IL-6 promotes MYC-induced B cell lymphomagenesis independent of STAT3

Targeting Molecular Signaling Pathways and Cytokine Responses to Modulate c-MYC in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Overexpression of the MYC oncogene, encoding c-MYC protein, contributes to the pathogenesis and drug resistance of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and many other hematopoietic malignancies. Although standard chemotherapy has predominated in AML therapy over the past five decades, the clinical outcomes and patient response to treatment remain suboptimal. Deeper insight into the molecular basis of this disease should facilitate the development of novel therapeutics targeting specific molecules and pathways that are dysregulated in AML, including fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene mutation and cluster of differentiation 33 (CD33) protein expression. Elevated expression of c-MYC is one of the molecular features of AML that determines the clinical prognosis in patients. Increased expression of c-MYC is also one of the cytogenetic characteristics of drug resistance in AML. However, direct targeting of c-MYC has been challenging due to its lack of binding sites for small molecules. In this review, we focused on the mechanisms involving the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) and cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) proteins, phosphoinositide-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) and Janus kinase-signal transduction and activation of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathways, as well as various inflammatory cytokines, as an indirect means of regulating MYC overexpression in AML. Furthermore, we highlight Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for AML, and the results of preclinical and clinical studies on novel agents that have been or are currently being tested for efficacy and tolerability in AML therapy. Overall, this review summarizes our current knowledge of the molecular processes that promote leukemogenesis, as well as the various agents that intervene in specific pathways and directly or indirectly modulate c-MYC to disrupt AML pathogenesis and drug resistance.

Targeting cytokine and chemokine signaling pathways for cancer therapy

Cytokines are critical in regulating immune responses and cellular behavior, playing dual roles in both normal physiology and the pathology of diseases such as cancer. These molecules, including interleukins, interferons, tumor necrosis factors, chemokines, and growth factors like TGF-β, VEGF, and EGF, can promote or inhibit tumor growth, influence the tumor microenvironment, and impact the efficacy of cancer treatments. Recent advances in targeting these pathways have shown promising therapeutic potential, offering new strategies to modulate the immune system, inhibit tumor progression, and overcome resistance to conventional therapies. In this review, we summarized the current understanding and therapeutic implications of targeting cytokine and chemokine signaling pathways in cancer. By exploring the roles of these molecules in tumor biology and the immune response, we highlighted the development of novel therapeutic agents aimed at modulating these pathways to combat cancer. The review elaborated on the dual nature of cytokines as both promoters and suppressors of tumorigenesis, depending on the context, and discussed the challenges and opportunities this presents for therapeutic intervention. We also examined the latest advancements in targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, receptor inhibitors, fusion proteins, engineered cytokine variants, and their impact on tumor growth, metastasis, and the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, we evaluated the potential of combining these targeted therapies with other treatment modalities to overcome resistance and improve patient outcomes. Besides, we also focused on the ongoing research and clinical trials that are pivotal in advancing our understanding and application of cytokine- and chemokine-targeted therapies for cancer patients.

IL-6 significantly correlated with the prognosis in low-grade glioma and the mediating effect of immune microenvironment

To screen immune-related prognostic biomarkers in low-grade glioma (LGG), and reveal the potential regulatory mechanism. The differential expressed genes (DEGs) between alive and dead patients were initially identified, then the key common genes between DEGs and immune-related genes were obtained. Regarding the key DEGs associated with the overall survival (OS), their clinical value was assessed by Kaplan-Meier, RCS, logistic regression, ROC, and decision curve analysis methods. We also assessed the role of immune infiltration on the association between key DEGs and OS. All the analyses were based on the TGCA-LGG data. Finally, we conducted the molecular docking analysis to explore the targeting binding of key DEGs with the therapeutic agents in LGG. Among 146 DEGs, only interleukin-6 (IL-6) was finally screened as an immune-related biomarker. High expression of IL-6 significantly correlated with poor OS time (all P < .05), showing a linear relationship. The combination of IL-6 with IDH1 mutation had the most favorable prediction performance on survival status and they achieved a good clinical net benefit. Next, we found a significant relationship between IL-6 and immune microenvironment score, and the immune microenvironment played a mediating effect on the association of IL-6 with survival (all P < .05). Detailly, IL-6 was positively related to M1 macrophage infiltration abundance and its biomarkers (all P < .05). Finally, we obtained 4 therapeutic agents in LGG targeting IL-6, and their targeting binding relationships were all verified. IL6, as an immune-related biomarker, was associated with the prognosis in LGG, and it can be a therapeutic target in LGG.

Lycium barbarum Ameliorates Oral Mucositis via HIF and TNF Pathways: A Network Pharmacology Approach

BACKGROUND

Oral mucositis is the most common and troublesome complication for cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Recent research has shown that Lycium barbarum, an important economic crop widely grown in China, has epithelial protective effects in several other organs. However, it is unknown whether or not Lycium barbarum can exert a beneficial effect on oral mucositis. Network pharmacology has been suggested to be applied in "multi-component-multi-target" functional food studies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of Lycium barbarum on oral mucositis through network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental validation.

AIMS

To explore the biological effects and molecular mechanisms of Lycium barbarum in the treatment of oral mucositis through network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with experimental validation.

METHODS

Based on network pharmacology methods, we collected the active components and related targets of Lycium barbarum from public databases, as well as the targets related to oral mucositis. We mapped protein- protein interaction (PPI) networks, performed gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment, and constructed a 'components-disease-targets' network and 'components-pathways-targets' network using Cytoscape to further analyse the intrinsic molecular mechanisms of Lycium barbarum against oral mucositis. The affinity and stability predictions were performed using molecular docking strategies, and experiments were conducted to demonstrate the biological effects and possible mechanisms of Lycium barbarum against oral mucositis.

RESULTS

A network was established between 49 components and 61 OM targets. The main active compounds were quercetin, beta-carotene, palmatine, and cyanin. The predicted core targets were IL-6, RELA, TP53, TNF, IL10, CTNNB1, AKT1, CDKN1A, HIF1A and MYC. The enrichment analysis predicted that the therapeutic effect was mainly through the regulation of inflammation, apoptosis, and hypoxia response with the involvement of TNF and HIF pathways. Molecular docking results showed that key components bind well to the core targets. In both chemically and radiation-induced OM models, Lycium barbarum significantly promoted healing and reduced inflammation. The experimental verification showed Lycium barbarum targeted the key genes (IL-6, RELA, TP53, TNF, IL10, CTNNB1, AKT1, CDKN1A, HIF1A, and MYC) through regulating the HIF and TNF signaling pathways, which were validated using the RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence staining and western blotting assays.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the present study systematically demonstrated the possible therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Lycium barbarum on oral mucositis through network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation. The results showed that Lycium barbarum could promote healing and reduce the inflammatory response through TNF and HIF signaling pathways.

Lymphoproliferative disorder risk after methotrexate treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

Methotrexate (MTX)-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (MTX-LPD) is a troublesome problem in patients receiving MTX for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, its incidence, prognosis, and risk factors remain unclear. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the actual incidence, prognostic impact, and risk factors of MTX-LPD. Of the 986 patients with RA treated with MTX, 90 patients experienced 95 new malignancies (NMs), with LPD as the most frequent in 26 patients. The cumulative LPD incidences were 1.3% and 4.7% at 5 and 10 years after MTX initiation, respectively. Among the 24 patients who discontinued MTX after developing LPD, 15 showed sustained regression, without difference in overall survival between patients with LPD and without NM. Inflammatory markers and absolute lymphocyte counts were not useful for early LPD development detection, but most of the patients with LPD had persistently elevated erythrocyte sedimentation ratios. Regarding concomitant drugs, tacrolimus increased the risk only if patients were not receiving biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). bDMARDs did not increase the risk for any of the drugs or the number of classes used. The number of LPD cases was lower in patients with IL-6A even after a long period after MTX, although with no statistically significant difference. Thus, approximately 1 in 20 patients with RA developed MTX-LPD over the 10 years of MTX treatment, but it did not affect the survival of patients with RA. Tacrolimus increased the risk of developing LPD for certain patients and should be used with caution.

Molecular Mechanisms of Ferroptosis and Its Roles in Hematologic Malignancies

Cell death is essential for the normal metabolism of human organisms. Ferroptosis is a unique regulated cell death (RCD) mode characterized by excess accumulation of iron-dependent lipid peroxide and reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared with other well-known programmed cell death modes. It has been currently recognized that ferroptosis plays a rather important role in the occurrence, development, and treatment of traumatic brain injury, stroke, acute kidney injury, liver damage, ischemia–reperfusion injury, tumor, etc. Of note, ferroptosis may be explained by the expression of various molecules and signaling components, among which iron, lipid, and amino acid metabolism are the key regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis. Meanwhile, tumor cells of hematological malignancies, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma (MM), are identified to be sensitive to ferroptosis. Targeting potential regulatory factors in the ferroptosis pathway may promote or inhibit the disease progression of these malignancies. In this review, a systematic summary was conducted on the key molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and the current potential relationships of ferroptosis with leukemia, lymphoma, and MM. It is expected to provide novel potential therapeutic approaches and targets for hematological malignancies.