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Li L, Mao R, Yuan S, Xie Q, Meng J, Gu Y, Tan S, Xu X, Gao C, Liu H, Ma C, Man SM, Meng X, Xu T, Qi X. NCF4 attenuates colorectal cancer progression by modulating inflammasome activation and immune surveillance. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5170. [PMID: 38886341 PMCID: PMC11183137 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49549-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The spatiotemporal regulation of inflammasome activation remains unclear. To examine the mechanism underlying the assembly and regulation of the inflammasome response, here we perform an immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry analysis of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) and identify NCF4/1/2 as ASC-binding proteins. Reduced NCF4 expression is associated with colorectal cancer development and decreased five-year survival rate in patients with colorectal cancer. NCF4 cooperates with NCF1 and NCF2 to promote NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome activation. Mechanistically, NCF4 phosphorylation and puncta distribution switches from the NADPH complex to the perinuclear region, mediating ASC oligomerization, speck formation and inflammasome activation. NCF4 functions as a sensor of ROS levels, to establish a balance between ROS production and inflammasome activation. NCF4 deficiency causes severe colorectal cancer in mice, increases transit-amplifying and precancerous cells, reduces the frequency and activation of CD8+ T and NK cells, and impairs the inflammasome-IL-18-IFN-γ axis during the early phase of colorectal tumorigenesis. Our study implicates NCF4 in determining the spatial positioning of inflammasome assembly and contributing to inflammasome-mediated anti-tumor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longjun Li
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Advanced Medical Research Institute, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Rudi Mao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Advanced Medical Research Institute, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Shenli Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, and China National Center for Bioinformation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qingqing Xie
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Advanced Medical Research Institute, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Jinyu Meng
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Advanced Medical Research Institute, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Siyu Tan
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoqing Xu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chengjiang Gao
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Si Ming Man
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Xiangbo Meng
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Advanced Medical Research Institute, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Tao Xu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Advanced Medical Research Institute, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Xiaopeng Qi
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Advanced Medical Research Institute, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- National Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory; The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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Jiang B, Yan B, Yang H, Geng H, Li P. Transcription Factor E2F7 Hampers the Killing Effect of NK Cells against Colorectal Cancer Cells via Activating RAD18 Transcription. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 34:920-929. [PMID: 38073330 PMCID: PMC11091666 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2308.08026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
As a pivotal defensive line against multitudinous malignant tumors, natural killer (NK) cells exist in the tumor microenvironment (TME). RAD18 E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase (RAD18) has been reported to foster the malignant progression of multiple cancers, but its effect on NK function has not been mined. Here, the study was designed to mine the mechanism by which RAD18 regulates the killing effect of NK cells on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Expression of E2F Transcription Factor 7 (E2F7) and RAD18 in CRC tissues, their correlation, binding sites, and RAD18 enrichment pathway were analyzed by bioinformatics. Expression of E2F7 and RAD18 in cells was assayed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Dual-luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay verified the regulatory relationship between E2F7 and RAD18. CCK-8 assay was utilized to assay cell viability, colony formation assay to detect cell proliferation, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test to assay NK cell cytotoxicity, ELISA to assay levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and immunofluorescence to detect expression of toxic molecules perforin and granzyme B. High expression of RAD18 and E2F7 was found in CRC tissues and cells. Silencing RAD18 could hamper the proliferation of CRC cells, foster viability and cytotoxicity of NK cells, and increase the secretion of GM-CSF, TNF-α, IFN-γ as well as the expression of perforin and granzyme B. Additionally, ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assay ascertained the binding relationship between RAD18 promoter region and E2F7. E2F7 could activate the transcription of RAD18, and silencing RAD18 reversed the inhibitory effect of E2F7 overexpression on NK cell killing. This work clarified the inhibitory effect of the E2F7/RAD18 axis on NK cell killing in CRC, and proffered a new direction for immunotherapy of CRC in targeted immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingdong Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Union Jiangbei Hospital Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430100, P.R. China
| | - Binghua Yan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huai'an Hospital of Huai'an City, Huai'an City, 223001, P.R. China
| | - Hengjin Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huai'an Hospital of Huai'an City, Huai'an City, 223001, P.R. China
| | - He Geng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huai'an Hospital of Huai'an City, Huai'an City, 223001, P.R. China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huai'an Hospital of Huai'an City, Huai'an City, 223001, P.R. China
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Ni M, Wang Y, Yang J, Ma Q, Pan W, Li Y, Xu Q, Lv H, Wang Y. IL-33 aggravates extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma aggressiveness and angiogenesis by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Mol Cell Biochem 2024:10.1007/s11010-024-04944-y. [PMID: 38443748 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-024-04944-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) is an extremely aggressive form of lymphoma and lacks of specific diagnostic markers. The study intended to unearth the role of interleukin-33 (IL-33) in ENKTCL. RT-qPCR was conducted to assess mRNA levels of ENKTCL tissues and cells, while western blot assay was performed for evaluating protein levels. Plate cloning experiment and transwell assay were employed to measure aggressiveness of ENKTCL. Tube formation assay was executed to determine the angiogenesis ability. Mice ENKTCL xenograft model was designed to probe the impacts of IL-33 in vivo. IL-33 and suppression of tumorigenicity 2 receptor (ST2, receptor of IL-33) were enhanced in ENKTCL. IL-33 inhibition suppressed viability, migration, and invasion of ENKTCL cells. Moreover, IL-33 knockdown restricted angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, Wnt/β-catenin pathway associated proteins (β-catenin, c-myc, and cyclin D1) were downregulated by loss of IL-33. However, these impacts were overturned by Wnt/β-catenin signaling agonist lithium chloride (LiCl). Additionally, IL-33 silencing exerted anti-tumor effect via Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vivo. Silencing of IL-33 inhibited ENKTCL tumorigenesis and angiogenesis by inactivating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. As such, IL-33 might be a prospective treatment target for ENKTCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingli Ni
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of CM, Zhengzhou, 450099, Henan, China
- Medical Oncology, Luoyang Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Luoyang, 471099, Henan, China
| | - Yuhui Wang
- Day Operating Room, Luoyang Central Hospital, Luoyang, 471099, Henan, China
| | - Jiezhi Yang
- Medical Oncology, Luoyang Central Hospital, Luoyang, 471099, Henan, China
| | - Qianwen Ma
- Medical Oncology, Luoyang Central Hospital, Luoyang, 471099, Henan, China
| | - Wei Pan
- Medical Oncology, Luoyang Central Hospital, Luoyang, 471099, Henan, China
| | - Yulin Li
- Medical Oncology, Luoyang Central Hospital, Luoyang, 471099, Henan, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Medical Oncology, Luoyang Central Hospital, Luoyang, 471099, Henan, China
| | - Hongqiong Lv
- Medical Oncology, Luoyang Central Hospital, Luoyang, 471099, Henan, China
| | - Yunlong Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of CM, Zhengzhou, 450099, Henan, China.
- Henan Bioengineering Research Center, No. 81, Zhengshang Road, Zhengzhou, 450066, Henan, China.
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Taheri M, Tehrani HA, Daliri F, Alibolandi M, Soleimani M, Shoari A, Arefian E, Ramezani M. Bioengineering strategies to enhance the interleukin-18 bioactivity in the modern toolbox of cancer immunotherapy. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2024; 75:65-80. [PMID: 37813764 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines are the first modern immunotherapeutic agents used for activation immunotherapy. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) has emerged as a potent anticancer immunostimulatory cytokine over the past three decades. IL-18, structurally is a stable protein with very low toxicity at biological doses. IL-18 promotes the process of antigen presentation and also enhances innate and acquired immune responses. It can induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines and increase tumor infiltration of effector immune cells to revert the immunosuppressive milieu of tumors. Furthermore, IL-18 can reduce tumorigenesis, suppress tumor angiogenesis, and induce tumor cell apoptosis. These characteristics present IL-18 as a promising option for cancer immunotherapy. Although several preclinical studies have reported the immunotherapeutic potential of IL-18, clinical trials using it as a monotherapy agent have reported disappointing results. These results may be due to some biological characteristics of IL-18. Several bioengineering approaches have been successfully used to correct its defects as a bioadjuvant. Currently, the challenge with this anticancer immunotherapeutic agent is mainly how to use its capabilities in a rational combinatorial therapy for clinical applications. The present study discussed the strengths and weaknesses of IL-18 as an immunotherapeutic agent, followed by comprehensive review of various promising bioengineering approaches that have been used to overcome its disadvantages. Finally, this study highlights the promising application of IL-18 in modern combinatorial therapies, such as chemotherapy, immune checkpoint blockade therapy, cell-based immunotherapy and cancer vaccines to guide future studies, circumventing the barriers to administration of IL-18 for clinical applications, and bring it to fruition as a potent immunotherapy agent in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Taheri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Abdul Tehrani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Mona Alibolandi
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Masoud Soleimani
- Department of Hematology and Cell Therapy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran
| | - Alireza Shoari
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Ehsan Arefian
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Pediatric Cell and Gene Therapy Research Center, Gene, Cell & Tissue Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Ramezani
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Fantini M, Arlen PM, Tsang KY. Potentiation of natural killer cells to overcome cancer resistance to NK cell-based therapy and to enhance antibody-based immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1275904. [PMID: 38077389 PMCID: PMC10704476 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cellular components of the innate immune system that can recognize and suppress the proliferation of cancer cells. NK cells can eliminate cancer cells through direct lysis, by secreting perforin and granzymes, or through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). ADCC involves the binding of the Fc gamma receptor IIIa (CD16), present on NK cells, to the constant region of an antibody already bound to cancer cells. Cancer cells use several mechanisms to evade antitumor activity of NK cells, including the accumulation of inhibitory cytokines, recruitment and expansion of immune suppressor cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), modulation of ligands for NK cells receptors. Several strategies have been developed to enhance the antitumor activity of NK cells with the goal of overcoming cancer cells resistance to NK cells. The three main strategies to engineer and boost NK cells cytotoxicity include boosting NK cells with modulatory cytokines, adoptive NK cell therapy, and the employment of engineered NK cells to enhance antibody-based immunotherapy. Although the first two strategies improved the efficacy of NK cell-based therapy, there are still some limitations, including immune-related adverse events, induction of immune-suppressive cells and further cancer resistance to NK cell killing. One strategy to overcome these issues is the combination of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that mediate ADCC and engineered NK cells with potentiated anti-cancer activity. The advantage of using mAbs with ADCC activity is that they can activate NK cells, but also favor the accumulation of immune effector cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Several clinical trials reported that combining engineered NK cells with mAbs with ADCC activity can result in a superior clinical response compared to mAbs alone. Next generation of clinical trials, employing engineered NK cells with mAbs with higher affinity for CD16 expressed on NK cells, will provide more effective and higher-quality treatments to cancer patients.
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Sil S, Bertilla J, Rupachandra S. A comprehensive review on RNA interference-mediated targeting of interleukins and its potential therapeutic implications in colon cancer. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:18. [PMID: 36568500 PMCID: PMC9768089 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03421-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colon cancer is the world's fourth leading cause of death. It is cancer of the latter part of the large intestine, i.e. the colon. Chronic inflammation over a long period also leads to the development of cancer. Cancer in the colon region is arduous to diagnose and is detected at a later stage when it metastasizes to other parts of the body like the liver, lungs, peritoneum, etc. Colon cancer is a great example of solid tumours associated with chronic inflammation. Although conventional therapies are effective, they lose their effectiveness beyond a certain point. Relapse of the disease occurs frequently. RNA interference (RNAi) is emerging as a great tool to specifically attack the cancer cells of a target site like the colon. RNAi deals with epigenetic changes made in the defective cells which ultimately leads to their death without harming the healthy cells. In this review, two types of epigenetic modulators have been considered, namely siRNA and miRNA, and their effect on interleukins. Interleukins, a class of cytokines, are major inflammatory responses of the body that are released by immune cells like leukocytes and macrophages. Some of these interleukins are pro-inflammatory, thereby promoting inflammation which eventually causes cancer. RNAi can prevent colon cancer by inhibiting pro-inflammatory interleukins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagari Sil
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu 603 203 India
| | - Janet Bertilla
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu 603 203 India
| | - S. Rupachandra
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu 603 203 India
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Evaluation of the Effects of Genistein In Vitro as a Chemopreventive Agent for Colorectal Cancer—Strategy to Improve Its Efficiency When Administered Orally. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27207042. [PMID: 36296636 PMCID: PMC9612062 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27207042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal Cancer (CRC) ranks third in terms of incidence and second in terms of mortality and prevalence worldwide. In relation to chemotherapy treatment, the most used drug is 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); however, the use of this drug generates various toxic effects at the systemic level. For this reason, new therapeutic strategies are currently being sought that can be used as neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatments. Recent research has shown that natural compounds, such as genistein, have chemotherapeutic and anticancer effects, but the mechanisms of action of genistein and its molecular targets in human colon cells have not been fully elucidated. The results reported in relation to non-malignant cell lines are also unclear, which does not allow evidence of the selectivity that this compound may have. Therefore, in this work, genistein was evaluated in vitro in both cancer cell lines SW480 and SW620 and in the non-malignant cell line HaCaT. The results obtained show that genistein has selectivity for the SW480 and SW620 cell lines. In addition, it inhibits cell viability and has an antiproliferative effect in a dose-dependent manner. Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also found, suggesting an association with the cell death process through various mechanisms. Finally, the encapsulation strategy that was proposed made it possible to demonstrate that bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is capable of protecting genistein from the acidic conditions of gastric fluid and also allows the release of the compound in the colonic fluid. This would allow genistein to act locally in the mucosa of the colon where the first stages of CRC occur.
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Saetang J, Roongsawang N, Sangkhathat S, Voravuthikunchai SP, Sangkaew N, Prompat N, Srichana T, Tipmanee V. Surface cysteine to serine substitutions in IL-18 reduce aggregation and enhance activity. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13626. [PMID: 35811828 PMCID: PMC9266699 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is prone to form multimers resulting in inactive aggregates, making this cytokine unstable for clinical use. Therefore, mutations have been introduced into recombinant IL-18 to overcome this issue. Methods To prevent the formation of disulfide bonds between the IL-18 molecules, multiple mutations targeting surface cysteines (C38, C68, C76, and C127) were introduced into our previously modified human IL-18 double mutant E6K+T63A (IL-18 DM) by direct gene synthesis. The open reading frames of IL-18 wild-type (WT), IL-18 DM, and IL-18 multiple mutant E6K+T63A+C38S+C68S+C76S+C127S (IL-18 DM1234) were inserted in the pET28a expression vector and transformed into Escherichia coli Rosetta2 (DE3) pLysS cells for protein production. The inclusion bodies of WT and mutated IL-18 were extracted by sonication and refolded by stepwise dialysis using 8 M urea as the starting concentration. The refolded IL-18 proteins were tested for aggregation using the ProteoStat protein aggregation assay. Their activity was also investigated by treating NK-92MI cells with each IL-18 at concentrations of 75, 150, and 300 ng/ml with 0.5 ng/ml of human IL-12 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels in the supernatant were evaluated using ELISA. The structure of modified IL-18 was visualized using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Results IL-18 DM1234 exhibited the lowest aggregation signal, approximately 1.79- and 1.63-fold less than that of the WT and IL-18 DM proteins. Additionally, the IFN-γ inducing activity of IL-18 DM1234 was about 10 and 2.8 times higher than that of the WT and IL-18 DM, respectively. MD simulations revealed that binding site I of IL-18 DM1234 was altered mainly due to surface cysteine replacement with serine (C-to-S substitution). This is the first report showing that C-to-S substitutions in IL-18 improved its activity and stability, suggesting the use of this modified IL-18 for medical purposes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jirakrit Saetang
- International Center of Excellence in Seafood Science and Innovation, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand,Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand,EZ-Mol-Design Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Niran Roongsawang
- Microbial Cell Factory Research Team, Biorefinery and Bioproduct Technology Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Surasak Sangkhathat
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand,Translational Medicine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Supayang Piyawan Voravuthikunchai
- Center of Antimicrobial Biomaterial Innovation-Southeast Asia and Natural Product Research Center of Excellence, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Natnaree Sangkaew
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Napat Prompat
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Teerapol Srichana
- Drug Delivery System Excellence Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Varomyalin Tipmanee
- EZ-Mol-Design Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
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Patra S, Sahu N, Saxena S, Pradhan B, Nayak SK, Roychowdhury A. Effects of Probiotics at the Interface of Metabolism and Immunity to Prevent Colorectal Cancer-Associated Gut Inflammation: A Systematic Network and Meta-Analysis With Molecular Docking Studies. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:878297. [PMID: 35711771 PMCID: PMC9195627 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.878297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dysbiosis/imbalance in the gut microbial composition triggers chronic inflammation and promotes colorectal cancer (CRC). Modulation of the gut microbiome by the administration of probiotics is a promising strategy to reduce carcinogenic inflammation. However, the mechanism remains unclear. Methods In this study, we presented a systematic network, meta-analysis, and molecular docking studies to determine the plausible mechanism of probiotic intervention in diminishing CRC-causing inflammations. Results We selected 77 clinical, preclinical, in vitro, and in vivo articles (PRISMA guidelines) and identified 36 probiotics and 135 training genes connected to patients with CRC with probiotic application. The meta-analysis rationalizes the application of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of CRC. An association network is generated with 540 nodes and 1,423 edges. MCODE cluster analysis identifies 43 densely interconnected modules from the network. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of the top scoring and functionally significant modules reveal stress-induced metabolic pathways (JNK, MAPK), immunomodulatory pathways, intrinsic apoptotic pathways, and autophagy as contributors for CRC where probiotics could offer major benefits. Based on the enrichment analyses, 23 CRC-associated proteins and 7 probiotic-derived bacteriocins were selected for molecular docking studies. Results indicate that the key CRC-associated proteins (e.g., COX-2, CASP9, PI3K, and IL18R) significantly interact with the probiotic-derived bacteriocins (e.g., plantaricin JLA-9, lactococcin A, and lactococcin mmfii). Finally, a model for probiotic intervention to reduce CRC-associated inflammation has been proposed. Conclusion Probiotics and/or probiotic-derived bacteriocins could directly interact with CRC-promoting COX2. They could modulate inflammatory NLRP3 and NFkB pathways to reduce CRC-associated inflammation. Probiotics could also activate autophagy and apoptosis by regulating PI3K/AKT and caspase pathways in CRC. In summary, the potential mechanisms of probiotic-mediated CRC prevention include multiple signaling cascades, yet pathways related to metabolism and immunity are the crucial ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinjini Patra
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Nilanjan Sahu
- National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) Bhubaneswar, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Odisha, India
| | - Shivam Saxena
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Biswaranjan Pradhan
- S. K. Dash Center of Excellence of Biosciences and Engineering & Technology (SKBET), Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Saroj Kumar Nayak
- S. K. Dash Center of Excellence of Biosciences and Engineering & Technology (SKBET), Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Anasuya Roychowdhury
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- *Correspondence: Anasuya Roychowdhury /0000-0003-3735-3021
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Ashrafizadeh M, Zarrabi A, Mostafavi E, Aref AR, Sethi G, Wang L, Tergaonkar V. Non-coding RNA-based regulation of inflammation. Semin Immunol 2022; 59:101606. [PMID: 35691882 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation is a multifactorial process and various biological mechanisms and pathways participate in its development. The presence of inflammation is involved in pathogenesis of different diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and even, cancer. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise large part of transcribed genome and their critical function in physiological and pathological conditions has been confirmed. The present review focuses on miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs as ncRNAs and their potential functions in inflammation regulation and resolution. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors are regulated by miRNAs via binding to 3'-UTR or indirectly via affecting other pathways such as SIRT1 and NF-κB. LncRNAs display a similar function and they can also affect miRNAs via sponging in regulating levels of cytokines. CircRNAs mainly affect miRNAs and reduce their expression in regulating cytokine levels. Notably, exosomal ncRNAs have shown capacity in inflammation resolution. In addition to pre-clinical studies, clinical trials have examined role of ncRNAs in inflammation-mediated disease pathogenesis and cytokine regulation. The therapeutic targeting of ncRNAs using drugs and nucleic acids have been analyzed to reduce inflammation in disease therapy. Therefore, ncRNAs can serve as diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets in inflammation-related diseases in pre-clinical and clinical backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No. 27, Orhanlı, Tuzla, 34956 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, 34396 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Ebrahim Mostafavi
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Translational Sciences, Xsphera Biosciences Inc. 6, Tide Street, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore; NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
| | - Lingzhi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore; Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vinay Tergaonkar
- Laboratory of NF-κB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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11
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Wang C, Yang M, Gu X, Gu Y. Lemur tyrosine kinase-3 (LMTK3) induces chemoresistance to cetuximab in colorectal cancer via the ERK/MAPK pathway. Bioengineered 2021; 12:6594-6605. [PMID: 34516351 PMCID: PMC8806509 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1974655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
As an oncogenic kinase in multiple cancers, LMTK3 was deeply implicated in cancer pathogenesis. Nevertheless, its biological function in colorectal cancer (CRC) is still unclear. In this study, LMTK3 mRNA expression was assessed by RT-qPCR. LMTK3, phospho-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2), ERK1/2, and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels were detected by western blotting. Cetuximab (CTX)-resistant CRC cell models were constructed to investigate the mechanism of LMTK3-regulated CTX resistance in CRC. CTX half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and invasion of CRC cells were analyzed via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays. We found LMTK3 was distinctly upregulated in CRC tissues and cells, particularly in CTX-resistant CRC tissues and cells. LMTK3 inhibition lowered CTX half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value, inhibited cell viability, induced cell apoptosis, triggered cell-cycle arrest, and impaired cell metastatic capability in CTX-resistant CRC cells. Moreover, we also demonstrated that LMTK3 induced CTX resistance in CRC via the activation of ERK/MAPK signaling in vitro. These results suggested a novel molecular mechanism by which LMTK3 participates in the development of CTX resistance in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Wang
- Endoscopy and Laparoscopy Center, Changzhou No.3 People's Hospital, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miaomiao Yang
- Endoscopy and Laparoscopy Center, Changzhou No.3 People's Hospital, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xi Gu
- Endoscopy and Laparoscopy Center, Changzhou No.3 People's Hospital, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanjing Gu
- Endoscopy and Laparoscopy Center, Changzhou No.3 People's Hospital, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
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12
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Hu X, Fatima S, Chen M, Xu K, Huang C, Gong RH, Su T, Wong HLX, Bian Z, Kwan HY. Toll-like receptor 4 is a master regulator for colorectal cancer growth under high-fat diet by programming cancer metabolism. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:791. [PMID: 34385421 PMCID: PMC8360949 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Although high-fat diet (HFD) has been implicated in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), the critical signaling molecule that mediates the cancer growth is not well-defined. Identifying the master regulator that controls CRC growth under HFD can facilitate the development of effective therapeutics for the cancer treatment. In this study, the global lipidomics and RNA sequencing data show that, in the tumor tissues of CRC-bearing mouse models, HFD not only increases tumor weight, but also the palmitic acid level and TLR4 expression, which are reduced when HFD is replaced by control diet. These concomitant changes suggest the roles of palmitic acid and TLR4 in CRC growth. Subsequent studies show that palmitic acid regulates TLR4 expression in PU.1-dependent manner. Knockdown of PU.1 or mutations of PU.1-binding site on TLR4 promoter abolish the palmitic acid-increased TLR4 expression. The role of palmitic acid/PU.1/TLR4 axis in CRC growth is further examined in cell model and animal models that are fed either HFD or palmitic acid-rich diet. More importantly, iTRAQ proteomics data show that knockdown of TLR4 changes the metabolic enzyme profiles in the tumor tissues, which completely abolish the HFD-enhanced ATP production and cancer growth. Our data clearly demonstrate that TLR4 is a master regulator for CRC growth under HFD by programming cancer metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianjing Hu
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sarwat Fatima
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Minting Chen
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Keyang Xu
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chunhua Huang
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rui-Hong Gong
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tao Su
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Hoi Leong Xavier Wong
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhaoxiang Bian
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Hiu Yee Kwan
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
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13
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Zhang HW, Guo Y, Sun LX, Ni FB, Xu K. Prognostic value of small mother against decapentaplegic expression in human gastric cancer. Bioengineered 2021; 12:2534-2549. [PMID: 34138687 PMCID: PMC8806811 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1935192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignancy in the world with alow 5-year survival rate. To date, no study has investigated the prognostic role of the small mother against decapentaplegic (SMAD) in gastric cancer. The association of SMADs with overall survival (OS) of gastric cancer was analyzed on the online Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter database. Clinical data such as stage, differentiation, gender, treatment, and Her2 mutation status of gastric cancer patients were analyzed. The (E)-SIS3 was used to inhibit SMAD3 expression in gastric cancer cells, and the effects of SMAD3 on gastric cancer cells were analyzed via real-time cellular analysis (RTCA), flow cytometry, colony formation, and immunofluorescence assay. The results showed that the high expression of three members of SMADs (SMAD1, SMAD2, SMAD4) was correlated with afavorable OS of gastric cancer patients. Meanwhile, SMAD3 expression level indicated highly differentiated cancer. We also observed that surgical treatment was associated with high expression level of SMAD1 and SMAD2. Besides, the effect of Her2 on gastric cancer was not noticeable. Moreover, (E)-SIS3 pharmacological assay revealed that inhibition of expression of SMAD3 suppressed the proliferation and migration ability of gastric cancer cells via inducing apoptosis. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the high expression level of three members of SMADs (SMAD1, SMAD2, and SMAD4) is significantly correlated with favorable OS of gastric cancer patients, which is opposite to SMAD3. Thus, SMADs regulate the differentiation of cancer and can be used to guide treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- He-Wei Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Top Key Discipline in Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Ying Guo
- Department of Surgery, Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Top Key Discipline in Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Lin-Xiao Sun
- Department of Surgery, Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Top Key Discipline in Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Fu-Biao Ni
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Ke Xu
- Endocrinology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
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14
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Ning M, Qin S, Tian J, Wang Y, Liu Q. LncRNA AFAP-AS1 promotes anaplastic thyroid cancer progression by sponging miR-155-5p through ETS1/ERK pathway. Bioengineered 2021; 12:1543-1554. [PMID: 33999777 PMCID: PMC8806209 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1918537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is the most common malignant endocrine tumors which resist to majority treatment. Thus, there is impelling need to figure out the mechanism of progress of ATC. In this study, we explored the function and mechanism of lncRNA actin filamentin-1 antisense RNA (AFAP-AS1) which provided a new biomarker for ATC. Viabilities and apoptosis were tested by CCK-8, colony formation and flow cytometry. The interactions between miR-155-5p and AFAP-AS1 or ETS1 was detected by luciferase reporter assays. ETS proto-oncogene1/mitogen-activated protein kinase1 (ETS1/ERK) pathway was assessed by Western blot. Xenograft models were built to confirm the function of AFAP-AS1 in vivo. Firstly, we showed that relative RNA expression of AFAP-AS1 in ATC cells was higher than in immortalized thyroid cells. Next, AFAP-AS1 was verified as an oncogene in ATC since knock-down of AFAP-AS1 inhibited cell proliferation and accelerated apoptosis. In addition, miR-155-5p was negatively regulated by AFAP-AS1. Moreover, AFAP-AS1 regulated ETS1/ERK pathway by sponging miR-155-5p. Finally, we confirmed knock-down of AFAP-AS1 significantly suppressed tumor proliferation in vivo. Our research proved that AFAP-AS1 could facilitate progression of thyroid cancer sponging miR-155-5p through ETS1/ERK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- MingLiang Ning
- The Third Department of Surgical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shaojie Qin
- The Third Department of Surgical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Jia Tian
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yuchen Wang
- The Third Department of Surgical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Qingyuan Liu
- The Third Department of Surgical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
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