiltration, which suggested that COL5A1-mediated GC growth may be partially mediated by the regulation of immune infiltration. Additionally, the established COL5A1-based nomogram showed that COL5A1 can serve as a prognostic biomarker in GC. CONCLUSIONS HOTAIR regulates GC growth by sponging miR-1277-5p and upregulating COL5A1, and COL5A1-mediated GC cell proliferation may be mediated by effects on the tumor microenvironment, which provides novel targets for GC treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhijian Wei
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 JiXi Avenue, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, PR China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 JiXi Avenue, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, 218 JiXi Avenue, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Meng
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 100 HuaiHe Avenue, Hefei, 230002, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenxiu Han
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 JiXi Avenue, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, PR China.
| | - Lei Huang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 JiXi Avenue, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, PR China.
| | - Aman Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 JiXi Avenue, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|