isolation-small-extracellular-vesicles-derived-from-mesenchymal-stem

Isolation of Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Large-Volume Samples with GMP Compliance for Clinical Trials

Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-sEVs) have been underscored as a cell-free treatment modality with minimal ...

Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University) and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology

Glioma cells with stem cell-like properties are crucial for tumor initiation, progression and therapeutic resistance. Therefore, identifying specific factors in regulating stem-like traits is critical for the design of novel glioma therapeutics. Herein, we reported that ADP-Ribosylation Factor Like GTPase 4C (ARL4C) was highly expressed in glioma stem-like cells (GSLCs). GSLCs, determined by the efficiency of sphere formation  and tumor growth , was increased by overexpression of ARL4C. ARL4C induced the tumorigenesis through ALDH1A3. Analyses of 325 patient specimens showed that ARL4C was highly expressed in glioblastoma (GBM) as compared with lower grade gliomas. In addition, higher level ARL4C expression in glioma was correlated with poorer progression-free survival and overall survival of patients. Therefore, ARL4C may act as a novel prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for GBM.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor Like GTPase 4C (ARL4C) augments stem-like traits of glioblastoma cells by upregulating ALDH1A3.

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are self-renewing tumor cells with multi-lineage differentiation potential and the capacity of construct glioblastoma (GBM) heterogenicity. Mitochondrial morphology is associated with the metabolic plasticity of GBM cells. Previous studies have revealed distinct mitochondrial morphologies and metabolic phenotypes between GSCs and non-stem tumor cells (NSTCs), whereas the molecules regulating mitochondrial dynamics in GBM cells are largely unknown. Herein, we report that carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) is preferentially expressed in NSTCs, and governs mitochondrial dynamics and GSC differentiation. Expressions of CPT1A and GSC marker CD133 were mutually exclusive in human GBMs. Overexpression of CPT1A inhibited GSC self-renewal but promoted mitochondrial fusion. In contrast, disruption of CPT1A in NSTCs promoted mitochondrial fission and reprogrammed NSTCs toward GSC feature. Mechanistically, CPT1A overexpression increased the phosphorylation of dynamin-related protein 1 at Ser-637 to promote mitochondrial fusion. In vivo, CPT1A overexpression decreased the percentage of GSCs, impaired GSC-derived xenograft growth and prolonged tumor-bearing mice survival. Our work identified CPT1A as a critical regulator of mitochondrial dynamics and GSC differentiation, indicating that CPT1A could be developed as a molecular target for GBM cell-differentiation strategy.

Overexpression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A promotes mitochondrial fusion and differentiation of glioblastoma stem cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain tumor with unique immunity predominated by myeloid cells. GBM cells have been implicated to evade immune attack through hijacking myeloid-affiliated transcriptional programs to establish an immunosuppressive microenvironment. However, molecular features of immune-evading GBM cells in heterogeneous GBMs and their interactions with immune cells remain unclear. Herein, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq data to develop an in silico method for delineating GBM immune signature and identifying new molecular subsets for immunotherapy. We identified a new GBM cell subset, termed TC-6, that harbored immune-invading signature and actively interacted with tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to orchestrate an immune-suppressive niche. Proinflammatory transcriptional factors STAT1, STAT2, IRF1, IRF2, IRF3, and IRF7 were identified as the core regulons defining TC-6 subsets. Further immune transcriptome analyses revealed three immune subtypes (C1, C2, and C3). C3 subtype GBMs were enriched with TC-6 cells and immunosuppressive TAMs, and exhibited an immunomodulatory signature that associated with reduced efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment. Interferon-related DNA damage resistance signaling was upregulated in C3 GBMs, predicting shortened survival of GBM patients who received chemo-radiation treatment. Treatment of OSI-930 as a molecular agent targeting c-kit and VEGFR2 tyrosine kinases may compromise the immunomodulatory signature of C3 GBMs and synergize with chemo-radiation therapy. We further developed a simplified 11-gene set for defining C3 GBMs. Our work identified TC-6 subset as an immune-evading hub that creates an immunomodulatory signature of C3 GBMs, gaining insights into the heterogeneity of GBM immune microenvironment and holding promise for optimized anti-GBM immunotherapy.

Identification of a unique tumor cell subset employing myeloid transcriptional circuits to create an immunomodulatory microenvironment in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and highly malignant brain tumor characterized by aggressive growth and resistance to alkylating chemotherapy. Autophagy induction is one of the hallmark effects of anti-GB therapies with temozolomide (TMZ). However, the non-classical form of autophagy, autophagy-based unconventional secretion, also called secretory autophagy and its role in regulating the sensitivity of GB to TMZ remains unclear. There is an urgent need to illuminate the mechanism and to develop novel therapeutic targets for GB.

Autophagy-based unconventional secretion of HMGB1 in glioblastoma promotes chemosensitivity to temozolomide through macrophage M1-like polarization.

Although the tumorigenic potential of glioma stem cells (GSCs) is associated with multiple molecular alterations, the gene amplification status of GSCs has not been elucidated. Overexpression of HomeoboxA5 (HOXA5) is associated with increased glioma malignancy. In this study, we identify the gene amplification and protein overexpression of HOXA5 in GSCs and its function in regulating GSC maintenance and the downstream transcriptional effector, to explore the significance of HOXA5 amplification/overexpression for GSC identification and prognostic determination. The HOXA5 gene is significantly amplified in glioblastoma (GBM) and is an independent prognostic factor for predicting worse patient outcomes. Specifically, HOXA5 gene amplification and the resultant protein overexpression are correlated with increased proportions of GSCs and enhanced self-renewal/invasiveness of these cells. Disruption of HOXA5 expression impairs GSC survival and GBM tumor propagation. Mechanistically, HOXA5 directly binds to the promoter region of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z1 (PTPRZ1), thereby upregulating this gene for GSC maintenance. Suppression of PTPRZ1 largely compromises the pro-tumoral effect of HOXA5 on GSCs. In summary, HOXA5 amplification serves as a genetic biomarker for predicting worse GBM outcome, by enhancing PTPRZ1-mediated GSC survival.

HOXA5 is amplified in glioblastoma stem cells and promotes tumor progression by transcriptionally activating PTPRZ1.

Glioma progression is accompanied with increased tumor tissue stiffness, yet the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Herein, we employed atomic force microscopy analysis to show that tissue stiffness was higher in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild type gliomas than IDH-mutant gliomas. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1) was one of the preferentially upregulated genes in IDH-wild type gliomas as compared to IDH-mutant gliomas, and its higher expression indicated worse prognosis of glioma patients. TIMP1 intensity determined by immunofluorescence staining on glioma tissues positively correlated with glioma tissue stiffness. Mechanistically, TIMP1 expression was positively correlated with the gene expression of two predominant extracellular matrix components, tenascin C and fibronectin, both of which were also highly expressed in IDH-wild type gliomas. By introducing IDH1-R132H-containing vectors into human IDH1-wild type glioma cells to obtain an IDH1-mutant cell line, we found that IDH1 mutation increased the TIMP1 promoter methylation through methylation-specific PCR. More importantly, IDH1-R132H mutation decreased both the expression of TIMP1, fibronectin, tenascin C, and the tumor tissue stiffness in IDH1-mutant glioma xenografts in contrast to IDH1-wild type counterparts. Moreover, TIMP1 knockdown in IDH-wild type glioma cells inhibited the expression of tenascin C and fibronectin, and decreased tissue stiffness in intracranial glioma xenografts. Conclusively, we revealed an IDH mutation status-mediated mechanism in regulating glioma tissue stiffness through modulating TIMP1 and downstream extracellular matrix components.

High levels of TIMP1 are associated with increased extracellular matrix stiffness in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1-wild type gliomas.

Clinical data indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced respiratory failure is a fatal condition for severe COVID-19 patients. However, the pathological alterations of different types of respiratory failure remained unknown for severe COVID-19 patients. This study aims to evaluate whether there are differences in the performance of various types of respiratory failure in severe COVID-19 patients and investigate the pathological basis for these differences. The lung tissue sections of severe COVID-19 patients were assessed for the degree of injury and immune responses. Transcriptome data were used to analyze the molecular basis in severe COVID-19 patients. Severe COVID-19 patients with combined oxygenation and ventilatory failure presented more severe pulmonary fibrosis, airway obstruction, and prolonged disease course. The number of M2 macrophages increased with the degree of fibrosis in patients, suggesting that it may be closely related to the development of pulmonary fibrosis. The co-existence of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the pulmonary environment could also participate in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, the increased apoptosis in the lungs of COVID-19 patients with severe pulmonary fibrosis may represent a critical factor linking sustained inflammatory responses to fibrosis. Our findings indicate that during the extended phase of COVID-19, antifibrotic and antiapoptotic treatments should be considered in conjunction with the progression of the disease.

Autopsy analysis reveals increased macrophage infiltration and cell apoptosis in COVID-19 patients with severe pulmonary fibrosis.

The effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on adrenal endocrine metabolism in critically ill patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the alterations in adrenal steroidogenic activity, elucidate underlying mechanisms, provide in situ histopathological evidence, and examine the clinical implications.

Article	Year
ADP-Ribosylation Factor Like GTPase 4C (ARL4C) augments stem-like traits of glioblastoma cells by upregulating ALDH1A3. Journal of Cancer\| PubMed ID: 33403039	2021
Overexpression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A promotes mitochondrial fusion and differentiation of glioblastoma stem cells. Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology\| PubMed ID: 34963686	2022
Identification of a unique tumor cell subset employing myeloid transcriptional circuits to create an immunomodulatory microenvironment in glioblastoma. Oncoimmunology\| PubMed ID: 35096487	2022
Autophagy-based unconventional secretion of HMGB1 in glioblastoma promotes chemosensitivity to temozolomide through macrophage M1-like polarization. Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR\| PubMed ID: 35193644	2022
HOXA5 is amplified in glioblastoma stem cells and promotes tumor progression by transcriptionally activating PTPRZ1. Cancer letters\| PubMed ID: 35219772	2022
High levels of TIMP1 are associated with increased extracellular matrix stiffness in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1-wild type gliomas. Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology\| PubMed ID: 35882906	2022
Autopsy analysis reveals increased macrophage infiltration and cell apoptosis in COVID-19 patients with severe pulmonary fibrosis. Pathology, research and practice\| PubMed ID: 37948998	2023
Increased adrenal steroidogenesis and suppressed corticosteroid responsiveness in critical COVID-19. Metabolism: clinical and experimental\| PubMed ID: 39053691	2024

Qin Niu

Biography

JoVE Journal Publications

Other Publications