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May L, Shows K, Nana-Sinkam P, Li H, Landry JW. Sex Differences in Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3111. [PMID: 37370722 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex disparities in the incidence and mortality of lung cancer have been observed since cancer statistics have been recorded. Social and economic differences contribute to sex disparities in lung cancer incidence and mortality, but evidence suggests that there are also underlying biological differences that contribute to the disparity. This review summarizes biological differences which could contribute to the sex disparity. Sex hormones and other biologically active molecules, tumor cell genetic differences, and differences in the immune system and its response to lung cancer are highlighted. How some of these differences contribute to disparities in the response to therapies, including cytotoxic, targeted, and immuno-therapies, is also discussed. We end the study with a discussion of our perceived future directions to identify the key biological differences which could contribute to sex disparities in lung cancer and how these differences could be therapeutically leveraged to personalize lung cancer treatment to the individual sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren May
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Kathryn Shows
- Department of Biology, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806, USA
| | - Patrick Nana-Sinkam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Howard Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Joseph W Landry
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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Sarkar M, Singh P, Pal R. Workflow in transgenic mice for the study of specific cancers associated with the post-menopausal state. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102242. [PMID: 37099429 PMCID: PMC10182310 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Beta-hCG is associated with poor patient prognosis in several cancers, but the particular pathophysiology of beta-hCG in post-menopausal women remains unaddressed. Specific steps to culture Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC1) tumor cells are enumerated. Ovariectomy of syngeneic, beta-hCG transgenic mice is discussed, employing a protocol designed to ensure high survival. Implantation of LLC1 tumor cells in these mice is also described. The workflow can be easily adapted in the study of other cancers associated with the post-menopausal stratum. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Sarkar et al. (2022).1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moumita Sarkar
- Immunoendocrinology Lab, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, Delhi 110067, India
| | - Parminder Singh
- Larry L. Hillblom Center, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Rahul Pal
- Immunoendocrinology Lab, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, Delhi 110067, India.
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Sarkar M, Sharma H, Singh P, Ranu R, Sharma RD, Agrawal U, Pal R. Progesterone limits the tumor-promoting effects of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin via non-nuclear receptors. iScience 2022; 25:104527. [PMID: 35754725 PMCID: PMC9218381 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The post-menopausal state in women is associated with increased cancer incidence, the reasons for which remain obscure. Curiously, increased circulating levels of beta-hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) (a hormonal subunit linked with tumors of several lineages) are also often observed post-menopause. This study describes a previously unidentified interplay between beta-hCG and progesterone in tumorigenesis. Progesterone mediated apoptosis in beta-hCG responsive tumor cells via non-nuclear receptors. The transgenic expression of beta-hCG, particularly in the absence of the ovaries (a mimic of the post-menopausal state) constituted a potent pro-tumorigenic signal. Significantly, the administration of progesterone had significant anti-tumor effects. RNA-seq profiling identified molecular signatures associated with these processes. TCGA analysis revealed correlates between the expression of several newly identified genes and poor prognosis in post-menopausal patients of lung adenocarcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, and glioblastoma. Specifically in these women, the detection of intra-tumoral/extra-tumoral beta-hCG may serve as a useful prognostic indicator, and treatment with progesterone on its detection may prove beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moumita Sarkar
- Immunoendocrinology Lab, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, Delhi 110067, India
| | - Harsh Sharma
- Amity Institute of Integrative Sciences and Health, Amity University, Gurugram, Haryana 122413, India
| | - Parminder Singh
- Larry L. Hillblom Center, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Ranbala Ranu
- Cancer Research Imaging and Biobanking Lab, National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi, Delhi 110029, India
| | - Ravi Datta Sharma
- Amity Institute of Integrative Sciences and Health, Amity University, Gurugram, Haryana 122413, India
| | - Usha Agrawal
- Cancer Research Imaging and Biobanking Lab, National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi, Delhi 110029, India
| | - Rahul Pal
- Immunoendocrinology Lab, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, Delhi 110067, India
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Park Y, Lee K, Kim SW, Lee MW, Kim B, Lee SG. Effects of Induced Exosomes from Endometrial Cancer Cells on Tumor Activity in the Presence of Aurea helianthus Extract. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26082207. [PMID: 33921245 PMCID: PMC8068874 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) cells metastasize to various regions, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, blood, liver, bone, and brain. Various carcinogens are known to cause EC. Exosomes are released from several types of cells and contain various cellular components. In this study, flow cytometry and quantitative PCR were used to evaluate marker levels, cell migration, cell invasion, and mitochondrial membrane potential, and cellular senescence tests were used to estimate cancer activity. The microRNAs were profiled using next-generation sequencing. Although tocopherol-α and rutin content in Aurea helianthus is high, A. helianthus extract was more useful in modulating tumor activity compared to the two aforementioned substances. Notably, we established that the extract induced bioactive exosomes in EC cells, and profiling of miRNAs in the extract-inducing exosomes (EIE) indicated their potency to be developed as a biological drug. The extract and EIE contributed to the following five biological process categories for EC cells: (1) cell migration and invasion suppression, (2) cellular senescence activation by attenuating mitochondrial membrane potential and enhancing autophagy, (3) reproductive cancer activity attenuation, (4) drug susceptibility activation, and (5) EIE containing miRNAs associated with decreasing inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonjin Park
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (Y.P.); (S.W.K.); (M.W.L.)
- Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Life Together, 13 Gongdan-ro, Chuncheon-si 24232, Gangwon, Korea
| | - Kyunghwa Lee
- Mitosbio, 13 Gongdan-ro, Chuncheon-si 24232, Gangwon, Korea;
| | - Suhng Wook Kim
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (Y.P.); (S.W.K.); (M.W.L.)
| | - Min Woo Lee
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (Y.P.); (S.W.K.); (M.W.L.)
| | - Boyong Kim
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (Y.P.); (S.W.K.); (M.W.L.)
- Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Life Together, 13 Gongdan-ro, Chuncheon-si 24232, Gangwon, Korea
- Mitosbio, 13 Gongdan-ro, Chuncheon-si 24232, Gangwon, Korea;
- Correspondence: (B.K.); (S.G.L.); Tel.: +82-10-9105-1435 (B.K. & S.G.L.)
| | - Seung Gwan Lee
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (Y.P.); (S.W.K.); (M.W.L.)
- Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Correspondence: (B.K.); (S.G.L.); Tel.: +82-10-9105-1435 (B.K. & S.G.L.)
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Gridelet V, Perrier d'Hauterive S, Polese B, Foidart JM, Nisolle M, Geenen V. Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin: New Pleiotropic Functions for an "Old" Hormone During Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2020; 11:343. [PMID: 32231662 PMCID: PMC7083149 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is the first specific molecule synthesized by the embryo. hCG RNA is transcribed as early as the eight-cell stage, and the blastocyst produces the protein before its implantation. hCG in the uterine microenvironment binds with its cognate receptor, luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR), on the endometrial surface. This binding stimulates leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) production and inhibits interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by epithelial cells of the endometrium. These effects ensure essential help in the preparation of the endometrium for initial embryo implantation. hCG also effects angiogenic and immunomodulatory actions as reported in many articles by our laboratories and other ones. By stimulating angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, hCG provides the placenta with an adequate maternal blood supply and optimal embryo nutrition during the invasion of the uterine endometrium. The immunomodulatory properties of hCG are numerous and important for programming maternal immune tolerance toward the embryo. The reported effects of hCG on uterine NK, Treg, and B cells, three major cell populations for the maintenance of pregnancy, demonstrate the role of this embryonic signal as a crucial immune regulator in the course of pregnancy. Human embryo rejection for hCG-related immunological reasons has been studied in different ways, and a sufficient dose of hCG seems to be necessary to maintain maternal tolerance. Different teams have studied the addition of hCG in patients suffering from recurrent miscarriages or implantation failures. hCG could also have a beneficial or a negative impact on autoimmune diseases during pregnancy. In this review, we will discuss the immunological impacts of hCG during pregnancy and if this hormone might be used therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Gridelet
- GIGA-I3 Center of Immunoendocrinology GIGA Research Institute, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
- Center for Assisted Medical Procreation, University of Liège, CHR Citadelle, Liège, Belgium
| | - Sophie Perrier d'Hauterive
- GIGA-I3 Center of Immunoendocrinology GIGA Research Institute, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
- Center for Assisted Medical Procreation, University of Liège, CHR Citadelle, Liège, Belgium
| | - Barbara Polese
- GIGA-I3 Center of Immunoendocrinology GIGA Research Institute, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Jean-Michel Foidart
- Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Michelle Nisolle
- Center for Assisted Medical Procreation, University of Liège, CHR Citadelle, Liège, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHR Citadelle, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Vincent Geenen
- GIGA-I3 Center of Immunoendocrinology GIGA Research Institute, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
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