Project description:Glioblastoma (GBM) is among the most aggressive cancers. Despite aggressive radiotherapy and treatment with the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ), patients ultimately succumb to the disease. Although much interest has focused on highly tumorigenic GBM stem cells (GSCs), adaption of a concept from microbial research proposes that a minor population of dormant âpersisterâ cells in cancer evade current therapies. To separate dormant and treatment-resistant tumor cells in human GBM tumorspheres, we have refined density gradient protocols previously used for separation of neurosphere-forming neural stem cells (NSCs). We find that a minor cell population in human GBM tumorsphere cultures and patient-derived tumor biopsies display increased cell density. These high-density GBM cells (HDGCs) display dormancy, variable expression of proposed GSC markers, and 10-100 fold higher levels of reprogramming gene expression compared to low-density GBM cells (LDGCs). Transcriptional profiling data confirmed the slow-cycling state of HDGCs. As a result, HDGCs show decreased tumorsphere formation capacity in vitro and reduced tumorigenicity in vivo. Using tumorspheres and xenografts, we demonstrated that HDGCs show increased treatment-resistance to ionizing radiation (IR) and temozolomide treatment compared to LDGCs. Similar to the NSC lineage, our data suggest that dormant HDGCs become increasingly sensitive to anti-proliferative therapies as they become activated and further differentiate. In conclusion, density gradients represents a marker-independent approach to separate dormant and treatment-resistant tumor cells in human GBMs and other solid cancers. 12 samples, no replicates, derived from 5 individual patients
Project description:Glioblastoma (GBM) is among the most aggressive cancers. Despite aggressive radiotherapy and treatment with the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ), patients ultimately succumb to the disease. Although much interest has focused on highly tumorigenic GBM stem cells (GSCs), adaption of a concept from microbial research proposes that a minor population of dormant “persister” cells in cancer evade current therapies. To separate dormant and treatment-resistant tumor cells in human GBM tumorspheres, we have refined density gradient protocols previously used for separation of neurosphere-forming neural stem cells (NSCs). We find that a minor cell population in human GBM tumorsphere cultures and patient-derived tumor biopsies display increased cell density. These high-density GBM cells (HDGCs) display dormancy, variable expression of proposed GSC markers, and 10-100 fold higher levels of reprogramming gene expression compared to low-density GBM cells (LDGCs). Transcriptional profiling data confirmed the slow-cycling state of HDGCs. As a result, HDGCs show decreased tumorsphere formation capacity in vitro and reduced tumorigenicity in vivo. Using tumorspheres and xenografts, we demonstrated that HDGCs show increased treatment-resistance to ionizing radiation (IR) and temozolomide treatment compared to LDGCs. Similar to the NSC lineage, our data suggest that dormant HDGCs become increasingly sensitive to anti-proliferative therapies as they become activated and further differentiate. In conclusion, density gradients represents a marker-independent approach to separate dormant and treatment-resistant tumor cells in human GBMs and other solid cancers.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
Project description:The generation of pancreatic organoids from human pluripotent stem cells represents a major breakthrough for regenerative medicine and the modeling of diseases such as diabetes. However, current approaches remain inefficient due to lengthy multi-step differentiation protocols and limited functional maturity in the organoids. In this study, we overcome these challenges using multi-phase optimization screens to achieve rapid generation of functionally mature pancreatic organoids from a stable endocrine progenitor culture. We conducted stepwise culture condition screens that enabled the stable culture of multiple pancreatic progenitor cell states, including the unprecedented stable propagation of NEUROD1-expressing endocrine progenitor-like cells (EpSCs). Further transcriptomic profiling of EpSC confirmed similarity of that to previously reported endocrine progenitor populations. Using EpSCs, we significantly reduced the number of steps and timing required to generate pancreatic organoids, enabling rapid testing of conditions for organoid maturation. Utilizing this optimized protocol, we further tested conditions to promote pancreatic organoid maturation. We identified that exosome-delivered WNT5B, in combination with RSPO1 (exoW/R), could strongly induce non-canonical WNT/JNK signaling, promoting pancreatic organoid maturation. This combinatorial exosome treatment enhances epithelial organization, reduces immature cell states, and significantly improves glucose responsiveness and insulin secretion. Collectively, our work establishes a robust pancreatic differentiation platform that integrates long-term progenitor expansion with optimized organoid maturation. This system provides a reproducible experimental framework for studying pancreatic development, investigating disease mechanisms, and facilitating future translational applications involving pancreatic organoids.
Project description:Gene methylation profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells comparing HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs cells with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)- and HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs. hTERT may increase gene methylation in MSCs. Goal was to determine the effects of different transfected genes on global gene methylation in MSCs.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs. One-condition experment, gene expression of 3A6