1
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Bao X, Yan D, Yang J, Zhang Z, Yuan B. Role of ERβ in the ovary and ovary related diseases. Gene 2024; 927:148678. [PMID: 38906392 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Estrogen and estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) regulate a multitude of complicated physiological and pathological processes. Jan-Ake Gustafsson's group discovered ERβ in 1996, this crucial finding gives us new insights into the understanding of estrogen signaling. ERβ is highly expressed in the ovary and particularly exists in granulosa cells (GCs). ERβ is a key transcription factor in the maintenance of ovarian granulosa cell growth, differentiation, and homeostasis, and the ovulation function of ovarian follicles and oocytes. Additionally, ERβ can modulate the steroidogenic transcriptional program through phosphorylation and regulate both gonadotropin response and FOXL2 expression within the ovary. In this review, we focus on the role of ERβ in regulating ovarian granulosa cell development and homeostasis, particularly its significance in ovarian cancer (OC), premature ovarian failure (POF), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It also highlights the prospects of small molecule compounds targeting ERβ, providing a new strategy for the treatment of ovarian-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewei Bao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Yan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China; Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Yang
- Experimental Teaching Center for Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bin Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Xiao T, Lee J, Gauntner TD, Velegraki M, Lathia JD, Li Z. Hallmarks of sex bias in immuno-oncology: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:338-355. [PMID: 38589557 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00680-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Sex differences are present across multiple non-reproductive organ cancers, with male individuals generally experiencing higher incidence of cancer with poorer outcomes. Although some mechanisms underlying these differences are emerging, the immunological basis is not well understood. Observations from clinical trials also suggest a sex bias in conventional immunotherapies with male individuals experiencing a more favourable response and female individuals experiencing more severe adverse events to immune checkpoint blockade. In this Perspective article, we summarize the major biological hallmarks underlying sex bias in immuno-oncology. We focus on signalling from sex hormones and chromosome-encoded gene products, along with sex hormone-independent and chromosome-independent epigenetic mechanisms in tumour and immune cells such as myeloid cells and T cells. Finally, we highlight opportunities for future studies on sex differences that integrate sex hormones and chromosomes and other emerging cancer hallmarks such as ageing and the microbiome to provide a more comprehensive view of how sex differences underlie the response in cancer that can be leveraged for more effective immuno-oncology approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Xiao
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-The James, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Juyeun Lee
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Timothy D Gauntner
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-The James, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Maria Velegraki
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-The James, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Justin D Lathia
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Rose Ella Burkhardt Brain Tumour Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Zihai Li
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-The James, Columbus, OH, USA.
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3
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Tang L, Yang X, Zhou M, Feng L, Ji C, Liang J, Zhang B, Shen R, Wang L. Inhibition of inosine metabolism of the gut microbiota decreases testosterone secretion in the testis. mSystems 2024; 9:e0013824. [PMID: 38470251 PMCID: PMC11019917 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00138-24] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that gut microbiota is involved in the regulation of the host's sex hormone levels, such as through interfering with the sex hormone metabolism in the intestine. However, if gut microbiota or its metabolites directly influence the sex hormone biosynthesis in the gonad remains largely unknown. Our previous study showed that colistin, as a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, can significantly downregulate the serum testosterone levels and thus enhance the antitumor efficiency of anti-PD-L1 in male mice; however, the underlying mechanism for the regulation of the host's testosterone levels remains uninvestigated. In the present study, we analyzed the impact of colistin on the immune microenvironment of the testis as well as the composition and metabolism of gut microbiota in male mice. Our results showed that colistin has an impact on the immune microenvironment of the testis and can downregulate serum testosterone levels in male mice through inhibition of Akkermansia, leading to destroyed inosine metabolism. Supplement with inosine can restore testosterone secretion probably by prompting the recovery of the intestinal mucus barrier and the serum lipopolysaccharides levels. All these findings reveal a new pathway for the regulation of the host's sex hormone levels by gut microbiota.IMPORTANCEThis study demonstrates that exposure to even narrow-spectrum antibiotics may affect the host's testosterone levels by altering the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Our findings provide evidence that some specific gut bacteria have an impact on the sex hormone biosynthesis in the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tang
- Department of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xizhong Yang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Qingdao Haici Medical Group, Qingdao, China
| | - Mengting Zhou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lingxin Feng
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Cuijie Ji
- Department of Spine Surgery, Qingdao Haici Medical Group, Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Liang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bei Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ruowu Shen
- Department of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Luoyang Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Qingdao Haici Medical Group, Qingdao, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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4
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Layug PJ, Vats H, Kannan K, Arsenio J. Sex differences in CD8 + T cell responses during adaptive immunity. WIREs Mech Dis 2024:e1645. [PMID: 38581141 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Biological sex is an important variable that influences the immune system's susceptibility to infectious and non-infectious diseases and their outcomes. Sex dimorphic features in innate and adaptive immune cells and their activities may help to explain sex differences in immune responses. T lymphocytes in the adaptive immune system are essential to providing protection against infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, T cell responses are discussed with focus on the current knowledge of biological sex differences in CD8+ T cell mediated adaptive immune responses in infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases. Future directions aimed at investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying sex differences in diverse T cell responses will continue to underscore the significance of understanding sex differences in protective immunity at the cellular level, to induce appropriate T cell-based immune responses in infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. This article is categorized under: Immune System Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Infectious Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Jerard Layug
- Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Harman Vats
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kamali Kannan
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Janilyn Arsenio
- Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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5
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Hunt KS, Alspach E. Battle Within the Sexes: Differences in Male and Female Immunity and the Impact on Antitumor Responses. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:17-25. [PMID: 37939008 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The immune system plays critical roles in regulating tumor progression. However, despite established differences in male and female immune cell function, our appreciation of sex as a variable in antitumor immune responses is only beginning to develop. Recent findings in mice have demonstrated for the first time that disparities in cancer incidence between the sexes are driven in part by differences in male and female T-cell responses. This review will discuss the growing body of literature demonstrating that male and female innate and adaptive immune responses against tumors are not equivalent and highlight the impact this may have on tumor responses to immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katey S Hunt
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Elise Alspach
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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6
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Yamamoto M, Tanaka Y, Takeda R, Nakamoto A, Nakamoto M, Yagita H, Sakai T. Soy isoflavone genistein attenuates the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy in C57BL/6 mice inoculated with B16F1 melanoma and a high PD-L1 expression level reflects tumor resistance. J Clin Biochem Nutr 2024; 74:57-62. [PMID: 38292119 PMCID: PMC10822757 DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.23-76] [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] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapy has been shown to be an effective therapy for many types of tumors. Much attention has been paid to the development of an effector target would be helpful for immune checkpoint therapy. Genistein has been shown to have an anti-tumor effect both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the effect of genistein on immune checkpoint blockade therapy against B16F1 melanoma tumors. Mice treated with genistein or anti-programmed death (PD)-1 antibody showed a significant decrease in tumor growth. However, treatment with genistein had no effect on or attenuated the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy. The percentages of T cell receptor (TCR)β+CD4+ and TCRβ+CD8+ cells and the concentrations of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α in tumor tissue were not different among the experimental groups. A significant difference was also not found in microbe composition. Interestingly, a high expression level of PD-ligand (L)1 closely reflected the outcome of therapy by genistein or anti-PD-1 antibody. The study showed that a combination of genistein treatment does not improve the effect of immune blockade therapy. It also showed that a high PD-L1 expression level in tumors is a good prediction maker for the outcome of tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mako Yamamoto
- Department of Public Health and Applied Nutrition, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yuko Tanaka
- Department of Public Health and Applied Nutrition, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Risako Takeda
- Department of Public Health and Applied Nutrition, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Akiko Nakamoto
- Department of Public Health and Applied Nutrition, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Mariko Nakamoto
- Department of Public Health and Applied Nutrition, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hideo Yagita
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Tohru Sakai
- Department of Public Health and Applied Nutrition, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
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7
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Burgermeister E. Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and Nuclear Hormone Receptor Crosstalk in Cancer Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13661. [PMID: 37686465 PMCID: PMC10488039 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713661] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The three major MAP-kinase (MAPK) pathways, ERK1/2, p38 and JNK/SAPK, are upstream regulators of the nuclear "hormone" receptor superfamily (NHRSF), with a prime example given by the estrogen receptor in breast cancer. These ligand-activated transcription factors exert non-genomic and genomic functions, where they are either post-translationally modified by phosphorylation or directly interact with components of the MAPK pathways, events that govern their transcriptional activity towards target genes involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, metabolism and host immunity. This molecular crosstalk takes place not only in normal epithelial or tumor cells, but also in a plethora of immune cells from the adaptive and innate immune system in the tumor-stroma tissue microenvironment. Thus, the drugability of both the MAPK and the NHRSF pathways suggests potential for intervention therapies, especially for cancer immunotherapy. This review summarizes the existing literature covering the expression and function of NHRSF subclasses in human tumors, both solid and leukemias, and their effects in combination with current clinically approved therapeutics against immune checkpoint molecules (e.g., PD1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Burgermeister
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
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8
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Investigation of the Underlying Mechanism of Huangqi-Dangshen for Myasthenia Gravis Treatment via Molecular Docking and Network Pharmacology. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2023; 2023:5301024. [PMID: 36818231 PMCID: PMC9935813 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5301024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The herbal pairing of Huangqi and Dangshen (HD) is traditional Chinese herbal medicine and has been widely used in China, especially to treat myasthenia gravis (MG). However, the mechanism of HD on MG is unclear. Aim of the Study. This study aims to investigate HD's possible role in MG treatment. Materials and Methods. The TCMSP database was used to identify the active chemicals and their targets. The GeneCards, DisGeNET, and OMIM databases were used to search for MG-related targets. The STRING database was employed in order to identify the common PPI network targets. We next utilised Cytoscape 3.8.2 for target identification and the DAVID database for gene ontology (GO) function analysis as well as Encyclopaedia of Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis on the selected targets. The AutoDock Vina software was used to test the affinity of essential components with the hub gene before concluding that the primary targets were corrected through molecular docking. Results. 41 active compounds were screened from HD, and the number of putative-identified target genes screened from HD was 112. There were 21 target genes that overlapped with the targets of MG, which were postulated to be potential treatment targets. Through further analysis, the results showed that the active compounds from HD (such as 7-methoxy-2-methylisoflavone, quercetin, luteolin, Kaempferol, and isorhamnetin) may achieve the purpose of treating MG by acting on some core targets and related pathways (such as EGFR, FOS, ESR2, MYC, ESR1, CASP3, and IL-6). Molecular docking findings demonstrated that these active molecules have a near-perfect ability to attach to the primary targets. Conclusion. Through network pharmacology, the findings in this study provide light on the coordinated action of several HD formula components, targets, and pathways. It provided a theoretical basis for further study of HD pharmacological action.
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9
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Wang X, Guo S, Zhou H, Sun Y, Gan J, Zhang Y, Zheng W, Zhang C, Zhao X, Xiao J, Wang L, Gao Y, Ning S. Immune Pathways with Aging Characteristics Improve Immunotherapy Benefits and Drug Prediction in Human Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020342. [PMID: 36672292 PMCID: PMC9856581 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020342] [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: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Perturbation of immune-related pathways can make substantial contributions to cancer. However, whether and how the aging process affects immune-related pathways during tumorigenesis remains largely unexplored. (2) Methods: Here, we comprehensively investigated the immune-related genes and pathways among 25 cancer types using genomic and transcriptomic data. (3) Results: We identified several pathways that showed aging-related characteristics in various cancers, further validated by conventional aging-related gene sets. Genomic analysis revealed high mutation burdens in cytokines and cytokines receptors pathways, which were strongly correlated with aging in diverse cancers. Moreover, immune-related pathways were found to be favorable prognostic factors in melanoma. Furthermore, the expression level of these pathways had close associations with patient response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Applying a net-work-based method, we predicted immune- and aging-related genes in pan-cancer and utilized these genes for potential immunotherapy drug discovery. Mapping drug target data to our top-ranked genes identified potential drug targets, FYN, JUN, and SRC. (4) Conclusions: Taken together, our systematic study helped interpret the associations among immune-related pathways, aging, and cancer and could serve as a resource for promoting clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yue Gao
- Correspondence: (Y.G.); (S.N.)
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10
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Hargrove-Wiley E, Fingleton B. Sex Hormones in Breast Cancer Immunity. Cancer Res 2023; 83:12-19. [PMID: 36279153 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-1829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Sex hormones, such as estrogens and androgens, regulate genomic and cellular processes that contribute to sex-specific disparities in the pathophysiology of various cancers. Sex hormones can modulate the immune signals and activities of tumor cells and tumor-associated leukocytes to support or suppress cancer progression. Therefore, hormonal differences between males and females play a crucial role in cancer immunity and in the response to therapies that exploit the intrinsic immune system to eliminate malignant cells. In this review, we summarize the impact of sex hormones in the breast cancer microenvironment, with a focus on how the hormonal environment affects tumor immunity. We also discuss the potential benefits of endocrine therapy used in combination with immunotherapy to strengthen the antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebony Hargrove-Wiley
- Program in Cancer Biology, Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Barbara Fingleton
- Program in Cancer Biology, Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
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11
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Wang L, Tang L, Zhai D, Song M, Li W, Xu S, Jiang S, Meng H, Liang J, Wang Y, Zhang B. The role of the sex hormone-gut microbiome axis in tumor immunotherapy. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2185035. [PMID: 36880651 PMCID: PMC10012946 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2185035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggested that both gut microbiome and sex play a critical role in the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Considering the reciprocal relationship between sex hormones and gut microbiome, the sex hormone-gut microbiome axis may participate in the regulation of the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In this review, it was attempted to summarize the current knowledge about the influences of both sex and gut microbiome on the antitumor efficacy of ICIs and describe the interaction between sex hormones and gut microbiome. Accordingly, this review discussed the potential of enhancing the antitumor efficacy of ICIs through regulating the levels of sex hormones through manipulation of gut microbiome. Collectively, this review provided reliable evidence concerning the role of the sex hormone-gut microbiome axis in tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luoyang Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lei Tang
- Department of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dongchang Zhai
- Department of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Meiying Song
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shuo Xu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Suli Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Haining Meng
- School of Emergency Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Liang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bei Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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12
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He F, Furones AR, Landegren N, Fuxe J, Sarhan D. Sex dimorphism in the tumor microenvironment - From bench to bedside and back. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:166-179. [PMID: 35278635 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Cancer represents a significant cause of death and suffering in both the developed and developing countries. Key underlying issues in the mortality of cancer are delayed diagnosis and resistance to treatments. However, improvements in biomarkers represent one important step that can be taken for alleviating the suffering caused by malignancy. Precision-based medicine is promising for revolutionizing diagnostic and treatment strategies for cancer patients worldwide. Contemporary methods, including various omics and systems biology approaches, as well as advanced digital imaging and artificial intelligence, allow more accurate assessment of tumor characteristics at the patient level. As a result, treatment strategies can be specifically tailored and adapted for individual and/or groups of patients that carry certain tumor characteristics. This includes immunotherapy, which is based on characterization of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and, more specifically, the presence and activity of immune cell subsets. Unfortunately, while it is increasingly clear that gender strongly affects immune regulation and response, there is a knowledge gap concerning differences in sex-specific immune responses and how these contribute to the immunosuppressive TME and the response to immunotherapy. In fact, sex dimorphism is poorly understood in cancer progression and is typically ignored in current clinical practice. In this review, we aim to survey the available literature and highlight the existing knowledge gap in order to encourage further studies that would contribute to understanding both gender-biased immunosuppression in the TME and the driver of tumor progression towards invasive and metastatic disease. The review highlights the need to include sex optimized/genderized medicine as a new concept in future medicine cancer diagnostics and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei He
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institute, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Urology, First affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Andrea Rodgers Furones
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institute, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden; Tumor Immunology Department, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Nils Landegren
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 23, Sweden; Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine (Solna), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden
| | - Jonas Fuxe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institute, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dhifaf Sarhan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institute, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
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13
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Geddes AE, Ray AL, Nofchissey RA, Esmaeili A, Saunders A, Bender DE, Khan M, Aravindan S, Ahrendsen JT, Li M, Fung KM, Jayaraman M, Yang J, Booth KK, Dunn GD, Carter SN, Morris KT. An analysis of sexual dimorphism in the tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:986103. [PMID: 36387163 PMCID: PMC9651089 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.986103] [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: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Women with colorectal cancer (CRC) have survival advantages over men, yet the underlying mechanisms are unclear. T cell infiltration within the CRC tumor microenvironment (TME) correlates strongly with survival. We hypothesized that women with CRC have increased T cell infiltration and differential gene expression in the TME compared to men. Tissue microarrays comprising primary tumor, tumor infiltrated lymph nodes, and uninvolved colon were created from CRC patients. Proportions of CD4 positive (CD4+) and CD8 positive (CD8+) T cells were identified using immunohistochemistry. TME immune- and cancer-related genetic expression from primary and metastatic CRC tumor were also evaluated via the NanoStringIO360 panel and The Cancer Genome Atlas Project database. CD4+ was higher in tumor samples from women compared to men (22.04% vs. 10.26%, p=0.002) and also in lymph node samples (39.54% vs. 8.56%, p=0.001). CD8+ was increased in uninvolved colon from women compared to men (59.40% vs. 43.61%, p=0.015), and in stage I/II tumors compared to III/IV in all patients (37.01% vs. 23.91%, p=0.009). Top CD8+ tertile patients survived longer compared to the bottom (43.9 months vs. 25.3 months, p=0.007). Differential gene expression was observed in pathways related to Treg function, T cell activity, and T cell exhaustion, amongst several others, in women compared to men. Thus, significant sexual dimorphism exists in the TME that could contribute to survival advantages observed in female patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea E. Geddes
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Anita L. Ray
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Robert A. Nofchissey
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Azadeh Esmaeili
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Apryl Saunders
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Dawn E. Bender
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Maaz Khan
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Sheeja Aravindan
- University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Jared T. Ahrendsen
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Min Li
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States,Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Kar-Ming Fung
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States,University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Muralidharan Jayaraman
- University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States,Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Jingxuan Yang
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Kristina K. Booth
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Gary D. Dunn
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Steven N. Carter
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Katherine T. Morris
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States,*Correspondence: Katherine T. Morris,
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14
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Song CH, Kim N, Nam RH, Choi SI, Jang JY, Kim JW, Na HY, Lee HN. Combination treatment with 17β-estradiol and anti-PD-L1 suppresses MC38 tumor growth by reducing PD-L1 expression and enhancing M1 macrophage population in MC38 colon tumor model. Cancer Lett 2022; 543:215780. [PMID: 35690286 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
17β-estradiol (E2) is known to have a protective effect in colorectal cancer (CRC); thus, E2 may be effective for cancer immunotherapy in CRC. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of combination therapy with E2 and anti-programmed cell death receptor-1 ligand (PD-L1) antibodies, and the effects of sex and estrogen on colon tumor growth, PD-L1 expression, and tumor-associated cell populations in an MC38 colon tumor model. Male mice showed increased MC38 colon tumor growth and PD-L1 expression in tumor sections as well as higher proportion of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CD45-CD31-CD140a+), PD-L1-expressing tumor cells (CD45-CD274+) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) (CD11b+F4/80+CD274+) compared to female mice. E2 treatment prior to MC38 injection significantly reduced these phenomena in male mice. Furthermore, co-treatment with E2 and anti-PD-L1 antibodies significantly inhibited MC38 tumor growth and reduced PD-L1-expressing cells in male mice compared to treatment with either E2 or anti-PD-L1 antibodies alone. Combination treatment with E2 and anti-PD-L1 decreased TAM population (CD11b+F4/80+) in the tumor mass while increasing M1 TMAs (CD11b+F4/80+CD86+). These results suggest that estrogen inhibits MC38 tumor growth by downregulating PD-L1 expression and regulating tumor-associated cell populations. Furthermore, estrogen boosted the effect of anti-PD-L1 antibody in the MC38 tumor model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Hee Song
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Nayoung Kim
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea; Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Ryoung Hee Nam
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Soo In Choi
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Jae Young Jang
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Jin Won Kim
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Hee Young Na
- Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Ha-Na Lee
- Laboratory of Immunology, Division of Biotechnology Review and Research-III, Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
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15
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Li T, Huang T, Guo C, Wang A, Shi X, Mo X, Lu Q, Sun J, Hui T, Tian G, Wang L, Yang J. Genomic variation, origin tracing, and vaccine development of SARS-CoV-2: A systematic review. Innovation (N Y) 2021; 2:100116. [PMID: 33997827 PMCID: PMC8110321 DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2021.100116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has spread globally to over 200 countries with more than 40 million confirmed cases and one million deaths as of November 1, 2020. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to COVID-19, shows extremely high rates of infectivity and replication, and can result in pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, or even mortality. SARS-CoV-2 has been found to continue to rapidly evolve, with several genomic variants emerging in different regions throughout the world. In addition, despite intensive study of the spike protein, its origin, and molecular mechanisms in mediating host invasion are still only partially resolved. Finally, the repertoire of drugs for COVID-19 treatment is still limited, with several candidates still under clinical trial and no effective therapeutic yet reported. Although vaccines based on either DNA/mRNA or protein have been deployed, their efficacy against emerging variants requires ongoing study, with multivalent vaccines supplanting the first-generation vaccines due to their low efficacy against new strains. Here, we provide a systematic review of studies on the epidemiology, immunological pathogenesis, molecular mechanisms, and structural biology, as well as approaches for drug or vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbao Li
- Genetic Testing Center, Academician Workstation, Changsha Medical University, Changsha 410219, China
- Geneis (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing 100102, China
- Qingdao Geneis Institute of Big Data Mining and Precision Medicine, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Cheng Guo
- Center for Infection and Immunity, School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ailan Wang
- Geneis (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing 100102, China
- Qingdao Geneis Institute of Big Data Mining and Precision Medicine, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Xiaoli Shi
- Geneis (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing 100102, China
- Qingdao Geneis Institute of Big Data Mining and Precision Medicine, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Xiaofei Mo
- Geneis (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing 100102, China
- Qingdao Geneis Institute of Big Data Mining and Precision Medicine, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Qingqing Lu
- Geneis (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing 100102, China
- Qingdao Geneis Institute of Big Data Mining and Precision Medicine, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Pathology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Tingting Hui
- Geneis (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing 100102, China
| | - Geng Tian
- Geneis (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing 100102, China
- Qingdao Geneis Institute of Big Data Mining and Precision Medicine, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Leyi Wang
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
- Corresponding author
| | - Jialiang Yang
- Genetic Testing Center, Academician Workstation, Changsha Medical University, Changsha 410219, China
- Geneis (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing 100102, China
- Qingdao Geneis Institute of Big Data Mining and Precision Medicine, Qingdao 266000, China
- Corresponding author
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16
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A Systematic Analysis on COVID-19 Patients in Inner Mongolia Based on Dynamic Monitoring. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:5559187. [PMID: 33969118 PMCID: PMC8059476 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5559187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 has spread globally with over 90,000,000 incidences and 1,930,000 deaths by Jan 11, 2021, which poses a big threat to public health. It is urgent to distinguish COVID-19 from common pneumonia. In this study, we reported multiple clinical feature analyses on COVID-19 in Inner Mongolia for the first time. We dynamically monitored multiple clinical features of all 75 confirmed COVID-19 patients, 219 pneumonia patients, and 68 matched healthy people in Inner Mongolia. Then, we studied the association between COVID-19 and clinical characteristics, based on which to construct a novel logistic regression model for predicting COVID-19. As a result, among the tested clinical characteristics, WBC, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), ALT, and Cr were significantly different between COVID-19 patients and patients in other groups. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.869 for the logistic regression model using multiple factors associated with COVID-19. Furthermore, the CRP reaction showed five different time-series patterns with one-peak and double-peak modes. In conclusion, our study identified a few clinical characteristics significantly different between COVID-19 patients and others in Inner Mongolia. The features can be used to establish a reliable logistic regression model for predicting COVID-19.
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17
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Faria SS, Costantini S, de Lima VCC, de Andrade VP, Rialland M, Cedric R, Budillon A, Magalhães KG. NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated cytokine production and pyroptosis cell death in breast cancer. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:26. [PMID: 33840390 PMCID: PMC8040227 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00724-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed malignancy in women. Increasing evidence has highlighted the importance of chronic inflammation at the local and/or systemic level in breast cancer pathobiology, influencing its progression, metastatic potential and therapeutic outcome by altering the tumor immune microenvironment. These processes are mediated by a variety of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors that exert their biological functions either locally or distantly. Inflammasomes are protein signaling complexes that form in response to damage- and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (DAMPS and PAMPS), triggering the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The dysregulation of inflammasome activation can lead to the development of inflammatory diseases, neurodegeneration, and cancer. A crucial signaling pathway leading to acute and chronic inflammation occurs through the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome followed by caspase 1-dependent release of IL-1β and IL-18 pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as, by gasdermin D-mediated pyroptotic cell death. In this review we focus on the role of NLRP3 inflammasome and its components in breast cancer signaling, highlighting that a more detailed understanding of the clinical relevance of these pathways could significantly contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Socorro Faria
- Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Susan Costantini
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit - Laboratory of Mercogliano (AV), Istituto Nazionale Tumori-IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Mickaël Rialland
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1231, 21000, Dijon, France
- UFR Sciences de la Vie, Terre et Environnement, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000, Dijon, France
| | - Rebe Cedric
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Centre Georges François Leclerc, 21000, Dijon, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1231, 21000, Dijon, France
| | - Alfredo Budillon
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit - Laboratory of Mercogliano (AV), Istituto Nazionale Tumori-IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Kelly Grace Magalhães
- Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil.
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18
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Yuan B, Yang J, Dubeau L, Hu Y, Li R. A Phosphotyrosine Switch in Estrogen Receptor β Is Required for Mouse Ovarian Function. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:649087. [PMID: 33898441 PMCID: PMC8063698 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.649087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The two homologous estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ exert distinct effects on their cognate tissues. Previous work from our laboratory identified an ERβ-specific phosphotyrosine residue that regulates ERβ transcriptional activity and antitumor function in breast cancer cells. To determine the physiological role of the ERβ phosphotyrosine residue in normal tissue development and function, we investigated a mutant mouse model (Y55F) whereby this particular tyrosine residue in endogenous mouse ERβ is mutated to phenylalanine. While grossly indistinguishable from their wild-type littermates, mutant female mice displayed reduced fertility, decreased ovarian follicular cell proliferation, and lower progesterone levels. Moreover, mutant ERβ from female mice during superovulation is defective in activating promoters of its target genes in ovarian tissues. Thus, our findings provide compelling genetic and molecular evidence for a role of isotype-specific ERβ phosphorylation in mouse ovarian development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yuan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Louis Dubeau
- Department of Pathology, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yanfen Hu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Rong Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
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