ABSTRACT
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) represent a significant component of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) microenvironments which play a critical role in tumor progression and drug resistance. Tumor-on-a-chip technology has provided a powerful in vitro platform to investigate the crosstalk between activated HSCs and HCC cells by mimicking physiological architecture with precise spatiotemporal control. Here we developed a tri-cell culture microfluidic chip to evaluate the impact of HSCs on HCC progression. On-chip analysis revealed activated HSCs contributed to endothelial invasion, HCC drug resistance and natural killer (NK) cell exhaustion. Cytokine array and RNA sequencing analysis were combined to indicate the iron-binding protein LIPOCALIN-2 (LCN-2) as a key factor in remodeling tumor microenvironments in the HCC-on-a-chip. LCN-2 targeted therapy demonstrated robust anti-tumor effects both in vitro 3D biomimetic chip and in vivo mouse model, including angiogenesis inhibition, sorafenib sensitivity promotion and NK-cell cytotoxicity enhancement. Taken together, the microfluidic platform exhibited obvious advantages in mimicking functional characteristics of tumor microenvironments and developing targeted therapies.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the cell death in macrophages (THP-1) stimulated with different agonists (H37Rv-PPD or BCG-PPD) and to investigate the relationship between Toll like receptor (TLR)-2 and THP-1 apoptosis. Methods H37Rv-PPD and BCG-PPD were used to stimulate THP-1 cells for 3 h, 8 h, 15 h and 24 h, respectively with or without TLR-2 blockade. Cells were analyzed by flow cytometry to detect the TLR-2 expression. Annexin V staining and Hochest staining were performed to evaluate apoptosis. Results The apoptosis cells were increased when stimulated with BCG-PPD and the percentage was 30.2% at 24 h, which were confirmed by Hochest staining.However, the expression of TLR-2 did not increase simultaneously with percentage of 8.8% at 24 h.Nevertheless, most cells presented with necrosis form when stimulated with H37Rv-PPD and the expression of TLR-2 remained at high level with the percentage of 17.2% at 24 h, while the percent of apoptosis rate was only 7.7%. Under treatment of TLR-2 antibodies, the percentage of apoptosis decreased to 10.5% at 24 h of BCG-PPD stimulation and TLR-2 expressions were down-regulated to less than 3% at all time points; but after H37Rv-PPD stimulation, the percentage of apoptosis and TLR-2 expression did not changed obviously. Conclusions The attenuated BCG-PPD induces THP-1 apoptosis predominately, which is partially correlated with TLR-2 expression. While virulent H37Rv-PPD induces THP-1 necrosis predominately.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the different response in macrophages treated with different agoβ and IL-10 in Mycobacterium tuberculosisnists(H37Rv-PPD and BCG-PPD)related with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the relationship with TNF-αt,IL-1β and IL-10.Methods Using H37Rv-PPD and BCG-PPD to stimulate THP-1 cell for 3h,8h,15h,24h respectively.Cells were ananlyzed by Hochest staining under fluorescence microscopy to assay cell death(apoptosis and necrosis).At each stimulating time,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-10 were examined by ELISA.Results Under fluorescence microscopy,it could easily see oval apoptotic bodies of THP-1 stimulated by BCG-PPD.However ,the nucleus were often isolated and necrosis-like when cells were stimulated by H37Rv-PPD.In a word ,BCG-PPD tend to induce THP-1 cells to apoptosis,but H37Rv-PPD inclined to induce cells to undergo necrosis.In supernatant of cells stimulated by BCG-PPD,the expression of TNF-αand IL-10 were lower than the cells stimulated by H37Rv-PPD,but the expression of IL-1β was higher than the latter.Conclusion It indicated that the necrosis of cells stimulated by H37Rv-PPD was asossiated with the excessive expression of TNF-α and IL-10,and the apoptosis of cells induced by BCG-PPD was IL-1β related.Perhaps the mechanism of differences in virulence exist in protein of strain,and associated with cytokines IL-1β,TNF-α and IL-10.