Enhanced production of interleukin 6 in peripheral blood monocytes stimulated with mucins secreted into the bloodstream

Differential expression of Chitinase 3-Like 1 protein in appendicitis and appendix carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Chitinase 3-Like 1 (CHI3L1) has been used as an inflammatory biomarker for a variety of diseases, but its expression in acute appendicitis and appendix carcinomas remains unclear.

METHODS

Sixty cases of patients were studied, including 46 acute appendicitis and 14 appendix carcinomas. We divided the acute appendicitis group into acute uncomplicated appendicitis (AUA), suppurative appendicitis (SA), and gangrenous appendicitis (GA). The appendix carcinoma group was divided into appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasms (ANENs) and appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMN). Controls were 32 healthy donors. Blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), CHI3L1, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and serum amyloid A (SAA) were measured in the patients. Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to identify the expression level and location of CHI3L1 in different cell types in appendix tissues.

RESULTS

Compared with the controls, CHI3L1 serum levels were up-regulated in SA, GA, and AMN groups, while no significant difference was observed in the AUA and ANEN groups. Immunofluorescence revealed that CHI3L1 expression was high in macrophages and adenocarcinoma cells of appendix tissues but not in the neuroendocrine carcinoma tissues. Moreover, levels of NLR and CRP in the SA and GA groups were considerably higher than in the control group. IL-6 and SAA in SA, GA, ANENs, and AMN groups were also increased compared with the control group. In addition, CHI3L1 displayed good performance in predicting appendicitis, with an AUC of 0.862.

CONCLUSION

CHI3L1 was highly expressed in acute appendicitis and appendiceal mucinous neoplasms, which can be used as a novel biomarker predicting appendicitis.

CD55 Facilitates Immune Evasion by Borrelia crocidurae, an Agent of Relapsing Fever

Relapsing fever, caused by diverse Borrelia spirochetes, is prevalent in many parts of the world and causes significant morbidity and mortality. To investigate the pathoetiology of relapsing fever, we performed a high-throughput screen of Borrelia-binding host factors using a library of human extracellular and secretory proteins and identified CD55 as a novel host binding partner of Borrelia crocidurae and Borrelia persica, two agents of relapsing fever in Africa and Eurasia. CD55 is present on the surface of erythrocytes, carries the Cromer blood group antigens, and protects cells from complement-mediated lysis. Using flow cytometry, we confirmed that both human and murine CD55 bound to B. crocidurae and B. persica. Given the expression of CD55 on erythrocytes, we investigated the role of CD55 in pathological B. crocidurae-induced erythrocyte aggregation (rosettes), which enables spirochete immune evasion. We showed that rosette formation was partially dependent on host cell CD55 expression. Pharmacologically, soluble recombinant CD55 inhibited erythrocyte rosette formation. Finally, CD55-deficient mice infected with B. crocidurae had a lower pathogen load and elevated proinflammatory cytokine and complement factor C5a levels. In summary, our results indicate that CD55 is a host factor that is manipulated by the causative agents of relapsing fever for immune evasion. IMPORTANCE Borrelia species are causative agents of Lyme disease and relapsing fever infections in humans. B. crocidurae causes one of the most prevalent relapsing fever infections in parts of West Africa. In the endemic regions, B. crocidurae is present in ~17% of the ticks and ~11% of the rodents that serve as reservoirs. In Senegal, ~7% of patients with acute febrile illness were found to be infected with B. crocidurae. There is little information on host-pathogen interactions and how B. crocidurae manipulates host immunity. In this study, we used a high-throughput screen to identify host proteins that interact with relapsing fever-causing Borrelia species. We identified CD55 as one of the host proteins that bind to B. crocidurae and B. persica, the two causes of relapsing fever in Africa and Eurasia. We show that the interaction of B. crocidurae with CD55, present on the surface of erythrocytes, is key to immune evasion and successful infection in vivo. Our study further shows the role of CD55 in complement regulation, regulation of inflammatory cytokine levels, and innate immunity during relapsing fever infection. Overall, this study sheds light on host-pathogen interactions during relapsing fever infection in vivo.

Truncated lubricin glycans in osteoarthritis stimulate the synoviocyte secretion of VEGFA, IL-8, and MIP-1α: Interplay between O-linked glycosylation and inflammatory cytokines

The primary aim of the study was to identify inflammatory markers relevant for osteoarthritis (OA)-related systemic (plasma) and local (synovial fluid, SF) inflammation. From this, we looked for inflammatory markers that coincided with the increased amount of O-linked Tn antigen (GalNAcα1-Ser/Thr) glycan on SF lubricin. Inflammatory markers in plasma and SF in OA patients and controls were measured using a 44-multiplex immunoassay. We found consistently 29 markers detected in both plasma and SF. The difference in their concentration and the low correlation when comparing SF and plasma suggests an independent inflammatory environment in the two biofluids. Only plasma MCP-4 and TARC increased in our patient cohort compared to control plasma. To address the second task, we concluded that plasma markers were irrelevant for a direct connection with SF glycosylation. Hence, we correlated the SF-inflammatory marker concentrations with the level of altered glycosylation of SF-lubricin. We found that the level of SF-IL-8 and SF-MIP-1α and SF-VEGFA in OA patients displayed a positive correlation with the altered lubricin glycosylation. Furthermore, when exposing fibroblast-like synoviocytes from both controls and OA patients to glycovariants of recombinant lubricin, the secretion of IL-8 and MIP-1α and VEGFA were elevated using lubricin with Tn antigens, while lubricin with sialylated and nonsialylated T antigens had less or no measurable effect. These data suggest that truncated glycans of lubricin, as found in OA, promote synovial proinflammatory cytokine production and exacerbate local synovial inflammation.

The Role of Interleukins in Colorectal Cancer

Despite great progress has been made in treatment strategies, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the predominant life-threatening malignancy with the feature of high morbidity and mortality. It has been widely acknowledged that the dysfunction of immune system, including aberrantly expressed cytokines, is strongly correlated with the pathogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer. As one of the most well-known cytokines that were discovered centuries ago, interleukins are now uncovering new insights into colorectal cancer therapy. Herein, we divide currently known interleukins into 6 families, including IL-1 family, IL-2 family, IL-6 family, IL-8 family, IL-10 family and IL-17 family. In addition, we comprehensively reviewed the oncogenic or antitumour function of each interleukin involved in CRC pathogenesis and progression by elucidating the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, by providing interleukins-associated clinical trials, we have further driven the profound prospect of interleukins in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Clinicopathological Features, Recurrence Patterns, and Prognosis of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma with Normal Serum CA19-9. A Consecutive Series of 154 Cases from a Single Institute

BACKGROUND

Serum levels of CA19-9 correlate with recurrence and survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma; however, little is known about the features and prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with normal CA19-9 levels.

METHOD

Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 806) were split into two groups with normal (≤ 37 U/mL) and elevated (> 37 U/mL) CA19-9. The clinicopathological features, survival, and recurrence patterns were compared between two groups. We also sought to identify factors that best predicted prognosis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma with normal CA19-9 levels, to assist in the selection of the most effective adjuvant treatment.

RESULTS

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma with normal CA19-9 were less likely to have lymph node metastasis, angiolymphatic invasion, intrapancreatic neural invasion, anterior serosal invasion, and invasion of the surrounding tissue/organ (distal bile duct, duodenum, or splenic artery or vein). Following propensity-score matching, pancreatic adenocarcinoma with normal CA19-9 levels (≤ 37 U/ml) were associated with significantly superior overall survival following resection. Moreover, the CA19-9 ≤ 37 U/mL group demonstrated a significantly lower rate of local recurrence (35.57% vs. 52.35%, p = 0.004), distant recurrence (42.95% vs. 60.4%, p = 0.003), and mixed recurrence (5.37% vs. 29.53%, p < 0.000) compared with the CA19-9 > 37 U/mL group. Multivariate analysis suggested that angiolymphatic invasion, lymph node metastases, and tumor size > 3 cm were independent prognostic factors for pancreatic adenocarcinoma with normal CA19-9. Survival analyses suggested that post-op chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy were associated with more favorable outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma with normal pretreatment CA19-9 levels (≤ 37 U/ml) were characterized by better biological characteristics, reduced rates of recurrence, and longer overall survival. Moreover, optimal adjuvant therapy should be performed after surgery.

Nanoparticles for the multivalent presentation of a TnThr mimetic and as tool for solid state NMR coating investigation

The fully characterization of tumor associated antigens (TAAs) and of tumor associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) have opened the avenue of cancer immunotherapy. The intrinsic poor immunogenicity of TACAs, however, spotlighted the importance of multivalent presentation of the antigen(s) to trigger an immune response. Nanoparticles are excellent scaffolds for this purpose. Here we reported on the easy glycosylation of iron-based and biocompatible dextran-based nanoparticles with 1, a mimetic of the TnThr antigen. The multivalent presentation of 1 induced the induction of TNF-α and IL-6/IL10, respectively. The multivalent glycosylation of silica nanoparticles (GSiNPs) was also performed and saccharide loading qualitative assessed by solid state NMR. Our results offer the proof of concept that biomolecules coating can also be investigated on solid system by NMR.

Preoperative platelet-lymphocyte ratio is an independent prognostic factor in ampullary carcinoma following pancreaticoduodenectomy

The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether preoperative platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) could predict the prognosis for curative resected ampullary carcinoma. A total of 94 patients were retrospectively included over a 6-year period in which consecutive cases underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for ampullary malignancy. Preoperative blood results were available in the 94 cases of resected ampullary carcinoma. Preoperative PLR and NLR cut-off values of 226.8 and 2.58 were determined to represent the optimal cut-off values in the cases for survival analysis. PLR remained a significant independent predictor of survival in multivariate analysis (Cox, P<0.001) in addition to tumor differentiation (P<0.001), nodal status (P<0.001) and stage (P<0.001). While NLR failed to serve as a prognostic factor in univariate (P=0.0637) and multivariate (P=0.164) survival analysis. Furthermore, the nodal involvement rate was higher in high PLR group (74.2 vs. 19.05%, P<0.001). Preoperative PLR and NLR merit further evaluation as a prognostic index in curative resected ampullary carcinoma. Additionally, it is a candidate predictor for the lymph node metastasis.

Biocompatible single-chain polymer nanoparticles loaded with an antigen mimetic as potential anticancer vaccine

The "pancarcinoma" Tn antigen (αGalNAc-O-Ser/Thr) is a tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen (TACA) overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells and suitable target for anticancer vaccines. However, TACAs commonly show weak immunogenicity, low in vivo stability, and poor bioavailability. To address these issues, the development of physiologically stable TACA synthetic mimetics and novel nanocarriers for multivalent display are object of intense research. Nanomaterials represent suitable scaffolds to multimerize antigens, but absence of toxicity, easy functionalization and capability to incorporate biomolecules are compulsory characteristics for vaccine nanocarriers. Here, we report on the conjugation of a synthetic Tn-antigen mimetic to biocompatible and water-dispersible dextran-based single-chain nanoparticles (DXT-SCPNs). In vitro stimulation of PBMCs and analysis of interleukins production indicated a specific innate immune modulation mediated by the multivalent presentation of the Tn mimetic at the nanoparticle surface. These preliminary results pave the way for the development of Tn-mimetic clusters on biocompatible DXT-SCPN for TACA-based vaccines.

Comparative efficacy of epigallocatechin-3-gallate against H2O2-induced ROS in cervical cancer biopsies and HeLa cell lines

Aim of the study

Antioxidants play an important role in maintaining physiological homeostasis. Recent literature emphasises the potential therapeutic effects of natural antioxidants that play anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects applicable in preventing oxidative stress-induced injury, which characterises their pathogenesis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the protective role of EGCG on the HeLa cell line and cancerous cells.

Material and methods

The HeLa cell line and cervical cancer biopsies (CCB) were treated with varying doses of antioxidants to determine their effects. Thereafter, hydrogen peroxide (0–10 nM) – an ROS-generating compound – was co-cultured with varying doses of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). The effect of this compound on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was assessed.

Result

The activity of SOD and GPx was protected significantly in the treatment of EGCG in cervical cancer biopsies and HeLa cell line.

Hypothesis

It is hypothesised that EGCG has free radical scavenging properties.

Conclusions

EGCG protected the activity SOD and GPx equally in cervical cancer biopsies (CCB) and HeLa cell line.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 in dendritic cells is crucial for the activation of protective regulatory T cells in murine colitis

Dendritic cells (DCs) serve as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity and help to maintain intestinal homeostasis. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with dysregulation of the mucosal immune response. The concomitant hypoxic inflammation in IBD will activate the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) to also drive gene expression in DCs. Recent studies have described a protective role for epithelial HIF-1 in mouse models of IBD. We investigated the role of HIF-1 in DC function in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced model of murine colitis. Wild-type and dendritic cell-specific HIF-1α knockout mice were treated with 3% DSS for 7 days. Knockout of HIF-1α in DCs led to a significantly larger loss of body weight in mice with DSS-induced colitis than in control mice. Knockout mice exhibited more severe intestinal inflammation with increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and enhanced production of mucin. Induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs) was impaired, and the number of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) Tregs was diminished by dendritic HIF-1α knockout. Our findings demonstrate that in DCs HIF-1α is necessary for the induction of sufficient numbers of Tregs to control intestinal inflammation.

Emerging potential of natural products for targeting mucins for therapy against inflammation and cancer

Deregulated mucin expression is a hallmark of several inflammatory and malignant pathologies. Emerging evidence suggests that, apart from biomarkers, these deregulated mucins are functional contributors to the pathogenesis in inflammation and cancer. Both overexpression and downregulation of mucins in various organ systems is associated with pathobiology of inflammation and cancer. Restoration of mucin homeostasis has become an important goal for therapy and management of such disorders has fueled the quest for selective mucomodulators. With improved understanding of mucin regulation and mechanistic insights into their pathobiological roles, there is optimism to find selective non-toxic agents capable of modulating mucin expression and function. Recently, natural compounds derived from dietary sources have drawn attention due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties and low toxicity. Considerable efforts have been directed towards evaluating dietary natural products as chemopreventive and therapeutic agents; identification, characterization and synthesis of their active compounds; and improving their delivery and bioavailability. We describe the current understanding of mucin regulation, rationale for targeting mucins with natural products and discuss some natural products that modulate mucin expression and functions. We further discuss the approaches and parameters that should guide future research to identify and evaluate selective natural mucomodulators for therapy.

Granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells are cryosensitive and their frequency does not correlate with serum concentrations of colony-stimulating factors in head and neck cancer

Granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a MDSC subset expanded in various cancer types. As many clinical studies rely on the use of stored collections of frozen blood samples, we first tested the influence of freezing/thawing procedures on immunophenotyping and enumeration of granulocytic MDSC (G-MDSC). To identify factors involved in expansion of human G-MDSC, we then analyzed correlations between G-MDSC frequencies, clinical parameters and granulocyte-related factors in the peripheral blood of head and neck cancer patients. HLA-DR, CD14, CD33 and CD66b allowed a clear discrimination of G-MDSC from monocytic MDSC and immature myeloid cells. MDSC subsets were sensitive to cryopreservation with immature G-MDSC showing the highest sensitivity. G-MDSC frequencies were increased in advanced disease stage and associated with the level of CCL4 and CXCL8, but not with colony-stimulating factors, IL-6, S100A8/9, CXCL1 and other cytokines. Our results indicate that the frequency of MDSC, in particular G-MDSC, may be underestimated in retrospective clinical analyses using frozen blood samples. Increased G-MDSC frequencies correlate with advanced disease and increased concentrations of CXCL8, but, unexpectedly, not with growth factors (such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor), IL-6 and CXCL1. Our data suggest that CXCL8 promotes accumulation of G-MDSC in cancer patients independent of classical colony-stimulating factors.

MUC1 immunotherapy

The overexpression and aberrant glycosylation of MUC1 is associated with a wide variety of cancers, making it an ideal target for immunotherapeutic strategies. This review highlights the main avenues of research in this field, focusing on adenocarcinomas, from the preclinical to clinical; the problems and possible solutions associated with each approach; and speculates on the direction of MUC1 immunotherapeutic research over the next 5-10 years.

Neutralization of interleukin (IL)-10 released by monocytes/macrophages enhances the up-regulatory effect of monocyte/macrophage-derived IL-6 on expressions of IL-6 and MUC1, and migration in HT-29 colon cancer cells

The interactions between monocyte-derived IL-6 and IL-10 in colon cancer are unknown. We continued previous work that showed monocyte/macrophage-derived IL-6 induces IL-6 and MUC1 expression in HT-29 cancer cells, and evaluated if IL-10 present in monocyte/macrophage is involved in this IL-6-mediated effect. We treated HT-29 cells with monocyte/macrophage supernatant following neutralization of monocyte/macrophage-released IL-10. Neutralization markedly enhanced monocyte/macrophage-derived IL-6 effects on HT-29 cells including IL-6 and MUC1 production and cell migration. Double blocking of IL-6 and IL-10 in monocyte/macrophage supernatants abolished this enhancement. Western blot analysis of STAT3 phosphorylation showed that this augmented response in HT-29 cells following IL-10 neutralization is probably mediated through enhanced IL-6-induced phosphorylation (Tyr(705)) of STAT3 proteins. Therefore, monocytes/macrophages have the capacity to release the functionally associated cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 whose interactions can account for the pathogenesis and progression of colon cancer.

Role of the equilibrium between colon cancer and mononuclear cells in cytokine production

Patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are at increased risk for colorectal cancer, a phenomenon assumed to be at least in part consequence of chronic inflammation. The purpose of this study was to examine whether human colon cancer cells may promote immune cells to produce cytokines, particularly those involved in inflammatory reaction. HT-29 and RKO human colon cancer cell lines were used. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were incubated for 24 h without or with cancer cells, or with supernatants derived from these cells cultured at the same conditions. TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IFNγ, IL-1ra and IL-10 secreted by PBMC were detected using specific ELISA kits. Interaction between colon cancer cells and PBMC induced secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, supernatants from increasing number of colon cancer cells caused a dose-dependent cytokine secretion. However, the production of cytokines was more pronounced when PBMC were directly exposed to tumor cells as compared to their supernatants. The results of our experimental model demonstrating an altered balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines generated by interaction between colon cancer and immune cells support the role of the malignant cells in promoting inflammation as one of the mechanisms for progression of colon cancer.

Preoperative serum CA19-9 and dissected peripancreatic tissue margin as determiners of long-term survival in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer, a particularly deadly form of malignancy, has increased in the last decade worldwide. The purpose of this study is to identify markers for determining and identifying possible long-term survivors in cases of advanced pancreatic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

117 patients with pancreatic ductal carcinoma, including 89 with invasive tubular adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, Japan Pancreas Society (JPS) stage III-IVb patients, who underwent tumor resection between 1986 and 2006.

RESULTS

Univariate prognostic analyses of the 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) revealed that JPS stage (P < 0.0001), preoperative serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) level (preCA19-9; P < 0.0001), dissected peripancreatic tissue margin (DPM; P < 0.0001), residual tumor (R factor; P = 0.0007), lymph node metastasis density over 10% (ND10; P = 0.006), volume of the stromal connective tissue (stroma factor; P = 0.008), growth pattern (P = 0.01), and histology (P = 0.03) were all significantly associated with poor outcome in advanced pancreatic cancer. Multivariate logistic analysis confirmed that preCA19-9 [P = 0.0006, relative risk (RR) = 2.16] and DPM (P = 0.04, RR = 1.62) were prognostic factors that remained, independent of JPS stage (P = 0.001). The higher preCA19-9 was, the worse the prognosis was. Astonishingly, among JPS stage III cases, 76.9% of the patients with preCA19-9 below 37 U/ml survived more than 5 years. This, combined with an analysis of DPM, allowed us to identify those with the potentiality for long-term survival.

CONCLUSION

Our results reveal for the first time that it is possible with JPS stage III-IVb invasive tubular adenocarcinomas of the pancreas to differentiate prognostic groups and potential survival rates, like with other cancers.

Macrophage-derived interleukin-6 up-regulates MUC1, but down-regulates MUC2 expression in the human colon cancer HT-29 cell line

Little is known regarding the effects of IL-6 released by tumor-infiltrating macrophages on the mucin expression of colon cancer cells. We isolated macrophages from healthy donors and harvested the supernatant after 48-h cultures. Using flow cytometry and intracellular staining methods, we found that macrophage supernatant effectively induced MUC1 up-regulation and MUC2 down-regulation of colon cancer cells in vitro. Western blotting analysis using monoclonal antibody against IL-6 or gp 130 verified that this IL-6-driven activity was through the activation of tyrosine phosphorylation (Tyr(705)) of STAT3 in cancer cells. We analyzed the surgical specimens of 29 patients with colon cancer by an immunohistochemical staining method and demonstrated the co-localization of macrophages, and the expression of IL-6, CD68, and MUC1 in colon cancer patients. Therefore, macrophage-derived IL-6 modulates the mucin expression of colorectal cancer cells that might in turn produce a permissive milieu favorable to cancer spread.