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Saadh MJ, Pallathadka H, Abed HS, Menon SV, Sivaprasad GV, Hjazi A, Rizaev J, Suri S, Jawad MA, Husseen B. Detailed role of SR-A1 and SR-E3 in tumor biology, progression, and therapy. Cell Biochem Biophys 2024:10.1007/s12013-024-01350-5. [PMID: 38884861 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-024-01350-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
The first host defense systems are the innate immune response and the inflammatory response. Among innate immune cells, macrophages, are crucial because they preserve tissue homeostasis and eradicate infections by phagocytosis, or the ingestion of particles. Macrophages exhibit phenotypic variability contingent on their stimulation state and tissue environment and may be detected in several tissues. Meanwhile, critical inflammatory functions are played by macrophage scavenger receptors, in particular, SR-A1 (CD204) and SR-E3 (CD206), in a variety of pathophysiologic events. Such receptors, which are mainly found on the surface of multiple types of macrophages, have different effects on processes, including atherosclerosis, innate and adaptive immunity, liver and lung diseases, and, more recently, cancer. Although macrophage scavenger receptors have been demonstrated to be active across the disease spectrum, conflicting experimental findings and insufficient signaling pathways have hindered our comprehension of the molecular processes underlying its array of roles. Herein, as SR-A1 and SR-E3 functions are often binary, either protecting the host or impairing the pathophysiology of cancers has been reviewed. We will look into their function in malignancies, with an emphasis on their recently discovered function in macrophages and the possible therapeutic benefits of SR-A1 and SR-E3 targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed J Saadh
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Middle East University, Amman, 11831, Jordan
| | | | - Hussein Salim Abed
- Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Al-Maarif University College, Al-Anbar, Ramadi, Iraq.
| | - Soumya V Menon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - G V Sivaprasad
- Department of Basic Science & Humanities, Raghu Engineering College, Visakhapatnam, India
| | - Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jasur Rizaev
- Department of Public health and Healthcare management, Rector, Samarkand State Medical University, 18, Amir Temur Street, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
| | - Sahil Suri
- Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140417, Punjab, India
| | | | - Beneen Husseen
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
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2
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Huang J, Yin Q, Wang Y, Zhou X, Guo Y, Tang Y, Cheng R, Yu X, Zhang J, Huang C, Huang Z, Zhang J, Guo Z, Huo X, Sun Y, Li Y, Wang H, Yang J, Xue L. EZH2 Inhibition Enhances PD-L1 Protein Stability Through USP22-Mediated Deubiquitination in Colorectal Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308045. [PMID: 38520088 PMCID: PMC11187912 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
The regulation of PD-L1 is the key question, which largely determines the outcome of the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) based therapy. However, besides the transcription level, the protein stability of PD-L1 is closely correlated with its function and has drawn increasing attention. In this study, EZH2 inhibition enhances PD-L1 expression and protein stability, and the deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) is identified as a key mediator in this process. EZH2 inhibition transcriptionally upregulates USP22 expression, and upregulated USP22 further stabilizes PD-L1. Importantly, a combination of EZH2 inhibitors with anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy improves the tumor microenvironment, enhances sensitivity to immunotherapy, and exerts synergistic anticancer effects. In addition, knocking down USP22 can potentially enhance the therapeutic efficacy of EZH2 inhibitors on colon cancer. These findings unveil the novel role of EZH2 inhibitors in tumor immune evasion by upregulating PD-L1, and this drawback can be compensated by combining ICI immunotherapy. Therefore, these findings provide valuable insights into the EZH2-USP22-PD-L1 regulatory axis, shedding light on the optimization of combining both immune checkpoint blockade and EZH2 inhibitor-based epigenetic therapies to achieve more efficacies and accuracy in cancer treatment.
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3
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Fischetti I, Botti L, Sulsenti R, Cancila V, Enriquez C, Ferri R, Bregni M, Crivelli F, Tripodo C, Colombo MP, Jachetti E. Combined therapy targeting AR and EZH2 curbs castration-resistant prostate cancer enhancing anti-tumor T-cell response. Epigenomics 2024; 16:653-670. [PMID: 38530086 PMCID: PMC11160446 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0374] [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: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) eventually becomes resistant to androgen receptor pathway inhibitors like enzalutamide. Immunotherapy also fails in CRPC. We propose a new approach to simultaneously revert enzalutamide resistance and rewire anti-tumor immunity. Methods: We investigated in vitro and in subcutaneous and spontaneous mouse models the effects of combining enzalutamide and GSK-126, a drug inhibiting the epigenetic modulator EZH2. Results: Enzalutamide and GSK-126 synergized to reduce CRPC growth, also restraining tumor neuroendocrine differentiation. The anti-tumor activity was lost in immunodeficient mice. Indeed, the combination treatment awoke cytotoxic activity and IFN-γ production of tumor-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes. Conclusion: These results promote the combination of enzalutamide and GSK-126 in CRPC, also offering new avenues for immunotherapy in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Fischetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Botti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Sulsenti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudia Enriquez
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Renata Ferri
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario P. Colombo
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Jachetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
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4
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Ibarrola J, Xiang RR, Sun Z, Lu Q, Hill MA, Jaffe IZ. Inhibition of the histone methyltransferase EZH2 induces vascular stiffness. Clin Sci (Lond) 2024; 138:251-268. [PMID: 38362910 DOI: 10.1042/cs20231478] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Vascular stiffness increases with aging, obesity and hypertension and predicts cardiovascular risk. The levels of histone H3-lysine-27 methylation (H3K27me) and the histone methyltransferase EZH2 both decrease in aging vessels, driving vascular stiffness. The impact of EZH2 inhibitors on vascular stiffness is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that the EZH2 inhibitor GSK126, currently in development for cancer treatment, increases vascular stiffness and explored underlying molecular mechanisms. Young (3 month) and middle-aged (12 month) male mice were treated with GSK126 for 1-2 months and primary human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) from young male and female donors were treated with GSK126 for 24-48 h. Stiffness was measured in vivo by pulse wave velocity and in vitro by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and vascular structure was quantified histologically. Extracellular matrix proteins were studied by qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, zymography and chromatin immunoprecipitation. GSK126 treatment decreased H3K27 methylation (H3K27me) and increased acetylation (H3K27ac) in mouse vessels and in HASMCs. In GSK126-treated mice, aortic stiffness increased without changes in vascular fibrosis. EZH2 inhibition enhanced elastin fiber degradation and matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP2) expression. In HASMCs, GSK126 treatment increased synthetic phenotype markers and intrinsic HASMCs stiffness by AFM with altered cytoskeletal structure and increased nuclear actin staining. GSK126 also increased MMP2 protein expression, activity and enrichment of H3K27ac at the MMP2 promoter in HASMCs. GSK126 causes vascular stiffening, inducing MMP2 activity, elastin degradation, and modulation of SMC phenotype and cytoskeletal stiffness. These findings suggest that EZH2 inhibitors used to treat cancer could negatively impact the vasculature by enhancing stiffness and merits examination in human trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Ibarrola
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, U.S.A
| | - Rachel R Xiang
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, U.S.A
| | - Zhe Sun
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65203, U.S.A
| | - Qing Lu
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, U.S.A
| | - Michael A Hill
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65203, U.S.A
| | - Iris Z Jaffe
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, U.S.A
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Yin T, Li X, Li Y, Zang X, Liu L, Du M. Macrophage plasticity and function in cancer and pregnancy. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1333549. [PMID: 38274812 PMCID: PMC10808357 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1333549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
As the soil of life, the composition and shaping process of the immune microenvironment of the uterus is worth exploring. Macrophages, indispensable constituents of the innate immune system, are essential mediators of inflammation and tissue remodeling as well. Recent insights into the heterogeneity of macrophage subpopulations have renewed interest in their functional diversity in both physiological and pathological settings. Macrophages display remarkable plasticity and switch from one phenotype to another. Intrinsic plasticity enables tissue macrophages to perform a variety of functions in response to changing tissue contexts, such as cancer and pregnancy. The remarkable diversity and plasticity make macrophages particularly intriguing cells given their dichotomous role in either attacking or protecting tumors and semi-allogeneic fetuses, which of both are characterized functionally by immunomodulation and neovascularization. Here, we reviewed and compared novel perspectives on macrophage biology of these two settings, including origin, phenotype, differentiation, and essential roles in corresponding microenvironments, as informed by recent studies on the heterogeneity of macrophage identity and function, as well as their mechanisms that might offer opportunities for new therapeutic strategies on malignancy and pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingxuan Yin
- Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyi Li
- Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanhong Li
- Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingxing Zang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Lu Liu
- Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Meirong Du
- Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
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6
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Zheng Q, Wang T, Jiang G, Li M, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Tian X. Immunoglobulin superfamily 6 is a molecule involved in the anti-tumor activity of macrophages in lung adenocarcinoma. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1170. [PMID: 38037023 PMCID: PMC10688083 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11681-w] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunoglobulin superfamily 6 (IGSF6) is a novel member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and has been implicated in various diseases. However, the specific role of IGSF6 in the anti-tumor immunity within lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. METHODS We analyzed the IGSF6 expression in LUAD using data from TCGA, and we performed qRT-PCR and western blotting to validate these findings using tissue samples obtained from LUAD patients. Images of IHC staining were obtained from HPA. To assess the clinical relevance of IGSF6 expression, we utilized UALCAN and SPSS to analyze its association with major clinical features of LUAD. Additionally, we employed ROC curves and survival analysis to evaluate the potential diagnostic and prognostic value of IGSF6 in LUAD. To gain insights into the functional implications of IGSF6, we performed enrichment analysis using the R software clusterProfiler package. Moreover, we utilized TIMER2.0 and TISIDB to investigate the relationship between IGSF6 and immune infiltrates in LUAD. The proportion of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in LUAD was assessed using FCM, and their correlation with IGSF6 expression in tumor tissues was analyzed. The localization of IGSF6 protein on macrophages was confirmed using the HPA and FCM. To determine the regulatory role of IGSF6 on macrophage activity in LUAD, we employed ELISA, FCM, and tumor-bearing models. RESULTS We discovered that both IGSF6 mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in LUAD. Additionally, we observed a negative correlation between IGSF6 expression and TNM stages as well as pathologic stages in LUAD. Notably, IGSF6 exhibited high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing LUAD, and was positively associated with the survival rate of LUAD patients. Furthermore, IGSF6 expression was closely linked to gene sets involved in immune response. IGSF6 expression showed a positive correlation with immune infiltrates exhibiting anti-tumor activity, particularly M1 macrophages. We confirmed the predominant localization of the IGSF6 protein on the membrane of M1 macrophages. Importantly, the knockdown of IGSF6 resulted in a reduction in the anti-tumor activity of M1 macrophages, thereby promoting tumor progression. CONCLUSION IGSF6 is a molecule that is essential for the anti-tumor activity of macrophages in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qisi Zheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gechen Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Miao Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yuxin Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xinyu Tian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
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7
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Yan J, Deng XL, Ma SQ, Hui Li Y, Gao YM, Shi GT, Wang HS. Cantharidin suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma development by regulating EZH2/H3K27me3-dependent cell cycle progression and antitumour immune response. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:160. [PMID: 37202806 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03975-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cantharidin (CTD) is a major ingredient of cantharis (Mylabris phalerata Pallas) and has been used extensively in traditional Chinese medicines. It has been shown to exhibit anticancer activity in multiple types of cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there is no systematic study on the relationships among the regulatory networks of its targets in HCC therapy. We focused on histone epigenetic regulation and the influence of CTD on the immune response in HCC. METHODS We performed a comprehensive analysis of novel CTD targets in HCC based on network pharmacology and RNA-seq approaches. The mRNA levels of target genes were analyzed by qRT-PCR, and the corresponding protein levels were confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemical staining (IHC). ChIP-seq data were visualized by IGV software. The associations of gene transcript levels with the cancer immune score and infiltration level were investigated using TIMER. In vivo, the H22 mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma was established by treatment with CTD and 5-Fu. The immune cell proportions in the blood were elevated in model mice, as shown by flow cytometry. RESULTS We identified 58 targets of CTD, which were involved in various pathways in cancer, including apoptosis, the cell cycle, EMT and immune pathways. Moreover, we found that 100 EMT-related genes were differentially expressed after CTD treatment in HCC cells. Interestingly, our results confirmed that the EZH2/H3K27me3 -related cell cycle pathway is a therapeutic target of CTD in antitumour. In addition, we evaluated the influence of CTD on the immune response. Our data showed that the significantly enriched gene sets were positively correlated with the chemokine biosynthetic and chemokine metabolic modules. The proportions of CD4+/CD8 + T cells and B cells were increased, but the proportion of Tregs was decreased after treatment with CTD in vivo. Moreover, we found that the expression of the inflammatory factor and immune checkpoint genes PD-1/PD-L1 was significantly reduced in the mouse model. CONCLUSION We performed a novel integrated analysis of the potential role of CTD in HCC treatment. Our results provide innovative insight into the mechanism by which cantharidin exerts antitumour effects by regulating target genes expression to mediate apoptosis, EMT, cell cycle progression and the immune response in HCC. Based on the effect of CTD on the immune response, it can be used as a potential effective drug to activate antitumour immunity for the treatment of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yan
- School of Basic medical, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Xiu Ling Deng
- School of Basic medical, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Shi Qi Ma
- Inner Mongolia Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Yu Hui Li
- School of Basic medical, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Yu Min Gao
- School of Public health, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Gui Tao Shi
- Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
| | - Hai Sheng Wang
- School of Basic medical, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
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8
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Qiang N, Ao J, Nakamura M, Chiba T, Kusakabe Y, Kaneko T, Kurosugi A, Kogure T, Ma Y, Zhang J, Ogawa K, Kan M, Iwanaga T, Sakuma T, Kanayama K, Kanzaki H, Kojima R, Nakagawa R, Kondo T, Nakamoto S, Muroyama R, Kato J, Mimura N, Ma A, Jin J, Kato N. Alteration of the tumor microenvironment by pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 118:110068. [PMID: 37001386 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a core component of polycomb repressive component 2 is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and recognized as a therapeutic target molecule. However, EZH2 possesses immunomodulatory functions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The impact of EZH2 on TME of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using immunocompetent mouse model was evaluated in the present study. UNC1999, an EZH2 inhibitor, impaired growth of the murine HCC cells (H22 cells) and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Although UNC1999 significantly inhibited the growth of H22 cells-derived and Hepa1-6 cells-derived tumors in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice, its antitumor effect was diminished in allogenic BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Flow cytometric analyses of TME cells in BALB/c mice demonstrated a significant decrease in the number of interferon‑γ+ CD8+ T cells and regulatory T cells and a significant increase in the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Administration of Gr-1 neutralizing antibody concomitant with UNC1999 restored antitumor effect accompanied by an increase in the number of CD8+ T cells followed by a decrease in the number of MDSCs. Chemokine antibody array demonstrated an enhanced expression of chemokines responsible for MDSCs recruitment such as C5a, CCL8, and CCL9. In conclusion, the study results demonstrated that EZH2 inhibitor contributed to attenuation of tumor immunity caused by TME arrangement. Combination therapy with EZH2 inhibitors and agents that reduce MDSCs might represent a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Qiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Junjie Ao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masato Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Tetsuhiro Chiba
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuko Kusakabe
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kaneko
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Akane Kurosugi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tadayoshi Kogure
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yaojia Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Keita Ogawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Motoyasu Kan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Terunao Iwanaga
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takafumi Sakuma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kengo Kanayama
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kanzaki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kojima
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kondo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shingo Nakamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Muroyama
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jun Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Naoya Mimura
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Anqi Ma
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Naoya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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9
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Benefits and Challenges of Inhibiting EZH2 in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051537. [PMID: 36900330 PMCID: PMC10000483 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive thoracic cancer that is mainly associated with prior exposure to asbestos fibers. Despite being a rare cancer, its global rate is increasing and the prognosis remains extremely poor. Over the last two decades, despite the constant research of new therapeutic options, the combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed has remained the only first-line therapy for MPM. The recent approval of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-based immunotherapy has opened new promising avenues of research. However, MPM is still a fatal cancer with no effective treatments. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyl transferase that exerts pro-oncogenic and immunomodulatory activities in a variety of tumors. Accordingly, a growing number of studies indicate that EZH2 is also an oncogenic driver in MPM, but its effects on tumor microenvironments are still largely unexplored. This review describes the state-of-the-art of EZH2 in MPM biology and discusses its potential use both as a diagnostic and therapeutic target. We highlight current gaps of knowledge, the filling of which will likely favor the entry of EZH2 inhibitors within the treatment options for MPM patients.
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10
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Huang K, Luo W, Fang J, Yu C, Liu G, Yuan X, Liu Y, Wu W. Notch3 signaling promotes colorectal tumor growth by enhancing immunosuppressive cells infiltration in the microenvironment. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:55. [PMID: 36647017 PMCID: PMC9843853 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10526-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Macrophage infiltration in the tumor microenvironment participates in the regulation of tumor progression. Previous studies have found that Notch signaling pathway is involved in regulating the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), however, the specific mechanism is still unclear. METHODS The correlation between Notch signaling pathway and macrophage infiltration was investigated in TCGA database and verified in clinical samples of patients with CRC using immunohistochemistry. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was used to find out genes related to Notch3 expression. Colony formation assay, and flow cytometry were utilized to test tumor growth and immune cell infiltration in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Using bioinformatics analysis and clinical sample validation, we found that Notch3 was highly expressed in colon tumor tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues, and it participated in regulating the recruitment of macrophages to the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we found that the Notch3 expression was positively correlated with the expression of macrophage recruitment-related cytokines in colon tumor tissues. Finally, we demonstrated that depletion of Notch3 had no significant effect on the growth of colon tumor cells in vitro, while, attenuated the growth of colon cancer tumors in vivo. Simultaneous, immunosuppressive cells, macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) infiltration were dramatically reduced in the tumor microenvironment. CONCLUSION Our study illustrated that Notch3 could facilitate the progression of CRC by increasing the infiltration of macrophages and MDSCs to promote the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Targeting Notch3 specifically is a potentially effective treatment for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Huang
- grid.412679.f0000 0004 1771 3402Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 Anhui China
| | - Wenwu Luo
- grid.412679.f0000 0004 1771 3402Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 Anhui China
| | - Jinmei Fang
- grid.59053.3a0000000121679639Department of Radiation Oncology, Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Changjun Yu
- grid.412679.f0000 0004 1771 3402Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 Anhui China
| | - Guangjie Liu
- grid.412679.f0000 0004 1771 3402Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 Anhui China
| | - Xiaodong Yuan
- grid.59053.3a0000000121679639Organ Transplant Center, Department of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yun Liu
- grid.59053.3a0000000121679639Department of Radiation Oncology, Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wenyong Wu
- grid.412679.f0000 0004 1771 3402Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 Anhui China ,Department of General Surgery, Anhui No.2 Provincial People’s Hospital, Hefei, 230011 China
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EZH2 as a Prognostic Factor and Its Immune Implication with Molecular Characterization in Prostate Cancer: An Integrated Multi-Omics in Silico Analysis. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12111617. [DOI: 10.3390/biom12111617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a type of potentially fatal malignant tumor. Immunotherapy has shown a lot of potential for various types of solid tumors, but the benefits have been less impressive in PCa. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is one of the three core subunits of the polycomb repressive complex 2 that has histone methyltransferase activity, and the immune effects of EZH2 in PCa are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of EZH2 as a prognostic factor and an immune therapeutic biomarker for PCa, as well as the expression pattern and biological functions. All analyses in this study were based on publicly available databases, mainly containing Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), UCSCXenaShiny, and TISIDB. We performed differential expression analysis, developed a prognostic model, and explored potential associations between EZH2 and DNA methylation modifications, tumor microenvironment (TME), immune-related genes, tumor mutation burden (TMB), tumor neoantigen burden (TNB), and representative mismatch repair (MMR) genes. We also investigated the molecular and immunological characterizations of EZH2. Finally, we predicted immunotherapeutic responses based on EZH2 expression levels. We found that EZH2 was highly expressed in PCa, was associated with a poor prognosis, and may serve as an independent prognostic factor. EZH2 expression in PCa was associated with DNA methylation modifications, TME, immune-related genes, TMB, TNB, and MMR. By gene set enrichment analysis and gene set variation analysis, we found that multiple functions and pathways related to tumorigenesis, progression, and immune activation were enriched. Finally, we inferred that immunotherapy may be more effective for PCa patients with low EZH2 expression. In conclusion, our study showed that EZH2 could be a potentially efficient predictor of prognosis and immune response in PCa patients.
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Huang R, Wu Y, Zou Z. Combining EZH2 inhibitors with other therapies for solid tumors: more choices for better effects. Epigenomics 2022; 14:1449-1464. [PMID: 36601794 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
EZH2 is an epigenetic regulator that methylates lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27) and is closely related to the development and metastasis of tumors. It often shows gain-of-function mutations in hematological tumors, while it is often overexpressed in solid tumors. EZH2 inhibitors have shown good efficacy in hematological tumors in clinical trials but poor efficacy in solid tumors. Therefore, current research on EZH2 inhibitors has focused on exploring additional combination strategies in solid tumors. Herein we summarize the combinations and mechanisms of EZH2 inhibitors and other therapies, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and epigenetic therapy, both in clinical trials and preclinical studies, aiming to provide a reference for better antitumor effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Huang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Yirong Wu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Zhengyun Zou
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
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Wang YF, Yu L, Hu ZL, Fang YF, Shen YY, Song MF, Chen Y. Regulation of CCL2 by EZH2 affects tumor-associated macrophages polarization and infiltration in breast cancer. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:748. [PMID: 36038549 PMCID: PMC9424193 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05169-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in tumorigenesis, development and anti-cancer drug therapy. However, very few epigenetic compounds have been elucidated to affect tumor growth by educating TAMs in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we identified that EZH2 performs a crucial role in the regulation of TAMs infiltration and protumoral polarization by interacting with human breast cancer (BC) cells. We showed that EZH2 inhibitors-treated BC cells induced M2 macrophage polarization in vitro and in vivo, while EZH2 knockdown exhibited the opposite effect. Mechanistically, inhibition of EZH2 histone methyltransferase alone by EZH2 inhibitors in breast cancer cells could reduce the enrichment of H3K27me3 on CCL2 gene promoter, elevate CCL2 transcription and secretion, contributing to the induction of M2 macrophage polarization and recruitment in TME, which reveal a potential explanation behind the frustrating results of EZH2 inhibitors against breast cancer. On the contrary, EZH2 depletion led to DNA demethylation and subsequent upregulation of miR-124-3p level, which inhibited its target CCL2 expression in the tumor cells, causing arrest of TAMs M2 polarization. Taken together, these data suggested that EZH2 can exert opposite regulatory effects on TAMs polarization through its enzymatic or non-enzymatic activities. Our results also imply that the effect of antitumor drugs on TAMs may affect its therapeutic efficacy, and the combined application with TAMs modifiers should be warranted to achieve great clinical success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-fang Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Division of Anti-Tumor Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, PR China ,grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Lei Yu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Division of Anti-Tumor Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, PR China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zong-long Hu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Division of Anti-Tumor Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yan-fen Fang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Division of Anti-Tumor Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yan-yan Shen
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Division of Anti-Tumor Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Min-fang Song
- grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yi Chen
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Division of Anti-Tumor Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, PR China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Wu L, Su C, Yang C, Liu J, Ye Y. TBX3 regulates the transcription of VEGFA to promote osteoblasts proliferation and microvascular regeneration. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13722. [PMID: 35846885 PMCID: PMC9281600 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Osteochondral decellularization can promote local vascular regeneration, but the exact mechanism is unknown. The aim of this study is to study osteogenic microvascular regeneration in single cells. Methods The scRNA-seq dataset of human periosteal-derived cells (hPDCs) were analyzed by pySCENIC. To examine the role of TBX3 in osteogenesis and vascularization, cell transfection, qRT-PCR, western blot, and CCK-8 cell proliferation assays were performed. Results TCF7L2, TBX3, FLI1, NFKB2, and EZH2 were found to be transcription factors (TFs) most closely associated with corresponding cells. The regulatory network of these TFs was then visualized. Our study knocked down the expression of TBX3 in human osteoblast cell lines. In the TBX3 knockdown group, we observed decreased expression of VEGFA, VEGFB, and VEGFC. Moreover, Western blot analysis showed that downregulating TBX3 resulted in a reduction of VEGFA expression. And TBX3 stimulated osteoblast proliferation in CCK-8 assays. Conclusion TBX3 regulates VEGFA expression and promotes osteoblast proliferation in skeletal microvasculature formation. The findings provide a theoretical basis for investigating the role of TBX3 in promoting local vascular regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichuang Wu
- Department of Trauma/Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chenxian Su
- Department of Trauma/Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chuanhua Yang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China
| | - Jinxing Liu
- Shanghai ninth people’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiheng Ye
- Department of Trauma/Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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