1
|
Lapuente-Santana Ó, Sturm G, Kant J, Ausserhofer M, Zackl C, Zopoglou M, McGranahan N, Rieder D, Trajanoski Z, da Cunha Carvalho de Miranda NF, Eduati F, Finotello F. Multimodal analysis unveils tumor microenvironment heterogeneity linked to immune activity and evasion. iScience 2024; 27:110529. [PMID: 39161957 PMCID: PMC11331718 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110529] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The cellular and molecular heterogeneity of tumors is a major obstacle to cancer immunotherapy. Here, we use a systems biology approach to derive a signature of the main sources of heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment (TME) from lung cancer transcriptomics. We demonstrate that this signature, which we called iHet, is conserved in different cancers and associated with antitumor immunity. Through analysis of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data, we trace back the cellular origin of the variability explaining the iHet signature. Finally, we demonstrate that iHet has predictive value for cancer immunotherapy, which can be further improved by disentangling three major determinants of anticancer immune responses: activity of immune cells, immune infiltration or exclusion, and cancer-cell foreignness. This work shows how transcriptomics data can be integrated to derive a holistic representation of the phenotypic heterogeneity of the TME and to predict its unfolding and fate during immunotherapy with immune checkpoint blockers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Óscar Lapuente-Santana
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, the Netherlands
- Bioinformatics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gregor Sturm
- Biocenter, Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Boehringer Ingelheim International Pharma GmbH & Co KG, 55216 Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Joan Kant
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, the Netherlands
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Markus Ausserhofer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Digital Science Center (DiSC), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Constantin Zackl
- Department of Molecular Biology, Digital Science Center (DiSC), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maria Zopoglou
- Department of Molecular Biology, Digital Science Center (DiSC), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nicholas McGranahan
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Dietmar Rieder
- Biocenter, Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Zlatko Trajanoski
- Biocenter, Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Federica Eduati
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Francesca Finotello
- Department of Molecular Biology, Digital Science Center (DiSC), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Booijink R, Terstappen LWMM, Dathathri E, Isebia K, Kraan J, Martens J, Bansal R. Identification of functional and diverse circulating cancer-associated fibroblasts in metastatic castration-naïve prostate cancer patients. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38634185 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13653] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
In prostate cancer (PCa), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote tumor progression, drug resistance, and metastasis. Although circulating tumor cells are studied as prognostic and diagnostic markers, little is known about other circulating cells and their association with PCa metastasis. Here, we explored the presence of circulating CAFs (cCAFs) in metastatic castration-naïve prostate cancer (mCNPC) patients. cCAFs were stained with fibroblast activation protein (FAP), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), and receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase C (CD45), then FAP+EpCAM- cCAFs were enumerated and sorted using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. FAP+EpCAM- cCAFs ranged from 60 to 776 (389 mean ± 229 SD) per 2 × 108 mononuclear cells, whereas, in healthy donors, FAP+ EpCAM- cCAFs ranged from 0 to 71 (28 mean ± 22 SD). The mCNPC-derived cCAFs showed positivity for vimentin and intracellular collagen-I. They were viable and functional after sorting, as confirmed by single-cell collagen-I secretion after 48 h of culturing. Two cCAF subpopulations, FAP+CD45- and FAP+CD45+, were identified, both expressing collagen-I and vimentin, but with distinctly different morphologies. Collectively, this study demonstrates the presence of functional and viable circulating CAFs in mCNPC patients, suggesting the role of these cells in prostate cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richell Booijink
- Personalized Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Department of Bioengineering Technologies, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Leon W M M Terstappen
- Department of Medical Cell BioPhysics, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University, Germany
| | - Eshwari Dathathri
- Department of Medical Cell BioPhysics, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Khrystany Isebia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaco Kraan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John Martens
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ruchi Bansal
- Personalized Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Department of Bioengineering Technologies, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lorenz J, Richter S, Kirstein AS, Kolbig F, Nebe M, Schulze M, Kiess W, Spitzbarth I, Klöting N, Le Duc D, Baschant U, Garten A. Pten knockout in mouse preosteoblasts leads to changes in bone turnover and strength. JBMR Plus 2024; 8:ziad016. [PMID: 38505222 PMCID: PMC10945711 DOI: 10.1093/jbmrpl/ziad016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Bone development and remodeling are controlled by the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (Pi3k) signaling pathway. We investigated the effects of downregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten), a negative regulator of Pi3k signaling, in a mouse model of Pten deficiency in preosteoblasts. We aimed to identify mechanisms that are involved in the regulation of bone turnover and are linked to bone disorders. Femora, tibiae, and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) isolated from mice with a conditional deletion of Pten (Pten cKO) in Osterix/Sp7-expressing osteoprogenitor cells were compared to Cre-negative controls. Bone phenotyping was performed by μCT measurements, bone histomorphometry, quantification of bone turnover markers CTX and procollagen type 1 N propeptide (P1NP), and three-point bending test. Proliferation of BMSCs was measured by counting nuclei and Ki-67-stained cells. In vitro, osteogenic differentiation capacity was determined by ALP staining, as well as by detecting gene expression of osteogenic markers. BMSCs from Pten cKO mice were functionally different from control BMSCs. Osteogenic markers were increased in BMSCs derived from Pten cKO mice, while Pten protein expression was lower and Akt phosphorylation was increased. We detected a higher trabecular bone volume and an altered cortical bone morphology in Pten cKO bones with a progressive decrease in bone and tissue mineral density. Pten cKO bones displayed fewer osteoclasts and more osteoblasts (P = .00095) per trabecular bone surface and a higher trabecular bone formation rate. Biomechanical analysis revealed a significantly higher bone strength (P = .00012 for males) and elasticity of Pten cKO femora. On the cellular level, both proliferation and osteogenic differentiation capacity of Pten cKO BMSCs were significantly increased compared to controls. Our findings suggest that Pten knockout in osteoprogenitor cells increases bone stability and elasticity by increasing trabecular bone mass and leads to increased proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith Lorenz
- Pediatric Research Center, Leipzig University, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Department for Child and Adolescent Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sandy Richter
- Pediatric Research Center, Leipzig University, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Department for Child and Adolescent Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna S Kirstein
- Pediatric Research Center, Leipzig University, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Department for Child and Adolescent Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Florentien Kolbig
- Pediatric Research Center, Leipzig University, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Department for Child and Adolescent Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michèle Nebe
- Pediatric Research Center, Leipzig University, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Department for Child and Adolescent Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marco Schulze
- Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation (SIKT), Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland Kiess
- Pediatric Research Center, Leipzig University, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Department for Child and Adolescent Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ingo Spitzbarth
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nora Klöting
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München, Leipzig University and University Hospital Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Diana Le Duc
- Institute of Human Genetics, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Baschant
- Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany
| | - Antje Garten
- Pediatric Research Center, Leipzig University, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Department for Child and Adolescent Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Akkawi R, Hidmi O, Haj-Yahia A, Monin J, Diment J, Drier Y, Stein GS, Aqeilan RI. WWOX promotes osteosarcoma development via upregulation of Myc. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:13. [PMID: 38182577 PMCID: PMC10770339 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06378-8] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is an aggressive bone tumor that primarily affects children and adolescents. This malignancy is highly aggressive, associated with poor clinical outcomes, and primarily metastasizes to the lungs. Due to its rarity and biological heterogeneity, limited studies on its molecular basis exist, hindering the development of effective therapies. The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) is frequently altered in human osteosarcoma. Combined deletion of Wwox and Trp53 using Osterix1-Cre transgenic mice has been shown to accelerate osteosarcoma development. In this study, we generated a traceable osteosarcoma mouse model harboring the deletion of Trp53 alone (single-knockout) or combined deletion of Wwox/Trp53 (double-knockout) and expressing a tdTomato reporter. By tracking Tomato expression at different time points, we detected the early presence of tdTomato-positive cells in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of non-osteosarcoma-bearing mice (young BM). We found that double-knockout young BM cells, but not single-knockout young BM cells, exhibited tumorigenic traits both in vitro and in vivo. Molecular and cellular characterization of these double-knockout young BM cells revealed their resemblance to osteosarcoma tumor cells. Interestingly, one of the observed significant transcriptomic changes in double-knockout young BM cells was the upregulation of Myc and its target genes compared to single-knockout young BM cells. Intriguingly, Myc-chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing revealed its increased enrichment on Myc targets, which were upregulated in double-knockout young BM cells. Restoration of WWOX in double-knockout young BM cells reduced Myc protein levels. As a prototype target, we demonstrated the upregulation of MCM7, a known Myc target, in double-knockout young BM relative to single-knockout young BM cells. Inhibition of MCM7 expression using simvastatin resulted in reduced proliferation and tumor cell growth of double-knockout young BM cells. Our findings reveal BM mesenchymal stem cells as a platform to study osteosarcoma and Myc and its targets as WWOX effectors and early molecular events during osteosarcomagenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rania Akkawi
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Osama Hidmi
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ameen Haj-Yahia
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jonathon Monin
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Judith Diment
- Department of Pathology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yotam Drier
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gary S Stein
- Department of Biochemistry, Larner College of Medicine, UVM Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Rami I Aqeilan
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
- Cyprus Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Nicosia, Cyprus.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang JS, Tokavanich N, Wein MN. SP7: from Bone Development to Skeletal Disease. Curr Osteoporos Rep 2023; 21:241-252. [PMID: 36881265 PMCID: PMC10758296 DOI: 10.1007/s11914-023-00778-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to summarize the different roles of the transcription factor SP7 in regulating bone formation and remodeling, discuss current studies in investigating the causal relationship between SP7 mutations and human skeletal disease, and highlight potential therapeutic treatments that targeting SP7 and the gene networks that it controls. RECENT FINDINGS Cell-type and stage-specific functions of SP7 have been identified during bone formation and remodeling. Normal bone development regulated by SP7 is strongly associated with human bone health. Dysfunction of SP7 results in common or rare skeletal diseases, including osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta with different inheritance patterns. SP7-associated signaling pathways, SP7-dependent target genes, and epigenetic regulations of SP7 serve as new therapeutic targets in the treatment of skeletal disorders. This review addresses the importance of SP7-regulated bone development in studying bone health and skeletal disease. Recent advances in whole genome and exome sequencing, GWAS, multi-omics, and CRISPR-mediated activation and inhibition have provided the approaches to investigate the gene-regulatory networks controlled by SP7 in bone and the therapeutic targets to treat skeletal disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jialiang S Wang
- Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Nicha Tokavanich
- Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marc N Wein
- Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Villegas-Pineda JC, Ramírez-de-Arellano A, Bueno-Urquiza LJ, Lizarazo-Taborda MDR, Pereira-Suárez AL. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in gynecological malignancies: are they really allies of the enemy? Front Oncol 2023; 13:1106757. [PMID: 37168385 PMCID: PMC10164963 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1106757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular and cellular components of the tumor microenvironment are essential for cancer progression. The cellular element comprises cancer cells and heterogeneous populations of non-cancer cells that satisfy tumor needs. Immune, vascular, and mesenchymal cells provide the necessary factors to feed the tumor mass, promote its development, and favor the spread of cancer cells from the primary site to adjacent and distant anatomical sites. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are mesenchymal cells that promote carcinogenesis and progression of various malignant neoplasms. CAFs act through the secretion of metalloproteinases, growth factors, cytokines, mitochondrial DNA, and non-coding RNAs, among other molecules. Over the last few years, the evidence on the leading role of CAFs in gynecological cancers has notably increased, placing them as the cornerstone of neoplastic processes. In this review, the recently reported findings regarding the promoting role that CAFs play in gynecological cancers, their potential use as therapeutic targets, and the new evidence suggesting that they could act as tumor suppressors are analyzed and discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julio César Villegas-Pineda
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Adrián Ramírez-de-Arellano
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Lesly Jazmín Bueno-Urquiza
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | | | - Ana Laura Pereira-Suárez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Ana Laura Pereira-Suárez,
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bartholf DeWitt S, Hoskinson Plumlee S, Brighton HE, Sivaraj D, Martz E, Zand M, Kumar V, Sheth MU, Floyd W, Spruance JV, Hawkey N, Varghese S, Ruan J, Kirsch DG, Somarelli JA, Alman B, Eward WC. Loss of ATRX promotes aggressive features of osteosarcoma with increased NF-κB signaling and integrin binding. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e151583. [PMID: 36073547 PMCID: PMC9536280 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.151583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is a lethal disease with few known targeted therapies. Here, we show that decreased ATRX expression is associated with more aggressive tumor cell phenotypes, including increased growth, migration, invasion, and metastasis. These phenotypic changes correspond with activation of NF-κB signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, increased integrin αvβ3 expression, and ETS family transcription factor binding. Here, we characterize these changes in vitro, in vivo, and in a data set of human OS patients. This increased aggression substantially sensitizes ATRX-deficient OS cells to integrin signaling inhibition. Thus, ATRX plays an important tumor-suppression role in OS, and loss of function of this gene may underlie new therapeutic vulnerabilities. The relationship between ATRX expression and integrin binding, NF-κB activation, and ETS family transcription factor binding has not been described in previous studies and may impact the pathophysiology of other diseases with ATRX loss, including other cancers and the ATR-X α thalassemia intellectual disability syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Bartholf DeWitt
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Maryam Zand
- Computer Science Department, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Vardhman Kumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Maya U. Sheth
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Warren Floyd
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jacob V. Spruance
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nathan Hawkey
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Shyni Varghese
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jianhua Ruan
- Computer Science Department, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - David G. Kirsch
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology and
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jason A. Somarelli
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ben Alman
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and
| | - William C. Eward
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Davis JL, Pokhrel NK, Cox L, Rohatgi N, Faccio R, Veis DJ. Conditional loss of IKKα in Osterix + cells has no effect on bone but leads to age-related loss of peripheral fat. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4915. [PMID: 35318397 PMCID: PMC8940989 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08914-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
NF-κB has been reported to both promote and inhibit bone formation. To explore its role in osteolineage cells, we conditionally deleted IKKα, an upstream kinase required for non-canonical NF-κB activation, using Osterix (Osx)-Cre. Surprisingly, we found no effect on either cancellous or cortical bone, even following mechanical loading. However, we noted that IKKα conditional knockout (cKO) mice began to lose body weight after 6 months of age with severe reductions in fat mass and lower adipocyte size in geriatric animals. qPCR analysis of adipogenic markers in fat pads of cKO mice indicated no difference in early differentiation, but instead markedly lower leptin with age. We challenged young mice with a high fat diet finding that cKO mice gained less weight and showed improved glucose metabolism. Low levels of recombination at the IKKα locus were detected in fat pads isolated from old cKO mice. To determine whether recombination occurs in adipocytes, we examined fat pads in Osx-Cre;TdT reporter mice; these showed increasing Osx-Cre-mediated expression in peripheral adipocytes from 6 weeks to 18 months. Since Osx-Cre drives recombination in peripheral adipocytes with age, we conclude that fat loss in cKO mice is most likely caused by progressive deficits of IKKα in adipocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Davis
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Nitin Kumar Pokhrel
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Linda Cox
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Nidhi Rohatgi
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Roberta Faccio
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.,Shriners Hospitals for Children, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Deborah J Veis
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA. .,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA. .,Shriners Hospitals for Children, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Xu C, Wang M, Zandieh-Doulabi B, Sun W, Wei L, Liu Y. To B (Bone Morphogenic Protein-2) or Not to B (Bone Morphogenic Protein-2): Mesenchymal Stem Cells May Explain the Protein's Role in Osteosarcomagenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:740783. [PMID: 34869325 PMCID: PMC8635864 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.740783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS), a primary malignant bone tumor, stems from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and/or committed osteoblast precursors. Distant metastases, in particular pulmonary and skeletal metastases, are common in patients with OS. Moreover, extensive resection of the primary tumor and bone metastases usually leads to bone defects in these patients. Bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) has been widely applied in bone regeneration with the rationale that BMP-2 promotes osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs. Thus, BMP-2 might be useful after OS resection to repair bone defects. However, the potential tumorigenicity of BMP-2 remains a concern that has impeded the administration of BMP-2 in patients with OS and in populations susceptible to OS with severe bone deficiency (e.g., in patients with genetic mutation diseases and aberrant activities of bone metabolism). In fact, some studies have drawn the opposite conclusion about the effect of BMP-2 on OS progression. Given the roles of BMSCs in the origination of OS and osteogenesis, we hypothesized that the responses of BMSCs to BMP-2 in the tumor milieu may be responsible for OS development. This review focuses on the relationship among BMSCs, BMP-2, and OS cells; a better understanding of this relationship may elucidate the accurate mechanisms of actions of BMP-2 in osteosarcomagenesis and thereby pave the way for clinically safer and broader administration of BMP-2 in the future. For example, a low dosage of and a slow-release delivery strategy for BMP-2 are potential topics for exploration to treat OS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunfeng Xu
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mingjie Wang
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Behrouz Zandieh-Doulabi
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lingfei Wei
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Oral Implantology, Yantai Stomatological Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Yuelian Liu
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wirth F, Huck K, Lubosch A, Zoeller C, Ghura H, Porubsky S, Nakchbandi IA. Cdc42 in osterix-expressing cells alters osteoblast behavior and myeloid lineage commitment. Bone 2021; 153:116150. [PMID: 34400384 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.116150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Osteoblasts are not only responsible for bone formation. They also support hematopoiesis. This requires responding to cues originating from several signaling pathways, a task performed by Rho GTPases. We therefore examined several transgenic mouse models and used inhibitors of Cdc42 in vitro. Deletion of Cdc42 in vivo using the Osterix promoter suppressed osteoblast function, while its deletion in differentiating osteoblasts using the Collagen-α1(I) promoter decreased osteoblast numbers. In both cases, bone mineral density diminished confirming the importance of Cdc42. Evaluation of hematopoiesis revealed that deletion of Cdc42 using the Osterix, but not the Collagen-α1(I) promoter increased the common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) in the bone marrow as well as the erythrocytes and the thrombocytes/platelets in peripheral blood. Causality between Cdc42 loss in early osteoblasts and increased myelopoiesis was confirmed in vitro. Work in vitro supported the conclusion that interleukin-4 mediated the increase in myelopoiesis. Thus, Cdc42 is required for healthy bone through regulation of bone formation in Osterix-expressing osteoblasts and the number of osteoblasts in differentiating osteoblasts. In addition, its expression in early osteoblasts/stromal cells modulates myelopoiesis. This highlights the importance of osteoblasts in regulating hematopoiesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Wirth
- Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katrin Huck
- Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Lubosch
- Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Caren Zoeller
- Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hiba Ghura
- Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Porubsky
- Institute of Pathology, University of Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Inaam A Nakchbandi
- Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Davis JL, Thaler R, Cox L, Ricci B, Zannit HM, Wan F, Faccio R, Dudakovic A, van Wijnen AJ, Veis DJ. Constitutive activation of NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK) in the mesenchymal lineage using Osterix (Sp7)- or Fibroblast-specific protein 1 (S100a4)-Cre drives spontaneous soft tissue sarcoma. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254426. [PMID: 34292968 PMCID: PMC8297882 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant NF-κB signaling fuels tumor growth in multiple human cancer types including both hematologic and solid malignancies. Chronic elevated alternative NF-κB signaling can be modeled in transgenic mice upon activation of a conditional NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) allele lacking the regulatory TRAF3 binding domain (NT3). Here, we report that expression of NT3 in the mesenchymal lineage with Osterix (Osx/Sp7)-Cre or Fibroblast-Specific Protein 1 (FSP1)-Cre caused subcutaneous, soft tissue tumors. These tumors displayed significantly shorter latency and a greater multiple incidence rate in Fsp1-Cre;NT3 compared to Osx-Cre;NT3 mice, regardless of sex. Histological assessment revealed poorly differentiated solid tumors with some spindled patterns, as well as robust RelB immunostaining, confirming activation of alternative NF-κB. Even though NT3 expression also occurs in the osteolineage in Osx-Cre;NT3 mice, we observed no bony lesions. The staining profiles and pattern of Cre expression in the two lines pointed to a mesenchymal tumor origin. Immunohistochemistry revealed that these tumors stain strongly for alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), although vimentin staining was uniform only in Osx-Cre;NT3 tumors. Negative CD45 and S100 immunostains precluded hematopoietic and melanocytic origins, respectively, while positive staining for cytokeratin 19 (CK19), typically associated with epithelia, was found in subpopulations of both tumors. Principal component, differential expression, and gene ontology analyses revealed that NT3 tumors are distinct from normal mesenchymal tissues and are enriched for NF-κB related biological processes. We conclude that constitutive activation of the alternative NF-κB pathway in the mesenchymal lineage drives spontaneous sarcoma and provides a novel mouse model for NF-κB related sarcomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Davis
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Roman Thaler
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Linda Cox
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Biancamaria Ricci
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Heather M. Zannit
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Fei Wan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Roberta Faccio
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, United States of America
- Shriners Hospitals for Children–St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Amel Dudakovic
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Andre J. van Wijnen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Deborah J. Veis
- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
- Shriners Hospitals for Children–St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
N-cadherin in osteolineage cells modulates stromal support of tumor growth. J Bone Oncol 2021; 28:100356. [PMID: 33912383 PMCID: PMC8065282 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbo.2021.100356] [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: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
N-cadherin in osteolineage, Osterix+ cells restrains extraskeletal tumor growth. Osterix+ cells are present in the stromal microenvironment of extraskeletal tumors. Osterix+ cells are present in normal tissues frequent sites of metastasis. N-cadherin modulates pro-tumorigenic signaling in tumor associated Osterix+ cells.
Tumor growth and metastases are dependent on interactions between cancer cells and the local environment. Expression of the cell–cell adhesion molecule N-cadherin (Ncad) is associated with highly aggressive cancers, and its expression by osteogenic cells has been proposed to provide a molecular “dock” for disseminated tumor cells to establish in pre-metastatic niches within the bone. To test this biologic model, we conditionally deleted the Ncad gene (Cdh2) in osteolineage cells using Osx-cre (cKO). Contrary to expectations, the metastatic breast cancer cell line PyMT-BO1 was able to form tumors in bone and to induce osteolysis in cKO as well as in control mice. Despite absence of Ncad, bone marrow stromal cells isolated from cKO mice were able to engage in direct cell–cell interactions with tumor cells expressing either N- or E-cadherin. However, subcutaneous PyMT-BO1 and B16F10 tumors grew larger in cKO relative to control littermates. Cell tracking experiments using the Ai9 reporter revealed the presence of Osx+ and Ncad+ cells in the stroma of extra-skeletal tumors and in a small population of lung cells. Gene expression analysis by RNAseq of Osx+ cells isolated from extra-skeletal tumors revealed alterations of pro-tumorigenic signaling pathways in cKO cells relative to control Osx+ cells. Thus, Ncad in Osx+ cells is not necessary for the establishment of bone metastases, but in extra-skeletal tumors it regulates pro-tumorigenic support by the microenvironment.
Collapse
|