Investigation of novel CAF functions by analysis of Glycan structures on the surface of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) of pancreatic cancer.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20824
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0901:Oncology and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Miyazaki Yoshihiro 筑波大学, 附属病院, 病院講師 (90909433)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 膵癌 / 癌関連線維芽細胞 / 腫瘍微小環境

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) obtained by primary culture of clinical specimens (CAFs derived from clinical specimens), CAFs obtained by direct co-culture of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) with pancreatic cancer cell lines (DR-CAFs), and CAFs obtained by indirect co-culture (TW-CAFs) were comprehensively searched for CAF-specific sugar chains by We also comprehensively searched for CAF-specific glycans using lectin microarrays to identify CAF-specific glycans in clinical pancreatic cancer tissues. In addition, lectin staining was performed on clinical pancreatic cancer tissues, and candidate CAF-specific glycans were extracted based on differences in staining intensity. The extracted lectin candidates were compared with RNA-seq data obtained in previous studies, and no candidate lectins were found to be differentially expressed in pancreatic cancer cells, normal fibroblasts, and CAFs.

Free Research Field

消化器外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回用いたレクチンマイクロアレイで抽出した候補の糖鎖構造については、RNA-seqで特異性の裏付けはとれなかった。昨今注目されているCAF heterogeneityがこの結果に影響している可能性が高い。一細胞解析技術が発展しているので、この技術を用いてCAF heterogeneityの詳細を調べることができれば、CAF特異的なタンパクや糖鎖を同定することが可能であると考える。