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Duan M, Zhang X, Lou Y, Feng J, Guo P, Ye S, Lv P, Chen Y. Deletion of Tmem268 in mice suppresses anti-infectious immune responses by downregulating CD11b signaling. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:2550-2570. [PMID: 38730209 PMCID: PMC11169502 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00141-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Transmembrane protein 268 (TMEM268) is a novel, tumor growth-related protein first reported by our laboratory. It interacts with the integrin subunit β4 (ITGB4) and plays a positive role in the regulation of the ITGB4/PLEC signaling pathway. Here, we investigated the effects and mechanism of TMEM268 in anti-infectious immune response in mice. Tmem268 knockout in mice aggravated cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis, as evidenced by higher bacterial burden in various tissues and organs, congestion, and apoptosis. Moreover, Tmem268 deficiency in mice inhibited phagocyte adhesion and migration, thus decreasing phagocyte infiltration at the site of infection and complement-dependent phagocytosis. Further findings indicated that TMEM268 interacts with CD11b and inhibits its degradation via the endosome-lysosome pathway. Our results reveal a positive regulatory role of TMEM268 in β2 integrin-associated anti-infectious immune responses and signify the potential value of targeting the TMEM268-CD11b signaling axis for the maintenance of immune homeostasis and immunotherapy for sepsis and related immune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Duan
- Department of Immunology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Pediatric Diseases of Otolaryngology, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, 100045, Beijing, China
| | - Yaxin Lou
- Medical and Healthy Analytical Center, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Jinqiu Feng
- Department of Immunology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Pengli Guo
- Department of Immunology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Shufang Ye
- Department of Immunology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Lv
- Department of Immunology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Yingyu Chen
- Department of Immunology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China.
- Center for Human Disease Genomics, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China.
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Zhu Z, Wang Q, Zeng X, Zhu S, Chen J. Validation and identification of anoikis-related lncRNA signatures for improving prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:3915-3933. [PMID: 38385949 PMCID: PMC10929799 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205568] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC) usually has a high metastasis rate and high mortality rate. To enable precise risk stratification, there is a need for novel biomarkers. As one form of apoptosis, anoikis results from the disruption of cell-cell connection or cell-ECM attachment. However, the impact of anoikis-related lncRNAs on ccRCC has not yet received adequate attention. METHODS The study utilized univariate Cox regression analysis in order to identify the overall survival (OS) associated anoikis-related lncRNAs (ARLs), followed by the LASSO algorithm for selection. On this basis, a risk model was subsequently established using five anoikis-related lncRNAs. To dig the inner molecular mechanism, KEGG, GO, and GSVA analyses were conducted. Additionally, the immune infiltration landscape was estimated using the ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and ssGSEA algorithms. RESULTS The study constructed a novel risk model based on five ARLs (AC092611.2, AC027601.2, AC103809.1, AL133215.2, and AL162586.1). Patients categorized as low-risk exhibited significantly better OS. Notably, the study observed marked different immune infiltration landscapes and drug sensitivity by risk stratification. Additionally, the study preliminarily explored potential signal pathways associated with risk stratification. CONCLUSION The study exhibited the crucial role of ARLs in the carcinogenesis of ccRCC, potentially through differential immune infiltration. Furthermore, the established risk model could serve as a valuable stratification factor for predicting OS prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjie Zhu
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qibo Wang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaowei Zeng
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shaoxing Zhu
- Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jinchao Chen
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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3
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Flies DB, Langermann S, Jensen C, Karsdal MA, Willumsen N. Regulation of tumor immunity and immunotherapy by the tumor collagen extracellular matrix. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1199513. [PMID: 37662958 PMCID: PMC10470046 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1199513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been known for decades that the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) is dysfunctional leading to loss of tissue architecture and promotion of tumor growth. The altered ECM and tumor fibrogenesis leads to tissue stiffness that act as a physical barrier to immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment (TME). It is becoming increasingly clear that the ECM plays important roles in tumor immune responses. A growing body of data now indicates that ECM components also play a more active role in immune regulation when dysregulated ECM components act as ligands to interact with receptors on immune cells to inhibit immune cell subpopulations in the TME. In addition, immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors that are approved to treat cancer are often hindered by ECM changes. In this review we highlight the ways by which ECM alterations affect and regulate immunity in cancer. More specifically, how collagens and major ECM components, suppress immunity in the complex TME. Finally, we will review how our increased understanding of immune and immunotherapy regulation by the ECM is leading towards novel disruptive strategies to overcome immune suppression.
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Yuile A, Wei JQ, Mohan AA, Hotchkiss KM, Khasraw M. Interdependencies of the Neuronal, Immune and Tumor Microenvironment in Gliomas. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2856. [PMID: 37345193 PMCID: PMC10216320 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102856] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are the most common primary brain malignancy and are universally fatal. Despite significant breakthrough in understanding tumor biology, treatment breakthroughs have been limited. There is a growing appreciation that major limitations on effective treatment are related to the unique and highly complex glioma tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME consists of multiple different cell types, broadly categorized into tumoral, immune and non-tumoral, non-immune cells. Each group provides significant influence on the others, generating a pro-tumor dynamic with significant immunosuppression. In addition, glioma cells are highly heterogenous with various molecular distinctions on the cellular level. These variations, in turn, lead to their own unique influence on the TME. To develop future treatments, an understanding of this complex TME interplay is needed. To this end, we describe the TME in adult gliomas through interactions between its various components and through various glioma molecular phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Yuile
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Reserve Road, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
- The Brain Cancer Group, North Shore Private Hospital, 3 Westbourne Street, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Joe Q. Wei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Reserve Road, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Aditya A. Mohan
- The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kelly M. Hotchkiss
- The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Mustafa Khasraw
- The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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5
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Alhasan B, Mikeladze M, Guzhova I, Margulis B. Autophagy, molecular chaperones, and unfolded protein response as promoters of tumor recurrence. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:217-254. [PMID: 36723697 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10085-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Tumor recurrence is a paradoxical function of a machinery, whereby a small proportion of the cancer cell population enters a resistant, dormant state, persists long-term in this condition, and then transitions to proliferation. The dormant phenotype is typical of cancer stem cells, tumor-initiating cells, disseminated tumor cells, and drug-tolerant persisters, which all demonstrate similar or even equivalent properties. Cancer cell dormancy and its conversion to repopulation are regulated by several protein signaling systems that inhibit or induce cell proliferation and provide optimal interrelations between cancer cells and their special niche; these systems act in close connection with tumor microenvironment and immune response mechanisms. During dormancy and reawakening periods, cell proteostasis machineries, autophagy, molecular chaperones, and the unfolded protein response are recruited to protect refractory tumor cells from a wide variety of stressors and therapeutic insults. Proteostasis mechanisms functionally or even physically interfere with the main regulators of tumor relapse, and the significance of these interactions and implications in the tumor recurrence phases are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bashar Alhasan
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky Ave. 4, 194064, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Marina Mikeladze
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky Ave. 4, 194064, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Irina Guzhova
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky Ave. 4, 194064, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Boris Margulis
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky Ave. 4, 194064, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Touihri-Barakati I, Kallech-Ziri O, Morjen M, Marrakchi N, Luis J, Hosni K. Inhibitory effect of phenolic extract from squirting cucumber ( Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich) seed oil on integrin-mediated cell adhesion, migration and angiogenesis. RSC Adv 2022; 12:31747-31756. [PMID: 36380921 PMCID: PMC9638996 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra02593k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Integrin targeted therapies by natural bioactive compounds have attracted attention in the field of oncology and cancer treatment. This study evaluates the potential of phenolic extract from the medicinal herb Ecballium elaterium L. seed oil (PEO) to inhibit the adhesion and migration of the highly invasive human fibrosarcoma cell line HT1080. At safe concentrations (up to 40 μg mL-1), results show that PEO dose-dependently inhibits adhesion and migration of HT1080 to fibronectin (IC50 = 18 μg mL-1) and fibrinogen (IC50 = 12.86 μg mL-1). These observations were associated with the reduction of cell motility and migration velocity as revealed in the Boyden chamber and random motility using two-dimensional assays, respectively. Additional experiments using integrin blocking antibodies showed that PEO at the highest safe concentration (40 μg mL-1) competitively inhibited the attachment of HT1080 cell to anti-αvβ3 (>98%), anti-α5β1 (>86%), and to a lesser extent anti-α2 (>50%) immobilized antibodies, suggesting that αvβ3 and α5β1 integrins were selectively targeted by PEO. Moreover, PEO specifically targeted these integrins in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and dose-dependently blocked the in vitro tubulogenesis. In the CAM model, PEO inhibited the VEGF-induced neoangiogenesis confirming its anti-angiogenic effect. Collectively, these results indicate that PEO holds promise for the development of natural integrin-targeted therapies against fibrosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Touihri-Barakati
- Laboratoire des Substances Naturelles (LR10INRAP02), Institut National de Recherche et d'Analyse Physico-chimique Sidi Thabet 2020 Ariana Tunisia
| | - Olfa Kallech-Ziri
- Laboratoire des Substances Naturelles (LR10INRAP02), Institut National de Recherche et d'Analyse Physico-chimique Sidi Thabet 2020 Ariana Tunisia
| | - Maram Morjen
- Laboratory of Biomolecules, Venoms and Theranostic Applications, LR20IPT01, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar Tunis 1002 Tunisia
| | - Naziha Marrakchi
- Laboratory of Biomolecules, Venoms and Theranostic Applications, LR20IPT01, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar Tunis 1002 Tunisia
| | - José Luis
- CNRS-UMR 7051, Institut de Neuro Physiopathologie (INP), Université Aix-Marseille 27 Bd Jean Moulin 13385 Marseille France
| | - Karim Hosni
- Laboratoire des Substances Naturelles (LR10INRAP02), Institut National de Recherche et d'Analyse Physico-chimique Sidi Thabet 2020 Ariana Tunisia
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Chicco D, Alameer A, Rahmati S, Jurman G. Towards a potential pan-cancer prognostic signature for gene expression based on probesets and ensemble machine learning. BioData Min 2022; 15:28. [PMID: 36329531 PMCID: PMC9632055 DOI: 10.1186/s13040-022-00312-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and can be caused by environmental aspects (for example, exposure to asbestos), by human behavior (such as smoking), or by genetic factors. To understand which genes might be involved in patients’ survival, researchers have invented prognostic genetic signatures: lists of genes that can be used in scientific analyses to predict if a patient will survive or not. In this study, we joined together five different prognostic signatures, each of them related to a specific cancer type, to generate a unique pan-cancer prognostic signature, that contains 207 unique probesets related to 187 unique gene symbols, with one particular probeset present in two cancer type-specific signatures (203072_at related to the MYO1E gene). We applied our proposed pan-cancer signature with the Random Forests machine learning method to 57 microarray gene expression datasets of 12 different cancer types, and analyzed the results. We also compared the performance of our pan-cancer signature with the performances of two alternative prognostic signatures, and with the performances of each cancer type-specific signature on their corresponding cancer type-specific datasets. Our results confirmed the effectiveness of our prognostic pan-cancer signature. Moreover, we performed a pathway enrichment analysis, which indicated an association between the signature genes and a protein-protein interaction analysis, that highlighted PIK3R2 and FN1 as key genes having a fundamental relevance in our signature, suggesting an important role in pan-cancer prognosis for both of them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Chicco
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, M5T 3M7 Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Abbas Alameer
- grid.411196.a0000 0001 1240 3921Department of Biological Sciences, Kuwait University, 13 KH Firdous Street, 13060 Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Sara Rahmati
- grid.231844.80000 0004 0474 0428Krembil Research Institute, 135 Nassau Street, M5T 1M8 Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Giuseppe Jurman
- grid.11469.3b0000 0000 9780 0901Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Via Sommarive 18, 38123 Povo (Trento), Italy
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Faisal SM, Comba A, Varela ML, Argento AE, Brumley E, Abel C, Castro MG, Lowenstein PR. The complex interactions between the cellular and non-cellular components of the brain tumor microenvironmental landscape and their therapeutic implications. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1005069. [PMID: 36276147 PMCID: PMC9583158 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1005069] [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: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive high-grade glial tumor, is resistant to therapy and has a poor prognosis due to its universal recurrence rate. GBM cells interact with the non-cellular components in the tumor microenvironment (TME), facilitating their rapid growth, evolution, and invasion into the normal brain. Herein we discuss the complexity of the interactions between the cellular and non-cellular components of the TME and advances in the field as a whole. While the stroma of non-central nervous system (CNS) tissues is abundant in fibrillary collagens, laminins, and fibronectin, the normal brain extracellular matrix (ECM) predominantly includes proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycosaminoglycans, with fibrillary components typically found only in association with the vasculature. However, recent studies have found that in GBMs, the microenvironment evolves into a more complex array of components, with upregulated collagen gene expression and aligned fibrillary ECM networks. The interactions of glioma cells with the ECM and the degradation of matrix barriers are crucial for both single-cell and collective invasion into neighboring brain tissue. ECM-regulated mechanisms also contribute to immune exclusion, resulting in a major challenge to immunotherapy delivery and efficacy. Glioma cells chemically and physically control the function of their environment, co-opting complex signaling networks for their own benefit, resulting in radio- and chemo-resistance, tumor recurrence, and cancer progression. Targeting these interactions is an attractive strategy for overcoming therapy resistance, and we will discuss recent advances in preclinical studies, current clinical trials, and potential future clinical applications. In this review, we also provide a comprehensive discussion of the complexities of the interconnected cellular and non-cellular components of the microenvironmental landscape of brain tumors to guide the development of safe and effective therapeutic strategies against brain cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed M. Faisal
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Dept. of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Andrea Comba
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Dept. of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Maria L. Varela
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Dept. of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Anna E. Argento
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Emily Brumley
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Dept. of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Clifford Abel
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Dept. of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Maria G. Castro
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Dept. of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Pedro R. Lowenstein
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Dept. of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Pedro R. Lowenstein,
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Targeting Cellular Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in Solid Malignancies. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174278. [PMID: 36077813 PMCID: PMC9454727 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The tumor microenvironment comprises numerous different cellular players that engage transformed cancer cells and may exert pro- vs anti-tumor functions. Their crosstalk, functionality, as well as cell recruitment to cancer lesions, is chiefly dictated by cytokines/chemokines-receptor pairs and these axes can represent therapeutic vulnerabilities—as for immune checkpoint blockers. In this review, we recapitulate the main drivers of cellular TME dynamics, interactions, and functionality, mainly focusing on T lymphocytes, macrophages and cancer associated fibroblasts, also providing an outlook on state-of-the-art TME-targeting agents. Abstract Cancers are composed of transformed cells, characterized by aberrant growth and invasiveness, in close relationship with non-transformed healthy cells and stromal tissue. The latter two comprise the so-called tumor microenvironment (TME), which plays a key role in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, metastatic seeding, and therapy resistance. In these regards, cancer-TME interactions are complex and dynamic, with malignant cells actively imposing an immune-suppressive and tumor-promoting state on surrounding, non-transformed, cells. Immune cells (both lymphoid and myeloid) can be recruited from the circulation and/or bone marrow by means of chemotactic signals, and their functionality is hijacked upon arrival at tumor sites. Molecular characterization of tumor-TME interactions led to the introduction of novel anti-cancer therapies targeting specific components of the TME, such as immune checkpoint blockers (ICB) (i.e., anti-programmed death 1, anti-PD1; anti-Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4, anti-CTLA4). However, ICB resistance often develops and, despite the introduction of newer technologies able to study the TME at the single-cell level, a detailed understanding of all tumor-TME connections is still largely lacking. In this work, we highlight the main cellular and extracellular components of the TME, discuss their dynamics and functionality, and provide an outlook on the most relevant clinical data obtained with novel TME-targeting agents, with a focus on T lymphocytes, macrophages, and cancer-associated fibroblasts.
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Contessi Negrini N, Ricci C, Bongiorni F, Trombi L, D’Alessandro D, Danti S, Farè S. An Osteosarcoma Model by 3D Printed Polyurethane Scaffold and In Vitro Generated Bone Extracellular Matrix. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14082003. [PMID: 35454909 PMCID: PMC9025808 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14082003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Development of new therapeutics to treat osteosarcoma is fundamental to decreasing its current health impact. 3D in vitro models are gaining tremendous momentum as, compared to traditional 2D in vitro models and in vivo models, can speed up new treatment discovery and provide clarification of the pathology development, by ultimately offering a reproducible and biomimetic tool. However, engineering a 3D osteosarcoma in vitro model is challenging, since the reliability of the models strictly depends on their ability to correctly mimic the physical, mechanical, and biological properties of the pathological tissue to be replicated. Here, we designed 3D printed polyurethane scaffolds enriched by in vitro pre-generated bone extracellular matrix, synthesized by osteo-differentiated human mesenchymal stromal cells, to replicate in vitro an osteosarcoma model, which can be potentially used to study tumor progression and to assess new treatments. Abstract Osteosarcoma is a primary bone tumor characterized by a dismal prognosis, especially in the case of recurrent disease or metastases. Therefore, tools to understand in-depth osteosarcoma progression and ultimately develop new therapeutics are urgently required. 3D in vitro models can provide an optimal option, as they are highly reproducible, yet sufficiently complex, thus reliable alternatives to 2D in vitro and in vivo models. Here, we describe 3D in vitro osteosarcoma models prepared by printing polyurethane (PU) by fused deposition modeling, further enriched with human mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC)-secreted biomolecules. We printed scaffolds with different morphologies by changing their design (i.e., the distance between printed filaments and printed patterns) to obtain different pore geometry, size, and distribution. The printed PU scaffolds were stable during in vitro cultures, showed adequate porosity (55–67%) and tunable mechanical properties (Young’s modulus ranging in 0.5–4.0 MPa), and resulted in cytocompatible. We developed the in vitro model by seeding SAOS-2 cells on the optimal PU scaffold (i.e., 0.7 mm inter-filament distance, 60° pattern), by testing different pre-conditioning factors: none, undifferentiated hMSC-secreted, and osteo-differentiated hMSC-secreted extracellular matrix (ECM), which were obtained by cell lysis before SAOS-2 seeding. Scaffolds pre-cultured with osteo-differentiated hMSCs, subsequently lysed, and seeded with SAOS-2 cells showed optimal colonization, thus disclosing a suitable biomimetic microenvironment for osteosarcoma cells, which can be useful both in tumor biology study and, possibly, treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Contessi Negrini
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, 20131 Milan, Italy; (F.B.); (S.F.)
- Correspondence: (N.C.N.); (S.D.)
| | - Claudio Ricci
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Federica Bongiorni
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, 20131 Milan, Italy; (F.B.); (S.F.)
| | - Luisa Trombi
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (L.T.); (D.D.)
| | - Delfo D’Alessandro
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (L.T.); (D.D.)
| | - Serena Danti
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy;
- Correspondence: (N.C.N.); (S.D.)
| | - Silvia Farè
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, 20131 Milan, Italy; (F.B.); (S.F.)
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Gupta R. Epigenetic regulation and targeting of ECM for cancer therapy. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 322:C762-C768. [PMID: 35235427 PMCID: PMC8993518 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00022.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) composed of different types of cells embedded in extracellular matrix (ECM) has crucial effects on cancer growth and metastasis. ECM is made of a variety of proteins that provide structural support to the cells and regulate biological functions by modulating the crosstalk among cells, thus effecting tumor growth and progression. In this mini-review, we discuss epigenetic modifications that regulate the expression of fibrous ECM proteins and glycoproteins and the prospects of targeting them for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romi Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Zhang X, Yang W, Chen K, Zheng T, Guo Z, Peng Y, Yang Z. The potential prognostic values of the ADAMTS-like protein family: an integrative pan-cancer analysis. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1562. [PMID: 34790768 PMCID: PMC8576672 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-4946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Background A disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase domain with thrombospondin type 1 motifs (ADAMTS)-like proteins, including ADAMTSL1-6 and papilin, which are part of the mammalian ADAMTS superfamily, appear to be relevant to extracellular matrix function and the regulation of ADAMTS protease activity. Their roles in tumor initiation and progression and regulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) are now recognized. Methods In the present study, a comprehensive investigation of the pan-cancer effects of ADAMTSLs and their associations with patient survival, drug responses, and the TME was performed by integrating The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data and annotated data resources. Results The expression of ADAMTSL family members was found to be dysregulated in many cancer types. More importantly, their expression was frequently associated with patients’ overall survival (OS), drug responses, and the TME. ADAMTSL1, ADAMTSL4, and ADAMTSL5 were primarily associated with aggressive phenotypes, while PAPLN was more frequently associated with a favorable prognosis. In a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cohort, Thrombospondin Type 1 Domain Containing 4 (THSD4) (ADAMTSL6) and Papilin (PAPLN) were associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) sensitivity in samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus repository (GSE135222). Twenty and 30 proteins related to THSD4 and PAPLN, respectively, were identified through a proteomic analysis of 18 Chinese lung adenocarcinoma patients. Conclusions Our findings extend understandings of the role of the ADAMTSL family in cancers and are a valuable resource on their clinical utility. This article provides insight into the clinical importance of next-generation sequencing technology to identify novel biomarkers for prognosis and investigate therapeutic strategy for clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Zhang
- Cancer Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wendi Yang
- Cancer Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kehong Chen
- Cancer Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Taihao Zheng
- Cancer Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhengjun Guo
- Cancer Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuan Peng
- Cancer Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenzhou Yang
- Cancer Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Vlachostergios PJ. Integrin signaling gene alterations and outcomes of cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:12386-12394. [PMID: 34956460 PMCID: PMC8661141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune evasion is a hallmark of cancer and is associated with resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors. Several interactions between tumor and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment are effected through integrin signaling; however the latter has been underrecognized as a pathway that could have an impact on oncological outcomes after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This study aimed to assess the clinical relevance of genomic alterations in the integrin signaling pathway in ICI-treated patients with advanced cancers. METHODS Next generation sequencing (NGS) data from tumor samples of patients with advanced cancers treated with ICIs (anti-PD-1/PD-L1, anti-CTLA4 or both) were queried from four independent publicly available cohorts for mutations and structural variations in 72 integrin signaling pathway genes (Gene Set: GOBP_CELL_ADHESION_MEDIATED_BY_INTEGRIN). The Kaplan Meier method was used to assess the association between mutated and unmutated genes with overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). All results were reported at the 0.05 significance level. RESULTS The largest cohort included 1662 patients (discovery set) and comprised 350 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 321 melanoma, 214 bladder, 151 renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 138 head neck (HN), 126 esophageal/gastric (EG), 117 glioma, 110 colorectal (CRC), 90 cancer of unknown primary (CUP), and 45 breast cancer patients. ICI treatments included PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors (n=1256), anti-CTLA4 inhibitors (n=146) or both (n=260). 170 patients (10% of the entire cohort) harbored mutations in PIK3CG (6%), RET (3%), SYK (1.4%), LYN (1.4%), PTPN11 (1.3%), and CRKL (0.1%) genes. Presence of these mutations was more frequent in melanoma (18%), followed by CRC (14.5%), CUP (11%), and NSCLC (11%). Patients with mutated tumors experienced a significantly longer median OS (41 months) compared to those without alterations (16 months, log-rank P<0.001). The favorable prognostic value of PIK3CG, RET, SYK, LYN, PTPN11, and CRKL alterations was confirmed in three melanoma cohorts (validation set, n=212, P=0.024). Assessment of mutation status of these genes in a fourth cohort of NSCLC patients (n=75) revealed a predictive significance as well, with regard to PFS after treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab combination (P=0.048). CONCLUSION Mutations and/or structural variations in integrin signaling genes may have prognostic and predictive value in patients with metastatic malignancies who receive ICIs. Although confirmation in larger studies with concurrent investigation of underlying immunologic mechanisms is needed, these findings pose therapeutic implications for co-targeted approaches to overcome immune evasion and resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis J Vlachostergios
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine New York 10021, NY, USA
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14
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He Y, Liu T, Dai S, Xu Z, Wang L, Luo F. Tumor-Associated Extracellular Matrix: How to Be a Potential Aide to Anti-tumor Immunotherapy? Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:739161. [PMID: 34733848 PMCID: PMC8558531 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.739161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of cancer immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint blockade therapy, has made major breakthroughs in the therapy of cancers. However, less than one-third of the cancer patients obtain significant and long-lasting therapeutic effects by cancer immunotherapy. Over the past few decades, cancer-related inflammations have been gradually more familiar to us. It’s known that chronic inflammation in tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a predominant role in tumor immunosuppression. Tumor-associated extracellular matrix (ECM), as a core member of TME, has been a research hotspot recently. A growing number of studies indicate that tumor-associated ECM is one of the major obstacles to realizing more successful cases of cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we discussed the potential application of tumor-associated ECM in the cancer immunity and its aide potentialities to anti-tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying He
- Department of Medical Oncology, Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Oncology Department, People's Hospital of Deyang City, Deyang, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuang Dai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zihan Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Mason LD, Chava S, Reddi KK, Gupta R. The BRD9/7 Inhibitor TP-472 Blocks Melanoma Tumor Growth by Suppressing ECM-Mediated Oncogenic Signaling and Inducing Apoptosis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215516. [PMID: 34771678 PMCID: PMC8582741 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma accounts for the majority of all skin cancer-related deaths and only 1/3rd of melanoma patients with distal metastasis survive beyond five years. However, current therapies including BRAF/MEK targeted therapies or immunotherapies only benefit a subset of melanoma patients due to the emergence of intrinsic or extrinsic resistance mechanisms. Effective treatment of melanoma will thus require new and more effective therapeutic agents. Towards the goal of identifying new therapeutic agents, we conducted an unbiased, druggable epigenetic drug screen using a library of 32 epigenetic inhibitors obtained from the Structural Genome Consortium that targets proteins encoding for epigenetic regulators. This chemical genetic screening identified TP-472, which targets bromodomain-7/9, as the strongest inhibitor of melanoma growth in both short- and long-term survival assays and in mouse models of melanoma tumor growth. Mechanistically, using a transcriptome-wide mRNA sequencing profile we identified TP-472 treatment downregulates genes encoding various extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including integrins, collagens, and fibronectins. Reactome-based functional pathway analyses revealed that many of the ECM proteins are involved in extracellular matrix interactions required for cancer cell growth and proliferation. TP-472 treatment also upregulated several pro-apoptotic genes that can inhibit melanoma growth. Collectively, our results identify BRD7/9 inhibitor TP-472 as a potentially useful therapeutic agent for melanoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence David Mason
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35322, USA; (L.D.M.); (S.C.); (K.K.R.)
| | - Suresh Chava
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35322, USA; (L.D.M.); (S.C.); (K.K.R.)
| | - Kiran Kumar Reddi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35322, USA; (L.D.M.); (S.C.); (K.K.R.)
| | - Romi Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35322, USA; (L.D.M.); (S.C.); (K.K.R.)
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35322, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-205-934-6207
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The Yin and Yang of Discoidin Domain Receptors (DDRs): Implications in Tumor Growth and Metastasis Development. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13071725. [PMID: 33917302 PMCID: PMC8038660 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in tumor development and metastasis. Collagens are major components of the extracellular matrix and can influence tumor development and metastasis by activating discoidin domain receptors (DDRs). This work shows the different roles of DDRs in various cancers and highlights the complexity of anti-DDR therapies in cancer treatment. Abstract The tumor microenvironment is a complex structure composed of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and nontumoral cells (notably cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and immune cells). Collagens are the main components of the ECM and they are extensively remodeled during tumor progression. Some collagens are ligands for the discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinases, DDR1 and DDR2. DDRs are involved in different stages of tumor development and metastasis formation. In this review, we present the different roles of DDRs in these processes and discuss controversial findings. We conclude by describing emerging DDR inhibitory strategies, which could be used as new alternatives for the treatment of patients.
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Louis C, Edeline J, Coulouarn C. Targeting the tumor microenvironment in cholangiocarcinoma: implications for therapy. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:153-162. [PMID: 33502260 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.1882998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare, deadly cancer that is characterized by an abundant desmoplastic stroma. Late diagnoses and limited available effective treatments are major problems with this malignancy. Targeting of the tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy.Areas covered: In this review, we describe the role of the various compartments of the TME in CCA and focus on the preclinical rationale for the development of innovative therapies. Relevant literature was identified by a PubMed search covering the last decade (2010-2020).Expert opinion: Low efficacy of surgery and cytotoxic chemotherapy emphasizes the need for new therapeutic strategies and companion biomarkers. Single-cell RNA sequencing of the stroma is yielding a critical functional characterization of TME in CCA and is paving the way for immunotherapies and cancer-associated fibroblast and extracellular matrix-oriented treatments. We believe that the development of treatments targeting the components of the TME will produce the best results if in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Biomarkers should be developed to define the patient population of interest for each combination strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corentin Louis
- Inserm, Univ Rennes 1, COSS (Chemistry, Oncogenesis Stress Signaling), UMR_S 1242, Centre De Lutte Contre Le Cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
| | - Julien Edeline
- Inserm, Univ Rennes 1, COSS (Chemistry, Oncogenesis Stress Signaling), UMR_S 1242, Centre De Lutte Contre Le Cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
| | - Cédric Coulouarn
- Inserm, Univ Rennes 1, COSS (Chemistry, Oncogenesis Stress Signaling), UMR_S 1242, Centre De Lutte Contre Le Cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
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