A new method for transduction of mesenchymal stem cells using mechanical agitation

The evaluation of Cannabidiol's effect on the immunotherapy of Burkitt lymphoma

AIM

AF1q has a precise oncogenic function. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether CBD has an effect on the AF1q/ICAM-1 regulatory axis in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), and thus has potential to enhance immunotherapy and reduce side effects.

METHODS

We established BL cell lines with altered AF1q expression using lentivirus. After confirmation of gene expression by RT-PCR, cells were treated with CBD followed by co-culture of killing assay.

RESULTS

AF1q increased oncogenic growth and colony formation, and induced resistance against cell-mediated cytotoxic chemotherapy through attenuation of ICAM-1 expression in BL. CBD was able to reverse the acquired resistance mediated by AF1q/ICAM-1 regulatory axis.

CONCLUSION

CBD holds potential to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy for BL with hyperactive AF1q/ICAM-1 regulatory axis, and warrants further study.

AF1q inhibited T cell attachment to breast cancer cell by attenuating Intracellular Adhesion Molecule-1 expression

Aim:

To investigate whether AF1q, overexpressed in metastatic cells compared with the primary tumor cells, plays a pivotal role in breast cancer metastasis.

Methods:

To investigate whether AF1q has a responsibility in the acquisition of a metastatic phenotype, we performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify the gene signature and applied the Metacore direct interactions network building algorithm with the top 40 amplicons of RNA-Seq.

Results:

Most genes were directly linked with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Likewise, we identified that ICAM-1 expression is attenuated in metastatic cells compared to primary tumor cells. Moreover, overexpression of AF1q attenuated ICAM-1 expression, whereas suppression of AF1q elicited the opposite effect. AF1q had an effect on ICAM-1 promoter region and regulated its transcription. Decreased ICAM-1 expression affected the attachment of T cells to a breast cancer cell monolayer. We confirmed the finding by performing the analysis on Burkitt’s lymphoma.

Conclusion:

Attenuation of ICAM-1 by AF1q on tumor cells disadvantages host anti-tumor defenses through the trafficking of lymphocytes, which affects tumor progression and metastasis.

MLLT11/AF1q boosts oncogenic STAT3 activity through Src-PDGFR tyrosine kinase signaling

Constitutive STAT3 activation by tyrosine phosphorylation of mutated or amplified tyrosine kinases (pYSTAT3) is critical for cancer initiation, progression, invasion, and motility of carcinoma cells. We showed that AF1q is associated with STAT3 signaling in breast cancer cells. In xenograft models, enhanced AF1q expression activated STAT3 and promoted tumor growth and metastasis in immunodeficient NSG mice. The cytokine secretory phenotype of MDA-MB-231LN breast cancer cells with altered AF1q expression revealed changes in expression of platelet-derived growth factor subunit B (PDGF-B). AF1q-induced PDGF-B stimulated motility, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231LN cells, and AF1q up-regulated platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling. Further, AF1q-induced PDGFR signaling enhanced STAT3 activity through Src kinase activation, which could be blocked by the Src kinase inhibitor PP1. Moreover, AF1q up-regulated tyrosine kinase signaling through PDGFR signaling, which was blockable by imatinib. In conclusion, we demonstrated that enhanced AF1q expression contributes to persistent and oncogenic pYSTAT3 levels in invasive carcinoma cells by activating Src kinase through activation of the PDGF-B/PDGFR cascade. Therefore, AF1q plays an essential role as a cofactor in PDGF-B-driven STAT3 signaling.