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. 2021 Oct:206:42-51.
doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2021.08.008. Epub 2021 Aug 12.

Preferential interaction of platelets with prostate cancer cells with stem cell markers

Jan K Rudzinski  1 , Natasha P Govindasamy  2 , Amir Asgari  3 , Max S Saito  3 , John D Lewis  2 , Paul Jurasz  4
Affiliations

Preferential interaction of platelets with prostate cancer cells with stem cell markers

Jan K Rudzinski et al. Thromb Res. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) may be initiated by CD133+/CD44+ expressing stem cell-like cells (PCSC), which are also thought to drive metastasis. Platelets also contribute to metastasis via tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA), which in part enhances cancer cell invasion. Moreover, activated platelets secrete stromal derived growth factor-1α (SDF-1α) that can mobilize CSCs via the CXCR4 receptor. However, the potential reciprocal interactions between CSCs and platelets have not been investigated.

Objective: To characterize the mechanisms behind PCSC-platelet interaction.

Methods: Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting was utilized to separate DU145 and PC3 PCa cells into CD133+/CD44+, CD133+/CD44-, CD44+/CD133-, and CD133-/CD44- subpopulations and to measure their CXCR4 surface expression. PCa subpopulation TCIPA experiments were performed using aggregometry and immunoblot was used to measure prothrombin. Platelet SDF-1α secretion was measured by ELISA. Modified-Boyden chamber assays were used to assess the role of SDF-1α:CXCR4 pathway in platelet-PCSC interactions.

Results: DU145 and PC3 expressing both CD133 and CD44 stem cell markers accounted for only small fractions of total cells (DU145: CD133+/CD44+ 3.44 ± 1.45% vs. CD133+/CD44- 1.56 ± 0.45% vs. CD44+/CD133- 68.19 ± 6.25% vs. CD133-/CD44- 20.36 ± 4.51%). However, CD133+ subpopulations induced the greatest amount of aggregation compared to CD44+/CD133- and double-negative DU145, and this aggregation potency of CD133+ PCa cells corresponded with high levels of prothrombin expression. Additionally, CD133+ subpopulations expressed significantly higher level of CXCR4 compared to CD133-/CD44- and CD44+/CD133-. Disruption of SDF-1α:CXCR4 pathway reduced platelet-induced PCSC invasion.

Conclusions: CD133+/CD44+ and CD133+/CD44- PCSCs have highest platelet aggregation potency, which could be attributed to their increased prothrombin expression. Reciprocally, platelet-derived SDF-1α stimulates PCSC invasion.

Keywords: CXCR4 receptor; Prostate cancer cell-induced platelet aggregation; Stromal derived growth factor-1α; Thrombin; cancer cell invasion; cancer stem cell markers.

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