Cancer stem cell differentiation: TGFβ1 and versican may trigger molecules for the organization of tumor spheroids
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Date
2014
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Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have the ability to self-renew similar to normal stem cells. This process is linked with metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In the present study, we constructed an in vitro differentiation model for CSCs. CSCs isolated and proliferated for one passage were maintained as monolayers or spheroid-forming cells with serum included media for differentiation process. Differentiation of adhesion molecules and cellular ultrastructural properties were investigated and compared in both monolayer and spheroid cultures. CD133+/CD44+ cancer-initiating cells were isolated from DU-145 human prostate cancer cell line monolayer cultures and propagated as tumor spheroids and compared with the remaining heterogeneous cancer cell bulk population. Microarray-based gene expression analysis was applied to determine genes with differential expression and protein expression levels of candidates were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy showed detailed analysis of morphology. TGFβ1 was found to be significantly upregulated in monolayer CSCs. High expression levels of VCAN, COL7A1, ITGβ3, MMP16, RPL13A, COL4A2 and TIMP1 and low expression levels of THBS1, MMP1 and MMP14 were detected when CSCs were maintained as serum-grown prostate CSC spheroids. Immunohistochemistry supported increased immunoreactivity of TGFβ1 in monolayer cultures and VCAN in spheroids. CSCs were found to possess multipotential differentiation capabilities through upregulation and/or downregulation of their markers. TGFβ1 is a triggering molecule, it stimulates versican, Col7A1, ITGβ3 and, most importantly, the upregulation of versican was only detected in CSCs. Our data support a model where CSCs must be engaged by one or more signaling cascades to differentiate and initiate tumor formation. This mechanism occurs with intracellular and extracellular signals and it is possible that CSCc themselves may be a source for extracellular signaling. These molecules functioning in tumor progression and differentiation may help develop targeted therapy.
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Antigens, CD , Antigens, CD44 , Cell Differentiation , Cell Line, Tumor , Collagen Type VII , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Glycoproteins , Humans , Integrin beta3 , Male , Neoplastic Stem Cells , Peptides , Prostatic Neoplasms , Spheroids, Cellular , Transforming Growth Factor beta1 , Tumor Markers, Biological , Versicans , beta3 integrin , collagen type 7 , collagen type 7A1 , interstitial collagenase , matrix metalloproteinase 14 , matrix metalloproteinase 16 , nerve cell adhesion molecule , nerve cell adhesion molecule 1 , osteopontin , transforming growth factor beta1 , unclassified drug , uvomorulin , versican , beta3 integrin , CD133 antigen , CD44 protein, human , COL7A1 protein, human , collagen type 7 , glycoprotein , Hermes antigen , ITGB3 protein, human , leukocyte antigen , peptide , TGFB1 protein, human , transforming growth factor beta1 , tumor marker , VCAN protein, human , versican , article , cancer stem cell , carcinogenesis , CDH1 gene , cell differentiation , cell proliferation , COL7A1 gene , controlled study , down regulation , gene expression , human , human cell , immunoreactivity , in vitro study , male , MMP1 gene , MMP16 gene , priority journal , prostate cancer , protein expression , signal transduction , TGF beta1 gene , tumor growth , tumor spheroid , upregulation , VCAN gene , cancer stem cell , cell differentiation , gene expression regulation , genetics , metabolism , multicellular spheroid , pathology , prostate tumor , tumor cell line