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Strine MS, Fagerberg E, Darcy PW, Barrón GM, Filler RB, Alfajaro MM, D'Angelo-Gavrish N, Wang F, Graziano VR, Menasché BL, Damo M, Wang YT, Howitt MR, Lee S, Joshi NS, Mucida D, Wilen CB. Intestinal tuft cell immune privilege enables norovirus persistence. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eadi7038. [PMID: 38517952 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adi7038] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
The persistent murine norovirus strain MNVCR6 is a model for human norovirus and enteric viral persistence. MNVCR6 causes chronic infection by directly infecting intestinal tuft cells, rare chemosensory epithelial cells. Although MNVCR6 induces functional MNV-specific CD8+ T cells, these lymphocytes fail to clear infection. To examine how tuft cells promote immune escape, we interrogated tuft cell interactions with CD8+ T cells by adoptively transferring JEDI (just EGFP death inducing) CD8+ T cells into Gfi1b-GFP tuft cell reporter mice. Unexpectedly, some intestinal tuft cells partially resisted JEDI CD8+ T cell-mediated killing-unlike Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells and extraintestinal tuft cells-despite seemingly normal antigen presentation. When targeting intestinal tuft cells, JEDI CD8+ T cells predominantly adopted a T resident memory phenotype with decreased effector and cytotoxic capacity, enabling tuft cell survival. JEDI CD8+ T cells neither cleared nor prevented MNVCR6 infection in the colon, the site of viral persistence, despite targeting a virus-independent antigen. Ultimately, we show that intestinal tuft cells are relatively resistant to CD8+ T cells independent of norovirus infection, representing an immune-privileged niche that can be leveraged by enteric microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison S Strine
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Eric Fagerberg
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Patrick W Darcy
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriel M Barrón
- Program in Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Renata B Filler
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mia Madel Alfajaro
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Fang Wang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Vincent R Graziano
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Bridget L Menasché
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Martina Damo
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ya-Ting Wang
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Michael R Howitt
- Program in Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sanghyun Lee
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Nikhil S Joshi
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Daniel Mucida
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Craig B Wilen
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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2
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Feng X, Andersson T, Gschwend J, Flüchter P, Berest I, Muff JL, Carchidi D, Lechner A, de Tenorio JC, Brander N, Boehm U, Klose CSN, Artis D, Leinders-Zufall T, Zufall F, Schneider C. Tuft cell IL-17RB restrains IL-25 bioavailability and reveals context-dependent ILC2 hypoproliferation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.04.583299. [PMID: 38496438 PMCID: PMC10942319 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.04.583299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The tuft cell-ILC2 circuit orchestrates rapid type 2 responses upon detecting microbe-derived succinate and luminal helminths. Our findings delineate key mechanistic steps, involving IP3R2 engagement and Ca 2+ flux, governing IL-25 production by tuft cells triggered by succinate detection. While IL-17RB plays a pivotal intrinsic role in ILC2 activation, it exerts a regulatory function in tuft cells. Tuft cells exhibit constitutive Il25 expression, placing them in an anticipatory state that facilitates rapid production of IL-25 protein for ILC2 activation. Tuft cell IL-17RB is crucial for restraining IL-25 bioavailability, preventing excessive tonic ILC2 stimulation due to basal Il25 expression. Suboptimal ILC2 stimulation by IL-25 resulting from tuft cell Il17rb -deficiency or prolonged succinate exposure induces a state of hypoproliferation in ILC2s, also observed in chronic helminth infection. Our study offers critical insights into the regulatory dynamics of IL-25 in this circuit, highlighting the delicate tuning required for responses to diverse luminal states.
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Silverman JB, Vega PN, Tyska MJ, Lau KS. Intestinal Tuft Cells: Morphology, Function, and Implications for Human Health. Annu Rev Physiol 2024; 86:479-504. [PMID: 37863104 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-042022-030310] [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] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Tuft cells are a rare and morphologically distinct chemosensory cell type found throughout many organs, including the gastrointestinal tract. These cells were identified by their unique morphologies distinguished by large apical protrusions. Ultrastructural data have begun to describe the molecular underpinnings of their cytoskeletal features, and tuft cell-enriched cytoskeletal proteins have been identified, although the connection of tuft cell morphology to tuft cell functionality has not yet been established. Furthermore, tuft cells display variations in function and identity between and within tissues, leading to the delineation of distinct tuft cell populations. As a chemosensory cell type, they display receptors that are responsive to ligands specific for their environment. While many studies have demonstrated the tuft cell response to protists and helminths in the intestine, recent research has highlighted other roles of tuft cells as well as implicated tuft cells in other disease processes including inflammation, cancer, and viral infections. Here, we review the literature on the cytoskeletal structure of tuft cells. Additionally, we focus on new research discussing tuft cell lineage, ligand-receptor interactions, tuft cell tropism, and the role of tuft cells in intestinal disease. Finally, we discuss the implication of tuft cell-targeted therapies in human health and how the morphology of tuft cells may contribute to their functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer B Silverman
- Epithelial Biology Center and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; ,
| | - Paige N Vega
- Epithelial Biology Center and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; ,
| | - Matthew J Tyska
- Epithelial Biology Center and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; ,
| | - Ken S Lau
- Epithelial Biology Center and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; ,
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4
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Ouyang Y, Yu M, Liu T, Suo M, Qiao J, Wang L, Li N. An Activated Dendritic-Cell-Related Gene Signature Indicative of Disease Prognosis and Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Response in Colon Cancer Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15959. [PMID: 37958942 PMCID: PMC10647347 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115959] [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: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has underscored the prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment of colon cancer (CC). In this retrospective study, based on publicly available transcriptome profiles and clinical data from the Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases, we derived and verified an activated dendritic cell (aDC)-related gene signature (aDCRS) for predicting the survival outcomes and chemotherapy and immunotherapy response of CC patients. We quantified the infiltration abundance of 22 immune cell subtypes via the "CIBERSORT" R script. Univariate Cox proportional hazards (PHs) regression was used to identify aDC as the most robust protective cell type for CC prognosis. After selecting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) significantly correlated with aDC infiltration, we performed univariate Cox-PH regression, LASSO regression, and stepwise multivariate Cox-PH regression successively to screen out prognosis-related genes from selected DEGs for constructing the aDCRS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis were employed to assess the discriminatory ability and risk-stratification capacity. The "oncoPredict" package, Cancer Treatment Response gene signature DataBase, and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion algorithm were utilized to estimate the practicability of the aDCRS in predicting response to chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade. Gene set enrichment analysis and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis were also implemented. Furthermore, an aDCRS-based nomogram was constructed and validated via ROC curves, calibration plots and decision curve analysis. In conclusion, aDCRS and an aDCRS-based nomogram will facilitate precise prognosis prediction and individualized therapeutic interventions, thus improving the survival outcomes of CC patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Liqiang Wang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (Y.O.); (M.Y.); (T.L.); (M.S.); (J.Q.)
| | - Na Li
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (Y.O.); (M.Y.); (T.L.); (M.S.); (J.Q.)
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5
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Shen Y, Goparaju C, Yang Y, Babu BA, Gai W, Pass H, Jiang G. Recurrence prediction of lung adenocarcinoma using an immune gene expression and clinical data trained and validated support vector machine classifier. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2023; 12:2055-2067. [PMID: 38025809 PMCID: PMC10654435 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-23-473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Immune microenvironment plays a critical role in cancer from onset to relapse. Machine learning (ML) algorithm can facilitate the analysis of lab and clinical data to predict lung cancer recurrence. Prompt detection and intervention are crucial for long-term survival in lung cancer relapse. Our study aimed to evaluate the clinical and genomic prognosticators for lung cancer recurrence by comparing the predictive accuracy of four ML models. Methods A total of 41 early-stage lung cancer patients who underwent surgery between June 2007 and October 2014 at New York University Langone Medical Center were included (with recurrence, n=16; without recurrence, n=25). All patients had tumor tissue and buffy coat collected at the time of resection. The CIBERSORT algorithm quantified tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were conducted to unearth potential molecular drivers of tumor progression. The data was split into training (75%) and validation sets (25%). Ensemble linear kernel support vector machine (SVM) ML models were developed using optimized clinical and genomic features to predict tumor recurrence. Results Activated natural killer (NK) cells, M0 macrophages, and M1 macrophages showed a positive correlation with progression. Conversely, T CD4+ memory resting cells were negatively correlated. In the PPI network, TNF and IL6 emerged as prominent hub genes. Prediction models integrating clinicopathological prognostic factors, tumor gene expression (45 genes), and buffy coat gene expression (47 genes) yielded varying receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-area under the curves (AUCs): 62.7%, 65.4%, and 59.7% in the training set, 58.3%, 83.3%, and 75.0% in the validation set, respectively. Notably, merging gene expression with clinical data in a linear SVM model led to a significant accuracy boost, with an AUC of 92.0% in training and 91.7% in validation. Conclusions Using ML algorithm, immune gene expression data from tumor tissue and buffy coat may enhance the precision of lung cancer recurrence prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingran Shen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji University Affiliated Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Chandra Goparaju
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji University Affiliated Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Benson A. Babu
- Good Samaritan Hospital, Westchester Medical Center Network, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Weiming Gai
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harvey Pass
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gening Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji University Affiliated Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China
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6
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O'Keefe RN, Carli ALE, Baloyan D, Chisanga D, Shi W, Afshar-Sterle S, Eissmann MF, Poh AR, Pal B, Seillet C, Locksley RM, Ernst M, Buchert M. A tuft cell - ILC2 signaling circuit provides therapeutic targets to inhibit gastric metaplasia and tumor development. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6872. [PMID: 37898600 PMCID: PMC10613282 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42215-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Although gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, systemic treatment strategies remain scarce. Here, we report the pro-tumorigenic properties of the crosstalk between intestinal tuft cells and type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) that is evolutionarily optimized for epithelial remodeling in response to helminth infection. We demonstrate that tuft cell-derived interleukin 25 (IL25) drives ILC2 activation, inducing the release of IL13 and promoting epithelial tuft cell hyperplasia. While the resulting tuft cell - ILC2 feed-forward circuit promotes gastric metaplasia and tumor formation, genetic depletion of tuft cells or ILC2s, or therapeutic targeting of IL13 or IL25 alleviates these pathologies in mice. In gastric cancer patients, tuft cell and ILC2 gene signatures predict worsening survival in intestinal-type gastric cancer where ~40% of the corresponding cancers show enriched co-existence of tuft cells and ILC2s. Our findings suggest a role for ILC2 and tuft cells, along with their associated cytokine IL13 and IL25 as gatekeepers and enablers of metaplastic transformation and gastric tumorigenesis, thereby providing an opportunity to therapeutically inhibit early-stage gastric cancer through repurposing antibody-mediated therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan N O'Keefe
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Annalisa L E Carli
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - David Baloyan
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - David Chisanga
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Wei Shi
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Shoukat Afshar-Sterle
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Moritz F Eissmann
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Ashleigh R Poh
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Bhupinder Pal
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Cyril Seillet
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Richard M Locksley
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Matthias Ernst
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Michael Buchert
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Australia.
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.
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7
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Vlajic K, Pennington Kluger H, Bie W, Merrill BJ, Nonn L, Kajdacsy-Balla A, Tyner AL. Appearance of tuft cells during prostate cancer progression. Oncogene 2023; 42:2374-2385. [PMID: 37386128 PMCID: PMC10374444 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02743-1] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Tuft cells are chemosensory epithelial cells that increase in number following infection or injury to robustly activate the innate immune response to alleviate or promote disease. Recent studies of castration resistant prostate cancer and its subtype, neuroendocrine prostate cancer, revealed Pou2f3+ populations in mouse models. The transcription factor Pou2f3 is a master regulator of the tuft cell lineage. We show that tuft cells are upregulated early during prostate cancer development, and their numbers increase with progression. Cancer-associated tuft cells in the mouse prostate express DCLK1, COX1, COX2, while human tuft cells express COX1. Mouse and human tuft cells exhibit strong activation of signaling pathways including EGFR and SRC-family kinases. While DCLK1 is a mouse tuft cell marker, it is not present in human prostate tuft cells. Tuft cells that appear in mouse models of prostate cancer display genotype-specific tuft cell gene expression signatures. Using bioinformatic analysis tools and publicly available datasets, we characterized prostate tuft cells in aggressive disease and highlighted differences between tuft cell populations. Our findings indicate that tuft cells contribute to the prostate cancer microenvironment and may promote development of more advanced disease. Further research is needed to understand contributions of tuft cells to prostate cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Vlajic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Hannah Pennington Kluger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Wenjun Bie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Bradley J Merrill
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Larisa Nonn
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- The Department of Pathology, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Andre Kajdacsy-Balla
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- The Department of Pathology, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Angela L Tyner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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8
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Jou E. Type 1 and type 2 cytokine-mediated immune orchestration in the tumour microenvironment and their therapeutic potential. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:474-497. [PMID: 37455828 PMCID: PMC10345208 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide despite modern breakthroughs in medicine, and novel treatments are urgently needed. The revolutionary success of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the past decade serves as proof of concept that the immune system can be effectively harnessed to treat cancer. Cytokines are small signalling proteins with critical roles in orchestrating the immune response and have become an attractive target for immunotherapy. Type 1 immune cytokines, including interferon γ (IFNγ), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), have been shown to have largely tumour suppressive roles in part through orchestrating anti-tumour immune responses mediated by natural killer (NK) cells, CD8+ T cells and T helper 1 (Th1) cells. Conversely, type 2 immunity involving group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and Th2 cells are involved in tissue regeneration and wound repair and are traditionally thought to have pro-tumoural effects. However, it is found that the classical type 2 immune cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13 may have conflicting roles in cancer. Similarly, type 2 immunity-related cytokines IL-25 and IL-33 with recently characterised roles in cancer may either promote or suppress tumorigenesis in a context-dependent manner. Furthermore, type 1 cytokines IFNγ and TNFα have also been found to have pro-tumoural effects under certain circumstances, further complicating the overall picture. Therefore, the dichotomy of type 1 and type 2 cytokines inhibiting and promoting tumours respectively is not concrete, and attempts of utilising these for cancer immunotherapy must take into account all available evidence. This review provides an overview summarising the current understanding of type 1 and type 2 cytokines in tumour immunity and discusses the prospects of harnessing these for immunotherapy in light of previous and ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Jou
- Queens’ College, University of Cambridge, CB3 9ET Cambridge, UK
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CB2 0QH Cambridge, UK
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Nadjsombati MS, Niepoth N, Webeck LM, Kennedy EA, Jones DL, Billipp TE, Baldridge MT, Bendesky A, von Moltke J. Genetic mapping reveals Pou2af2/OCA-T1-dependent tuning of tuft cell differentiation and intestinal type 2 immunity. Sci Immunol 2023; 8:eade5019. [PMID: 37172102 PMCID: PMC10308849 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade5019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Chemosensory epithelial tuft cells contribute to innate immunity at barrier surfaces, but their differentiation from epithelial progenitors is not well understood. Here, we exploited differences between inbred mouse strains to identify an epithelium-intrinsic mechanism that regulates tuft cell differentiation and tunes innate type 2 immunity in the small intestine. Balb/cJ (Balb) mice had fewer intestinal tuft cells than C57BL/6J (B6) mice and failed to respond to the tuft cell ligand succinate. Most of this differential succinate response was determined by the 50- to 67-Mb interval of chromosome 9 (Chr9), such that congenic Balb mice carrying the B6 Chr9 interval had elevated baseline numbers of tuft cells and responded to succinate. The Chr9 locus includes Pou2af2, which encodes the protein OCA-T1, a transcriptional cofactor essential for tuft cell development. Epithelial crypts expressed a previously unannotated short isoform of Pou2af2 predicted to use a distinct transcriptional start site and encode a nonfunctional protein. Low tuft cell numbers and the resulting lack of succinate response in Balb mice were explained by a preferential expression of the short isoform and could be rescued by expression of full-length Pou2af2. Physiologically, Pou2af2 isoform usage tuned innate type 2 immunity in the small intestine. Balb mice maintained responsiveness to helminth pathogens while ignoring commensal Tritrichomonas protists and reducing norovirus burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija S Nadjsombati
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Natalie Niepoth
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, NY, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, NY, USA
| | - Lily M Webeck
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Kennedy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Danielle L Jones
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tyler E Billipp
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Megan T Baldridge
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andres Bendesky
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, NY, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, NY, USA
| | - Jakob von Moltke
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
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10
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Iqbal S, Rezaul Karim M, Yang DC, Mathiyalagan R, Chan Kang S. Tuft cells - the immunological interface and role in disease regulation. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 118:110018. [PMID: 36989894 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Tuft cells, also known as taste chemosensory cells, accumulate during parasite colonization or infection and have powerful immunomodulatory effects on substances that could be detrimental, as well as possible anti-inflammatory or antibacterial effects. Tuft cells are the primary source of interleukin (IL)-25. They trigger extra Innate lymphoid type-2 cells (ILC2) in the intestinal lamina propria to create cytokines (type 2); for instance, IL-13, which leads to an increase in IL-25. As tuft cells can produce biological effector molecules, such as IL-25 and eicosanoids involved in allergy (for example, cysteinyl leukotrienes and prostaglandin D2) and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Following parasite infection, tuft cells require transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 5 (TRPM5)-dependent chemosensation to produce responses. Secretory tuft cells provide a physical mucus barrier against the external environment and therefore have vital defensive roles against diseases by supporting tissue maintenance and repair. In addition to recent research on tuft cells, more studies are required to understand the distribution, cell turnover, molecular characteristics, responses in various species, involvement in immunological function across tissues, and most importantly, the mechanism involved in the control of various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safia Iqbal
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; Department of Microbiology, Varendra Institute of Biosciences, Affiliated by Rajshahi University, Natore, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
| | - Md Rezaul Karim
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh.
| | - Deok-Chun Yang
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea.
| | - Ramya Mathiyalagan
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea.
| | - Se Chan Kang
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea.
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11
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Bas J, Jay P, Gerbe F. Intestinal tuft cells: Sentinels, what else? Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023:S1084-9521(23)00040-X. [PMID: 36889997 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium plays crucial roles in maintaining gut homeostasis. A key function consists in constituting a physical and chemical barrier between self and non-self-compartments, and, based on its crosstalk with the luminal environment, in controlling activation of the host immune system. Tuft cells are a unique epithelial cell lineage, the function of which remained a mystery even 50 years after their initial discovery. The first function of intestinal tuft cells was recently described, with a central role in initiating type 2 immune responses following infection with helminth parasites. Since then, tuft cells have emerged as sentinel cells recognizing a variety of luminal cues, mediating the host-microorganisms crosstalk with additional pathogens, including viruses and bacteria. Although it can be anticipated that more functions will be discovered for tuft cells in the future, recent discoveries already propelled them at the forefront of gut mucosal homeostasis regulation, with important potential impact in gut physiopathology. This review focuses on intestinal tuft cells, from their initial description to the current understanding of their functions, and their potential impact in diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Bas
- Institute of Functional Genomics, Montpellier University, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Jay
- Institute of Functional Genomics, Montpellier University, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier, France.
| | - François Gerbe
- Institute of Functional Genomics, Montpellier University, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier, France.
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12
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Kotas ME, O'Leary CE, Locksley RM. Tuft Cells: Context- and Tissue-Specific Programming for a Conserved Cell Lineage. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY 2023; 18:311-335. [PMID: 36351364 PMCID: PMC10443898 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-042320-112212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Tuft cells are found in tissues with distinct stem cell compartments, tissue architecture, and luminal exposures but converge on a shared transcriptional program, including expression of taste transduction signaling pathways. Here, we summarize seminal and recent findings on tuft cells, focusing on major categories of function-instigation of type 2 cytokine responses, orchestration of antimicrobial responses, and emerging roles in tissue repair-and describe tuft cell-derived molecules used to affect these functional programs. We review what is known about the development of tuft cells from epithelial progenitors under homeostatic conditions and during disease. Finally, we discuss evidence that immature, or nascent, tuft cells with potential for diverse functions are driven toward dominant effector programs by tissue- or perturbation-specific contextual cues, which may result in heterogeneous mature tuft cell phenotypes both within and between tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya E Kotas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Claire E O'Leary
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Current affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Richard M Locksley
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA;
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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13
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Du Y, Gao H, He C, Xin S, Wang B, Zhang S, Gong F, Yu X, Pan L, Sun F, Wang W, Xu J. An update on the biological characteristics and functions of tuft cells in the gut. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1102978. [PMID: 36704202 PMCID: PMC9872863 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1102978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestine is a powerful digestive system and one of the most sophisticated immunological organs. Evidence shows that tuft cells (TCs), a kind of epithelial cell with distinct morphological characteristics, play a significant role in various physiological processes. TCs can be broadly categorized into different subtypes depending on different molecular criteria. In this review, we discuss its biological properties and role in maintaining homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract. We also emphasize its relevance to the immune system and highlight its powerful influence on intestinal diseases, including inflammations and tumors. In addition, we provide fresh insights into future clinical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies related to TCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Du
- Department of Oral Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Han Gao
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chengwei He
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuzi Xin
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Boya Wang
- Undergraduate Student of 2018 Eight Program of Clinical Medicine, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Sitian Zhang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fengrong Gong
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Yu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Luming Pan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fanglin Sun
- Department of Laboratory Animal Research, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Wang
- Department of Laboratory Animal Research, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingdong Xu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Jingdong Xu,
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14
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Dashtaki ME, Ghasemi S. CRISPR/Cas9-based Gene Therapies for Fighting Drug Resistance Mediated by Cancer Stem Cells. Curr Gene Ther 2023; 23:41-50. [PMID: 36056851 DOI: 10.2174/1566523222666220831161225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are cancer-initiating cells found in most tumors and hematological cancers. CSCs are involved in cells progression, recurrence of tumors, and drug resistance. Current therapies have been focused on treating the mass of tumor cells and cannot eradicate the CSCs. CSCs drug-specific targeting is considered as an approach to precisely target these cells. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) gene-editing systems are making progress and showing promise in the cancer research field. One of the attractive applications of CRISPR/Cas9 as one approach of gene therapy is targeting the critical genes involved in drug resistance and maintenance of CSCs. The synergistic effects of gene editing as a novel gene therapy approach and traditional therapeutic methods, including chemotherapy, can resolve drug resistance challenges and regression of the cancers. This review article considers different aspects of CRISPR/Cas9 ability in the study and targeting of CSCs with the intention to investigate their application in drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Eliyasi Dashtaki
- Clinical Biochemistry Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Sorayya Ghasemi
- Cancer Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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15
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Li L, Ma M, Duan T, Sui X. The critical roles and therapeutic implications of tuft cells in cancer. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1047188. [PMID: 36569325 PMCID: PMC9780677 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1047188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuft cells are solitary chemosensory epithelial cells with microvilli at the top, which are found in hollow organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and lungs. Recently, an increasing number of studies have revealed the chemotactic abilities and immune function of the tuft cells, and numerous efforts have been devoted to uncovering the role of tuft cells in tumors. Notably, accumulating evidence has shown that the specific genes (POU2F3, DCLK1) expressed in tuft cells are involved in vital processes related with carcinogenesis and cancer development. However, the interaction between the tuft cells and cancer remains to be further elucidated. Here, based on an introduction of biological functions and specific markers of the tuft cells, we have summarized the functional roles and potential therapeutic implications of tuft cells in cancers, including pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, colon cancer, and liver cancer, which is in the hope of inspiring the future research in validating tuft cells as novel strategies for cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengmeng Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ting Duan
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Ting Duan, ; Xinbing Sui,
| | - Xinbing Sui
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China,Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Ting Duan, ; Xinbing Sui,
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16
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Integration of CRISPR/Cas9 with artificial intelligence for improved cancer therapeutics. J Transl Med 2022; 20:534. [PMID: 36401282 PMCID: PMC9673220 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03765-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene editing has great potential in treating diseases caused by well-characterized molecular alterations. The introduction of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)–based gene-editing tools has substantially improved the precision and efficiency of gene editing. The CRISPR/Cas9 system offers several advantages over the existing gene-editing approaches, such as its ability to target practically any genomic sequence, enabling the rapid development and deployment of novel CRISPR-mediated knock-out/knock-in methods. CRISPR/Cas9 has been widely used to develop cancer models, validate essential genes as druggable targets, study drug-resistance mechanisms, explore gene non-coding areas, and develop biomarkers. CRISPR gene editing can create more-effective chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells that are durable, cost-effective, and more readily available. However, further research is needed to define the CRISPR/Cas9 system’s pros and cons, establish best practices, and determine social and ethical implications. This review summarizes recent CRISPR/Cas9 developments, particularly in cancer research and immunotherapy, and the potential of CRISPR/Cas9-based screening in developing cancer precision medicine and engineering models for targeted cancer therapy, highlighting the existing challenges and future directions. Lastly, we highlight the role of artificial intelligence in refining the CRISPR system's on-target and off-target effects, a critical factor for the broader application in cancer therapeutics.
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17
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Yamada Y, Bohnenberger H, Kriegsmann M, Kriegsmann K, Sinn P, Goto N, Nakanishi Y, Seno H, Chigusa Y, Fujimoto M, Minamiguchi S, Haga H, Simon R, Sauter G, Ströbel P, Marx A. Tuft cell-like carcinomas: novel cancer subsets present in multiple organs sharing a unique gene expression signature. Br J Cancer 2022; 127:1876-1885. [PMID: 35999270 PMCID: PMC9643388 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01957-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuft cells are chemosensory epithelial cells playing a role in innate immunity. Recent studies revealed cancers with a tuft cell-like gene expression signature in the thorax. We wondered whether this signature might also occur in extrathoracic cancers. METHODS We examined mRNA expression of tuft cell markers (POU2F3, GFI1B, TRPM5, SOX9, CHAT, and AVIL) in 19 different types of cancers in multiple extrathoracic organs with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (N = 6322). Four different extrathoracic cancers in our local archives (N = 909) were analysed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Twenty-two (0.35%) extrathoracic tumours with co-expression of POU2F3 and other tuft cell markers were identified in various TCGA datasets. Twelve of the 22 "tuft cell-like tumours" shared poor differentiation and a gene expression pattern, including KIT, anti-apoptotic BCL2, and ionocyte-associated genes. In our archival cases, eleven (1.21%) tumours co-expressing POU2F3, KIT, and BCL2 on immunohistochemistry, i.e., were presumable tuft cell-like cancers. In three among five TCGA cohorts, the tuft cell-like cancer subsets expressed SLFN11, a promising biomarker of PARP inhibitor susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS Tuft cell-like carcinomas form distinct subsets in cancers of many organs. It appears warranted to investigate their shared gene expression signature as a predictive biomarker for novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Yamada
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim and Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
- Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Hanibal Bohnenberger
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mark Kriegsmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Cancer Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Kriegsmann
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Sinn
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Norihiro Goto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuki Nakanishi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Seno
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Chigusa
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | | | - Hironori Haga
- Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ronald Simon
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Guido Sauter
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim and Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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18
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Oku Y, Madia F, Lau P, Paparella M, McGovern T, Luijten M, Jacobs MN. Analyses of Transcriptomics Cell Signalling for Pre-Screening Applications in the Integrated Approach for Testing and Assessment of Non-Genotoxic Carcinogens. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112718. [PMID: 36361516 PMCID: PMC9659232 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
With recent rapid advancement of methodological tools, mechanistic understanding of biological processes leading to carcinogenesis is expanding. New approach methodologies such as transcriptomics can inform on non-genotoxic mechanisms of chemical carcinogens and can be developed for regulatory applications. The Organisation for the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) expert group developing an Integrated Approach to the Testing and Assessment (IATA) of Non-Genotoxic Carcinogens (NGTxC) is reviewing the possible assays to be integrated therein. In this context, we review the application of transcriptomics approaches suitable for pre-screening gene expression changes associated with phenotypic alterations that underlie the carcinogenic processes for subsequent prioritisation of downstream test methods appropriate to specific key events of non-genotoxic carcinogenesis. Using case studies, we evaluate the potential of gene expression analyses especially in relation to breast cancer, to identify the most relevant approaches that could be utilised as (pre-) screening tools, for example Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). We also consider how to address the challenges to integrate gene panels and transcriptomic assays into the IATA, highlighting the pivotal omics markers identified for assay measurement in the IATA key events of inflammation, immune response, mitogenic signalling and cell injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Oku
- The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 2 Rue Andre Pascal, 75016 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (Y.O.); (M.N.J.)
| | - Federica Madia
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via Enrico Fermi, 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy
| | - Pierre Lau
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Martin Paparella
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80, 6020 Innbruck, Austria
| | - Timothy McGovern
- US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20901, USA
| | - Mirjam Luijten
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven, 3721 MA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam N. Jacobs
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazard (CRCE), Public Health England (PHE), Chilton OX11 0RQ, Oxfordshire, UK
- Correspondence: (Y.O.); (M.N.J.)
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19
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Jou E, Rodriguez-Rodriguez N, McKenzie ANJ. Emerging roles for IL-25 and IL-33 in colorectal cancer tumorigenesis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:981479. [PMID: 36263033 PMCID: PMC9573978 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.981479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and is largely refractory to current immunotherapeutic interventions. The lack of efficacy of existing cancer immunotherapies in CRC reflects the complex nature of the unique intestinal immune environment, which serves to maintain barrier integrity against pathogens and harmful environmental stimuli while sustaining host-microbe symbiosis during homeostasis. With their expression by barrier epithelial cells, the cytokines interleukin-25 (IL-25) and IL-33 play key roles in intestinal immune responses, and have been associated with inappropriate allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases and cancer pathology. Studies in the past decade have begun to uncover the important roles of IL-25 and IL-33 in shaping the CRC tumour immune microenvironment, where they may promote or inhibit tumorigenesis depending on the specific CRC subtype. Notably, both IL-25 and IL-33 have been shown to act on group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), but can also stimulate an array of other innate and adaptive immune cell types. Though sometimes their functions can overlap they can also produce distinct phenotypes dependent on the differential distribution of their receptor expression. Furthermore, both IL-25 and IL-33 modulate pathways previously known to contribute to CRC tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis, tumour stemness, invasion and metastasis. Here, we review our current understanding of IL-25 and IL-33 in CRC tumorigenesis, with specific focus on dissecting their individual function in the context of distinct subtypes of CRC, and the potential prospects for targeting these pathways in CRC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Jou
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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20
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Chhetri D, Vengadassalapathy S, Venkadassalapathy S, Balachandran V, Umapathy VR, Veeraraghavan VP, Jayaraman S, Patil S, Iyaswamy A, Palaniyandi K, Gnanasampanthapandian D. Pleiotropic effects of DCLK1 in cancer and cancer stem cells. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:965730. [PMID: 36250024 PMCID: PMC9560780 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.965730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1), a protein molecule, has been identified as a tumor stem cell marker in the cancer cells of gastrointestinal, pancreas, and human colon. DCLK1 expression in cancers, such as breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, hepatic cell carcinoma, tuft cells, and human cholangiocarcinoma, has shown a way to target the DCLK1 gene and downregulate its expression. Several studies have discussed the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation along with neoplastic cell arrest when the DCLK1 gene, which is expressed in both cancer and normal cells, was targeted successfully. In addition, previous studies have shown that DCLK1 plays a vital role in various cancer metastases. The correlation of DCLK1 with numerous stem cell receptors, signaling pathways, and genes suggests its direct or an indirect role in promoting tumorigenesis. Moreover, the impact of DCLK1 was found to be related to the functioning of an oncogene. The downregulation of DCLK1 expression by using targeted strategies, such as embracing the use of siRNA, miRNA, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, nanomolecules, specific monoclonal antibodies, and silencing the pathways regulated by DCLK1, has shown promising results in both in vitro and in vivo studies on gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. In this review, we will discuss about the present understanding of DCLK1 and its role in the progression of GI cancer and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dibyashree Chhetri
- Cancer Science Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
| | - Srinivasan Vengadassalapathy
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India
| | | | - Varadharaju Balachandran
- Department of Physiology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Vidhya Rekha Umapathy
- Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India
| | - Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan
- Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Selvaraj Jayaraman
- Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Shankargouda Patil
- College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, South Jordan, UT, United States
| | - Ashok Iyaswamy
- Centre for Parkinsons Disease Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kanagaraj Palaniyandi
- Cancer Science Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
- *Correspondence: Kanagaraj Palaniyandi, ; Dhanavathy Gnanasampanthapandian,
| | - Dhanavathy Gnanasampanthapandian
- Cancer Science Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
- *Correspondence: Kanagaraj Palaniyandi, ; Dhanavathy Gnanasampanthapandian,
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21
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Lineage Tracing and Molecular Real-Time Imaging of Cancer Stem Cells. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12090703. [PMID: 36140088 PMCID: PMC9496355 DOI: 10.3390/bios12090703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The cancer stem cells (CSC) are the roots of cancer. The CSC hypothesis may provide a model to explain the tumor cell heterogeneity. Understand the biological mechanism of CSC will help the early detection and cure of cancer. The discovery of the dynamic changes in CSC will be possible by the using of bio-engineering techniques-lineage tracing. However, it is difficult to obtain real-time, continuous, and dynamic live-imaging information using the traditional approaches that take snapshots of time points from different animals. The goal of molecular imaging is to monitor the in situ, continuous molecular changes of cells in vivo. Therefore, the most advanced bioengineering lineage tracing approach, while using a variety of molecular detection methods, will maximize the presentation of CSC. In this review, we first introduce the method of lineage tracing, and then introduce the various components of molecular images to dynamic detect the CSC. Finally, we analyze the current situation and look forward the future of CSC detection.
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22
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Ki SY, Jeong YT. Taste Receptors beyond Taste Buds. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179677. [PMID: 36077074 PMCID: PMC9455917 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Taste receptors are responsible for detecting their ligands not only in taste receptor cells (TRCs) but also in non-gustatory organs. For several decades, many research groups have accumulated evidence for such “ectopic” expression of taste receptors. More recently, some of the physiologic functions (apart from taste) of these ectopic taste receptors have been identified. Here, we summarize our current understanding of these ectopic taste receptors across multiple organs. With a particular focus on the specialized epithelial cells called tuft cells, which are now considered siblings of type II TRCs, we divide the ectopic expression of taste receptors into two categories: taste receptors in TRC-like cells outside taste buds and taste receptors with surprising ectopic expression in completely different cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Young Ki
- Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Yong Taek Jeong
- Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2286-1295
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23
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Kotas ME, Moore CM, Gurrola JG, Pletcher SD, Goldberg AN, Alvarez R, Yamato S, Bratcher PE, Shaughnessy CA, Zeitlin PL, Zhang IH, Li Y, Montgomery MT, Lee K, Cope EK, Locksley RM, Seibold MA, Gordon ED. IL-13-programmed airway tuft cells produce PGE2, which promotes CFTR-dependent mucociliary function. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e159832. [PMID: 35608904 PMCID: PMC9310525 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.159832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic type 2 (T2) inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract are characterized by mucus overproduction and disordered mucociliary function, which are largely attributed to the effects of IL-13 on common epithelial cell types (mucus secretory and ciliated cells). The role of rare cells in airway T2 inflammation is less clear, though tuft cells have been shown to be critical in the initiation of T2 immunity in the intestine. Using bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing of airway epithelium and mouse modeling, we found that IL-13 expanded and programmed airway tuft cells toward eicosanoid metabolism and that tuft cell deficiency led to a reduction in airway prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentration. Allergic airway epithelia bore a signature of PGE2 activation, and PGE2 activation led to cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor-dependent ion and fluid secretion and accelerated mucociliary transport. These data reveal a role for tuft cells in regulating epithelial mucociliary function in the allergic airway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya E. Kotas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Camille M. Moore
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jose G. Gurrola
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Steven D. Pletcher
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Surgical Service, ENT Section, San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Andrew N. Goldberg
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Raquel Alvarez
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sheyla Yamato
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Preston E. Bratcher
- Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Pamela L. Zeitlin
- Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Irene H. Zhang
- Center for Applied Microbiome Sciences, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Yingchun Li
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Michael T. Montgomery
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Keehoon Lee
- Center for Applied Microbiome Sciences, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Emily K. Cope
- Center for Applied Microbiome Sciences, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Richard M. Locksley
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Max A. Seibold
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Erin D. Gordon
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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24
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Liu J, Qian B, Zhou L, Shen G, Tan Y, Liu S, Zhao Z, Shi J, Qi W, Zhou T, Yang X, Gao G, Yang Z. IL25 Enhanced Colitis-Associated Tumorigenesis in Mice by Upregulating Transcription Factor GLI1. Front Immunol 2022; 13:837262. [PMID: 35359953 PMCID: PMC8963976 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.837262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-25 (IL17E/IL25) plays a critical role in colitis and intestinal homeostasis. However, the expression and biological role of IL25 in colorectal cancer is not properly understood. In this study, we show that IL25 is mainly expressed by cancer stem cells in the colorectal cancer microenvironment. Genetic deletion of IL25 inhibited tumor formation and growth and prolonged survival in AOM/DSS-treated mice. IL25 stimulated cancer organoid and cancer cells sphere formation and prevented the tumor from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, IL25 upregulated stem cell genes LGR5, CD133, and ABC transporters via activating the Hedgehog signaling pathway. IL25 inhibited phosphorylation of AMPK and promoted GLI1 accumulation to maintain cancer stem cells. Moreover, IL25 expression was associated with poor survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Taken together, our work reveals an immune-associated mechanism that intrinsically confers cancer cell stemness properties. Our results first demonstrated that IL25, as a new potent endogenous Hedgehog pathway agonist, could be an important prognostic factor and therapeutic target for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxi Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bingxiu Qian
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gang Shen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yandan Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Siqi Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zewei Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianglin Shi
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weiwei Qi
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ti Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xia Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guoquan Gao
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhonghan Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
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25
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Luo L, Ma Y, Zheng Y, Su J, Huang G. Application Progress of Organoids in Colorectal Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:815067. [PMID: 35273961 PMCID: PMC8902504 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.815067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, colorectal cancer is still the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality, and the incidence is rising. It is a long time since the researchers used cancer cell lines and animals as the study subject. However, these models possess various limitations to reflect the cancer progression in the human body. Organoids have more clinical significance than cell lines, and they also bridge the gap between animal models and humans. Patient-derived organoids are three-dimensional cultures that simulate the tumor characteristics in vivo and recapitulate tumor cell heterogeneity. Therefore, the emergence of colorectal cancer organoids provides an unprecedented opportunity for colorectal cancer research. It retains the molecular and cellular composition of the original tumor and has a high degree of homology and complexity with patient tissues. Patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids, as personalized tumor organoids, can more accurately simulate colorectal cancer patients’ occurrence, development, metastasis, and predict drug response in colorectal cancer patients. Colorectal cancer organoids show great potential for application, especially preclinical drug screening and prediction of patient response to selected treatment options. Here, we reviewed the application of colorectal cancer organoids in disease model construction, basic biological research, organoid biobank construction, drug screening and personalized medicine, drug development, drug toxicity and safety, and regenerative medicine. In addition, we also displayed the current limitations and challenges of organoids and discussed the future development direction of organoids in combination with other technologies. Finally, we summarized and analyzed the current clinical trial research of organoids, especially the clinical trials of colorectal cancer organoids. We hoped to lay a solid foundation for organoids used in colorectal cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianxiang Luo
- The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China.,The Marine Biomedical Research Institute of Guangdong Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yucui Ma
- The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yilin Zheng
- Clinical Research Center, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, China
| | - Jiating Su
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Guoxin Huang
- Clinical Research Center, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, China
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26
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Zhou L, Ma S. Deciphering cancer stem cells in liver cancers: new tools with improved resolution. Carcinogenesis 2022; 43:297-300. [PMID: 35262641 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major form of liver cancer in the world with the highest prevalence in Asia. Intra-tumoral heterogeneity is a fundamental characteristic of liver cancer that impacts on its disease progression and treatment response. The cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulation is one of the driving forces of tumor cell heterogeneity because it can regenerate cells of different properties as to maintain the tumor bulk of origin. Tremendous effort has been made in the past two decades to identify liver CSCs and promote corresponding treatment strategies for HCC. From xenotransplantation and lineage tracing techniques to the current state-of-the-art single-cell sequencing technologies, advances in research tools fuel the exciting new discoveries in the field of CSCs. In particular, single-cell analysis has spearheaded a new era, with the ability to detect heterogeneity, cellular dynamics, and transition of CSCs and their progenies at a high resolution. This commentary attempts to briefly review the evolution of tools to evaluate CSCs in liver cancers, discuss their contributions and limitations, as well as their combined and complementary utilization with techniques like human tumor organoid culture. By recognizing the shortcomings of each technique, we can reassess the blind spots of CSC studies and with this knowledge, hopefully contribute to a better understanding of hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhou
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.,The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.,The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong
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27
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Abstract
Although tuft cells were discovered over 60 years ago, their functions have long been enigmatic, especially in human health. Nonetheless, tuft cells have recently emerged as key orchestrators of the host response to diverse microbial infections in the gut and airway. While tuft cells are epithelial in origin, they exhibit functions akin to immune cells and mediate important interkingdom interactions between the host and helminths, protists, viruses, and bacteria. With broad intra- and intertissue heterogeneity, tuft cells sense and respond to microbes with exquisite specificity. Tuft cells can recognize helminth and protist infection, driving a type 2 immune response to promote parasite expulsion. Tuft cells also serve as the primary physiologic target of persistent murine norovirus (MNV) and promote immune evasion. Recently, tuft cells were also shown to be infected by rotavirus. Other viral infections, such as influenza A virus, can induce tuft cell–dependent tissue repair. In the context of coinfection, tuft cells promote neurotropic flavivirus replication by dampening antiviral adaptive immune responses. Commensal and pathogenic bacteria can regulate tuft cell abundance and function and, in turn, tuft cells are implicated in modulating bacterial infiltration and mucosal barrier integrity. However, the contribution of tuft cells to microbial sensing in humans and their resulting effector responses are poorly characterized. Herein, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of microbial activation of tuft cells with an emphasis on tuft cell heterogeneity and differences between mouse and human tuft cell biology as it pertains to human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison S. Strine
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Craig B. Wilen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail: ,
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28
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Ding L, Yang Y, Lu Q, Cao Z, Weygant N. Emerging Prospects for the Study of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells using Patient-Derived Organoids. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2022; 22:195-208. [DOI: 10.2174/1568009622666220117124546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract:
Human colorectal cancer (CRC) patient-derived organoids (PDOs) are a powerful ex vivo platform to directly assess the impact of molecular alterations and therapies on tumor cell proliferation, differentiation, response to chemotherapy, tumor-microenvironment interactions, and other facets of CRC biology. Next-generation sequencing studies have demonstrated that CRC is a highly heterogeneous disease with multiple distinct subtypes. PDOs are a promising new tool to study CRC due to their ability to accurately recapitulate their source tumor and thus reproduce this heterogeneity. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art for CRC PDOs in the study of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the cancer stem cell niche. Areas of focus include the relevance of PDOs to understanding CSC-related paracrine signaling, identifying interactions between CSCs and the tumor microenvironment, and modeling CSC-driven resistance to chemotherapies and targeted therapies. Finally, we summarize current findings regarding the identification and verification of CSC targets using PDOs and their potential use in personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Ding
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, CN 350122
| | - Yuning Yang
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, CN 350122
| | - Qin Lu
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, CN 350122
| | - Zhiyun Cao
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, CN 350122
| | - Nathaniel Weygant
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, CN 350122
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29
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Song S, Chen Q, Li Y, Lei G, Scott AW, Huo L, Li CY, Estrella JS, Correa AM, Pizzi M, Ma L, Jin J, Liu B, Wang Y, Xiao L, Hofstetter WL, Lee JH, Weston B, Bhutani MS, Shanbhag ND, Johnson RL, Gan B, Wei S, Ajani JA. Targeting cancer stem cells with a pan-BCL-2 inhibitor in preclinical and clinical settings in patients with gastroesophageal carcinoma. Gut 2021; 70:2238-2248. [PMID: 33487592 PMCID: PMC9720890 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-321175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Gastro-oesophageal cancers (GEC) are resistant to therapy and lead to poor prognosis. The cancer stem cells (CSCs) and antiapoptotic pathways often confer therapy resistance. We sought to elucidate the antitumour action of a BCL-2 inhibitor, AT101 in GEC in vitro, in vivo and in a clinical trial. METHODS Extensive preclinical studies in vitro and in vivo were carried out to establish the mechanism action of AT101 on targeting CSCs and antiapoptotic proteins. A pilot clinical trial in patients with GEC was completed with AT-101 added to standard chemoradiation. RESULTS Overexpression of BCL-2 and MCL-1 was noted in gastric cancer tissues (GC). AT-101 induced apoptosis, reduced proliferation and tumour sphere formation in MCL-1/BCL-2 high GC cells. Interestingly, AT101 dramatically downregulated genes (YAP-1/Sox9) that control CSCs in GEC cell lines regardless of BCL-2/MCL-1 expression. Addition of docetaxel to AT-101 amplified its antiproliferation and induced apoptosis effects. In vivo studies confirmed the combination of AT101 and docetaxel demonstrated stronger antitumour activity accompanied with significant decrease of CSCs biomarkers (YAP1/SOX9). In a pilot clinical trial, 13 patients with oesophageal cancer (EC) received AT101 orally concurrently with chemoradiation. We observed dramatic clinical complete responses and encouraging overall survival in these patients. Clinical specimen analyses revealed that AT-101 dramatically reduced the expression of CSCs genes in treated EC specimens indicating antitumour activity of AT101 relies more on its anti-CSCs activity. CONCLUSIONS Our preclinical and clinical data suggest that AT-101 overcomes resistance by targeting CSCs pathways suggesting a novel mechanism of action of AT101 in patients with GEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumei Song
- Department of GI Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Qiongrong Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030;,Department of Pathology & Surgical Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, CN, 430079
| | - Yuan Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Guang Lei
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Ailing W Scott
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Longfei Huo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Cordelia Y. Li
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Jeannelyn S. Estrella
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Arlene M. Correa
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Melissa Pizzi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Lang Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Jiankang Jin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Epigenetic&Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Lianchun Xiao
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Wayne L. Hofstetter
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Jeffrey H. Lee
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepat&Nutr, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Brian Weston
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepat&Nutr, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Manoop S. Bhutani
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepat&Nutr, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Namita D. Shanbhag
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Randy L. Johnson
- Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Boyi Gan
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Shaozhong Wei
- Department of Pathology & Surgical Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, CN, 430079
| | - Jaffer A. Ajani
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030;,Corresponding Authors: Shumei Song, Tel: 713-834-6144; or Jaffer A. Ajani, Tel: 713-792-3685; ; Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Unit 426, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030
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30
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Uhlitz F, Bischoff P, Peidli S, Sieber A, Trinks A, Lüthen M, Obermayer B, Blanc E, Ruchiy Y, Sell T, Mamlouk S, Arsie R, Wei T, Klotz‐Noack K, Schwarz RF, Sawitzki B, Kamphues C, Beule D, Landthaler M, Sers C, Horst D, Blüthgen N, Morkel M. Mitogen-activated protein kinase activity drives cell trajectories in colorectal cancer. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e14123. [PMID: 34409732 PMCID: PMC8495451 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202114123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In colorectal cancer, oncogenic mutations transform a hierarchically organized and homeostatic epithelium into invasive cancer tissue lacking visible organization. We sought to define transcriptional states of colorectal cancer cells and signals controlling their development by performing single-cell transcriptome analysis of tumors and matched non-cancerous tissues of twelve colorectal cancer patients. We defined patient-overarching colorectal cancer cell clusters characterized by differential activities of oncogenic signaling pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase and oncogenic traits such as replication stress. RNA metabolic labeling and assessment of RNA velocity in patient-derived organoids revealed developmental trajectories of colorectal cancer cells organized along a mitogen-activated protein kinase activity gradient. This was in contrast to normal colon organoid cells developing along graded Wnt activity. Experimental targeting of EGFR-BRAF-MEK in cancer organoids affected signaling and gene expression contingent on predictive KRAS/BRAF mutations and induced cell plasticity overriding default developmental trajectories. Our results highlight directional cancer cell development as a driver of non-genetic cancer cell heterogeneity and re-routing of trajectories as a response to targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Uhlitz
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- IRI Life SciencesHumboldt University of BerlinBerlinGermany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site BerlinGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
| | - Philip Bischoff
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Stefan Peidli
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- IRI Life SciencesHumboldt University of BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Anja Sieber
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- IRI Life SciencesHumboldt University of BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Alexandra Trinks
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- BIH Bioportal Single CellsBerlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Mareen Lüthen
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site BerlinGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
| | - Benedikt Obermayer
- Core Unit Bioinformatics (CUBI)Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin – BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Eric Blanc
- Core Unit Bioinformatics (CUBI)Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin – BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Yana Ruchiy
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Thomas Sell
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- IRI Life SciencesHumboldt University of BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Soulafa Mamlouk
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site BerlinGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
| | - Roberto Arsie
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB)BerlinGermany
| | - Tzu‐Ting Wei
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB)BerlinGermany
| | - Kathleen Klotz‐Noack
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- Institute of Medical ImmunologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Roland F Schwarz
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB)BerlinGermany
- BIFOLD – Berlin Institute for the Foundations of Learning and DataBerlinGermany
| | - Birgit Sawitzki
- Institute of Medical ImmunologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Carsten Kamphues
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site BerlinGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
- Department of SurgeryCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Dieter Beule
- Core Unit Bioinformatics (CUBI)Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin – BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Markus Landthaler
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB)BerlinGermany
| | - Christine Sers
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site BerlinGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
| | - David Horst
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site BerlinGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
| | - Nils Blüthgen
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- IRI Life SciencesHumboldt University of BerlinBerlinGermany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site BerlinGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
| | - Markus Morkel
- Institute of PathologyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site BerlinGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
- BIH Bioportal Single CellsBerlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
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31
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Yoshikawa T, Fukuda A, Omatsu M, Namikawa M, Sono M, Fukunaga Y, Masuda T, Araki O, Nagao M, Ogawa S, Masuo K, Goto N, Hiramatsu Y, Muta Y, Tsuda M, Maruno T, Nakanishi Y, Kawada K, Takaishi S, Seno H. Brg1 is required to maintain colorectal cancer stem cells. J Pathol 2021; 255:257-269. [PMID: 34415580 DOI: 10.1002/path.5759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Tumor cells capable of self-renewal and continuous production of progeny cells are called tumor stem cells (TSCs) and are considered to be potential therapeutic targets. However, the mechanisms underlying the survival and function of TSCs are not fully understood. We previously reported that chromatin remodeling regulator Brg1 is essential for intestinal stem cells in mice and Dclk1 is an intestinal TSC marker. In this study, we investigated the role of Brg1 in Dclk1+ intestinal tumor cells for the maintenance of intestinal tumors in mice. Specific ablation of Brg1 in Dclk1+ intestinal tumor cells reduced intestinal tumors in ApcMin mice, and continuous ablation of Brg1 maintained the reduction of intestinal tumors. Lineage tracing in the context of Brg1 ablation in Dclk1+ intestinal tumor cells revealed that Brg1-null Dclk1+ intestinal tumor cells did not give rise to their descendent tumor cells, indicating that Brg1 is essential for the self-renewal of Dclk1+ intestinal tumor cells. Five days after Brg1 ablation, we observed increased apoptosis in Dclk1+ tumor cells. Furthermore, Brg1 was crucial for the stemness of intestinal tumor cells in a spheroid culture system. BRG1 knockdown also impaired cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Microarray analysis revealed that apoptosis-related genes were upregulated and stem cell-related genes were downregulated in human CRC cells by BRG1 suppression. Consistently, high BRG1 expression correlated with poor disease-specific survival in human CRC patients. These data indicate that Brg1 plays a crucial role in intestinal TSCs in mice by inhibiting apoptosis and is critical for cell survival and stem cell features in human CRC cells. Thus, BRG1 represents a new therapeutic target for human CRC. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaaki Yoshikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akihisa Fukuda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mayuki Omatsu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mio Namikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Makoto Sono
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuichi Fukunaga
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomonori Masuda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Osamu Araki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Munemasa Nagao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ogawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenji Masuo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Laboratory for Malignancy Control Research (DSK Project), Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Norihiro Goto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukiko Hiramatsu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yu Muta
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Tsuda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takahisa Maruno
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuki Nakanishi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenji Kawada
- Department of Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shigeo Takaishi
- Laboratory for Malignancy Control Research (DSK Project), Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Seno
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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Deregulation of Transcriptional Enhancers in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13143532. [PMID: 34298745 PMCID: PMC8303223 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary One of the major challenges in cancer treatments is the dynamic adaptation of tumor cells to cancer therapies. In this regard, tumor cells can modify their response to environmental cues without altering their DNA sequence. This cell plasticity enables cells to undergo morphological and functional changes, for example, during the process of tumour metastasis or when acquiring resistance to cancer therapies. Central to cell plasticity, are the dynamic changes in gene expression that are controlled by a set of molecular switches called enhancers. Enhancers are DNA elements that determine when, where and to what extent genes should be switched on and off. Thus, defects in enhancer function can disrupt the gene expression program and can lead to tumour formation. Here, we review how enhancers control the activity of cancer-associated genes and how defects in these regulatory elements contribute to cell plasticity in cancer. Understanding enhancer (de)regulation can provide new strategies for modulating cell plasticity in tumour cells and can open new research avenues for cancer therapy. Abstract Epigenetic regulations can shape a cell’s identity by reversible modifications of the chromatin that ultimately control gene expression in response to internal and external cues. In this review, we first discuss the concept of cell plasticity in cancer, a process that is directly controlled by epigenetic mechanisms, with a particular focus on transcriptional enhancers as the cornerstone of epigenetic regulation. In the second part, we discuss mechanisms of enhancer deregulation in adult stem cells and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as two paradigms of cell plasticity that are dependent on epigenetic regulation and serve as major sources of tumour heterogeneity. Finally, we review how genetic variations at enhancers and their epigenetic modifiers contribute to tumourigenesis, and we highlight examples of cancer drugs that target epigenetic modifications at enhancers.
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Legoff L, D'Cruz SC, Lebosq M, Gely-Pernot A, Bouchekhchoukha K, Monfort C, Kernanec PY, Tevosian S, Multigner L, Smagulova F. Developmental exposure to chlordecone induces transgenerational effects in somatic prostate tissue which are associated with epigenetic histone trimethylation changes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 152:106472. [PMID: 33711761 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chlordecone (CD), also known as Kepone, is an organochlorine insecticide that has been used in banana crops in the French West Indies. Due to long-term contamination of soils and water, the population is still exposed to CD. Exposure to CD in adulthood is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer (PCa). OBJECTIVES We examined the transgenerational effects of CD on murine prostate tissue. METHODS We exposed pregnant Swiss mice to CD. The prostates from directly exposed (F1) and non-exposed (F3) male progeny were analyzed. We used immunofluorescence, RNA-seq and ChIP-seq techniques for the comprehensive analyses of chromatin states in prostate. RESULTS We observed an increased prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia phenotype (PIN) in both F1 and F3 generations. Transcriptomic analysis in CD-derived F1 and F3 prostate using RNA-seq revealed that 970 genes in F1 and 218 in F3 genes were differentially expressed. The differentially expressed genes in both datasets could be clustered accordingly to common biological processes, "cell differentiation", "developmental process", "regulating of signaling", suggesting that in both generations similar processes were perturbed. We detected that in both datasets several Hox genes were upregulated; in F1, the expression was detected mainly in Hoxb and Hoxd, and in F3, in Hoxa family genes. Using a larger number of biological replicates and RT-qPCR we showed that genes implicated in testosterone synthesis (Akr1b3, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1, Srd5a1) were dramatically upregulated in PIN samples; Cyp19a1, converting testosterone to estradiol was elevated as well. We found a dramatic increase in Esr2 expression both in F1 and F3 prostates containing PIN. The PIN-containing samples have a strong increase in expression of self-renewal-related genes (Nanog, Tbx3, Sox2, Sox3, Rb1). We observed changes in liver, F1 CD-exposed males have an increased expression of genes related to DNA repair, matrix collagen and inflammation related pathways in F1 but not in F3 adult CD-derived liver. The changes in RNA transcription were associated with epigenetic changes. Specifically, we found a global increase in H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) and a decrease in H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) in prostate of F1 mice. ChIP-seq analysis showed that 129 regions in F1 and 240 in F3 acquired altered H3K4me3 occupancy in CD-derived prostate, including highest increase at several promoters of Hoxa family genes in both datasets. The alteration in H3K4me3 in both generations overlap 73 genes including genes involved in proliferation regulation, Tbx2, Stat3, Stat5a, Pou2f3 and homeobox genes Hoxa13, Hoxa9. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that developmental exposure to CD leads to epigenetic changes in prostate tissue. The PIN containing samples showed evidence of implication in hormonal pathway and self-renewal gene expression that have the capacity to promote neoplasia in CD-exposed mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Legoff
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Shereen Cynthia D'Cruz
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Morgane Lebosq
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Aurore Gely-Pernot
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Katia Bouchekhchoukha
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Christine Monfort
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Pierre-Yves Kernanec
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Sergei Tevosian
- University of Florida, Department of Physiological Sciences, Box 100144, 1333 Center Drive, 32610 Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Luc Multigner
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
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Sphyris N, Hodder MC, Sansom OJ. Subversion of Niche-Signalling Pathways in Colorectal Cancer: What Makes and Breaks the Intestinal Stem Cell. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1000. [PMID: 33673710 PMCID: PMC7957493 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium fulfils pleiotropic functions in nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and immune surveillance while also forming a barrier against luminal toxins and gut-resident microbiota. Incessantly barraged by extraneous stresses, the intestine must continuously replenish its epithelial lining and regenerate the full gamut of specialized cell types that underpin its functions. Homeostatic remodelling is orchestrated by the intestinal stem cell (ISC) niche: a convergence of epithelial- and stromal-derived cues, which maintains ISCs in a multipotent state. Following demise of homeostatic ISCs post injury, plasticity is pervasive among multiple populations of reserve stem-like cells, lineage-committed progenitors, and/or fully differentiated cell types, all of which can contribute to regeneration and repair. Failure to restore the epithelial barrier risks seepage of toxic luminal contents, resulting in inflammation and likely predisposing to tumour formation. Here, we explore how homeostatic niche-signalling pathways are subverted in tumorigenesis, enabling ISCs to gain autonomy from niche restraints ("ISC emancipation") and transform into cancer stem cells capable of driving tumour initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. We further consider the implications of the pervasive plasticity of the intestinal epithelium for the trajectory of colorectal cancer, the emergence of distinct molecular subtypes, the propensity to metastasize, and the development of effective therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Sphyris
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK; (N.S.); (M.C.H.)
| | - Michael C. Hodder
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK; (N.S.); (M.C.H.)
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Owen J. Sansom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK; (N.S.); (M.C.H.)
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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Li G, Zhang B, Hao J, Chu X, Wiestler M, Cornberg M, Xu CJ, Liu X, Li Y. Identification of Novel Population-Specific Cell Subsets in Chinese Ulcerative Colitis Patients Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 12:99-117. [PMID: 33545427 PMCID: PMC8081991 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and transcriptome analyses have been performed to better understand the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, current studies mainly focus on European ancestry, highlighting a great need to identify the key genes, pathways and cell types in colonic mucosal cells of adult UC patients from other ancestries. Here we aimed to identify key genes and cell types in colonic mucosal of UC. METHODS We performed Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of 12 colon biopsies of UC patients and healthy controls from Chinese Han ancestry. RESULTS Two novel plasma subsets were identified. Five epithelial/stromal and three immune cell subsets show significant difference in abundance between inflamed and non-inflamed samples. In general, UC risk genes show consistent expression alteration in both Immune cells of inflamed and non-inflamed tissues. As one of the exceptions, IgA defection, marking the signal of immune dysfunction, is specific to the inflamed area. Moreover, Th17 derived activation was observed in both epithelial cell lineage and immune cell lineage of UC patients as compared to controls , suggesting a systemic change of immune activities driven by Th17. The UC risk genes show enrichment in progenitors, glial cells and immune cells, and drug-target genes are differentially expressed in antigen presenting cells. CONCLUSIONS Our work identifies novel population-specific plasma cell molecular signatures of UC. The transcriptional signature of UC is shared in immune cells from both inflamed and non-inflamed tissues, whereas the transcriptional response to disease is a local effect only in inflamed epithelial/stromal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Bowen Zhang
- Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine and TWINCORE, joint ventures between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jianyu Hao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojing Chu
- Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine and TWINCORE, joint ventures between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany,Department of Genetics, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Miriam Wiestler
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Markus Cornberg
- Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine and TWINCORE, joint ventures between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany,Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Cheng-Jian Xu
- Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine and TWINCORE, joint ventures between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany,Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany,Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Xinjuan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China,Correspondence Address correspondence to: Xinjuan Liu, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, China.
| | - Yang Li
- Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine and TWINCORE, joint ventures between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany,Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Kurokawa K, Hayakawa Y, Koike K. Plasticity of Intestinal Epithelium: Stem Cell Niches and Regulatory Signals. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010357. [PMID: 33396437 PMCID: PMC7795504 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells (ISCs) triggered a breakthrough in the field of ISC research. Lgr5+ ISCs maintain the homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium in the steady state, while these cells are susceptible to epithelial damage induced by chemicals, pathogens, or irradiation. During the regeneration process of the intestinal epithelium, more quiescent +4 stem cells and short-lived transit-amplifying (TA) progenitor cells residing above Lgr5+ ISCs undergo dedifferentiation and act as stem-like cells. In addition, several recent reports have shown that a subset of terminally differentiated cells, including Paneth cells, tuft cells, or enteroendocrine cells, may also have some degree of plasticity in specific situations. The function of ISCs is maintained by the neighboring stem cell niches, which strictly regulate the key signal pathways in ISCs. In addition, various inflammatory cytokines play critical roles in intestinal regeneration and stem cell functions following epithelial injury. Here, we summarize the current understanding of ISCs and their niches, review recent findings regarding cellular plasticity and its regulatory mechanism, and discuss how inflammatory cytokines contribute to epithelial regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yoku Hayakawa
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-3815-5411; Fax: +81-3-5800-8812
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Tuft and Cancer Stem Cell Marker DCLK1: A New Target to Enhance Anti-Tumor Immunity in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123801. [PMID: 33348546 PMCID: PMC7766931 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a tumor stem cell marker in colon, pancreatic, and potentially other cancers that has received wide attention recently. Aside from its role as a tuft cell marker in normal tissue and as a tumor stem cell marker in cancer, previous studies have demonstrated that silencing DCLK1 functionally reduces stemness, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), and tumorigenesis in cancers. More recently, DCLK1′s role in regulating the inflammatory, pre-cancer, and tumor microenvironment including its ability to modulate immune cell mechanisms has started to come into focus. Importantly, clinically viable therapeutic means of targeting DCLK1 have finally become available in the form of kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T). Herein, we comprehensively review the mechanistic role of DCLK1 in the tumor microenvironment, assess the potential for targeting DCLK1 in colon, pancreatic and renal cancer. Abstract Microtubule-associated doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is an accepted marker of tuft cells (TCs) and several kinds of cancer stem cells (CSCs), and emerging evidence suggests that DCLK1-positive TCs participate in the initiation and formation of inflammation-associated cancer. DCLK1-expressing CSCs regulate multiple biological processes in cancer, promote resistance to therapy, and are associated with metastasis. In solid tumor cancers, tumor epithelia, immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells and blood vessels, extracellular matrix, and hypoxia all support a CSC phenotype characterized by drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Recently, studies have shown that DCLK1-positive CSCs are associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and immune checkpoint. Emerging data concerning targeting DCLK1 with small molecular inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells shows promising effects on inhibiting tumor growth and regulating the tumor immune microenvironment. Overall, DCLK1 is reaching maturity as an anti-cancer target and therapies directed against it may have potential against CSCs directly, in remodeling the tumor microenvironment, and as immunotherapies.
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HDAC6 promotes growth, migration/invasion, and self-renewal of rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncogene 2020; 40:578-591. [PMID: 33199827 PMCID: PMC7855743 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01550-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a devastating pediatric sarcoma. The survival outcomes remain poor for patients with relapsed or metastatic disease. Effective targeted therapy is lacking due to our limited knowledge of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to disease progression. In this study, we used functional assays in vitro and in vivo (zebrafish and xenograft mouse models) to demonstrate the crucial role of HDAC6, a cytoplasmic histone deacetylase, in driving RMS tumor growth, self-renewal, and migration/invasion. Treatment with HDAC6-selective inhibitors recapitulates the HDAC6 loss-of-function phenotypes. HDAC6 regulates cytoskeletal dynamics to promote tumor cell migration and invasion. RAC1, a Rho family GTPase, is an essential mediator of HDAC6 function, and is necessary and sufficient for RMS cell migration and invasion. High expression of RAC1 correlates with poor clinical prognosis in RMS patients. Targeting the HDAC6-RAC1 axis represents a promising therapeutic option for improving survival outcomes of RMS patients.
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39
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Cell fate specification and differentiation in the adult mammalian intestine. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2020; 22:39-53. [PMID: 32958874 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-020-0278-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 267] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Intestinal stem cells at the bottom of crypts fuel the rapid renewal of the different cell types that constitute a multitasking tissue. The intestinal epithelium facilitates selective uptake of nutrients while acting as a barrier for hostile luminal contents. Recent discoveries have revealed that the lineage plasticity of committed cells - combined with redundant sources of niche signals - enables the epithelium to efficiently repair tissue damage. New approaches such as single-cell transcriptomics and the use of organoid models have led to the identification of the signals that guide fate specification of stem cell progeny into the six intestinal cell lineages. These cell types display context-dependent functionality and can adapt to different requirements over their lifetime, as dictated by their microenvironment. These new insights into stem cell regulation and fate specification could aid the development of therapies that exploit the regenerative capacity and functionality of the gut.
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40
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Bmi1 Severs as a Potential Tumor-Initiating Cell Marker and Therapeutic Target in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Stem Cells Int 2020; 2020:8877577. [PMID: 32884573 PMCID: PMC7455816 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8877577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a frequent malignant tumor with low 5-year overall survival. Targeting ESCC tumor-initiating cells (TICs) may provide a new research avenue to achieve better therapeutic effects of ESCC. However, the identity and characteristics of ESCC TICs remain poorly understood. Through genetic lineage tracing approach, we found that a group of Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1- (Bmi1-) expressing cell populations present in the invasive front of the esophageal epithelium, providing a continuous flow of tumor cells for ESCC. Subsequently, we found that ablation of Bmi1+ cells from mice with ESCC led to inhibition of tumor growth. In addition, our results demonstrated that PTC-209, an inhibitor of Bmi1, was able to inhibit ESCC progression when combined with cisplatin. In summary, our data suggest that Bmi1+ cells serve as TICs in ESCC.
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Pan J, Zhang L, Shao X, Huang J. Acetylcholine From Tuft Cells: The Updated Insights Beyond Its Immune and Chemosensory Functions. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:606. [PMID: 32733896 PMCID: PMC7359717 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuft cells, rare solitary chemosensory cells, are distributed in mucosal epithelium throughout mammalian organs. Their nomenclatures are various in different organs and may be confused with other similar cells. Current studies mainly focus on their chemosensory ability and immune functions in type 2 inflammation. Several state-of-the-art reviews have already systematically discussed their role in immune responses. However, given that tuft cells are one of the crucial components of non-neuronal cholinergic system, the functions of tuft cell derived acetylcholine (ACh) and the underlying mechanisms remain intricate. Existing evidence demonstrated that tuft cell derived ACh participates in maintaining epithelial homeostasis, modulating airway remodeling, regulating reflexes, promoting muscle constriction, inducing neurogenic inflammation, initiating carcinogenesis and producing ATP. In this review, the ACh biosynthesis pathways and potential clinical applications of tuft cells have been proposed. More importantly, the main pathophysiological roles and the underlying mechanisms of tuft cell derived ACh are summarized and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Pan
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Leyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Shao
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Mouse intestinal tuft cells express advillin but not villin. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8877. [PMID: 32483224 PMCID: PMC7264147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65469-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuft (or brush) cells are solitary chemosensory cells scattered throughout the epithelia of the respiratory and alimentary tract. The actin-binding protein villin (Vil1) is used as a marker of tuft cells and the villin promoter is frequently used to drive expression of the Cre recombinase in tuft cells. While there is widespread agreement about the expression of villin in tuft cells there are several disagreements related to tuft cell lineage commitment and function. We now show that many of these inconsistencies could be resolved by our surprising finding that intestinal tuft cells, in fact, do not express villin protein. Furthermore, we show that a related actin-binding protein, advillin which shares 75% homology with villin, has a tuft cell restricted expression in the gastrointestinal epithelium. Our study identifies advillin as a marker of tuft cells and provides a mechanism for driving gene expression in tuft cells but not in other epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract. Our findings fundamentally change the way we identify and study intestinal tuft cells.
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Role of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Signaling in Gastrointestinal Cancers. Biomedicines 2019; 7:biomedicines7030058. [PMID: 31405140 PMCID: PMC6783861 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines7030058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In the tumor microenvironment, various stromal and immune cells accumulate and interact with cancer cells to contribute to tumor progression. Among stromal players, nerves have recently been recognized as key regulators of tumor growth. More neurotransmitters, such as catecholamines and acetylcholine (ACh), are present in tumors, as the cells that secrete neurotransmitters accumulate by the release of neurotrophic factors from cancer cells. In this short review, we focus on the role of nerve signaling in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Given that muscarinic acetylcholine receptor signaling seems to be a dominant regulator of GI stem cells and cancers, we review the function and mechanism of the muscarinic ACh pathway as a regulator of GI cancer progression. Accumulating evidence suggests that ACh, which is secreted from nerves and tuft cells, stimulates GI epithelial stem cells and contributes to cancer progression via muscarinic receptors.
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Gu W, Ren JH, Zheng X, Hu XY, Hu MJ. Comprehensive analysis of expression profiles of long non‑coding RNAs with associated ceRNA network involved in gastric cancer progression. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:2209-2218. [PMID: 31322220 PMCID: PMC6691204 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in the development and progression of cancers. The present study aimed to identify novel lncRNAs and associated microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) and mRNAs in gastric cancer. Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) of 6 paired gastric cancer and normal tissues were identified using microarray. The DEmiRNAs between gastric cancer and the normal control tissues were identified using miRNA-seq data from Cancer Genome Atlas. Common DElncRNAs from the Cancer RNA-Seq Nexus database and circlncRNAnet database were analyzed. A DElncRNAs-DEmiRNAs-DEmRNAs network was constructed by target prediction. Functional enrichment analysis was employed to predict the function of DEmRNAs in the network. The correlation between the expression of DElncRNAS and DEmRNAs in the network was analyzed. The expression levels of several genes were validated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). A total of 1,297 DElncRNAs, 2,037 DEmRNAs and 171 DEmiRNAs were identified. Among the 4 lncRNAs common to the 3 datasets, prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART1) was selected for further analysis. The analysis identified 5 DEmiRNAs and 13 DEmRNAs in the PART1-mediated ceRNA network. The DEmRNAs in the ceRNA network were markedly enriched in cancer-related biological processes (response to hypoxia, positive regulation of angiogenesis and positive regulation of endothelial cell proliferation) and pathways (cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway and proteoglycans in cancer). Out of the 13 DEmRNAs, 11 were positively associated with PART1. The downregulation of PART1, myosin light chain 9 (MYL9), potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M alpha 1 (KCNMA1), cholinergic receptor muscarinic 1 (CHRM1), solute carrier family 25 member 4 (SLC25A4) and ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit alpha 2 (ATP1A2) expression levels in gastric cancer was validated by RT-qPCR. On the whole, the current study identified a novel lncRNA and associated miRNAs and mRNAs that are involved in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer that may serve as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Gu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
| | - Jia-Hui Ren
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dapuqiao Community Health Service Center, Shanghai 200333, P.R. China
| | - Xiong Zheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Ying Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
| | - Mei-Jie Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
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Mantovani G, Giardino E, Treppiedi D, Catalano R, Mangili F, Spada A, Arosio M, Peverelli E. Stem Cells in Pituitary Tumors: Experimental Evidence Supporting Their Existence and Their Role in Tumor Clinical Behavior. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:745. [PMID: 31708878 PMCID: PMC6823178 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although generally benign, pituitary tumors frequently show local invasiveness and resistance to pharmacological therapy. After the demonstration of the existence of pituitary gland stem cells, over the past decade, the presence of a stem cell subpopulation in pituitary tumors has been investigated, analogous to the cancer stem cell model developed for malignant tumors. This review recapitulates the experimental evidence supporting the existence of a population of stem-like cells in pituitary tumors, focusing on their potential role in tumor initiation, progression, recurrence and resistance to pharmacological therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Mantovani
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giovanna Mantovani
| | - Elena Giardino
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Donatella Treppiedi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosa Catalano
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- PhD Program in Endocrinological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Mangili
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Spada
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Maura Arosio
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Erika Peverelli
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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