1
|
Yoon SB, Chen L, Robinson IE, Khatib TO, Arthur RA, Claussen H, Zohbi NM, Wu H, Mouw JK, Marcus AI. Subpopulation commensalism promotes Rac1-dependent invasion of single cells via laminin-332. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202308080. [PMID: 38551497 PMCID: PMC10982113 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202308080] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic heterogeneity poses a significant hurdle for cancer treatment but is under-characterized in the context of tumor invasion. Amidst the range of phenotypic heterogeneity across solid tumor types, collectively invading cells and single cells have been extensively characterized as independent modes of invasion, but their intercellular interactions have rarely been explored. Here, we isolated collectively invading cells and single cells from the heterogeneous 4T1 cell line and observed extensive transcriptional and epigenetic diversity across these subpopulations. By integrating these datasets, we identified laminin-332 as a protein complex exclusively secreted by collectively invading cells. Live-cell imaging revealed that laminin-332 derived from collectively invading cells increased the velocity and directionality of single cells. Despite collectively invading and single cells having similar expression of the integrin α6β4 dimer, single cells demonstrated higher Rac1 activation upon laminin-332 binding to integrin α6β4. This mechanism suggests a novel commensal relationship between collectively invading and single cells, wherein collectively invading cells promote the invasive potential of single cells through a laminin-332/Rac1 axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sung Bo Yoon
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Luxiao Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Isaac E. Robinson
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tala O. Khatib
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Robert A. Arthur
- Emory Integrated Computational Core, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Henry Claussen
- Emory Integrated Computational Core, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Najdat M. Zohbi
- Graduate Medical Education, Piedmont Macon Medical, Macon, GA, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Janna K. Mouw
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adam I. Marcus
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xu H, Wang X, Zhu F, Guo S, Chao Z, Cao C, Lu Z, Zhu H, Wang M, Zhu F, Yang J, Zeng R, Yao Y. Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analysis of Connexin 43 as a Potential Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Human Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC). MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:780. [PMID: 38792963 PMCID: PMC11123162 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60050780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Connexin 43 (Cx43) is involved in the transfer of small signaling molecules between neighboring cells, thereby exerting a major influence on the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis. However, there is a lack of systematic research on Cx43 expression and its predictive role in clinical diagnosis and prognosis in pan-cancer. Materials and Methods: Several biological databases were used to evaluate the expression levels of GJA1 (encoding Cx43) and its diagnostic and prognostic significance in pan-cancer. We targeted kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) and investigated the relationship between GJA1 expression and different clinical features of KIRC patients. Then, we performed cell-based experiments to partially confirm our results and predicted several proteins that were functionally related to Cx43. Results: The expression of GJA1 has a high level of accuracy in predicting KIRC. High GJA1 expression was remarkably correlated with a favorable prognosis, and this expression was reduced in groups with poor clinical features in KIRC. Cell experiments confirmed the inhibitory effects of increased GJA1 expression on the migratory capacity of human renal cancer (RCC) cell lines, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis predicted that CDH1 and CTNNB1 were closely related to Cx43. Conclusions: GJA1 could be a promising independent favorable prognostic factor for KIRC, and upregulation of GJA1 expression could inhibit the migratory capacity of renal cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huzi Xu
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.X.); (X.W.); (S.G.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (M.W.); (F.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Xiuru Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.X.); (X.W.); (S.G.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (M.W.); (F.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Fan Zhu
- Wuhan Central Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China;
| | - Shuiming Guo
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.X.); (X.W.); (S.G.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (M.W.); (F.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Zheng Chao
- Division of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China;
| | - Chujin Cao
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.X.); (X.W.); (S.G.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (M.W.); (F.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Zhihui Lu
- Division of Nursing, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China;
| | - Han Zhu
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.X.); (X.W.); (S.G.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (M.W.); (F.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Meng Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.X.); (X.W.); (S.G.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (M.W.); (F.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Fengming Zhu
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.X.); (X.W.); (S.G.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (M.W.); (F.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Juan Yang
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.X.); (X.W.); (S.G.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (M.W.); (F.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Rui Zeng
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.X.); (X.W.); (S.G.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (M.W.); (F.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Ying Yao
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.X.); (X.W.); (S.G.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (M.W.); (F.Z.); (J.Y.)
- Division of Nutrition, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chang J, Saraswathibhatla A, Song Z, Varma S, Sanchez C, Alyafei NHK, Indana D, Slyman R, Srivastava S, Liu K, Bassik MC, Marinkovich MP, Hodgson L, Shenoy V, West RB, Chaudhuri O. Cell volume expansion and local contractility drive collective invasion of the basement membrane in breast cancer. NATURE MATERIALS 2024; 23:711-722. [PMID: 37957268 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-023-01716-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer becomes invasive when carcinoma cells invade through the basement membrane (BM)-a nanoporous layer of matrix that physically separates the primary tumour from the stroma. Single cells can invade through nanoporous three-dimensional matrices due to protease-mediated degradation or force-mediated widening of pores via invadopodial protrusions. However, how multiple cells collectively invade through the physiological BM, as they do during breast cancer progression, remains unclear. Here we developed a three-dimensional in vitro model of collective invasion of the BM during breast cancer. We show that cells utilize both proteases and forces-but not invadopodia-to breach the BM. Forces are generated from a combination of global cell volume expansion, which stretches the BM, and local contractile forces that act in the plane of the BM to breach it, allowing invasion. These results uncover a mechanism by which cells collectively interact to overcome a critical barrier to metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Chang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Zhaoqiang Song
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sushama Varma
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Colline Sanchez
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Dhiraj Indana
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Raleigh Slyman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sucheta Srivastava
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Katherine Liu
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Michael C Bassik
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - M Peter Marinkovich
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Dermatology Service, VA Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Louis Hodgson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Vivek Shenoy
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert B West
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Chemistry, Engineering, and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ebrahim T, Ebrahim AS, Kandouz M. Diversity of Intercellular Communication Modes: A Cancer Biology Perspective. Cells 2024; 13:495. [PMID: 38534339 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
From the moment a cell is on the path to malignant transformation, its interaction with other cells from the microenvironment becomes altered. The flow of molecular information is at the heart of the cellular and systemic fate in tumors, and various processes participate in conveying key molecular information from or to certain cancer cells. For instance, the loss of tight junction molecules is part of the signal sent to cancer cells so that they are no longer bound to the primary tumors and are thus free to travel and metastasize. Upon the targeting of a single cell by a therapeutic drug, gap junctions are able to communicate death information to by-standing cells. The discovery of the importance of novel modes of cell-cell communication such as different types of extracellular vesicles or tunneling nanotubes is changing the way scientists look at these processes. However, are they all actively involved in different contexts at the same time or are they recruited to fulfill specific tasks? What does the multiplicity of modes mean for the overall progression of the disease? Here, we extend an open invitation to think about the overall significance of these questions, rather than engage in an elusive attempt at a systematic repertory of the mechanisms at play.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thanzeela Ebrahim
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Abdul Shukkur Ebrahim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Mustapha Kandouz
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Honoki K, Tsujiuchi T, Kishi S, Kuniyasu H. Revisiting 'Hallmarks of Cancer' In Sarcomas. J Cancer 2024; 15:1786-1804. [PMID: 38434982 PMCID: PMC10905407 DOI: 10.7150/jca.92844] [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: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
There is no doubt that anyone who has participated in cancer care or research has once read the 'Hallmarks of Cancer' papers published by Hanahan and Weinberg in 2001 and 2011. They initially defined the six qualities of cancer cells as cancer hallmarks in 2001, but expanded that to 11 as a next generation in 2011. In their papers, they discussed the potential treatment strategies against cancer corresponding to each of the 11 hallmarks, and to date, proposed therapies that target genes and signaling pathways associated with each of these hallmarks have guided a trail that cancer treatments should take, some of which are now used as standard in clinical practice and some of which have yet to progress that far. Along with the recent advances in cancer research such as genomic analysis with next generation sequencing, they can be reconverged to an alternative six categories defined as selective proliferative advantages, altered stress response, deregulated cellular metabolism, immune modulation and inflammation, tumor microenvironment, tissue invasion and metastasis. In this paper, we will overview the current state of these alternative hallmarks and their corresponding treatments in the current sarcoma practice, then discuss the future direction of sarcoma treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kanya Honoki
- Dept. Of Orthopedic Oncology & Reconstructive Medicine, Nara Medical University, Japan
| | | | - Shingo Kishi
- Dept. of Clinical Pathology, Nozaki Tokushukai Hospital, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kuniyasu
- Dept. of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Parlani M, Jorgez C, Friedl P. Plasticity of cancer invasion and energy metabolism. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:388-402. [PMID: 36328835 PMCID: PMC10368441 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Energy deprivation is a frequent adverse event in tumors that is caused by mutations, malperfusion, hypoxia, and nutrition deficit. The resulting bioenergetic stress leads to signaling and metabolic adaptation responses in tumor cells, secures survival, and adjusts migration activity. The kinetic responses of cancer cells to energy deficit were recently identified, including a switch of invasive cancer cells to energy-conservative amoeboid migration and an enhanced capability for distant metastasis. We review the energy programs employed by different cancer invasion modes including collective, mesenchymal, and amoeboid migration, as well as their interconversion in response to energy deprivation, and we discuss the consequences for metastatic escape. Understanding the energy requirements of amoeboid and other dissemination strategies offers rationales for improving therapeutic targeting of metastatic cancer progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Parlani
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen 6525GA, The Netherlands
| | - Carolina Jorgez
- David H. Koch Center for Applied Research of Genitourinary Cancers, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Peter Friedl
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen 6525GA, The Netherlands; David H. Koch Center for Applied Research of Genitourinary Cancers, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cancer Genomics Center, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
From the Catastrophic Objective Irreproducibility of Cancer Research and Unavoidable Failures of Molecular Targeted Therapies to the Sparkling Hope of Supramolecular Targeted Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032796. [PMID: 36769134 PMCID: PMC9917659 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032796] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The unprecedented non-reproducibility of the results published in the field of cancer research has recently come under the spotlight. In this short review, we try to highlight some general principles in the organization and evolution of cancerous tumors, which objectively lead to their enormous variability and, consequently, the irreproducibility of the results of their investigation. This heterogeneity is also extremely unfavorable for the effective use of molecularly targeted medicine. Against the seemingly comprehensive background of this heterogeneity, we single out two supramolecular characteristics common to all tumors: the clustered nature of tumor interactions with their microenvironment and the formation of biomolecular condensates with tumor-specific distinctive features. We suggest that these features can form the basis of strategies for tumor-specific supramolecular targeted therapies.
Collapse
|
8
|
The Multifaceted Role of Connexins in Tumor Microenvironment Initiation and Maintenance. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020204. [PMID: 36829482 PMCID: PMC9953436 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Today's research on the processes of carcinogenesis and the vital activity of tumor tissues implies more attention be paid to constituents of the tumor microenvironment and their interactions. These interactions between cells in the tumor microenvironment can be mediated via different types of protein junctions. Connexins are one of the major contributors to intercellular communication. They form the gap junctions responsible for the transfer of ions, metabolites, peptides, miRNA, etc., between neighboring tumor cells as well as between tumor and stromal cells. Connexin hemichannels mediate purinergic signaling and bidirectional molecular transport with the extracellular environment. Additionally, connexins have been reported to localize in tumor-derived exosomes and facilitate the release of their cargo. A large body of evidence implies that the role of connexins in cancer is multifaceted. The pro- or anti-tumorigenic properties of connexins are determined by their abundance, localization, and functionality as well as their channel assembly and non-channel functions. In this review, we have summarized the data on the contribution of connexins to the formation of the tumor microenvironment and to cancer initiation and progression.
Collapse
|
9
|
Smits D, Khalil AA. Multimodal Techniques to Study Tumor Growth, Basement Membrane Breaching, and Invasion in 3D Matrices. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2608:281-303. [PMID: 36653714 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2887-4_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-derived organoids and three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM) are taking center stage as in vitro models to study neoplastic cell behavior, since they recapitulate the heterogeneous cellular composition of tumors and their extracellular environment. In combination with imaging and molecular/biochemical techniques, 3D organoid models have contributed substantially to our knowledge about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the growth of tumors and invasion into the surrounding tissue. We here outline a set of protocols that describe culturing of cancer-derived organoids in 3D matrices and various strategies that allow modeling of tumor growth, tumor cell penetration into basement membranes, and invasion into Collagen I-rich ECM. Furthermore, we specify protocols for subsequent handling of organoids cultured in 3D ECM for confocal microscopy and analysis of gene expression at the protein and mRNA level. Although we here use breast cancer-derived organoids, these protocols can be directly applied or adapted for organoids derived from other cancer types or healthy tissues. Thus, in addition to investigating cell behavior of multiple cancer types, the combination of protocols described here may be used to study processes such as cell differentiation and migration during homeostasis and normal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daan Smits
- Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Cell Biology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Antoine A Khalil
- Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Margadant C. Cell Migration in Three Dimensions. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2608:1-14. [PMID: 36653698 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2887-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Cell migration plays an essential role in many pathophysiological processes, including embryonic development, wound healing, immunity, and cancer invasion, and is therefore a widely studied phenomenon in many different fields from basic cell biology to regenerative medicine. During the past decades, a multitude of increasingly complex methods have been developed to study cell migration. Here we compile a series of current state-of-the-art methods and protocols to investigate cell migration in a variety of model systems ranging from cells, organoids, tissue explants, and microfluidic systems to Drosophila, zebrafish, and mice. Together they cover processes as diverse as nuclear deformation, energy consumption, endocytic trafficking, and matrix degradation, as well as tumor vascularization and cancer cell invasion, sprouting angiogenesis, and leukocyte extravasation. Furthermore, methods to study developmental processes such as neural tube closure, germ layer specification, and branching morphogenesis are included, as well as scripts for the automated analysis of several aspects of cell migration. Together, this book constitutes a unique collection of methods of prime importance to those interested in the analysis of cell migration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Coert Margadant
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Scheele CLGJ, Herrmann D, Yamashita E, Celso CL, Jenne CN, Oktay MH, Entenberg D, Friedl P, Weigert R, Meijboom FLB, Ishii M, Timpson P, van Rheenen J. Multiphoton intravital microscopy of rodents. NATURE REVIEWS. METHODS PRIMERS 2022; 2:89. [PMID: 37621948 PMCID: PMC10449057 DOI: 10.1038/s43586-022-00168-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Tissues are heterogeneous with respect to cellular and non-cellular components and in the dynamic interactions between these elements. To study the behaviour and fate of individual cells in these complex tissues, intravital microscopy (IVM) techniques such as multiphoton microscopy have been developed to visualize intact and live tissues at cellular and subcellular resolution. IVM experiments have revealed unique insights into the dynamic interplay between different cell types and their local environment, and how this drives morphogenesis and homeostasis of tissues, inflammation and immune responses, and the development of various diseases. This Primer introduces researchers to IVM technologies, with a focus on multiphoton microscopy of rodents, and discusses challenges, solutions and practical tips on how to perform IVM. To illustrate the unique potential of IVM, several examples of results are highlighted. Finally, we discuss data reproducibility and how to handle big imaging data sets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colinda L. G. J. Scheele
- Laboratory for Intravital Imaging and Dynamics of Tumor Progression, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - David Herrmann
- Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Department, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erika Yamashita
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- WPI-Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Bioimaging and Drug Discovery, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Cristina Lo Celso
- Department of Life Sciences and Centre for Hematology, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Sir Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Craig N. Jenne
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Maja H. Oktay
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Integrated Imaging Program, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - David Entenberg
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Integrated Imaging Program, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Peter Friedl
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- David H. Koch Center for Applied Genitourinary Cancers, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Roberto Weigert
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Franck L. B. Meijboom
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Sustainable Animal Stewardship, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Faculty of Humanities, Ethics Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Masaru Ishii
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- WPI-Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Bioimaging and Drug Discovery, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Paul Timpson
- Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Department, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jacco van Rheenen
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Weiss F, Lauffenburger D, Friedl P. Towards targeting of shared mechanisms of cancer metastasis and therapy resistance. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:157-173. [PMID: 35013601 PMCID: PMC10399972 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00427-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to therapeutic treatment and metastatic progression jointly determine a fatal outcome of cancer. Cancer metastasis and therapeutic resistance are traditionally studied as separate fields using non-overlapping strategies. However, emerging evidence, including from in vivo imaging and in vitro organotypic culture, now suggests that both programmes cooperate and reinforce each other in the invasion niche and persist upon metastatic evasion. As a consequence, cancer cell subpopulations exhibiting metastatic invasion undergo multistep reprogramming that - beyond migration signalling - supports repair programmes, anti-apoptosis processes, metabolic adaptation, stemness and survival. Shared metastasis and therapy resistance signalling are mediated by multiple mechanisms, such as engagement of integrins and other context receptors, cell-cell communication, stress responses and metabolic reprogramming, which cooperate with effects elicited by autocrine and paracrine chemokine and growth factor cues present in the activated tumour microenvironment. These signals empower metastatic cells to cope with therapeutic assault and survive. Identifying nodes shared in metastasis and therapy resistance signalling networks should offer new opportunities to improve anticancer therapy beyond current strategies, to eliminate both nodular lesions and cells in metastatic transit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Weiss
- Department of Cell Biology, RIMLS, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Douglas Lauffenburger
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Peter Friedl
- Department of Cell Biology, RIMLS, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
- David H. Koch Center for Applied Research of Genitourinary Cancers, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Cancer Genomics Center, Utrecht, Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bakker GJ, Weischer S, Ferrer Ortas J, Heidelin J, Andresen V, Beutler M, Beaurepaire E, Friedl P. Intravital deep-tumor single-beam 3-photon, 4-photon, and harmonic microscopy. eLife 2022; 11:e63776. [PMID: 35166669 PMCID: PMC8849342 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-photon excitation has recently been demonstrated as an effective method to perform intravital microscopy in deep, previously inaccessible regions of the mouse brain. The applicability of 3-photon excitation for deep imaging of other, more heterogeneous tissue types has been much less explored. In this work, we analyze the benefit of high-pulse-energy 1 MHz pulse-repetition-rate infrared excitation near 1300 and 1700 nm for in-depth imaging of tumorous and bone tissue. We show that this excitation regime provides a more than 2-fold increased imaging depth in tumor and bone tissue compared to the illumination conditions commonly used in 2-photon excitation, due to improved excitation confinement and reduced scattering. We also show that simultaneous 3- and 4-photon processes can be effectively induced with a single laser line, enabling the combined detection of blue to far-red fluorescence together with second and third harmonic generation without chromatic aberration, at excitation intensities compatible with live tissue imaging. Finally, we analyze photoperturbation thresholds in this excitation regime and derive setpoints for safe cell imaging. Together, these results indicate that infrared high-pulse-energy low-repetition-rate excitation opens novel perspectives for intravital deep-tissue microscopy of multiple parameters in strongly scattering tissues and organs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gert-Jan Bakker
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Sarah Weischer
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Júlia Ferrer Ortas
- Laboratory for Optics & Biosciences École Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERMParisFrance
| | - Judith Heidelin
- LaVision BioTec GmbH, a Miltenyi Biotec companyBielefeldGermany
| | - Volker Andresen
- LaVision BioTec GmbH, a Miltenyi Biotec companyBielefeldGermany
| | | | - Emmanuel Beaurepaire
- Laboratory for Optics & Biosciences École Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERMParisFrance
| | - Peter Friedl
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Cancer Genomics CentreUtrechtNetherlands
- David H. Koch Center for Applied Genitourinary Cancers, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gap Junction-Dependent and -Independent Functions of Connexin43 in Biology. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11020283. [PMID: 35205149 PMCID: PMC8869330 DOI: 10.3390/biology11020283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
For the first time in animal evolution, the emergence of gap junctions allowed direct exchanges of cellular substances for communication between two cells. Innexin proteins constituted primordial gap junctions until the connexin protein emerged in deuterostomes and took over the gap junction function. After hundreds of millions of years of gene duplication, the connexin gene family now comprises 21 members in the human genome. Notably, GJA1, which encodes the Connexin43 protein, is one of the most widely expressed and commonly studied connexin genes. The loss of Gja1 in mice leads to swelling and a blockage of the right ventricular outflow tract and death of the embryos at birth, suggesting a vital role of Connexin43 gap junction in heart development. Since then, the importance of Connexin43-mediated gap junction function has been constantly expanded to other types of cells. Other than forming gap junctions, Connexin43 can also form hemichannels to release or uptake small molecules from the environment or even mediate many physiological processes in a gap junction-independent manner on plasma membranes. Surprisingly, Connexin43 also localizes to mitochondria in the cell, playing important roles in mitochondrial potassium import and respiration. At the molecular level, Connexin43 mRNA and protein are processed with very distinct mechanisms to yield carboxyl-terminal fragments with different sizes, which have their unique subcellular localization and distinct biological activities. Due to many exciting advancements in Connexin43 research, this review aims to start with a brief introduction of Connexin43 and then focuses on updating our knowledge of its gap junction-independent functions.
Collapse
|
15
|
Vilchez Mercedes SA, Bocci F, Levine H, Onuchic JN, Jolly MK, Wong PK. Decoding leader cells in collective cancer invasion. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:592-604. [PMID: 34239104 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00376-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Collective cancer invasion with leader-follower organization is increasingly recognized as a predominant mechanism in the metastatic cascade. Leader cells support cancer invasion by creating invasion tracks, sensing environmental cues and coordinating with follower cells biochemically and biomechanically. With the latest developments in experimental and computational models and analysis techniques, the range of specific traits and features of leader cells reported in the literature is rapidly expanding. Yet, despite their importance, there is no consensus on how leader cells arise or their essential characteristics. In this Perspective, we propose a framework for defining the essential aspects of leader cells and provide a unifying perspective on the varying cellular and molecular programmes that are adopted by each leader cell subtype to accomplish their functions. This Perspective can lead to more effective strategies to interdict a major contributor to metastatic capability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Federico Bocci
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Department of Physics, and Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - José N Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Chemistry and Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
| | - Pak Kin Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Wrenn E, Huang Y, Cheung K. Collective metastasis: coordinating the multicellular voyage. Clin Exp Metastasis 2021; 38:373-399. [PMID: 34254215 PMCID: PMC8346286 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-021-10111-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The metastatic process is arduous. Cancer cells must escape the confines of the primary tumor, make their way into and travel through the circulation, then survive and proliferate in unfavorable microenvironments. A key question is how cancer cells overcome these multiple barriers to orchestrate distant organ colonization. Accumulating evidence in human patients and animal models supports the hypothesis that clusters of tumor cells can complete the entire metastatic journey in a process referred to as collective metastasis. Here we highlight recent studies unraveling how multicellular coordination, via both physical and biochemical coupling of cells, induces cooperative properties advantageous for the completion of metastasis. We discuss conceptual challenges and unique mechanisms arising from collective dissemination that are distinct from single cell-based metastasis. Finally, we consider how the dissection of molecular transitions regulating collective metastasis could offer potential insight into cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Wrenn
- Translational Research Program, Public Health Sciences and Human Biology Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Yin Huang
- Translational Research Program, Public Health Sciences and Human Biology Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Kevin Cheung
- Translational Research Program, Public Health Sciences and Human Biology Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Roarty K, Echeverria GV. Laboratory Models for Investigating Breast Cancer Therapy Resistance and Metastasis. Front Oncol 2021; 11:645698. [PMID: 33777805 PMCID: PMC7988094 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.645698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
While numerous therapies are highly efficacious in early-stage breast cancers and in particular subsets of breast cancers, therapeutic resistance and metastasis unfortunately arise in many patients. In many cases, tumors that are resistant to standard of care therapies, as well as tumors that have metastasized, are treatable but incurable with existing clinical strategies. Both therapy resistance and metastasis are multi-step processes during which tumor cells must overcome diverse environmental and selective hurdles. Mechanisms by which tumor cells achieve this are numerous and include acquisition of invasive and migratory capabilities, cell-intrinsic genetic and/or epigenetic adaptations, clonal selection, immune evasion, interactions with stromal cells, entering a state of dormancy or senescence, and maintaining self-renewal capacity. To overcome therapy resistance and metastasis in breast cancer, the ability to effectively model each of these mechanisms in the laboratory is essential. Herein we review historic and the current state-of-the-art laboratory model systems and experimental approaches used to investigate breast cancer metastasis and resistance to standard of care therapeutics. While each model system has inherent limitations, they have provided invaluable insights, many of which have translated into regimens undergoing clinical evaluation. We will discuss the limitations and advantages of a variety of model systems that have been used to investigate breast cancer metastasis and therapy resistance and outline potential strategies to improve experimental modeling to further our knowledge of these processes, which will be crucial for the continued development of effective breast cancer treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Roarty
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gloria V Echeverria
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gavin C, Geerts N, Cavanagh B, Haynes M, Reynolds CP, Loessner D, Ewald AJ, Piskareva O. Neuroblastoma Invasion Strategies Are Regulated by the Extracellular Matrix. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:736. [PMID: 33578855 PMCID: PMC7916632 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a paediatric malignancy of the developing sympathetic nervous system. About half of the patients have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and a survival rate of less than 50%. Our understanding of the cellular processes promoting neuroblastoma metastases will be facilitated by the development of appropriate experimental models. In this study, we aimed to explore the invasion of neuroblastoma cells and organoids from patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) grown embedded in 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels by time-lapse microscopy and quantitative image analysis. We found that the ECM composition influenced the growth, viability and local invasion of organoids. The ECM compositions induced distinct cell behaviours, with Matrigel being the preferred substratum for local organoid invasion. Organoid invasion was cell line- and PDX-dependent. We identified six distinct phenotypes in PDX-derived organoids. In contrast, NB cell lines were more phenotypically restricted in their invasion strategies, as organoids isolated from cell line-derived xenografts displayed a broader range of phenotypes compared to clonal cell line clusters. The addition of FBS and bFGF induced more aggressive cell behaviour and a broader range of phenotypes. In contrast, the repression of the prognostic neuroblastoma marker, MYCN, resulted in less aggressive cell behaviour. The combination of PDX organoids, real-time imaging and the novel 3D culture assays developed herein will enable rapid progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that control neuroblastoma invasion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cian Gavin
- Cancer Bio-Engineering Group, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland; (C.G.); (N.G.)
| | - Nele Geerts
- Cancer Bio-Engineering Group, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland; (C.G.); (N.G.)
| | - Brenton Cavanagh
- Cellular and Molecular Imaging Core, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland;
| | - Meagan Haynes
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (A.J.E.)
| | - C. Patrick Reynolds
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79416, USA;
- Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79416, USA
| | - Daniela Loessner
- Departments of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia;
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Andrew J. Ewald
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (A.J.E.)
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Program, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Olga Piskareva
- Cancer Bio-Engineering Group, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland; (C.G.); (N.G.)
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland
- National Children’s Research Centre, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Dublin D12 8MGH, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Harnessing the therapeutic potential of antibodies targeting connexin hemichannels. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166047. [PMID: 33418036 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.166047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Connexin hemichannels have been implicated in pathology-promoting conditions, including inflammation, numerous widespread human diseases, including cancer and diabetes, and several rare diseases linked to pathological point mutations. METHODS We analysed the literature focusing on antibodies capable of modulating hemichannel function, highlighting generation methods, applications to basic biomedical research and translational potential. RESULTS Anti-hemichannel antibodies generated over the past 3 decades targeted mostly connexin 43, with a focus on cancer treatment. A slow transition from relatively unselective polyclonal antibodies to more selective monoclonal antibodies resulted in few products with interesting characteristics that are under evaluation for clinical trials. Selection of antibodies from combinatorial phage-display libraries, has permitted to engineer a monoclonal antibody that binds to and blocks pathological hemichannels formed by connexin 26, 30 and 32. CONCLUSIONS All known antibodies that modulate connexin hemichannels target the two small extracellular loops of the connexin proteins. The extracellular region of different connexins is highly conserved, and few residues of each connexins are exposed. The search for new antibodies may develop an unprecedented potential for therapeutic applications, as it may benefit tremendously from novel whole-cell screening platforms that permit in situ selection of antibodies against membrane proteins in native state. The demonstrated efficacy of mAbs in reaching and modulating hemichannels in vivo, together with their relative specificity for connexins overlapping epitopes, should hopefully stimulate an interest for widening the scope of anti-hemichannel antibodies. There is no shortage of currently incurable diseases for which therapeutic intervention may benefit from anti-hemichannel antibodies capable of modulating hemichannel function selectively and specifically.
Collapse
|
20
|
Mulkearns-Hubert EE, Reizes O, Lathia JD. Connexins in Cancer: Jekyll or Hyde? Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1654. [PMID: 33321749 PMCID: PMC7764653 DOI: 10.3390/biom10121654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression, localization, and function of connexins, the protein subunits that comprise gap junctions, are often altered in cancer. In addition to cell-cell coupling through gap junction channels, connexins also form hemichannels that allow communication between the cell and the extracellular space and perform non-junctional intracellular activities. Historically, connexins have been considered tumor suppressors; however, they can also serve tumor-promoting functions in some contexts. Here, we review the literature surrounding connexins in cancer cells in terms of specific connexin functions and propose that connexins function upstream of most, if not all, of the hallmarks of cancer. The development of advanced connexin targeting approaches remains an opportunity for the field to further interrogate the role of connexins in cancer phenotypes, particularly through the use of in vivo models. More specific modulators of connexin function will both help elucidate the functions of connexins in cancer and advance connexin-specific therapies in the clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin E. Mulkearns-Hubert
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (O.R.); (J.D.L.)
| | - Ofer Reizes
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (O.R.); (J.D.L.)
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College, Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Justin D. Lathia
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (O.R.); (J.D.L.)
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College, Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Rose Ella Burkhardt Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Boucher J, Balandre AC, Debant M, Vix J, Harnois T, Bourmeyster N, Péraudeau E, Chépied A, Clarhaut J, Debiais F, Monvoisin A, Cronier L. Cx43 Present at the Leading Edge Membrane Governs Promigratory Effects of Osteoblast-Conditioned Medium on Human Prostate Cancer Cells in the Context of Bone Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12103013. [PMID: 33081404 PMCID: PMC7602984 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12103013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In its late stages, prostate cancer (PCa) is characterized by a high propensity to form osteoblastic bone metastases, mainly treated by palliative approaches. In a previous work, we demonstrated that a gap junctional protein, connexin43 (Cx43) is implicated both in the increase of aggressiveness of PCa cells and in their impact on bone. To analyze the reciprocal part of the dialogue, the current study addresses the role of Cx43 in the impact of bone microenvironment on PCa cells abilities. Using Cx43-overexpressing PCa cell lines, we determined that Cx43 is necessary for promigratory effect induced by osteoblastic conditioned media (ObCM) on individual cells. Next, we demonstrated the requirement of Cx43 membrane localization at the leading edge and the involvement of the cytoplasmic part in this ObCM-induced migration. Overall, our findings precise the role of Cx43 during PCa progression and its putative use as aggressiveness marker and as potential therapeutic targets. Abstract Among the different interacting molecules implicated in bone metastases, connexin43 (Cx43) may increase sensitivity of prostate cancer (PCa) cells to bone microenvironment, as suggested by our in silico and human tissue samples analyses that revealed increased level of Cx43 expression with PCa progression and a Cx43 specific expression in bone secondary sites. The goal of the present study was to understand how Cx43 influences PCa cells sensitivity and aggressiveness to bone microenvironment. By means of Cx43-overexpressing PCa cell lines, we revealed a Cx43-dependent promigratory effect of osteoblastic conditioned media (ObCM). This effect on directional migration relied on the presence of Cx43 at the plasma membrane and not on gap junctional intercellular communication and hemichannel functions. ObCM stimulation induced Rac1 activation and Cx43 interaction with cortactin in protrusions of migrating PCa cells. Finally, by transfecting two different truncated forms of Cx43 in LNCaP cells, we determined that the carboxy terminal (CT) part of Cx43 is crucial for the responsiveness of PCa cells to ObCM. Our study demonstrates that Cx43 level and its membrane localization modulate the phenotypic response of PCa cells to osteoblastic microenvironment and that its CT domain plays a pivotal role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Boucher
- CNRS ERL7003, Laboratory Signalisation et Transports Ioniques Membranaires (STIM), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France; (J.B.); (A.-C.B.); (M.D.); (J.V.); (T.H.); (N.B.); (F.D.); (A.M.)
| | - Annie-Claire Balandre
- CNRS ERL7003, Laboratory Signalisation et Transports Ioniques Membranaires (STIM), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France; (J.B.); (A.-C.B.); (M.D.); (J.V.); (T.H.); (N.B.); (F.D.); (A.M.)
| | - Marjolaine Debant
- CNRS ERL7003, Laboratory Signalisation et Transports Ioniques Membranaires (STIM), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France; (J.B.); (A.-C.B.); (M.D.); (J.V.); (T.H.); (N.B.); (F.D.); (A.M.)
| | - Justine Vix
- CNRS ERL7003, Laboratory Signalisation et Transports Ioniques Membranaires (STIM), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France; (J.B.); (A.-C.B.); (M.D.); (J.V.); (T.H.); (N.B.); (F.D.); (A.M.)
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Center of Poitiers, 2 Rue de la Milétrie, 86021 Poitiers, France
| | - Thomas Harnois
- CNRS ERL7003, Laboratory Signalisation et Transports Ioniques Membranaires (STIM), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France; (J.B.); (A.-C.B.); (M.D.); (J.V.); (T.H.); (N.B.); (F.D.); (A.M.)
| | - Nicolas Bourmeyster
- CNRS ERL7003, Laboratory Signalisation et Transports Ioniques Membranaires (STIM), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France; (J.B.); (A.-C.B.); (M.D.); (J.V.); (T.H.); (N.B.); (F.D.); (A.M.)
| | - Elodie Péraudeau
- University Hospital Center of Poitiers, 2 rue de la Milétrie, 86021 Poitiers, France; (E.P.); (J.C.)
- CNRS UMR 7285, Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), University of Poitiers, 4 Rue Michel Brunet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France
| | - Amandine Chépied
- Laboratory of Experimental and Clinical Neurosciences, LNEC-INSERM U1084, UBM-Laboratoire de Cancérologie Biologique, CHU de Poitiers, 2 Rue de la Milétrie, 86000 Poitiers, France;
| | - Jonathan Clarhaut
- University Hospital Center of Poitiers, 2 rue de la Milétrie, 86021 Poitiers, France; (E.P.); (J.C.)
- CNRS UMR 7285, Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), University of Poitiers, 4 Rue Michel Brunet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France
| | - Françoise Debiais
- CNRS ERL7003, Laboratory Signalisation et Transports Ioniques Membranaires (STIM), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France; (J.B.); (A.-C.B.); (M.D.); (J.V.); (T.H.); (N.B.); (F.D.); (A.M.)
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Center of Poitiers, 2 Rue de la Milétrie, 86021 Poitiers, France
| | - Arnaud Monvoisin
- CNRS ERL7003, Laboratory Signalisation et Transports Ioniques Membranaires (STIM), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France; (J.B.); (A.-C.B.); (M.D.); (J.V.); (T.H.); (N.B.); (F.D.); (A.M.)
| | - Laurent Cronier
- CNRS ERL7003, Laboratory Signalisation et Transports Ioniques Membranaires (STIM), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106, CEDEX 09, 86073 Poitiers, France; (J.B.); (A.-C.B.); (M.D.); (J.V.); (T.H.); (N.B.); (F.D.); (A.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-5-49-45-37-52
| |
Collapse
|