Serum cytokine concentrations, flavonol intake and colorectal adenoma recurrence in the Polyp Prevention Trial

Immune battle at the premalignant stage of colorectal cancer: focus on immune cell compositions, functions and cytokine products

It is now widely accepted that most human cancers, including colorectal cancers (CRCs), develop from premalignant lesions through a long-term multistep process. Host immunity is a key determinant that maintains most premalignant lesions in a stable state via immunosurveillance. However, premalignant cells use diverse strategies to escape host immunosurveillance. A switch in the immune function from immunosurveillance to immunosuppression facilitates the progression of premalignant lesions to established CRCs. This review summarizes the recent progress in understanding alterations in the immune landscape, including immune cell compositions, functions and cytokine products, in the premalignant stage of CRC and provides an updated discussion on its translational significance along the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

miR-370-3p Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis-Related Colorectal Cancer in Mice Through Inhibiting the Inflammatory Response and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Introduction

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and inflammatory bowel disease. UC-associated colorectal cancer (UC-CRC) is one of the most severe complications of long-standing UC. In the present study, we explored the effects of miR-370-3p on UC-CRC in vivo and investigated its underlying mechanisms in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

Azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) were used to induce UC-CRC in C57BL/6 mice. AOM/DSS-induced mice were treated with 5×10⁸ pfu miR-370-3p overexpressing-adenovirus via tail-vein injection every two weeks.

Results

We found that miR-370-3p significantly improved the body weights and survival rates and inhibited the tumorigenesis of UC-CRC in AOM/DSS mice. Mechanically, miR-370-3p inhibited AOM/DSS-induced inflammatory response by decreasing tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) through targeting toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), as demonstrated by down-regulation of TLR4, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (pEGFR). miR-370-3p decreased the expression of tumor-associated proteins, including p53, β-catenin, and ki67 in AOM/DSS-treated mice. Additionally, miR-370-3p remarkably inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via increasing E-cadherin expression and reducing N-cadherin and Vimentin expression in vivo. Further studies showed that miR-370-3p repressed proliferation and EMT of colon cancer cells in vitro. Moreover, we proved that miR-370-3p decreased the expression of tumor-associated proteins and reversed EMT by regulating β-catenin in colon cancer cells.

Conclusion

Taken together, miR-370-3p alleviated UC-CRC by inhibiting the inflammatory response and EMT in mice, which suggested miR-370-3p as a novel potential target for UC-CRC therapy.

Review of the health effects of berries and their phytochemicals on the digestive and immune systems

Berries are generally considered beneficial to health. This health-promoting potential has mainly been ascribed to berries' phytochemical and vitamin content, and little attention has been paid to the potential benefits of berries for the digestive tract, despite this being the first point of contact. In vivo studies that described the health effects of berries on individual parts of the digestive tract (ie, the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, microbiome, and immune system) were reviewed. Immune effects were included because a large part of the immune system is located in the intestine. Beneficial health effects were mainly observed for whole berry extracts, not individual berry components. These effects ranged from support of the immune system and beneficial microbiota to reduction in the number and size of premalignant and malignant lesions. These results demonstrate the potency of berries and suggest berries can serve as a strong adjuvant to established treatments or therapies for a variety of gastrointestinal and immune-related illnesses.

Polymorphisms in genes related to inflammation and obesity and colorectal adenoma risk

We previously investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes related to obesity and inflammation and colorectal cancer in the CLUE II cohort. However, the relationships between these SNPs and colorectal adenomas have not been well evaluated. In a nested case-control study of 135 incident adenoma cases and 269 matched controls in the CLUE II cohort (1989-2000), we genotyped 17 candidate SNPs in 12 genes (PPARG, TCF7L2, ADIPOQ, LEP, IL10, CRP, TLR4, IL6, IL1B, IL8, TNF, RNASEL) and 19 tagSNPs in three genes (IL10, CRP, and TLR4). Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) for adenomas (overall and by size, histology, location, number). Polymorphisms in the inflammatory-related genes CRP, ADIPOQ, IL6, and TLR4 were observed to be associated with adenoma risk. At rs1205 in CRP, T (minor allele) carriers had a higher risk (OR 1.67, 95%CI 1.07-2.60; reference: CC) of adenomas overall and adenomas with aggressive characteristics. At rs1201299 in ADIPOQ, the AC genotype had a higher risk (OR 1.58, 95%CI 1.00-2.49) of adenomas, while the minor AA genotype had a borderline inverse association (OR 0.44, 95%CI 0.18-1.08; reference: CC). At rs1800797 in IL6, the AA genotype had a borderline inverse association (OR 0.53, 95%CI 0.27-1.05; reference: GG). Three TLR4 tagSNPs (rs10116253, rs1927911, rs7873784) were associated with adenomas among obese participants. None of these SNPs were associated with colorectal cancer in our prior study in CLUE II, possibly suggesting a different genetic etiology for early colorectal neoplasia.

The role of dietary polyphenols in the moderation of the inflammatory response in early stage colorectal cancer

Current focus in colorectal cancer (CRC) management is on reducing overall mortality by increasing the number of early-stage cancers diagnosed and treated with curative intent. Despite the success of screening programs in down-staging CRC, interval cancer rates are substantial and other strategies are desirable. Sporadic CRC is largely associated with lifestyle factors including diet. Polyphenols are phytochemicals ingested as part of a normal diet, which are abundant in plant foods including fruits/berries and vegetables. These may exert their anti-carcinogenic effects via the modulation of inflammatory pathways. Key signal transduction pathways are fundamental to the association of inflammation and disease progression including those mediated by NF-κB and STAT, PI3K and COX. Our aim was to examine the evidence for the effect of dietary polyphenols intake on tumor and host inflammatory responses to determine if polyphenols may be effective as part of a dietary intervention. There is good epidemiological evidence of a reduction in CRC risk from case-control and cohort studies assessing polyphenol intake. It would be premature to suggest a major public health intervention to promote their consumption; however, dietary change is safe and feasible, emphasizing the need for further investigation of polyphenols and CRC risk.

Dietary Inflammatory Index and Risk of Colorectal Adenoma Recurrence: A Pooled Analysis

No studies have evaluated the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and colorectal adenoma recurrence. DII scores were calculated from a baseline food frequency questionnaire. Participants (n = 1727) were 40-80 years of age, enrolled in two Phase III clinical trials, who had ≥1 colorectal adenoma(s) removed within 6 months of study registration, and a follow-up colonoscopy during the trial. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). No statistically significant associations were found between DII and odds of colorectal adenoma recurrence [ORs (95% CIs) = 0.93 (0.73, 1.18) and 0.95 (0.73, 1.22)] for subjects in the second and third DII tertiles, respectively, compared to those in the lowest tertile (P_trend = 0.72). No associations were found for recurrent colorectal adenoma characteristics, including advanced recurrent adenomas, large size, villous histology, or anatomic location. While our study did not support an association between a proinflammatory diet and colorectal adenoma recurrence, future studies are warranted to elucidate the role of a proinflammatory diet on the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis.

Pretreatment serum interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels predict the progression of colorectal cancer

The correlations of pretreatment serum concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα) with the clinicopathologic features and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) were investigated. The pretreatment serum levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNFα were measured in 164 CRC patients before treatment. The relationships between changes in proinflammatory cytokine and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels and both clinicopathologic variables and disease progression were examined by univariate and multivariate analysis. Advanced tumor stage was associated with a poorer histologic differentiation, higher CRP level, lower albumin level, and inferior progression‐free survival rate (PFSR). Furthermore, high levels of CRP (>5 mg/L) were associated with proinflammatory cytokine intensity, defined according to the number of proinflammatory cytokines with levels above the median level (IL‐1β ≥10 pg/mL; IL‐6 ≥ 10 pg/mL; and TNFα ≥55 pg/mL). Under different inflammation states, proinflammatory cytokine intensity, in addition to tumor stage, independently predicted PFSR in patients with CRP <5 mg/L, whereas tumor stage was the only independent predictor of PFSR in patients with CRP ≥5 mg/L. Proinflammatory cytokine intensity and the CRP level are clinically relevant for CRC progression. Measurement of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNFα serum levels may help identify early cancer progression among patients with CRP <5 mg/L in routine practice.

Lack of significant association between serum inflammatory cytokine profiles and the presence of colorectal adenoma

Background

Inflammatory cytokines in the colonic microenvironment have been shown to increase with advance colorectal cancer disease state. However, the contribution of inflammatory cytokines to pre-malignant disease, such as the formation of adenomas, is unclear.

Methods

Using the Milliplex® MAP Human Cytokine/ Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel Immunoassay, serum cytokine and chemokine profiles were assayed among participants without an adenoma (n = 97) and those with an adenoma (n = 97) enrolled in the NCI-funded Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Colon Study. The concentrations of interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-12(p70), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β) were determined. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between adenoma prevalence and cytokine levels.

Results

The presence of colorectal adenomas was not associated with significant increases in the systemic levels of proinflammatory (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) or T-cell polarizing (IL-12, IL-2, IL-10, IL-4, IL-17, IFN-γ) cytokines. Furthermore, MCP-1 and RANTES levels were equivalent in the serum of study participants with and without adenomas.

Conclusions

These findings suggest colorectal adenoma prevalence may not be associated with significant alterations in systemic inflammation.

Identification and monitoring of metabolite markers of dry bean consumption in parallel human and mouse studies

SCOPE

Aim of the study was to identify and monitor metabolite markers of dry bean consumption in parallel human and mouse studies that each had shown chemopreventive effects of dry bean consumption on colorectal neoplasia risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using LC/mass spectroscopy ± ESI and GC/mass spectroscopy, serum metabolites of dry beans were measured in 46 men before and after a 4-week dry bean enriched diet (250 g/day) and 12 mice that received a standardized diet containing either 0 or 10% navy bean ethanol extract for 6 weeks; we also investigated fecal metabolites in the mice. The serum metabolites identified in these controlled feeding studies were then investigated in 212 polyp-free participants from the Polyp Prevention Trial who self-reported either increased (≥+31 g/day from baseline), high dry bean intake of ≥42 g/day in year 3 or low, unchanged dry bean consumption of <8 g/day; serum was analyzed from baseline and year 3. Serum pipecolic acid and S-methyl cysteine were elevated after dry bean consumption in human and mouse studies and reflected dry bean consumption in the Polyp Prevention Trial.

CONCLUSION

Serum levels of pipecolic acid and S-methyl cysteine are useful biomarkers of dry bean consumption.

Berries: anti-inflammatory effects in humans

A sustained pro-inflammatory state is a major contributing factor in chronic disease development, progression, and complication, including the most commonly known diseases: cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, and type 2 diabetes. Fruits, such as berries, contain polyphenol compounds purported to have anti-inflammatory activity in humans. Among the most notable polyphenols in berries are anthocyanins, responsible for their distinctive colors of red, blue, and purple. Berries have been studied widely for their antioxidant properties; however, preclinical data suggest important effects on inflammatory pathways. Correspondingly, the effects of berries, including extracts and purified anthocyanins, have been the subject of a number of human trials. This review aims to evaluate the current state of the human science on berry (products) as a source of dietary polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins, to modulate inflammatory status. Identifying dietary strategies that manage the modern-day inflammatory burden has important implications for chronic disease risk reduction and informing dietary guidelines aimed at achieving and maintaining health.

Multiplexed cytokine profiling of serum for detection of colorectal cancer

AIM

To evaluate the concentrations of eight cytokines in order to identify potential biomarkers for assisting in the detection of colorectal cancer.

MATERIALS & METHODS

The concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9 were detected in the sera of 69 healthy controls, 93 colorectal adenoma patients and 149 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

RESULTS

Multivariate logistic regression analyses, which included CEA, CA199, IL-8, TNF-α and MMP-7, were used to evaluate the diagnostic value for differentiating between colorectal adenoma and CRC. The area under the curve was 0.945 (95% CI: 0.909-0.981). The sensitivity and specificity were 85.86 and 96.78%, respectively. Compared with the conventional biomarkers CEA and CA199, multivariate logistic regression showed significant improvement.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrated that testing using a panel of three serum cytokines, CEA and CA199 may have strong potential to assist in the detection of CRC.

Plasma cytokines as potential response indicators to dietary freeze-dried black raspberries in colorectal cancer patients

Oral consumption of freeze-dried black raspberries attenuated neoplastic changes in colorectal tissue markers of apoptosis, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. To determine whether plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were associated with berry treatment and changes in colorectal tissue markers of apoptosis, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis, plasma and biopsy samples of adenocarcinoma and adjacent normal-appearing colorectal tissue were collected before and during berry treatment from 24 CRC patients who had not received prior therapy and drank a slurry of black raspberry powder (20 g in 100 ml drinking water) 3 times a day for 1 to 9 wk. Plasma concentrations of GM-CSF (+0.12 ± 0.04 pg/mL; P = 0.01) and IL-8 (-1.61 ± 0.71 pg/mL; P = 0.04) changed in patients receiving berries for more than 10 days. These changes were correlated with beneficial changes in markers of proliferation (r(ΔGM-CSF, ΔKi67 carcinoma - normal) = -0.51) and apoptosis (r(ΔIL-8, ΔTUNEL carcinoma - normal) = -0.52) observed in colorectal tissue taken within the same week. Plasma concentrations of GM-CSF and IL-8 may serve as noninvasive indicators to monitor tissue response to berry-based interventions for CRC.