title: Changes in the gene expression of co-cultured human fibroblast cells and osteosarcoma cells: the role of microenvironment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The progression of malignant tumors does not depend exclusively on the autonomous properties of cancer cells; it is also influenced by tumor stroma reactivity and is under strict microenvironmental control. By themselves, stromal cells are not malignant, and they maintain normal tissue structure and function. However, through intercellular interactions or by paracrine secretions from cancer cells, normal stromal cells acquire abnormal phenotypes that sustain cancer cell growth and tumor progression. In their dysfunctional state, fibroblast and immune cells produce chemokines and growth factors that stimulate cancer cell growth and invasion. In our previous work, we established an in vitro model based on a monolayer co-culture system of healthy human fibroblasts (HFs) and human osteosarcoma cells (the MG-63 cell line) that simulates the microenvironment of tumor cells and healthy cells. The coexistence between MG-63 cells and HFs allowed us to identify the YKL-40 protein as the main marker for verifying the influence of tumor cells grown in contact with healthy cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we evaluated the interactions of HFs and MG-63 cells in a transwell co-culture system over 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h. We analyzed the contributions of these populations to the tumor microenvironment during cancer progression, as measured by multiple markers. We examined the effect of siRNA knockdown of YKL-40 by tracking the subsequent changes in gene expression within the co-culture. We validated the expression of several genes, focusing on those involved in cancer cell invasion, inflammatory responses, and angiogenesis: TNF alpha, IL-6, MMP-1, MMP-9, and VEGF. We compared the results to those from a transwell co-culture without the YKL-40 knockdown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a pro-inflammatory environment promoted by TNF alpha and IL-6, siRNA knockdown of YKL-40 caused a down-regulation of VEGF and MMP-1 expression in HFs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrated that the tumor microenvironment has an influence on the gene expression of healthy surrounding tissues and on the process of tumorigenicity and it is emerging as attractive targets for therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, DIBINEM - University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, DIBINEM - University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Focaroli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, DIBINEM - University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teti
authors.affiliation: Rizzoli Orthopaedhic Institute, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, DIBINEM - University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falconi
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037102:Lectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D034622:RNA Interference; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D037102:Lectins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C522360:MMP1 protein, human; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1
keywords: YKL-40; inflammation; osteosarcoma cells; siRNA; tumor microenvironment