Cell Adhesion Molecules and Their Roles and Regulation in the Immune and Tumor Microenvironment

Infiltration by monocytes of the central nervous system and its role in multiple sclerosis: reflections on therapeutic strategies

Mononuclear macrophage infiltration in the central nervous system is a prominent feature of neuroinflammation. Recent studies on the pathogenesis and progression of multiple sclerosis have highlighted the multiple roles of mononuclear macrophages in the neuroinflammatory process. Monocytes play a significant role in neuroinflammation, and managing neuroinflammation by manipulating peripheral monocytes stands out as an effective strategy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, leading to improved patient outcomes. This review outlines the steps involved in the entry of myeloid monocytes into the central nervous system that are targets for effective intervention: the activation of bone marrow hematopoiesis, migration of monocytes in the blood, and penetration of the blood-brain barrier by monocytes. Finally, we summarize the different monocyte subpopulations and their effects on the central nervous system based on phenotypic differences. As activated microglia resemble monocyte-derived macrophages, it is important to accurately identify the role of monocyte-derived macrophages in disease. Depending on the roles played by monocyte-derived macrophages at different stages of the disease, several of these processes can be interrupted to limit neuroinflammation and improve patient prognosis. Here, we discuss possible strategies to target monocytes in neurological diseases, focusing on three key aspects of monocyte infiltration into the central nervous system, to provide new ideas for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Amelioration of breast cancer therapies through normalization of tumor vessels and microenvironment: paradigm shift to improve drug perfusion and nanocarrier permeation

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. Chemo-, immune- and photothermal therapies are employed to manage BC. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) prevents free drugs and nanocarriers (NCs) from entering the tumor premises. Formulation scientists rely on enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) to extravasate NCs in the TME. However, recent research has demonstrated the inconsistent nature of EPR among different patients and tumor types. In addition, angiogenesis, high intra-tumor fluid pressure, desmoplasia, and high cell and extracellular matrix density resist the accumulation of NCs in the TME. In this review, we discuss TME normalization as an approach to improve the penetration of drugs and NCSs in the tumor premises. Strategies such as normalization of tumor vessels, reversal of hypoxia, alleviation of high intra-tumor pressure, and infiltration of lymphocytes for the reversal of therapy failure have been discussed in this manuscript. Strategies to promote the infiltration of anticancer immune cells in the TME after vascular normalization have been discussed. Studies strategizing time points to administer TME-normalizing agents are highlighted. Mechanistic pathways controlling the angiogenesis and normalization processes are discussed along with the studies. This review will provide greater tumor-targeting insights to the formulation scientists.

Integrins and integrin-driven secretory pathways as multi-dimensional regulators of tumor-associated macrophage recruitment and reprogramming in tumor microenvironment

Integrins, a group of transmembrane receptors, play a crucial role in mediating the interactions between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The intracellular signaling initiated by these cell-matrix interactions in leukocytes mediates many essential cellular processes such as survival, migration, metabolism, and other immunological functions. Macrophages, as phagocytes, participate in both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes, including progression. Numerous reports have shown that the integrin-regulated secretome, comprising cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, proteases, and other bioactive molecules, is a crucial modulator of macrophage functions in tumors, significantly influencing macrophage programming and reprogramming within the tumor microenvironment (TME) in addition to driving their step-by-step entry process into tumor tissue spaces. Importantly, studies have demonstrated a pivotal role for integrin receptor-mediated secretome and associated signaling pathways in functional reprogramming from anti-tumorigenic to pro-tumorigenic phenotype in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In this comprehensive review, we have provided an in-depth analysis of the latest findings of various key pathways, mediators, and signaling cascades associated with integrin-driven polarization of macrophages in tumors. This manuscript will provide an updated understanding of the modulation of inflammatory monocytes/ macrophages and TAMs by integrin-driven secretory pathways in various functions such as migration, differentiation, and their role in tumor progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

Cell adhesion and spreading on fluid membranes through microtubules-dependent mechanotransduction

Integrin clusters facilitate mechanical force transmission (mechanotransduction) and regulate biochemical signaling during cell adhesion. However, most studies have focused on rigid substrates. On fluid substrates like supported lipid bilayers (SLBs), integrin ligands are mobile, and adhesive complexes are traditionally thought unable to anchor for cell spreading. Here, we demonstrate that cells spread on SLBs coated with Invasin, a high-affinity integrin ligand. Unlike SLBs functionalized with RGD peptides, integrin clusters on Invasin-SLBs grow in size and complexity comparable to those on glass. While actomyosin contraction dominates adhesion maturation on stiff substrates, we find that on fluid SLBs, integrin mechanotransduction and cell spreading rely on dynein pulling forces along microtubules perpendicular to the membranes and microtubules pushing on adhesive complexes, respectively. These forces, potentially present on non-deformable surfaces, are revealed in fluid substrate systems. Supported by a theoretical model, our findings demonstrate a mechanical role for microtubules in integrin clustering.

Key wound healing genes as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma: an integrated in silico and in vitro study

BACKGROUND

Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (UCEC) is a prevalent gynecologic malignancy with complex molecular underpinnings. This study identifies key woundhealing genes involved in UCEC and elucidates their roles through a comprehensive analysis.

METHODS

In silico and in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

Seventy wound healing-associated genes were extracted from the Gene Ontology (GO) database, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database. CytoHubba analysis in Cytoscape identified six pivotal hub genes: CD44, FGF2, FGF10, KDM6A, FN1, and MMP2. These genes exhibited significantly lower expression in UCEC cell lines compared to normal controls, as confirmed by RT-qPCR. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated their potential as diagnostic biomarkers, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.94 to 1.00. Validation using TCGA datasets revealed consistent downregulation of these genes in UCEC samples, corroborated by immunohistochemical staining. Promoter methylation analysis showed significantly higher methylation levels in UCEC, correlating with decreased mRNA expression and poor survival outcomes. Genetic alteration analysis indicated frequent mutations in FN1 and KDM6A, although these did not significantly affect survival. Functional analysis using the CancerSEA database highlighted the involvement of these genes in critical cancer-related processes, including angiogenesis, apoptosis, and metastasis. Immune correlation studies revealed significant associations with immune inhibitor genes and distinct expression patterns across immune subtypes. Overexpression studies in UCEC cell lines demonstrated that CD44 and MMP2 reduce proliferative ability while enhancing migration and wound healing.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these findings underscore the crucial roles of CD44, FGF2, FGF10, KDM6A, FN1, and MMP2 in UCEC pathogenesis, highlighting their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in this malignancy.

Protocol for in vivo immune cell analysis in subcutaneous murine tumor models using advanced flow cytometry

Here, we present a protocol for guiding tissue preparation and flow cytometric analysis in subcutaneous murine tumor models and secondary lymphoid organs. We describe steps for dissociating tumors, spleens, and lymph nodes to obtain single-cell suspensions. We then detail procedures for immune cell staining and analysis and gating strategies including the use of fluorescence-minus-one controls (FMOs). This approach provides valuable insights into the impact of cancer therapies on the tumor and systemic immune response. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ingelshed et al.1.

Identified VCAM1 as prognostic gene in gastric cancer by co-expression network analysis

The diffuse gastric cancer (DGC) is a malignant tumor distinct from intestinal gastric cancer (IGC). This study aims to identify genetic variances and potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for diverse types of gastric cancer utilizing an extensive dataset. Data from RNA sequencing and clinical pathological details were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset. Co-expression gene modules were constructed via Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), followed by deciphering gene functions and protein-protein interaction networks within significantly associated modules. In total, analysis was conducted on 56,753 genes from 247 individuals with gastric cancer. Particularly, 621 genes from the green module exhibited strong associations with the Lauren type of gastric cancer. The prominent genes in the green module showed enrichment in processes such as signal transduction, immune response, and the positive regulation of GTPase activity. Noteworthy among these, VCAM1 was identified as the central gene linked to patients' prognosis. Moreover, 72 gastric cancer specimens were collected from The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a significantly higher expression of VCAM1 in DGC compared to IGC (p = 0.019). Furthermore, it was confirmed that VCAM1 expression serves as a prognostic indicator for patients with DGC (p = 0.002), a correlation not observed in IGC (p = 0.760). In conclusion, this study identifies VCAM1 as a promising diagnostic and prognostic factor, suggesting novel avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in gastric cancer.

Combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis of stable knockdown and overexpression of the CD8A gene in chicken T lymphocytes

CD8 subunit alpha (CD8A) is an important gene in immunity and is involved in the functional regulation of T lymphocytes. However, the specific role and regulatory mechanism of CD8A in chicken T lymphocytes remain unknown. In this study, we overexpressed and interfered with CD8A in chicken T lymphocytes and found that interfering with CD8A expression inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of T lymphocytes and that the overexpression of CD8A promoted T lymphocyte activation. Additionally, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of chicken T lymphocytes with CD8A overexpression or interference were performed. The overexpression and interference of the CD8A gene caused widespread changes in gene and metabolite expression in chicken T cells. The results of the transcriptome analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) caused by altered expression of the CD8A gene were associated with multiple "neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction", "cell adhesion molecules", "calcium signaling pathway", etc. The metabolome analysis results revealed that different metabolites (DMs) caused by altered CD8A gene expression were associated with "Glutathione metabolism", "Arginine biosynthesis", "D-amino acid metabolism", etc. The combined transcriptional and metabolic analysis revealed one metabolically related pathway, "Glutathione metabolism". Our findings further revealed that interference and overexpression of CD8A plays a role in the metabolism of Glutathione. Thus, CD8A may be a critical regulator of "Glutathione metabolism" and may subsequently affect T-cell function in chickens. These results provide an important reference for further research on the effect of CD8A on the immune performance of chickens.

Dabrafenib Inhibits Egr-1-Mediated Adhesion of Thyroid Cancer Cells to Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelium

Cell-cell adhesion between thyroid tumor cells and pulmonary endothelial cells plays a critical role in the development of lung metastases from primary thyroid cancer. Dabrafenib, a selective inhibitor for B-RAF kinase, has been approved for cancer treatment. However, its effects on pulmonary metastases originating from primary thyroid cancer remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that conditioned medium (CM) from the thyroid cancer SW579 cell line significantly elevated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines HMGB-1, IL-1β, and MCP-1 in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs), which was notably reduced by Dabrafenib. Additionally, exposure to the thyroid cancer SW579 CM increased the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, as well as the adhesion of thyroid cancer SW579 cells to HPMECs, both of which were prevented by Dabrafenib. We also found that Dabrafenib mitigated oxidative stress induced by SW579 CM, as evidenced by increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Further investigation revealed that Dabrafenib's beneficial effects were mediated through the inhibition of Egr-1, and overexpression of Egr-1 reversed Dabrafenib's protective effect on the adhesion of thyroid cancer cells to HPMECs. Based on these results, we propose that Dabrafenib may have the potential to prevent pulmonary metastases of thyroid cancer cells.

Structural aspects of CEACAM1 interactions

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) is a membrane protein that plays an important role in a variety of immune and non-immune functions. Such functions are regulated by its activity as a homophilic ligand but also through its ability to interact as a heterophilic ligand with various host proteins. These include CEACAM5, T cell immunoglobulin-mucin like protein-3 (TIM-3) and, potentially, protein death protein 1 (PD-1). Furthermore, CEACAM1 is targeted by various pathogens to allow them to invade a host and bypass an effective immune response. Clinically, CEACAM1 plays an important role in infectious diseases, autoimmunity and cancer. In this review, we describe the structural basis for CEACAM1 interactions as a homophilic and heterophilic ligand. We discuss the regulation of its monomeric, dimeric and oligomeric states in cis and trans binding as well as the consequences for eliciting downstream signalling activities. Furthermore, we explore the potential role of avidity in determining CEACAM1's activities.

Remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment through hydrogel encapsulated G-Rh2 in situ vaccine and systemic immunotherapy

Ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) is a vital bioactive compound in Traditional Chinese Medicine, celebrated for its strong pharmacological properties, particularly its potent antitumor effects. However, its poor water solubility and limited bioavailability have necessitated the development of a novel drug delivery method. In this study, we utilized an indocyanine green carboxylic acid-hydroxypropyl cellulose-abietic acid-bovine serum albumin hydrogel (ICG-HPC-AA/BSA hydrogel) as a tumor in situ vaccine to enhance the permeability, retention, and tumor-targeted therapeutic efficacy of G-Rh2. We examined the therapeutic impact of a G-Rh2-loaded hydrogel combined with systemic PD-1 antibody treatment in murine models of H22 liver cancer and CT26 colon cancer. Additionally, we explored the immune microenvironment of the tumors influenced by this in situ vaccination strategy.

Homologous-adhering/targeting cell membrane- and cell-mediated delivery systems: a cancer-catch-cancer strategy in cancer therapy

Low tumor enrichment remains a serious and urgent problem for drug delivery in cancer therapy. Accurate targeting of tumor sites is still a critical aim in cancer therapy. Though there have been a variety of delivery strategies to improve the tumor targeting and enrichment, biological barriers still cause most delivered guests to fail or be excreted before they work. Recently, cell membrane-based systems have attracted a huge amount of attention due to their advantages such as easy access, good biocompatibility and immune escape, which contribute to their biomimetic structures and specific surface proteins. Furthermore, cancer cell membrane-based delivery systems are referred to as homologous-targeting function in which they exhibit significantly high adhesion and internalization to homologous-type tumor sites or cells even though the exact mechanism is not entirely revealed. Here, we summarize the sources and characterizations of cancer cell membrane systems, including reconstructed single or hybrid membrane-based nano-/microcarriers, as well as engineered cancer cells. Additionally, advanced applications of these cancer cell membrane systems in cancer therapy are categorized and summarized according to the components of membranes. The potential factors related to homologous targeting of cancer cell membrane-based systems are also discussed. By discussing the applications, challenges and opportunities, we expect the cancer cell membrane-based homologous-targeting systems to have a far-reaching development in preclinic or clinics.

Loss of the predicted cell adhesion molecule MPZL3 promotes EMT and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer

Myelin protein zero-like 3 (MPZL3) is an Immunoglobulin-containing transmembrane protein with predicted cell adhesion molecule function. Loss of 11q23, where the MPZL3 gene resides, is frequently observed in cancer, and MPZL3 copy number alterations are frequently detected in tumor specimens. Yet the role and consequences of altered MPZL3 expression have not been explored in tumor development and progression. We addressed this in ovarian cancer, where both MPZL3 amplification and deletions are observed in respective subsets of high-grade serous specimens. While high and low MPZL3 expressing populations were similarly observed in primary ovarian tumors from an independent patient cohort, metastatic omental tumors largely displayed decreased MPZL3 expression, suggesting that MPZL3 loss is associated with metastatic progression. MPZL3 knock-down leads to strong upregulation of vimentin and an EMT gene signature that is associated with poor patient outcomes. Moreover, MPZL3 is necessary for homotypic cancer cell adhesion, and decreasing MPZL3 expression enhances invasion and clearance of mesothelial cell monolayers. In addition, MPZL3 loss abrogated cell cycle progression and proliferation. This was associated with increased resistance to Cisplatin and Olaparib and reduced DNA damage and apoptosis in response to these agents. Enhanced Cisplatin resistance was further validated in vivo . These data demonstrate for the first time that MPZL3 acts as an adhesion molecule and that MPZL3 loss results in EMT, decreased proliferation, and drug resistance in ovarian cancer. Our study suggests that decreased MPZL3 expression is a phenotype of ovarian cancer tumor progression and metastasis and may contribute to treatment failure in advanced-stage patients.

DRAK2 regulates myosin light chain phosphorylation in T cells

Death-associated protein kinase-related apoptosis-inducing kinase-2 (DRAK2; also known as STK17B) is a serine/threonine kinase expressed in T cells. Drak2-deficient (Drak2-/-) mice respond effectively to tumors and pathogens while displaying resistance to T cell-mediated autoimmune disease. However, the molecular mechanisms by which DRAK2 impacts T cell function remain unclear. Gaining further insight into the function of DRAK2 in T cells will shed light on differentially regulated pathways in autoreactive and pathogen-specific T cells, which is crucial for improving autoimmune therapies. Here, we demonstrate that DRAK2 contributes to activation of myosin light chain (MLC2, encoded by Myl2) in both murine and human T cells. In the absence of Drak2, the amount of polymerized actin was decreased, suggesting that DRAK2 modulates actomyosin dynamics. We further show that myosin-dependent T cell functions, such as migration, T cell receptor microcluster accumulation, and conjugation to antigen presenting cells are decreased in the absence of Drak2. These findings reveal that DRAK2 plays an important role in regulating MLC activation within T cells.

Integrins α5β1 and αvβ3 Differentially Participate in the Recruitment and Reprogramming of Tumor-associated Macrophages in the In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Breast Tumor

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) drive the protumorigenic responses and facilitate tumor progression via matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression by interacting with extracellular matrix proteins via integrins. However, the expression dynamics of integrin and its correlation with TAM functional programming in the tumors remain unexplored. In this study, we examined surface integrins' role in TAM recruitment and phenotypic programming in a 4T1-induced murine breast tumor model. Our findings show that integrin α5β1 is upregulated in CD11b+Ly6Chi monocytes in the bone marrow and blood by day 10 after tumor induction. Subsequent analysis revealed elevated integrin α5β1 expression on tumor-infiltrating monocytes (Ly6ChiMHC class II [MHCII]low) and M1 TAMs (F4/80+Ly6ClowMHCIIhi), whereas integrin αvβ3 was predominantly expressed on M2 TAMs (F4/80+Ly6ClowMHCIIlow), correlating with higher CD206 and MERTK expression. Gene profiling of cells sorted from murine tumors showed that CD11b+Ly6G-F4/80+α5+ TAMs had elevated inflammatory genes (IL-6, TNF-α, and STAT1/2), whereas CD11b+Ly6G-F4/80+αv+ TAMs exhibited a protumorigenic phenotype (IL-10, Arg1, TGF-β, and STAT3/6). In vitro studies demonstrated that blocking integrin α5 and αv during macrophage differentiation from human peripheral blood monocytes reduced cell spreading and expression of CD206 and CD163 in the presence of specific matrix proteins, fibronectin, and vitronectin. Furthermore, RNA sequencing data analysis (GEO dataset: GSE195857) from bone marrow-derived monocytes and TAMs in 4T1 mammary tumors revealed differential integrin α5 and αv expression and their association with FAK and SRC kinase. In line with this, FAK inhibition during TAM polarization reduced SRC, STAT1, and STAT6 phosphorylation. In conclusion, these findings underscore the crucial role of integrins in TAM recruitment, polarization, and reprogramming in tumors.

Bladder cancer immune-related markers: diagnosis, surveillance, and prognosis

As an immune-related tumor type, bladder cancer has been attracting much attention in the study of its markers. In recent years, researchers have made rapid progress in the study of immune-related markers for bladder cancer. Studies have shown that immune-related markers play an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis assessment and treatment of bladder cancer. In addition, the detection of immune-related markers can also be used to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy and predict the treatment response of patients. Therefore, in depth study of the expression of immune-related markers in bladder cancer and their application in the clinic is of great significance and is expected to provide new breakthroughs for individualized treatment of bladder cancer. Future studies will focus more on how to detect immune-related markers with low cost and high accuracy, as well as develop new immunotherapeutic strategies to bring better therapeutic outcomes to bladder cancer patients.

Regulation of cell-mediated immune responses in dairy bulls via long non-coding RNAs from submandibular lymph nodes, peripheral blood, and the spleen

Cell-mediated immune responses (CMIRs) are critical to building a robust immune system and reducing disease susceptibility in cattle. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate various biological processes. However, to the best of our knowledge, the characterization and functions of lncRNAs and their regulations on the bovine CMIR have not been investigated comprehensively. In this study, experimental bulls were immunized with heat-killed preparation of Candida albicans (HKCA) to induce delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). Three bulls were classified as high- CMIR responders and three were low-CMIR responders, based on their classical DTH skin reactions. LncRNAs were identified in the submandibular lymph nodes, peripheral blood, and spleen of high- and low-CMIR animals using strand-specific RNA sequencing. A total of 21,003 putative lncRNAs were identified across tissues, and 420, 468, and 599 lncRNAs were differentially expressed between the two groups in the submandibular lymph node, peripheral blood, and spleen tissues, respectively. Functional analysis of the differentially expressed lncRNA (DElncRNA) target genes showed that a number of immune-related Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were enriched, including immune response, cell adhesion, nucleosome, DNA packaging, antigen processing and presentation, and complement and coagulation cascades. Tissue specificity analysis indicated that lncRNA transcripts have stronger tissue specificity than mRNA. Furthermore, an interaction network was constructed based on DElncRNAs and DEGs, and 11, 14, and 11 promising lncRNAs were identified as potential candidate genes influencing immune response regulation in submandibular lymph nodes, peripheral blood, and spleen tissues, respectively. These results provide a foundation for further research into the biological functions of lncRNAs associated with bovine CMIR and identify candidate lncRNA markers for cell-mediated immune responses.

CTC-neutrophil interaction: A key driver and therapeutic target of cancer metastasis

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that detach from the primary tumor and enter the bloodstream, where they can seed new metastatic lesions in distant organs. CTCs are often associated with white blood cells (WBCs), especially neutrophils, the most abundant and versatile immune cells in the blood. Neutrophils can interact with CTCs through various mechanisms, such as cell-cell adhesion, cytokine secretion, protease release, and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation. These interactions can promote the survival, proliferation, invasion, and extravasation of CTCs, as well as modulate the pre-metastatic niche and the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, inhibiting CTC-neutrophils interaction could be a potential strategy to reduce tumor metastasis and improve the prognosis of cancer patients. In this review, we summarize the current literature on CTC-neutrophils interaction' role in tumor metastasis and discuss the possible therapeutic approaches to target this interaction.

Closed-Loop Control of Macrophage Engineering Enabled by Focused-Ultrasound Responsive Mechanoluminescence Nanoplatform for Precise Cancer Immunotherapy

Macrophage engineering has emerged as a promising approach for modulating the anti-tumor immune response in cancer therapy. However, the spatiotemporal control and real-time feedback of macrophage regulatory process is still challenging, leading to off-targeting effect and delayed efficacy monitoring therefore raising risk of immune overactivation and serious side effects. Herein, a focused ultrasound responsive immunomodulator-loaded optical nanoplatform (FUSION) is designed to achieve spatiotemporal control and status reporting of macrophage engineering in vivo. Under the stimulation of focused ultrasound (FUS), the immune agonist encapsulated in FUSION can be released to induce selective macrophage M1 phenotype differentiation at tumor site and the near-infrared mechanoluminescence of FUSION is generated simultaneously to indicate the initiation of immune activation. Meanwhile, the persistent luminescence of FUSION is enhanced due to hydroxyl radical generation in the pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages, which can report the effectiveness of macrophage regulation. Then, macrophages labeled with FUSION as a living immunotherapeutic agent (FUSION-M) are utilized for tumor targeting and focused ultrasound activated, immune cell-based cancer therapy. By combining the on-demand activation and feedback to form a closed loop, the nanoplatform in this work holds promise in advancing the controllability of macrophage engineering and cancer immunotherapy for precision medicine.

ADAM10 modulates the efficacy of T-cell-mediated therapy in solid tumors

T-cell-mediated therapeutic strategies are the most potent effectors of cancer immunotherapy. However, an essential barrier to this therapy in solid tumors is disrupting the anti-cancer immune response, cancer-immunity cycle, T-cell priming, trafficking and T-cell cytotoxic capacity. Thus, reinforcing the anti-cancer immune response is needed to improve the effectiveness of T-cell-mediated therapy. Tumor-associated protease ADAM10, endothelial cells (ECs) and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells engage in complex communication via adhesion, transmigration and chemotactic mechanisms to facilitate an anti-cancer immune response. The precise impact of ADAM10 on the intricate mechanisms underlying these interactions remains unclear. This paper broadly explores how ADAM10, through different routes, influences the efficacy of T-cell-mediated therapy. ADAM10 cleaves CD8+ T-cell-targeting genes and impacts their expression and specificity. In addition, ADAM10 mediates the interactions of adhesion molecules with T cells and influences CD8+ T-cell activity and trafficking. Thus, understanding the role of ADAM10 in these events may lead to innovative strategies for advancing T-cell-mediated therapies.

Integrated transcriptomics and lipidomics reveals protective effect in vascular endothelial barrier of a polysaccharide from Typhae Pollen

Endothelial cell dysfunction caused by inflammation and even vascular leakage are important manifestations of blood stasis syndrome (BSS). Reversible regulation of vascular integrity to cure BSS has attracted considerable interest. Herein, a novel acidic polysaccharide (TPP-4) was purified and characterized from Typhae Pollen, a typical traditional Chinese medicine for treating BSS, especially for bleeding caused by blood stasis. A series of structural characterization methods, including spectroscopic methods (FT-IR and UV), chromatographic methods (HPGPC, HPAEC-PDA and GC-MS) and NMR, have been used to reveal the fine structure of TPP-4. TPP-4 was a homogeneous heteropolysaccharide comprised with RG-I backbone. TPP-4 showed fantastic activities in vascular integrity regulation both in vitro (HUVECs) and in vivo (zebrafish). Transcriptomics revealed that SOX7 and lipid metabolism were the potential targets. Lipidomics showed that TPP-4 could regulate lipid metabolism disorders caused by vascular inflammation, particularly affecting LPE levels. The above regulatory effects were furtherly demonstrated to be related with VEGFA/PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway through various molecular biological experiments.

Subverting Attachment to Prevent Attacking: Alteration of Effector Immune Cell Migration and Adhesion as a Key Mechanism of Tumor Immune Evasion

Cell adhesion regulates specific migratory patterns, location, communication with other cells, physical interactions with the extracellular matrix, and the establishment of effector programs. Proper immune control of cancer strongly depends on all these events occurring in a highly accurate spatiotemporal sequence. In response to cancer-associated inflammatory signals, effector immune cells navigating the bloodstream shift from their patrolling exploratory migration mode to establish adhesive interactions with vascular endothelial cells. This interaction enables them to extravasate through the blood vessel walls and access the cancer site. Further adhesive interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) are crucial for coordinating their distribution in situ and for mounting an effective anti-tumor immune response. In this review, we examine how alterations of adhesion cues in the tumor context favor tumor escape by affecting effector immune cell infiltration and trafficking within the TME. We discuss the mechanisms by which tumors directly modulate immune cell adhesion and migration patterns to affect anti-tumor immunity and favor tumor evasion. We also explore indirect immune escape mechanisms that involve modifications of TME characteristics, such as vascularization, immunogenicity, and structural topography. Finally, we highlight the significance of these aspects in designing more effective drug treatments and cellular immunotherapies.

Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein and Its Role in Immunometabolism

Modified cholesterols such as oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) contribute to atherosclerosis and other disorders through the promotion of foam cell formation and inflammation. In recent years, it has become evident that immune cell responses to inflammatory molecules such as OxLDLs depend on cellular metabolic functions. This review examines the known effects of OxLDL on immunometabolism and immune cell responses in atherosclerosis and several other diseases. We additionally provide context on the relationship between OxLDL and aging/senescence and identify gaps in the literature and our current understanding in these areas.

Injectable Janus Base Nanomatrix (JBNm) in Maintaining Long-Term Homeostasis of Regenerated Cartilage for Tissue Chip Applications

Engineered cartilage tissues have wide applications in in vivo cartilage repair as well as in vitro models, such as cartilage-on-a-chip or cartilage tissue chips. Currently, most cartilage tissue engineering approaches focus on promoting chondrogenesis of stem cells to produce regenerated cartilage. However, this regenerated cartilage can dedifferentiate into fibrotic tissue or further differentiate into hypertrophic or calcified cartilage. One of the most challenging objectives in cartilage tissue engineering is to maintain long-term cartilage homeostasis. Since the microenvironment of engineered cartilage tissue is crucial for stem cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and function, we aim to develop a novel scaffold that can maintain the long-term homeostasis of regenerated cartilage. Therefore, we developed a library of Janus base nanomatrices (JBNms), composed of DNA-inspired Janus nanotubes (JBNts) as well as cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The JBNms were developed to selectively promote chondro-lineage cell functions while inhibiting bone and endothelial cell growth. More importantly, the JBNm can effectively promote chondrogenesis while inhibiting hypertrophy, osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and dedifferentiation. Additionally, the JBNm is injectable, forming a solid scaffold suitable for producing and maintaining regenerated cartilage tissue in microfluidic chips, making it ideal for tissue chip applications. In this study, we successfully created cartilage tissue chips using JBNms. These chips can model cartilage tissue even after long-term culture and can also mimic arthritis progression, making them useful for drug screening. Thus, we have developed a novel nanomaterial approach for improved cartilage tissue engineering and cartilage tissue chip applications.

Analysis of ICAM-1 rs3093030, VCAM-1 rs3783605, and E-Selectin rs1805193 Polymorphisms in African Women Living with HIV and Preeclampsia

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin are cell adhesion molecules that play a significant role in inflammation and are implicated in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia development and HIV infection. More specifically, the immune expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin within cyto- and syncytiotrophoblast cells are dysregulated in preeclampsia, indicating their role in defective placentation. This study investigates the associations of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin gene variants (rs3093030, rs3783605, and rs1805193, respectively) with preeclampsia comorbid with HIV infection in women of African ancestry. It also examines the susceptibility to preeclampsia development and the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). A total of 405 women were enrolled in this study. Out of these women, 204 were preeclamptic and 201 were normotensive. Clinical characteristics were maternal age, weight, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and gestational age. Whole blood was collected, DNA was extracted, and genotyping of the ICAM-1 (rs3093030 C>T), VCAM-1(rs3783605 A>G), and E-selectin (rs1805193 A>C) gene polymorphisms was performed. Comparisons were made using the Chi-squared test. Our results demonstrated that preeclamptic women exhibited a higher frequency of analyzed variants, in contrast to those with the duality of preeclampsia and HIV infection. Additionally, the C allele of the ICAM-1 (rs3093030 C>T) and G allele of the VCAM-1 (rs3783605 A>G) genes were found to have a greater role in the co-morbidity and may be considered as a risk factor for preeclampsia development in women of African ancestry. In contrast, the SNP of rs1805193 of the E-selectin gene indicated that A>C was only significantly associated with HIV infection and not with preeclampsia. These findings highlight a strong association of the rs3093030 SNP of the ICAM-1 gene and of the VCAM-1 rs3783605 gene with the development of preeclampsia, indicating their role in the defective trophoblast invasion of preeclampsia. Sub-group analysis further reveals an association of the AA genotype with late-onset preeclampsia, a less severe form of disease indicating differing genetic predispositions between early and late-onset forms.

Serum lncRNA ITGB2-AS1 and ICAM-1 as novel biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis diagnosis

BACKGROUND

The complete circulating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) signature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) is still uncovered. The lncRNA integrin subunit beta 2 (ITGB2)-anti-sense RNA 1 (ITGB2-AS1) affects ITGB2 expression; however, there is a gap in knowledge regarding its expression and clinical usefulness in RA and OA. This study investigated the potential of serum ITGB2-AS1 as a novel diagnostic biomarker and its correlation with ITGB2 expression and its ligand intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), disease activity, and severity in RA and primary knee OA patients.

SUBJECTS

Forty-three RA patients, 35 knee OA patients, and 22 healthy volunteers were included.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, serum ITGB2-AS1 expression was upregulated in RA patients but wasn't significantly altered in knee OA patients, whereas serum ICAM-1 protein levels were elevated in both diseases. ITGB2-AS1 showed discriminative potential for RA versus controls (AUC = 0.772), while ICAM-1 displayed diagnostic potential for both RA and knee OA versus controls (AUC = 0.804, 0.914, respectively) in receiver-operating characteristic analysis. In the multivariate analysis, serum ITGB2-AS1 and ICAM-1 were associated with the risk of developing RA, while only ICAM-1 was associated with the risk of developing knee OA. A panel combining ITGB2-AS1 and ICAM-1 showed profound diagnostic power for RA (AUC = 0.9, sensitivity = 86.05%, and specificity = 91.67%). Interestingly, serum ITGB2-AS1 positively correlated with disease activity (DAS28) in RA patients and with ITGB2 mRNA expression in both diseases, while ICAM-1 positively correlated with ITGB2 expression in knee OA patients.

CONCLUSION

Our study portrays serum ITGB2-AS1 as a novel potential diagnostic biomarker of RA that correlates with disease activity. A predictive panel combining ITGB2-AS1 and ICAM-1 could have clinical utility in RA diagnosis. We also spotlight the association of ICAM-1 with knee OA diagnosis. The correlation of serum ITGB2-AS1 with ITGB2 expression in both diseases may be insightful for further mechanistic studies.

Glioblastoma and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Glance at Available Treatment Options and Future Directions

Glioblastoma is known to be one of the most aggressive and fatal human cancers, with a poor prognosis and resistance to standard treatments. In the last few years, many solid tumor treatments have been revolutionized with the help of immunotherapy. However, this type of treatment has failed to improve the results in glioblastoma patients. Effective immunotherapeutic strategies may be developed after understanding how glioblastoma achieves tumor-mediated immune suppression in both local and systemic landscapes. Biomarkers may help identify patients most likely to benefit from this type of treatment. In this review, we discuss the use of immunotherapy in glioblastoma, with an emphasis on immune checkpoint inhibitors and the factors that influence clinical response. A Pubmed data search was performed for all existing information regarding immune checkpoint inhibitors used for the treatment of glioblastoma. All data evaluating the ongoing clinical trials involving the use of ICIs either as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs was compiled and analyzed.

Cold Atmospheric Plasma: Possible Cure of Autoimmune Disorders and Cancer via Attenuating Inflammation

Autoimmune diseases and cancers, two seemingly unrelated diseases, have been threatening human health, and many of them have no cure. By identifying pathological inflammation as the driving cause of uncontrolled cell proliferation in both classes of diseases, and differentiating autoimmune disorders and cancers by whether the cell death programs are under control, we propose the attenuation of prolonged inflammation via maintaining mitochondrial reduction-oxidation (redox) homeostasis being a possible cure of both diseases. Importantly, we propose the feasibility of applying cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in treating autoimmune disorders and cancers given its redox-modulatory nature, which not only extends the medical utilities of CAP to autoimmune diseases and all other inflammation-driven disorders, but also positions the efficacy of CAP against cancer cells to its suppressive role on prolonged inflammation. Our insights may open an innovative avenue towards a unified view on the molecular mechanism driving the diversified types of medical miracles of CAP and what CAP can do in the field of plasma medicine.

Subclassification of lung adenocarcinoma through comprehensive multi-omics data to benefit survival outcomes

OBJECTIVES

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression is of great clinical significance. This study aims to identify novel molecular markers associated with LUAD subtypes, with the goal of improving the precision of LUAD subtype classification. Additionally, optimization efforts are directed towards enhancing insights from the perspective of patient survival analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We propose an innovative feature-selection approach that focuses on LUAD classification, which is comprehensive and robust. The proposed method integrates multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and leverages a synergistic combination of max-relevance and min-redundancy, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and Boruta algorithms. These selected features were deployed in six machine-learning classifiers: logistic regression, random forest, support vector machine, naive Bayes, k-Nearest Neighbor, and XGBoost.

RESULTS

The proposed approach achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.9958 for LR. Notably, the accuracy and AUC of a composite model incorporating copy number, methylation, as well as RNA- sequencing data for expression of exons, genes, and miRNA mature strands surpassed the accuracy and AUC metrics of models with single-omics data or other multi-omics combinations. Survival analyses, revealed the SVM classifier to elicit optimal classification, outperforming that achieved by TCGA. To enhance model interpretability, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values were utilized to elucidate the impact of each feature on the predictions. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis identified significant biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components associated with LUAD subtypes.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our feature selection process, based on TCGA multi-omics data and combined with multiple machine learning classifiers, proficiently identifies molecular subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma and their corresponding significant genes. Our method could enhance the early detection and diagnosis of LUAD, expedite the development of targeted therapies and, ultimately, lengthen patient survival.

Single cell RNA-sequencing identifies the effect of Normothermic ex vivo liver perfusion on liver-resident T cells

BACKGROUND

Normothermic ex vivo liver perfusion (NEVLP) is an exciting strategy to preserve livers prior to transplant, however, the effects of NEVLP on the phenotype of tissue-resident immune cells is largely unknown. The presence of tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) in the liver may protect against acute rejection and decrease allograft dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated the effects of NEVLP on liver TRMs and assessed the ability of anti-inflammatory cytokines to reduce TRM activation during NEVLP.

METHODS

Rat livers underwent NEVLP with or without the addition of IL-10 and TGF-β. Naïve and cold storage livers served as controls. Following preservation, TRM T cell gene expression profiles were assessed through single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Differential gene expression analysis was performed with Wilcoxon rank sum test to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with a specific treatment group. Using the online Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), gene set enrichment was then conducted with Fisher's exact test on DEGs to highlight differentially regulated pathways and functional terms associated with treatment groups.

RESULTS

Through scRNA-seq analysis, an atlas of liver-resident memory T cell subsets was created for all livers. TRM T cells could be identified in all livers, and through scRNA-seq, DEG was identified with Wilcoxon rank sum test at FDR < 0.05. Based on the gene set enrichment analysis of DEGs using Fisher's exact test, NEVLP is associated with downregulation of multiple gene enrichment pathways associated with surface proteins. Furthermore, NEVLP with anti-inflammatory cytokines was associated with down regulation of 52 genes in TRM T cells when compared to NEVLP alone (FDR <0.05), most of which are pro-inflammatory.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to create an atlas of liver TRM T cells in the rat liver undergoing NEVLP and demonstrate the effects of NEVLP on liver TRM T cells at the single cell gene expression level.

Using single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing data to reveal a correlation between smoking and neutrophil activation in esophageal carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

Cigarette smoking is considered as a major risk factor for esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) patients. Neutrophil activation plays a key role in cancer development and progression. However, the relationship between cigarette smoking and neutrophils in ESCA patients remained unclear.

METHODS

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA sequencing data were obtained from public databases. Uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) was used to perform downscaling and clustering based on scRNA-seq data. The module genes associated with smoking in ESCA patients were filtered by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Using the "AUCell" package, the enrichment of different cell subpopulations and gene collections were assessed. "CellChat" and "CellphoneDB" were used to infer the probability and significance of ligand-receptor interactions between different cell subpopulations.

RESULTS

WGCNA was performed to screened module genes associated with smoking in ESCA patients from MEdarkquosie, MEturquoise, and MEgreenyellow. Next, eight cell clusters were identified, and using the AUCell score, we determined that neutrophil clusters were more active in the gene modules associated with smoking in ESCA patients. Two neutrophil subtypes, Neutrophils 1 and Neutrophils 2, exhibited greater enrichment in inflammatory response regulation, intercellular adhesion, and regulation of T cell activation. Furthermore, we found that neutrophils may pass through AMPT-(ITGA5 + ITGB1) and ICAM1-AREG in order to promote the development of ESCA, and that the expression levels of the receptor genes insulin-degrading enzyme and ITGB1 were significantly and positively correlated with cigarette smoking per day.

CONCLUSION

Combining smoking-related gene modules and scRNA-seq, the current findings revealed the heterogeneity of neutrophils in ESCA and a tumor-promoting role of neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment of smoking ESCA patients.

Unveiling contact-mediated cellular crosstalk

Cell-cell interactions orchestrate complex functions in multicellular organisms, forming a regulatory network for diverse biological processes. Their disruption leads to disease states. Recent advancements - including single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, coupled with powerful bioengineering and molecular tools - have revolutionized our understanding of how cells respond to each other. Notably, spatial transcriptomics allows us to analyze gene expression changes based on cell proximity, offering a unique window into the impact of cell-cell contact. Additionally, computational approaches are being developed to decipher how cell contact governs the symphony of cellular responses. This review explores these cutting-edge approaches, providing valuable insights into deciphering the intricate cellular changes influenced by cell-cell communication.

Protein profiling and immunoinformatic analysis of the secretome of a metal-resistant environmental isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa S-8

The bacterial secretome represents a comprehensive catalog of proteins released extracellularly that have multiple important roles in virulence and intercellular communication. This study aimed to characterize the secretome of an environmental isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa S-8 by analyzing trypsin-digested culture supernatant proteins using nano-LC-MS/MS tool. Using a combined approach of bioinformatics and mass spectrometry, 1088 proteins in the secretome were analyzed by PREDLIPO, SecretomeP 2.0, SignalP 4.1, and PSORTb tool for their subcellular localization and further categorization of secretome proteins according to signal peptides. Using the gene ontology tool, secretome proteins were categorized into different functional categories. KEGG pathway analysis identified the secreted proteins into different metabolic functional pathways. Moreover, our LC-MS/MS data revealed the secretion of various CAZymes into the extracellular milieu, which suggests its strong biotechnological applications to breakdown complex carbohydrate polymers. The identified immunodominant epitopes from the secretome of P. aeruginosa showed the characteristic of being non-allergenic, highly antigenic, nontoxic, and having a low risk of triggering autoimmune responses, which highlights their potential as successful vaccine targets. Overall, the identification of secreted proteins of P. aeruginosa could be important for both diagnostic purposes and the development of an effective candidate vaccine.

Assessment of immunomodulatory effects of five commonly used parabens on human THP-1 derived macrophages: Implications for ecological and human health impacts

Parabens are widely used as broad-spectrum anti-microbials and preservatives in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. Studies suggest that the utilization of parabens has substantially increased over the past years, particularly during the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although parabens are generally recognized as safe by the U.S. FDA, some concerns have been raised regarding the potential health effects of parabens associated with immunotoxicity. Herein, we comprehensively investigated several key characteristics of immunotoxicants of five commonly used parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, and benzyl parabens) in human THP-1 derived macrophages, which are effector cells serving as a first line of host defense against pathogens and tumor immunosurveillance. The results indicate parabens, at concentrations found in humans and biota, significantly dampened macrophage chemotaxis and secretion of major pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), corroborating the mRNA expression profile. Furthermore, some parabens were found to markedly alter macrophage adhesion and cell surface expression of costimulatory molecules, CD80+ and CD86+, and significantly increase macrophage phagocytosis. Collectively, these findings heighten awareness of potential immunotoxicity posed by paraben exposure at biologically relevant concentrations, providing implications for human health and ecological risks associated with immune dysfunctions.

Regnase-1 D141N mutation induces CD4+ T cell-mediated lung granuloma formation via upregulation of Pim2

Regnase-1 is an RNase that plays a critical role in negatively regulating immune responses by destabilizing inflammatory messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Dysfunction of Regnase-1 can be a major cause of various inflammatory diseases with tissue injury and immune cell infiltration into organs. This study focuses on the role of the RNase activity of Regnase-1 in developing inflammatory diseases. We have constructed mice with a single point mutation at the catalytic center of the Regnase-1 RNase domain, which lacks endonuclease activity. D141N mutant mice demonstrated systemic inflammation, immune cell infiltration into various organs, and progressive development of lung granuloma. CD4+ T cells, mainly affected by this mutation, upregulated the mTORC1 pathway and facilitated the autoimmune trait in the D141N mutation. Moreover, serine/threonine kinase Pim2 contributed to lung inflammation in this mutation. Inhibition of Pim2 kinase activity ameliorated granulomatous inflammation, immune cell infiltration, and proliferation in the lungs. Additionally, Pim2 inhibition reduced the expression of adhesion molecules on CD4+ T cells, suggesting a role for Pim2 in facilitating leukocyte adhesion and migration to inflamed tissues. Our findings provide new insights into the role of Regnase-1 RNase activity in controlling immune functions and underscore the therapeutic relevance of targeting Pim2 to modulate abnormal immune responses.

Single-cell and spatial transcriptome analyses reveal tertiary lymphoid structures linked to tumour progression and immunotherapy response in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Tertiary lymphoid structures are immune cell aggregates linked with cancer outcomes, but their interactions with tumour cell aggregates are unclear. Using nasopharyngeal carcinoma as a model, here we analyse single-cell transcriptomes of 343,829 cells from 77 biopsy and blood samples and spatially-resolved transcriptomes of 31,316 spots from 15 tumours to decipher their components and interactions with tumour cell aggregates. We identify essential cell populations in tertiary lymphoid structure, including CXCL13+ cancer-associated fibroblasts, stem-like CXCL13+CD8+ T cells, and B and T follicular helper cells. Our study shows that germinal centre reaction matures plasma cells. These plasma cells intersperse with tumour cell aggregates, promoting apoptosis of EBV-related malignant cells and enhancing immunotherapy response. CXCL13+ cancer-associated fibroblasts promote B cell adhesion and antibody production, activating CXCL13+CD8+ T cells that become exhausted in tumour cell aggregates. Tertiary lymphoid structure-related cell signatures correlate with prognosis and PD-1 blockade response, offering insights for therapeutic strategies in cancers.

Insight into the role of integrins and integrins-targeting biomaterials in bone regeneration

Features of the extracellular matrix, along with biochemical factors, have a momentous impress in making genes on and/or off. The interaction of cells and the extracellular matrix is mediated by integrins. Therefore, these molecules have pivotal roles in regulating cell behaviors. Integrins include a group of molecules with a variety of characteristics that can affect different molecular cascades. Considering the importance of these molecules in tissue regeneration after injury, it is necessary to know well the integrins involved in the process of connecting cells to the extracellular matrix in each tissue.With the increase in life expectancy, bone tissue engineering has received more attention from researchers. Integrins are critical components in osteoblast differentiation, survival, and bone mechanotransduction. During osteogenic differentiation in stem cells, specific integrins facilitate multiple signaling pathways through their cytoplasmic domain, leading to the induction of osteogenic differentiation. Also, due to the importance of using biomaterials in bone tissue engineering, efforts have been made to design and use biomaterials with maximum interaction with integrins. Notably, the use of RGD peptide or fibronectin for surface modification is a well-established and commonly employed approach to manipulate integrin activity.This review article looks into integrins' role in bone development and regeneration. It then goes on to explore the complex mechanisms by which integrins contribute to these processes. In addition, this review discusses the use of natural and synthetic biomaterials that target integrins to promote bone regeneration.

Diminazene aceturate inhibits the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-induced inflammation involving leukocyte migration and DNA extracellular traps formation

AIMS

To investigate the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (Spk)-induced inflammatory response and its downmodulation by diminazene aceturate (DIZE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Through inducing Spk inflammation in murine models, leukocyte migration to the peritoneum, levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), rolling and adhesion of mesenteric leukocytes, and vascular permeability were investigated. Extracellular DNA traps (DETs) induced by Spk and the production of IL-6 and TNF-α were analyzed using human neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages. In silico assays assessed the molecular interaction between DIZE and molecules related to leukocyte migration and DETs induction.

KEY FINDINGS

Spk triggered acute inflammation, demonstrated by increasing leukocyte migration. Oxidative stress was evidenced by elevated levels of MPO and MDA in the peritoneal liquid. DIZE attenuated cell migration, rolling, and leukocyte adhesion, improved vascular barrier function, mitigated DETs, and reduced the production of Spk-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines. Computational studies supported our findings, showing the molecular interaction of DIZE with targets such as β2 integrin, PI3K, and PAD2 due to its intermolecular coupling.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our results outline a novel role of DIZE as a potential therapeutic agent for mitigating Spk-induced inflammation.

Role of Neurotropic Viruses in Brain Metastasis of Breast Cancer: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

Neurotropic viruses have been implicated in altering the central nervous system microenvironment and promoting brain metastasis of breast cancer through complex interactions involving viral entry mechanisms, modulation of the blood-brain barrier, immune evasion, and alteration of the tumour microenvironment. This narrative review explores the molecular mechanisms by which neurotropic viruses such as Herpes Simplex Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Japanese Encephalitis Virus, and Rabies Virus facilitate brain metastasis, focusing on their ability to disrupt blood-brain barrier integrity, modulate immune responses, and create a permissive environment for metastatic cell survival and growth within the central nervous system. Current therapeutic implications and challenges in targeting neurotropic viruses to prevent or treat brain metastasis are discussed, highlighting the need for innovative strategies and multidisciplinary approaches in virology, oncology, and immunology.

KLF12 interacts with TRIM27 to affect cisplatin resistance and cancer metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating L1CAM expression

Krüppel-like factor 12 (KLF12) has been characterized as a transcriptional repressor, and previous studies have unveiled its roles in angiogenesis, neural tube defect, and natural killer (NK) cell proliferation. However, the contribution of KLF12 to cancer treatment remains undefined. Here, we show that KLF12 is downregulated in various cancer types, and KLF12 downregulation promotes cisplatin resistance and cancer metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Mechanistically, KLF12 binds to the promoters of L1 Cell Adhesion Molecule (L1CAM) and represses its expression. Depletion of L1CAM abrogates cisplatin resistance and cancer metastasis caused by KLF12 loss. Moreover, the E3 ubiquitin ligase tripartite motif-containing 27 (TRIM27) binds to the N-terminal region of KLF12 and ubiquitinates KLF12 at K326 via K33-linked polyubiquitination. Notably, TRIM27 depletion enhances the transcriptional activity of KLF12 and consequently inhibits L1CAM expression. Overall, our study elucidated a novel regulatory mechanism involving TRIM27, KLF12 and L1CAM, which plays a substantial role in cisplatin resistance and cancer metastasis in ESCC. Targeting these genes could be a promising approach for ESCC treatment.

Polymersomal Poly(I:C) Self-Magnifies Antitumor Immunity by Inducing Immunogenic Cell Death and Systemic Immune Activation

Immunotherapy has emerged as a powerful weapon against lung cancer, yet only a fraction of patients respond to the treatment. Poly(I:C) (PIC) effectively triggers both innate and adaptive immunity. It can also induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells. However, its efficacy is hindered by its instability in vivo and limited cellular uptake. To address this, PIC is encapsulated in cRGD-functionalized polymersomes (t-PPIC), which significantly increases its stability and uptake, thus activating dendritic cells (DCs) and inducing apoptosis of lung tumor cells in vitro. In a murine LLC lung tumor model, systemic administration of t-PPIC effectively suppresses tumor growth and leads to survival benefits, with 40% of the mice becoming tumor-free. Notably, t-PPIC provokes stronger apoptosis and ICD in tumor tissue and elicits a more potent stimulation of DCs, recruitment of natural killer (NK) cells, and activation of CD8+ T cells, compared to free PIC and nontargeted PPIC controls. Furthermore, when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors or radiotherapy, t-PPIC amplifies the antitumor immune response, resulting in complete regression in 60% of the mice. These compelling findings underscore the potential of integrin-targeted polymersomal PIC to enhance antitumor immunity by simultaneously inducing ICD and systemic immune activation.

Utilizing machine learning to integrate single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data for constructing and validating a novel cell adhesion molecules related prognostic model in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play a vital role in cell-cell interactions, immune response modulation, and tumor cell migration. However, the unique role of CAMs in gastric cancer (GC) remains largely unexplored.

METHODS

This study characterized the genetic alterations and mRNA expression of CAMs. The role of CD34, a representative molecule, was validated in 375 GC tissues. The activity of the CAM pathway was further tested using single-cell and bulk characterization. Next, data from 839 patients with GC from three cohorts was analyzed using univariate Cox and random survival forest methods to develop and validate a CAM-related prognostic model.

RESULTS

Most CAM-related genes exhibited multi-omics alterations and were associated with clinical outcomes. There was a strong correlation between increased CD34 expression and advanced clinical staging (P = 0.026), extensive vascular infiltration (P = 0.003), and unfavorable prognosis (Log-rank P = 0.022). CD34 expression was also found to be associated with postoperative chemotherapy and tumor immunotherapy response. Furthermore, the CAM pathway was significantly activated and mediated poor prognosis. Additionally, eight prognostic signature genes (PSGs) were identified in the training cohort. There was a substantial upregulation of the expression of immune checkpoints and a pronounced infiltration of immune cells in GC tissues with high PSG score, which is consistent with the prediction of increased sensitivity to immunotherapy. Moreover, 9 compounds from the CTRPv2 database and 13 from the Profiling Relative Inhibition Simultaneously in Mixture (PRISM) database were identified as potential therapeutic drugs for patients with GC with high PSG score.

CONCLUSION

Thorough understanding of CAM pathways regulation and the innovative PSG score model hold significant implications for medical diagnosis, potentially enhancing personalized treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes in GC management.

Neoplastic ICAM-1 protects lung carcinoma from apoptosis through ligation of fibrinogen

Intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is frequently overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and associated with poor prognosis. However, the mechanism underlying the negative effects of neoplastic ICAM-1 remains obscure. Herein, we demonstrate that the survival of NSCLC cells but not normal human bronchial epithelial cells requires an anti-apoptosis signal triggered by fibrinogen γ chain (FGG)-ICAM-1 interaction. ICAM-1-FGG ligation preserves the tyrosine phosphorylation of ICAM-1 cytoplasmic domain and its association with SHP-2, and subsequently promotes Akt and ERK1/2 activation but suppresses JNK and p38 activation. Abolishing ICAM-1-FGG interaction induces NSCLC cell death by activating caspase-9/3 and significantly inhibits tumor development in a mouse xenograft model. Finally, we developed a monoclonal antibody against ICAM-1-FGG binding motif, which blocks ICAM-1‒FGG interaction and effectively suppresses NSCLC cell survival in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Thus, suppressing ICAM-1-FGG axis provides a potential strategy for NSCLC targeted therapy.

β2-Integrins Regulate Microglial Responses and the Functional Outcome of Hemorrhagic Stroke In Vivo

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disabilities worldwide. In addition to interruption of blood flow, inflammation is widely recognized as an important factor mediating tissue destruction in stroke. Depending on their phenotype, microglia, the main leukocytes in the CNS, are capable of either causing further tissue damage or promoting brain restoration after stroke. β2-integrins are cell adhesion molecules that are constitutively expressed on microglia. The function of β2-integrins has been investigated extensively in animal models of ischemic stroke, but their role in hemorrhagic stroke is currently poorly understood. We show in this study that dysfunction of β2-integrins is associated with improved functional outcome and decreased inflammatory cytokine expression in the brain in a mouse model of hemorrhagic stroke. Furthermore, β2-integrins affect microglial phenotype and cytokine responses in vivo. Therefore, our findings suggest that targeting β2-integrins in hemorrhagic stroke may be beneficial.

The ability of microRNAs to regulate the immune response in ischemia/reperfusion inflammatory pathways

MicroRNAs play a crucial role in regulating the immune responses induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury. Through their ability to modulate gene expression, microRNAs adjust immune responses by targeting specific genes and signaling pathways. This review focuses on the impact of microRNAs on the inflammatory pathways triggered during ischemia/reperfusion injury and highlights their ability to modulate inflammation, playing a critical role in the pathophysiology of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Dysregulated expression of microRNAs contributes to the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion injury, therefore targeting specific microRNAs offers an opportunity to restore immune homeostasis and improve patient outcomes. Understanding the complex network of immunoregulatory microRNAs could provide novel therapeutic interventions aimed at attenuating excessive inflammation and preserving tissue integrity.

Identification and Characterization of Metastasis-Initiating Cells in ESCC in a Multi-Timepoint Pulmonary Metastasis Mouse Model

Metastasis is the biggest obstacle to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treatment. Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses are applied to investigate lung metastatic ESCC cells isolated from pulmonary metastasis mouse model at multiple timepoints to characterize early metastatic microenvironment. A small population of parental KYSE30 cell line (Cluster S) resembling metastasis-initiating cells (MICs) is identified because they survive and colonize at lung metastatic sites. Differential expression profile comparisons between Cluster S and other subpopulations identified a panel of 7 metastasis-initiating signature genes (MIS), including CD44 and TACSTD2, to represent MICs in ESCC. Functional studies demonstrated MICs (CD44high) exhibited significantly enhanced cell survival (resistances to oxidative stress and apoptosis), migration, invasion, stemness, and in vivo lung metastasis capabilities, while bioinformatics analyses revealed enhanced organ development, stress responses, and neuron development, potentially remodel early metastasis microenvironment. Meanwhile, early metastasizing cells demonstrate quasi-epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype to support both invasion and anchorage. Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining of 4 MISs (CD44, S100A14, RHOD, and TACSTD2) in ESCC clinical samples demonstrated differential MIS expression scores (dMISs) predict lymph node metastasis, overall survival, and risk of carcinothrombosis.

Immunohistochemistry identifies E-cadherin, N-cadherin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as predictors of stage I non-small cell lung carcinoma spread through the air spaces (STAS), and the combinations as prognostic factors

Background

Spread through air spaces (STAS) is one of the multiple modes of lung cancer dissemination, yet its molecular and clinicopathological characterization remains poorly studied. This study aimed to investigate the effect of adhesion molecule expression levels on the incidence of STAS and postoperative recurrence in stage I lung cancer patients undergoing radical resection.

Methods

E-cadherin, P-cadherin, N-cadherin, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were analyzed retrospectively using immunohistochemistry in patients undergoing radical resection for stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients were categorized into four groups based on adhesion molecule expression levels: "low/low", "high/low", "low/high", and "high/high", and the group with the lowest recurrence-free probability (RFP) was defined as high risk. Associations between those adhesion molecules' expression levels and STAS were determined by using the Chi-squared test and logistic regression model. RFP was analyzed by using the log-rank test and Cox proportional risk model.

Results

As of January 1, 2024, 12 of 60 patients undergoing radical resection for stage I lung carcinoma had a disease recurrence. All 60 patients' tissue specimens were retrospectively analyzed, and there were no significant differences between patients with STAS-positive (n=30) and STAS-negative (n=30) in baseline clinicopathologic features, except for histological growth patterns. We found that low expression of E-cadherin, high expression of N-cadherin and FAK, and males were independent predictors of higher incidence of STAS. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that tumors with low E-cadherin/high N-cadherin, low E-cadherin/high FAK, and high N-cadherin/high FAK expression were important predictors of recurrence in patients with stage I lung carcinoma. In addition, females and high N-cadherin/high FAK were associated with a high risk of recurrence in patients with STAS.

Conclusions

E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and FAK are predictors of STAS occurrence in stage I NSCLC, and their combinations are prognostic factors. The discovery of these molecular markers provides clinicians with a reliable means that may help in the early identification of individuals with a higher risk of recurrence in lung cancer patients, targeting personalized treatment plans such as aggressive adjuvant therapy or closer follow-up.

Multi-omics analysis of overexpressed tumor-associated proteins: gene expression, immunopeptide presentation, and antibody response in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, with a focus on cancer-testis antigens

Introduction

The human leukocyte antigen complex (HLA) is essential for inducing specific immune responses to cancer by presenting tumor-associated peptides (TAP) to T cells. Overexpressed tumor associated antigens, mainly cancer-testis antigens (CTA), are outlined as essential targets for immunotherapy in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). This study assessed the degree to which presentation, gene expression, and antibody response (AR) of TAP, mainly CTA, are correlated in OPSCC patients to evaluate their potential as immunotherapy targets.

Materials and methods

Snap-frozen tumor (NLigand/RNA=40), healthy mucosa (NRNA=6), and healthy tonsils (NLigand=5) samples were obtained. RNA-Seq was performed using Illumina HiSeq 2500/NovaSeq 6000 and whole exome sequencing (WES) utilizing NextSeq500. HLA ligands were isolated from tumor tissue using immunoaffinity purification, UHPLC, and analyzed by tandem MS. Antibodies were measured in serum (NAb=27) utilizing the KREX™ CT262 protein array. Data analysis focused on 312 proteins (KREX™ CT262 panel + overexpressed self-proteins).

Results

183 and 94 of HLA class I and II TAP were identified by comparative profiling with healthy tonsils. Genes from 26 TAP were overexpressed in tumors compared to healthy mucosa (LFC>1; FDR<0.05). Low concordance (r=0.25; p<0.0001) was found between upregulated mRNA and class I TAP. The specific mode of correlation of TAP was found to be dependent on clinical parameters. A lack of correlation was observed both between mRNA and class II TAP, as well as between class II tumor-unique TAP (TAP-U) presentation and antibody response (AR) levels.

Discussion

This study demonstrates that focusing exclusively on gene transcript levels fails to capture the full extent of TAP presentation in OPSCC. Furthermore, our findings reveal that although CTA are presented at relatively low levels, a few CTA TAP-U show potential as targets for immunotherapy.

scHyper: reconstructing cell-cell communication through hypergraph neural networks

Cell-cell communications is crucial for the regulation of cellular life and the establishment of cellular relationships. Most approaches of inferring intercellular communications from single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data lack a comprehensive global network view of multilayered communications. In this context, we propose scHyper, a new method that can infer intercellular communications from a global network perspective and identify the potential impact of all cells, ligand, and receptor expression on the communication score. scHyper designed a new way to represent tripartite relationships, by extracting a heterogeneous hypergraph that includes the source (ligand expression), the target (receptor expression), and the relevant ligand-receptor (L-R) pairs. scHyper is based on hypergraph representation learning, which measures the degree of match between the intrinsic attributes (static embeddings) of nodes and their observed behaviors (dynamic embeddings) in the context (hyperedges), quantifies the probability of forming hyperedges, and thus reconstructs the cell-cell communication score. Additionally, to effectively mine the key mechanisms of signal transmission, we collect a rich dataset of multisubunit complex L-R pairs and propose a nonparametric test to determine significant intercellular communications. Comparing with other tools indicates that scHyper exhibits superior performance and functionality. Experimental results on the human tumor microenvironment and immune cells demonstrate that scHyper offers reliable and unique capabilities for analyzing intercellular communication networks. Therefore, we introduced an effective strategy that can build high-order interaction patterns, surpassing the limitations of most methods that can only handle low-order interactions, thus more accurately interpreting the complexity of intercellular communications.

Construction and validation of a TTN mutation associated immune prognostic model for evaluating immune microenvironment and outcomes of gastric cancer: An observational study

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent form of cancer worldwide, and TTN (titin) mutations are frequently observed in GC. However, the association between TTN mutations and immunotherapy for GC remains unclear, necessitating the development of novel prognostic models. The prognostic value and potential mechanisms of TTN in stomach adenocarcinoma were evaluated by TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas)-stomach adenocarcinoma cohort analysis, and an immune prognostic model was constructed based on TTN status. We validated it using the GSE84433 dataset. We performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and screened for differentially expressed genes, and used lasso (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression analysis to screen for survival genes to construct a multifactorial survival model. In addition, we evaluated the relative proportions of 22 immune cells using the CIBERSORT algorithm for immunogenicity analysis. Finally, we constructed the nomogram integrating immune prognostic model and other clinical factors. GESA showed enrichment of immune-related phenotypes in patients with TTN mutations. We constructed an immune prognostic model based on 16 genes could identify gastric cancer patients with higher risk of poor prognosis. Immuno-microenvironmental analysis showed increased infiltration of naive B cells, plasma cells, and monocyte in high-risk patients. In addition, Nomo plots predicted the probability of 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS (overall survival) in GC patients, showing good predictive performance. In this study, we identified that TTN gene may be a potential clinical biomarker for GC and TTN mutations may be a predictor of immunotherapy in patients. We constructed and validated a new model for prognosis of GC patients based on immune characteristics associated with TTN mutations. This study may provide potential therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer.