RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Periostin (POSTN) is a type of matrix protein that functions by binding to other matrix proteins, cell surface receptors, or other molecules, such as cytokines and proteases. POSTN has four major splicing variants (PN1-4), which are primarily expressed in fibroblasts and cancer. We have reported that we should inhibit pathological POSTN (PN1-3), but not physiological POSTN (PN4). In particular, pathological POSTN with exon 17 is present in both stroma and cancer, but it is unclear whether the stroma or cancer pathological POSTN should be suppressed. METHODS AND RESULTS: We transplanted 4T1 cells (breast cancer) secreting POSTN with exon 17 into 17KO mice lacking POSTN exon 17 to suppress stromal POSTN with exon 17. The results show that 17KO mice had smaller primary tumors and fewer metastases. Furthermore, to suppress cancer POSTN with exon 17, 4T1 cells transfected with POSTN exon 17 skipping oligo or control oligo were transplanted from the tail vein into the lungs. The results show that POSTN exon 17 skipping oligo significantly suppressed lung metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that it is important to suppress POSTN exon 17 in both stroma and cancer. Antibody targeting POSTN exon 17 may be a therapeutic candidate for breast cancer.
Asunto(s)
Moléculas de Adhesión Celular , Exones , Células del Estroma , Animales , Moléculas de Adhesión Celular/metabolismo , Moléculas de Adhesión Celular/genética , Exones/genética , Ratones , Femenino , Línea Celular Tumoral , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patología , Humanos , Empalme Alternativo/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Ratones Noqueados , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/secundario , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , PeriostinaRESUMEN
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. This study evaluates the prognostic value of stromal markers in TNBC, focusing on the tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) and overall stroma ratio (OSR) in whole slide images (WSI), as well as the expression of type-I collagen, type-III collagen, and fibrillin-1 on tissue microarrays (TMAs), using both visual assessment and digital image analysis (DIA). A total of 101 female TNBC patients, primarily treated with surgery between 2005 and 2016, were included. We found that high visual OSR correlates with worse overall survival (OS), advanced pN categories, lower stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte count (sTIL), lower mitotic index, and patient age (p < 0.05). TSR showed significant connections to the pN category and mitotic index (p < 0.01). High expression levels of type-I collagen (>45%), type-III collagen (>30%), and fibrillin-1 (>20%) were linked to significantly worse OS (p = 0.004, p = 0.013, and p = 0.005, respectively) and progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.028, p = 0.025, and p = 0.002, respectively), validated at the mRNA level. Our results highlight the importance of stromal characteristics in promoting tumor progression and metastasis and that targeting extracellular matrix (ECM) components may offer novel therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, DIA can be more accurate and objective in evaluating TSR, OSR, and immunodetected stromal markers than traditional visual examination.
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Biomarcadores de Tumor , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas , Humanos , Femenino , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/metabolismo , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/mortalidad , Pronóstico , Persona de Mediana Edad , Biomarcadores de Tumor/metabolismo , Anciano , Adulto , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patología , Proteínas de la Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Proteínas de la Matriz Extracelular/genética , Fibrilina-1/metabolismo , Fibrilina-1/genética , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador/métodos , Colágeno Tipo I/metabolismo , Colágeno Tipo I/genética , Colágeno Tipo III/metabolismo , Colágeno Tipo III/genética , Anciano de 80 o más AñosRESUMEN
The microenvironment of a cancer stem cell (CSC) niche is often found in coexistence with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Here, we show the first in-depth analysis of the interaction between primary triple-negative breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) with fibroblasts. Using 2D co-culture models with specific seeding ratios, we identified stromal fibroblast aggregation at the BCSC cluster periphery, and, on closer observation, the aggregated fibroblasts was found to encircle BCSC clusters in nematic organization. In addition, collagen type I and fibronectin accumulation were also found at the BCSC-stromal periphery. MACE-Seq analysis of BCSC-encapsulating fibroblasts displayed the transformation of stromal fibroblasts to CAFs and the upregulation of fibrosis regulating genes of which the Interferon Regulatory Factor 6 (IRF6) gene was identified. Loss of function experiments with the IRF6 gene decreased fibroblast encapsulation around BCSC clusters in 2D co-cultures. In BCSC xenografts, fibroblast IRF6 expression led to an increase in the stromal area and fibroblast density in tumors, in addition to a reduction in necrotic growth. Based on our findings, we propose that fibroblast IRF6 function is an important factor in the development of the stromal microenvironment and in sustaining the BCSC tumor niche.
Asunto(s)
Técnicas de Cocultivo , Fibroblastos , Factores Reguladores del Interferón , Células Madre Neoplásicas , Células del Estroma , Microambiente Tumoral , Regulación hacia Arriba , Humanos , Femenino , Factores Reguladores del Interferón/metabolismo , Factores Reguladores del Interferón/genética , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patología , Células Madre Neoplásicas/metabolismo , Células Madre Neoplásicas/patología , Animales , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Fibroblastos/patología , Regulación hacia Arriba/genética , Ratones , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer/metabolismo , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/metabolismo , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Línea Celular TumoralRESUMEN
Prostate cancer (PC) is an age-related disease and represents, after lung cancer, the second cause of cancer death in males worldwide. Mortality is due to the metastatic disease, which mainly involves the bones, lungs, and liver. In the last 20 years, the incidence of metastatic PC has increased in Western Countries, and a further increase is expected in the near future, due to the population ageing. Current treatment options, including state of the art cancer immunotherapy, need to be more effective to achieve long-term disease control. The most significant anatomical barrier to overcome to improve the effectiveness of current and newly designed drug strategies consists of the prostatic stroma, in particular the fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix, which are the most abundant components of both the normal and tumor prostatic microenvironment. By weaving a complex communication network with the glandular epithelium, the immune cells, the microbiota, the endothelium, and the nerves, in the healthy prostatic microenvironment, the fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix support organ development and homeostasis. However, during inflammation, ageing and prostate tumorigenesis, they undergo dramatic phenotypic and genotypic changes, which impact on tumor growth and progression and on the development of therapy resistance. Here, we focus on the characteristics and functions of the prostate associated fibroblasts and of the extracellular matrix in health and cancer. We emphasize their roles in shaping tumor behavior and the feasibility of manipulating and/or targeting these stromal components to overcome the limitations of current treatments and to improve precision medicine's chances of success.
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Próstata , Neoplasias de la Próstata , Células del Estroma , Microambiente Tumoral , Humanos , Masculino , Neoplasias de la Próstata/patología , Neoplasias de la Próstata/terapia , Células del Estroma/patología , Próstata/patología , Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Animales , Salud , Fibroblastos/patologíaRESUMEN
Prostate cancer has substantial heterogeneity in clinical outcomes and therapeutic responses, posing challenges in predicting disease progression and tailoring treatment strategies. Recent studies have highlighted the potential prognostic value of evaluating the tumor microenvironment, including the presence of a histologically overt stromal response (HOST-response) characterized by peri-glandular stromal changes and architectural distortions. This retrospective study examined patient records from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to identify genomic alterations associated with the HOST-response in prostate cancer. Among 348 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, 160 (45.98%) were identified as having a HOST-response. A gene expression analysis revealed 1263 genes with significantly higher expression in patients with a HOST-response. A protein-protein interaction network analysis identified seven hub genes (KIF2C, CENPA, CDC20, UBE2C, ESPL1, KIF23, and PLK1) highly interconnected in the network. A functional enrichment analysis revealed alterations in the cell division, cytoskeletal organization, cytokinesis, and interleukin-16 signaling pathways in patients with a HOST-response, suggesting dysregulated proliferation and inflammation. The distinct molecular signature associated with the HOST-response provides insights into the tumor-stroma interactions driving adverse outcomes and potential targets for tailored therapeutic interventions in this subset of patients with prostate cancer.
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Neoplasias de la Próstata , Microambiente Tumoral , Humanos , Masculino , Neoplasias de la Próstata/genética , Neoplasias de la Próstata/patología , Neoplasias de la Próstata/metabolismo , Microambiente Tumoral/genética , Mapas de Interacción de Proteínas/genética , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patología , Anciano , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Prostatectomía , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Biomarcadores de Tumor/metabolismo , PronósticoRESUMEN
Endometriosis is a chronic hormone-dependent disease characterized by the spread of endometrial cells outside the uterus, which form endometriotic lesions and disrupt the functions of the affected organs. The etiopathogenesis of endometriosis is still unclear, and thus it is important to examine the genes that may contribute to the establishment of endometriotic lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of new potential candidate gene latexin (LXN), an inhibitor of carboxypeptidases, in endometrium and endometriotic lesions to elucidate its possible role in endometriosis development. LXN expression in tissues was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis and immunohistochemical staining (IHC). The functions of LXN were examined using Transwell and MTT assays. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that LXN expression in endometrium was menstrual cycle-dependent, being lowest in the early-secretory phase and highest in the late-secretory phase and was significantly upregulated in endometriotic lesions. IHC confirmed LXN expression in endometrial stromal cells, and in vitro assays demonstrated that knockdown of LXN effectively reduced the migratory capacity of endometrial stromal cells while promoting cell viability. In conclusion, our results showed that LXN can be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis by regulating the proliferation and migration activity of endometriotic stromal cells.
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Endometriosis , Endometrio , Ciclo Menstrual , Regulación hacia Arriba , Humanos , Femenino , Endometriosis/genética , Endometriosis/metabolismo , Endometriosis/patología , Endometrio/metabolismo , Endometrio/patología , Ciclo Menstrual/genética , Ciclo Menstrual/metabolismo , Adulto , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patología , Movimiento Celular/genética , Proliferación Celular , Carboxipeptidasas/genética , Carboxipeptidasas/metabolismoRESUMEN
Given the importance of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma in epidermal inflammation and carcinogenesis, we analyzed the transcriptomic changes observed in epidermal PPARγ-deficient mice (Pparg-/-epi). A gene set enrichment analysis revealed a close association with epithelial malignancy, inflammatory cell chemotaxis, and cell survival. Single-cell sequencing of Pparg-/-epi mice verified changes to the stromal compartment, including increased inflammatory cell infiltrates, particularly neutrophils, and an increase in fibroblasts expressing myofibroblast marker genes. A comparison of transcriptomic data from Pparg-/-epi and publicly available human and/or mouse actinic keratoses (AKs) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) revealed a strong correlation between the datasets. Importantly, PPAR signaling was the top common inhibited canonical pathway in AKs and SCCs. Both AKs and SCCs also had significantly reduced PPARG expression and PPARγ activity z-scores. Smaller reductions in PPARA expression and PPARα activity and increased PPARD expression but reduced PPARδ activation were also observed. Reduced PPAR activity was also associated with reduced PPARα/RXRα activity, while LPS/IL1-mediated inhibition of RXR activity was significantly activated in the tumor datasets. Notably, these changes were not observed in normal sun-exposed skin relative to non-exposed skin. Finally, Ppara and Pparg were heavily expressed in sebocytes, while Ppard was highly expressed in myofibroblasts, suggesting that PPARδ has a role in myofibroblast differentiation. In conclusion, these data provide strong evidence that PPARγ and possibly PPARα represent key tumor suppressors by acting as master inhibitors of the inflammatory changes found in AKs and SCCs.
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Carcinoma de Células Escamosas , Inflamación , Queratosis Actínica , PPAR gamma , Transducción de Señal , Neoplasias Cutáneas , PPAR gamma/metabolismo , PPAR gamma/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/genética , Animales , Humanos , Neoplasias Cutáneas/patología , Neoplasias Cutáneas/genética , Neoplasias Cutáneas/metabolismo , Queratosis Actínica/patología , Queratosis Actínica/metabolismo , Queratosis Actínica/genética , Ratones , Inflamación/patología , Inflamación/metabolismo , Inflamación/genética , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patologíaRESUMEN
Colorectal cancer is caused by a sequence of somatic genomic alterations affecting driver genes in core cancer pathways1. Here, to understand the functional and prognostic impact of cancer-causing somatic mutations, we analysed the whole genomes and transcriptomes of 1,063 primary colorectal cancers in a population-based cohort with long-term follow-up. From the 96 mutated driver genes, 9 were not previously implicated in colorectal cancer and 24 had not been linked to any cancer. Two distinct patterns of pathway co-mutations were observed, timing analyses identified nine early and three late driver gene mutations, and several signatures of colorectal-cancer-specific mutational processes were identified. Mutations in WNT, EGFR and TGFß pathway genes, the mitochondrial CYB gene and 3 regulatory elements along with 21 copy-number variations and the COSMIC SBS44 signature correlated with survival. Gene expression classification yielded five prognostic subtypes with distinct molecular features, in part explained by underlying genomic alterations. Microsatellite-instable tumours divided into two classes with different levels of hypoxia and infiltration of immune and stromal cells. To our knowledge, this study constitutes the largest integrated genome and transcriptome analysis of colorectal cancer, and interlinks mutations, gene expression and patient outcomes. The identification of prognostic mutations and expression subtypes can guide future efforts to individualize colorectal cancer therapy.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Inestabilidad de Microsatélites , Mutación , Transcriptoma , Neoplasias Colorrectales/genética , Neoplasias Colorrectales/patología , Neoplasias Colorrectales/mortalidad , Humanos , Transcriptoma/genética , Pronóstico , Genoma Humano/genética , Variaciones en el Número de Copia de ADN/genética , Masculino , Femenino , Estudios de Cohortes , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Endometriosis (EMs) is a chronic disease characterized by endometrial-like tissue present outside of the uterus. Macrophages have been confirmed to participate in the development of EMs. Integrin ß3 (ITGB3), a ß-subunit of the integrin family, is crucial in tumor progression. In this study, we investigated the pivotal role of ITGB3 in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and its influence on the development of EMs, particularly focusing on the regulatory impact of macrophages. METHODS: In this study, we used western blot, Real-time qPCR, Immunohistochemistry to detected the high expression of ITGB3 in ESCs. ITGB3-overexpression ESCs (ITGB3-OE) was constructed and detected by RNA-seq with normal ESCs. ATP and lactate expression assay, transwell migration assay, wound healing, cell adhesion assay and other molecular biology techniques were used to explore the potential mechanisms. In vivo, we constructed the EMs mouse model and injected with cilengitite to inhibit ITGB3. RESULTS: Here, we found ITGB3 highly expressed in ectopic lesions in EMs. The increasing ITGB3 resulted in activating the glycolysis, which produced more ATP and lactate in ITGB3-OE. After culturing with lactate, the migration, proliferation and invasion ability of ESCs were enhanced, while the result in 2-DG was reversed. In vivo, the results showed that after antagonizing ITGB3, the number of ectopic lesions was decrease. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that ITGB3 up-regulated by macrophages are able to regulate the glycolysis to promote the development of EMs and lactate enhances the ability of proliferation, migration, invasion and adhesion of EMs iv vivo and in vitro.
Asunto(s)
Endometriosis , Glucólisis , Integrina beta3 , Ácido Láctico , Animales , Femenino , Humanos , Ratones , Movimiento Celular , Proliferación Celular , Células Cultivadas , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Endometriosis/patología , Endometriosis/metabolismo , Endometrio/patología , Endometrio/metabolismo , Integrina beta3/metabolismo , Integrina beta3/genética , Ácido Láctico/metabolismo , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Macrófagos/inmunología , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patologíaRESUMEN
Significance: Accurate cell segmentation and classification in three-dimensional (3D) images are vital for studying live cell behavior and drug responses in 3D tissue culture. Evaluating diverse cell populations in 3D cell culture over time necessitates non-toxic staining methods, as specific fluorescent tags may not be suitable, and immunofluorescence staining can be cytotoxic for prolonged live cell cultures. Aim: We aim to perform machine learning-based cell classification within a live heterogeneous cell culture population grown in a 3D tissue culture relying only on reflectance, transmittance, and nuclei counterstained images obtained by confocal microscopy. Approach: In this study, we employed a supervised convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify tumor cells and fibroblasts within 3D-grown spheroids. These cells are first segmented using the marker-controlled watershed image processing method. Training data included nuclei counterstaining, reflectance, and transmitted light images, with stained fibroblast and tumor cells as ground-truth labels. Results: Our results demonstrate the successful marker-controlled watershed segmentation of 84% of spheroid cells into single cells. We achieved a median accuracy of 67% (95% confidence interval of the median is 65-71%) in identifying cell types. We also recapitulate the original 3D images using the CNN-classified cells to visualize the original 3D-stained image's cell distribution. Conclusion: This study introduces a non-invasive toxicity-free approach to 3D cell culture evaluation, combining machine learning with confocal microscopy, opening avenues for advanced cell studies.
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Núcleo Celular , Redes Neurales de la Computación , Células del Estroma , Humanos , Células del Estroma/citología , Células del Estroma/patología , Esferoides Celulares/patología , Microscopía Confocal/métodos , Técnicas de Cultivo Tridimensional de Células/métodos , Fibroblastos/citología , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador/métodos , Imagenología Tridimensional/métodos , Línea Celular Tumoral , Neoplasias/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias/patologíaRESUMEN
Remodeling (re-engineering) of a tumor's stroma has been shown to improve the efficacy of anti-tumor therapies, without destroying the stroma. Even though it still remains unclear which stromal component/-s and what characteristics hinder the reach of nanoparticles deep into cancer cells, we hypothesis that mechanisms behind stroma's resistance to the penetration of nanoparticles rely heavily on extrinsic mechanical forces on stromal cells and cancer cells. Our hypothesis has been formulated on the basis of our previous study which has shown that changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness with tumor growth influence stresses exerted on fibroblasts and cancer cells, and that malignant cancer cells generate higher stresses on their stroma. This study attempts to establish a distinct identification of the components' remodeling on the distribution and magnitude of stress within a tumor tissue which ultimately will impact the resistance of stroma to treatment. In this study, our objective is to construct a three-dimensional in silico model of a pancreas tumor tissue consisting of cancer cells, stromal cells, and ECM to determine how stromal remodeling alters the stresses distribution and magnitude within the pancreas tumor tissue. Our results show that changes in mechanical properties of ECM significantly alter the magnitude and distribution of stresses within the pancreas tumor tissue. Our results revealed that these stresses are more sensitive to ECM properties as we see the stresses reaching to a maximum of 22,000 Pa for softer ECM with Young's modulus of 250 Pa. The stress distribution and magnitude within the pancreas tumor tissue does not show high sensitivity to the changes in mechanical properties of stromal cells surrounding stiffer cancer cells (PANC-1 with Young's modulus of 2400 Pa). However, softer cancer cells (MIA-PaCa-2 with (Young's modulus of 500 Pa) increase the stresses experienced by stiffer stromal cells and for stiffer ECM. By providing a unique platform to dissect and quantify the impact of individual stromal components on the stress distribution within a tumor tissue, this study serves as an important first step in understanding of which stromal components are vital for an efficient remodeling. This knowledge will be leveraged to overcome a tumor's resistance against the penetration of nanoparticles on a per-patient basis.
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Matriz Extracelular , Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Estrés Mecánico , Células del Estroma , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/patología , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/fisiopatología , Células del Estroma/patología , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Fenómenos Biomecánicos , Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Humanos , Modelos Biológicos , Simulación por Computador , Línea Celular TumoralRESUMEN
BACKGROUND/AIM: We and others have previously shown that cell fusion plays an important role in cancer metastasis. Color coding of cancer and stromal cells with spectrally-distinct fluorescent proteins is a powerful tool, as pioneered by our laboratory to detect cell fusion. We have previously reported color-coded cell fusion between cancer cells and stromal cells in metastatic sites by using color-coded EL4 murine lymphoma cells and host mice expressing spectrally-distinct fluorescent proteins. Cell fusion occurred between cancer cells or, between cancer cells and normal cells, such as macrophages, fibroblasts, and mesenchymal stem cells. In the present study, the aim was to morphologically classify the fusion-hybrid cells observed in the primary tumor and multiple metastases EL4 formed from cells expressing red fluorescent protein (RFP) in transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), in a syngeneic model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RFP-expressing EL4 murine lymphoma cells were cultured in vitro. EL4-RFP cells were harvested and injected intraperitoneally into immunocompetent transgenic C57/BL6-GFP mice to establish a syngeneic model. Two weeks later, mice were sacrificed and each organ was harvested, cultured, and observed using confocal microscopy. RESULTS: EL4 intraperitoneal tumors (primary) and metastases in the lung, liver, blood, and bone marrow were formed. All tumors were harvested and cultured. In all specimens, RFP-EL4 cells, GFP-stromal cells, and fused yellow-fluorescent hybrid cells were observed. The fused hybrid cells showed various morphologies. Immune cell-like round-shaped yellow-fluorescent fused cells had a tendency to decrease with time in liver metastases and circulating blood. In contrast fibroblast-like spindle-shaped yellow-fluorescent fused cells increased in the intraperitoneal primary tumor, lung metastases, and bone marrow. CONCLUSION: Cell fusion between EL4-RFP cells and GFP stromal cells occurred in primary tumors and all metastatic sites. The morphology of the fused hybrid cells varied in the primary and metastatic sites. The present results suggest that fused cancer and stromal hybrid cells of varying morphology may play an important role in cancer progression.
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Fusión Celular , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Proteínas Luminiscentes , Linfoma , Ratones Transgénicos , Proteína Fluorescente Roja , Células del Estroma , Animales , Ratones , Células del Estroma/patología , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Linfoma/patología , Linfoma/genética , Proteínas Luminiscentes/genética , Proteínas Luminiscentes/metabolismo , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes/genética , Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes/metabolismo , Células Híbridas/patologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND/AIM: The local immune response in colorectal cancer is closely related to prognosis and therapeutic efficacy. In this study, histological analyses were performed to determine the phenotype of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and their infiltration in the stromal and intratumoral regions, aiming to elucidate their interactions and prognostic effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Multiplex fluorescent labeling was performed using surgically resected colorectal cancer specimens to investigate the infiltration of CD45RO (+) TILs, which exhibit cytotoxicity, and subsets of CD4 (+) TILs, identified by their characteristic transcription factor expression. RESULTS: The degree of CD45RO (+) TIL infiltration in the entire observation field or stromal area was not associated with prognosis. However, a high degree of infiltration in the tumor nest (intratumoral area) was significantly associated with a favorable prognosis. CD4 (+) TILs and their subsets were not associated with prognosis. However, stratified analyses revealed that a high degree of infiltration of stromal CD4 (+) TILs and the subsets T helper (Th)1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells is necessary for the association between high intratumoral CD45RO (+) TIL infiltration and favorable prognosis. CONCLUSION: A sufficient degree of infiltration of stromal CD4 (+) TIL subsets is required for intratumoral CD45RO (+) TILs to exert toxicity against cancer cells. This highlights the significance of stromal immune reactions in achieving effective cytotoxic immune responses in the intratumoral area and demonstrates the critical role of the spatial distribution pattern of TILs in exerting their functions.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Colorrectales , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor , Humanos , Neoplasias Colorrectales/inmunología , Neoplasias Colorrectales/patología , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/inmunología , Masculino , Femenino , Anciano , Pronóstico , Persona de Mediana Edad , Antígenos Comunes de Leucocito/metabolismo , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/inmunología , Células del Estroma/inmunología , Células del Estroma/patología , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Subgrupos de Linfocitos T/inmunología , Subgrupos de Linfocitos T/metabolismo , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Adulto , Citotoxicidad InmunológicaRESUMEN
Current therapeutics of endometriosis focus on hormonal disruption of endometriotic lesions (ectopic endometrium, EcE). Recent findings show higher glycolysis utilization in EcE, suggesting non-hormonal strategy for disease treatment that addresses cellular metabolism. Identifying metabolically altered cell types in EcE is important for targeted metabolic drug therapy without affecting eutopic endometrium (EuE). Here, using single-cell RNA-sequencing, we examine twelve metabolic pathways in paired samples of EuE and EcE from women with confirmed endometriosis. We detect nine major cell types in both EuE and EcE. Metabolic pathways are most differentially regulated in perivascular, stromal, and endothelial cells, with the highest changes in AMPK signaling, HIF-1 signaling, glutathione metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolysis. We identify transcriptomic co-activation of glycolytic and oxidative metabolism in perivascular and stromal cells of EcE, indicating a critical role of metabolic reprogramming in maintaining endometriotic lesion growth. Perivascular cells, involved in endometrial stroma repair and angiogenesis, may be potential targets for non-hormonal treatment of endometriosis.
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Endometriosis , Endometrio , Análisis de la Célula Individual , Femenino , Humanos , Endometriosis/metabolismo , Endometriosis/patología , Endometriosis/genética , Endometrio/metabolismo , Endometrio/patología , Adulto , Glucólisis , Transcriptoma , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patología , Redes y Vías MetabólicasRESUMEN
Immunologic treatment options are uncommon in low-grade gliomas, although such therapies might be beneficial for inoperable and aggressive cases. Knowledge of the immune and stromal cells in low-grade gliomas is highly relevant for such approaches but still needs to be improved. Published gene-expression data from 400 low-grade gliomas and 193 high-grade gliomas were gathered to quantify 10 microenvironment cell populations with a deconvolution method designed explicitly for brain tumors. First, we investigated general differences in the microenvironment of low- and high-grade gliomas. Lower-grade and high-grade tumors cluster together, respectively, and show a general similarity within and distinct differences between these groups, the main difference being a higher infiltration of fibroblasts and T cells in high-grade gliomas. Among the analyzed entities, gangliogliomas and pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas presented the highest overall immune cell infiltration. Further analyses of the low-grade gliomas presented three distinct microenvironmental signatures of immune cell infiltration, which can be divided into T-cell/dendritic/natural killer cell-, neutrophilic/B lineage/natural killer cell-, and monocytic/vascular/stromal-cell-dominated immune clusters. These clusters correlated with tumor location, age, and histological diagnosis but not with sex or progression-free survival. A survival analysis showed that the prognosis can be predicted from gene expression, clinical data, and a combination of both with a support vector machine and revealed the negative prognostic relevance of vascular markers. Overall, our work shows that low- and high-grade gliomas can be characterized and differentiated by their immune cell infiltration. Low-grade gliomas cluster into three distinct immunologic tumor microenvironments, which may be of further interest for upcoming immunotherapeutic research.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Encefálicas , Glioma , Microambiente Tumoral , Humanos , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/genética , Glioma/genética , Glioma/inmunología , Glioma/patología , Neoplasias Encefálicas/genética , Neoplasias Encefálicas/patología , Neoplasias Encefálicas/inmunología , Niño , Femenino , Masculino , Clasificación del Tumor , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Transcriptoma , Preescolar , Adolescente , Células del Estroma/patología , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of non-apoptotic cell death, plays a pivotal role in various diseases and is gaining considerable attention in the realm of endometriosis. Considering the classical pathomechanism theories, we hypothesized that ferroptosis, potentially driven by increased iron content at ectopic sites, may contribute to the progression of endometriosis. This retrospective case-control study provides a comprehensive immunohistochemical assessment of the expression and tissue distribution of established ferroptosis markers: GPX4, ACSL4, and TfR1 in endometriosis patients. The case group consisted of 38 women with laparoscopically and histologically confirmed endometriosis and the control group consisted of 18 women with other gynecological conditions. Our study revealed a significant downregulation of GPX4 in stromal cells of endometriosis patients (M = 59.7% ± 42.4 versus 90.0% ± 17.5 in the control group, t (54) = -2.90, p = 0.005). This finding aligned with slightly, but not significantly, higher iron levels detected in the blood of endometriosis patients, using hemoglobin as an indirect predictor (Hb 12.8 (12.2-13.5) g/dL versus 12.5 (12.2-13.4) g/dL in the control group; t (54) = -0.897, p = 0.374). Interestingly, there was no concurrent upregulation of TfR1 (M = 0.7 ± 1.2 versus 0.2 ± 0.4 for EM, t (54) = 2.552, p = 0.014), responsible for iron uptake into cells. Our empirical findings provide support for the involvement of ferroptosis in the context of endometriosis. However, variances in expression patterns within stromal and epithelial cellular subsets call for further in-depth investigations.
Asunto(s)
Coenzima A Ligasas , Endometriosis , Ferroptosis , Fosfolípido Hidroperóxido Glutatión Peroxidasa , Receptores de Transferrina , Humanos , Femenino , Endometriosis/metabolismo , Endometriosis/patología , Receptores de Transferrina/metabolismo , Receptores de Transferrina/genética , Coenzima A Ligasas/metabolismo , Coenzima A Ligasas/genética , Adulto , Fosfolípido Hidroperóxido Glutatión Peroxidasa/metabolismo , Fosfolípido Hidroperóxido Glutatión Peroxidasa/genética , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Estudios Retrospectivos , Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Antígenos CD/genética , Hierro/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Biomarcadores/metabolismoAsunto(s)
Aprendizaje Profundo , Neoplasias Esofágicas , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Esófago , Terapia Neoadyuvante , Humanos , Pronóstico , Neoplasias Esofágicas/patología , Neoplasias Esofágicas/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Esófago/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Esófago/tratamiento farmacológico , Tasa de Supervivencia , Células del Estroma/patología , Quimioterapia AdyuvanteRESUMEN
Chronic smokers have increased risk of fibrosis-related atrial fibrillation. The use of heated-tobacco products (HTPs) is increasing exponentially, and their health impact is still uncertain. We aim to investigate the effects of circulating molecules in exclusive HTP chronic smokers on the fibrotic behavior of human atrial cardiac stromal cells (CSCs). CSCs were isolated from atrial tissue of elective cardiac surgery patients, and exposed to serum lots from young healthy subjects, stratified in exclusive HTP smokers, tobacco combustion cigarette (TCC) smokers, or nonsmokers (NS). CSCs treated with TCC serum displayed impaired migration and increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cells cultured with HTP serum showed increased levels of pro-fibrotic markers, and reduced expression of connexin-43. Both TCC and HTP sera increased collagen release and reduced secretion of angiogenic protective factors from CSCs, compared to NS serum. Paracrine support to tube-formation by endothelial cells and to viability of cardiomyocytes was significantly impaired. Treatment with sera of both smokers groups impaired H2O2/NO release balance by CSCs and reduced early phosphorylation of several pathways compared to NS serum, leading to mTOR activation. Cotreatment with rapamycin was able to reduce mTOR phosphorylation and differentiation into aSMA-positive myofibroblasts in CSCs exposed to TCC and HTP sera. In conclusion, the circulating molecules in the serum of chronic exclusive HTP smokers induce fibrotic behavior in CSCs through activation of the mTOR pathway, and reduce their beneficial paracrine effects on endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. These results point to a potential risk for cardiac fibrosis in chronic HTP users.
Asunto(s)
Fibrosis , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR , Productos de Tabaco , Humanos , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR/metabolismo , Masculino , Productos de Tabaco/efectos adversos , Femenino , Células del Estroma/metabolismo , Células del Estroma/patología , Células del Estroma/efectos de los fármacos , Fumadores , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Células Cultivadas , Calor/efectos adversos , Suero/metabolismo , Atrios Cardíacos/patología , Atrios Cardíacos/metabolismo , Miocitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Miocitos Cardíacos/patología , Miocitos Cardíacos/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Ovulatory dysfunction is recognized as a primary infertile factor, however, even when ovulation is medically induced and restored, PCOS patients continue to experience reduced cumulative pregnancy rates and a higher spontaneous miscarriage rate. Hyperandrogenism, a hallmark feature of PCOS, affects ovarian folliculogenesis, endometrial receptivity, and the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Decidualization denotes the transformation that the stromal compart of the endometrium must undergo to accommodate pregnancy, driven by the rising progesterone levels and local cAMP production. However, studies on the impact of hyperandrogenism on decidualization are limited. In this study, we observed that primary endometrial stromal cells from women with PCOS exhibit abnormal responses to progesterone during in vitro decidualization. A high concentration of testosterone inhibits human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) decidualization. RNA-Seq analysis demonstrated that pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) expression was significantly lower in the endometrium of PCOS patients with hyperandrogenism compared to those without hyperandrogenism. We also characterized that the expression of PDK4 is elevated in the endometrium stroma at the mid-secretory phase. Artificial decidualization could enhance PDK4 expression, while downregulation of PDK4 leads to abnormal decidualization both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, testosterone excess inhibits IGFBP1 and PRL expression, followed by phosphorylating of AMPK that stimulates PDK4 expression. Based on co-immunoprecipitation analysis, we observed an interaction between SIRT1 and PDK4, promoting glycolysis to facilitate decidualization. Restrain of AR activation resumes the AMPK/SIRT1/PDK4 pathway suppressed by testosterone excess, indicating that testosterone primarily acts on decidualization through AR stimulation. Androgen excess in the endometrium inhibits decidualization by disrupting the AMPK/SIRT1/PDK4 signaling pathway. These data demonstrate the critical roles of endometrial PDK4 in regulating decidualization and provide valuable information for understanding the underlying mechanism during decidualization.