In vitro model of retinoblastoma derived tumor and stromal cells for tumor microenvironment (TME) studies

Abstract Retinoblastoma (RB) is an intraocular tumor arising from retinal cone progenitor cells affecting young children. In the last couple of years, RB treatment evolved towards eye preserving therapies. Therefore, investigating intratumoral differences and the RB tumor microenvironment (TME), reg...

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Main Authors: Emily Alefeld, André Haase, Dario Van Meenen, Bettina Budeus, Oliver Dräger, Natalia Miroschnikov, Saskia Ting, Deniz Kanber, Eva Biewald, Nikolaos Bechrakis, Nicole Dünker, Maike Anna Busch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2024-12-01
Series:Cell Death and Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-024-07285-2
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author Emily Alefeld
André Haase
Dario Van Meenen
Bettina Budeus
Oliver Dräger
Natalia Miroschnikov
Saskia Ting
Deniz Kanber
Eva Biewald
Nikolaos Bechrakis
Nicole Dünker
Maike Anna Busch
author_facet Emily Alefeld
André Haase
Dario Van Meenen
Bettina Budeus
Oliver Dräger
Natalia Miroschnikov
Saskia Ting
Deniz Kanber
Eva Biewald
Nikolaos Bechrakis
Nicole Dünker
Maike Anna Busch
author_sort Emily Alefeld
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Retinoblastoma (RB) is an intraocular tumor arising from retinal cone progenitor cells affecting young children. In the last couple of years, RB treatment evolved towards eye preserving therapies. Therefore, investigating intratumoral differences and the RB tumor microenvironment (TME), regulating tumorigenesis and metastasis, is crucial. How RB cells and their TME are involved in tumor development needs to be elucidated using in vitro models including RB derived stromal cells. In the study presented, we established primary RB derived tumor and stromal cell cultures and compared them by RNAseq analysis to identify their gene expression signatures. RB tumor cells cultivated in serum containing medium were more differentiated compared to RB tumor cells grown in serum-free medium displaying a stem cell like phenotype. In addition, we identified differentially expressed genes for RB tumor and stromal derived cells. Furthermore, we immortalized cells of a RB1 mutated, MYCN amplified and trefoil factor family peptid 1 (TFF1) positive RB tumor and RB derived non-tumor stromal tissue. We characterized both immortalized cell lines using a human oncology proteome array, immunofluorescence staining of different markers and in vitro cell growth analyses. Tumor formation of the immortalized RB tumor cell line was investigated in a chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Our studies revealed that the RB stromal derived cell line comprises tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), glia and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), we were able to successfully separate via magnetic cell separation (MACS). For co-cultivation studies, we established a 3D spheroid model with RB tumor and RB derived stromal cells. In summary, we established an in vitro model system to investigate the interaction of RB tumor cells with their TME. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between RB tumor malignancy and its TME and will facilitate the development of effective treatment options for eye preserving therapies.
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spelling doaj-art-e85d1d6a64cc4539a7c9f796d282bf242025-08-20T03:18:23ZengNature Publishing GroupCell Death and Disease2041-48892024-12-01151211210.1038/s41419-024-07285-2In vitro model of retinoblastoma derived tumor and stromal cells for tumor microenvironment (TME) studiesEmily Alefeld0André Haase1Dario Van Meenen2Bettina Budeus3Oliver Dräger4Natalia Miroschnikov5Saskia Ting6Deniz Kanber7Eva Biewald8Nikolaos Bechrakis9Nicole Dünker10Maike Anna Busch11Institute for Anatomy II, Department of Neuroanatomy, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University of Duisburg-Essen, Medical FacultyInstitute for Anatomy II, Department of Neuroanatomy, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University of Duisburg-Essen, Medical FacultyInstitute for Anatomy II, Department of Neuroanatomy, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University of Duisburg-Essen, Medical FacultyInstitute for Cell Biology, University Hospital EssenInstitute of Cellular Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of BielefeldInstitute for Anatomy II, Department of Neuroanatomy, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University of Duisburg-Essen, Medical FacultyInstitute of Pathology NordhessenInstitute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-EssenDepartment of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-EssenDepartment of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-EssenInstitute for Anatomy II, Department of Neuroanatomy, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University of Duisburg-Essen, Medical FacultyInstitute for Anatomy II, Department of Neuroanatomy, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University of Duisburg-Essen, Medical FacultyAbstract Retinoblastoma (RB) is an intraocular tumor arising from retinal cone progenitor cells affecting young children. In the last couple of years, RB treatment evolved towards eye preserving therapies. Therefore, investigating intratumoral differences and the RB tumor microenvironment (TME), regulating tumorigenesis and metastasis, is crucial. How RB cells and their TME are involved in tumor development needs to be elucidated using in vitro models including RB derived stromal cells. In the study presented, we established primary RB derived tumor and stromal cell cultures and compared them by RNAseq analysis to identify their gene expression signatures. RB tumor cells cultivated in serum containing medium were more differentiated compared to RB tumor cells grown in serum-free medium displaying a stem cell like phenotype. In addition, we identified differentially expressed genes for RB tumor and stromal derived cells. Furthermore, we immortalized cells of a RB1 mutated, MYCN amplified and trefoil factor family peptid 1 (TFF1) positive RB tumor and RB derived non-tumor stromal tissue. We characterized both immortalized cell lines using a human oncology proteome array, immunofluorescence staining of different markers and in vitro cell growth analyses. Tumor formation of the immortalized RB tumor cell line was investigated in a chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Our studies revealed that the RB stromal derived cell line comprises tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), glia and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), we were able to successfully separate via magnetic cell separation (MACS). For co-cultivation studies, we established a 3D spheroid model with RB tumor and RB derived stromal cells. In summary, we established an in vitro model system to investigate the interaction of RB tumor cells with their TME. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between RB tumor malignancy and its TME and will facilitate the development of effective treatment options for eye preserving therapies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-024-07285-2
spellingShingle Emily Alefeld
André Haase
Dario Van Meenen
Bettina Budeus
Oliver Dräger
Natalia Miroschnikov
Saskia Ting
Deniz Kanber
Eva Biewald
Nikolaos Bechrakis
Nicole Dünker
Maike Anna Busch
In vitro model of retinoblastoma derived tumor and stromal cells for tumor microenvironment (TME) studies
Cell Death and Disease
title In vitro model of retinoblastoma derived tumor and stromal cells for tumor microenvironment (TME) studies
title_full In vitro model of retinoblastoma derived tumor and stromal cells for tumor microenvironment (TME) studies
title_fullStr In vitro model of retinoblastoma derived tumor and stromal cells for tumor microenvironment (TME) studies
title_full_unstemmed In vitro model of retinoblastoma derived tumor and stromal cells for tumor microenvironment (TME) studies
title_short In vitro model of retinoblastoma derived tumor and stromal cells for tumor microenvironment (TME) studies
title_sort in vitro model of retinoblastoma derived tumor and stromal cells for tumor microenvironment tme studies
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-024-07285-2
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