Project description:In order to test the effects of metastasis suppressive miR-126/126* on primary tumor microenvironment, we designed a real-time PCR-based mouse cytokine/chemokine array containing 95 cytokines/chemokines and their receptors. Considering the possibility that production of cytokines/chemokines may be dependent on the interactions among different cell types within the tumor mass, we inoculated GFP-labeled 4T1 cells with a control vector or 4T1 cells with pri-miR-126 overexpression into the fat pad of BALB/c mice. 10 days later, we harvested the primary tumors, isolated GFP-positive cancer cells, and analyzed the expression levels of different cytokines/chemokines and their receptors in the cancer cells at the mRNA level using the cytokine array. qPCR gene expression profiling. Equal amount total RNA from each cell line was pooled prior to gene expression analysis.
Project description:In order to test the effects of metastasis suppressive miR-126/126* on primary tumor microenvironment, we designed a real-time PCR-based mouse cytokine/chemokine array containing 95 cytokines/chemokines and their receptors. Considering the possibility that production of cytokines/chemokines may be dependent on the interactions among different cell types within the tumor mass, we inoculated GFP-labeled 4T1 cells with a control vector or 4T1 cells with pri-miR-126 overexpression into the fat pad of BALB/c mice. 10 days later, we harvested the primary tumors, isolated GFP-positive cancer cells, and analyzed the expression levels of different cytokines/chemokines and their receptors in the cancer cells at the mRNA level using the cytokine array.
Project description:Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) potently suppress the anti-tumor immune responses and also orchestrate the tumor microenvironment that favors tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. The immunosuppressive activity of MDSCs has been extensively investigated, however the molecular networks regulating the non-immunological functions of tumor-expanded MDSCs, are largely unknown. In this study, we identified microRNA-494 (miR-494), whose expression was dramatically induced by tumor-derived factors (TDFs), as an essential player, in regulating the non-immunological activity of MDSCs by targeting PTEN and activating the Akt pathway. TGF-beta 1 was found to be a main tumor-derived factor responsible for the up-regulation of miR-494 in MDSCs. Expression of miR-494 not only enhanced CXCR4-mediated MDSC chemotaxis but also altered the intrinsic apoptotic/survival signal by targeting PTEN, thus contributing to the accumulation of MDSCs in tumor tissues. Consequently, down-regulation of PTEN resulted in increased activity of the Akt pathway and the subsequent up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) for facilitating tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Knock down of miR-494 significantly reversed the activity of MDSCs and inhibited the tumor growth and metastasis of 4T1 murine breast cancer in vivo. Collectively, our findings reveal that TGF-beta 1-induced miR-494 expression in MDSCs plays a critical role in the molecular events governing the accumulation and non-immunological functions of tumor-expanded MDSCs, and might be identified as a potential target in cancer therapy. BALB/c mice (female, 6- to 8-wk-old) were injected subcutaneously in the mammary fat pad with 100,000 4T1 tumor cells. Three weeks later, tumor-bearing animals were used for the indicated studies. Gr-1+ CD11b+ cells were isolated by immunomagnetic selection from the bone marrow of 4T1 tumor-bearing mice (n=3) and tumor-free BALB/c mice (n=3), then the miRNA expression profile were analyzed using miRCURY LNAM-bM-^DM-" microRNA Arrays.
Project description:Complete elimination of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) by a risk-adapted primary treatment approach remains a clinical key objective, which fails in up to a third of patients. We hypothesized that microRNA-126, a core regulator of hematopoietic and leukemic stem cells, may resolve intra-tumor heterogeneity in B-ALL and uncover therapy-resistant subpopulations. By means of a miR-126-high signature (obtained by transducing primary human-B-all cells with a miR-126 reporter vector) and single cell RNA sequencing we identified a miR-126 derived intra tumoral heterogeneity in unmanipulated primary human B-ALL blasts
Project description:Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature myeloid cells that accumulate in the tumor microenvironment of most cancer patients. There MDSCs suppress both adaptive and innate immune responses, hindering immunotherapies. Moreover, many cancers are accompanied by inflammation, a processes that further intensifies MDSC suppressive activity, causing aggressive tumor progression and metastasis. MDSCs collected from tumor-bearing mice profusely release nano-scale membrane-bound extracellular vesicles, called exosomes, which carry biologically active proteins between cells and contribute directly to the immune suppressive functions of MDSC. Many studies on other cell types have shown that exosomes may also carry microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) which can also be transferred to surrounding and distant cells. However, to the best of our knowledge, the miRNA and mRNA cargo of MDSC-derived exosomes has not yet been interrogated. This study aims to identify and quantify the cargo of MDSC and their immunosuppressive exosomes to gather knowledge that can offer insights on the mechanisms by which MDSCs contribute to immune suppression, focusing on the role of exosomes as intercellular communication mediators in the tumor microenvironment. In order to achieve our objective a well-established mouse model based on a conventional mammary carcinoma (4T1 cells) and heightened inflammation (4T1 transduced to express the cytokine interleukin-1b) was used. We provide evidence that MDSC-derived exosomes carry proteins, mRNAs and miRNAs. Relative quantitation demonstrated quantitative differences between the exosome cargo and the cargo of their parental cells, supporting the hypothesis that selective loading into the exosomes is possible. Additionally, quantitative and functional analyses of the exosome cargo generated under conventional and heightened inflammation conditions are consistent with clinical observations that inflammation is linked to cancer development.
Project description:Extracellular vesicles and their contents are gaining recognition as important mediators of intercellular communication through the transfer of bioactive molecules such as non-coding RNA. We evaluated the contribution of EV miRNA in intercellular communication between hepatocellular cancer cells and hepatic stellate cells. EV-based miRNA was comprehensively assessed in both cell types individually. Using co-cultures of both HCC and HSC cells in transwell and 3D spheroids culture, we established EV-based miR-126-3p as a potential EV-based miRNA mediator of HSC to HCC communication through which tumor cell migration, invasion and three-dimensional growth in spheroids could be influenced. Manipulation of miR-126-3p by enforced expression or inhibition using pre-miR-126-3p or antimiR-126-3p respectively did not alter cell viability, proliferation, or sensitivity to either sorafenib or regorafenib. In contrast, migration was decreased in HepG2 cells with enforced expression of miR-126-3p. Knockdown of miR-126-3p in HepG2 resulted in a significant increase in ADAM9 expression and in LX-2 cells increased collagen accumulation and the compactness of spheroids but did not alter the number or size of spheroids. The restoration of miR-126 in 3D-co-culture of HepG2 and LX2 cells with precursor showed significant alleviated expression of ADAM9 and VEGF, While the silencing of miR-126 was elevated the expression of ADAM9 and VEGF. These studies implicate miR-126-3p in functional effects on migration, invasion, and spheroid growth in HCC cells in the presence of HSC, and thus demonstrate the presence of functional EV RNA based intercellular signaling between HSC and HCC cells that may be relevant to tumor cell behavior.
Project description:Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are closely related to poor prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Thus, gaining insight into how TAMs support cancer progression could contribute to effective therapies. We utilized the 4T1 murine TNBC cell line and murine bone marrow-derived macrophages to assess TAMs mediated pro-proliferative effects in vivo and in vitro. Further, Transcriptional analysis was performed to identify pathways activated in TAMs stimulated 4T1 cells. To simulate tumor microenvironment, M2 macrophages and 4T1 cells were plated into upper and lower chambers of Transwell co-culture systems respectively. we performed RNA-sequencing analysis of 4T1 cells incubated with vehicle control or M2 macrophages.
Project description:Based on microRNA expression profiling studies, here we focus on miR-126&126* as the most downmodulated microRNAs in a panel of melanoma cell lines at different stages of progression compared with normal human melanocytes. At present no data exist on miR-126&126* possible role in melanoma. Our results show miR-126/miR-126* downregulation associated with tumor progression and the antineoplastic role deriving from their restored expression in metastatic melanomas in vitro as well as in vivo.
Project description:Fish, JE, Santoro, MM, Morton, SU, Yu, S, Yeh, RF, Wythe, JD, Ivey, KI, Bruneau, BG, Stainier, DYR, and Srivastava, D. (2008). miR-126 Regulates Angiogenic Signaling and Vascular Integrity. Developmental Cell 15, 272-284. Precise regulation of the formation, maintenance, and remodeling of the vasculature is required for normal development, tissue response to injury, and tumor progression. How specific microRNAs intersect with and modulate angiogenic signaling cascades is unknown. Here, we identified microRNAs that were enriched in endothelial cells derived from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and in developing mouse embryos. We found that miR-126 regulated the response of endothelial cells to VEGF. Additionally, knockdown of miR-126 in zebrafish resulted in loss of vascular integrity and hemorrhage during embryonic development. miR-126 functioned in part by directly repressing negative regulators of the VEGF pathway, including the Sprouty-related protein SPRED1 and phosphoinositol-3 kinase regulatory subunit 2 (PIK3R2/p85-β). Increased expression of Spred1 or inhibition of VEGF signaling in zebrafish resulted in defects similar to miR-126 knockdown. These findings illustrate that a single miRNA can regulate vascular integrity and angiogenesis, providing a new target for modulating vascular formation and function.
Project description:Fish, JE, Santoro, MM, Morton, SU, Yu, S, Yeh, RF, Wythe, JD, Ivey, KI, Bruneau, BG, Stainier, DYR, and Srivastava, D. (2008). miR-126 Regulates Angiogenic Signaling and Vascular Integrity. Developmental Cell 15, 272-284. Precise regulation of the formation, maintenance, and remodeling of the vasculature is required for normal development, tissue response to injury, and tumor progression. How specific microRNAs intersect with and modulate angiogenic signaling cascades is unknown. Here, we identified microRNAs that were enriched in endothelial cells derived from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and in developing mouse embryos. We found that miR-126 regulated the response of endothelial cells to VEGF. Additionally, knockdown of miR-126 in zebrafish resulted in loss of vascular integrity and hemorrhage during embryonic development. miR-126 functioned in part by directly repressing negative regulators of the VEGF pathway, including the Sprouty-related protein SPRED1 and phosphoinositol-3 kinase regulatory subunit 2 (PIK3R2/p85-β). Increased expression of Spred1 or inhibition of VEGF signaling in zebrafish resulted in defects similar to miR-126 knockdown. These findings illustrate that a single miRNA can regulate vascular integrity and angiogenesis, providing a new target for modulating vascular formation and function.