Using genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to interrogate ovarian cancer metabolism

Abstract Background Epithelial ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy and patients present with significant metastatic burden, particularly to the adipose-rich microenvironment of the omentum. Recent evidence has highlighted the importance of metabolic adaptations in enablin...

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Main Authors: Shree Bose, Haipei Yao, Qiang Huang, Regina Whitaker, Christopher D. Kontos, Rebecca A. Previs, Xiling Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-10-01
Series:Journal of Ovarian Research
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-022-01046-5
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author Shree Bose
Haipei Yao
Qiang Huang
Regina Whitaker
Christopher D. Kontos
Rebecca A. Previs
Xiling Shen
author_facet Shree Bose
Haipei Yao
Qiang Huang
Regina Whitaker
Christopher D. Kontos
Rebecca A. Previs
Xiling Shen
author_sort Shree Bose
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Epithelial ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy and patients present with significant metastatic burden, particularly to the adipose-rich microenvironment of the omentum. Recent evidence has highlighted the importance of metabolic adaptations in enabling this metastasis, leading to significant interest in evolving the arsenal of tools used to study OC metabolism. In this study, we demonstrate the capability of genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to study OC, with a focus on 3D organoid models that better recapitulate in vivo tumor microenvironments. Materials and methods Plasmids encoding the metabolic biosensors HyPer, iNap, Peredox, and Perceval were transfected into 15 ovarian cancer cell lines to assay oxidative stress, NADPH/NADP+, NADH/NAD+, and ATP/ADP, respectively. Fluorescence readings were used to assay dynamic metabolic responses to omental conditioned media (OCM) and 100 μM carboplatin treatment. SKOV3 cells expressing HyPer were imaged as 2D monolayers, 3D organoids, and as in vivo metastases via an intravital omental window. We further established organoids from ascites collected from Stage III/IV OC patients with carboplatin-resistant or carboplatin-sensitive tumors (n = 8 total). These patient-derived organoids (PDOs) were engineered to express HyPer, and metabolic readings of oxidative stress were performed during treatment with 100 μM carboplatin. Results Exposure to OCM or carboplatin induced heterogenous metabolic changes in 15 OC cell lines, as measured using metabolic sensors. Oxidative stress of in vivo omental metastases, measured via intravital imaging of metastasizing SKOV3-HyPer cells, was more closely recapitulated by SKOV3-HyPer organoids than by 2D monolayers. Finally, carboplatin treatment of HyPer-expressing PDOs induced higher oxidative stress in organoids derived from carboplatin-resistant patients than from those derived from carboplatin-sensitive patients. Conclusions Our study showed that biosensors provide a useful method of studying dynamic metabolic changes in preclinical models of OC, including 3D organoids and intravital imaging. As 3D models of OC continue to evolve, the repertoire of biosensors will likely serve as valuable tools to probe the metabolic changes of clinical importance in OC.
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spelling doaj.art-ef6108723704419ea62cdbabad2044e02023-01-03T09:20:57ZengBMCJournal of Ovarian Research1757-22152022-10-0115111210.1186/s13048-022-01046-5Using genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to interrogate ovarian cancer metabolismShree Bose0Haipei Yao1Qiang Huang2Regina Whitaker3Christopher D. Kontos4Rebecca A. Previs5Xiling Shen6Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University Pratt School of EngineeringDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University Pratt School of EngineeringDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University Pratt School of EngineeringDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Duke University Medical CenterDepartment of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Duke University Medical CenterTerasaki Institute for Biomedical InnovationAbstract Background Epithelial ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy and patients present with significant metastatic burden, particularly to the adipose-rich microenvironment of the omentum. Recent evidence has highlighted the importance of metabolic adaptations in enabling this metastasis, leading to significant interest in evolving the arsenal of tools used to study OC metabolism. In this study, we demonstrate the capability of genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to study OC, with a focus on 3D organoid models that better recapitulate in vivo tumor microenvironments. Materials and methods Plasmids encoding the metabolic biosensors HyPer, iNap, Peredox, and Perceval were transfected into 15 ovarian cancer cell lines to assay oxidative stress, NADPH/NADP+, NADH/NAD+, and ATP/ADP, respectively. Fluorescence readings were used to assay dynamic metabolic responses to omental conditioned media (OCM) and 100 μM carboplatin treatment. SKOV3 cells expressing HyPer were imaged as 2D monolayers, 3D organoids, and as in vivo metastases via an intravital omental window. We further established organoids from ascites collected from Stage III/IV OC patients with carboplatin-resistant or carboplatin-sensitive tumors (n = 8 total). These patient-derived organoids (PDOs) were engineered to express HyPer, and metabolic readings of oxidative stress were performed during treatment with 100 μM carboplatin. Results Exposure to OCM or carboplatin induced heterogenous metabolic changes in 15 OC cell lines, as measured using metabolic sensors. Oxidative stress of in vivo omental metastases, measured via intravital imaging of metastasizing SKOV3-HyPer cells, was more closely recapitulated by SKOV3-HyPer organoids than by 2D monolayers. Finally, carboplatin treatment of HyPer-expressing PDOs induced higher oxidative stress in organoids derived from carboplatin-resistant patients than from those derived from carboplatin-sensitive patients. Conclusions Our study showed that biosensors provide a useful method of studying dynamic metabolic changes in preclinical models of OC, including 3D organoids and intravital imaging. As 3D models of OC continue to evolve, the repertoire of biosensors will likely serve as valuable tools to probe the metabolic changes of clinical importance in OC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-022-01046-5
spellingShingle Shree Bose
Haipei Yao
Qiang Huang
Regina Whitaker
Christopher D. Kontos
Rebecca A. Previs
Xiling Shen
Using genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to interrogate ovarian cancer metabolism
Journal of Ovarian Research
title Using genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to interrogate ovarian cancer metabolism
title_full Using genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to interrogate ovarian cancer metabolism
title_fullStr Using genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to interrogate ovarian cancer metabolism
title_full_unstemmed Using genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to interrogate ovarian cancer metabolism
title_short Using genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to interrogate ovarian cancer metabolism
title_sort using genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to interrogate ovarian cancer metabolism
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-022-01046-5
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