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Jiang MQ, Yu SP, Estaba T, Choi E, Berglund K, Gu X, Wei L. Reprogramming Glioblastoma Cells into Non-Cancerous Neuronal Cells as a Novel Anti-Cancer Strategy. Cells 2024; 13:897. [PMID: 38891029 PMCID: PMC11171681 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with a high mortality rate. Direct reprogramming of glial cells to different cell lineages, such as induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) and induced neurons (iNeurons), provides genetic tools to manipulate a cell's fate as a potential therapy for neurological diseases. NeuroD1 (ND1) is a master transcriptional factor for neurogenesis and it promotes neuronal differentiation. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the expression of ND1 in GBM cells can force them to differentiate toward post-mitotic neurons and halt GBM tumor progression. In cultured human GBM cell lines, including LN229, U87, and U373 as temozolomide (TMZ)-sensitive and T98G as TMZ-resistant cells, the neuronal lineage conversion was induced by an adeno-associated virus (AAV) package carrying ND1. Twenty-one days after AAV-ND1 transduction, ND1-expressing cells displayed neuronal markers MAP2, TUJ1, and NeuN. The ND1-induced transdifferentiation was regulated by Wnt signaling and markedly enhanced under a hypoxic condition (2% O2 vs. 21% O2). ND1-expressing GBM cultures had fewer BrdU-positive proliferating cells compared to vector control cultures. Increased cell death was visualized by TUNEL staining, and reduced migrative activity was demonstrated in the wound-healing test after ND1 reprogramming in both TMZ-sensitive and -resistant GBM cells. In a striking contrast to cancer cells, converted cells expressed the anti-tumor gene p53. In an orthotopical GBM mouse model, AAV-ND1-reprogrammed U373 cells were transplanted into the fornix of the cyclosporine-immunocompromised C57BL/6 mouse brain. Compared to control GBM cell-formed tumors, cells from ND1-reprogrammed cultures formed smaller tumors and expressed neuronal markers such as TUJ1 in the brain. Thus, reprogramming using a single-factor ND1 overcame drug resistance, converting malignant cells of heterogeneous GBM cells to normal neuron-like cells in vitro and in vivo. These novel observations warrant further research using patient-derived GBM cells and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models as a potentially effective treatment for a deadly brain cancer and likely other astrocytoma tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Q. Jiang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA; (M.Q.J.); (T.E.); (E.C.); (X.G.)
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30033, USA
| | - Shan Ping Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA; (M.Q.J.); (T.E.); (E.C.); (X.G.)
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30033, USA
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA
| | - Takira Estaba
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA; (M.Q.J.); (T.E.); (E.C.); (X.G.)
| | - Emily Choi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA; (M.Q.J.); (T.E.); (E.C.); (X.G.)
| | - Ken Berglund
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
| | - Xiaohuan Gu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA; (M.Q.J.); (T.E.); (E.C.); (X.G.)
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30033, USA
| | - Ling Wei
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA; (M.Q.J.); (T.E.); (E.C.); (X.G.)
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Liang Y, Xu Q, Gao Q. Advancing CAR-based immunotherapies in solid tumors: CAR- macrophages and neutrophils. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1291619. [PMID: 38090576 PMCID: PMC10715261 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1291619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages and neutrophils are the main components of the innate immune system and play important roles in promoting angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, cancer cell proliferation, and metastasis in the tumor microenvironment (TME). They can also be harnessed to mediate cytotoxic tumor killing effects and orchestrate effective anti-tumor immune responses with proper stimulation and modification. Therefore, macrophages and neutrophils have strong potential in cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we briefly outlined the applications of macrophages or neutrophils in adoptive cell therapies, and focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered macrophages (CAR-Ms) and neutrophils (CAR-Ns). We summarized the construction strategies, the preclinical and clinical studies of CAR-Ms and CAR-Ns. In the end, we briefly discussed the limitations and challenges of CAR-Ms and CAR-Ns, as well as future research directions to extend their applications in treating solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanling Liang
- Institute of Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qumiao Xu
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qianqian Gao
- Institute of Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
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Snyder CM, Gill SI. Good CARMA: Turning bad tumor-resident myeloid cells good with chimeric antigen receptor macrophages. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:236-249. [PMID: 37295964 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In religious philosophy, the concept of karma represents the effect of one's past and present actions on one's future. Macrophages are highly plastic cells with myriad roles in health and disease. In the setting of cancer, macrophages are among the most plentiful members of the immune microenvironment where they generally support tumor growth and restrain antitumor immunity. However, macrophages are not necessarily born bad. Macrophages or their immediate progenitors, monocytes, are induced to traffic to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and during this process they are polarized toward a tumor-promoting phenotype. Efforts to deplete or repolarize tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) for therapeutic benefit in cancer have to date disappointed. By contrast, genetic engineering of macrophages followed by their transit into the TME may allow these impressionable cells to mend their ways. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent advances in the genetic engineering of macrophages for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Snyder
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Saar I Gill
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Wang W, Chen B, Yang J, Li Y, Ding H, Liu H, Yuan C. Sema3A Modified PDLSCs Exhibited Enhanced Osteogenic Capabilities and Stimulated Differentiation of Pre-Osteoblasts. Cell Biochem Biophys 2023; 81:543-552. [PMID: 37421591 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-023-01148-x] [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: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Genetically engineered stem cells, not only acting as vector delivering growth factors or cytokines but also exhibiting improved cell properties, are promising cells for periodontal tissue regeneration. Sema3A is a power secretory osteoprotective factor. In this study, we aimed to construct Sema3A modified periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and evaluated their osteogenic capability and crosstalk with pre-osteoblasts MC3T3-E1. First, Sema3A modified PDLSCs was constructed using lentivirus infection system carrying Sema3A gene and the transduction efficiency was analyzed. The osteogenic differentiation and proliferation of Sema3A-PDLSCs was evaluated. Then, MC3T3-E1 was directly co-cultured with Sema3A-PDLSCs or cultured in condition medium of Sema3A-PDLSCs and the osteogenic ability of MC3T3-E1 was assessed. The results showed that Sema3A-PDLSCs expressed and secreted upregulated Sema3A protein, which confirmed successful construction of Sema3A modified PDLSCs. After osteogenic induction, Sema3A-PDLSCs expressed upregulated ALP, OCN, RUNX2, and SP7 mRNA, expressed higher ALP activity, and produced more mineralization nodes, compared with Vector-PDLSCs. Whereas, there was no obvious differences in proliferation between Sema3A-PDLSCs and Vector-PDLSCs. MC3T3-E1 expressed upregulated mRNA of ALP, OCN, RUNX2, and SP7 when directly co-cultured with Sema3A-PDLSCs than Vector-PDLSCs. MC3T3-E1 also expressed upregulated osteogenic markers, showed higher ALP activity, and produced more mineralization nodes when cultured using condition medium of Sema3A-PDLSCs instead of Vector-PDLSCs. In conclusion, our results indicated that Sema3A modified PDLSCs showed enhanced osteogenic capability, and also facilitated differentiation of pre-osteoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Wang
- School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Banghui Chen
- School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jintao Yang
- School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yizhou Li
- School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Haonan Ding
- School of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Liu
- School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
- Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
| | - Changyong Yuan
- School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
- Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
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