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Pan R, Zhang Y, Cheng Y, Wu Z, Liu J, Chen Z, Wang J, Zhang X, Wang H, Feng S, Zheng X. Identification of UNC5B as a novel aggressive biomarker for osteosarcoma based on basement membrane genes. Gene 2024; 930:148871. [PMID: 39154972 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148871] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognosis of patients with metastatic osteosarcoma is poor, and the variation of basement membrane genes (BMGs) is associated with cancer metastasis. However, the role of BMGs in osteosarcoma has been poorly studied. METHODS BMGs were collected and differentially expressed BMGs (DE-BMGs) were found through difference analysis. DE-BMGs were further screened by univariate Cox regression and Lasso regression analyses, and six key BMGs were identified and defined as basement membrane genes signatures (BMGS). Then, BMGS was used to construct the osteosarcoma BMGS risk score system, and the osteosarcoma patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and ESTIMATE scores were used to investigate the differences in immune infiltration between the two scoring groups. Additionally, we investigated whether UNC5B affects various features in tumors by bioinformatic analysis and whether UNC5B was involved in multiple biological functions of osteosarcoma cells by wound healing assay, transwell assay, and western blot. RESULTS The osteosarcoma BMGS risk score reliably predicts the risk of metastasis, patient prognosis, and immunity. UNC5B expression was elevated in osteosarcoma, and correlated with various characteristics such as immune infiltration, prognosis, and drug sensitivity. In vitro assays showed that UNC5B knockdown reduced osteosarcoma cells' capacity for migration and invasion, and EMT process. CONCLUSION A novel BMGS risk score system that can effectively predict the prognosis of osteosarcoma was developed and validated. The UNC5B gene in this system is one of the key aggressive biomarkers of osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruilin Pan
- Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Speed Capability, The Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precision Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Speed Capability, The Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precision Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanmei Cheng
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zelin Wu
- Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Speed Capability, The Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precision Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Institute of Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihang Chen
- Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Speed Capability, The Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precision Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Psychology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jinghao Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangzhou, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangzhou, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huajun Wang
- Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Speed Capability, The Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precision Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shanshan Feng
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Science and Technology & Guangdong Province, Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, International Base of Collaboration for Science and Technology (JNU), institute of Aging and Regenerative Medicine, School of Life Science & Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Xiaofei Zheng
- Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Speed Capability, The Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precision Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
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2
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Jeibouei S, Monfared AK, Hojat A, Aref AR, Shams F, Dolati M, Moradi A, Hosseini M, Javadi SM, Ajoudanian M, Molavi Z, Moghaddam M, Mohammadi F, Nuoroozi G, Naeimi SK, Shahani M, Zali H, Akbari ME, Mostafavi E. Human-derived Tumor-On-Chip model to study the heterogeneity of breast cancer tissue. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2024; 162:213915. [PMID: 38878646 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.213915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
One of the leading causes that complicate the treatment of some malignancies, including breast cancer, is tumor heterogeneity. In addition to inter-heterogeneity and intra-heterogeneity of tumors that reflect the differences between cancer cell characteristics, heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in tumor progression and could be considered an overlooked and a proper target for the effective selection of therapeutic approaches. Due to the difficulty of completely capturing tumor heterogeneity in conventional detection methods, Tumor-on-Chip (TOC) devices with culturing patient-derived spheroids could be an appropriate alternative. In this research, human-derived spheroids from breast cancer individuals were cultured for 6 days in microfluidic devices. To compare TOC data with conventional detection methods, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and ITRAQ data were employed, and various protein expressions were validated using the transcriptomic databases. The behavior of the spheroids in the collagen matrix and the cell viability were monitored over 6 days of culture. IHC and immunocytochemistry (ICC) results revealed that inter and intra-heterogeneity of tumor spheroids are associated with HER2/ER expression. HER2 expression levels revealed a more important biomarker associated with invasion in the 3D culturing of spheroids. The expression levels of CD163 (as a marker for Ma2 macrophages) and CD44 (a marker for cancer stem cells (CSCs)) were also evaluated. Interestingly, the levels of M2a macrophages and CSCs were higher in triple-negative specimens and samples that showed higher migration and invasion. Cell density and extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness were also important factors affecting the migration and invasion of the spheroids through the matrix. Among these, rigid ECM revealed a more crucial role than cell density. To sum up, these research findings demonstrated that human-derived spheroids from breast cancer specimens in microfluidic devices provide a dynamic condition for predicting tumor heterogeneity in patients, which can help move the field forward for better and more accurate therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Jeibouei
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran; Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Tech, Hampton, VA 23669, USA
| | - Arefeh Khazraie Monfared
- William Harvey Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ali Hojat
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Department of surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Vitro Vision, DeepkinetiX Inc, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Forough Shams
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mandana Dolati
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Afshin Moradi
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Hosseini
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammadreza Javadi
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Besat Hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan 65178-38636, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ajoudanian
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Molavi
- Proteomics Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Maryam Moghaddam
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Mohammadi
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Ghader Nuoroozi
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Khakpour Naeimi
- Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Biology, Tehran 63537-11489, Iran
| | - Minoo Shahani
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Hakimeh Zali
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran; Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Esmaeil Akbari
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran.
| | - Ebrahim Mostafavi
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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3
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Tang X, Liu Y, Zhao J, Fu C, Yang W. Subtyping of gastric cancer based on basement membrane genes that stratifies the prognosis, immune infiltration and therapeutic response. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:362. [PMID: 39164593 PMCID: PMC11336019 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01238-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is highly heterogeneous and prone to metastasis, which are obstacles to the effectiveness of treatment. The basement membrane (BM) acts as a barrier to tumor cell invasion and metastasis. It is critical to investigate the relationship between BM status, metastasis, and patient prognosis. In several large cohorts, we investigated BM gene expression-based molecular classification and risk-prognosis models for GC, examined tumor microenvironment (TME) differences among different molecular subtypes, and developed risk models in predicting prognosis, immunotherapy effectiveness, and chemotherapy resistance. Three GC subtypes (BMclusterA/B/C) based on BM gene expression status were discovered. Each of the three GC subtypes has unique immune infiltration and activated oncogenic signals. Moreover, a 6-gene score (BMscore) predictive model was developed. The low BMscore group had a high tumor mutation burden, high immunogenicity, and low RHOJ expression levels, implying that individuals with GC in this category may be more susceptible to immunotherapy and treatment. The EMT subtype showed a considerably higher BMscore than the other subtypes in the Asian Organization for Research on Cancer (ACRG) molecular classification. Endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts may be engaged in regulating BM reorganization in GC progression, according to single-cell transcriptome analyses. In conclusion, we defined a novel molecular classification of GC based on BM genes, developed a prognostic risk model, and elucidated the cell subpopulations involved in BM remodeling at the single-cell level. This study has deepened the understanding of the relationship between GC metastasis and BM alterations, achieved prognostic stratification, and guided therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Tang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 350, Shushanhu Road, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China
- Science Island Branch, Graduate School of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 350, Shushanhu Road, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China
- Science Island Branch, Graduate School of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Jiarong Zhao
- Medical Pathology Center, Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Changfang Fu
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China.
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Pharmaceutical Preparations and Clinical Pharmacy, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China.
| | - Wulin Yang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 350, Shushanhu Road, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China.
- Science Island Branch, Graduate School of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
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4
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Gao XQ, Li HL, Wang M, Yang CT, Su R, Shao LH. Kaempferol inhibited invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells by targeting AKT/GSK3β pathway based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. JOURNAL OF ASIAN NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH 2024:1-21. [PMID: 39132822 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2024.2387756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to explore the mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of kaempferol on the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer (GC) cells through network pharmacology prediction and experimental verification. It identifies core targets via PPI network analysis and finds that kaempferol binds to these targets well. In vitro experiments showed that kaempferol could inhibit the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of GC cells. Western blotting indicated kaempferol may reduce AKT and GSK3β phosphorylation, leading to lower expression of invasion-related genes SRC, MMP9, CXCR4, KDR, and MMP2. Overall, kaempferol may prevent migration and invasion of GC cells via the AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia-Qing Gao
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Gansu Provincial Prescription Mining and Innovative Translational Laboratory, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hai-Long Li
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hongqi Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chun-Ting Yang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Gansu Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine New Product Creation Engineering Laboratory, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Rong Su
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Li-Hua Shao
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
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5
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Wang G, Zhuang T, Zhen F, Zhang C, Wang Q, Miao X, Qi N, Yao R. IGF2BP2 inhibits invasion and migration of clear cell renal cell carcinoma via targeting Netrin-4 in an m 6A-dependent manner. Mol Carcinog 2024; 63:1572-1587. [PMID: 38780170 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23746] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common subtype of renal cell carcinoma, often leads to a poor prognosis due to metastasis. The investigation of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, a crucial RNA modification, and its role in ccRCC, particularly through the m6A reader insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2), revealed significant insights. We found that IGF2BP2 was notably downregulated in ccRCC, which correlated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Thus, IGFBP2 has emerged as an independent prognostic factor of ccRCC. Moreover, a strong positive correlation was observed between the expression of IGF2BP2 and Netrin-4. Netrin-4 was also downregulated in ccRCC, and its lower levels were associated with increased malignancy and poor prognosis. Overexpression of IGF2BP2 and Netrin-4 suppressed the invasion and migration of ccRCC cells, while Netrin-4 knockdown reversed these effects in ccRCC cell lines. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP)-quantitative polymerase chain reaction validated the robust enrichment of Netrin-4 mRNA in anti-IGF2BP2 antibody immunoprecipitates. MeRlP showed significantly increased Netrin4 m6A levels after lGF2BP2 overexpression. Moreover, we found that IGF2BP2 recognized and bound to the m6A site within the coding sequence of Netrin-4, enhancing its mRNA stability. Collectively, these results showed that IGF2BP2 plays a suppressive role in the invasion and migration of ccRCC cells by targeting Netrin-4 in an m6A-dependent manner. These findings underscore the potential of IGF2BP2/Netrin-4 as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in patients with ccRCC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui Wang
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Tao Zhuang
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Fei Zhen
- Department of Pathology, Hongze Huaian District People's Hospital, Hongze, China
| | - Chu Zhang
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Qichao Wang
- Department of Urology, Xuzhou Cancer Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Xu Miao
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Nienie Qi
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ruiqin Yao
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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6
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Li J, You D, Hu L, Yang Y, Gao S, Bai W. Identification and validation of basement membrane-associated gene AGRN as prognostic and immune-associated biomarkers in colorectal cancer patients. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e70010. [PMID: 39183444 PMCID: PMC11345205 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.70010] [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: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (COCA) has a poor prognosis, with growing evidence implicating basement membranes (BMs) in cancer progression. Our goal was to investigate the role and predictive significance of BMs in COCA patients. We obtained BMs-related genes from cutting-edge research and used TCGA and GTEx databases for mRNA expression and patient information. Cox regression and LASSO regression were used for prognostic gene selection and risk model construction. We compared prognosis using Kaplan-Meier analysis and examined drug sensitivity differences. The CMAP dataset identified potential small molecule drugs. In vitro tests involved suppressing a crucial gene to observe its impact on tumour metastasis. We developed a 12 BMs-based approach, finding it to be an independent prognostic factor. Functional analysis showed BMs concentrated in cancer-associated pathways, correlating with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint activation. High-risk individuals exhibited increased drug sensitivity. AGRN levels were linked to decreased progression-free survival (p < 0.001). AGRN knockdown suppressed tumour growth and metastasis. Our study offers new perspectives on BMs in COCA, concluding that AGRN is a dependable biomarker for patient survival and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianrong Li
- Department of General Surgery Sciences, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical UniversityTaiyuanChina
| | - Daofeng You
- Emergency Department of First Hospital Affiliated to Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangChina
| | - Linjie Hu
- Department of General Surgery Sciences, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical UniversityTaiyuanChina
| | - Yusi Yang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi HospitalTaiyuanChina
| | - Sheng Gao
- Department of General Surgery Sciences, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical UniversityTaiyuanChina
| | - Wenqi Bai
- Department of General Surgery Sciences, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical UniversityTaiyuanChina
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7
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Sirois JP, Heinz A. Matrikines in the skin: Origin, effects, and therapeutic potential. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 260:108682. [PMID: 38917886 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) represents a complex multi-component environment that has a decisive influence on the biomechanical properties of tissues and organs. Depending on the tissue, ECM components are subject to a homeostasis of synthesis and degradation, a subtle interplay that is influenced by external factors and the intrinsic aging process and is often disturbed in pathologies. Upon proteolytic cleavage of ECM proteins, small bioactive peptides termed matrikines can be formed. These bioactive peptides play a crucial role in cell signaling and contribute to the dynamic regulation of both physiological and pathological processes such as tissue remodeling and repair as well as inflammatory responses. In the skin, matrikines exert an influence for instance on cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation as well as vasodilation, angiogenesis and protein expression. Due to their manifold functions, matrikines represent promising leads for developing new therapeutic options for the treatment of skin diseases. This review article gives a comprehensive overview on matrikines in the skin, including their origin in the dermal ECM, their biological effects and therapeutic potential for the treatment of skin pathologies such as melanoma, chronic wounds and inflammatory skin diseases or for their use in anti-aging cosmeceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P Sirois
- Department of Pharmacy, LEO Foundation Center for Cutaneous Drug Delivery, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrea Heinz
- Department of Pharmacy, LEO Foundation Center for Cutaneous Drug Delivery, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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8
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Wei S, Tan J, Huang X, Zhuang K, Qiu W, Chen M, Ye X, Wu M. Metastasis and basement membrane-related signature enhances hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis and diagnosis by integrating single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and immune microenvironment assessment. J Transl Med 2024; 22:711. [PMID: 39085893 PMCID: PMC11293133 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05493-0] [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: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The heightened mortality associated with HCC is largely attributed to its propensity for metastasis, which cannot be achieved without remodeling or loss of the basement membrane (BM). Despite advancements in targeted therapies and immunotherapies, resistance and limited efficacy in late-stage HCC underscore the urgent need for better therapeutic options and early diagnostic biomarkers. Our study aimed to address these gaps by investigating and evaluating potential biomarkers to improve survival outcomes and treatment efficacy in patients with HCC. METHOD In this study, we collected the transcriptome sequencing, clinical, and mutation data of 424 patients with HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and 240 from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. We then constructed and validated a prognostic model based on metastasis and basement membrane-related genes (MBRGs) using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Five immune-related algorithms (CIBERSORT, QUANTISEQ, MCP counter, ssGSEA, and TIMER) were then utilized to examine the immune landscape and activity across high- and low-risk groups. We also analyzed Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB) values, Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) scores, mutation frequency, and immune checkpoint gene expression to evaluate immune treatment sensitivity. We analyzed integrin subunit alpha 3 (ITGA3) expression in HCC by performing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis using the TISCH 2.0 database. Lastly, wound healing and transwell assays were conducted to elucidate the role of ITGA3 in tumor metastasis. RESULTS Patients with HCC were categorized into high- and low-risk groups based on the median values, with higher risk scores indicating worse overall survival. Five immune-related algorithms revealed that the abundance of immune cells, particularly T cells, was greater in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group. The high-risk group also exhibited a higher TMB value, mutation frequency, and immune checkpoint gene expression and a lower tumor TIDE score, suggesting the potential for better immunotherapy outcomes. Additionally, scRNA-seq analysis revealed higher ITGA3 expression in tumor cells compared with normal hepatocytes. Wound healing scratch and transwell cell migration assays revealed that overexpression of the MBRG ITGA3 enhanced migration of HCC HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION This study established a direct molecular correlation between metastasis and BM, encompassing clinical features, tumor microenvironment, and immune response, thereby offering valuable insights for predicting clinical outcomes and immunotherapy responses in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijia Wei
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, China
| | - Jingyi Tan
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, China
| | - Xueshan Huang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, China
| | - Kai Zhuang
- School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Weijian Qiu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, China
| | - Mei Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, China
| | - Xiaoxia Ye
- School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, China
| | - Minhua Wu
- School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, China.
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9
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Mustafa M, Abbas K, Alam M, Habib S, Zulfareen, Hasan GM, Islam S, Shamsi A, Hassan I. Investigating underlying molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, emerging therapeutic approaches in pancreatic cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1427802. [PMID: 39087024 PMCID: PMC11288929 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1427802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a clinically challenging malignancy constitutes a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality, characterized by an inherently poor prognosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by examining its multifaceted etiologies, including genetic mutations and environmental factors. The review explains the complex molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis and summarizes current therapeutic strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and emerging modalities such as immunotherapy. Critical molecular pathways driving pancreatic cancer development, including KRAS, Notch, and Hedgehog, are discussed. Current therapeutic strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, are discussed, with an emphasis on their limitations, particularly in terms of postoperative relapse. Promising research areas, including liquid biopsies, personalized medicine, and gene editing, are explored, demonstrating the significant potential for enhancing diagnosis and treatment. While immunotherapy presents promising prospects, it faces challenges related to immune evasion mechanisms. Emerging research directions, encompassing liquid biopsies, personalized medicine, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and computational intelligence applications, hold promise for refining diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions. By integrating insights from genetic, molecular, and clinical research, innovative strategies that improve patient outcomes can be developed. Ongoing research in these emerging fields holds significant promise for advancing the diagnosis and treatment of this formidable malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Kashif Abbas
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mudassir Alam
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Safia Habib
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Zulfareen
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Gulam Mustafa Hasan
- Department of Basic Medical Science, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sidra Islam
- Department of Inflammation & Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Anas Shamsi
- Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research (CMBHSR), Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Imtaiyaz Hassan
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
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10
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Qiu Y, Gao T, Smith BR. Mechanical deformation and death of circulating tumor cells in the bloodstream. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024:10.1007/s10555-024-10198-3. [PMID: 38980581 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-024-10198-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The circulation of tumor cells through the bloodstream is a significant step in tumor metastasis. To better understand the metastatic process, circulating tumor cell (CTC) survival in the circulation must be explored. While immune interactions with CTCs in recent decades have been examined, research has yet to sufficiently explain some CTC behaviors in blood flow. Studies related to CTC mechanical responses in the bloodstream have recently been conducted to further study conditions under which CTCs might die. While experimental methods can assess the mechanical properties and death of CTCs, increasingly sophisticated computational models are being built to simulate the blood flow and CTC mechanical deformation under fluid shear stresses (FSS) in the bloodstream.Several factors contribute to the mechanical deformation and death of CTCs as they circulate. While FSS can damage CTC structure, diverse interactions between CTCs and blood components may either promote or hinder the next metastatic step-extravasation at a remote site. Overall understanding of how these factors influence the deformation and death of CTCs could serve as a basis for future experiments and simulations, enabling researchers to predict CTC death more accurately. Ultimately, these efforts can lead to improved metastasis-specific therapeutics and diagnostics specific in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiu Qiu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- The Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Tong Gao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Bryan Ronain Smith
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
- The Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
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11
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Xu D, Zhuang X, Ma H, Li Z, Wei L, Luo J, Han H. Altered tumor microenvironment heterogeneity of penile cancer during progression from non-lymphatic to lymphatic metastasis. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e70025. [PMID: 39003681 PMCID: PMC11246611 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.70025] [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: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphatic metastasis is the major challenge in the treatment of penile cancer. The prognosis of individuals with lymphatic metastasis is extremely poor. Therefore, early identification of disease progression and lymphatic metastasis is an urgent task for researchers in penile cancer worldwide. METHODS In this study, using single-cell RNA sequencing, an immune landscape was established for the cancer ecosystem based on 46,861 cells from six patients with penile cancer (four with lymphatic metastasis [stage IV] and two without lymphatic metastasis [stage I]). Using bulk RNA sequencing, the discrepancy between the cancers and their respective metastatic lymph nodes was depicted based on seven patients with penile cancer. RESULTS The interaction between epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, and the functional cooperation among invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis were found to be important landscapes in the penile cancer ecosystem, playing important roles in progression of cancer and lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to investigate the altered tumor microenvironment heterogeneity of penile cancer as it evolves from non-lymphatic to lymphatic metastasis and provides insights into the mechanisms underlying malignant progression, the premetastatic niche, and lymphatic metastasis in penile cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da‐Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouP. R. China
- Department of UrologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Xiao‐Yu Zhuang
- Department of AnesthesiologySecond Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical CollegeShantouP. R. China
| | - Hua‐Li Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouP. R. China
- Department of RadiologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Zai‐Shang Li
- Department of Urology, Shenzhen People's HospitalThe Second Clinic Medical College of Jinan UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Li‐Chao Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouP. R. China
- Department of UrologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Jun‐Hang Luo
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouP. R. China
- Institute of Precision Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Hui Han
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouP. R. China
- Department of UrologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouP. R. China
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12
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Tedeschi G, Palomba F, Scipioni L, Digman MA. Multimodal Phasor Approach to study breast cancer cells invasion in 3D spheroid model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.10.598307. [PMID: 38915530 PMCID: PMC11195137 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.10.598307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
We implemented a multimodal set of functional imaging techniques optimized for deep-tissue imaging to investigate how cancer cells invade surrounding tissues and how their physiological properties change in the process. As a model for cancer invasion of the extracellular matrix, we created 3D spheroids from triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A). We analyzed multiple hallmarks of cancer within the same spheroid by combining a number of imaging techniques, such as metabolic imaging of NADH by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (NADH-FLIM), hyperspectral imaging of a solvatochromic lipophilic dye (Nile Red) and extracellular matrix imaging by Second Harmonic Generation (SHG). We included phasor-based bioimage analysis of spheroids at three different time points, tracking both morphological and biological properties, including cellular metabolism, fatty acids storage, and collagen organization. Employing this multimodal deep-imaging framework, we observed and quantified cancer cell plasticity in response to changes in the environment composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Tedeschi
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617 (USA)
| | - Francesco Palomba
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617 (USA)
| | - Lorenzo Scipioni
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617 (USA)
| | - Michelle A Digman
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617 (USA)
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13
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Pickett MR, Chen YI, Kamra M, Kumar S, Kalkunte N, Sugerman GP, Varodom K, Rausch MK, Zoldan J, Yeh HC, Parekh SH. Assessing the impact of extracellular matrix fiber orientation on breast cancer cellular metabolism. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:199. [PMID: 38840117 PMCID: PMC11151503 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03385-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic and complex microenvironment that modulates cell behavior and cell fate. Changes in ECM composition and architecture have been correlated with development, differentiation, and disease progression in various pathologies, including breast cancer [1]. Studies have shown that aligned fibers drive a pro-metastatic microenvironment, promoting the transformation of mammary epithelial cells into invasive ductal carcinoma via the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [2]. The impact of ECM orientation on breast cancer metabolism, however, is largely unknown. Here, we employ two non-invasive imaging techniques, fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and intensity-based multiphoton microscopy, to assess the metabolic states of cancer cells cultured on ECM-mimicking nanofibers in a random and aligned orientation. By tracking the changes in the intrinsic fluorescence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide, as well as expression levels of metastatic markers, we reveal how ECM fiber orientation alters cancer metabolism and EMT progression. Our study indicates that aligned cellular microenvironments play a key role in promoting metastatic phenotypes of breast cancer as evidenced by a more glycolytic metabolic signature on nanofiber scaffolds of aligned orientation compared to scaffolds of random orientation. This finding is particularly relevant for subsets of breast cancer marked by high levels of collagen remodeling (e.g. pregnancy associated breast cancer), and may serve as a platform for predicting clinical outcomes within these subsets [3-6].
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison R Pickett
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
| | - Yuan-I Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Mohini Kamra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Nikhith Kalkunte
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Gabriella P Sugerman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Kelsey Varodom
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Manuel K Rausch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, The University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin, TX, USA
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Janet Zoldan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Hsin-Chin Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Sapun H Parekh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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14
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Yoon SB, Chen L, Robinson IE, Khatib TO, Arthur RA, Claussen H, Zohbi NM, Wu H, Mouw JK, Marcus AI. Subpopulation commensalism promotes Rac1-dependent invasion of single cells via laminin-332. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202308080. [PMID: 38551497 PMCID: PMC10982113 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202308080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic heterogeneity poses a significant hurdle for cancer treatment but is under-characterized in the context of tumor invasion. Amidst the range of phenotypic heterogeneity across solid tumor types, collectively invading cells and single cells have been extensively characterized as independent modes of invasion, but their intercellular interactions have rarely been explored. Here, we isolated collectively invading cells and single cells from the heterogeneous 4T1 cell line and observed extensive transcriptional and epigenetic diversity across these subpopulations. By integrating these datasets, we identified laminin-332 as a protein complex exclusively secreted by collectively invading cells. Live-cell imaging revealed that laminin-332 derived from collectively invading cells increased the velocity and directionality of single cells. Despite collectively invading and single cells having similar expression of the integrin α6β4 dimer, single cells demonstrated higher Rac1 activation upon laminin-332 binding to integrin α6β4. This mechanism suggests a novel commensal relationship between collectively invading and single cells, wherein collectively invading cells promote the invasive potential of single cells through a laminin-332/Rac1 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Bo Yoon
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Luxiao Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Isaac E. Robinson
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tala O. Khatib
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Robert A. Arthur
- Emory Integrated Computational Core, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Henry Claussen
- Emory Integrated Computational Core, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Najdat M. Zohbi
- Graduate Medical Education, Piedmont Macon Medical, Macon, GA, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Janna K. Mouw
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adam I. Marcus
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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15
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Liao J, Gong L, Xu Q, Wang J, Yang Y, Zhang S, Dong J, Lin K, Liang Z, Sun Y, Mu Y, Chen Z, Lu Y, Zhang Q, Lin Z. Revolutionizing Neurocare: Biomimetic Nanodelivery Via Cell Membranes. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2402445. [PMID: 38583077 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202402445] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Brain disorders represent a significant challenge in medical science due to the formidable blood-brain barrier (BBB), which severely limits the penetration of conventional therapeutics, hindering effective treatment strategies. This review delves into the innovative realm of biomimetic nanodelivery systems, including stem cell-derived nanoghosts, tumor cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, and erythrocyte membrane-based carriers, highlighting their potential to circumvent the BBB's restrictions. By mimicking native cell properties, these nanocarriers emerge as a promising solution for enhancing drug delivery to the brain, offering a strategic advantage in overcoming the barrier's selective permeability. The unique benefits of leveraging cell membranes from various sources is evaluated and advanced technologies for fabricating cell membrane-encapsulated nanoparticles capable of masquerading as endogenous cells are examined. This enables the targeted delivery of a broad spectrum of therapeutic agents, ranging from small molecule drugs to proteins, thereby providing an innovative approach to neurocare. Further, the review contrasts the capabilities and limitations of these biomimetic nanocarriers with traditional delivery methods, underlining their potential to enable targeted, sustained, and minimally invasive treatment modalities. This review is concluded with a perspective on the clinical translation of these biomimetic systems, underscoring their transformative impact on the therapeutic landscape for intractable brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liao
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lidong Gong
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Qingqiang Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jingya Wang
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yang
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Shiming Zhang
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Junwei Dong
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Kerui Lin
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zichao Liang
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuhan Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yongxu Mu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014040, China
| | - Zhengju Chen
- Pooling Medical Research Institutes of 100Biotech, Beijing, 100006, China
| | - Ying Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zhiqiang Lin
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
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16
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Pinheiro LCL, Pupim ACE, Pereira ÉR, Ahrens TM, Mendonça AC, Francelino AL, Araújo EJDA, Guembarovski AFML, Fuganti PE, Vanzela ALL, Colus IMDS, Favaron PO, Miqueloto CA, Guembarovski RL. Deposition of collagen III and alterations in basement membrane integrity as candidate prognostic markers in prostate cancer. Exp Cell Res 2024; 439:114077. [PMID: 38735620 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix surrounding the tumor undergoes changes in its organization during the metastasis process. The present study aims to quantify total collagen, collagen I (Col I) and collagen III (Col III), analyze the alignment of collagen fibers and assess the basement membrane integrity in samples from patients with metastatic and non-metastatic prostate cancer. Tissue samples from 60 patients were classified into groups based on prognostic parameters: better prognosis (n = 20), worse prognosis without metastasis (n = 23) and metastatic (n = 17). Picrosirius red with further analysis under polarizing microscope was used to quantify (with validation using immunohistochemistry) and analyze collagen alignment, and Periodic Acid Schiff staining was used to analyze the basement membrane integrity. The Col I/Col III ratio was found to be higher in the metastatic group than in the groups with better prognosis (p = 0.012) and worse prognosis without metastasis (p = 0.018). Basement membrane integrity constitution in malignant tumor tissue differed from that of adjacent non-tumor tissue (p < 0.001). Moreover, the worsening in the tumor tissue integrity was positively correlated with worse prognostic parameters. All in all, absence of Col III and basement membrane integrity might be indicators of poor prognosis in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís Capelasso Lucas Pinheiro
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Andreia Carla Eugênio Pupim
- Laboratory of Enteric Neuroscience, Department of Histology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Érica Romão Pereira
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Tainah Mendes Ahrens
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Ana Carla Mendonça
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Amanda Letícia Francelino
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Ilce Mara de Syllos Colus
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Phelipe Oliveira Favaron
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Carlos Alberto Miqueloto
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Roberta Losi Guembarovski
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
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17
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Han J, Wang Q, Li S, Yang J, Qiu Z, Fu W. Comprehensive analysis of basement membrane-related gene based on single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to predict prognosis and evaluate immune characteristics in colorectal cancer. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:3367-3380. [PMID: 38445432 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Basement membrane-related genes (BMs) participate in regulating cell polarity, invasion, metastasis, and survival across different tumor types. Nevertheless, the specific functions of BMs in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain uncertain. METHODS To investigate the clinical relevance of BMs in CRC, we retrieved both gene expression and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets for subsequent analysis. The Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curve was employed to evaluate prognosis in high- and low-risk groups. Furthermore, additional analyses, including nomogram construction, functional enrichment, examination of the tumor immune microenvironment, prediction of small-molecule drugs, and more, were conducted to delve into the significance of BM-related signatures in CRC. Single-cell data from seven CRC patients were obtained from the TISCH2 database, and expression validation and cell source exploration of BM-related signatures were performed. Lastly, the expression and function of TIMP1, a key gene in BMs that may play a role in the progression of CRC, was validated in vitro through a series of basic experiments. RESULTS We constructed a seven BMs-based model to categorize CRC patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. K-M survival analysis indicated a poorer prognosis for high-risk CRC patients. Cox regression analysis further identified the risk score as an independent prognostic factor for CRC patients. The nomogram model exhibited superior discrimination and calibration abilities of CRC patients. Based on the results from GO/KEGG and GSEA, genes in the high-risk subgroup were implicated in immune-related pathways and exhibited a positive correlation with immune checkpoints. In single-cell data, we found that TIMP1 is highly expressed in many cells, especially in malignant tumor cells. We also observed up-regulation of TIMP1 in CRC cell lines, promoting cancer invasion and migration in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Our study has discovered a novel prognostic index derived from BM-related genes in CRC patients. Specifically, the new model enables patient stratification, improving the selection of individuals likely to benefit from immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Han
- Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Shuyang Hospital of TCM, Shuyang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Qipeng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shuyang Hospital of TCM, Shuyang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Shangshang Li
- Department of General Surgery, Shuyang Hospital of TCM, Shuyang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Shuyang Hospital of TCM, Shuyang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhengcai Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Shuyang Hospital of TCM, Shuyang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wei Fu
- Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
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18
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Liu Y, Zhang X, Gu W, Su H, Wang X, Wang X, Zhang J, Xu M, Sheng W. Unlocking the Crucial Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Metastasis: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Prospects. J Adv Res 2024:S2090-1232(24)00220-0. [PMID: 38825314 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor metastasis represents a stepwise progression and stands as a principal determinant of unfavorable prognoses among cancer patients. Consequently, an in-depth exploration of its mechanisms holds paramount clinical significance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), constituting the most abundant stromal cell population within the tumor microenvironment (TME), have garnered robust evidence support for their pivotal regulatory roles in tumor metastasis. AIM of Review This review systematically explores the roles of CAFs at eight critical stages of tumorigenic dissemination: 1) extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, 2) epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), 3) angiogenesis, 4) tumor metabolism, 5) perivascular migration, 6) immune escape, 7) dormancy, and 8) premetastatic niche (PMN) formation. Additionally, we provide a compendium of extant strategies aimed at targeting CAFs in cancer therapy. Key Scientific Concepts of Review This review delineates a structured framework for the interplay between CAFs and tumor metastasis while furnishing insights for the potential therapeutic developments. It contributes to a deeper understanding of cancer metastasis within the TME, facilitating the utilization of CAF-targeting therapies in anti-metastatic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxue Liu
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wenchao Gu
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hui Su
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiayu Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Midie Xu
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Weiqi Sheng
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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19
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Morales EA, Wang S. Salivary gland developmental mechanics. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 160:1-30. [PMID: 38937029 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.05.002] [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] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
The salivary gland undergoes branching morphogenesis to elaborate into a tree-like structure with numerous saliva-secreting acinar units, all joined by a hierarchical ductal system. The expansive epithelial surface generated by branching morphogenesis serves as the structural basis for the efficient production and delivery of saliva. Here, we elucidate the process of salivary gland morphogenesis, emphasizing the role of mechanics. Structurally, the developing salivary gland is characterized by a stratified epithelium tightly encased by the basement membrane, which is in turn surrounded by a mesenchyme consisting of a dense network of interstitial matrix and mesenchymal cells. Diverse cell types and extracellular matrices bestow this developing organ with organized, yet spatially varied mechanical properties. For instance, the surface epithelial sheet of the bud is highly fluidic due to its high cell motility and weak cell-cell adhesion, rendering it highly pliable. In contrast, the inner core of the bud is more rigid, characterized by reduced cell motility and strong cell-cell adhesion, which likely provide structural support for the tissue. The interactions between the surface epithelial sheet and the inner core give rise to budding morphogenesis. Furthermore, the basement membrane and the mesenchyme offer mechanical constraints that could play a pivotal role in determining the higher-order architecture of a fully mature salivary gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Angelo Morales
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, United States
| | - Shaohe Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, United States.
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20
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Wilkie IC. Basement Membranes, Brittlestar Tendons, and Their Mechanical Adaptability. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:375. [PMID: 38927255 PMCID: PMC11200632 DOI: 10.3390/biology13060375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Basement membranes (BMs) are thin layers of extracellular matrix that separate epithelia, endothelia, muscle cells, and nerve cells from adjacent interstitial connective tissue. BMs are ubiquitous in almost all multicellular animals, and their composition is highly conserved across the Metazoa. There is increasing interest in the mechanical functioning of BMs, including the involvement of altered BM stiffness in development and pathology, particularly cancer metastasis, which can be facilitated by BM destabilization. Such BM weakening has been assumed to occur primarily through enzymatic degradation by matrix metalloproteinases. However, emerging evidence indicates that non-enzymatic mechanisms may also contribute. In brittlestars (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), the tendons linking the musculature to the endoskeleton consist of extensions of muscle cell BMs. During the process of brittlestar autotomy, in which arms are detached for the purpose of self-defense, muscles break away from the endoskeleton as a consequence of the rapid destabilization and rupture of their BM-derived tendons. This contribution provides a broad overview of current knowledge of the structural organization and biomechanics of non-echinoderm BMs, compares this with the equivalent information on brittlestar tendons, and discusses the possible relationship between the weakening phenomena exhibited by BMs and brittlestar tendons, and the potential translational value of the latter as a model system of BM destabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain C Wilkie
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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21
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Baro L, Almhassneh RA, Islam A, Juanes MA. Tumor invasiveness is regulated by the concerted function of APC, formins, and Arp2/3 complex. iScience 2024; 27:109687. [PMID: 38680662 PMCID: PMC11053316 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109687] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor cell invasion is the initial step in metastasis, the leading cause of death from cancer. Invasion requires protrusive cellular structures that steer the migration of leader cells emanating from the tumor mass toward neighboring tissues. Actin is central to these processes and is therefore the prime target of drugs known as migrastatics. However, the broad effects of general actin inhibitors limit their therapeutic use. Here, we delineate the roles of specific actin nucleators in tuning actin-rich invasive protrusions and pinpoint potential pharmacological targets. We subject colorectal cancer spheroids embedded in collagen matrix-a preclinical model mirroring solid tumor invasiveness-to pharmacologic and/or genetic treatment of specific actin arrays to assess their roles in invasiveness. Our data reveal coordinated yet distinct involvement of actin networks nucleated by adenomatous polyposis coli, formins, and actin-related protein 2/3 complex in the biogenesis and maintenance of invasive protrusions. These findings may open avenues for better targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lautaro Baro
- Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Cell Migration and Cancer Invasion Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington DL1 1HG, UK
| | - Rabeah A. Almhassneh
- Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Cell Migration and Cancer Invasion Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Asifa Islam
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington DL1 1HG, UK
| | - M. Angeles Juanes
- Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Cell Migration and Cancer Invasion Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington DL1 1HG, UK
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22
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Chang J, Saraswathibhatla A, Song Z, Varma S, Sanchez C, Alyafei NHK, Indana D, Slyman R, Srivastava S, Liu K, Bassik MC, Marinkovich MP, Hodgson L, Shenoy V, West RB, Chaudhuri O. Cell volume expansion and local contractility drive collective invasion of the basement membrane in breast cancer. NATURE MATERIALS 2024; 23:711-722. [PMID: 37957268 PMCID: PMC11185842 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-023-01716-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer becomes invasive when carcinoma cells invade through the basement membrane (BM)-a nanoporous layer of matrix that physically separates the primary tumour from the stroma. Single cells can invade through nanoporous three-dimensional matrices due to protease-mediated degradation or force-mediated widening of pores via invadopodial protrusions. However, how multiple cells collectively invade through the physiological BM, as they do during breast cancer progression, remains unclear. Here we developed a three-dimensional in vitro model of collective invasion of the BM during breast cancer. We show that cells utilize both proteases and forces-but not invadopodia-to breach the BM. Forces are generated from a combination of global cell volume expansion, which stretches the BM, and local contractile forces that act in the plane of the BM to breach it, allowing invasion. These results uncover a mechanism by which cells collectively interact to overcome a critical barrier to metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Chang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Zhaoqiang Song
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sushama Varma
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Colline Sanchez
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Dhiraj Indana
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Raleigh Slyman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sucheta Srivastava
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Katherine Liu
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Michael C Bassik
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - M Peter Marinkovich
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Dermatology Service, VA Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Louis Hodgson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Vivek Shenoy
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert B West
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Chemistry, Engineering, and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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23
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Liu X, Lv C, Zheng J, Xiao J, He N, Du J, Yang X, Gu H. Identification and Validation of Basement Membrane Related LncRNA Signatures as a Novel Prognostic Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-024-10797-3. [PMID: 38684626 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-024-10797-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant cancer with limited treatments and a poor prognosis, with the basement membrane (BM) playing a crucial role in its initiation and growth. This study utilized data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases to identify basement membrane-related genes differentially expressed in HCC. Through gene co-expression analysis, BM-associated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were discovered. LncRNAs related to HCC survival were selected via univariate analysis, and a prognostic model was constructed using LASSO regression and multivariate analysis. This model effectively classified HCC patients into high and low-risk groups, uncovering significant differences in prognosis, immune response, mutation, and drug sensitivity. Six BM-related lncRNAs (GSEC, MIR4435-2HG, AC092614.1, AC127521.1, LINC02580, and AC008050.1) were validated in normal and HCC cell lines, and the key role of AC092614.1 in regulating proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells in vitro was explored. This research emphasizes the prognostic and therapeutic relevance of BM-related lncRNAs in HCC, highlighting AC092614.1's role in disease progression and as a potential target for targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyang Liu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Chao Lv
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jian Zheng
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jingjing Xiao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Nan He
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jun Du
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xianwu Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Huajian Gu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
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24
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Di Chiaro P, Nacci L, Arco F, Brandini S, Polletti S, Palamidessi A, Donati B, Soriani C, Gualdrini F, Frigè G, Mazzarella L, Ciarrocchi A, Zerbi A, Spaggiari P, Scita G, Rodighiero S, Barozzi I, Diaferia GR, Natoli G. Mapping functional to morphological variation reveals the basis of regional extracellular matrix subversion and nerve invasion in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:662-681.e10. [PMID: 38518775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.02.017] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Intratumor morphological heterogeneity of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) predicts clinical outcomes but is only partially understood at the molecular level. To elucidate the gene expression programs underpinning intratumor morphological variation in PDAC, we investigated and deconvoluted at single cell level the molecular profiles of histologically distinct clusters of PDAC cells. We identified three major morphological and functional variants that co-exist in varying proportions in all PDACs, display limited genetic diversity, and are associated with a distinct organization of the extracellular matrix: a glandular variant with classical ductal features; a transitional variant displaying abortive ductal structures and mixed endodermal and myofibroblast-like gene expression; and a poorly differentiated variant lacking ductal features and basement membrane, and showing neuronal lineage priming. Ex vivo and in vitro evidence supports the occurrence of dynamic transitions among these variants in part influenced by extracellular matrix composition and stiffness and associated with local, specifically neural, invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Di Chiaro
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - Lucia Nacci
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabiana Arco
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefania Brandini
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Polletti
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Palamidessi
- IFOM, The FIRC Institute for Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Benedetta Donati
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Chiara Soriani
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Gualdrini
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Gianmaria Frigè
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Luca Mazzarella
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy; Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Neuroendocrine Tumors, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessia Ciarrocchi
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zerbi
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milano, Italy; Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele - Milano, Italy
| | | | - Giorgio Scita
- IFOM, The FIRC Institute for Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Haemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Simona Rodighiero
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Iros Barozzi
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Giuseppe R Diaferia
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - Gioacchino Natoli
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
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25
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Teixeira EMGF, Kalume DE, Ferreira PF, Alves TA, Fontão APGA, Sampaio ALF, de Oliveira DR, Morgado-Díaz JA, Silva-López RE. A Novel Trypsin Kunitz-Type Inhibitor from Cajanus cajan Leaves and Its Inhibitory Activity on New Cancer Serine Proteases and Its Effect on Tumor Cell Growth. Protein J 2024; 43:333-350. [PMID: 38347326 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-023-10175-9] [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] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
A novel trypsin inhibitor from Cajanus cajan (TIC) fresh leaves was partially purified by affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE revealed one band with about 15 kDa with expressive trypsin inhibitor activity by zymography. TIC showed high affinity for trypsin (Ki = 1.617 μM) and was a competitive inhibitor for this serine protease. TIC activity was maintained after 24 h of treatment at 70 °C, after 1 h treatments with different pH values, and β-mercaptoethanol increasing concentrations, and demonstrated expressive structural stability. However, the activity of TIC was affected in the presence of oxidizing agents. In order to study the effect of TIC on secreted serine proteases, as well as on the cell culture growth curve, SK-MEL-28 metastatic human melanoma cell line and CaCo-2 colon adenocarcinoma was grown in supplemented DMEM, and the extracellular fractions were submitted salting out and affinity chromatography to obtain new secreted serine proteases. TIC inhibited almost completely, 96 to 89%, the activity of these serine proteases and reduced the melanoma and colon adenocarcinoma cells growth of 48 and 77% respectively. Besides, it is the first time that a trypsin inhibitor was isolated and characterized from C. cajan leaves and cancer serine proteases were isolated and partial characterized from SK-MEL-28 and CaCo-2 cancer cell lines. Furthermore, TIC shown to be potent inhibitor of tumor protease affecting cell growth, and can be one potential drug candidate to be employed in chemotherapy of melanoma and colon adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Maria Gomes Ferreira Teixeira
- Departament of Natural Products, Institute of Pharmaceuticals Technology, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21045-900, Brazil
- Laboratory of Bioprospection and Applied Ethnopharmacology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Dario Eluam Kalume
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Research, IOC-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Fernandes Ferreira
- Departament of Natural Products, Institute of Pharmaceuticals Technology, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Thayane Aparecida Alves
- Departament of Natural Products, Institute of Pharmaceuticals Technology, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula G A Fontão
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceuticals Technology, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21045-900, Brazil
| | - André Luís Franco Sampaio
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceuticals Technology, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Danilo Ribeiro de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Bioprospection and Applied Ethnopharmacology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - José Andrés Morgado-Díaz
- Cellular and Molecular Oncobiology Program, National Institute of Cancer (INCa), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raquel Elisa Silva-López
- Departament of Natural Products, Institute of Pharmaceuticals Technology, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21045-900, Brazil.
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26
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Hadzipasic M, Zhang S, Huang Z, Passaro R, Sten MS, Shankar GM, Nia HT. Emergence of nanoscale viscoelasticity from single cancer cells to established tumors. Biomaterials 2024; 305:122431. [PMID: 38169188 PMCID: PMC10837793 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Tumors are complex materials whose physical properties dictate growth and treatment outcomes. Recent evidence suggests time-dependent physical properties, such as viscoelasticity, are crucial, distinct mechanical regulators of cancer progression and malignancy, yet the genesis and consequences of tumor viscoelasticity are poorly understood. Here, using Wide-bandwidth AFM-based ViscoElastic Spectroscopy (WAVES) coupled with mathematical modeling, we probe the origins of tumor viscoelasticity. From single carcinoma cells to increasingly sized carcinoma spheroids to established tumors, we describe a stepwise evolution of dynamic mechanical properties that create a nanorheological signature of established tumors: increased stiffness, decreased rate-dependent stiffening, and reduced energy dissipation. We dissect this evolution of viscoelasticity by scale, and show established tumors use fluid-solid interactions as the dominant mechanism of mechanical energy dissipation as opposed to fluid-independent intrinsic viscoelasticity. Additionally, we demonstrate the energy dissipation mechanism in spheroids and established tumors is negatively correlated with the cellular density, and this relationship strongly depends on an intact actin cytoskeleton. These findings define an emergent and targetable signature of the physical tumor microenvironment, with potential for deeper understanding of tumor pathophysiology and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhamed Hadzipasic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sue Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhuoying Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rachel Passaro
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margaret S Sten
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ganesh M Shankar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hadi T Nia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Boston, MA, USA.
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27
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Lim SH, Wong TW, Tay WX. Overcoming colloidal nanoparticle aggregation in biological milieu for cancer therapeutic delivery: Perspectives of materials and particle design. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 325:103094. [PMID: 38359673 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Nanoparticles as cancer therapeutic carrier fail in clinical translation due to complex biological environments in vivo consisting of electrolytes and proteins which render nanoparticle aggregation and unable to reach action site. This review identifies the desirable characteristics of nanoparticles and their constituent materials that prevent aggregation from site of administration (oral, lung, injection) to target site. Oral nanoparticles should ideally be 75-100 nm whereas the size of pulmonary nanoparticles minimally affects their aggregation. Nanoparticles generally should carry excess negative surface charges particularly in fasting state and exert steric hindrance through surface decoration with citrate, anionic surfactants and large polymeric chains (polyethylene glycol and polyvinylpyrrolidone) to prevent aggregation. Anionic as well as cationic nanoparticles are both predisposed to protein corona formation as a function of biological protein isoelectric points. Their nanoparticulate surface composition as such should confer hydrophilicity or steric hindrance to evade protein corona formation or its formation should translate into steric hindrance or surface negative charges to prevent further aggregation. Unexpectedly, smaller and cationic nanoparticles are less prone to aggregation at cancer cell interface favoring endocytosis whereas aggregation is essential to enable nanoparticles retention and subsequent cancer cell uptake in tumor microenvironment. Present studies are largely conducted in vitro with simplified simulated biological media. Future aggregation assessment of nanoparticles in biological fluids that mimic that of patients is imperative to address conflicting materials and designs required as a function of body sites in order to realize the future clinical benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Huan Lim
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Republic of Singapore 117543
| | - Tin Wui Wong
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Republic of Singapore 117543; Non-Destructive Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Centre, Smart Manufacturing Research institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, Puncak Alam 42300, Selangor, Malaysia; Particle Design Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, Puncak Alam 42300, Selangor, Malaysia; UM-UiTM Excipient Development Research Unit (EXDEU), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Malaya, Lembah Pantai 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Wei Xian Tay
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Republic of Singapore 117543
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28
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Xia B, Wang J, Zhang D, Hu X. Integration of basement membrane-related genes in a risk signature for prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3893. [PMID: 38365923 PMCID: PMC10873511 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54073-1] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by high heterogeneity and recurrence rates, posing significant challenges for stratification and treatment. Basement membrane-related genes (BMGs) play a crucial role in tumor initiation and progression. Clinical and transcriptomic data of ccRCC patients were extracted from TCGA and GEO databases. We employed univariate regression and LASSO-Cox stepwise regression analysis to construct a BMscore model based on BMGs expression level. A nomogram combining clinical features and BMscore was constructed to predict individual survival probabilities. Further enrichment analysis and immune-related analysis were conducted to explore the enriched pathways and immune features associated with BMGs. High-risk individuals predicted by BMscore exhibited poorer overall survival, which was consistent with the validation dataset. BMscore was identified as an independent risk factor for ccRCC. Functional analysis revealed that BMGs were related to cell-matrix and tumor-associated signaling pathways. Immune profiling suggests that BMGs play a key role in immune interactions and the tumor microenvironment. BMGs serve as a novel prognostic predictor for ccRCC and play a role in the immune microenvironment and treatment response. Targeting the BM may represent an alternative therapeutic approach for ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Xia
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Worker's Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, China
- Institute of Urology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingwei Wang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Clinical Center for Interstitial Lung Diseases, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Dongxu Zhang
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Worker's Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, China
- Institute of Urology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaopeng Hu
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Worker's Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, China.
- Institute of Urology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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29
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Bigos KJA, Quiles CG, Lunj S, Smith DJ, Krause M, Troost EGC, West CM, Hoskin P, Choudhury A. Tumour response to hypoxia: understanding the hypoxic tumour microenvironment to improve treatment outcome in solid tumours. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1331355. [PMID: 38352889 PMCID: PMC10861654 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1331355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumours affecting their biology and response to therapy. One of the main transcription factors activated by hypoxia is hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), which regulates the expression of genes involved in various aspects of tumourigenesis including proliferative capacity, angiogenesis, immune evasion, metabolic reprogramming, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling, and cell migration. This can negatively impact patient outcomes by inducing therapeutic resistance. The importance of hypoxia is clearly demonstrated by continued research into finding clinically relevant hypoxia biomarkers, and hypoxia-targeting therapies. One of the problems is the lack of clinically applicable methods of hypoxia detection, and lack of standardisation. Additionally, a lot of the methods of detecting hypoxia do not take into consideration the complexity of the hypoxic tumour microenvironment (TME). Therefore, this needs further elucidation as approximately 50% of solid tumours are hypoxic. The ECM is important component of the hypoxic TME, and is developed by both cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumour cells. However, it is important to distinguish the different roles to develop both biomarkers and novel compounds. Fibronectin (FN), collagen (COL) and hyaluronic acid (HA) are important components of the ECM that create ECM fibres. These fibres are crosslinked by specific enzymes including lysyl oxidase (LOX) which regulates the stiffness of tumours and induces fibrosis. This is partially regulated by HIFs. The review highlights the importance of understanding the role of matrix stiffness in different solid tumours as current data shows contradictory results on the impact on therapeutic resistance. The review also indicates that further research is needed into identifying different CAF subtypes and their exact roles; with some showing pro-tumorigenic capacity and others having anti-tumorigenic roles. This has made it difficult to fully elucidate the role of CAFs within the TME. However, it is clear that this is an important area of research that requires unravelling as current strategies to target CAFs have resulted in worsened prognosis. The role of immune cells within the tumour microenvironment is also discussed as hypoxia has been associated with modulating immune cells to create an anti-tumorigenic environment. Which has led to the development of immunotherapies including PD-L1. These hypoxia-induced changes can confer resistance to conventional therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the impact of hypoxia on the TME and its implications for therapy resistance. It also discusses the potential of hypoxia biomarkers as prognostic and predictive indictors of treatment response, as well as the challenges and opportunities of targeting hypoxia in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamilla JA. Bigos
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Conrado G. Quiles
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sapna Lunj
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Danielle J. Smith
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Mechthild Krause
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Translational Radiooncology and Clinical Radiotherapy, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Translational Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Translational Radiooncology and Clinical Radiotherapy and Image-guided High Precision Radiotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Translational Radiooncology and Clinical Radiotherapy and Image-guided High Precision Radiotherapy, Helmholtz Association / Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- School of Medicine, Technische Universitat Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Esther GC. Troost
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Translational Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Translational Radiooncology and Clinical Radiotherapy and Image-guided High Precision Radiotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Translational Radiooncology and Clinical Radiotherapy and Image-guided High Precision Radiotherapy, Helmholtz Association / Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- School of Medicine, Technische Universitat Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Radiooncology – OncoRay, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Rossendorf, Germany
| | - Catharine M. West
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Christie Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Hoskin
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, United Kingdom
| | - Ananya Choudhury
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, Germany
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Du W, Xia X, Hu F, Yu J. Extracellular matrix remodeling in the tumor immunity. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1340634. [PMID: 38332915 PMCID: PMC10850336 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1340634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a significant constituent of tumors, fulfilling various essential functions such as providing mechanical support, influencing the microenvironment, and serving as a reservoir for signaling molecules. The abundance and degree of cross-linking of ECM components are critical determinants of tissue stiffness. In the process of tumorigenesis, the interaction between ECM and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) frequently leads to ECM stiffness, thereby disrupting normal mechanotransduction and promoting malignant progression. Therefore, acquiring a thorough comprehension of the dysregulation of ECM within the TME would significantly aid in the identification of potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. In this regard, we have compiled a comprehensive summary encompassing the following aspects: (1) the principal components of ECM and their roles in malignant conditions; (2) the intricate interaction between ECM and immune cells within the TME; and (3) the pivotal regulators governing the onco-immune response in ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Du
- Department of Targeting Therapy and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xueming Xia
- Division of Head & Neck Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiayun Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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31
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Xie T, Fu DJ, Li KJ, Guo JD, Xiao ZM, Li Z, Zhao SC. Identification of a basement membrane gene signature for predicting prognosis and estimating the tumor immune microenvironment in prostate cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:1581-1604. [PMID: 38240702 PMCID: PMC10866409 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205445] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Basement membrane plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis, which is closely related to prognosis. However, the prognostic value and biology of basement membrane genes (BMGs) in prostate cancer (PCa) remain unknown. In the TCGA training set, we used differentially expressed gene analysis, protein-protein interaction networks, univariate and multivariate Cox regression, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression to construct a basement membrane-related risk model (BMRM) and validated its effectiveness in the MSKCC validation set. Furthermore, the accurate nomogram was constructed to improve clinical applicability. Patients with PCa were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups according to the optimal cut-off value of the basement membrane-related risk score (BMRS). It was found that BMRS was significantly associated with RFS, T-stage, Gleason score, and tumor microenvironmental characteristics in PCa patients. Further analysis showed that the model grouping was closely related to tumor immune microenvironment characteristics, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity. In this study, we developed a new BMGs-based prognostic model to determine the prognostic value of BMGs in PCa. Finally, we confirmed that THBS2, a key gene in BMRM, may be an important link in the occurrence and progression of PCa. This study provides a novel perspective to assess the prognosis of PCa patients and provides clues for the selection of future personalized treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xie
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510500, China
| | - Du-Jiang Fu
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Kang-Jing Li
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jia-Ding Guo
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510500, China
| | - Zhao-Ming Xiao
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510500, China
| | - Zhijie Li
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Shan-Chao Zhao
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510500, China
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32
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Peeney D, Gurung S, Rich JA, Coates-Park S, Liu Y, Toor J, Jones J, Richie CT, Jenkins LM, Stetler-Stevenson WG. Extracellular Proximity Labeling Reveals an Expanded Interactome for the Matrisome Protein TIMP2. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3857263. [PMID: 38313275 PMCID: PMC10836090 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3857263/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Classical methods of investigating protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are generally performed in non-living systems, yet in recent years new technologies utilizing proximity labeling (PL) have given researchers the tools to explore proximal PPIs in living systems. PL has distinct advantages over traditional protein interactome studies, such as the ability to identify weak and transient interactions in vitro and in vivo. Most PL studies are performed on targets within the cell or on the cell membrane. We have adapted the original PL method to investigate PPIs within the extracellular compartment, using both BioID2 and TurboID, that we term extracellular PL (ePL). To demonstrate the utility of this modified technique, we investigate the interactome of the widely expressed matrisome protein tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2). Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are a family of multi-functional proteins that were initially defined by their ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity of metalloproteinases (MPs), the major mediators of extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown and turnover. TIMP2 exhibits a broad expression profile and is often abundant in both normal and diseased tissues. Understanding the functional transformation of matrisome regulators, like TIMP2, during the evolution of tissue microenvironments associated with disease progression is essential for the development of ECM-targeted therapeutics. Using carboxyl- and amino-terminal fusion proteins of TIMP2 with BioID2 and TurboID, we describe the TIMP2 proximal interactome. We also illustrate how the TIMP2 interactome changes in the presence of different stimuli, in different cell types, in unique culture conditions (2D vs 3D), and with different reaction kinetics (BioID2 vs. TurboID); demonstrating the power of this technique versus classical PPI methods. We propose that the screening of matrisome targets in disease models using ePL will reveal new therapeutic targets for further comprehensive studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Peeney
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sadeechya Gurung
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Josh A. Rich
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sasha Coates-Park
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yueqin Liu
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jack Toor
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jane Jones
- Center for Cancer Research Protein Expression Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Christopher T. Richie
- Genetic Engineering and Viral Vector Core, Office of the Scientific Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lisa M. Jenkins
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Wang Q, Liang Q, Dou J, Zhou H, Zeng C, Pan H, Shen Y, Li Q, Liu Y, Leong DT, Jiang W, Wang Y. Breaking through the basement membrane barrier to improve nanotherapeutic delivery to tumours. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 19:95-105. [PMID: 37709950 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01498-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
An effective nanotherapeutic transport from the vasculature to the tumour is crucial for cancer treatment with minimal side effects. Here we demonstrate that, in addition to the endothelial barrier, the tumour vascular basement membrane surrounding the endothelium acts as a formidable mechanical barrier that entraps nanoparticles (NPs) in the subendothelial void, forming perivascular NP pools. Breaking through this basement membrane barrier substantially increases NP extravasation. Using inflammation triggered by local hyperthermia, we develop a cooperative immunodriven strategy to overcome the basement membrane barrier that leads to robust tumour killing. Hyperthermia-triggered accumulation and inflammation of platelets attract neutrophils to the NP pools. The subsequent movement of neutrophils through the basement membrane can release the NPs entrapped in the subendothelial void, resulting in increased NP penetration into deeper tumours. We show the necessity of considering the tumour vascular basement membrane barrier when delivering nanotherapeutics. Understanding this barrier will contribute to developing more effective antitumour therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qirui Liang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jiaxiang Dou
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Han Zhou
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Cici Zeng
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Huimin Pan
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yanqiong Shen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Quan Li
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - David Tai Leong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Yucai Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China.
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Seo H, Bazer FW, Johnson GA. Early Syncytialization of the Ovine Placenta Revisited. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 71:127-142. [PMID: 37996676 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-37936-9_7] [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] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Placentation is the development of a temporary arrangement between the maternal uterus and blastocyst-derived placental tissues designed to transport nutrients, gases, and other products from the mother to the embryo and fetus. Placentation differs histologically among species, but all types of placentation share the common trait of utilizing highly complex cell-to-cell and tissue-to-tissue morphological and biochemical interactions to remodel the uterine-placental interface. An elegant series of electron microscopy (EM) images supports the classification of ovine placentation as synepitheliochorial, because uterine luminal epithelial (LE) cells are maintained at the uterine-placental interface through incorporation into trophoblast syncytial plaques. In this review, we utilize immunofluorescence microscopy to provide further insights into early syncytialization of the ovine placenta. These observations, based on results using immunofluorescence microscopy, complement and expand, not replace, our understanding of syncytialization in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heewon Seo
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - Fuller W Bazer
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Gregory A Johnson
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Fernandes S, Oliver-De La Cruz J, Morazzo S, Niro F, Cassani M, Ďuríková H, Caravella A, Fiore P, Azzato G, De Marco G, Lauria A, Izzi V, Bosáková V, Fric J, Filipensky P, Forte G. TGF-β induces matrisome pathological alterations and EMT in patient-derived prostate cancer tumoroids. Matrix Biol 2024; 125:12-30. [PMID: 37944712 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) tumorigenic alterations resulting in high matrix deposition and stiffening are hallmarks of adenocarcinomas and are collectively defined as desmoplasia. Here, we thoroughly analysed primary prostate cancer tissues obtained from numerous patients undergoing radical prostatectomy to highlight reproducible structural changes in the ECM leading to the loss of the glandular architecture. Starting from patient cells, we established prostate cancer tumoroids (PCTs) and demonstrated they require TGF-β signalling pathway activity to preserve phenotypical and structural similarities with the tissue of origin. By modulating TGF-β signalling pathway in PCTs, we unveiled its role in ECM accumulation and remodelling in prostate cancer. We also found that TGF-β-induced ECM remodelling is responsible for the initiation of prostate cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the acquisition of a migratory, invasive phenotype. Our findings highlight the cooperative role of TGF-β signalling and ECM desmoplasia in prompting prostate cell EMT and promoting tumour progression and dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraia Fernandes
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 60200, Czech Republic.
| | - Jorge Oliver-De La Cruz
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 60200, Czech Republic
| | - Sofia Morazzo
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 60200, Czech Republic; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Masaryk University, Brno 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Francesco Niro
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 60200, Czech Republic; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Masaryk University, Brno 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Marco Cassani
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 60200, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Ďuríková
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 60200, Czech Republic
| | - Alessio Caravella
- Department of Computer Engineering, Modelling, Electronics and Systems Engineering (DIMES), University of Calabria (UNICAL), Via P. Bucci, Cubo 42C, Rende (CS) 87036, Italy
| | - Piergiuseppe Fiore
- Department of Computer Engineering, Modelling, Electronics and Systems Engineering (DIMES), University of Calabria (UNICAL), Via P. Bucci, Cubo 42C, Rende (CS) 87036, Italy
| | - Giulia Azzato
- Department of Computer Engineering, Modelling, Electronics and Systems Engineering (DIMES), University of Calabria (UNICAL), Via P. Bucci, Cubo 42C, Rende (CS) 87036, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Marco
- Information Technology Center (ICT), University of Calabria (UNICAL), Via P. Bucci, Cubo 22B, Rende (CS) 87036, Italy
| | - Agostino Lauria
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento (UNISALENTO), Corpo Z, Campus Ecotekne, SP.6 per Monteroni, Lecce (LE), Italy
| | - Valerio Izzi
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu FI-90014, Finland; Faculty of Medicine, BioIM Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu FI-90014, Finland; Foundation for the Finnish Cancer Institute, Tukholmankatu 8, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Veronika Bosáková
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 60200, Czech Republic; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Masaryk University, Brno 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Fric
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 60200, Czech Republic; Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Filipensky
- Department of Urology, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 60200, Czech Republic
| | - Giancarlo Forte
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 60200, Czech Republic; School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK.
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Farhangniya M, Samadikuchaksaraei A. A Review of Genes Involved in Wound Healing. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2023; 37:140. [PMID: 38318414 PMCID: PMC10843200 DOI: 10.47176/mjiri.37.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Gene therapy holds immense potential in the field of wound healing. However, we still do not recognize this procedure well enough to give oversight effectively to improve healing processes. A wide range of information has been achieved from the database for gene expression profiling by clinical trials, So we performed this study to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms behind wound healing and how it could be utilized to develop new therapies and treatments. Methods In this study, we have been focusing on wound-healing genes, conducting a thorough review to explore the various genes and pathways involved in this process. For this purpose, a total of 320 articles were collected. All experimental studies, systematic or narrative reviews, studies and clinical trials included in this paper were searched on PubMed, Medline, Embase, Science Direct, and Scopus databases in English using the following terms: Wound Healing, wound regeneration, Gene Transfer, and Gene Therapy were used to search the mentioned databases. Unfortunately, we didn't find a large sample cohort study on this topic. A total amount of 330 articles were collected based on the guidelines of the PRISMA method. Both inclusion and exclusion criteria were settled. Results During the last decade, different models of gene delivery have been introduced, which include viral transfection and Non-viral techniques. In this regard, TIMP-2 protein and VEGF mutants such as VEGF165, CARP, and HIF-1 are the genes that accelerate the rate of tissue repair. Conclusion The process of wound healing is mainly related to the change of expression of genes that have a role in the parts of inflammation and repair. In our study, some of the most suitable genes involved in the wound-healing process are mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansoureh Farhangniya
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Samadikuchaksaraei
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Afshar K, Sanaei MJ, Ravari MS, Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi A, Bashash D. An overview of extracellular matrix and its remodeling in the development of cancer and metastasis with a glance at therapeutic approaches. Cell Biochem Funct 2023; 41:930-952. [PMID: 37665068 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an inevitable part of tissues able to provide structural support for cells depending on the purpose of tissues and organs. The dynamic characteristics of ECM let this system fluently interact with the extrinsic triggers and get stiffed, remodeled, and/or degraded ending in maintaining tissue homeostasis. ECM could serve as the platform for cancer progression. The dysregulation of biochemical and biomechanical ECM features might take participate in some pathological conditions such as aging, tissue destruction, fibrosis, and particularly cancer. Tumors can reprogram how ECM remodels by producing factors able to induce protein synthesis, matrix proteinase expression, degradation of the basement membrane, growth signals and proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Therefore, targeting the ECM components, their secretion, and their interactions with other cells or tumors could be a promising strategy in cancer therapies. The present study initially introduces the physiological functions of ECM and then discusses how tumor-dependent dysregulation of ECM could facilitate cancer progression and ends with reviewing the novel therapeutic strategies regarding ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimiya Afshar
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Javad Sanaei
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrnaz Sadat Ravari
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Bashash
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Xin Y, Li K, Huang M, Liang C, Siemann D, Wu L, Tan Y, Tang X. Biophysics in tumor growth and progression: from single mechano-sensitive molecules to mechanomedicine. Oncogene 2023; 42:3457-3490. [PMID: 37864030 PMCID: PMC10656290 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02844-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Evidence from physical sciences in oncology increasingly suggests that the interplay between the biophysical tumor microenvironment and genetic regulation has significant impact on tumor progression. Especially, tumor cells and the associated stromal cells not only alter their own cytoskeleton and physical properties but also remodel the microenvironment with anomalous physical properties. Together, these altered mechano-omics of tumor tissues and their constituents fundamentally shift the mechanotransduction paradigms in tumorous and stromal cells and activate oncogenic signaling within the neoplastic niche to facilitate tumor progression. However, current findings on tumor biophysics are limited, scattered, and often contradictory in multiple contexts. Systematic understanding of how biophysical cues influence tumor pathophysiology is still lacking. This review discusses recent different schools of findings in tumor biophysics that have arisen from multi-scale mechanobiology and the cutting-edge technologies. These findings range from the molecular and cellular to the whole tissue level and feature functional crosstalk between mechanotransduction and oncogenic signaling. We highlight the potential of these anomalous physical alterations as new therapeutic targets for cancer mechanomedicine. This framework reconciles opposing opinions in the field, proposes new directions for future cancer research, and conceptualizes novel mechanomedicine landscape to overcome the inherent shortcomings of conventional cancer diagnosis and therapies.
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Grants
- R35 GM150812 NIGMS NIH HHS
- This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project no. 11972316, Y.T.), Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission (Project no. JCYJ20200109142001798, SGDX2020110309520303, and JCYJ20220531091002006, Y.T.), General Research Fund of Hong Kong Research Grant Council (PolyU 15214320, Y. T.), Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF18191421, Y.T.), Hong Kong Polytechnic University (1-CD75, 1-ZE2M, and 1-ZVY1, Y.T.), the Cancer Pilot Research Award from UF Health Cancer Center (X. T.), the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number R35GM150812 (X. T.), the National Science Foundation under grant number 2308574 (X. T.), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under award number FA9550-23-1-0393 (X. T.), the University Scholar Program (X. T.), UF Research Opportunity Seed Fund (X. T.), the Gatorade Award (X. T.), and the National Science Foundation REU Site at UF: Engineering for Healthcare (Douglas Spearot and Malisa Sarntinoranont). We are deeply grateful for the insightful discussions with and generous support from all members of Tang (UF)’s and Tan (PolyU)’s laboratories and all staff members of the MAE/BME/ECE/Health Cancer Center at UF and BME at PolyU.
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xin
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Keming Li
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Miao Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chenyu Liang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Dietmar Siemann
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lizi Wu
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Youhua Tan
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
- Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Xin Tang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Wyllie K, Panagopoulos V, Cox TR. The role of peroxidasin in solid cancer progression. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:1881-1895. [PMID: 37801286 PMCID: PMC10657184 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Peroxidasin is a heme-containing peroxidase enzyme that plays a vital role in the cross-linking of collagen IV molecules in basement membranes. Collagen IV cross-links are essential for providing structure and mechanical stability throughout tissue development, homeostasis, and wound healing. During cancer progression, the basement membrane is degraded, and proteins typically found in the basement membrane, including peroxidasin and collagen IV, can be found spread throughout the tumour microenvironment where they interact with cancer cells and alter cell behaviour. Whilst peroxidasin is reported to be up-regulated in a number of different cancers, the role that it plays in disease progression and metastasis has only recently begun to be studied. This review highlights the current literature exploring the known roles of peroxidasin in normal tissues and cancer progression, regulators of peroxidasin expression, and the reported relationships between peroxidasin expression and patient outcome in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin Wyllie
- Matrix & Metastasis Lab, The Garvan Institute of Medical Research & the Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, St Vincent's Healthcare Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vasilios Panagopoulos
- Myeloma Research Laboratory, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Precision Cancer Medicine Theme, Solid Tumour Program, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Thomas R. Cox
- Matrix & Metastasis Lab, The Garvan Institute of Medical Research & the Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, St Vincent's Healthcare Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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40
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Li Y, Xu K, Zhang Y, Mao H, Qiu Q, Yan Z, Liu X, Du Y, Chen Z. Identification of a basement membrane-related genes signature with immune correlation in bladder urothelial carcinoma and verification in vitro. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1021. [PMID: 37872487 PMCID: PMC10591420 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11340-0] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is the most common genitourinary cancer and the prognosis of patients is often poor. However, studies of basement membrane-related genes (BM-related genes) in BLCA are less reported. Therefore, we established a BM-related genes signature to explore their functional and prognostic value in BLCA. METHODS In this study, a BM-related genes signature was constructed by LASSO-Cox regression analysis, and then a series of bioinformatics methods was used to assess the accuracy and validity of the signature. We constructed a nomogram for clinical application and also screened for possible therapeutic drugs. To investigate the functions and pathways affected by BM-related genes in BLCA, we performed functional enrichment analyses. In addition, we analyzed the immune cell infiltration landscape and immune checkpoint-related genes in the high and low-risk groups. Finally, we confirmed the prognostic value of BM-related genes in BLCA in vitro. RESULTS Combining multiple bioinformatics approaches, we identified a seven-gene signature. The accuracy and validity of this signature in predicting BLCA patients were confirmed by the test cohort. In addition, the risk score was strongly correlated with prognosis, immune checkpoint genes, drug sensitivity, and immune cell infiltration landscape. The risk score is an independent prognostic factor for BLCA patients. Further experiments revealed that all seven signature genes were differentially expressed between BLCA cell lines and normal bladder cells. Finally, overexpression of LAMA2 inhibited the migration and invasion ability of BLCA cell lines. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the BM-related genes signature was able to predict the prognosis of BLCA patients accurately, indicating that the BM-related genes possess great clinical value in the diagnosis and treatment of BLCA. Moreover, LAMA2 could be a potential therapeutic target, which provides new insights into the application of the BM-related genes in BLCA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanze Li
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Kai Xu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Hu Mao
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Qiangmin Qiu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Zhiwei Yan
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Xiuheng Liu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
| | - Yang Du
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
| | - Zhiyuan Chen
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
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41
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Nazari SS, Doyle AD, Bleck CKE, Yamada KM. Long Prehensile Protrusions Can Facilitate Cancer Cell Invasion through the Basement Membrane. Cells 2023; 12:2474. [PMID: 37887318 PMCID: PMC10605924 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A basic process in cancer is the breaching of basement-membrane barriers to permit tissue invasion. Cancer cells can use proteases and physical mechanisms to produce initial holes in basement membranes, but how cells squeeze through this barrier into matrix environments is not well understood. We used a 3D invasion model consisting of cancer-cell spheroids encapsulated by a basement membrane and embedded in collagen to characterize the dynamic early steps in cancer-cell invasion across this barrier. We demonstrate that certain cancer cells extend exceptionally long (~30-100 μm) protrusions through basement membranes via actin and microtubule cytoskeletal function. These long protrusions use integrin adhesion and myosin II-based contractility to pull cells through the basement membrane for initial invasion. Concurrently, these long, organelle-rich protrusions pull surrounding collagen inward while propelling cancer cells outward through perforations in the basement-membrane barrier. These exceptionally long, contractile cellular protrusions can facilitate the breaching of the basement-membrane barrier as a first step in cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan S. Nazari
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Andrew D. Doyle
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Christopher K. E. Bleck
- Electron Microscopy Core, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kenneth M. Yamada
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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42
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Li X, Kuang Q, Peng M, Yang K, Luo P. Basement Membrane-Associated lncRNA Risk Model Predicts Prognosis and Guides Clinical Treatment in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2635. [PMID: 37893009 PMCID: PMC10604562 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The basement membrane (BM) affects the invasion and growth of malignant tumors. The role and mechanism of BM-associated lncRNAs in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) are unknown. In this study, we identified biomarkers of ccRCC and developed a risk model to assess patient prognosis. We downloaded transcripts and clinical data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Differential analysis, co-expression analysis, Cox regression analysis, and lasso regression were used to identify BM-associated prognostic lncRNAs and create a risk prediction model. We evaluated and validated the accuracy of the model using multiple methods and constructed a nomogram to predict the prognosis of ccRCC. GO, KEGG, and immunity analyses were used to explore differences in biological function. We constructed a risk model containing six BM-associated lncRNAs (LINC02154, IGFL2-AS1, NFE4, AC112715.1, AC092535.5, and AC105105.3). The risk model has higher diagnostic efficiency compared to clinical characteristics and can be used to forecast patient prognoses. We used renal cancer cells and tissue microarrays to verify the expression of lncRNAs in the risk model. We found that knocking down LINC02154 and AC112715.1 could inhibit the invasion ability of renal cancer cells. The risk model based on BM-associated lncRNAs can well predict ccRCC and guide clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Li
- Department of Urology, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), Wuhan 430060, China; (X.L.); (Q.K.)
| | - Qihui Kuang
- Department of Urology, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), Wuhan 430060, China; (X.L.); (Q.K.)
| | - Min Peng
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Kang Yang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China;
| | - Pengcheng Luo
- Department of Urology, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), Wuhan 430060, China; (X.L.); (Q.K.)
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43
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Sari B, Gulbey O, Hamill KJ. Laminin 332 expression levels predict clinical outcomes and chemotherapy response in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1242706. [PMID: 37779898 PMCID: PMC10540629 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1242706] [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: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Poor outcomes and chemotherapy resistance for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) are a challenge worldwide, and new or improved prognostic biomarkers are urgently required. Individual laminin family members have been established as cancer-associated markers, predicting patient outcomes in many cancer types, including PAAD. Here, we used multiple modalities including RNAseq and gene chip, and genomic and proteomic data to examine the relationships of all laminin genes in PAAD with clinical outcomes. These analyses identified that LAMA3, LAMB3, and LAMC2 expression levels are increased at the mRNA and protein levels in PAAD tumours with evidence of co-regulation. Increased expression of all three genes was associated with decreased promoter methylation status, TP53 mutations, and altered receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways. Clinically, high LAMA3, LAMB3, and LAMC2 transcript abundance was each related to an advanced histological grade. Moreover, high expression of these genes individually predicted poor patient survival, while a signature of combined high expression of LAMA3, LAMB3, and LAMC2 was a stronger predictor of patient outcomes than each gene alone. Interestingly, cell lines with high expression of LM332 chains were not sensitive to the commonly used PAAD chemotherapy drugs paclitaxel and gemcitabine; however, increased sensitivity was evident for erlotinib, afatinib, gefitinib, and cetuximab epidermal growth factor (EGFR) RTK inhibitors. To explore possible mechanisms, we investigated co-expressed genes, identifying eight hub genes, namely, GJB3, ITGB6, SERPINB5, GPRC5A, PLEK2, TMPRSS4, P2RY2, and TRIM29, which are co-expressed with all three of LAMA3, LAMB3, and LAMC2. Of these, only SERPINB5 provided a stronger predictive value than the laminin-encoding genes. Together, these multiple integrated analyses suggest that the combined expression of LM332 is a useful prognostic biomarker for PAAD and could help patient stratification and therapeutic selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilge Sari
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ozcan Gulbey
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin J. Hamill
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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44
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Githaka JM, Pirayeshfard L, Goping IS. Cancer invasion and metastasis: Insights from murine pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130375. [PMID: 37150225 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Cancer invasion and metastasis accounts for the majority of cancer related mortality. A better understanding of the players that drive the aberrant invasion and migration of tumors cells will provide critical targets to inhibit metastasis. Postnatal pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis is characterized by highly proliferative, invasive, and migratory normal epithelial cells. Identifying the molecular regulators of pubertal gland development is a promising strategy since tumorigenesis and metastasis is postulated to be a consequence of aberrant reactivation of developmental stages. In this review, we summarize the pubertal morphogenesis regulators that are involved in cancer metastasis and revisit pubertal mammary gland transcriptome profiling to uncover both known and unknown metastasis genes. Our updated list of pubertal morphogenesis regulators shows that most are implicated in invasion and metastasis. This review highlights molecular linkages between development and metastasis and provides a guide for exploring novel metastatic drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Maringa Githaka
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
| | - Leila Pirayeshfard
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Ing Swie Goping
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
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45
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Shafqat A, Omer MH, Ahmed EN, Mushtaq A, Ijaz E, Ahmed Z, Alkattan K, Yaqinuddin A. Reprogramming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment: exploiting angiogenesis and thrombosis to enhance immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1200941. [PMID: 37520562 PMCID: PMC10374407 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1200941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on the immunosuppressive effects of tumor angiogenesis and coagulation on the tumor microenvironment (TME). We summarize previous research efforts leveraging these observations and targeting these processes to enhance immunotherapy outcomes. Clinical trials have documented improved outcomes when combining anti-angiogenic agents and immunotherapy. However, their overall survival benefit over conventional therapy remains limited and certain tumors exhibit poor response to anti-angiogenic therapy. Additionally, whilst preclinical studies have shown several components of the tumor coagulome to curb effective anti-tumor immune responses, the clinical studies reporting combinations of anticoagulants with immunotherapies have demonstrated variable treatment outcomes. By reviewing the current state of the literature on this topic, we address the key questions and future directions in the field, the answers of which are crucial for developing effective strategies to reprogram the TME in order to further the field of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Areez Shafqat
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed H. Omer
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ali Mushtaq
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Eman Ijaz
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zara Ahmed
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled Alkattan
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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46
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Saraswathibhatla A, Indana D, Chaudhuri O. Cell-extracellular matrix mechanotransduction in 3D. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:495-516. [PMID: 36849594 PMCID: PMC10656994 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00583-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 112.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical properties of extracellular matrices (ECMs) regulate essential cell behaviours, including differentiation, migration and proliferation, through mechanotransduction. Studies of cell-ECM mechanotransduction have largely focused on cells cultured in 2D, on top of elastic substrates with a range of stiffnesses. However, cells often interact with ECMs in vivo in a 3D context, and cell-ECM interactions and mechanisms of mechanotransduction in 3D can differ from those in 2D. The ECM exhibits various structural features as well as complex mechanical properties. In 3D, mechanical confinement by the surrounding ECM restricts changes in cell volume and cell shape but allows cells to generate force on the matrix by extending protrusions and regulating cell volume as well as through actomyosin-based contractility. Furthermore, cell-matrix interactions are dynamic owing to matrix remodelling. Accordingly, ECM stiffness, viscoelasticity and degradability often play a critical role in regulating cell behaviours in 3D. Mechanisms of 3D mechanotransduction include traditional integrin-mediated pathways that sense mechanical properties and more recently described mechanosensitive ion channel-mediated pathways that sense 3D confinement, with both converging on the nucleus for downstream control of transcription and phenotype. Mechanotransduction is involved in tissues from development to cancer and is being increasingly harnessed towards mechanotherapy. Here we discuss recent progress in our understanding of cell-ECM mechanotransduction in 3D.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dhiraj Indana
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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47
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Zhao Z, Cao Q, Zhu M, Wang C, Lu X. Causal relationships between serum matrix metalloproteinases and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7849. [PMID: 37188722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34200-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
To better clarify the causal effects between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and estrogen-receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer (BC), we investigated the bidirectional causal relationship between MMPs and ER-negative BC by mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Summary statistic data of five MMPs were extracted from European participants in 13 cohorts. Data of ER-negative BC collected from one of genome-wide association studies of European ancestry was used as experimental datasets and another four ER-negative BC datasets were used as validation sets. Inverse variance weighted method was used for main MR analysis and sensitivity analysis was also conducted. Serum level of MMP-1 has negative effect on ER-negative BC (odds ratio = 0.92, P = 0.0008) but the latter one was not the cause of the former one, which was supported by validation sets. No bidirectional causal effect was detected between the other four types of MMPs and ER-negative BC (P > 0.05). Sensitivity analysis indicated robustness of the above results without remarkable bias. To conclude, serum MMP-1 may be a protective factor against ER-negative BC. No reciprocal causality was found between the other kinds of MMPs and ER-negative BC. MMP-1 was indicated as a biomarker for risk of ER-negative BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijun Zhao
- Department of Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Ming Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Chaonan Wang
- Department of Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xin Lu
- Department of Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing, Beijing, 100730, China.
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48
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Luo L, Zhou H, Wang S, Pang M, Zhang J, Hu Y, You J. The Application of Nanoparticle-Based Imaging and Phototherapy for Female Reproductive Organs Diseases. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2207694. [PMID: 37154216 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202207694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Various female reproductive disorders affect millions of women worldwide and bring many troubles to women's daily life. Let alone, gynecological cancer (such as ovarian cancer and cervical cancer) is a severe threat to most women's lives. Endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and other chronic diseases-induced pain have significantly harmed women's physical and mental health. Despite recent advances in the female reproductive field, the existing challenges are still enormous such as personalization of disease, difficulty in diagnosing early cancers, antibiotic resistance in infectious diseases, etc. To confront such challenges, nanoparticle-based imaging tools and phototherapies that offer minimally invasive detection and treatment of reproductive tract-associated pathologies are indispensable and innovative. Of late, several clinical trials have also been conducted using nanoparticles for the early detection of female reproductive tract infections and cancers, targeted drug delivery, and cellular therapeutics. However, these nanoparticle trials are still nascent due to the body's delicate and complex female reproductive system. The present review comprehensively focuses on emerging nanoparticle-based imaging and phototherapies applications, which hold enormous promise for improved early diagnosis and effective treatments of various female reproductive organ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Luo
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Huanli Zhou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Sijie Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Mei Pang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Junlei Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Yilong Hu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Jian You
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
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49
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Kurma K, Alix-Panabières C. Mechanobiology and survival strategies of circulating tumor cells: a process towards the invasive and metastatic phenotype. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1188499. [PMID: 37215087 PMCID: PMC10196185 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1188499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic progression is the deadliest feature of cancer. Cancer cell growth, invasion, intravasation, circulation, arrest/adhesion and extravasation require specific mechanical properties to allow cell survival and the completion of the metastatic cascade. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) come into contact with the capillary bed during extravasation/intravasation at the beginning of the metastatic cascade. However, CTC mechanobiology and survival strategies in the bloodstream, and specifically in the microcirculation, are not well known. A fraction of CTCs can extravasate and colonize distant areas despite the biomechanical constriction forces that are exerted by the microcirculation and that strongly decrease tumor cell survival. Furthermore, accumulating evidence shows that several CTC adaptations, via molecular factors and interactions with blood components (e.g., immune cells and platelets inside capillaries), may promote metastasis formation. To better understand CTC journey in the microcirculation as part of the metastatic cascade, we reviewed how CTC mechanobiology and interaction with other cell types in the bloodstream help them to survive the harsh conditions in the circulatory system and to metastasize in distant organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keerthi Kurma
- Laboratory of Rare Human Circulating Cells (LCCRH), University Medical Centre of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- CREEC/CANECEV, MIVEGEC (CREES), University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
- European Liquid Biopsy Society (E LBS), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Catherine Alix-Panabières
- Laboratory of Rare Human Circulating Cells (LCCRH), University Medical Centre of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- CREEC/CANECEV, MIVEGEC (CREES), University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
- European Liquid Biopsy Society (E LBS), Hamburg, Germany
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50
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Narciso M, Martínez Á, Júnior C, Díaz-Valdivia N, Ulldemolins A, Berardi M, Neal K, Navajas D, Farré R, Alcaraz J, Almendros I, Gavara N. Lung Micrometastases Display ECM Depletion and Softening While Macrometastases Are 30-Fold Stiffer and Enriched in Fibronectin. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082404. [PMID: 37190331 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical changes in tumors have long been linked to increased malignancy and therapy resistance and attributed to mechanical changes in the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM). However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no mechanical studies on decellularized tumors. Here, we studied the biochemical and mechanical progression of the tumor ECM in two models of lung metastases: lung carcinoma (CAR) and melanoma (MEL). We decellularized the metastatic lung sections, measured the micromechanics of the tumor ECM, and stained the sections for ECM proteins, proliferation, and cell death markers. The same methodology was applied to MEL mice treated with the clinically approved anti-fibrotic drug nintedanib. When compared to healthy ECM (~0.40 kPa), CAR and MEL lung macrometastases produced a highly dense and stiff ECM (1.79 ± 1.32 kPa, CAR and 6.39 ± 3.37 kPa, MEL). Fibronectin was overexpressed from the early stages (~118%) to developed macrometastases (~260%) in both models. Surprisingly, nintedanib caused a 4-fold increase in ECM-occupied tumor area (5.1 ± 1.6% to 18.6 ± 8.9%) and a 2-fold in-crease in ECM stiffness (6.39 ± 3.37 kPa to 12.35 ± 5.74 kPa). This increase in stiffness strongly correlated with an increase in necrosis, which reveals a potential link between tumor hypoxia and ECM deposition and stiffness. Our findings highlight fibronectin and tumor ECM mechanics as attractive targets in cancer therapy and support the need to identify new anti-fibrotic drugs to abrogate aberrant ECM mechanics in metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Narciso
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - África Martínez
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Constança Júnior
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Díaz-Valdivia
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Ulldemolins
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Massimiliano Berardi
- LaserLab, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Optics11, Hettenheuvelweg 37-39, 1101 BM Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kate Neal
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Navajas
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), 08036 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramon Farré
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), 08036 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Alcaraz
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isaac Almendros
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), 08036 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Gavara
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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