Latest Publications

@article{prochazkova_single-cell_2024,

title = {Single-cell profiling of surface glycosphingolipids opens a new dimension for deconvolution of breast cancer intratumoral heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity.},

author = {Jiřina Procházková and Radek Fedr and Barbora Hradilová and Barbora Kvokačková and Josef Slavík and Ondrej Kováč and Miroslav Machala and Pavel Fabian and Jiří Navrátil and Simona Kráčalíková and Monika Levková and Petra Ovesná and Jan Bouchal and Karel Souček},

doi = {10.1016/j.jlr.2024.100609},

issn = {1539-7262 0022-2275},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-09-01},

journal = {Journal of lipid research},

volume = {65},

number = {9},

pages = {100609},

abstract = {Glycosylated sphingolipids (GSLs) are a diverse group of cellular lipids typically reported as being rare in normal mammary tissue. In breast cancer (BCa), GSLs have emerged as noteworthy markers associated with breast cancer stem cells, mediators of phenotypic plasticity, and contributors to cancer cell chemoresistance. GSLs are potential surface markers that can uniquely characterize the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment, including cancer cell subpopulations and epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). In this study, mass spectrometry analyses of the total sphingolipidome in breast epithelial cells and their mesenchymal counterparts revealed increased levels of Gb3 in epithelial cells and significantly elevated GD2 levels in the mesenchymal phenotype. To elucidate if GSL-related epitopes on BCa cell surfaces reflect EMP and cancer status, we developed and rigorously validated a 12-color spectral flow cytometry panel. This panel enables the simultaneous detection of native GSL epitopes (Gb3, SSEA1, SSEA3, SSEA4, and GD2), epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers (EpCAM, TROP2, and CD9), and lineage markers (CD45, CD31, and CD90) at the single-cell level. Next, the established panel was used for the analysis of BCa primary tumors and revealed surface heterogeneity in SSEA1, SSEA3, SSEA4, GD2, and Gb3, indicative of native epitope presence also on non-tumor cells. These findings further highlighted the phenotype-dependent alterations in GSL surface profiles, with differences between epithelial and stromal cells in the tumor. This study provides novel insights into BCa heterogeneity, shedding light on the potential of native GSL-related epitopes as markers for EMP and cancer status in fresh clinical samples. The developed single-cell approach offers promising avenues for further exploration.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {*Breast Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology, *Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, *Glycosphingolipids/metabolism/analysis, *Single-Cell Analysis/methods, Breast cancer, Epithelial Cells, Female, Glycosphingolipids, Humans, Phenotype, phenotypic plasticity, stromal-like cells, surface profiling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{kahounova_slug-expressing_2020,

title = {Slug-expressing mouse prostate epithelial cells have increased stem cell potential.},

author = {Zuzana Kahounová and Ján Remšík and Radek Fedr and Jan Bouchal and Alena Mičková and Eva Slabáková and Lucia Binó and Aleš Hampl and Karel Souček},

doi = {10.1016/j.scr.2020.101844},

issn = {1876-7753 1873-5061},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-07-01},

journal = {Stem cell research},

volume = {46},

pages = {101844},

abstract = {Deciphering the properties of adult stem cells is crucial for understanding of their role in healthy tissue and in cancer progression as well. Both stem cells and cancer stem cells have shown association with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various tissue types. Aiming to investigate the epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypic traits in adult mouse prostate, we sorted subpopulations of basal prostate stem cells (mPSCs) and assessed the expression levels of EMT regulators and markers with custom-designed gene expression array. The population of mPSCs defined by a Lin(-)/Sca-1(+)CD49f(hi)/Trop-2(+) (LSC Trop-2(+)) surface phenotype was enriched in mesenchymal markers, especially EMT master regulator Slug, encoded by the Snai2 gene. To further dissect the role of Slug in mPSCs, we used transgenic Snai2(tm1.1Wbg) reporter mouse strain. Using this model, we confirmed the presence of mesenchymal traits and increase of organoid forming capacity in Slug(+) population of mPSCs. The Slug(+)-derived organoids comprised all prostate epithelial cell types - basal, luminal, and neuroendocrine. Collectively, these data uncover the important role of Slug expression in the physiology of mouse prostate stem cells.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {*Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, *Prostate, Animals, Cell Line, Cell Movement, Epithelial Cells, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, Male, Mice, Organoids, Prostate stem cells, Snai2/Slug, Snail Family Transcription Factors/genetics, stemness, Tumor},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{simeckova_high_2019,

title = {High Skp2 expression is associated with a mesenchymal phenotype and increased tumorigenic potential of prostate cancer cells.},

author = {Šárka Šimečková and Zuzana Kahounová and Radek Fedr and Ján Remšík and Eva Slabáková and Tereza Suchánková and Jiřina Procházková and Jan Bouchal and Gvantsa Kharaishvili and Milan Král and Petr Beneš and Karel Souček},

doi = {10.1038/s41598-019-42131-y},

issn = {2045-2322},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-04-01},

journal = {Scientific reports},

volume = {9},

number = {1},

pages = {5695},

abstract = {Skp2 is a crucial component of SCF(Skp2) E3 ubiquitin ligase and is often overexpressed in various types of cancer, including prostate cancer (PCa). The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in PCa progression. The acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype that results in a cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype in PCa was described. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the expression and localization of Skp2 in clinical samples from patients with PCa, the association of Skp2 with EMT status, and the role of Skp2 in prostate CSC. We found that nuclear expression of Skp2 was increased in patients with PCa compared to those with benign hyperplasia, and correlated with high Gleason score in PCa patients. Increased Skp2 expression was observed in PCa cell lines with mesenchymal and CSC-like phenotype compared to their epithelial counterparts. Conversely, the CSC-like phenotype was diminished in cells in which SKP2 expression was silenced. Furthermore, we observed that Skp2 downregulation led to the decrease in subpopulation of CD44(+)CD24(-) cancer stem-like cells. Finally, we showed that high expression levels of both CD24 and CD44 were associated with favorable recurrence-free survival for PCa patients. This study uncovered the Skp2-mediated CSC-like phenotype with oncogenic functions in PCa.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {*Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, *Gene Expression Regulation, Animals, CD24 Antigen/genetics, Cell Line, Humans, Hyaluronan Receptors/genetics, Male, Mice, Neoplasm Grading, Neoplastic, Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism/*physiology, Nude, PC-3 Cells, Prostatic Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/physiopathology, S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins/*genetics, Tumor, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}