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Guetter S, König C, Koerkel-Qu H, Markiewicz A, Scheitler S, Katzer M, Berneburg M, Renner P, Cucuruz B, Guttenberger L, Naimer V, Weidele K, Treitschke S, Werno C, Jaser H, Bargmann T, Braun A, Weber F, Evert K, Rochwarger A, Schürch CM, Limm K, Oefner PJ, Rachel R, Baumann F, Warfsmann J, Schmidleithner L, Guetter K, Mohammadi P, Ulmer A, Haferkamp S, Klein CA, Werner-Klein M. MCSP + metastasis founder cells activate immunosuppression early in human melanoma metastatic colonization. NATURE CANCER 2025:10.1038/s43018-025-00963-w. [PMID: 40379833 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-025-00963-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2025] [Indexed: 05/19/2025]
Abstract
To investigate the early, poorly understood events driving metastatic progression, we searched for the earliest detectable disseminated cancer cells (DCCs), also often referred to as disseminated tumor cells (DTCs), in sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsies of 492 patients with stage I-III melanoma. Using micromanipulator-assisted isolation of rare DCCs, single-cell mRNA and DNA sequencing, codetection by indexing immunofluorescence imaging and survival analysis, we identified melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (MCSP)+ melanoma cells as metastasis founder cells (MFCs). We found that DCCs entering SLNs predominantly exhibited a transitory phenotype that, upon interferon-γ exposure triggered by CD8 T cells, dedifferentiated into a neural-crest-like phenotype. This was accompanied by increased production of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) carrying the immunomodulatory proteins CD155 and CD276 but rarely programmed cell death protein 1 ligand 1. The sEVs suppressed CD8 T cell proliferation and function, facilitating colony formation. Targeting MCSP+ MFCs or their immune escape mechanisms could be key to curing melanoma early by preventing manifestation of metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severin Guetter
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Courtney König
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Huiqin Koerkel-Qu
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Aleksandra Markiewicz
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Scheitler
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Marie Katzer
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mark Berneburg
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Renner
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Beatrix Cucuruz
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Leonhard Guttenberger
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Veronika Naimer
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Weidele
- Division of Personalized Tumor Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Steffi Treitschke
- Division of Personalized Tumor Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian Werno
- Division of Personalized Tumor Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Jaser
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tonia Bargmann
- Preclinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM member of Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH) in the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Armin Braun
- Preclinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM member of Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH) in the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Florian Weber
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Katja Evert
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Rochwarger
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian M Schürch
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Limm
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Peter J Oefner
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Rachel
- Center for Electron Microscopy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Felix Baumann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jens Warfsmann
- Division of Personalized Tumor Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Schmidleithner
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Guetter
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Parvaneh Mohammadi
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Anja Ulmer
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Haferkamp
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoph A Klein
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
- Division of Personalized Tumor Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Melanie Werner-Klein
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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2
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Whiteside TL. Tumor-derived Exosomes and Antitumor Immunity. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 213:923-931. [PMID: 39284119 PMCID: PMC11951267 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2400335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 11/13/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade, has been approved for treatment of patients with many cancer types. However, some patients fail to respond to immunotherapy, and emerging evidence indicates that tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) play a major role in reprogramming the host immune cells by inducing their dysfunction. Focusing on effector T cells, this review illustrates mechanisms of suppression that TEX use, thus promoting tumor escape from the host immune system. TEX carry multiple suppressive signals that drive T cell dysfunction and convert the tumor microenvironment into "an immune desert" in which activated T cells either die or are reprogrammed to mediate protumor functions. The reprogrammed T cells produce a new crop of CD3+ immunoinhibitory exosomes that further amplify suppression mediated by TEX. The result is a profound depletion of antitumor immune effector cells that reflects the defective immune competence of the cancer patient and partly explains why TEX are a significant barrier for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa L Whiteside
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA; and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA
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3
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Kistenmacher S, Schwämmle M, Martin G, Ulrich E, Tholen S, Schilling O, Gießl A, Schlötzer-Schrehardt U, Bucher F, Schlunck G, Nazarenko I, Reinhard T, Polisetti N. Enrichment, Characterization, and Proteomic Profiling of Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Human Limbal Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Melanocytes. Cells 2024; 13:623. [PMID: 38607062 PMCID: PMC11011788 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Limbal epithelial progenitor cells (LEPC) rely on their niche environment for proper functionality and self-renewal. While extracellular vesicles (EV), specifically small EVs (sEV), have been proposed to support LEPC homeostasis, data on sEV derived from limbal niche cells like limbal mesenchymal stromal cells (LMSC) remain limited, and there are no studies on sEVs from limbal melanocytes (LM). In this study, we isolated sEV from conditioned media of LMSC and LM using a combination of tangential flow filtration and size exclusion chromatography and characterized them by nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Western blot, multiplex bead arrays, and quantitative mass spectrometry. The internalization of sEV by LEPC was studied using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The isolated sEVs exhibited typical EV characteristics, including cell-specific markers such as CD90 for LMSC-sEV and Melan-A for LM-sEV. Bioinformatics analysis of the proteomic data suggested a significant role of sEVs in extracellular matrix deposition, with LMSC-derived sEV containing proteins involved in collagen remodeling and cell matrix adhesion, whereas LM-sEV proteins were implicated in other cellular bioprocesses such as cellular pigmentation and development. Moreover, fluorescently labeled LMSC-sEV and LM-sEV were taken up by LEPC and localized to their perinuclear compartment. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex role of sEV from niche cells in regulating the human limbal stem cell niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Kistenmacher
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Schwämmle
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, D–79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gottfried Martin
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva Ulrich
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Tholen
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Oliver Schilling
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Andreas Gießl
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlan-gen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ursula Schlötzer-Schrehardt
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlan-gen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Felicitas Bucher
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Irina Nazarenko
- Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Reinhard
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Naresh Polisetti
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
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4
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Andre M, Caobi A, Miles JS, Vashist A, Ruiz MA, Raymond AD. Diagnostic potential of exosomal extracellular vesicles in oncology. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:322. [PMID: 38454346 PMCID: PMC10921614 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-11819-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Liquid biopsy can detect circulating cancer cells or tumor cell-derived DNA at various stages of cancer. The fluid from these biopsies contains extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as apoptotic bodies, microvesicles, exomeres, and exosomes. Exosomes contain proteins and nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) that can modify the microenvironment and promote cancer progression, playing significant roles in cancer pathology. Clinically, the proteins and nucleic acids within the exosomes from liquid biopsies can be biomarkers for the detection and prognosis of cancer. We review EVs protein and miRNA biomarkers identified for select cancers, specifically melanoma, glioma, breast, pancreatic, hepatic, cervical, prostate colon, and some hematological malignancies. Overall, this review demonstrates that EV biomolecules have great potential to expand the diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers used in Oncology; ultimately, EVs could lead to earlier detection and novel therapeutic targets. Clinical implicationsEVs represent a new paradigm in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. The potential use of exosomal contents as biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic indicators may facilitate cancer management. Non-invasive liquid biopsy is helpful, especially when the tumor is difficult to reach, such as in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Moreover, another advantage of using minimally invasive liquid biopsy is that monitoring becomes more manageable. Identifying tumor-derived exosomal proteins and microRNAs would allow a more personalized approach to detecting cancer and improving treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickensone Andre
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at, Department of Immunology and Nanomedicine, Florida International University, Miami, 33199, FL, USA
| | - Allen Caobi
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at, Department of Immunology and Nanomedicine, Florida International University, Miami, 33199, FL, USA
| | - Jana S Miles
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at, Department of Immunology and Nanomedicine, Florida International University, Miami, 33199, FL, USA
| | - Arti Vashist
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at, Department of Immunology and Nanomedicine, Florida International University, Miami, 33199, FL, USA
| | - Marco A Ruiz
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at, Department of Immunology and Nanomedicine, Florida International University, Miami, 33199, FL, USA
- Medical Oncology, Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute, Miami, 33176, FL, USA
| | - Andrea D Raymond
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at, Department of Immunology and Nanomedicine, Florida International University, Miami, 33199, FL, USA.
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5
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Lattmann E, Räss L, Tognetti M, Gómez JMM, Lapaire V, Bruderer R, Reiter L, Feng Y, Steinmetz LM, Levesque MP. Size-exclusion chromatography combined with DIA-MS enables deep proteome profiling of extracellular vesicles from melanoma plasma and serum. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:90. [PMID: 38353833 PMCID: PMC10867102 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05137-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important players in melanoma progression, but their use as clinical biomarkers has been limited by the difficulty of profiling blood-derived EV proteins with high depth of coverage, the requirement for large input amounts, and complex protocols. Here, we provide a streamlined and reproducible experimental workflow to identify plasma- and serum- derived EV proteins of healthy donors and melanoma patients using minimal amounts of sample input. SEC-DIA-MS couples size-exclusion chromatography to EV concentration and deep-proteomic profiling using data-independent acquisition. From as little as 200 µL of plasma per patient in a cohort of three healthy donors and six melanoma patients, we identified and quantified 2896 EV-associated proteins, achieving a 3.5-fold increase in depth compared to previously published melanoma studies. To compare the EV-proteome to unenriched blood, we employed an automated workflow to deplete the 14 most abundant proteins from plasma and serum and thereby approximately doubled protein group identifications versus native blood. The EV proteome diverged from corresponding unenriched plasma and serum, and unlike the latter, separated healthy donor and melanoma patient samples. Furthermore, known melanoma markers, such as MCAM, TNC, and TGFBI, were upregulated in melanoma EVs but not in depleted melanoma plasma, highlighting the specific information contained in EVs. Overall, EVs were significantly enriched in intact membrane proteins and proteins related to SNARE protein interactions and T-cell biology. Taken together, we demonstrated the increased sensitivity of an EV-based proteomic workflow that can be easily applied to larger melanoma cohorts and other indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Lattmann
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Luca Räss
- Biognosys AG, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | - Julia M Martínez Gómez
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Valérie Lapaire
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Lars M Steinmetz
- Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Mitchell P Levesque
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland.
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6
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Gonzalez-Melero L, Hernandez RM, Santos-Vizcaino E, Igartua M. Tumour-derived extracellular vesicle based vaccines for melanoma treatment. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2023; 13:1520-1542. [PMID: 37022605 PMCID: PMC10102154 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01328-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
The interest of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cancer immunotherapy is increasing every day. EVs are lipid bilayer vesicles released by most cells, which contain the molecular signature of their parent cell. Melanoma-derived EVs present antigens specific to this aggressive type of cancer, but they also exert immunomodulatory and pro-metastatic activity. Until now, most reviews focus on the immunoevasive characteristics of tumour-derived EVs, but do not help to overcome the issues related to them. In this review, we describe isolation methods of EVs from melanoma patients and most interesting markers to oversee their effect if they are used as antigen carriers. We also discuss the methods developed so far to overcome the lack of immunogenicity of melanoma-derived EVs, which includes EV modification or adjuvant co-administration. In summary, we conclude that EVs can be an interesting antigen source for immunotherapy development once EV obtaining is optimised and the understanding of the mechanisms behind their multiple effects is further understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Gonzalez-Melero
- NanoBioCel Research Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
- Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Rosa Maria Hernandez
- NanoBioCel Research Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Edorta Santos-Vizcaino
- NanoBioCel Research Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - Manoli Igartua
- NanoBioCel Research Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
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7
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Whiteside TL. Evaluating tumor cell- and T cell-derived extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers of cancer and immune cell competence. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2023; 23:109-122. [PMID: 36787282 PMCID: PMC9998373 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2178902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by tumors, also called tumor-derived exosomes (TEX), have been implicated in inducing immune cell suppression in vitro and in vivo. The development of a novel category of noninvasive biomarkers for precision oncology remains an unmet need, and TEX emerge as a promising liquid tumor biopsy component. AREAS COVERED TEX play a critical role in monitoring cancer presence/progression and in reprograming of anti-tumor effector T cells to producers of EVs with pro-tumor activity. TEX are a subset of circulating EVs. Their separation by immune capture from EVs derived from nonmalignant cells allows for TEX phenotypic/functional assessments. TEX cross-talking with CD3(+) T cells induce the release of CD3(+) small EV (sEV), whose cargo of suppressor proteins resembles that of TEX and further contributes to cancer-induced immune suppression. While TEX recapitulate the genetic/molecular phenotype of tumor cells, CD3(+) sEV might serve as 'T cell liquid biopsy.' EXPERT OPINION Preclinical explorations of the role in cancer body fluids of TEX and CD3(+) sEV as cancer biomarkers suggest that these EV subsets may qualify as liquid tumor biopsy noninvasive components in the near future. Their potential to simultaneously serve as noninvasive liquid tumor biopsy and T cell biopsy remains to be validated in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa L Whiteside
- Departments of Pathology, Immunology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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8
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Zebrowska A, Jelonek K, Mondal S, Gawin M, Mrowiec K, Widłak P, Whiteside T, Pietrowska M. Proteomic and Metabolomic Profiles of T Cell-Derived Exosomes Isolated from Human Plasma. Cells 2022; 11:1965. [PMID: 35741093 PMCID: PMC9222142 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomes that are released by T cells are key messengers involved in immune regulation. However, the molecular profiling of these vesicles, which is necessary for understanding their functions, requires their isolation from a very heterogeneous mixture of extracellular vesicles that are present in the human plasma. It has been shown that exosomes that are produced by T cells could be isolated from plasma by immune capture using antibodies that target the CD3 antigen, which is a key component of the TCR complex that is present in all T lymphocytes. Here, we demonstrate that CD3(+) exosomes that are isolated from plasma can be used for high-throughput molecular profiling using proteomics and metabolomics tools. This profiling allowed for the identification of proteins and metabolites that differentiated the CD3(+) from the CD3(-) exosome fractions that were present in the plasma of healthy donors. Importantly, the proteins and metabolites that accumulated in the CD3(+) vesicles reflected the known molecular features of T lymphocytes. Hence, CD3(+) exosomes that are isolated from human plasma by immune capture could serve as a "T cell biopsy".
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Zebrowska
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 44-102 Gliwice, Poland; (A.Z.); (K.J.); (M.G.); (K.M.)
| | - Karol Jelonek
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 44-102 Gliwice, Poland; (A.Z.); (K.J.); (M.G.); (K.M.)
| | - Sujan Mondal
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA;
| | - Marta Gawin
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 44-102 Gliwice, Poland; (A.Z.); (K.J.); (M.G.); (K.M.)
| | - Katarzyna Mrowiec
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 44-102 Gliwice, Poland; (A.Z.); (K.J.); (M.G.); (K.M.)
| | - Piotr Widłak
- Clinical Research Support Centre, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Theresa Whiteside
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA;
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Monika Pietrowska
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 44-102 Gliwice, Poland; (A.Z.); (K.J.); (M.G.); (K.M.)
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9
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Tarone L, Giacobino D, Camerino M, Ferrone S, Buracco P, Cavallo F, Riccardo F. Canine Melanoma Immunology and Immunotherapy: Relevance of Translational Research. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:803093. [PMID: 35224082 PMCID: PMC8873926 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.803093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In veterinary oncology, canine melanoma is still a fatal disease for which innovative and long-lasting curative treatments are urgently required. Considering the similarities between canine and human melanoma and the clinical revolution that immunotherapy has instigated in the treatment of human melanoma patients, special attention must be paid to advancements in tumor immunology research in the veterinary field. Herein, we aim to discuss the most relevant knowledge on the immune landscape of canine melanoma and the most promising immunotherapeutic approaches under investigation. Particular attention will be dedicated to anti-cancer vaccination, and, especially, to the encouraging clinical results that we have obtained with DNA vaccines directed against chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), which is an appealing tumor-associated antigen with a key oncogenic role in both canine and human melanoma. In parallel with advances in therapeutic options, progress in the identification of easily accessible biomarkers to improve the diagnosis and the prognosis of melanoma should be sought, with circulating small extracellular vesicles emerging as strategically relevant players. Translational advances in melanoma management, whether achieved in the human or veterinary fields, may drive improvements with mutual clinical benefits for both human and canine patients; this is where the strength of comparative oncology lies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Tarone
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Davide Giacobino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Paolo Buracco
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Cavallo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Riccardo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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10
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Mondal SK, Whiteside TL. Proteomic profiles of melanoma cell-derived exosomes in plasma: discovery of potential biomarkers of melanoma progression. Melanoma Res 2021; 31:472-475. [PMID: 34284459 PMCID: PMC8429197 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer liquid biopsy encompassing circulating tumor cells (CTC), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and/or tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) emerges as a novel approach to early detection, noninvasive monitoring of responses to therapy and predicting patient survival. TEX are a key component of liquid biopsy because they mimic tumor cells in their proteomic and genetic content. Two recent proteomic analyses of TEX released into plasma by melanoma cells confirms the potential of TEX as diagnostic and prognostic markers in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujan Kumar Mondal
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Theresa L. Whiteside
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Departments of Immunology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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11
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Guan Y, Sun C, Zou F, Wang H, Lu F, Song J, Liu S, Xia X, Jiang J, Ma X. Carbohydrate sulfotransferase 3 (CHST3) overexpression promotes cartilage endplate-derived stem cells (CESCs) to regulate molecular mechanisms related to repair of intervertebral disc degeneration by rat nucleus pulposus. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:6006-6017. [PMID: 33993645 PMCID: PMC8256370 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the regulatory effect of carbohydrate sulfotransferase 3 (CHST3) in cartilage endplate-derived stem cells (CESCs) on the molecular mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration after nucleus pulposus repair in rats. We performed GO and KEGG analysis of GSE15227 database to select the differential genes CHST3 and CSPG4 in grade Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ intervertebral disc degeneration, IHC and WB to detect the protein profile of CHST3 and CSPG4, Co-IP for the interaction between CHST3 and CSPG4. Then, immunofluorescence was applied to measure the level of CD90 and CD105, and flow cytometry indicated the level of CD73, CD90 and CD105 in CESCs. Next, Alizarin red staining, Alcian blue staining and TEM were performed to evaluate the effects of CESCs into osteoblasts and chondroblasts, respectively, CCK8 for the cell proliferation of osteoblasts and chondroblasts after induction for different times; cell cycle of osteoblasts or chondroblasts was measured by flow cytometry after induction, and WB for the measurement of specific biomarkers of OC and RUNX in osteoblasts and aggrecan, collagen II in chondroblasts. Finally, colony formation was applied to measure the cell proliferation of CESCs transfected with ov-CHST3 or sh-CHST3 when cocultured with bone marrow cells, WB for the protein expression of CHST3, CSPG4 and ELAVL1 in CSECs, transwell assay for the migration of CESCs to bone marrow cells, TEM image for the cellular characteristics of bone marrow cells, and WB for the protein profile of VCAN, VASP, NCAN and OFD1 in bone marrow cells. CHST3 and CSPG4 were differentially expressed and interacted in grade Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ intervertebral disc degeneration; CD73, CD90 and CD105 were lowly expressed in CESCs, osteogenic or chondroblastic induction changed the characteristics, proliferation, cell cycle and specific biomarkers of osteoblasts and chondroblasts after 14 or 21 days,; CHST3 affected the cell proliferation, protein profile, migration and cellular features of cocultured CESCs or bone marrow cells. CHST3 overexpression promoted CESCs to regulate bone marrow cells through interaction with CSPG4 to repair the grade Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ intervertebral disc degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunzhi Guan
- Department of OrthopedicsHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Chi Sun
- Department of OrthopedicsHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Fei Zou
- Department of OrthopedicsHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hongli Wang
- Department of OrthopedicsHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Feizhou Lu
- Department of OrthopedicsHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jian Song
- Department of OrthopedicsHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Siyang Liu
- Department of OrthopedicsHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xinlei Xia
- Department of OrthopedicsHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jianyuan Jiang
- Department of OrthopedicsHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaosheng Ma
- Department of OrthopedicsHuashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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12
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Pietrowska M, Zebrowska A, Gawin M, Marczak L, Sharma P, Mondal S, Mika J, Polańska J, Ferrone S, Kirkwood JM, Widlak P, Whiteside TL. Proteomic profile of melanoma cell-derived small extracellular vesicles in patients' plasma: a potential correlate of melanoma progression. J Extracell Vesicles 2021; 10:e12063. [PMID: 33613873 PMCID: PMC7876545 DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular profiling of small extracellular vesicles (sEV) isolated from plasma of cancer patients emerges as promising strategy for biomarkers discovery. We investigated the proteomic profiles of sEV immunoselected using anti-CSPG4 antibodies from 15 melanoma patients' plasma. The proteomes of sEV separated into melanoma cell-derived (MTEX) and non-malignant cell-derived (NMTEX) were compared using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Paired analysis identified the MTEX-associated profile of 16 proteins that discriminated MTEX from NMETEX. We also identified the MTEX profile that discriminated between seven patients with no evidence of melanoma (NED) after therapy and eight with progressive disease (PD). Among 75 MTEX proteins overexpressed in PD patients, PDCD6IP (ALIX) had the highest discriminating value, while CNTN1 (contactin-1) was upregulated only in MTEX of NED patients. This is the first report documenting that proteomes of tumour-derived sEV in patients' plasma discriminate cancer from non-cancer and identify proteins with potential to serve as prognostic biomarkers in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Pietrowska
- Maria Sklodowska‐Curie National Research Institute of OncologyGliwicePoland
| | - Aneta Zebrowska
- Maria Sklodowska‐Curie National Research Institute of OncologyGliwicePoland
| | - Marta Gawin
- Maria Sklodowska‐Curie National Research Institute of OncologyGliwicePoland
| | - Lukasz Marczak
- European Center for Bioinformatics and GenomicsInstitute of Bioorganic Chemistry PASPoznanPoland
| | - Priyanka Sharma
- UPMC Hillman Cancer CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh Cancer InstitutePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Sujan Mondal
- UPMC Hillman Cancer CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh Cancer InstitutePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Justyna Mika
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of TechnologyGliwicePoland
| | - Joanna Polańska
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of TechnologyGliwicePoland
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of SurgeryHarvard Medical School, Massachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - John M. Kirkwood
- UPMC Hillman Cancer CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh Cancer InstitutePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA,Department of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Piotr Widlak
- Maria Sklodowska‐Curie National Research Institute of OncologyGliwicePoland
| | - Theresa L. Whiteside
- UPMC Hillman Cancer CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh Cancer InstitutePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA,Department of PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
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13
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Arasi MB, Pedini F, Valentini S, Felli N, Felicetti F. Advances in Natural or Synthetic Nanoparticles for Metastatic Melanoma Therapy and Diagnosis. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102893. [PMID: 33050185 PMCID: PMC7601614 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced melanoma is still a major challenge in oncology. In the early stages, melanoma can be treated successfully with surgery and the survival rate is high, nevertheless the survival rate drops drastically after metastasis dissemination. The identification of parameters predictive of the prognosis to support clinical decisions and of new efficacious therapies are important to ensure patients the best possible prognosis. Recent progress in nanotechnology allowed the development of nanoparticles able to protect drugs from degradation and to deliver the drug to the tumor. Modification of the nanoparticle surface by specific molecules improves retention and accumulation in the target tissue. In this review, we describe the potential role of nanoparticles in advanced melanoma treatment and discuss the current efforts of designing polymeric nanoparticles for controlled drug release at the site upon injection. In addition, we highlight the advances as well as the challenges of exosome-based nanocarriers as drug vehicles. We place special focus on the advantages of these natural nanocarriers in delivering various cargoes in advanced melanoma treatment. We also describe the current advances in knowledge of melanoma-related exosomes, including their biogenesis, molecular contents and biological functions, focusing our attention on their utilization for early diagnosis and prognosis in melanoma disease.
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14
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Mohamed HT, Untereiner V, Cinque G, Ibrahim SA, Götte M, Nguyen NQ, Rivet R, Sockalingum GD, Brézillon S. Infrared Microspectroscopy and Imaging Analysis of Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory Breast Cancer Cells and Their GAG Secretome. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25184300. [PMID: 32961706 PMCID: PMC7570935 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)/proteoglycans (PGs) play a pivotal role in the metastasis of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). They represent biomarkers and targets in diagnosis and treatment of different cancers including breast cancer. Thus, GAGs/PGs could represent potential prognostic/diagnostic biomarkers for IBC. In the present study, non-IBC MDA-MB-231, MCF7, SKBR3 cells and IBC SUM149 cells, as well as their GAG secretome were analyzed. The latter was measured in toto as dried drops with high-throughput (HT) Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy and imaging. FTIR imaging was also employed to investigate single whole breast cancer cells while synchrotron-FTIR microspectroscopy was used to specifically target their cytoplasms. Data were analyzed by hierarchical cluster analysis and principal components analysis. Results obtained from HT-FTIR analysis of GAG drops showed that the inter-group variability enabled us to delineate between cell types in the GAG absorption range 1350–800 cm−1. Similar results were obtained for FTIR imaging of GAG extracts and fixed single whole cells. Synchrotron-FTIR data from cytoplasms allowed discrimination between non-IBC and IBC. Thus, by using GAG specific region, not only different breast cancer cell lines could be differentiated, but also non-IBC from IBC cells. This could be a potential diagnostic spectral marker for IBC detection useful for patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossam Taha Mohamed
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale et Biologie Moléculaire, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51097 Reims, France; (H.T.M.); (R.R.)
- CNRS UMR 7369, Matrice Extracellulaire et Dynamique Cellulaire—MEDyC, 51097 Reims, France
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt;
- Faculty of Biotechnology, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | | | - Gianfelice Cinque
- MIRIAM Beamline B22, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Campus, Chilton-Didcot OX11 0DE, UK; (G.C.); (N.Q.N.)
| | | | - Martin Götte
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Nguyet Que Nguyen
- MIRIAM Beamline B22, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Campus, Chilton-Didcot OX11 0DE, UK; (G.C.); (N.Q.N.)
| | - Romain Rivet
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale et Biologie Moléculaire, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51097 Reims, France; (H.T.M.); (R.R.)
- CNRS UMR 7369, Matrice Extracellulaire et Dynamique Cellulaire—MEDyC, 51097 Reims, France
| | | | - Stéphane Brézillon
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale et Biologie Moléculaire, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51097 Reims, France; (H.T.M.); (R.R.)
- CNRS UMR 7369, Matrice Extracellulaire et Dynamique Cellulaire—MEDyC, 51097 Reims, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-326913734
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15
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MiRNA let-7 from TPO(+) Extracellular Vesicles is a Potential Marker for a Differential Diagnosis of Follicular Thyroid Nodules. Cells 2020; 9:cells9081917. [PMID: 32824820 PMCID: PMC7465637 DOI: 10.3390/cells9081917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current approaches to distinguish follicular adenomas (FA) and follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) at the pre-operative stage have low predictive value. Liquid biopsy-based analysis of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) presents a promising diagnostic method. However, the extreme heterogeneity of plasma EV population hampers the development of new diagnostic tests. We hypothesize that the isolation of EVs with thyroid-specific surface molecules followed by miRNA analysis, may have improved diagnostic potency. METHODS The total population of EVs was isolated from the plasma of patients with FA (n = 30) and FTC (n = 30). Thyroid peroxidase (TPO)-positive EVs were isolated from the total populations using immune-beads. The miRNA from the TPO(+)EVs obtained from the plasma of FA and FTC patients was assayed by RT-PCR. The diagnostic potency of the selected miRNAs was estimated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS TPO(+)EVs can be efficiently isolated by immunobeads. The analysis of Let-7 family members in TPO(+)EVs allows one to distinguish FA and FTC with high accuracy (area under curve defined by ROC = 0.77-0.84). CONCLUSION The isolation of TPO(+)EVs, followed by RT-qPCR analysis of Let-7 family members, may present a helpful approach to manage follicular nodules in the thyroid gland.
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Zebrowska A, Widlak P, Whiteside T, Pietrowska M. Signaling of Tumor-Derived sEV Impacts Melanoma Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21145066. [PMID: 32709086 PMCID: PMC7404104 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21145066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Small extracellular vesicles (sEV or exosomes) are nanovesicles (30–150 nm) released both in vivo and in vitro by most cell types. Tumor cells produce sEV called TEX and disperse them throughout all body fluids. TEX contain a cargo of proteins, lipids, and RNA that is similar but not identical to that of the “parent” producer cell (i.e., the cargo of exosomes released by melanoma cells is similar but not identical to exosomes released by melanocytes), possibly due to selective endosomal packaging. TEX and their role in cancer biology have been intensively investigated largely due to the possibility that TEX might serve as key component of a “liquid tumor biopsy.” TEX are also involved in the crosstalk between cancer and immune cells and play a key role in the suppression of anti-tumor immune responses, thus contributing to the tumor progression. Most of the available information about the TEX molecular composition and functions has been gained using sEV isolated from supernatants of cancer cell lines. However, newer data linking plasma levels of TEX with cancer progression have focused attention on TEX in the patients’ peripheral circulation as potential biomarkers of cancer diagnosis, development, activity, and response to therapy. Here, we consider the molecular cargo and functions of TEX as potential biomarkers of one of the most fatal malignancies—melanoma. Studies of TEX in plasma of patients with melanoma offer the possibility of an in-depth understanding of the melanoma biology and response to immune therapies. This review features melanoma cell-derived exosomes (MTEX) with special emphasis on exosome-mediated signaling between melanoma cells and the host immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Zebrowska
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; (A.Z.); (P.W.)
| | - Piotr Widlak
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; (A.Z.); (P.W.)
| | - Theresa Whiteside
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Monika Pietrowska
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; (A.Z.); (P.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-32-278-9627
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