scholarly journals An Overview of Lipid Droplets in Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Tirinato ◽  
F. Pagliari ◽  
T. Limongi ◽  
M. Marini ◽  
A. Falqui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Lipid Composition ◽  
Lipid Droplets ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Key Players ◽  
And Function ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Cellular Organelles

For decades, lipid droplets have been considered as the main cellular organelles involved in the fat storage, because of their lipid composition. However, in recent years, some new and totally unexpected roles have been discovered for them: (i) they are active sites for synthesis and storage of inflammatory mediators, and (ii) they are key players in cancer cells and tissues, especially in cancer stem cells. In this review, we summarize the main concepts related to the lipid droplet structure and function and their involvement in inflammatory and cancer processes.

scholarly journals Role of Mitochondria-Cytoskeleton Interactions in the Regulation of Mitochondrial Structure and Function in Cancer Stem Cells

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1691
Author(s):  
Jungmin Kim ◽  
Jae-Ho Cheong
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Mitochondrial Morphology ◽  
Voltage Dependent Anion Channel ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Mitochondrial Structure ◽  
And Function

Despite the promise of cancer medicine, major challenges currently confronting the treatment of cancer patients include chemoresistance and recurrence. The existence of subpopulations of cancer cells, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), contributes to the failure of cancer therapies and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Of note, one of the recently characterized features of CSCs is augmented mitochondrial function. The cytoskeleton network is essential in regulating mitochondrial morphology and rearrangement, which are inextricably linked to its functions, such as oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). The interaction between the cytoskeleton and mitochondria can enable CSCs to adapt to challenging conditions, such as a lack of energy sources, and to maintain their stemness. Cytoskeleton-mediated mitochondrial trafficking and relocating to the high energy requirement region are crucial steps in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In addition, the cytoskeleton itself interplays with and blocks the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) to directly regulate bioenergetics. In this review, we describe the regulation of cellular bioenergetics in CSCs, focusing on the cytoskeleton-mediated dynamic control of mitochondrial structure and function.

scholarly journals Ovarian Epithelial Cancer Stem Cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 1243-1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Conic ◽  
Irena Dimov ◽  
Desanka Tasic-Dimov ◽  
Biljana Djordjevic ◽  
Vladisav Stefanovic
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Epithelial Stem Cells ◽  
Ovarian Epithelial Cancer ◽  
Cells Of Origin ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
And Function

The last decade witnessed an explosion of interest in cancer stem cells (CSCs). The realization of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) as a CSC-related disease has the potential to change approaches in the treatment of this devastating disease dramatically. The etiology and early events in the progression of these carcinomas are among the least understood of all major human malignancies. Compared to the CSCs of other cancer types, the identification and study of EOC stem cells (EOCSCs) is rather difficult due to several major obstacles: the heterogeneity of tumors comprising EOCs, unknown cells of origin, and lack of knowledge considering the normal ovarian stem cells. This poses a major challenge for urgent development in this research field. This review summarizes and evaluates the current evidence for the existence of candidate normal ovarian epithelial stem cells as well as EOCSCs, emphasizing the requirement for a more definitive laboratory approach for the isolation, identification, and enrichment of EOCSCs. The present review also revisits the ongoing debate regarding other cells and tissues of origin of EOCs, and discusses early events in the pathogenesis of this disease. Finally, this review discusses the signaling pathways that are important regulators of candidate EOCSC maintenance and function, their potential role in the distinct pathogenesis of different EOC subtypes, as well as potential mechanisms and clinical relevance of EOCSC involvement in drug resistance.

scholarly journals Role of autophagy in the maintenance and function of cancer stem cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (1-2-3) ◽  
pp. 95-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilio Vitale ◽  
Gwenola Manic ◽  
Vito Dandrea ◽  
Ruggero De Maria
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
And Function

Preservation of Influenza Virosome Structure and Function During Freeze-Drying and Storage

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 173-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Wilschut ◽  
Jørgen de Jonge ◽  
Anke Huckriede ◽  
Jean-Pierre Amorij ◽  
Wouter L. J. Hinrichs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Freeze Drying ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
And Function ◽  
And Storage

scholarly journals Rebuilding the Damaged Heart: Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Cell-Based Therapy, and Engineered Heart Tissue

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 1127-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Golpanian ◽  
Ariel Wolf ◽  
Konstantinos E. Hatzistergos ◽  
Joshua M. Hare
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽  
Coronary Vessels ◽  
Heart Tissue ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Cell Based Therapy ◽  
And Function

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are broadly distributed cells that retain postnatal capacity for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation. MSCs evade immune detection, secrete an array of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic mediators, and very importantly activate resident precursors. These properties form the basis for the strategy of clinical application of cell-based therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic conditions. In cardiovascular medicine, administration of autologous or allogeneic MSCs in patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy holds significant promise. Numerous preclinical studies of ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy employing MSC-based therapy have demonstrated that the properties of reducing fibrosis, stimulating angiogenesis, and cardiomyogenesis have led to improvements in the structure and function of remodeled ventricles. Further attempts have been made to augment MSCs' effects through genetic modification and cell preconditioning. Progression of MSC therapy to early clinical trials has supported their role in improving cardiac structure and function, functional capacity, and patient quality of life. Emerging data have supported larger clinical trials that have been either completed or are currently underway. Mechanistically, MSC therapy is thought to benefit the heart by stimulating innate anti-fibrotic and regenerative responses. The mechanisms of action involve paracrine signaling, cell-cell interactions, and fusion with resident cells. Trans-differentiation of MSCs to bona fide cardiomyocytes and coronary vessels is also thought to occur, although at a nonphysiological level. Recently, MSC-based tissue engineering for cardiovascular disease has been examined with quite encouraging results. This review discusses MSCs from their basic biological characteristics to their role as a promising therapeutic strategy for clinical cardiovascular disease.

scholarly journals Hepatic stellate cells in the liver of dogs with steroid-induced hepatopathy

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-276
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Sobczak-Filipiak ◽  
Józef Szarek ◽  
Michał Czopowicz ◽  
Joanna Mieczkowska ◽  
Roman Lechowski
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Lipid Droplets ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Surgical Biopsy ◽  
Carnoy’S Solution ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Collagen Accumulation ◽  
And Function

Abstract Morphological lesions in hepatic stellate cells caused by the immunosuppressive doses of dexamethasone were investigated in dogs. The archival samples of liver collected during a surgical biopsy were examined. The samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin or Carnoy’s solution and then stained with routine histochemical methods. The lesions were also investigated under electron microscope. It was demonstrated that the number of stellate cells significantly increased (P = 0.0277), yet the size of cytoplasmic lipid droplets significantly decreased (P = 0.0001). Even though steroid-induced hepatopathy is considered to be a reversible pathology, and the lesions in hepatocytes under the influence of dexamethasone occur in a short period, it was found that hepatic stellate cells proliferated and underwent activation. This resulted in collagen accumulation in the hepatic sinuses. The functional and morphological disturbances in the canine liver in the course of steroid-induced hepatopathy are initially subclinical, but the changes in the structure and function of hepatic stellate cells may become a cause of lesions in the wall of hepatic sinusoidal vessels, which may induce additional functional pathologies unrelated to the damage to hepatocytes.

scholarly journals Linking Tumor Microenvironment to Plasticity of Cancer Stem Cells: Mechanisms and Application in Cancer Therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaobo Zheng ◽  
Chune Yu ◽  
Mingqing Xu
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Relationship

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a minority subset of cancer cells that can drive tumor initiation, promote tumor progression, and induce drug resistance. CSCs are difficult to eliminate by conventional therapies and eventually mediate tumor relapse and metastasis. Moreover, recent studies have shown that CSCs display plasticity that renders them to alter their phenotype and function. Consequently, the varied phenotypes result in varied tumorigenesis, dissemination, and drug-resistance potential, thereby adding to the complexity of tumor heterogeneity and further challenging clinical management of cancers. In recent years, tumor microenvironment (TME) has become a hotspot in cancer research owing to its successful application in clinical tumor immunotherapy. Notably, emerging evidence shows that the TME is involved in regulating CSC plasticity. TME can activate stemness pathways and promote immune escape through cytokines and exosomes secreted by immune cells or stromal cells, thereby inducing non-CSCs to acquire CSC properties and increasing CSC plasticity. However, the relationship between TME and plasticity of CSCs remains poorly understood. In this review, we discuss the emerging investigations on TME and CSC plasticity to illustrate the underlying mechanisms and potential implications in suppressing cancer progression and drug resistance. We consider that this review can help develop novel therapeutic strategies by taking into account the interlink between TME and CSC plasticity.

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