scholarly journals Pro-tumoral Effects of Intra-tumoral Neutrophils in the Glioblastoma Microenvironment

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumedh S Shah ◽  
Garima Yagnik ◽  
Alan T Nguyen ◽  
Harsh Wadhwa ◽  
Jordan Spatz ◽  
...  

Abstract INTRODUCTION The glioblastoma microenvironment contains immune cells, particularly well-defined macrophage populations; however, intratumoral neutrophils and their effects on GBM biology are under-characterized. While tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) were initially thought as passive bystanders due to their short-lived nature, current investigation of TANs in other cancer types revealed distinct pro-tumoral roles. Therefore, we sought to characterize TANs in the glioblastoma microenvironment and define their oncologic effects. METHODS Following informed consent, patient-derived GBM samples were collected for flow cytometry of TANs, which were then used to produce conditioned media (CM) for in Vitro studies on tumor cell proliferation and ELISA quantification of TAN-secreted factors. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on TANs to identify pro-tumoral factors. RESULTS Flow cytometric analysis (CD11b+/CD15+ /CD66b+) indicated higher percentages of TAN-infiltration to glioblastoma compared to low-grade gliomas (1.76% [n = 13] vs 0.33% [n = 6], P = .03). Using the Transwell migration assay with glioblastoma tumor CM, we found recruitment of circulating neutrophils to tumor sites is mediated by leukotriene-B4 and that this chemoattraction can be blocked with an LtB4 receptor antagonist, LY293111. We then performed single-cell RNA sequencing of isolated TANs and identified upregulation of osteopontin. Osteopontin is linked to GBM stem cell-like phenotype maintenance, thus, we decided to investigate osteopontin as a possible driver of pro-tumoral signaling. Osteopontin concentration was significantly higher in TAN CM than in patient-matched peripheral blood neutrophil CM (3.2 ng/mL [n = 3] vs 0.02 ng/mL [n = 3], P < .05). In Vitro, TAN CM led to significantly increased GBM cell proliferation and increased stem marker expression (Nanog, Oct4, Sox2) when incubated with neurospheres from an established GBM line. Pro-tumoral effects were lost in presence of osteopontin-neutralizing antibodies. CONCLUSION This study elucidates a possible mechanism of neutrophil-mediated pro-tumoral signaling. We found that neutrophils are recruited to tumor sites and play a biologically relevant role in GBM cellular proliferation and maintenance of a stem cell phenotype via osteopontin secretion.

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (21) ◽  
pp. 2045-2059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel F. Alencar ◽  
Katherine M. Owsiany ◽  
Santosh Karnewar ◽  
Katyayani Sukhavasi ◽  
Giuseppe Mocci ◽  
...  

Background: Rupture and erosion of advanced atherosclerotic lesions with a resultant myocardial infarction or stroke are the leading worldwide cause of death. However, we have a limited understanding of the identity, origin, and function of many cells that make up late-stage atherosclerotic lesions, as well as the mechanisms by which they control plaque stability. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive single-cell RNA sequencing of advanced human carotid endarterectomy samples and compared these with single-cell RNA sequencing from murine microdissected advanced atherosclerotic lesions with smooth muscle cell (SMC) and endothelial lineage tracing to survey all plaque cell types and rigorously determine their origin. We further used chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), bulk RNA sequencing, and an innovative dual lineage tracing mouse to understand the mechanism by which SMC phenotypic transitions affect lesion pathogenesis. Results: We provide evidence that SMC-specific Klf4- versus Oct4-knockout showed virtually opposite genomic signatures, and their putative target genes play an important role regulating SMC phenotypic changes. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed remarkable similarity of transcriptomic clusters between mouse and human lesions and extensive plasticity of SMC- and endothelial cell-derived cells including 7 distinct clusters, most negative for traditional markers. In particular, SMC contributed to a Myh11 - , Lgals3 + population with a chondrocyte-like gene signature that was markedly reduced with SMC- Klf4 knockout. We observed that SMCs that activate Lgals3 compose up to two thirds of all SMC in lesions. However, initial activation of Lgals3 in these cells does not represent conversion to a terminally differentiated state, but rather represents transition of these cells to a unique stem cell marker gene–positive, extracellular matrix-remodeling, “pioneer” cell phenotype that is the first to invest within lesions and subsequently gives rise to at least 3 other SMC phenotypes within advanced lesions, including Klf4-dependent osteogenic phenotypes likely to contribute to plaque calcification and plaque destabilization. Conclusions: Taken together, these results provide evidence that SMC-derived cells within advanced mouse and human atherosclerotic lesions exhibit far greater phenotypic plasticity than generally believed, with Klf4 regulating transition to multiple phenotypes including Lgals3 + osteogenic cells likely to be detrimental for late-stage atherosclerosis plaque pathogenesis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Jermakowicz ◽  
Matthew J. Rybin ◽  
Robert K. Suter ◽  
Jann N. Sarkaria ◽  
Zane Zeier ◽  
...  

AbstractBromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins have emerged as therapeutic targets in multiple cancers, including the most common primary adult brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM). Although several BET inhibitors have entered clinical trials, few are brain penetrant. We have generated UM-002, a novel brain penetrant BET inhibitor that reduces GBM cell proliferation in vitro and in a human cerebral brain organoid model. Since UM-002 is more potent than other BET inhibitors, it could potentially be developed for GBM treatment. Furthermore, UM-002 treatment reduces the expression of cell-cycle related genes in vivo and reduces the expression of invasion related genes within the non-proliferative cells present in tumors as measured by single cell RNA-sequencing. These studies suggest that BET inhibition alters the transcriptional landscape of GBM tumors, which has implications for designing combination therapies. Importantly, they also provide an integrated dataset that combines in vitro and ex vivo studies with in vivo single-cell RNA-sequencing to characterize a novel BET inhibitor in GBM.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Fischer ◽  
Meshal Ansari ◽  
Karolin I. Wagner ◽  
Sebastian Jarosch ◽  
Yiqi Huang ◽  
...  

AbstractThe in vivo phenotypic profile of T cells reactive to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 antigens remains poorly understood. Conventional methods to detect antigen-reactive T cells require in vitro antigenic re-stimulation or highly individualized peptide-human leukocyte antigen (pHLA) multimers. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to identify and profile SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. To do so, we induce transcriptional shifts by antigenic stimulation in vitro and take advantage of natural T cell receptor (TCR) sequences of clonally expanded T cells as barcodes for ‘reverse phenotyping’. This allows identification of SARS-CoV-2-reactive TCRs and reveals phenotypic effects introduced by antigen-specific stimulation. We characterize transcriptional signatures of currently and previously activated SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells, and show correspondence with phenotypes of T cells from the respiratory tract of patients with severe disease in the presence or absence of virus in independent cohorts. Reverse phenotyping is a powerful tool to provide an integrated insight into cellular states of SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells across tissues and activation states.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmi Helle ◽  
Minna Ampuja ◽  
Alexandra Dainis ◽  
Laura Antola ◽  
Elina Temmes ◽  
...  

AbstractRationaleCell-cell interactions are crucial for the development and function of the organs. Endothelial cells act as essential regulators of tissue growth and regeneration. In the heart, endothelial cells engage in delicate bidirectional communication with cardiomyocytes. The mechanisms and mediators of this crosstalk are still poorly known. Furthermore, endothelial cells in vivo are exposed to blood flow and their phenotype is greatly affected by shear stress.ObjectiveWe aimed to elucidate how cardiomyocytes regulate the development of organotypic phenotype in endothelial cells. In addition, the effects of flow-induced shear stress on endothelial cell phenotype were studied.Methods and resultsHuman induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) -derived cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells were grown either as a monoculture or as a coculture. hiPS-endothelial cells were exposed to flow using the Ibidi-pump system. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to define cell populations and to uncover the effects on their transcriptomic phenotypes. The hiPS-cardiomyocyte differentiation resulted in two distinct populations; atrial and ventricular. Coculture had a more pronounced effect on hiPS-endothelial cells compared to hiPS-cardiomyocytes. Coculture increased hiPS-endothelial cell expression of transcripts related to vascular development and maturation, cardiac development, and the expression of cardiac endothelial cell -specific genes. Exposure to flow significantly reprogrammed the hiPS-endothelial cell transcriptome, and surprisingly, promoted the appearance of both venous and arterial clusters.ConclusionsSingle-cell RNA sequencing revealed distinct atrial and ventricular cell populations in hiPS-cardiomyocytes, and arterial and venous-like cell populations in flow exposed hiPS-endothelial cells. hiPS-endothelial cells acquired cardiac endothelial cell identity in coculture. Our study demonstrated that hiPS-cardiomoycytes and hiPS-endothelial cells readily adapt to coculture and flow in a consistent and relevant manner, indicating that the methods used represent improved physiological cell culturing conditions that potentially are more relevant in disease modelling. In addition, novel cardiomyocyte-endothelial cell crosstalk mediators were revealed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (suppl_4) ◽  
pp. iv33-iv34
Author(s):  
Brenton Paolella ◽  
Pratiti Bandopadhayay ◽  
Guillaume Bergthold ◽  
Alex Shalek ◽  
Kristine Pelton ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S33-S34
Author(s):  
Karen Ocwieja ◽  
Alexandra Stanton ◽  
Alexsia Richards ◽  
Jenna Antonucci ◽  
Travis Hughes ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The molecular mechanisms underpinning the neurologic and congenital pathologies caused by Zika virus (ZIKV) infection remain poorly understood. One barrier has been the lack of relevant model systems for the developing human brain; however, thanks to advances in the stem cell field, we can now evaluate ZIKV central nervous system infections in human stem cell-derived cerebral organoids which recapitulate complex 3-dimensional neural architecture. Methods We apply Seq-Well—a simple, portable platform for massively parallel single-cell RNA sequencing—to characterize cerebral organoids infected with ZIKV. Using this sequencing method, and published transcriptional profiles, we identify multiple cellular populations in our organoids, including neuroprogenitor cells, intermediate progenitor cells, and terminally differentiated neurons. We detect and quantify host mRNA transcripts and viral RNA with single-cell resolution, defining transcriptional features of uninfected cells and infected cells. Results In this model of the developing brain, we identify preferred tropisms of ZIKV infection and pronounced effects on cell division, differentiation, and death. Our data additionally reveal differences in cellular populations and gene expression within organoids infected by historic and contemporary ZIKV strains from a variety of geographic locations. This finding might help explain phenotypic differences attributed to the viruses, including variable propensity to cause microcephaly. Conclusion Overall, our work provides insight into normal and diseased human brain development, and suggests that both virus replication and host response mechanisms underlie the neuropathology of ZIKV infection. Disclosures All Authors: No reported Disclosures.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katelyn Donahue ◽  
Yaqing Zhang ◽  
Veerin Sirihorachai ◽  
Stephanie The ◽  
Arvind Rao ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien J. Dumas ◽  
Elda Meta ◽  
Mila Borri ◽  
Jermaine Goveia ◽  
Katerina Rohlenova ◽  
...  

BackgroundRenal endothelial cells from glomerular, cortical, and medullary kidney compartments are exposed to different microenvironmental conditions and support specific kidney processes. However, the heterogeneous phenotypes of these cells remain incompletely inventoried. Osmotic homeostasis is vitally important for regulating cell volume and function, and in mammals, osmotic equilibrium is regulated through the countercurrent system in the renal medulla, where water exchange through endothelium occurs against an osmotic pressure gradient. Dehydration exposes medullary renal endothelial cells to extreme hyperosmolarity, and how these cells adapt to and survive in this hypertonic milieu is unknown.MethodsWe inventoried renal endothelial cell heterogeneity by single-cell RNA sequencing >40,000 mouse renal endothelial cells, and studied transcriptome changes during osmotic adaptation upon water deprivation. We validated our findings by immunostaining and functionally by targeting oxidative phosphorylation in a hyperosmolarity model in vitro and in dehydrated mice in vivo.ResultsWe identified 24 renal endothelial cell phenotypes (of which eight were novel), highlighting extensive heterogeneity of these cells between and within the cortex, glomeruli, and medulla. In response to dehydration and hypertonicity, medullary renal endothelial cells upregulated the expression of genes involved in the hypoxia response, glycolysis, and—surprisingly—oxidative phosphorylation. Endothelial cells increased oxygen consumption when exposed to hyperosmolarity, whereas blocking oxidative phosphorylation compromised endothelial cell viability during hyperosmotic stress and impaired urine concentration during dehydration.ConclusionsThis study provides a high-resolution atlas of the renal endothelium and highlights extensive renal endothelial cell phenotypic heterogeneity, as well as a previously unrecognized role of oxidative phosphorylation in the metabolic adaptation of medullary renal endothelial cells to water deprivation.


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