Immune and nonimmune mechanisms mediate the mental stress-induced tumor growth in a xenograft model of breast cancer

Development and Validation of a Comprehensive Prognostic and Depression Risk Index for Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Depressive disorder contributes to the initiation and prognosis of patients with cancer, but the interaction between cancer and depressive disorder remains unclear. We generated a gastric adenocarcinoma patient-derived xenograft mice model, treated with chronic unpredictable mild stimulation. Based on the RNA-sequence from the mouse model, patient data from TCGA, and MDD-related (major depressive disorder) genes from the GEO database, 56 hub genes were identified by the intersection of differential expression genes from the three datasets. Molecular subtypes and a prognostic signature were generated based on the 56 genes. A depressive mouse model was constructed to test the key changes in the signatures. The signature was constructed based on the NDUFA4L2, ANKRD45, and AQP3 genes. Patients with high risk-score had a worse overall survival than the patients with low scores, consistent with the results from the two GEO cohorts. The comprehensive results showed that a higher risk-score was correlated with higher levels of tumor immune exclusion, higher infiltration of M0 macrophages, M2 macrophages, and neutrophils, higher angiogenetic activities, and more enriched epithelial-mesenchymal transition signaling pathways. A higher risk score was correlated to a higher MDD score, elevated MDD-related cytokines, and the dysfunction of neurogenesis-related genes, and parts of these changes showed similar trends in the animal model. With the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer database, we found that the gastric adenocarcinoma patients with high risk-score may be sensitive to Pazopanib, XMD8.85, Midostaurin, HG.6.64.1, Elesclomol, Linifanib, AP.24534, Roscovitine, Cytarabine, and Axitinib. The gene signature consisting of the NDUFA4L2, ANKRD45, and AQP3 genes is a promising biomarker to distinguish the prognosis, the molecular and immune characteristics, the depressive risk, and the therapy candidates for gastric adenocarcinoma patients.

The bidirectional relationship of depression and disturbances in B cell homeostasis: Double trouble

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a recurrent, persistent, and debilitating neuropsychiatric syndrome with an increasing morbidity and mortality, representing the leading cause of disability worldwide. The dysregulation of immune systems (including innate and adaptive immune systems) has been identified as one of the key contributing factors in the progression of MDD. As the main force of the humoral immunity, B cells have an essential role in the defense against infections, antitumor immunity and autoimmune diseases. Several recent studies have suggested an intriguing connection between disturbances in B cell homeostasis and the pathogenesis of MDD, however, the B-cell-dependent mechanism of MDD remains largely unexplored compared to other immune cells. In this review, we provide an overview of how B cell abnormality regulates the progression of MMD and the potential consequence of the disruption of B cell homeostasis in patients with MDD. Abnormalities of B-cell homeostasis not only promote susceptibility to MDD, but also lead to an increased risk of developing infection, malignancy and autoimmune diseases in patients with MDD. A better understanding of the contribution of B cells underlying MDD would provide opportunities for identification of more targeted treatment approaches and might provide an overall therapeutic benefit to improve the long-term outcomes of patients with MDD.

Ruyong formula improves thymus function of CUMS-stimulated breast cancer mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ruyong Formula (RYF) is a famous Chinese herbal formula composed of 10 traditional Chinese herbs. It has been used as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer patients with depressive symptoms in China. However, its underlying pharmacological mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of RYF on the changes of thymus immune function in breast cancer body under mood disorders such as depression/anxiety.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to stimulate 4T1 breast cancer mice. The behavioral changes, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level in brain, cytokeratin 5 (CK5) and 8 (CK8) expression in thymus, the proportion of T cell subsets, the thymic output, phenotypic changes of thymus epithelial cells (TECs), the expression levels of immune-related factors and downstream proteins of TSLP were analyzed after RYF treatment.

RESULTS

In CUMS stimulated group, the level of 5-HT in brain was significantly increased after RYF treatment. The output function of the thymus was improved, and the number of TECs in the medulla (CK5+), the proportion of CD3+CD4-CD8- (Double negative) and CD3+CD4+CD8+ (Double positive) T cells were all increased. The mRNA level of TSLP in mouse thymus was significantly decreased, but increased for IL-7. The protein levels of TSLP and Vimentin were decreased, but increased for p-STAT3, p-JAK2, E-cadherin, and p-PI3K p55 in vivo. In vitro study was showed the levels of Snail 1, Zeb 1 and Smad increased significantly in TGF-β1 group, and RYF could reverse their expression.

CONCLUSIONS

RYF could restore the structure and function of the thymus in depressed breast cancer mice by reversing the phenotypic changes of TECs and activating the JAK2/STAT3/PI3K pathway.

Chronic stress in solid tumor development: from mechanisms to interventions

Chronic stress results in disturbances of body hormones through the neuroendocrine system. Cancer patients often experience recurrent anxiety and restlessness during disease progression and treatment, which aggravates disease progression and hinders treatment effects. Recent studies have shown that chronic stress-regulated neuroendocrine systems secret hormones to activate many signaling pathways related to tumor development in tumor cells. The activated neuroendocrine system acts not only on tumor cells but also modulates the survival and metabolic changes of surrounding non-cancerous cells. Current clinical evidences also suggest that chronic stress affects the outcome of cancer treatment. However, in clinic, there is lack of effective treatment for chronic stress in cancer patients. In this review, we discuss the main mechanisms by which chronic stress regulates the tumor microenvironment, including functional regulation of tumor cells by stress hormones (stem cell-like properties, metastasis, angiogenesis, DNA damage accumulation, and apoptotic resistance), metabolic reprogramming and immune escape, and peritumor neuromodulation. Based on the current clinical treatment framework for cancer and chronic stress, we also summarize pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches to provide some directions for cancer therapy.

IL11 signaling mediates piR-2158 suppression of cell stemness and angiogenesis in breast cancer

Emerging evidence has indicated the aberrant expression of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in human cancer cells to regulate tumor development and progression by governing cancer cell stemness. Herein, we identified downregulation of piR-2158 in human breast cancer tumors, especially in ALDH+ breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) from patients and cell lines, which was further validated in two types of genetically engineered mouse models of breast cancer (MMTV-Wnt and MMTV-PyMT). Enforced overexpression of piR-2158 in basal-like or luminal subtypes of breast cancer cells suppressed cell proliferation, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness in vitro. Administration of a dual mammary tumor-targeting piRNA delivery system in mice reduced tumor growth in vivo. RNA-seq, ChIP-seq and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated piR-2158 as a transcriptional repressor of IL11 by competing with AP-1 transcription factor subunit FOSL1 to bind the promoter of IL11. STAT3 signaling mediated piR-2158-IL11 regulation of cancer cell stemness and tumor growth. Moreover, by co-culturing of MDA-MB-231 and HUVECs in vitro and CD31 staining of tumor endothelial cells in vivo, we demonstrated inhibition of angiogenesis by piR-2158-IL11 in breast cancer. In conclusion, the current study not only reveals a novel mechanism through which piR-2158 inhibits mammary gland tumorigenesis via regulating cancer stem cells and tumor angiogenesis, but also provides a novel therapeutic strategy in treatment of breast cancer.

Stress, psychiatric disease, and obesity: An Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) Clinical Practice Statement (CPS) 2022

Background

Previous Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) Clinical Practice Statements (CPS) included topics such as behavior modification, motivational interviewing, and eating disorders, as well as the effect of concomitant medications on weight gain/reduction (i.e., including psychiatric medications). This OMA CPS provides clinicians a more focused overview of stress and psychiatric disease as they relate to obesity.

Methods

The scientific support for this CPS is based upon published citations, clinical perspectives of OMA authors, and peer review by the Obesity Medicine Association leadership.

Results

Topics in this CPS include the relationship between psychological stress and obesity, including both acute and chronic stress. Additionally, this CPS describes the neurobiological pathways regarding stress and addiction-like eating behavior and explores the relationship between psychiatric disease and obesity, with an overview of psychiatric medications and their potential effects on weight gain and weight reduction.

Conclusions

This Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) Clinical Practice Statement (CPS) on stress and psychiatric disease is one of a series of OMA CPSs designed to assist clinicians in the care of patients with the disease of obesity. Knowledge of stress, addiction-like eating behavior, psychiatric disease, and effects of psychiatric medications on body weight may improve the care obesity medicine clinicians provide to their patients with obesity.