RESUMEN
Intratumor molecular heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma is partly attributed to the presence of hepatic cancer stem cells (CSCs). Different CSC populations defined by various cell surface markers may contain different oncogenic drivers, posing a challenge in defining molecularly targeted therapeutics. We combined transcriptomic and functional analyses of hepatocellular carcinoma cells at the single-cell level to assess the degree of CSC heterogeneity. We provide evidence that hepatic CSCs at the single-cell level are phenotypically, functionally, and transcriptomically heterogeneous. We found that different CSC subpopulations contain distinct molecular signatures. Interestingly, distinct genes within different CSC subpopulations are independently associated with hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis, suggesting that a diverse hepatic CSC transcriptome affects intratumor heterogeneity and tumor progression. CONCLUSION: Our work provides unique perspectives into the biodiversity of CSC subpopulations, whose molecular heterogeneity further highlights their role in tumor heterogeneity, prognosis, and hepatic CSC therapy. (Hepatology 2018;68:127-140).
Asunto(s)
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Heterogeneidad Genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Células Madre Neoplásicas/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/diagnóstico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Línea Celular Tumoral , Estudios de Factibilidad , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Células Madre Neoplásicas/citología , Fenotipo , Pronóstico , Análisis de la Célula IndividualRESUMEN
The follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) selectively transports prions, viruses, pathogenic bacteria, commensal microflora, and even secretory IgA (SIgA)-immune complexes from the intestinal lumen to underlying gut-associated lymphoid tissues like Peyer's patches. The FAE consists of a single layer of columnar epithelial cells that includes enterocytes and M (microfold) cells, intermingled with dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and naïve and memory B and T lymphocytes. In this report we describe a population of IgA+ cells that reside within and immediately below the FAE in mouse Peyer's patches. Immunofluorescence microscopy analysis indicated that the FAE-associated IgA+ cells were negative for surface antigen markers specific for B cells (B220), T cells (CD3), DCs (CD11c), and plasma cells (CD138). The IgA+ cells were also negative Ki-67 and IRF4, indicating that they are not mature B cells or plasma cells. The IgA+ cells were, however, often found in close proximity to DCs, leading us to speculate that the population of IgA+ cells in the FAE constitutes an atypical subset of B cells involved in mucosal antigen surveillance and/or immune recall.