Detection of neoplastic-immune hybrid cells with metastatic properties in uveal melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Uveal melanoma is the most common non-cutaneous melanoma and is an intraocular malignancy affecting nearly 7,000 individuals per year worldwide. Of these, approximately 50% will progress to metastatic disease for which there are currently no effective curative therapies. Despite advances in molecular profiling and metastatic stratification of uveal melanoma tumors, little is known regarding their underlying biology of metastasis. Our group has identified a disseminated neoplastic cell population characterized by co-expression of immune and melanoma proteins, circulating hybrid cells (hybrids), in patients with uveal melanoma. Compared to circulating tumor cells, which lack expression of immune proteins, hybrids are detected at an increased prevalence in peripheral blood and can be used as a non-invasive biomarker to predict metastatic progression. METHODS: To ascertain mechanisms underlying enhanced hybrid cell dissemination we identified hybrid cells within primary uveal melanoma tumors using single cell RNA sequencing (n = 8) and evaluated their gene expression and predicted ligand-receptor interactions in relation to other melanoma and immune cells within the primary tumor. We then verified expression of upregulated hybrid pathways within patient-matched tumor and peripheral blood hybrids (n = 4) using cyclic immunofluorescence and quantified their protein expression relative to other non-hybrid tumor and disseminated tumor cells. RESULTS: Among the top upregulated genes and pathways in hybrid cells were those involved in enhanced cell motility and cytoskeletal rearrangement, immune evasion, and altered cellular metabolism. In patient-matched tumor and peripheral blood, we verified gene expression by examining concordant protein expression for each pathway category: TMSB10 (cell motility), CD74 (immune evasion) and GPX1 (metabolism). Both TMSB10 and GPX1 were expressed on significantly higher numbers of disseminated hybrid cells compared to circulating tumor cells, and CD74 and GPX1 were expressed on more disseminated hybrids than tumor-resident hybrids. Lastly, we identified that hybrid cells express ligand-receptor signaling pathways implicated in promoting metastasis including GAS6-AXL, CXCL12-CXCR4, LGALS9-P4HB and IGF1-IGFR1. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the importance of TMSB10, GPX1 and CD74 for successful hybrid cell dissemination and survival in circulation. Our results contribute to the understanding of uveal melanoma tumor progression and interactions between tumor cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment that may promote metastasis.

Epidermal growth factor augments the self-renewal capacity of aged hematopoietic stem cells.

Hematopoietic aging is associated with decreased hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal capacity and myeloid skewing. We report that culture of bone marrow (BM) HSCs from aged mice with epidermal growth factor (EGF) suppressed myeloid skewing, increased multipotent colony formation, and increased HSC repopulation in primary and secondary transplantation assays. Mice transplanted with aged, EGF-treated HSCs displayed increased donor cell engraftment within BM HSCs and systemic administration of EGF to aged mice increased HSC self-renewal capacity in primary and secondary transplantation assays. Expression of a dominant negative EGFR in Scl/Tal1+ hematopoietic cells caused increased myeloid skewing and depletion of long term-HSCs in 15-month-old mice. EGF treatment decreased DNA damage in aged HSCs and shifted the transcriptome of aged HSCs from genes regulating cell death to genes involved in HSC self-renewal and DNA repair but had no effect on HSC senescence. These data suggest that EGFR signaling regulates the repopulating capacity of aged HSCs.

Detection of neoplastic-immune hybrid cells with metastatic properties in uveal melanoma.

Background: Uveal melanoma is the most common non-cutaneous melanoma and is an intraocular malignancy affecting nearly 7,000 individuals per year worldwide. Of these, approximately 50% will progress to metastatic disease for which there are currently no effective therapies. Despite advances in molecular profiling and metastatic stratification of uveal melanoma tumors, little is known regarding their underlying biology of metastasis. Our group has identified a disseminated neoplastic cell population characterized by co-expression of immune and melanoma proteins, circulating hybrid cells (hybrids), in patients with uveal melanoma. Compared to circulating tumor cells, which lack expression of immune proteins, hybrids are detected at an increased prevalence in peripheral blood and can be used as a non-invasive biomarker to predict metastatic progression. Methods: To ascertain mechanisms underlying enhanced hybrid cell dissemination we identified hybrid cells within primary uveal melanoma tumors using single cell RNA sequencing and evaluated their gene expression and predicted ligand-receptor interactions in relation to other melanoma and immune cells within the primary tumor. We then verified expression of upregulated hybrid pathways within patient-matched tumor and peripheral blood hybrids using cyclic immunofluorescence and quantified their protein expression relative to other non-hybrid tumor and disseminated tumor cells. Results: Among the top upregulated genes and pathways in hybrid cells were those involved in enhanced cell motility and cytoskeletal rearrangement, immune evasion, and altered cellular metabolism. In patient-matched tumor and peripheral blood, we verified gene expression by examining concordant protein expression for each pathway category: TMSB10 (cell motility), CD74 (immune evasion) and GPX1 (metabolism). Both TMSB10 and GPX1 were expressed on significantly higher numbers of disseminated hybrid cells compared to circulating tumor cells, and CD74 and GPX1 were expressed on more disseminated hybrids than tumor-resident hybrids. Lastly, we identified that hybrid cells express ligand-receptor signaling pathways implicated in promoting metastasis including GAS6-AXL, CXCL12-CXCR4, LGALS9-P4HB and IGF1-IGFR1. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of TMSB10, GPX1 and CD74 for successful hybrid cell dissemination and survival in circulation. Our results contribute to the understanding of uveal melanoma tumor progression and interactions between tumor cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment that may promote metastasis.

Syndecan-2 enriches for hematopoietic stem cells and regulates stem cell repopulating capacity.

The discovery of novel hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) surface markers can enhance understanding of HSC identity and function. We have discovered a population of primitive bone marrow (BM) HSCs distinguished by their expression of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan Syndecan-2, which serves as both a marker and a regulator of HSC function. Syndecan-2 expression was increased 10-fold in CD150+CD48-CD34-c-Kit+Sca-1+Lineage- cells (long-term HSCs [LT-HSCs]) compared with differentiated hematopoietic cells. Isolation of BM cells based solely on syndecan-2 surface expression produced a 24-fold enrichment for LT-HSCs and sixfold enrichment for α-catulin+c-kit+ HSCs, and yielded HSCs with superior in vivo repopulating capacity compared with CD150+ cells. Competitive repopulation assays revealed the HSC frequency to be 17-fold higher in syndecan-2+CD34-KSL cells compared with syndecan-2-CD34-KSL cells and indistinguishable from CD150+CD34-KSL cells. Syndecan-2 expression also identified nearly all repopulating HSCs within the CD150+CD34-KSL population. Mechanistically, syndecan-2 regulates HSC repopulating capacity through control of expression of Cdkn1c (p57) and HSC quiescence. Loss of syndecan-2 expression caused increased HSC cell cycle entry, downregulation of Cdkn1c, and loss of HSC long-term repopulating capacity. Syndecan-2 is a novel marker of HSCs that regulates HSC repopulating capacity via control of HSC quiescence.

Neuropilin 1 regulates bone marrow vascular regeneration and hematopoietic reconstitution.

Ionizing radiation and chemotherapy deplete hematopoietic stem cells and damage the vascular niche wherein hematopoietic stem cells reside. Hematopoietic stem cell regeneration requires signaling from an intact bone marrow (BM) vascular niche, but the mechanisms that control BM vascular niche regeneration are poorly understood. We report that BM vascular endothelial cells secrete semaphorin 3 A (SEMA3A) in response to myeloablation and SEMA3A induces p53 - mediated apoptosis in BM endothelial cells via signaling through its receptor, Neuropilin 1 (NRP1), and activation of cyclin dependent kinase 5. Endothelial cell - specific deletion of Nrp1 or Sema3a or administration of anti-NRP1 antibody suppresses BM endothelial cell apoptosis, accelerates BM vascular regeneration and concordantly drives hematopoietic reconstitution in irradiated mice. In response to NRP1 inhibition, BM endothelial cells increase expression and secretion of the Wnt signal amplifying protein, R spondin 2. Systemic administration of anti - R spondin 2 blocks HSC regeneration and hematopoietic reconstitution which otherwise occurrs in response to NRP1 inhibition. SEMA3A - NRP1 signaling promotes BM vascular regression following myelosuppression and therapeutic blockade of SEMA3A - NRP1 signaling in BM endothelial cells accelerates vascular and hematopoietic regeneration in vivo.

Proteoglycans regulate protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor σ organization on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor σ (PTPσ) is highly expressed by murine and human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and negatively regulates HSC self-renewal and regeneration. Previous studies of the nervous system suggest that heparan sulfate proteoglycans can inactivate PTPσ by clustering PTPσ receptors on neurons, but this finding has yet to be visually verified with adequate resolution. Here, we sought to visualize and quantify how heparan sulfate proteoglycans regulate the organization and activation of PTPσ in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). Our study illustrates that syndecan-2 promotes PTPσ clustering, which sustains phospho-tyrosine and phospho-ezrin levels in association with augmentation of hematopoietic colony formation. Strategies that promote clustering of PTPσ on HSPCs may serve to powerfully augment hematopoietic function.

Beyond the bench: how inclusion and exclusion make us the scientists we are.

Recent events encompassing social injustices, healthcare disparities, and police brutality against Black citizens highlight the continued need to strive toward unbiased and inclusive practices in all realms of the world. Our voices as cell biologists are powerful tools that can be used to combat inequities in the scientific landscape. In this inaugural Voices essay, we discuss how exclusion and inclusion events have contributed to our scientific journeys and how scientists can work to create an inclusive environment for our trainees and colleagues. As underrepresented minority scientists in the early and late stages of our scientific training, we frame the trainee experience to provide insight from unique perspectives. This essay also provides actionable items that the cell biology community can implement to promote inclusivity. We anticipate that initiating an open dialogue focused on diversity and inclusion will promote growth in the field of cell biology and enable scientists to assess and assume their role in creating welcoming environments. We believe that scientists at all stages in their careers can make meaningful and habitual contributions to supporting inclusivity in cell biology, thereby creating a future where diversity, equity, and inclusion are expected, not requested.

Epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent DNA repair promotes murine and human hematopoietic regeneration.

Chemotherapy and irradiation cause DNA damage to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), leading to HSC depletion and dysfunction and the risk of malignant transformation over time. Extrinsic regulation of HSC DNA repair is not well understood, and therapies to augment HSC DNA repair following myelosuppression remain undeveloped. We report that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) regulates DNA repair in HSCs following irradiation via activation of the DNA-dependent protein kinase-catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). We show that hematopoietic regeneration in vivo following total body irradiation is dependent upon EGFR-mediated repair of DNA damage via activation of DNA-PKcs. Conditional deletion of EGFR in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) significantly decreased DNA-PKcs activity following irradiation, causing increased HSC DNA damage and depressed HSC recovery over time. Systemic administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) promoted HSC DNA repair and rapid hematologic recovery in chemotherapy-treated mice and had no effect on acute myeloid leukemia growth in vivo. Further, EGF treatment drove the recovery of human HSCs capable of multilineage in vivo repopulation following radiation injury. Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed no increase in coding region mutations in HSPCs from EGF-treated mice, but increased intergenic copy number variant mutations were detected. These studies demonstrate that EGF promotes HSC DNA repair and hematopoietic regeneration in vivo via augmentation of NHEJ. EGF has therapeutic potential to promote human hematopoietic regeneration, and further studies are warranted to assess long-term hematopoietic effects.

Chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells require cell-autonomous pleiotrophin signaling.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) induce molecular remission in the majority of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), but the persistence of CML stem cells hinders cure and necessitates indefinite TKI therapy. We report that CML stem cells upregulate the expression of pleiotrophin (PTN) and require cell-autonomous PTN signaling for CML pathogenesis in BCR/ABL+ mice. Constitutive PTN deletion substantially reduced the numbers of CML stem cells capable of initiating CML in vivo. Hematopoietic cell-specific deletion of PTN suppressed CML development in BCR/ABL+ mice, suggesting that cell-autonomous PTN signaling was necessary for CML disease evolution. Mechanistically, PTN promoted CML stem cell survival and TKI resistance via induction of Jun and the unfolded protein response. Human CML cells were also dependent on cell-autonomous PTN signaling, and anti-PTN antibody suppressed human CML colony formation and CML repopulation in vivo. Our results suggest that targeted inhibition of PTN has therapeutic potential to eradicate CML stem cells.