Histamine, Metabolic Remodelling and Angiogenesis: A Systems Level Approach

Unraveling metabolic characteristics and clinical implications in gastric cancer through single-cell resolution analysis

Background: Gastric cancer is a highly prevalent malignant neoplasm. Metabolic reprogramming is intricately linked to both tumorigenesis and cancer immune evasion. The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing technology provides a novel perspective for evaluating cellular metabolism. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the metabolic pathways of various cell types in tumor and normal samples at high resolution and delve into the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing the metabolic activity of malignant cells in gastric cancer. Methods: Utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing data from gastric cancer, we constructed metabolic landscape maps for different cell types in tumor and normal samples. Employing unsupervised clustering, we categorized malignant cells in tumor samples into high and low metabolic subclusters and further explored the characteristics of these subclusters. Results: Our research findings indicate that epithelial cells in tumor samples exhibit significantly higher activity in most KEGG metabolic pathways compared to other cell types. Unsupervised clustering, based on the scores of metabolic pathways, classified malignant cells into high and low metabolic subclusters. In the high metabolic subcluster, it demonstrated the potential to induce a stronger immune response, correlating with a relatively favorable prognosis. In the low metabolic subcluster, a subset of cells resembling cancer stem cells (CSCs) was identified, and its prognosis was less favorable. Furthermore, a set of risk genes associated with this subcluster was discovered. Conclusion: This study reveals the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing the metabolic activity of malignant cells in gastric cancer, offering new perspectives for improving prognosis and treatment strategies.

H2 antihistamines: May be useful for combination therapies in cancer?

Cancer morbimortality is still a great concern despite advances in research and therapies. Histamine and its receptors' ligands can modulate different biological responses according to the cell type and the receptor subtype involved. Besides the wide variety of histamine functions in normal tissues, diverse roles in the acquisition of hallmarks of cancer such as sustained proliferative signaling, resistance to cell death, angiogenesis, metastasis, altered immunity and modified microenvironment have been described. This review summarizes the present knowledge of the various roles of histamine H2 receptor (H2R) ligands in neoplasias. A bioinformatic analysis of human tumors showed dissimilar results in the expression of the H2R gene according to tumor type when comparing malignant versus normal tissues. As well, the relationship between patients' survival parameters and H2R gene expression levels also varied, signaling important divergences in the role of H2R in neoplastic progression in different cancer types. Revised experimental evidence showed multiple effects of H2R antihistamines on several of the cited hallmarks of cancer. Interventional and retrospective clinical studies evaluated different H2R antihistamines in cancer patients with two main adjuvant uses: improving antitumor efficacy (which includes regulation of immune response) and preventing toxic adverse effects produced by chemo or radiotherapy. While there is a long path to go, research on H2R antihistamines may provide new opportunities for developing more refined combination therapeutic strategies for certain cancer types to improve patients' survival and health-related quality of life.

Therapeutic potential of LINS01 histamine H3 receptor antagonists as antineoplastic agents for triple negative breast cancer

The aims of this work were to evaluate the expression of histamine H3 receptor (H3R) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) samples and to investigate the antitumoral efficacy and safety of the LINS01 series of H3R antagonists, through in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches. Antitumor activity of LINS01009, LINS01010, LINS01022, LINS01023 was assayed in vitro in 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells (0.01-100 μM), and in vivo in 4T1 tumors orthotopically established in BALB/c mice (1 or 20 mg/kg). Additionally, H3R expression was assessed in 50 human TNBC samples. We have described a higher H3R mRNA expression in basal-like/TNBC tumors vs. matched normal tissue using TCGA Pan-Cancer Atlas data, and a higher H3R expression in human tumor samples vs. peritumoral tissue evidenced by immunohistochemistry associated with poorer survival. Furthermore, while all the essayed compounds showed antitumoral properties, LINS01022 and LINS01023 exhibited the most potent antiproliferative effects by: i) inducing cell apoptosis and suppressing cell migration in 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells, and ii) inhibiting cell growth in paclitaxel-resistant 4T1 cells (potentiating the paclitaxel antiproliferative effect). Moreover, 20 mg/kg LINS01022 reduced tumor size in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, exhibiting a safe toxicological profile and potential for druggability estimated by ADME calculations. We conclude that the H3R is involved in the regulation of TNBC progression, offering promising therapeutic potential for the novel LINS01 series of H3R antagonists.

Integrative Omics Analysis Reveals Metabolic Features of Ground-Glass Opacity-Associated Lung Cancer

Background: Ground-glass opacity (GGO)-associated cancers are increasingly prevalent, exhibiting unique clinical and molecular features that suggest the need for a distinct treatment strategy. However, the metabolic characteristics and vulnerabilities of GGO-associated lung cancers remain unexplored. Methods: We conducted metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses on 40 pairs of GGO-associated lung cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues. By integrating data from TCGA database and single-cell RNA sequencing, we aimed to identify aberrant metabolic pathways, establish a metabolite-associated gene signature, and pinpoint key metabolic genes. The physiological effect of key genes was detected in vitro and vivo assays. Results: We identified a 30-gene metabolite-associated signature and discovered aberrant metabolic pathways for GGO-associated lung cancer at both metabolic and transcriptional levels. Patients with this signature displayed specific prognostic and molecular features. Cox regression analysis, based on the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) data, further narrowed down the metabolite-related gene signature, resulting in a 5-gene signature. Confirmed by single-cell RNA sequencing (GSE203360), the 5-gene signature was mainly expressed in cancer cells of GGO tissue. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) further validated the differential expression of these genes between GGO and adjacent normal tissue obtained from pulmonary surgery. Finally, our integrative analysis unveiled aberrant histidine metabolism at both the multi-omics and single-cell levels. Moreover, we identified MAOB as a key metabolic gene, demonstrating its ability to suppress cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in LUAD cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: We identified a specific metabolite-associated gene signature and identified aberrant histidine metabolism in GGO-associated lung cancer from multiple perspectives. Notably, MAOB, a crucial component in histidine metabolism, demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD, indicating its potential significance in pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.

Drug candidates and potential targets of Curculigo spp. compounds for treating diabetes mellitus based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation

Curculigo spp. is a herb that is commonly used in Indonesia to treat diabetes mellitus (DM) . The main active components of Curculigo spp. were identified through our previous metabolomic study and online database platform. However, the biological mechanisms underlying Curculigo spp. activity in treating DM remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, a network pharmacology was used to explore the active compounds of Curculigo spp. and their potential molecular mechanisms for treating DM. Oral bioavailability and drug-likeness from the compounds of Curculigo spp. were screened using Lipinski's rule of five, BBB, HIA + and Caco-2 permeability criteria. A network of compound-target-disease-pathway was then constructed using Cytoscape. The highest degree compounds and targets were then confirmed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The human body can absorb 33 compounds derived from Curculigo spp. In addition, 58 nodes and 62 edges generated a network analysis with the DM target. The highest degree of the compound-target-disease pathway was for orcinol glucoside, AKR1B1, autoimmune diabetes, bile acid and bile salt metabolism. Furthermore, the computational docking method on Curculigo spp. compounds with the highest degree revealed that orcinol glucoside interacted with PTPN1 through a hydrogen bond and resulted in a binding energy of -7.2 kcal mol-1. Through hydrogen bonds, orcinol glucoside in PTPN1 regulates multiple signaling pathways via the adherens junction pathway, which may play a therapeutic role in DM (type 2 diabetes: obesity). In addition, MD simulation confirmed that orcinol glucoside, is suitable for DM treatment by interacting with PTPN1.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A genetic locus complements resistance to Bordetella pertussis-induced histamine sensitization

Histamine plays pivotal role in normal physiology and dysregulated production of histamine or signaling through histamine receptors (HRH) can promote pathology. Previously, we showed that Bordetella pertussis or pertussis toxin can induce histamine sensitization in laboratory inbred mice and is genetically controlled by Hrh1/HRH1. HRH1 allotypes differ at three amino acid residues with P263-V313-L331 and L263-M313-S331, imparting sensitization and resistance respectively. Unexpectedly, we found several wild-derived inbred strains that carry the resistant HRH1 allotype (L263-M313-S331) but exhibit histamine sensitization. This suggests the existence of a locus modifying pertussis-dependent histamine sensitization. Congenic mapping identified the location of this modifier locus on mouse chromosome 6 within a functional linkage disequilibrium domain encoding multiple loci controlling sensitization to histamine. We utilized interval-specific single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) based association testing across laboratory and wild-derived inbred mouse strains and functional prioritization analyses to identify candidate genes for this modifier locus. Atg7, Plxnd1, Tmcc1, Mkrn2, Il17re, Pparg, Lhfpl4, Vgll4, Rho and Syn2 are candidate genes within this modifier locus, which we named Bphse, enhancer of Bordetella pertussis induced histamine sensitization. Taken together, these results identify, using the evolutionarily significant diversity of wild-derived inbred mice, additional genetic mechanisms controlling histamine sensitization.

Spatial metabolomics on liver cirrhosis to hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers and is mainly developed from chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis-B infection-associated liver cirrhosis (LC). The progression from LC to HCC makes the detection of diagnostic biomarkers to be challenging. Hence, there have been constant efforts to improve on identifying the critical and predictive changes accompanying the disease progression.

Methods

In this study, we looked to using the mass spectrometry mediated spatial metabolomics technique to simultaneous examine hundreds of metabolites in an untargeted fashion. Additionally, metabolic profiles were compared between six subregions within the HCC tissue to collect spatial information.

Results

Through those metabolites, altered metabolic pathways in LC and HCC were identified. Specifically, the amino acid metabolisms and the glycerophospholipid metabolisms experienced the most changes. Many of the altered metabolites and metabolic pathways were able to be connected through the urea cycle.

Conclusions

The identification of the key metabolites and pathways can expand our knowledge on HCC metabolic reprogramming and help us exam potential biomarkers for earlier detection of the malignant disease progression.

Do Mast Cells Contribute to the Continued Survival of Vertebrates?

This study is an attempt to shed light on why the connective tissue mast cell (MC) is preserved in all species with a blood circulatory system, i.e., the vertebrates since >500 million years, which suggests that the MC performs as yet not understood indispensible life‐promoting actions. The literature survey focuses on data in published papers on MC functions in immunological and nonimmunological reactions, host protection, pregnancy, inflammation, and wound healing. All data are thus accessible to the reader. The MC is a secretory cell with a unique mediator profile. A distinctive role for MCs is defined not only by their extensive mediator composition but also by their prominent ability to affect the vasculature to expedite selective cell recruitment and permeability changes and to set the stage for an appropriate acquired response. MCs, harboring a wide range of surface membrane receptors, are activated by the major female sex hormones as well as by diverse potentially adverse stimuli. MC activation/degranulation creates a presumably unique triad tissue response in physiological and pathological situations alike: extracellular matrix degradation and tissue remodeling, de novo cell proliferation, and de novo angiogenesis. As shown in the literature, MC‐activation is crucial for successful female reproduction in the mouse, implying one of possibly several yet unidentified physiological roles of MCs. Moreover, the activated MC aids newborns to survive to reproductive age owing to its key beneficial actions in inflammation and wound healing. Thus, a not previously described life‐perpetuating loop spanning generations are apparently formed, which, hypothetically, could contribute to the continued survival of the vertebrates.

Long-Term Functional and Cytoarchitectonic Effects of the Systemic Administration of the Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonist/Inverse Agonist Chlorpheniramine During Gestation in the Rat Offspring Primary Motor Cortex

The transient histaminergic system is among the first neurotransmitter systems to appear during brain development in the rat mesencephalon/rhombencephalon. Histamine increases FOXP2-positive deep-layer neuron differentiation of cortical neural stem cells through H₁ receptor activation in vitro. The in utero or systemic administration of chlorpheniramine (H₁ receptor antagonist/inverse agonist) during deep-layer cortical neurogenesis decreases FOXP2 neurons in the developing cortex, and H₁R- or histidine decarboxylase-knockout mice show impairment in learning and memory, wakefulness and nociception, functions modulated by the cerebral cortex. Due to the role of H₁R in cortical neural stem cell neurogenesis, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the postnatal impact of the systemic administration of chlorpheniramine during deep-layer cortical neuron differentiation (E12–14) in the primary motor cortex (M1) of neonates (P0) and 21-day-old pups (P21). Chlorpheniramine or vehicle were systemically administered (5 mg/kg, i.p.) to pregnant Wistar rats at gestational days 12–14, and the expression and distribution of deep- (FOXP2 and TBR1) and superficial-layer (SATB2) neuronal cortical markers were analyzed in neonates from both groups. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed a reduction in the expression of Satb2 and FoxP2. However, Western blot and immunofluorescence showed increased protein levels in the chlorpheniramine-treated group. In P21 pups, the three markers showed impaired distribution and increased immunofluorescence in the experimental group. The Sholl analysis evidenced altered dendritic arborization of deep-layer neurons, with lower excitability in response to histamine, as evaluated by whole-cell patch-clamp recording, as well as diminished depolarization-evoked [³H]-glutamate release from striatal slices. Overall, these results suggest long-lasting effects of blocking H₁Rs during early neurogenesis that may impact the pathways involved in voluntary motor activity and cognition.