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Zhang F, Huang B, Utturkar SM, Luo W, Cresswell G, Herr SA, Zheng S, Napoleon JV, Jiang R, Zhang B, Liu M, Lanman N, Srinivasarao M, Ratliff TL, Low PS. Tumor-specific activation of folate receptor beta enables reprogramming of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1354735. [PMID: 38384467 PMCID: PMC10879311 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1354735] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Folate receptors can perform folate transport, cell adhesion, and/or transcription factor functions. The beta isoform of the folate receptor (FRβ) has attracted considerable attention as a biomarker for immunosuppressive macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, however, its role in immunosuppression remains uncharacterized. We demonstrate here that FRβ cannot bind folate on healthy tissue macrophages, but does bind folate after macrophage incubation in anti-inflammatory cytokines or cancer cell-conditioned media. We further show that FRβ becomes functionally active following macrophage infiltration into solid tumors, and we exploit this tumor-induced activation to target a toll-like receptor 7 agonist specifically to immunosuppressive myeloid cells in solid tumors without altering myeloid cells in healthy tissues. We then use single-cell RNA-seq to characterize the changes in gene expression induced by the targeted repolarization of tumor-associated macrophages and finally show that their repolarization not only changes their own phenotype, but also induces a proinflammatory shift in all other immune cells of the same tumor mass, leading to potent suppression of tumor growth. Because this selective reprogramming of tumor myeloid cells is accompanied by no systemic toxicity, we propose that it should constitute a safe method to reprogram the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Bo Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Sagar M. Utturkar
- Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Weichuan Luo
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Gregory Cresswell
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Seth A. Herr
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Suilan Zheng
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - John V. Napoleon
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Rina Jiang
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Boning Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Muyi Liu
- University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX, United States
- Department of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Nadia Lanman
- Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Madduri Srinivasarao
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Timothy L. Ratliff
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Philip S. Low
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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Arimoto A, Nishitsuji K, Hisata K, Satoh N, Tagawa K. Transcriptomic evidence for Brachyury expression in the caudal tip region of adult Ptychodera flava (Hemichordata). Dev Growth Differ 2023; 65:470-480. [PMID: 37483093 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12882] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Most metazoans have a single copy of the T-box transcription factor gene Brachyury. This gene is expressed in cells of the blastopore of late blastulae and the archenteron invagination region of gastrulae. It appears to be crucial for gastrulation and mesoderm differentiation of embryos. Although this expression pattern is shared by most deuterostomes, Brachyury expression has not been reported in adult stages. Here we show that Brachyury of an indirect developer, the hemichordate acorn worm Ptychodera flava, is expressed not only in embryonic cells, but also in cells of the caudal tip (anus) region of adults. This spatially restricted expression, shown by whole-mount in situ hybridization, was confirmed by Iso-Seq RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) analysis. Iso-Seq analysis showed that gene expression occurs only in the caudal region of adults, but not in anterior regions, including the stomochord. scRNA-seq analysis showed a cluster that contained Brachyury-expressing cells comprising epidermis- and mesoderm-related cells, but which is unlikely to be associated with the nervous system or muscle. Although further investigation is required to examine the roles of Brachyury in adults, this study provides important clues for extending studies on Brachyury expression involved in development of the most posterior region of deuterostomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asuka Arimoto
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Blue Innovation Division, Seto Inland Sea Carbon-neutral Research Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Koki Nishitsuji
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Kanako Hisata
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Kuni Tagawa
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Blue Innovation Division, Seto Inland Sea Carbon-neutral Research Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University of Malang, Kota Malang, Indonesia
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Guo S, Yan M, Li X, Zhang S, Liu Z, Li K, Liu P, Liu Y, Sun G, Fu Q. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis reveals that immune cells induce human nucleus pulposus ossification and degeneration. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1224627. [PMID: 37638033 PMCID: PMC10449260 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1224627] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Determining the transcriptomes and molecular mechanism underlying human degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) is of critical importance for treating intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Here, we aimed to elucidate the detailed molecular mechanism of NP ossification and IDD using single-cell RNA sequencing. Methods Single-cell RNA-seq and bioinformatic analysis were performed to identify NP cell populations with gene signatures, biological processes and pathways, and subpopulation analysis, RNA velocity analysis, and cell-to-cell communication analysis were performed in four IDD patients. We also verified the effects of immune cells on NP ossification using cultured NP cells and a well-established rat IDD model. Results We identified five cell populations with gene expression profiles in degenerative NP at single-cell resolution. GO database analysis showed that degenerative NP-associated genes were mainly enriched in extracellular matrix organization, immune response, and ossification. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that rheumatoid arthritis signaling, antigen processing and presentation signaling were activated in the blood cell cluster. We revealed that stromal cells, which are progenitor cells, differentiated toward an ossification phenotype and delineated interactions between immune cells (macrophages and T cells) and stromal cells. Immune factors such as TNF-α, CD74 and CCL-3 promoted the differentiation of stromal cells toward an ossification phenotype in vitro. Blocking TNF-α with a specific inhibitor successfully reversed NP ossification and modified NP morphology in vivo. Conclusion Our study revealed an increase in macrophages and T cells in degenerative NP, which induced stromal cell differentiation toward an ossification phenotype, and contributed to the identification of a novel therapeutic target to delay IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Guo
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University First People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Meijun Yan
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University First People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinhua Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University First People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuya Zhang
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Zhong Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University First People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Kewei Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University First People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Pengcheng Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University First People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanbin Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University First People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Guixin Sun
- Department of Traumatology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University First People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
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Chang B, Hu Z, Chen L, Jin Z, Yang Y. Development and validation of cuproptosis-related genes in synovitis during osteoarthritis progress. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1090596. [PMID: 36817415 PMCID: PMC9932029 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1090596] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common refractory degenerative joint diseases worldwide. Synovitis is believed to drive joint cartilage destruction during OA pathogenesis. Cuproptosis is a novel form of copper-induced cell death. However, few studies have examined the correlations between cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs), immune infiltration, and synovitis. Therefore, we analyzed CRGs in synovitis during OA. Microarray datasets (GSE55235, GSE55457, GSE12021, GSE82107 and GSE176308) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Next, we conducted differential and subtype analyses of CRGs across synovitis. Immune infiltration and correlation analyses were performed to explore the association between CRGs and immune cell abundance in synovitis. Finally, single-cell RNA-seq profiling was performed using the GSE176308 dataset to investigate the expression of CRGs in the various cell clusters. We found that the expression of five CRGs (FDX1, LIPT1, PDHA1, PDHB, and CDKN2A) was significantly increased in the OA synovium. Moreover, abundant and various types of immune cells infiltrated the synovium during OA, which was correlated with the expression of CRGs. Additionally, single-cell RNA-seq profiling revealed that the cellular composition of the synovium was complex and that their proportions varied greatly as OA progressed. The expression of CRGs differed across various cell types in the OA synovium. The current study predicted that cuproptosis may be involved in the pathogenesis of synovitis. The five screened CRGs (FDX1, LIPT1, PDHA1, PDHB, and CDKN2A) could be explored as candidate biomarkers or therapeutic targets for OA synovitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohan Chang
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhehan Hu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Jin
- Department of Emergence Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Ji Z, Tao S, Wang B. Editorial: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Optimized Systems Modeling for the Deeper Understanding of Human Cancers. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:756314. [PMID: 34708028 PMCID: PMC8542901 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.756314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Ji
- College of Artificial Intelligence, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Shu Tao
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bing Wang
- Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, China
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