Modeling a mesenchymal cell state by bioprinting for the molecular analysis of dormancy in melanoma

Schmidt S, Fischer S, El Ahmad Z, Schmid R, Metzger E, Schüle R, Hellerbrand C, Arkudas A, Kengelbach-Weigand A, Kappelmann-Fenzl M, Boßerhoff AK (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Materials Today Bio Elsevier

Book Volume: 32

Article Number: 101674

DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.101674

Abstract

Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive tumor originating from the pigment producing cells, the melanocytes. It accounts for the majority of skin cancer related deaths worldwide. This is often due to the development of therapy resistance or tumor dormancy, eventually resulting in tumor relapse by yet undefined mechanisms. Tumor dormancy is thought to be mediated by the cellular microenvironment and models taking this factor into account are urgently needed. We 3D bioprinted melanoma cells in the hydrogels Cellink Bioink (CIB) or Matrigel (MG), each as a substitute of the extracellular matrix, and, thereby, induced a quiescent or a proliferative phenotype of the melanoma cell lines, respectively. RNA-Seq with subsequent comprehensive bioinformatical and molecular analyses assigned CIB-cultured cells to a predominantly mesenchymal and Matrigel-cultured cells to a more mitotic phenotype, emphasizing the CIB model as a suitable platform for the investigation of dormancy under consideration of the microenvironment. Melanoma cells in CIB 3D culture reflect a quiescent and migratory active cell state e.g. by revealing significant downregulation of genes associated with replication and cell cycle progression in this setting. Using this model system, we identified the mechanosensory gene FHL2 as one early sensor of changes in the ECM and suggest a FHL2-p21/AP-1 axis contributing to the dormant phenotype of melanoma cells in CIB.

Authors with CRIS profile

Sonja Schmidt Sonderforschungsbereich/Transregio 225/2 Von den Grundlagen der Biofabrikation zu funktionalen Gewebemodellen Zubeir El Ahmad Lehrstuhl für Biochemie und Molekulare Medizin Rafael Schmid Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Claus Hellerbrand Professur für Biochemie und Molekulare Pathobiologie Andreas Arkudas Medizinische Fakultät Annika Kengelbach-Weigand Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Melanie Kappelmann-Fenzl Lehrstuhl für Biochemie und Molekulare Medizin Anja Katrin Boßerhoff Lehrstuhl für Biochemie und Molekulare Medizin

Involved external institutions

Technische Hochschule Deggendorf DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Freiburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Schmidt, S., Fischer, S., El Ahmad, Z., Schmid, R., Metzger, E., Schüle, R.,... Boßerhoff, A.K. (2025). Modeling a mesenchymal cell state by bioprinting for the molecular analysis of dormancy in melanoma. Materials Today Bio, 32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.101674

MLA:

Schmidt, Sonja, et al. "Modeling a mesenchymal cell state by bioprinting for the molecular analysis of dormancy in melanoma." Materials Today Bio 32 (2025).

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