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Yamashita K, Kumamoto Y. CAFs-Associated Genes (CAFGs) in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and Novel Therapeutic Strategy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6003. [PMID: 38892190 PMCID: PMC11172745 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116003] [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: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most aggressive cancer with striking fibrosis, and its mortality rate is ranked second across human cancers. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a critical role in PDAC progression, and we reviewed the molecular understanding of PDAC CAFs and novel therapeutic potential at present. CAFs-associated genes (CAFGs) were tentatively classified into three categories by stroma specificity representing stroma/epithelia expression ratios (SE ratios). The recent classification using single cell transcriptome technology clarified that CAFs were composed of myofibroblasts (myCAFs), inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs), and other minor ones (e.g., POSTN-CAFs and antigen presenting CAFs, apCAFs). LRRC15 is a myCAFs marker, and myCAFs depletion by diphtheria toxin induces the rapid accumulation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and therefore augment PDL1 antibody treatments. This finding proposes that myCAFs may be a critical regulator of tumor immunity in terms of PDAC progression. myCAFs are located in CAFs adjacent to tumor cells, while iCAFs marked by PDPN and/or COL14A1 are distant from tumor cells, where hypoxic and acidic environments being located in iCAFs putatively due to poor blood supply is consistent with HIF1A and GPR68 expressions. iCAFs may be shared with SASP (secretion-associated phenotypes) in senescent CAFs. myCAFs are classically characterized by CAFGs induced by TGFB1, while chemoresistant CAFs with SASP may dependent on IL6 expression and accompanied by STAT3 activation. Recently, it was found that the unique metabolism of CAFs can be targeted to prevent PDAC progression, where PDAC cells utilize glucose, whereas CAFs in turn utilize lactate, which may be epigenetically regulated, mediated by its target genes including CXCR4. In summary, CAFs have unique molecular characteristics, which have been rigorously clarified as novel therapeutic targets of PDAC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keishi Yamashita
- Division of Advanced Surgical Oncology, Research and Development Center for New Medical Frontiers, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kitasato 1-15-1, Minami-ku, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kumamoto
- Department of General-Pediatric-Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan;
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2
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Waldron RT, Lugea A, Chang HH, Su HY, Quiros C, Lewis MS, Che M, Ramanujan VK, Rozengurt E, Eibl G, Pandol SJ. Upregulated Matrisomal Proteins and Extracellular Matrix Mechanosignaling Underlie Obesity-Associated Promotion of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1593. [PMID: 38672675 PMCID: PMC11048773 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081593] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Diet-induced obesity (DIO) promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in mice expressing KRasG12D in the pancreas (KC mice), but the precise mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we performed multiplex quantitative proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and further bioinformatic and spatial analysis of pancreas tissues from control-fed versus DIO KC mice after 3, 6, and 9 months. Normal pancreatic parenchyma and associated proteins were steadily eliminated and the novel proteins, phosphoproteins, and signaling pathways associated with PDAC tumorigenesis increased until 6 months, when most males exhibited cancer, but females did not. Differentially expressed proteins and phosphoproteins induced by DIO revealed the crucial functional role of matrisomal proteins, which implies the roles of upstream regulation by TGFβ, extracellular matrix-receptor signaling to downstream PI3K-Akt-mTOR-, MAPK-, and Yap/Taz activation, and crucial effects in the tumor microenvironment such as metabolic alterations and signaling crosstalk between immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and tumor cells. Staining tissues from KC mice localized the expression of several prognostic PDAC biomarkers and elucidated tumorigenic features, such as robust macrophage infiltration, acinar-ductal metaplasia, mucinous PanIN, distinct nonmucinous atypical flat lesions (AFLs) surrounded by smooth muscle actin-positive CAFs, invasive tumors with epithelial-mesenchymal transition arising close to AFLs, and expanding deserted areas by 9 months. We next used Nanostring GeoMX to characterize the early spatial distribution of specific immune cell subtypes in distinct normal, stromal, and PanIN areas. Taken together, these data richly contextualize DIO promotion of Kras-driven PDAC tumorigenesis and provide many novel insights into the signaling pathways and processes involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard T. Waldron
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Aurelia Lugea
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Hui-Hua Chang
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Hsin-Yuan Su
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Crystal Quiros
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Michael S. Lewis
- Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Health System, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA;
| | - Mingtian Che
- Biobank and Research Pathology Resource, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - V. Krishnan Ramanujan
- Biobank and Research Pathology Resource, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Enrique Rozengurt
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Guido Eibl
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Stephen J. Pandol
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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3
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Chakkera M, Foote JB, Farran B, Nagaraju GP. Breaking the stromal barrier in pancreatic cancer: Advances and challenges. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189065. [PMID: 38160899 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189065] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide due to the absence of early detection methods and the low success rates of traditional therapeutic strategies. Drug resistance in PC is driven by its desmoplastic stroma, which creates a barrier that shields cancer niches and prevents the penetration of drugs. The PC stroma comprises heterogeneous cellular populations and non-cellular components involved in aberrant ECM deposition, immunosuppression, and drug resistance. These components can influence PC development through intricate and complex crosstalk with the PC cells. Understanding how stromal components and cells interact with and influence the invasiveness and refractoriness of PC cells is thus a prerequisite for developing successful stroma-modulating strategies capable of remodeling the PC stroma to alleviate drug resistance and enhance therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we explore how non-cellular and cellular stromal components, including cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor-associated macrophages, contribute to the immunosuppressive and tumor-promoting effects of the stroma. We also examine the signaling pathways underlying their activation, tumorigenic effects, and interactions with PC cells. Finally, we discuss recent pre-clinical and clinical work aimed at developing and testing novel stroma-modulating agents to alleviate drug resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohana Chakkera
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Jeremy B Foote
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Batoul Farran
- Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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Färber B, Lapshyna O, Künstner A, Kohl M, Sauer T, Bichmann K, Heckelmann B, Watzelt J, Honselmann K, Bolm L, ten Winkel M, Busch H, Ungefroren H, Keck T, Gemoll T, Wellner UF, Braun R. Molecular profiling and specific targeting of gemcitabine-resistant subclones in heterogeneous pancreatic cancer cell populations. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1230382. [PMID: 37719017 PMCID: PMC10502231 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1230382] [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: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Chemotherapy is pivotal in the multimodal treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Technical advances unveiled a high degree of inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity. We hypothesized that intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) impacts response to gemcitabine treatment and demands specific targeting of resistant subclones. Methods Using single cell-derived cell lines (SCDCLs) from the classical cell line BxPC3 and the basal-like cell line Panc-1, we addressed the effect of ITH on response to gemcitabine treatment. Results Individual SCDCLs of both parental tumor cell populations showed considerable heterogeneity in response to gemcitabine. Unsupervised PCA including the 1,000 most variably expressed genes showed a clustering of the SCDCLs according to their respective sensitivity to gemcitabine treatment for BxPC3, while this was less clear for Panc-1. In BxPC3 SCDCLs, enriched signaling pathways EMT, TNF signaling via NfKB, and IL2STAT5 signaling correlated with more resistant behavior to gemcitabine. In Panc-1 SCDCLs MYC targets V1 and V2 as well as E2F targets were associated with stronger resistance. We used recursive feature elimination for Feature Selection in order to compute sets of proteins that showed strong association with the response to gemcitabine. The optimal protein set calculated for Panc-1 comprised fewer proteins in comparison to the protein set determined for BxPC3. Based on molecular profiles, we could show that the gemcitabine-resistant SCDCLs of both BxPC3 and Panc-1 are more sensitive to the BET inhibitor JQ1 compared to the respective gemcitabine-sensitive SCDCLs. Conclusion Our model system of SCDCLs identified gemcitabine-resistant subclones and provides evidence for the critical role of ITH for treatment response in PDAC. We exploited molecular differences as the basis for differential response and used these for more targeted therapy of resistant subclones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Färber
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Olga Lapshyna
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Axel Künstner
- Medical Systems Biology Group, Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Michael Kohl
- Medical Systems Biology Group, Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Section for Translational Surgical Oncology & Biobanking, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Thorben Sauer
- Section for Translational Surgical Oncology & Biobanking, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Kira Bichmann
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Benjamin Heckelmann
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jessica Watzelt
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Kim Honselmann
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Louisa Bolm
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Meike ten Winkel
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Hauke Busch
- Medical Systems Biology Group, Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Hendrik Ungefroren
- First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tobias Keck
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Timo Gemoll
- Section for Translational Surgical Oncology & Biobanking, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ulrich F. Wellner
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Braun
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
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Wang S, Xu M, Xiao X, Wang L, Sun Z, Guan M, Zhao RC. Pancreatic cancer cell exosomes induce lipidomics changes in adipocytes. Adipocyte 2022; 11:346-355. [PMID: 35734893 PMCID: PMC9235897 DOI: 10.1080/21623945.2022.2084900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence has demonstrated the important roles of exosomes during pancreatic cancer development. However, the effects of pancreatic cancer exosomes (PC-exos) on adipocytes remain largely unknown. Here, we used mass-spectrometry-based lipidomics to identify lipids that were changed in adipocytes after exposure to PC-exos, and we found that triglyceride (TG) reduction was the most significant, which might be induced by increased lipolysis because the number of large lipid droplets increased while small ones decreased. Additionally, abdominal adipocytes in mice injected with PC-exos had a relatively smaller size. Mechanistically, we found that genes involved in metabolism and inflammation were up-regulated, among which increase of IL-6 was significant, and we then found IL-6 promoted lipolysis. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the lipidomics changes of adipocytes after PC-exos treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihua Wang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Beijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Clinical Trial of Stem Cell Therapy (BZ0381)
| | - Meiqian Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Laboratory of ENT-HNS Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xian Xiao
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Beijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Clinical Trial of Stem Cell Therapy (BZ0381)
| | - Liping Wang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Beijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Clinical Trial of Stem Cell Therapy (BZ0381)
| | - Zhao Sun
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Guan
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Robert Chunhua Zhao
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Beijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Clinical Trial of Stem Cell Therapy (BZ0381)
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
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6
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Motofei IG. Biology of cancer; from cellular and molecular mechanisms to developmental processes and adaptation. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:600-615. [PMID: 34695580 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer research has been largely focused on the cellular and molecular levels of investigation. Recent data show that not only the cell but also the extracellular matrix plays a major role in the progression of malignancy. In this way, the cells and the extracellular matrix create a specific local microenvironment that supports malignant development. At the same time, cancer implies a systemic evolution which is closely related to developmental processes and adaptation. Consequently, there is currently a real gap between the local investigation of cancer at the microenvironmental level, and the pathophysiological approach to cancer as a systemic disease. In fact, the cells and the matrix are not only complementary structures but also interdependent components that act synergistically. Such relationships lead to cell-matrix integration, a supracellular form of biological organization that supports tissue development. The emergence of this supracellular level of organization, as a structure, leads to the emergence of the supracellular control of proliferation, as a supracellular function. In humans, proliferation is generally involved in developmental processes and adaptation. These processes suppose a specific configuration at the systemic level, which generates high-order guidance for local supracellular control of proliferation. In conclusion, the supracellular control of proliferation act as an interface between the downstream level of cell division and differentiation, and upstream level of developmental processes and adaptation. Understanding these processes and their disorders is useful not only to complete the big picture of malignancy as a systemic disease, but also to open new treatment perspectives in the form of etiopathogenic (supracellular or informational) therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ion G Motofei
- Department of Oncology/ Surgery, Carol Davila University, St. Pantelimon Hospital, Dionisie Lupu Street, No. 37, Bucharest, 020021, Romania.
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7
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Wang H, Lu L, Liang X, Chen Y. Identification of prognostic genes in the pancreatic adenocarcinoma immune microenvironment by integrated bioinformatics analysis. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2022; 71:1757-1769. [PMID: 34854950 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-03110-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is one of the most common causes of death among solid tumors, and its pathogenesis remains to be clarified. This study aims to elucidate the value of immune/stromal-related genes in the prognosis of PAAD through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis based on the immune microenvironment and validated in Chinese pancreatic cancer patients. METHODS Gene expression profiles of pancreatic cancer patients were obtained from TCGA database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified based on the ESTIMATE algorithm. Gene co-expression networks were constructed using WGCNA. In the key module, survival analysis was used to reveal the prognostic value. Subsequently, we performed functional enrichment analysis to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The relationship between tumor immune infiltration and hub genes was analyzed by TIMER and CIBERSORT. Finally, it was validated in the GEO database and in tissues of Chinese pancreatic cancer patients. RESULTS In the TCGA pancreatic cancer cohort, a low immune/stromal score was associated with a good prognosis. After bioinformatic analysis, 57 genes were identified to be significantly associated with pancreatic cancer prognosis. Among them, up-regulation of four genes (COL6A3, PLAU, MMP11 and MMP14) indicated poor prognosis and was associated with multiple immune cell infiltration. IHC results showed that PLAU protein levels from Chinese pancreatic cancer tissues were significantly higher than those from adjacent non-tumor tissues and were also associated with tumor TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION In conclusion, this study demonstrates that PLAU may serve as a new diagnostic and therapeutic target, which is highly expressed in Chinese pancreatic cancer tissues and associated with lymph node metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haolan Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Liqing Lu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Xujun Liang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yongheng Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
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Sun HY, Du ST, Li YY, Deng GT, Zeng FR. Bromodomain and extra-terminal inhibitors emerge as potential therapeutic avenues for gastrointestinal cancers. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 14:75-89. [PMID: 35116104 PMCID: PMC8790409 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i1.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer and gastric cancer, are severe social burdens due to high incidence and mortality rates. Bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins are epigenetic readers consisting of four conserved members (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4 and BRDT). BET family perform pivotal roles in tumorigenesis through transcriptional regulation, thereby emerging as potential therapeutic targets. BET inhibitors, disrupting the interaction between BET proteins and acetylated lysines, have been reported to suppress tumor initiation and progression in most of GI cancers. In this review, we will demonstrate how BET proteins participate in the GI cancers progression and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting BET proteins for GI cancers treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Yan Sun
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
| | - Song-Tao Du
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150081, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Ya-Yun Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
| | - Guang-Tong Deng
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
| | - Fu-Rong Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
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Tabang DN, Cui Y, Tremmel DM, Ford M, Li Z, Sackett SD, Odorico JS, Li L. Analysis of pancreatic extracellular matrix protein post-translational modifications via electrostatic repulsion-hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Mol Omics 2021; 17:652-664. [PMID: 34318855 PMCID: PMC8511275 DOI: 10.1039/d1mo00104c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The pancreas is a vital organ with digestive and endocrine roles, and diseases of the pancreas affect millions of people yearly. A better understanding of the pancreas proteome and its dynamic post-translational modifications (PTMs) is necessary to engineer higher fidelity tissue analogues for use in transplantation. The extracellular matrix (ECM) has major roles in binding and signaling essential to the viability of insulin-producing islets of Langerhans. To characterize PTMs in the pancreas, native and decellularized tissues from four donors were analyzed. N-Glycosylated and phosphorylated peptides were simultaneously enriched via electrostatic repulsion-hydrophilic interaction chromatography and analyzed with mass spectrometry, maximizing PTM information from one workflow. A modified surfactant and chaotropic agent assisted sequential extraction/on-pellet digestion was used to maximize solubility of the ECM. The analysis resulted in the confident identification of 3650 proteins, including 517 N-glycoproteins and 148 phosphoproteins. We identified 214 ECM proteins, of which 99 were N-glycosylated, 18 were phosphorylated, and 9 were found to have both modifications. Collagens, a major component of the ECM, were the most highly glycosylated of the ECM proteins and several were also heavily phosphorylated, raising the possibility of structural and thus functional changes resulting from these modifications. To our knowledge, this work represents the first characterization of PTMs in pancreatic ECM proteins. This work provides a basal profile of PTMs in the healthy human pancreatic ECM, laying the foundation for future investigations to determine disease-specific changes such as in diabetes and pancreatic cancer, and potentially helping to guide the development of tissue replacement constructs. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD025048.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Nicholas Tabang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Yusi Cui
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Daniel M Tremmel
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Megan Ford
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Zihui Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Sara Dutton Sackett
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Jon S Odorico
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Lingjun Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
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Watt DM, Morton JP. Heterogeneity in Pancreatic Cancer Fibroblasts-TGFβ as a Master Regulator? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4984. [PMID: 34638468 PMCID: PMC8508541 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease for which there are very few available therapies. It is notable for its high degree of tumour complexity, with the tumour microenvironment often accounting for the majority of the tumour volume. Until recently, the biology of the stroma was poorly understood, particularly in terms of heterogeneity. Recent research, however, has shed light on the intricacy of signalling within the stroma and particularly the molecular and functional heterogeneity of the cancer associated fibroblasts. In this review, we summarise the recent improvements in our understanding of the different fibroblast populations within PDAC, with a focus on the role TGFβ plays to dictate their formation and function. These studies have highlighted some of the reasons for the failure of trials targeting the tumour stroma, however, there are still considerable gaps in our knowledge, and more work is needed to make effective fibroblast targeting a reality in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale M. Watt
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK;
| | - Jennifer P. Morton
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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11
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Sacher F, Feregrino C, Tschopp P, Ewald CY. Extracellular matrix gene expression signatures as cell type and cell state identifiers. Matrix Biol Plus 2021; 10:100069. [PMID: 34195598 PMCID: PMC8233473 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbplus.2021.100069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptomic signatures based on cellular mRNA expression profiles can be used to categorize cell types and states. Yet whether different functional groups of genes perform better or worse in this process remains largely unexplored. Here we test the core matrisome - that is, all genes coding for structural proteins of the extracellular matrix - for its ability to delineate distinct cell types in embryonic single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. We show that even though expressed core matrisome genes correspond to less than 2% of an entire cellular transcriptome, their RNA expression levels suffice to recapitulate essential aspects of cell type-specific clustering. Notably, using scRNA-seq data from the embryonic limb, we demonstrate that core matrisome gene expression outperforms random gene subsets of similar sizes and can match and exceed the predictive power of transcription factors. While transcription factor signatures generally perform better in predicting cell types at early stages of chicken and mouse limb development, i.e., when cells are less differentiated, the information content of the core matrisome signature increases in more differentiated cells. Moreover, using cross-species analyses, we show that these cell type-specific signatures are evolutionarily conserved. Our findings suggest that each cell type produces its own unique extracellular matrix, or matreotype, which becomes progressively more refined and cell type-specific as embryonic tissues mature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Sacher
- Laboratory of Regulatory Evolution, DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Basel CH-4051, Switzerland
| | - Christian Feregrino
- Laboratory of Regulatory Evolution, DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Basel CH-4051, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Tschopp
- Laboratory of Regulatory Evolution, DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Basel CH-4051, Switzerland
| | - Collin Y. Ewald
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach CH-8603, Switzerland
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12
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Neill T, Kapoor A, Xie C, Buraschi S, Iozzo RV. A functional outside-in signaling network of proteoglycans and matrix molecules regulating autophagy. Matrix Biol 2021; 100-101:118-149. [PMID: 33838253 PMCID: PMC8355044 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Proteoglycans and selected extracellular matrix constituents are emerging as intrinsic and critical regulators of evolutionarily conversed, intracellular catabolic pathways. Often, these secreted molecules evoke sustained autophagy in a variety of cell types, tissues, and model systems. The unique properties of proteoglycans have ushered in a paradigmatic shift to broaden our understanding of matrix-mediated signaling cascades. The dynamic cellular pathway controlling autophagy is now linked to an equally dynamic and fluid signaling network embedded in a complex meshwork of matrix molecules. A rapidly emerging field of research encompasses multiple matrix-derived candidates, representing a menagerie of soluble matrix constituents including decorin, biglycan, endorepellin, endostatin, collagen VI and plasminogen kringle 5. These matrix constituents are pro-autophagic and simultaneously anti-angiogenic. In contrast, perlecan, laminin α2 chain, and lumican have anti-autophagic functions. Mechanistically, each matrix constituent linked to intracellular catabolic events engages a specific cell surface receptor that often converges on a common core of the autophagic machinery including AMPK, Peg3 and Beclin 1. We consider this matrix-evoked autophagy as non-canonical given that it occurs in an allosteric manner and is independent of nutrient availability or prevailing bioenergetics control. We propose that matrix-regulated autophagy is an important outside-in signaling mechanism for proper tissue homeostasis that could be therapeutically leveraged to combat a variety of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Neill
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, and the Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Aastha Kapoor
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, and the Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christopher Xie
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, and the Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Simone Buraschi
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, and the Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Renato V Iozzo
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, and the Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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