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Zhang J, Yin Y, Tang J, Zhang Y, Tian Y, Sun F. Changes in Serum Interleukin-8 Levels Predict Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Immunotherapy in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:3397-3406. [PMID: 38813541 PMCID: PMC11135337 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s460931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Effective biomarkers are needed to predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the early changes in serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels as a biomarker of response to ICIs in patients with unresectable HCC. Methods Eighty patients who received ICIs therapy alone or in combination with other treatments for unresectable HCC were included. Serum was collected at baseline and 2-4 weeks after the first dose. Serum IL-8 levels were measured using by ELISA. Results In the progressive disease (PD) group, serum IL-8 levels increased significantly before the second dose of ICIs therapy compared with baseline levels (P < 0.001). Early changes in serum IL-8 levels were significantly associated with the response to ICIs therapy (P < 0.001). A cutoff value of 8.1% increase over the baseline most effectively predicted the response to ICIs. Increases in serum IL-8 levels > 8.1% indicated the uselessness of ICIs immunotherapy in patients with unresectable HCC. Patients with increases in serum IL-8 levels > 8.1% had significantly shorter overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) than those with increases in serum IL-8 levels ≤ 8.1% (P < 0.001). Increases in serum IL-8 levels > 8.1% were independent prognosticators of worse OS (P = 0.003) and PFS (P < 0.001). Conclusion Early changes in serum IL-8 levels, measured only 2-4 weeks after starting therapy, could predict the response to ICIs therapy, as well as OS and PFS of patients with unresectable HCC. Increases in serum IL-8 levels > 8.1% indicated the uselessness of ICIs immunotherapy and predicted worse OS and PFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Yin
- Department of Paediatrics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Paediatrics, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiliang Tang
- Emergency Department, Rizhao Central Hospital, Rizhao, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yingrong Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanan Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fengkai Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
- College of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
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Ma YT, Zheng L, Zhao CW, Zhang Y, Xu XW, Wang XY, Niu GP, Man ZS, Gu F, Chen YQ. Interferon-α induces differentiation of cancer stem cells and immunosuppression in hepatocellular carcinoma by upregulating CXCL8 secretion. Cytokine 2024; 177:156555. [PMID: 38387232 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2024.156555] [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: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is widely used in the clinical treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, high levels of CXCL8 are associated with resistance to IFN-α therapy and poorer prognosis in advanced cancers. In this study, we investigated whether IFN-α could directly induce the production of CXCL8 in HCC cells and whether CXCL8 could antagonize the antitumor activity of IFN-α. We found that IFN-α not only upregulated the expression of the inducible genes CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11 and PD-L1, but also significantly stimulated CXCL8 secretion in HCC cells. Mechanically, IFN-α induces CXCL8 expression by activating the AKT and JNK pathways. In addition, our results demonstrate that IFN-α exposure significantly increases the differentiation of HCC stem cells, but this effect is reversed by the addition of the CXCL8 receptor CXCR1/2 inhibitor Reparixin and STAT3 inhibitor Stattic. Besides, our study reveals that the cytokine CXCL8 secreted by IFN-α-induced HCC cells inhibits T-cell function. Conversely, inhibition of CXCL8 promotes TNF-α and IFN-γ secretion by T cells. Finally, liver cancer patients who received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy with high CXCL8 expression had a lower immunotherapy efficacy. Overall, our findings clarify that IFN-α triggers immunosuppression and cancer stem cell differentiation in hepatocellular carcinoma by upregulating CXCL8 secretion. This discovery provides a novel approach to enhance the effectiveness of HCC treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ting Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou Institute of Medical Science, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou Institute of Medical Science, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cheng-Wen Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou Institute of Medical Science, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou Institute of Medical Science, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin-Wei Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou Institute of Medical Science, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin-Yu Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guo-Ping Niu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou Institute of Medical Science, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhong-Song Man
- Department of General Surgery, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221009, China.
| | - Feng Gu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou Institute of Medical Science, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yong-Qiang Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou Institute of Medical Science, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China.
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Liu H, Zhao Q, Tan L, Wu X, Huang R, Zuo Y, Chen L, Yang J, Zhang ZX, Ruan W, Wu J, He F, Fang Y, Mao F, Zhang P, Zhang X, Yin P, Yan Z, Xu W, Lu H, Li Q, Liang M, Jia Y, Chen C, Xu S, Shi Y, Ping YF, Duan GJ, Yao XH, Han Z, Pang T, Cui Y, Zhang X, Zhu B, Qi C, Wang Y, Lv SQ, Bian XW, Liu X. Neutralizing IL-8 potentiates immune checkpoint blockade efficacy for glioma. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:693-710.e8. [PMID: 36963400 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Malignant gliomas are largely refractory to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. To explore the underlying immune regulators, we examine the microenvironment in glioma and find that tumor-infiltrating T cells are mainly confined to the perivascular cuffs and express high levels of CCR5, CXCR3, and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). Combined analysis of T cell clustering with T cell receptor (TCR) clone expansion shows that potential tumor-killing T cells are mainly categorized into pre-exhausted/exhausted and effector CD8+ T subsets, as well as cytotoxic CD4+ T subsets. Notably, a distinct subpopulation of CD4+ T cells exhibits innate-like features with preferential interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression. With IL-8-humanized mouse strain, we demonstrate that IL-8-producing CD4+ T, myeloid, and tumor cells orchestrate myeloid-derived suppressor cell infiltration and angiogenesis, which results in enhanced tumor growth but reduced ICB efficacy. Antibody-mediated IL-8 blockade or the inhibition of its receptor, CXCR1/2, unleashes anti-PD-1-mediated antitumor immunity. Our findings thus highlight IL-8 as a combinational immunotherapy target for glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haofei Liu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China; Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing 401329, P.R. China
| | - Qiwen Zhao
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Leyong Tan
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Xin Wu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Rui Huang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Yonglin Zuo
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Longjuan Chen
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Jigui Yang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Zuo-Xin Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Wenchen Ruan
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P.R. China
| | - Jiayang Wu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P.R. China
| | - Fei He
- Genergy Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200235, P.R. China
| | - Yiliang Fang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Fangyuan Mao
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Peipei Zhang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoning Zhang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Peidi Yin
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Zexuan Yan
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Wenwen Xu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Huimin Lu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Qingrui Li
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Mei Liang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Yanjun Jia
- Chongqing International Institute for Immunology, Chongqing 401338, P.R. China
| | - Cong Chen
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Senlin Xu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Yu Shi
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Fang Ping
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Guang-Jie Duan
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Hong Yao
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Zhijian Han
- The Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Department of Tumor Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, P.R. China
| | - Tao Pang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P.R. China
| | - Youhong Cui
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Bo Zhu
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Chunjian Qi
- Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, P.R. China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China.
| | - Sheng-Qing Lv
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China.
| | - Xiu-Wu Bian
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China.
| | - Xindong Liu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China; Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing 401329, P.R. China.
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