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Hiller-Vallina S, Mondejar-Ruescas L, Caamaño-Moreno M, Cómitre-Mariano B, Alcivar-López D, Sepulveda JM, Hernández-Laín A, Pérez-Núñez Á, Segura-Collar B, Gargini R. Sexual-biased necroinflammation is revealed as a predictor of bevacizumab benefit in glioblastoma. Neuro Oncol 2024; 26:1213-1227. [PMID: 38411438 PMCID: PMC11226871 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noae033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly malignant brain tumor that affects men more often than women. In addition, the former shows a poorer survival prognosis. To date, the reason for this sex-specific aggressiveness remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate tumor processes that explain these sex differences. METHODS This was a retrospective study of GBM patients which was stratified according to sex. A cohort with 73 tumors was analyzed with immunohistochemistry, RNA-seq and RT-qPCR to characterize differences in vascular and immunological profiles. Transcriptomic profiling, gene set enrichment analysis, and pathway enrichment analysis were used for discovering molecular pathways predominant in each group. We further investigated the therapeutic effect of bevacizumab (vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) blocking antibody) in a retrospective GBM cohort (36 tumors) based on sex differences. RESULTS We found that under hypoxic tumor conditions, 2 distinct tumor immuno-angiogenic ecosystems develop linked to sex differences and ESR1 expression is generated. One of these subgroups, which includes male patients with low ESR1 expression, is characterized by vascular fragility associated with the appearance of regions of necrosis and high inflammation (called necroinflamed tumors). This male-specific tumor subtype shows high inflammation related to myeloid-derived suppressor cells infiltration. Using this stratification, we identified a possible group of patients who could respond to bevacizumab (BVZ) and revealed a genetic signature that may find clinical applications as a predictor of those who may benefit most from this treatment. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a stratification based on the sexual differences in GBM, which associates the poor prognosis with the presence of immunosuppressive myeloid cells in the necrotic areas. This new stratification could change the current prognosis of GBM and identifies those who respond to BVZ treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Hiller-Vallina
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédicas I+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Pathology and Neurooncology Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucia Mondejar-Ruescas
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédicas I+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Pathology and Neurooncology Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Caamaño-Moreno
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédicas I+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Pathology and Neurooncology Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Blanca Cómitre-Mariano
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédicas I+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Pathology and Neurooncology Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Denisse Alcivar-López
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédicas I+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Pathology and Neurooncology Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan M Sepulveda
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédicas I+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aurelio Hernández-Laín
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédicas I+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Pathology and Neurooncology Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Pérez-Núñez
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédicas I+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Neurosurgery, 12 de Octubre University Hospital (i+12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Berta Segura-Collar
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédicas I+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Pathology and Neurooncology Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Gargini
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédicas I+12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Pathology and Neurooncology Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
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Shao G, Cui X, Wang Y, Luo S, Li C, Jiang Y, Cai D, Li N, Li X. Targeting MS4A4A: A novel pathway to improve immunotherapy responses in glioblastoma. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14791. [PMID: 38997808 PMCID: PMC11245405 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma (GBM) remains a challenging brain tumor to treat, with limited response to PD-1 immunotherapy due to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), specifically the M2 phenotype. This study explores the potential of MS4A4A (membrane spanning four domains, subfamily A, member 4A) inhibition in driving M2 macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype via the ferroptosis pathway to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy in GBM. METHODS Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomic analyses were employed to characterize M2 macrophages and MS4A4A expression in GBM. In vitro studies utilizing TAM cultures, flow cytometry, and western blot validations were conducted to assess the impact of MS4A4A on the tumor immune microenvironment and M2 macrophage polarization. In vivo models, including subcutaneous and orthotopic transplantation in mice, were utilized to evaluate the effects of MS4A4A knockout and combined immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy on tumor growth and response to PD-1 immunotherapy. RESULTS Distinct subsets of GBM-associated macrophages were identified, with spatial distribution in tumor tissue elucidated. In vivo experiments demonstrated that inhibiting MS4A4A and combining ICB therapy effectively inhibited tumor growth, reshaped the tumor immune microenvironment by reducing M2 TAM infiltration and enhancing CD8+ T-cell infiltration, ultimately leading to complete tumor eradication. CONCLUSION MS4A4A inhibition shows promise in converting M2 macrophages to M1 phenotype via ferroptosis, decreasing M2-TAM infiltration, and enhancing GBM response to PD-1 immunotherapy. These findings offer a novel approach to developing more effective immunotherapeutic strategies for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangcai Shao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing HospitalChina Medical UniversityShenyangChina
- Department of NeurosurgeryAnshan Central HospitalAnshanChina
| | - Xiangguo Cui
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shengjing HospitalChina Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Yiliang Wang
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Shuyan Luo
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Chuanyu Li
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Yu Jiang
- Department of NeurosurgeryAnshan Central HospitalAnshanChina
| | - Dasheng Cai
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Nu Li
- Department of Breast SurgeryThe First Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
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Zhang J, Li Y, Yang Y, Huang J, Sun Y, Zhang X, Kong X. A novel iTreg-related signature for prognostic prediction in lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:109-124. [PMID: 38015097 PMCID: PMC10823293 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of lung cancer. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, therefore it is crucial to identify novel prognostic biomarkers for LUAD. As important regulatory cells, inducible regulatory T cells (iTregs) play a vital role in immune suppression and are important for the maintenance of immune homeostasis. This study explored the prognostic value and therapeutic effects of iTreg-related genes in LUAD. Data for LUAD patients, including immune infiltration data, RNA sequencing data, and clinical features, were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus, and Tumor Immune Single-cell Hub 2 databases. Immune-related subgroups with different infiltration patterns and iTreg-related genes were identified through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and weighted correlation network analysis. Functional enrichment analyses were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms of iTreg-related genes. A prognostic risk signature was constructed using Cox regression analysis with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator penalty. The ESTIMATE algorithm was applied to determine the immune status of LUAD patients. We applied the constructed signature to predict chemosensitivity and performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. The infiltration of iTregs was identified as an independent factor for predicting patient outcomes. We constructed a prognostic signature based on seven iTreg-related genes (GIMAP5, SLA, MS4A7, ZNF366, POU2AF1, MRPL12, and COL5A1), which was applied to subdivide patients into high- and low-risk subgroups. Our results revealed that patients in the iTreg-related low-risk subgroup had a better prognosis and possibly greater sensitivity to traditional chemotherapy. Our study provides a novel iTreg-related signature to elucidate the mechanisms underlying LUAD prognosis and promote individualized chemotherapy treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinHeilongjiangChina
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinHeilongjiangChina
| | - Yue Yang
- Institute of Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinHeilongjiangChina
| | - Jian Huang
- The Fourth Department of Medical OncologyHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinHeilongjiangChina
| | - Yue Sun
- The Academic Department of Science and TechnologyHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinHeilongjiangChina
| | - Xi Zhang
- Department of AnaesthesiologyHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinHeilongjiangChina
| | - Xianglong Kong
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinHeilongjiangChina
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Park SJ, Greer PL, Lee N. From odor to oncology: non-canonical odorant receptors in cancer. Oncogene 2024; 43:304-318. [PMID: 38087050 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02908-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Odorant receptors, traditionally associated with olfaction as chemoreceptors, have been increasingly recognized for their presence and diverse functions in various non-nasal tissues throughout the body. Beyond their roles in sensory perception, emerging evidence suggests a compelling interplay between odorant receptors and cancer progression as well. Alongside the canonical GPCR odorant receptors, dysregulation of non-canonical odorant receptors such as trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs), formyl peptide receptors (FPRs), and membrane-spanning 4A family (MS4As) has been observed in various cancer types, suggesting their contributions to cancer progression. The roles of these non-canonical chemoreceptors in cancer are complex, with some receptors promoting tumorigenesis and others acting as tumor-suppressing factors upon activation, depending on the cancer type. These findings shed light on the potential of non-canonical odorant receptors as therapeutic targets and prognostic markers in cancer, inviting further exploration to unravel their precise mechanisms of action and implications in cancer biology. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the intricate relationships between these chemoreceptors and various types of cancer, potentially paving the way for innovative odor-based therapeutics. Ultimately, this review discusses the potential development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting these non-canonical chemoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Jin Park
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Paul L Greer
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Namgyu Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan, 31116, Republic of Korea.
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Wang Y, Ji L, Ji C, Wang F. Multi-omics approaches establishing histone modification based prognostic model in glioma patients and further verification of the carcinogenesis mechanism. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:307. [PMID: 37730879 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01229-3] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) emerges as the most common malignant brain tumor. Histone modifications, as an epigenetic regulatory mechanism of gene expression, are closely associated with malignant tumors. Gene set related to histone modification was extracted from the MSigDB database, and scored by the function of AddModuleScore. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized using the "rcorr" function of "Hmisc" R package. Genes were screened out using the LASSO Cox analysis. TCGA-GBM and CGGA_array_301 cohorts were employed for constructing model and validation. We calculated immune infiltration scores using microenvironment cell populations counter (MCPcounter), single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), and xCell algorithms. U87-MG and CHG-5 cell lines were utilized to evaluate expression level of TMEM176A by western blot (WB). Transwell, EDU, colony formation analysis (CFA), and CKK-8 assays were conducted to investigate cell proliferation and migration rate. The malignant cells in GBM patients exhibited notable activation in the TGF-β and hypoxia pathway. Histone modifications were associated with adhesion and neuron development in GBM. We identified a model with five significant genes, namely NBEAL1, AEBP1, TMEM176A, FASTK, and CD81, with prognostic efficacy. Additionally, we observed increased infiltration of T cells and CD8+ T cells in the high-risk (HR) group. 5-Fluorouracil_1073 and Taselisib_1561 were predicted as potential treatment options for GBM patients, while ABT737_1910 and Wnt_C59-1622 exhibited superior response in GBM patients of the HR group. A spike in the TP53 mutation rate was observed in the HR group. TMEM176A played a role in regulating cell proliferation and migration in vitro. We presented a novel prognostic model for patients with GBM, based on histone modification-related genes. In addition, we identified the crucial role of the TMEM176A in the regulation of GBM carcinogenic phenotypes for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhui Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Deqing People's Hospital, Deqing, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - LiKang Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, Deqing People's Hospital, Deqing, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chunfeng Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, Deqing People's Hospital, Deqing, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Fan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Ouhai, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China.
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Zheng Z, Li H, Yang R, Guo H. Role of the membrane-spanning 4A gene family in lung adenocarcinoma. Front Genet 2023; 14:1162787. [PMID: 37533433 PMCID: PMC10390740 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1162787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma, which is the second most prevalent cancer in the world, has a poor prognosis and a low 5-year survival rate. The MS4A protein family is crucial to disease development and progression, particularly for cancers, allergies, metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, infections, and neurodegenerative disorders. However, its involvement in lung adenocarcinoma remains unclear. In this study, we found that 11 MS4A family genes were upregulated or downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, we described the genetic variation landscape of the MS4A family in lung adenocarcinoma. Notably, through functional enrichment analysis, we discovered that the MS4A family is involved in the immune response regulatory signaling pathway and the immune response regulatory cell surface receptor signaling pathway. According to the Kaplan-Meier curve, patients with lung adenocarcinoma having poor expression of MS4A2, MS4A7, MS4A14, and MS4A15 had a low overall survival rate. These four prognostic genes are substantially associated with immune-infiltrating cells, and a prognosis model incorporating them may more accurately predict the overall survival rate of patients with lung adenocarcinoma than current models. The findings of this study may offer creative suggestions and recommendations for the identification and management of lung adenocarcinoma.
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Guo S, Liu X, Zhang J, Huang Z, Ye P, Shi J, Stalin A, Wu C, Lu S, Zhang F, Gao Y, Jin Z, Tao X, Huang J, Zhai Y, Shi R, Guo F, Zhou W, Wu J. Integrated analysis of single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq unravels T cell-related prognostic risk model and tumor immune microenvironment modulation in triple-negative breast cancer. Comput Biol Med 2023; 161:107066. [PMID: 37263064 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107066] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and fatal malignancy. The current success of tumor immunotherapy has focused attention on intermediate T-cell subsets and the tumor microenvironment, which are essential for activation of the anti-tumor response. Therefore, both areas require further research to accelerate progress in developing tailored immunotherapeutic approaches for patients with TNBC. METHODS We obtained scRNA-seq data of TNBC from the GEO database. A multiplex strategy was used to analyze and identify the T-cell heterogeneity of TNBC. By combining the METABRIC and GEO databases, a prognostic risk model for T-cell marker genes was constructed and validated. In addition, the immune-infiltrating cells of TNBC was analyzed using CIBERSORT, and the association between the risk model and response to immunotherapy was investigated. RESULTS Based on scRNA-seq data, 25,932 cells were identified for multiple analyzes. T cells were studied with a focus on 2 subtypes, including CD8+ and CD4+. There were also communication relationships between T cells and multiple cell types. The results of the enrichment analysis showed that the T-cell marker genes were focused in pathways related to the immune system. In addition, OPTN, TMEM176A, PKM and HES1 deserve attention as prognostic markers in TNBC. The immune infiltration results showed that the high-risk group had significant immune cell infiltration and immunosuppression status. CONCLUSION This study provides a resource for understanding T-cell heterogeneity and the associated prognostic risk model for TNBC. The results show that the model helps predict prognosis and response to treatment in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Guo
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xinkui Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jingyuan Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhihong Huang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Peizhi Ye
- National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Chinese Medicine Department of the Caner Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Shi
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Tumor Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Antony Stalin
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Chao Wu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Shan Lu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Fanqin Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yifei Gao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhengseng Jin
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xiaoyu Tao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jiaqi Huang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yiyan Zhai
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Rui Shi
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Fengying Guo
- School of Management, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Jiarui Wu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
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Hu HF, Wang Z, Tang WL, Fu XM, Kong XJ, Qiu YK, Xi SY. Effects of Sophora flavescens aiton and the absorbed bioactive metabolite matrine individually and in combination with 5-fluorouracil on proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells in nude mice. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1047507. [PMID: 36438804 PMCID: PMC9681822 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1047507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Sophora flavescens aiton (SFA) and its main bioactive metabolite matrine are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations and have achieved good curative effects for the treatment of various tumors. However, the mechanisms underlying SFA and matrine individually and in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs for treatment of gastric cancer (GC) remain unclear. Aim of the study: To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the ability of SFA and matrine individually and in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs to inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of human GC cells. Materials and methods: Forty-eight nude mice were randomly divided into six groups that were treated with normal saline (model group), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), SFA decoction (SFAD), matrine, SFAD+5-FU, or matrine+5-FU. A subcutaneous heterotopic tumor model was established in nude mice by implantation of human GC BGC-823 cells. All mice were treated for 28 days. Bioactive metabolites in SFA were determined by HPLC-MS/MS. The tumor volume, tumor weight, and tumor inhibition rate of mice were documented. Histopathology and ultramicroscopic pathology of tumor tissues were observed. The tumor cell cycle and apoptosis in vivo were detected. Serum levels of PCNA, BAX, Bcl-2, Caspase-9, Caspase-3 and cleaved Caspase-3 were measured. Protein levels of MS4A10, MS4A8, MS4A7, PCNA, BAX, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and cleaved Caspase-3 were measured in tumor tissues. Results: Both SFAD and matrine inhibited the growth of transplanted GC cells, which was more effective when combined with 5-FU. The tumor inhibition rates of the 5-FU, SFAD, matrine, SFAD+5-FU, and matrine+5-FU groups were 53.85%, 33.96%, 30.44%, 59.74%, and 56.55%, respectively. The body weight of tumor-bearing nude mice was greater in the SFAD group than the normal saline and matrine groups. SFAD+5-FU and matrine+5-FU blocked BGC-823 cells in the G0-G1/S transition, promoted apoptosis, and significantly decreased the content of serum apoptosis-inhibitory proteins (PCNA and Bcl-2) as well as protein expression of MS4A8, MS4A10, Bcl-2, and PCNA in tumor tissues, while increasing serum levels of pro-apoptotic proteins (Caspase-9, Caspase-3 and cleaved-Caspase-3) and protein expression of BAX and cleaved-Caspase-3 in tumor tissues. Conclusion: SFAD and matrine both individually and in combination with 5-FU ameliorated malignancy of transplanted tumors by reducing proliferation and promoting apoptosis of BGC-823 cells. These findings confirm the anti-tumor synergistic effect of TCM and chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Fu Hu
- School of Medicine, Yueyang Vocational Technical College, Yueyang, Hunan, China
- Yueyang Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Characteristic Chinese Herbal Medicines in Dongting Lake District, Yueyang, Hunan, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wen-Li Tang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xue-Ming Fu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiang-Jun Kong
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ying-Kun Qiu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Sheng-Yan Xi
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
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