Tumor-stroma TGF-β1-THBS2 feedback circuit drives pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression via integrin αvβ3/CD36-mediated activation of the MAPK pathway

Cancer letters

2021 Dec 24

Nan, P;Dong, X;Bai, X;Lu, H;Liu, F;Sun, Y;Zhao, X;
PMID: 34958892 | DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.12.025

The pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) microenvironment contains dense desmoplastic stroma dominated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and is crucial to cancer development and progression. Several studies have revealed that thrombospondin 2 (THBS2) is a valuable serological-marker in PDAC. However, the detailed mechanism of the cancer-stroma interactome remains unclear. Here we showed that elevated THBS2 expression in PDAC was predominantly restricted to stroma and correlated with tumor progression and poor prognosis by quantitative proteomics and immunohistochemistry analyses. RNA in situ hybridization confirmed that CAFs but not neoplastic cells expressed THBS2 in precancerous lesions and its levels gradually increased with disease progression in genetically engineered mouse models. Mechanistically, cancer cell-secreted TGF-β1 activated CAFs to induce THBS2 expression via the p-Smad2/3 pathway. Consequently, CAF-derived THBS2 bound to the membrane receptors integrin αvβ3/CD36 and activated the MAPK pathway in PDAC cells to promote tumor growth and adhesion in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of integrin αvβ3, CD36, MEK and JNK rescued THBS2-induced malignant phenotypes. In conclusion, the TGF-β1-THBS2-integrin αvβ3/CD36-MAPK cascade forms a complex feedback circuit to mediate reciprocal interactions of pancreatic cancer cells-CAFs. THBS2 may act as a novel therapeutic-target to block the cancer-stroma communication.

Microbial exposure during early human development primes fetal immune cells

Cell

2021 May 25

Mishra, A;Lai, GC;Yao, LJ;Aung, TT;Shental, N;Rotter-Maskowitz, A;Shepherdson, E;Singh, GSN;Pai, R;Shanti, A;Wong, RMM;Lee, A;Khyriem, C;Dutertre, CA;Chakarov, S;Srinivasan, KG;Shadan, NB;Zhang, XM;Khalilnezhad, S;Cottier, F;Tan, ASM;Low, G;Chen, P;Fan, Y;Hor, PX;Lee, AKM;Choolani, M;Vermijlen, D;Sharma, A;Fuks, G;Straussman, R;Pavelka, N;Malleret, B;McGovern, N;Albani, S;Chan, JKY;Ginhoux, F;
PMID: 34077752 | DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.039

The human fetal immune system begins to develop early during gestation; however, factors responsible for fetal immune-priming remain elusive. We explored potential exposure to microbial agents in utero and their contribution toward activation of memory T cells in fetal tissues. We profiled microbes across fetal organs using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and detected low but consistent microbial signal in fetal gut, skin, placenta, and lungs in the 2nd trimester of gestation. We identified several live bacterial strains including Staphylococcus and Lactobacillus in fetal tissues, which induced in vitro activation of memory T cells in fetal mesenteric lymph node, supporting the role of microbial exposure in fetal immune-priming. Finally, using SEM and RNA-ISH, we visualized discrete localization of bacteria-like structures and eubacterial-RNA within 14th weeks fetal gut lumen. These findings indicate selective presence of live microbes in fetal organs during the 2nd trimester of gestation and have broader implications toward the establishment of immune competency and priming before birth. Crown

Single-Cell RNA-seq Reveals Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 and Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 Expression in TROP2+ Liver Progenitor Cells: Implications in Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Liver Dysfunction

Frontiers in medicine

2021 Apr 22

Seow, JJW;Pai, R;Mishra, A;Shepherdson, E;Lim, TKH;Goh, BKP;Chan, JKY;Chow, PKH;Ginhoux, F;DasGupta, R;Sharma, A;
PMID: 33968947 | DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.603374

The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. COVID-19 was first reported in China (December 2019) and is now prevalent across the globe. Entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 into mammalian cells requires the binding of viral Spike (S) proteins to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Once entered, the S protein is primed by a specialized serine protease, transmembrane serine protease 2 in the host cell. Importantly, besides the respiratory symptoms that are consistent with other common respiratory virus infections when patients become viremic, a significant number of COVID-19 patients also develop liver comorbidities. We explored whether a specific target cell-type in the mammalian liver could be implicated in disease pathophysiology other than the general deleterious response to cytokine storms. Here, we used single-cell RNA-seq to survey the human liver and identified potentially implicated liver cell-type for viral ingress. We analyzed ~300,000 single cells across five different (i.e., human fetal, healthy, cirrhotic, tumor, and adjacent normal) liver tissue types. This study reports on the co-expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and transmembrane serine protease 2 in a TROP2+ liver progenitor population. Importantly, we detected enrichment of this cell population in the cirrhotic liver when compared with tumor tissue. These results indicated that in COVID-19-associated liver dysfunction and cell death, a viral infection of TROP2+ progenitors in the liver might significantly impair liver regeneration in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Age-associated features of norovirus infection analysed in mice

Nature microbiology

2023 May 15

Kennedy, EA;Aggarwal, S;Dhar, A;Karst, SM;Wilen, CB;Baldridge, MT;
PMID: 37188813 | DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01383-1

Norovirus (NoV) is the leading global cause of viral gastroenteritis. Young children bear the highest burden of disease and play a key role in viral transmission throughout the population. However, which host factors contribute to age-associated variability in NoV severity and shedding are not well-defined. The murine NoV (MNoV) strain CR6 causes persistent infection in adult mice and targets intestinal tuft cells. Here we find that natural transmission of CR6 from infected dams occurred only in juvenile mice. Direct oral CR6 inoculation of wild-type neonatal mice led to accumulation of viral RNA in the ileum and prolonged shedding in the stool that was replication-independent. This viral exposure induced both innate and adaptive immune responses including interferon-stimulated gene expression and MNoV-specific antibody responses. Interestingly, viral uptake depended on passive ileal absorption of luminal virus, a process blocked by cortisone acetate administration, which prevented ileal viral RNA accumulation. Neonates lacking interferon signalling in haematopoietic cells were susceptible to productive infection, viral dissemination and lethality, which depended on the canonical MNoV receptor CD300LF. Together, our findings reveal developmentally associated aspects of persistent MNoV infection, including distinct tissue and cellular tropism, mechanisms of interferon regulation and severity of infection in the absence of interferon signalling. These emphasize the importance of defining viral pathogenesis phenotypes across the developmental spectrum and highlight passive viral uptake as an important contributor to enteric infections in early life.

Viral and Genomic Drivers of Squamous Cell Neoplasms Arising in the Lacrimal Drainage System

Cancers

2022 May 23

Ramberg, I;Vieira, FG;Toft, PB;von Buchwald, C;Heegaard, S;
PMID: 35626161 | DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102558

The pathogenesis of squamous cell neoplasms arising in the lacrimal drainage system is poorly understood, and the underlying genomic drivers for disease development remain unexplored. We aimed to investigate the genomic aberrations in carcinomas arising in the LDS and correlate the findings to human papillomavirus (HPV) status. The HPV analysis was performed using HPV DNA PCR, HPV E6/E7 mRNA in-situ hybridization, and p16 immunohistochemistry. The genomic characterization was performed by targeted DNA sequencing of 523 cancer-relevant genes. Patients with LDS papilloma (n = 17) and LDS carcinoma (n = 15) were included. There was a male predominance (68%) and a median age at diagnosis of 46.0 years (range 27.5-65.5 years) in patients with papilloma and 63.8 years (range 34.0-87.2 years) in patients with carcinoma. Transcriptional activity of the HPV E6/E7 oncogenes was detected in the whole tumor thickness in 12/15 (80%) papillomas (HPV6, 11, 16) and 10/15 (67%) squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) (HPV11: 3/15 (20%) and HPV16: 7/15 (47%)). Pathogenic variants in PIK3CA, FGFR3, AKT1, and PIK3R1, wildtype TP53, p16 overexpression, and deregulated high-risk E6/E7 transcription characterized the HPV16-positive SCC. The deregulated pattern of HPV E6/E7 expression, correlating with HPV DNA presence and p16 positivity, supports a causal role of HPV in a subset of LDS papillomas and carcinomas. The viral and molecular profile of LDS SCC resembles that of other HPV-driven SCC.

Single-cell roadmap of human gonadal development

Nature

2022 Jul 01

Garcia-Alonso, L;Lorenzi, V;Mazzeo, CI;Alves-Lopes, JP;Roberts, K;Sancho-Serra, C;Engelbert, J;Marečková, M;Gruhn, WH;Botting, RA;Li, T;Crespo, B;van Dongen, S;Kiselev, VY;Prigmore, E;Herbert, M;Moffett, A;Chédotal, A;Bayraktar, OA;Surani, A;Haniffa, M;Vento-Tormo, R;
PMID: 35794482 | DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04918-4

Gonadal development is a complex process that involves sex determination followed by divergent maturation into either testes or ovaries1. Historically, limited tissue accessibility, a lack of reliable in vitro models and critical differences between humans and mice have hampered our knowledge of human gonadogenesis, despite its importance in gonadal conditions and infertility. Here, we generated a comprehensive map of first- and second-trimester human gonads using a combination of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, chromatin accessibility assays and fluorescent microscopy. We extracted human-specific regulatory programmes that control the development of germline and somatic cell lineages by profiling equivalent developmental stages in mice. In both species, we define the somatic cell states present at the time of sex specification, including the bipotent early supporting population that, in males, upregulates the testis-determining factor SRY and sPAX8s, a gonadal lineage located at the gonadal-mesonephric interface. In females, we resolve the cellular and molecular events that give rise to the first and second waves of granulosa cells that compartmentalize the developing ovary to modulate germ cell differentiation. In males, we identify human SIGLEC15+ and TREM2+ fetal testicular macrophages, which signal to somatic cells outside and inside the developing testis cords, respectively. This study provides a comprehensive spatiotemporal map of human and mouse gonadal differentiation, which can guide in vitro gonadogenesis.

Immune sensing of food allergens promotes aversive behaviour

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology

2023 Jan 20

Florsheim, EB;Bachtel, ND;Cullen, J;Lima, BGC;Godazgar, M;Zhang, C;Carvalho, F;Gautier, G;Launay, P;Wang, A;Dietrich, MO;Medzhitov, R;
PMID: 36712030 | DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.19.524823

In addition to its canonical function in protecting from pathogens, the immune system can also promote behavioural alterations 1â€"3 . The scope and mechanisms of behavioural modifications by the immune system are not yet well understood. Using a mouse food allergy model, here we show that allergic sensitization drives antigen-specific behavioural aversion. Allergen ingestion activates brain areas involved in the response to aversive stimuli, including the nucleus of tractus solitarius, parabrachial nucleus, and central amygdala. Food aversion requires IgE antibodies and mast cells but precedes the development of gut allergic inflammation. The ability of allergen-specific IgE and mast cells to promote aversion requires leukotrienes and growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15). In addition to allergen-induced aversion, we find that lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation also resulted in IgE-dependent aversive behaviour. These findings thus point to antigen-specific behavioural modifications that likely evolved to promote niche selection to avoid unfavourable environments.

Identification of a rare Gli1+ progenitor cell population contributing to liver regeneration during chronic injury

Cell discovery

2022 Nov 01

Peng, J;Li, F;Wang, J;Wang, C;Jiang, Y;Liu, B;He, J;Yuan, K;Pan, C;Lin, M;Zhou, B;Chen, L;Gao, D;Zhao, Y;
PMID: 36316325 | DOI: 10.1038/s41421-022-00474-3

In adults, hepatocytes are mainly replenished from the existing progenitor pools of hepatocytes and cholangiocytes during chronic liver injury. However, it is unclear whether other cell types in addition to classical hepatocytes and cholangiocytes contribute to hepatocyte regeneration after chronic liver injuries. Here, we identified a new biphenotypic cell population that contributes to hepatocyte regeneration during chronic liver injuries. We found that a cell population expressed Gli1 and EpCAM (EpCAM+Gli1+), which was further characterized with both epithelial and mesenchymal identities by single-cell RNA sequencing. Genetic lineage tracing using dual recombinases revealed that Gli1+ nonhepatocyte cell population could generate hepatocytes after chronic liver injury. EpCAM+Gli1+ cells exhibited a greater capacity for organoid formation with functional hepatocytes in vitro and liver regeneration upon transplantation in vivo. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that EpCAM+Gli1+ cells can serve as a new source of liver progenitor cells and contribute to liver repair and regeneration.

Cervical Adenosquamous Carcinoma: Detailed Analysis of Morphology, Immunohistochemical Profile, and Outcome in 59 Cases

International journal of gynecological pathology : official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists

2022 Aug 31

Stolnicu, S;Hoang, L;Zhou, Q;Iasonos, A;Terinte, C;Pesci, A;Aviel-Ronen, S;Kiyokawa, T;Alvarado-Cabrero, I;Oliva, E;Park, KJ;Soslow, RA;
PMID: 36044310 | DOI: 10.1097/PGP.0000000000000921

Although both the 2014 and 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria require unequivocal glandular and squamous differentiation for a diagnosis of cervical adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC), in practice, ASC diagnoses are often made in tumors that lack unequivocal squamous and/or glandular differentiation. Considering the ambiguous etiologic, morphologic, and clinical features and outcomes associated with ASCs, we sought to redefine these tumors. We reviewed slides from 59 initially diagnosed ASCs (including glassy cell carcinoma and related lesions) to confirm an ASC diagnosis only in the presence of unequivocal malignant glandular and squamous differentiation. Select cases underwent immunohistochemical profiling as well as human papillomavirus (HPV) testing by in situ hybridization. Of the 59 cases originally classified as ASCs, 34 retained their ASC diagnosis, 9 were reclassified as pure invasive stratified mucin-producing carcinomas, 10 as invasive stratified mucin-producing carcinomas with other components (such as HPV-associated mucinous, usual-type, or ASCs), and 4 as HPV-associated usual or mucinous adenocarcinomas with benign-appearing squamous metaplasia. Two glassy adenocarcinomas were reclassified as poorly differentiated HPV-associated carcinomas based on morphology and immunophenotype. There were no significant immunophenotypic differences between ASCs and pure invasive stratified mucin-producing carcinomas with regard to HPV and other markers including p16 expression. Although limited by a small sample size, survival outcomes seemed to be similar between all groups. ASCs should be diagnosed only in the presence of unequivocal malignant glandular and squamous differentiation. The 2 putative glassy cell carcinomas studied did not meet our criteria for ASC and categorizing them as such should be reconsidered.

Mesenchymal-epithelial crosstalk shapes intestinal regionalisation via Wnt and Shh signalling

Nature communications

2022 Feb 07

Maimets, M;Pedersen, MT;Guiu, J;Dreier, J;Thodberg, M;Antoku, Y;Schweiger, PJ;Rib, L;Bressan, RB;Miao, Y;Garcia, KC;Sandelin, A;Serup, P;Jensen, KB;
PMID: 35132078 | DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28369-7

Organs are anatomically compartmentalised to cater for specialised functions. In the small intestine (SI), regionalisation enables sequential processing of food and nutrient absorption. While several studies indicate the critical importance of non-epithelial cells during development and homeostasis, the extent to which these cells contribute to regionalisation during morphogenesis remains unexplored. Here, we identify a mesenchymal-epithelial crosstalk that shapes the developing SI during late morphogenesis. We find that subepithelial mesenchymal cells are characterised by gradients of factors supporting Wnt signalling and stimulate epithelial growth in vitro. Such a gradient impacts epithelial gene expression and regional villus formation along the anterior-posterior axis of the SI. Notably, we further provide evidence that Wnt signalling directly regulates epithelial expression of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), which, in turn, acts on mesenchymal cells to drive villi formation. Taken together our results uncover a mechanistic link between Wnt and Hedgehog signalling across different cellular compartments that is central for anterior-posterior regionalisation and correct formation of the SI.

Molecular Analysis of HPV-independent Primary Endometrial Squamous Cell Carcinoma Reveals TP53 and CDKN2A comutations: A Clinicopathologic Analysis With Re-evaluation of Diagnostic Criteria

The American journal of surgical pathology

2022 Sep 05

Hopkins, MR;Palsgrove, DN;Ronnett, BM;Vang, R;Lin, J;Murdock, TA;
PMID: 36069815 | DOI: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000001970

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-independent primary endometrial squamous cell carcinoma (PESCC) is a rare but aggressive subtype of endometrial carcinoma for which little is known about the genomic characteristics. Traditional criteria have restricted the diagnosis of PESCC to cases without any cervical involvement. However, given that modern ancillary techniques can detect HPV and characteristic genetic alterations that should identify the more common mimics in the differential diagnosis, including endometrial endometrioid carcinoma with extensive squamous differentiation and HPV-associated primary cervical squamous cell carcinoma, those criteria may benefit from revision. To further characterize PESCC, we identified 5 cases of pure squamous cell carcinoma dominantly involving the endometrium that had the potential to be PESCC: 1 case involving only the endometrium and 4 cases with some involvement of the cervix. Clinicopathologic features were assessed and immunohistochemical analysis (p16, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and p53), HPV RNA in situ hybridization (high-risk and low-risk cocktails and targeted probes for 16 and 18), and molecular studies were performed. All tumors showed aberrant/mutation-type p53 expression, were negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and p16, and had no detectable HPV. Per whole-exome sequencing, 4 of the 5 tumors demonstrated comutations in TP53 and CDKN2A (p16). Four patients died of disease within 20 months (range, 1 to 20 mo; mean, 9 mo), and 1 patient had no evidence of disease at 38 months. PESCC represents a unique, clinically aggressive subtype of endometrial cancer with TP53 and CDKN2A comutations. This characteristic profile, which is similar to HPV-independent squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva, is distinct from endometrioid carcinoma with extensive squamous differentiation and HPV-associated primary cervical squamous cell carcinoma and can be used to distinguish PESCC from those mimics even when cervical involvement is present. Diagnostic criteria for PESCC should be relaxed to allow for cervical involvement when other pathologic features are consistent with, and ancillary techniques are supportive of classification as such.

Spatially organized multicellular immune hubs in human colorectal cancer

Cell

2021 Aug 24

Pelka, K;Hofree, M;Chen, JH;Sarkizova, S;Pirl, JD;Jorgji, V;Bejnood, A;Dionne, D;Ge, WH;Xu, KH;Chao, SX;Zollinger, DR;Lieb, DJ;Reeves, JW;Fuhrman, CA;Hoang, ML;Delorey, T;Nguyen, LT;Waldman, J;Klapholz, M;Wakiro, I;Cohen, O;Albers, J;Smillie, CS;Cuoco, MS;Wu, J;Su, MJ;Yeung, J;Vijaykumar, B;Magnuson, AM;Asinovski, N;Moll, T;Goder-Reiser, MN;Applebaum, AS;Brais, LK;DelloStritto, LK;Denning, SL;Phillips, ST;Hill, EK;Meehan, JK;Frederick, DT;Sharova, T;Kanodia, A;Todres, EZ;Jané-Valbuena, J;Biton, M;Izar, B;Lambden, CD;Clancy, TE;Bleday, R;Melnitchouk, N;Irani, J;Kunitake, H;Berger, DL;Srivastava, A;Hornick, JL;Ogino, S;Rotem, A;Vigneau, S;Johnson, BE;Corcoran, RB;Sharpe, AH;Kuchroo, VK;Ng, K;Giannakis, M;Nieman, LT;Boland, GM;Aguirre, AJ;Anderson, AC;Rozenblatt-Rosen, O;Regev, A;Hacohen, N;
PMID: 34450029 | DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.08.003

Immune responses to cancer are highly variable, with mismatch repair-deficient (MMRd) tumors exhibiting more anti-tumor immunity than mismatch repair-proficient (MMRp) tumors. To understand the rules governing these varied responses, we transcriptionally profiled 371,223 cells from colorectal tumors and adjacent normal tissues of 28 MMRp and 34 MMRd individuals. Analysis of 88 cell subsets and their 204 associated gene expression programs revealed extensive transcriptional and spatial remodeling across tumors. To discover hubs of interacting malignant and immune cells, we identified expression programs in different cell types that co-varied across tumors from affected individuals and used spatial profiling to localize coordinated programs. We discovered a myeloid cell-attracting hub at the tumor-luminal interface associated with tissue damage and an MMRd-enriched immune hub within the tumor, with activated T cells together with malignant and myeloid cells expressing T cell-attracting chemokines. By identifying interacting cellular programs, we reveal the logic underlying spatially organized immune-malignant cell networks.

	Description
sense Example: Hs-LAG3-sense	Standard probes for RNA detection are in antisense. Sense probe is reverse complent to the corresponding antisense probe.
Intron# Example: Mm-Htt-intron2	Probe targets the indicated intron in the target gene, commonly used for pre-mRNA detection
Pool/Pan Example: Hs-CD3-pool (Hs-CD3D, Hs-CD3E, Hs-CD3G)	A mixture of multiple probe sets targeting multiple genes or transcripts
No-XSp Example: Hs-PDGFB-No-XMm	Does not cross detect with the species (Sp)
XSp Example: Rn-Pde9a-XMm	designed to cross detect with the species (Sp)
O# Example: Mm-Islr-O1	Alternative design targeting different regions of the same transcript or isoforms
CDS Example: Hs-SLC31A-CDS	Probe targets the protein-coding sequence only
EnEm	Probe targets exons n and m
En-Em	Probe targets region from exon n to exon m
Retired Nomenclature
tvn Example: Hs-LEPR-tv1	Designed to target transcript variant n
ORF Example: Hs-ACVRL1-ORF	Probe targets open reading frame
UTR Example: Hs-HTT-UTR-C3	Probe targets the untranslated region (non-protein-coding region) only
5UTR Example: Hs-GNRHR-5UTR	Probe targets the 5' untranslated region only
3UTR Example: Rn-Npy1r-3UTR	Probe targets the 3' untranslated region only
Pan Example: Pool	A mixture of multiple probe sets targeting multiple genes or transcripts

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