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Gilliet M, Modlin RL. Immunobiology of IL-26. J Invest Dermatol 2024; 144:1217-1222. [PMID: 38206272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.10.038] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
T helper 17 (Th17) cells produce a set of cytokines that include IL-17 family members, IL-21, IL-22, and IL-26. These cytokines all contribute to the classic function of Th17 cells in combatting extracellular infection and promoting inflammation in autoimmune diseases. However, of the Th17 cytokines, only IL-26 has direct antimicrobial activity against microbes and can activate a broad range of immune cells through its ability to bind DNA and trigger pattern recognition receptors. It is noteworthy that IL-26 is produced by mammalian cells, including human Th17 cells, but is absent in rodents. As such, IL-26 is a potential therapeutic target to augment host immune responses against microbial pathogens but also to prevent inflammation and tissue damage in a variety of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Gilliet
- Department of Dermatology, CHUV University Hospital and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Robert L Modlin
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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Trotter TN, Wilson A, McBane J, Dagotto CE, Yang XY, Wei JP, Lei G, Thrash H, Snyder JC, Lyerly HK, Hartman ZC. Overcoming Xenoantigen Immunity to Enable Cellular Tracking and Gene Regulation with Immune-competent "NoGlow" Mice. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:1050-1062. [PMID: 38592453 PMCID: PMC11003454 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-24-0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The ability to temporally regulate gene expression and track labeled cells makes animal models powerful biomedical tools. However, sudden expression of xenobiotic genes [e.g., GFP, luciferase (Luc), or rtTA3] can trigger inadvertent immunity that suppresses foreign protein expression or results in complete rejection of transplanted cells. Germline exposure to foreign antigens somewhat addresses these challenges; however, native fluorescence and bioluminescence abrogates the utility of reporter proteins and highly spatiotemporally restricted expression can lead to suboptimal xenoantigen tolerance. To overcome these unwanted immune responses and enable reliable cell tracking/gene regulation, we developed a novel mouse model that selectively expresses antigen-intact but nonfunctional forms of GFP and Luc, as well as rtTA3, after CRE-mediated recombination. Using tissue-specific CREs, we observed model and sex-based differences in immune tolerance to the encoded xenoantigens, illustrating the obstacles of tolerizing animals to foreign genes and validating the utility of these "NoGlow" mice to dissect mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance. Critically, tissue unrestricted NoGlow mice possess no detectable background fluorescence or luminescence and exhibit limited adaptive immunity against encoded transgenic xenoantigens after vaccination. Moreover, we demonstrate that NoGlow mice allow tracking and tetracycline-inducible gene regulation of triple-transgenic cells expressing GFP/Luc/rtTA3, in contrast to transgene-negative immune-competent mice that eliminate these cells or prohibit metastatic seeding. Notably, this model enables de novo metastasis from orthotopically implanted, triple-transgenic tumor cells, despite high xenoantigen expression. Altogether, the NoGlow model provides a critical resource for in vivo studies across disciplines, including oncology, developmental biology, infectious disease, autoimmunity, and transplantation. SIGNIFICANCE Multitolerant NoGlow mice enable tracking and gene manipulation of transplanted tumor cells without immune-mediated rejection, thus providing a platform to investigate novel mechanisms of adaptive immunity related to metastasis, immunotherapy, and tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Wilson
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jason McBane
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Xiao-Yi Yang
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jun-Ping Wei
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Gangjun Lei
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Hannah Thrash
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Joshua C. Snyder
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Herbert Kim Lyerly
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Zachary C. Hartman
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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Li X, Wu M, Wu M, Liu J, Song L, Wang J, Zhou J, Li S, Yang H, Zhang J, Cui X, Liu Z, Zeng F. A radiomics and genomics-derived model for predicting metastasis and prognosis in colorectal cancer. Carcinogenesis 2024; 45:170-180. [PMID: 38195111 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgad098] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Approximately 50% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients would develop metastasis with poor prognosis, therefore, it is necessary to effectively predict metastasis in clinical treatment. In this study, we aimed to establish a machine-learning model for predicting metastasis in CRC patients by considering radiomics and transcriptomics simultaneously. Here, 1023 patients with CRC from three centers were collected and divided into five queues (Dazhou Central Hospital n = 517, Nanchong Central Hospital n = 120 and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) n = 386). A total of 854 radiomics features were extracted from tumor lesions on CT images, and 217 differentially expressed genes were obtained from non-metastasis and metastasis tumor tissues using RNA sequencing. Based on radiotranscriptomic (RT) analysis, a novel RT model was developed and verified through genetic algorithms (GA). Interleukin (IL)-26, a biomarker in RT model, was verified for its biological function in CRC metastasis. Furthermore, 15 radiomics variables were screened through stepwise regression, which was highly correlated with the IL26 expression level. Finally, a radiomics model (RA) was established by combining GA and stepwise regression analysis with radiomics features. The RA model exhibited favorable discriminatory ability and accuracy for metastasis prediction in two independent verification cohorts. We designed multicenter, multi-scale cohorts to construct and verify novel combined radiomics and genomics models for predicting metastasis in CRC. Overall, RT model and RA model might help clinicians in directing personalized diagnosis and therapeutic regimen selection for patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Research Center, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou, Sichuan 635000, China
| | - Meng Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Min Wu
- Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou, Sichuan 635000, China
| | - Li Song
- Department of Clinical laboratory, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou, Sichuan 635000, China
| | - Jiasi Wang
- Department of Clinical laboratory, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou, Sichuan 635000, China
| | - Jun Zhou
- Department of Clinical Research Center, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou, Sichuan 635000, China
| | - Shilin Li
- Department of Clinical Research Center, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou, Sichuan 635000, China
| | - Hang Yang
- Department of Clinical Research Center, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou, Sichuan 635000, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou, Sichuan 635000, China
| | - Xinwu Cui
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zhenyu Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Institute of Automation, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China
| | - Fanxin Zeng
- Department of Clinical Research Center, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou, Sichuan 635000, China
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Zhang H, Wen H, Zhu Q, Zhang Y, Xu F, Ma T, Guo Y, Lu C, Zhao X, Ji Y, Wang Z, Chu Y, Ge D, Gu J, Liu R. Genomic profiling and associated B cell lineages delineate the efficacy of neoadjuvant anti-PD-1-based therapy in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. EBioMedicine 2024; 100:104971. [PMID: 38244291 PMCID: PMC10831182 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.104971] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy has offered novel therapeutic options for patients with locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Depicting the landscape of genomic and immune profiles is critical in predicting therapeutic responses. METHODS We integrated whole-exome sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, and immunofluorescence data of ESCC samples from 24 patients who received neoadjuvant treatment with PD-1 inhibitors plus paclitaxel and platinum-based chemotherapy to identify correlations with therapeutic responses. FINDINGS An elevation of small insertions and deletions was observed in responders. DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway alternations were highly frequent in patients with optimal responses and correlated with tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Among the TILs in ESCC, dichotomous developing trajectories of B cells were identified, with one lineage differentiating towards LMO2+ germinal centre B cells and another lineage differentiating towards CD55+ memory B cells. While LMO2+ germinal centre B cells were enriched in responding tumours, CD55+ memory B cells were found to correlate with inferior responses to combination therapy, exhibiting immune-regulating features and impeding the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells. The comprehensive evaluation of transcriptomic B cell lineage features was validated to predict responses to immunotherapy in patients with cancer. INTERPRETATION This comprehensive evaluation of tumour MMR pathway alternations and intra-tumoural B cell features will help to improve the selection and management of patients with ESCC to receive neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. FUNDING National Science Foundation of China (82373371, 82330053), Eastern Scholar Program at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning, National Science and Technology Major Project of China (2023YFA1800204, 2020YFC2008402), and Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (22ZR1410700, 20ZR1410800).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Haoyu Wen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qiaoliang Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yuchen Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Fengkai Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Teng Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yifan Guo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chunlai Lu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xuelian Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Ji
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yiwei Chu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Di Ge
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Jie Gu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Ronghua Liu
- Fifth People's Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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Caxali GH, Brugnerotto L, Aal MCE, Castro CFB, Delella FK. Identification of Biomarkers Related to the Efficacy of Radiotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2023; 20:487-499. [PMID: 37643780 PMCID: PMC10464945 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20400] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Pancreatic cancer (PC) has one of the highest mortality rates, with an overall five-year survival rate of only 7%. When diagnosed, PC is limited to the pancreas in only 20% of patients, whereas in 50% it has already metastasized. This is due to its late diagnosis, which makes the treatments used, such as radiotherapy, difficult, and reduces survival rates. Therefore, the importance of this study in detecting genes that may become possible biomarkers for this type of tumor, especially regarding the human secretome, is highlighted. These genes participate in pathways that are responsible for tumor migration and resistance to therapies, along with other important factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS To achieve these goals, the following online tools and platforms have been expanded to discover and validate these biomarkers: The Human Protein Atlas database, the Xena Browser platform, Gene Expression Omnibus, the EnrichR platform and the Kaplan-Meier Plotter platform. RESULTS Our study adopted a methodology that allows the identification of potential biomarkers related to the effectiveness of radiotherapy in PC. Inflammatory pathways were predominantly enriched, related to the regulation of biological processes, primarily in cytokine-derived proteins, which are responsible for tumor progression and other processes that contribute to the development of the disease. CONCLUSION Radiotherapy treatment demonstrated greater efficacy when used in conjunction with other forms of therapy since it decreased the expression of essential genes involved in several inflammatory pathways linked to tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Henrique Caxali
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Laíza Brugnerotto
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Mirian Carolini Esgoti Aal
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Camila Ferreira Bannwart Castro
- Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics Laboratory - Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Flávia Karina Delella
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil;
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Maryam S, Krukiewicz K, Haq IU, Khan AA, Yahya G, Cavalu S. Interleukins (Cytokines) as Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer: Progression, Detection, and Monitoring. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12093127. [PMID: 37176567 PMCID: PMC10179696 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12093127] [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: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the primary cause of death in economically developed countries and the second leading cause in developing countries. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Risk factors for CRC include obesity, a diet low in fruits and vegetables, physical inactivity, and smoking. CRC has a poor prognosis, and there is a critical need for new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers to reduce related deaths. Recently, studies have focused more on molecular testing to guide targeted treatments for CRC patients. The most crucial feature of activated immune cells is the production and release of growth factors and cytokines that modulate the inflammatory conditions in tumor tissues. The cytokine network is valuable for the prognosis and pathogenesis of colorectal cancer as they can aid in the cost-effective and non-invasive detection of cancer. A large number of interleukins (IL) released by the immune system at various stages of CRC can act as "biomarkers". They play diverse functions in colorectal cancer, and include IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-11, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23, IL-33, TNF, TGF-β, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which are pro-tumorigenic genes. However, there are an inadequate number of studies in this area considering its correlation with cytokine profiles that are clinically useful in diagnosing cancer. A better understanding of cytokine levels to establish diagnostic pathways entails an understanding of cytokine interactions and the regulation of their various biochemical signaling pathways in healthy individuals. This review provides a comprehensive summary of some interleukins as immunological biomarkers of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajida Maryam
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Katarzyna Krukiewicz
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Centre for Organic and Nanohybrid Electronics, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22B, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Ihtisham Ul Haq
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Joint Doctoral School, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Awal Ayaz Khan
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Galal Yahya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Al Sharqia, Egypt
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich Str. 24, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Simona Cavalu
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, P-ta 1 Decembrie 10, 410087 Oradea, Romania
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Lv Y, Bai Z, Wang X, Liu J, Li Y, Zhang X, Shan Y. Comprehensive evaluation of breast cancer immunotherapy and tumor microenvironment characterization based on interleukin genes-related risk model. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20524. [PMID: 36443508 PMCID: PMC9705306 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25059-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BRCA) is the most prevalent malignancy and the leading cause of death in women. Interleukin (IL) genes are critical in tumor initiation and control. Nevertheless, the prognosis value of the IL in BRCA remains unclear. We collected data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and 94 IL genes were identified from GeneCard. Based on the random forest (RF), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, and multivariate Cox regression analysis, we constructed an IL signature. GSE22219, GSE25065, and GSE21653 were derived as validation sets. The expression differences in the tumor microenvironment (TME), immunotherapy, and chemosensitivity of BRCA between the high- and low-risk groups were evaluated. Overall, 21 IL genes were selected to construct an IL risk model, of which IL18BP, IL17D, and IL23A were the first time identified as prognostic genes in BRCA. IL score could distinguish BRCA patients with inferior outcomes, and AUC of it was 0.70, 0.76, and 0.72 for 1-,3- and 5- years, respectively, which was also verified in GSE22219, GSE25065, and GSE21653 cohorts. Meanwhile, compared to luminal A and luminal B, HER2-positive and TNBC had significantly higher IL score. Besides, the high-risk group had a significantly higher prevalence of TP53 and TTN but a lower prevalence of PIK3CA, as well as higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) and neoantigen level. High- and low-risk groups exhibited notable differences in immunomodulators and tumor infiltrates immune cells (TIICs), and the high-risk group had significantly lower Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) score. Additionally, the high-risk group has more responders to immune or anti-HER2 combination therapy, whereas the low-risk group has higher sensitivity to docetaxel and paclitaxel. Consequently, we constructed a reliable risk model based on the IL genes, which can provide more information on both the risk stratification and personalizing management strategies for BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalei Lv
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, China
| | - Zihe Bai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- The Fifth Ward of Medical Oncology, Shijiazhuang People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jiayin Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, China
| | - Yuntao Li
- Breast Center, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yujie Shan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, China.
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Cardenas EI, Ekstedt S, Piersiala K, Petro M, Karlsson A, Kågedal Å, Kumlien Georén S, Cardell LO, Lindén A. Increased IL-26 associates with markers of hyperinflammation and tissue damage in patients with acute COVID-19. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1016991. [DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1016991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-26 (IL-26) is released by several immune and structural cells following stimulation of toll-like receptors (TLRs), whereupon it can directly inhibit viral replication and enhance neutrophil chemotaxis. Given these unique properties, IL-26 has emerged as an intriguing mediator of host defense in the lungs. However, the role of IL-26 in COVID-19 has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we characterized the involvement of IL-26 in the hyperinflammation and tissue damage that occurs in patients with acute COVID-19. We found that IL-26 is markedly increased in blood samples from these patients, and that the concentration of IL-26 correlates with those of the neutrophil-mobilizing cytokines IL-8 and TNFα, respectively. Moreover, the increase in blood IL-26 correlates with enhanced surface expression of the “don’t eat me” signal CD47 on blood neutrophils isolated from patients with acute COVID-19. Finally, we found that the blood concentration of IL-26 correlates with that of increased lactate dehydrogenase, an established marker of tissue damage, and decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), a previously verified hematological aberration in COVID-19, both of which are associated with severe disease. Thus, our findings indicate that increased systemic IL-26 associates with markers of hyperinflammation and tissue damage in patients with acute COVID-19, thereby forwarding the kinocidin IL-26 as a potential target for diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy in this deadly disease.
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Mizuno Y, Shibata S, Ito Y, Taira H, Sugimoto E, Awaji K, Sato S. Interleukin-26–DNA complexes promote inflammation and dermal-epidermal separation in a modified human cryosection model of bullous pemphigoid. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1013382. [PMID: 36311716 PMCID: PMC9599390 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1013382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody-mediated activation of immune cells and subepidermal blister formation. Excess amounts of extracellular DNA are produced in BP, however, it remains unclear how extracellular DNA contributes to BP pathogenesis. Here we show a possible mechanism by which interleukin (IL)-26 binds to extracellular DNA released from neutrophils and eosinophils to support DNA sensing. Patients with BP exhibited high circulating levels of IL-26, forming IL-26–DNA complexes in the upper dermis and inside the blisters. IL-26–DNA complexes played a dual role in regulating local immunity and blister formation. First, they enhanced the production of inflammatory cytokines in monocytes and neutrophils. Second, and importantly, the complexes augmented the production and activity of proteases from co-cultured monocytes and neutrophils, which induced BP180 cleavage in keratinocytes and dermal-epidermal separation in a modified human cryosection model. Collectively, we propose a model in which IL-26 and extracellular DNA synergistically act on immune cells to enhance autoantibody-driven local immune responses and protease-mediated fragility of dermal-epidermal junction in BP.
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Yu M, Qian XX, Li G, Cheng Z, Lin Z. Prognostic biomarker IL17A correlated with immune infiltrates in head and neck cancer. World J Surg Oncol 2022; 20:243. [PMID: 35902909 PMCID: PMC9330648 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-022-02703-1] [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: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The underlying functions and mechanisms of the Th17 pathway in Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) progression and tumor immunology are still unclear. We investigated the correlation between IL17A expression and certain clinical parameters, tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in TCGA HNSCC samples. Methods HNSCC files from the TCGA database were analyzed to obtain data on immune system infiltrates, gene expression, and related clinical information. R (Version 3.6.3) software, GEPIA, and TIMER online analysis tools were used to profile the relationship between the expression of IL17A and the prognosis, clinical stages, survival status and immune cell tumor-infiltrating levels of HNSCC patients. GEPIA and TIMER online analysis tools were used to verify the data. Results The expression of IL17A was significantly decreased in tumor tissues from HNSCC. IL17A expression was associated with M, N stage, lymphovascular invasion, and patients OS event. GSEA revealed that IL17A was closely related to humoral immune response, T cells response, and cytokine signal. TCGA database and TIMER online analysis indicated that the B cells and T cells levels were correlated with IL17A. The correlation between IL17A expression and correlated genes was analyzed. Conclusions IL-17A plays a key role in HNSCC. The levels of IL17A are important values for the determination of the occurrence and development of the HNSCC. The IL17A and correlated genes may be potential immunotherapeutic targets for HNSCC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-022-02703-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Yu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing Xing Qian
- Health Management Center, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Guang Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Zexing Cheng
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhijie Lin
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Senile Diseases, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.
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Liao M, Qin R, Huang W, Zhu HP, Peng F, Han B, Liu B. Targeting regulated cell death (RCD) with small-molecule compounds in triple-negative breast cancer: a revisited perspective from molecular mechanisms to targeted therapies. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:44. [PMID: 35414025 PMCID: PMC9006445 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01260-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of human breast cancer with one of the worst prognoses, with no targeted therapeutic strategies currently available. Regulated cell death (RCD), also known as programmed cell death (PCD), has been widely reported to have numerous links to the progression and therapy of many types of human cancer. Of note, RCD can be divided into numerous different subroutines, including autophagy-dependent cell death, apoptosis, mitotic catastrophe, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis and anoikis. More recently, targeting the subroutines of RCD with small-molecule compounds has been emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy, which has rapidly progressed in the treatment of TNBC. Therefore, in this review, we focus on summarizing the molecular mechanisms of the above-mentioned seven major RCD subroutines related to TNBC and the latest progress of small-molecule compounds targeting different RCD subroutines. Moreover, we further discuss the combined strategies of one drug (e.g., narciclasine) or more drugs (e.g., torin-1 combined with chloroquine) to achieve the therapeutic potential on TNBC by regulating RCD subroutines. More importantly, we demonstrate several small-molecule compounds (e.g., ONC201 and NCT03733119) by targeting the subroutines of RCD in TNBC clinical trials. Taken together, these findings will provide a clue on illuminating more actionable low-hanging-fruit druggable targets and candidate small-molecule drugs for potential RCD-related TNBC therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minru Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Rui Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Wei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Hong-Ping Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.,Antibiotics Research and Re-Evaluation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Bo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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12
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Liang L, Yu J, Li J, Li N, Liu J, Xiu L, Zeng J, Wang T, Wu L. Integration of scRNA-Seq and Bulk RNA-Seq to Analyse the Heterogeneity of Ovarian Cancer Immune Cells and Establish a Molecular Risk Model. Front Oncol 2021; 11:711020. [PMID: 34621670 PMCID: PMC8490743 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.711020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Considerable evidence suggests that the heterogeneity of ovarian cancer (OC) is a major cause of treatment failure. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful tool to analyse the heterogeneity of the tumour at the single-cell level, leading to a better understanding of cell function at the genetic and cellular levels. Methods OC scRNA-seq data were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the FindCluster () package used for cell cluster analysis. The GSVA package was used for single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) analysis to obtain a Hallmark gene set score and bulk RNA-seq data were used to analyse the key genes of OC-associated immune cell subsets. CIBERSORT was used to identify immune scores of cells and the “WGCNA” package for the weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) and GO (Gene Ontology) analyses of subtype groups were performed by GSEA. Then, univariate Cox and lasso regression were performed to further establish a signature. Finally, qPCR and immunohistochemistry staining were used to evaluate the expression of signature genes in OC. Results Two scRNA-seq (GSE154600 and GES158937) datasets were integrated to obtain 20 cell clusters. T cells or NK cells (cluster 5, 6, 7, 11), B cells (cluster 16, 19, 20) and myeloid cells (cluster 4, 9, 10) were clustered according to immune cell markers. The ssGSEA revealed that M1- and M2-like myeloid cell-related genes were significantly upregulated in P3 and P4 patients in the GSE154600 data. Immune cell analysis in TCGA-OC showed that a high abundance of M1-like tumour-associated macrophages (TAMS) predicts better survival. WGCNA, univariate Cox and lasso Cox regression established a two-gene signature (RiskScore=-0.059*CXCL13-0.034*IL26). Next, the TCGA-test and TCGA-OC were used to test the risk prediction ability of the signature, showing a good effect in the datasets. Moreover, the qPCR and immunohistochemistry staining revealed that the expression of CXCL13 and IL26 was reduced in OC tissues. Conclusion A two-gene signature prognostic stratification system (CXCL13 and IL26) was developed based on the heterogeneity of OC immune cells to accurately evaluate the prognostic risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Liang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Yu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Xiu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Zeng
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Tiantian Wang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lingying Wu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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13
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Briukhovetska D, Dörr J, Endres S, Libby P, Dinarello CA, Kobold S. Interleukins in cancer: from biology to therapy. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:481-499. [PMID: 34083781 PMCID: PMC8173513 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00363-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 343] [Impact Index Per Article: 114.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Interleukins and associated cytokines serve as the means of communication for innate and adaptive immune cells as well as non-immune cells and tissues. Thus, interleukins have a critical role in cancer development, progression and control. Interleukins can nurture an environment enabling and favouring cancer growth while simultaneously being essential for a productive tumour-directed immune response. These properties of interleukins can be exploited to improve immunotherapies to promote effectiveness as well as to limit side effects. This Review aims to unravel some of these complex interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Briukhovetska
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Janina Dörr
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Endres
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Munich, Germany
- Einheit für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Peter Libby
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sebastian Kobold
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU, Munich, Germany.
- German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Munich, Germany.
- Einheit für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany.
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14
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Itoh T, Hatano R, Horimoto Y, Yamada T, Song D, Otsuka H, Shirakawa Y, Mastuoka S, Iwao N, Aune TM, Dang NH, Kaneko Y, Okumura K, Morimoto C, Ohnuma K. IL-26 mediates epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance through endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling pathway in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:520. [PMID: 34021125 PMCID: PMC8139965 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03787-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis compared to other breast cancer subtypes. Although epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in TNBC, clinical trials with EGFR inhibitors including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) in TNBC have heretofore been unsuccessful. To develop effective EGFR-targeted therapy for TNBC, the precise mechanisms of EGFR-TKI resistance in TNBC need to be elucidated. In this study, to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the differences in EGFR-TKI efficacy on TNBC between human and mouse, we focused on the effect of IL-26, which is absent in mice. In vitro analysis showed that IL-26 activated AKT and JNK signaling of bypass pathway of EGFR-TKI in both murine and human TNBC cells. We next investigated the mechanisms involved in IL-26-mediated EGFR-TKI resistance in TNBC. We identified EphA3 as a novel functional receptor for IL-26 in TNBC. IL-26 induced dephosphorylation and downmodulation of EphA3 in TNBC, which resulted in increased phosphorylation of AKT and JNK against EGFR-TKI-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, leading to tumor growth. Meanwhile, the blockade of IL-26 overcame EGFR-TKI resistance in TNBC. Since the gene encoding IL-26 is absent in mice, we utilized human IL-26 transgenic (hIL-26Tg) mice as a tumor-bearing murine model to characterize the role of IL-26 in the differential effect of EGFR-TKI in human and mice and to confirm our in vitro findings. Our findings indicate that IL-26 activates the bypass pathway of EGFR-TKI, while blockade of IL-26 overcomes EGFR-TKI resistance in TNBC via enhancement of ER stress signaling. Our work provides novel insights into the mechanisms of EGFR-TKI resistance in TNBC via interaction of IL-26 with its newly identified receptor EphA3, while also suggesting IL-26 as a possible therapeutic target in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Itoh
- Department of Therapy Development and Innovation for Immune Disorders and Cancers, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.,Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Ryo Hatano
- Department of Therapy Development and Innovation for Immune Disorders and Cancers, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Yoshiya Horimoto
- Department of Breast Oncology, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Taketo Yamada
- Department of Pathology, Saitama Medical University, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan.,Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Dan Song
- Department of Therapy Development and Innovation for Immune Disorders and Cancers, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Haruna Otsuka
- Department of Therapy Development and Innovation for Immune Disorders and Cancers, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Yuki Shirakawa
- Department of Therapy Development and Innovation for Immune Disorders and Cancers, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Shuji Mastuoka
- Department of Immunological Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Noriaki Iwao
- Department of Hematology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, 1129 Nagaoka, Izunokuni, Shizuoka, 410-2295, Japan
| | - Thomas M Aune
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Nam H Dang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Road-Box 100278, Room MSB M410A, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Yutaro Kaneko
- Y's AC Co., Ltd., 2-6-8 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0074, Japan
| | - Ko Okumura
- Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Chikao Morimoto
- Department of Therapy Development and Innovation for Immune Disorders and Cancers, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Kei Ohnuma
- Department of Therapy Development and Innovation for Immune Disorders and Cancers, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
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Transcriptomic analysis of hormone-sensitive patient-derived endometrial cancer spheroid culture defines Efp as a proliferation modulator. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 548:204-210. [PMID: 33647797 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.02.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen-responsive endometrial cancer (EC) is prevalent in uterine cancer. Its precise molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated partly because of limited availability of estrogen-sensitive EC models recapitulating clinical pathophysiology. We previously established EC patient-derived cancer cell (EC-PDC) spheroid culture with high expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα). Using this EC-PDC, we study the transcriptional regulation and function of estrogen-responsive finger protein (Efp), a prototypic tripartite motif (TRIM) protein that modulates protein degradation and RNA processing. Intense estrogen-dependent EFP mRNA induction and high ERα occupancy to EFP estrogen responsive element (ERE) were observed in EC-PDC. Luciferase reporter gene assay showed that the ERE facilitates EFP transcriptional activity estrogen-dependently. siRNA-mediated Efp silencing in EC-PDC resulted in suppressed spheroid proliferation and altered gene expression profile, featuring downregulation of genes related to cell cycle (e.g., CDK6) and inflammation/immune responses (e.g., IL10RA, IL26, and IL6ST) while unaffected expression of cancer stemness-related markers. Taken together, EC-PDC spheroid culture is a powerful EC tool that enables to dissect Efp-mediated ERα signaling pathways as an estrogen-sensitive EC model. This study provides an insight into alternative EC therapeutic strategies targeting ERα-Efp axis.
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