The IL-8/IL-8R Axis: A Double Agent in Tumor Immune Resistance

Comparative Bindings of Glycosaminoglycans with CXCL8 Monomer and Dimer: Insights from Conformational Dynamics and Kinetics of Hydrogen Bonds

GAGs bind to both the monomeric and dimeric forms of CXCL8, helping to form a concentration gradient of the chemokine that facilitates the recruitment of neutrophils to an injury site and supports other biological functions. In this study, atomistic molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to investigate the binding behavior of two hexameric GAGs sulfated at two different positions, chondroitin sulfate (CS) and heparan sulfate (HS), with the monomer (SIL8) and dimer (DIL8) forms of the CXCL8 protein. The results support that the conformational diversity of CS and HS appeared to be more when binding with monomer SIL8 than dimer DIL8. CS gained more configurational entropy from glycosidic linkage flexibility when bound to SIL8 than DIL8, with a higher energy barrier, whereas HS exhibited a lower energy barrier for configurational entropy when bound to SIL8 and DIL8. The monomer SIL8 exhibited more favorable and preferential binding with GAGs compared to DIL8. Formation of hydrogen bonds with the basic amino acids of SIL8 and GAG was more rigid and required higher activation energy to break than the other identified hydrogen bondings. Water molecules involved in hydrogen bonding with GAGs, excluding those with basic amino acids of DIL8, showed longer lifetimes and slower relaxation compared to SIL8. This suggests that water-mediated interactions also favor binding of DIL8 with GAGs. Despite having more basic amino acids, DIL8 did not display stronger binding than SIL8, indicating the significant role of basic residues in stabilizing the GAG-protein interactions in the monomers. The reason could be that the greater number of nonbasic amino acids in dimeric CXCL8 stabilizes the complex by forming water-mediated hydrogen bonds, reducing the conformational preferences for binding with GAGs. In contrast, the monomeric form of CXCL8 exhibits a higher conformational preference for protein-GAG interactions.

Expression of interleukin-8 and integrin β3 predicts prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy

As important components in the tumor microenvironment, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and integrin β3 play a key role in the progression and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to determine the expression of IL-8 and integrin β3 and their prognostic value in patients with HCC after hepatectomy. We investigated the expression of IL-8 and integrin β3, their clinical significance, as well as their correlation in the cancer tissue of 130 patients with HCC using immunohistochemistry. The prognostic value of IL-8 and integrin β3 was investigated through the follow-up of patients with HCC after hepatectomy. In HCC, IL-8 expression had a positive correlation with integrin β3 expression. Increased expressions of IL-8 and integrin β3 were indicators of tumor progression and poor prognosis in patients with HCC after hepatectomy. IL-8 positive specimens exhibited a higher proportion of macrovascular invasion, larger tumor size, poor differentiation, and advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (P < .05, respectively). Integrin β3 positive group exhibited a higher proportion of TNM III-staged tumors (P < .05). The results indicated that macrovascular invasion, advanced TNM stage, and integrin β3 expression were independent unfavorable prognostic factors in HCC after hepatectomy. Integrin β3 expression was proved to be an independent unfavorable prognostic factor in HCC after hepatectomy. Targeting integrin β3 might be a potential therapeutic approach in preventing tumor progression in HCC.

Inhibition of ATM or ATR in combination with hypo-fractionated radiotherapy leads to a different immunophenotype on transcript and protein level in HNSCC

Background

The treatment of head and neck tumors remains a challenge due to their reduced radiosensitivity. Small molecule kinase inhibitors (smKI) that inhibit the DNA damage response, may increase the radiosensitivity of tumor cells. However, little is known about how the immunophenotype of the tumor cells is modulated thereby. Therefore, we investigated whether the combination of ATM or ATR inhibitors with hypo-fractionated radiotherapy (RT) has a different impact on the expression of immune checkpoint markers (extrinsic), the release of cytokines or the transcriptome (intrinsic) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells.

Methods

The toxic and immunogenic effects of the smKI AZD0156 (ATMi) and VE-822 (ATRi) in combination with a hypo-fractionated scheme of 2x5Gy RT on HPV-negative (HSC4, Cal-33) and HPV-positive (UM-SCC-47, UD-SCC-2) HNSCC cell lines were analyzed as follows: cell death (necrosis, apoptosis; detected by AnxV/PI), expression of immunostimulatory (ICOS-L, OX40-L, TNFSFR9, CD70) and immunosuppressive (PD-L1, PD-L2, HVEM) checkpoint marker using flow cytometry; the release of cytokines using multiplex ELISA and the gene expression of Cal-33 on mRNA level 48 h post-RT.

Results

Cell death was mainly induced by the combination of RT with both inhibitors, but stronger with ATRi. Further, the immune phenotype of cancer cells, not dying from combination therapy itself, is altered predominantly by RT+ATRi in an immune-stimulatory manner by the up-regulation of ICOS-L. However, the analysis of secreted cytokines after treatment of HNSCC cell lines revealed an ambivalent influence of both inhibitors, as we observed the intensified secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 after RT+ATRi. These findings were confirmed by RNAseq analysis and further the stronger immune-suppressive character of RT+ATMi was enlightened. We detected the down-regulation of a central protein of cytoplasmatic sensing pathways of nucleic acids, RIG-1, and found one immune-suppressive target, EDIL3, strongly up-regulated by RT+ATMi.

Conclusion

Independent of a restrictive toxicity, the combination of RT + either ATMi or ATRi leads to comprehensive and immune-modulating alterations in HNSCC. This includes pro-inflammatory signaling induced by RT + ATRi but also anti-inflammatory signals. These findings were confirmed by RNAseq analysis, which further highlighted the immune-suppressive nature of RT + ATMi.

Neutrophils are involved in early bone formation during midpalatal expansion

OBJECTIVE

Midpalatal expansion (MPE) is routinely employed to treat transverse maxillary arch deficiency. Neutrophils are indispensable for recruiting bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) at the initial stage of bone regeneration. This study aimed to explore whether neutrophils participate in MPE and how they function during bone formation under mechanical stretching.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The presence and phenotype of neutrophils in the midpalatal suture during expansion were detected by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. The possible mechanism of neutrophil recruitment and polarization was explored in vitro by exposing vascular endothelial cells (VECs) to cyclic tensile strain.

RESULTS

The number of neutrophils in the distracted suture peaked on Day 3, and N2-type neutrophils significantly increased on Day 5 after force application. The depletion of circulatory neutrophils reduced bone volume by 43.6% after 7-day expansion. The stretched VECs recruited neutrophils via a CXCR2 mechanism in vitro, which then promoted BMSC osteogenic differentiation through the VEGFA/VEGFR2 axis. Consistently, these neutrophils showed higher expression of canonical N2 phenotype genes, including CD206 and Arg1.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that neutrophils participated in early bone formation during MPE. Based on these findings, we propose that stretched VECs recruited and polarized neutrophils, which, in turn, induced BMSC osteogenic differentiation.

Identification of key genes and pathways involved in T-DM1-resistance in OE-19 esophageal cancer cells through bioinformatics analysis

Introduction

Esophageal Cancer (EC) ranks among the most common malignancies worldwide. Most EC patients acquire drug resistance to chemotherapy either intrinsically or acquired after T-DM1 treatment, which shows that increasing or decreasing the expression of particular genes might influence chemotherapeutic sensitivity or resistance. Therefore, gaining a deeper understanding of the altered expression of genes involved in EC drug resistance and developing new therapeutic methods are essential targets for continued advancement in EC therapy.

Methods

The present study aimed to find critical regulatory genes/pathways in the progression of T-DM1 resistance in OE-19 EC cells. Expression datasets were extracted from GEO omnibus. Gene interactions were analyzed, and the protein-protein interaction network was drawn. Then, enrichment analysis of the hub genes and network cluster analysis of the hub genes was performed. Finally, the genes were screened in the DrugBank database as therapeutic targets and molecular docking analysis was done on the selected targets.

Results

In the current study, nine hub genes were identified in TDM-1-resistant EC cells (CTGF, CDH17, THBS1, CXCL8, NRP1, ITGB5, EDN1, FAT1, and PTGS2). The KEGG analysis highlighted the IL-17 signaling pathway and ECM-receptor interaction pathway as the most critical pathways; cluster analysis also showed the significance of these pathways. Therefore, the genes involved in these two pathways, including CXCL8, FSCN1, PTGS2, SERPINE2, LEF1, THBS1, CCN2, TAGLN, CDH11, and ITGA6, were searched in DrugBank as therapeutic targets. The DrugBank analysis suggests a potential role for Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in reducing T-DM1 drug resistance in EC. The docking results revealed that NSAIDs, including Diclofenac, Mefenamic acid, Celecoxib, Naproxen, and Etoricoxib, significantly suppress resistant cancer cells.

Conclusion

This comprehensive bioinformatics analysis deeply explains the molecular mechanisms governing TDM-1 resistance in EC. The identified hub genes and their associated pathways offer potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Moreover, the possible role of NSAIDs in mitigating T-DM1 resistance presents an intriguing avenue for further investigation. This research contributes significantly to the field and establishes a basis for further research to enhance treatment efficacy for EC patients.

Tumorspheres as In Vitro Model for Identifying Predictive Chemoresistance and Tumor Aggressiveness Biomarkers in Breast and Colorectal Cancer

Chemoresistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of breast and colorectal cancer. For this reason, finding reliable predictive biomarkers of response to chemotherapy has become a significant research focus in recent years. However, validating in vitro results may be problematic due to the outcome heterogeneity. In this study, we evaluate the use of tumorspheres as an in vitro model for validating biomarkers of chemoresistance in breast and colorectal cancer. Our investigation highlights the crucial role of inflammation-related pathways in modulating the response to chemotherapy. Using in silico approaches, we identified specific markers elevated in responders versus non-responders patients. These markers were consistently higher in three-dimensional (3D) tumorsphere models compared to traditional adherent cell culture models. Furthermore, the number of tumorspheres from breast and colorectal cancer cells increased in response to cisplatin and oxaliplatin treatment, respectively, whereas cell viability decreased in adherent cell culture. This differential response underscores the importance of the 3D tumorsphere model in mimicking the tumor microenvironment more accurately than adherent cell culture. The enhanced chemoresistance observed in the 3D tumorspheres model and their correlation of data with the in silico study suggest that 3D culture models are a better option to approach the in vivo model and also to validate in silico data. Our findings indicate that tumorspheres are an ideal model for validating chemoresistance biomarkers and exploring the interplay between inflammation and chemoresistance in breast and colon cancer.

IL-8 and PI3K pathway influence the susceptibility of TRAIL-sensitive colorectal cancer cells to TRAIL-induced cell death

BACKGROUND

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is an apoptosis inducer that exhibits an ideal therapeutic safety profile with less adverse effects than conventional chemotherapy. However, the occurrence of TRAIL resistance has been reported in various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). Substantial efforts have been channelled towards managing TRAIL resistance including identifying molecular targets. Interleukins (ILs) have been recently shown to play critical roles in modulating TRAIL sensitivity in cancer cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study investigated the roles of two ILs, IL-8 and IL⍺, in TRAIL resistance in CRC. TRAIL-resistant HT-29 and TRAIL-sensitive HCT 116 cells, were treated with human recombinant IL-8 and IL-1⍺. The results indicated that treatment with IL-8 (2.5 ng/mL) significantly protected TRAIL-sensitive HCT 116 cells from TRAIL-induced cell death (p < 0.05). However, IL-1⍺ did not play a role in modulating CRC cells' responses to TRAIL. Data from RT-qPCR and Western blotting revealed the molecular regulations of IL-8 on TRAIL decoy receptor genes (OPG) and autophagy-related genes (BECN1 and LC3B) expression. The activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway was shown to counteract TRAIL-induced cell death. By inhibiting its activation with wortmannin, the protective role of IL-8 against TRAIL treatment was reversed, suggesting the involvement of the PI3K pathway.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, findings from this study identified the role of IL-8 and PI3K in modulating CRC cells' sensitivity to TRAIL. Further validation of these two potential molecular targets is warranted to overcome TRAIL resistance in CRC.

Targeting IL-8 and Its Receptors in Prostate Cancer: Inflammation, Stress Response, and Treatment Resistance

This review delves into the intricate roles of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and its receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2, in prostate cancer (PCa), particularly in castration-resistant (CRPC) and metastatic CRPC (mCRPC). This review emphasizes the crucial role of the tumour microenvironment (TME) and inflammatory cytokines in promoting tumour progression and response to tumour cell targeting agents. IL-8, acting through C-X-C chemokine receptor type 1 (CXCR1) and type 2 (CXCR2), modulates multiple signalling pathways, enhancing the angiogenesis, proliferation, and migration of cancer cells. This review highlights the shift in PCa research focus from solely tumour cells to the non-cancer-cell components, including vascular endothelial cells, the extracellular matrix, immune cells, and the dynamic interactions within the TME. The immunosuppressive nature of the PCa TME significantly influences tumour progression and resistance to emerging therapies. Current treatment modalities, including androgen deprivation therapy and chemotherapeutics, encounter persistent resistance and are complicated by prostate cancer's notably "immune-cold" nature, which limits immune system response to the tumour. These challenges underscore the critical need for novel approaches that both overcome resistance and enhance immune engagement within the TME. The therapeutic potential of inhibiting IL-8 signalling is explored, with studies showing enhanced sensitivity of PCa cells to treatments, including radiation and androgen receptor inhibitors. Clinical trials, such as the ACE trial, demonstrate the efficacy of combining CXCR2 inhibitors with existing treatments, offering significant benefits, especially for patients with resistant PCa. This review also addresses the challenges in targeting cytokines and chemokines, noting the complexity of the TME and the need for precision in therapeutic targeting to avoid side effects and optimize outcomes.

Peripheral immune biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibition of solid tumours

BACKGROUND

With the rapid adoption of immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer comes the pressing need for readily accessible biomarkers to guide immunotherapeutic strategies and offer insights into outcomes with specific treatments. Regular sampling of solid tumour tissues outside of melanoma for immune monitoring is not often feasible; conversely, routine, frequent interrogation of circulating immune biomarkers is entirely possible. As immunotherapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors, in particular, are more widely used in first-line, neoadjuvant, and metastatic settings, the discovery and validation of peripheral immune biomarkers are urgently needed across solid tumour types for improved prediction and prognostication of clinical outcomes in response to immunotherapy, as well as elucidation of mechanistic underpinnings of the intervention. Careful experimental design, encompassing both retrospective and prospective studies, is required in such biomarker identification studies, and concerted efforts are essential for their advancement into clinical settings.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we summarize shared immune features between the tumour microenvironment and systemic circulation, evaluate exploratory peripheral immune biomarker studies, and discuss associations between candidate biomarkers with clinical outcomes. We also consider integration of multiple peripheral immune parameters for better prediction and prognostication and discuss considerations in study design to further evaluate the clinical utility of candidate peripheral immune biomarkers for immunotherapy of solid tumours.

HIGHLIGHTS

Peripheral immune biomarkers are critical for improved prediction and prognostication of clinical outcomes for patients with solid tumours treated with immune checkpoint inhibition. Candidate peripheral biomarkers, such as cytokines, soluble factors, and immune cells, have potential as biomarkers to guide immunotherapy of solid tumours. Multiple peripheral immune parameters may be integrated to improve prediction and prognostication. The potential of peripheral immune biomarkers to guide immunotherapy of solid tumours requires critical work in biomarker discovery, validation, and standardization.

IFNγ-Induced Bcl3, PD-L1 and IL-8 Signaling in Ovarian Cancer: Mechanisms and Clinical Significance

IFNγ, a pleiotropic cytokine produced not only by activated lymphocytes but also in response to cancer immunotherapies, has both antitumor and tumor-promoting functions. In ovarian cancer (OC) cells, the tumor-promoting functions of IFNγ are mediated by IFNγ-induced expression of Bcl3, PD-L1 and IL-8/CXCL8, which have long been known to have critical cellular functions as a proto-oncogene, an immune checkpoint ligand and a chemoattractant, respectively. However, overwhelming evidence has demonstrated that these three genes have tumor-promoting roles far beyond their originally identified functions. These tumor-promoting mechanisms include increased cancer cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, resistance to chemotherapy and immune escape. Recent studies have shown that IFNγ-induced Bcl3, PD-L1 and IL-8 expression is regulated by the same JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway: IFNγ induces the expression of Bcl3, which then promotes the expression of PD-L1 and IL-8 in OC cells, resulting in their increased proliferation and migration. In this review, we summarize the recent findings on how IFNγ affects the tumor microenvironment and promotes tumor progression, with a special focus on ovarian cancer and on Bcl3, PD-L1 and IL-8/CXCL8 signaling. We also discuss promising novel combinatorial strategies in clinical trials targeting Bcl3, PD-L1 and IL-8 to increase the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies.

Immune-inflammatory modulation by natural products derived from edible and medicinal herbs used in Chinese classical prescriptions

BACKGROUND

Edible and medicinal herbs1 (EMHs) refer to a class of substances with dual attribution of food and medicine. These substances are traditionally used as food and also listed in many international pharmacopoeias, including the European Pharmacopoeia, the United States Pharmacopoeia, and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Some classical formulas that are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine include a series of EMHs, which have been shown to be effective with obvious characteristics and advantages. Notably, these EMHs and Chinese classical prescriptions2 (CCPs) have also attracted attention in international herbal medicine research because of their low toxicity and high efficiency as well as the rich body of experience for their long-term clinical use.

PURPOSE

Our purpose is to explore the potential therapeutic effect of EMHs with immune-inflammatory modulation for the study of modern cancer drugs.

STUDY DESIGN

In the present study, we present a detailed account of some EMHs used in CCPs that have shown considerable research potential in studies exploring modern drugs with immune-inflammatory modulation.

METHODS

Approximately 500 publications in the past 30 years were collected from PubMed, Web of Science and ScienceDirect using the keywords, such as natural products, edible and medicinal herbs, Chinese medicine, classical prescription, immune-inflammatory, tumor microenvironment and some related synonyms. The active ingredients instead of herbal extracts or botanical mixtures were focused on and the research conducted over the past decade were discussed emphatically and analyzed comprehensively.

RESULTS

More than ten natural products derived from EMHs used in CCPs are discussed and their immune-inflammatory modulation activities, including enhancing antitumor immunity, regulating inflammatory signaling pathways, lowering the proportion of immunosuppressive cells, inhibiting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, immunosuppressive factors, and inflammatory mediators, are summarized.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate the immune-inflammatory modulating role of those EMHs used in CCPs and provide new ideas for cancer treatment in clinical settings.

Phase I study of the safety and clinical activity of the interleukin-8 inhibitor AMY109 combined with atezolizumab in patients with advanced solid cancers

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppressive conditions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) can allow tumors to evade the immune system, including by hampering programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor activity. Interleukin (IL)-8 contributes to immunosuppression and fibrosis in the TME. AMY109, a humanized anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody, reduced fibrosis and decreased immunosuppressive cells in tumor tissue in animals. Combining AMY109 with atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1 antibody) may enhance its antitumor effects by making the TME more favorable to PD-L1 inhibition.

METHODS

This multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and clinical activity of AMY109 plus atezolizumab in patients with previously treated advanced solid tumors and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1. Patients received AMY109 (2-45 mg/kg) plus atezolizumab (1200 mg) intravenously every 3 weeks in part 1, and AMY109 (15-45 mg/kg) plus atezolizumab (1200 mg) in part 2. Primary endpoints were the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), safety, and pharmacokinetics of AMY109 and atezolizumab in Part 1, and safety and antitumor activity per investigator-assessed Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 in part 2. Exploratory analyses of peripheral and tumor biomarker were conducted.

RESULTS

Overall, 38 patients (18 in part 1 and 20 in part 2) were enrolled. Part 1 showed no DLTs and a dose-proportional increase in AMY109 exposure over 2-45 mg/kg, with no apparent change in mean atezolizumab serum concentrations across AMY109 dosing. Plasma IL-8 concentration accumulation was seen in all dose cohorts after AMY109 initiation. Grade 1-3 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in 21 of 38 patients (55%). Treatment-related serious AEs occurred in two patients (5%). No AEs led to treatment withdrawal. Partial responses (PRs) occurred in 2 of 38 patients; the confirmed objective response rate was 5%. These patients had uterocervical and pancreatic cancer, respectively, and had been treated for >500 days at the cut-off date: one had received 45 mg/kg of AMY109 throughout, and the other received 30 mg/kg of AMY109 until cycle 5, then 45 mg/kg thereafter.

CONCLUSIONS

With no DLTs, AMY109 plus atezolizumab was well tolerated in patients with advanced solid tumors, with no new safety signals. AMY109 showed a dose-proportional increase in exposure. The PRs in two patients were durable.

S100A10 promotes cancer metastasis via recruitment of MDSCs within the lungs

Tumor-derived exosomes bind to organ resident cells, activating S100 molecules during the remodeling of the local immune microenvironment. However, little is known regarding how organ resident cell S100A10 mediates cancer metastatic progression. Here, we provided evidence that S100A10 plays an important role in regulating the lung immune microenvironment and cancer metastasis. S100A10-deficient mice reduced cancer metastasis in the lung. Furthermore, the activation of S100A10 within lung fibroblasts via tumor-derived exosomes increased the expression of CXCL1 and CXCL8 chemokines, accompanied by the myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) recruitment. S100A10 inhibitors such as 1-Substituted-4-Aroyl-3-hydroxy-5-Phenyl-1 H-5-pyrrol-2(5 H)-ones inhibit lung metastasis in vivo. Our findings highlight the crucial role of S100A10 in driving MDSC recruitment in order to remodel the lung immune microenvironment and provide potential therapeutic targets to block cancer metastasis to the lung.

Directing B7-H3 chimeric antigen receptor T cell homing through IL-8 induces potent antitumor activity against pediatric sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Advances in pediatric oncology have occurred for some cancers; however, new therapies for sarcoma have been inadequate. Cellular immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has shown dramatic benefits in leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma but has been far less successful in pediatric solid tumors such as rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and osteosarcoma (OS). Balancing issues of "on-target, off-tumor toxicity", investigators have identified B7-H3 as a broadly expressed tumor antigen with otherwise restricted expression on normal tissues. We hypothesized that rapid homing via a chemokine receptor and CAR engagement through B7-H3 would enhance CAR T cell efficacy in solid tumors.

METHODS

We generated B7-H3 CAR T cells that also express the Interleukin-8 (IL-8) receptor, CXCR2. Cytokine production, flow cytometry, Seahorse assays and RNA sequencing were used to compare the B7-H3 CXCR2 (BC2) CAR T cells with B7-H3 CAR T cells. We developed an IL-8 overexpressing human RMS mouse model to test homing and cytotoxicity in vivo.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that IL-8 is expressed by RMS and OS and expression significantly increases after radiation. Overexpression of an IL-8 receptor, CXCR2, on B7-H3 CAR T cells enhances homing into IL-8 expressing tumors, augments T cell metabolism and leads to significant tumor regression.

CONCLUSION

These findings warrant further investigation into the use of BC2 CAR T cells as a treatment for patients with RMS, OS and other B7-H3-expressing, IL-8 producing solid tumors.

The direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccination on human ovarian granulosa cells explains menstrual irregularities

Following administration of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, many women worldwide reported short-term menstrual irregularities. Although menstrual bleeding, "the fifth vital sign", is experienced by more than 300 million people on any given day worldwide, these changes were only partially studied. Irregular periods are important well beyond fertility and the discomfort they impose; they are associated with the risk of cardiovascular morbidity, chronic diseases, and premature mortality. Pre-clinical examination of the vaccine polymeric envelope indicates its accumulation in the ovaries. The somatic endocrine cells of the ovarian follicle - the granulosa cells (GCs)-participate in the strict hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) feedback loop that governs the menstrual cycle via endocrine and paracrine regulators, as AMH and Inhibins. We aimed to unravel the direct effect of the COVID-19 vaccine on GCs and link their post-vaccine activity to changes in menstrual patterns. Human primary GCs exposed in-vitro to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2, demonstrated no change in their viability but altered mRNA transcripts, specifically of the regulatory key factors: InhibinB was upregulated, whereas AMH was downregulated. We further examined pre- and post-vaccination blood samples from individual women and found a 2-3 folds change in the post-vaccination FSH/InhibinB protein level ratio, compared to their pre-vaccination values. This altered expression of InhibinB could significantly impact the HPO axis in vaccinated women and may ultimately influence the endometrium cyclicity, manifested clinically by the commonly reported changes in menstrual bleeding patterns.

Selective anti-CXCR2 receptor blockade by AZD5069 inhibits CXCL8-mediated pro-tumorigenic activity in human thyroid cancer cells in vitro

BACKGROUND

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Current therapies are successful, however some patients progress to therapeutically refractive disease. The immunotherapeutic potential of the CXCL8-chemokine/CXCR2-chemokine-receptor system is currently being explored in numerous human cancers. This study aimed to evaluate if the targeting of CXCR2 by its selective antagonist, AZD5069, could modulate CXCL8-mediated pro-tumorigenic effects in thyroid-cancer (TC) cells in vitro.

METHODS

Normal human primary thyroid cells (NHT) and TC cell lines TPC-1 (RET/PTC), BCPAP, 8505C and 8305C (BRAFV600e) were treated with AZD5069 (100 pM-10 µM) over a time-course. Viability and proliferation were assessed by WST-1 and crystal violet assays. CXCL8 and CXCR2 mRNA were evaluated by RT-PCR. CXCL8-protein concentrations were measured in cell culture supernatants by ELISA. CXCR2 on cell surface was evaluated by flow-cytometry. Cell-migration was assessed by trans-well-migration chamber-system.

RESULTS

AZD5069 exerted negligible effects on cell proliferation or viability. AZD5069 significantly reduced CXCR2, (but not CXCL8) mRNAs in all cell types. CXCR2 was reduced on the membrane of some TC cell lines. A significant reduction of the CXCL8 secretion was found in TPC-1 cells (basal-secretion) and NHT (TNFα-induced secretion). AZD5069 significantly reduced basal and CXCL8-induced migration in NHT and different TC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings confirm the involvement of the CXCL8/CXCR2-axis in promoting pro-tumorigenic effects in TC cells, further demonstrating its immunotherapeutic significance in human cancer.

A Potent Solution for Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis Suppression via an ELR+CXCL-CXCR1/2 Pathway Inhibitor

CXCR1/2 biomolecules play vital roles in cancer cell proliferation, tumor inflammation, and angiogenesis, making them attractive drug targets. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), where CXCR1/2 is overexpressed, inhibition studies are limited. Building upon previous research efforts, we investigated new N,N'-diarylurea analogues as ELR+CXCL-CXCR1/2 inhibitors. Evaluations on RCC and HNSCC cell lines and 3D spheroid cultures identified compound 10 as a lead molecule, exhibiting significant inhibition of invasion, migration, and neo-angiogenesis. It demonstrated strong interference with the signaling pathway, with high selectivity toward kinases. In vivo studies on zebrafish embryos and RCC xenografted mice showed notable anticancer, antimetastatic, and antiangiogenic effects after oral administration and minimal toxicity. Compound 10 emerges as a promising candidate for further preclinical development as an oral anticancer and antiangiogenic drug targeting the ELR+CXCL-CXCR1/2 pathway.

Changes in Serum Interleukin-8 Levels Predict Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Immunotherapy in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Background

Effective biomarkers are needed to predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the early changes in serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels as a biomarker of response to ICIs in patients with unresectable HCC.

Methods

Eighty patients who received ICIs therapy alone or in combination with other treatments for unresectable HCC were included. Serum was collected at baseline and 2-4 weeks after the first dose. Serum IL-8 levels were measured using by ELISA.

Results

In the progressive disease (PD) group, serum IL-8 levels increased significantly before the second dose of ICIs therapy compared with baseline levels (P < 0.001). Early changes in serum IL-8 levels were significantly associated with the response to ICIs therapy (P < 0.001). A cutoff value of 8.1% increase over the baseline most effectively predicted the response to ICIs. Increases in serum IL-8 levels > 8.1% indicated the uselessness of ICIs immunotherapy in patients with unresectable HCC. Patients with increases in serum IL-8 levels > 8.1% had significantly shorter overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) than those with increases in serum IL-8 levels ≤ 8.1% (P < 0.001). Increases in serum IL-8 levels > 8.1% were independent prognosticators of worse OS (P = 0.003) and PFS (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Early changes in serum IL-8 levels, measured only 2-4 weeks after starting therapy, could predict the response to ICIs therapy, as well as OS and PFS of patients with unresectable HCC. Increases in serum IL-8 levels > 8.1% indicated the uselessness of ICIs immunotherapy and predicted worse OS and PFS.

Understanding the immunosuppressive microenvironment of glioma: mechanistic insights and clinical perspectives

Glioblastoma (GBM), the predominant and primary malignant intracranial tumor, poses a formidable challenge due to its immunosuppressive microenvironment, thereby confounding conventional therapeutic interventions. Despite the established treatment regimen comprising surgical intervention, radiotherapy, temozolomide administration, and the exploration of emerging modalities such as immunotherapy and integration of medicine and engineering technology therapy, the efficacy of these approaches remains constrained, resulting in suboptimal prognostic outcomes. In recent years, intensive scrutiny of the inhibitory and immunosuppressive milieu within GBM has underscored the significance of cellular constituents of the GBM microenvironment and their interactions with malignant cells and neurons. Novel immune and targeted therapy strategies have emerged, offering promising avenues for advancing GBM treatment. One pivotal mechanism orchestrating immunosuppression in GBM involves the aggregation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), glioma-associated macrophage/microglia (GAM), and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Among these, MDSCs, though constituting a minority (4-8%) of CD45+ cells in GBM, play a central component in fostering immune evasion and propelling tumor progression, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. MDSCs deploy intricate immunosuppressive mechanisms that adapt to the dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding the interplay between GBM and MDSCs provides a compelling basis for therapeutic interventions. This review seeks to elucidate the immune regulatory mechanisms inherent in the GBM microenvironment, explore existing therapeutic targets, and consolidate recent insights into MDSC induction and their contribution to GBM immunosuppression. Additionally, the review comprehensively surveys ongoing clinical trials and potential treatment strategies, envisioning a future where targeting MDSCs could reshape the immune landscape of GBM. Through the synergistic integration of immunotherapy with other therapeutic modalities, this approach can establish a multidisciplinary, multi-target paradigm, ultimately improving the prognosis and quality of life in patients with GBM.

IL-8 (CXCL8) Correlations with Psychoneuroimmunological Processes and Neuropsychiatric Conditions

Interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL8), an essential CXC chemokine, significantly influences psychoneuroimmunological processes and affects neurological and psychiatric health. It exerts a profound effect on immune cell activation and brain function, suggesting potential roles in both neuroprotection and neuroinflammation. IL-8 production is stimulated by several factors, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) known to promote inflammation and disease progression. Additionally, CXCL8 gene polymorphisms can alter IL-8 production, leading to potential differences in disease susceptibility, progression, and severity across populations. IL-8 levels vary among neuropsychiatric conditions, demonstrating sensitivity to psychosocial stressors and disease severity. IL-8 can be detected in blood circulation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine, making it a promising candidate for a broad-spectrum biomarker. This review highlights the need for further research on the diverse effects of IL-8 and the associated implications for personalized medicine. A thorough understanding of its complex role could lead to the development of more effective and personalized treatment strategies for neuropsychiatric conditions.

Circulating IL-6 is associated with disease progression in BRAFwt metastatic melanoma patients receiving anti-PD-1 therapy

AIMS

Despite efficacy of anti-PD-1 blockade in treatment of metastatic melanoma (MM), many patients achieve rapid disease progression (DP). Therefore, the aim of this study is to better define biomarkers for DP by analysing levels of circulating cytokines TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in MM patients prior to anti-PD-1 therapy.

METHODS

Cytokine levels were evaluated before therapy with pembrolizumab in peripheral blood of BRAF wild-type (wt) MM patients by ELISA method.

RESULTS

In this study, we give pretherapy levels for circulating TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in BRAFwt MM patients and analyse them according to metastasis stage (M1a+M1 b, M1c, M1d groups), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level and occurrence of DP. Increased IL-6 level was found in M1d group (central nervous system metastasis), while LDH+patients (LDH ≥460 IU/L) have increased IL-6 and IL-8 values that correlate with LDH level. Also, IL-6 correlates with C reactive protein values. Furthermore, patients with DP have significantly higher IL-6 level compared with non-DP patients. Conversely, the other analysed cytokines are similar in investigated groups of MM patients. By receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, pretherapy IL-6 level was found to be a biomarker for the occurrence of DP with cut-off value of 3.02 pg/mL. Patients in M1d stage are prevalent in the group with IL-6 ≥3.02 pg/mL that is characterised with reduced progression-free survival and higher pretherapy IL-8 and LDH.

CONCLUSION

The evidence in this study implies that baseline IL-6 could be a biomarker of DP and poor prognosis in BRAFwt MM patients treated with pembrolizumab.

A let-7 microRNA-RALB axis links the immune properties of iPSC-derived megakaryocytes with platelet producibility

We recently achieved the first-in-human transfusion of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived platelets (iPSC-PLTs) as an alternative to standard transfusions, which are dependent on donors and therefore variable in supply. However, heterogeneity characterized by thrombopoiesis-biased or immune-biased megakaryocytes (MKs) continues to pose a bottleneck against the standardization of iPSC-PLT manufacturing. To address this problem, here we employ microRNA (miRNA) switch biotechnology to distinguish subpopulations of imMKCLs, the MK cell lines producing iPSC-PLTs. Upon miRNA switch-based screening, we find imMKCLs with lower let-7 activity exhibit an immune-skewed transcriptional signature. Notably, the low activity of let-7a-5p results in the upregulation of RAS like proto-oncogene B (RALB) expression, which is crucial for the lineage determination of immune-biased imMKCL subpopulations and leads to the activation of interferon-dependent signaling. The dysregulation of immune properties/subpopulations, along with the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, contributes to a decline in the quality of the whole imMKCL population.

Effectiveness of Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with a Diagnosis of COPD: Is This a Hidden Prognosticator for Survival and a Risk Factor for Immune-Related Adverse Events?

The interplay between the immune system and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is complex and multifaceted. In COPD, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress can lead to immune dysfunction that can exacerbate lung damage, further worsening the respiratory symptoms. In NSCLC, immune cells can recognise and attack the cancer cells, which, however, can evade or suppress the immune response by various mechanisms, such as expressing immune checkpoint proteins or secreting immunosuppressive cytokines, thus creating an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment that promotes cancer progression and metastasis. The interaction between COPD and NSCLC further complicates the immune response. In patients with both diseases, COPD can impair the immune response against cancer cells by reducing or suppressing the activity of immune cells, or altering their cytokine profile. Moreover, anti-cancer treatments can also affect the immune system and worsen COPD symptoms by causing lung inflammation and fibrosis. Immunotherapy itself can also cause immune-related adverse events that could worsen the respiratory symptoms in patients with COPD-compromised lungs. In the present review, we tried to understand the interplay between the two pathologies and how the efficacy of immunotherapy in NSCLC patients with COPD is affected in these patients.

[Metformin suppresses hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts to block tumor-stromal cross-talk in breast cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mechanism of metformin for regulating tumor-stromal cell cross-talk in breast cancer.

METHODS

Tumor associated fibroblasts (CAFs) co-cultured with breast cancer cells were treated with metformin, and the changes in expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), p-AMPK, stroma-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the CAFs were detected using ELISA, RT-qPCR or Western blotting; Transwell assay was used to evaluate the invasiveness of the tumor cells and its changes following treatment with exogenous SDF-1, IL-8 and TGF-β1. The effects of HIF-1α shRNA or overexpression plasmid, AMPK shRNA, and treatment with OG (a proline hydroxylase inhibitor) or 2-OXO (a proline hydroxylase activator) were examined on p-AMPK, HIF-1α, SDF-1 and IL-8 expressions and invasiveness of the CAFs.

RESULTS

Metformin treatment significantly increased the expression levels of p-AMPK, SDF-1 and IL-8 (P<0.05) and decreased HIF-1α expression (P<0.05) without affecting AMPK expression level (P>0.05) in the CAFs. The invasion ability of metformintreated breast cancer cells was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Exogenous SDF-1 and IL-8, HIF-1α overexpression, and OGinduced upregulation of HIF-1α all significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of metformin on breast cancer cell invasion (P<0.05) and HIF-1α, SDF-1 and IL-8 expressions in CAFs (P<0.05). Transfection with HIF-1α shRNA or treatment with 2-OXO significantly decreased the invasiveness of breast cancer cells (P<0.05). P-AMPK knockdown significantly suppressed the inhibitory effect of metformin on HIF-1α expression in CAFs and on invasion of breast cancer cells (P<0.05). Treatment with TGF-β1 partially decreased the inhibitory effect of metformin on HIF-1α expression in CAFs and invasiveness of the breast cancer cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Metformin suppresses HIF-1α expression in CAFs to block tumor-stromal cross talk in breast cancer.

The Neutrophil Dynamic Mass Redistribution Assay as a Medium throughput Primary Cell Screening Assay

In a typical G protein coupled receptor drug discovery campaign, an in vitro primary functional screening assay is often established in a recombinant system overexpressing the target of interest, which offers advantages with respect to overall throughput and robustness of compound testing. Subsequently, compounds are then progressed into more physiologically relevant but lower throughput ex vivo primary cell assays and finally in vivo studies. Here we describe a dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assay that has been developed in a format suitable to support medium throughput drug screening in primary human neutrophils. Neutrophils are known to express both CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR) 1 and CXCR2 that are thought to play significant roles in various inflammatory disorders and cancer. Using multiple relevant chemokine ligands and a range of selective and nonselective small and large molecule antagonists that block CXCR1 and CXCR2 responses, we demonstrate distinct pharmacological profiles in neutrophil DMR from those observed in recombinant assays but predictive of activity in neutrophil chemotaxis and CD11b upregulation, a validated target engagement marker previously used in clinical studies of CXCR2 antagonists. The primary human neutrophil DMR cell system is highly reproducible, robust, and less prone to donor variability observed in CD11b and chemotaxis assays and thus provides a unique, more physiologically relevant, and higher throughput assay to support drug discovery and translation to early clinical trials. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Neutrophil dynamic mass redistribution assays provide a higher throughput screening assay to profile compounds in primary cells earlier in the screening cascade enabling a higher level of confidence in progressing the development of compounds toward the clinic. This is particularly important for chemokine receptors where redundancy contributes to a lack of correlation between recombinant screening assays and primary cells, with the coexpression of related receptors confounding results.

Single-Cell CD4 and CD8 T-Cell Secretome Profiling Reveals Temporal and Niche Differences in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Following Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous malignancy of the blood primarily treated with intensive chemotherapy. The allogeneic T-cell antileukemic activity via donor lymphocyte infusions and stem cell transplantation suggests a potential role for checkpoint blockade therapy in AML. While clinical trials employing these treatments have fallen short of expected results, a deeper exploration into the functional states of T cells in AML could bridge this knowledge gap. In this study, we analyzed the polyfunctional activity of T cells in a cohort of patients with relapsed/refractory (RelRef) AML treated on the clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02397720) of combination therapy using azacitidine and nivolumab (Aza/Nivo). We utilized the single-cell polyfunctional multiplexed immune assay IsoPlexis to evaluate the CD4 and CD8 T cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples collected before and after immunotherapy. This revealed at a pseudobulk level that the CD4 T cells exhibited higher functional activity post-immunotherapy (post-IO), suggesting that CD4-directed therapies may play a role in RelRef AML. Additional single-cell analysis revealed significant differences in baseline polyfunctionality in bone marrows of responders as compared with nonresponders for both CD4 and CD8 T cells. Overall, this study highlights the impact of polyfunctional assessment in understanding CD4 and CD8 dynamics in contexts of therapy in AML.

SIGNIFICANCE

We found T-cell polyfunctionality differs between local and systemic microenvironments. Enhanced variability in proteomic profiles of bone marrow CD4 T cells post-IO suggests their pivotal role in AML treatment response. Single-cell analysis identified novel CD4 and CD8 T-cell functional groups linked to immunotherapy response within the bone marrow.

The NDV-MLS as an Immunotherapeutic Strategy for Breast Cancer: Proof of Concept in Female Companion Dogs with Spontaneous Mammary Cancer

The absence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes negatively impacts the response to chemotherapy and prognosis in all subtypes of breast cancer. Therapies that stimulate a proinflammatory environment may help improve the response to standard treatments and also to immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) shows oncolytic activity, as well as immune modulating potential, in the treatment of breast cancer in vitro and in vivo; however, its potential to enhance tumor-infiltrating immune cells in breast cancer has yet to be evaluated. Since spontaneous canine mammary tumors represent a translational model of human breast cancer, we conducted this proof-of-concept study, which could provide a rationale for further investigating NDV-MLS as immunotherapy for mammary cancer. Six female companion dogs with spontaneous mammary cancer received a single intravenous and intratumoral injection of oncolytic NDV-MLS. Immune cell infiltrates were evaluated by histology and immunohistochemistry in the stromal, intratumoral, and peritumoral compartments on day 6 after viral administration. Increasing numbers of immune cells were documented post-viral treatment, mainly in the peritumoral compartment, where plasma cells and CD3+ and CD3-/CD79- lymphocytes predominated. Viral administration was well tolerated, with no significant adverse events. These findings support additional research on the use of NDV-MLS immunotherapy for mammary cancer.

Mapping the core senescence phenotype of primary human colon fibroblasts

Advanced age is the largest risk factor for many diseases and several types of cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Senescent cells are known to accumulate with age in various tissues, where they can modulate the surrounding tissue microenvironment through their senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Recently, we showed that there is an increased number of senescent cells in the colons of CRC patients and demonstrated that senescent fibroblasts and their SASP create microniches in the colon that are conducive to CRC onset and progression. However, the composition of the SASP is heterogenous and cell-specific, and the precise senescence profile of colon fibroblasts has not been well-defined. To generate a SASP atlas of human colon fibroblasts, we induced senescence in primary human colon fibroblasts using various in vitro methods and assessed the resulting transcriptome. Using RNASequencing and further validation by quantitative RT-PCR and Luminex assays, we define and validate a 'core senescent profile' that might play a significant role in shaping the colon microenvironment. We also performed KEGG analysis and GO analyses to identify key pathways and biological processes that are differentially regulated in colon fibroblast senescence. These studies provide insights into potential driver proteins involved in senescence-associated diseases, like CRC, which may lead to therapies to improve overall health in the elderly and to prevent CRC.

Development and Validation of a Pathomics Model Using Machine Learning to Predict CXCL8 Expression and Prognosis in Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVES

The necessity to develop a method for prognostication and to identify novel biomarkers for personalized medicine in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cannot be overstated. Recently, pathomics, which relies on quantitative analysis of medical imaging, has come to the forefront. CXCL8, an essential inflammatory cytokine, has been shown to correlate with overall survival (OS). This study examined the relationship between CXCL8 mRNA expression and pathomics features and aimed to explore the biological underpinnings of CXCL8.

METHODS

Clinical information and transcripts per million mRNA sequencing data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-HNSCC dataset. We identified correlations between CXCL8 mRNA expression and patient survival rates using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve. A retrospective analysis of 313 samples diagnosed with HNSCC in the TCGA database was conducted. Pathomics features were extracted from hematoxylin and eosin-stained images, and then the minimum redundancy maximum relevance, with recursive feature elimination (mRMR-RFE) method was applied, followed by screening with the logistic regression algorithm.

RESULTS

Kaplan-Meier curves indicated that high expression of CXCL8 was significantly associated with decreased OS. The logistic regression pathomics model incorporated 16 radiomics features identified by the mRMR-RFE method in the training set and demonstrated strong performance in the testing set. Calibration plots showed that the probability of high gene expression predicted by the pathomics model was in good agreement with actual observations, suggesting the model's high clinical applicability.

CONCLUSION

The pathomics model of CXCL8 mRNA expression serves as an effective tool for predicting prognosis in patients with HNSCC and can aid in clinical decision-making. Elevated levels of CXCL8 expression may lead to reduced DNA damage and are associated with a pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironment, offering a potential therapeutic target.

Transcriptome profiling reveals transcriptional regulation of Protegrin-1 on immune defense and development in porcine granulosa cells

Protegrin-1 (PG1) is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) that has garnered increasing attention due to its potent immune defense activity. Our previous studies demonstrated the ability of PG1 to enhance proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of porcine granulosa cells (GCs) under oxidative stress. GCs play a crucial role in ovary follicular development. However, the specific function and underlying mechanisms of AMP in follicular development still need further elucidation. The present study aimed to comprehensively explore the biological effects of PG1 on porcine GCs using transcriptome profiling by RNA sequencing technology. Isolated GCs were incubated with or without PG1 for 24 h and transcriptome-wide analysis was exerted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The results of expression analysis revealed 1,235 DEGs, including 242 up-regulated genes and 993 down-regulated genes (|log2 (FoldChange)| > 1; adjusted P-value < 0.05). The expression levels of 7 selected DEGs were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis, which was consistent with the RNA-sequencing data. Among the significant DEGs, several genes associated with GC function and ovarian follicle development were identified, such as estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2), growth and differentiation factor 6 (GDF6), cell division cycle 20 homolog (CDC20), Notch3, ephrin and Eph receptor system, Egl nine homolog 3 (EGLN3), and BCL2 like 14 (BCL2L14). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the top three significant GO terms were inflammatory response, defense response, and granulocyte migration. Additionally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis presented that DEGs were mainly enriched in the immune system, infectious disease, signaling molecules and interaction, and immune disease. Furthermore, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) predicted that the top activated pathway was Liver X Receptor (LXR)/ Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) Activation which is known to be associated with female reproduction. Predicted protein-protein interactions (PPIs) analysis identified complement C3 (C3) as the top node with the highest degree of network connection and revealed that DEGs in the sub-networks were involved in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway, and metabolic process. In conclusion, this study expanded the understanding of the effects of PG1 on porcine GCs at the transcriptomic level and provided a theoretical basis for further investigation into the role of PG1 in immune defense and mammalian ovarian follicular development.

STK11 loss leads to YAP1-mediated transcriptional activation in human KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma cell lines

Serine Threonine Kinase 11 (STK11) loss of function (LoF) correlates with anti-PD-1 therapy resistance in patients with KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The molecular mechanisms governing this observation remain unclear and represent a critical outstanding question in the field of lung oncology. As an initial approach to understand this phenomenon, we knocked-out (KO) STK11 in multiple KRAS-driven, STK11-competent human LUAD cell lines and performed whole transcriptome analyses to identify STK11-loss-dependent differential gene expression. Subsequent pathway enrichment studies highlighted activation of the HIPPO/YAP1 signaling axis, along with the induction of numerous tumor-intrinsic cytokines. To validate that YAP1-mediated transcriptional activation occurs in response to STK11 loss, we pursued YAP1 perturbation as a strategy to restore an STK11-competent gene expression profile in STK11-KO LUAD cell lines. Together, our data link STK11 loss with YAP1-mediated transcriptional activation, including the upregulation of immune-evasion promoting cytokines IL-6, CXCL8 and CXCL2. Further, our results raise the intriguing possibility that YAP1 antagonism may represent a therapeutic approach to counter anti-PD-1 therapy resistance in STK11-null, KRAS-driven LUADs by modulating tumor-intrinsic gene expression to promote a "hot" tumor immune microenvironment.

Urinary IL-6 and IL-8 as predictive markers in bladder urothelial carcinoma: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

Cytokines are known to be a key a factor in numerous malignancies and to exert an important regulatory role in the tumor microenvironment. Interest has grown in understanding how cytokines modulate the tumor microenvironment and which cytokines may serve as markers of the tumor process; however, a complete picture of the cytokine landscape in bladder cancer remains unclear.

METHODS

Fresh urine specimens with sufficient volume were collected at random intervals. The urine concentrations of IL-8 (CXCL8), CCL18, and CXCL9 were determined using the standard commercially available enzyme immunoassay. The urine concentrations of IL-6 were determined using the high sensitivity enzyme immunoassay kit. Urinary cytokine concentrations were normalized with urinary creatinine concentrations.

RESULTS

Significantly elevated concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 were detected in the urine from patients with urothelial carcinoma on follow-up compared to patients with benign follow-up. The presence of both IL-6 and IL-8 in the urine samples from the high grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) cohort revealed a clear discrimination when compared to samples from patients with benign follow-up. The presence of the combination of both IL-6 and IL-8 had a sensitivity of 90.0% and a specificity of 81.25%. Similar data were obtained when receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed on both IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the urine from patients with HGUC vs. the hematuria cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of IL-6 and IL-8 in urine specimens may have predictive value for urothelial carcinoma. However, a large longitudinal study is required to statistically eliminate confounding factors and support this theory.

Nanostrategy of Targeting at Embryonic Trophoblast Cells Using CuO Nanoparticles for Female Contraception

Effective contraceptives have been comprehensively adopted by women to prevent the negative consequences of unintended pregnancy for women, families, and societies. With great contributions of traditional hormonal drugs and intrauterine devices (IUDs) to effective female contraception by inhibiting ovulation and deactivating sperm, their long-standing side effects on hormonal homeostasis and reproductive organs for females remain concerns. Herein, we proposed a nanostrategy for female contraceptives, inducing embryonic trophoblast cell death using nanoparticles to prevent embryo implantation. Cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were adopted in this work to verify the feasibility of the nanostrategy and its contraceptive efficacy. We carried out the in vitro assessment on the interaction of CuO NPs with trophoblast cells using the HTR8/SVneo cell line. The results showed that the CuO NPs were able to be preferably uptaken into cells and induced cell damage via a variety of pathways including oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, DNA damage, and cell cycle arrest to induce cell death of apoptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis. Moreover, the key regulatory processes and the key genes for cell damage and cell death caused by CuO NPs were revealed by RNA-Seq. We also conducted in vivo experiments using a rat model to examine the contraceptive efficacy of both the bare CuO NPs and the CuO/thermosensitive hydrogel nanocomposite. The results demonstrated that the CuO NPs were highly effective for contraception. There was no sign of disrupting the homeostasis of copper and hormone, or causing inflammation and organ damage in vivo. In all, this nanostrategy exhibited huge potential for contraceptive development with high biosafety, efficacy, clinical translation, nonhormonal style, and on-demand for women.

Cytokine Modification of Adoptive Chimeric Antigen Receptor Immunotherapy for Glioblastoma

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell-based therapies have demonstrated limited success in solid tumors, including glioblastoma (GBM). GBMs exhibit high heterogeneity and create an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition, other challenges exist for CAR therapy, including trafficking and infiltration into the tumor site, proliferation, persistence of CARs once in the tumor, and reduced functionality, such as suboptimal cytokine production. Cytokine modification is of interest, as one can enhance therapy efficacy and minimize off-target toxicity by directly combining CAR therapy with cytokines, antibodies, or oncolytic viruses that alter cytokine response pathways. Alternatively, one can genetically modify CAR T-cells or CAR NK-cells to secrete cytokines or express cytokines or cytokine receptors. Finally, CARs can be genetically altered to augment or suppress intracellular cytokine signaling pathways for a more direct approach. Codelivery of cytokines with CARs is the most straightforward method, but it has associated toxicity. Alternatively, combining CAR therapy with antibodies (e.g., anti-IL-6, anti-PD1, and anti-VEGF) or oncolytic viruses has enhanced CAR cell infiltration into GBM tumors and provided proinflammatory signals to the TME. CAR T- or NK-cells secreting cytokines (e.g., IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18) have shown improved efficacy within multiple GBM subtypes. Likewise, expressing cytokine-modulating receptors in CAR cells that promote or inhibit cytokine signaling has enhanced their activity. Finally, gene editing approaches are actively being pursued to directly influence immune signaling pathways in CAR cells. In this review, we summarize these cytokine modification methods and highlight any existing gaps in the hope of catalyzing an improved generation of CAR-based therapies for glioblastoma.

Inflammatory cytokines as mediators of retinal endothelial barrier dysfunction in non-infectious uveitis

Characterised by intraocular inflammation, non-infectious uveitis includes a large group of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases that either involve the eye alone or have both ocular and systemic manifestations. When non-infectious uveitis involves the posterior segment of the eye, specifically the retina, there is substantial risk of vision loss, often linked to breakdown of the inner blood-retinal barrier. This barrier is formed by non-fenestrated retinal vascular endothelial cells, reinforced by supporting cells that include pericytes, Müller cells and astrocytes. Across the published literature, a group of inflammatory cytokines stand out as prominent mediators of intraocular inflammation, with effects on the retinal endothelium that may contribute to breakdown of the inner blood-retinal barrier, namely tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 and chemokine C-C motif ligand (CCL)2. This article reviews the function of each cytokine and discusses the evidence for their involvement in retinal endothelial barrier dysfunction in non-infectious uveitis, including basic laboratory investigations, studies of ocular fluids collected from patients with non-infectious uveitis, and results of clinical treatment trials. The review also outlines gaps in knowledge in this area. Understanding the disease processes at a molecular level can suggest treatment alternatives that are directed against appropriate biological targets to protect the posterior segment of eye and preserve vision in non-infectious uveitis.

Circulating cytokine dynamics as potential biomarker of response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in BRAFwt MM patients

BACKGROUND

The biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) efficacy and safety are still urgently needed. As cytokines are easily detected and monitored in circulation, they could be used as potential predictors of response and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) for ICIs therapy.

METHODS

The levels of TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 were measured in sera and plasma by ELISA method of 30 healthy controls (HC) and 32 BRAF wild type (wt) MM patients before and after every 12 weeks of Pembrolizumab, PD-1 inhibitor, until one year or disease progression (DP).

RESULTS

Higher pretherapy levels of circulating TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-10 were shown in MM patients compared to HC. In patients with disease control, TGF-β and IL-6 first decreased during the therapy, while then they started to successively increase reaching the initial values by the end of the follow up. Furthermore, in this group of patients IFN-γ increased, while IL-8 and IL-10 decreased at final points of the follow up. In patients with DP IL-6 increased at the time of progression, while IL-8 decreased when the best response was achieved. In patients with pseudoprogression IL-6 and IL-10 significantly increased compared to the pretreatment values. Melanoma patients with irAEs had increased baseline values of TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-10 compared to HC. However, no significant changes in cytokines levels were found in these patients during therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Inflammatory cytokines monitoring in circulation of BRAFwt MM patients could help in the selection of patients who will have the benefit from Pembrolizumab therapy.

Beyond the horizon: Neutrophils leading the way in the evolution of immunotherapy

Cancer is a complex and dynamic disease, initiated by a multitude of intrinsic mutations and progressed with the assistance of the tissue microenvironment, encompassed by stromal cells including immune cell infiltration. The novel finding that tumors can evade anti-cancer immune functions shaped the field of immunotherapy, which has been a revolutionary approach for the treatment of cancers. However, the development of predominantly T cell-targeted immunotherapy approaches, such as immune checkpoint inhibition, also brought about an accumulation of evidence demonstrating other immune cell drivers of tumor progression, such as innate immune cells and notably, neutrophils. In the past decade, neutrophils have emerged to be primary mediators of multiple cancer types and even in recent years, are gaining attention for their potential use in the next generation of immunotherapies. Here, we review current immunotherapy strategies and thoroughly discuss the roles of neutrophils in cancer and novel neutrophil-targeted methods for treating cancer.

Immune mediators as predictive biomarkers for anti-PD-1 antibody therapy in urothelial carcinoma

Introduction: This study aimed to identify immune mediators, including cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, in the plasma for predicting treatment efficacy and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Methods: We enrolled 57 patients with aUC who were treated with the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody pembrolizumab after the failure of platinum-based chemotherapy between February 2018 and December 2020. Plasma levels of 73 soluble immune mediators were measured before and 6 weeks after initiating pembrolizumab therapy. The association of estimated soluble immune mediators with clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), anti-tumor responses, and irAEs, were statistically evaluated. Results: In the multivariate analysis, levels of 18 factors at baseline and 12 factors during treatment were significantly associated with OS. Regarding PFS, baseline levels of 17 factors were significantly associated with PFS. Higher levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), and IL-12 (p40), both at baseline and post-treatment, were significantly associated with worse OS. Conversely, low IL-6 and high TWEAK levels at baseline were associated with irAEs. Among identified factors, interferon (IFN) γ and IL-12 (p40) were repeatedly identified; high baseline levels of these factors were risk factors for worse OS and PFS, as well as progressive disease. Notably, using correlation and principal component analysis, factors significantly associated with clinical outcomes were broadly classified into three groups exhibiting similar expression patterns. Discussion: Measuring plasma levels of soluble immune mediators, such as IL-6, IL-8, sTNF-R1, IFNγ, and IL-12 (p40), could be recommended for predicting prognosis and irAEs in ICI-treated patients with aUC.

Cytokine Profile in Lung Cancer Patients: Anti-Tumor and Oncogenic Cytokines

Lung cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In recent years, checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy (ICI) has emerged as a new treatment. A better understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TMJ) or the immune system surrounding the tumor is needed. Cytokines are small proteins that carry messages between cells and are known to play an important role in the body's response to inflammation and infection. Cytokines are important for immunity in lung cancer. They promote tumor growth (oncogenic cytokines) or inhibit tumor growth (anti-tumour cytokines) by controlling signaling pathways for growth, proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis. The immune system relies heavily on cytokines. They can also be produced in the laboratory for therapeutic use. Cytokine therapy helps the immune system to stop the growth or kill cancer cells. Interleukins and interferons are the two types of cytokines used to treat cancer. This article begins by addressing the role of the TMJ and its components in lung cancer. This review also highlights the functions of various cytokines such as interleukins (IL), transforming growth factor (TGF), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).

Formoterol Exerts Anti-Cancer Effects Modulating Oxidative Stress and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Processes in Cigarette Smoke Extract Exposed Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Lung cancer frequently affects patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke (CS) fosters cancer progression by increasing oxidative stress and by modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes in cancer cells. Formoterol (FO), a long-acting β2-agonist widely used for the treatment of COPD, exerts antioxidant activities. This study explored in a lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) whether FO counteracted the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) relative to oxidative stress, inflammation, EMT processes, and cell migration and proliferation. A549 was stimulated with CSE and FO, ROS were evaluated by flow-cytometry and by nanostructured electrochemical sensor, EMT markers were evaluated by flow-cytometry and Real-Time PCR, IL-8 was evaluated by ELISA, cell migration was assessed by scratch and phalloidin test, and cell proliferation was assessed by clonogenic assay. CSE significantly increased the production of ROS, IL-8 release, cell migration and proliferation, and SNAIL1 expression but significantly decreased E-cadherin expression. FO reverted all these phenomena in CSE-stimulated A549 cells. The present study provides intriguing evidence that FO may exert anti-cancer effects by reverting oxidative stress, inflammation, and EMT markers induced by CS. These findings must be validated in future clinical studies to support FO as a valuable add-on treatment for lung cancer management.

Role of IL8 in myeloid malignancies

Aberrant overexpression of Interleukin-8 (IL8) has been reported in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs) and other myeloid malignancies. IL8 (CXCL8) is a CXC chemokine that is secreted by aberrant hematopoietic stem and progenitors as well as other cells in the tumor microenvironment. IL8 can bind to CXCR1/CXCR2 receptors and activate oncogenic signaling pathways, and also increase the recruitment of myeloid derived suppressor cells to the tumor microenvironment. IL8/CXCR1/2 overexpression has been associated with poorer prognosis in MDS and AML and increased bone marrow fibrosis in Myelofibrosis. Preclinical studies have demonstrated benefit of inhibiting the IL8/CXCR1/2 pathways via restricting the growth of leukemic stem cells as well as normalizing the immunosuppressive microenvironment in tumors. Targeting the IL8-CXCR1/2 pathway is a potential therapeutic strategy in myeloid neoplasms and is being evaluated with small molecule inhibitors as well as monoclonal antibodies in ongoing clinical trials. We review the role of IL8 signaling pathway in myeloid cancers and discuss future directions on therapeutic targeting of IL8 in these diseases.

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate in combination with L-N-monomethyl arginine alleviates Staphylococcus aureus infection via regulation of CXCL8/CXCR1 axis in peritoneal macrophages in vitro

The CXCL8/CXCR1 axis in conjoint with the free radicals and anti-oxidants dictates the severity of inflammation caused by the bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus. S.aureus mediated inflammatory processes is regulated by NF-κB and its product, iNOS. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of inhibition of NF-κB and iNOS on CXCL8/CXCR1, alteration in M1/M2 polarization of macrophages and associated inflammatory responses during S.aureus infection in vitro. For this, the murine peritoneal macrophages were pretreated with NF-κB inhibitor, Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) and iNOS inhibitor, L-N-monomethyl arginine (LNMMA), either alone or in combination, followed by time-dependent S.aureus infection. The chemotactic migrations of macrophages were determined by the agarose spot assay. The iNOS, NF-κB and CXCR1 protein expressions were evaluated. The ROS level (superoxide, H2O2, NO) and antioxidant activities (SOD, CAT, GSH, arginase) were measured. The intra-macrophage phagoctyic activity had been analyzed by confocal microscopy. S.aureus activated macrophages showed increased iNOS expression that symbolizes M1 characterization of macrophages. The results suggest that the combination treatment of LNMMA + PDTC was effective in diminution of CXCL8 production and CXCR1 expression through downregulation of NF-κB and iNOS signaling pathway. Consequently, there was decrement in macrophage migration, reduced ROS generation, elevated antioxidant enzyme activity as well as bacterial phagocytosis at 90 min post bacterial infection. The increased arginase activity further proves the switch from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 polarization of macrophages. Concludingly, the combination of PDTC + LNMMA could resolve S.aureus mediated inflammation through mitigation of CXCL8/CXCR1 pathway switching from M1 to M2 polarization.

Therapeutic Peptide RF16 Derived from CXCL8 Inhibits MDA-MB-231 Cell Invasion and Metastasis

Interleukin (IL)-8 plays a vital role in regulating inflammation and breast cancer formation by activating CXCR1/2. We previously designed an antagonist peptide, (RF16), to inhibits the activation of downstream signaling pathways by competing with IL-8 in binding to CXCR1/2, thereby inhibiting IL-8-induced chemoattractant monocyte binding. To evaluate the effect of the RF16 peptide on breast cancer progression, triple-negative MDA-MB-231 and ER-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells were used to investigate whether RF16 can inhibit the IL-8-induced breast cancer metastasis. Using growth, proliferation, and invasiveness assays, the results revealed that RF16 reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness in MDA-MB-231 cells. The RF16 peptide also regulated the protein and mRNA expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in IL-8-stimulated MDA-MB-231 cells. It also inhibited downstream IL-8 signaling and the IL-8-induced inflammatory response via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. In the xenograft tumor mouse model, RF16 synergistically reinforces the antitumor efficacy of docetaxel by improving mouse survival and retarding tumor growth. Our results indicate that RF16 significantly inhibited IL-8-stimulated cell growth, migration, and invasion in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by blocking the activation of p38 and AKT cascades. It indicated that the RF16 peptide may serve as a new supplementary drug for breast cancer.

Extracellular vesicles promote activation of pro-inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts in oral cancer

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of head and neck cancer and has a survival rate of ∼50% over 5 years. New treatment strategies are sorely needed to improve survival rates-and a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis is needed to develop these strategies. The role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) has increasingly been identified as crucial in tumor progression and metastasis. One of the main constituents of the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), plays a key role in influencing the biological behavior of tumors. Multiple mechanisms contribute to CAF activation, such as TGFβ signaling, but the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in CAF activation in OSCC is poorly understood. Assessing the impact of oral cancer-derived EVs on CAF activation will help to better illuminate OSCC pathophysiology and may drive development of novel treatments options. Methods: EVs were isolated from OSCC cell lines (Cal 27, SCC-9, SCC-25) using differential centrifugation. Nanoparticle tracking analysis was used for EV characterization, and Western blot to confirm the presence of EV protein markers. Oral fibroblasts were co-cultured with enriched EVs, TGFβ, or PBS over 72 h to assess activation. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate CAF markers. RNA collected from fibroblasts was extracted and the transcriptome was sequenced. Conditioned media from the co-cultures was evaluated with cytokine array profiling. Results: OSCC-derived EVs can activate oral fibroblasts into CAFs that are different from those activated by TGFβ, suggesting different mechanisms of activation and different functional properties. Gene set enrichment analysis showed several upregulated inflammatory pathways in those CAFs exposed to OSCC-derived EVs. Marker genes for inflammatory CAF subtypes were also upregulated, but not in CAFs activated by TGFβ. Finally, cytokine array analysis on secreted proteins revealed elevated levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines from EV-activated CAFs, for instance IL-8 and CXCL5. Discussion: Our results reveal the ability of OSCC-derived EVs to activate fibroblasts into CAFs. These CAFs seem to have unique properties, differing from TGFβ-activated CAFs. Gaining an understanding of the interplay between EVs and stromal cells such as CAFs could lead to further insights into OSCC tumorigenesis and potential novel therapeutics.

Novel Function of Cancer Stem Cell Marker ALDH1A3 in Glioblastoma: Pro-Angiogenesis through Paracrine PAI-1 and IL-8

Hyper-angiogenesis is a typical feature of glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive brain tumor. We have reported the expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) in proliferating vasculature in GBM patients. We hypothesized that ALDH1A3 may act as an angiogenesis promoter in GBM. Two GBM cell lines were lentivirally transduced with either ALDH1A3 (ox) or an empty vector (ev). The angiogenesis phenotype was studied in indirect and direct co-culture of endothelial cells (ECs) with oxGBM cells (oxGBMs) and in an angiogenesis model in vivo. Angiogenesis array was performed in oxGBMs. RT2-PCR, Western blot, and double-immunofluorescence staining were performed to confirm the expression of targets identified from the array. A significantly activated angiogenesis phenotype was observed in ECs indirectly and directly co-cultured with oxGBMs and in vivo. Overexpression of ALDH1A3 (oxALDH1A3) led to a marked upregulation of PAI-1 and IL-8 mRNA and protein and a consequential increased release of both proteins. Moreover, oxALDH1A3-induced angiogenesis was abolished by the treatment of the specific inhibitors, respectively, of PAI-1 and IL-8 receptors, CXCR1/2. This study defined ALDH1A3 as a novel angiogenesis promoter. oxALDH1A3 in GBM cells stimulated EC angiogenesis via paracrine upregulation of PAI-1 and IL-8, suggesting ALDH1A3-PAI-1/IL-8 as a novel signaling for future anti-angiogenesis therapy in GBM.

Cancer immunotherapy focusing on the role of interleukins: A comprehensive and updated study

Cytokines bind to specific receptors on target cells to activate intracellular signaling pathways that control diverse cellular functions, such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, and death. They are essential for the growth, activation, and operation of immune cells and the control of immunological reactions to pathogens, cancer cells, and other dangers. Based on their structural and functional properties, cytokines can be roughly categorized into different families, such as the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family, interleukins, interferons, and chemokines. Leukocytes produce interleukins, a class of cytokines that have essential functions in coordinating and communicating with immune cells. Cancer, inflammation, and autoimmunity are immune-related disorders brought on by dysregulation of cytokine production or signaling. Understanding cytokines' biology to create novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic methods for various immune-related illnesses is crucial. Different immune cells, including T cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, and other cells in the body, including epithelial cells and fibroblasts, generate and secrete interleukins. The present study's main aim is to fully understand interleukins' roles in cancer development and identify new therapeutic targets and strategies for cancer treatment.

Expression of CXCL8 (IL-8) in the Pathogenesis of T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients

Background Inflammation plays a very important role in the pathogenesis of a wide range of diseases, such as atherosclerosis myocardial infarction, sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. This study aimed to investigate the association of IL-8 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patients. Methodology IL-8 levels were estimated in 52 individuals. Of the study population, 26 were T-ALL patients (all phases of leukemia were included in the study) and 26 were disease-free healthy volunteers. In this study, we employed flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test, and western blot analysis. Results IL-8 was significantly higher in all T-ALL patients than in healthy volunteers. IL-8 levels showed a significant positive correlation in T-ALL patients at the genomic and proteomic levels. Conclusions Higher serum IL-8 levels were associated with the advanced disease stage of the clinicopathological parameters. Our results indicate that monitoring IL-8 has a role in modulating disease sensing in T-ALL and may represent a target for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Prognostic role of IL-8 in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a system review and meta-analysis

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been proven to be an effective treatment strategy for a variety of malignant tumors. However, only a subset of patients can benefit from ICIs due to factors such as drug resistance. Therefore, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that can accurately predict the efficacy of ICIs and provide a basis for individualized immunotherapy. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore whether the chemokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) can be used as a biomarker to evaluate the efficacy of ICIs treatment.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search of several databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane, to identify relevant articles published up to June 08, 2023. Our inclusion criteria were limited to cohort studies and clinical trials that reported hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for overall survival (OS) and/or progression-free survival (PFS), as well as the objective response rate (ORR), in cancer patients with high and low IL-8 expression. For data analysis, we used Revman to generate forest plots, subgroup analysis, and assess publication bias. Additionally, Stata was utilized for sensitivity analysis and further examination of publication bias.

Results

A total of 24 datasets, involving 3190 participants, were selected from 14 studies. The meta-analysis revealed a reduction in ORR, OS, and/or PFS in the high IL-8 group after treatment with ICIs compared to the low IL-8 group.

Conclusion

IL-8 can serve as a biomarker for predicting the efficacy of ICIs. Patients with lower expression of IL-8 may benefit from ICIs treatment.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=383188, identifier CRD42022383188.

The significance of spread through air spaces in the prognostic assessment model of stage I lung adenocarcinoma and the exploration of its invasion mechanism

PURPOSE

Spread through air spaces (STAS) is a crucial invasive mode of lung cancer and has been shown to be associated with early recurrence and metastasis. We aimed to develop a prognostic risk assessment model for stage I lung adenocarcinoma based on STAS and other pathological features and to explore the potential relationship between CXCL-8, Smad2, Snail, and STAS.

METHODS

312 patients who underwent surgery at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital with pathologically diagnosed stage I lung adenocarcinoma were reviewed in the study. STAS and other pathological features were identified by H&E staining, and a prognostic risk assessment model was established. The expression levels of CXCL8, Smad2, and Snail were determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The nomogram was established based on age, smoking history, STAS, tumor lymphocyte infiltration, tissue subtype, nuclear grade, and tumor size. The C-index for DFS was (training set 0.84 vs validation set 0.77) and for OS was (training set 0.83 vs validation set 0.78). Decision curve analysis showed that the model constructed has a better net benefit than traditional reporting. The prognostic risk score validated the risk stratification value for stage I lung adenocarcinoma. STAS was an important prognostic factor associated with stronger invasiveness and higher expression of CXCL8, Smad2, and Snail. CXCL8 was associated with poorer DFS and OS.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed and validated a survival risk assessment model and the prognostic risk score formula for stage I lung adenocarcinoma. Additionally, we found that CXCL8 could be used as a potential biomarker for STAS and poor prognosis, and its mechanism may be related to EMT.

A narrative review: CXC chemokines influence immune surveillance in obesity and obesity-related diseases: Type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Adipose tissue develops lipids, aberrant adipokines, chemokines, and pro-inflammatory cytokines as a consequence of the low-grade systemic inflammation that characterizes obesity. This low-grade systemic inflammation can lead to insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic complications, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although the CXC chemokines consists of numerous regulators of inflammation, cellular function, and cellular migration, it is still unknown that how CXC chemokines and chemokine receptors contribute to the development of metabolic diseases (such as T2D and NAFLD) during obesity. In light of recent research, the objective of this review is to provide an update on the linkage between the CXC chemokine, obesity, and obesity-related metabolic diseases (T2D and NAFLD). We explore the differential migratory and immunomodulatory potential of CXC chemokines and their mechanisms of action to better understand their role in clinical and laboratory contexts. Besides that, because CXC chemokine profiling is strongly linked to leukocyte recruitment, macrophage recruitment, and immunomodulatory potential, we hypothesize that it could be used to predict the therapeutic potential for obesity and obesity-related diseases (T2D and NAFLD).