Brief Report: Human Mesenchymal Stem-Like Cells Facilitate Floating Tumorigenic Cell Growth via Glutamine-Ammonium Cycle.

Abstract

How mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) promote tumor growth remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that mesenchymal stem-like cells (MSLCs) are commonly present in malignant pleural effusion or ascites of cancer patients, where they directly interact with tumor cells. Chemokines and chemokine receptors, especially the CCL2/CCR2 pathway, are involved in this interaction. As a result, MSLCs exert tumor-promoting effects by enhancing the proliferation and colony formation of tumor-repopulating cells. The underlying molecular basis involves MSLC release of glutamine to tumorigenic cells. Inhibition of glutamine uptake impedes MSC-mediated tumor-promoting effects. More intriguingly, MSLCs take up tumor cell-released ammonium that, in turn, favors MSLC growth. Thus, glutamine and ammonium form a vicious cycle between MSLCs and tumorigenic cells. These findings suggest a potential clinical application by targeting MSLCs in patients with malignant pleural effusions or ascites.

• Authors: Ke Tang, Liang Hu, Jingwei Ma, Huafeng Zhang, Yi Zhang, Yong Li, Ruihua Ma, Shunqun Luo, Dongbo Liu, Guoxian Long, Mei Han, Shunfang Liu, Anping Song, Meizhu Shen, Guoqing Hu, Bo Huang
• Journal: Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio) (Stem Cells) Vol. 33 Issue 9 Pg. 2877-84 (Sep 2015) ISSN: 1549-4918 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26031226 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2015 AlphaMed Press.

Chemical References

• Ammonium Compounds
• Glutamine

Topics

• Ammonium Compounds (metabolism)
• Carcinogenesis (drug effects, metabolism)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects, physiology)
• Glutamine (pharmacology)
• Humans
• MCF-7 Cells
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured