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Infrared spectroscopic imaging study of BV-2 microglia altering tumor cell biological activity and cellular fraction
Jiawei Wang1, Zhen Zhu1, Ruyao Li2
1School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200436, PR China.
Abstract:
Tumor brain metastasis is a severe threat to patients' neurological function, in which microglia may be involved in the process of tumor cell metastasis among nerve cells. Our study focused on the interaction between microglia and breast and lung cancer cells. Changes in the proliferation and migration ability of cocultured tumor cells were examined; synchrotron radiation-based fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (SR-FTIR) was used to detect changes in the structures and contents of biomolecules within the tumor cells. The experimental results showed that the proliferation and migration ability of tumor cells increased after coculture, and the structures and contents of biological macromolecules in tumor cells changed. The absorption peak positions of the amide Ⅱ and amide Ⅰ bands observed for the four kinds of tumor cells changed, and the absorption intensities were significantly enhanced, indicating changes in the secondary structures and contents of proteins in tumor cells, which may be the root cause of the change in tumor cell characteristics. Therefore, the metabolites of microglia may be involved in the progression of tumor cells in the nervous system. In this study, we focused on the interaction between microglia and tumor cells by using SR-FTIR and provided a new understanding of the mechanism of brain metastasis.
Insights
Microglia influence brain metastasis of breast and lung cancer cells. Their interaction enhances tumor cell proliferation and migration, altering protein structures, suggesting a role in neurological tumor progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Brain metastasis poses a significant threat to neurological function.
- Microglia, the immune cells of the central nervous system, are implicated in cancer metastasis.
- Understanding the interaction between microglia and tumor cells is crucial for deciphering brain metastasis mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between microglia and breast and lung cancer cells.
- To analyze the impact of this interaction on tumor cell proliferation and migration.
- To detect molecular and structural changes in tumor cells using synchrotron radiation-based fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (SR-FTIR).
Main Methods:
- Co-culture of microglia with breast and lung cancer cells.
- Assessment of changes in tumor cell proliferation and migration.
- Application of SR-FTIR to analyze biomolecular structure and content alterations in tumor cells.
Main Results:
- Co-culture significantly increased the proliferation and migration of tumor cells.
- SR-FTIR analysis revealed changes in the structure and content of biomolecules, particularly proteins, within tumor cells.
- Observed shifts in amide II and amide I bands indicated altered protein secondary structures and increased protein content.
Conclusions:
- Microglia-derived factors may promote the progression of brain metastasis.
- Alterations in protein structure and content are key molecular changes associated with tumor cell enhancement.
- SR-FTIR provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying brain metastasis driven by microglia-tumor cell interactions.
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