Thymosin-dependent T-lymphocyte response in inflammatory bowel disease

Pancancer landscape analysis of the thymosin family identified TMSB10 as a potential prognostic biomarker and immunotherapy target in glioma

Background

Thymosin family genes (TMSs), biologically important peptides with diverse intracellular and extracellular functions, have been shown to promote the progression of multiple cancers. However, multiomics characterization of TMSs and their role in human cancer prognosis has not been systematically performed.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive analysis of TMSs and thymosin β10 (TMSB10) using multiomics data from more than 10,000 tumor samples of 33 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We used single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and the gene set variation analysis (GSVA) algorithm to investigate the differences in tumor microenvironment (TME) cell infiltration and functional annotation for individual tumor samples, respectively. The role of TMSB10 in the malignant progression of glioma, the promotion of macrophage infiltration,and immunosuppressive polarization, and the combination drug efficacy were assessed via biological function assays.

Results

We comprehensively assessed genomic mutations, expression dysregulation, prognosis and immunotherapeutic response across 33 human cancer samples and showed that TMSB10 is specifically overexpressed in almost all types of cancer tissues. Further pan-cancer analysis showed that TMSB10 is closely related to the biological function, immune regulation and prognosis of glioma. Similar results were also found in several public glioma cohorts and our Qilu local cohort. Further integration with other biological experiments revealed the key roles of TMSB10 in the malignant progression of glioma, the promotion of macrophage infiltration and immunosuppressive polarization. We also identified multiple drugs targeting cells with high TMSB10 expression and validated that knockdown of TMSB10 improved the efficacy of selumetinib (a MEK1/2 inhibitor approved by the FDA for the treatment of neurofibromatosis-associated tumors) and anti-PD1 treatment in glioma.

Conclusion

These results indicate that TMSB10 holds promise as a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target, providing a theoretical basis for the development of more effective and targeted clinical treatment strategies for glioma patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02698-5.

Defective in vitro gamma interferon production and elevated serum immunoreactive thymosin beta 4 levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) was measured in 21 patients with Crohn's disease, in 15 patients with ulcerative colitis, in 12 patients with non-IBD gastrointestinal disease (disease control), and in 28 healthy controls. T-cell subset proportions and serum levels of thymosin alpha 1 and thymosin beta 4, two hormonelike thymic peptides, were also determined. No differences were seen in T-cell subset proportions in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis when compared to healthy controls or to the disease-control group. In vitro IFN-gamma production was markedly decreased in Crohn's disease and in untreated, but not treated, patients with ulcerative colitis. Preincubation of PBM prior to the addition of inducer mitogen resulted in enhanced IFN-gamma production in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis which significantly exceeded that seen either in healthy controls or in the disease-control group. Serum thymosin alpha 1 levels were comparable in all study groups; however, serum thymosin beta 4 concentrations were significantly higher in all patient groups than in the healthy controls. These results confirm a defective in vitro IFN-gamma production in patients with IBD which is apparently independent of endocrine thymus regulation.

Thymic peptide hormones: basic properties and clinical applications in cancer

The manuscript will provide an in-depth and critical review of the nomenclature, biochemistry, biological properties, and a summary of published and on-going clinical trials with all reported thymic preparations, including both partially purified thymic factors (e.g., thymosin fraction 5, thymostimulin) as well as purified and synthesized thymic peptides (e.g., thymosin alpha 1, thymulin). Particular emphasis will be placed on which thymic peptides should be categorized as true hormones. In addition, the comparative biochemistry and biological activity in animals will be summarized and contrasted for all the currently available thymic factors. The effects, in vitro of thymic factors, on peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from normal donors and patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders, autoimmune disorders, and neoplastic disorders will also be reviewed. Finally, a detailed critical summary of the clinical trials performed with each of the thymic preparations will be presented with an emphasis on treatment of patients with cancer.

Influence of nutritional status on immune functions in patients with Crohn's disease

Nutritional status and immune function were correlated with clinical features in 56 patients with Crohn's disease. These were divided arbitrarily into either undernourished or well nourished groups according to whether their midarm circumference was below or above 90% of ideal standard. Results were also compared with 33 patients with ulcerative colitis and 28 normal subjects. Undernourished patients with Crohn's disease had significantly reduced total lymphocyte and T lymphocyte counts and a reduced proportion of monocytes that ingested latex particles. Well nourished patients with Crohn's disease were similar to the two control groups. Twenty one undernourished patients with Crohn's disease were also followed during the course of two to four months' nutritional treatment with an enteral supplement. Nutritional therapy was associated with significant anthropometric gains as well as significant rises in total lymphocyte and T lymphocyte counts. Serum orosomucoids were significantly higher in undernourished patients and decreased significantly during nutritional therapy. The results show that undernutrition and disease acuity may be associated with reduced immunological competence in patients with Crohn's disease, but all these measurements can be improved by short term nutritional treatment.

T lymphocyte subsets in inflammatory bowel disease: peripheral blood

Peripheral blood T lymphocytes and T lymphocyte subsets have been quantified in 28 patients with ulcerative colitis and 26 with Crohn's disease by an indirect immunofluorescence technique using monoclonal antibodies: OKT3, which detects all peripheral blood T lymphocytes; OKT4 (T cells of helper phenotype); and OKT8 (T cells of supressor-cytotoxic phenotype). Eighteen normal subjects and 16 patients with a variety of non-inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders were studied as controls. No significant differences were found between patient and control groups in the proportions of circulating T lymphocytes or their subsets. When compared with normal subjects, absolute numbers of T lymphocytes were reduced in patients with active ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease (p less than 0.05). OKT4+ T cell numbers were reduced in ulcerative colitis, whether active (p less than 0.02) or inactive (p less than 0.05) and in active Crohn's disease (p less than 0.05) Numbers of OKT8+ T cells were reduced in active Crohn's disease (p less than 0.01). There were no differences in T lymphocyte numbers between the patient groups and the disease control subjects. The OKT4+:OKT8+ ratio in patients with inflammatory bowel disease did not differ from that in controls. No relation was found between any of the parameters studied and disease activity, site, or extent of disease, or treatment with sulphasalazine or corticosteroids. The presence of Ia-like, HLA-DR antigens on T cells was detected using a double marker immunofluorescence technique. In control subjects up to 7% of OKT3+ cells were HLA-DR+. In only three patients was the proportion of HLA-DR+ cells greater than in controls. These results indicate that the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease does not depend upon an alteration in the proportion of circulating T lymphocytes nor upon an imbalance of T lymphocyte subsets as defined by monoclonal antibodies. The reduction in T lymphocyte numbers may result from mucosal infiltration. The findings also suggest that circulating T lymphocytes are not activated.

Studies on isolated gut mucosal lymphocytes in inflammatory bowel disease. Detection of activated T cells and enhanced proliferation to Staphylococcus aureus and lipopolysaccharides

To determine whether a defective proliferation of gut mucosal lymphocytes is a contributory factor to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, we assessed their reactivity toward mitogens and bacterial antigens. Spontaneous replication of intestinal lymphoid cells was higher than that of patient-matched peripheral blood lymphocytes. That gut mucosal lymphocytes appear to be activated in loco was confirmed by a striking, time-dependent increase in the number of stable E rosettes generated by culturing unstimulated Crohn's disease intestinal lymphoid cells. The responses of lymphocytes from inflamed and normal mucosa to polyclonal mitogens were not only comparable to each other, but to those of corresponding peripheral lymphocytes, as well. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with Crohn's disease showed less proliferation to Bacteroides and lipopolysaccharide antigens than did those from control individuals, but replicated similarly in response to Staphylococcus aureus and the enterobacterial common antigen: In contrast, when cultured with Staphylococcus aureus or with lipopolysaccharides, but mucosal lymphocytes from Crohn's disease proliferated 3-5 times more than did those from normal mucosa, while lymphoid cells from both sources were equally stimulated by Kunin antigen. Overall, this study found no evidence for a defective proliferative capacity of immune competent cells at the gut mucosal level in inflammatory bowel disease.

T-lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood of patients with Crohn's disease

Samples of peripheral blood from 26 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 26 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were tested simultaneously for B and T lymphocytes and T-lymphocyte subpopulations with receptors for IgM (TM) and IgG (TG). Patients with CD had reduced proportions of T lymphocytes, and this reduction showed a significant correlation to the CD activity index (r = -0.65, p less than 0.01). There was slight reduction of TM only (p less than 0.05) inpatients with highly active disease but not in the total population of patients studied. Proportions of B and TG cells were similar in patients and controls. Patients with no clinical or radiological but histological signs of active disease had T lymphocytes and subpopulations like patients with inactive disease. This suggests that the reduction of T cells and T-cell subpopulations in CD are secondary effects. With regard to T-lymphocyte subpopulations, our results are in contrast to a recently published report and do not suggest that analysis of T cells according to the expression of Fc receptors helps in the understanding of functional changes in the T-cell system in patients with CD.