Cellular plasticity confers cancer cells the ability to adapt to micro-environmental changes, a fundamental requirement for tumour progression and metastasis. The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a transcriptional programme associated with increased cell motility and stemness. Beside EMT, the mesenchymal to amoeboid transition (MAT) has been described during tumour progression but, to date, little is known about its transcriptional control and involvement in stemness. The aim of this study is to investigate (i) the transcriptional profile associated with the MAT programme and (ii) to study whether MAT acquisition in melanoma cancer cells correlate with clonogenic potential to promote tumor growth. Our results demonstrate that MAT programme in melanoma is characterised by increased stemness and clonogenic features of cancer cells, thus sustaining tumour progression. Furthermore, these data suggest that stemness is not an exclusive feature of cells undergoing EMT, but more generally is associated with an increase in cellular plasticity of cancer cells.
Mesenchymal to amoeboid transition is associated with stem-like features of melanoma cells.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesDemethyl fructiculin A is a diterpenoid quinone component of the exudates from Salvia corrugata (SCO-1) leafes. SCO-1 was recently reported to induce anoikis in mammalian cell lines via a molecular mechanism involving the presence of the membrane scavenging receptor CD36. However, experiments performed with cells lacking CD36, showed that SCO-1 was able to induce apoptosis also via alternate pathways. To contribute to a better characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlining the cytotoxic activity of SCO-1, we decided to pursue an unbiased pharmacogenomic approach by generating the gene expression profile of GBM TICs subjected to the administration of SCO-1 and comparing it with that of control cells exposed to the solvent. With this strategy we hypothesized to highlight those pathways and biological processes unlashed by SCO-1.
Demethyl fruticulin A (SCO-1) causes apoptosis by inducing reactive oxygen species in mitochondria.
Time
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Integrated gene and miRNA expression analysis of prostate cancer associated fibroblasts supports a prominent role for interleukin-6 in fibroblast activation.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesTumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGF-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Tumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGF-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Tumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGF-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment.
Integrated gene and miRNA expression analysis of prostate cancer associated fibroblasts supports a prominent role for interleukin-6 in fibroblast activation.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesHere we explored how the human macrophage response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is regulated by human synovial fibroblasts, the representative stromal cell type in the synovial lining of joints that become activated during inflammatory arthritis. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis (RNAseq) showed that co-cultured synovial fibroblasts modulate the expression of approximately one third of TNF-inducible genes in macrophages, including expression of target genes in pathways important for macrophage survival and polarization towards an alternatively activated phenotype. This work furthers our understanding of the interplay between innate immune and stromal cells during an inflammatory response, one that is particularly relevant to inflammatory arthritis. Our findings also identify modulation of macrophage phenotype as a new function for synovial fibroblasts that may prove to be a contributing factor in arthritis pathogenesis. Overall design: Human CD14+ MCSF-differentiated macrophages were cultured with or without synovial fibroblasts in transwell chambers. TNF was added at Day 0, macrophages were harvested at Day 2. Total of 4 samples: (1) macrophages alone (2) macrophages with fibroblasts (3) macrophages with TNF (4) macrophages with fibroblasts and TNF. Macrophage RNA was purified using RNeasy mini kit (Qiagen). Tru-seq sample preparation kits (Illumina) were used to purify poly-A transcripts and generate libraries with multiplexed barcode adaptors. All samples passed quality control on a Bioanalyzer 2100 (Agilent). Paired-end reads (50 x 2 cycles, ~75x106 reads per sample) were obtained on an Illumina HiSeq 2500. The TopHat program was used to align the reads to the UCSC Hg19 human reference genome, while the Cufflinks program allowed for measurements of transcript abundance (represented by Fragments Per Kilobase of exon model per Million mapped reads (FPKM)).
Modulation of TNF-induced macrophage polarization by synovial fibroblasts.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe did transcriptome profiling for monocytes treated with or without IFNg to characterize IFNg response. Overall design: Human primary monocytes were cultured for 24 hours with or without IFNg, harversted and prepared for RNA for RNAseq.
IFN-γ Induces Histone 3 Lysine 27 Trimethylation in a Small Subset of Promoters to Stably Silence Gene Expression in Human Macrophages.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesMicroenvironment is known to influence cancer drug response and sustain resistance to therapies targeting receptor-tyrosine kinases. However if and how tumor microenvironment can be altered during treatment, contributing to resistance onset is not known. Here we show that, under prolonged treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), EGFR- or MET-addicted cancer cells displayed a metabolic shift towards increased glycolysis and lactate production. We identified secreted lactate as the key molecule able to instruct Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) to produce Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) in a NF-KB dependent manner. Increased HGF, activating MET-dependent signaling in cancer cells, sustained resistance to TKIs. Functional targeting or pharmacological inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase prevented and overcame in vivo resistance, demonstrating the crucial role of this metabolite in the adaptive process. This non-cell-autonomous, adaptive resistance mechanism was observed in NSCLC patients progressed on EGFR TKIs, demonstrating the clinical relevance of our findings and opening novel scenarios in the challenge to drug resistance Overall design: RNA-seq analysis of 2 different samples, each one with 2 biological replicates (4 sequencing runs in total).
Increased Lactate Secretion by Cancer Cells Sustains Non-cell-autonomous Adaptive Resistance to MET and EGFR Targeted Therapies.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesJunction Adhesion Molecule-A (JAM-A) is present on leukocytes and platelets where it promotes cell adhesion and motility. We are interested in an interaction between JAM-A and tumor progression/metastases. To address this point, we mated JAM-A-/- mice and mouse mammary tumor model MMTV-PyMT mice which, which express polyoma middle T antigen under the control of mouse mammary tumor virus. MMTV-PyMT mice show 100% penetration of mammary tumor and highly metastases to lung. MMTV-PyMT mice without JAM-A show less primary tumor progression, therefore JAM-A enhance primary tumor progression. Then we are addressing the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon by in vivo. Furthermore, we would like to examine JAM-A deficient MMTV tumor signature.
Abrogation of junctional adhesion molecule-A expression induces cell apoptosis and reduces breast cancer progression.
Specimen part
View SamplesIFN-g primes macrophages for enhanced inflammatory activation by TLRs and microbial killing, but little is known about the regulation of cell metabolism or mRNA translation during priming. We found that IFN-g regulates macrophage metabolism and translation in an integrated manner by targeting mTORC1 and MNK pathways that converge on the selective regulator of translation initiation eIF4E. Physiological downregulation of the central metabolic regulator mTORC1 by IFN-g was associated with autophagy and translational suppression of repressors of inflammation such as HES1. Genome-wide ribosome profiling in TLR2-stimulated macrophages revealed that IFN-g selectively modulates the macrophage translatome to promote inflammation, further reprogram metabolic pathways, and modulate protein synthesis. These results add IFN-g-mediated metabolic reprogramming and translational regulation as key components of classical inflammatory macrophage activation. Overall design: RPF and RNAseq libraries were generated from mock or IFN-g-primed human macrophages. Cells were stimulated with Pam3Cys and harvested at 4 hours. Libraries were generated using protocol modified from Illumina Truseq technology.
Interferon-γ regulates cellular metabolism and mRNA translation to potentiate macrophage activation.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis study sought to provide a novel ex vivo model for analyzing healing kinetics and gene expression of primary human gingival fibroblasts (hGF) within collagen scaffolds.
Cell population kinetics of collagen scaffolds in ex vivo oral wound repair.
Specimen part
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