{"title":"Transcriptomic Profiling and Tumor Microenvironment Classification Reveal Unique and Dynamic Immune Biology in HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma.","authors":"Jihua Yang, Ayse Ece Cali Daylan, Aleksei Shevkoplias, Ekaterina Postovalova, Meng Wang, Andrey Tyshevich, Matthew Lee, Hiba Narvel, Ksenia Zornikova, Nara Shin, Nikita Kotlov, Luca Paoluzzi, Changcheng Zhu, Balazs Halmos, Xingxing Zang, Haiying Cheng","doi":"10.3390/cells14020134","DOIUrl":"10.3390/cells14020134","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is a vascular tumor originating from endothelial cells and is associated with human herpesvirus 8 (KSHV) infection. It disproportionately affects populations facing health disparities. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved KS control in people with HIV (PWH), treatment options for advanced KS remain limited. This study investigates the tumor microenvironment (TME) of KS through whole-transcriptomic profiling, analyzing changes over time and differences based on HIV status. The TME was categorized into four subtypes: immune-enriched (IE), non-fibrotic, immune-enriched/fibrotic (IE/F), fibrotic (F) and immune-depleted (D). Nine KS patients (four HIV-negative and five HIV-positive) were enrolled in the study. Longitudinally collected KS samples from three patients (one HIV-negative and two HIV-positive) allowed for the investigation of dynamic TME changes within individual patients. The immune cellular composition was determined using deconvolution and compared to a cohort of non-KS patients. Our findings revealed that all KS samples, regardless of HIV status, were enriched in endothelial cells. Compared to non-KS tissues, the KS samples contained a higher percentage of NK and CD8+ T cells. HIV-negative KS samples displayed the IE and IE/F TME subtypes, while HIV-positive samples exhibited IE, IE/F, and F subtypes. Over the course of the disease, a decrease in angiogenic signatures was observed in two HIV-positive KS patients. Notably, HIV-negative KS samples showed alterations in NK cell-mediated immunity and cytotoxic response pathways, whereas HIV-positive samples exhibited changes in growth regulation and protein kinase activity pathways at the time of initial diagnosis. The gene expression of immune checkpoints, including CD274 (PD-L1) and PDCD1LC2 (PD-L2), was comparable between HIV-positive and HIV-negative KS samples at diagnosis. Furthermore, sequencing identified a shared TCR<i>β</i> chain in all patients analyzed, indicating a T-cell immune response to a common antigen. This study demonstrates unique transcriptomic features and TME subtypes in KS that differ based on HIV status. Additionally, it illustrates longitudinal dynamic changes in the gene signatures and TME subtypes in individual patients. The identification of a shared TCRβ chain suggests that immune T cells in KS patients may target a common antigen. Future studies should further explore the immune microenvironment and unique T cell clonotypes, which could pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for KS patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11764145/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CellsPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.3390/cells14020137
Katherine A Pohl, Xiangmei Zhang, Johnny Jeonghyun Ji, Linsey Stiles, Alfredo A Sadun, Xian-Jie Yang
{"title":"Derivation and Characterization of Isogenic <i>OPA1</i> Mutant and Control Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines.","authors":"Katherine A Pohl, Xiangmei Zhang, Johnny Jeonghyun Ji, Linsey Stiles, Alfredo A Sadun, Xian-Jie Yang","doi":"10.3390/cells14020137","DOIUrl":"10.3390/cells14020137","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dominant optic atrophy (DOA) is the most commonly inherited optic neuropathy. The majority of DOA is caused by mutations in the <i>OPA1</i> gene, which encodes a dynamin-related GTPase located to the mitochondrion. OPA1 has been shown to regulate mitochondrial dynamics and promote fusion. Within the mitochondrion, proteolytically processed OPA1 proteins form complexes to maintain membrane integrity and the respiratory chain complexity. Although <i>OPA1</i> is broadly expressed, human <i>OPA1</i> mutations predominantly affect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that are responsible for transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain. Due to the scarcity of human RGCs, DOA has not been studied in depth using the disease affected neurons. To enable studies of DOA using stem-cell-derived human RGCs, we performed CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to generate <i>OPA1</i> mutant pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines with corresponding isogenic controls. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing yielded both <i>OPA1</i> homozygous and heterozygous mutant ESC lines from a parental control ESC line. In addition, CRISPR-mediated homology-directed repair (HDR) successfully corrected the <i>OPA1</i> mutation in a DOA patient's iPSCs. In comparison to the isogenic controls, the heterozygous mutant PSCs expressed the same OPA1 protein isoforms but at reduced levels; whereas the homozygous mutant PSCs showed a loss of OPA1 protein and altered mitochondrial morphology. Furthermore, <i>OPA1</i> mutant PSCs exhibited reduced rates of oxygen consumption and ATP production associated with mitochondria. These isogenic PSC lines will be valuable tools for establishing <i>OPA1</i>-DOA disease models in vitro and developing treatments for mitochondrial deficiency associated neurodegeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11764107/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CellsPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.3390/cells14020133
Emily J Tomas, Yudith Ramos Valdes, Jennifer Davis, Bart Kolendowski, Adrian Buensuceso, Gabriel E DiMattia, Trevor G Shepherd
{"title":"Exploiting Cancer Dormancy Signaling Mechanisms in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Through Spheroid and Organoid Analysis.","authors":"Emily J Tomas, Yudith Ramos Valdes, Jennifer Davis, Bart Kolendowski, Adrian Buensuceso, Gabriel E DiMattia, Trevor G Shepherd","doi":"10.3390/cells14020133","DOIUrl":"10.3390/cells14020133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) exhibits a unique mode of metastasis, involving spheroid formation in the peritoneum. Our research on EOC spheroid cell biology has provided valuable insights into the signaling plasticity associated with metastasis. We speculate that EOC cells modify their biology between tumour and spheroid states during cancer dormancy, although the specific mechanisms underlying this transition remain unknown. Here, we present novel findings from direct comparisons between cultured EOC spheroids and organoids. Our results indicated that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity was significantly upregulated and protein kinase B (Akt) was downregulated in EOC spheroids compared to organoids, suggesting a clear differential phenotype. Through RNA sequencing analysis, we further supported these phenotypic differences and highlighted the significance of cell cycle regulation in organoids. By inhibiting the G2/M checkpoint via kinase inhibitors, we confirmed that this pathway is essential for organoids. Interestingly, our results suggest that specifically targeting aurora kinase A (AURKA) may represent a promising therapeutic strategy since our cells were equally sensitive to Alisertib treatment as both spheroids and organoids. Our findings emphasize the importance of studying cellular adaptations of EOC cells, as there may be different therapeutic targets depending on the step of EOC disease progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11764263/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CellsPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.3390/cells14020130
Rita Araújo, Ricardo N M J Páscoa, Raquel Bernardino, Pedro S Gomes
{"title":"Impact of High Glucose on Bone Collagenous Matrix Composition, Structure, and Organization: An Integrative Analysis Using an Ex Vivo Model.","authors":"Rita Araújo, Ricardo N M J Páscoa, Raquel Bernardino, Pedro S Gomes","doi":"10.3390/cells14020130","DOIUrl":"10.3390/cells14020130","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diabetes mellitus is a widespread metabolic disorder linked to numerous systemic complications, including adverse effects on skeletal health, such as increased bone fragility and fracture risk. Emerging evidence suggests that high glucose may disrupt the extracellular matrix (ECM) of bone, potentially altering its composition and organization. Collagen, the primary organic component of the ECM, is critical for maintaining structural integrity and biomechanical properties. However, definitive evidence and a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which high glucose impacts the ECM and collagen remain elusive. This study employed an ex vivo embryonic chicken femur model to investigate the effects of high glucose on the collagenous matrix. A comprehensive approach integrating histological evaluation, histomorphometry, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and proteomics was adopted to unravel structural, biochemical, and molecular changes in the ECM. Histomorphometric analysis revealed disrupted collagen fibril architecture, characterized by altered fibril diameter, alignment, and spatial organization. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy highlighted biochemical modifications, including non-enzymatic glycation that impaired collagen crosslinking and reduced matrix integrity. Proteomic profiling unveiled significant alterations in ECM composition and function, including downregulation of key collagen crosslinking enzymes and upregulation of inflammatory and coagulation pathways. High glucose profoundly disrupts the collagenous matrix of bone, weakening its structural integrity and organization. These findings emphasize the critical impact of high glucose environments on extracellular matrix composition and bone quality, offering insights into the mechanisms behind diabetic bone fragility and guiding future research toward targeted therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11764406/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CellsPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.3390/cells14020138
Ayana Yamagishi, Rina Tokuoka, Kazuki Imai, Mei Mizusawa, Moe Susaki, Koki Uchida, Saku T Kijima, Akira Nagasaki, Daijiro Takeshita, Chiaki Yoshikawa, Taro Q P Uyeda, Chikashi Nakamura
{"title":"Nestin Forms a Flexible Cytoskeleton by Means of a Huge Tail Domain That Is Reversibly Stretched and Contracted by Weak Forces.","authors":"Ayana Yamagishi, Rina Tokuoka, Kazuki Imai, Mei Mizusawa, Moe Susaki, Koki Uchida, Saku T Kijima, Akira Nagasaki, Daijiro Takeshita, Chiaki Yoshikawa, Taro Q P Uyeda, Chikashi Nakamura","doi":"10.3390/cells14020138","DOIUrl":"10.3390/cells14020138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nestin is a type VI intermediate filament protein and a well-known neural stem cell marker. It is also expressed in high-grade cancer cells, forming copolymerized filaments with vimentin. We previously showed that nestin inhibits the binding of vimentin's tail domain to actin filaments (AFs) by steric hindrance through its large nestin tail domain (NTD), thereby increasing three-dimensional cytoskeleton network mobility, enhancing cell flexibility, and promoting cancer progression. Further, we found that nestin itself stably binds to AFs via the NTD. We therefore hypothesized that the NTD may form a flexible cytoskeletal structure by extending with weak force. In vitro tensile tests using atomic force microscopy were performed to assess the mechanical properties of NTDs. The C-terminus of the NTD bound AFs by bringing the AFM tip modified with the NTD into contact with the AFs on the substrate. NTDs were elongated to approximately 80% of their maximum length at weak forces < 150 pN. Repeated tensile tests revealed that the NTD refolded quickly and behaved like a soft elastic material. We speculate that nestin stably binds AFs, and the NTD extends with weak force, contracting quickly upon load release. Thereby, nestin would absorb mechanical load and maintain cytoskeletal integrity.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11763517/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143031923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CellsPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.3390/cells14020131
Klaudia Bonowicz, Dominika Jerka, Klaudia Piekarska, Janet Olagbaju, Laura Stapleton, Munirat Shobowale, Andrzej Bartosiński, Magdalena Łapot, Yidong Bai, Maciej Gagat
{"title":"CRISPR-Cas9 in Cardiovascular Medicine: Unlocking New Potential for Treatment.","authors":"Klaudia Bonowicz, Dominika Jerka, Klaudia Piekarska, Janet Olagbaju, Laura Stapleton, Munirat Shobowale, Andrzej Bartosiński, Magdalena Łapot, Yidong Bai, Maciej Gagat","doi":"10.3390/cells14020131","DOIUrl":"10.3390/cells14020131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a significant global health challenge, with many current treatments addressing symptoms rather than the genetic roots of these conditions. The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has revolutionized genome editing, offering a transformative approach to targeting disease-causing mutations directly. This article examines the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 in the treatment of various CVDs, including atherosclerosis, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, hypertension, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The technology's ability to correct single-gene mutations with high precision and efficiency positions it as a groundbreaking tool in cardiovascular therapy. Recent developments have extended the capabilities of CRISPR-Cas9 to include mitochondrial genome editing, a critical advancement for addressing mitochondrial dysfunctions often linked to cardiovascular disorders. Despite its promise, significant challenges remain, including off-target effects, ethical concerns, and limitations in delivery methods, which hinder its translation into clinical practice. This article also explores the ethical and regulatory considerations surrounding gene editing technologies, emphasizing the implications of somatic versus germline modifications. Future research efforts should aim to enhance the accuracy of CRISPR-Cas9, improve delivery systems for targeted tissues, and ensure the safety and efficacy of treatments in the long term. Overcoming these obstacles could enable CRISPR-Cas9 to not only treat but also potentially cure genetically driven cardiovascular diseases, heralding a new era in precision medicine for cardiovascular health.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11763404/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CellsPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.3390/cells14020135
Giulia Gerini, Alice Traversa, Fabrizio Cece, Matteo Cassandri, Paola Pontecorvi, Simona Camero, Giulia Nannini, Enrico Romano, Francesco Marampon, Mary Anna Venneri, Simona Ceccarelli, Antonio Angeloni, Amedeo Amedei, Cinzia Marchese, Francesca Megiorni
{"title":"Deciphering the Transcriptional Metabolic Profile of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells During Osteogenic Differentiation and Epigenetic Drug Treatment.","authors":"Giulia Gerini, Alice Traversa, Fabrizio Cece, Matteo Cassandri, Paola Pontecorvi, Simona Camero, Giulia Nannini, Enrico Romano, Francesco Marampon, Mary Anna Venneri, Simona Ceccarelli, Antonio Angeloni, Amedeo Amedei, Cinzia Marchese, Francesca Megiorni","doi":"10.3390/cells14020135","DOIUrl":"10.3390/cells14020135","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) are commonly employed in clinical treatment for various diseases due to their ability to differentiate into multi-lineage and anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory properties. Preclinical studies support their use for bone regeneration, healing, and the improvement of functional outcomes. However, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ASC biology is crucial to identifying key regulatory pathways that influence differentiation and enhance regenerative potential. In this study, we employed the NanoString nCounter technology, an advanced multiplexed digital counting method of RNA molecules, to comprehensively characterize differentially expressed transcripts involved in metabolic pathways at distinct time points in osteogenically differentiating ASCs treated with or without the pan-DNMT inhibitor RG108. <i>In silico</i> annotation and gene ontology analysis highlighted the activation of ethanol oxidation, ROS regulation, retinoic acid metabolism, and steroid hormone metabolism, as well as in the metabolism of lipids, amino acids, and nucleotides, and pinpointed potential new osteogenic drivers like AOX1 and ADH1A. RG108-treated cells, in addition to the upregulation of the osteogenesis-related markers RUNX2 and ALPL, showed statistically significant alterations in genes implicated in transcriptional control (MYCN, MYB, TP63, and IRF1), ethanol oxidation (ADH1C, ADH4, ADH6, and ADH7), and glucose metabolism (SLC2A3). These findings highlight the complex interplay of the metabolic, structural, and signaling pathways that orchestrate osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, this study underscores the potential of epigenetic drugs like RG108 to enhance ASC properties, paving the way for more effective and personalized cell-based therapies for bone regeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11763738/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CellsPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.3390/cells14020136
Michael Schagerl, Alexander Kaptejna, Fabian Polz, Sameh S Ali, Shuhao Huo, Joana Seneca, Petra Pjevac, Vera Hechtl
{"title":"Testing the Purity of <i>Limnospira fusiformis</i> Cultures After Axenicity Treatments.","authors":"Michael Schagerl, Alexander Kaptejna, Fabian Polz, Sameh S Ali, Shuhao Huo, Joana Seneca, Petra Pjevac, Vera Hechtl","doi":"10.3390/cells14020136","DOIUrl":"10.3390/cells14020136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Contaminations are challenging for monocultures, as they impact the culture conditions and thus influence the growth of the target organism and the overall biomass composition. In phycology, axenic cultures comprising a single living species are commonly strived for both basic research and industrial applications, because contaminants reduce significance for analytic purposes and interfere with the safety and quality of commercial products. We aimed to establish axenic cultures of <i>Limnospira fusiformis</i>, known as the food additive \"Spirulina\". Axenicity is strived because it ensures that pathogens or harmful microorganisms are absent and that the harvested biomass is consistent in terms of quality and composition. For the axenic treatment, we applied sterile filtration, ultrasonication, pH treatment, repeated centrifugation, and administration of antibiotics. For testing axenicity, we considered the most common verification method plate tests with Lysogeny Broth (LB) medium, which indicated axenicity after treatments were performed. In addition, we included plate tests with Reasoner's 2A (R2A) agar and modified Zarrouk+ medium, the latter comparable to the biochemical properties of <i>L. fusiformis</i>' cultivation medium. In contrast to LB plates, the other media, particularly Zarrouk+, indicated bacterial contamination. We conclude that LB-agar plates are inappropriate for contamination screening of extremophiles. Contamination was also verified by cultivation-independent methods like flow cytometry and 16S rRNA genome amplicon sequencing. We detected taxa of the phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteriodota, Firmicutes and to a lesser extent Verrucomicrobiota. Contaminants are robust taxa, as they survived aggressive treatments. Sequencing data suggest that some of them are promising candidates for in-depth studies to commercially exploit them.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11763751/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CellsPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.3390/cells14020132
Chun Yang, Rui Wang, Pierre Hardy
{"title":"The Multifaceted Roles of MicroRNA-181 in Stem Cell Differentiation and Cancer Stem Cell Plasticity.","authors":"Chun Yang, Rui Wang, Pierre Hardy","doi":"10.3390/cells14020132","DOIUrl":"10.3390/cells14020132","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stem cells are undifferentiated or partially differentiated cells with an extraordinary ability to self-renew and differentiate into various cell types during growth and development. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical developmental process, enhances stem cell-like properties in cells, and is associated with both normal stem cell function and the formation of cancer stem cells. Cell stemness and the EMT often coexist and are interconnected in various contexts. Cancer stem cells are a critical tumor cell population that drives tumorigenesis, cancer progression, drug resistance, and metastasis. Stem cell differentiation and the generation of cancer stem cells are regulated by numerous molecules, including microRNAs (miRNAs). These miRNAs, particularly through the modulation of EMT-associated factors, play major roles in controlling the stemness of cancer stem cells. This review presents an up-to-date summary of the regulatory roles of miR-181 in human stem cell differentiation and cancer cell stemness. We outline studies from the current literature and summarize the miR-181-controlled signaling pathways responsible for driving human stem cell differentiation or the emergence of cancer stem cells. Given its critical role in regulating cell stemness, miR-181 is a promising target for influencing human cell fate. Modulation of miR-181 expression has been found to be altered in cancer stem cells' biological behaviors and to significantly improve cancer treatment outcomes. Additionally, we discuss challenges in miRNA-based therapies and targeted delivery with nanotechnology-based systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11763446/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CellsPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.3390/cells14020128
Sushma Yadav, Claudia M Kowolik, Daniel Schmolze, Yuan Yuan, Min Lin, Arthur D Riggs, David A Horne
{"title":"Association of Structural Maintenance of Chromosome-1A Phosphorylation with Progression of Breast Cancer.","authors":"Sushma Yadav, Claudia M Kowolik, Daniel Schmolze, Yuan Yuan, Min Lin, Arthur D Riggs, David A Horne","doi":"10.3390/cells14020128","DOIUrl":"10.3390/cells14020128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Structural maintenance of chromosome-1A (SMC1A) is overexpressed in various malignancies including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). As a core component of the cohesin complex, SMC1A was initially recognized for its involvement in chromosomal cohesion and DNA-repair pathways. However, recent studies have unveiled its pivotal role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, and chemo- and radio-resistance in cancer cells. In hepatocellular carcinoma, aberrant phosphorylation of SMC1A has been associated with enhanced cell proliferation and migration. Despite these insights, the precise role of SMC1A phosphorylation in breast cancer remains largely unexplored. This study represents the first investigation to test the phosphorylation status and subcellular localization of SMC1A (p-SMC1A) in breast cancer and normal breast tissues. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was conducted using previously validated phospho-SMC1A antibodies on a histological section and tissue microarray (TMA) comprising samples from primary, invasive, and metastatic breast cancer and normal breast tissues. Our results revealed that p-SMC1A staining intensity was lower in normal breast tissues compared to invasive or metastatic breast cancer tissues (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Approximately 40% of breast cancer tissue exhibited cytoplasmic/membranous localization of p-SMC1A, whereas nuclear expression was observed in normal breast tissues. Moreover, elevated phosphorylation levels were significantly associated with higher tumor grade and metastasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11764376/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}