1
|
Yoon H, Sabaté Del Río J, Cho SW, Park TE. Recent advances in micro-physiological systems for investigating tumor metastasis and organotropism. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1351-1366. [PMID: 38303676 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01033c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Tumor metastasis involves complex processes that traditional 2D cultures and animal models struggle to fully replicate. Metastatic tumors undergo a multitude of transformations, including genetic diversification, adaptation to diverse microenvironments, and modified drug responses, contributing significantly to cancer-related mortality. Micro-physiological systems (MPS) technology emerges as a promising approach to emulate the metastatic process by integrating critical biochemical, biomechanical, and geometrical cues at a microscale. These systems are particularly advantageous simulating metastasis organotropism, the phenomenon where tumors exhibit a preference for metastasizing to particular organs. Organotropism is influenced by various factors, such as tumor cell characteristics, unique organ microenvironments, and organ-specific vascular conditions, all of which can be effectively examined using MPS. This review surveys the recent developments in MPS research from the past five years, with a specific focus on their applications in replicating tumor metastasis and organotropism. Furthermore, we discuss the current limitations in MPS-based studies of organotropism and propose strategies for more accurately replicating and analyzing the intricate aspects of organ-specific metastasis, which is pivotal in the development of targeted therapeutic approaches against metastatic cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heejeong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jonathan Sabaté Del Río
- Center for Algorithmic and Robotized Synthesis (CARS), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Woo Cho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Tae-Eun Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kundu AN, Dougan CE, Mahmoud S, Kilic A, Panagiotou A, Richbourg N, Irakoze N, Peyton SR. Tenascin-C Activation of Lung Fibroblasts in a 3D Synthetic Lung Extracellular Matrix Mimic. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2301493. [PMID: 37227134 PMCID: PMC10528529 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202301493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The lung extracellular matrix (ECM) maintains the structural integrity of the tissue and regulates the phenotype and functions of resident fibroblasts. Lung-metastatic breast cancer alters these cell-ECM interactions, promoting fibroblast activation. There is a need for bio-instructive ECM models that match the ECM composition and biomechanics of the lung to study these cell-matrix interactions in vitro. Here, a synthetic, bioactive hydrogel is synthesized that mimics the native lung modulus and includes a representative distribution of the most abundant ECM peptide motifs responsible for integrin-binding and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated degradation in the lung, which enables quiescent culture of human lung fibroblasts (HLFs). Stimulation with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), metastatic breast cancer conditioned media (CM), or tenascin-C-derived integrin-binding peptide activated hydrogel-encapsulated HLFs demonstrates multiple environmental methods to activate HLFs in a lung ECM-mimicking hydrogel. This lung hydrogel platform is a tunable, synthetic approach to studying the independent and combinatorial effects of ECM in regulating fibroblast quiescence and activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aritra Nath Kundu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Carey E. Dougan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Samar Mahmoud
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Alara Kilic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Alexi Panagiotou
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Nathan Richbourg
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Ninette Irakoze
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 240 Thatcher Way, Life Sciences Laboratory N531, Amherst, MA 01003
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rafaeva M, Jensen ARD, Horton ER, Zornhagen KW, Strøbech JE, Fleischhauer L, Mayorca-Guiliani AE, Nielsen SR, Grønseth DS, Kuś F, Schoof EM, Arnes L, Koch M, Clausen-Schaumann H, Izzi V, Reuten R, Erler JT. Fibroblast-derived matrix models desmoplastic properties and forms a prognostic signature in cancer progression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1154528. [PMID: 37539058 PMCID: PMC10395327 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1154528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The desmoplastic reaction observed in many cancers is a hallmark of disease progression and prognosis, particularly in breast and pancreatic cancer. Stromal-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) is significantly altered in desmoplasia, and as such plays a critical role in driving cancer progression. Using fibroblast-derived matrices (FDMs), we show that cancer cells have increased growth on cancer associated FDMs, when compared to FDMs derived from non-malignant tissue (normal) fibroblasts. We assess the changes in ECM characteristics from normal to cancer-associated stroma at the primary tumor site. Compositional, structural, and mechanical analyses reveal significant differences, with an increase in abundance of core ECM proteins, coupled with an increase in stiffness and density in cancer-associated FDMs. From compositional changes of FDM, we derived a 36-ECM protein signature, which we show matches in large part with the changes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumor and metastases progression. Additionally, this signature also matches at the transcriptomic level in multiple cancer types in patients, prognostic of their survival. Together, our results show relevance of FDMs for cancer modelling and identification of desmoplastic ECM components for further mechanistic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rafaeva
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adina R. D. Jensen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Edward R. Horton
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kamilla W. Zornhagen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan E. Strøbech
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lutz Fleischhauer
- Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine-CANTER, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
- Center for NanoScience – CsNS, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Sebastian R. Nielsen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dina S. Grønseth
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Filip Kuś
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Erwin M. Schoof
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Stem Cell Biology, DanStem, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Luis Arnes
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Manuel Koch
- Center for Biochemistry, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Dental Research and Oral Musculoskeletal Biology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hauke Clausen-Schaumann
- Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine-CANTER, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
- Center for NanoScience – CsNS, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Valerio Izzi
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Foundation for the Finnish Cancer Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Raphael Reuten
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Janine T. Erler
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Arima Y, Matsueda S, Saya H. Significance of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in the Interactions of Cancer Cells with the Tumor Microenvironment of Heterogeneous Tumor Tissue. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092536. [PMID: 37174001 PMCID: PMC10177529 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092536] [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: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in cancer development and progression, as well as contributes to the therapeutic resistance and metastasis of cancer cells. The TME is heterogeneous and consists of multiple cell types, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, and immune cells, as well as various extracellular components. Recent studies have revealed cross talk between cancer cells and CAFs as well as between CAFs and other TME cells, including immune cells. Signaling by transforming growth factor-β, derived from CAFs, has recently been shown to induce remodeling of tumor tissue, including the promotion of angiogenesis and immune cell recruitment. Immunocompetent mouse cancer models that recapitulate interactions of cancer cells with the TME have provided insight into the TME network and support the development of new anticancer therapeutic strategies. Recent studies based on such models have revealed that the antitumor action of molecularly targeted agents is mediated in part by effects on the tumor immune environment. In this review, we focus on cancer cell-TME interactions in heterogeneous tumor tissue, and we provide an overview of the basis for anticancer therapeutic strategies that target the TME, including immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshimi Arima
- Cancer Center, Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan
| | - Satoko Matsueda
- Cancer Center, Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Saya
- Cancer Center, Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kundu AN, Dougan CE, Mahmoud S, Kilic A, Panagiotou A, Irakoze N, Richbourg N, Peyton SR. Tenascin-C activation of lung fibroblasts in a 3D synthetic lung extracellular matrix mimic. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.24.529926. [PMID: 36865293 PMCID: PMC9980292 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.24.529926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
The lung extracellular matrix (ECM) maintains the structural integrity of the tissue and regulates the phenotype and functions of resident fibroblasts. Lung-metastatic breast cancer alters these cell-ECM interactions, promoting fibroblast activation. There is a need for bio-instructive ECM models that contain the ECM composition and biomechanics of the lung to study these cell-matrix interactions in vitro . Here, we developed a synthetic, bioactive hydrogel that mimics the native lung modulus, and includes a representative distribution of the most abundant ECM peptide motifs responsible for integrin binding and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated degradation in the lung, which promotes quiescence of human lung fibroblasts (HLFs). Stimulation with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), metastatic breast cancer conditioned media (CM), or tenascin-C activated these hydrogel-encapsulated HLFs in a manner reflective of their native in vivo responses. We propose this lung hydrogel platform as a tunable, synthetic approach to study the independent and combinatorial effects of ECM in regulating fibroblast quiescence and activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aritra Nath Kundu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Carey E. Dougan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Samar Mahmoud
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Alara Kilic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Alexi Panagiotou
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Ninette Irakoze
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Nathan Richbourg
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 240 Thatcher Way, Life Sciences Laboratory N531, Amherst, MA 01003
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Biehl A, Gracioso Martins AM, Davis ZG, Sze D, Collins L, Mora-Navarro C, Fisher MB, Freytes DO. Towards a standardized multi-tissue decellularization protocol for the derivation of extracellular matrix materials. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:641-654. [PMID: 36504129 PMCID: PMC9844390 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm01012g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The goal of tissue decellularization is to efficiently remove unwanted cellular components, such as DNA and cellular debris, while retaining the complex structural and molecular milieu within the extracellular matrix (ECM). Decellularization protocols to date are centered on customized tissue-specific and lab-specific protocols that involve consecutive manual steps which results in variable and protocol-specific ECM material. The differences that result from the inconsistent protocols between decellularized ECMs affect consistency across batches, limit comparisons between results obtained from different laboratories, and could limit the transferability of the material for consistent laboratory or clinical use. The present study is the first proof-of-concept towards the development of a standardized protocol that can be used to derive multiple ECM biomaterials (powders and hydrogels) via a previously established automated system. The automated decellularization method developed by our group was used due to its short decellularization time (4 hours) and its ability to reduce batch-to-batch variability. The ECM obtained using this first iteration of a unified protocol was able to produce ECM hydrogels from skin, lung, muscle, tendons, cartilage, and laryngeal tissues. All hydrogels formed in this study were cytocompatible and showed gelation and rheological properties consistent with previous ECM hydrogels. The ECMs also showed unique proteomic composition. The present study represents the first step towards developing standardized protocols that can be used on multiple tissues in a fast, scalable, and reproducible manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Biehl
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 4130 Engineering Building III, Campus Box 7115, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Ana M Gracioso Martins
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 4130 Engineering Building III, Campus Box 7115, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Zachary G Davis
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 4130 Engineering Building III, Campus Box 7115, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Daphne Sze
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 4130 Engineering Building III, Campus Box 7115, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Leonard Collins
- Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center (METRIC), North Carolina State University, Dabney Hall, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Camilo Mora-Navarro
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Route 108, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Matthew B Fisher
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 4130 Engineering Building III, Campus Box 7115, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 102 Mason Farm Road Second Floor, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Donald O Freytes
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 4130 Engineering Building III, Campus Box 7115, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| |
Collapse
|