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Li Y, Fang Y, Li D, Wu J, Huang Z, Liao X, Liu X, Wei C, Huang Z. Constructing a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma based on bioinformatics analysis of inflammation-related genes. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1420353. [PMID: 39055701 PMCID: PMC11269197 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1420353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study aims to screen inflammation-related genes closely associated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to accurately forecast the prognosis of HCC patients. Methods Gene expression matrices and clinical information for liver cancer samples were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC). An intersection of differentially expressed genes of HCC and normal and GeneCards yielded inflammation-related genes associated with HCC. Cox regression and the minor absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis to filter genes associated with HCC prognosis. The prognostic value of the model was confirmed by drawing Kaplan-Meier and ROC curves. Select differentially expressed genes between the high-risk and low-risk groups and perform GO and KEGG pathways analyses. CIBERSORT analysis was conducted to assess associations of risk models with immune cells and verified using real-time qPCR. Results A total of six hub genes (C3, CTNNB1, CYBC1, DNASE1L3, IRAK1, and SERPINE1) were selected using multivariate Cox regression to construct a prognostic model. The validation evaluation of the prognostic model showed that it has an excellent ability to predict prognosis. A line plot was drawn to indicate the HCC patients' survival, and the calibration curve revealed satisfactory predictability. Among the six hub genes, C3 and DNASE1L3 are relatively low expressed in HCCLM3 and 97H liver cancer cell lines, while CTNNB1, CYBC1, IRAK1, and SERPINE1 are relatively overexpressed in liver cancer cell lines. Conclusion One new inflammatory factor-associated prognostic model was constructed in this study. The risk score can be an independent predictor for judging the prognosis of HCC patients' survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinglian Li
- Department of Oncology, Kaiyuan Langdong Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of Oncology, Kaiyuan Langdong Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - DongLi Li
- Radiology Department, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People's Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Jiangtao Wu
- Department of Oncology, Kaiyuan Langdong Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zichong Huang
- Department of Oncology, Kaiyuan Langdong Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xueyin Liao
- Department of Oncology, Kaiyuan Langdong Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xuemei Liu
- Department of Oncology, Kaiyuan Langdong Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Chunxiao Wei
- Department of Oncology, Kaiyuan Langdong Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhong Huang
- Department of Oncology, Kaiyuan Langdong Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
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2
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Kennedy JI, Davies SP, Hewett PW, Wilkinson AL, Oo YH, Lu WY, El Haj AJ, Shetty S. Organ-on-a-chip for studying immune cell adhesion to liver sinusoidal endothelial cells: the potential for testing immunotherapies and cell therapy trafficking. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1359451. [PMID: 38694823 PMCID: PMC11061353 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1359451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has changed the landscape of treatment options for patients with hepatocellular cancer. Checkpoint inhibitors are now standard of care for patients with advanced tumours, yet the majority remain resistant to this therapy and urgent approaches are needed to boost the efficacy of these agents. Targeting the liver endothelial cells, as the orchestrators of immune cell recruitment, within the tumour microenvironment of this highly vascular cancer could potentially boost immune cell infiltration. We demonstrate the successful culture of primary human liver endothelial cells in organ-on-a-chip technology followed by perfusion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We confirm, with confocal and multiphoton imaging, the capture and adhesion of immune cells in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines in this model. This multicellular platform sets the foundation for testing the efficacy of new therapies in promoting leukocyte infiltration across liver endothelium as well as a model for testing cell therapy, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell, capture and migration across human liver endothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- James I. Kennedy
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Scott P. Davies
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Peter W. Hewett
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alex L. Wilkinson
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- OMass Therapeutics, Oxford Business Park, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ye H. Oo
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research, Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Wei-Yu Lu
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Alicia J. El Haj
- National Institute for Health Research, Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Shishir Shetty
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research, Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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3
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Hsu CY, Mustafa MA, Kumar A, Pramanik A, Sharma R, Mohammed F, Jawad IA, Mohammed IJ, Alshahrani MY, Ali Khalil NAM, Shnishil AT, Abosaoda MK. Exploiting the immune system in hepatic tumor targeting: Unleashing the potential of drugs, natural products, and nanoparticles. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 256:155266. [PMID: 38554489 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic tumors present a formidable challenge in cancer therapeutics, necessitating the exploration of novel treatment strategies. In recent years, targeting the immune system has attracted interest to augment existing therapeutic efficacy. The immune system in hepatic tumors includes numerous cells with diverse actions. CD8+ T lymphocytes, T helper 1 (Th1) CD4+ T lymphocytes, alternative M1 macrophages, and natural killer (NK) cells provide the antitumor immunity. However, Foxp3+ regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs), M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are the key immune inhibitor cells. Tumor stroma can also affect these interactions. Targeting these cells and their secreted molecules is intriguing for eliminating malignant cells. The current review provides a synopsis of the immune system components involved in hepatic tumor expansion and highlights the molecular and cellular pathways that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention. It also overviews the diverse range of drugs, natural products, immunotherapy drugs, and nanoparticles that have been investigated to manipulate immune responses and bolster antitumor immunity. The review also addresses the potential advantages and challenges associated with these approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chou-Yi Hsu
- Department of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan City 71710, Taiwan
| | | | - Ashwani Kumar
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, Jain (Deemed-to-be) University, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560069, India; Department of Pharmacy, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan 303012, India
| | - Atreyi Pramanik
- Institute of Pharma Sciences and Research, Chandigarh University, Mohali, India
| | - Rajiv Sharma
- Institute of Pharma Sciences and Research, Chandigarh University, Mohali, India
| | - Faraj Mohammed
- Department of Pharmacy, Al-Manara College for Medical Sciences, Maysan, Iraq
| | | | - Imad Jasim Mohammed
- College of Pharmacy, National University of Science and Technology, Dhi Qar, Iraq
| | - Mohammad Y Alshahrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
| | | | | | - Munther Kadhim Abosaoda
- College of technical engineering, the Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq; College of technical engineering, the Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Iraq; College of technical engineering, the Islamic University of Babylon, Iraq
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4
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Qi L, Chen S, Liao Z, Fan M, Zhang J, Gao Y, Shen J, Sun Y, Wang Q. Comprehensive characterization of Fidgetin on tumor immune microenvironment evaluation and immunotherapy in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:4445-4468. [PMID: 38421251 PMCID: PMC10968695 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205598] [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: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Most cancers have a downregulation of Fidgetin (FIGN), which has been linked to tumor growth. However, there aren't many papers that mention FIGN's connection to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, FIGN expression in HCC tissues was markedly reduced as compared to nearby normal liver tissues. According to univariate and multivariate Cox regression, it served as an independent predictor of survival outcomes. Patients with high levels of FIGN expression had a worse outcome. FIGN was shown to be engaged in immune-related pathways and to have a positive correlation with immunological score and immune cells according to KEGG pathway analysis. In HCC patients, FIGN was substantially linked with immunological checkpoints and the hot tumor state. Additionally, immunotherapy and chemotherapy showed a significant therapeutic response in HCC patients with low FIGN expression. This research revealed that FIGN expression was tightly related to hepatoma immunity and might be employed as a biomarker to predict patient prognosis and guide medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longju Qi
- Laboratory Animal Center, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
- Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Shiyuan Chen
- Laboratory Animal Center, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Zehua Liao
- Laboratory Animal Center, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Mengjie Fan
- Laboratory Animal Center, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jiayi Zhang
- Laboratory Animal Center, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Laboratory Animal Center, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jiabao Shen
- Laboratory Animal Center, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yuyu Sun
- Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qinghua Wang
- Laboratory Animal Center, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
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5
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Wang X, Yuan Z, Li Z, He X, Zhang Y, Wang X, Su J, Wu X, Li M, Du F, Chen Y, Deng S, Zhao Y, Shen J, Yi T, Xiao Z. Key oncogenic signaling pathways affecting tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma: basic principles and recent advances. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1354313. [PMID: 38426090 PMCID: PMC10902128 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1354313] [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: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks first among primary liver cancers, and its mortality rate exhibits a consistent annual increase. The treatment of HCC has witnessed a significant surge in recent years, with the emergence of targeted immune therapy as an adjunct to early surgical resection. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has shown promising results in other types of solid tumors. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the intricate interactions between different types of TILs and their impact on HCC, elucidate strategies for targeting neoantigens through TILs, and address the challenges encountered in TIL therapies along with potential solutions. Furthermore, this article specifically examines the impact of oncogenic signaling pathways activation within the HCC tumor microenvironment on the infiltration dynamics of TILs. Additionally, a concise overview is provided regarding TIL preparation techniques and an update on clinical trials investigating TIL-based immunotherapy in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zijun Yuan
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zhengbo Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Longmatan District People’s Hospital, Luzhou, China
| | - Xinyu He
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yinping Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xingyue Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jiahong Su
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xu Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Mingxing Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Fukuan Du
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuai Deng
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yueshui Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Tao Yi
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhangang Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
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6
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Chen A, Yu Z, Ma N, Lu X, Zhang Y, Xu W, Wang Y, Xie J, Qin Y, Mo G, Wu S, Hou J, Zhu W. Atovaquone enhances antitumor efficacy of TCR-T therapy by augmentation of ROS-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:49. [PMID: 38349553 PMCID: PMC10864481 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03628-2] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T-cell therapy has recently emerged as a promising adoptive immunotherapy approach for tumor treatment, yet hindered by tumor immune evasion resulting in poor therapeutic efficacy. The introduction of ferroptosis-targeted inducers offers a potential solution, as they empower T cells to induce ferroptosis and exert influence over the tumor microenvironment. Atovaquone (ATO) stands as a prospective pharmaceutical candidate with the potential to target ferroptosis, effectively provoking an excessive generation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a combination therapy comprising ATO and TCR-T cells against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), both in vitro and in vivo. The results of lactate dehydrogenase and cytokine assays demonstrated that ATO enhanced cytotoxicity mediated by AFP-specific TCR-T cells and promoted the release of IFN-γ in vitro. Additionally, in an established HCC xenograft mouse model, the combined therapy with low-dose ATO and TCR-T cells exhibited heightened efficacy in suppressing tumor growth, with no apparent adverse effects, comparable to the results achieved through monotherapy. The RNA-seq data unveiled a significant activation of the ferroptosis-related pathway in the combination therapy group in comparison to the TCR-T cells group. Mechanistically, the synergy between ATO and TCR-T cells augmented the release of IFN-γ by TCR-T cells, while concurrently elevating the intracellular and mitochondrial levels of ROS, expanding the labile iron pool, and impairing the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane in HepG2 cells. This multifaceted interaction culminated in the potentiation of ferroptosis within the tumor, primarily induced by an excess of ROS. In summary, the co-administration of ATO and TCR-T cells in HCC exhibited heightened vulnerability to ferroptosis. This heightened susceptibility led to the inhibition of tumor growth and the stimulation of an anti-tumor immune response. These findings suggest that repurposing atovaquone for adoptive cell therapy combination therapy holds the potential to enhance treatment outcomes in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhiwu Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510095, Guangdong, China
| | - Na Ma
- Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, China
| | - Xinyu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yajing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Weikang Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510220, China
| | - Yiyue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jiayi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yuqi Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Guoheng Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Sha Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jinlin Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Wei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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Eom JA, Jeong JJ, Han SH, Kwon GH, Lee KJ, Gupta H, Sharma SP, Won SM, Oh KK, Yoon SJ, Joung HC, Kim KH, Kim DJ, Suk KT. Gut-microbiota prompt activation of natural killer cell on alcoholic liver disease. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2281014. [PMID: 37988132 PMCID: PMC10730232 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2281014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is rich in innate immune cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells, natural killer T cells, and Kupffer cells associated with the gut microbiome. These immune cells are dysfunctional owing to alcohol consumption. However, there is insufficient data on the association between immune cells and gut microbiome in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic strains on NK cells in ALD patients. In total, 125 human blood samples [control (n = 22), alcoholic hepatitis (n = 43), and alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 60]) were collected for flow cytometric analysis. C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups (normal, EtOH-fed, and 2 EtOH+strain groups [Phocaeicola dorei and Lactobacillus helveticus]). Lymphocytes isolated from mouse livers were analyzed using flow cytometry. The frequency of NK cells increased in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and decreased in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. The expression of NKp46, an NK cell-activating receptor, was decreased in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and increased in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis compared to that in the control group. The number of cytotoxic CD56dimCD16+ NK cells was significantly reduced in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. We tested the effect of oral administration P. dorei and L. helveticus in EtOH-fed mice. P. dorei and L. helveticus improved liver inflammation and intestinal barrier damage caused by EtOH supply and increased NK cell activity. Therefore, these observations suggest that the gut microbiome may ameliorate ALD by regulating immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung A Eom
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ju Jeong
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hak Han
- Department of Pathology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Goo Hyun Kwon
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Jin Lee
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Haripriya Gupta
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Satya Priya Sharma
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Min Won
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Kwang Oh
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Jun Yoon
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Chae Joung
- Chong Kun Dang Bio Research Institute, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hwan Kim
- Chong Kun Dang Bio Research Institute, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Joon Kim
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Tae Suk
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
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Chen VCH, Huang SL, Huang JY, Hsu TC, Tzang BS, McIntyre RS. Combined Administration of Escitalopram Oxalate and Nivolumab Exhibits Synergistic Growth-Inhibitory Effects on Liver Cancer Cells through Inducing Apoptosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12630. [PMID: 37628813 PMCID: PMC10454364 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612630] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most lethal malignant cancers worldwide. However, the therapeutic options for advanced liver cancers are limited and reveal scant efficacy. The current study investigated the effects of nivolumab (Niv) and escitalopram oxalate (Esc) in combination on proliferation of liver cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Significantly decreased viability of HepG2 cells that were treated with Esc or Niv was observed in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Administration of Esc (50 μM) + Niv (20 μM), Esc (75 μM) + Niv (5 μM), and Esc (75 μM) + Niv (20 μM) over 24 h exhibited synergistic effects, inhibiting the survival of HepG2 cells. Additionally, treatment with Esc (50 μM) + Niv (1 μM), Esc (50 μM) + Niv (20 μM), and Esc (75 μM) + Niv (20 μM) over 48 h exhibited synergistic effects, inhibiting the survival of HepG2 cells. Finally, treatment with Esc (50 μM) + Niv (1 μM), Esc (50 μM) + Niv (20 μM), and Esc (75 μM) + Niv (20 μM) for 72 h exhibited synergistic effects, inhibiting HepG2 survival. Com-pared with controls, HepG2 cells treated with Esc (50 μM) + Niv (20 μM) exhibited significantly increased sub-G1 portion and annexin-V signals. In a xenograft animal study, Niv (6.66 mg/kg) + Esc (2.5 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the growth of xenograft HepG2 tumors in nude mice. This study reports for the first time the synergistic effects of combined administration of Niv and Esc for inhibiting HepG2 cell proliferation, which may provide an alternative option for liver cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Chin-Hung Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan;
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi 61303, Taiwan; (S.-L.H.); (J.-Y.H.)
| | - Shao-Lan Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi 61303, Taiwan; (S.-L.H.); (J.-Y.H.)
| | - Jing-Yu Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi 61303, Taiwan; (S.-L.H.); (J.-Y.H.)
| | - Tsai-Ching Hsu
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
- Immunology Center, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
| | - Bor-Show Tzang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
- Immunology Center, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
| | - Roger S. McIntyre
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T2S8, Canada;
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T1R8, Canada
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