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Wang B, Chen K, Gao M, Sun X, He W, Chen J, Yang W, Yang T, Qin H, Ruan H, Huang H, Lin T, Huang J. Chitinase 3-like 1 expression associated with lymphatic metastasis and prognosis in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Clin Transl Immunology 2024; 13:e1505. [PMID: 38623539 PMCID: PMC11017757 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Lymphatic metastasis, an early stage of the metastasis process, is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). However, the role of inflammation in triggering lymphatic metastasis remains unclear. Methods We employed an RNA-sequencing cohort (n = 50) from Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital (SYMH) to identify the most highly upregulated inflammatory gene associated with lymphatic metastasis. Using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses, we validated the association of the identified molecule with clinical features and prognosis in an independent UCB cohort (n = 244) from SYMH. We also analysed TCGA-BLCA cohort (n = 408) to identify its potential biological pathways and immune landscape. Results In our study, chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) emerged as a significantly overexpressed proinflammatory mediator in UCB tissues with lymphatic metastasis compared to those without lymphatic metastasis (81.1% vs. 47.8%, P < 0.001). Within UCB tissues, CHI3L1 was expressed in both stromal cells (52.8%) and tumor cells (7.3%). Moreover, CHI3L1+ stromal cells, but not tumor cells, exhibited independent prognostic significance for both overall survival (P < 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (P = 0.006). CHI3L1+ stromal cells were positively associated with D2-40+ lymphatic vessel density (P < 0.001) and the immunosuppressive PD-L1/PD-1/CD8 axis in UCB tissues (all P < 0.05). A bioinformatics analysis also identified a positive association between CHI3L1 expression and lymphangiogenesis or immunosuppression pathways. Conclusion Our study established a clear association between stromal CHI3L1 expression and lymphatic metastasis, suggesting that stromal CHI3L1 expression is a potential prognostic marker for bladder cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong‐Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat‐Sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ke Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Mingchao Gao
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xi Sun
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Wang He
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Junyu Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Wenjuan Yang
- Department of Hematology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Tenghao Yang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Haide Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong‐Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat‐Sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Honglian Ruan
- School of Public HealthGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Hao Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Tianxin Lin
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong‐Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat‐Sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Jian Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen (Zhongshan) UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Mizoguchi E, Sadanaga T, Nanni L, Wang S, Mizoguchi A. Recently Updated Role of Chitinase 3-like 1 on Various Cell Types as a Major Influencer of Chronic Inflammation. Cells 2024; 13:678. [PMID: 38667293 PMCID: PMC11049018 DOI: 10.3390/cells13080678] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chitinase 3-like 1 (also known as CHI3L1 or YKL-40) is a mammalian chitinase that has no enzymatic activity, but has the ability to bind to chitin, the polymer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). Chitin is a component of fungi, crustaceans, arthropods including insects and mites, and parasites, but it is completely absent from mammals, including humans and mice. In general, chitin-containing organisms produce mammalian chitinases, such as CHI3L1, to protect the body from exogenous pathogens as well as hostile environments, and it was thought that it had a similar effect in mammals. However, recent studies have revealed that CHI3L1 plays a pathophysiological role by inducing anti-apoptotic activity in epithelial cells and macrophages. Under chronic inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, many groups already confirmed that the expression of CHI3L1 is significantly induced on the apical side of epithelial cells, and activates many downstream pathways involved in inflammation and carcinogenesis. In this review article, we summarize the expression of CHI3L1 under chronic inflammatory conditions in various disorders and discuss the potential roles of CHI3L1 in those disorders on various cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiko Mizoguchi
- Department of Immunology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan; (T.S.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Takayuki Sadanaga
- Department of Immunology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan; (T.S.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Linda Nanni
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Siyuan Wang
- Department of Immunology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan; (T.S.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
| | - Atsushi Mizoguchi
- Department of Immunology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan; (T.S.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
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3
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Salembier R, De Haes C, Bellemans J, Demeyere K, Van Den Broeck W, Sanders NN, Van Laere S, Lyons TR, Meyer E, Steenbrugge J. Chitin-mediated blockade of chitinase-like proteins reduces tumor immunosuppression, inhibits lymphatic metastasis and enhances anti-PD-1 efficacy in complementary TNBC models. Breast Cancer Res 2024; 26:63. [PMID: 38605414 PMCID: PMC11007917 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-024-01815-8] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chitinase-like proteins (CLPs) play a key role in immunosuppression under inflammatory conditions such as cancer. CLPs are enzymatically inactive and become neutralized upon binding of their natural ligand chitin, potentially reducing CLP-driven immunosuppression. We investigated the efficacy of chitin treatment in the context of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) using complementary mouse models. We also evaluated the immunomodulatory influence of chitin on immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and compared its efficacy as general CLP blocker with blockade of a single CLP, i.e. chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1). METHODS Female BALB/c mice were intraductally injected with luciferase-expressing 4T1 or 66cl4 cells and systemically treated with chitin in combination with or without anti-programmed death (PD)-1 ICB. For single CLP blockade, tumor-bearing mice were treated with anti-CHI3L1 antibodies. Metastatic progression was monitored through bioluminescence imaging. Immune cell changes in primary tumors and lymphoid organs (i.e. axillary lymph nodes and spleen) were investigated through flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, cytokine profiling and RNA-sequencing. CHI3L1-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were subjected to 2D lymphatic endothelial cell adhesion and 3D lymphatic integration in vitro assays for studying macrophage-mediated lymphatic remodeling. RESULTS Chitin significantly reduced primary tumor progression in the 4T1-based model by decreasing the high production of CLPs that originate from tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) and Stat3 signaling, prominently affecting the CHI3L1 and CHI3L3 primary tumor levels. It reduced immunosuppressive cell types and increased anti-tumorigenic T-cells in primary tumors as well as axillary lymph nodes. Chitin also significantly reduced CHI3L3 primary tumor levels and immunosuppression in the 66cl4-based model. Compared to anti-CHI3L1, chitin enhanced primary tumor growth reduction and anti-tumorigenicity. Both treatments equally inhibited lymphatic adhesion and integration of macrophages, thereby hampering lymphatic tumor cell spreading. Upon ICB combination therapy, chitin alleviated anti-PD-1 resistance in both TNBC models, providing a significant add-on reduction in primary tumor and lung metastatic growth compared to chitin monotherapy. These add-on effects occurred through additional increase in CD8α+ T-cell infiltration and activation in primary tumor and lymphoid organs. CONCLUSIONS Chitin, as a general CLP blocker, reduces CLP production, enhances anti-tumor immunity as well as ICB responses, supporting its potential clinical relevance in immunosuppressed TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robbe Salembier
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Caro De Haes
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Julie Bellemans
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Kristel Demeyere
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Wim Van Den Broeck
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Niek N Sanders
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Steven Van Laere
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Traci R Lyons
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Evelyne Meyer
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jonas Steenbrugge
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Yu JE, Yeo IJ, Han SB, Yun J, Kim B, Yong YJ, Lim YS, Kim TH, Son DJ, Hong JT. Significance of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and cancer. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:1-18. [PMID: 38177294 PMCID: PMC10834487 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01131-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a secreted glycoprotein that mediates inflammation, macrophage polarization, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis. The expression of CHI3L1 is strongly upregulated by various inflammatory and immunological diseases, including several cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and atherosclerosis. Several studies have shown that CHI3L1 can be considered as a marker of disease diagnosis, prognosis, disease activity, and severity. In addition, the proinflammatory action of CHI3L1 may be mediated via responses to various proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and interferon-γ. Therefore, CHI3L1 may contribute to a vast array of inflammatory diseases. However, its pathophysiological and pharmacological roles in the development of inflammatory diseases remain unclear. In this article, we review recent findings regarding the roles of CHI3L1 in the development of inflammatory diseases and suggest therapeutic approaches that target CHI3L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Eun Yu
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - In Jun Yeo
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Bae Han
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaesuk Yun
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Bongcheol Kim
- Senelix Co. Ltd., 25, Beobwon-ro 11-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05836, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Ji Yong
- PRESTI GEBIOLOGICS Co. Ltd., Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, 28161, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Soo Lim
- PRESTI GEBIOLOGICS Co. Ltd., Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, 28161, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hun Kim
- Autotelic Bio Inc., Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Ju Son
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jin Tae Hong
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Taifour T, Attalla SS, Zuo D, Gu Y, Sanguin-Gendreau V, Proud H, Solymoss E, Bui T, Kuasne H, Papavasiliou V, Lee CG, Kamle S, Siegel PM, Elias JA, Park M, Muller WJ. The tumor-derived cytokine Chi3l1 induces neutrophil extracellular traps that promote T cell exclusion in triple-negative breast cancer. Immunity 2023; 56:2755-2772.e8. [PMID: 38039967 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), stromal restriction of CD8+ T cells associates with poor clinical outcomes and lack of responsiveness to immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB). To identify mediators of T cell stromal restriction, we profiled murine breast tumors lacking the transcription factor Stat3, which is commonly hyperactive in breast cancers and promotes an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Expression of the cytokine Chi3l1 was decreased in Stat3-/- tumors. CHI3L1 expression was elevated in human TNBCs and other solid tumors exhibiting T cell stromal restriction. Chi3l1 ablation in the polyoma virus middle T (PyMT) breast cancer model generated an anti-tumor immune response and delayed mammary tumor onset. These effects were associated with increased T cell tumor infiltration and improved response to ICB. Mechanistically, Chi3l1 promoted neutrophil recruitment and neutrophil extracellular trap formation, which blocked T cell infiltration. Our findings provide insight into the mechanism underlying stromal restriction of CD8+ T cells and suggest that targeting Chi3l1 may promote anti-tumor immunity in various tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarek Taifour
- McGill University, Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Sherif Samer Attalla
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; McGill University, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Dongmei Zuo
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Yu Gu
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; McGill University, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | | | - Hailey Proud
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; McGill University, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Emilie Solymoss
- McGill University, Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Tung Bui
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Hellen Kuasne
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | | | - Chun Geun Lee
- Brown University, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Suchitra Kamle
- Brown University, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Peter M Siegel
- McGill University, Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; McGill University, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Jack A Elias
- Brown University, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Morag Park
- McGill University, Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; McGill University, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - William J Muller
- McGill University, Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; McGill University, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada.
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Zhao H, Huang M, Jiang L. Potential Roles and Future Perspectives of Chitinase 3-like 1 in Macrophage Polarization and the Development of Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16149. [PMID: 38003338 PMCID: PMC10671302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216149] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), a chitinase-like protein family member, is a secreted glycoprotein that mediates macrophage polarization, inflammation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and carcinogenesis. Abnormal CHI3L1 expression has been associated with multiple metabolic and neurological disorders, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Aberrant CHI3L1 expression is also reportedly associated with tumor migration and metastasis, as well as contributions to immune escape, playing important roles in tumor progression. However, the physiological and pathophysiological roles of CHI3L1 in the development of metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer remain unclear. Understanding the polarization relationship between CHI3L1 and macrophages is crucial for disease progression. Recent research has uncovered the complex mechanisms of CHI3L1 in different diseases, highlighting its close association with macrophage functional polarization. In this article, we review recent findings regarding the various disease types and summarize the relationship between macrophages and CHI3L1. Furthermore, this article also provides a brief overview of the various mechanisms and inhibitors employed to inhibit CHI3L1 and disrupt its interaction with receptors. These endeavors highlight the pivotal roles of CHI3L1 and suggest therapeutic approaches targeting CHI3L1 in the development of metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mingdong Huang
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China;
| | - Longguang Jiang
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China;
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Shen K, Song W, Wang H, Wang L, Yang Y, Hu Q, Ren M, Gao Z, Wang Q, Zheng S, Zhu M, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Wei C, Gu J. Decoding the metastatic potential and optimal postoperative adjuvant therapy of melanoma based on metastasis score. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:397. [PMID: 37880239 PMCID: PMC10600209 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01678-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is a formidable challenge in the prognosis of melanoma. Accurately predicting the metastatic potential of non-metastatic melanoma (NMM) and determining effective postoperative adjuvant treatments for inhibiting metastasis remain uncertain. In this study, we conducted comprehensive analyses of melanoma metastases using bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data, enabling the construction of a metastasis score (MET score) through diverse machine-learning algorithms. The reliability and robustness of the MET score were validated using various in vitro assays and in vivo models. Our findings revealed a distinct molecular landscape in metastatic melanoma characterized by the enrichment of metastasis-related pathways, intricate cell-cell communication, and heightened infiltration of pro-angiogenic tumor-associated macrophages compared to NMM. Importantly, patients in the high MET score group exhibited poorer prognoses and an immunosuppressive microenvironment, featuring increased infiltration of regulatory T cells and decreased infiltration of CD8+ T cells, compared to the low MET score patient group. Expression of PD-1 was markedly higher in patients with low MET scores. Anti-PD-1 (aPD-1) therapy profoundly affected antitumor immunity activation and metastasis inhibition in these patients. In summary, our study demonstrates the effectiveness of the MET score in predicting melanoma metastatic potential. For patients with low MET scores, aPD-1 therapy may be a potential treatment strategy to inhibit metastasis. Patients with high MET scores may benefit from combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangjie Shen
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenyu Song
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongye Wang
- Department of Interventional Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianrong Hu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Ren
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zixu Gao
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiangcheng Wang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China
| | - Shaoluan Zheng
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Cancer Therapy, Xiamen, China
| | - Ming Zhu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanwen Yang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuanyuan Wei
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jianying Gu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, China.
- Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Cancer Therapy, Xiamen, China.
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8
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Johansen AZ, Novitski SI, Hjaltelin JX, Theile S, Boisen MK, Brunak S, Madsen DH, Nielsen DL, Chen IM. Plasma YKL-40 is associated with prognosis in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with radiotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1228907. [PMID: 37744345 PMCID: PMC10513102 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1228907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background YKL-40, also known as chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), is a secreted glycoprotein produced by various cell types including stromal, immune, and cancer cells. It contributes to cancer progression through tumor-promoting inflammation and has been shown to inhibit the cytotoxicity of T and NK lymphocytes. In vivo studies have demonstrated synergistic anti-cancer effects of blocking YKL-40 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Biomarkers for the prediction of the response to ICIs are highly needed. We investigated the association between plasma YKL-40 and clinical benefit and survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) receiving ICIs and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Methods Blood samples were collected from 84 patients with mPC who participated in the randomized phase II CheckPAC study, in which patients received nivolumab with or without ipilimumab combined with a single fraction of SBRT. Plasma YKL-40 was measured using a commercial ELISA kit. Results Elevated baseline plasma YKL-40 was an independent predictor of shorter overall survival (OS) (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.21-3.95). A ≥ 40% decrease in plasma YKL-40 during treatment was associated with longer progression-free survival (p = 0.009) and OS (p = 0.0028). There was no correlation between plasma YKL-40 and the tumor burden marker CA19-9 at baseline or during treatment. Conclusion This study contributes new knowledge regarding YKL-40 as a predictor of clinical benefit from ICIs and radiotherapy. These exploratory results warrant further investigation of YKL-40 as a biomarker for patients treated with immunotherapies. Clinical trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02866383.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Z. Johansen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Sif I. Novitski
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jessica X. Hjaltelin
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susann Theile
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Mogens K. Boisen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Søren Brunak
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel H. Madsen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dorte L. Nielsen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Inna M. Chen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
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