Journal: Frontiers in Immunology
Article Title: TREM1 is essential for maintaining stemness of liver cancer stem-like cells in hepatocellular carcinoma
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1618342
Figure Lengend Snippet: TREM1 promotes tumorigenicity, clonogenic potential and spheroid formation in CD133 + EpCAM + liver cancer stem-like cells. (A) Flow cytometry dot plots reveal significant TREM1 expression in CD133 + EpCAM + cells from Huh7, and HepG2 cell lines and HCC P1 patient sample. (B) RT-PCR analysis shows significant expression of stem cell factors in MACS-purified Huh7 CD133 + EpCAM + cells in comparison to CD133 - EpCAM - fractions (n=3 per group) (C) Flow cytometry dot plots depict reduction in CD133 + Epcam + LCSLCs during TREM1 silencing in Huh7 and HepG2 cells (n=4 per group). (D) RT-PCR analysis of MACS-purified LCSLCs reveals a significant decrease in stem cell factor expression during TREM1 ablation (n=3 per group). (E) Western blot analysis shows significant expression of stem cell proteins in MACS purified Huh7 and HepG2 control CD133 + EpCAM + cells in comparison to TREM1 KO CD133 + EpCAM + cells. (F) Spheroid formation assay shows TREM1 abrogation significantly limits spheroid formation and overall proliferation of LCSLCs. Keyence microscope was used for the acquisition of bright field images. Scale bars = 50 μm. Spheroids were counted using ImageJ (n=3 per group) (G) Colony formation assay demonstrates TREM1-positive LCSLCs form significantly more colonies than their KO counterparts. Representative images show TREM1 KO and Control Huh7 and HepG2 LCSLC colonies stained using crystal violet after 14 days. Data were plotted using GraphPad Prism (n=3 per group). (H) Representative images of tumors from NSG CDX models. 5000 Huh7 CD133 + EpCAM + LCSLCs from Control and TREM1 KO groups were injected subcutaneously (n=6 mice per group). The experiment was independently repeated three times for statistical analysis. ***p<0.001, ****p<0.0001.
Article Snippet: Followed by blocking with SuperBlock blocking buffer (PI37580, Thermo Fisher Scientific) for 1h, membranes were incubated with primary antibodies - TREM1 monoclonal (FERMA548755, Invitrogen,1:1000), CD133 Rabbit polyclonal (A0219, Abclonal, 1:1000), Epcam Rabbit polyclonal (A23654, Abclonal, 1:1000), OCT4 Rabbit polyclonal (A7920, Abclonal, 1:1000), Nanog Rabbit polyclonal (A3232, Abclonal, 1:1000), Sox2 Rabbit polyclonal (A19118, Abclonal, 1:1000), β Actin (MAB8929SP, R&D Systems,1:1000), α tubulin (sc-53029, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, 1:1000) at 4°C overnight.
Techniques: Flow Cytometry, Expressing, Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction, Purification, Comparison, Western Blot, Control, Tube Formation Assay, Microscopy, Colony Assay, Staining, Injection