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Ortiz-Sánchez P, González-Soto S, Villamizar LH, Valencia J, Jiménez E, Sacedón R, Ramírez M, Fariñas I, Varas A, Fernández-Sevilla LM, Vicente Á. Meningeal leukaemic aggregates as foci of cell expansion and chemoresistance in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia metastasis. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2025; 48:725-741. [PMID: 39937211 PMCID: PMC12119772 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-025-01043-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/30/2025] [Indexed: 02/13/2025] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Central nervous system (CNS) involvement and/or relapse remains one of the most important causes of morbidity/mortality in paediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP-ALL) patients. To identify novel therapeutic targets and develop less aggressive therapies, a better understanding of the cellular and molecular microenvironment in leptomeningeal metastases is key. Here, we aimed to investigate the formation of metastatic leptomeningeal aggregates and their relevance to the expansion, survival and chemoresistance acquisition of leukaemia cells. METHODS We used BCP-ALL xenograft mouse models, combined with immunohistofluorescence and flow cytometry, to study the development of CNS metastasis and the contribution of leptomeningeal cells to the organisation of leukaemic aggregates. To in vitro mimic the CNS metastasis, we established co-cultures of three-dimensional (3D) ALL cell spheroids and human leptomeningeal cells (hLMCs) and studied the effects on gene expression, proliferation, cytokine production, and chemoresistance. RESULTS In xenografted mice, ALL cells infiltrated the CNS at an early stage and, after crossing an ER-TR7+ fibroblast-like meningeal cell layer, they proliferated extensively and formed large vascularised leukaemic aggregates supported by a network of podoplanin+ leptomeningeal cells. In leukaemia spheroid-hLMC co-cultures, unlike conventional 2D co-cultures, meningeal cells strongly promoted the proliferation of leukaemic cells and generated a pro-inflammatory microenvironment. Furthermore, in 3D cell aggregates, leukaemic cells also developed chemoresistance, at least in part due to ABC transporter up-regulation. CONCLUSION Our results provide evidence for the formation of metastatic ALL-leptomeningeal cell aggregates, their pro-inflammatory profile and their contribution to leukaemic cell expansion, survival and chemoresistance in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Ortiz-Sánchez
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara González-Soto
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luz H Villamizar
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaris Valencia
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Jiménez
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Sacedón
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Ramírez
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Advanced Therapies Unit, Niño Jesús University Children's Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute Hospital La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Fariñas
- Biomedical Research Network on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Department of Cell Biology and Biotechnology and Biomedicine Institute (BioTecMed), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alberto Varas
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
- Health Research Institute Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Lidia M Fernández-Sevilla
- Health Research Institute Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Basic Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain.
| | - Ángeles Vicente
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
- Health Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Madrid, Spain.
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Baldzhieva A, Burnusuzov H, Andreeva H, Kalfova T, Petrov S, Dudova D, Vaseva K, Murdjeva M, Taskov H. Advancing Measurable Residual Disease Detection in Pediatric BCP-ALL: Insights from Novel Immunophenotypic Markers. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:4282. [PMID: 40362518 PMCID: PMC12072110 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26094282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2025] [Accepted: 04/10/2025] [Indexed: 05/15/2025] Open
Abstract
Measurable Residual Disease (MRD) assessment in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is crucial for relapse prediction and treatment guidance. Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) enhances detection but faces limitations due to insufficient leukemia-associated immunophenotypes (LAIPs) and antigen modulation. This study explores new markers to improve MFC-based MRD detection in B-cell precursor ALL (BCP-ALL). Expression-patterns of seven aberrancy markers, i.e., CD44, CD304, CD73, CD86, CD123, CD99, CD58, and one B-cell maturation marker, CD22, were studied in 143 samples with leukemic-blasts from sixty-one childhood BCP-ALL patients and in hematogones of 20 non-leukemic bone marrow (BM) samples using fourteen-color MFC. The highest relative frequences of LAIPs amounted to 82.50%, reported for CD99 and CD58, followed by CD44 (81.10%), CD73 (76.20%), CD22 (73.40%), CD304 and CD86 (68.50%), while the lowest relative frequence was CD123 (44.40%). Differential expression of CD58, CD304, and CD73 in diagnostic samples was highly significant (p < 0.01) between pre-B-I, pre-B-II, immature B cells, and BCP-ALL blasts. In MRD-positive samples CD73 showed significantly high (p < 0.01) differential expression between all stages of hematogones and residual blasts, followed by CD304, CD58, and CD22. CD73 and CD304 were identified as the most reliable among the tested markers for distinguishing both diagnostic and MRD blasts from normal B cell precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Baldzhieva
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology “Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev”, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (T.K.); (S.P.); (D.D.); (K.V.); (M.M.)
- Research Institute at Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (H.B.); (H.A.)
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, St. George University Hospital, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
| | - Hasan Burnusuzov
- Research Institute at Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (H.B.); (H.A.)
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, St. George University Hospital, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
- Department of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Hristina Andreeva
- Research Institute at Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (H.B.); (H.A.)
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Laboratory Medicine Division, Diagnostic Clinic, University Hospital of North Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 67, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Teodora Kalfova
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology “Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev”, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (T.K.); (S.P.); (D.D.); (K.V.); (M.M.)
- Research Institute at Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (H.B.); (H.A.)
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, St. George University Hospital, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
| | - Steliyan Petrov
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology “Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev”, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (T.K.); (S.P.); (D.D.); (K.V.); (M.M.)
- Research Institute at Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (H.B.); (H.A.)
| | - Dobrina Dudova
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology “Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev”, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (T.K.); (S.P.); (D.D.); (K.V.); (M.M.)
| | - Katya Vaseva
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology “Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev”, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (T.K.); (S.P.); (D.D.); (K.V.); (M.M.)
| | - Marianna Murdjeva
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology “Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev”, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (T.K.); (S.P.); (D.D.); (K.V.); (M.M.)
- Research Institute at Medical University-Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (H.B.); (H.A.)
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, St. George University Hospital, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
| | - Hristo Taskov
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, St. George University Hospital, Vasil Aprilov Str. 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
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Mosoane B, McCabe M, Jackson BS, Dlamini Z. CD44 Variant Expression in Follicular Cell-Derived Thyroid Cancers: Implications for Overcoming Multidrug Resistance. Molecules 2025; 30:1899. [PMID: 40363706 PMCID: PMC12073131 DOI: 10.3390/molecules30091899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2025] [Revised: 03/22/2025] [Accepted: 04/23/2025] [Indexed: 05/15/2025] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer (TC) is a significant global health issue that exhibits notable heterogeneity in incidence and outcomes. In low-resource settings such as Africa, delayed diagnosis and limited healthcare access exacerbate mortality rates. Among follicular cell-derived thyroid cancers-including papillary (PTC), follicular (FTC), anaplastic (ATC), and poorly differentiated (PDTC) subtypes-the role of CD44 variants has emerged as a critical factor influencing tumor progression and multidrug resistance (MDR). CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein, and its splice variants (CD44v) mediate cell adhesion, migration, and survival, contributing to cancer stem cell (CSC) maintenance and therapy resistance. Differential expression patterns of CD44 isoforms across TC subtypes have shown diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. Specifically, CD44v6 expression in PTC has been correlated with metastasis and aggressive tumor behavior, while in FTC, its expression aids in distinguishing malignant from benign lesions. Furthermore, CD44 contributes to MDR through enhanced drug efflux via ABC transporters, apoptosis evasion, and CSC maintenance via the Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/Akt pathways. Targeted therapies against CD44 such as monoclonal antibodies, hyaluronic acid-based nanocarriers, and gene-editing technologies hold promise in overcoming MDR. However, despite the mounting evidence supporting CD44-targeted strategies in various cancers, research on this therapeutic potential in TC remains limited. This review synthesizes existing knowledge on CD44 variant expression in follicular cell-derived thyroid cancers and highlights potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate MDR, particularly in high-burden regions, thereby improving patient outcomes and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benny Mosoane
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa;
| | - Michelle McCabe
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa;
| | - Brandon S. Jackson
- Breast and Endocrine Unit, Department of General Surgery, University of Pretoria, Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital, Pretoria 0001, South Africa;
| | - Zodwa Dlamini
- SAMRC Precision Oncology Research Unit (PORU), DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Precision Oncology and Cancer Prevention (POCP), Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
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Jovanović L, Šošić-Jurjević B, Ćirković A, Dragičević S, Filipović B, Milenković S, Dugalić S, Gojnić-Dugalić M, Nikolić A. Diagnostic Potential of CD44, CD133, and VDR in Epithelial Ovarian Tumors: Association with Histopathology Parameters. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:3729. [PMID: 40332380 PMCID: PMC12028036 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26083729] [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: 03/14/2025] [Revised: 04/10/2025] [Accepted: 04/11/2025] [Indexed: 05/08/2025] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) significantly contribute to heterogeneity, malignancy, and therapy resistance in ovarian cancer. Recent studies emphasize the role of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in regulating cell differentiation and stemness in various types of cancer. This study aims to determine the expression levels of CD44, CD133, and VDR in epithelial ovarian tumors (EOTs) and to compare these levels across different tumor types, including benign, atypical proliferative tumors, and five types of malignant phenotypes, in order to evaluate their potential as diagnostic tools for malignancy. Tissue samples from 218 patients diagnosed with EOT were analyzed. Clinical and histopathologic parameters were recorded. Quantitative immunohistochemical tissue microarray analysis was used to assess the expression levels of CD44, CD133, and VDR using two different scoring systems. Comparisons were made between benign tumors (n = 45), atypical proliferative tumors (n = 42), and ovarian carcinomas (n = 131), including high-grade serous (HGSC) and non-HGSC subtypes. Ovarian cancer, especially HGSC, showed a significantly higher expression of CD44 and VDR (p < 0.05) compared to atypical proliferative tumors and benign tumors. The expression of CD133 was highest in atypical proliferative tumors (p < 0.05). A moderate positive correlation was found between CD44, CD133, and VDR in all groups, with significant correlations with tumor grade and FIGO stage in ovarian cancer (p < 0.05). The increased expression of CD44 and VDR in aggressive ovarian cancer, along with elevated CD133 levels in atypical proliferative tumors, highlights the complexity of tumor biology. These markers may serve as valuable targets for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ljubiša Jovanović
- Department of Pathology and Medical Cytology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, dr Koste Todorovića 26, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Branka Šošić-Jurjević
- Department of Cytology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Anđa Ćirković
- Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića 15, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sandra Dragičević
- Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Branko Filipović
- Department of Cytology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Svetlana Milenković
- Department of Pathology and Medical Cytology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, dr Koste Todorovića 26, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Stefan Dugalić
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Center of Serbia, dr Koste Todorovića 26, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića 8, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miroslava Gojnić-Dugalić
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Center of Serbia, dr Koste Todorovića 26, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića 8, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Nikolić
- Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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Hu X, Wang P, Wang T, Cao J, Du K, Scarlat MM, Liu L, Li Y, Wang X, Wang H, Ma H, Wang L, Jin L, Hou Z. Establishment of fracture blister model and analysis of plasma protein markers in rats. Front Immunol 2025; 16:1547491. [PMID: 40297588 PMCID: PMC12034566 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1547491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2025] [Indexed: 04/30/2025] Open
Abstract
Purpose Fracture blister (FB) is a frequent complication in orthopedic surgery. The primary objective of this study was to refine the animal model of FB and to identify plasma protein markers associated with its development and progression. Methods In this study, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used as experimental subjects. Various pressures and compression durations were applied to the lower limbs of rats with fractures to compare the differential expression patterns (DEPs) between the pressure-time combination that resulted in the highest incidence of blisters and other groups. Subsequently, we investigated the variations in DEPs expression across different time intervals of the established model. Results Our findings indicate that following a lower limb fracture in SD rats, the highest incidence of blister formation was observed under conditions of 450 mmHg pressure and 9 hours of compression (46%, 7/15). In this group, the levels of CD44 and B2M were significantly elevated, while those of Activin R2A were reduced. Furthermore, we investigated the temporal profile of the group with the highest incidence of blister formation and found that CXCL16 and ROBO1 reached peak secretion 48 hours post-injury, followed by a subsequent decline. Additionally, the secretion of IL-2RG and IL-7 continued to increase 48 hours after the injury. Conclusions the increase of CD44 and B2M and the decrease of Activin R2A might be the potential influencing factors for the higher incidence of fracture blisters. CXCL16 and ROBO1 reached their peak 48 hours after the end of molding, and IL-2 RG and IL-7 R continued to increase 48 hours after the end of molding, which will provide a new direction for the study of the occurrence and development mechanism of fracture blisters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Hu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Peiyuan Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Jingcheng Cao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Kezheng Du
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | | | - Lin Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yutong Li
- Baoding University, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Haofei Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Huijie Ma
- The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Lin Jin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Zhiyong Hou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Engineering Research Center of Orthopedic Minimally Invasive Intelligent Equipment, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Intelligent Orthopaedic Equipment, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
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Cifuentes C, Horndler L, Grosso P, Oeste CL, Hortal AM, Castillo J, Fernández-Pisonero I, Paradela A, Bustelo X, Alarcón B. The R-RAS2 GTPase is a signaling hub in triple-negative breast cancer cell metabolism and metastatic behavior. J Hematol Oncol 2025; 18:41. [PMID: 40221767 PMCID: PMC11993990 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-025-01693-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2025] [Indexed: 04/14/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent research from our group has shown that the overexpression of the wild-type RAS-family GTPase RRAS2 drives the onset of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in mice following one or more pregnancies. This phenomenon mirrors human TNBC, where RRAS2 is overexpressed in approximately 75% of cases, particularly in tumors associated with the postpartum period. These findings underscore the relevance of R-RAS2 in TNBC development and progression. METHODS We conducted RNA sequencing on tumors derived from conditional knock-in mice overexpressing human wild-type RRAS2 to identify the somatic mutation landscape associated with TNBC development in these mice. Additionally, we developed a TNBC cell line from RRAS2-overexpressing mice, enabling loss-of-function studies to investigate the role of R-RAS2 in various pathobiological parameters of TNBC cells, including cell migration, invasiveness, metabolic activity, and metastatic spread. Furthermore, proteomic analysis of a freshly isolated tumor identified plasma membrane receptors interacting with R-RAS2. RESULTS Our findings demonstrate that TNBC driven by RRAS2 overexpression exhibits a pattern of somatic mutations similar to those observed in human breast cancer, particularly in genes involved in stemness, extracellular matrix interactions, and actin cytoskeleton regulation. Proteomic analysis revealed that wild-type R-RAS2 interacts with 245 membrane-associated proteins, including key solute carriers involved in cell metabolism (CD98/LAT1, GLUT1, and basigin), adhesion and matrix interaction proteins (CD44, EpCAM, MCAM, ICAM1, integrin-α6, and integrin-β1), and stem cell markers (β1-catenin, α1-catenin, PTK7, and CD44). We show that R-RAS2 regulates CD98/LAT1 transporter-mediated mTOR pathway activation and mediates CD44-dependent cancer cell migration and invasion, thus providing a mechanism by which R-RAS2 promotes breast cancer cell metastasis. CONCLUSIONS R-RAS2 associates with CD44, CD98/LAT1, and other plasma membrane receptors to regulate metabolic activity, actin cytoskeleton reorganization, cell migration, invasion, and distant metastasis formation in TNBC. These findings establish R-RAS2 as a central driver of TNBC malignancy and highlight its potential as a promising therapeutic target, particularly in aggressive, postpartum-associated breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cifuentes
- Immune System Development and Function Program, Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Lydia Horndler
- Immune System Development and Function Program, Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Pilar Grosso
- Immune System Development and Function Program, Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Clara L Oeste
- Immune System Development and Function Program, Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
- Savana, S.L., Calle Gran Vía 30, Madrid, 28013, Spain
| | - Alejandro M Hortal
- Immune System Development and Function Program, Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Jennifer Castillo
- University Hospital Miguel Servet, P.º de Isabel la Católica, 1-3, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
| | - Isabel Fernández-Pisonero
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Unamuno s/n, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - Alberto Paradela
- Proteomics Unit, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Xosé Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Unamuno s/n, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - Balbino Alarcón
- Immune System Development and Function Program, Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.
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Wang H, He W, Elizondo-Riojas MA, Zhou X, Lee TJ, Gorenstein DG. Development and Characterization of CD44-Targeted X-Aptamers with Enhanced Binding Affinity for Cancer Therapeutics. Bioengineering (Basel) 2025; 12:113. [PMID: 40001633 PMCID: PMC11852163 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering12020113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2024] [Revised: 01/15/2025] [Accepted: 01/17/2025] [Indexed: 02/27/2025] Open
Abstract
CD44, a pivotal cell surface molecule, plays a crucial role in many cellular functions, including cell-cell interactions, adhesion, and migration. It serves as a receptor for hyaluronic acid and is involved in lymphocyte activation, recirculation, homing, and hematopoiesis. Moreover, CD44 is a commonly used cancer stem cell marker associated with tumor progression and metastasis. The development of CD44 aptamers that specifically target CD44 can be utilized to target CD44-positive cells, including cancer stem cells, and for drug delivery. Building on the primary sequences of our previously selected thioaptamers (TAs) and observed variations, we developed a bead-based X-aptamer (XA) library by conjugating drug-like ligands (X) to the 5-positions of certain uridines on a complete monothioate backbone. From this, we selected an XA with high affinity to the CD44 hyaluronic acid binding domain (HABD) from a large combinatorial X-aptamer library modified with N-acetyl-2,3-dehydro-2-deoxyneuraminic acid (ADDA). This XA demonstrated an enhanced binding affinity for the CD44 protein up to 23-fold. The selected CD44 X-aptamers (both amine form and ADDA form) also showed enhanced binding affinity to CD44-overexpressing human ovarian cancer IGROV cells. Secondary structure predictions of CD44 using MFold identified several binding motifs and smaller constructs of various stem-loop regions. Among our identified binding motifs, X-aptamer motif 3 and motif 5 showed enhanced binding affinity to CD44-overexpressing human ovarian cancer IGROV cells with ADDA form, compared to the binding affinities with amine form and scrambled sequence. The effect of ADDA as a binding affinity enhancer was not uniform within the aptamer, highlighting the importance of optimal ligand positioning. The incorporation of ADDA not only broadened the XA's chemical diversity but also increased the binding surface area, offering enhanced specificity. Therefore, the strategic use of site-directed modifications allows for fine-tuning aptamer properties and offers a flexible, generalizable framework for developing high-performance aptamers that target a wide range of molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Wang
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Weiguo He
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Miguel-Angel Elizondo-Riojas
- Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 64460, NL, Mexico
| | - Xiaobo Zhou
- Center for Computational Systems Medicine, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Tae Jin Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - David G. Gorenstein
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
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8
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Schoepf AM, Gebhart M, Federspiel M, Heidegger I, Puhr M, Hotze M, Kwiatkowski M, Pircher A, Wolf D, Sopper S, Gust R, Salcher S. Eradication of Therapy-Resistant Cancer Stem Cells by Novel Telmisartan Derivatives. J Med Chem 2025; 68:287-306. [PMID: 39693499 PMCID: PMC11726677 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01865] [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: 08/08/2024] [Revised: 12/01/2024] [Accepted: 12/06/2024] [Indexed: 12/20/2024]
Abstract
The present structure-activity relationship study investigates the development of novel chemosensitizers targeting therapy-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). We used 4'-((2-propyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-1-yl)methyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carboxylic acid, derived from the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker telmisartan, as a lead structure, demonstrating that the biphenyl moiety is essential for chemosensitizing activity. Introducing a methyl carboxylate or carboxamide instead of the COOH-group significantly enhanced this effect, leading to the development of highly potent compounds. These novel, noncytotoxic chemosensitizers effectively target CSCs and overcome drug resistance by interfering with CSC persistence mechanisms─hyperactivated STAT5 signaling and increased drug transporter activity─with demonstrated efficacy in leukemia, ovarian, and prostate cancers. The carboxamide of telmisartan (telmi-amide, 7c) significantly reduced tumor growth in an imatinib-resistant leukemia xenograft model, both as monotherapy and combined with imatinib, showing promising oral bioavailability and tolerability. In summary, telmisartan derivatives act as effective chemosensitizers and offer an innovative strategy for targeting CSCs in various malignant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Schoepf
- CCB
- Centrum for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, CMBI
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Maximilian Gebhart
- CCB
- Centrum for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, CMBI
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Martin Federspiel
- CCB
- Centrum for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, CMBI
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Isabel Heidegger
- Department
of Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Martin Puhr
- Department
of Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Madlen Hotze
- Department
of Biochemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Marcel Kwiatkowski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Andreas Pircher
- Department
of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Tyrolean Cancer Research
Institute (TKFI), Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Dominik Wolf
- Department
of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Tyrolean Cancer Research
Institute (TKFI), Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Sieghart Sopper
- Department
of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Tyrolean Cancer Research
Institute (TKFI), Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Ronald Gust
- CCB
- Centrum for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, CMBI
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Stefan Salcher
- Department
of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Tyrolean Cancer Research
Institute (TKFI), Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
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9
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Pashkina E, Bykova M, Berishvili M, Lazarev Y, Kozlov V. Hyaluronic Acid-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy. Cells 2025; 14:61. [PMID: 39851489 PMCID: PMC11764402 DOI: 10.3390/cells14020061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2024] [Revised: 01/03/2025] [Accepted: 01/04/2025] [Indexed: 01/26/2025] Open
Abstract
In recent years, hyaluronic acid (HA) has attracted increasing attention as a promising biomaterial for the development of drug delivery systems. Due to its unique properties, such as high biocompatibility, low toxicity, and modifiability, HA is becoming a basis for the creation of targeted drug delivery systems, especially in the field of oncology. Receptors for HA overexpressed in subpopulations of cancer cells, and one of them, CD44, is recognized as a molecular marker for cancer stem cells. This review examines the role of HA and its receptors in health and tumors and analyzes existing HA-based delivery systems and their use in various types of cancer. The development of new HA-based drug delivery systems will bring new opportunities and challenges to anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Pashkina
- Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, 14, Yadrintsevskaya St., 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Novosibirsk State Medical University, 52, Krasny Prospect, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Maria Bykova
- Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, 14, Yadrintsevskaya St., 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Maria Berishvili
- Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, 14, Yadrintsevskaya St., 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yaroslav Lazarev
- Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, 14, Yadrintsevskaya St., 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, 2, Pirogova Street, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Vladimir Kozlov
- Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, 14, Yadrintsevskaya St., 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, 2, Pirogova Street, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
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10
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Mella C, Tsarouhas P, Brockwell M, Ball HC. The Role of Chronic Inflammation in Pediatric Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2025; 17:154. [PMID: 39796780 PMCID: PMC11719864 DOI: 10.3390/cancers17010154] [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: 12/04/2024] [Revised: 12/31/2024] [Accepted: 01/01/2025] [Indexed: 01/13/2025] Open
Abstract
Inflammation plays a crucial role in wound healing and the host immune response following pathogenic invasion. However, unresolved chronic inflammation can result in tissue fibrosis and genetic alterations that contribute to the pathogenesis of human diseases such as cancer. Recent scientific advancements exploring the underlying mechanisms of malignant cellular transformations and cancer progression have exposed significant disparities between pediatric and adult-onset cancers. For instance, pediatric cancers tend to have lower mutational burdens and arise in actively developing tissues, where cell-cycle dysregulation leads to gene, chromosomal, and fusion gene development not seen in adult-onset counterparts. As such, scientific findings in adult cancers cannot be directly applied to pediatric cancers, where unique mutations and inherent etiologies remain poorly understood. Here, we review the role of chronic inflammation in processes of genetic and chromosomal instability, the tumor microenvironment, and immune response that result in pediatric tumorigenesis transformation and explore current and developing therapeutic interventions to maintain and/or restore inflammatory homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Mella
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Akron Children’s Hospital, One Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308, USA;
| | - Panogiotis Tsarouhas
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, OH 44325, USA;
| | - Maximillian Brockwell
- College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4029 State Route 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA;
| | - Hope C. Ball
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Akron Children’s Hospital, One Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308, USA;
- College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4029 State Route 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA;
- Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute, Akron Children’s Hospital, One Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308, USA
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11
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Jatczak-Pawlik I, Jurewicz A, Domowicz M, Ewiak-Paszyńska A, Stasiołek M. CHI3L1 in Multiple Sclerosis-From Bench to Clinic. Cells 2024; 13:2086. [PMID: 39768177 PMCID: PMC11674340 DOI: 10.3390/cells13242086] [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: 11/07/2024] [Revised: 12/05/2024] [Accepted: 12/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2025] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with a complex and not fully understood etiopathological background involving inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes. CHI3L1 has been implicated in pathological conditions such as inflammation, injury, and neurodegeneration, and is likely to play a role in the physiological development of the CNS. CHI3L1 is primarily produced by CNS macrophages, microglia, and activated astrocytes. The CHI3L1 expression pattern in MS lesions might support the important role of astrocytes in modulating inflammatory processes in this disease. The potential applications of CHI3L1 as a biomarker in MS are multifactorial. The measurement of CHI3L1 in body fluids might find its role in the early diagnosis of MS. In further stages, the monitoring of CHI3L1 levels might provide information on disease severity and progression, enabling a better adjustment of therapeutic strategies. Importantly, CHI3L1 might potentially serve as a marker of ongoing glial activation, reflecting the dynamic response of the CNS cells to the inflammatory processes in MS. Although preliminary findings have been promising, further research is needed to validate the utility of CHI3L1 measurements in the diagnosis and prediction of the progression of MS. Additionally, comparisons with other biomarkers might be useful in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mariusz Stasiołek
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lodz, Kosciuszki Street 4, 90-419 Lodz, Poland; (I.J.-P.); (A.J.); (M.D.); (A.E.-P.)
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12
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Szydłowski K, Puchalski M, Ołdziej S, Kasprzyk-Tryk A, Skorek A, Tretiakow D. The Impact of Inflammation on the Etiopathogenesis of Benign Salivary Gland Tumors: A Scoping Review. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:12558. [PMID: 39684268 PMCID: PMC11641644 DOI: 10.3390/ijms252312558] [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: 10/30/2024] [Revised: 11/20/2024] [Accepted: 11/20/2024] [Indexed: 12/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Salivary gland tumors are rare head and neck tumors constituting up to 6% of all head and neck neoplasms; despite being mostly benign, these tumors present in diverse histological subtypes, making them challenging to diagnose and treat. Our research aims to investigate the link between inflammation and tumorigenesis within the salivary glands based on the literature regarding the etiopathogenesis of benign salivary gland tumors. This scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews and reporting guidelines. The search was conducted using the Pubmed and Embase databases. Articles published between 2004 and May 2024 were included in the review. A total of 1097 papers were collected and identified. After 271 duplicates were removed, 826 titles and abstracts were independently reviewed by two researchers. Based on the title and abstract, 735 citations were excluded, and 91 articles were assessed for eligibility. Data were extracted from 46 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The review highlights the significance of inflammation-related factors and its relations with benign salivary gland tumors (SGTs). Knowledge of the etiopathogenesis of these tumors remains insufficient, and their rich immunological background poses challenges in diagnosis. The findings also point to directions for further clinical research, which will be necessary to implement these molecules in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Szydłowski
- Department of Otolaryngology, Academy of Applied Medical and Social Sciences, 82-300 Elblag, Poland; (A.K.-T.); (A.S.); (D.T.)
- The Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Gdansk, Copernicus Healthcare Entity, Powstańców Warszawskich 1/2, 80-152 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Michał Puchalski
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG&MUG, University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdańsk, Poland; (M.P.); (S.O.)
| | - Stanisław Ołdziej
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG&MUG, University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdańsk, Poland; (M.P.); (S.O.)
| | - Agnieszka Kasprzyk-Tryk
- Department of Otolaryngology, Academy of Applied Medical and Social Sciences, 82-300 Elblag, Poland; (A.K.-T.); (A.S.); (D.T.)
- The Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Gdansk, Copernicus Healthcare Entity, Powstańców Warszawskich 1/2, 80-152 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Andrzej Skorek
- Department of Otolaryngology, Academy of Applied Medical and Social Sciences, 82-300 Elblag, Poland; (A.K.-T.); (A.S.); (D.T.)
- The Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Gdansk, Copernicus Healthcare Entity, Powstańców Warszawskich 1/2, 80-152 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Dmitry Tretiakow
- Department of Otolaryngology, Academy of Applied Medical and Social Sciences, 82-300 Elblag, Poland; (A.K.-T.); (A.S.); (D.T.)
- The Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Gdansk, Copernicus Healthcare Entity, Powstańców Warszawskich 1/2, 80-152 Gdansk, Poland
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13
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Kim HY, Kim HS. Podoplanin depletion in tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells induces cellular senescence via regulation of the p16 Ink4a/Rb pathway. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:323. [PMID: 38867259 PMCID: PMC11167904 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01705-8] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in the development of therapeutic tools in regenerative medicine. However, their quality decreases during in vitro expansion because of heterogeneity and acquired cellular senescence. We investigated the potential role of podoplanin (PDPN) in minimizing cellular senescence and maintaining the stemness of tonsil-derived MSCs (TMSCs). METHODS TMSCs were isolated from human tonsil tissues using an enzymatic method, expanded, and divided into two groups: early-passaged TMSCs, which were cultured for 3-7 passages, and late-passaged TMSCs, which were passaged more than 15 times. The TMSCs were evaluated for cellular senescence and MSC characteristics, and PDPN-positive and -negative cells were identified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. In addition, MSC features were assessed in siRNA-mediated PDPN-depleted TMSCs. RESULTS TMSCs, when passaged more than 15 times and becoming senescent, exhibited reduced proliferative rates, telomere length, pluripotency marker (NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2) expression, and tri-lineage differentiation potential (adipogenesis, chondrogenesis, or osteogenesis) compared to cells passaged less than five times. Furthermore, PDPN protein levels significantly decreased in a passage-dependent manner. PDPN-positive cells maintained their stemness characteristics, such as MSC-specific surface antigen (CD14, CD34, CD45, CD73, CD90, and CD105) and pluripotency marker expression, and exhibited higher tri-lineage differentiation potential than PDPN-negative cells. SiRNA-mediated silencing of PDPN led to decreased cell-cycle progression, proliferation, and migration, indicating the significance of PDPN as a preliminary senescence-related factor. These reductions directly contributed to the induction of cellular senescence via p16Ink4a/Rb pathway activation. CONCLUSION PDPN may serve as a novel biomarker to mitigate cellular senescence in the clinical application of MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Yeong Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, 1071 Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 07985, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Su Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, 1071 Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 07985, Republic of Korea.
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