Expression of Interleukin-6 and Integrin ανβ6 in Colon Cancer: Association with Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Implications

ITGB6 promotes pancreatic fibrosis and aggravates the malignant process of pancreatic cancer via JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Integrin β6 (ITGB6) is upregulated in multiple tumor types and elevated ITGB6 levels have been detected in patients with chronic pancreatitis. However, the role of ITGB6 in pancreatic fibrosis and cancer remains to be elucidated. In the present study, ITGB6 expression was assessed using western blotting and qRT-PCR. Besides, cell proliferation, cycling, migration, and invasion were evaluated using CCK-8, flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays, respectively. The expression of fibrosis and JAK2/STAT3 signaling markers was detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis. Moreover, nude mice were subcutaneously injected with co-cultured cell suspensions to establish an in vivo model. The results showed that ITGB6 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and TGF-β-induced pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). Inhibition of ITGB6 expression in PSCs resulted in clear inhibition of activated PSC proliferation, migration, and fibrogenesis. Additionally, reduced ITGB6 expression inhibits the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Interestingly, activators of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway reversed the effects of ITGB6 disruption on PSCs. Activated PSCs notably promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of pancreatic cancer cells in a co-culture assay. In contrast, activated PSCs with low ITGB6 expression failed to significantly affect the malignancy of pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, in vivo results showed that interference with ITGB6 inhibited the activation of PSCs and promoted the development of pancreatic cancer. Silencing ITGB6 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and fibrosis-like effects of activated PSCs and indirectly inhibited the metastasis and malignant process of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Therefore, ITGB6 is a potential candidate target for pancreatic cancer prevention and treatment.

Interleukin-6 Stromal Expression is Correlated with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition at Tumor Budding in Colorectal Cancer

Background. Tumor budding is a poor prognostic factor in colorectal adenocarcinoma, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Interleukin-6 (IL6) is one of the main cytokines produced by cancer-associated fibroblasts. IL6 is linked with cancer progression and poor prognosis by activating cancer cells and modifying the cancer microenvironment. However, little is known about the expression of IL6 in tumor budding and its association with tumor budding in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Methods. The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of IL6 in tumor budding was examined using a tissue microarray consisting of 36 patient samples of tumor budding in colorectal adenocarcinoma. IL6 mRNA was detected by RNAscope. Patients were stratified into negative and positive IL6 expression groups. Results. IL6 expression was overwhelmingly observed in cancer stroma but was negligible in cancer cells. Tumor budding grade was higher in the IL6-positive group in cancer stroma than in the IL6-negative group (P = .0161), while the IL6-positive group significantly exhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype compared with the IL6-negative group in cancer stroma (P = .0301). There was no significant difference in overall survival between colorectal adenocarcinoma patients in the IL6-positive and -negative groups in cancer stroma. Conclusion. Tumor budding may be affected by IL6 expression, and IL6 expression in cancer stroma at tumor budding may be an important prognostic marker.

Differences in serum cytokine levels distinguish between clinically noninvasive lung adenocarcinoma and invasive lung adenocarcinoma: A cross-sectional study

Background

Lung cancer incidence and mortality remain high and are now the leading cause of cancer-related death. Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the main histological subtypes of lung cancer. Previous studies have shown the role of inflammation in the development of lung cancer, but the relationship between cytokines and LUAD is still unclear. To further differentiate and explore the association of cytokines with the risk of non-invasive and invasive LUAD, we studied and assessed serum cytokine levels in patients with two types of LUAD.

Methods

A cohort study of 90 non-invasive LUAD and 90 invasive LUAD was retrospectively included, and the clinical characteristics were recorded in detail. The differences in the levels of 12 serum cytokines (IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-12P70, IL-17A, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) between the two groups of patients with LUAD were analyzed and evaluated. And we evaluated the clinical value of cytokine differential diagnosis of invasive LUAD based on receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 56.6 years, and the proportions of males and females were 38.9% and 61.1%, respectively. IFN-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-8 were significantly increased in patients with invasive LUAD compared with the non-invasive LUAD group. Further research found that smoking is an important factor, with changes in the four cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α being significantly higher in the smoking group of patients with invasive LUAD. It can be seen from the area under the curve that IL-1β and IL-2 have a significant differential diagnosis.

Conclusions

We observed differences in preoperative serum cytokine levels between patients with invasive and non-invasive LUAD, which may serve as potential serum biomarkers for clinical differential diagnosis and disease progression assessment.

Review and Application of Integrin Alpha v Beta 6 in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Integrin Alpha v Beta 6 is expressed primarily in solid epithelial tumors, such as cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer. It has been considered a potential and promising molecular marker for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Cholangiocarcinoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma share genetic, histological, and pathophysiological similarities due to the shared embryonic origin of the bile duct and pancreas. These cancers share numerous clinicopathological characteristics, including growth pattern, poor response to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and poor prognosis. This review focuses on the role of integrin Alpha v Beta 6 in cancer progression. It addition, it reviews how the marker can be used in molecular imaging and therapeutic targets. We propose further research explorations and questions that need to be addressed. We conclude that integrin Alpha v Beta 6 may serve as a potential biomarker for cancer disease progression and prognosis.

Association Between Interleukin-6 Levels and Lymph Node Metastasis in Bladder Cancer Patients

Background

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the urological cancers with high prevalence, mortality, morbidity, and expenditure rates. Urothelial malignancies account for about 90% cases of BC, with squamous and adenocarcinomas making up the remaining 10%. Lymph node metastasis (LNM), the most common type of BC metastasis, is generally found in the pelvic lymph nodes. LNM significantly affects the chances of survival and prognosis for patients with BC. It is feasible to stratify and assess the malignancy of the tumor and its response to therapies using potential tumor markers. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been observed to be a predictor of metastasis in lymph nodes in BC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between IL-6 levels and lymph node metastases in BC patients.

Methods

Thirty-two BC patients between August 2021 and January 2022 were admitted to this study. Data on patient characteristics, clinical data, TNM staging, and IL-6 levels were collected. Univariate analysis was used in the characteristics of the patients.

Results

The total subjects were 32 with 15 results in LNM. The difference in IL-6 levels between the LNM (+) group and the LNM (-) was statistically significant by Fisher's exact test (P = 0.041) and Mann-Whitney U tests (P = 0.003).

Conclusions

The BC patients who had lymph node metastases also had higher serum levels of IL-6.

Does IFITM3 link inflammation to tumorigenesis?

Uncontrolled chronic inflammation, in most cases due to excessive cytokine signaling through their receptors, is known to contribute to the development of tumorigenesis. Recently, it has been reported that the antiviral membrane protein interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), induced by interferon signaling as part of the inflammatory response after viral infection, contributes to the development of B-cell malignancy. The unexpected oncogenic signaling of IFITM3 upon malignant B cell activation elucidated the mechanism by which the uncontrolled expression of inflammatory proteins contributes to leukemogenesis. In this review, the potential effects of inflammatory cytokines on upregulation of IFITM3 and its contribution to tumorigenesis are discussed. [BMB Reports 2022; 55(12): 602-608].

Does IFITM3 link inflammation to tumorigenesis?

Uncontrolled chronic inflammation, in most cases due to excessive cytokine signaling through their receptors, is known to contribute to the development of tumorigenesis. Recently, it has been reported that the antiviral membrane protein interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), induced by interferon signaling as part of the inflammatory response after viral infection, contributes to the development of B-cell malignancy. The unexpected oncogenic signaling of IFITM3 upon malignant B cell activation elucidated the mechanism by which the uncontrolled expression of inflammatory proteins contributes to leukemogenesis. In this review, the potential effects of inflammatory cytokines on upregulation of IFITM3 and its contribution to tumorigenesis are discussed. [BMB Reports 2022; 55(12): 602-608].

Evidence That β1-Integrin Is Required for the Anti-Viability and Anti-Proliferative Effect of Resveratrol in CRC Cells

The β1-integrin receptor is broadly expressed on tumor and other cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and is an unfavorable prognostic factor for cancers. Nature-derived resveratrol has preventive and apoptotic effects on tumors, but whether resveratrol can exert its suppressive actions on TME-induced tumorigenesis through β1-integrin on the surface of CRC cells is still unknown. HCT116 or SW480 cells were exposed to inhibitory antibodies against β1-integrin, bacitracin (selective β1-integrin inhibitor), integrin-binding RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) peptide, and/or resveratrol. We evaluated the anti-tumor actions and signaling impacts of resveratrol in colorectal cancer (CRC)-TME. We found that resveratrol completely altered the β1-integrin distribution pattern and expression on the surface of CRC cells in TME. Moreover, resveratrol down-regulated CRC cell proliferation, colony formation, viability, and up-regulated apoptosis in a concentration-dependent way. These actions of resveratrol were antagonized mainly by inhibitory antibodies against β1-integrin but not β5-integrin, and by an integrin-binding RGD peptide but not by RGE peptide, and by bacitracin in TME. Similarly, resveratrol-blocked TME-induced p65-NF-kB and its promoted gene markers linked to proliferation (cyclin D1), invasion (focal adhesion kinase, FAK), or apoptosis (caspase-3), were largely abrogated by anti-β1-integrin or RGD peptide, suggesting that β1-integrin is a potential transmission pathway for resveratrol/integrin down-stream signaling in CRC cells. The current results highlight, for the first time, the important gateway role of β1-integrins as signal carriers for resveratrol on the surfaces of HCT116 and SW480 cells, and their functional cooperation for the modulatory effects of resveratrol on TME-promoted tumorigenesis.

Integrin ανβ6 Protein Expression and Prognosis in Solid Tumors: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Integrins are a family of adhesion receptor proteins that provide signaling from the extracellular matrix to the cytoplasm. They have been associated with cancer by promoting migration, invasion, metastasis, and survival. ανβ6 integrin is upregulated in several tumors. Here, we evaluate the prognostic impact of ανβ6 integrin protein expression in solid tumors.

METHODS

A systematic search of electronic databases identified publications exploring the effect of ανβ6 integrin on overall survival (OS). Hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled in a meta-analysis using generic inverse variance and random effects modeling. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on tumor site, tumor stage, antibody used for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and method for extraction of the HR. A meta-regression explored the influence of clinical variables on the magnitude of effect of ανβ6 integrins on OS.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies comprising 5795 patients met the inclusion criteria. High ανβ6 integrin expression in tumors was associated with worse OS (HR 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-2.06; Cochran's Q p < 0.001, I² = 81%). Adverse outcomes were similar in all tumor sites (subgroup difference p = 0.10), with the strongest association between ανβ6 integrins and OS in gastric cancer (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.71-2.83) and the lowest in head and neck cancer (HR 1.21, 95% CI 0.79-1.83). There was no significant difference between early-stage and metastatic cancer, type of IHC antibodies, and analysis methods.

CONCLUSIONS

High expression of ανβ6 integrins is associated with adverse survival outcome in several tumors. Prospective studies evaluating the prognostic impact of ανβ6 integrin and its role as a therapeutic target are warranted.

IL-6 as a major regulator of MDSC activity and possible target for cancer immunotherapy

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are generated during tumor progression and suppress the anti-tumor functions of T and natural killer (NK) cells. Their enrichment is associated with a bad prognosis and a worse outcome of immunotherapy in cancer patients. The cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 was found to be a crucial regulator of MDSC accumulation and activation as well as a factor, stimulating tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasiveness and metastasis. Accordingly, IL-6 can serve as a negative prognostic marker in cancer. On the other hand, this cytokine is also involved in T cell activation. This review discusses the pleiotropic effects of IL-6 on immune cell populations that are critical for tumor development, such as MDSC and T cells, and summarizes the data on targeting IL-6 or IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) for tumor immunotherapy to block MDSC-mediated immunosuppression in cancer patients.

ADAMTS8 Inhibits Progression of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A disintegrin and metallopeptidase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs), which is frequently dysregulated in cancers and is involved in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. The present study identified that ADAMTS8 expression is downregulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues when compared with nontumor tissue. The expression of ADAMTS8 is closely associated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in patients with ESCC. Furthermore, functional studies have shown that ADAMTS8 overexpression could reduce abilities of proliferation, migration, and invasion and promote apoptosis of ESCC cells. Meanwhile, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and interleukin-6 are markedly deregulated by ADAMTS8 overexpression. Consistently, in vivo data showed that ADAMTS8 overexpression led to a reduction in tumor growth. These results indicate that altering ADAMTS8 expression could modify the outcomes of ESCC by inhibiting cell proliferation and invasion, while promoting the apoptosis of ECSS cells. Thus, ADAMTS8 represents a potential therapeutic target for ESCC therapy.

Interleukin-6 Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Cell Invasion through Integrin β6 Upregulation in Colorectal Cancer

The metastatic potential of colorectal cancer (CRC) is intensively promoted by the tumor microenvironment (TME) in a paracrine manner. As a pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced and involved in CRC, the same scenario where integrin αvβ6 also becomes upregulated. However, the relationship between IL-6 and integrin αvβ6 as well as their involvement in the crosstalk between CRC and TME remains largely unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated a positive correlation between the expression of IL-6 and integrin β6 in CRC samples. The mutually promotive interaction between CRC and TME was further determined by an indirect coculture system. CRC cells could augment the secretion of IL-6 from fibroblasts, which in return induced invasion and integrin β6 expression of CRC cells. Through the classic IL-6 receptor/STAT-3 signaling pathway, IL-6 mediated the upregulation of integrin β6, which was involved in the invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of CRC cells induced by IL-6. Taken together, our results reveal a paracrine crosstalk between IL-6 signals originating from the TME and increased the integrin β6 level of CRC. IL-6 induces CRC invasion via upregulation of integrin β6 through the IL-6 receptor/STAT-3 signaling pathway. Combined inhibition of IL-6 along with integrin β6-targeted strategy may indicate new directions for antitumor strategies for CRC.

Identification of integrin β6 gene promoter and analysis of its transcription regulation in colon cancer cells

BACKGROUND

The integrin β6 gene, which is expressed in epithelial cancer, plays a pivotal role in various aspects of cancer progression. The present research for integrin β6 regulation mainly focuses on the post-transcription and translation related regulation mechanism and its role in tumorigenesis. The mechanisms of how the integrin β6 gene is regulated transcriptionally, and the promoter and transcription factors responsible for basic transcription of integrin β6 gene remain unknown.

AIM

To clone and characterize the integrin β6 promoter.

METHODS

Software analysis was used to predict the region of integrin β6 promoter. Luciferase reporter plasmids, which contained the integrin β6 promoter, were constructed. Element deletion analysis was performed to identify the location of core promoter and binding sites for transcription factors.

RESULTS

The regulatory elements for the transcription of the integrin β6 gene were located between -286 and -85 and contained binding sites for transcription factors such as STAT3 and Ets-1.

CONCLUSION

For the first time, we found the region of β6 core promoter and demonstrated the binding sites for transcription factors such as Ets-1 and STAT3, which are important for integrin β6 promoter transcription activity. These findings are important for investigating the mechanism of integrin β6 activation in cancer progression.

Integrin αvβ8 serves as a Novel Marker of Poor Prognosis in Colon Carcinoma and Regulates Cell Invasiveness through the Activation of TGF-β1

Integrin αvβ8 expressed on tumor cells executes crucial regulatory functions during cell adhesion in the tumor microenvironment and supports the activation of TGF-β1. This study aimed to investigate the expression of integrin αvβ8 and its clinical significance in colon cancer, in addition to its influence on the invasion and migration of cancer cells. Our results showed that integrin αvβ8 was an indicator of progression and poor prognosis in patients with colon cancer. Moreover, integrin αvβ8 significantly promoted the invasion and migration of colon cancer cells by the activation of TGF-β1 and upregulation of metalloproteinase-9. Furthermore, suppression of integrin αvβ8 was found to inhibit the growth of colon cancer in vivo. Our results indicate that integrin αvβ8 promotes tumor invasiveness and the migration of colon cancer through TGF-β1 activation and is a potential prognostic biomarker. This study may provide clues to further understand the manner in which the tumor microenvironment mediates the development of colon cancer and develop strategies for novel therapeutic targets in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer.