1. |
- Ferraro, Gino B., et al.
(author)
-
Fatty acid synthesis is required for breast cancer brain metastasis
- 2021
-
In: Nature Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2662-1347. ; 2:4, s. 414-428
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Brain metastases are refractory to therapies that control systemic disease in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer and the brain microenvironment contributes to this therapy resistance. Nutrient availability can vary across tissues, therefore metabolic adaptations required for brain metastatic breast cancer growth may introduce liabilities that can be exploited for therapy. Here we assessed how metabolism differs between breast tumors in brain versus extracranial sites and found that fatty acid synthesis is elevated in breast tumors growing in the brain. We determine that this phenotype is an adaptation to decreased lipid availability in the brain relative to other tissues, resulting in site-specific dependency on fatty acid synthesis for breast tumors growing at this site. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of fatty acid synthase reduces human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast tumor growth in the brain, demonstrating that differences in nutrient availability across metastatic sites can result in targetable metabolic dependencies.
|
|
2. |
- Lau, Allison N., et al.
(author)
-
Dissecting cell-type-specific metabolism in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
- 2020
-
In: eLife. - 2050-084X. ; 9, s. 1-35
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Tumors are composed of many different cell types including cancer cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells. Dissecting functional metabolic differences between cell types within a mixed population can be challenging due to the rapid turnover of metabolites relative to the time needed to isolate cells. To overcome this challenge, we traced isotope-labeled nutrients into macromolecules that turn over more slowly than metabolites. This approach was used to assess differences between cancer cell and fibroblast metabolism in murine pancreatic cancer organoid-fibroblast co-cultures and tumors. Pancreatic cancer cells exhibited increased pyruvate carboxylation relative to fibroblasts, and this flux depended on both pyruvate carboxylase and malic enzyme 1 activity. Consequently, expression of both enzymes in cancer cells was necessary for organoid and tumor growth, demonstrating that dissecting the metabolism of specific cell populations within heterogeneous systems can identify dependencies that may not be evident from studying isolated cells in culture or bulk tissue.
|
|
3. |
- Lundström, Ulf, et al.
(author)
-
X-ray phase-contrast CO2 angiography for sub-10 mu m vessel imaging
- 2012
-
In: Physics in Medicine and Biology. - : IOP Publishing. - 0031-9155 .- 1361-6560. ; 57:22, s. 7431-7441
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- X-ray in-line phase contrast has recently been combined with CO2 angiography for high-resolution small-animal vascular imaging at low radiation dose. In this paper we further investigate the potential and limitations of this method and demonstrate observation of vessels down to 8 mu m in diameter, considerably smaller than the 60 mu m previously reported. Our in-line phase-contrast imaging system is based on a liquid-metal-jet-anode x-ray source and utilizes free-space propagation to convert phase shifts, caused by refractive index variations, into intensity differences. Enhanced refractive index variations are obtained through injection of CO2 gas into the vascular system to replace the blood. We show rat-kidney images with blood vessels down to 27 mu m in diameter and mouse-ear images with vessels down to 8 mu m. The minimum size of observable blood vessels is found to be limited by the penetration of gas into the vascular system and the signal-to-noise ratio, i.e. the allowed dose. The diameters of vessels being gas-filled depend on the gas pressure and follow a simple model based on surface tension. A theoretical signal-to-noise comparison shows that this method requires 1000 times less radiation dose than conventional iodine-based absorption contrast for observing sub-50 mu m vessels.
|
|
4. |
- Glimelius, Bengt, et al.
(author)
-
U-CAN : a prospective longitudinal collection of biomaterials and clinical information from adult cancer patients in Sweden.
- 2018
-
In: Acta Oncologica. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 57:2, s. 187-194
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Progress in cancer biomarker discovery is dependent on access to high-quality biological materials and high-resolution clinical data from the same cases. To overcome current limitations, a systematic prospective longitudinal sampling of multidisciplinary clinical data, blood and tissue from cancer patients was therefore initiated in 2010 by Uppsala and Umeå Universities and involving their corresponding University Hospitals, which are referral centers for one third of the Swedish population.Material and Methods: Patients with cancer of selected types who are treated at one of the participating hospitals are eligible for inclusion. The healthcare-integrated sampling scheme encompasses clinical data, questionnaires, blood, fresh frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens, diagnostic slides and radiology bioimaging data.Results: In this ongoing effort, 12,265 patients with brain tumors, breast cancers, colorectal cancers, gynecological cancers, hematological malignancies, lung cancers, neuroendocrine tumors or prostate cancers have been included until the end of 2016. From the 6914 patients included during the first five years, 98% were sampled for blood at diagnosis, 83% had paraffin-embedded and 58% had fresh frozen tissues collected. For Uppsala County, 55% of all cancer patients were included in the cohort.Conclusions: Close collaboration between participating hospitals and universities enabled prospective, longitudinal biobanking of blood and tissues and collection of multidisciplinary clinical data from cancer patients in the U-CAN cohort. Here, we summarize the first five years of operations, present U-CAN as a highly valuable cohort that will contribute to enhanced cancer research and describe the procedures to access samples and data.
|
|
5. |
- Larsson, Daniel H., et al.
(author)
-
Small-animal tomography with a liquid-metal-jet x-ray source
- 2012
-
In: Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE. - : SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. - 9780819489623 ; , s. 83130N-
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- X-ray tomography of small animals is an important tool for medical research. For high-resolution x-ray imaging of few-cm-thick samples such as, e.g., mice, high-brightness x-ray sources with energies in the few-10-keV range are required. In this paper we perform the first small-animal imaging and tomography experiments using liquid-metal-jet-anode x-ray sources. This type of source shows promise to increase the brightness of microfocus x-ray systems, but present sources are typically optimized for an energy of 9 keV. Here we describe the details of a high-brightness 24-keV electron-impact laboratory microfocus x-ray source based on continuous operation of a heated liquid-In/Ga-jet anode. The source normally operates with 40 W of electron-beam power focused onto the metal jet, producing a 7×7 μm 2 FWHM x-ray spot. The peak spectral brightness is 4 × 10 9 photons/( s × mm 2 × mrad 2 × 0.1%BW) at the 24.2 keV In K α line. We use the new In/Ga source and an existing Ga/In/Sn source for high-resolution imaging and tomography of mice.
|
|
6. |
|
|
7. |
|
|
8. |
- Kulak, Klaudia, et al.
(author)
-
The human serum protein C4b-binding protein inhibits pancreatic IAPP-induced inflammasome activation
- 2017
-
In: Diabetologia. - : SPRINGER. - 0012-186X .- 1432-0428. ; 60:8, s. 1522-1533
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims/hypothesis: Inflammasome activation and subsequent IL-1 beta production is a driver of islet pathology in type 2 diabetes. Oligomers, but not mature amyloid fibrils, of human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), which is co-secreted with insulin, trigger NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. C4b-binding protein (C4BP), present in serum, binds to IAPP and affects transition of IAPP monomers and oligomers to amyloid fibrils. We therefore hypothesised that C4BP inhibits IAPP-mediated inflammasome activation and IL-1 beta production.Methods: Macrophages were exposed to IAPP in the presence or absence of plasma-purified human C4BP, and inflammasome activation was assessed by IL-1 beta secretion as detected by ELISA and reporter cell lines. IAPP fibrillation was assessed by thioflavin T assay. Uptake of IAPP-C4BP complexes and their effects on phagolysosomal stability were assessed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The effect of C4BP regulation of IAPP-mediated inflammasome activation on beta cell function was assessed using a clonal rat beta cell line. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the association of IAPP amyloid deposits and macrophage infiltration in isolated human and mouse pancreatic islets, and expression of C4BP from isolated human pancreatic islets was assessed by quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot.Results: C4BP significantly inhibited IAPP-mediated IL-1 beta secretion from primed macrophages at physiological concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. C4BP bound to and was internalised together with IAPP. C4BP did not affect IAPP uptake into phagolysosomal compartments, although it did inhibit its formation into amyloid fibrils. The loss of macrophage phagolysosomal integrity induced by IAPP incubation was inhibited by co-incubation with C4BP. Supernatant fractions from macrophages activated with IAPP inhibited both insulin secretion and viability of clonal beta cells in an IL-1 beta-dependent manner but the presence of C4BP during macrophage IAPP incubation rescued beta cell function and viability. In human and mouse islets, the presence of amyloid deposits correlated with higher numbers of infiltrating macrophages. Isolated human islets expressed and secreted C4BP, which increased with addition of IL-1 beta.Conclusions/interpretation: IAPP deposition is associated with inflammatory cell infiltrates in pancreatic islets. C4BP blocks IAPP-induced inflammasome activation by preventing the loss of macrophage phagolysosomal integrity required for NLRP3 activation. The consequence of this is the preservation of beta cell function and viability. C4BP is secreted directly from human pancreatic islets and this increases in response to inflammatory cytokines. We therefore propose that C4BP acts as an extracellular chaperone protein that limits the proinflammatory effects of IAPP.
|
|
9. |
- Larsson, Daniel H., et al.
(author)
-
First application of liquid-metal-jet sources for small-animal imaging : High-resolution CT and phase-contrast tumor demarcation
- 2013
-
In: Medical physics (Lancaster). - : Wiley. - 0094-2405 .- 2473-4209. ; 40:2, s. 021909-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: Small-animal studies require images with high spatial resolution and high contrast due to the small scale of the structures. X-ray imaging systems for small animals are often limited by the microfocus source. Here, the authors investigate the applicability of liquid-metal-jet x-ray sources for such high-resolution small-animal imaging, both in tomography based on absorption and in soft-tissue tumor imaging based on in-line phase contrast. Methods: The experimental arrangement consists of a liquid-metal-jet x-ray source, the small-animal object on a rotating stage, and an imaging detector. The source-to-object and object-to-detector distances are adjusted for the preferred contrast mechanism. Two different liquid-metal-jet sources are used, one circulating a Ga/In/Sn alloy and the other an In/Ga alloy for higher penetration through thick tissue. Both sources are operated at 40-50 W electron-beam power with similar to 7 mu m x-ray spots, providing high spatial resolution in absorption imaging and high spatial coherence for the phase-contrast imaging. Results: High-resolution absorption imaging is demonstrated on mice with CT, showing 50 mu m bone details in the reconstructed slices. High-resolution phase-contrast soft-tissue imaging shows clear demarcation of mm-sized tumors at much lower dose than is required in absorption. Conclusions: This is the first application of liquid-metal-jet x-ray sources for whole-body small-animal x-ray imaging. In absorption, the method allows high-resolution tomographic skeletal imaging with potential for significantly shorter exposure times due to the power scalability of liquid-metal-jet sources. In phase contrast, the authors use a simple in-line arrangement to show distinct tumor demarcation of few-mm-sized tumors. This is, to their knowledge, the first small-animal tumor visualization with a laboratory phase-contrast system.
|
|
10. |
- Lundström, Ulf, et al.
(author)
-
Small-Animal microangiography using phase-contrast X-ray imaging and gas as contrast agent
- 2014
-
In: Medical Imaging 2014. - : SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. - 9780819498267 ; , s. 90331L-
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We use propagation-based phase-contrast X-ray imaging with gas as contrast agent To visualize The microvasculature in small animals like mice and rats. The radiation dose required for absorption X-ray imaging is proportional To The minus fourth power of The structure size To be detected. This makes small vessels impossible To image at reasonable radiation doses using The absorption of conventional iodinated contrast agents. Propagation-based phase contrast gives enhanced contrast for high spatial frequencies by moving The detector away from The sample To let phase variations in The Transmitted X-rays develop into intensity variations at The detector. Blood vessels are normally difficult To observe in phase contrast even with iodinated contrast agents as The density difference between blood and most Tissues is relatively small. By injecting gas into The blood stream This density difference can be greatly enhanced giving strong phase contrast. One possible gas To use is carbon dioxide, which is a clinically accepted X-ray contrast agent. The gas is injected into The blood stream of patients To Temporarily displace The blood in a region and Thereby reduce The X-ray absorption in The blood vessels. We have shown That This method can be used To image blood vessels down To 8 μm in diameter in mouse ears. The low dose requirements of This method indicate a potential for live small-Animal imaging and longitudinal studies of angiogenesis.
|
|
11. |
- Lundström, Ulf, et al.
(author)
-
X-ray phase contrast with injected gas for tumor microangiography
- 2014
-
In: Physics in Medicine and Biology. - : IOP Publishing. - 0031-9155 .- 1361-6560. ; 59:11, s. 2801-2811
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We show that the microvasculature of mouse tumors can be visualized using propagation-based phase-contrast x-ray imaging with gas as the contrast agent. The large density difference over the gas-tissue interface provides high contrast, allowing the imaging of small-diameter blood vessels with relatively short exposure times and low dose using a compact liquid-metal-jet x-ray source. The method investigated is applied to tumors (E1A/Ras-transformed mouse embryonic fibroblasts) grown in mouse ears, demonstrating sub-15-mu m-diameter imaging of their blood vessels. The exposure time for a 2D projection image is a few seconds and a full tomographic 3D map takes some minutes. The method relies on the strength of the vasculature to withstand the gas pressure. Given that tumor vessels are known to be more fragile than normal vessels, we investigate the tolerance of the vasculature of 12 tumors to gas injection and find that a majority withstand 200 mbar pressures, enough to fill 12-mu m-diameter vessels with gas. A comparison of the elasticity of tumorous and non-tumorous vessels supports the assumption of tumor vessels being more fragile. Finally, we conclude that the method has the potential to be extended to the imaging of 15 mu m vessels in thick tissue, including mouse imaging, making it of interest for, e.g., angiogenesis research.
|
|
12. |
|
|
13. |
- Põlajeva, Jelena, et al.
(author)
-
Mast Cell Accumulation in Glioblastoma with a Potential Role for Stem Cell Factor and Chemokine CXCL12
- 2011
-
In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 6:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant form of glioma with high mortality and no cure. Many human cancers maintain a complex inflammatory program triggering rapid recruitment of inflammatory cells, including mast cells (MCs), to the tumor site. However, the potential contribution of MCs in glioma has not been addressed previously. Here we report for the first time that MCs infiltrate KRas+Akt-induced gliomas, using the RCAS/TV-a system, where KRas and Akt are transduced by RCAS into the brains of neonatal Gtv-a- or Ntv-a transgenic mice lacking Ink4a or Arf. The most abundant MC infiltration was observed in high-grade gliomas of Arf-/- mice. MC accumulation could be localized to the vicinity of glioma-associated vessels but also within the tumor mass. Importantly, proliferating MCs were detected, suggesting that the MC accumulation was caused by local expansion of the MC population. In line with these findings, strong expression of stem cell factor (SCF), i.e. the main MC growth factor, was detected, in particular around tumor blood vessels. Further, glioma cells expressed the MC chemotaxin CXCL12 and MCs expressed the corresponding receptor, i.e. CXCR4, suggesting that MCs could be attracted to the tumor through the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis. Supporting a role for MCs in glioma, strong MC infiltration was detected in human glioma, where GBMs contained significantly higher MC numbers than grade II tumors did. Moreover, human GBMs were positive for CXCL12 and the infiltrating MCs were positive for CXCR4. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence for a role for MCs in glioma.
|
|
14. |
- Sjölander, Jonatan, et al.
(author)
-
C4b-binding Protein Protects -Cells from Islet Amyloid Polypeptide-induced Cytotoxicity
- 2016
-
In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 291:41, s. 21644-21655
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- C4BP (C4b-binding protein) is a polymer of seven identical chains and one unique chain synthesized in liver and pancreas. We showed previously that C4BP enhances islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) fibril formation in vitro. Now we report that polymeric C4BP strongly inhibited lysis of human erythrocytes incubated with monomeric IAPP, whereas no lysis was observed after incubation with preformed IAPP fibrils. In contrast, incubation with the monomeric -chain of C4BP was less effective. These data indicate that polymeric C4BP with multiple binding sites for IAPP neutralizes lytic activity of IAPP. Furthermore, addition of monomeric IAPP to a rat insulinoma cell line (INS-1) resulted in decreased cell viability, which was restored in the presence of physiological concentrations of C4BP. Treatment of INS-1 cells and primary rat islets with IAPP also diminished their ability to secrete insulin upon stimulation with glucose, which was reversed in the presence of C4BP. Further, C4BP was internalized together with IAPP into INS-1 cells. Pathway analyses of mRNA expression microarray data indicated that cells exposed to C4BP and IAPP in comparison with IAPP alone increased expression of genes involved in cholesterol synthesis. Depletion of cholesterol through methyl--cyclodextrin or cholesterol oxidase abolished the protective effect of C4BP on IAPP cytotoxicity of INS-1 cells. Also, inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase but not NF-B had a similar effect. Taken together, C4BP protects -cells from IAPP cytotoxicity by modulating IAPP fibril formation extracellularly and also, after uptake by the cells, by enhancing cholesterol synthesis.
|
|
15. |
|
|