Induction of metastatic cancer stem cells from the NK/LAK-resistant floating, but not adherent, subset of the UP-LN1 carcinoma cell line by IFN-γ

Hung Chang Chen, Andy Shau Bin Chou, Yu Chen Liu, Chin Hsuan Hsieh, Chen Chen Kang, See Tong Pang, Chi Tai Yeh, Hui Ping Liu, Shuen Kuei Liao*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

As an advanced status of cancer stem cells (CSCs), metastatic CSCs (mCSCs) have been proposed to be the essential seeds that initiate tumor metastasis. However, the biology of mCSCs is poorly understood. In this study, we used a lymph node (LN) metastatic CEA-producing carcinoma cell line, UP-LN1, characterized by the persistent appearance of adherent (A) and floating (F) cells in culture, to determine the distribution of CSCs and mechanisms for the induction of mCSCs. F and A cells displayed distinct phenotypes, CD44 high/CD24 low and CD44 low/CD24 high, respectively. The CSC-rich nature of F cells was typified by stronger expression of multiple drug resistance genes and a 7.8-fold higher frequency of tumor-initiating cells in NOD/SCID mice when compared with A cells. F cells showed a greater depression in HLA class I expression and an extreme resistance to NK/LAK-mediated cytolysis. Moreover, the NK/LAK-resistant F cells were highly susceptible to IFN-γ-mediated induction of surface CXCR4, with concomitant downregulation of cytoplasmic CXCL12 expression, whereas these two parameters remained essentially unchanged in NK/LAK-sensitive A cells. Following the induction of surface CXCR4, enhanced migratory/invasive potential of F cells was demonstrated by in vitro assays. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy showed the two distinct phenotypes of F and A cells could be correspondingly identified in monodispersed and compact tumor cell areas within the patient's LN tumor lesion. In response to IFN-γ or activated NK/LAK cells, the CXCR4+ mCSCs could be only induced from the CSCs, which were harbored in the highly tumorigenic CD44 high/CD24 low F subset. Our results revealed the complexity and heterogeneity of the CSC of this cell line/tumor and the differential immunomodulatory roles of F and A cells. A better understanding of the interactions among different classes of CSCs and their niches may assist us in eradicating the CSCs/mCSCs through targeted immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or both.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1502-1513
Number of pages12
JournalLaboratory Investigation
Volume91
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • CD44/CD24
  • CXCR4/CXCL12 axis
  • HLA class I
  • metastasis
  • metastatic cancer stem cells
  • non-MHC-restricted effector lymphocytes

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