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Ghosh A, Mitra AK. Metastasis and cancer associated fibroblasts: taking it up a NOTCH. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 11:1277076. [PMID: 38269089 PMCID: PMC10806909 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1277076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the least understood aspect of cancer biology. 90% of cancer related deaths occur due extensive metastatic burden in patients. Apart from metastasizing cancer cells, the pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic role of the tumor stroma plays a crucial part in this complex process often leading to disease relapse and therapy resistance. Cellular signaling processes play a crucial role in the process of tumorigenesis and metastasis when aberrantly turned on, not just in the cancer cells, but also in the cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME). One of the most conserved pathways includes the Notch signaling pathway that plays a crucial role in the development and progression of many cancers. In addition to its well documented role in cancer cells, recent evidence suggests crucial involvement of Notch signaling in the stroma as well. This review aims to highlight the current findings focusing on the oncogenic role of notch signaling in cancer cells and the TME, with a specific focus on cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which constitute a major part of the tumor stroma and are important for tumor progression. Recent efforts have focused on the development of anti-cancer and anti-metastatic therapies targeting TME. Understanding the importance of Notch signaling in the TME would help identify important drivers for stromal reprogramming, metastasis and importantly, drive future research in the effort to develop TME-targeted therapies utilizing Notch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argha Ghosh
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Anirban K. Mitra
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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2
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Khan IA, Singh N, Gunjan D, Dash NR, Nayak B, Gupta S, Saraya A. Elevated levels of peripheral Th17 cells and Th17-related cytokines in patients with periampullary adenocarcinoma. Hum Immunol 2024; 85:110748. [PMID: 38177009 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2023.110748] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
AIM Periampullary adenocarcinoma (PAC) is a malignant tumor originating at the ampulla of Vater, distal common bile duct, head of the pancreas, ampulla and duodenum. The levels of circulating Th17 cells and Th17-related cytokines in patients with PAC remain unreported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the levels of circulating Th17 cells and Th17-related cytokines in patients with PAC. MATERIALS AND METHODS Flow cytometry was used to measure Th17 cell proportions in PBMCs from 60 PAC patients and 30 healthy controls. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify IL-17A and IL-23 levels in serum samples, while quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assessed IL-17A mRNA expression and Th17-related transcription factors (RORγt and STAT3) in tissue samples. RESULTS The findings showed a substantial increase in Th17 cell percentages, elevated concentrations of IL-17A and IL-23, and higher mRNA expression levels of IL-17A, RORγt, and STAT3 in patients with PAC when compared to healthy controls (HCs). CONCLUSION Th17 cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of PAC and may represent potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imteyaz Ahmad Khan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Nidhi Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Deepak Gunjan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Nihar Ranjan Dash
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Baibaswata Nayak
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Surabhi Gupta
- Department of Reproductive Biology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Anoop Saraya
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
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3
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Khan IA, Singh N, Gunjan D, Gopi S, Dash NR, Gupta S, Saraya A. Increased circulating Th17 cell populations in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Immunogenetics 2023; 75:433-443. [PMID: 37540314 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-023-01318-4] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
T-helper 17 (Th17) cells are a subset of CD4+ helper T cells that produce interleukin 17 (IL-17) and play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Few studies have been conducted to determine the role of Th17 cells in the tumorigenesis and development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); however, its role is still unclear. In this study, the percentage of circulating Th17 cells and serum levels of IL-17A and IL-23 were analyzed using flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively, in 40 PDAC patients, 30 chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients and 30 healthy controls (HC). In addition, the mRNA expression levels of IL-17A, STAT3 and RORγt in tissue samples were quantified by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the percentage of circulating Th17 cells and the concentrations of serum IL-17A and IL-23 were significantly increased in PDAC patients as compared to CP and HC (P < 0.001). In addition, the higher level of IL-17A was significantly correlated with the poor overall survival of the PDAC patients. Furthermore, the frequencies of Th17 cells and IL-17A were significantly higher in stage III+IV PDAC patients versus stage I+II. A significant increase in IL-17A, STAT3 and RORγT mRNA was observed in patients with PDAC. Taken together, these findings suggest that the increased circulating Th17 cells and serum IL-17A may be involved in the development and metastasis of PDAC, and thus represent potential targets for the treatment of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imteyaz Ahmad Khan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 110029, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
| | - Nidhi Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 110029, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
| | - Deepak Gunjan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 110029, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
| | - Srikant Gopi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 110029, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
| | - Nihar Ranjan Dash
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Surabhi Gupta
- Department of Reproductive Biology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Anoop Saraya
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 110029, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India.
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4
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Almanzar VMD, Shah K, LaComb JF, Mojumdar A, Patel HR, Cheung J, Tang M, Ju J, Bialkowska AB. 5-FU-miR-15a Inhibits Activation of Pancreatic Stellate Cells by Reducing YAP1 and BCL-2 Levels In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:3954. [PMID: 36835366 PMCID: PMC9961454 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis, processes heightened by activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). Recent publications have demonstrated that miR-15a, which targets YAP1 and BCL-2, is significantly downregulated in patients with chronic pancreatitis compared to healthy controls. We have utilized a miRNA modification strategy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of miR-15a by replacing uracil with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). We demonstrated increased levels of YAP1 and BCL-2 (both targets of miR-15a) in pancreatic tissues obtained from Ptf1aCreERTM and Ptf1aCreERTM;LSL-KrasG12D mice after chronic pancreatitis induction as compared to controls. In vitro studies showed that delivery of 5-FU-miR-15a significantly decreased viability, proliferation, and migration of PSCs over six days compared to 5-FU, TGFβ1, control miR, and miR-15a. In addition, treatment of PSCs with 5-FU-miR-15a in the context of TGFβ1 treatment exerted a more substantial effect than TGFβ1 alone or when combined with other miRs. Conditioned medium obtained from PSC cells treated with 5-FU-miR-15a significantly inhibits the invasion of pancreatic cancer cells compared to controls. Importantly, we demonstrated that treatment with 5-FU-miR-15a reduced the levels of YAP1 and BCL-2 observed in PSCs. Our results strongly suggest that ectopic delivery of miR mimetics is a promising therapeutic approach for pancreatic fibrosis and that 5-FU-miR-15a shows specific promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa M. Diaz Almanzar
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Kunal Shah
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Joseph F. LaComb
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Aisharja Mojumdar
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Hetvi R. Patel
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jacky Cheung
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Meiyi Tang
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jingfang Ju
- Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Agnieszka B. Bialkowska
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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5
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Chung WC, Xu K. Notch signaling pathway in pancreatic tumorigenesis. Adv Cancer Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
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Study of the colonic epithelial-mesenchymal dialogue through establishment of two activated or not mesenchymal cell lines: Activated and resting ones differentially modulate colonocytes in co-culture. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273858. [PMID: 36040985 PMCID: PMC9426876 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Continuous and rapid renewal of the colonic epithelium is crucial to resist the plethora of luminal deleterious agents. Subepithelial fibroblasts contribute to this turnover by regulating epithelial proliferation and differentiation. However, when intestinal homeostasis is disturbed, fibroblasts can acquire an activated phenotype and play a major role in the progression of intestinal pathologies. To evaluate the involvement of fibroblasts in the regulation of colonocytes under homeostatic or pathological conditions, we established resting and activated conditionally immortalized fibroblast cell lines (nF and mF) from mouse colonic mucosa. We then studied the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions between activated or resting fibroblasts and the normal mouse colonocytes (Co) using a co-culture model. Both fibroblastic cell lines were characterized by RT-qPCR, western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Our results showed that nF and mF cells were positive for fibroblastic markers such as vimentin and collagen 1, and negative for cytokeratin 18 and E-cadherin, attesting to their fibroblastic type. They also expressed proteins characteristic of the epithelial stem cell niche such as Grem1, CD90 or Wnt5a. Only rare nF fibroblasts were positive for α-SMA, whereas all mF fibroblasts strongly expressed this marker, supporting that mF cells were activated fibroblasts/myofibroblasts. In coculture, nF fibroblasts and Co cells strongly interacted via paracrine exchanges resulting in BMP4 production in nF fibroblasts, activation of BMP signaling in Co colonocytes, and decreased growth of colonocytes. Activated-type mF fibroblasts did not exert the same effects on Co cells, allowing colonocytes free to proliferate. In conclusion, these two colonic fibroblast lines, associated with Co cells in coculture, should allow to better understand the role of mesenchymal cells in the preservation of homeostasis and the development of intestinal pathologies.
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Jablonski KP, Pirkl M, Ćevid D, Bühlmann P, Beerenwinkel N. Identifying cancer pathway dysregulations using differential causal effects. Bioinformatics 2021; 38:1550-1559. [PMID: 34927666 PMCID: PMC8896597 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Signaling pathways control cellular behavior. Dysregulated pathways, for example, due to mutations that cause genes and proteins to be expressed abnormally, can lead to diseases, such as cancer. RESULTS We introduce a novel computational approach, called Differential Causal Effects (dce), which compares normal to cancerous cells using the statistical framework of causality. The method allows to detect individual edges in a signaling pathway that are dysregulated in cancer cells, while accounting for confounding. Hence, technical artifacts have less influence on the results and dce is more likely to detect the true biological signals. We extend the approach to handle unobserved dense confounding, where each latent variable, such as, for example, batch effects or cell cycle states, affects many covariates. We show that dce outperforms competing methods on synthetic datasets and on CRISPR knockout screens. We validate its latent confounding adjustment properties on a GTEx (Genotype-Tissue Expression) dataset. Finally, in an exploratory analysis on breast cancer data from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas), we recover known and discover new genes involved in breast cancer progression. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The method dce is freely available as an R package on Bioconductor (https://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/dce.html) as well as on https://github.com/cbg-ethz/dce. The GitHub repository also contains the Snakemake workflows needed to reproduce all results presented here. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Domagoj Ćevid
- Seminar for Statistics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Bühlmann
- Seminar for Statistics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
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8
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Li J, Chen B, Fellows GF, Goodyer CG, Wang R. Activation of Pancreatic Stellate Cells Is Beneficial for Exocrine but Not Endocrine Cell Differentiation in the Developing Human Pancreas. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:694276. [PMID: 34490247 PMCID: PMC8418189 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.694276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic stellate cells (PaSCs) are non-endocrine, mesenchymal-like cells that reside within the peri-pancreatic tissue of the rodent and human pancreas. PaSCs regulate extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover in maintaining the integrity of pancreatic tissue architecture. Although there is evidence indicating that PaSCs are involved in islet cell survival and function, its role in islet cell differentiation during human pancreatic development remains unclear. The present study examines the expression pattern and functional role of PaSCs in islet cell differentiation of the developing human pancreas from late 1st to 2nd trimester of pregnancy. The presence of PaSCs in human pancreata (8–22 weeks of fetal age) was characterized by ultrastructural, immunohistological, quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting approaches. Using human fetal PaSCs derived from pancreata at 14–16 weeks, freshly isolated human fetal islet-epithelial cell clusters (hIECCs) were co-cultured with active or inactive PaSCs in vitro. Ultrastructural and immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated a population of PaSCs near ducts and newly formed islets that appeared to make complex cell-cell dendritic-like contacts. A small subset of PaSCs co-localized with pancreatic progenitor-associated transcription factors (PDX1, SOX9, and NKX6-1). PaSCs were highly proliferative, with significantly higher mRNA and protein levels of PaSC markers (desmin, αSMA) during the 1st trimester of pregnancy compared to the 2nd trimester. Isolated human fetal PaSCs were identified by expression of stellate cell markers and ECM. Suppression of PaSC activation, using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), resulted in reduced PaSC proliferation and ECM proteins. Co-culture of hIECCs, directly on PaSCs or indirectly using Millicell® Inserts or using PaSC-conditioned medium, resulted in a reduction the number of insulin+ cells but a significant increase in the number of amylase+ cells. Suppression of PaSC activation or Notch activity during the co-culture resulted in an increase in beta-cell differentiation. This study determined that PaSCs, abundant during the 1st trimester of pancreatic development but decreased in the 2nd trimester, are located near ductal and islet structures. Direct and indirect co-cultures of hIECCs with PaSCs suggest that activation of PaSCs has opposing effects on beta-cell and exocrine cell differentiation during human fetal pancreas development, and that these effects may be dependent on Notch signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Li
- Children's Health Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Bijun Chen
- Children's Health Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - George F Fellows
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Rennian Wang
- Children's Health Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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9
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Vera L, Garcia-Olloqui P, Petri E, Viñado AC, Valera PS, Blasco-Iturri Z, Calvo IA, Cenzano I, Ruppert C, Zulueta JJ, Prosper F, Saez B, Pardo-Saganta A. Notch3 Deficiency Attenuates Pulmonary Fibrosis and Impedes Lung-Function Decline. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2021; 64:465-476. [PMID: 33493092 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2020-0516oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast activation includes differentiation to myofibroblasts and is a key feature of organ fibrosis. The Notch pathway has been involved in myofibroblast differentiation in several tissues, including the lung. Here, we identify a subset of collagen-expressing cells in the lung that exhibit Notch3 activity at homeostasis. After injury, this activation increases, being found in αSMA-expressing myofibroblasts in the mouse and human fibrotic lung. Although previous studies suggest a contribution of Notch3 in stromal activation, in vivo evidence of the role of Notch3 in lung fibrosis remains unknown. In this study, we examine the effects of Notch3 deletion in pulmonary fibrosis and demonstrate that Notch3-deficient lungs are protected from lung injury with significantly reduced collagen deposition after bleomycin administration. The induction of profibrotic genes is reduced in bleomycin-treated Notch3-knockout lungs that consistently present fewer αSMA-positive myofibroblasts. As a result, the volume of healthy lung tissue is higher and lung function is improved in the absence of Notch3. Using in vitro cultures of lung primary fibroblasts, we confirmed that Notch3 participates in their survival and differentiation. Thus, Notch3 deficiency mitigates the development of lung fibrosis because of its role in mediating fibroblast activation. Our findings reveal a previously unidentified mechanism underlying lung fibrogenesis and provide a potential novel therapeutic approach to target pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eva Petri
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and
| | - Ana Cristina Viñado
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Center for Applied Medical Research, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Zuriñe Blasco-Iturri
- Molecular and Functional Biomarkers Lab, Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC BiomaGUNE), San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Isabel A Calvo
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Center for Applied Medical Research, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Itziar Cenzano
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Center for Applied Medical Research, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Clemens Ruppert
- Biobank of the Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center and the European Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Registry, German Center for Lung Research, Giessen, Germany; and
| | - Javier J Zulueta
- Pulmonary Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Felipe Prosper
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Center for Applied Medical Research, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Borja Saez
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Center for Applied Medical Research, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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10
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Zhang Z, Zhang H, Liu T, Chen T, Wang D, Tang D. Heterogeneous Pancreatic Stellate Cells Are Powerful Contributors to the Malignant Progression of Pancreatic Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:783617. [PMID: 34988078 PMCID: PMC8722736 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.783617] [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: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is associated with highly malignant tumors and poor prognosis due to strong therapeutic resistance. Accumulating evidence shows that activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) play an important role in the malignant progression of pancreatic cancer. In recent years, the rapid development of single-cell sequencing technology has facilitated the analysis of PSC population heterogeneity, allowing for the elucidation of the relationship between different subsets of cells with tumor development and therapeutic resistance. Researchers have identified two spatially separated, functionally complementary, and reversible subtypes, namely myofibroblastic and inflammatory PSC. Myofibroblastic PSC produce large amounts of pro-fibroproliferative collagen fibers, whereas inflammatory PSC express large amounts of inflammatory cytokines. These distinct cell subtypes cooperate to create a microenvironment suitable for cancer cell survival. Therefore, further understanding of the differentiation of PSC and their distinct functions will provide insight into more effective treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Zhang
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Tian Liu
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Tian Chen
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Daorong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Institute of General Surgery, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Dong Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Institute of General Surgery, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Dong Tang,
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11
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Yang K, Lee M, Jones PA, Liu SS, Zhou A, Xu J, Sreekanth V, Wu JLY, Vo L, Lee EA, Pop R, Lee Y, Wagner BK, Melton DA, Choudhary A, Karp JM. A 3D culture platform enables development of zinc-binding prodrugs for targeted proliferation of β cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eabc3207. [PMID: 33208361 PMCID: PMC7673808 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc3207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Advances in treating β cell loss include islet replacement therapies or increasing cell proliferation rate in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively. We propose developing multiple proliferation-inducing prodrugs that target high concentration of zinc ions in β cells. Unfortunately, typical two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures do not mimic in vivo conditions, displaying a markedly lowered zinc content, while 3D culture systems are laborious and expensive. Therefore, we developed the Disque Platform (DP)-a high-fidelity culture system where stem cell-derived β cells are reaggregated into thin, 3D discs within 2D 96-well plates. We validated the DP against standard 2D and 3D cultures and interrogated our zinc-activated prodrugs, which release their cargo upon zinc chelation-so preferentially in β cells. Through developing a reliable screening platform that bridges the advantages of 2D and 3D culture systems, we identified an effective hit that exhibits 2.4-fold increase in β cell proliferation compared to harmine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kisuk Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Proteomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Miseon Lee
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Peter Anthony Jones
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sophie S Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Angela Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vedagopuram Sreekanth
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jamie L Y Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lillian Vo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eunjee A Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ramona Pop
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yuhan Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Bridget K Wagner
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Douglas A Melton
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Amit Choudhary
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Divisions of Renal Medicine and Engineering, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Chemical Biology Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Karp
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
- Center for Nanomedicine, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Proteomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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12
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Xia SH. Prospect and clinical value of oxymatrine in prevention and treatment of pancreatic fibrosis. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2020; 28:819-826. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v28.i17.819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have confirmed that pancreatic stellate cell activation is the central event in the initiation and development of pancreatic fibrosis (PF), but the specific mechanism of PF is still unknown, and there is no specific treatment for PF. Some basic studies have confirmed that oxymatrine (OMT) has a certain therapeutic effect on PF, but further research is needed. It can be predicted that OMT has a far-reaching research prospect and good clinical application value for the prevention and treatment of PF, and is also conducive to the better development and utilization of traditional Chinese herbal medicine radix sophorae flavescentis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Hai Xia
- Gastroenterology Department of Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force (Institute of Digestive Diseases of Medical Center), Medical Center for Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Splenic Disease of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatic Fibrosis and Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Tianjin 300162, China
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13
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Al Alawi R, Alhamdani MSS, Hoheisel JD, Baqi Y. Antifibrotic and tumor microenvironment modulating effect of date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) extracts in pancreatic cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 121:109522. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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14
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Hu Y, Chen X, Xu Y, Han X, Wang M, Gong T, Zhang ZR, John Kao W, Fu Y. Hierarchical assembly of hyaluronan coated albumin nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer chemoimmunotherapy. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:16476-16487. [PMID: 31453622 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr03684a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant carcinoma with limited effective treatment options, resulting in a poor patient survival rate of less than 5%. In this study, cationic albumin nanoparticles were assembled with negatively charged hyaluronic acid (HA) to achieve a hierarchical nanostructure and efficient delivery of small molecule drugs to the tumor site in the pancreas. A combination of chemotherapy with indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibition was explored to enhance the chemotherapeutic efficacy in vivo. Hydrophobic celastrol (CLT) and hydrophilic 1-methyltryptophan (MT) were concurrently loaded in HA coated cationic albumin nanoparticles (HNPs) with an average size of ∼300 nm. The size of HNPs was reduced in the presence of hyaluronidase to facilitate penetration into deep tumor tissues. Also, the biodistribution study in the C57BL/6 mice xenograft model showed enhanced tumor accumulation and prolonged circulation of HNPs. Compared with CLT solution, the combination of CLT with MT showed significantly enhanced tumor inhibition in both xenograft and orthotopic pancreatic cancer mice models via downregulating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Taken together, the combination of CLT with MT administered via HNPs represents a highly promising strategy for targeted pancreatic cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Xue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Yingying Xu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Xianru Han
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Mou Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Tao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Zhi-Rong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - W John Kao
- Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemical Biology Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, HKSAR, China
| | - Yao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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15
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Wang T, Wang QQ, Pan GX, Jia GR, Li X, Wang C, Zhang LM, Zuo CJ. Retracted Article: ASIC1a involves acidic microenvironment-induced activation and autophagy of pancreatic stellate cells. RSC Adv 2018; 8:30950-30956. [PMID: 35548742 PMCID: PMC9085602 DOI: 10.1039/c8ra03679a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a), as a member of the proton-gated cation channel family, can be activated by low extracellular pH, and takes part in many acidity-associated physiopathological processes. However, whether ASIC1a is expressed in human pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and involved in acid-induced physiopathological events has not been reported yet. In this study, we investigated the expression of ASIC1a in PSCs and its possible role in the activation and autophagy of PSCs evoked by extracellular acid. Our results show that ASIC1a is present in PSCs, and an enhanced expression of ASIC1a occurs under acid stimuli. More importantly, the activation and autophagy of PSCs can be induced in acidic medium, and inhibition of ASIC1a by ASIC1a-specific blocker psalmotoxin-1 (PcTx1) or siRNA knockdown could suppress these two acid-associated processes. Collectively, our present study reports for the first time that ASIC1a is expressed in PSCs, and provides evidence for the involvement of ASIC1a in the acidic microenvironment-induced activation and autophagy of PSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200433 China
| | - Qian-Qian Wang
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200433 China
| | - Gui-Xia Pan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200433 China
| | - Guo-Rong Jia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200433 China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200433 China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200433 China
| | - Li-Ming Zhang
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200433 China
| | - Chang-Jing Zuo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200433 China
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