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Zhi R, Hao P, Li W, Zhao H. Expression of CKS2 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Correlation with Survival Outcomes and Immune Microenvironment. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:1767-1784. [PMID: 37841370 PMCID: PMC10572409 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s427624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Cyclin-dependent kinase regulatory subunit 2 (CKS2) has an important function in regulating cancer progression and cell cycle. This research aims to ascertain how CKS2 plays its part through multi-omics analyses, to reveal its relationship with the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Material and Methods Multiple databases were used to determine the transcriptional data of CKS2, epigenetic changes, and effects thereof upon the prognosis of HCC patients. The biological functions of CKS2 in HCC were expounded by functional enrichment analysis. TIMER, GSEA, TIP, and online single-cell sequencing databases were adopted for revealing correlations of CKS2 expression with infiltration of immune cells, immunomodulators, immunity cycle, and immune markers in the immune microenvironment of HCC. In addition, qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to validate gene expression in tissues from HCC patients. Results Open database analysis confirmed that CKS2 is highly expressed in HCC and that it is related to poor prognosis in HCC patients. Aberrant methylation levels of the two methylation sites of CKS2 in HCC contributed to its high expression and were correlated significantly with survival. The CKS2 expression was positively correlated with most immunomodulators and infiltration levels for B and CD8+T cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, especially exhausted CD8+T cells. Besides, the CKS2 expression was also found to have significant correlations with immunity cycle steps and diverse immune markers in HCC. The high CKS2 expression was confirmed in HCC at both mRNA and protein levels, showing a significant increase compared to normal tissue. Conclusion CKS2 is a potential prognostic biomarker of HCC and can promote the progression of HCC via its influences on the immune environment. Additionally, a positive correlation between CKS2 and immune markers was observed, highlighting its potential as an immunotherapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renhou Zhi
- Department of General Surgery, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pengfei Hao
- Department of General Surgery, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weibin Li
- Department of General Surgery, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haoliang Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, People’s Republic of China
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Xu Y, Guo Y, Lu C, Yu L, Fang C, Li C. Polygonatum sibiricum Polysaccharide Inhibited Liver Cancer in a Simulated Tumor Microenvironment by Eliminating TLR4/STAT3 Pathway. Biol Pharm Bull 2023; 46:1249-1259. [PMID: 37661404 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b23-00198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors and one of the most common malignant tumors which seriously threatens human health. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was reported to resist the proliferation and metastasis of liver cancer cells. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential anti-cancer effect of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide (PSP) on the tumor immune microenvironment in liver cancer cells. HepG2 and Hep3B cells were pretreated in the absence or the presence of PSP (20, 50, 100 µg/mL) for a period of 24 h. Subsequently, dendritic cells (DCs) were co-cultured with HepG2 and Hep3B cell supernatant to investigate the effect of PSP on the tumor microenvironment. The results showed that PSP dose-dependently inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HepG2 and Hep3B cells. Meanwhile, PSP dose-dependently inhibited migration, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of liver cancer cells. In addition, PSP dose-dependently induced inflammatory response of DCs, characterized by increases of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in DCs. Mechanically, PSP dose-dependently reduced the activation of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and noncanonical nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways. TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reversed the anti-oncogenic effects of PSP in liver cancer cells. Taken together, PSP inhibited liver cancer in a simulated tumor microenvironment by eliminating TLR4/STAT3 pathway. PSP promises an important and useful alternative to liver cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunke Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University
| | - Yong Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University
| | - Changyou Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University
| | - Linlin Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University
| | - Chao Fang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University
| | - Chuntao Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University
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Niu ZS, Wang WH, Niu XJ. Recent progress in molecular mechanisms of postoperative recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:6433-6477. [PMID: 36569275 PMCID: PMC9782839 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i46.6433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatectomy is currently considered the most effective option for treating patients with early and intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, the postoperative prognosis of patients with HCC remains unsatisfactory, predominantly because of high postoperative metastasis and recurrence rates. Therefore, research on the molecular mechanisms of postoperative HCC metastasis and recurrence will help develop effective intervention measures to prevent or delay HCC metastasis and recurrence and to improve the long-term survival of HCC patients. Herein, we review the latest research progress on the molecular mechanisms underlying postoperative HCC metastasis and recurrence to lay a foundation for improving the understanding of HCC metastasis and recurrence and for developing more precise prevention and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Shan Niu
- Laboratory of Micromorphology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wen-Hong Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Niu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Qingdao Shibei District People's Hospital, Qingdao 266033, Shandong Province, China
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Ruff SM, Shannon AH, Beane JD, Pawlik TM. Highlighting novel targets in immunotherapy for liver cancer. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 16:1029-1041. [PMID: 36404729 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2022.2150841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alterations to the hepatic immune microenvironment can play a key role in the development and progression of cancer. This is especially true in the liver due to its evolutionarily conserved immunotolerant state. The presence of chronic inflammation can facilitate the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by disrupting the hepatic immune microenvironment. Recently, the addition of the immunotherapy atezolizumab (PD-L1 inhibitor) with bevacizumab (VEGF inhibitor) became the recommended first-line systemic treatment for advanced HCC. AREAS COVERED Given recent updates to the guidelines and emerging data on immunotherapy, we herein provide an overview of currently available and novel immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of HCC, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, and vaccine development. This review performed an extensive literature search to investigate benchwork, clinical research, and clinical trials that evaluate current immunotherapy and establish new targets. Literature was focused on the most up-to-date research and included ongoing clinical trials to better evaluate the obstacles and future direction of the field. EXPERT OPINION Given the heterogeneity of HCC tumors, improvement in outcomes will likely come from targeting multiple immune mechanisms. Continued research and clinical trials of combination immunotherapies are necessary to move the field forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Ruff
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Alexander H Shannon
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Joal D Beane
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Enhanced Inhibitory Effect of DC-CIK Cells on Lung Adenocarcinoma via Anti-Tim-3 Antibody and Antiprogrammed Cell Death-1 Antibody and Possible Mechanism. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:4097576. [PMID: 35958924 PMCID: PMC9357700 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4097576] [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: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of blocking the signaling pathways of the T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (Tim-3) and programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) in dendritic cell-cytokine induced killer (DC-CIK) cells on human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and induced into mature DC-CIK cells by cytokines in vitro. After blocking the Tim-3 and PD-1 signaling transduction pathways with anti-Tim-3 and anti-PD-1 antibodies, DC-CIK cells were coincubated with A549 cells. The killing effect of DC-CIK cells against A549 cells was measured by a CCK-8 assay. The impact of DC-CIK cells on the invasion and migration ability of A549 cells was detected by the Transwell test. The apoptosis rate of DC-CIK cells and the ratio of CD4+, CD8+, and DC-CIK cell subsets were determined by flow cytometry. The cell proliferation of DC-CIK was detected by the CCK-8 assay. Results The antibodies of anti-Tim-3 antibody and anti-PD-1 could block Tim-3+ and PD-1+ DC-CIK cells and could significantly increase the killing effect of DC-CIK cells on A549 cells. The number of A549 cells under the microporous membrane of the Transwell chamber was reduced considerably in invasion and migration tests. Anti-Tim-3 and anti-PD-1 antibodies significantly reduced apoptosis of DC-CIK cells. No significant differences were observed in the ratios of CD4+ and CD8+ DC-CIK cell subsets or the proliferation capacity of DC-CIK cells in each group. Conclusion Blocking the Tim-3 and PD-1 signaling pathways of DC-CIK cells with antibodies can enhance the killing ability of DC-CIK cells in A549 cells and significantly suppress the invasion and migration ability of A549 cells. The potential mechanism may be related to reduced apoptosis of DC-CIK cells.
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Jia W, Zhang T, Yao Q, Li J, Nie Y, Lei X, Mao Z, Wang Y, Shi W, Song W. Tertiary Lymphatic Structures in Primary Hepatic Carcinoma: Controversy Cannot Overshadow Hope. Front Immunol 2022; 13:870458. [PMID: 35844587 PMCID: PMC9278517 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.870458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are organized aggregates of immune cells found in the tumor microenvironment. TLS can influence primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) occurrence and have an active role in cancer. TLS can promote or inhibit the growth of PHC depending on their location, and although available findings are controversial, they suggest that TLS have a protective role in PHC tissues and a non-protective role in paracancerous tissues. In addition, the cellular composition of TLS can also influence the outcome of PHC. As an immunity marker, TLS can act as a marker of immunotherapy to predict its effect and help to identify patients who will respond well to immunotherapy. Modulation of TLS formation through the use of chemokines/cytokines, immunotherapy, or induction of high endothelial vein to interfere with tumor growth has been studied extensively in PHC and other cancers. In addition, new tools such as genetic interventions, cellular crosstalk, preoperative radiotherapy, and advances in materials science have been shown to influence the prognosis of malignant tumors by modulating TLS production. These can also be used to develop PHC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Jia
- Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Tianchen Zhang
- Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Qianyun Yao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jianhui Li
- Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Ye Nie
- Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xinjun Lei
- Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zhenzhen Mao
- Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yanfang Wang
- Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Wen Shi
- Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Wenjie Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Wenjie Song,
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Li Y, Song Z, Han Q, Zhao H, Pan Z, Lei Z, Zhang J. Targeted inhibition of STAT3 induces immunogenic cell death of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via glycolysis. Mol Oncol 2022; 16:2861-2880. [PMID: 35665592 PMCID: PMC9348600 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is present in an overactive state that is closely related to tumour development and immune escape. STAT3 inhibition reshapes the tumour immune microenvironment, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully clarified. We found that STAT3 inhibition could induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) of HCC cells via translocation of the “eat me” molecule calreticulin to the cell surface and a significant reduction in the expression of the “don’t eat me” molecule leucocyte surface antigen CD47. STAT3 inhibition promoted dendritic cell (DC) activation and enhanced the recognition and phagocytosis of HCC cells by macrophages. Furthermore, STAT3 inhibition prevented the expression of key glycolytic enzymes, facilitating the induction of ICD in HCC. Interestingly, STAT3 directly regulated the transcription of CD47 and solute carrier family 2 member 1 (SLC2A1; also known as GLUT1). In subcutaneous and orthotopic transplantation mouse tumour models, the STAT3 inhibitor napabucasin prevented tumour growth and induced the expression of calreticulin and the protein disulfide isomerase family A member 3 (PDIA3; also known as ERp57) but suppressed that of CD47 and GLUT1. Meanwhile, the amount of tumour‐infiltrated DCs and macrophages increased, along with the expression of costimulatory molecules. More CD4+ and CD8+ T cells accumulated in tumour tissues, and CD8+ T cells had lower expression of checkpoint molecules such as lymphocyte activation gene 3 protein (LAG‐3) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1). Significantly, the antitumour immune memory response was induced by treatment targeting STAT3. These findings provide a new mechanism for targeting STAT3‐induced ICD in HCC, and confirms STAT3 as a potential target for the treatment of HCC via reshaping the tumour immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Li
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhenwei Song
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Qiuju Han
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Huajun Zhao
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhaoyi Pan
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhengyang Lei
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Liu J, Wang Y, Qiu Z, Lv G, Huang X, Lin H, Lin Z, Qu P. Impact of TCM on Tumor-Infiltrating Myeloid Precursors in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:635122. [PMID: 33748122 PMCID: PMC7969811 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.635122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of tumor cells, blood/lymphatic vessels, the tumor stroma, and tumor-infiltrating myeloid precursors (TIMPs) as a sophisticated pathological system to provide the survival environment for tumor cells and facilitate tumor metastasis. In TME, TIMPs, mainly including tumor-associated macrophage (TAM), tumor-associated dendritic cells (DCs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), play important roles in repressing the antitumor activity of T cell or other immune cells. Therefore, targeting those cells would be one novel efficient method to retard cancer progression. Numerous studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has made extensive research in tumor immunotherapy. In the review, we demonstrate that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and its components induce tumor cell apoptosis, directly inhibiting tumor growth and invasion. Further, we discuss that TCM regulates TME to promote effective antitumor immune response, downregulates the numbers and function of TAMs/MDSCs, and enhances the antigen presentation ability of mature DCs. We also review the therapeutic effects of TCM herbs and their ingredients on TIMPs in TME and systemically analyze the regulatory mechanisms of TCM on those cells to have a deeper understanding of TCM in tumor immunotherapy. Those investigations on TCM may provide novel ideas for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlong Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Yuchen Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Zhidong Qiu
- Department of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Guangfu Lv
- Department of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaowei Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - He Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Zhe Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Peng Qu
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, United States
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SSRP1 Is a Prognostic Biomarker Correlated with CD8 + T Cell Infiltration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:9409836. [PMID: 33688504 PMCID: PMC7925027 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9409836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common primary malignancies, is theoretically an epitope candidate for immune checkpoint inhibitors, and therefore, the identification of HCC biomarkers is important. Structure-specific recognition protein 1 (SSRP1) is involved in almost all chromatin-related processes, including DNA replication, repair, and transcription. However, its role in HCC remains to be elucidated. Methods This study investigated the expression of SSRP1 in HCCDB, Oncomine, HPA, and other databases. The prognostic value of SSRP1 in HCC and its relationship with clinical characteristics were then explored using Kaplan-Meier plotter. At the same time, SSRP1 coexpression genes were explored and functionally annotated in the LinkedOmics database. Finally, the correlation between the SSRP1 expression and HCC immune cell infiltration was explored in TIMER and online single-cell sequencing database. Results Significantly elevated transcriptional and proteomic SSRP1 expressions were found in HCC. Increased SSRP1 mRNA expression was significantly correlated with relevant clinicopathological parameters such as immune cells. Notably, the SSRP1 expression was positively correlated with the infiltration levels of Treg and CD8+ T cells, especially exhausted CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, the SSRP1 expression was higher in both tumor Treg and exhausted CD8+ T cells than in adjacent tissues. Conclusion SSRP1, as a new prognostic marker for HCC, promotes HCC development by influencing the infiltration of depleted CD8+ T cells and may influence the effect of immunotherapy.
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Wang K, Chen X, Jin C, Mo J, Jiang H, Yi B, Chen X. A novel immune-related genes prognosis biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 13:675-693. [PMID: 33260154 PMCID: PMC7834986 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is closely associated with the immune microenvironment. To identify the effective population before administering treatment, the establishment of prognostic immune biomarkers is crucial for early HCC diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS A total of 335 IRGs identified from 788 overlapping IRGs were associated with the survival of HCC. A prognostic immunoscore model was identified. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves and time-dependent ROC analysis revealed a powerful prognostic performance of immunoscore signature via multi validation. Besides, the immunoscore signature exhibited a better predictive power compared to other prognostic signatures. Gene set enrichment analysis showed multiple signaling differences between the high and low immunoscore group. Furthermore, immunoscore was significantly associated with multiple immune cells and immune infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS We identified the immunoscore as a robust marker for predicting HCC patient survival. METHODS Three sets of immune-related genes (IRGs) were integrated to identify the overlapping IRGs. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed to obtain the survival-related IRGs. Further, the prognostic immunoscore model was constructed via LASSO-penalized Cox regression analysis. Then the prognostic performance of immunoscore was evaluated. In addition, ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms were applied to explore the relationship between immunoscore and tumor immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunpeng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Xinyi Chen
- Department of Anesthesia Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Chong Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Jinggang Mo
- Department of General Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Bin Yi
- Department of Cardio-Vascular Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China
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Patel K, Lamm R, Altshuler P, Dang H, Shah AP. Hepatocellular Carcinoma-The Influence of Immunoanatomy and the Role of Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186757. [PMID: 32942580 PMCID: PMC7555667 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease, limiting their options for treatment. While current treatments are adequate for lower staged disease, available systemic treatments are limited, with marginal benefit at best. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, effective in treating liquid tumors such as B-cell lymphoma, presents a potentially promising treatment option for advanced HCC. However, new challenges specific to solid tumors, such as tumor immunoanatomy or the immune cell presence and position anatomically and the tumor microenvironment, need to be defined and overcome. Immunotherapy currently in use must be re-engineered and re-envisioned to treat HCC with the hopes of ushering in an answer to advanced stage solid tumor disease processes. Future therapy options must address the uniqueness of the tumors under the umbrella of HCC. This review strives to summarize HCC, its staging system, current therapy and immunotherapy medications currently being utilized or studied in the treatment of HCC with the hopes of highlighting what is being done and suggesting what needs to be done in the future to champion this therapy as an effective option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyur Patel
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA; (K.P.); (R.L.); (P.A.)
| | - Ryan Lamm
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA; (K.P.); (R.L.); (P.A.)
| | - Peter Altshuler
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA; (K.P.); (R.L.); (P.A.)
| | - Hien Dang
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA; (K.P.); (R.L.); (P.A.)
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
- Correspondence: (H.D.); (A.P.S.)
| | - Ashesh P. Shah
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA; (K.P.); (R.L.); (P.A.)
- Correspondence: (H.D.); (A.P.S.)
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Gao H, Liu R, Wu N, Mo XD, Han W, Huang X, Huang XJ, Liu J. Valproic acid enhances pamidronate-sensitized cytotoxicity of Vδ2 + T cells against EBV-related lymphoproliferative cells. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 88:106890. [PMID: 32818705 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic options for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated post-transplantation lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLD) are currently limited, accompanying with some off-target toxicities. We previously demonstrated that early recovery of Vδ2+ T cells inversely correlated to EBV reactivation after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Studies in vitro and in the mouse models showed the cytotoxic activity of Vδ2+ T cells on EBV-transformed lymphoproliferative cells, but the efficacy was moderate. Bisphosphonate, such as pamidronate (PAM), have been reported as a sensitizer to trigger tumor cells for Vδ2+ T cells recognition. Valproic acid (VPA) has attracted attentions due to its adjuvant anti-tumor effect with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Whether PAM and VPA facilitate the immunogenicity of EBV-infected cells towards Vδ2+ T cells cytotoxicity remains unknown. Herein, we demonstrated that lower dosage of VPA and/or PAM did not induce apoptosis of EBV-transformed B lymphoblastoid cell lines (EBV-LCLs) or Vδ2+ T cells. Notably, pre-treatment with PAM significantly increased the cell death of EBV-LCLs after co-culture with Vδ2+ T cells at different ratios. Combining treatment with VPA reinforced the sensitizing effect of PAM. This efficacy was through inducing the accumulation of mevalonate pathway intermediates and dependent on the γδ T cell receptor of Vδ2+ T cells. Similar sensitizing effects of PAM and PAM plus VPA were also demonstrated on the primary PTLD cells. These results highlight the roles of PAM and VPA in the enhancement of immune surveillance and expand the fields of these two drugs in the treatment of different types of malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Gao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Ruoyang Liu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Wu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China; Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Mo
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Han
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of pathology, School of medical Science, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China; Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiangying Liu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China.
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Mo Z, Wang Y, Cao Z, Li P, Zhang S. An Integrative Analysis Reveals the Underlying Association Between CTNNB1 Mutation and Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2020; 10:853. [PMID: 32596147 PMCID: PMC7304048 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was verified to be closely associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, but it is unclear whether gene mutation has an effect on immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This research aimed to investigate the underlying correlation between gene mutation and immunotherapy in HCC. Methods: The somatic gene mutation data and gene expression data were retrieved from International Cancer Genome Consortium database and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The mutational genes were selected by the intersection of three cohorts and further identified using survival analysis and TMB correlation analysis. After the identification of key mutational gene, we explored the correlation between gene mutation and both the immune cell infiltration and immune inhibitors. The signaling pathways associated with gene mutation were confirmed through gene set enrichment analysis. Furthermore, the survival analysis and mutational analysis based on TCGA cohort were performed for the validation of included gene. Results: As one of the frequently mutational genes in HCC, CTNNB1 was finally included in our research, for which it showed the significant result in survival analysis and the positive association with TMB of the three cohorts. Meanwhile, the validation of TCGA showed the significant results. Furthermore, natural killer (NK) cells and neutrophil were found to significantly infiltrate CTNNB1 mutation group from two cohorts. Besides, further analysis demonstrated that four types of immune inhibitors (CD96, HAVCR2, LGALS9, and TGFB1) were downregulated in CTNNB1 mutation group. Conclusion: Our research firstly revealed the underlying association between CTNNB1 mutation and immunotherapy, and we speculated that CTNNB1 mutation may modulate NK cells by affecting CD96. However, more functional experiments should be performed for verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuomao Mo
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongdan Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhirui Cao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pan Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shijun Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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