Intratumoral delivery of IL-18 naked DNA induces T-cell activation and Th1 response in a mouse hepatic cancer model

Immune features of the peritumoral stroma in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Background

The peritumoral stroma is a hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) with implications for disease development, progression and therapy resistance. We systematically investigated immune features of the stroma in PDA patients to identify markers of clinical importance and potential therapeutic targets.

Methods

Tissue and blood samples of 51 PDA patients with clinical and follow-up information were included. Laser Capture Microdissection allowed us to analyze the stromal compartment in particular. Systematic immunohistochemistry, followed by software-based image analysis were conducted. Also, multiplex cytokine analyses (including 50 immune-related molecules) were performed. Functional analyses were performed using patient-derived 3D bioprints. Clinical information was used for survival analyses. Intercompartmental IL9 and IL18 gradients were assessed in matched samples of tumor epithelium, stroma, and serum of patients. Serum levels were compared to an age-matched healthy control group.

Results

Stromal IL9 and IL18 are significantly associated with patient survival. While IL9 is a prognostic favorable marker (p=0.041), IL18 associates with poor patient outcomes (p=0.030). IL9 correlates with an anti-tumoral cytokine network which connects regulation of T helper (Th) 9, Th1 and Th17 cells (all: p<0.05 and r>0.5). IL18 correlates with a Th1-type cytokine phenotype and stromal CXCL12 expression (all: p<0.05 and r>0.5). Further, IL18 associates with a higher level of exhausted T cells. Inhibition of IL18 results in diminished Th1- and Th2-type cytokines. Patients with high stromal IL9 expression have a tumor-to-stroma IL9 gradient directed towards the stroma (p=0.019). Low IL18 expression associates with a tumor-to-stroma IL18 gradient away from the stroma (p=0.007). PDA patients showed higher serum levels of IL9 than healthy controls while serum IL18 levels were significantly lower than in healthy individuals. The stromal immune cell composition is distinct from the tumor epithelium. Stromal density of FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells showed a tendency towards improved patient survival (p=0.071).

Conclusion

An unexpected high expression of the cytokines IL9 and IL18 at different ends is of significance in the stroma of PDA and relates to opposing patient outcomes. Sub-compartmental cytokine analyses highlight the importance of a differentiated gradient assessment. The findings suggest stromal IL9 and/or IL18 as markers for patient stratification and as potential therapeutic targets. Future steps include investigating e. g. the role of local microbiota as both cytokines are also regulated by microbial compositions.

Analyzing the influence of IL18 in regulation of YAP1 in breast oncogenesis using cBioportal

Background

Yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1) is responsible for tumor growth, progression and metastasis. The mechanisms controlling the generation and relative ratio of the functional YAP1 and other co‐factors are not well‐understood. Various literature reported that co‐factors like cytokines significantly influence signaling pathways to introduce epithelial immunity and regeneration, which later helps increase cancer‐related phenotypes. Among various cytokines, IL‐18 has emerged as a major player in inflammation and progression of different types of cancers. Till now, much information has not been known about the role of YAP1 in tumor aggressiveness and immune evasion in breast cancer with respect to IL‐18.

Aim

We aimed to explore the effect of YAP1 in tumor aggressiveness and immune evasion in breast invasive carcinoma and metastatic breast cancer in the context of Interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) in silico.

Methods and Results

We used publicly available data generated by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network through cBioportal web platform. Kaplan–Meier method was used to determine the overall survival and comparison between curves were made using Log‐Rank test. The p values were determined by Fisher's exact test with the null hypothesis. Correlation plots were analyzed by comparison with gene copy numbers from the GISTIC2.0, available through cBioportal.

Our analyses suggest that IL‐18 influences YAP1 expression in breast oncogenesis via Interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) production. Patients having a higher expression of IL‐18 possess a better prognosis and higher YAP1 expression with lower IL18 drives to poor clinical results in breast cancer.

Conclusion

This can provide new approaches to better understand the relation between YAP1 and IL‐18 in breast cancer progression by performing in vitro and in vivo studies. Also, IL‐18 can be considered as a potential target for tumor treatment in YAP1 overexpressed breast carcinoma.

IFN-γ and IL-18 in conditioned media of parasite-infected host and IL-21-silenced colorectal cancer cells

The presence of certain soluble factors may provide a possible selective advantage for a parasite to gradually modify cell proliferation in neighbouring cells, which may result in chronic diseases. These soluble factors present in the conditioned medium also allow the parasite to invade rapidly into more host cells. The present study aimed to determine the levels of a group of type 1 T helper (Th1) cytokines in the conditioned media of host cells infected with parasites and in IL-21-silenced colorectal cancer cells. The conditioned media of human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) parasitized with the RH and ME49 strains of Toxoplasma gondii for 10 days were prepared, and subsequently the levels of the Th1 cytokines in the conditioned media were determined by ELISA. HFFs were incubated with the growth media containing selected soluble factors, and cell proliferation markers were subsequently analysed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The mRNA expression level of cell proliferation markers was also examined in IL-21-silenced HCT116 cells, where the levels of soluble factors in the conditioned media were also determined as aforementioned. The results of the present study demonstrated that HFFs parasitized with ME49 released elevated levels of IFN-γ and lower levels of IL-18 into the conditioned medium compared with the controls. These phenomena were not observed in the conditioned medium of HFFs parasitized with RH. Similar levels of these soluble factors were also detected in the conditioned medium of IL-21-silenced HCT116 cells. The results of the present study also revealed that Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen mRNA expression was altered in host cells incubated with various levels of IFN-γ and IL-18, as well as in IL-21-silenced HCT116 cells compared with the respective controls. In conclusion, the current study provided preliminary evidence on the fundamental molecular mechanisms of host-parasite interactions that result in chronic diseases, which may aid in the treatment of these diseases in the relevant endemic regions.

Diverging inflammasome signals in tumorigenesis and potential targeting

Inflammasomes are molecular platforms that assemble upon sensing various intracellular stimuli. Inflammasome assembly leads to activation of caspase 1, thereby promoting the secretion of bioactive interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 and inducing an inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis. Effectors of the inflammasome efficiently drive an immune response, primarily providing protection against microbial infections and mediating control over sterile insults. However, aberrant inflammasome signalling is associated with pathogenesis of inflammatory and metabolic diseases, neurodegeneration and malignancies. Chronic inflammation perpetuated by inflammasome activation plays a central role in all stages of tumorigenesis, including immunosuppression, proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis. Conversely, inflammasome signalling also contributes to tumour suppression by maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, which portrays the diverse roles of inflammasomes in tumorigenesis. Studies have underscored the importance of environmental factors, such as diet and gut microbiota, in inflammasome signalling, which in turn influences tumorigenesis. In this Review, we deliver an overview of the interplay between inflammasomes and tumorigenesis and discuss their potential as therapeutic targets.

Deliverable transgenics & gene therapy possibilities for the testes

Male infertility and hypogonadism are clinically prevalent conditions with a high socioeconomic burden and are both linked to an increased risk in cardiovascular-metabolic diseases and earlier mortality. Therefore, there is an urgent need to better understand the causes and develop new treatments for these conditions that affect millions of men. The accelerating advancement in gene editing and delivery technologies promises improvements in both diagnosis as well as affording the opportunity to develop bespoke treatment options which would both prove beneficial for the millions of individuals afflicted with these reproductive disorders. In this review, we summarise the systems developed and utilised for the delivery of gene therapy and discuss how each of these systems could be applied for the development of a gene therapy system in the testis and how they could be of use for the future diagnosis and repair of common male reproductive disorders.

The contrasting roles of inflammasomes in cancer

Chronic inflammation plays a decisive role at different stages of cancer development. Inflammasomes are oligomeric protein complexes activated in response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). PAMPs and DAMPs are released from infected cells, tumors and damaged tissues. Inflammasomes activate and release inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-18. The various inflammasomes and inflammatory cytokines and chemokines play contrasting roles in cancer development and progression. In this review, we describe the roles of different inflammasomes in lung, breast, gastric, liver, colon, and prostate cancers and in glioblastomas.

Blocking NF-κB Is Essential for the Immunotherapeutic Effect of Recombinant IL18 in Pancreatic Cancer

PURPOSE

We sought to find new immune-based treatments for pancreatic cancer.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We detected IL18 expression in plasma and specimens from patients with pancreatic cancer. We then investigated whether IL18 had a therapeutic effect for pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo and any underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

Higher plasma IL18 was associated with longer overall survival (OS), but higher IL18 in pancreatic cancer tissues was associated with shorter OS and increased invasion and metastasis. Recombinant IL18 alone had no antitumor effect in the syngeneic mice with orthotopically transplanted tumors and promoted tumors in immunocompromised mice; it also facilitated immune responses in vitro and in vivo by augmenting the activity of cytotoxic T cells and NK cells in peripheral blood and lymph nodes. However, IL18 promoted the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, in vitro and in vivo, through the NF-κB pathway. Nevertheless, by coadministrating IL18 with BAY11-7082, an NF-κB inhibitor, we were able to prevent the procancerous effects of IL18 and prolong the survival time of the mice.

CONCLUSIONS

IL18 has both cancer-promoting and cancer-suppressing functions. Although its single-agent treatment has no therapeutic effect on pancreatic cancer, when combined with the NF-κB pathway inhibitor, IL18 improved survival in a murine pancreatic cancer model. Our study implies the possibility of a combinational immunotherapy that uses IL18 and targets NF-κB pathway. Clin Cancer Res; 22(23); 5939-50. ©2016 AACR.

Generation of cancer-specific CD8(+) CD69(+) cells inhibits colon cancer growth

The therapy of colon cancer (Cca) is poor currently. The abnormality of immune function is recognized in cancer-bearing hosts. This study aims to inhibit Cca growth with the in vivo induction of Cca-specific CD8(+) CD69(+) T cell polarization. In this study, a mouse tumor model was created with a mouse colon cancer (Cca) cell line. The Cca-bearing mice were immunized with Cca extracts and alum (using as an adjuvant). The CD8(+) CD69(+) cell polarization status was analyzed by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that a Cca antigen-specific CD8(+) CD69(+) cells were induced in the Cca-bearing mice. The Cca growth was efficiently inhibited by the Cca-specific CD8(+) CD69(+) cell response. The Cca-specific CD8(+) CD69(+) cells were detected in the Cca mass and spleen, which had the ability to induce Cca cell apoptosis. In conclusion, the Cca-specific CD8(+) CD69(+) cell polarization can be induced in Cca-bearing mice, which can efficiently inhibit the Cca growth.

A functional SNP of the Interleukin-18 gene is associated with the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B virus-infected patients

BACKGROUND/AIM

The natural course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is likely related to host immune factors. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) plays a significant role in immune defense. This study was undertaken to determine the association between the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-18 gene in HBV-infected patients.

METHODS

Between March 2002 and December 2004, 730 Korean subjects were enrolled in two different groups: (1) chronic carrier without HCC (n=637) and (2) HCC (n=93). We analyzed SNPs at four polymorphic sites in the IL-18 gene at positions -667G>T, -148G>C, +8925C>G, and +13925A>C in the study subjects. To evaluate the functional significance of SNPs in the IL-18 gene promoter region, we performed a reporter gene assay in HepG2 and Hep3B cells transfected with different alleles.

RESULTS

The IL-18 -148C allele, +8925G allele, +13925C allele, and haplotype 3 (TCGC) were associated with the presence of HCC in codominant and dominant models. Furthermore, functional analyses using the reporter gene assay revealed that the -148C allele conferred significantly lower promoter activity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that the -148C, +8925G, and +13925C alleles of the IL-18 gene are associated with the presence of HCC and the 148G>C SNP is functionally important in determining disease outcome.

Semliki forest virus expressing interleukin-12 induces antiviral and antitumoral responses in woodchucks with chronic viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma

A vector based on Semliki Forest virus (SFV) expressing high levels of interleukin-12 (SFV-enhIL-12) has previously demonstrated potent antitumoral efficacy in small rodents with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by transplantation of tumor cells. In the present study, the infectivity and antitumoral/antiviral effects of SFV vectors were evaluated in the clinically more relevant woodchuck model, in which primary HCC is induced by chronic infection with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV). Intratumoral injection of SFV vectors expressing luciferase or IL-12 resulted in high reporter gene activity within tumors and cytokine secretion into serum, respectively, demonstrating that SFV vectors infect woodchuck tumor cells. For evaluating antitumoral efficacy, woodchuck tumors were injected with increasing doses of SFV-enhIL-12, and tumor size was measured by ultrasonography following treatment. In five (83%) of six woodchucks, a dose-dependent, partial tumor remission was observed, with reductions in tumor volume of up to 80%, but tumor growth was restored thereafter. Intratumoral treatment further produced transient changes in WHV viremia and antigenemia, with >or=1.5-log(10) reductions in serum WHV DNA in half of the woodchucks. Antitumoral and antiviral effects were associated with T-cell responses to tumor and WHV antigens and with expression of CD4 and CD8 markers, gamma interferon, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, suggesting that immune responses against WHV and HCC had been induced. These experimental observations suggest that intratumoral administration of SFV-enhIL-12 may represent a strategy for treatment of chronic HBV infection and associated HCC in humans but indicate that this approach could benefit from further improvements.