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Liu Y, Okesola BO, Osuna de la Peña D, Li W, Lin ML, Trabulo S, Tatari M, Lawlor RT, Scarpa A, Wang W, Knight M, Loessner D, Heeschen C, Mata A, Pearce OMT. A Self-Assembled 3D Model Demonstrates How Stiffness Educates Tumor Cell Phenotypes and Therapy Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2301941. [PMID: 38471128 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a dense and stiff extracellular matrix (ECM) associated with tumor progression and therapy resistance. To further the understanding of how stiffening of the tumor microenvironment (TME) contributes to aggressiveness, a three-dimensional (3D) self-assembling hydrogel disease model is developed based on peptide amphiphiles (PAs, PA-E3Y) designed to tailor stiffness. The model displays nanofibrous architectures reminiscent of native TME and enables the study of the invasive behavior of PDAC cells. Enhanced tuneability of stiffness is demonstrated by interacting thermally annealed aqueous solutions of PA-E3Y (PA-E3Yh) with divalent cations to create hydrogels with mechanical properties and ultrastructure similar to native tumor ECM. It is shown that stiffening of PA-E3Yh hydrogels to levels found in PDAC induces ECM deposition, promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), enriches CD133+/CXCR4+ cancer stem cells (CSCs), and subsequently enhances drug resistance. The findings reveal how a stiff 3D environment renders PDAC cells more aggressive and therefore more faithfully recapitulates in vivo tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Babatunde O Okesola
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - David Osuna de la Peña
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Weiqi Li
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Meng-Lay Lin
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Sara Trabulo
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Marianthi Tatari
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Rita T Lawlor
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
- ARC-Net, Applied Research on Cancer Centre, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
- ARC-Net, Applied Research on Cancer Centre, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Martin Knight
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Daniela Loessner
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Pancreatic Cancer Heterogeneity, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo (TO), 10060, Italy
| | - Alvaro Mata
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Oliver M T Pearce
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
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Murray ER, Menezes S, Henry JC, Williams JL, Alba-Castellón L, Baskaran P, Quétier I, Desai A, Marshall JJT, Rosewell I, Tatari M, Rajeeve V, Khan F, Wang J, Kotantaki P, Tyler EJ, Singh N, Reader CS, Carter EP, Hodivala-Dilke K, Grose RP, Kocher HM, Gavara N, Pearce O, Cutillas P, Marshall JF, Cameron AJM. Disruption of pancreatic stellate cell myofibroblast phenotype promotes pancreatic tumor invasion. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110227. [PMID: 35081338 PMCID: PMC8810397 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), differentiation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) into myofibroblast-like cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) can both promote and suppress tumor progression. Here, we show that the Rho effector protein kinase N2 (PKN2) is critical for PSC myofibroblast differentiation. Loss of PKN2 is associated with reduced PSC proliferation, contractility, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) stress fibers. In spheroid co-cultures with PDAC cells, loss of PKN2 prevents PSC invasion but, counter-intuitively, promotes invasive cancer cell outgrowth. PKN2 deletion induces a myofibroblast to inflammatory CAF switch in the PSC matrisome signature both in vitro and in vivo. Further, deletion of PKN2 in the pancreatic stroma induces more locally invasive, orthotopic pancreatic tumors. Finally, we demonstrate that a PKN2KO matrisome signature predicts poor outcome in pancreatic and other solid human cancers. Our data indicate that suppressing PSC myofibroblast function can limit important stromal tumor-suppressive mechanisms, while promoting a switch to a cancer-supporting CAF phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth R Murray
- Kinase Biology Laboratory, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Shinelle Menezes
- Kinase Biology Laboratory, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jack C Henry
- Kinase Biology Laboratory, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Josie L Williams
- Kinase Biology Laboratory, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Lorena Alba-Castellón
- Kinase Biology Laboratory, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Priththivika Baskaran
- Kinase Biology Laboratory, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Ivan Quétier
- Kinase Biology Laboratory, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Ami Desai
- Kinase Biology Laboratory, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jacqueline J T Marshall
- Protein Phosphorylation Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ian Rosewell
- Transgenic Services, Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Marianthi Tatari
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Vinothini Rajeeve
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Faraz Khan
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jun Wang
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Panoraia Kotantaki
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Eleanor J Tyler
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Namrata Singh
- Kinase Biology Laboratory, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Claire S Reader
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Edward P Carter
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Richard P Grose
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Hemant M Kocher
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; Barts and the London HPB Centre, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB, UK
| | - Nuria Gavara
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oliver Pearce
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Pedro Cutillas
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - John F Marshall
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Angus J M Cameron
- Kinase Biology Laboratory, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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Osuna de la Peña D, Trabulo SMD, Collin E, Liu Y, Sharma S, Tatari M, Behrens D, Erkan M, Lawlor RT, Scarpa A, Heeschen C, Mata A, Loessner D. Bioengineered 3D models of human pancreatic cancer recapitulate in vivo tumour biology. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5623. [PMID: 34561461 PMCID: PMC8463670 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25921-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Patient-derived in vivo models of human cancer have become a reality, yet their turnaround time is inadequate for clinical applications. Therefore, tailored ex vivo models that faithfully recapitulate in vivo tumour biology are urgently needed. These may especially benefit the management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), where therapy failure has been ascribed to its high cancer stem cell (CSC) content and high density of stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). To date, these features are only partially reproduced ex vivo using organoid and sphere cultures. We have now developed a more comprehensive and highly tuneable ex vivo model of PDAC based on the 3D co-assembly of peptide amphiphiles (PAs) with custom ECM components (PA-ECM). These cultures maintain patient-specific transcriptional profiles and exhibit CSC functionality, including strong in vivo tumourigenicity. User-defined modification of the system enables control over niche-dependent phenotypes such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and matrix deposition. Indeed, proteomic analysis of these cultures reveals improved matrisome recapitulation compared to organoids. Most importantly, patient-specific in vivo drug responses are better reproduced in self-assembled cultures than in other models. These findings support the use of tuneable self-assembling platforms in cancer research and pave the way for future precision medicine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Osuna de la Peña
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Lungs for Living Research Centre, UCL Respiratory, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Estelle Collin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Ying Liu
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Shreya Sharma
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, London, UK
| | - Marianthi Tatari
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Diana Behrens
- EPO - Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mert Erkan
- Department of Surgery, Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
- Koç University Translational Research Center - KUTTAM, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Rita T Lawlor
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- ARC-Net, Applied Research on Cancer Centre, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- ARC-Net, Applied Research on Cancer Centre, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Center for Single-Cell Omics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Laboratory of Pancreatic Cancer Heterogeneity, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Turin, Italy.
| | - Alvaro Mata
- Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
| | - Daniela Loessner
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Barhmi I, Mahdoufi R, Khallouq A, Tatari M, Abada R, Roubal M, Mahtar M. Uncommon presentation of orbital schwanomma: A case report. Int J Surg Case Rep 2016; 26:173-5. [PMID: 27497041 PMCID: PMC4976612 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2016.07.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Schwannomas are well-differentiated solitary benign tumors that originate from the Schwann cells of the nerve sheath. They are rare, constitute 1–4% of the orbital tumors. Although it may be difficult to differentiate these benign masses from other orbital tumours on radiologic imaging. Aggressive surgery with total mass removal should be warned by early diagnosis.
Introduction Schwannomas are well-differentiated solitary benign tumors that originate from the schwann cells of the nerve sheath, constitute 1–8% of all head and neck tumors and 1–4% of the orbital tumors. Summary of the clinical case A 57-year-old female patient visited our department, because she has a blindness of the right eye associated with an irreducible exophthalmia classified grade III, 4 years ago. Radiological exploration showed a mass in the orbital cone in relation to a probable optic nerve schwannoma confirmed by biopsy. The affected eye was exenterated because of delayed diagnosis. Discussion and conclusion In this review we discuss the pertinent clinical findings of this rare lesion and review the literature relative to optic nerve and solitary orbital schwannomas and insist that aggressive surgery with total mass removal should be warned by early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Barhmi
- ENT Department, Face and Neck Surgery, Hospital August, 20'1953, University Hospital Centre IBN ROCHD, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - R Mahdoufi
- ENT Department, Face and Neck Surgery, Hospital August, 20'1953, University Hospital Centre IBN ROCHD, Casablanca, Morocco.
| | - A Khallouq
- ENT Department, Face and Neck Surgery, Hospital August, 20'1953, University Hospital Centre IBN ROCHD, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - M Tatari
- ENT Department, Face and Neck Surgery, Hospital August, 20'1953, University Hospital Centre IBN ROCHD, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - R Abada
- ENT Department, Face and Neck Surgery, Hospital August, 20'1953, University Hospital Centre IBN ROCHD, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - M Roubal
- ENT Department, Face and Neck Surgery, Hospital August, 20'1953, University Hospital Centre IBN ROCHD, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - M Mahtar
- ENT Department, Face and Neck Surgery, Hospital August, 20'1953, University Hospital Centre IBN ROCHD, Casablanca, Morocco
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Sainz B, Alcala S, Garcia E, Sanchez-Ripoll Y, Azevedo MM, Cioffi M, Tatari M, Miranda-Lorenzo I, Hidalgo M, Gomez-Lopez G, Cañamero M, Erkan M, Kleeff J, García-Silva S, Sancho P, Hermann PC, Heeschen C. Microenvironmental hCAP-18/LL-37 promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by activating its cancer stem cell compartment. Gut 2015; 64:1921-35. [PMID: 25841238 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2014-308935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The tumour stroma/microenvironment not only provides structural support for tumour development, but more importantly it provides cues to cancer stem cells (CSCs) that regulate their self-renewal and metastatic potential. This is certainly true for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), where tumour-associated fibroblasts, pancreatic stellate cells and immune cells create an abundant paracrine niche for CSCs via microenvironment-secreted factors. Thus understanding the role that tumour stroma cells play in PDAC development and CSC biology is of utmost importance. DESIGN Microarray analyses, tumour microarray immunohistochemical assays, in vitro co-culture experiments, recombinant protein treatment approaches and in vivo intervention studies were performed to understand the role that the immunomodulatory cationic antimicrobial peptide 18/LL-37 (hCAP-18/LL-37) plays in PDAC biology. RESULTS We found that hCAP-18/LL-37 was strongly expressed in the stroma of advanced primary and secondary PDAC tumours and is secreted by immune cells of the stroma (eg, tumour-associated macrophages) in response to tumour growth factor-β1 and particularly CSC-secreted Nodal/ActivinA. Treatment of pancreatic CSCs with recombinant LL-37 increased pluripotency-associated gene expression, self-renewal, invasion and tumourigenicity via formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2)- and P2X purinoceptor 7 receptor (P2X7R)-dependent mechanisms, which could be reversed by inhibiting these receptors. Importantly, in a genetically engineered mouse model of K-Ras-driven pancreatic tumourigenesis, we also showed that tumour formation was inhibited by either reconstituting these mice with bone marrow from cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (ie, murine homologue of hCAP-18/LL-37) knockout mice or by pharmacologically inhibiting FPR2 and P2X7R. CONCLUSIONS Thus, hCAP-18/LL-37 represents a previously unrecognised PDAC microenvironment factor that plays a critical role in pancreatic CSC-mediated tumourigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Sainz
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Microbiology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Alcala
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Microbiology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Garcia
- Molecular Diagnostics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain Pathology Department, Hospital Universitario Fundacion Alcorcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda Sanchez-Ripoll
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria M Azevedo
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Michele Cioffi
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marianthi Tatari
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Miranda-Lorenzo
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Hidalgo
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinical Research Unit, Clinical Research Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Gomez-Lopez
- Bioinformatics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Cañamero
- Histopathology Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mert Erkan
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University, Munich, Germany Koc University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Jörg Kleeff
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University, Munich, Germany
| | - Susana García-Silva
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Sancho
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Patrick C Hermann
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain Deptartment of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain Centre for Stem Cells in Cancer & Ageing, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) are thought to play a major role in the development and metastatic progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest solid tumors. Likewise, the tumor microenvironment contributes critical support in this setting, including from tumor stromal cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) that contribute structural and paracrine-mediated supports, respectively. Here, we show that TAMs secrete the IFN-stimulated factor ISG15, which enhances CSC phenotypes in PDAC in vitro and in vivo. ISG15 was preferentially and highly expressed by TAM present in primary PDAC tumors resected from patients. ISG15 was secreted by macrophages in response to secretion of IFNβ by CSC, thereby reinforcing CSC self-renewal, invasive capacity, and tumorigenic potential. Overall, our work demonstrates that ISG15 is a previously unrecognized support factor for CSC in the PDAC microenvironment with a key role in pathogenesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Sainz
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain. Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Microbiology, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Beatriz Martín
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Microbiology, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marianthi Tatari
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain. Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Susana Guerra
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Microbiology, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.
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Bonnet E, Tatari M, Joshi A, Michoel T, Marchal K, Berx G, Van de Peer Y. Module network inference from a cancer gene expression data set identifies microRNA regulated modules. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10162. [PMID: 20418949 PMCID: PMC2854686 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2009] [Accepted: 03/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that recognize and regulate mRNA target genes. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that they are key regulators of numerous critical functions in development and disease, including cancer. However, defining the place and function of miRNAs in complex regulatory networks is not straightforward. Systems approaches, like the inference of a module network from expression data, can help to achieve this goal. Methodology/Principal Findings During the last decade, much progress has been made in the development of robust and powerful module network inference algorithms. In this study, we analyze and assess experimentally a module network inferred from both miRNA and mRNA expression data, using our recently developed module network inference algorithm based on probabilistic optimization techniques. We show that several miRNAs are predicted as statistically significant regulators for various modules of tightly co-expressed genes. A detailed analysis of three of those modules demonstrates that the specific assignment of miRNAs is functionally coherent and supported by literature. We further designed a set of experiments to test the assignment of miR-200a as the top regulator of a small module of nine genes. The results strongly suggest that miR-200a is regulating the module genes via the transcription factor ZEB1. Interestingly, this module is most likely involved in epithelial homeostasis and its dysregulation might contribute to the malignant process in cancer cells. Conclusions/Significance Our results show that a robust module network analysis of expression data can provide novel insights of miRNA function in important cellular processes. Such a computational approach, starting from expression data alone, can be helpful in the process of identifying the function of miRNAs by suggesting modules of co-expressed genes in which they play a regulatory role. As shown in this study, those modules can then be tested experimentally to further investigate and refine the function of the miRNA in the regulatory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Bonnet
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Marianthi Tatari
- Unit of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Anagha Joshi
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Tom Michoel
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Kathleen Marchal
- CMPG, Department Microbial and Molecular Systems, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Geert Berx
- Unit of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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Kokolakis G, Tatari M, Zacharopoulou A, Mintzas AC. The hsp27 gene of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata: structural characterization, regulation and developmental expression. Insect Mol Biol 2008; 17:699-710. [PMID: 19133079 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2008.00840.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, a genomic DNA clone encoding the medfly homolog of Drosophila melanogaster hsp27 gene, named Cchsp27, was isolated. We sequenced a part of the clone containing the coding region, the 5' untranslated region and approximately 2.8 Kb of the 5' flanking region of the gene. Phylogenetic analysis of several insect small heat shock proteins, suggested that CcHsp27 is orthologous to Drosophila Hsp27 and Sarcophaga crassipalpis Hsp25. The Cchsp27 gene was mapped at the 81A division of the sixth chromosome which coincides with one of the major heat shock puffs of medfly. Structural analysis of the 5' flanking region of the Cchsp27 gene revealed the presence of five putative heat shock elements and one putative ecdysone response element. In addition to heat induction, the Cchsp27 gene was expressed at several stages of normal medfly development. In general, the developmental expression pattern of the Cchsp27 gene was similar to the respective pattern of Drosophila hsp27 gene. However, there were some important differences in certain developmental stages suggesting differential regulation of the hsp27 gene in the two dipterans species. Salivary gland culture experiments showed that the Cchsp27 gene is regulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Kokolakis
- Division of Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
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Theodoraki M, Tatari M, Chrysanthis G, Zacharopoulou A, Mintzas AC. Structural characterization of the medfly hsp83 gene and functional analysis of its proximal promoter region in vivo by germ-line transformation. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 2008; 67:20-35. [PMID: 18064699 DOI: 10.1002/arch.20216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
In order to define the regulatory elements responsible for the expression of the medfly hsp83 (Cchsp83) gene, we determined the sequence of a genomic region of the gene that included 3,536 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site, the first untranslated exon of 144 bp, a 275-bp intron, and 516 bp of the second coding exon. Structural analysis of the 5' flanking region revealed the presence of a typical TATA box, 28 bp upstream of the transcription start site, and seven putative heat shock elements (HSEs) further upstream. The 5' untranslated region of the Cchsp83 mRNA was found to contain extensive secondary structure in the first 126 nucleotides. We carried out deletion functional analysis of the proximal promoter region (-380/+139) in vivo by germ line transformation using the lacZ as a reporter gene. We found that sequences in the -380/-86 region are essential for the constitutive expression of the Cchsp83 gene. Under normal conditions, the -380/+139 region was able to drive significant levels of transgene expression in all developmental stages of the medfly as well as in the ovaries and testis. In most stages, the temporal expression pattern of the reporter gene was similar to the respective pattern of the endogenous Cchsp83 gene. Although the -380/+139 promoter region contained two putative HSEs, it was found unable to confer any heat-induced expression in the reporter gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Theodoraki
- Division of Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
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Kalosaka K, Chrysanthis G, Rojas-Gill AP, Theodoraki M, Gourzi P, Kyriakopoulos A, Tatari M, Zacharopoulou A, Mintzas AC. Evaluation of the activities of the medfly and Drosophila hsp70 promoters in vivo in germ-line transformed medflies. Insect Mol Biol 2006; 15:373-82. [PMID: 16756556 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2006.00650.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The promoter of the hsp70 gene of Drosophila melanogaster has been widely used for the expression of foreign genes in other insects. It has been generally assumed that because this gene is highly conserved, its promoter will function efficiently in other species. We report the results of a quantitative comparison of the activities of the medfly and D. melanogaster hsp70 promoters in vivo in transformed medflies. We constructed transformed lines containing the lacZ reporter gene under the control of the two promoters by using Minos-mediated germ-line transformation. The activity of each promoter was evaluated in 15 transformed lines by beta-galactosidase quantitative assays. The heat-inducible activity of the medfly promoter was found several times higher than the respective activity of the heterologous D. melanogaster promoter. These results were confirmed by northern blot analysis and indicate that the D. melanogaster promoter does not work efficiently in medfly. The -263/+105 medfly promoter region that was used in this study was found able to drive heat shock expression of the lacZ reporter gene in all stages of medfly, except early embryonic stages, in a similar fashion to the endogenous hsp70 genes. However the heat inducible RNA levels driven from this promoter region were significantly lower than the endogenous hsp70 RNA levels, suggesting that additional upstream and/or downstream sequences to the -263/+105 region may be necessary for optimum function of the medfly hsp70 promoter in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kalosaka
- Division of Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26 500 Patras, Greece
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