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Valenti G, Laise P, Takahashi R, Wu F, Ruan T, Vasciaveo A, Jiang Z, Sunagawa M, Middelhoff M, Nienhüser H, Fu N, Malagola E, Hayakawa Y, Iuga AC, Califano A, Wang TC. Regulatory network analysis of Dclk1 gene expression reveals a tuft cell-ILC2 axis that inhibits pancreatic tumor progression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.30.610508. [PMID: 39257805 PMCID: PMC11383664 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.30.610508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Dclk1 expression defines a rare population of cells in the normal pancreas whose frequency is increased at early stages of pancreatic tumorigenesis. The identity and the precise roles of Dclk1 expressing cells in pancreas have been matter of debate, although evidence suggests their involvement in a number of key functions, including regeneration and neoplasia. We employed a recently developed Dclk1 reporter mouse model and single cell RNAseq analysis to define Dclk1 expressing cells in normal pancreas and pancreatic neoplasia. In normal pancreas, Dclk1 epithelial expression identifies subsets of ductal, islet and acinar cells. In pancreatic neoplasia, Dclk1 expression identifies five epithelial cell populations, among which acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM)-like cells and tuft-like cells are predominant. These two cell populations play opposing roles in pancreatic neoplasia, with Dclk1+ ADM-like cells sustaining tumor growth while Dclk1+ tuft-like cells restraining tumor progression. The differentiation of Kras mutant acinar cells into Dclk1+ tuft-like cells requires the activation of the transcription factor SPIB and is further supported by a cellular paracrine loop involving cancer group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) and cancer activated fibroblasts (CAFs) that provide IL13 and IL33, respectively. In turn, Dclk1+ tuft-like cells release angiotensinogen that plays protective roles against pancreatic neoplasia. Overall, our study provides novel insights on the biology of Dclk1+ cells in normal pancreas and unveils a protective axis against pancreatic neoplasia, involving CAFs, ILC2 and Dclk1+ tuft-like cells, which ultimately results in angiotensinogen release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Valenti
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Pasquale Laise
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- DarwinHealth Inc., New York, New York, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Ryota Takahashi
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Feijing Wu
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tuo Ruan
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Zhengyu Jiang
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Masaki Sunagawa
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Moritz Middelhoff
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU Munich, Germany
| | - Henrik Nienhüser
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Na Fu
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ermanno Malagola
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yoku Hayakawa
- Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Alina C Iuga
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea Califano
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Timothy C Wang
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Lead Contact
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Wang Y, Jin Y, Shen X, Zheng Q, Xue Q, Chen L, Lin Y, Li Y. POU2F3: A Sensitive and Specific Diagnostic Marker for Neuroendocrine-low/negative Small Cell Lung Cancer. Am J Surg Pathol 2023; 47:1059-1066. [PMID: 37357936 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000002081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
POU2F3 (POU class 2 homeobox 3) is a novel transcription factor used to define the special molecular subtype of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) known as SCLC-P. Nevertheless, the sensitivity and specificity of POU2F3 immunohistochemical (IHC) staining have not been fully investigated. In this study, we explored the expression of POU2F3 by IHC in a large cohort of SCLC clinical samples (n=246), other common lung cancer types (n=2207), and various other cancer types (n=194). The results showed that POU2F3 was strongly nuclear stained in 13.41% (33/246) of SCLC cases, with negative or minimal labeling for thyroid transcription factor-1 and neuroendocrine (NE) markers. Compared with POU2F3-negative SCLC, SCLC-P harbored fewer TP53 and RB1 mutations. POU2F3 was also expressed in 3.13% (8/256) of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and 20% (2/10) of large cell NE carcinomas (LCNECs), whereas other lung cancer types were negative. In addition to lung cancer, POU2F3 was positive in 22.2% (4/18) of thymic tumors. All other tumors were POU2F3-negative except for thymic carcinoma, although sparsely distributed weak nuclear staining was observed in lung adenocarcinoma, cervical SCC, and colorectal carcinoma. The sensitivity and specificity of POU2F3 in NE-low/negative SCLC were 82.1% and 99.4%, respectively. Notably, some rare unique patterns of POU2F3 expression were observed. One case of thymic SCC was characterized by diffuse and uniform cytomembrane staining. One case of esophageal NE tumor was nuclear-positive, while the normal proliferating squamous epithelium was strongly membrane-stained. This is the largest cohort of clinical samples to confirm that POU2F3 is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic marker for NE-low/negative SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Jin
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuxia Shen
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianqian Xue
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijun Chen
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yicong Lin
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Vlajic K, Pennington Kluger H, Bie W, Merrill BJ, Nonn L, Kajdacsy-Balla A, Tyner AL. Appearance of tuft cells during prostate cancer progression. Oncogene 2023; 42:2374-2385. [PMID: 37386128 PMCID: PMC10374444 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02743-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Tuft cells are chemosensory epithelial cells that increase in number following infection or injury to robustly activate the innate immune response to alleviate or promote disease. Recent studies of castration resistant prostate cancer and its subtype, neuroendocrine prostate cancer, revealed Pou2f3+ populations in mouse models. The transcription factor Pou2f3 is a master regulator of the tuft cell lineage. We show that tuft cells are upregulated early during prostate cancer development, and their numbers increase with progression. Cancer-associated tuft cells in the mouse prostate express DCLK1, COX1, COX2, while human tuft cells express COX1. Mouse and human tuft cells exhibit strong activation of signaling pathways including EGFR and SRC-family kinases. While DCLK1 is a mouse tuft cell marker, it is not present in human prostate tuft cells. Tuft cells that appear in mouse models of prostate cancer display genotype-specific tuft cell gene expression signatures. Using bioinformatic analysis tools and publicly available datasets, we characterized prostate tuft cells in aggressive disease and highlighted differences between tuft cell populations. Our findings indicate that tuft cells contribute to the prostate cancer microenvironment and may promote development of more advanced disease. Further research is needed to understand contributions of tuft cells to prostate cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Vlajic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Hannah Pennington Kluger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Wenjun Bie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Bradley J Merrill
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Larisa Nonn
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- The Department of Pathology, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Andre Kajdacsy-Balla
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- The Department of Pathology, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Angela L Tyner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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Kotas ME, O'Leary CE, Locksley RM. Tuft Cells: Context- and Tissue-Specific Programming for a Conserved Cell Lineage. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY 2023; 18:311-335. [PMID: 36351364 PMCID: PMC10443898 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-042320-112212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Tuft cells are found in tissues with distinct stem cell compartments, tissue architecture, and luminal exposures but converge on a shared transcriptional program, including expression of taste transduction signaling pathways. Here, we summarize seminal and recent findings on tuft cells, focusing on major categories of function-instigation of type 2 cytokine responses, orchestration of antimicrobial responses, and emerging roles in tissue repair-and describe tuft cell-derived molecules used to affect these functional programs. We review what is known about the development of tuft cells from epithelial progenitors under homeostatic conditions and during disease. Finally, we discuss evidence that immature, or nascent, tuft cells with potential for diverse functions are driven toward dominant effector programs by tissue- or perturbation-specific contextual cues, which may result in heterogeneous mature tuft cell phenotypes both within and between tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya E Kotas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Claire E O'Leary
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Current affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Richard M Locksley
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA;
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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