Inhibition of CDC42 reduces macrophage recruitment and suppresses lung tumorigenesis in vivo

The clinical utility of circulating cell division control 42 in small-vessel coronary artery disease patients undergoing drug-coated balloon treatment

BACKGROUND

Cell division control 42 (CDC42) regulates atherosclerosis, blood lipids, and inflammation and thus affects coronary artery disease (CAD), but its utility in drug-coated balloon (DCB)-treated small-vessel CAD (SV-CAD) patients is unclear. This study intended to evaluate the change and prognostic role of CDC42 in SV-CAD patients underwent DCB.

METHODS

Serum CDC42 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 211 SV-CAD patients underwent DCB at baseline, day (D) 1, D3, and D7, as well as in 50 healthy controls (HCs).

RESULTS

CDC42 was decreased in SV-CAD patients compared to HCs (P < 0.001), and it was negatively associated with total cholesterol (P = 0.015), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.003), C-reactive protein (P = 0.001), multivessel disease (P = 0.020), and American college of cardiology/American heart association type B2/C lesions (P = 0.039) in SV-CAD patients. Longitudinally, CDC42 decreased from baseline to D1 and then gradually increased to D7 (P < 0.001) in SV-CAD patients after DCB. Interestingly, high CDC42 (cut-off value = 500 pg/mL) at baseline (P = 0.047), D3 (P = 0.046), and D7 (P = 0.008) was associated with a lower accumulating target lesion failure (TLF) rate; high CDC42 at D3 (P = 0.037) and D7 (P = 0.041) was related to a lower accumulating major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) rate in SV-CAD patients underwent DCB. Importantly, CDC42 at D7 (high vs. low) independently predicted lower accumulating TLF (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.145, P = 0.021) and MACE (HR = 0.295, P = 0.023) risks in SV-CAD patients underwent DCB.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating CDC42 level relates to milder disease conditions and independently estimates lower risks of TLF and MACE in SV-CAD patients underwent DCB, but further validation is still needed.

Serum CDC42 reflects the exacerbation risk and severity, Th1/2 cell imbalance and inflammation in asthmatic children

Aim: To explore the clinical implication of serum CDC42 in asthmatic children. Materials & methods: Serum CDC42 from 80 asthmatic children experiencing exacerbation, 80 asthmatic children in remission and 40 healthy controls was detected by ELISA. Results: CDC42 was highest in asthmatic children experiencing exacerbation followed by asthmatic children in remission and healthy controls (p < 0.001). Among asthmatic children experiencing exacerbation, CDC42 positively correlated with exacerbation severity (p = 0.011), Th2 (p = 0.017), TNF-α (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p = 0.009) and IL-8 (p = 0.008) and negatively correlated with Th1/Th2 ratio (p = 0.028). In asthmatic children in remission, CDC42 correlated with lower Th1/Th2 ratio (p = 0.028) and higher TNF-α (p = 0.026). In healthy controls, CDC42 showed no correlation with Th1/2 or inflammatory cytokines. Conclusion: Circulating CDC42 reflects exacerbation risk, Th1/2 imbalance and inflammation in asthmatic children.

Leishmania infection alters macrophage and dendritic cell migration in a three-dimensional environment

Background: Leishmaniasis results in a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from skin lesions at the site of infection to disseminated lesions in internal organs, such as the spleen and liver. While the ability of Leishmania-infected host cells to migrate may be important to lesion distribution and parasite dissemination, the underlying mechanisms and the accompanying role of host cells remain poorly understood. Previously published work has shown that Leishmania infection inhibits macrophage migration in a 2-dimensional (2D) environment by altering actin dynamics and impairing the expression of proteins involved in plasma membrane-extracellular matrix interactions. Although it was shown that L. infantum induces the 2D migration of dendritic cells, in vivo cell migration primarily occurs in 3-dimensional (3D) environments. The present study aimed to investigate the migration of macrophages and dendritic cells infected by Leishmania using a 3-dimensional environment, as well as shed light on the mechanisms involved in this process. Methods: Following the infection of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM), human macrophages and human dendritic cells by L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis, or L. infantum, cellular migration, the formation of adhesion complexes and actin polymerization were evaluated. Results: Our results indicate that Leishmania infection inhibited 3D migration in both BMDM and human macrophages. Reduced expression of proteins involved in adhesion complex formation and alterations in actin dynamics were also observed in Leishmania-infected macrophages. By contrast, increased human dendritic cell migration in a 3D environment was found to be associated with enhanced adhesion complex formation and increased actin dynamics. Conclusion: Taken together, our results show that Leishmania infection inhibits macrophage 3D migration, while enhancing dendritic 3D migration by altering actin dynamics and the expression of proteins involved in plasma membrane extracellular matrix interactions, suggesting a potential association between dendritic cells and disease visceralization.

Advances in the development of Rho GTPase inhibitors

Rho guanosine triphosphatases (Rho GTPases), as members of the Ras superfamily, are GDP/GTP binding proteins that behave as molecular switches for the transduction of signals from external stimuli. Rho GTPases play essential roles in a number of cellular processes including cell cycle, cell polarity as well as cell migration. The dysregulations of Rho GTPases are related with various diseases, especially with cancers. Accumulating evidence supports that Rho GTPases play important roles in cancer development and progression. Rho GTPases become potential therapeutic targets for cancer therapy. And a number of inhibitors targeting Rho GTPases have been developed. In this review, we discuss their structural features, summarize their roles in cancer, and focus on the recent progress of their inhibitors, which are beneficial for the drug discovery targeting Rho GTPases.

The clinical role of serum cell division control 42 in coronary heart disease

Cell division control 42 (CDC42) regulates blood lipids, atherosclerosis, T cell differentiation and inflammation, which is involved in the process of coronary heart disease (CHD). This study aimed to evaluate the CDC42 level and its correlation with clinical features, the T-helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory-T (Treg) cell ratio and prognosis in CHD patients. In total, 210 CHD patients, 20 healthy controls and 20 disease controls were enrolled. Serum CDC42 levels of all participants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In CHD patients, Th17 and Treg cells were discovered by flow cytometry; CHD patients were followed-up for a median of 16.9 months (range of 2.5-38.2 months). CDC42 level was lowest in CHD patients (median (interquartile range (IQR)): 402.5 (287.3-599.0) pg/mL), moderate in disease controls (median (IQR): 543.5 (413.0-676.3) pg/mL) and highest in healthy controls (median (IQR): 668.0 (506.5-841.3) pg/mL) (p < .001). Moreover, in CHD patients, lower CDC42 level was related to more prevalent diabetes mellitus (p = .021), and higher levels of C-reactive protein (p = .001), Gensini score (p = .006), Th17 cells (p = .001) and Th17/Treg ratio (p < .001) but was associated with lower Treg cells (p = .018). Furthermore, CDC42 low level [below the median level (402.5 pg/mL) of CDC42 in CHD patients] was correlated with higher accumulating major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) risk (p = .029), while no correlation was found between the quartile of CDC42 level and accumulating MACE risk in CHD patients (p = .102). The serum CDC42 level is decreased and its low level is related to higher Th17/Treg ratio and increased accumulating MACE risk in CHD patients.

Aberrant blood cell division cycle 42 expression and its correlation with disease severity, inflammation and mortality risk in patients with acute pancreatitis

Cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) can inhibit inflammation by regulating the activity of macrophage and T cells, which contributes to the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis (AP). Therefore, CDC42 may have application as a potential biomarker for AP. The present study aimed to explore this possibility. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 149 patients with AP and 50 healthy controls (HCs). Subsequently, CDC42 expression in the PBMCs was measured using RT-qPCR; C-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum of patients with AP were measured using ELISA. Meanwhile, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's rank correlation test were performed on the data. The CDC42 expression levels were lower in patients with AP compared with those in HCs (P<0.001). CDC42 expression was declined in patients with moderate-severe AP (MSAP) vs. patients with mild AP (MAP) (P=0.029), and in patients with severe AP (SAP) vs. patients with MAP (P=0.004). CDC42 expression correlated negatively with the Ranson's score (P<0.001), APACEH II score (P=0.011) and SOFA score (P<0.001) in patients with AP. CDC42 expression also correlated negatively with CRP (P<0.001) and TNF-α (P=0.004) levels but not with IL-6 levels (P=0.177). Furthermore, CDC42 expression was lower in deceased patients with AP vs. AP survivors (P<0.001) and in deceased patients with SAP vs. SAP survivors (P=0.026). CDC42 had good potential in predicting mortality from AP, with AUC of 0.829 and a 95% CI of 0.731-0.927, and it also had certain potential in predicting mortality from SAP and MSAP, with AUC (95% CI) of 0.794 (0.616-0.973) and 0.757 (0.558-0.956), respectively. In conclusion, data from the present study suggest that lower CDC42 expression levels correlate with higher disease susceptibility, disease severity, inflammation, and mortality risk in patients with AP.

Blood CDC42 overexpression is associated with an increased risk of acute exacerbation, inflammation and disease severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

It has been previously reported that cell division control 42 (CDC42) protein can regulate macrophage recruitment, T cell-associated inflammation and lung injury. However, its role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the possible association among CDC42 expression, the risk of acute exacerbation and disease features in patients with COPD. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum samples were collected from 60 patients with acute exacerbation COPD (AE-COPD), 60 patients with stable COPD (S-COPD) and 60 healthy control (HCs) individuals. The mRNA expression levels of CDC42 in PBMCs were then measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17 were measured using ELISA. The results showed that the expression of CDC42 was dysregulated among patients with AE-COPD and S-COPD compared with that in HCs. Specifically, the expression level of CDC42 was the highest in patients with AE-COPD, followed by those with S-COPD and the lowest in HCs (P<0.001). Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that CDC42 expression was associated with an increased risk of acute exacerbation in COPD with an area under curve of 0.690 (95% confidence interval=0.595-0.785). CDC42 was found to be positively associated with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease staging in patients with AE-COPD (P<0.01) and S-COPD (P<0.05). Additionally, CDC42 expression associated positively with the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17 in patients with AE-COPD (all P<0.05). However, this association was weaker in patients with S-COPD and became negligible in HCs. In conclusion, data from the present study suggest that CDC42 is associated with an increased risk of acute exacerbation, inflammation and disease severity in patients with COPD, implicating its application as a potential biomarker for COPD.

Cell division control protein 42 correlates with lower disease risk and its elevation predicts better treatment response, and inhibits T-helper 17 cell differentiation in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Previous research reports that cell division control protein 42 (CDC42) is dysregulated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to further explore the linkage of CDC42 with T-helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cell differentiation, and its implication in RA management.

METHODS

After enrolling 80 RA patients, their blood CDC42, Th1 and Th17 cells were detected by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry, respectively, IFN-γ and IL-17A were detected by ELISA. Based on the treatment response at week 12, the patients were classified as response patients and no response patients. In addition, blood CDC42 was also detected after enrolling 40 healthy controls. Subsequently, naïve CD4⁺ T cells from RA patients were transfected with control, CDC42 overexpression and knockdown lentivirus, followed by differentiation assay.

RESULTS

CDC42 was reduced in RA patients versus healthy controls (P < 0.001). In RA patients, CDC42 was negatively correlated with IFN-γ (P = 0.023), Th17 cells (P = 0.011) and IL-17A (P = 0.003) but not Th1 cells (P = 0.200). CDC42 presented an increasing trend after treatment (P < 0.001); besides, CDC42 at week 8 (P = 0.027) and week 12 (P < 0.001) were increased in response patients versus no response patients. Subsequent experiment showed that in RA CD4⁺ T cells, CDC42 overexpression reduced IFN-γ and IL-17A (both P < 0.05), while CDC42 knockdown elevated IL-17A (P < 0.05) but not IFN-γ (P > 0.05). Moreover, CDC42 overexpression inhibited, while CDC42 knockdown increased Th17 cell percentage (P < 0.05) but not Th1 cell percentage (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

CDC42 negatively correlates with disease risk and its elevation predicts better treatment response; it also inhibits Th17 but not Th1 cell differentiation in RA.

The relation of blood cell division control protein 42 level with disease risk, comorbidity, tumor features/markers, and prognosis in colorectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Cell division control protein 42 (CDC42) is involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression by modulating CD8⁺ T cell activation, immune escape, and direct oncogenetic biological processes. This study aimed to explore the correlation of blood CDC42 with disease risk, comorbidities, disease features, tumor markers, and prognosis among CRC patients.

METHODS

CDC42 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction from 250 resectable CRC patients and 50 healthy controls (HCs). CDC42 was divided by quartiles, as well as high and low expressions in CRC patients for correlation and survival analysis.

RESULTS

CDC42 was elevated in CRC patients vs. HCs (p < 0.001), which had a good ability to distinguish CRC patients from HCs with the area under the curve (95% confidence interval) of 0.889 (0.841-0.937). In CRC patients, CDC42 was not associated with demographics or comorbidities (all p > 0.05), while its higher quartile was linked to increased T stage (p < 0.001), N stage (p = 0.009), TNM stage (p < 0.001), abnormal carcinoembryonic antigen (p = 0.043), and adjuvant chemotherapy administration (p = 0.002). Higher CDC42 quartile (p = 0.002) and CDC42 high (vs. low) (p < 0.001) were related to worse disease-free survival (DFS); meanwhile, elevated CDC42 quartile (p = 0.002) and CDC42 high (vs. low) (p = 0.001) were also linked to poor overall survival (OS). Multivariate Cox's regression analysis presented that CDC42 quartile 3 and 4 (vs. quartile 1) independently predicted declined DFS and OS (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Circulating CDC42 relates to higher disease risk, T, N, and TNM stage, abnormal tumor marker, and poor prognosis among CRC patients.

PBMC CDC42 reveals the disease activity and treatment efficacy of TNF inhibitor in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE

Cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) regulates the polarization of M2 macrophage and maintains the T cell homeostasis, to participate in multiple autoimmune diseases, while its clinical involvement in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains unclear. Hence, the current study aimed to investigate the correlation of CDC42 with clinical characteristics and treatment outcome in AS patients receiving tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor therapy.

METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) CDC42 expression was detected at baseline, week (W) 4, W8, and W12 after TNF inhibitor treatment in 91 AS patients and in 50 HCs after enrollment. Furthermore, serum TNF-α, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) from AS patients were detected at baseline.

RESULTS

Blood CDC42 was lower in AS patients compared with HCs (p < 0.001). Additionally, blood CDC42 was negatively linked with CRP (r = -0.349, p = 0.001), BASDAI score (r = -0.243, p = 0.020), and ASDAS_CRP score (r = -0.238, p = 0.023) in AS patients; however, blood CDC42 was not correlated with other clinical characteristics. Besides, CDC42 was negatively correlated with TNF-α (r = -0.237, p = 0.024) and IL-17A (r = -0.339, p = 0.001) but not with IFN-γ (p = 0.083) or IL-10 (p = 0.280). Moreover, blood CDC42 was elevated after TNF inhibitor treatment (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, blood CDC42 was not varied at baseline and W4 between response patients and non-response patients, while it was higher at W8 (p = 0.019) and W12 (p = 0.002) in response patients than in non-response patients after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Blood CDC42 deficiency links with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, disease activity and unsatisfying response to TNF inhibitor in AS patients.