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Garmaa G, Manzéger A, Haghighi S, Kökény G. HK-2 cell response to TGF-β highly depends on cell culture medium formulations. Histochem Cell Biol 2024; 161:69-79. [PMID: 37752256 PMCID: PMC10794419 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-023-02237-x] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The immortalized human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 is most commonly used to study renal cell physiology and human kidney diseases with tubulointerstitial fibrosis such as diabetic nephropathy, obstructive uropathy or allograft fibrosis. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the main pathological process of tubulointerstitial fibrosis in vitro. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a key inducer of EMT. Several pro-fibrotic gene expression differences have been observed in a TGF-β-induced EMT model of HK-2 cells. However, growth conditions and medium formulations might greatly impact these differences. We investigated gene and protein expression of HK-2 cells cultured in six medium formulations. TGF-β1 increased the expression of ACTA2, TGFB1, COL4A1, EGR2, VIM and CTGF genes while reducing PPARG in all medium formulations. Interestingly, TGF-β1 treatment either increased or decreased EGR1, FN, IL6 and C3 gene expression, depending on medium formulations. The cell morphology was slightly affected, but immunoblots revealed TGFB1 and vimentin protein overexpression in all media. However, fibronectin expression as well as the nuclear translocation of EGR1 was medium dependent. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that, using the HK-2 in vitro model of EMT, the meticulous selection of appropriate cell culture medium formulation is essential to achieve reliable scientific results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gantsetseg Garmaa
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, Budapest, 1089, Hungary
| | - Anna Manzéger
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, Budapest, 1089, Hungary
- International Nephrology Research and Training Center, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, Budapest, 1089, Hungary
| | - Samaneh Haghighi
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, Budapest, 1089, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kökény
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, Budapest, 1089, Hungary.
- International Nephrology Research and Training Center, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, Budapest, 1089, Hungary.
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Shichi Y, Gomi F, Hasegawa Y, Nonaka K, Shinji S, Takahashi K, Ishiwata T. Artificial intelligence-based analysis of time-lapse images of sphere formation and process of plate adhesion and spread of pancreatic cancer cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1290753. [PMID: 38046666 PMCID: PMC10690954 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1290753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Most pancreatic cancers are pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). Spherical morphology formed in three-dimensional (3D) cultures and the effects of anticancer drugs differ between epithelial and mesenchymal PDAC cell lines. In the human pancreas, cancer cells form 3D tumors, migrate to adjacent tissues, and metastasize to other organs. However, no effective methods exist to examine the ability of the tumor mass to migrate to surrounding tissues in vitro. We used spheres formed in 3D culture to investigate whether the migratory ability of tumors of PDAC cell lines, including epithelial and mesenchymal cell lines, varies. Methods: Sphere formation and adhesion and spread on culture plates were examined by artificial intelligence-based analysis of time-lapse imaging using five epithelial and three mesenchymal PDAC cell lines. Fused and non-fused areas of the sphere surface during sphere formation on low-attachment plates, the adhesion area to normal culture plates, and the sphere area maintaining its original form during adhesion to plates were measured. Results: Immunocytochemical staining confirmed that E-cadherin was highly expressed in epithelial PDAC spheres, as was vimentin in mesenchymal PDAC spheres, in 2D culture. When forming spheres using low-attachment plates, most epithelial PDAC cell lines initially showed decreased sphere area, and then the covering cells fused to form a smooth surface on the sphere. Mesenchymal PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells showed little reduction in sphere area and few areas of sphere surface fusion. When formed PDAC spheres were seeded onto normal culture plates, spheres of epithelial PK-8 cells-which have the highest E-cadherin expression, form numerous cysts, and have smooth sphere surfaces-did not adhere to normal plates even after 60 h, and epithelial PK45-P and T3M-4 spheres hardly adhered. Conversely, the area of adhesion and spread of mesenchymal PANC-1 and KP4 cell spheres on normal plates markedly increased from early on, forming large areas of attachment to plates. Conclusion: Seeding spheres formed in 3D culture onto culture plates can clarify differences in tumor migration potential to surrounding areas. The masses formed by each PDAC cell line varied in migratory ability, with mesenchymal PDAC masses being more migratory than epithelial PDAC masses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuuki Shichi
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fujiya Gomi
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuko Hasegawa
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Nonaka
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiichi Shinji
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kimimasa Takahashi
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ishiwata
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
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Wang F, Zhao J, Zhang C, Yang B, Tian T, Tian M, Meng N, Xie W, Liu G, Zhu X, Su M, He Z, Liu Y, Tang D, Li Y. Effect of microserum environment stimulation on extraction and biological function of colorectal cancer stem cells. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:156. [PMID: 37639070 PMCID: PMC10462592 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00779-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 3D cancer stem cell (CSC) cultures are widely used as in vitro tumor models. In this study, we determined the effects of enriching HCT116 tumor spheres initially cultured in serum-free medium with different concentrations of serum, focusing on the effect of microserum environment stimulation on extraction and biological function of colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSCs). METHODS CCSCs were enriched in standard serum-free medium and serum-free medium with different concentrations of serum for 1 week. The expression of CSC-associated markers in CCSCs, and the presence and relative proportion of CSCs (CD133/CD44 cell sorting) were then determined to elucidate the effect of the microserum environment on the preservation of CSC-related features. Further, the tumorigenic capacity of CCSCs was evaluated in an immunodeficiency mouse model. RESULTS Our data indicated that a significantly greater number of spheres with a greater size range and high viability without drastic alteration in biological and structural features, which maintained self-renewal potential after sequential passages were formed after serum supplementation. Real-time analysis showed that both serum spheres and serum-free spheres displayed similar expression patterns for key stemness genes. Serum spheres showed higher expression of the CSC surface markers CD133 and CD44 than did CSCs spheres cultured in serum-free medium. Adherent cultures in complete medium could adapt to the serum-containing microenvironment faster and showed higher proliferation ability. The addition of serum induced EMT and promoted the migration and invasion of serum globular cells. Compared with serum-free cells and adherent cells, serum spheres showed higher tumor initiation ability. CONCLUSIONS Microserum environment stimulation could be an effective strategy for reliable enrichment of intact CCSCs, and a more efficient CSC enrichment method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiqing Wang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin City, 300072 China
| | - Jianing Zhao
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
| | - Chike Zhang
- Department of Hematology Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, No. 4 Bei Jing Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550004 Guizhou Province China
| | - Bo Yang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
| | - Tingting Tian
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
| | - Mengxian Tian
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
| | - Na Meng
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
| | - Wei Xie
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
| | - Guangyang Liu
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
| | - Xiaodong Zhu
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
| | - Min Su
- Key Laboratory of Adult Stem Cell Translational Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004 Guizhou Province China
| | - Zhixu He
- Key Laboratory of Adult Stem Cell Translational Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004 Guizhou Province China
| | - Yang Liu
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
- Key Laboratory of Adult Stem Cell Translational Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004 Guizhou Province China
| | - Dongxin Tang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 71 Bao Shan North Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550001 Guizhou Province China
| | - Yanju Li
- Department of Hematology Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, No. 4 Bei Jing Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, 550004 Guizhou Province China
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Shichi Y, Gomi F, Sasaki N, Nonaka K, Arai T, Ishiwata T. Epithelial and Mesenchymal Features of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines in Two- and Three-Dimensional Cultures. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12050746. [PMID: 35629168 PMCID: PMC9146102 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12050746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an intractable cancer that is difficult to diagnose early, and there is no cure other than surgery. PDAC is classified as an adenocarcinoma that has limited effective anticancer drug and molecular-targeted therapies compared to adenocarcinoma found in other organs. A large number of cancer cell lines have been established from patients with PDAC that have different genetic abnormalities, including four driver genes; however, little is known about the differences in biological behaviors among these cell lines. Recent studies have shown that PDAC cell lines can be divided into epithelial and mesenchymal cell lines. In 3D cultures, morphological and functional differences between epithelial and mesenchymal PDAC cell lines were observed as well as the drug effects of different anticancer drugs. These effects included gemcitabine causing an increased growth inhibition of epithelial PDAC cells, while nab-paclitaxel caused greater mesenchymal PDAC cell inhibition. Thus, examining the characteristics of epithelial or mesenchymal PDAC cells with stromal cells using a 3D co-culture may lead to the development of new anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuuki Shichi
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan; (Y.S.); (F.G.); (K.N.)
| | - Fujiya Gomi
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan; (Y.S.); (F.G.); (K.N.)
| | - Norihiko Sasaki
- Research Team for Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan;
| | - Keisuke Nonaka
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan; (Y.S.); (F.G.); (K.N.)
| | - Tomio Arai
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan;
| | - Toshiyuki Ishiwata
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan; (Y.S.); (F.G.); (K.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-3964-1141 (ext. 4414)
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Gp130-Mediated STAT3 Activation Contributes to the Aggressiveness of Pancreatic Cancer through H19 Long Non-Coding RNA Expression. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092055. [PMID: 35565185 PMCID: PMC9100112 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation correlate with the aggressiveness of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We demonstrated that the autocrine/paracrine interleukin-6 (IL-6) or leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)/glycoprotein 130 (gp130)/STAT3 pathway contributes to the maintenance of stemness features and membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) expression, and modulates transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad signaling-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion through regulation of TGFβ-RII expression in PDAC cancer stem cell (CSC)-like cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that p-STAT3 acts through the IL-6 or LIF/gp130/STAT3 pathway to access the active promoter region of metastasis-related long non-coding RNA H19 and contribute to its transcription in CSC-like cells. Therefore, the autocrine/paracrine IL-6 or LIF/gp130/STAT3 pathway in PDAC CSC-like cells exhibiting H19 expression is considered to be involved in the aggressiveness of PDAC, and inhibition of the gp130/STAT3 pathway is a promising strategy to target CSCs for the elimination of PDAC (146/150). Abstract Signaling pathways involving signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) play key roles in the aggressiveness of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), including their tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been correlated with PDAC aggressiveness, and activation of STAT3 is involved in the regulation of CSC properties. Here, we investigated the involvement of interleukin-6 (IL-6) or the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)/glycoprotein 130 (gp130)/STAT3 pathway and their role in pancreatic CSCs. In PDAC CSC-like cells formed by culturing on a low attachment plate, autocrine/paracrine IL-6 or LIF contributes to gp130/STAT3 pathway activation. Using a gp130 inhibitor, we determined that the gp130/STAT3 pathway contributes to the maintenance of stemness features, the expression of membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), and the invasion of PDAC CSC-like cells. The gp130/STAT3 pathway also modulates the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad pathway required for epithelial-mesenchymal transition induction through regulation of TGFβ-RII expression in PDAC CSC-like cells. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that p-STAT3 can access the active promoter region of H19 to influence this metastasis-related long non-coding RNA and contribute to its transcription in PDAC CSC-like cells. Therefore, the autocrine/paracrine IL-6 or LIF/gp130/STAT3 pathway in PDAC CSC-like cells may eventually facilitate invasion and metastasis, two hallmarks of malignancy. We propose that inhibition of the gp130/STAT3 pathway provides a promising strategy for targeting CSCs for the treatment of PDAC.
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Morphofunctional analysis of human pancreatic cancer cell lines in 2- and 3-dimensional cultures. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6775. [PMID: 33762591 PMCID: PMC7990961 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86028-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic, transcriptional, and morphological differences have been reported in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases. We recently found that epithelial or mesenchymal features were enhanced in three-dimensional (3D) cultures compared to two-dimensional (2D) cultures. In this study, we examined the differences in the morphological and functional characteristics of eight PDAC cell lines in 2D and 3D cultures. Most PDAC cells showed similar pleomorphic morphologies in 2D culture. Under 3D culture, PDAC cells with high E-cadherin and low vimentin expression levels (epithelial) formed small round spheres encircled with flat lining cells, whereas those with high vimentin and low E-cadherin expression levels (mesenchymal) formed large grape-like spheres without lining cells and were highly proliferative. In 3D culture, gemcitabine was more effective for the spheres formed by PDAC cells with epithelial features, while abraxane was more effective on those with mesenchymal features. The expression levels of drug transporters were highest PDAC cells with high vimentin expression levels. These findings indicate that PDAC cells possess various levels of epithelial and mesenchymal characteristics. The 3D-culture method is useful for investigating the diversity of PDAC cell lines and may play important roles in the development of personalized early diagnostic methods and anticancer drugs for PDAC.
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Gomi F, Sasaki N, Shichi Y, Minami F, Shinji S, Toyoda M, Ishiwata T. Polyvinyl alcohol increased growth, migration, invasion, and sphere size in the PK-8 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06182. [PMID: 33598581 PMCID: PMC7868635 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer used in eye drops, embolization particles, and artificial cartilage. It has also been shown to cause expansion of functional multipotent self-renewing hematopoietic stem cells under serum-free conditions. In this study, we examined the effects of PVA on human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines using 2-dimensional (2D) and 3D-cultures with serum-free medium. In the 2D-culture, PVA-treatment induced an aggregated colony-like appearance in PDAC cells. It increased the growth of PK-8 cells in a dose-dependent manner as well as significantly increasing migration and invasion abilities. qRT-PCR showed an increase in α2 integrin and a decrease in matrix metalloprotease levels in PVA-treated PK-8 cells. Through qRT-PCR analysis, β1 integrin expression at the mRNA level was found to be decreased; however, it was unaltered at the protein level when assessed using FACS analysis. PVA further induced mesenchymal to epithelial transition-like alterations, including increased E-cadherin and decreased Vimentin and N-cadherin expression. Four cancer stem cell (CSC) markers were higher in PVA-treated PK-8 cells compared to controls. In 3D-culture, PVA-treated PK-8 cells showed a rod-like appearance with larger sphere size and higher growth ability. qRT-PCR showed that CSC markers did not increase and 2 of 4 drug transporters had decreased in PVA-treated PK-8 cells. These findings suggest that PVA increases the growth, migration, invasion, and sphere size of PK-8 cells, but does not increase the proportion of pancreatic CSCs under 3D-culture conditions with serum-free medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fujiya Gomi
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
| | - Norihiko Sasaki
- Research Team for Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
| | - Yuuki Shichi
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
| | - Fuuka Minami
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Seiichi Shinji
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan.,Departments of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan
| | - Masashi Toyoda
- Research Team for Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ishiwata
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
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Sasaki N, Gomi F, Yoshimura H, Yamamoto M, Matsuda Y, Michishita M, Hatakeyama H, Kawano Y, Toyoda M, Korc M, Ishiwata T. FGFR4 Inhibitor BLU9931 Attenuates Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion While Inducing Senescence: Evidence for Senolytic Therapy Potential in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102976. [PMID: 33066597 PMCID: PMC7602396 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly malignancy that is projected to become the leading cause of cancer death by 2050. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a transmembrane receptor that is overexpressed in half of PDACs. We determined that its expression in PDAC positively correlated with larger tumor size and more advanced tumor stage, and that BLU9931, a selective FGFR4 inhibitor, reduced PDAC cell proliferation and invasion while promoting their senescence. Quercetin, a senolytic drug, induced cell death in BLU9931-treated cells. We propose that targeting FGFR4 in combination with senolysis could provide a novel therapeutic strategy in patients whose PDAC expresses high FGFR4 levels. Abstract Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), one of four tyrosine kinase receptors for FGFs, is involved in diverse cellular processes. Activation of FGF19/FGFR4 signaling is closely associated with cancer development and progression. In this study, we examined the expression and roles of FGF19/FGFR4 signaling in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In human PDAC cases, FGFR4 expression positively correlated with larger primary tumors and more advanced stages. Among eight PDAC cell lines, FGFR4 was expressed at the highest levels in PK-1 cells, in which single-nucleotide polymorphism G388R in FGFR4 was detected. For inhibition of autocrine/paracrine FGF19/FGFR4 signaling, we used BLU9931, a highly selective FGFR4 inhibitor. Inhibition of signal transduction through ERK, AKT, and STAT3 pathways by BLU9931 reduced proliferation in FGF19/FGFR4 signaling-activated PDAC cells. By contrast, BLU9931 did not alter stemness features, including stemness marker expression, anticancer drug resistance, and sphere-forming ability. However, BLU9931 inhibited cell invasion, in part, by downregulating membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 in FGF19/FGFR4 signaling-activated PDAC cells. Furthermore, downregulation of SIRT1 and SIRT6 by BLU9931 contributed to senescence induction, priming these cells for quercetin-induced death, a process termed senolysis. Thus, we propose that BLU9931 is a promising therapeutic agent in FGFR4-positive PDAC, especially when combined with senolysis (195/200).
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihiko Sasaki
- Research team for Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Sakae-cho 35-2, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan; (N.S.); (M.T.)
| | - Fujiya Gomi
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan;
| | - Hisashi Yoshimura
- Division of Physiological Pathology, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan; (H.Y.); (M.Y.)
| | - Masami Yamamoto
- Division of Physiological Pathology, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan; (H.Y.); (M.Y.)
| | - Yoko Matsuda
- Oncology Pathology, Department of Pathology and Host-Defense, Kagawa University, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan;
| | - Masaki Michishita
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan;
| | - Hitoshi Hatakeyama
- Department of Comprehensive Education in Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan;
| | - Yoichi Kawano
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan;
| | - Masashi Toyoda
- Research team for Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Sakae-cho 35-2, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan; (N.S.); (M.T.)
| | - Murray Korc
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| | - Toshiyuki Ishiwata
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-3964-1141 (ext. 4414)
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Liu Y, Qin P, Wu R, Du L, Li F. ERas regulates cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by affecting Erk/Akt signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer. Hum Cell 2020; 33:1186-1196. [PMID: 32700262 PMCID: PMC7505876 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-020-00401-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common lethal malignancy with an overall 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. ERas, a novel Ras family member, was first identified in murine embryonic stem cells and is upregulated in various cancers. However, the expression and potential role of ERas in pancreatic cancer have not been investigated. In this study, we found that ERas mRNA and protein were upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells compared with controls. Knockdown of ERas in pancreatic cancer cells by siRNA significantly decreased cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely related to tumor progression. We observed a significant decrease in N-cadherin expression in pancreatic cancer cells in response to ERas gene silencing by immunofluorescence assay and western blot. Furthermore, tumor growth and EMT were inhibited in xenografts derived from pancreatic cancer cells with ERas downregulation. We further investigated the regulatory mechanisms of ERas in pancreatic cancer and found that ERas may activate the Erk/Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, Erk inhibitor decreased pancreatic cancer cells proliferation and colony formation activities. Our data suggest that targeting ERas and its relevant signaling pathways might represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Peng Qin
- Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Rong Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Lianfang Du
- Department of Ultrasound, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China.
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China.
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Sasaki N, Hirabayashi K, Michishita M, Takahashi K, Hasegawa F, Gomi F, Itakura Y, Nakamura N, Toyoda M, Ishiwata T. Ganglioside GM2, highly expressed in the MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line, is correlated with growth, invasion, and advanced stage. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19369. [PMID: 31852956 PMCID: PMC6920443 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55867-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Gangliosides, a group of glycosphingolipids, are known to be cell surface markers and functional factors in several cancers. However, the association between gangliosides and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has not been well elucidated. In this study, we examined the expression and roles of ganglioside GM2 in PDAC. GM2+ cells showed a higher growth rate than GM2− cells in the adherent condition. When GM2– and GM2+ cells were cultured three-dimensionally, almost all cells in the spheres expressed GM2, including cancer stem cell (CSC)-like cells. A glycolipid synthesis inhibitor reduced GM2 expression and TGF-β1 signaling in these CSC-like cells, presumably by inhibiting the interaction between GM2 and TGFβ RII and suppressing invasion. Furthermore, suppression of GM2 expression by MAPK inhibition also reduced TGF-β1 signaling and suppressed invasion. GM2+ cells formed larger subcutaneous tumors at a high incidence in nude mice than did GM2– cells. In PDAC cases, GM2 expression was significantly associated with younger age, larger tumor size, advanced stage and higher histological grade. These findings suggest that GM2 could be used as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihiko Sasaki
- Research Team for Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan.
| | - Kenichi Hirabayashi
- Department of Pathology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Masaki Michishita
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Kimimasa Takahashi
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Fumio Hasegawa
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Fujiya Gomi
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Yoko Itakura
- Research Team for Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Naoya Nakamura
- Department of Pathology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Masashi Toyoda
- Research Team for Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ishiwata
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan.
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Characterization of the metastatic potential of the floating cell component of MIA PaCa-2, a human pancreatic cancer cell line. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 522:881-888. [PMID: 31806369 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.11.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In pancreatic cancer, morphologically and functionally heterogeneous cancer cells reside within the same patient. The heterogeneity is believed to promote metastasis and resistance to chemoradiotherapy. MIA PaCa-2, an established human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell line, contains round and spindle-shaped adherent cells, as well as, round floating cells. In this study, we aimed to assess if the floating cells might have greater metastatic potential and/or be more resistant to drug-induced apoptosis compared to adherent cells. Time-lapse analysis revealed that the two types of adherent cells transformed bilaterally, and some of the adherent, round cells converted to floating cells. Flow cytometry and electron microscopy showed that approximately 90% of the floating cells were viable. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that floating cells expressed lower levels of integrins and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters than adherent cells. In contrast, except for vimentin, floating cells expressed more epithelial to mesenchymal transition markers than adherent cells. Floating cells included a larger population of G2/M-phase cells, and migration assays revealed a decreased migration ability by floating cells relative to adherent cells. A cell aggregation assay showed that the aggregative properties of the floating cells were lower than those of the adherent cells. In 3D culture, spheres derived from floating cells were more sensitive to anti-cancer drugs, including gemcitabine, 5-FU, and abraxane, than those derived from adherent cells. Expression levels of stemness markers in the spheres derived from floating cells were lower than those derived from adherent cells. Morphological characterization of human PDAC cell lines may help to clarify the series of alterations cancer cells undergo during the metastatic process and may contribute to the development of new PDAC diagnostics and more patient-specific treatments for those with PDAC.
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Enhanced morphological and functional differences of pancreatic cancer with epithelial or mesenchymal characteristics in 3D culture. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10871. [PMID: 31350453 PMCID: PMC6659675 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47416-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer, composed of heterogeneous cancer cells, alters epithelial to mesenchymal features during growth and metastasis. In this study, we aimed to characterize pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells showing epithelial or mesenchymal features in 3D culture. In 3D culture, PK-1 cells had high E-cadherin and low vimentin expression and exhibited a round-like appearance encircled by flat cells. PANC-1 cells had high vimentin and low E-cadherin expression and formed grape-like spheres. PK-1 cells had secretary granules and many microvilli, desmosomes, and adherens junctions, while PANC-1 cells had few microvilli, adherens junction, and no desmosomes. Cytokeratin 7, trypsin, CA19-9, and E-cadherin were highly expressed in PK-1 cells but not in PANC-1 cells. Ki-67 was diffusely expressed in PANC-1 spheres but was restricted to the peripheral flat cells of PK-1 spheres. PANC-1 and PK-1 cells were positive for transforming growth factor (TGF) β receptor II and phosphorylated smad2/3, but PK-1 cells were smad4 negative. Taken together, 3D culture enhanced morphofunctional differences of PDAC cells showing epithelial or mesenchymal characteristics, and epithelial phenotype maintenance may be due to the ineffectiveness of the TGF- β pathway. Clarification of heterogeneity using 3D culture may be useful for development of individualized diagnostic and therapeutic methods in patients with PDAC.
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