Project description:Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy. Although PTC patients usually show a favorable prognosis, some still have a high rate of recurrence and a relatively low survival rate. We aimed to reveal the mechanisms involved in the development of thyroid cancer using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).scRNA-seq data was collected from 15 samples, including primary tumors of PTC, metastatic lymph nodes (LNs), and adjacent normal tissues. The results from scRNA-seq data were further validated with flow cytometry, proliferation, invasion, and migration assays, and bulk RNA-seq data.A novel CD4+T cell subset was identified, termed as EGR1+CD4+T cells. It produced high levels of IL-10 and IFN-γ in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin, and showed a distinct molecular pathway activity compared to CD4+Tregs. CD4+T cell-specific over-expression of EGR1 in vitro enhanced tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and migration when co-cultured with PTC cell lines. The expression profiling analysis of immune checkpoint molecules indicated that CD96 was commonly up-regulated in EGR1+CD4+T cells, CD4+Tregs, and other T cell subsets, especially in tumor tissues. Single CD96 blockade significantly increased the levels of IFN-γ, IL-17a, and IL-10 in EGR1+CD4+T cells, and inhibited the proliferation of PTC tumor cells. Co-blockade of CD96/TIGIT significantly enhanced the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17a in both EGR1+CD4+T and CD3+CD4+T cells, which also suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and migration when co-cultured with PTC tumor cells. These findings indicated that EGR1+CD4+T cell was a novel CD4+T cell subset with specific functions. Single CD96 blockade or co-blockade of CD96/TIGIT enhanced antitumor immunity of EGR1+CD4+T cells, which might be promising therapeutic strategies in PTC treatment.
Project description:Transcription profiling of mouse bone marrow macrophages (BMM) compared to BMM co-cultured with 4T1.2 breast cancer cells, treated with tumour cell supernatant, or RAW macrophage cell line
Project description:Cell culture conditions impact the clinical efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell products, but the optimal approach remains unknown. Separate CD4+ and CD8+ cultures offer a potential advantage but complicate manufacturing and may affect cell expansion and function. We evaluated the co-culture of CD4+ and CD8+ cells at a defined ratio at culture initiation. We observed that the presence of CD4+ cells markedly improves expansion of CD8+ CAR T cells, and CD8+ cells cultured in isolation exhibit a hypofunctional phenotype and transcriptional signature compared with those co-cultured with CD4+ cells. Mixed-culture CAR T cells also confer superior anti-tumor activity in vivo compared with separately expanded, co-infused cells. CD4+ cell effects on CD8+ cells are mediated through both cytokines and direct cell contact, including CD40L-CD40 and CD70-CD27 interactions.
Project description:Extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate in cell-stroma crosstalk within tumor microenvironment (TME) and Fb are key elements that contribute to tumor promotion. In thyroid cancer, the most prevalent endocrine malignancy, the relevance of Fb in the TME and EVs is beginning to be deciphered. Using an in vitro model of tumor-stroma crosstalk, we performed the comparative proteomic analysis of EVs secreted in tumoral- and non-tumoral milieu to describe EV-functionality and examine their possible role in thyroid tumor progression-related events. Tumor (TPC-1, 8505c) or non-tumor (NThyOri) thyroid cells were co-cultured with human fibroblasts (Fb). EVs, obtained by ultracentrifugation of conditioned media (CMs), were characterized by mass-spectrometry.
Project description:Epithelium-only cultured stem cells isolated from human pluripotent stem cell derived intestinal organoids grown in matrigel and alginate
Project description:Transcription profiling by array of human CD4 positive and CD8 positive T cells selected by positive or negative immunomagnetic cell selection