Obesity Enhances the Conversion of Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells into Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblast Leading to Cancer Cell Proliferation and Progression to an Invasive Phenotype

Obesity is associated with enhanced tumor growth and progression. Within the adipose tissue are adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) that have been shown to convert into carcinoma-associated fibroblast (CAFs) in the presence of tumor-derived factors. However, the impact of obesity on the ASCs a...

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Main Authors: Amy L. Strong, Dorothy T. Pei, Christian G. Hurst, Jeffrey M. Gimble, Matthew E. Burow, Bruce A. Bunnell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Stem Cells International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/9216502
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author Amy L. Strong
Dorothy T. Pei
Christian G. Hurst
Jeffrey M. Gimble
Matthew E. Burow
Bruce A. Bunnell
author_facet Amy L. Strong
Dorothy T. Pei
Christian G. Hurst
Jeffrey M. Gimble
Matthew E. Burow
Bruce A. Bunnell
author_sort Amy L. Strong
collection DOAJ
description Obesity is associated with enhanced tumor growth and progression. Within the adipose tissue are adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) that have been shown to convert into carcinoma-associated fibroblast (CAFs) in the presence of tumor-derived factors. However, the impact of obesity on the ASCs and on the conversion of ASCs into CAFs has not been demonstrated. In the current study, ASCs isolated from lean donors (BMI < 25; lnASCs) were compared with ASCs isolated from obese donors (BMI > 30, obASCs). The contribution of tumor-derived factors on the conversion of ASCs to CAFs was investigated. Following exposure to cancer cells, obASCs expressed higher levels of CAF markers, including NG2, alpha-SMA, VEGF, FAP, and FSP, compared to lnASCs. To investigate the crosstalk between ASCs and breast cancer cells, MCF7 cells were serially cocultured with lnASCs or obASCs. After coculture with lnASCs and obASCs, MCF7 cells demonstrated enhanced proliferation and expressed an invasive phenotype morphologically, with more pronounced effects following exposure to obASCs. Long-term exposure to obASCs also enhanced the expression of protumorgenic factors. Together, these results suggest that obesity alters ASCs to favor their rapid conversion into CAFs, which in turn enhances the proliferative rate, the phenotype, and gene expression profile of breast cancer cells.
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spelling doaj-art-ff94e084c9e9405e8c8209cf9b7d3a7f2025-08-20T03:25:55ZengWileyStem Cells International1687-966X1687-96782017-01-01201710.1155/2017/92165029216502Obesity Enhances the Conversion of Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells into Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblast Leading to Cancer Cell Proliferation and Progression to an Invasive PhenotypeAmy L. Strong0Dorothy T. Pei1Christian G. Hurst2Jeffrey M. Gimble3Matthew E. Burow4Bruce A. Bunnell5Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USACenter for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USACenter for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USALaCell LLC, New Orleans, LA 70112, USADepartments of Medicine and Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USACenter for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USAObesity is associated with enhanced tumor growth and progression. Within the adipose tissue are adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) that have been shown to convert into carcinoma-associated fibroblast (CAFs) in the presence of tumor-derived factors. However, the impact of obesity on the ASCs and on the conversion of ASCs into CAFs has not been demonstrated. In the current study, ASCs isolated from lean donors (BMI < 25; lnASCs) were compared with ASCs isolated from obese donors (BMI > 30, obASCs). The contribution of tumor-derived factors on the conversion of ASCs to CAFs was investigated. Following exposure to cancer cells, obASCs expressed higher levels of CAF markers, including NG2, alpha-SMA, VEGF, FAP, and FSP, compared to lnASCs. To investigate the crosstalk between ASCs and breast cancer cells, MCF7 cells were serially cocultured with lnASCs or obASCs. After coculture with lnASCs and obASCs, MCF7 cells demonstrated enhanced proliferation and expressed an invasive phenotype morphologically, with more pronounced effects following exposure to obASCs. Long-term exposure to obASCs also enhanced the expression of protumorgenic factors. Together, these results suggest that obesity alters ASCs to favor their rapid conversion into CAFs, which in turn enhances the proliferative rate, the phenotype, and gene expression profile of breast cancer cells.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/9216502
spellingShingle Amy L. Strong
Dorothy T. Pei
Christian G. Hurst
Jeffrey M. Gimble
Matthew E. Burow
Bruce A. Bunnell
Obesity Enhances the Conversion of Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells into Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblast Leading to Cancer Cell Proliferation and Progression to an Invasive Phenotype
Stem Cells International
title Obesity Enhances the Conversion of Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells into Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblast Leading to Cancer Cell Proliferation and Progression to an Invasive Phenotype
title_full Obesity Enhances the Conversion of Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells into Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblast Leading to Cancer Cell Proliferation and Progression to an Invasive Phenotype
title_fullStr Obesity Enhances the Conversion of Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells into Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblast Leading to Cancer Cell Proliferation and Progression to an Invasive Phenotype
title_full_unstemmed Obesity Enhances the Conversion of Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells into Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblast Leading to Cancer Cell Proliferation and Progression to an Invasive Phenotype
title_short Obesity Enhances the Conversion of Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells into Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblast Leading to Cancer Cell Proliferation and Progression to an Invasive Phenotype
title_sort obesity enhances the conversion of adipose derived stromal stem cells into carcinoma associated fibroblast leading to cancer cell proliferation and progression to an invasive phenotype
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/9216502
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