Inhibition of Delta-like Ligand 4 enhances the radiosensitivity and inhibits migration in cervical cancer via the reversion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Comprehensive Analysis of angiogenesis associated genes and tumor microenvironment infiltration characterization in cervical cancer

Background

Cervical cancer is among the most prevalent malignancies worldwide. This study explores the relationships between angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) and immune infiltration, and assesses their implications for the prognosis and treatment of cervical cancer. Additionally, it develops a diagnostic model based on angiogenesis-related differentially expressed genes (ARDEGs).

Methods

We systematically evaluated 15 ARDEGs using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA). Immune cell infiltration was assessed using a single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm. We then constructed a diagnostic model for ARDEGs using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis and evaluated the diagnostic value of this model and the hub genes in predicting clinical outcomes and immunotherapy responses in cervical cancer.

Results

A set of ARDEGs was identified from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and UCSC Xena database. We performed KEGG, GO, and GSEA analyses on these genes, revealing significant involvement in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The ARDEGs diagnostic model, constructed using LASSO regression analysis, showed high predictive accuracy in cervical cancer patients. We developed a reliable nomogram and decision curve analysis to evaluate the clinical utility of the ARDEG diagnostic model. The 15 ARDEGs in the model were associated with clinicopathological features, prognosis, and immune cell infiltration. Notably, ITGA5 expression and the abundance of immune cell infiltration (specifically mast cell activation) were highly correlated.

Conclusion

This study identifies the prognostic characteristics of ARGs in cervical cancer patients, elucidating aspects of the tumor microenvironment. It enhances the predictive accuracy of immunotherapy outcomes and establishes new strategies for immunotherapeutic interventions.

2nd Window NIR Imaging of Radiation Injury Mitigation Provided by Reduced Notch-Dll4 Expression on Vasculature

PURPOSE

Vascular endothelium plays a central role in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic radiation injuries, yet the mechanisms which promote sustained endothelial dysfunction and contribute to late responding organ failure are unclear. We employed 2nd window (> 1100 nm emission) Near-Infrared (NIR) imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) to track and define the role of the notch ligand Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) in mediating vascular injury in two late-responding radiosensitive organs: the lung and kidney.

PROCEDURES

Consomic strains of female Salt Sensitive or SS (Dll4-high) and SS with 3rd chromosome inherited from Brown Norway, SS.BN3 (Dll4-low) rats at ages 11-12 weeks were used to demonstrate the impact of reduced Dll4 expression on long-term vascular integrity, renal function, and survival following high-dose 13 Gy partial body irradiation at 42- and 90 days post-radiation. 2nd window dynamic NIR fluorescence imaging with ICG was analyzed with physiology-based pharmacokinetic modeling and confirmed with assays of endothelial Dll4 expression to assess the role of endogenous Dll4 expression on radiation injury protection.

RESULTS

We show that SS.BN3 (Dll4-low) rats are relatively protected from vascular permeability disruption compared to the SS (Dll4-high) strain. We further demonstrated that SS.BN3 (Dll4-low) rats have reduced radiation induced loss of CD31+ vascular endothelial cells, and increased Dll4 vascular expression is correlated with vascular dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these data suggest Dll4 plays a key role in pathogenesis of radiation-induced vascular injury to the lung and kidney.

Integration of Pan-Cancer Single-Cell and Spatial Transcriptomics Reveals Stromal Cell Features and Therapeutic Targets in Tumor Microenvironment

Stromal cells are physiologically essential components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that mediates tumor development and therapeutic resistance. Development of a logical and unified system for stromal cell type identification and characterization of corresponding functional properties could help design antitumor strategies that target stromal cells. Here, we performed a pan-cancer analysis of 214,972 nonimmune stromal cells using single-cell RNA sequencing from 258 patients across 16 cancer types and analyzed spatial transcriptomics from 16 patients across seven cancer types, including six patients receiving anti-PD-1 treatment. This analysis uncovered distinct features of 39 stromal subsets across cancer types, including various functional modules, spatial locations, and clinical and therapeutic relevance. Tumor-associated PGF+ endothelial tip cells with elevated epithelial-mesenchymal transition features were enriched in immune-depleted TME and associated with poor prognosis. Fibrogenic and vascular pericytes (PC) derived from FABP4+ progenitors were two distinct tumor-associated PC subpopulations that strongly interacted with PGF+ tips, resulting in excess extracellular matrix (ECM) abundance and dysfunctional vasculature. Importantly, ECM-related cancer-associated fibroblasts enriched at the tumor boundary acted as a barrier to exclude immune cells, interacted with malignant cells to promote tumor progression, and regulated exhausted CD8+ T cells via immune checkpoint ligand-receptors (e.g., LGALS9/TIM-3) to promote immune escape. In addition, an interactive web-based tool (http://www.scpanstroma.yelab.site/) was developed for accessing, visualizing, and analyzing stromal data. Taken together, this study provides a systematic view of the highly heterogeneous stromal populations across cancer types and suggests future avenues for designing therapies to overcome the tumor-promoting functions of stromal cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

Comprehensive characterization of tumor-associated nonimmune stromal cells provides a robust resource for dissecting tumor microenvironment complexity and guiding stroma-targeted therapy development across multiple human cancer types.

Bufalin inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and increases radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer via inhibition of the Src signaling

Background

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process involved in tumor migration, invasion, and radiotherapy resistance. Bufalin can affect the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of tumor cells by regulating multiple signaling pathways. Whether bufalin can increase radiosensitivity through EMT deserves further investigation.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the effect of bufalin on the EMT and radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the underlying molecular mechanism. NSCLC cells were treated with bufalin (at a dose of 0-100 nM) or irradiated with 6 MV X-rays (4 Gy/min). The effects of bufalin on cell survival, cell cycle, radiosensitivity, cell migration, and invasion were detected. Western blot was used to analyze the gene expression changes of Src signaling in NSCLC cell induced by Bufalin.

Results

Bufalin significantly inhibited cell survival, migration, and invasion and induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Cells co-treated with bufalin and radiation manifested a higher inhibitory effect compared to those treated with radiation or bufalin alone. Furthermore, the levels of p-Src and p-STAT3 were considerably reduced following bufalin treatment. Interestingly, elevated p-Src and p-STAT3 were observed in cells treated with radiation. Bufalin inhibited radiation-induced p-Src and p-STAT3, whereas the knockdown of Src abrogated the effects of bufalin on cell migration, invasion, EMT, and radiosensitivity.

Conclusions

Bufalin inhibits EMT and enhances radiosensitivity through targeting Src signaling in NSCLC.

Notch signaling in female cancers: a multifaceted node to overcome drug resistance

Drug resistance is one of the main challenges in cancer therapy, including in the treatment of female-specific malignancies, which account for more than 60% of cancer cases among women. Therefore, elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms is an urgent need in gynecological cancers to foster novel therapeutic approaches. Notably, Notch signaling, including either receptors or ligands, has emerged as a promising candidate given its multifaceted role in almost all of the hallmarks of cancer. Concerning the connection between Notch pathway and drug resistance in the afore-mentioned tumor contexts, several studies focused on the Notch-dependent regulation of the cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulation or the induction of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), both features implicated in either intrinsic or acquired resistance. Indeed, the present review provides an up-to-date overview of the published results on Notch signaling and EMT- or CSC-driven drug resistance. Moreover, other drug resistance-related mechanisms are examined such as the involvement of the Notch pathway in drug efflux and tumor microenvironment. Collectively, there is a long way to go before every facet will be fully understood; nevertheless, some small pieces are falling neatly into place. Overall, the main aim of this review is to provide strong evidence in support of Notch signaling inhibition as an effective strategy to evade or reverse resistance in female-specific cancers.

Notch Signaling in Vascular Endothelial and Mural Cell Communications

The Notch signaling pathway is a highly versatile and evolutionarily conserved mechanism with an important role in cell fate determination. Notch signaling plays a vital role in vascular development, regulating several fundamental processes such as angiogenesis, arterial/venous differentiation, and mural cell investment. Aberrant Notch signaling can result in severe vascular phenotypes as observed in cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) and Alagille syndrome. It is known that vascular endothelial cells and mural cells interact to regulate vessel formation, cell maturation, and stability of the vascular network. Defective endothelial-mural cell interactions are a common phenotype in diseases characterized by impaired vascular integrity. Further refinement of the role of Notch signaling in the vascular junctions will be critical to attempts to modulate Notch in the context of human vascular disease. In this review, we aim to consolidate and summarize our current understanding of Notch signaling in the vascular endothelial and mural cells during development and in the adult vasculature.

A 25 Immune-Related Gene Pair Signature Predicts Overall Survival in Cervical Cancer

Mounting evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the occurrence and development of cancer, with immune system dysfunction being closely related to malignant cancers. We aimed to screen immune-related genes (IRGs) to generate an IRG pair (IRGP)-based prognostic signature for cervical cancer (CC). Datasets were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases and used as training and validation cohorts, respectively. Using the ImmPort database, IRGs in control and CC samples were compared, and differentially expressed genes were identified to construct an IRGP prognostic signature. Based on this analysis, 25 IRGPs were identified as important factors for the prognosis of CC. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses further showed that the IRGP signature was an independent prognostic factor of overall survival. In summary, we successfully constructed an IRGP prognostic signature of CC, providing insights into immunotherapy for CC.

Radiotherapy resistance: identifying universal biomarkers for various human cancers

Radiotherapy (RT) is considered as a standard in the treatment of most solid cancers, including glioblastoma, lung, breast, rectal, prostate, colorectal, cervical, esophageal, and head and neck cancers. The main challenge in RT is tumor cell radioresistance associated with a high risk of locoregional relapse and distant metastasis. Despite significant progress in understanding mechanisms of radioresistance, its prediction and overcoming remain unresolved. This review presents the state-of-the-art for the potential universal biomarkers correlated to the radioresistance and poor outcome in different cancers. We describe radioresistance biomarkers functionally attributed to DNA repair, signal transduction, hypoxia, and angiogenesis. We also focus on high throughput genetic and proteomic studies, which revealed a set of molecular biomarkers related to radioresistance. In conclusion, we discuss biomarkers which are overlapped in most several cancers.

Increased Angiogenin Expression Correlates With Radiation Resistance and Predicts Poor Survival for Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Background: Despite the development of such multiple therapeutic approaches, approximately 20% patients experience recurrence. Identification of molecular markers for stratifying the different risks of tumour recurrence and progression is considered imperative.

Methods: We used a RayBio Human Cytokine Antibody Array that simultaneously detected the levels of 297 proteins and profiled the conditioned medium of HONE1 cells and the radioresistant NPC cells HONE1-IR. We found Angiogenin(ANG) expression to be significantly increased in HONE1-IR and HONE1-IR cells exposed to 4-Gy X-ray radiation.

Results: We investigated the expression of ANG in NPC tissues and explored its prognostic significance in patients with NPC. We found that ANG expression was increased in recurrent NPC tissues. Elevated expression of ANG induced radio-resistance in NPC cells, in addition to being significantly associated with shorter PFS, OS, and LRFS in patients with NPC. Multivariate analysis results revealed that ANG was an independent prognostic factor that predicted PFS, OS, and LRFS. Furthermore, a nomogram model was generated to predict OS in terms of ANG expression.

Conclusion: Our results found the radioresistant function of ANG and proved the clinical prognostic significance of ANG, and the results could help predict radio-sensitivity and stratify high-risk patients or tumour recurrence.

Cdc25B is transcriptionally inhibited by IER5 through the NF-YB transcription factor in irradiation-treated HeLa cells

Cervical cancer (CC) is a type of pelvic malignant tumor that severely threatens women's health. Current evidence suggests that IER5, as a potential radiosensitizer, promotes irradiation-induced apoptosis in CC tissues in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy. IER5 has been shown to be involved in the G₂/M-phase transition. In the present study, we used Cdc25B as the breakthrough point to explore the underlying mechanism of IER5 in the cell cycle regulation of radiation-damaged HeLa cells. IER5 was evidently upregulated after irradiation, but Cdc25B was significantly downregulated. In monoclonal IER5-silenced HeLa cells, irradiation-induced downregulation of Cdc25B was attenuated. The effect of irradiation on Cdc25B promoter activity was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assays. The response elements on the Cdc25B promoter related to irradiation were predicted by JASPAR. These conserved sequences were mutated individually or in combination by splicing-by-overlap extension PCR, and their function was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assays. The enrichment efficiency of transcription factors after irradiation was determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Both Sp1/Sp3 and NF-YB binding sites were involved in irradiation-mediated regulation of Cdc25B. IER5 was involved in irradiation-mediated regulation of Cdc25B through the NF-YB binding site. Furthermore, ChIP assays showed that IER5 bound to the Cdc25B promoter, and the binding of IER5 to the Cdc25B promoter region in irradiation-induced HeLa cells induced the release of the coactivator p300 through interaction with NF-YB. Taken together, these findings indicate that IER5 is the transcriptional repressor that accelerates the downregulation of Cdc25B expression after irradiation.