Glutathione metabolism is essential for self-renewal and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer stem cells

BACKGROUND Cellular metabolism regulates stemness in health and disease.A reduced redox state is essential for self-renewal of normal and cancer stem cells(CSCs).However,while stem cells rely on glycolysis,different CSCs,including pancreatic CSCs,favor mitochondrial metabolism as their dominant energy-producing pathway.This suggests that powerful antioxidant networks must be in place to detoxify mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(ROS)and maintain stemness in oxidative CSCs.Since glutathione metabolism is critical for normal stem cell function and CSCs from breast,liver and gastric cancer show increased glutathione content,we hypothesized that pancreatic CSCs also rely on this pathway for ROS detoxification.AIM To investigate the role of glutathione metabolism in pancreatic CSCs.METHODS Primary pancreatic cancer cells of patient-derived xenografts(PDXs)were cultured in adherent or CSC-enriching sphere conditions to determine the role of glutathione metabolism in stemness.Real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to validate RNAseq results involving glutathione metabolism genes in adherent vs spheres,as well as the expression of pluripotency-related genes following treatment.Public TCGA and GTEx RNAseq data from pancreatic cancer vs normal tissue samples were analyzed using the webserver GEPIA2.The glutathione-sensitive fluorescent probe monochlorobimane was used to determine glutathione content by fluorimetry or flow cytometry.Pharmacological inhibitors of glutathione synthesis and recycling[buthionine-sulfoximine(BSO)and 6-Aminonicotinamide(6-AN),respectively]were used to investigate the impact of glutathione depletion on CSC-enriched cultures.Staining with propidium iodide(cell cycle),Annexin-V(apoptosis)and CD133(CSC content)were determined by flow cytometry.Self-renewal was assessed by sphere formation assay and response to gemcitabine treatment was used as a readout for chemoresistance.RESULTS Analysis of our previously published RNAseq dataset E-MTAB-3808 revealed upregulation of genes involved in the KEGG(Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes)Pathway Glutathione Metabolism in CSC-enriched cultures compared to their differentiated counterparts.Consistently,in pancreatic cancer patient samples the expression of most of these up-regulated genes positively correlated with a stemness signature defined by NANOG,KLF4,SOX2 and OCT4 expression(P<10-5).Moreover,3 of the upregulated genes(MGST1,GPX8,GCCT)were associated with reduced disease-free survival in patients[Hazard ratio(HR)2.2-2.5;P=0.03-0.0054],suggesting a critical role for this pathway in pancreatic cancer progression.CSC-enriched sphere cultures also showed increased expression of different glutathione metabolism-related genes,as well as enhanced glutathione content in its reduced form(GSH).Glutathione depletion with BSO induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in spheres,and diminished the expression of stemness genes.Moreover,treatment with either BSO or the glutathione recycling inhibitor 6-AN inhibited self-renewal and the expression of the CSC marker CD133.GSH content in spheres positively correlated with intrinsic resistance to gemcitabine treatment in different PDXs r=0.96,P=5.8×1011).Additionally,CD133+cells accumulated GSH in response to gemcitabine,which was abrogated by BSO treatment(P<0.05).Combined treatment with BSO and gemcitabine-induced apoptosis in CD133+cells to levels comparable to CD133-cells and significantly diminished self-renewal(P<0.05),suggesting that chemoresistance of CSCs is partially dependent on GSH metabolism.CONCLUSION Our data suggest that pancreatic CSCs depend on glutathione metabolism.Pharmacological targeting of this pathway showed that high GSH content is essential to maintain CSC functionality in terms of self-renewal and chemoresistance.

Correlation between amino acid metabolism and self-renewal of cancer stem cells: Perspectives in cancer therapy

Cancer stem cells(CSCs)possess self-renewal and differentiation potential,which may be related to recurrence,metastasis,and radiochemotherapy resistance during tumor treatment.Understanding the mechanisms via which CSCs maintain self-renewal may reveal new therapeutic targets for attenuating CSC resistance and extending patient life-span.Recent studies have shown that amino acid metabolism plays an important role in maintaining the self-renewal of CSCs and is involved in regulating their tumorigenicity characteristics.This review summarizes the relationship between CSCs and amino acid metabolism,and discusses the possible mechanisms by which amino acid metabolism regulates CSC characteristics particularly self-renewal,survival and stemness.The ultimate goal is to identify new targets and research directions for elimination of CSCs.

Macrophage populations and self-renewal:Changing the paradigm

The origin of macrophages has been considered since several decades to be a continuum from bone marrow(BM) to tissue via monocytes as precursors. The development of new tools such as genetic lineage tracing,parabiosis and BM chimeras changed the paradigm of macrophage origin. In steady state,most resident macrophages are of embryonic origin,whereas a monocyte origin remains prominent in pathological conditions. The findings of a proliferation of mature macrophages will oblige us to reappraise the relationship between proliferation and differentiation in macrophages. This review is based on the recent explosion of high impact articles on macrophage biology. It summarizes new data on the origin of macrophages and their selfrenewal potential in steady states. While monocytes are required for intestinal macrophage development,the microglia is independent of monocyte influx and skin macrophages provide an excellent model of the balance between monocyte input and self-renewal. In addition,macrophage proliferation requires intrinsic and extrinsic factors including growth factors and cytokines. It also analyzes the impact of this new paradigm in human diseases such as athrosclerosis,cancer,infectious diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. In atherosclerosis,the finding of macrophage proliferation within the lesions will change our understanding of disease pathophysiology,this new paradigm may have therapeutical impact in the future.

TRIM27 maintains gut homeostasis by promoting intestinal stem cell self-renewal

Dysregulation of gut homeostasis is associated with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS),a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder affecting approximately 11.2%of the global population.The poorly understood pathogenesis of IBS has impeded its treatment.Here,we report that the E3 ubiquitin ligase tripartite motif-containing 27(TRIM27)is weakly expressed in IBS but highly expressed in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),a frequent chronic organic gastrointestinal disorder.Accordingly,knockout of Trim27 in mice causes spontaneously occurring IBS-like symptoms,including increased visceral hyperalgesia and abnormal stool features,as observed in IBS patients.Mechanistically,TRIM27 stabilizesβ-catenin and thus activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling to promote intestinal stem cell(ISC)self-renewal.Consistent with these findings,Trim27 deficiency disrupts organoid formation,which is rescued by reintroducing TRIM27 orβ-catenin.Furthermore,Wnt/β-catenin signaling activator treatment ameliorates IBS symptoms by promoting ISC self-renewal.Taken together,these data indicate that TRIM27 is critical for maintaining gut homeostasis,suggesting that targeting the TRIM27/Wnt/β-catenin axis could be a potential treatment strategy for IBS.Our study also indicates that TRIM27 might serve as a potential biomarker for differentiating IBS from IBD.

Regulation of embryonic stem cell self-renewal and differentiation by TGF-β family signaling

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are characterized by their ability to indefinitely self-renew and potential to differentiate into all the cell lineages of the body. ES cells are considered to have potential applications in regenerative medicine. In particular, the emergence of an ES cell analogue-induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells via somatic cell reprogramming by co-expressing a limited number of critical stemness-related transcriptional factors has solved the problem of obtaining patient-specific pluripotent cells, encouraging researchers to develop more specific and functional cell lineages from ES or iPS cells for broad therapeutic applications. ES cell fate choice is delicately controlled by a core transcriptional network, epigenetic modification profiles and complex signaling cascades both intrinsically and extrinsically. Of these signals, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family members, including TGF-β, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), Activin and Nodal, have been reported to influence cell self-renewal and a broad spectrum of lineage differentiation in ES cells, in accordance with the key roles of TGF-β family signaling in early embryo development. In this review, the roles of TGF-β family signals in coordinating ES cell fate determination are summarized.

The Hippo pathway regulates stem cell proliferation,self-renewal,and differentiation

Stem cells and progenitor cells are the cells of origin for multi-cellular organisms and organs.They play key roles during development and their dysregulation gives rise to human diseases such as cancer.The recent de-velopment of induced pluripotent stem cell(iPSC)technology which converts somatic cells to stem-like cells holds great promise for regenerative medicine.Nevertheless,the understanding of proliferation,dif-ferentiation,and self-renewal of stem cells and or-gan-specific progenitor cells is far from clear.Recently,the Hippo pathway was demonstrated to play important roles in these processes.The Hippo pathway is a newly established signaling pathway with critical functions in limiting organ size and suppressing tumorigenesis.This pathway was first found to inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis,therefore regulating cell num-ber and organ size in both Drosophila and mammals.However,in several organs,disturbance of the pathway leads to specific expansion of the progenitor cell com-partment and manipulation of the pathway in embryonic stem cells strongly affects their self-renewal and dif-ferentiation.In this review,we summarize current ob-servations on roles of the Hippo pathway in different types of stem cells and discuss how these findings changed our view on the Hippo pathway in organ de-velopment and tumorigenesis.

rtcisE2F promotes the self-renewal and metastasis of liver tumorinitiating cells via N^(6)-methyladenosine-dependent E2F3/E2F6 mRNA stability

Liver cancer is highly heterogeneous,and the tumor tissue harbors a variety of cell types.Liver tumor initiating cells(TICs)well contribute to tumor heterogeneity and account for tumor initiation and metastasis,but the molecular mechanisms of liver TIC self-renewal are elusive.Here,we identified a functional read-through rt-circRNA,termed rtcisE2F,that is highly expressed in liver cancer and liver TICs.rtcisE2F plays essential roles in the self-renewal and activities of liver TICs.rtcisE2F targets E2F6 and E2F3 mRNAs,attenuates mRNA turnover,and increases E2F6/E2F3 expression.Mechanistically,rtcisE2F functions as a scaffold of N^(6)-methyladenosine(m^(6)A)reader IGF2BP2 and E2F6/E2F3 mRNA.rtcisE2F promotes the association of E2F6/E2F3 mRNAs with IGF2BP2,and inhibits their association with another m^(6)A reader,YTHDF2.IGF2BP2 inhibits E2F6/E2F3 mRNA decay,whereas YTHDF2 promotes E2F6/E2F3 mRNA decay.By switching m^(6)A readers,rtcisE2F enhances E2F6/E2F3 mRNA stability.E2F6 and E2F3 are both required for liver TIC self-renewal and Wnt/β-catenin activation,and inhibition of these pathways is a potential strategy for preventing liver tumorigenesis and metastasis.In conclusion,the rtcisE2F-IGF2BP2/YTHDF2-E2F6/E2F3-Wnt/β-catenin axis drives liver TIC self-renewal and initiates liver tumorigenesis and metastasis,and may provide a strategy to eliminate liver TICs.

A chromatin modulator sustains self-renewal and enables differentiation of postnatal neural stem and progenitor cells

It remains unknown whether H3K4 methylation,an epigenetic modification associated with gene activation,regulates fate determination of the postnatal neural stem and progenitor cells(NSPCs).By inactivating the Dpy30 subunit of the major H3K4 methyltransferase complexes in specific regions of mouse brain,we demonstrate a crucial role of efficient H3K4 methylation in maintaining both the self-renewal and differentiation capacity of postnatal NSPCs.Dpy30 deficiency disrupts development of hippocampus and especially the dentate gyrus and subventricular zone,the major regions for postnatal NSC activities.Dpy30 is indispensable for sustaining the self-renewal and proliferation of NSPCs in a cell-intrinsic manner and also enables the differentiation of mouse and human neural progenitor cells to neuronal and glial lineages.Dpy30 directly regulates H3K4 methylation and the induction of several genes critical in neurogenesis.These findings link a prominent epigenetic mechanism of gene expression to the fundamental properties of NSPCs and may have implications in neurodevelopmental disorders.

The molecular mechanism of embryonic stem cell pluripotency and self-renewal

The self-renewal and pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is regulated by a network, which consists of a series of cell factors in microenviroments, a chain of transcription factors and certain signal conduction pathways. This article reviews recent progress in this field to elucidate the mecha-nism involved.

Transcriptome Analysis Identifies SenZfp536,a Sense LncRNA that Suppresses Self-renewal of Cortical Neural Progenitors

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)regulate transcription to control development and homeostasis in a variety of tissues and organs.However,their roles in the development of the cerebral cortex have not been well elucidated.Here,a bioinformatics pipeline was applied to delineate the dynamic expression and potential cis-regulating effects of mouse lncRNAs using transcriptome data from 8 embryonic time points and sub-regions of the developing cerebral cortex.We further characterized a sense lncRNA,SenZfp536,which is transcribed downstream of and partially overlaps with the protein-coding gene Zfp536.Both SenZfp536 and Zfp536 were predominantly expressed in the proliferative zone of the developing cortex.Zfp536 was cis-regulated by SenZfp536,which facilitates looping between the promoter of Zfp536 and the genomic region that transcribes SenZfp536.Surprisingly,knocking down or activating the expression of SenZfp536 increased or compromised the proliferation of cortical neural progenitor cells(NPCs),respectively.Finally,overexpressing Zfp536 in cortical NPCs reversed the enhanced proliferation of cortical NPCs caused by SenZfp536 knockdown.The study deepens our understanding of how lncRNAs regulate the propagation of cortical NPCs through cis-regulatory mechanisms.

Self-Renewal Consortium Blockchain Based on Proof of Rest and Strong Smart Contracts

Focusing on the business alliance scenario in blockchains,this paper proposes a new consensus mechanism named proof of rest(PoR)and strong smart contracts.The block structure and logic of PoR consensus are described.And a consortium blockchain system supporting strong smart contracts is designed.We modify the difficulty value algorithm based on proof of work(PoW)and add adjustable parameters.The longer a node rests after creating a block,the less difficult it is to create another new block,hence the term PoR.The penalty for slack nodes,the joining and quitting of nodes,and the adjustment of the expected block creation time can all be accomplished using the strong smart contracts,so the consortium blockchain can realize self-renewal.

Spermatogonial Stem Cell Self-renewal and Differentiation

Mammalian spermatogenesis is a complicated and precisely controlled process that requires spermatogonial stem cells(SSCs).SSCs maintain the stem cell pool,balance self-renewal–commitment with differentiation,and produce millions of sperm daily.Self-renewal and differentiation are controlled by intrinsic factors within SSCs and extrinsic factors from the"niche."In this review,we discuss the biology of SSCs and the factors regulating their self-renewal and differentiation.

Screening for self-renewal factors by a combination of mRNA and CGH microarray in human embryonic stem cells

Human embryonic stem cells(hESCs)undergo self-renewal while maintaining pluripotency.However,the molecular mechanism that demonstrates how these cells maintain their undifferentiated state and how they self-renew is poorly understood.Here,we characterized an aneuploidy H1 hESC subline(named H1T)using karyotyping and comparative genomic hybridization(CGH)microarray.Because the H1T hESC line displays a self-renewal advantage while maintaining an undiffer-entiated state,we speculated that the expression patterns of specific genes which are related to pluripotency or differentiation were altered;therefore,we attempted to screen for molecules that are propitious for maintenance of stemness by performing a combination of mRNA and CGH microarray analysis which compared the aneuploidy H1T hESC subline versus the euploid H1 hESC line.It is discovered that some genes are up-regulated in H1T hESC subline such as TBX2 and Wnt3,while some are downregulated,for example,Fbxo7 and HMG2L1.Ourfindings should fascilitate the study of the complex signaling network which maintains hESC pluripotency and function.

Interleukin-12 supports in vitro self-renewal of long-term hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cells(HSCs)self-renew or differentiate through division.Cytokines are essential for inducing HSC division,but the optimal cytokine combination to control self-renewal of HSC in vitro remains unclear.In this study,we compared the effects of interleukin-12(IL-12)and thrombopoietin(TPO)in combination with stem cell factor(SCF)on in vitro self-renewal of HSCs.Single-cell assays were used to overcome the heterogeneity issue of HSCs,and serum-free conditions were newly established to permit reproduction of data.In single-cell cultures,CD150^(+)CD48^(-)CD41^(-)CD34^(-)c-Kit^(+)Sca-1^(+)lineage^(-)SCs divided significantly more slowly in the presence of SCF+IL-12 compared with cells in the presence of SCF+TPO.Serial transplantation of cells from bulk and clonal cultures revealed that TPO was more effective than IL-12 at supporting in vitro self-renewal of short-term(<6 months)HSCs,resulting in a monophasic reconstitution wave formation,whereas IL-12 was more effective than TPO at supporting the in vitro selfrenewal of long-term(>6 months)HSCs,resulting in a biphasic reconstitution wave formation.The control of division rate in HSCs appeared to be crucial for preventing the loss of self-renewal potential from their in vitro culture.

8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin inhibits properties of liver cancer stem cells via downregulation of β-catenin

AIM:To evaluate whether 8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin(BrMC),a synthetic analogue of chrysin,inhibits the properties of cancer stem cells derived from the human liver cancer MHCC97 cell line and to determine the potential mechanisms.METHODS:CD133+cells were sorted from the MHCC97 cell line by magnetic activated cell sorting,and amplified in stem cell-conditioned medium to obtain the enriched CD133+sphere forming cells(SFCs).The stem cell properties of CD133+SFCs were validated by the tumorsphere formation assay in vitro and the xenograft nude mouse model in vivo,and termed liver cancer stem cells(LCSCs).The effects of BrMC on LCSCs in vitro were evaluated by MTT assay,tumorsphere formation assay and transwell chamber assay.The effects of BrMC on LCSCs in vivo were determined using a primary and secondary xenograft model in Balb/c-nu mice.Expressions of the stem cell markers,epithelialmesenchymal transition(EMT)markers andβ-catenin protein were analyzed by western blotting or immunohistochemical analysis.RESULTS:CD133+SFCs exhibited stem-like cell properties of tumorsphere formation and tumorigenesis capacity in contrast to the parental MHCC97 cells.We found that BrMC preferentially inhibited proliferation and self-renewal of LCSCs(P<0.05).Furthermore,BrMC significantly suppressed EMT and invasion of LCSCs.Moreover,BrMC could efficaciously eliminate LCSCs in vivo.Interestingly,we showed that BrMC decreased the expression ofβ-catenin in LCSCs.Silencing ofβ-catenin by small interfering RNA could synergize the inhibition of self-renewal of LCSCs induced by BrMC,while Wnt3a treatment antagonized the inhibitory effects of BrMC.CONCLUSION:BrMC can inhibit the functions and characteristics of LCSCs derived from the liver cancer MHCC97 cell line through downregulation ofβ-catenin expression.

MicroRNAs as novel regulators of stem cell fate

Mounting evidence in stem cell biology has shown that microRNAs(miRNAs) play a crucial role in cell fate specification, including stem cell self-renewal, lineagespecific differentiation, and somatic cell reprogramming.These functions are tightly regulated by specific gene expression patterns that involve miRNAs and transcription factors. To maintain stem cell pluripotency, specific miRNAs suppress transcription factors that promote differentiation, whereas to initiate differentiation, lineagespecific miRNAs are upregulated via the inhibition of transcription factors that promote self-renewal. Small molecules can be used in a similar manner as natural miRNAs, and a number of natural and synthetic small molecules have been isolated and developed to regulate stem cell fate. Using miRNAs as novel regulators of stem cell fate will provide insight into stem cell biology and aid in understanding the molecular mechanisms and crosstalk between miRNAs and stem cells.Ultimately, advances in the regulation of stem cell fate will contribute to the development of effective medical therapies for tissue repair and regeneration. This review summarizes the current insights into stem cell fate determination by miRNAs with a focus on stem cell self-renewal, differentiation, and reprogramming. Small molecules that control stem cell fate are also highlighted.

Heart regeneration:Past,present and future

The heart has been considered a post-mitotic organ without regenerative capacity for most of the last century.We review the evidence that led to this hypothesis in the early 1900s and how it was progressively modified,culminating with the report that we renew 50% of our cardiomyocytes during our lifetime.The future of cardiac regenerative therapies is discussed,presenting the difficulties to overcome before repair of the diseased heart can come into clinical practice.

Autophagy in fate determination of mesenchymal stem cells and bone remodeling

Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been widely exploited as promising candidates in clinical settings for bone repair and regeneration in view of their self-renewal capacity and multipotentiality.However,little is known about the mechanisms underlying their fate determination,which would illustrate their effectiveness in regenerative medicine.Recent evidence has shed light on a fundamental biological role of autophagy in the maintenance of the regenerative capability of MSCs and bone homeostasis.Autophagy has been implicated in provoking an immediately available cytoprotective mechanism in MSCs against stress,while dysfunction of autophagy impairs the function of MSCs,leading to imbalances of bone remodeling and a wide range of aging and degenerative bone diseases.This review aims to summarize the up-to-date knowledge about the effects of autophagy on MSC fate determination and its role as a stress adaptation response.Meanwhile,we highlight autophagy as a dynamic process and a double-edged sword to account for some discrepancies in the current research.We also discuss the contribution of autophagy to the regulation of bone cells and bone remodeling and emphasize its potential involvement in bone disease.

Role of mesenchymal stem cells in cell life and their signaling

Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) have various roles in the body and cellular environment, and the cellular phenotypes of MSCs changes in different conditions. MSCs support the maintenance of other cells, and the capacity of MSCs to differentiate into several cell types makes the cells unique and full of possibilities. The involvement of MSCs in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition is an important property of these cells. In this review, the role of MSCs in cell life, including their application in therapy, is first described, and the signaling mechanism of MSCs is investigated for a further understanding of these cells.

Sox2 transcription network acts as a molecular switch to regulate properties of neural stem cells

Neural stem cells(NSCs) contribute to ontogeny by producing neurons at the appropriate time and location. Neurogenesis from NSCs is also involved in various biological functions in adults. Thus, NSCs continue to exert their effects throughout the lifespan of the organism. The mechanism regulating the core functional properties of NSCs is governed by intra- and extracellular signals. Among the transcription factors that serve as molecular switches, Sox2 is considered a key factor in NSCs. Sox2 forms a core network with partner factors, thereby functioning as a molecular switch. This review discusses how the network of Sox2 partner and target genes illustrates the molecular characteristics of the mechanism underlying the self-renewal and multipotency of NSCs.