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Becerril-Rico J, Alvarado-Ortiz E, Toledo-Guzmán ME, Pelayo R, Ortiz-Sánchez E. The cross talk between gastric cancer stem cells and the immune microenvironment: a tumor-promoting factor. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:498. [PMID: 34503571 PMCID: PMC8428093 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02562-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cross talk between cancer cells and the immune system is determinant for cancer progression. Emerging evidence demonstrates that GC characteristics such as metastasis, treatment resistance, and disease recurrence are associated with a tumor subpopulation called gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs). However, the specific interaction between GCSCs and the immune microenvironment is still under investigation. Although immune evasion has been well described for cancer stem cells (CSCs), recent studies show that GCSCs can also regulate the immune system and even benefit from it. This review will provide an overview of bidirectional interactions between CSCs and immune cells in GC, compiling relevant data about how CSCs can induce leukocyte reprogramming, resulting in pro-tumoral immune cells that orchestrate promotion of metastasis, chemoresistance, tumorigenicity, and even increase in number of cancer cells with stem properties. Some immune cells studied are tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), neutrophils, Th17 and T regulatory (Treg) cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as well as the signaling pathways involved in these pro-tumoral activities. Conversely, although there are cytotoxic leukocytes that can potentially eliminate GCSCs, we describe mechanisms for immune evasion in GCSCs and their clinical implications. Furthermore, we describe current available immunotherapy targeting GCSC-related markers as possible treatment for GC, discussing how the CSC-modified immune microenvironment can mitigate or inactivate these immunotherapies, limiting their effectiveness. Finally, we summarize key concepts and relevant evidence to understand the cross talk between GCSCs and the immune microenvironment as an important process for effective design of therapies against GCSCs that improve the outcome of patients with GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Becerril-Rico
- Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Alvarado-Ortiz
- Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Mariel E Toledo-Guzmán
- Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rosana Pelayo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Delegación Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Ortiz-Sánchez
- Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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Courtois S, Haykal M, Bodineau C, Sifré E, Azzi-Martin L, Ménard A, Mégraud F, Lehours P, Durán RV, Varon C, Bessède E. Autophagy induced by Helicobacter pylori infection is necessary for gastric cancer stem cell emergence. Gastric Cancer 2021; 24:133-144. [PMID: 32940810 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-020-01118-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The main cause of gastric cancer is the infection by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori which induces a chronic inflammation and an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) leading to the emergence of cells with cancer stem cell (CSC) properties. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully characterized. Moreover, H. pylori modulates the host cell autophagic process, but a few studies have investigated the role of this process in tumoral transformation. The aim of this study was to determine whether H. pylori-induced autophagy has a role in CSC emergence. METHODS Autophagic flux in response to H. pylori infection was characterized in AGS cell line expressing the tandem-tagged mCherry-GFP-LC3 protein and using a ratiometric flow cytometry analysis. Then, AGS and MKN45 cell lines were treated with bafilomycin or chloroquine, two pharmaceutical well-known inhibitors of autophagy, and different EMT and CSC characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS First, a co-expression of the gastric CSC marker CD44 and the autophagic marker LC3 in mice and human stomach tissues infected with H. pylori was observed. Then, we demonstrated in vitro that H. pylori was able to activate the autophagy process with a reduced autophagic flux. Finally, infected cells were treated with autophagy inhibitors, which reduced (i) appearance of mesenchymal phenotypes and migration ability related to EMT and (ii) CD44 expression as well as tumorsphere formation capacities reflecting CSC properties. CONCLUSION In conclusion, all these data show that H. pylori-induced autophagy is implicated in gastric CSC emergence and could represent an interesting therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Courtois
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BaRITOn, U1053, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Maria Haykal
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BaRITOn, U1053, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Clément Bodineau
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular Y Medicina Regenerativa-CABIMER, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Américo Vespucio 24, 41092, Sevilla, Spain.,Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, INSERM U1218, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Elodie Sifré
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BaRITOn, U1053, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Armelle Ménard
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BaRITOn, U1053, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Francis Mégraud
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BaRITOn, U1053, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.,French National Reference Center for Campylobacters and Helicobacters (CNRCH), University Hospital of Bordeaux, Place Amelie Raba Leon, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Philippe Lehours
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BaRITOn, U1053, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.,French National Reference Center for Campylobacters and Helicobacters (CNRCH), University Hospital of Bordeaux, Place Amelie Raba Leon, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Raúl V Durán
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular Y Medicina Regenerativa-CABIMER, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Américo Vespucio 24, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Christine Varon
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BaRITOn, U1053, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Emilie Bessède
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BaRITOn, U1053, F-33000, Bordeaux, France. .,French National Reference Center for Campylobacters and Helicobacters (CNRCH), University Hospital of Bordeaux, Place Amelie Raba Leon, 33076, Bordeaux, France.
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