Interleukin-17 expression in the serum and exfoliated cervical cells of patients infected with high-risk oncogenic human papillomavirus

Linking tumor immune infiltrate and systemic immune mediators to treatment response and prognosis in advanced cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) poses a significant burden on individuals in developing regions, exhibiting heterogeneous responses to standard chemoradiation therapy, and contributing to substantial mortality rates. Unraveling host immune dynamics holds promise for innovative therapies and discovery of clinically relevant biomarkers. We studied prospectively locally advanced CC patients pre-treatment, stratifying them as responders (R) or non-responders (NR). R patients had increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), while NR patients showed elevated PD-1 scores, CD8+ and PD-L2+ TILs, and PD-L1 immune reactivity. NR patients exhibited higher systemic soluble mediators correlating with TIL immune markers. R patients demonstrated functional polarization of CD4 T cells (Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg), while CD8+ T cells and CD68+ macrophages predominated in the NR group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified potential CC response predictors, including PD-L1-immunoreactive (IR) area, PD-L2, CD8, FGF-basic, IL-7, IL-8, IL-12p40, IL-15, and TNF-alpha. Dysfunctional TILs and imbalanced immune mediators contribute to therapeutic insufficiency, shedding light on local and systemic immune interplay. Our study informs immunological signatures for treatment prediction and CC prognosis.

Cytokine profiling of samples positive for Chlamydia trachomatis and Human papillomavirus

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is closely associated with cervical carcinoma. Co-infection in the endocervical environment with other microorganisms, such as Chlamydia trachomatis, may increase the risk of HPV infection and neoplastic progression. While in some individuals, Chlamydia trachomatis infection is resolved with the activation of Th1/IFN-γ-mediated immune response, others develop a chronic infection marked by Th2-mediated immune response, resulting in intracellular persistence of the bacterium and increasing the risk of HPV infection. This work aimed to quantify cytokines of the Th1/Th2/Th17 profile in exfoliated cervix cells (ECC) and peripheral blood (PB) of patients positive for Chlamydia trachomatis DNA, patients positive for Papillomavirus DNA, and healthy patients. Cytokine levels were quantified by flow cytometry in ECC and PB samples from patients positive for C. trachomatis DNA (n = 18), patients positive for HPV DNA (n = 30), and healthy patients (n = 17) treated at the Hospital de Amor, Campo Grande-MS. After analysis, a higher concentration of IL-17, IL-6, and IL-4 (p <0.05) in ECC; INF-γ and IL-10 (p <0.05) in PB was found in samples from patients positive for C. trachomatis DNA compared to samples from healthy patients. When comparing samples from patients positive for HPV DNA, there was a higher concentration of cytokines IL-17, IL-10, IL-6, and IL-4 (p <0.05) in ECC and IL-4 and IL-2 (p <0.05) in PB of patients positive for C. trachomatis DNA. These results suggest that induction of Th2- and Th17 mediated immune response occurs in patients positive for C. trachomatis DNA, indicating chronic infection. Our results also demonstrate a high concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines in ECC of patients positive for C. trachomatis DNA.

Molecular Differences between Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma Cervical Cancer Subtypes: Potential Prognostic Biomarkers

The most frequently diagnosed histological types of cervical cancer (CC) are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (ADC). Clinically, the prognosis of both types is controversial. A molecular profile that distinguishes each histological subtype and predicts the prognosis would be of great benefit to CC patients. Methods: The transcriptome of CC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was analyzed using the DESeq2 package to obtain the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between ADC and SCC. The DEGs were validated on a publicly available Mexican-Mestizo patient transcriptome dataset (GSE56303). The global biological pathways involving the DEGs were obtained using the Webgestalt platform. The associations of the DEGs with Overall Survival (OS) were assessed. Finally, three DEGs were validated by RT-qPCR in an independent cohort of Mexican patients. Results. The molecular profiles of ADC and SCC of the CC patients of the TCGA database and the Mexican-Mestizo cohort (GSE56303) were determined obtaining 1768 and 88 DEGs, respectively. Strikingly, 70 genes were concordant—with similar Log2FoldChange values—in both cohorts. The 70 DEGs were involved in IL-17, JAK/STAT, and Ras signaling. Kaplan-Meier OS analysis from the Mexican-Mestizo cohort showed that higher GABRB2 and TSPAN8 and lower TMEM40 expression were associated with better OS. Similar results were found in an independent Mexican cohort. Conclusions: Molecular differences were detected between the ADC and SCC subtypes; however, further studies are required to define the appropriate prognostic biomarker for each histological type.

The dual role of interleukin-17 in the growth of human papillomavirus-negative cervical cancer cells

To explore the relationship between IL-17 mediated immune response and HPV-negative cervical cancer, we established the co-culture system of cervical cancer C-33A cells and PBMC, and treated with different concentrations of rhIL-17. PBMC were extracted from 10ml anticoagulant blood provided by healthy female volunteers and colleagues in our hospital, which were co-cultured with cervical cancer C-33A cells. After treatment with different concentrations of rhIL-17, the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion behavior and VEGF expression level of cancer cells in each group, were determined by CCK-8, flow cytometry, transwell invasion assay and ELISA, respectively. The proliferation rate of C-33A cells slightly increased with the ascending of IL-17 concentration, but no statistical significance was found among each group ( P > 0.05). When at low concentration of IL-17, the cell apoptosis rate seems to slightly decline. With the increase of concentration, the decrease of apoptosis rate became more obvious ( P < 0.05). However, differing from those shown above, we found that IL-17 slightly inhibited the cancer cell invasion at high concentration, while it was more obvious at low concentration ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, we found that there was no significant correlation between IL-17 and VEGF ( P > 0.05). In summary, there is a close correlation between IL-17 mediated immune response and HPV-negative cervical cancer. Also, we think that IL-17 may play a dual role in tumor progression and could be a possible significant influence on tumor proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis, which provides a basic theoretical basis for the further study of immunotherapy measures for cervical cancer.

Correlation of serum interleukin 17 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels with clinical response to intralesional Candida antigen and their potential use as predictors of clinical outcome in patients with multiple common warts

BACKGROUND

Candida antigen injection is one of the most widely used intralesional immunotherapy in the treatment of warts. It acts through the induction of systemic immune response. The pattern of cytokines production may play an integral role in its mechanism of action.

AIM

To investigate the possible relation between serum levels of IL17 and MIF, and the clinical response to intralesional Candida antigen in multiple common warts.

METHODS

A total of 90 patients with multiple common warts were divided into 2 groups. Sixty patients received intralesional Candida antigen injection into the largest wart, controlled against thirty patients who had intralesional saline, as placebo. The injection was done at a 2-week interval for 5 doses. Blood samples were obtained from both groups, and serum levels of IL17A and MIF were estimated at baseline and 2 weeks after the last session using ELISA kits.

RESULTS

Complete clearance of warts was statistically higher in the Candida antigen group (40% of the patients) compared to the saline group (p < 0.05). The serum levels of IL17 had significantly declined from baseline, while the level of MIF had risen after intralesional Candida antigen injection, but not in the saline group. At a cutoff level of 316 pg/ml, IL17 had a sensitivity of 83.3% to predict therapeutic response.

CONCLUSION

IL17A and MIF may have possible roles in the mechanism of action of Candida antigen in the treatment of common warts. At a certain level, serum IL17A may be a potential predictor of response to treatment.

Interleukin-17-A multifaceted cytokine in viral infections

Viral infections are a major threat to the human population due to the lack of selective therapeutic measures. The morbidity and mortality reported worldwide are very alarming against viral pathogens. The proinflammatory environment is required for viral inhibition by initiating the host immune response. The host immune response fights these pathogens by secreting different cytokines. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) a proinflammatory cytokine mainly produced by T helper type 17 cells, plays a vital role in the regulation of host immune response against various pathogens, including viruses. However, dysregulated production of IL-17 induces chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and may lead to cancer. Recent studies suggest that IL-17 is not only involved in the antiviral immune response but also promotes virus-mediated illnesses. In this review, we discuss the protective and pathogenic role of IL-17 against various viral infections. A detailed understanding of IL-17 during viral infections could contribute to improve therapeutic measures and enable the development of an efficient and safe IL-17 based immunotherapy.

IL-6 and IL-10 in the serum and exfoliated cervical cells of patients infected with high-risk human papillomavirus

Persistent infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. While some cytokines help immune cells in virus clearance, others contribute to the persistence of infection and neoplastic progression. Here, the levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2 were quantified in the serum and exfoliated cervical cells (ECCs) of patients with HR-HPV, and the presence of IL-6⁺ cells was investigated in uterine cervix biopsies. Cytokine levels in the serum and ECCs of 26 HR-HPV DNA-positive patients and 18 HPV DNA-negative patients were measured using flow cytometry. Fifteen uterine cervix biopsy samples embedded in paraffin were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for the detection of IL-6⁺ cells. HR-HPV-positive patients showed increased IL-6 and IL-10 in the ECCs and serum, respectively. Compared with HPV DNA-positive patients, HPV DNA-negative patients had higher levels of IL-6 in ECCs. Patients with multiple infections of HPV had higher levels of IL-6 in their ECCs than those with a single infection. Immunostaining of uterine cervix biopsy samples revealed no differences in IL-6 expression between the different classes of histopathological lesions. However, differences were observed in the expression levels of IL-6 and IL-10 at the systemic and local levels in HR-HPV-positive patients without cervical lesions. Considering the functional characteristics of these cytokines, it can be inferred that such patients are prone to persistent HPV infection.

IP-10 and CXCR3 signaling inhibit Zika virus replication in human prostate cells

Our previous studies have shown that Zika virus (ZIKV) replicates in human prostate cells, suggesting that the prostate may serve as a long-term reservoir for virus transmission. Here, we demonstrated that the innate immune responses generated to three distinct ZIKV strains (all isolated from human serum) were significantly different and dependent on their passage history (in mosquito, monkey, or human cells). In addition, some of these phenotypic differences were reduced by a single additional cell culture passage, suggesting that viruses that have been passaged more than 3 times from the patient sample will no longer reflect natural phenotypes. Two of the ZIKV strains analyzed induced high levels of the IP-10 chemokine and IFNγ in human prostate epithelial and stromal mesenchymal stem cells. To further understand the importance of these innate responses on ZIKV replication, we measured the effects of IP-10 and its downstream receptor, CXCR3, on RNA and virus production in prostate cells. Treatment with IP-10, CXCR3 agonist, or CXCR3 antagonist significantly altered ZIKV viral gene expression, depending on their passage in cells of relevant hosts (mosquito or human). We detected differences in gene expression of two primary CXCR3 isoforms (CXCR3-A and CXCR3-B) on the two cell types, possibly explaining differences in viral output. Lastly, we examined the effects of IP-10, agonist, or antagonist on cell death and proliferation under physiologically relevant infection rates, and detected no significant differences. Although we did not measure protein expression directly, our results indicate that CXCR3 signaling may be a target for therapeutics, to ultimately stop sexual transmission of this virus.

Association of Polymorphisms in Cytokine genes with susceptibility to Precancerous Lesions and Cervical Cancer: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cytokine genes and the susceptibility to Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (SIL), cervical cancer and HPV infection through a systematic review with meta-analysis. To verify the effect of SNPs, we also analyzed the transcription factor binding affinity using bioinformatics tools.Methods: Seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scielo, BIREME, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct) were searched for case-control studies.Results: A total of 35 relevant case-control studies were meta-analyzed, including 7 cytokine genes and 15 SNPs. SNPs in IL-17A (rs2275913, rs3748067); IL-17 F (rs763780); IL-12A (rs568408); IL-12B (rs3212227); TNFA (rs1800629, rs361525); IL-1B (rs16944); IL-6 (rs1800795); IL-10 (rs1800896) genes were associated with increased risk for cervical cancer. No association was observed between meta-analyzed polymorphisms and SIL. Additional bioinformatics analysis suggested a possible transcriptional regulation pathway of the TNFA and IL-10 genes through the MZF1 (TNFA -308 G > A and IL-10 - 1082A>G) and ZNF263 (TNFA -238 G > A) transcription factors binding.Conclusion: Overall, 10 SNPs in cytokine genes were associated with increased risk for cervical cancer. Therefore, in our meta-analysis, these SNPs demonstrated to be potential biomarkers for predicting or identifying cases of high risk for SIL and cervical cancer.