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Lenz G. Heterogeneity generating capacity in tumorigenesis and cancer therapeutics. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167226. [PMID: 38734320 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167226] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Cells of multicellular organisms generate heterogeneity in a controlled and transient fashion during embryogenesis, which can be reactivated in pathologies such as cancer. Although genomic heterogeneity is an important part of tumorigenesis, continuous generation of phenotypic heterogeneity is central for the adaptation of cancer cells to the challenges of tumorigenesis and response to therapy. Here I discuss the capacity of generating heterogeneity, hereafter called cell hetness, in cancer cells both as the activation of hetness oncogenes and inactivation of hetness tumor suppressor genes, which increase the generation of heterogeneity, ultimately producing an increase in adaptability and cell fitness. Transcriptomic high hetness states in therapy-tolerant cell states denote its importance in cancer resistance to therapy. The definition of the concept of hetness will allow the understanding of its origins, its control during embryogenesis, its loss of control in tumorigenesis and cancer therapeutics and its active targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Lenz
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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2
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Buss JH, Begnini KR, Lenz G. The contribution of asymmetric cell division to phenotypic heterogeneity in cancer. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261400. [PMID: 38334041 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261400] [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] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cells have evolved intricate mechanisms for dividing their contents in the most symmetric way during mitosis. However, a small proportion of cell divisions results in asymmetric segregation of cellular components, which leads to differences in the characteristics of daughter cells. Although the classical function of asymmetric cell division (ACD) in the regulation of pluripotency is the generation of one differentiated daughter cell and one self-renewing stem cell, recent evidence suggests that ACD plays a role in other physiological processes. In cancer, tumor heterogeneity can result from the asymmetric segregation of genetic material and other cellular components, resulting in cell-to-cell differences in fitness and response to therapy. Defining the contribution of ACD in generating differences in key features relevant to cancer biology is crucial to advancing our understanding of the causes of tumor heterogeneity and developing strategies to mitigate or counteract it. In this Review, we delve into the occurrence of asymmetric mitosis in cancer cells and consider how ACD contributes to the variability of several phenotypes. By synthesizing the current literature, we explore the molecular mechanisms underlying ACD, the implications of phenotypic heterogeneity in cancer, and the complex interplay between these two phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieti Huch Buss
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
| | - Karine Rech Begnini
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
- Instituto do Cérebro (INSCER), Pontifícia Universidade Católica RS (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil
| | - Guido Lenz
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
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3
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Maleki EH, Bahrami AR, Matin MM. Cancer cell cycle heterogeneity as a critical determinant of therapeutic resistance. Genes Dis 2024; 11:189-204. [PMID: 37588236 PMCID: PMC10425754 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Intra-tumor heterogeneity is now arguably one of the most-studied topics in tumor biology, as it represents a major obstacle to effective cancer treatment. Since tumor cells are highly diverse at genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic levels, intra-tumor heterogeneity can be assumed as an important contributing factor to the nullification of chemotherapeutic effects, and recurrence of the tumor. Based on the role of heterogeneous subpopulations of cancer cells with varying cell-cycle dynamics and behavior during cancer progression and treatment; herein, we aim to establish a comprehensive definition for adaptation of neoplastic cells against therapy. We discuss two parallel and yet distinct subpopulations of tumor cells that play pivotal roles in reducing the effects of chemotherapy: "resistant" and "tolerant" populations. Furthermore, this review also highlights the impact of the quiescent phase of the cell cycle as a survival mechanism for cancer cells. Beyond understanding the mechanisms underlying the quiescence, it provides an insightful perspective on cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their dual and intertwined functions based on their cell cycle state in response to treatment. Moreover, CSCs, epithelial-mesenchymal transformed cells, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs), which are mostly in a quiescent state of the cell cycle are proved to have multiple biological links and can be implicated in our viewpoint of cell cycle heterogeneity in tumors. Overall, increasing our knowledge of cell cycle heterogeneity is a key to identifying new therapeutic solutions, and this emerging concept may provide us with new opportunities to prevent the dreadful cancer recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebrahim H. Maleki
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 9177948974 Mashhad, Iran
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (JCET), Jagiellonian University, 31-007 Krakow, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-348 Krakow, Poland
| | - Ahmad Reza Bahrami
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 9177948974 Mashhad, Iran
- Industrial Biotechnology Research Group, Institute of Biotechnology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 9177948974 Mashhad, Iran
| | - Maryam M. Matin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 9177948974 Mashhad, Iran
- Novel Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research Group, Institute of Biotechnology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 9177948974 Mashhad, Iran
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Khorasan Razavi Branch, 917751376 Mashhad, Iran
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Lenz LS, Torgo D, Buss JH, Pereira LC, Bueno M, Filippi-Chiela EC, Lenz G. Mitochondrial response of glioma cells to temozolomide. Exp Cell Res 2023; 433:113825. [PMID: 37866459 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113825] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic adaptations are central for carcinogenesis and response to therapy, but little is known about the contribution of mitochondrial dynamics to the response of glioma cells to the standard treatment with temozolomide (TMZ). Glioma cells responded to TMZ with mitochondrial mass increased and the production of round structures of dysfunctional mitochondria. At single-cell level, asymmetric mitosis contributed to the heterogeneity of mitochondrial levels. It affected the fitness of cells in control and treated condition, indicating that the mitochondrial levels are relevant for glioma cell fitness in the presence of TMZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Suéling Lenz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Daphne Torgo
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Julieti Huch Buss
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luiza Cherobini Pereira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Mardja Bueno
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Cremonese Filippi-Chiela
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Serviço de Pesquisa Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre 90035-903, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90050-170, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Guido Lenz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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5
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Tavares Tamborindeguy M, Lorenzatto PF, Lamers ML, Lenz G. Asymmetric mitosis contributes to different migratory performance in sister cells. Exp Cell Res 2023:113715. [PMID: 37429373 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
In cancer, cell migration contributes to the spread of tumor cells resulting in metastasis. Heterogeneity in the migration capacity can produce individual cells with heightened capacity leading to invasion and metastasis. Our hypothesis is that cell migration characteristics can divide asymmetrically in mitosis, allowing a subset of cells to have a larger contribution to invasion and metastasis. Therefore, our aim is to elucidate whether sister cells have different migratory capacity and analyze if this difference is defined by mitosis. Through time-lapse videos, we analyzed migration speed, directionality, maximum displacement of each trajectory, and velocity as well as cell area and polarity and then compared the values between mother-daughter cells and between sister cells of three tumor cell lines (A172, MCF7, SCC25) and two normal cell lines (MRC5 and CHO·K1 cells). We observed that daughter cells had a different migratory phenotype compared to their mothers, and one single mitosis is enough for the sisters behave like nonrelated cells. However, mitosis did not influence cell area and polarity dynamics. These findings indicates that migration performance is not heritable, and that asymmetric cell division might have an important impact on cancer invasion and metastasis, by producing cells with different migratory capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurício Tavares Tamborindeguy
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Paola Farias Lorenzatto
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Lazzaron Lamers
- Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, ICBS, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Guido Lenz
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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6
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Buss JH, Lenz LS, Pereira LC, Torgo D, Marcolin J, Begnini KR, Lenz G. The role of mitosis in generating fitness heterogeneity. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:286224. [PMID: 36594556 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells have heterogeneous fitness, and this heterogeneity stems from genetic and epigenetic sources. Here, we sought to assess the contribution of asymmetric mitosis (AM) and time on the variability of fitness in sister cells. Around one quarter of sisters had differences in fitness, assessed as the intermitotic time (IMT), from 330 to 510 min. Phenotypes related to fitness, such as ERK activity (herein referring to ERK1 and ERK2, also known as MAPK3 and MAPK1, respectively), DNA damage and nuclear morphological phenotypes were also asymmetric at mitosis or turned asymmetric over the course of the cell cycle. The ERK activity of mother cell was found to influence the ERK activity and the IMT of the daughter cells, and cells with ERK asymmetry at mitosis produced more offspring with AMs, suggesting heritability of the AM phenotype for ERK activity. Our findings demonstrate how variabilities in sister cells can be generated, contributing to the phenotype heterogeneities in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieti Huch Buss
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
| | - Luana Suéling Lenz
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
| | - Luiza Cherobini Pereira
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
| | - Daphne Torgo
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
| | - Júlia Marcolin
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
| | - Karine Rech Begnini
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
| | - Guido Lenz
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil
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Rahal Z, Sinjab A, Wistuba II, Kadara H. Game of clones: Battles in the field of carcinogenesis. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 237:108251. [PMID: 35850404 PMCID: PMC10249058 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108251] [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: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in bulk sequencing approaches as well as genomic decoding at the single-cell level have revealed surprisingly high somatic mutational burdens in normal tissues, as well as increased our understanding of the landscape of "field cancerization", that is, molecular and immune alterations in mutagen-exposed normal-appearing tissues that recapitulated those present in tumors. Charting the somatic mutational landscapes in normal tissues can have strong implications on our understanding of how tumors arise from mutagenized epithelium. Making sense of those mutations to understand the progression along the pathologic continuum of normal epithelia, preneoplasias, up to malignant tissues will help pave way for identification of ideal targets that can guide new strategies for preventing or eliminating cancers at their earliest stages of development. In this review, we will provide a brief history of field cancerization and its implications on understanding early stages of cancer pathogenesis and deviation from the pathologically "normal" state. The review will provide an overview of how mutations accumulating in normal tissues can lead to a patchwork of mutated cell clones that compete while maintaining an overall state of functional homeostasis. The review also explores the role of clonal competition in directing the fate of normal tissues and summarizes multiple mechanisms elicited in this phenomenon and which have been linked to cancer development. Finally, we highlight the importance of understanding mutations in normal tissues, as well as clonal competition dynamics (in both the epithelium and the microenvironment) and their significance in exploring new approaches to combatting cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahraa Rahal
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
| | - Ansam Sinjab
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
| | - Ignacio I Wistuba
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
| | - Humam Kadara
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA.
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Iser IC, Vedovatto S, Oliveira FD, Beckenkamp LR, Lenz G, Wink MR. The crossroads of adenosinergic pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:202-213. [PMID: 35779713 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key mechanism related to tumor progression, invasion, metastasis, resistance to therapy and poor prognosis in several types of cancer. However, targeting EMT or partial-EMT, as well as the molecules involved in this process, has remained a challenge. Recently, the CD73 enzyme, which hydrolyzes AMP to produce adenosine (ADO), has been linked to the EMT process. This relationship is not only due to the production of the immunosuppressant ADO but also to its role as a receptor for extracellular matrix proteins, being involved in cell adhesion and migration. This article reviews the crosstalk between the adenosinergic pathway and the EMT program and the impact of this interrelation on cancer development and progression. An in silico analysis of RNAseq datasets showed that several tumor types have a significant correlation between an EMT score and NT5E (CD73) and ENTPD1 (CD39) expressions, with the strongest correlations in prostate adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, it is evident that the cooperation between EMT and adenosinergic pathway in tumor progression is context and tumor-dependent. The increased knowledge about this topic will help broaden the view to explore new treatments and therapies for different types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabele Cristiana Iser
- Department of Basics Health Sciences and Laboratory of Cell Biology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Samlai Vedovatto
- Department of Biophysics and Center of Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Dittrich Oliveira
- Department of Biophysics and Center of Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Liziane Raquel Beckenkamp
- Department of Basics Health Sciences and Laboratory of Cell Biology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Guido Lenz
- Department of Biophysics and Center of Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Márcia Rosângela Wink
- Department of Basics Health Sciences and Laboratory of Cell Biology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Bioimaging approaches for quantification of individual cell behavior during cell fate decisions. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:513-527. [PMID: 35166330 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210534] [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: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Tracking individual cells has allowed a new understanding of cellular behavior in human health and disease by adding a dynamic component to the already complex heterogeneity of single cells. Technically, despite countless advances, numerous experimental variables can affect data collection and interpretation and need to be considered. In this review, we discuss the main technical aspects and biological findings in the analysis of the behavior of individual cells. We discuss the most relevant contributions provided by these approaches in clinically relevant human conditions like embryo development, stem cells biology, inflammation, cancer and microbiology, along with the cellular mechanisms and molecular pathways underlying these conditions. We also discuss the key technical aspects to be considered when planning and performing experiments involving the analysis of individual cells over long periods. Despite the challenges in automatic detection, features extraction and long-term tracking that need to be tackled, the potential impact of single-cell bioimaging is enormous in understanding the pathogenesis and development of new therapies in human pathophysiology.
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10
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Lenz G, Onzi GR, Lenz LS, Buss JH, Santos JAF, Begnini KR. The Origins of Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Cancer. Cancer Res 2021; 82:3-11. [PMID: 34785576 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Heterogeneity is a pervasive feature of cancer, and understanding the sources and regulatory mechanisms underlying heterogeneity could provide key insights to help improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this review, we discuss the origin of heterogeneity in the phenotype of individual cancer cells. Genotype-phenotype (G-P) maps are widely used in evolutionary biology to represent the complex interactions of genes and the environment that lead to phenotypes that impact fitness. Here, we present the rationale of an extended G-P (eG-P) map with a cone structure in cancer. The eG-P cone is formed by cells that are similar at the genome layer but gradually increase variability in the epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome and signalome layers to produce large variability at the phenome layer. Experimental evidence from single-cell -omics analyses supporting the cancer eG-P cone concept is presented, and the impact of epimutations and the interaction of cancer and tumor microenvironmental eG-P cones are integrated with the current understanding of cancer biology. The eG-P cone concept uncovers potential therapeutic strategies to reduce cancer evolution and improve cancer treatment. More methods to study phenotypes in single cells will be key to better understand cancer cell fitness in tumor biology and therapeutics.
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Lenz LS, Lenz G. The role of dynamic phenotypes in cancer. Oncotarget 2021; 12:1962-1965. [PMID: 34548913 PMCID: PMC8448515 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The question of whether cancer recurrence is mediated by a process that is exclusively Darwinian or that involves both Darwinian and Lamarckian processes is long standing and far from answered. The major open question is the origin of variation, whether it relays exclusively on stable, mostly genetic, mechanisms or whether it can also involve dynamic processes. Recent evidence with single-cell epigenomic and transcriptomic profiling and measurement of phenotypes in colonies indicate that several phenotypes quickly change with a few cell divisions. Most importantly, cell fitness under basal as well as in the presence of chemotherapeutic agents changes considerably over short periods of time and this dynamic is reduced by epigenetic modulators. These studies contribute to establish the dynamic nature of fitness and are key for the interplay between cancer cell dynamics and stable genetic and epigenetic alterations in the survival of a few cancer cells after therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana S Lenz
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Guido Lenz
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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