Chemokine CXCL14; a double-edged sword in cancer development

Dual roles of HK3 in regulating the network between tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages in neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common and deadliest extracranial solid tumor in children. Targeting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is a strategy for attenuating tumor-promoting states. The crosstalk between cancer cells and TAMs plays a pivotal role in mediating tumor progression in NB. The overexpression of Hexokinase-3 (HK3), a pivotal enzyme in glucose metabolism, has been associated with poor prognosis in NB patients. Furthermore, it correlates with the infiltration of M2-like macrophages within NB tumors, indicating its significant involvement in tumor progression. Therefore, HK3 not only directly regulates the malignant biological behaviors of tumor cells, such as proliferation, migration, and invasion, but also recruits and polarizes M2-like macrophages through the PI3K/AKT-CXCL14 axis in neuroblastoma. The secretion of lactate and histone lactylation alterations within tumor cells accompanies this interaction. Additionally, elevated expression of HK3 in M2-TAMs was found at the same time. Modulating HK3 within M2-TAMs alters the biological behavior of tumor cells, as demonstrated by our in vitro studies. This study highlights the pivotal role of HK3 in the progression of NB malignancy and its intricate regulatory network with M2-TAMs. It establishes HK3 as a promising dual-functional biomarker and therapeutic target in combating neuroblastoma.

Microenvironmental changes in familial adenomatous polyposis during colorectal cancer carcinogenesis

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a heritable disease that increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) development because of heterozygous mutations in APC. Little is known about the microenvironment of FAP. Here, single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on matched normal tissues, adenomas, and carcinomas from four patients with FAP. We analyzed the transcriptomes of 56,225 unsorted single cells, revealing the heterogeneity of each cell type, and compared gene expression among tissues. Then we compared the gene expression with that of sporadic CRC. Furthermore, we analyzed specimens of 26 FAP patients and 40 sporadic CRC patients by immunohistochemistry. Immunosuppressiveness of myeloid cells, fibroblasts, and regulatory T cells was upregulated even in the early stages of carcinogenesis. CD8+ T cells became exhausted only in carcinoma, although the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells was gradually increased according to the carcinogenic step. When compared with those in the sporadic CRC microenvironment, the composition and function of each cell type in the FAP-derived CRC microenvironment had differences. Our findings indicate that an immunosuppressive microenvironment is constructed from a precancerous stage in FAP.

Osteosarcoma Cells Secrete CXCL14 That Activates Integrin α11β1 on Fibroblasts to Form a Lung Metastatic Niche

Cooperation between primary malignant cells and stromal cells can mediate the establishment of lung metastatic niches. Here, we characterized the landscape of cell populations in the tumor microenvironment in treatment-naïve osteosarcoma using single-cell RNA sequencing and identified a stem cell-like cluster with tumor cell-initiating properties and prometastatic traits. CXCL14 was specifically enriched in the stem cell-like cluster and was also significantly upregulated in lung metastases compared with primary tumors. CXCL14 induced stromal reprogramming and evoked a malignant phenotype in fibroblasts to form a supportive lung metastatic niche. Binding of CXCL14 to heterodimeric integrin α11β1 on fibroblasts activated actomyosin contractility and matrix remodeling properties. CXCL14-stimulated fibroblasts produced TGFβ and increased osteosarcoma invasion and migration. mAbs targeting the CXCL14-integrin α11β1 axis inhibited fibroblast TGFβ production, enhanced CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor immunity, and suppressed osteosarcoma lung metastasis. Taken together, these findings identify cross-talk between osteosarcoma cells and fibroblasts that promotes metastasis and demonstrate that targeting the CXCL14-integrin α11β1 axis is a potential strategy to inhibit osteosarcoma lung metastasis.

SIGNIFICANCE

Cooperation between stem-like osteosarcoma cells and fibroblasts mediated by a CXCL14-integrin α11β1 axis creates a tumor-supportive lung metastatic niche and represents a therapeutic target to suppress osteosarcoma metastasis.

The Chemokine CXCL14 as a Potential Immunotherapeutic Agent for Cancer Therapy

There is great enthusiasm toward the development of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, and given their roles in immune system regulation, chemokines stand out as promising candidates for use in new cancer therapies. Many previous studies have shown how chemokine signaling pathways could be targeted to halt cancer progression. We and others have revealed that the chemokine CXCL14 promotes antitumor immune responses, suggesting that CXCL14 may be effective for cancer immunotherapy. However, it is still unknown what mechanism governs CXCL14-mediated antitumor activity, how to deliver CXCL14, what dose to apply, and what combinations with existing therapy may boost antitumor immune responses in cancer patients. Here, we provide updates on the role of CXCL14 in cancer progression and discuss the potential development and application of CXCL14 as an immunotherapeutic agent.

Transcriptionally activates CCL28 expression to inhibit M2 polarization of macrophages and prevent immune escape in colorectal cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the potential molecular mechanism of SPDEF in immune evasion of colorectal cancer (CRC) and examine its impact on macrophage M2 polarization using the TCGA and GEO databases.

METHODS

By combining TCGA and GEO databases, differential gene expression between CRC samples and standard tissue samples was analyzed to screen for immune-related genes (IRGs) associated with the prognosis of CRC patients. A predictive risk model was constructed based on 18 key IRGs, which were then validated using the GEO dataset. The relationship between transcription factors and IRGs was further explored to investigate their regulatory network in CRC. In vivo and in vitro experiments were carried out to validate these regulatory relationships and explore the function of SPDEF and CCL28 in CRC.

RESULTS

Twelve key IRGs associated with clinical and pathological characteristics of CRC patients were identified. Among them, CCL28 significantly impacted macrophage infiltration in CRC cells and may be a critical factor in immune evasion. In both in vitro and in vivo experiments, overexpression of SPDEF upregulated CCL28 expression, thereby suppressing M2 polarization of macrophages and inhibiting CRC cell proliferation and tumor growth. Notably, interference with CCL28 could reverse the effect of SPDEF overexpression.

CONCLUSION

SPDEF can suppress immune evasion of CRC cells by activating CCL28, which is achieved through the modulation of M2 polarization of macrophages. This provides a new research direction and potential therapeutic target for immunotherapy in CRC.

Single-Cell Sequencing Combined with Transcriptome Sequencing Constructs a Predictive Model of Key Genes in Multiple Sclerosis and Explores Molecular Mechanisms Related to Cellular Communication

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes chronic inflammation and demyelination of the central nervous system and comprises a class of neurodegenerative diseases in which interactions between multiple immune cell types mediate the involvement of MS development. However, the early diagnosis and treatment of MS remain challenging.

Methods

Gene expression profiles of MS patients were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Single-cell and intercellular communication analyses were performed to identify candidate gene sets. Predictive models were constructed using LASSO regression. Relationships between genes and immune cells were analyzed by single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). The molecular mechanisms of key genes were explored using gene enrichment analysis. An miRNA network was constructed to search for target miRNAs related to key genes, and related transcription factors were searched by transcriptional regulation analysis. We utilized the GeneCard database to detect the correlations between disease-regulated genes and key genes. We verified the mRNA expression of 4 key genes by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT‒qPCR).

Results

Monocyte marker genes were selected as candidate gene sets. CD3D, IL2RG, MS4A6A, and NCF2 were found to be the key genes by LASSO regression. We constructed a prediction model with AUC values of 0.7569 and 0.719. The key genes were closely related to immune factors and immune cells. We explored the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms involving the key genes by gene enrichment analysis. We obtained and visualized the miRNAs associated with the key genes using the miRcode database. We also predicted the transcription factors involved. We used validated key genes in MS patients, several of which were confirmed by RT‒qPCR.

Conclusion

The prediction model constructed with the CD3D, IL2RG, MS4A6A, and NCF2 genes has good diagnostic efficacy and provides new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of MS.

Tolerogenic dendritic cells in radiation-induced lung injury

Radiation-induced lung injury is a common complication associated with radiotherapy. It is characterized by early-stage radiation pneumonia and subsequent radiation pulmonary fibrosis. However, there is currently a lack of effective therapeutic strategies for radiation-induced lung injury. Recent studies have shown that tolerogenic dendritic cells interact with regulatory T cells and/or regulatory B cells to stimulate the production of immunosuppressive molecules, control inflammation, and prevent overimmunity. This highlights a potential new therapeutic activity of tolerogenic dendritic cells in managing radiation-induced lung injury. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of tolerogenic dendritic cells in the context of radiation-induced lung injury, which will be valuable for researchers in this field.

CXCL14 as a potential marker for immunotherapy response prediction in renal cell carcinoma

Background

Epigenetic mechanisms play vital roles in the activation, differentiation, and effector function of immune cells. The breast and kidney-expressed chemokine (CXCL14) mainly contributes to the regulation of immune cells. However, its role in shaping the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is yet to be elucidated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Objectives

This study aimed to elucidate the role of CXCL14 in predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with RCC.

Methods

CXCL14 expression and RNA-sequencing, single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), and survival datasets of RCC from public databases were analyzed, and survival was compared between different CXCL14 levels. The correlation between CXCL14 and immune infiltration and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene expression was analyzed with TIMER2.0 and gene expression profiling interactive analysis. Institutional scRNA-seq and immunohistochemical staining analyses were used to verify the relationship between CXCL14 expression level and the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Results

CXCL14 was expressed in fibroblast and malignant cells in RCC, and higher expression was associated with better survival. Enrichment analysis revealed that CXCL14 is involved in immune activation, primarily in antigen procession, antigen presentation, and major histocompatibility complex assemble. CXCL14 expression was positively correlated with T-cell infiltration as well as HLA-related gene expression. Among the RCC cohort receiving nivolumab in Checkmate 025, the patients with CXCL14 high expression had better overall survival than those with CXCL14 low expression after immunotherapy. scRNA-seq revealed a cluster of CXCL14+ fibroblast in immunotherapy responders. Immunohistochemistry analysis verified that the patients with high CXCL14 expression had an increased proportion of high CD8 expression simultaneously. The expression level of CXCL14 was associated with CXCR4 expression in RCC.

Conclusion

CXCL14 expression is associated with immunotherapy response in RCC. It is a promising biomarker for immunotherapy response prediction and may be an effective epigenetic modulator in combination with immunotherapy approaches.

Chemokines: Function and therapeutic potential in bone metastasis of lung cancer

Lung cancer is a rapidly progressing disease with a poor prognosis. Bone metastasis is commonly found in 40.6% of advanced-stage patients. The mortality rate of lung cancer patients with bone metastasis can be significantly decreased by implementing novel diagnostic techniques, improved staging and classification systems, precise surgical interventions, and advanced treatment modalities. However, it is important to note that there is currently a lack of radical procedures available for these patients due to the development of drug resistance. Consequently, palliative care approaches are commonly employed in clinical practice. Therefore, new understandings of the process of bone metastasis of lung cancer are critical for developing better treatment strategies to improve patient's clinical cure rate and quality of life. Chemokines are cell-secreted small signaling proteins in cancer occurrence, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. In this study, we review the development of bone metastasis in lung cancer and discuss the mechanisms of specific chemokine families (CC, CXC, CX3C, and XC) in regulating the biological activities of tumors and promoting bone metastasis. We also highlight some preclinical studies and clinical trials on chemokines for lung cancer and bone metastasis.

Melatonin Inhibits Testosterone Synthesis in Rooster Leydig Cells by Targeting CXCL14 through miR-7481-3p

Melatonin has been proved to be involved in testosterone synthesis, but whether melatonin participates in testosterone synthesis by regulating miRNA in Leydig cells is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to clarify the mechanism of melatonin on Leydig cells testosterone synthesis from the perspective of miRNA. Our results showed that melatonin could significantly inhibit testosterone synthesis in rooster Leydig cells. miR-7481-3p and CXCL14 were selected as the target of melatonin based on RNA-seq and miRNA sequencing. The results of dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-7481-3p targeted the 3'-UTR of CXCL14. The overexpression of miR-7481-3p significantly inhibited the expression of CXCL14 and restored the inhibitory role of melatonin testosterone synthesis and the expression of StAR, CYP11A1, and 3β-HSD in rooster Leydig cells. Similarly, interference with CXCL14 could reverse the inhibitory effect of melatonin on the level of testosterone synthesis and the expression of StAR, CYP11A1, and 3β-HSD in rooster Leydig cells. The RNA-seq results showed that melatonin could activate the PI3K/AKT signal pathway. Interference with CXCL14 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation level of PI3K and AKT, and the inhibited PI3K/AKT signal pathway could reverse the inhibitory effect of CXCL14 on testosterone synthesis and the expression of StAR, CYP11A1 and 3β-HSD in rooster Leydig cells. Our results indicated that melatonin inhibits testosterone synthesis by targeting miR-7481-3p/CXCL14 and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway.

SLC7A11, a potential immunotherapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma

SLC7A11 has significant translational value in cancer treatment. However, there are few studies on whether SLC7A11 affects the immune status of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Information on SLC7A11 expression and its impact on prognosis was obtained from the cancer genome atlas and gene expression omnibus databases. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analysed by GO and KEGG. GSEA enrichment analysis was performed in the SLC7A11-high and SLC7A11-low groups. The relationship between SLC7A11 and tumour immunity, immune checkpoints, and immune cell infiltration was studied using R language. We analysed the correlation between SLC7A11 and chemotactic factors (CFs) and chemokine receptors using the TISIDB database. SLC7A11 is overexpressed in many tumours, including LUAD. The 5-year overall survival of patients in the SLC7A11-high group was lower than in the SLC7A11-low group. KEGG analysis found that the DEGs were enriched in ferroptosis signaling pathways. GSEA analysis found that the survival-related signaling pathways were enriched in the SLC7A11-low group. The SLC7A11-low group had higher immune scores and immune checkpoint expression. SLC7A11 was negatively correlated with many immune cells (CD8+ T cells, immature dendritic cells), CFs, chemokine receptors (such as CCL17/19/22/23, CXCL9/10/11/14, CCR4/6, CX3CR1, CXCR3) and MHCs (major histocompatibility complex). SLC7A11 may regulate tumour immunity and could be a potential therapeutic target for LUAD.

Yak-Derived CXCL14 Activates the Pro-Inflammatory Response of Macrophages and Inhibits the Proliferation and Migration of HepG2

CXCL14 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 14) is an important chemokine involved in infection and immunity and plays an important role in a variety of immune-related diseases. The 446 bp cDNA sequence of the CXCL14 gene in yaks was obtained. Additionally, the prokaryotic expression vector of the CXCL14 protein with a molecular weight of 27 kDa was successfully constructed and expressed. The proliferation activities and migration abilities of spleen macrophages were significantly inhibited after treatment with the CXCL14 protein at different concentrations (1, 10 and 20 μg/mL) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL6), interleukin 8 (IL8) and interferon-α (TNF-α) were significantly increased (p < 0.05), but the expression of anti-inflammatory factor interleukin 10 (IL10) was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The contents of inflammatory factors in the supernatant of cells were detected using ELISA, and it was also found that the contents of TNF-α, IL6 and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COX2) were significantly increased under different CXCL14 protein concentrations (p < 0.05). Finally, the exogenous addition of CXCL14 inhibited the activity, clonal formation and migration of hepatoma cells (HepG2). Additionally, after HepG2 cells were treated with 20 μg/mL CXCL14 protein for 12 h, 24 h and 36 h, the expression levels of BCL2 homologous antagonist/killer (BAK) and the BCL2-associated X apoptosis regulator (BAX) were increased to varying degrees, while the expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A), the mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) genes decreased compared to the control group. In conclusion, the CXCL14 protein can inhibit the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells by inducing the expression of macrophage pro-inflammatory factors and activating apoptosis-related genes to exert innate immunity. These results are helpful to further study the function of the CXCL14 protein and provide research data for the innate immune mechanism of yaks under harsh plateau environments.

The role of CXCL family members in different diseases

Chemokines are a large family mediating a lot of biological behaviors including chemotaxis, tumor growth, angiogenesis and so on. As one member of this family, CXC subfamily possesses the same ability. CXC chemokines can recruit and migrate different categories of immune cells, regulate tumor's pathological behaviors like proliferation, invasion and metastasis, activate angiogenesis, etc. Due to these characteristics, CXCL subfamily is extensively and closely associated with tumors and inflammatory diseases. As studies are becoming more and more intensive, CXCLs' concrete roles are better described, and CXCLs' therapeutic applications including biomarkers and targets are also deeply explained. In this review, the role of CXCL family members in various diseases is summarized.

Concerted epithelial and stromal changes during progression of Barrett's Esophagus to invasive adenocarcinoma exposed by multi-scale, multi-omics analysis

Esophageal adenocarcinoma arises from Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous metaplastic replacement of squamous by columnar epithelium in response to chronic inflammation. Multi-omics profiling, integrating single-cell transcriptomics, extracellular matrix proteomics, tissue-mechanics and spatial proteomics of 64 samples from 12 patients' paths of progression from squamous epithelium through metaplasia, dysplasia to adenocarcinoma, revealed shared and patient-specific progression characteristics. The classic metaplastic replacement of epithelial cells was paralleled by metaplastic changes in stromal cells, ECM and tissue stiffness. Strikingly, this change in tissue state at metaplasia was already accompanied by appearance of fibroblasts with characteristics of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts and of an NK cell-associated immunosuppressive microenvironment. Thus, Barrett's esophagus progresses as a coordinated multi-component system, supporting treatment paradigms that go beyond targeting cancerous cells to incorporating stromal reprogramming.

1,5-AG suppresses pro-inflammatory polarization of macrophages and promotes the survival of B-ALL in vitro by upregulating CXCL14

B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is one of the most common malignancies in children. Despite advances in treatment, the role of the tumor microenvironment in B-ALL remains poorly understood. Among the key components of the immune microenvironment, macrophages play a critical role in the progression of the disease. However, recent research has suggested that abnormal metabolites may influence the function of macrophages, altering the immune microenvironment and promoting tumor growth. Our previous non-targeted metabolomic detection revealed that the metabolite 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) level in the peripheral blood of children newly diagnosed with B-ALL was significantly elevated. Except for its direct influence on leukemia cells, the effect of 1,5-AG on macrophages is still unclear. Herein, we demonstrated new potential therapeutic targets by focusing on the effect of 1,5-AG on macrophages. We used polarization-induced macrophages to determine how 1,5-AG acted on M1-like polarization and screened out the target gene CXCL14 via transcriptome sequencing. Furthermore, we constructed CXCL14 knocked-down macrophages and a macrophage-leukemia cell coculture model to validate the interaction between macrophages and leukemia cells. We discovered that 1,5-AG upregulated the CXCL14 expression, thereby inhibiting M1-like polarization. CXCL14 knockdown restored the M1-like polarization of macrophages and induced leukemia cells apoptosis in the coculture model. Our findings offer new possibilities for the genetic engineering of human macrophages to rehabilitate their immune activity against B-ALL in cancer immunotherapy.

Mesenchymal-epithelial transition in lymph node metastases of oral squamous cell carcinoma is accompanied by ZEB1 expression

BACKGROUND

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), an HPV-negative head and neck cancer, frequently metastasizes to the regional lymph nodes but only occasionally beyond. Initial phases of metastasis are associated with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), while the consolidation phase is associated with mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). This dynamic is referred to as epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). While it is known that EMP is essential for cancer cell invasion and metastatic spread, less is known about the heterogeneity of EMP states and even less about the heterogeneity between primary and metastatic lesions.

METHODS

To assess both the heterogeneity of EMP states in OSCC cells and their effects on stromal cells, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) of 5 primary tumors, 9 matching metastatic and 5 tumor-free lymph nodes and re-analyzed publicly available scRNAseq data of 9 additional primary tumors. For examining the cell type composition, we performed bulk transcriptome sequencing. Protein expression of selected genes were confirmed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

From the 23 OSCC lesions, the single cell transcriptomes of a total of 7263 carcinoma cells were available for in-depth analyses. We initially focused on one lesion to avoid confounding inter-patient heterogeneity and identified OSCC cells expressing genes characteristic of different epithelial and partial EMT stages. RNA velocity and the increase in inferred copy number variations indicated a progressive trajectory towards epithelial differentiation in this metastatic lesion, i.e., cells likely underwent MET. Extension to all samples revealed a less stringent but essentially similar pattern. Interestingly, MET cells show increased activity of the EMT-activator ZEB1. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that ZEB1 was co-expressed with the epithelial marker cornifin B in individual tumor cells. The lack of E-cadherin mRNA expression suggests this is a partial MET. Within the tumor microenvironment we found immunomodulating fibroblasts that were maintained in primary and metastatic OSCC.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that EMP enables different partial EMT and epithelial phenotypes of OSCC cells, which are endowed with capabilities essential for the different stages of the metastatic process, including maintenance of cellular integrity. During MET, ZEB1 appears to be functionally active, indicating a more complex role of ZEB1 than mere induction of EMT.

Loganic acid regulates the transition between epithelial and mesenchymal-like phenotypes by alleviating MnSOD expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AIMS

Cancer metastasis is the major cause of cancer-related deaths. There are few prior studies reported on molecules targeting C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR) family and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). CXCRs are known to involve in angiogenesis, metastasis, cell survival and MnSOD is reported to be related in Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

MAIN METHODS

Cell viability and cell proliferation were measured by MTT and BrdU assay. Protein expression level of CXCR4/7, MMP-2/9, MnSOD, and EMT markers were evaluated by Western blot analysis. mRNA levels of Snail and Occludin were analyzed by Real-time RT-qPCR. Expression of EMT markers in cells was observed by immunocytochemistry. Cell invasion and migrations were evaluated by wound healing assay and boyden chamber assay.

KEY FINDINGS

We noticed that LGA abolished proliferation, invasive ability, and cellular migration. LGA down-regulated the protein levels of mesenchymal markers such as Twist, Snail, Fibronectin, and Vimentin in CXCL12-treated HCC cells. It also suppressed the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9/2. The amplification of MnSOD increased EMT-like phenotypes but with LGA treatment, these phenotypes were markedly attenuated. The overexpression of MnSOD increased the ROS levels significantly but ROS levels were decreased upon exposure to LGA and deletion of MnSOD suppressed the levels of various mesenchymal proteins.

SIGNIFICANCE

LGA could function as a novel anti-metastatic agent by suppressing metastasis and EMT process via attenuation of MnSOD expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Secreted proteins MDK, WFDC2, and CXCL14 as candidate biomarkers for early diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Early diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), one of the most common types of lung cancer, is very important to improve the prognosis of patients. The current methods can't meet the requirements of early diagnosis. There is a pressing need to identify novel diagnostic biomarkers. Secretory proteins are the richest source for biomarker research. This study aimed to identify candidate secretory protein biomarkers for early diagnosis of LUAD by integrated bioinformatics analysis and clinical validation.

METHODS

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of GSE31210, gene expression data of early stage of LUAD, were analyzed by GEO2R. Upregulated DEGs predicted to encode secreted proteins were obtained by taking the intersection of the DEGs list with the list of genes encoding secreted proteins predicted by the majority decision-based method (MDSEC). The expressions of the identified secreted proteins in the lung tissues of early-stage LUAD patients were further compared with the healthy control group in mRNA and protein levels by using the UALCAN database (TCGA and CPTAC). The selected proteins expressed in plasma were further validated by using Luminex technology. The diagnostic value of the screened proteins was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Cell counting kit-8 assay was carried out to investigate the proliferative effects of these screened proteins.

RESULTS

A total of 2183 DEGs, including 1240 downregulated genes and 943 upregulated genes, were identified in the GSE31210. Of the upregulated genes, 199 genes were predicted to encode secreted proteins. After analysis using the UALCAN database, 16 molecules were selected for further clinical validation. Plasma concentrations of three proteins, Midkine (MDK), WAP four-disulfide core domain 2 (WFDC2), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 14 (CXCL14), were significantly higher in LUAD patients than in healthy donors. The area under the curve values was 0.944, 0.881, and 0.809 for MDK, WFDC2, and CXCL14, 0.962 when combined them. Overexpression of the three proteins enhanced the proliferation activity of A549 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

MDK, WFDC2, and CXCL14 were identified as candidate diagnostic biomarkers for early-stage LUAD and might also play vital roles in tumorigenesis.

lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 expression in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension due to congenital heart disease

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are potential regulators of a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, there is a series of differentially expressed lncRNAs in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) that may be used as markers to diagnose PAH and even predict the prognosis. However, their specific mechanisms remain largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the biological role of lncRNAs in patients with PAH. First, we screened patients with PAH secondary to ventricular septal defect (VSD) and those with VSD without PAH to assess differences in lncRNA and mRNA expression between the two groups. Our results revealed the significant upregulation of 813 lncRNAs and 527 mRNAs and significant downregulation of 541 lncRNAs and 268 mRNAs in patients with PAH. Then, we identified 10 hub genes in a constructed protein-protein interaction network. Next, we performed bioinformatics analyses, including Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and subsequently constructed coding-noncoding co-expression networks. We screened lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 and lncRNA-ENST00000433673 as candidate genes and verified the expression levels of the lncRNAs using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Although expression levels of lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 in the plasma from the PAH groups were significantly increased compared with the control groups, there was no significant difference in the expression of lncRNA-ENST00000433673 between the two groups. This study bolsters our understanding of the role of lncRNA in PAH occurrence and development and indicates that lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 is a novel potential molecular marker for PAH.

Roles of CCR10/CCL27-CCL28 axis in tumour development: mechanisms, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, and perspectives

Cancer is now one of the major causes of death across the globe. The imbalance of cytokine and chemokine secretion has been reported to be involved in cancer development. Meanwhile, CC chemokines have received considerable interest in cancer research. CCR10, as the latest identified CC chemokine receptor (CCR), has been implicated in the recruitment and infiltration of immune cells, especially lymphocytes, into epithelia such as skin via ligation to two ligands, CCL27 and CCL28. Other than homoeostatic function, several mechanisms have been shown to dysregulate CCR10/CCL27-CCL28 expression in the tumour microenvironment. As such, these receptors and ligands mediate T-cell trafficking in the tumour microenvironment. Depending on the types of lymphocytes recruited, CCR10/CCL27-CCL28 interaction has been shown to play conflicting roles in cancer development. If they were T helper and cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells, the role of this axis would be tumour-suppressive. In contrast, if CCR10/CCL27-CCL28 recruited regulatory T cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts or myeloid-derived suppressor cells, it would lead to tumour progression. In addition to the trafficking of lymphocytes and immune cells, CCR10 also leads to the migration of tumour cells or endothelial cells (called angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis) to promote tumour metastasis. Furthermore, CCR10 signalling triggers tumour-promoting signalling such as PI3K/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase, resulting in tumour cell growth. Since CCR10/CCL27-CCL28 is dysregulated in the tumour tissues, it is suggested that analysis and measurement of them might predict tumour development. Finally, it is hoped using therapeutic approaches based on this axis might increase our knowledge to overcome tumour progression.

CXCL14 Attenuates Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Progression by Regulating Immune Profiles of the Tumor Microenvironment in a T Cell-Dependent Manner

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is aggressive and has a poor overall survival due to a lack of therapeutic targets compared to other subtypes. Chemokine signature revealed that TNBC had low levels of CXCL14, an orphan homeostatic chemokine to regulate the immune network. Here, we investigated if CXCL14 plays a critical role in TNBC progression, focusing on survival rates, tumor growth and metastasis, and immune profiles in the tumor microenvironment. Analysis of human breast-cancer datasets showed that low CXCL14 expression levels were associated with poor survival rates in patients with breast cancer, particularly for TNBC subtypes. Overexpression of CXCL14 in TNBC 4T1 orthotopic mouse model significantly reduced tumor weights and inhibited lung metastasis. Furthermore, the CXCL14 overexpression altered immune profiles in the tumor microenvironment as follows: decreased F4/80+ macrophages and CD4+CD25+ Treg cells, and increased CD8+T cells in primary tumors; decreased Ly6C+ myeloid cells and CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and increased CD4+ and CD8+T cells in lung metastatic tumors. CXCL14-induced reduction of tumor growth and metastasis was diminished in T cell-deficient nude mice. Taken together, our data demonstrate that CXCL14 inhibits TNBC progression through altering immune profiles in the tumor microenvironment and it is mediated in a T cell-dependent manner. Thus, CXCL14 could be used as a biomarker for prognosis.

Xanthohumol: An underestimated, while potent and promising chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment

Today, there is a growing interest nowadays in the use of herbal substances as cancer therapeutic agents. Over recent years, Xanthohumol (XTL) has been brought out as a prenylated chalcone that is found in hops (Humulus lupulus) and beer. XTL is being investigated for its potential properties, and it has been found to have various biological effects, including anti-microbial, anti-viral, and immunomodulatory. Other than these biological effects, it has also been found that XTL exerts anti-tumor effects. In the beginning, XTL, by modulating cell signaling pathways, including ERK, AKT, NF-κB, AMPK, Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch signaling in cancer cells, inhibits tumor cell functions. Moreover, XTL, by inducing apoptotic pathways, either intrinsic or extrinsic, promotes cancer cell death and arrests the cell cycle. Furthermore, XTL inhibits metastasis, angiogenesis, cancer stemness, drug resistance, cell respiration, etc., which results in tumor aggressiveness inhibition. XTL has low solubility in water, and it has been hypothesized that some modifications, including biotinylation, can improve its pharmacogenetic characteristics. Additionally, XTL derivates such as dihydroXTL and tetrahydroXTL can be helpful for more anti-tumor activities. Using XTL with other anti-tumor agents is another approach to overcome tumor cell resistance. XTL or its derivatives, it is believed, might provide novel chemotherapeutic methods in future cancer therapy.

Exosomal CXCL14 Contributes to M2 Macrophage Polarization through NF-κB Signaling in Prostate Cancer

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 14 (CXCL14) plays a critical role in maintaining homeostasis and inflammation in the local cell environment and regulating cancer progression. However, the role of CXCL14 in prostate cancer (PC) has not been fully investigated. In this study, the expression of CXCL14 was determined in PC tumor tissues by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry assay. Wound healing, invasion, colony formation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis assays were performed to evaluate the role of CXCL14 in PC progression. Exosomes were isolated from PC cell-condition medium by using ultracentrifugation assay and identified by using transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. M2 macrophage polarization-associated genes were measured by using qRT-PCR and Western blot assays. A PC xenograft mouse model was used to assess the role of CXCL14 in tumor growth in vivo. The results showed that CXCL14 was significantly upregulated in PC tissues and was positively correlated with pathological stages, lymph node metastasis, and angiolymphatic invasion. The positive correlations were also observed between CXCL14 and PD-L1 and IL-10. Knockdown CXCL14 dramatically inhibited PC cell proliferation, invasion, and colony formation, but not apoptosis. CXCL14 promoted M2 macrophage polarization through the NF-κB signaling pathway and exosome-mediated mechanism. Moreover, CXCL14 knockdown inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, exosomal CXCL14 promoted M2 macrophage polarization through the NF-κB signaling pathway and contributed to PC progression.

BRAK and APRIL as novel biomarkers for ovarian tumors

Aims: To evaluate BRAK and APRIL in serum samples from healthy patients and an ovarian tumor group and analyze their effective value as biomarkers. Materials & methods: BRAK and APRIL were measured in 197 serum samples including 34 healthy controls, 48 patients with benign ovarian cysts and 115 patients with ovarian cancer, and the best statistical cutoff values were calculated. Then, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for selected cutoff points were assessed. Results: The healthy control group had statistically significant higher BRAK and lower APRIL than the ovarian tumor group. BRAK was excellent for differentiating healthy patients from patients with ovarian tumors, showing area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.983, 98.16% sensitivity and 100% specificity. When BRAK was combined with APRIL and CA-125, it also played a role in distinguishing benign cysts from malignancies with area under the curve 0.864, 81.74% sensitivity and 79.17% specificity. Conclusions: BRAK and APRIL are good candidates for ovarian tumor biomarkers.

Does CCL19 act as a double-edged sword in cancer development?

Cancer is considered a life-threatening disease, and several factors are involved in its development. Chemokines are small proteins that physiologically exert pivotal roles in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. The imbalance or dysregulation of chemokines has contributed to the development of several diseases, especially cancer. CCL19 is one of the homeostatic chemokines that is abundantly expressed in the thymus and lymph nodes. This chemokine, which primarily regulates immune cell trafficking, is involved in cancer development. Through the induction of anti-tumor immune responses and inhibition of angiogenesis, CCL19 exerts tumor-suppressive functions. In contrast, CCL19 also acts as a tumor-supportive factor by inducing inflammation, cell growth, and metastasis. Moreover, CCL19 dysregulation in several cancers, including colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and lung cancers, has been considered a tumor biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. Using CCL19-based therapeutic approaches has also been proposed to overcome cancer development. This review will shed more light on the multifarious function of CCL19 in cancer and elucidate its application in diagnosis, prognosis, and even therapy. It is expected that the study of CCL19 in cancer might be promising to broaden our knowledge of cancer development and might introduce novel approaches in cancer management.

A comprehensive review of IL-26 to pave a new way for a profound understanding of the pathobiology of cancer, inflammatory diseases and infections

Cytokines are considered vital mediators of the immune system. Down- or upregulation of these mediators is linked to several inflammatory and pathologic situations. IL-26 is referred to as an identified member of the IL-10 family and IL-20 subfamily. Due to having a unique cationic structure, IL-26 exerts diverse functions in several diseases. Since IL-26 is mainly secreted from Th17, it is primarily considered a pro-inflammatory cytokine. Upon binding to its receptor complex (IL-10R1/IL-20R2), IL-26 activates multiple signalling mediators, especially STAT1/STAT3. In cancer, IL-26 induces IL-22-producing cells, which consequently decrease cytotoxic T-cell functions and promote tumour growth through activating anti-apoptotic proteins. In hypersensitivity conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and allergic disease, this cytokine functions primarily as the disease-promoting mediator and might be considered a biomarker for disease prognosis. Although IL-26 exerts antimicrobial function in infections such as hepatitis, tuberculosis and leprosy, it has also been shown that IL-26 might be involved in the pathogenesis and exacerbation of sepsis. Besides, the involvement of IL-26 has been confirmed in other conditions, including graft-versus-host disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Therefore, due to the multifarious function of this cytokine, it is proposed that the underlying mechanism regarding IL-26 function should be elucidated. Collectively, it is hoped that the examination of IL-26 in several contexts might be promising in predicting disease prognosis and might introduce novel approaches in the treatment of various diseases.

Designing new nanoliposomal formulations and evaluating their effects on myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells in a colon cancer model aiming to develop an efficient delivery system for cancer treatment; an in vitro and in vivo study

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are common immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment. These cells, through various mechanisms, inhibit antitumor immune responses and impede effective therapies. Therefore, designing an efficient protocol for inducing immune surveillance in tumors is highly recommended. Recently, nanoliposomes have provided broad-spectrum and state-of-the-art vehicles to deliver antigens or immune system compartments in immunotherapies. It has been shown that different lipids in the structure of liposomes and various liposomal formulations can affect immune responses in the tumor microenvironment. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of four different liposomal formulations on MDSCs and Tregs in C26 tumor-bearing mice. To this end, after preparing liposomes, they were injected into tumor-inoculated mice and analyzed MDSC and Treg population and functions in spleen and tumor tissues. Results showed that DOTAP-containing liposomes reduced MDSC population and activity in the spleen, but not tumor, compared with other groups significantly (P <0.05 and P <0.01, respectively). Moreover, DOTAP-containing liposomes reduced the expression of S100A8 and arginase-1 genes in splenic MDSCs (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we provided evidence that DOTAP-containing liposomes contributed to stimulating immune responses and provided a situation to inhibit immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Arctigenin, an anti-tumor agent; a cutting-edge topic and up-to-the-minute approach in cancer treatment

Today, herbal-derived compounds are being increasingly studied in cancer treatment. Over the past decade, Arctigenin has been introduced as a bioactive dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan which is found in Chinese herbal medicines. In addition to anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory functions, Arctigenin has attracted growing attention due to its anti-tumor capabilities. It has been shown that Arctigenin can induce apoptosis and necrosis and abolish drug resistance in tumor cells by inducing apoptotic signaling pathways, caspases, cell cycle arrest, and the modulating proteasome. Moreover, Arctigenin mediates other anti-tumor functions through several mechanisms. It has been demonstrated that Arctigenin can act as an anti-inflammatory compound to inhibit inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. It also downregulates factors involved in tumor metastasis and angiogenesis, such as matrix metalloproteinases, N-cadherin, TGF-β, and VEGF. Additionally, Arctigenin, through modulation of MAPK signaling pathways and stress-related proteins, is able to abolish tumor cell growth in nutrient-deprived conditions. Due to the limited solubility of Arctigenin in water, it is suggested that modification of this compound through amino acid esterification can improve its pharmacogenetic properties. Collectively, it is hoped that using Arctigenin or its derivates might introduce new chemotherapeutic approaches in future treatment.

Interleukin-25: New perspective and state-of-the-art in cancer prognosis and treatment approaches

Cancer is a leading cause of death which imposes a substantial financial burden. Among the several mechanisms involved in cancer progression, imbalance of immune cell‐derived factors such as cytokines and chemokines plays a central role. IL‐25, as a member of the IL‐17 cytokine subfamily, exerts a paradoxical role in cancer, including tumor supportive and tumor suppressive. Hence, we have tried to clarify the role of IL‐25 and its receptor in tumor progression and cancer prognosis. It has been confirmed that IL‐25 exerts a tumor‐suppressive role through inducing infiltration of eosinophils and B cells into the tumor microenvironment and activating the apoptotic pathways. In contrast, the tumor‐supportive function has been implemented by activating inflammatory cascades, promoting cell cycle, and inducing type‐2 immune responses. Since IL‐25 has been dysregulated in tumor tissues and this dysregulation is involved in cancer development, its examination can be used as a tumor diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Moreover, IL‐25‐based therapeutic approaches have shown promising results in cancer inhibition. In cancers in which IL‐25 has a tumor‐suppressive function, employing IL‐25‐enhancing approaches, such as Virulizin^® and dihydrobenzofuran administration, has potentially inhibited tumor cell growth. On the other hand, in the case of IL‐25‐dependent tumor progression, using IL‐25 blocking methods, including anti‐IL‐25 antibodies, might be a complementary approach to the other anticancer agent. Collectively, it is hoped, IL‐25 might be a promising target in cancer treatment.