1
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Gadal S, Boyer JA, Roy SF, Outmezguine NA, Sharma M, Li H, Fan N, Chan E, Romin Y, Barlas A, Chang Q, Pancholi P, Timaul NM, Overholtzer M, Yaeger R, Manova-Todorova K, de Stanchina E, Bosenberg MW, Rosen N. Tumorigenesis Driven by BRAFV600E Requires Secondary Mutations That Overcome Its Feedback Inhibition of RAC1 and Migration. Cancer Res 2025; 85:1611-1627. [PMID: 39992718 PMCID: PMC12046322 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-24-2220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 11/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2025] [Indexed: 02/26/2025]
Abstract
BRAF V600E mutations occur in 46% of melanomas and drive high levels of ERK activity and ERK-dependent proliferation. However, BRAFV600E is insufficient to drive melanoma in genetically engineered mouse models, and 82% of human benign nevi harbor BRAFV600E mutations. We found that BRAFV600E inhibited mesenchymal migration by causing feedback inhibition of RAC1 activity. ERK pathway inhibition induced RAC1 activation and restored migration and invasion. In cells with BRAFV600E, mutant RAC1 or PTEN inactivation restored RAC1 activity and cell motility. Together, these lesions occurred in 26% of melanomas with BRAFV600E mutations. Thus, although BRAFV600E activation of ERK deregulates cell proliferation, it prevents full malignant transformation by causing feedback inhibition of RAC1. Secondary mutations are, therefore, required for tumorigenesis. One mechanism underlying tumor evolution may be the selection of lesions that rescue the deleterious effects of oncogenic drivers. Significance: Secondary genetic lesions that rescue BRAFV600E/ERK-induced feedback inhibition on cell migration are required for tumorigenesis, indicating that oncogenic feedback may shape the genetic landscape and select for mutations that are therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunyana Gadal
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jacob A. Boyer
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Simon F. Roy
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Noah A. Outmezguine
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Malvika Sharma
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Hongyan Li
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Ning Fan
- Molecular Cytology Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Eric Chan
- Molecular Cytology Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Yevgeniy Romin
- Molecular Cytology Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Afsar Barlas
- Molecular Cytology Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Qing Chang
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Priya Pancholi
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Neilawattie Merna Timaul
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Michael Overholtzer
- Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Rona Yaeger
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Marcus W. Bosenberg
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Neal Rosen
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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2
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Parekh M, Miall A, Chou A, Buhl L, Deshpande N, Price MO, Price FW, Jurkunas UV. Enhanced Migration of Fuchs Corneal Endothelial Cells by Rho Kinase Inhibition: A Novel Ex Vivo Descemet's Stripping Only Model. Cells 2024; 13:1218. [PMID: 39056800 PMCID: PMC11274477 DOI: 10.3390/cells13141218] [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: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Descemet's Stripping Only (DSO) is a surgical technique that utilizes the peripheral corneal endothelial cell (CEnC) migration for wound closure. Ripasudil, a Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, has shown potential in DSO treatment; however, its mechanism in promoting CEnC migration remains unclear. We observed that ripasudil-treated immortalized normal and Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) cells exhibited significantly enhanced migration and wound healing, particularly effective in FECD cells. Ripasudil upregulated mRNA expression of Snail Family Transcriptional Repressor (SNAI1/2) and Vimentin (VIM) while decreasing Cadherin (CDH1), indicating endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activation. Ripasudil activated Rac1, driving the actin-related protein complex (ARPC2) to the leading edge, facilitating enhanced migration. Ex vivo studies on cadaveric and FECD Descemet's membrane (DM) showed increased migration and proliferation of CEnCs after ripasudil treatment. An ex vivo DSO model demonstrated enhanced migration from the DM to the stroma with ripasudil. Coating small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) tissues with an FNC coating mix and treating the cells in conjunction with ripasudil further improved migration and resulted in a monolayer formation, as detected by the ZO-1 junctional marker, thereby leading to the reduction in EMT. In conclusion, ripasudil effectively enhanced cellular migration, particularly in a novel ex vivo DSO model, when the stromal microenvironment was modulated. This suggests ripasudil as a promising adjuvant for DSO treatment, highlighting its potential clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Parekh
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (M.P.)
| | - Annie Miall
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (M.P.)
| | - Ashley Chou
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard College, Boston, MA 02138, USA
| | - Lara Buhl
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Neha Deshpande
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (M.P.)
| | | | - Francis W. Price
- Cornea Research Foundation of America, Indianapolis, IN 46260, USA
| | - Ula V. Jurkunas
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (M.P.)
- Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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3
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Chen Y, Zhang Z, Li Z, Wu W, Lan S, Yan T, Mei K, Qiao Z, Wang C, Bai C, Li Z, Wu S, Wang J, Zhang Q. Dynamic nanomechanical characterization of cells in exosome therapy. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2024; 10:97. [PMID: 39015940 PMCID: PMC11251037 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00735-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been confirmed to enhance cell proliferation and improve tissue repair. Exosomes release their contents into the cytoplasmic solution of the recipient cell to mediate cell expression, which is the main pathway through which exosomes exert therapeutic effects. The corresponding process of exosome internalization mainly occurs in the early stage of treatment. However, the therapeutic effect of exosomes in the early stage remains to be further studied. We report that the three-dimensional cell traction force can intuitively reflect the ability of exosomes to enhance the cytoskeleton and cell contractility of recipient cells, serving as an effective method to characterize the therapeutic effect of exosomes. Compared with traditional biochemical methods, we can visualize the early therapeutic effect of exosomes in real time without damage by quantifying the cell traction force. Through quantitative analysis of traction forces, we found that endometrial stromal cells exhibit short-term cell roundness accompanied by greater traction force during the early stage of exosome therapy. Further experiments revealed that exosomes enhance the traction force and cytoskeleton by regulating the Rac1/RhoA signaling pathway, thereby promoting cell proliferation. This work provides an effective method for rapidly quantifying the therapeutic effects of exosomes and studying the underlying mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027 China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 China
| | - Ziwei Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 China
| | - Wenjie Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027 China
| | - Shihai Lan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027 China
| | - Tianhao Yan
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 China
| | - Kainan Mei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027 China
| | - Zihan Qiao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027 China
| | - Chen Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027 China
| | - Chuanbiao Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027 China
| | - Ziyan Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027 China
| | - Shangquan Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027 China
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, 15 Beisihuan West Road, Beijing, 100190 China
| | - Jianye Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 China
| | - Qingchuan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027 China
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4
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Demori I, Losacco S, Giordano G, Mucci V, Blanchini F, Burlando B. Fibromyalgia pathogenesis explained by a neuroendocrine multistable model. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303573. [PMID: 38990866 PMCID: PMC11238986 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a central disorder characterized by chronic pain, fatigue, insomnia, depression, and other minor symptoms. Knowledge about pathogenesis is lacking, diagnosis difficult, clinical approach puzzling, and patient management disappointing. We conducted a theoretical study based on literature data and computational analysis, aimed at developing a comprehensive model of FM pathogenesis and addressing suitable therapeutic targets. We started from the evidence that FM must involve a dysregulation of central pain processing, is female prevalent, suggesting a role for the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and is stress-related, suggesting a role for the HP-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. Central pathogenesis was supposed to involve a pain processing loop system including the thalamic ventroposterolateral nucleus (VPL), the primary somatosensory cortex (SSC), and the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). For decreasing GABAergic and/or increasing glutamatergic transmission, the loop system crosses a bifurcation point, switching from monostable to bistable, and converging on a high-firing-rate steady state supposed to be the pathogenic condition. Thereafter, we showed that GABAergic transmission is positively correlated with gonadal-hormone-derived neurosteroids, notably allopregnanolone, whereas glutamatergic transmission is positively correlated with stress-induced glucocorticoids, notably cortisol. Finally, we built a dynamic model describing a multistable, double-inhibitory loop between HPG and HPA axes. This system has a high-HPA/low-HPG steady state, allegedly reached in females under combined premenstrual/postpartum brain allopregnanolone withdrawal and stress condition, driving the thalamocortical loop to the high-firing-rate steady state, and explaining the connection between endocrine and neural mechanisms in FM pathogenesis. Our model accounts for FM female prevalence and stress correlation, suggesting the use of neurosteroid drugs as a possible solution to currently unsolved problems in the clinical treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Demori
- Department of Pharmacy, DIFAR, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Serena Losacco
- Department of Pharmacy, DIFAR, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Giulia Giordano
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Trento, (TN), Italy
- Delft Center for Systems and Control, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Viviana Mucci
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Franco Blanchini
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Bruno Burlando
- Department of Pharmacy, DIFAR, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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5
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Gadal S, Boyer JA, Roy SF, Outmezguine NA, Sharma M, Li H, Fan N, Chan E, Romin Y, Barlas A, Chang Q, Pancholi P, Timaul NM, Overholtzer M, Yaeger R, Manova-Todorova K, de Stanchina E, Bosenberg M, Rosen N. Tumorigenesis driven by the BRAF V600E oncoprotein requires secondary mutations that overcome its feedback inhibition of migration and invasion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.21.568071. [PMID: 38659913 PMCID: PMC11042182 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.21.568071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BRAFV600E mutation occurs in 46% of melanomas and drives high levels of ERK activity and ERK-dependent proliferation. However, BRAFV600E is insufficient to drive melanoma in GEMM models, and 82% of human benign nevi harbor BRAFV600E mutations. We show here that BRAFV600E inhibits mesenchymal migration by causing feedback inhibition of RAC1 activity. ERK pathway inhibition induces RAC1 activation and restores migration and invasion. In cells with BRAFV600E, mutant RAC1, overexpression of PREX1, PREX2, or PTEN inactivation restore RAC1 activity and cell motility. Together, these lesions occur in 48% of BRAFV600E melanomas. Thus, although BRAFV600E activation of ERK deregulates cell proliferation, it prevents full malignant transformation by causing feedback inhibition of cell migration. Secondary mutations are, therefore, required for tumorigenesis. One mechanism underlying tumor evolution may be the selection of lesions that rescue the deleterious effects of oncogenic drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunyana Gadal
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jacob A. Boyer
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Simon F. Roy
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Noah A. Outmezguine
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Malvika Sharma
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Hongyan Li
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Molecular Pharmacology Program, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ning Fan
- Molecular Cytology Core, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Eric Chan
- Molecular Cytology Core, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Afsar Barlas
- Molecular Cytology Core, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Qing Chang
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Molecular Pharmacology Program, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Priya Pancholi
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Neilawattie. Merna Timaul
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Rona Yaeger
- Department of Medicine, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Molecular Pharmacology Program, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Marcus Bosenberg
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Neal Rosen
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Medicine, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Lead Contact
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6
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Mosier JA, Fabiano ED, Ludolph CM, White AE, Reinhart-King CA. Confinement primes cells for faster migration by polarizing active mitochondria. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2023; 6:209-220. [PMID: 38125598 PMCID: PMC10729874 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00478c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical cues in the tumor microenvironment interplay with internal cellular processes to control cancer cell migration. Microscale pores present in tumor tissue confer varying degrees of confinement on migrating cells, increasing matrix contact and inducing cytoskeletal rearrangement. Previously, we observed that increased collagen matrix contact significantly increased cell migration speed and cell-induced strains within the matrix. However, the effects of this confinement on future cell migration are not fully understood. Here, we use a collagen microtrack platform to determine the effect of confinement on priming MDA-MB-231 cancer cells for fast migration. We show that migration through a confined track results in increased speed and accumulation of migratory machinery, including actin and active mitochondria, in the front of migrating breast cancer cells. By designing microtracks that allow cells to first navigate a region of high confinement, then a region of low confinement, we assessed whether migration in high confinement changes future migratory behavior. Indeed, cells maintain their speed attained in high confinement even after exiting to a region of low confinement, indicating that cells maintain memory of previous matrix cues to fuel fast migration. Active mitochondria maintain their location at the front of the cell even after cells leave high confinement. Furthermore, knocking out vinculin to disrupt focal adhesions disrupts active mitochondrial localization and disrupts the fast migration seen upon release from confinement. Together, these data suggest that active mitochondrial localization in confinement may facilitate fast migration post-confinement. By better understanding how confinement contributes to future cancer cell migration, we can identify potential therapeutic targets to inhibit breast cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna A Mosier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University Nashville TN USA
| | - Emily D Fabiano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University Nashville TN USA
| | - Catherine M Ludolph
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin Austin TX USA
| | - Addison E White
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University Nashville TN USA
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7
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Jiang Z, Ju YJ, Ali A, Chung PED, Wang DY, Liu JC, Li H, Vorobieva I, Mwewa E, Ghanbari-Azarnier R, Shrestha M, Ben-David Y, Zacksenhaus E. Thinking (Metastasis) outside the (Primary Tumor) Box. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5315. [PMID: 38001575 PMCID: PMC10670606 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The metastasis of tumor cells into vital organs is a major cause of death from diverse types of malignancies [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Jiang
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
| | - Young-Jun Ju
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
| | - Amjad Ali
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
| | - Philip E. D. Chung
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Dong-Yu Wang
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
| | - Jeff C. Liu
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada;
| | - Huiqin Li
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
| | - Ioulia Vorobieva
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ethel Mwewa
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
| | - Ronak Ghanbari-Azarnier
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Mariusz Shrestha
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yaacov Ben-David
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China;
- The Natural Products Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Eldad Zacksenhaus
- Toronto General Research Institute—University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, Suite 5R406, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada (Y.-J.J.); (A.A.); (D.-Y.W.); (H.L.); (E.M.); (R.G.-A.); (M.S.)
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H2, Canada
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8
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Hosseini K, Frenzel A, Fischer-Friedrich E. EMT induces characteristic changes of Rho GTPases and downstream effectors with a mitosis-specific twist. Phys Biol 2023; 20:066001. [PMID: 37652025 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/acf5bd] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key cellular transformation for many physiological and pathological processes ranging from cancer over wound healing to embryogenesis. Changes in cell migration, cell morphology and cellular contractility were identified as hallmarks of EMT. These cellular properties are known to be tightly regulated by the actin cytoskeleton. EMT-induced changes of actin-cytoskeletal regulation were demonstrated by previous reports of changes of actin cortex mechanics in conjunction with modifications of cortex-associated f-actin and myosin. However, at the current state, the changes of upstream actomyosin signaling that lead to corresponding mechanical and compositional changes of the cortex are not well understood. In this work, we show in breast epithelial cancer cells MCF-7 that EMT results in characteristic changes of the cortical association of Rho-GTPases Rac1, RhoA and RhoC and downstream actin regulators cofilin, mDia1 and Arp2/3. In the light of our findings, we propose that EMT-induced changes in cortical mechanics rely on two hitherto unappreciated signaling paths-i) an interaction between Rac1 and RhoC and ii) an inhibitory effect of Arp2/3 activity on cortical association of myosin II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamran Hosseini
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Annika Frenzel
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Fischer-Friedrich
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Physics, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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9
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Bai Y, Zhao F, Wu T, Chen F, Pang X. Actin polymerization and depolymerization in developing vertebrates. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1213668. [PMID: 37745245 PMCID: PMC10515290 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1213668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Development is a complex process that occurs throughout the life cycle. F-actin, a major component of the cytoskeleton, is essential for the morphogenesis of tissues and organs during development. F-actin is formed by the polymerization of G-actin, and the dynamic balance of polymerization and depolymerization ensures proper cellular function. Disruption of this balance results in various abnormalities and defects or even embryonic lethality. Here, we reviewed recent findings on the structure of G-actin and F-actin and the polymerization of G-actin to F-actin. We also focused on the functions of actin isoforms and the underlying mechanisms of actin polymerization/depolymerization in cellular and organic morphogenesis during development. This information will extend our understanding of the role of actin polymerization in the physiologic or pathologic processes during development and may open new avenues for developing therapeutics for embryonic developmental abnormalities or tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Bai
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingting Wu
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Fangchun Chen
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Pang
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
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10
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Jiang Z, Ju Y, Ali A, Chung PED, Skowron P, Wang DY, Shrestha M, Li H, Liu JC, Vorobieva I, Ghanbari-Azarnier R, Mwewa E, Koritzinsky M, Ben-David Y, Woodgett JR, Perou CM, Dupuy A, Bader GD, Egan SE, Taylor MD, Zacksenhaus E. Distinct shared and compartment-enriched oncogenic networks drive primary versus metastatic breast cancer. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4313. [PMID: 37463901 PMCID: PMC10354065 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39935-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: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic breast-cancer is a major cause of death in women worldwide, yet the relationship between oncogenic drivers that promote metastatic versus primary cancer is still contentious. To elucidate this relationship in treatment-naive animals, we hereby describe mammary-specific transposon-mutagenesis screens in female mice together with loss-of-function Rb, which is frequently inactivated in breast-cancer. We report gene-centric common insertion-sites (gCIS) that are enriched in primary-tumors, in metastases or shared by both compartments. Shared-gCIS comprise a major MET-RAS network, whereas metastasis-gCIS form three additional hubs: Rho-signaling, Ubiquitination and RNA-processing. Pathway analysis of four clinical cohorts with paired primary-tumors and metastases reveals similar organization in human breast-cancer with subtype-specific shared-drivers (e.g. RB1-loss, TP53-loss, high MET, RAS, ER), primary-enriched (EGFR, TGFβ and STAT3) and metastasis-enriched (RHO, PI3K) oncogenic signaling. Inhibitors of RB1-deficiency or MET plus RHO-signaling cooperate to block cell migration and drive tumor cell-death. Thus, targeting shared- and metastasis- but not primary-enriched derivers offers a rational avenue to prevent metastatic breast-cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Jiang
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - YoungJun Ju
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Amjad Ali
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Philip E D Chung
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patryk Skowron
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dong-Yu Wang
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Mariusz Shrestha
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Huiqin Li
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Jeff C Liu
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ioulia Vorobieva
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ronak Ghanbari-Azarnier
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ethel Mwewa
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | | | - Yaacov Ben-David
- The Key laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550014, China
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - James R Woodgett
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Charles M Perou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Departments of Genetics and Pathology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Adam Dupuy
- Department of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, USA
| | - Gary D Bader
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sean E Egan
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eldad Zacksenhaus
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, 101 College Street, Max Bell Research Centre, suite 5R406, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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11
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Stark M, Levin M, Ulitsky I, Assaraf YG. Folylpolyglutamate synthetase mRNA G-quadruplexes regulate its cell protrusion localization and enhance a cancer cell invasive phenotype upon folate repletion. BMC Biol 2023; 21:13. [PMID: 36721160 PMCID: PMC9889130 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01525-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Folates are crucial for the biosynthesis of nucleotides and amino acids, essential for cell proliferation and development. Folate deficiency induces DNA damage, developmental defects, and tumorigenicity. The obligatory enzyme folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) mediates intracellular folate retention via cytosolic and mitochondrial folate polyglutamylation. Our previous paper demonstrated the association of the cytosolic FPGS (cFPGS) with the cytoskeleton and various cell protrusion proteins. Based on these recent findings, the aim of the current study was to investigate the potential role of cFPGS at cell protrusions. RESULTS Here we uncovered a central role for two G-quadruplex (GQ) motifs in the 3'UTR of FPGS mediating the localization of cFPGS mRNA and protein at cell protrusions. Using the MBSV6-loop reporter system and fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrate that following folate deprivation, cFPGS mRNA is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, whereas upon 15 min of folate repletion, this mRNA is rapidly translocated to cell protrusions in a 3'UTR- and actin-dependent manner. The actin dependency of this folate-induced mRNA translocation is shown by treatment with Latrunculin B and inhibitors of the Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) pathway. Upon folate repletion, the FPGS 3'UTR GQs induce an amoeboid/mesenchymal hybrid cell phenotype during migration and invasion through a collagen gel matrix. Targeted disruption of the 3'UTR GQ motifs by introducing point mutations or masking them by antisense oligonucleotides abrogated cell protrusion targeting of cFPGS mRNA. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, the GQ motifs within the 3'UTR of FPGS regulate its transcript and protein localization at cell protrusions in response to a folate cue, inducing cancer cell invasive phenotype. These novel findings suggest that the 3'UTR GQ motifs of FPGS constitute an attractive druggable target aimed at inhibition of cancer invasion and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Stark
- grid.6451.60000000121102151The Fred Wyszkowski Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003 Haifa, Israel
| | - May Levin
- grid.6451.60000000121102151The Fred Wyszkowski Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003 Haifa, Israel ,grid.507132.2Present address: May Levin, MeMed Diagnostics Ltd, Tirat Carmel, Israel
| | - Igor Ulitsky
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology and Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yehuda G. Assaraf
- grid.6451.60000000121102151The Fred Wyszkowski Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003 Haifa, Israel
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12
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Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Vimentin-Induced Disruption of Cell-Cell Associations Augments Breast Cancer Cell Migration. Cells 2022; 11:cells11244035. [PMID: 36552797 PMCID: PMC9776984 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In advanced metastatic cancers with reduced patient survival and poor prognosis, expression of vimentin, a type III intermediate filament protein is frequently observed. Vimentin appears to suppress epithelial characteristics and augments cell migration but the molecular basis for these changes is not well understood. Here, we have ectopically expressed vimentin in MCF-7 and investigated its genomic and functional implications. Vimentin changed the cell shape by decreasing major axis, major axis angle and increased cell migration, without affecting proliferation. Vimentin downregulated major keratin genes KRT8, KRT18 and KRT19. Transcriptome-coupled GO and KEGG analyses revealed that vimentin-affected genes were linked to either cell-cell/cell-ECM or cell cycle/proliferation specific pathways. Using shRNA mediated knockdown of vimentin in two cell types; MCF-7FV (ectopically expressing) and MDA-MB-231 (endogenously expressing), we identified a vimentin-specific signature consisting of 13 protein encoding genes (CDH5, AXL, PTPRM, TGFBI, CDH10, NES, E2F1, FOXM1, CDC45, FSD1, BCL2, KIF26A and WISP2) and two long non-coding RNAs, LINC00052 and C15ORF9-AS1. CDH5, an endothelial cadherin, which mediates cell-cell junctions, was the most downregulated protein encoding gene. Interestingly, downregulation of CDH5 by shRNA significantly increased cell migration confirming our RNA-Seq data. Furthermore, presence of vimentin altered the lamin expression in MCF-7. Collectively, we demonstrate, for the first time, that vimentin in breast cancer cells could change nuclear architecture by affecting lamin expression, which downregulates genes maintaining cell-cell junctions resulting in increased cell migration.
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13
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Burlando B. A general hypothesis of multistable systems in pathophysiology. F1000Res 2022; 11:906. [PMID: 36226044 PMCID: PMC9530619 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.123183.3] [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] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite intensive investigations numerous diseases remain etiologically puzzling and recalcitrant to treatments. A hypothesis is proposed here assuming that these difficulties are due to an unsuitable approach to the mechanisms of life, which is subjugated by an apparent complexity and fails to grasp the uniformity that lays behind. The stability of metabolism, despite the enormous complex of chemical reactions, suggests that reciprocal control is a prerequisite of life. Negative feedback loops have been known for a long time to maintain homeostasis, while more recently, different life processes involved in transitions or changes have been modeled by positive loops giving rise to bistable switches, also including various diseases. The present hypothesis makes a generalization, by assuming that any functional element of a biological system is involved in a positive or a negative feedback loop. Consequently, the hypothesis holds that the starting mechanism of any disease that affects a healthy human can be conceptually reduced to a bistable or multistationary loop system, thus providing a unifying model leading to the discovery of critical therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Burlando
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Genoa, 16132, Italy
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14
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Burlando B. A general theory of multistable systems in pathophysiology. F1000Res 2022; 11:906. [PMID: 36226044 PMCID: PMC9530619 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.123183.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite intensive investigations numerous diseases remain etiologically puzzling and recalcitrant to treatments. A theory is proposed here assuming that these difficulties are due to an unsuitable approach to the mechanisms of life, which is subjugated by an apparent complexity and fails to grasp the uniformity that lays behind. The stability of metabolism, despite the enormous complex of chemical reactions, suggests that reciprocal control is a prerequisite of life. Negative feedback loops have been known for a long time to maintain homeostasis, while more recently, different life processes involved in transitions or changes have been modeled by positive loops giving rise to bistable switches, also including various diseases. The present theory makes a generalization, by assuming that any functional element of a biological system is involved in a positive or a negative feedback loop. Consequently, the theory holds that the starting mechanism of any disease that affects a healthy human can be conceptually reduced to a bistable or multistationary loop system, thus providing a unifying model leading to the discovery of critical therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Burlando
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Genoa, 16132, Italy
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15
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Burlando B. A general hypothesis of multistable systems in pathophysiology. F1000Res 2022; 11:906. [PMID: 36226044 PMCID: PMC9530619 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.123183.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite intensive investigations numerous diseases remain etiologically puzzling and recalcitrant to treatments. A hypothesis is proposed here assuming that these difficulties are due to an unsuitable approach to the mechanisms of life, which is subjugated by an apparent complexity and fails to grasp the uniformity that lays behind. The stability of metabolism, despite the enormous complex of chemical reactions, suggests that reciprocal control is a prerequisite of life. Negative feedback loops have been known for a long time to maintain homeostasis, while more recently, different life processes involved in transitions or changes have been modeled by positive loops giving rise to bistable switches, also including various diseases. The present hypothesis makes a generalization, by assuming that any functional element of a biological system is involved in a positive or a negative feedback loop. Consequently, the hypothesis holds that the starting mechanism of any disease that affects a healthy human can be conceptually reduced to a bistable or multistationary loop system, thus providing a unifying model leading to the discovery of critical therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Burlando
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Genoa, 16132, Italy
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16
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Thalamocortical bistable switch as a theoretical model of fibromyalgia pathogenesis inferred from a literature survey. J Comput Neurosci 2022; 50:471-484. [PMID: 35816263 PMCID: PMC9666334 DOI: 10.1007/s10827-022-00826-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is an unsolved central pain processing disturbance. We aim to provide a unifying model for FM pathogenesis based on a loop network involving thalamocortical regions, i.e., the ventroposterior lateral thalamus (VPL), the somatosensory cortex (SC), and the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). The dynamics of the loop have been described by three differential equations having neuron mean firing rates as variables and containing Hill functions to model mutual interactions among the loop elements. A computational analysis conducted with MATLAB has shown a transition from monostability to bistability of the loop behavior for a weakening of GABAergic transmission between TRN and VPL. This involves the appearance of a high-firing-rate steady state, which becomes dominant and is assumed to represent pathogenic pain processing giving rise to chronic pain. Our model is consistent with a bulk of literature evidence, such as neuroimaging and pharmacological data collected on FM patients, and with correlations between FM and immunoendocrine conditions, such as stress, perimenopause, chronic inflammation, obesity, and chronic dizziness. The model suggests that critical targets for FM treatment are to be found among immunoendocrine pathways leading to GABA/glutamate imbalance having an impact on the thalamocortical system.
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17
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A New Bistable Switch Model of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137061. [PMID: 35806088 PMCID: PMC9267076 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We propose a model to explain the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) based on the theory that any disease affecting a healthy organism originates from a bistable feedback loop that shifts the system from a physiological to a pathological condition. We focused on the known double inhibitory loop involving the cellular prion protein (PrPC) and the enzyme BACE1 that produces amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides. BACE1 is inhibited by PrPC, but its inhibitory activity is lost when PrPC binds to Aβ oligomers (Aβo). Excessive Aβo formation would switch the loop to a pathogenic condition involving the Aβo-PrPC-mGluR5 complex, Fyn kinase activation, tau, and NMDAR phosphorylation, ultimately leading to neurodegeneration. Based on the emerging role of cyclic nucleotides in Aβ production, and thereby in synaptic plasticity and cognitive processes, cAMP and cGMP can be considered as modulatory factors capable of inducing the transition from a physiological steady state to a pathogenic one. This would imply that critical pharmacological targets for AD treatment lie within pathways that lead to an imbalance of cyclic nucleotides in neurons. If this hypothesis is confirmed, it will provide precise indications for the development of preventive or therapeutic treatments for the disease.
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18
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Bhavani GS, Palanisamy A. SNAIL driven by a feed forward loop motif promotes TGF βinduced epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2022; 8. [PMID: 35700712 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ac7896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) plays an important role in tissue regeneration, embryonic development, and cancer metastasis. Several signaling pathways are known to regulate EMT, among which the modulation of TGFβ(Transforming Growth Factor-β) induced EMT is crucial in several cancer types. Several mathematical models were built to explore the role of core regulatory circuit of ZEB/miR-200, SNAIL/miR-34 double negative feedback loops in modulating TGFβinduced EMT. Different emergent behavior including tristability, irreversible switching, existence of hybrid EMT states were inferred though these models. Some studies have explored the role of TGFβreceptor activation, SMADs nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and complex formation. Recent experiments have revealed that MDM2 along with SMAD complex regulates SNAIL expression driven EMT. Encouraged by this, in the present study we developed a mathematical model for p53/MDM2 dependent TGFβinduced EMT regulation. Inclusion of p53 brings in an additional mechanistic perspective in exploring the EM transition. The network formulated comprises a C1FFL moderating SNAIL expression involving MDM2 and SMAD complex, which functions as a noise filter and persistent detector. The C1FFL was also observed to operate as a coincidence detector driving the SNAIL dependent downstream signaling into phenotypic switching decision. Systems modelling and analysis of the devised network, displayed interesting dynamic behavior, systems response to various inputs stimulus, providing a better understanding of p53/MDM2 dependent TGF-βinduced Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition.
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19
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Cao H, Duan L, Zhang Y, Cao J, Zhang K. Current hydrogel advances in physicochemical and biological response-driven biomedical application diversity. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:426. [PMID: 34916490 PMCID: PMC8674418 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00830-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 431] [Impact Index Per Article: 107.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogel is a type of versatile platform with various biomedical applications after rational structure and functional design that leverages on material engineering to modulate its physicochemical properties (e.g., stiffness, pore size, viscoelasticity, microarchitecture, degradability, ligand presentation, stimulus-responsive properties, etc.) and influence cell signaling cascades and fate. In the past few decades, a plethora of pioneering studies have been implemented to explore the cell-hydrogel matrix interactions and figure out the underlying mechanisms, paving the way to the lab-to-clinic translation of hydrogel-based therapies. In this review, we first introduced the physicochemical properties of hydrogels and their fabrication approaches concisely. Subsequently, the comprehensive description and deep discussion were elucidated, wherein the influences of different hydrogels properties on cell behaviors and cellular signaling events were highlighted. These behaviors or events included integrin clustering, focal adhesion (FA) complex accumulation and activation, cytoskeleton rearrangement, protein cyto-nuclei shuttling and activation (e.g., Yes-associated protein (YAP), catenin, etc.), cellular compartment reorganization, gene expression, and further cell biology modulation (e.g., spreading, migration, proliferation, lineage commitment, etc.). Based on them, current in vitro and in vivo hydrogel applications that mainly covered diseases models, various cell delivery protocols for tissue regeneration and disease therapy, smart drug carrier, bioimaging, biosensor, and conductive wearable/implantable biodevices, etc. were further summarized and discussed. More significantly, the clinical translation potential and trials of hydrogels were presented, accompanied with which the remaining challenges and future perspectives in this field were emphasized. Collectively, the comprehensive and deep insights in this review will shed light on the design principles of new biomedical hydrogels to understand and modulate cellular processes, which are available for providing significant indications for future hydrogel design and serving for a broad range of biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Cao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, and National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, P. R. China
- Department of Medical Ultrasound and Central Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 301 Yan-chang-zhong Road, 200072, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Lixia Duan
- Department of Medical Ultrasound and Central Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 301 Yan-chang-zhong Road, 200072, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound and Central Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 301 Yan-chang-zhong Road, 200072, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Cao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, and National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, P. R. China.
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound and Central Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 301 Yan-chang-zhong Road, 200072, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Homayoonfal M, Asemi Z, Yousefi B. Targeting microRNAs with thymoquinone: a new approach for cancer therapy. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2021; 26:43. [PMID: 34627167 PMCID: PMC8502376 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-021-00286-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a global disease involving transformation of normal cells into tumor types via numerous mechanisms, with mortality among all generations, in spite of the breakthroughs in chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery for cancer treatment. Since one in six deaths is due to cancer, it is one of the overriding priorities of world health. Recently, bioactive natural compounds have been widely recognized due to their therapeutic effects for treatment of various chronic disorders, notably cancer. Thymoquinone (TQ), the most valuable constituent of black cumin seeds, has shown anti-cancer characteristics in a wide range of animal models. The revolutionary findings have revealed TQ's ability to regulate microRNA (miRNA) expression, offering a promising approach for cancer therapy. MiRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that modulate gene expression by means of variation in features of mRNA. MiRNAs manage several biological processes including gene expression and cellular signaling pathways. Accordingly, miRNAs can be considered as hallmarks for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. The purpose of this study was to review the various molecular mechanisms by which TQ exerts its potential as an anti-cancer agent through modulating miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Homayoonfal
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Zatollah Asemi
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Bahman Yousefi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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21
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Vilchez Mercedes SA, Bocci F, Levine H, Onuchic JN, Jolly MK, Wong PK. Decoding leader cells in collective cancer invasion. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:592-604. [PMID: 34239104 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00376-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Collective cancer invasion with leader-follower organization is increasingly recognized as a predominant mechanism in the metastatic cascade. Leader cells support cancer invasion by creating invasion tracks, sensing environmental cues and coordinating with follower cells biochemically and biomechanically. With the latest developments in experimental and computational models and analysis techniques, the range of specific traits and features of leader cells reported in the literature is rapidly expanding. Yet, despite their importance, there is no consensus on how leader cells arise or their essential characteristics. In this Perspective, we propose a framework for defining the essential aspects of leader cells and provide a unifying perspective on the varying cellular and molecular programmes that are adopted by each leader cell subtype to accomplish their functions. This Perspective can lead to more effective strategies to interdict a major contributor to metastatic capability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Federico Bocci
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Department of Physics, and Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - José N Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Chemistry and Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
| | - Pak Kin Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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22
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Hosseini K, Frenzel A, Fischer-Friedrich E. EMT changes actin cortex rheology in a cell-cycle-dependent manner. Biophys J 2021; 120:3516-3526. [PMID: 34022239 PMCID: PMC8391033 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The actin cortex is a key structure for cellular mechanics and cellular migration. Accordingly, cancer cells were shown to change their actin cytoskeleton and their mechanical properties in correlation with different degrees of malignancy and metastatic potential. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular transformation associated with cancer progression and malignancy. To date, a detailed study of the effects of EMT on the frequency-dependent viscoelastic mechanics of the actin cortex is still lacking. In this work, we have used an established atomic force microscope-based method of cell confinement to quantify the rheology of the actin cortex of human breast, lung, and prostate epithelial cells before and after EMT in a frequency range of 0.02-2 Hz. Interestingly, we find for all cell lines opposite EMT-induced changes in interphase and mitosis; whereas the actin cortex softens upon EMT in interphase, the cortex stiffens in mitosis. Our rheological data can be accounted for by a rheological model with a characteristic timescale of slowest relaxation. In conclusion, our study discloses a consistent rheological trend induced by EMT in human cells of diverse tissue origin, reflecting major structural changes of the actin cytoskeleton upon EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamran Hosseini
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Annika Frenzel
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Fischer-Friedrich
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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23
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Mosier JA, Schwager SC, Boyajian DA, Reinhart-King CA. Cancer cell metabolic plasticity in migration and metastasis. Clin Exp Metastasis 2021; 38:343-359. [PMID: 34076787 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-021-10102-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer metastasis in which cancer cells manipulate their metabolic profile to meet the dynamic energetic requirements of the tumor microenvironment. Though cancer cell proliferation and migration through the extracellular matrix are key steps of cancer progression, they are not necessarily fueled by the same metabolites and energy production pathways. The two main metabolic pathways cancer cells use to derive energy from glucose, glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, are preferentially and plastically utilized by cancer cells depending on both their intrinsic metabolic properties and their surrounding environment. Mechanical factors in the microenvironment, such as collagen density, pore size, and alignment, and biochemical factors, such as oxygen and glucose availability, have been shown to influence both cell migration and glucose metabolism. As cancer cells have been identified as preferentially utilizing glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation based on heterogeneous intrinsic or extrinsic factors, the relationship between cancer cell metabolism and metastatic potential is of recent interest. Here, we review current in vitro and in vivo findings in the context of cancer cell metabolism during migration and metastasis and extrapolate potential clinical applications of this work that could aid in diagnosing and tracking cancer progression in vivo by monitoring metabolism. We also review current progress in the development of a variety of metabolically targeted anti-metastatic drugs, both in clinical trials and approved for distribution, and highlight potential routes for incorporating our recent understanding of metabolic plasticity into therapeutic directions. By further understanding cancer cell energy production pathways and metabolic plasticity, more effective and successful clinical imaging and therapeutics can be developed to diagnose, target, and inhibit metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna A Mosier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Samantha C Schwager
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - David A Boyajian
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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24
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Turnham DJ, Yang WW, Davies J, Varnava A, Ridley AJ, Conlan RS, Clarkson RWE. Bcl-3 promotes multi-modal tumour cell migration via NF-κB1 mediated regulation of Cdc42. Carcinogenesis 2021; 41:1432-1443. [PMID: 31957805 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgaa005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A key challenge in the implementation of anti-metastatics as cancer therapies is the multi-modal nature of cell migration, which allows tumour cells to evade the targeted inhibition of specific cell motility pathways. The nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) co-factor B-cell lymphoma 3 (Bcl-3) has been implicated in breast cancer cell migration and metastasis, yet it remains to be determined exactly which cell motility pathways are controlled by Bcl-3 and whether migrating tumour cells are able to evade Bcl-3 intervention. Addressing these questions and the mechanism underpinning Bcl-3's role in this process would help determine its potential as a therapeutic target. Here we identify Bcl-3 as an upstream regulator of the two principal forms of breast cancer cell motility, involving collective and single-cell migration. This was found to be mediated by the master regulator Cdc42 through binding of the NF-κB transcription factor p50 to the Cdc42 promoter. Notably, Bcl-3 depletion inhibited both stable and transitory motility phenotypes in breast cancer cells with no evidence of migratory adaptation. Overexpression of Bcl-3 enhanced migration and increased metastatic tumour burden of breast cancer cells in vivo, whereas overexpression of a mutant Bcl-3 protein, which is unable to bind p50, suppressed cell migration and metastatic tumour burden suggesting that disruption of Bcl-3/NF-κB complexes is sufficient to inhibit metastasis. These findings identify a novel role for Bcl-3 in intrinsic and adaptive multi-modal cell migration mediated by its direct regulation of the Rho GTPase Cdc42 and identify the upstream Bcl-3:p50 transcription complex as a potential therapeutic target for metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Turnham
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - William W Yang
- Department of Pathology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Julia Davies
- Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Athina Varnava
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Anne J Ridley
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, UK
| | - R Steven Conlan
- Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Richard W E Clarkson
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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25
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Pramanik D, Jolly MK, Bhat R. Matrix adhesion and remodeling diversifies modes of cancer invasion across spatial scales. J Theor Biol 2021; 524:110733. [PMID: 33933478 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The metastasis of malignant epithelial tumors begins with the egress of transformed cells from the confines of their basement membrane (BM) to their surrounding collagen-rich stroma. Invasion can be morphologically diverse: when breast cancer cells are separately cultured within BM-like matrix, collagen I (Coll I), or a combination of both, they exhibit collective-, dispersed mesenchymal-, and a mixed collective-dispersed (multimodal)- invasion, respectively. In this paper, we asked how distinct these invasive modes are with respect to the cellular and microenvironmental cues that drive them. A rigorous computational exploration of invasion was performed within an experimentally motivated Cellular Potts-based modeling environment. The model comprised of adhesive interactions between cancer cells, BM- and Coll I-like extracellular matrix (ECM), and reaction-diffusion-based remodeling of ECM. The model outputs were parameters cognate to dispersed- and collective- invasion. A clustering analysis of the output distribution curated through a careful examination of subsumed phenotypes suggested at least four distinct invasive states: dispersed, papillary-collective, bulk-collective, and multimodal, in addition to an indolent/non-invasive state. Mapping input values to specific output clusters suggested that each of these invasive states are specified by distinct input signatures of proliferation, adhesion and ECM remodeling. In addition, specific input perturbations allowed transitions between the clusters and revealed the variation in the robustness between the invasive states. Our systems-level approach proffers quantitative insights into how the diversity in ECM microenvironments may steer invasion into diverse phenotypic modes during early dissemination of breast cancer and contributes to tumor heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Pramanik
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India; Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
| | - M K Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
| | - R Bhat
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
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26
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Mosier JA, Wu Y, Reinhart-King CA. Recent advances in understanding the role of metabolic heterogeneities in cell migration. Fac Rev 2021; 10:8. [PMID: 33659926 PMCID: PMC7894266 DOI: 10.12703/r/10-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Migration is an energy-intensive, multi-step process involving cell adhesion, protrusion, and detachment. Each of these steps require cells to generate and consume energy, regulating their morphological changes and force generation. Given the need for energy to move, cellular metabolism has emerged as a critical regulator of both single cell and collective migration. Recently, metabolic heterogeneity has been highlighted as a potential determinant of collective cell behavior, as individual cells may play distinct roles in collective migration. Several tools and techniques have been developed and adapted to study cellular energetics during migration including live-cell probes to characterize energy utilization and metabolic state and methodologies to sort cells based on their metabolic profile. Here, we review the recent advances in techniques, parsing the metabolic heterogeneities inherent in cell populations and their contributions to cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna A Mosier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Yusheng Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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27
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Morales X, Cortés-Domínguez I, Ortiz-de-Solorzano C. Modeling the Mechanobiology of Cancer Cell Migration Using 3D Biomimetic Hydrogels. Gels 2021; 7:17. [PMID: 33673091 PMCID: PMC7930983 DOI: 10.3390/gels7010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding how cancer cells migrate, and how this migration is affected by the mechanical and chemical composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical to investigate and possibly interfere with the metastatic process, which is responsible for most cancer-related deaths. In this article we review the state of the art about the use of hydrogel-based three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds as artificial platforms to model the mechanobiology of cancer cell migration. We start by briefly reviewing the concept and composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the materials commonly used to recreate the cancerous ECM. Then we summarize the most relevant knowledge about the mechanobiology of cancer cell migration that has been obtained using 3D hydrogel scaffolds, and relate those discoveries to what has been observed in the clinical management of solid tumors. Finally, we review some recent methodological developments, specifically the use of novel bioprinting techniques and microfluidics to create realistic hydrogel-based models of the cancer ECM, and some of their applications in the context of the study of cancer cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carlos Ortiz-de-Solorzano
- IDISNA, Ciberonc and Solid Tumors and Biomarkers Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (X.M.); (I.C.-D.)
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28
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Hosseini K, Taubenberger A, Werner C, Fischer‐Friedrich E. EMT-Induced Cell-Mechanical Changes Enhance Mitotic Rounding Strength. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:2001276. [PMID: 33042748 PMCID: PMC7539203 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202001276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
To undergo mitosis successfully, most animal cells need to acquire a round shape to provide space for the mitotic spindle. This mitotic rounding relies on mechanical deformation of surrounding tissue and is driven by forces emanating from actomyosin contractility. Cancer cells are able to maintain successful mitosis in mechanically challenging environments such as the increasingly crowded environment of a growing tumor, thus, suggesting an enhanced ability of mitotic rounding in cancer. Here, it is shown that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a hallmark of cancer progression and metastasis, gives rise to cell-mechanical changes in breast epithelial cells. These changes are opposite in interphase and mitosis and correspond to an enhanced mitotic rounding strength. Furthermore, it is shown that cell-mechanical changes correlate with a strong EMT-induced change in the activity of Rho GTPases RhoA and Rac1. Accordingly, it is found that Rac1 inhibition rescues the EMT-induced cortex-mechanical phenotype. The findings hint at a new role of EMT in successful mitotic rounding and division in mechanically confined environments such as a growing tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamran Hosseini
- Biotechnology CenterTechnische Universität DresdenTatzberg 47–49Dresden01307Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of LifeTechnische Universität DresdenDresden01062Germany
| | - Anna Taubenberger
- Biotechnology CenterTechnische Universität DresdenTatzberg 47–49Dresden01307Germany
| | - Carsten Werner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research DresdenMax Bergmann CenterHohe Str. 6Dresden01069Germany
| | - Elisabeth Fischer‐Friedrich
- Biotechnology CenterTechnische Universität DresdenTatzberg 47–49Dresden01307Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of LifeTechnische Universität DresdenDresden01062Germany
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29
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Duddu AS, Sahoo S, Hati S, Jhunjhunwala S, Jolly MK. Multi-stability in cellular differentiation enabled by a network of three mutually repressing master regulators. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200631. [PMID: 32993428 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying the design principles of complex regulatory networks driving cellular decision-making remains essential to decode embryonic development as well as enhance cellular reprogramming. A well-studied network motif involved in cellular decision-making is a toggle switch-a set of two opposing transcription factors A and B, each of which is a master regulator of a specific cell fate and can inhibit the activity of the other. A toggle switch can lead to two possible states-(high A, low B) and (low A, high B)-and drives the 'either-or' choice between these two cell fates for a common progenitor cell. However, the principles of coupled toggle switches remain unclear. Here, we investigate the dynamics of three master regulators A, B and C inhibiting each other, thus forming three-coupled toggle switches to form a toggle triad. Our simulations show that this toggle triad can lead to co-existence of cells into three differentiated 'single positive' phenotypes-(high A, low B, low C), (low A, high B, low C) and (low A, low B, high C). Moreover, the hybrid or 'double positive' phenotypes-(high A, high B, low C), (low A, high B, high C) and (high A, low B, high C)-can coexist together with 'single positive' phenotypes. Including self-activation loops on A, B and C can increase the frequency of 'double positive' states. Finally, we apply our results to understand cellular decision-making in terms of differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into Th1, Th2 and Th17 states, where hybrid Th1/Th2 and hybrid Th1/Th17 cells have been reported in addition to the Th1, Th2 and Th17 ones. Our results offer novel insights into the design principles of a multi-stable network topology and provide a framework for synthetic biology to design tristable systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atchuta Srinivas Duddu
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Sarthak Sahoo
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.,UG Programme, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Souvadra Hati
- UG Programme, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Siddharth Jhunjhunwala
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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30
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Boolean model of anchorage dependence and contact inhibition points to coordinated inhibition but semi-independent induction of proliferation and migration. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2145-2165. [PMID: 32913583 PMCID: PMC7451872 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cells respond to their physical neighborhood with mechano-sensitive behaviors required for development and tissue maintenance. These include anchorage dependence, matrix stiffness-dependent proliferation, contact inhibition of proliferation and migration, and collective migration that balances cell crawling with the maintenance of cell junctions. While required for development and tissue repair, these coordinated responses to the microenvironment also contribute to cancer metastasis. Predictive models of the signaling networks that coordinate these behaviors are critical in controlling cell behavior to halt disease. Here we propose a Boolean regulatory network model that synthesizes mechanosensitive signaling that links anchorage to a matrix of varying stiffness and cell density sensing to contact inhibition, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Our model can reproduce anchorage dependence and anoikis, detachment-induced cytokinesis errors, the effect of matrix stiffness on proliferation, and contact inhibition of proliferation and migration by two mechanisms that converge on the YAP transcription factor. In addition, we offer testable predictions related to cell cycle-dependent anoikis sensitivity, the molecular requirements for abolishing contact inhibition, and substrate stiffness dependent expression of the catalytic subunit of PI3K. Moreover, our model predicts heterogeneity in migratory vs. non-migratory phenotypes in sub-confluent monolayers, and co-inhibition but semi-independent induction of proliferation vs. migration as a function of cell density and mitogenic stimulation. Our model serves as a stepping-stone towards modeling mechanosensitive routes to the epithelial to mesenchymal transition, capturing the effects of the mesenchymal state on anoikis resistance, and understanding the balance between migration versus proliferation at each stage of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition.
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31
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Bhattacharya S, Ghosh A, Maiti S, Ahir M, Debnath GH, Gupta P, Bhattacharjee M, Ghosh S, Chattopadhyay S, Mukherjee P, Adhikary A. Delivery of thymoquinone through hyaluronic acid-decorated mixed Pluronic® nanoparticles to attenuate angiogenesis and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer. J Control Release 2020; 322:357-374. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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32
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Identifying inhibitors of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity using a network topology-based approach. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2020; 6:15. [PMID: 32424264 PMCID: PMC7235229 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-020-0132-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the cause of over 90% of cancer-related deaths. Cancer cells undergoing metastasis can switch dynamically between different phenotypes, enabling them to adapt to harsh challenges, such as overcoming anoikis and evading immune response. This ability, known as phenotypic plasticity, is crucial for the survival of cancer cells during metastasis, as well as acquiring therapy resistance. Various biochemical networks have been identified to contribute to phenotypic plasticity, but how plasticity emerges from the dynamics of these networks remains elusive. Here, we investigated the dynamics of various regulatory networks implicated in Epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity (EMP)—an important arm of phenotypic plasticity—through two different mathematical modelling frameworks: a discrete, parameter-independent framework (Boolean) and a continuous, parameter-agnostic modelling framework (RACIPE). Results from either framework in terms of phenotypic distributions obtained from a given EMP network are qualitatively similar and suggest that these networks are multi-stable and can give rise to phenotypic plasticity. Neither method requires specific kinetic parameters, thus our results emphasize that EMP can emerge through these networks over a wide range of parameter sets, elucidating the importance of network topology in enabling phenotypic plasticity. Furthermore, we show that the ability to exhibit phenotypic plasticity correlates positively with the number of positive feedback loops in a given network. These results pave a way toward an unorthodox network topology-based approach to identify crucial links in a given EMP network that can reduce phenotypic plasticity and possibly inhibit metastasis—by reducing the number of positive feedback loops.
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33
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Zuo X, Zhang H, Zhou T, Duan Y, Shou H, Yu S, Gao C. Spheroids of Endothelial Cells and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Promote Cell Migration in Hyaluronic Acid and Fibrinogen Composite Hydrogels. RESEARCH 2020; 2020:8970480. [PMID: 32159162 PMCID: PMC7049785 DOI: 10.34133/2020/8970480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cell migration plays a pivotal role in many pathological and physiological processes. So far, most of the studies have been focused on 2-dimensional cell adhesion and migration. Herein, the migration behaviors of cell spheroids in 3D hydrogels obtained by polymerization of methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HA-MA) and fibrinogen (Fg) with different ratios were studied. The Fg could be released to the medium gradually along with time prolongation, achieving the dynamic change of hydrogel structures and properties. Three types of cell spheroids, i.e., endothelial cell (EC), smooth muscle cell (SMC), and EC-SMC spheroids, were prepared with 10,000 cells in each, whose diameters were about 343, 108, and 224 μm, respectively. The composite hydrogels with an intermediate ratio of Fg allowed the fastest 3D migration of cell spheroids. The ECs-SMCs migrated longest up to 3200 μm at day 14, whereas the SMC spheroids migrated slowest with a distance of only ~400 μm at the same period of time. The addition of free RGD or anti-CD44 could significantly reduce the migration distance, revealing that the cell-substrate interactions take the major roles and the migration is mesenchymal dependent. Moreover, addition of anti-N-cadherin and MMP inhibitors also slowed down the migration rate, demonstrating that the degradation of hydrogels and cell-cell interactions are also largely involved in the cell migration. RT-PCR measurement showed that expression of genes related to cell adhesion and antiapoptosis, and angiogenesis was all upregulated in the EC-SMC spheroids than single EC or SMC spheroids, suggesting that the use of composite cell spheroids is more promising to promote cell-substrate interactions and maintenance of cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingang Zuo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Haolan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Tong Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Yiyuan Duan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.,Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hao Shou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Shan Yu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Changyou Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.,Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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34
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Merchant B, Feng JJ. A Rho-GTPase based model explains group advantage in collective chemotaxis of neural crest cells. Phys Biol 2020; 17:036002. [DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/ab71f1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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35
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Zmurchok C, Holmes WR. Simple Rho GTPase Dynamics Generate a Complex Regulatory Landscape Associated with Cell Shape. Biophys J 2020; 118:1438-1454. [PMID: 32084329 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Migratory cells exhibit a variety of morphologically distinct responses to their environments that manifest in their cell shape. Some protrude uniformly to increase substrate contacts, others are broadly contractile, some polarize to facilitate migration, and yet others exhibit mixtures of these responses. Prior studies have identified a discrete collection of shapes that the majority of cells display and demonstrated that activity levels of the cytoskeletal regulators Rac1 and RhoA GTPase regulate those shapes. Here, we use computational modeling to assess whether known GTPase dynamics can give rise to a sufficient diversity of spatial signaling states to explain the observed shapes. Results show that the combination of autoactivation and mutually antagonistic cross talk between GTPases, along with the conservative membrane binding, generates a wide array of distinct homogeneous and polarized regulatory phenotypes that arise for fixed model parameters. From a theoretical perspective, these results demonstrate that simple GTPase dynamics can generate complex multistability in which six distinct stable steady states (three homogeneous and three polarized) coexist for a fixed set of parameters, each of which naturally maps to an observed morphology. From a biological perspective, although we do not explicitly model the cytoskeleton or resulting cell morphologies, these results, along with prior literature linking GTPase activity to cell morphology, support the hypothesis that GTPase signaling dynamics can generate the broad morphological characteristics observed in many migratory cell populations. Further, the observed diversity may be the result of cells populating a complex morphological landscape generated by GTPase regulation rather than being the result of intrinsic cell-cell variation. These results demonstrate that Rho GTPases may have a central role in regulating the broad characteristics of cell shape (e.g., expansive, contractile, polarized, etc.) and that shape heterogeneity may be (at least partly) a reflection of the rich signaling dynamics regulating the cytoskeleton rather than intrinsic cell heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole Zmurchok
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - William R Holmes
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Mathematics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Quantitative Systems Biology Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
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36
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Kunitomi H, Oki Y, Onishi N, Kano K, Banno K, Aoki D, Saya H, Nobusue H. The insulin-PI3K-Rac1 axis contributes to terminal adipocyte differentiation through regulation of actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Genes Cells 2020; 25:165-174. [PMID: 31925986 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Adipocyte differentiation is accompanied by a pronounced change in the actin cytoskeleton characterized by the reorganization of filamentous (F)-actin stress fibers into cortical F-actin structures. We previously showed that depolymerization of F-actin stress fibers induced by inactivation of RhoA-ROCK (Rho-associated kinase) signaling acts as a trigger for adipocyte differentiation. The relevance and underlying mechanism of the formation of cortical F-actin structures from depolymerized actin during adipocyte differentiation have remained unclear, however. We have now examined the mechanistic relation between actin dynamics and adipogenic induction. Transient exposure to the actin-depolymerizing agent latrunculin A (LatA) supported the formation of adipocyte-associated cortical actin structures and the completion of terminal adipocyte differentiation in the presence of insulin, whereas long-term exposure to LatA prevented such actin reorganization as well as terminal adipogenesis. Moreover, these effects of insulin were prevented by inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Rac1 signaling and the actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex which is a critical component of the cortical actin networks. Our findings thus suggest that the insulin-PI3K-Rac1 axis leads to the formation of adipocyte-associated cortical actin structures which is essential for the completion of adipocyte differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruko Kunitomi
- Division of Gene Regulation, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshinao Oki
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Onishi
- Division of Gene Regulation, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichiro Kano
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Kouji Banno
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Aoki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Saya
- Division of Gene Regulation, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nobusue
- Division of Gene Regulation, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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37
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Ciardiello C, Migliorino R, Leone A, Budillon A. Large extracellular vesicles: Size matters in tumor progression. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2019; 51:69-74. [PMID: 31937439 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2019.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) represent a heterogeneous population of particles naturally released from all cells, delimited by a lipid bilayer and able to horizontally transfer their cargos to recipient cells. These features imply the growing interest on EVs in cancer biology as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. In this review, we will highlight the specific process related to biogenesis and release of large EVs (L-EVs) derived from the plasma membrane (PM) compared to the small and well described exosomes, generated through the classical endosome-multivesicular body (MVB) pathway. The control of PM rigidity by cells depends on lipid/protein composition, cytoskeleton dynamics, cytoplasmic viscosity, ions balance, metabolic reprogramming and specific intracellular signaling pathways, all critical determinants of L-EVs biogenesis. We will focus in details on a specific class of L-EVs, named Large Oncosomes (LO), exclusively shed by cancer cells and with a size ranging from 1 μm up to 10 μm. We will examine LO specific cargos, either proteins or nucleic acids (i.e. mRNA, microRNAs, single/double-stranded DNA), as well as their functional role in cancer development and progression, also discussing the mechanisms of L-EVs internalization by recipient cells. Overall we will highlight the potential of LO as specific diagnostic/prognostic cancer biomarkers discussing the associated challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Ciardiello
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione G. Pascale - IRCCS, Naples, Italy.
| | - Rossella Migliorino
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione G. Pascale - IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Leone
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione G. Pascale - IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Alfredo Budillon
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione G. Pascale - IRCCS, Naples, Italy.
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38
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Jolly MK, Celià-Terrassa T. Dynamics of Phenotypic Heterogeneity Associated with EMT and Stemness during Cancer Progression. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E1542. [PMID: 31557977 PMCID: PMC6832750 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity contribute to the generation of diverse tumor cell populations, thus enhancing cancer aggressiveness and therapy resistance. Compared to genetic heterogeneity, a consequence of mutational events, phenotypic heterogeneity arises from dynamic, reversible cell state transitions in response to varying intracellular/extracellular signals. Such phenotypic plasticity enables rapid adaptive responses to various stressful conditions and can have a strong impact on cancer progression. Herein, we have reviewed relevant literature on mechanisms associated with dynamic phenotypic changes and cellular plasticity, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness, which have been reported to facilitate cancer metastasis. We also discuss how non-cell-autonomous mechanisms such as cell-cell communication can lead to an emergent population-level response in tumors. The molecular mechanisms underlying the complexity of tumor systems are crucial for comprehending cancer progression, and may provide new avenues for designing therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
| | - Toni Celià-Terrassa
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
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39
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Mosier JA, Rahman-Zaman A, Zanotelli MR, VanderBurgh JA, Bordeleau F, Hoffman BD, Reinhart-King CA. Extent of Cell Confinement in Microtracks Affects Speed and Results in Differential Matrix Strains. Biophys J 2019; 117:1692-1701. [PMID: 31623884 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
During metastasis, cancer cells navigate through a spatially heterogeneous extracellular matrix (ECM). Physical properties of ECM, including the degree of confinement, influence cell migration behavior. Here, utilizing in vitro three-dimensional collagen microtracks, we demonstrate that cell-ECM interactions, specifically the degree of spatial confinement, regulate migratory behavior. We found that cells migrate faster when they are fully confined, contacting all four walls (top, bottom, and two sides) of a collagen microtrack, compared with cells that are partially confined, contacting less than four walls. When fully confined, cells exhibit fewer but larger vinculin-containing adhesions and create greater strains in the surrounding matrix directed toward the cell body. In contrast, partially confined cells develop a more elongated morphology with smaller but significantly more vinculin-containing adhesions and displace the surrounding matrix less than fully confined cells. The resulting effect of increasing cell contractility via Rho activation is dependent on the number of walls with which the cell is in contact. Although matrix strains increase in both fully and partially confined cells, cells that are partially confined increase speed, whereas those in full confinement decrease speed. Together, these results suggest that the degree of cell-ECM contact during confined migration is a key determinant of speed, morphology, and cell-generated substrate strains during motility, and these factors may work in tandem to facilitate metastatic cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna A Mosier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Aniqua Rahman-Zaman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Matthew R Zanotelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Jacob A VanderBurgh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Francois Bordeleau
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Dép. Biologie Moléculaire, Biochimie Médicale et Pathologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Brenton D Hoffman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Cynthia A Reinhart-King
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
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40
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Gerashchenko TS, Novikov NM, Krakhmal NV, Zolotaryova SY, Zavyalova MV, Cherdyntseva NV, Denisov EV, Perelmuter VM. Markers of Cancer Cell Invasion: Are They Good Enough? J Clin Med 2019; 8:E1092. [PMID: 31344926 PMCID: PMC6723901 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8081092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasion, or directed migration of tumor cells into adjacent tissues, is one of the hallmarks of cancer and the first step towards metastasis. Penetrating to adjacent tissues, tumor cells form the so-called invasive front/edge. The cellular plasticity afforded by different kinds of phenotypic transitions (epithelial-mesenchymal, collective-amoeboid, mesenchymal-amoeboid, and vice versa) significantly contributes to the diversity of cancer cell invasion patterns and mechanisms. Nevertheless, despite the advances in the understanding of invasion, it is problematic to identify tumor cells with the motile phenotype in cancer tissue specimens due to the absence of reliable and acceptable molecular markers. In this review, we summarize the current information about molecules such as extracellular matrix components, factors of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, proteases, cell adhesion, and actin cytoskeleton proteins involved in cell migration and invasion that could be used as invasive markers and discuss their advantages and limitations. Based on the reviewed data, we conclude that future studies focused on the identification of specific invasive markers should use new models one of which may be the intratumor morphological heterogeneity in breast cancer reflecting different patterns of cancer cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana S Gerashchenko
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, 634009 Tomsk, Russia.
| | - Nikita M Novikov
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, 634009 Tomsk, Russia
- Department of Cytology and Genetics, Tomsk State University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Nadezhda V Krakhmal
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Siberian State Medical University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Sofia Y Zolotaryova
- Department of Cytology and Genetics, Tomsk State University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Marina V Zavyalova
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Siberian State Medical University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
- Department of General and Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, 634009 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Nadezhda V Cherdyntseva
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, 634009 Tomsk, Russia
- Laboratory for Translational Cellular and Molecular Biomedicine, Tomsk State University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Evgeny V Denisov
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, 634009 Tomsk, Russia
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Tomsk State University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Vladimir M Perelmuter
- Department of General and Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, 634009 Tomsk, Russia
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41
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Gladilin E, Ohse S, Boerries M, Busch H, Xu C, Schneider M, Meister M, Eils R. TGFβ-induced cytoskeletal remodeling mediates elevation of cell stiffness and invasiveness in NSCLC. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7667. [PMID: 31113982 PMCID: PMC6529472 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43409-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance of growth factor (GF) signaling in cancer progression is widely acknowledged. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is known to play a key role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastatic cell transformation that are characterized by alterations in cell mechanical architecture and behavior towards a more robust and motile single cell phenotype. However, mechanisms mediating cancer type specific enhancement of cell mechanical phenotype in response to TGFβ remain poorly understood. Here, we combine high-throughput mechanical cell phenotyping, microarray analysis and gene-silencing to dissect cytoskeletal mediators of TGFβ-induced changes in mechanical properties of on-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells. Our experimental results show that elevation of rigidity and invasiveness of TGFβ-stimulated NSCLC cells correlates with upregulation of several cytoskeletal and motor proteins including vimentin, a canonical marker of EMT, and less-known unconventional myosins. Selective probing of gene-silenced cells lead to identification of unconventional myosin MYH15 as a novel mediator of elevated cell rigidity and invasiveness in TGFβ-stimulated NSCLC cells. Our experimental results provide insights into TGFβ-induced cytoskeletal remodeling of NSCLC cells and suggest that mediators of elevated cell stiffness and migratory activity such as unconventional cytoskeletal and motor proteins may represent promising pharmaceutical targets for restraining invasive spread of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Gladilin
- German Cancer Research Center, Div. Bioinformatics and Omics Data Analytics, Mathematikon - Berliner Str. 41, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,University Heidelberg, BioQuant, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, OT Gatersleben Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Seeland, Germany.
| | - S Ohse
- University of Freiburg, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research (IMMZ), Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - M Boerries
- University of Freiburg, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research (IMMZ), Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department for Biometry, Epidemiology and Medical Bioinformatics and Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg (CCCF), University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacherstrasse 153, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - H Busch
- University of Freiburg, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research (IMMZ), Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.,University of Lübeck, Institute of Experimental Dermatology, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany
| | - C Xu
- Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, Amalienstr. 5, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Schneider
- Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, Amalienstr. 5, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Meister
- Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, Amalienstr. 5, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R Eils
- Center for Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health, and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Kapelle-Ufer 2, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Health Data Science Unit, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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42
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Padmanabhan P, Goodhill GJ. Axon growth regulation by a bistable molecular switch. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.2618. [PMID: 29669897 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
For the brain to function properly, its neurons must make the right connections during neural development. A key aspect of this process is the tight regulation of axon growth as axons navigate towards their targets. Neuronal growth cones at the tips of developing axons switch between growth and paused states during axonal pathfinding, and this switching behaviour determines the heterogeneous axon growth rates observed during brain development. The mechanisms controlling this switching behaviour, however, remain largely unknown. Here, using mathematical modelling, we predict that the molecular interaction network involved in axon growth can exhibit bistability, with one state representing a fast-growing growth cone state and the other a paused growth cone state. Owing to stochastic effects, even in an unchanging environment, model growth cones reversibly switch between growth and paused states. Our model further predicts that environmental signals could regulate axon growth rate by controlling the rates of switching between the two states. Our study presents a new conceptual understanding of growth cone switching behaviour, and suggests that axon guidance may be controlled by both cell-extrinsic factors and cell-intrinsic growth regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranesh Padmanabhan
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Geoffrey J Goodhill
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia .,School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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43
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Merchant B, Edelstein-Keshet L, Feng JJ. A Rho-GTPase based model explains spontaneous collective migration of neural crest cell clusters. Dev Biol 2018; 444 Suppl 1:S262-S273. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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44
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Stradiot L, Mannaerts I, van Grunsven LA. P311, Friend, or Foe of Tissue Fibrosis? Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1151. [PMID: 30369881 PMCID: PMC6194156 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
P311 was first identified by the group of Studler et al. (1993) in the developing brain. In healthy, but mainly in pathological tissues, P311 is implicated in cell migration and proliferation. Furthermore, evidence in models of tissue fibrosis points to the colocalization with and the stimulation of transforming growth factor β1 by P311. This review provides a comprehensive overview on P311 and discusses its potential as an anti-fibrotic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Stradiot
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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45
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Mediating the invasion of smooth muscle cells into a cell-responsive hydrogel under the existence of immune cells. Biomaterials 2018; 180:193-205. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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46
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Rajagopal V, Holmes WR, Lee PVS. Computational modeling of single-cell mechanics and cytoskeletal mechanobiology. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2018; 10:e1407. [PMID: 29195023 PMCID: PMC5836888 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 08/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cellular cytoskeletal mechanics plays a major role in many aspects of human health from organ development to wound healing, tissue homeostasis and cancer metastasis. We summarize the state-of-the-art techniques for mathematically modeling cellular stiffness and mechanics and the cytoskeletal components and factors that regulate them. We highlight key experiments that have assisted model parameterization and compare the advantages of different models that have been used to recapitulate these experiments. An overview of feed-forward mechanisms from signaling to cytoskeleton remodeling is provided, followed by a discussion of the rapidly growing niche of encapsulating feedback mechanisms from cytoskeletal and cell mechanics to signaling. We discuss broad areas of advancement that could accelerate research and understanding of cellular mechanobiology. A precise understanding of the molecular mechanisms that affect cell and tissue mechanics and function will underpin innovations in medical device technologies of the future. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2018, 10:e1407. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1407 This article is categorized under: Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Mechanistic Models Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Cellular Models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Rajagopal
- Cell Structure and Mechanobiology Group, Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneAustralia
| | - William R. Holmes
- Department of Physics and AstronomyVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNUSA
| | - Peter Vee Sin Lee
- Cell and Tissue Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneAustralia
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47
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Khatibi S, Rios KI, Nguyen LK. Computational Modeling of the Dynamics of Spatiotemporal Rho GTPase Signaling: A Systematic Review. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1821:3-20. [PMID: 30062401 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8612-5_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Rho family of GTPases are known to play pivotal roles in the regulation of fundamental cellular processes, ranging from cell migration and polarity to wound healing and regulation of actin cytoskeleton. Over the past decades, accumulating experimental work has increasingly mapped out the mechanistic details and interactions between members of the family and their regulators, establishing detailed interaction circuits within the Rho GTPase signaling network. These circuits have served as a vital foundation based on which a multitude of mathematical models have been developed to explain experimental data, gain deeper insights into the biological phenomenon they describe, as well as make new testable predictions and hypotheses. Due to the diverse nature and purpose of these models, they often vary greatly in size, scope, complexity, and formulation. Here, we provide a systematic, categorical, and comprehensive account of the recent modeling studies of Rho family GTPases, with an aim to offer a broad perspective of the field. The modeling limitations and possible future research directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Khatibi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Karina Islas Rios
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lan K Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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48
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Jolly MK, Tripathi SC, Jia D, Mooney SM, Celiktas M, Hanash SM, Mani SA, Pienta KJ, Ben-Jacob E, Levine H. Stability of the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype. Oncotarget 2017; 7:27067-84. [PMID: 27008704 PMCID: PMC5053633 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and its reverse – Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition (MET) – are hallmarks of cellular plasticity during embryonic development and cancer metastasis. During EMT, epithelial cells lose cell-cell adhesion and gain migratory and invasive traits either partially or completely, leading to a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (hybrid E/M) or a mesenchymal phenotype respectively. Mesenchymal cells move individually, but hybrid E/M cells migrate collectively as observed during gastrulation, wound healing, and the formation of tumor clusters detected as Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs). Typically, the hybrid E/M phenotype has largely been tacitly assumed to be transient and ‘metastable’. Here, we identify certain ‘phenotypic stability factors’ (PSFs) such as GRHL2 that couple to the core EMT decision-making circuit (miR-200/ZEB) and stabilize hybrid E/M phenotype. Further, we show that H1975 lung cancer cells can display a stable hybrid E/M phenotype and migrate collectively, a behavior that is impaired by knockdown of GRHL2 and another previously identified PSF - OVOL. In addition, our computational model predicts that GRHL2 can also associate hybrid E/M phenotype with high tumor-initiating potential, a prediction strengthened by the observation that the higher levels of these PSFs may be predictive of poor patient outcome. Finally, based on these specific examples, we deduce certain network motifs that can stabilize the hybrid E/M phenotype. Our results suggest that partial EMT, i.e. a hybrid E/M phenotype, need not be ‘metastable’, and strengthen the emerging notion that partial EMT, but not necessarily a complete EMT, is associated with aggressive tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Satyendra C Tripathi
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dongya Jia
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Graduate Program in Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Steven M Mooney
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Muge Celiktas
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Samir M Hanash
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Red and Charline McCombs Institute for The Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sendurai A Mani
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kenneth J Pienta
- The James Brady Urological Institute, and Departments of Urology, Oncology, Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eshel Ben-Jacob
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Graduate Program in Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,School of Physics and Astronomy and The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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49
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Messica Y, Laser-Azogui A, Volberg T, Elisha Y, Lysakovskaia K, Eils R, Gladilin E, Geiger B, Beck R. The role of Vimentin in Regulating Cell Invasive Migration in Dense Cultures of Breast Carcinoma Cells. NANO LETTERS 2017; 17:6941-6948. [PMID: 29022351 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b03358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Cell migration and mechanics are tightly regulated by the integrated activities of the various cytoskeletal networks. In cancer cells, cytoskeletal modulations have been implicated in the loss of tissue integrity and acquisition of an invasive phenotype. In epithelial cancers, for example, increased expression of the cytoskeletal filament protein vimentin correlates with metastatic potential. Nonetheless, the exact mechanism whereby vimentin affects cell motility remains poorly understood. In this study, we measured the effects of vimentin expression on the mechano-elastic and migratory properties of the highly invasive breast carcinoma cell line MDA231. We demonstrate here that vimentin stiffens cells and enhances cell migration in dense cultures, but exerts little or no effect on the migration of sparsely plated cells. These results suggest that cell-cell interactions play a key role in regulating cell migration, and coordinating cell movement in dense cultures. Our findings pave the way toward understanding the relationship between cell migration and mechanics in a biologically relevant context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonatan Messica
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Adi Laser-Azogui
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tova Volberg
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Yair Elisha
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Kseniia Lysakovskaia
- Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center , 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- BioQuant and IPMB, University of Heidelberg , 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Biology, Georg-August-University Göttingen , 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Roland Eils
- Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center , 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- BioQuant and IPMB, University of Heidelberg , 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Evgeny Gladilin
- Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center , 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- BioQuant and IPMB, University of Heidelberg , 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research , 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Benjamin Geiger
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Roy Beck
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel
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50
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Abstract
Background The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) endows epithelial-looking cells with enhanced migratory ability during embryonic development and tissue repair. EMT can also be co-opted by cancer cells to acquire metastatic potential and drug-resistance. Recent research has argued that epithelial (E) cells can undergo either a partial EMT to attain a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype that typically displays collective migration, or a complete EMT to adopt a mesenchymal (M) phenotype that shows individual migration. The core EMT regulatory network - miR-34/SNAIL/miR-200/ZEB1 - has been identified by various studies, but how this network regulates the transitions among the E, E/M, and M phenotypes remains controversial. Two major mathematical models - ternary chimera switch (TCS) and cascading bistable switches (CBS) - that both focus on the miR-34/SNAIL/miR-200/ZEB1 network, have been proposed to elucidate the EMT dynamics, but a detailed analysis of how well either or both of these two models can capture recent experimental observations about EMT dynamics remains to be done. Results Here, via an integrated experimental and theoretical approach, we first show that both these two models can be used to understand the two-step transition of EMT - E→E/M→M, the different responses of SNAIL and ZEB1 to exogenous TGF-β and the irreversibility of complete EMT. Next, we present new experimental results that tend to discriminate between these two models. We show that ZEB1 is present at intermediate levels in the hybrid E/M H1975 cells, and that in HMLE cells, overexpression of SNAIL is not sufficient to initiate EMT in the absence of ZEB1 and FOXC2. Conclusions These experimental results argue in favor of the TCS model proposing that miR-200/ZEB1 behaves as a three-way decision-making switch enabling transitions among the E, hybrid E/M and M phenotypes.
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