Open AccessEngineering a Tumor Microenvironment‐Mimetic Niche for Tissue Regeneration with Xenogeneic Cancer Cells
Author(s) -
Wang Zhenzhen,
Wang Chunming,
Abudukeremu Ayipaxia,
Rui Xiaying,
Liu Shang,
Zhang Xiaoyi,
Zhang Min,
Zhang Junfeng,
Dong Lei
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.201700666
Subject(s) - transplantation , regeneration (biology) , tissue engineering , immune system , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , tumor microenvironment , regenerative medicine , cancer cell , cancer research , biology , immunology , medicine , stem cell , biomedical engineering , surgery , genetics
The insufficient number of cells suitable for transplantation is a long‐standing problem to cell‐based therapies aimed at tissue regeneration. Xenogeneic cancer cells (XCC) may be an alternative source of therapeutic cells, but their transplantation risks both immune rejection and unwanted spreading. In this study, a strategy to facilitate XCC transplantation is reported and their spreading in vivo is confined by constructing an engineering matrix that mimics the characteristics of tumor microenvironment. The data show that this matrix, a tumor homogenate‐containing hydrogel (THAG), successfully creates an immunosuppressive enclave after transplantation into immunocompetent mice. XCC of different species and tissue origins seeded into THAG survive well, integrated with the host and developed the intrinsic morphology of the native tissue, without being eliminated or spreading out of the enclave. Most strikingly, immortalized human hepatocyte cells and rat β‐cells loaded into THAG exert the physiological functions of the human liver and rat pancreas islets, respectively, in the mouse body. This study demonstrates a novel and feasible approach to harness the unique features of tumor development for tissue transplantation and regenerative medicine.