CD73/Adenosine Pathway Involvement in the Interaction of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stem Cells and Bone Cells in the Pre-Metastatic Niche

Adenosinergic signaling is an important regulator of tissue homeostasis and extracellular accumulation of adenosine (Ado) and is associated with different pathologies, such as cancer. In non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a subset of CD133/CXCR4+ cancer stem cell (CSCs) has been demonstrated to initiate bone metastases. Here we investigated how NSCLC CSCs interact with osteoclasts (OCs) and osteoblasts (OBs) by modulating Ado production and OC activity. We proved that CSC-spheres, generated in vitro from NSCLC cell lines, express CD38, PC-1, and CD73, enzymes of the non-canonical adenosinergic pathway, produce high level of Ado, and down-regulate A1R and A3R inhibitory receptors, while expressing A2AR and A2BR. To address the Ado role and modulation of the in-bone pre-metastatic niche, we performed co-cultures of CSC-spheres with OCs and OBs cells. Firstly, we verified that active OCs do not activate non-canonical the adenosinergic pathway, conversely to OBs. OCs co-cultured with CSC-spheres increase Ado production that is related to the OC resorption activity and contributes to T-cell suppression. Finally, we proved the efficacy of anti-CD73 agents in blocking NSCLC cell migration. Overall, we assessed the importance of adenosinergic signaling in the interaction between CSCs and OCs at the pre-metastatic niche, with therapeutic implications related to Ado production.