1
|
Peng X, Janićijević Ž, Lemm S, Hauser S, Knobel M, Pietzsch J, Bachmann M, Baraban L. Impact of Viscosity on Human Hepatoma Spheroids in Soft Core-Shell Microcapsules. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302609. [PMID: 38227977 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302609] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular environment regulates the structures and functions of cells, from the molecular to the tissue level. However, the underlying mechanisms influencing the organization and adaptation of cancer in three-dimensional (3D) environments are not yet fully understood. In this study, the influence of the viscosity of the environment is investigated on the mechanical adaptability of human hepatoma cell (HepG2) spheroids in vitro, using 3D microcapsule reactors formed with droplet-based microfluidics. To mimic the environment with different mechanical properties, HepG2 cells are encapsulated in alginate core-shell reservoirs (i.e., microcapsules) with different core viscosities tuned by incorporating carboxymethylcellulose. The significant changes in cell and spheroid distribution, proliferation, and cytoskeleton are observed and quantified. Importantly, changes in the expression and distribution of F-actin and keratin 8 indicate the relation between spheroid stiffness and viscosity of the surrounding medium. The increase of F-actin levels in the viscous medium can indicate an enhanced ability of tumor cells to traverse dense tissue. These results demonstrate the ability of cancer cells to dynamically adapt to the changes in extracellular viscosity, which is an important physical cue regulating tumor development, and thus of relevance in cancer biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Peng
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328, Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Željko Janićijević
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sandy Lemm
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328, Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Sciences, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sandra Hauser
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Knobel
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Fluid Dynamics, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328, Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Sciences, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328, Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 01307, Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Larysa Baraban
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wodtke R, Laube M, Hauser S, Meister S, Ludwig FA, Fischer S, Kopka K, Pietzsch J, Löser R. Preclinical evaluation of an 18F-labeled N ε-acryloyllysine piperazide for covalent targeting of transglutaminase 2. EJNMMI Radiopharm Chem 2024; 9:1. [PMID: 38165538 PMCID: PMC10761660 DOI: 10.1186/s41181-023-00231-1] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transglutaminase 2 (TGase 2) is a multifunctional protein and has a prominent role in various (patho)physiological processes. In particular, its transamidase activity, which is rather latent under physiological conditions, gains importance in malignant cells. Thus, there is a great need of theranostic probes for targeting tumor-associated TGase 2, and targeted covalent inhibitors appear to be particularly attractive as vector molecules. Such an inhibitor, equipped with a radionuclide suitable for noninvasive imaging, would be supportive for answering the general question on the possibility for functional characterization of tumor-associated TGase 2. For this purpose, the recently developed 18F-labeled Nε-acryloyllysine piperazide [18F]7b, which is a potent and selective irreversible inhibitor of TGase 2, was subject to a detailed radiopharmacological characterization herein. RESULTS An alternative radiosynthesis of [18F]7b is presented, which demands less than 300 µg of the respective trimethylammonio precursor per synthesis and provides [18F]7b in good radiochemical yields (17 ± 7%) and high (radio)chemical purities (≥ 99%). Ex vivo biodistribution studies in healthy mice at 5 and 60 min p.i. revealed no permanent enrichment of 18F-activity in tissues with the exception of the bone tissue. In vivo pretreatment with ketoconazole and in vitro murine liver microsome studies complemented by mass spectrometric analysis demonstrated that bone uptake originates from metabolically released [18F]fluoride. Further metabolic transformations of [18F]7b include mono-hydroxylation and glucuronidation. Based on blood sampling data and liver microsome experiments, pharmacokinetic parameters such as plasma and intrinsic clearance were derived, which substantiated the apparently rapid distribution of [18F]7b in and elimination from the organisms. A TGase 2-mediated uptake of [18F]7b in different tumor cell lines could not be proven. Moreover, evaluation of [18F]7b in melanoma tumor xenograft models based on A375-hS100A4 (TGase 2 +) and MeWo (TGase 2 -) cells by ex vivo biodistribution and PET imaging studies were not indicative for a specific targeting. CONCLUSION [18F]7b is a valuable radiometric tool to study TGase 2 in vitro under various conditions. However, its suitability for targeting tumor-associated TGase 2 is strongly limited due its unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties as demonstrated in rodents. Consequently, from a radiochemical perspective [18F]7b requires appropriate structural modifications to overcome these limitations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Wodtke
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Markus Laube
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sandra Hauser
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian Meister
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Friedrich-Alexander Ludwig
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Steffen Fischer
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Klaus Kopka
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- School of Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstraße 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
- School of Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstraße 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Reik Löser
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.
- School of Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstraße 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|