Extracellular matrix (ECM) tumorigenic alterations resulting in high matrix deposition and stiffening are hallmarks of adenocarcinomas and are collectively defined as desmoplasia. Here, we thoroughly analysed primary prostate cancer tissues obtained from numerous patients undergoing radical prostatectomy to highlight reproducible structural changes in the ECM leading to the loss of the glandular architecture. Starting from patient cells, we established prostate cancer tumoroids (PCTs) and demonstrated they require TGF-β signalling pathway activity to preserve phenotypical and structural similarities with the tissue of origin. By modulating TGF-β signalling pathway in PCTs, we unveiled its role in ECM accumulation and remodelling in prostate cancer. We also found that TGF-β-induced ECM remodelling is responsible for the initiation of prostate cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the acquisition of a migratory, invasive phenotype. Our findings highlight the cooperative role of TGF-β signalling and ECM desmoplasia in prompting prostate cell EMT and promoting tumour progression and dissemination.

• MeSH
• epitelo-mezenchymální tranzice MeSH
• extracelulární matrix metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory prostaty * patologie   MeSH
• prostata metabolismus   MeSH
• transformující růstový faktor beta * metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide; hence there is an increasing focus on developing physiologically relevant in vitro cardiovascular tissue models suitable for studying personalized medicine and pre-clinical tests. Despite recent advances, models that reproduce both tissue complexity and maturation are still limited. We have established a scaffold-free protocol to generate multicellular, beating human cardiac microtissues in vitro from hiPSCs-namely human organotypic cardiac microtissues (hOCMTs)-that show some degree of self-organization and can be cultured for long term. This is achieved by the differentiation of hiPSC in 2D monolayer culture towards cardiovascular lineage, followed by further aggregation on low-attachment culture dishes in 3D. The generated hOCMTs contain multiple cell types that physiologically compose the heart and beat without external stimuli for more than 100 days. We have shown that 3D hOCMTs display improved cardiac specification, survival and metabolic maturation as compared to standard monolayer cardiac differentiation. We also confirmed the functionality of hOCMTs by their response to cardioactive drugs in long-term culture. Furthermore, we demonstrated that they could be used to study chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Due to showing a tendency for self-organization, cellular heterogeneity, and functionality in our 3D microtissues over extended culture time, we could also confirm these constructs as human cardiac organoids (hCOs). This study could help to develop more physiologically-relevant cardiac tissue models, and represent a powerful platform for future translational research in cardiovascular biology.

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky * metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace fyziologie   MeSH
• indukované pluripotentní kmenové buňky * MeSH
• kardiomyocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• kardiovaskulární látky * metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• srdce fyziologie   MeSH
• tkáňové inženýrství metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH