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Cai Z, Yao H, Chen J, Ahmed AA, Li C, Hu X, Tang X, Jiang C. Schwann cells in pancreatic cancer: Unraveling their multifaceted roles in tumorigenesis and neural interactions. Cancer Lett 2024; 587:216689. [PMID: 38367898 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216689] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), characterized by heightened neural density, presents a challenging prognosis primarily due to perineural invasion. Recognized for their crucial roles in neural support and myelination, Schwann cells (SCs) significantly influence the process of tumorigenesis. This review succinctly outlines the interplay between PDAC and neural systems, positioning SCs as a nexus in the tumor-neural interface. Subsequently, it delves into the cellular origin and influencers of SCs within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, emphasizing their multifaceted roles in tumor initiation, progression, and modulation of the neural and immune microenvironment. The discussion encompasses potential therapeutic interventions targeting SCs. Lastly, the review underscores pressing issues, advocating for sustained exploration into the diverse contributions of SCs within the intricate landscape of PDAC, with the aim of enhancing our understanding of their involvement in this complex malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Hongfei Yao
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Jiahao Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Abousalam Abdoulkader Ahmed
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Chunjing Li
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Xiao Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Chongyi Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China.
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Chen CC, Peng SJ, Chou YH, Lee CY, Lee PH, Hu RH, Ho MC, Chung MH, Hsiao FT, Tien YW, Tang SC. Human liver afferent and efferent nerves revealed by 3-D/Airyscan super-resolution imaging. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2024; 326:E107-E123. [PMID: 38170164 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00205.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Neural regulation of hepatic metabolism has long been recognized. However, the detailed afferent and efferent innervation of the human liver has not been systematically characterized. This is largely due to the liver's high lipid and pigment contents, causing false-negative (light scattering and absorption) and false-positive (autofluorescence) results in in-depth fluorescence imaging. Here, to avoid the artifacts in three-dimensional (3-D) liver neurohistology, we embed the bleached human liver in the high-refractive-index polymer for tissue clearing and antifade 3-D/Airyscan super-resolution imaging. Importantly, using the paired substance P (SP, sensory marker) and PGP9.5 (pan-neuronal marker) labeling, we detect the sensory nerves in the portal space, featuring the SP+ varicosities in the PGP9.5+ nerve bundles/fibers, confirming the afferent liver innervation. Also, using the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, sympathetic marker) labeling, we identify 1) condensed TH+ sympathetic nerves in the portal space, 2) extension of sympathetic nerves from the portal to the intralobular space, in which the TH+ nerve density is 2.6 ± 0.7-fold higher than that of the intralobular space in the human pancreas, and 3) the TH+ nerve fibers and varicosities contacting the ballooning cells, implicating potential sympathetic influence on hepatocytes with macrovesicular fatty change. Finally, using the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT, parasympathetic marker), PGP9.5, and CK19 (epithelial marker) labeling with panoramic-to-Airyscan super-resolution imaging, we detect and confirm the parasympathetic innervation of the septal bile duct. Overall, our labeling and 3-D/Airyscan imaging approach reveal the hepatic sensory (afferent) and sympathetic and parasympathetic (efferent) innervation, establishing a clinically related setting for high-resolution 3-D liver neurohistology.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We embed the human liver (vs. pancreas, positive control) in the high-refractive-index polymer for tissue clearing and antifade 3-D/Airyscan super-resolution neurohistology. The pancreas-liver comparison reveals: 1) sensory nerves in the hepatoportal space; 2) intralobular sympathetic innervation, including the nerve fibers and varicosities contacting the ballooning hepatocytes; and 3) parasympathetic innervation of the septal bile duct. Our results highlight the sensitivity and resolving power of 3-D/Airyscan super-resolution imaging in human liver neurohistology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Chia Chen
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jung Peng
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hsien Chou
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yuan Lee
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Huang Lee
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Rey-Heng Hu
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital-Yunlin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chih Ho
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital-Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Hsin Chung
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital-Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Ting Hsiao
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Tien
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shiue-Cheng Tang
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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Hu C, Huang C, Hsu M, Chien H, Wu P, Chen Y, Jeng Y, Tang S, Chung M, Shen C, Chang M, Chang Y, Tien Y, Lee W. Oncogenic KRAS, Mucin 4, and Activin A-Mediated Fibroblast Activation Cooperate for PanIN Initiation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2301240. [PMID: 37964407 PMCID: PMC10754145 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202301240] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Over 90% of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have oncogenic KRAS mutations. Nevertheless, mutated KRAS alone is insufficient to initiate pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), the precursor of PDAC. The identities of the other factors/events required to drive PanIN formation remain elusive. Here, optic-clear 3D histology is used to analyze entire pancreases of 2-week-old Pdx1-Cre; LSL-KrasG12D/+ (KC) mice to detect the earliest emergence of PanIN and observed that the occurrence is independent of physical location. Instead, it is found that the earliest PanINs overexpress Muc4 and associate with αSMA+ fibroblasts in both transgenic mice and human specimens. Mechanistically, KrasG12D/+ pancreatic cells upregulate Muc4 through genetic alterations to increase proliferation and fibroblast recruitments via Activin A secretion and consequently enhance cell transformation for PanIN formation. Inhibition of Activin A signaling using Follistatin (FST) diminishes early PanIN-associated fibroblast recruitment, effectively curtailing PanIN initiation and growth in KC mice. These findings emphasize the vital role of interactions between oncogenic KrasG12D/+ -driven genetic alterations and induced microenvironmental changes in PanIN initiation, suggesting potential avenues for early PDAC diagnostic and management approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun‐Mei Hu
- Genomics Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Chien‐Chang Huang
- Genomics Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
- Biomedical Translation Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Min‐Fen Hsu
- Genomics Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Hung‐Jen Chien
- Genomics Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Pei‐Jung Wu
- Genomics Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Yi‐Ing Chen
- Genomics Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Yung‐Ming Jeng
- Department of PathologyNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipei10041Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Pathology, College of MedicineNational Taiwan UniversityTaipei10041Taiwan
| | - Shiue‐Cheng Tang
- Department of Medical ScienceNational Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchu30013Taiwan
| | - Mei‐Hsin Chung
- Department of PathologyNational Taiwan University Hospital−Hsinchu BranchHsinchu30331Taiwan
| | - Chia‐Ning Shen
- Genomics Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
- Biomedical Translation Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Ming‐Chu Chang
- Department of Internal MedicineNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipei10041Taiwan
| | - Yu‐Ting Chang
- Department of Internal MedicineNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipei10041Taiwan
| | - Yu‐Wen Tien
- Department of SurgeryNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipei10041Taiwan
| | - Wen‐Hwa Lee
- Genomics Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
- Drug Development CenterChina Medical UniversityTaichung40402Taiwan
- Department of Biological ChemistryUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCA92697USA
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Hsiao FT, Chien HJ, Chou YH, Peng SJ, Chung MH, Huang TH, Lo LW, Shen CN, Chang HP, Lee CY, Chen CC, Jeng YM, Tien YW, Tang SC. Transparent tissue in solid state for solvent-free and antifade 3D imaging. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3395. [PMID: 37296117 PMCID: PMC10256715 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39082-4] [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: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Optical clearing with high-refractive-index (high-n) reagents is essential for 3D tissue imaging. However, the current liquid-based clearing condition and dye environment suffer from solvent evaporation and photobleaching, causing difficulties in maintaining the tissue optical and fluorescent features. Here, using the Gladstone-Dale equation [(n-1)/density=constant] as a design concept, we develop a solid (solvent-free) high-n acrylamide-based copolymer to embed mouse and human tissues for clearing and imaging. In the solid state, the fluorescent dye-labeled tissue matrices are filled and packed with the high-n copolymer, minimizing scattering in in-depth imaging and dye fading. This transparent, liquid-free condition provides a friendly tissue and cellular environment to facilitate high/super-resolution 3D imaging, preservation, transfer, and sharing among laboratories to investigate the morphologies of interest in experimental and clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Ting Hsiao
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Jen Chien
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hsien Chou
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jung Peng
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Hsin Chung
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital-Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hui Huang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Li-Wen Lo
- Biomedical Translation Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ning Shen
- Biomedical Translation Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Pi Chang
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yuan Lee
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chia Chen
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Ming Jeng
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Tien
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shiue-Cheng Tang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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Chung MH, Chien HJ, Peng SJ, Chou YH, Chiang TC, Chang HP, Lee CY, Chen CC, Jeng YM, Tien YW, Tang SC. Multimodal 3-D/2-D human islet and duct imaging in exocrine and endocrine lesion environment: associated pancreas tissue remodeling. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2022; 323:E354-E365. [PMID: 35947703 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00111.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and islet cell microadenoma are exocrine and endocrine neoplasms of human pancreas that have been linked to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and neuroendocrine tumor, respectively. However, in health and at the surgical margin of pancreatic cancer, it remains unresolved how to simultaneously characterize duct and islet remodeling to investigate the exocrine-endocrine association in the lesion microenvironment. Here, we develop a new vibratome-based approach to detect, confirm, and analyze the two types of pancreas remodeling via stereo/three-dimensional (3-D) and classic/two-dimensional (2-D) histology. Surgical margins of PDAC (n = 10, distal) and cadaveric donor pancreases (n = 10, consecutive cases) were fixed, sectioned by vibratome (350 µm), and surveyed for PanIN and microadenoma via stereomicroscopy. After lesion detection, PanIN and microadenoma were analyzed with 3-D fluorescence imaging and clinical microtome-based histology for confirmation and assessment of microenvironment. Multimodal imaging of PDAC surgical margins and cadaveric donor pancreases detected the peri-PanIN islet aggregation with duct-islet cell clusters. Organ-wide survey of cadaveric donor pancreases shows a marked 2.3-fold increase in the lesion size with the PanIN-islet association vs. without the association. In the survey, we unexpectedly detected the islet cell microadenoma adjacent to (<2 mm) PanIN. Overall, among the 53 early lesions in the cadaveric donor pancreases (PanINs and microadenomas), 81% are featured with the associated exocrine-endocrine tissue remodeling. Multimodal 3-D/2-D tissue imaging reveals local and simultaneous duct and islet remodeling in the cancer surgical margin and cadaveric donor pancreas. In the cadaveric donor pancreas, the peri-PanIN islet aggregation and PanIN-microadenoma association are two major features of pancreas remodeling in the early lesion microenvironment.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We develop a new multimodal 3-D/2-D imaging approach (matched stereomicroscopic, fluorescence, and H&E signals) to examine human duct-islet association in the PDAC surgical margin and cadaveric donor pancreas. In both conditions, peri-PanIN islet aggregation with duct-islet cell clusters was identified. The PanIN-islet cell microadenoma association was unexpectedly detected in the donor pancreas. Our work provides the technical and morphological foundations to simultaneously characterize human islets and ducts to study their association in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Hsin Chung
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital-Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Jen Chien
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jung Peng
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hsien Chou
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Tsai-Chen Chiang
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Pi Chang
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yuan Lee
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chia Chen
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Ming Jeng
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Tien
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shiue-Cheng Tang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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