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Xiao D, Zhu H, Xiao X. Knockdown of HM13 Inhibits Metastasis, Proliferation, and M2 Macrophage Polarization of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Suppressing the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12010-024-05054-7. [PMID: 39207680 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-024-05054-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
An upregulated histocompatibility minor 13 (HM13) has been studied in various tumors, yet the exact mechanism of HM13 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. In view of same, the present study investigates crucial role and action mechanism of HM13 in human NSCLC. HM13 expression was higher in NSCLC tissue and cells through the Western blotting technique along with qRT-PCR. As per data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), NSCLC patients having high HM13 expression show lower overall survival. 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU), Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and transwell tests were assessed for NSCLC cell growth, and invasion, and we found that silencing of HM13 inhibited the NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion. Additionally, to investigate the effects of HM13 on THP-1 macrophage polarization, a co-culture model of NSCLC and THP-1 macrophages were used. The CD206 + macrophages were examined using flow cytometry. As the markers of M2 macrophage, the mRNA levels of IL-10 and TGF-β of THP-1 cells were also detected by qRT-PCR. Knockdown of HM13 could inhibit the M2 polarization. Further experiments demonstrated that downregulated HM13 could inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. RO8191 (activator of JAK/STAT3 pathway) influenced the invasion, proliferation, and expression of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers induced by HM13 silencing. HM13 knockdown also inhibited the tumor growth in vivo by xenograft nude mouse model. By inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, HM13 knockdown inhibited the NSCLC cell proliferation, metastasis tumor growth, and tumor-associated macrophage M2 polarization. In NSCLC, HM13 could be a therapeutic target to treat the NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dashu Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Chaohu, 238000, Anhui, China
| | - Hongbin Zhu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Chaohu, 238000, Anhui, China
| | - Xin Xiao
- Department of Oncology, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 64 Chaohu North Road, Juchao District, Chaohu, 238000, Anhui, China.
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Li W, You J, Xue H, Liu Y, Chen J, Zheng X, Chen L, Wu C. Unlocking the potential of HHLA2: identifying functional immune infiltrating cells in the tumor microenvironment and predicting clinical outcomes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:207. [PMID: 39105870 PMCID: PMC11303638 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03791-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HHLA2 (human endogenous retrovirus-H long terminal repeat-associating protein 2) represents a recently identified member of the B7 immune checkpoint family, characterized by limited expression in normal tissues but notable overexpression in various cancer types. Nevertheless, the precise function and interaction with immune cells remain poorly understood, particularly in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). This investigation endeavored to elucidate the biological significance of HHLA2 within the tumor microenvironment of human LSCC tissues and delineate the clinical relevance and functional roles of HHLA2 in LSCC pathogenesis. METHODS Through multiplexed immunohistochemistry analyses conducted on tissue microarrays sourced from LSCC patients (n = 72), the analysis was executed to assess the expression levels of HHLA2, density and spatial patterns of CD68+HLA-DR+CD163- (M1 macrophages), CTLA-4+CD4+FoxP3+ (CTLA-4+Treg cells), CTLA-4+CD4+FoxP3- (CTLA-4+Tcon cells), exhausted CD8+T cells, and terminally exhausted CD8+T cells in LSCC tissues. Survival analysis was conducted to evaluate the prognostic significance of HHLA2 and these immune checkpoints or immune cell populations, employing COX regression analysis to identify independent prognostic factors. RESULTS Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curves revealed a significant association between HHLA2 expression and overall survival (OS) in LSCC. Elevated levels of HHLA2 were linked to reduced patient survival, indicating its potential as a prognostic marker (HR: 3.230, 95%CI 0.9205-11.34, P = 0.0067). Notably, increased infiltration of CD68+ cells (total macrophages), STING+CD68+HLA-DR+CD163- (STING+M1 macrophages), CTLA-4+CD4+FoxP3+, CTLA-4+CD4+FoxP3-, PD-1+LAG-3+CD8+T cells, and PD-1+LAG-3+TIM-3+CD8+T cells strongly linked to poorer survival outcomes (P < 0.05). A discernible trend was observed between the levels of these immune cell populations, STING+CD68+ (STING+ total macrophages), CD68+HLA-DR+CD163-, STING+CD68+CD163+HLA-DR- (STING+M2 macrophages), PD-1+LAG-3-CD8+T cells, PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+T cells, and PD-1+LAG-3+TIM-3-CD8+T cells and prognosis. Importantly, multivariate COX analysis identified HHLA2 as an independent predictive factor for OS in LSCC patients (HR = 3.86, 95% CI 1.08-13.80, P = 0.038). This underscored the potential of HHLA2 as a critical marker for predicting patient outcomes in LSCC. CONCLUSIONS HHLA2 emerged as a detrimental prognostic biomarker for assessing OS in LSCC patients. Relative to other immune checkpoints, HHLA2 exhibited heightened predictive efficacy for the prognosis of LSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianqing You
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haixiang Xue
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junjun Chen
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao Zheng
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lujun Chen
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Changping Wu
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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Li W, Yuan Q, Li M, He X, Shen C, Luo Y, Tai Y, Li Y, Deng Z, Luo Y. Research advances on signaling pathways regulating the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages in lung cancer microenvironment. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1452078. [PMID: 39144141 PMCID: PMC11321980 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1452078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer (LC) is one of the most common cancer worldwide. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are important component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and are closely related to the stages of tumor occurrence, development, and metastasis. Macrophages are plastic and can differentiate into different phenotypes and functions under the influence of different signaling pathways in TME. The classically activated (M1-like) and alternatively activated (M2-like) represent the two polarization states of macrophages. M1 macrophages exhibit anti-tumor functions, while M2 macrophages are considered to support tumor cell survival and metastasis. Macrophage polarization involves complex signaling pathways, and blocking or regulating these signaling pathways to enhance macrophages' anti-tumor effects has become a research hotspot in recent years. At the same time, there have been new discoveries regarding the modulation of TAMs towards an anti-tumor phenotype by synthetic and natural drug components. Nanotechnology can better achieve combination therapy and targeted delivery of drugs, maximizing the efficacy of the drugs while minimizing side effects. Up to now, nanomedicines targeting the delivery of various active substances for reprogramming TAMs have made significant progress. In this review, we primarily provided a comprehensive overview of the signaling crosstalk between TAMs and various cells in the LC microenvironment. Additionally, the latest advancements in novel drugs and nano-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs) that target macrophages were also reviewed. Finally, we discussed the prospects of macrophages as therapeutic targets and the barriers to clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqiang Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan, China
| | - Quan Yuan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan, China
| | - Mei Li
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoyu He
- Department of Clinical Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Chen Shen
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yurui Luo
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yunze Tai
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan, China
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiping Deng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan, China
| | - Yao Luo
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan, China
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Hamidnia F, Aslan ES, Najafi S, Baghbani E, Eslamkhah S, Baradaran B. Enhancing Chemotherapy Efficacy: Investigating the Synergistic Impact of Paclitaxel and cd73 Gene Suppression on Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration. Cureus 2024; 16:e65027. [PMID: 39165432 PMCID: PMC11334381 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.65027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Enhancing chemotherapy efficacy is crucial in breast cancer treatment. This study examines the synergistic effects of paclitaxel, a common chemotherapeutic drug, and Cluster of differentiation 73 (cd73) gene suppression via siRNA on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Methods MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with CD73 siRNA and treated with paclitaxel. Cell viability, apoptosis, and migration were assessed by using MTT assays, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and wound healing assays, respectively, with flow cytometry analyzing cell cycle distribution. Results The combination of CD73 siRNA and paclitaxel significantly reduced cell viability, lowering paclitaxel's IC50 from 14.73 μg/mL to 8.471 μg/mL, indicating enhanced drug sensitivity. Apoptosis rates increased with the combination treatment, while cell migration was significantly inhibited. Flow cytometry revealed cell cycle arrest in the Sub-G1 and G2-M phases. Conclusion These findings suggest that cd73 gene suppression enhances paclitaxel's cytotoxic effects, promoting apoptosis and inhibiting cell migration in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. This combined strategy shows promise for improving breast cancer treatment outcomes by increasing the efficacy of existing chemotherapeutic regimens, warranting further research to explore its potential clinical applications and effectiveness in other breast cancer cell lines and models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elif S Aslan
- Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biruni University, Istanbul, TUR
| | - Souzan Najafi
- Medical Sciences, Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University, Tabriz, IRN
| | - Elham Baghbani
- Medical Sciences, Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University, Tabriz, IRN
| | - Sajjad Eslamkhah
- Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biruni University, Istanbul, TUR
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Medical Sciences, Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University, Tabriz, IRN
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Huang Y, Zhang Y, Duan X, Hou R, Wang Q, Shi J. Exploring the immune landscape and drug prediction of an M2 tumor-associated macrophage-related gene signature in EGFR-negative lung adenocarcinoma. Thorac Cancer 2024; 15:1626-1637. [PMID: 38886907 PMCID: PMC11260554 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.15375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Improving immunotherapy efficacy for EGFR-negative lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients remains a critical challenge, and the therapeutic effect of immunotherapy is largely determined by the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the top-ranked immune infiltrating cells in the TME, and M2-TAMs exert potent roles in tumor promotion and chemotherapy resistance. An M2-TAM-based prognostic signature was constructed by integrative analysis of single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq data to reveal the immune landscape and select drugs in EGFR-negative LUAD. METHODS M2-TAM-based biomarkers were obtained from the intersection of bulk RNA-seq data and scRNA-seq data. After consensus clustering of EGFR-negative LUAD into different clusters based on M2-TAM-based genes, we compared the prognosis, clinical features, estimate scores, immune infiltration, and checkpoint genes among the clusters. Next, we combined univariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses to establish an M2-TAM-based prognostic signature. RESULTS CCL20, HLA-DMA, HLA-DRB5, KLF4, and TMSB4X were verified as prognostic M2-like TAM-related genes by univariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses. IPS and TMB analyses revealed that the high-risk group responded better to common immunotherapy. CONCLUSION The study shows the potential of the M2-like TAM-related gene signature in EGFR-negative LUAD, explores the immune landscape based on M2-like TAM-related genes, and predict immunotherapy response of patients with EGFR-negative LUAD, providing a new insight for individualized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Huang
- Department of Medical OncologyThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangChina
| | - Yaozhong Zhang
- Department of Infectious DiseasesThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangChina
| | - Xiaoyang Duan
- Department of Medical OncologyThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangChina
| | - Ran Hou
- Department of Medical OncologyThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangChina
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of EndoscopyThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangChina
| | - Jian Shi
- Department of Medical OncologyThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangChina
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Han C, Su J, Pei Y, Su X, Zheng D. LINC00665 promotes the progression and immune evasion of lung cancer by facilitating the translation of TCF7 protein through dependence on IRES. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:227. [PMID: 38951802 PMCID: PMC11218341 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03411-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of LINC00665 on the development and immune evasion of lung cancer. METHODS Tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues were collected from 84 lung cancer patients, categorized into non-metastatic (n = 58) and metastatic (n = 26) groups. LINC00665 expression in lung cancer and metastatic lung cancer tissues was assessed via qRT-PCR. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the correlation between LINC00665 and immune-modulating cytokines (TGF-β, IL-10, IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α). A549 and H1299 cells, with relatively high LINC00665 expression, were used for in vitro studies. Cells were transfected with LINC00665-targeting shRNA, and changes in proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and NK cell cytotoxicity were assessed. Downstream molecular mechanisms of LINC00665 were investigated using GEO database analysis, highlighting the association with HHLA2. LINC00665's role in promoting HHLA2 expression via binding with TCF7 was explored. In low LINC00665-expressing A549/H1299 cells, overexpression of HHLA2 was performed to evaluate effects on malignant behavior and NK cell sensitivity. A xenograft model was established for in vivo validation through tumor volume and weight measurements, Ki-67 immunoreactivity analysis, and flow cytometry analysis of CD107a + NK cells. RESULTS LINC00665, TCF7 mRNA, and HHLA2 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in lung cancer tissues than adjacent tissues, with non-metastatic lung cancer showing higher expression than metastatic lung cancer. In metastatic lung cancer, LINC00665 positively correlated with immune-suppressive cytokines (TGF-β, IL-10, IL-1β) and negatively correlated with anti-tumor cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α). LINC00665 knockdown significantly inhibited lung cancer cell growth and metastasis, promoting sensitivity to NK cells. Further analysis revealed that LINC00665 recruits transcription factor TCF7 to upregulate HHLA2 expression in lung cancer cells, thereby facilitating lung cancer development and immune escape. CONCLUSION LINC00665, through recruitment of TCF7 and upregulation of HHLA2, inhibits NK cell cytotoxicity, promoting the development and immune evasion of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaonan Han
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200443, China
| | - Jinchen Su
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yue Pei
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yixing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.128 East Yangquan Road, Yicheng Subdistrict, Yixing, 214200, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangyu Su
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Di Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200443, China.
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Kula A, Koszewska D, Kot A, Dawidowicz M, Mielcarska S, Waniczek D, Świętochowska E. The Importance of HHLA2 in Solid Tumors-A Review of the Literature. Cells 2024; 13:794. [PMID: 38786018 PMCID: PMC11119147 DOI: 10.3390/cells13100794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy is a rapidly developing field of medicine that aims to use the host's immune mechanisms to inhibit and eliminate cancer cells. Antibodies targeting CTLA-4, PD-1, and its ligand PD-L1 are used in various cancer therapies. However, the most thoroughly researched pathway targeting PD-1/PD-L1 has many limitations, and multiple malignancies resist its effects. Human endogenous retrovirus-H Long repeat-associating 2 (HHLA2, known as B7H5/B7H7/B7y) is the youngest known molecule from the B7 family. HHLA2/TMIGD2/KIRD3DL3 is one of the critical pathways in modulating the immune response. Recent studies have demonstrated that HHLA2 has a double effect in modulating the immune system. The connection of HHLA2 with TMIGD2 induces T cell growth and cytokine production via an AKT-dependent signaling cascade. On the other hand, the binding of HHLA2 and KIR3DL3 leads to the inhibition of T cells and mediates tumor resistance against NK cells. This review aimed to summarize novel information about HHLA2, focusing on immunological mechanisms and clinical features of the HHLA2/KIR3DL3/TMIGD2 pathway in the context of potential strategies for malignancy treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Kula
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 41-808 Katowice, Poland; (M.D.); (D.W.)
| | - Dominika Koszewska
- Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 19 Jordana, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland; (D.K.); (A.K.); (S.M.); (E.Ś.)
| | - Anna Kot
- Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 19 Jordana, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland; (D.K.); (A.K.); (S.M.); (E.Ś.)
| | - Miriam Dawidowicz
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 41-808 Katowice, Poland; (M.D.); (D.W.)
| | - Sylwia Mielcarska
- Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 19 Jordana, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland; (D.K.); (A.K.); (S.M.); (E.Ś.)
| | - Dariusz Waniczek
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 41-808 Katowice, Poland; (M.D.); (D.W.)
| | - Elżbieta Świętochowska
- Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 19 Jordana, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland; (D.K.); (A.K.); (S.M.); (E.Ś.)
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Taghavi BA, Salehi M, Mokhtarzadeh A, Baradaran B. Suppression of B7-H7 Enhanced MCF-7 Cancer Cell Line's Chemosensitivity to Paclitaxel. Mol Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12033-024-01145-2. [PMID: 38662256 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-024-01145-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The B7-H7 is the newest addition to the B7 family of proteins that is present in the majority of malignancies. In this respect, the goal of the work was to investigate the impact of B7-H7 inhibition on breast cancer cells when paclitaxel and small interference RNA (siRNA) were combined. B7-H7 siRNA was used with Paclitaxel to treat MCF-7 cells. The IC50 of Paclitaxel and the cell survival was then assessed through using MTT assay. Investigation was conducted using flow cytometry to both the induction of apoptosis and the cell cycle. In addition, the clonogenic capacity of MCF-7 cells was investigated. Furthermore, qRT-PCR, was used to evaluate expression of genes. Our results demonstrated that suppressing B7-H7 sensitizes MCF-7 cells to Paclitaxel by triggering apoptosis and altering the expression of critical apoptosis mediator genes. In addition, the cell cycle was stopped in the sub-G1 and also G2-M phases as a result of the combination therapy leading prevention of developing colonies by MCF-7 cells. B7-H7 silencing improved the chemosensitivity of MCF-7 cells to Paclitaxel and demonstrated antiproliferative effects. After the adequate study has been conducted, this strategy may be regarded as a possible alternative treatment option for this cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bita Amir Taghavi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mitra Salehi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahad Mokhtarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht St., Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht St., Tabriz, Iran.
- Pharmaceutical Analysis Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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An Y, Duan H. ALKBH5 modulates macrophages polarization in tumor microenvironment of ovarian cancer. J Ovarian Res 2024; 17:84. [PMID: 38637813 PMCID: PMC11025218 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-024-01394-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Macrophages play an essential role in regulating ovarian cancer immune microenvironment. Studies have shown that m6A methylation could influence immune microenvironment in cancer. In this study, we investigated the roles of m6A demethylase ALKBH5 and m6A recognition protein IGF2BP2 played in regulating macrophages polarization in ovarian cancer. METHODS In this study, we first explored the differentially expressed m6A methylation enzymes in M0 and M2 macrophages according to two independent GEO datasets. TIMER2.0 and GSCA database were used to explore the immune analysis of ALKBH5 and IGF2BP2 in ovarian cancer. K-M plotter and TIMER2.0 databases were used to evaluate the prognostic role of ALKBH5 and IGF2BP2 in ovarian cancer. For CNV mutation analysis of ALKBH5 and IGF2BP2, cBioPortal and GSCA databases were used. For single-cell analysis, sc-TIME and HPA softwares were used to analyze the roles of ALKBH5 and IGF2BP2 played in immune cells in ovarian cancer. To identify the role of ALKBH5 played in macrophage polarization, RT-PCR was used to verify the macrophage polarization related markers in vitro study. The function of ALKBH5 played in ovarian cancer was further analyzed through GO and KEGG analysis. FINDINGS In this study, we found that ALKBH5 and IGF2BP2 were up-regulated in M2 macrophages, which showed closely correlation with immune cells expressions in ovarian cancer, especially with macrophages. Ovarian cancer patients with higher expression of ALKBH5 and IGF2BP2 showed worse prognosis, possibly because of their close correlation with immune response. ALKBH5 also correlated with macrophage phenotypes in single-cell levels analysis. However, the expression level of IGF2BP2 in ovarian cancer immune microenvironment was very low. The results of RT-PCR indicated the potential role of ALKBH5 in M2 polarization of macrophages. INTERPRETATION ALKBH5 participated in regulating macrophage M2 polarization in ovarian cancer immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan An
- Gynecological Mini-Invasive Center, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, 17 Qihelou Street, Beijing, 100006, China
| | - Hua Duan
- Gynecological Mini-Invasive Center, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, 17 Qihelou Street, Beijing, 100006, China.
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Wang L, Zhang H, Li Y, Li L. TPX2 influences the regulation of macrophage polarization via the NF-κB pathway in lung adenocarcinoma. Life Sci 2024; 340:122437. [PMID: 38266813 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent subtype of lung cancer. Xklp2 targeting protein (TPX2), a crucial oncogene exhibits high expression levels in various cancers including LUAD, may serve as a potential target for clinical intervention. Additionally, the growth of lung cancer is significantly influenced by the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, there have been no reports on experiments investigating TPX2 in tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in LUAD. Therefore, we verified the effect of TPX2 on macrophage polarization both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS We silenced TPX2 the gene in A549 cells and collected supernatants for macrophage culture. We then used flow cytometry and Western blot analysis to assess macrophage polarization. Additionally, we verified the expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and CD163 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in tissue specimens from LUAD patients. Finally, pathways related to TPX2's regulatory function in macrophage polarization were analyzed through whole genome sequencing, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence (IF). RESULTS Silencing TPX2 can affect the ratio of CD80+ M1/CD163+ M2 and reduce the polarization of M0 macrophages to CD163+ M2 macrophages mainly by inhibiting the expression of M-CSF. In human LUAD tissues, the expression levels of TPX2, M-CSF and CD163 increased with the degree of differentiation. Silencing TPX2 inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby reducing the expression of M-CSF, and affecting macrophage polarization. CONCLUSION Silencing TPX2 can inhibit the expression of M-CSF by blocking the NF-κB signal, thereby reducing CD163+ M2 macrophage polarization. The TPX2/NF-κB/M-CSF signaling axis may be involved in regulating macrophage polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Haiying Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yulin Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Lisha Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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11
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Tan J, Chen F, Wang J, Li J, Ouyang B, Li X, Li Y, Zhang W, Jiang Y. ALKBH5 promotes the development of lung adenocarcinoma by regulating the polarization of M2 macrophages through CDCA4. Gene 2024; 895:147975. [PMID: 37949419 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of lung cancer, with high morbidity and mortality. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an important regulator of LUAD progression. Here, we investigated the potential biological functions of ALKBH5 (a m6A demethylated enzyme) and cell division cycle associated protein 4 (CDCA4) in the progression of LUAD. METHODS The expressions of CDCA4, METTL3, ALKBH5, FTO, YTHDC2 and YTHDC1 mRNA and proteins in LUAD and adjacent tissues, as well as NCI-H1299 and NCI-H157 cells were detected by RT-qPCR and western blot. Meanwhile, the role of ALKBH5 and CDCA4 in macrophage polarization was explored through tumor formation in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) mice and the co-culture system of NCI-H1299 and NCI-H157/THP-1 cells. Cell characterization was further analyzed. The expression of Ki-67 in tumor tissue was tested by immunohistochemistry. The scale of M1 and M2 macrophages was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS CDCA4 was significantly overexpressed in NCI-H1299 and NCI-H157 cell lines compared with BEAS-2B cells. The fold enrichment of CDCA4 m6A level in the overexpression (oe)-METTL3 or short hairpin (sh)-ALKBH5 cells was enhanced. Overexpression of CDCA4 promoted the cell viability, proliferation and migration, and inhibited apoptosis, which was reversed by sh-ALKBH5 intervention. Overexpression of YTHDC2 (not YTHDC1) inhibited the effect of CDCA4 on sh-ALKBH5 cells. sh-CDCA4 inhibited tumor growth and weight of LLC cells in mice, and promoted M1/M2 ratio in LLC mice and NCI-H1299/THP-1 and NCI-H157/THP-1 co-culture systems. Oe-CDCA4 promoted the volume and weight of tumor and inhibited the M1/M2 ratio of tumor tissue in LLC mice, but was reversed by sh-ALKBH5 intervention. CONCLUSION m6A demethylase ALKBH5 promotes the development of LUAD through CDCA4 regulation of malignant characterization and M1/M2 macrophage polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianlong Tan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Fengyu Chen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Jufen Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine,The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha, China
| | - Jianmin Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Bin Ouyang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiuying Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Weidong Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
| | - Yongliang Jiang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
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12
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Burke KP, Chaudhri A, Freeman GJ, Sharpe AH. The B7:CD28 family and friends: Unraveling coinhibitory interactions. Immunity 2024; 57:223-244. [PMID: 38354702 PMCID: PMC10889489 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Immune responses must be tightly regulated to ensure both optimal protective immunity and tolerance. Costimulatory pathways within the B7:CD28 family provide essential signals for optimal T cell activation and clonal expansion. They provide crucial inhibitory signals that maintain immune homeostasis, control resolution of inflammation, regulate host defense, and promote tolerance to prevent autoimmunity. Tumors and chronic pathogens can exploit these pathways to evade eradication by the immune system. Advances in understanding B7:CD28 pathways have ushered in a new era of immunotherapy with effective drugs to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and transplant rejection. Here, we discuss current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the coinhibitory functions of CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1:B7-1 and PD-L2:RGMb interactions and less studied B7 family members, including HHLA2, VISTA, BTNL2, and BTN3A1, as well as their overlapping and unique roles in regulating immune responses, and the therapeutic potential of these insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly P Burke
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Apoorvi Chaudhri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gordon J Freeman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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13
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Li Y, Yang Q, Yang X, Ge J, Xu T, Liu H. HHLA2 is more significantly associated with poor prognosis in TSCC than PD-L1. J Oral Pathol Med 2024; 53:159-168. [PMID: 38321252 DOI: 10.1111/jop.13514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality of tongue squamous cell carcinoma have shown an alarming increase in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the potential of HHLA2 as an immune checkpoint in comparison to PD-L1. METHODS We obtained RNA-seq data from TCGA to study HHLA2 and PD-L1 expression across various tissues. Using the CIBERSORT package, we estimated cell type abundances within mixed populations based on gene expression profiles. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze HHLA2 and PD-L1 expression in Tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Prognostic evaluation was carried out with Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. To explore factors affecting HHLA2, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted with the COX regression model. Additionally, we used single-cell RNA sequencing data from the GEO database for gene set enrichment analysis with genes strongly correlated with HHLA2. RESULTS Our analysis of RNA-seq data unveiled a significant upregulation of HHLA2 and PD-L1 expression in primary tumors when compared with normal tissue. HHLA2 exhibited a positive expression rate of 36.9%, while PD-L1 had a positive expression rate of 24.6%. HHLA2 emerged as a noteworthy independent risk factor impacting the overall survival of Tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients. The analysis of scRNA-seq data shed light on the involvement of HHLA2 in key pathways related to cell cycle regulation and interferon alpha/beta signaling. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that in the context of Tongue squamous cell carcinoma, HHLA2 may represent a more promising target for immunotherapy when compared with PD-L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Qiong Yang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Xu Yang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Jie Ge
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Tianshu Xu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - HuaLian Liu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
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Yu B, Geng C, Wu Z, Zhang Z, Zhang A, Yang Z, Huang J, Xiong Y, Yang H, Chen Z. A CIC-related-epigenetic factors-based model associated with prediction, the tumor microenvironment and drug sensitivity in osteosarcoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1308. [PMID: 38225273 PMCID: PMC10789798 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49770-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is generally considered a cold tumor and is characterized by epigenetic alterations. Although tumor cells are surrounded by many immune cells such as macrophages, T cells may be suppressed, be inactivated, or not be presented due to various mechanisms, which usually results in poor prognosis and insensitivity to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is considered a promising anti-cancer therapy in osteosarcoma but requires more research, but osteosarcoma does not currently respond well to this therapy. The cancer immunity cycle (CIC) is essential for anti-tumor immunity, and is epigenetically regulated. Therefore, it is possible to modulate the immune microenvironment of osteosarcoma by targeting epigenetic factors. In this study, we explored the correlation between epigenetic modulation and CIC in osteosarcoma through bioinformatic methods. Based on the RNA data from TARGET and GSE21257 cohorts, we identified epigenetic related subtypes by NMF clustering and constructed a clinical prognostic model by the LASSO algorithm. ESTIMATE, Cibersort, and xCell algorithms were applied to analyze the tumor microenvironment. Based on eight epigenetic biomarkers (SFMBT2, SP140, CBX5, HMGN2, SMARCA4, PSIP1, ACTR6, and CHD2), two subtypes were identified, and they are mainly distinguished by immune response and cell cycle regulation. After excluding ACTR6 by LASSO regression, the prognostic model was established and it exhibited good predictive efficacy. The risk score showed a strong correlation with the tumor microenvironment, drug sensitivity and many immune checkpoints. In summary, our study sheds a new light on the CIC-related epigenetic modulation mechanism of osteosarcoma and helps search for potential drugs for osteosarcoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment of Yunnan Province, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chengkui Geng
- Department of Orthopedics of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Zhongxiong Wu
- Department of Orthopedics of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Zhongzi Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Aili Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Ze Yang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment of Yunnan Province, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Jiazheng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment of Yunnan Province, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Ying Xiong
- Department of Orthopedics of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Huiqin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment of Yunnan Province, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
| | - Zhuoyuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment of Yunnan Province, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
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15
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Zhang X, Qin Y, Chen X, Xiong M, Shu S. Clinical Value of Human Endogenous Retrovirus-H Long Terminal Repeat Associating 2 (HHLA2) in Small Cell Lung Cancer. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2024; 23:15330338241240683. [PMID: 38613340 PMCID: PMC11015749 DOI: 10.1177/15330338241240683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: Human endogenous retrovirus-H long terminal repeat associating 2 (HHLA2) is a new immune checkpoint in the B7 family, and the value of HHLA2 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is unknown. Methods: We retrospectively detected HHLA2 expression by immunohistochemistry in SCLC patients. Moreover, plasma biomarkers of SCLC were detected retrospectively. Results: Seventy-four percent of SCLC patients exhibited HHLA2 expression. HHLA2 staining was localised within the nucleus of SCLC cells, while no staining was detected in normal lung tissue specimens. The correlation between HHLA2 expression and clinical factors was also analysed. Limited stage (LS) SCLC was more common than extensive stage (ES) SCLC among patients with HHLA2 staining. SCLC patients without metastasis had higher HHLA2 expression than SCLC patients with metastasis. HHLA2 expression was more frequently detected in the group with a tumour size greater than 5 cm than in the group with a tumour size less than 5 cm. The proportion of patients with HHLA2-positive staining was greater in the stage III and IV SCLC groups than in the stage I and II SCLC groups. A high proportion of SCLC patients with HHLA2-positive staining had a survival time <2 years. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE), CEA and Ki-67 levels were measured. The NSE level in the HHLA2-positive group was significantly greater than that in the HHLA2-negative group. The CEA and Ki-67 levels did not significantly differ between the HHLA2-positive and HHLA2-negative patients, nor were age, sex, smoking status, nodal metastasis status, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score, or Ki-67 expression score. HHLA2-positive SCLC patients had higher tumour stages and shorter 2-year survival times than HHLA2-negative patients did. Conclusion: The new immune molecule HHLA2 may be an ideal clinical biomarker for predicting SCLC progression and could serve as a new immunotherapy target in SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuqin Zhang
- Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yan Qin
- Department of Pathology Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Department of Basic Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Mengrui Xiong
- Department of Basic Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Song Shu
- Department of Pathology Medicine, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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16
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Jing H, Meng M, Ye M, Liu S, Cao X, Li K, Liu Y, Zhang J, Wu Y. Integrin α2 promotes immune escape in non-small-cell lung cancer by enhancing PD-L1 expression in exosomes to inhibit CD8 + T-cell activity. J Investig Med 2024; 72:57-66. [PMID: 37804164 DOI: 10.1177/10815589231207801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
This study intended to delineate the mechanism and functional role of integrin α2 (ITGA2) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell immune escape. Bioinformatics analysis was utilized to analyze ITGA2 expression in NSCLC tissues, and correlations between ITGA2 expression and patient survival time, ITGA2 expression and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1; CD274) expression, and ITGA2 expression and CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction detected ITGA2 expression. Transmission electron microscopy was applied to examine the morphology of exosomes, and western blot measured CD9, CD63, and PD-L1 levels. CCK-8 measured cell viability. Cell toxicity experiment measured the killing effect of CD8+ T cells on cancer cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay assessed secretion levels of interleukin-2, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and PD-L1 expression in exosomes. Immunohistochemistry detected ITGA2, CD8, and PD-L1 expression in patient tissue samples. ITGA2 was highly expressed in NSCLC, and Pearson correlation analysis showed a negative correlation of ITGA2 with CD8+ T-cell infiltration and a positive correlation of ITGA2 with PD-L1 expression. Cell experiments showed that silencing ITGA2 hindered NSCLC cell progression and increased levels of CD8+ T-cell secretory factors. Further mechanism studies found that ITGA2 reduced CD8+ T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity via the increase in PD-L1 expression. Clinical sample testing unveiled that ITGA2 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues. PD-L1 upregulation was seen in exosomes separated from patient blood, and correlation analysis showed a positive correlation of exosomal PD-L1 expression in blood with ITGA2 expression in tissues. This study displays a novel mechanism and role of ITGA2 in NSCLC immune escape, providing directions for the clinical therapy of NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jing
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Xuzhou School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Meng Meng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Mengjie Ye
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China
- Graduate School of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Shuan Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China
- Graduate School of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Xubo Cao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ke Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jinghao Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yanmin Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China
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Su Q, Du J, Xiong X, Xie X, Wang L. B7-H7: A potential target for cancer immunotherapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 121:110403. [PMID: 37290327 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy enhances the body's immunity against tumors by mitigating immune escape. Compared with traditional chemotherapy, immunotherapy has the advantages of fewer drugs, a wider range of action and fewer side effects. B7-H7 (also known as HHLA2, B7y) is a member of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules that was discovered more than 20 years ago. B7-H7 is mostly expressed in organs such as the breast, intestine, gallbladder and placenta and is detected predominantly in monocytes/macrophages in the immune system. Its expression is upregulated after stimulation by inflammatory factors such as lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ. B7-H7/transmembrane and immunoglobulin domain containing 2 (TMIGD2) and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor, three Ig domains and long cytoplasmic tail 3 (KIR3DL3)-B7-H7 are the two currently confirmed signaling pathways for B7-H7. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that B7-H7 is widely present in a variety of human tumor tissues, especially in programmed cell death-1 (PD-L1)-negative human tumors. B7-H7 promotes tumor progression, disrupts T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity, and inhibits immune surveillance. B7-H7 also triggers tumor immune escape and is associated with clinical stage, depth of tumor infiltration, metastasis, prognosis, and survival related to different tumor types. Multiple studies have shown that B7-H7 is a promising immunotherapeutic target. Herein, review the current literature on the expression, regulation, receptors and function of B7-H7 and its regulation/function in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanping Su
- Central Laboratory, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Health Commission of Shandong Province, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; Linyi Key Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; Key Laboratory for Translational Oncology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jingyi Du
- Central Laboratory, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; School of Cinical Medicine, Shandong First Medical Universiy & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xingfang Xiong
- Central Laboratory, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; Institute of Clinical Medicine College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaoli Xie
- Central Laboratory, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Health Commission of Shandong Province, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; Linyi Key Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; Key Laboratory for Translational Oncology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Central Laboratory, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Health Commission of Shandong Province, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; Linyi Key Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Linyi, Shandong Province, China; Key Laboratory for Translational Oncology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China; Department of Hematology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong Province, China.
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18
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Mortezaee K. HHLA2 immune-regulatory roles in cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 162:114639. [PMID: 37011487 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retrovirus H long terminal repeat-associating protein 2 (HHLA2 or B7-H7) is a newly discovered B7 family member. HHLA2 is aberrantly expressed in solid tumors and exerts co-stimulatory or co-inhibitory activities dependent on interaction with counter receptors. HHLA2 represents co-stimulatory effects upon interaction with transmembrane and immunoglobulin domain containing 2 (TMIGD2, also called CD28H), but its interaction with killer cell Ig-like receptor, three Ig domains and long cytoplasmic tail 3 (KIR3DL3) renders co-inhibitory effects. TMIGD2 is mainly expressed on resting or naïve T cells, whereas expression of KIR3DL3 occurs on activated T cells. HHLA2/KIR3DL3 attenuates responses from both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity, and the activity within this axis is regarded as a biomarker of weak prognosis in cancer patients. HHLA2/KIR3DL3 promotes CD8+ T cell exhaustion and induces macrophage polarity toward pro-tumor M2 phenotype. HHLA2 represents diverse expression profile and activity in tumor and stroma. Tumoral expression of HHLA2 is presumably higher compared with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and HHLA2 co-expression with PD-L1 is indicative of more severe outcomes. A suggested strategy in patients with HHLA2high cancer is to use monoclonal antibodies for specifically suppressing the HHLA2 inhibitory receptor KIR3DL3, not the HHLA2 ligand. TMIGD2 can be a target for development of agonistic bispecific antibodies for hampering tumor resistance to the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 blockade therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keywan Mortezaee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
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19
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Fu Y, Zheng P, Zheng X, Chen L, Kong C, Liu W, Li S, Jiang J. Downregulation of HHLA2 inhibits ovarian cancer progression via the NF-κB signaling pathway and suppresses the expression of CA9. Cell Immunol 2023; 388-389:104730. [PMID: 37210768 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2023.104730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
HHLA2 has been recently demonstrated to play multifaceted roles in several types of cancers. However, its underlying mechanism in the progression of human ovarian cancer (OC) remains largely unexplored. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether downregulation of HHLA2 inhibited malignant phenotypes of human OC cells and explore its specific mechanism. Our results revealed that downregulation of HHLA2 by transfection with a lentiviral vector significantly suppressed the viability, invasion, and migration of OC cells. Interaction study showed that downregulation of HHLA2 in OC cells reduced the expression of CA9 and increased the expressions of p-IKKβ and p-RelA. Conversely, the viability, invasion, and migration of HHLA2-depleted OC cells were increased when CA9 was upregulated. In vivo, we found that downregulation of HHLA2 significantly inhibited tumor growth, which was reversed by CA9 overexpression. In addition, downregulation of HHLA2 inhibited the OC progression via activating the NF-κB signaling pathway and decreasing the expression of CA9. Collectively, our data suggested a link between HHLA2 and NF-κB axis in the pathogenesis of OC, and these findings might provide valuable insights into the development of novel potential therapeutic targets for OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Fu
- Department of Gynecology, Changzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Changzhou, China; Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Panpan Zheng
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China; Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, China; Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Xiao Zheng
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China; Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, China; Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Lujun Chen
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China; Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, China; Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Caixia Kong
- Department of Gynecology, Changzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Changzhou, China
| | - Wenzhi Liu
- Department of Gynecology, Changzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Changzhou, China
| | - Shuping Li
- Department of Gynecology, Changzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Changzhou, China.
| | - Jingting Jiang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China; Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, China; Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, China.
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Ahangar NK, Khalaj-Kondori M, Alizadeh N, Mokhtarzadeh A, Baghbanzadeh A, Shadbad MA, Dolatkhah K, Baradaran B. Silencing tumor-intrinsic HHLA2 potentiates the anti-tumoral effect of paclitaxel on MG63 cells: Another side of immune checkpoint. Gene 2023; 855:147086. [PMID: 36535461 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.147086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteosarcoma is common type of bone cancer; however, the prognosis of patients with metastatic osteosarcoma is poor. As a new inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule, HHLA2 is upregulated in osteosarcoma. Herein, we studied the significance of tumor-intrinsic HHLA2 in MG-63 growth. Also, we examined the influence of combined therapy of HHLA2 knockdown with paclitaxel on the apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and stemness of MG-63 cells. METHODS The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to study the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of paclitaxel and the cytotoxicity of HHLA2-small interfering RNA (siRNA) on MG-63 cells. The apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed using flow cytometry. The wound-healing and colony formation assays were conducted to investigate the effect of paclitaxel and HHLA2 knockdown on the migration and stemness of MG-63 cells, respectively. QRT-PCR was used to determine the Bax, caspase-3, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels. RESULTS HHLA2 silencing has enhanced the chemosensitivity of MG-63 cells to paclitaxel. Besides, HHLA2 knockdown has increased the paclitaxel-induced cytotoxic effect on MG-63 cells. In terms of stimulating apoptosis, decreasing clonogenicity, halting the cell cycle at the sub G1 phase, and inhibiting migration, tumor-intrinsic HHLA2 silencing has increased these anti-tumor effects of paclitaxel on MG-63 cells. Besides, HHLA2 knockdown has potentiated paclitaxel-mediated Bcl-2 downregulation and paclitaxel-mediated caspase-3 and Bax upregulation in MG-63 cells. CONCLUSION Tumor-intrinsic HHLA2 knockdown increases the anti-tumoral effect of paclitaxel on MG-63 cells and enhances the chemosensitivity of MG-63 cells to paclitaxel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noora Karim Ahangar
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Mohammad Khalaj-Kondori
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran.
| | - Nazila Alizadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Ahad Mokhtarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Amir Baghbanzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | | | | | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
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21
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Configuring Therapeutic Aspects of Immune Checkpoints in Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020543. [PMID: 36672492 PMCID: PMC9856297 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoints are unique components of the body's defense mechanism that safeguard the body from immune responses that are potent enough to harm healthy body cells. When proteins present on the surface of T cells recognize and bind to the proteins present on other tumor cells, immune checkpoints are triggered. These proteins are called immunological checkpoints. The T cells receive an on/off signal when the checkpoints interact with companion proteins. This might avert the host's immune system from eliminating cancer cells. The standard care plan for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been revolutionized with the use of drugs targeting immune checkpoints, in particular programmed cell death protein 1. These drugs are now extended for their potential to manage SCLC. However, it is acknowledged that these drugs have specific immune related adverse effects. Herein, we discuss the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with NSCLC and SCLC, their outcomes, and future perspectives.
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22
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TIAM2 Contributes to Osimertinib Resistance, Cell Motility, and Tumor-Associated Macrophage M2-like Polarization in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810415. [PMID: 36142328 PMCID: PMC9499457 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Osimertinib-based therapy effectively improves the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutations. However, patients will have cancer progression after approximately one year due to the occurrence of drug resistance. Extensive evidence has revealed that lipid metabolism and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) are associated with drug resistance, which deserves further exploration. Methods: An osimertinib resistance index (ORi) was built to investigate the link between lipid metabolism and osimertinib resistance. The ORi was constructed and validated using TCGA and GEO data, and the relationship between ORi and immune infiltration was discussed. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis based on the M2/M1 macrophage ratio determined the hub gene TIAM2 and the biological function of TIAM2 in LUAD was verified in vitro. Results: ORi based on nine lipid metabolism-related genes was successfully constructed, which could accurately reflect the resistance of LUAD patients to osimertinib, predict the prognosis, and correlate with M2-like TAM. Additionally, TIAM2 was found to increase osimertinib tolerance, enhance cell motility, and promote M2-like TAM polarization in LUAD. Conclusions: The lipid metabolism gene is strongly connected with osimertinib resistance. TIAM2 contributes to osimertinib resistance, enhances cell motility, and induces M2-like TAM polarization in LUAD.
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23
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Liu L, Liang L, Mai G, Chen Y. A novel fatty acid metabolism-related gene signature predicts the prognosis, tumor immune properties, and immunotherapy response of colon adenocarcinoma patients. FASEB Bioadv 2022; 4:585-601. [PMID: 36089979 PMCID: PMC9447420 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2022-00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) has a high incidence and death rate. Despite the fact that change in fatty acid metabolism promotes tumor growth and metastasis to the greatest degree among metabolite profiles, a thorough investigation on the involvement of fatty acid metabolism-related genes (FAMRGs) in COAD has yet not been conducted. Here, the clinical data as well as the gene expression profiles were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Based on the FAMRG expression data and clinical information, a FAMRG risk signature was developed using LASSO as well as multivariate and univariate Cox regression analyses. Then, the nomogram was used to create a customized prognostic prediction model, and the calibration and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the nomogram's prediction performance and discriminative capability. Lastly, a number of studies were conducted to assess the influence of independent FAMRGs on COAD, including unsupervised cluster analysis, functional analysis, and drug sensitivity analysis. Three hundred and sixty-seven patients were included in this study, and a 12-FAMRG risk signature was discovered in the training cohort based on a detailed examination of the FAMRGs expression data and clinical information. After that, risk scores were computed to classify patients into low or high-risk groups, and the Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed that patients in the low-risk group exhibited an elevated overall survival (OS) rate. The FAMRG was shown to be substantially correlated with prognosis in multivariate Cox regression analysis and was validated using the validation dataset. Then, using the clinical variables and risk signature, we developed and validated a prediction nomogram for OS. Functional characterization showed a strong correlation between this signature and immune cell infiltration and immune modulation. Additionally, by evaluating the GDSC database, it was determined that the high-risk group exhibited medication resistance to many chemotherapeutic and targeted medicines, including VX.680, gemcitabine, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel. Overall, we have revealed the significance of a FAMRG risk signature for predicting the prognosis and response to immunotherapy in COAD, and our findings might contribute to an enhanced comprehension of metabolic pathways and the future development of innovative COAD therapeutic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Integrated Clinical Microecology Center, Shenzhen HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Liping Liang
- Department of Gastroenterology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Nanfang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Genghui Mai
- Department of Gastroenterology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Nanfang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ye Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Integrated Clinical Microecology Center, Shenzhen HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityShenzhenChina
- Department of Gastroenterology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Nanfang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
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24
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Li Y, Lv C, Yu Y, Wu B, Zhang Y, Lang Q, Liang Z, Zhong C, Shi Y, Han S, Xu F, Tian Y. KIR3DL3-HHLA2 and TMIGD2-HHLA2 pathways: The dual role of HHLA2 in immune responses and its potential therapeutic approach for cancer immunotherapy. J Adv Res 2022; 47:137-150. [PMID: 35933091 PMCID: PMC10173190 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2022.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cells and natural killer (NK) cells are essential components of the immune system and are regulated by coinhibitory and costimulatory molecules in which the B7 family and CD28 family play significant roles. Previous immune checkpoint studies on B7/CD28 family members, such as PD-1, have led to remarkable success in cancer immunotherapy. However, there is still a need to find new immune checkpoint molecules. Recent studies have demonstrated that HHLA2 exerts inhibitory and stimulatory functions on the immune system by binding to different receptors on different sites. However, the pathways between HHLA2 and its two receptors on T cells and NK cells remain controversial. AIM OF REVIEW Here, we reviewed recent studies about HHLA2 ligand interactions with KIR3DL3 and TMIGD2. We focused on elucidating the pathways between KIR3DL3/TMIGD2 and HHLA2 as well as their function in tumour progression. We also addressed the relationship between HHLA2 expression and the clinical prognosis of cancer patients. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW KIR3DL3/TMIGD2-HHLA2 may represent novel pathways within the tumour microenvironment and serve as crucial immune checkpoints for developing novel therapeutic drugs against human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Chao Lv
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Baokang Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yizhou Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Qi Lang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Zhiyun Liang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Chongli Zhong
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yu Shi
- The First Clinical College of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Shukun Han
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China.
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Human endogenous retrovirus-H long terminal repeat-associating 2: The next immune checkpoint for antitumour therapy. EBioMedicine 2022; 79:103987. [PMID: 35439678 PMCID: PMC9035628 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retrovirus-H long terminal repeat-associating 2 (HHLA2) is a newly emerging immune checkpoint that belongs to B7 family. HHLA2 has a co-stimulatory receptor transmembrane and immunoglobulin domain containing 2 (TMIGD2) and a newly discovered co-inhibitory receptor killer cell Ig-like receptor, three Ig domains, and long cytoplasmic tail (KIR3DL3), which endows it with both immunostimulant and immunosuppression functions in cancer development. In this review, we summarize the HHLA2 expression profile in human cancers, its association with cancer prognosis and clinical features, and its dual roles in regulating cancer immune response through up-to-date literatures. Furthermore, we highlight that precision cancer immunotherapy through manipulating HHLA2-KIR3DL3/TMIGD2 interaction is a promising antitumour strategy.
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Ding L, Yu Q, Yang S, Yang WJ, Liu T, Xian JR, Tian TT, Li T, Chen W, Wang BL, Pan BS, Zhou J, Fan J, Yang XR, Guo W. Comprehensive Analysis of HHLA2 as a Prognostic Biomarker and Its Association With Immune Infiltrates in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:831101. [PMID: 35371079 PMCID: PMC8968642 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.831101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Inhibitory immune checkpoint proteins promote tumor immune escape and are associated with inferior patient outcome. However, the biological functions and regulatory roles of one of its members, HHLA2, in the tumor immune microenvironment have not been explored. Methods RandomForest analyses (371 cases), qRT-PCR (15 cases), and immunohistochemical staining (189 cases) were used to validate the prognostic value of HHLA2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Bioinformatic analyses were further performed to explore the biological functions and potential signaling pathways affected by HHLA2. Moreover, ESTIMATE, single sample gene set enrichment analysis, CIBERSORT, TIMER, and other deconvolution methods were used to analyze the composition and infiltration level of immune cells. Multiplex immunofluorescence assays were employed to validate the fractions of suppressive immune cells, and HHLA2-related molecular alterations were investigated. Finally, the clinical response to chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade was predicted by TIDE, Submap, and several other in silico analyses. Results RandomForest analysis revealed that HHLA2 was the most important inhibitory immune checkpoint associated with HCC patient prognosis (relative importance = 1). Our HCC cohorts further revealed that high HHLA2 expression was an independent prognostic biomarker of shorter overall survival (P<0.01) and time to recurrence (P<0.001) for HCC patients. Bioinformatics experiments revealed that HHLA2 may accelerate the cell cycle of cancer cells. Additionally, we found that high expression of HHLA2 was associated with immune infiltrates, including some immunosuppressive cells, cytokines, chemokines, and corresponding receptors, resulting in an immunosuppressive environment. Notably, HHLA2 expression was positively correlated with the infiltration of exhausted CD8+ T cells, which was validated by immunofluorescence. Genomic alteration analyses revealed that promoter hypermethylation of HHLA2 may be associated with its low expression. More importantly, patients with high HHLA2 expression may be more sensitive to chemotherapy and have better responses to immunotherapy. Conclusions High expression of HHLA2 is an independent prognostic biomarker for HCC patients. It can activate the cell cycle and foster an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by enriching exhausted CD8+ T cells. Promoter hypermethylation might lead to low expression of HHLA2 in HCC. Thus, targeting HHLA2 may be a practical therapeutic strategy for HCC patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Ding
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wusong Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Jing Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Te Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Geriatric Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing-Rong Xian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tong-Tong Tian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bei-Li Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xiamen, China
| | - Bai-Shen Pan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Rong Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wusong Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xiamen, China.,Cancer Center, Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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27
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HHLA2 Used as a Potential Prognostic and Immunological Biomarker and Correlated with Tumor Microenvironment in Pan-Cancer. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:3924400. [PMID: 35252444 PMCID: PMC8890892 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3924400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background The role of HERV–H LTR-associating 2 (HHLA2) in cancer remains still unclear. This study analyzed the correlation between the prognosis and immune infiltrate function of HHLA2 in pan-cancers. Methods HHLA2 expression in pan-cancers was analyzed using the databases of TCGA, GTEx, TIMER, GEPIA, UALCAN, and GSEA databases. Multiple bioinformatic methods were used to investigate the correlation of HHLA2 expression with survival, pathological stage, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor microenvironment (TME), immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoint gene (ICG), and gene functional enrichment was performed by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA). Results HHLA2 was aberrantly expressed and was strongly correlated with positive or negative prognosis in multiple human cancers, which revealed that HHLA2 might play a vital role during cancer formation and development. Kaplan–Meier (KM) curves across cancers revealed that HHLA2 expression was correlated with overall survival (OS) in eight cancers, disease-specific survival (DSS) in seven cancers, disease-free interval (DFI) in four cancers, and progression-free interval (PFI) in nine cancers. Furthermore, HHLA2 expression was positively correlated with TMB in 6 cancer types and negatively associated with TMB in 7 cancer types, respectively. The former included ESCA, HNSC, KIRP, PAAD, PRAD, and PCPG; the latter contained COAD, LGG, LUAD, LUSC, THYM, THCA, and UCEC. Additionally, we found HHLA2 expression was negatively related to MSI in ACC, COAD, PAAD, and UCEC. More importantly, HHLA2 expression was remarkably correlated with the degree of tumor-infiltrating immune in many cancers, including B cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells and strongly associated with immune checkpoint genes in 13 tumor types. Furthermore, KEGG pathway analyses indicated that HHLA2 could potentially impact cancer etiology or pathogenesis by functioning in amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, cytosolic DNA sensing pathway, and peroxisome pathways. Meanwhile, GSVA analysis results all indicate that HHLA2 was correlated with TSC/mTOR, RTK, RAS/MAPK, PI3K/AKT, EMT, DNA Damage Response, Cell Cycle, and Apoptosis pathways in various cancers. Conclusion HHLA2 can function as a prognostic biomarker and correlate with tumor immunity in human pan-cancer due to its important role in tumorigenesis and immune infiltration, which provides new insight into developing new targeted treatments in cancers.
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Niu Y, Huang Y, Dong A, Sun Y. Human Endogenous Retrovirus-H Long Terminal Repeat-Associating Protein 2 Possesses Prognostic Significance and Promotes Progression of Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:1509-1516. [PMID: 35210824 PMCID: PMC8857980 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s338564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Patients and Methods Results Conclusion
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhi Niu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yichuan Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
| | - Anbing Dong
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yinghe Sun
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Yinghe Sun, Department of Thyroid Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16, Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, Shandong, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-532-82919570, Email
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Sun W, Li S, Tang G, Sun S, Luo Y, Bai R, Han L, Jiang X, Gao Y, Huang Z, Zhang J, Gong Y, Xie C. HHLA2 deficiency inhibits non-small cell lung cancer progression and THP-1 macrophage M2 polarization. Cancer Med 2021; 10:5256-5269. [PMID: 34152094 PMCID: PMC8335813 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human endogenous retrovirus-H long terminal repeat-associating protein 2 (HHLA2) is a member of B7 family, which is upregulated in multiple tumors. However, its exact functions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the biological roles of HHLA2 in human NSCLC and the relevant mechanisms. In addition, the effects of tumor cell-derived HHLA2 on tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) polarization were explored. METHODS NSCLC cell growth, migration, and invasion were assessed by colony formation and modified Boyden chamber assays. Cell cycle and the CD163+ TAMs were examined by flow cytometry. A co-culture model of THP-1 macrophages and NSCLC cells was conducted to investigate the impacts of tumor cell-derived HHLA2 on THP-1 macrophage polarization. Moreover, a xenograft nude mouse model was established to explore the effects of HHLA2 on tumorigenesis in vivo. RESULTS HHLA2 was upregulated in A549 and H1299 cells compared with the normal lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. HHLA2 deficiency inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and induced G0/G1 phase arrest partially via inhibiting EGFR/MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Furthermore, HHLA2 knockdown inhibited M2 polarization of TAMs via downregulating IL-10. In addition, knockdown of HHLA2 inhibited tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION HHLA2 downregulation inhibited NSCLC growth and TAM M2 polarization. HHLA2 may serve as a therapeutic target and promising prognostic biomarker in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Sun
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuying Li
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guiliang Tang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaoxing Sun
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Luo
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Rui Bai
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Linzhi Han
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xueping Jiang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanping Gao
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengrong Huang
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Tumor Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Technology and Translational Medicine, Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junhong Zhang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Gong
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Tumor Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Technology and Translational Medicine, Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Conghua Xie
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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