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Nielsen BS, Madsen NH, Larsen J, Skandorff I, Gad M, Holmstrøm K. Architectural organization and molecular profiling of 3D cancer heterospheroids and their application in drug testing. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1386097. [PMID: 39011470 PMCID: PMC11246882 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1386097] [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: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
3D cancer cell cultures have enabled new opportunities for replacing compound testing in experimental animals. However, most solid tumors are composed of multiple cell types, including fibroblasts. In this study we developed multicellular tumor heterospheroids composed of cancer and fibroblasts cell lines. We developed heterospheroids by combining HT-29, MCF-7, PANC-1 or SW480 with 1BR.3.G fibroblasts, which we have previously reported support spheroid formation. We also tested fibroblast cell lines, MRC-5, GM00498 and HIF, but 1BR.3.G was found to best form heterospheroids with morphological similarity to in vivo tumor tissue. The architectural organization of heterospheroids was based on histological examination using immunohistochemistry. We found that HT-29 and MCF-7 cells developed spheroids with the cancer cells surrounding the fibroblasts, whereas PANC-1 cells interspersed with the fibroblasts and SW480 cells were surrounded by fibroblasts. The fibroblasts also expressed collagen-1 and FAP-α, and whole transcriptomic analysis (WTA) showed abundant ECM- and EMT-related expression in heterospheroids, thus reflecting a representative tumor-like microenvironment. The WTA showed that PANC-1 heterospheroids possess a strong EMT profile with abundant Vimentin and CDH2 expression. Drug testing was evaluated by measuring cytotoxicity of 5FU and cisplatin using cell viability and apoptosis assays. We found no major impact on the cytotoxicity when fibroblasts were added to the spheroids. We conclude that the cancer cell lines together with fibroblasts shape the architectural organization of heterospheroids to form tumor-like morphology, and we propose that the various 3D tumor structures can be used for drug testing directed against the cancer cells as well as the fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boye Schnack Nielsen
- Department of Cellular Engineering & Disease Modeling, Bioneer A/S, Hørsholm, Denmark
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Yang M, Mu Y, Yu X, Gao D, Zhang W, Li Y, Liu J, Sun C, Zhuang J. Survival strategies: How tumor hypoxia microenvironment orchestrates angiogenesis. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116783. [PMID: 38796970 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116783] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
During tumor development, the tumor itself must continuously generate new blood vessels to meet their growth needs while also allowing for tumor invasion and metastasis. One of the most common features of tumors is hypoxia, which drives the process of tumor angiogenesis by regulating the tumor microenvironment, thus adversely affecting the prognosis of patients. In addition, to overcome unsuitable environments for growth, such as hypoxia, nutrient deficiency, hyperacidity, and immunosuppression, the tumor microenvironment (TME) coordinates angiogenesis in several ways to restore the supply of oxygen and nutrients and to remove metabolic wastes. A growing body of research suggests that tumor angiogenesis and hypoxia interact through a complex interplay of crosstalk, which is inextricably linked to the TME. Here, we review the TME's positive contribution to angiogenesis from an angiogenesis-centric perspective while considering the objective impact of hypoxic phenotypes and the status and limitations of current angiogenic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengrui Yang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Yufeng Mu
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Xiaoyun Yu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Dandan Gao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Wenfeng Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Ye Li
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau University of Science and Technology, 999078, Macao Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Jingyang Liu
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau University of Science and Technology, 999078, Macao Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, China; Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
| | - Jing Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
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Baniasadi A, Das JP, Prendergast CM, Beizavi Z, Ma HY, Jaber MY, Capaccione KM. Imaging at the nexus: how state of the art imaging techniques can enhance our understanding of cancer and fibrosis. J Transl Med 2024; 22:567. [PMID: 38872212 PMCID: PMC11177383 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05379-1] [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: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Both cancer and fibrosis are diseases involving dysregulation of cell signaling pathways resulting in an altered cellular microenvironment which ultimately leads to progression of the condition. The two disease entities share common molecular pathophysiology and recent research has illuminated the how each promotes the other. Multiple imaging techniques have been developed to aid in the early and accurate diagnosis of each disease, and given the commonalities between the pathophysiology of the conditions, advances in imaging one disease have opened new avenues to study the other. Here, we detail the most up-to-date advances in imaging techniques for each disease and how they have crossed over to improve detection and monitoring of the other. We explore techniques in positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), second generation harmonic Imaging (SGHI), ultrasound (US), radiomics, and artificial intelligence (AI). A new diagnostic imaging tool in PET/computed tomography (CT) is the use of radiolabeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI). SGHI uses high-frequency sound waves to penetrate deeper into the tissue, providing a more detailed view of the tumor microenvironment. Artificial intelligence with the aid of advanced deep learning (DL) algorithms has been highly effective in training computer systems to diagnose and classify neoplastic lesions in multiple organs. Ultimately, advancing imaging techniques in cancer and fibrosis can lead to significantly more timely and accurate diagnoses of both diseases resulting in better patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Baniasadi
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 W 168Th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Jeeban P Das
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Conor M Prendergast
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 W 168Th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Zahra Beizavi
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 W 168Th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Hong Y Ma
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 W 168Th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | | | - Kathleen M Capaccione
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 W 168Th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
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Plesselova S, Calar K, Axemaker H, Sahly E, de la Puente P. Multicompartmentalized microvascularized tumor-on-a-chip to study tumor-stroma interactions and drug resistance in ovarian cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596456. [PMID: 38853974 PMCID: PMC11160770 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Introduction The majority of ovarian cancer (OC) patients receiving standard of care chemotherapy develop chemoresistance within 5 years. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a dynamic and influential player in disease progression and therapeutic response. However, there is a lack of models that allow us to elucidate the compartmentalized nature of TME in a controllable, yet physiologically relevant manner and its critical role in modulating drug resistance. Methods We developed a 3D microvascularized multiniche tumor-on-a-chip formed by five chambers (central cancer chamber, flanked by two lateral stromal chambers and two external circulation chambers) to recapitulate OC-TME compartmentalization and study its influence on drug resistance. Stromal chambers included endothelial cells alone or cocultured with normal fibroblasts or cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). Results The tumor-on-a-chip recapitulated spatial TME compartmentalization including vessel-like structure, stromal-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, generation of oxygen gradients, and delayed drug diffusion/penetration from the circulation chamber towards the cancer chamber. The cancer chamber mimicked metastasis-like migration and increased drug resistance to carboplatin/paclitaxel treatment in the presence of CAF when compared to normal fibroblasts. CAF-mediated drug resistance was rescued by ECM targeted therapy. Critically, these results demonstrate that cellular crosstalk recreation and spatial organization through compartmentalization are essential to determining the effect of the compartmentalized OC-TME on drug resistance. Conclusions Our results present a functionally characterized microvascularized multiniche tumor-on-a-chip able to recapitulate TME compartmentalization influencing drug resistance. This technology holds the potential to guide the design of more effective and targeted therapeutic strategies to overcome chemoresistance in OC.
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Feigelman G, Simanovich E, Brockmeyer P, Rahat MA. EMMPRIN promotes spheroid organization and metastatic formation: comparison between monolayers and spheroids of CT26 colon carcinoma cells. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1374088. [PMID: 38725999 PMCID: PMC11079191 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1374088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background In vitro studies often use two-dimensional (2D) monolayers, but 3D cell organization, such as in spheroids, better mimics the complexity of solid tumors. To metastasize, cancer cells undergo the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to become more invasive and pro-angiogenic, with expression of both epithelial and mesenchymal markers. Aims We asked whether EMMPRIN/CD147 contributes to the formation of the 3D spheroid structure, and whether spheroids, which are often used to study proliferation and drug resistance, could better model the EMT process and the metastatic properties of cells, and improve our understanding of the role of EMMPRIN in them. Methods We used the parental mouse CT26 colon carcinoma (CT26-WT) cells, and infected them with a lentivirus vector to knock down EMMPRIN expression (CT26-KD cells), or with an empty lentivirus vector (CT26-NC) that served as a negative control. In some cases, we repeated the experiments with the 4T1 or LLC cell lines. We compared the magnitude of change between CT26-KD and CT26-WT/NC cells in different metastatic properties in cells seeded as monolayers or as spheroids formed by the scaffold-free liquid overlay method. Results We show that reduced EMMPRIN expression changed the morphology of cells and their spatial organization in both 2D and 3D models. The 3D models more clearly demonstrated how reduced EMMPRIN expression inhibited proliferation and the angiogenic potential, while it enhanced drug resistance, invasiveness, and EMT status, and moreover it enhanced cell dormancy and prevented CT26-KD cells from forming metastatic-like lesions when seeded on basement membrane extract (BME). Most interestingly, this approach enabled us to identify that EMMPRIN and miR-146a-5p form a negative feedback loop, thus identifying a key mechanism for EMMPRIN activities. These results underline EMMPRIN role as a gatekeeper that prevents dormancy, and suggest that EMMPRIN links EMT characteristics to the process of spheroid formation. Conclusions Thus, 3D models can help identify mechanisms by which EMMPRIN facilitates tumor and metastasis progression, which might render EMMPRIN as a promising target for anti-metastatic tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Feigelman
- Immunotherapy Laboratory, Research Laboratories, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Immunology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Elina Simanovich
- Immunotherapy Laboratory, Research Laboratories, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Phillipp Brockmeyer
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michal A. Rahat
- Immunotherapy Laboratory, Research Laboratories, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Immunology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Danielpour D. Advances and Challenges in Targeting TGF-β Isoforms for Therapeutic Intervention of Cancer: A Mechanism-Based Perspective. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:533. [PMID: 38675493 PMCID: PMC11054419 DOI: 10.3390/ph17040533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The TGF-β family is a group of 25 kDa secretory cytokines, in mammals consisting of three dimeric isoforms (TGF-βs 1, 2, and 3), each encoded on a separate gene with unique regulatory elements. Each isoform plays unique, diverse, and pivotal roles in cell growth, survival, immune response, and differentiation. However, many researchers in the TGF-β field often mistakenly assume a uniform functionality among all three isoforms. Although TGF-βs are essential for normal development and many cellular and physiological processes, their dysregulated expression contributes significantly to various diseases. Notably, they drive conditions like fibrosis and tumor metastasis/progression. To counter these pathologies, extensive efforts have been directed towards targeting TGF-βs, resulting in the development of a range of TGF-β inhibitors. Despite some clinical success, these agents have yet to reach their full potential in the treatment of cancers. A significant challenge rests in effectively targeting TGF-βs' pathological functions while preserving their physiological roles. Many existing approaches collectively target all three isoforms, failing to target just the specific deregulated ones. Additionally, most strategies tackle the entire TGF-β signaling pathway instead of focusing on disease-specific components or preferentially targeting tumors. This review gives a unique historical overview of the TGF-β field often missed in other reviews and provides a current landscape of TGF-β research, emphasizing isoform-specific functions and disease implications. The review then delves into ongoing therapeutic strategies in cancer, stressing the need for more tools that target specific isoforms and disease-related pathway components, advocating mechanism-based and refined approaches to enhance the effectiveness of TGF-β-targeted cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Danielpour
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Research Laboratories, The Division of General Medical Sciences-Oncology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; ; Tel.: +1-216-368-5670; Fax: +1-216-368-8919
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Institute of Urology, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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Rastogi S, Ansari MN, Saeedan AS, Singh SK, Mukerjee A, Kaithwas G. Novel furan chalcone modulates PHD-2 induction to impart antineoplastic effect in mammary gland carcinoma. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2024; 38:e23679. [PMID: 38486411 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23679] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Normoxic inactivation of prolyl hydroxylase-2 (PHD-2) in tumour microenvironment paves the way for cancer cells to thrive under the influence of HIF-1α and NF-κB. Henceforth, the present study is aimed to identify small molecule activators of PHD-2. A virtual screening was conducted on a library consisting of 265,242 chemical compounds, with the objective of identifying molecules that exhibit structural similarities to the furan chalcone scaffold. Further, PHD-2 activation potential of screened compound was determined using in vitro 2-oxoglutarate assay. The cytotoxic activity and apoptotic potential of screened compound was determined using various staining techniques, including 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), 1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimi-dazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1), and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB), against MCF-7 cells. 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) model of mammary gland cancer was used to study the in vivo antineoplastic efficacy of screened compound. [(E)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(furan-2-yl) prop-2-en-1-one] (BBAP-7) was screened and validated as a PHD-2 activator by an in vitro 2-oxo-glutarate assay. The IC50 of BBAP-7 on MCF-7 cells is 18.84 µM. AO/EB and DAPI staining showed nuclear fragmentation, blebbing and condensation in MCF-7 cells following BBAP-7 treatment. The red-to-green intensity ratio of JC-1 stained MCF-7 cells decreased after BBAP-7 treatment, indicating mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. DMBA caused mammary gland dysplasia, duct hyperplasia and ductal carcinoma in situ. Carmine staining, histopathology, and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that BBAP-7, alone or with tirapazamine, restored mammary gland surface morphology and structural integrity. Additionally, BBAP-7 therapy significantly reduced oxidative stress and glycolysis. The findings reveal that BBAP-7 activates PHD-2, making it a promising anticancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham Rastogi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mohd Nazam Ansari
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharaj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz S Saeedan
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharaj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sunil Kumar Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, United Institute of Pharmacy, United Group of Institutions, Prayagraj, India
| | - Alok Mukerjee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, United Institute of Pharmacy, United Group of Institutions, Prayagraj, India
| | - Gaurav Kaithwas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Zeng KF, Wang HJ, Deng B, Chen TF, Chen JB, Ding WJ, Chen S, Xie JD, Lu SM, Chen GH, Zhang Y, Tan ZB, Ou HB, Tan YZ, Zhang SW, Zhou YC, Zhang JZ, Liu B. Ethyl ferulate suppresses post-myocardial infarction myocardial fibrosis by inhibiting transforming growth factor receptor 1. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 121:155118. [PMID: 37801895 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With an increasing number of myocardial infarction (MI) patients, myocardial fibrosis is becoming a widespread health concern. It's becoming more and more urgent to conduct additional research and investigations into efficient treatments. Ethyl ferulate (EF) is a naturally occurring substance with cardioprotective properties. However, the extent of its impact and the underlying mechanism of its treatment for myocardial fibrosis after MI remain unknown. PURPOSE The goal of this study was to look into how EF affected the signaling of the TGF-receptor 1 (TGFBR1) in myocardial fibrosis after MI. METHODS Echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson trichrome staining were employed to assess the impact of EF on heart structure and function in MI-affected mice in vivo. Cell proliferation assay (MTS), 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and western blot techniques were employed to examine the influence of EF on native cardiac fibroblast (CFs) proliferation and collagen deposition. Molecular simulation and surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) were utilized to explore TGFBR1 and EF interaction. Cardiac-specific Tgfbr1 knockout mice (Tgfbr1ΔMCK) were utilized to testify to the impact of EF. RESULTS In vivo experiments revealed that EF alleviated myocardial fibrosis, improved cardiac dysfunction after MI and downregulated the TGFBR1 signaling in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, in vitro experiments revealed that EF significantly inhibited CFs proliferation, collagen deposition and TGFBR1 signaling followed by TGF-β1 stimulation. More specifically, molecular simulation, molecular dynamics, and SPRi collectively showed that EF directly targeted TGFBR1. Lastly, knocking down of Tgfbr1 partially reversed the inhibitory activity of EF on myocardial fibrosis in MI mice. CONCLUSION EF attenuated myocardial fibrosis post-MI by directly suppressing TGFBR1 and its downstream signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Feng Zeng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Hui-Juan Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Bo Deng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Ting-Fang Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Jun-Bang Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Wen-Jun Ding
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Si Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Jun-di Xie
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Si-Min Lu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Guang-Hong Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital (ZengCheng Branch), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- The Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Zhang-Bin Tan
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Hong-Bin Ou
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Yong-Zhen Tan
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Shuang-Wei Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Ying-Chun Zhou
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital (ZengCheng Branch), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Jing-Zhi Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China.
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgangdong Road, Guangzhou 510260, China.
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Giardino Torchia ML, Moody G. DIALing-up the preclinical characterization of gene-modified adoptive cellular immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1264882. [PMID: 38090585 PMCID: PMC10713823 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1264882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The preclinical characterization of gene modified adoptive cellular immunotherapy candidates for clinical development often requires the use of mouse models. Gene-modified lymphocytes (GML) incorporating chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) and T-cell receptors (TCR) into immune effector cells require in vivo characterization of biological activity, mechanism of action, and preclinical safety. Typically, this characterization involves the assessment of dose-dependent, on-target, on-tumor activity in severely immunocompromised mice. While suitable for the purpose of evaluating T cell-expressed transgene function in a living host, this approach falls short in translating cellular therapy efficacy, safety, and persistence from preclinical models to humans. To comprehensively characterize cell therapy products in mice, we have developed a framework called "DIAL". This framework aims to enable an end-to-end understanding of genetically engineered cellular immunotherapies in vivo, from infusion to tumor clearance and long-term immunosurveillance. The acronym DIAL stands for Distribution, Infiltration, Accumulation, and Longevity, compartmentalizing the systemic attributes of gene-modified cellular therapy and providing a platform for optimization with the ultimate goal of improving therapeutic efficacy. This review will discuss both existent and emerging examples of DIAL characterization in mouse models, as well as opportunities for future development and optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gordon Moody
- Cell Therapy Unit, Oncology Research, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
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Bandopadhyay S, Patranabis S. Mechanisms of HIF-driven immunosuppression in tumour microenvironment. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst 2023; 35:27. [PMID: 37646847 DOI: 10.1186/s43046-023-00186-z] [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: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia arises due to insufficient oxygen delivery to rapidly proliferating tumour cells that outpace the available blood supply. It is a characteristic feature of most solid tumour microenvironments and plays a critical role in regulating anti-tumour immunity, enhancing tumoral heterogeneity, and promoting therapeutic resistance and poor clinical outcomes. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are the major hypoxia-responsive transcription factors that are activated under low oxygenation conditions and have been identified to drive multifunctional roles in tumour immune evasion. The HIF signalling network serves as an attractive target for targeted therapeutic approaches. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the most crucial mechanisms by which HIF controls the expression of immunosuppressive molecules and immune checkpoints, disrupts cancer immunogenicity, and induces immunotherapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Somi Patranabis
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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Tai Y, Zheng L, Liao J, Wang Z, Zhang L. Roles of the HIF-1α pathway in the development and progression of keloids. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18651. [PMID: 37636362 PMCID: PMC10448433 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18651] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Keloids, a pathological scar that is induced by the consequence of aberrant wound healing, is still a major global health concern for its unsatisfactory treatment outcomes. HIF-1α, a main regulator of hypoxia, mainly acts through some proteins or signaling pathways and plays important roles in a variety of biological processes. Accumulating evidence has shown that HIF-1α played a crucial role in the process of keloid formation. In this review, we attempted to summarize the current knowledge on the association between HIF-1α expression and the development and progression of keloids. Through a comprehensive analysis, the molecular mechanisms underlying HIF-1α in keloids were shown to be correlated to the proliferation of fibroblasts, angiogenesis, and collagen deposits. The affected proteins and the signaling pathways were multiple. For instance, HIF-1α was reported to promote keloids formation by enhancing angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen deposition through the activation of periostin PI3K/Akt, TGF-β/Smad and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. However, the specific effects of HIF-1α on keloids keloid illnesses in clinical practice is are entirely unclear, and further studies in clinical trials are still warranted. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the biological mechanisms of HIF-1α in keloid formation is significant to develop promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of keloids in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuncheng Tai
- Department of Burn Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, 318000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liying Zheng
- Postgraduate Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical College, Ganzhou, China
| | - Jiao Liao
- Department of Nephrology, Jiaxing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiaxing, 314000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zixiong Wang
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Xinjiang Military General Hospital, Urumqi, 830063, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lai Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou, 318000, Zhejiang, China
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12
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Jiang PC, Fan J, Zhang CD, Bai MH, Sun QQ, Chen QP, Mao W, Tang BF, Lan HY, Zhou YY, Zhu J. Unraveling Colorectal Cancer and Pan-cancer Immune Heterogeneity and Synthetic Therapy Response Using Cuproptosis and Hypoxia Regulators by Multi-omic Analysis and Experimental Validation. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:3526-3543. [PMID: 37496994 PMCID: PMC10367564 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.84781] [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: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cuproptosis, a new type of programmed cell death (PCD), is closely related to cellular tricarboxylic acid cycle and cellular respiration, while hypoxia can modulate PCD. However, their combined contribution to tumor subtyping remains unexplored. Here, we applied a multi-omics approach to classify TCGA_COADREAD based on cuproptosis and hypoxia. The classification was validated in three colorectal cancer (CRC) cohorts and extended to a pan-cancer analysis. The results demonstrated that pan-cancers, including CRC, could be divided into three distinct subgroups (cuproptosis-hypoxia subtypes, CHSs): CHS1 had active metabolism and poor immune infiltration but low fibrosis; CHS3 had contrasting characteristics with CHS1; CHS2 was intermediate. CHS1 may respond well to cuproptosis inducers, and CHS3 may benefit from a combination of immunotherapy and anti-fibrosis/anti-hypoxia therapies. In CRC, the CHSs also showed a significant difference in prognosis and sensitivity to classic drugs. Organoid-based drug sensitivity assays validated the results of transcriptomics. Cell-based assays indicated that masitinib and simvastatin had specific effects on CHS1 and CHS3, respectively. A user-friendly website based on the classifier was developed (https://fan-app.shinyapps.io/chs_classifier/) for accessibility. Overall, the classifier based on cuproptosis and hypoxia was applicable to most pan-cancers and could aid in personalized cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Cheng Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jin Fan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun-Dong Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ming-Hua Bai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Quan-Quan Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qian-Ping Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Mao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bu-Fu Tang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui-Yin Lan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang-Yang Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Hangzhou, China
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13
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Gu Y, Becker MA, Müller L, Reuss K, Umlauf F, Tang T, Menger MD, Laschke MW. MicroRNAs in Tumor Endothelial Cells: Regulation, Function and Therapeutic Applications. Cells 2023; 12:1692. [PMID: 37443725 PMCID: PMC10340284 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor endothelial cells (TECs) are key stromal components of the tumor microenvironment, and are essential for tumor angiogenesis, growth and metastasis. Accumulating evidence has shown that small single-stranded non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) act as powerful endogenous regulators of TEC function and blood vessel formation. This systematic review provides an up-to-date overview of these endothelial miRNAs. Their expression is mainly regulated by hypoxia, pro-angiogenic factors, gap junctions and extracellular vesicles, as well as long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs. In preclinical studies, they have been shown to modulate diverse fundamental angiogenesis-related signaling pathways and proteins, including the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) pathway; the rat sarcoma virus (Ras)/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (Raf)/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway; the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway; and the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/TGF-β receptor (TGFBR) pathway, as well as krüppel-like factors (KLFs), suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) and metalloproteinases (MMPs). Accordingly, endothelial miRNAs represent promising targets for future anti-angiogenic cancer therapy. To achieve this, it will be necessary to further unravel the regulatory and functional networks of endothelial miRNAs and to develop safe and efficient TEC-specific miRNA delivery technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Gu
- Institute for Clinical & Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, 66421 Saar, Germany; (M.A.B.); (L.M.); (K.R.); (F.U.); (T.T.); (M.D.M.); (M.W.L.)
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14
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Rekowska AK, Obuchowska K, Bartosik M, Kimber-Trojnar Ż, Słodzińska M, Wierzchowska-Opoka M, Leszczyńska-Gorzelak B. Biomolecules Involved in Both Metastasis and Placenta Accreta Spectrum-Does the Common Pathophysiological Pathway Exist? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092618. [PMID: 37174083 PMCID: PMC10177254 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial in the implantation of the blastocyst and subsequent placental development. The trophoblast, consisting of villous and extravillous zones, plays different roles in these processes. Pathological states, such as placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), can arise due to dysfunction of the trophoblast or defective decidualization, leading to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Studies have drawn parallels between placentation and carcinogenesis, with both processes involving EMT and the establishment of a microenvironment that facilitates invasion and infiltration. This article presents a review of molecular biomarkers involved in both the microenvironment of tumors and placental cells, including placental growth factor (PlGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), E-cadherin (CDH1), laminin γ2 (LAMC2), the zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox (ZEB) proteins, αVβ3 integrin, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), β-catenin, cofilin-1 (CFL-1), and interleukin-35 (IL-35). Understanding the similarities and differences in these processes may provide insights into the development of therapeutic options for both PAS and metastatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Rekowska
- Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Karolina Obuchowska
- Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Magdalena Bartosik
- Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Żaneta Kimber-Trojnar
- Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Magdalena Słodzińska
- Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
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15
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Berggren-Nylund R, Ryde M, Löfdahl A, Ibáñez-Fonseca A, Kåredal M, Westergren-Thorsson G, Tufvesson E, Larsson-Callerfelt AK. Effects of hypoxia on bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells linked to pathogenesis in chronic lung disorders. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1094245. [PMID: 36994416 PMCID: PMC10040785 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1094245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic lung disorders involve pathological alterations in the lung tissue with hypoxia as a consequence. Hypoxia may influence the release of inflammatory mediators and growth factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostaglandin (PG)E2. The aim of this work was to investigate how hypoxia affects human lung epithelial cells in combination with profibrotic stimuli and its correlation to pathogenesis.Methods: Human bronchial (BEAS-2B) and alveolar (hAELVi) epithelial cells were exposed to either hypoxia (1% O2) or normoxia (21% O2) during 24 h, with or without transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. mRNA expression of genes and proteins related to disease pathology were analysed with qPCR, ELISA or immunocytochemistry. Alterations in cell viability and metabolic activity were determined.Results: In BEAS-2B and hAELVi, hypoxia significantly dowregulated genes related to fibrosis, mitochondrial stress, oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation whereas VEGF receptor 2 increased. Hypoxia increased the expression of Tenascin-C, whereas both hypoxia and TGF-β1 stimuli increased the release of VEGF, IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 in BEAS-2B. In hAELVi, hypoxia reduced the release of fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, PGE2, IL-6 and IL-8, whereas TGF-β1 stimulus significantly increased the release of PGE2 and IL-6. TGF-β1 stimulated BEAS-2B cells showed a decreased release of VEGF-A and IL-8, while TGF-β1 stimulated hAELVi cells showed a decreased release of PGE2 and IL-8 during hypoxia compared to normoxia. Metabolic activity was significantly increased by hypoxia in both epithelial cell types.Discussion: In conclusion, our data indicate that bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells respond differently to hypoxia and profibrotic stimuli. The bronchial epithelium appears more responsive to changes in oxygen levels and remodelling processes compared to the alveoli, suggesting that hypoxia may be a driver of pathogenesis in chronic lung disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Ryde
- Respiratory Medicine, Allergology and Palliative Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Löfdahl
- Lung Biology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Arturo Ibáñez-Fonseca
- Lung Biology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Monica Kåredal
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Ellen Tufvesson
- Respiratory Medicine, Allergology and Palliative Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna-Karin Larsson-Callerfelt
- Lung Biology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Anna-Karin Larsson-Callerfelt,
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16
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Li C, Meng X, Wang L, Dai X. Mechanism of action of non-coding RNAs and traditional Chinese medicine in myocardial fibrosis: Focus on the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1092148. [PMID: 36843918 PMCID: PMC9947662 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1092148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a serious public health problem worldwide that is closely linked to progression of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and adversely affects both the disease process and clinical prognosis. Numerous studies have shown that the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway plays a key role in the progression of cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, targeted inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway may be a therapeutic measure for cardiac fibrosis. Currently, as the investigation on non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) move forward, a variety of ncRNAs targeting TGF-β and its downstream Smad proteins have attracted high attention. Besides, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used in treating the cardiac fibrosis. As more and more molecular mechanisms of natural products, herbal formulas, and proprietary Chinese medicines are revealed, TCM has been proven to act on cardiac fibrosis by modulating multiple targets and signaling pathways, especially the TGF-β/Smad. Therefore, this work summarizes the roles of TGF-β/Smad classical and non-classical signaling pathways in the cardiac fibrosis, and discusses the recent research advances in ncRNAs targeting the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and TCM against cardiac fibrosis. It is hoped, in this way, to give new insights into the prevention and treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunjun Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiangxiang Meng
- College of Marxism, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lina Wang
- First College of Clinical Medical, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xia Dai
- College of Health, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China,*Correspondence: Xia Dai,
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17
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Zarin B, Nedaeinia R, Laher I, Manian M, Javanmard SH. The effects of ALK5 inhibition and simultaneous inhibition or activation of HIF-1α in melanoma tumor growth and angiogenesis. Tumour Biol 2023; 45:111-126. [PMID: 37927290 DOI: 10.3233/tub-220020] [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] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypoxia is the most common signature of the tumor microenvironment that drives tumorigenesis through the complex crosstalk of a family of transcription factors called hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), with other intercellular signaling networks. Hypoxia increases transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) expression. TGF-β and HIF-1α play critical roles in several malignancies and their interactions in melanoma progression remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of inhibiting activin receptor-like kinase-5 (ALK5), a TGF-β receptor, on the response to HIF-1α activation or inhibition in melanoma tumor progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tumors were induced in C57BL/6J mice by subcutaneous inoculation with B16F10 melanoma cells. Mice were divided into HIF-1α inhibitor, ALK5 inhibitor (1 mg/kg) and HIF-1α inhibitor (100 mg/kg), ALK5 inhibitor, HIF-1α activator (1000 mg/kg), HIF-1α activator and ALK5 inhibitor, and control groups to receive inhibitors and activators through intraperitoneal injection. The expression of E-cadherin was evaluated by RT-qPCR. Vessel density and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR)-β+ cells around the vessels were investigated using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The groups receiving HIF-1α inhibitor and activator showed lower and higher tumor growth compared to the control group, respectively. E-cadherin expression decreased in all groups compared to the control group, illustrating the dual function of E-cadherin in the tumor microenvironment. Vascular density was reduced in the groups given HIF-1α inhibitor, ALK5 inhibitor, and ALK5 and HIF-1α inhibitor simultaneously. The percentage of PDGFR-β+ cells was reduced in the presence of HIF-1α inhibitor, ALK5 inhibitor, HIF-1α and ALK5 inhibitors, and upon simultaneous treatment with HIF-1α activator and ALK5 inhibitor. CONCLUSION Despite increased expression and interaction between TGF-β and HIF-1α pathways in some cancers, in melanoma, inhibition of either pathway alone may have a stronger effect on tumor inhibition than simultaneous inhibition of both pathways. The synergistic effects may be context-dependent and should be further evaluated in different cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahareh Zarin
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Reza Nedaeinia
- Pediatric Inherited Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ismail Laher
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mostafa Manian
- Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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18
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Nischwitz SP, Fink J, Schellnegger M, Luze H, Bubalo V, Tetyczka C, Roblegg E, Holecek C, Zacharias M, Kamolz LP, Kotzbeck P. The Role of Local Inflammation and Hypoxia in the Formation of Hypertrophic Scars-A New Model in the Duroc Pig. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010316. [PMID: 36613761 PMCID: PMC9820621 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertrophic scars continue to be a major burden, especially after burns. Persistent inflammation during wound healing appears to be the precipitating aspect in pathologic scarring. The lack of a standardized model hinders research from fully elucidating pathophysiology and therapy, as most therapeutic approaches have sparse evidence. The goal of this project was to investigate the mechanisms of scar formation after prolonged wound inflammation and to introduce a method for generating standardized hypertrophic scars by inducing prolonged inflammation. Four wound types were created in Duroc pigs: full-thickness wounds, burn wounds, and both of them with induced hyperinflammation by resiquimod. Clinical assessment (Vancouver Scar Scale), tissue oxygenation by hyperspectral imaging, histologic assessment, and gene expression analysis were performed at various time points during the following five months. Native burn wounds as well as resiquimod-induced full-thickness and burn wounds resulted in more hypertrophic scars than full-thickness wounds. The scar scale showed significantly higher scores in burn- and resiquimod-induced wounds compared with full-thickness wounds as of day 77. These three wound types also showed relative hypoxia compared with uninduced full-thickness wounds in hyperspectral imaging and increased expression of HIF1a levels. The highest number of inflammatory cells was detected in resiquimod-induced full-thickness wounds with histologic features of hypertrophic scars in burn and resiquimod-induced wounds. Gene expression analysis revealed increased inflammation with only moderately altered fibrosis markers. We successfully created hypertrophic scars in the Duroc pig by using different wound etiologies. Inflammation caused by burns or resiquimod induction led to scars similar to human hypertrophic scars. This model may allow for the further investigation of the exact mechanisms of pathological scars, the role of hypoxia and inflammation, and the testing of therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian P. Nischwitz
- Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
- COREMED—Cooperative Centre for Regenerative Medicine, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Correspondence:
| | - Julia Fink
- COREMED—Cooperative Centre for Regenerative Medicine, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Marlies Schellnegger
- Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
- COREMED—Cooperative Centre for Regenerative Medicine, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Hanna Luze
- Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
- COREMED—Cooperative Centre for Regenerative Medicine, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Vladimir Bubalo
- Biomedical Research Unit, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Carolin Tetyczka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Eva Roblegg
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Christian Holecek
- HEALTH—Institute for Biomedicine and Health Sciences, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Martin Zacharias
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Lars-Peter Kamolz
- Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
- COREMED—Cooperative Centre for Regenerative Medicine, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Petra Kotzbeck
- Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
- COREMED—Cooperative Centre for Regenerative Medicine, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Research Unit for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Reconstruction, Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
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19
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Clemente-González C, Carnero A. Role of the Hypoxic-Secretome in Seed and Soil Metastatic Preparation. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235930. [PMID: 36497411 PMCID: PMC9738438 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
During tumor growth, the delivery of oxygen to cells is impaired due to aberrant or absent vasculature. This causes an adaptative response that activates the expression of genes that control several essential processes, such as glycolysis, neovascularization, immune suppression, and the cancer stemness phenotype, leading to increased metastasis and resistance to therapy. Hypoxic tumor cells also respond to an altered hypoxic microenvironment by secreting vesicles, factors, cytokines and nucleic acids that modify not only the immediate microenvironment but also organs at distant sites, allowing or facilitating the attachment and growth of tumor cells and contributing to metastasis. Hypoxia induces the release of molecules of different biochemical natures, either secreted or inside extracellular vesicles, and both tumor cells and stromal cells are involved in this process. The mechanisms by which these signals that can modify the premetastatic niche are sent from the primary tumor site include changes in the extracellular matrix, recruitment and activation of different stromal cells and immune or nonimmune cells, metabolic reprogramming, and molecular signaling network rewiring. In this review, we will discuss how hypoxia might alter the premetastatic niche through different signaling molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Clemente-González
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (HUVR), Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
- CIBERONC (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Amancio Carnero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (HUVR), Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
- CIBERONC (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
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20
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Giannaki M, Ruf DE, Pfeifer E, Everaerts K, Heiland DH, Schnell O, Rose CR, Roussa E. Cell-Type Dependent Regulation of the Electrogenic Na+/HCO3- Cotransporter 1 (NBCe1) by Hypoxia and Acidosis in Glioblastoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168975. [PMID: 36012235 PMCID: PMC9408864 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant brain tumour. It is characterised by transcriptionally distinct cell populations. In tumour cells, physiological pH gradients between the intracellular and extracellular compartments are reversed, compared to non-cancer cells. Intracellular pH in tumour cells is alkaline, whereas extracellular pH is acidic. Consequently, the function and/or expression of pH regulating transporters might be altered. Here, we investigated protein expression and regulation of the electrogenic sodium/bicarbonate cotransporter 1 (NBCe1) in mesenchymal (MES)-like hypoxia-dependent and -independent cells, as well as in astrocyte-like glioblastoma cells following chemical hypoxia, acidosis and elucidated putative underlying molecular pathways. Immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, and intracellular pH recording with the H+-sensitive dye 2′,7′-bis-(carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein were applied. The results show NBCe1 protein abundance and active NBCe1 transport. Hypoxia upregulated NBCe1 protein and activity in MES-like hypoxia-dependent GBM cells. This effect was positively correlated with HIF-1α protein levels, was mediated by TGF-β signalling, and was prevented by extracellular acidosis. In MES-like hypoxia-independent GBM cells, acidosis (but not hypoxia) regulated NBCe1 activity in an HIF-1α-independent manner. These results demonstrate a cell-specific adaptation of NBCe1 expression and activity to the microenvironment challenge of hypoxia and acidosis that depends on their transcriptional signature in GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Giannaki
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstrasse 17, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Debora E. Ruf
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstrasse 17, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Emilie Pfeifer
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstrasse 17, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Everaerts
- Institute of Neurobiology, Heinrich Heine University, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dieter H. Heiland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Microenvironment and Immunology Research Laboratory, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Schnell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christine R. Rose
- Institute of Neurobiology, Heinrich Heine University, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Eleni Roussa
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstrasse 17, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-761-203-5114
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