Cancer metastasis versus stem cell homing: Role of platelets

Abstract

One of the major obstacles in achieving a successful stem cell therapy is insufficient homing of transplanted cells. To overcome this obstacle, understanding the underlying mechanisms of stem cell homing is of obvious importance. Central to this review is the concept that cancer metastasis can be viewed as a role model to build up a comprehensive concept of stem cell homing. In this novel perspective, the prosurvival choices of the cancerous cells in the bloodstream, their arrest, extravasation, and proliferation at the secondary site can be exploited in favor of targeted stem cell homing. To date, tumor cells have been found to employ a wide variety of strategies to promote metastasis. One of these strategies is through their ability to activate platelets and subsequently activated platelets serve cancer cell survival and metastasis. Accordingly, in the first part of this review the roles of platelets in cancer metastasis as well as stem cell homing are discussed. Next, we provide some lessons learned from cancer metastasis in favor of developing strategies for improvement of stem cell homing with emphasis on the role of platelets. Based on direct or indirect evidence from metastasis, strategies such as manipulation of stem cells to enhance interaction with platelets, preconditioning-pretreatment of stem cells with platelets in vitro, and coinjection of both stem cells and platelets are proposed to improve stem cell homing.

Transplanted hair follicle stem cells migrate to the penumbra and express neural markers in a rat model of cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion

“…Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and its receptor C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) play vital roles as the drivers of stem cells homing [ 34 , 35 ]. A recent study suggests that platelets participate in metastasis and homing of stem cells by spatial approach and direct contact, which indicates a new main source of homing-related factors [ 36 , 37 ]. In the present study, we focused on elucidating the cell homing phenomenon by performing pathological experiments.…”

Transplanted Hair Follicle Stem Cells Migrate to the Penumbra and Express Neural Markers in a Rat Model of Cerebral Ischaemia/Reperfusion

“…Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and its receptor C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) play vital roles as the drivers of stem cells homing [34,35]. A recent study suggests that platelets participate in metastasis and homing of stem cells by spatial approach and direct contact, which indicates a new main source of homing-related factors [36,37]. In the present study, we focused on elucidating the cell homing phenomenon by performing pathological experiments.…”

Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) controls phosphatase-regulated signaling and function in platelets

“…The known physiological repertoire of platelets has broadened to include not only hemostasis but also immune modulation 63,64 , augmentation of cancer growth and spread [65][66][67] , pathogenic sterile inflammation 68 wound healing 69 and bone formation. These context-dependent activities compel a new look at the intracellular signaling cascades in platelets that can drive them into functional roles linked to their microenvironment.…”