B7-H3 promotes cell migration and invasion through the Jak2/Stat3/MMP9 signaling pathway in colorectal cancer

MALAT1/miR-582-5p/GALNT1/MUC1 axis modulates progression of AML leukemia stem cells by regulating JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by uncontrolled clonal expansion and differentiation block of immature myeloid cells. Some studies have shown that leukemia stem cells (LSC) are thought to be responsible for the initiation and development of leukemia. Moreover, abnormal O-glycosylation is a key modification in the process of cancer malignancy. In this study, GALNT1 expression was significantly upregulated in LSCs, while knockdown of GALNT1 inhibited cell viability and promoted apoptosis. Importantly, GALNT1 was the direct target of miR-582-5P, and MALAT1 directly interacted with miR-582-5P. In addition, Our investigation corroborated that MALAT1 functioned as an endogenous sponge of miR-582-5P to regulate mucin1 (MUC1) expression, catalyzed by GALNT1, which modulated the activity of JAK2/STAT3 pathway. MALAT1 and MUC1 were targets of transcription factor STAT3 and were regulated by STAT3. In general, these new findings indicated that MALAT1/miR-582-5P/GALNT1 axis is involved in the progression of LSCs, illuminating the possible mechanism mediated by O-glycosylated MUC1 via JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Ursodeoxycholic Acid Platinum(IV) Conjugates as Antiproliferative and Antimetastatic Agents: Remodel the Tumor Microenvironment through Suppressing JAK2/STAT3 Signaling

Tumor microenvironment (TME) is a pivotal factor driving the tumor metastasis and leading to the failure of tumor therapy. Here, a series of ursodeoxycholic acid platinum(IV) conjugates with potency in remodeling the TME through suppressing JAK2/STAT3 signaling was developed. A candidate was screened out, which displayed potent antiproliferative and antimetastatic performance both in vitro and in vivo. It displayed superior pharmacokinetic properties compared to cisplatin. Serious DNA injury was induced, and then mitochondria-mediated apoptosis was initiated through the Bcl-2/Bax/Caspase3 pathway. The JAK2/STAT3 and TGF-β1 signaling pathways were remarkably inhibited, and pro-death autophagy was subsequently promoted. The inflammatory and hypoxic TME was suppressed by downregulating COX-2, MMP9, and HIF-1α, which resulted in inhibited angiogenesis in tumors by inhibiting the HIF-1α/VEGFA axis. Additionally, the immunosuppressive TME was reversed by blocking the immune checkpoint PD-L1, further improving the density of CD3+ and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and promoting macrophage polarization from M2- to M1-type.

B7-H3 promotes the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells via regulating the actin cytoskeleton and RhoA/ROCK1/LIMK1 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Aberrant expression of B7 homolog 3 protein (B7-H3) has been detected in various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC) and implicated in modulating multiple biological functions of CRC cells. However, its role in CRC metastasis has not yet been determined. This study aims to explore and unravel the underlying mechanisms through which B7-H3 contributes to migration, invasion and actin cytoskeleton in CRC.

METHODS

The expression of B7-H3 and LIMK1 in CRC tumor samples was determined by IHC staining. Transwell and F-actin immunofluorescence staining assays were performed to explore the role of B7-H3 in migration, invasion and actin filament accumulating of CRC cells. RNA-seq and Western blot assays were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms.

RESULTS

B7-H3 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and positively associated with poor prognosis of CRC patients by immunohistochemistry. Migration and invasion assays showed that B7-H3 knockdown significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of CRC cells. B7-H3 overexpression had the opposite effect. Moreover, we determined that B7-H3 could regulate actin cytoskeleton and the RhoA/ROCK1/LIMK1 pathway by F-actin immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. Importantly, the BDP5290, an inhibitor of the RhoA/ROCK1/(LIM domain kinase 1) LIMK1 axis, reversed the effects of B7-H3 overexpression on actin filament accumulating, migration, and invasion of CRC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study concluded that B7-H3 facilitated CRC cell actin filament accumulating, migration, and invasion through the RhoA/ROCK1/LIMK1 axis.

An integrated pan-cancer assessment of prognosis, immune infiltration, and immunotherapy response for B7 family using multi-omics data

AIMS

B7 molecules (B7s) are crucial synergistic signals for effective immune surveillance against tumor cells. While previous studies have explored the association between the B7 family and cancer, most have been limited to specific genes or cancer subtypes.

MAIN METHODS

Our study utilized multi-omics data to investigate potential correlations between B7s expression (B7s exp.) and prognosis, clinicopathological features, somatic mutations (SMs), copy number variations (CNVs), immune characteristics, tumor microenvironment (TME), microsatellite instability, tumor mutation burden, immune checkpoint gene (ICG), and drug responsiveness in TCGA tumors. Furthermore, the connection between B7s exp. and immunotherapy (IT) performance assessed in various validated datasets. Following this, immune infiltration analysis (IIA) was conducted based on B7s exp., CNVs, or SMs in bladder cancer (BLCA), complemented by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and protein confirmation of B7-H3.

KEY FINDINGS

Across most cancer types, B7s exp. was related to prognosis, clinicopathological characteristics, mutations, CNVs, ICG, TMB, TME. The examination of sensitivity to anticancer drugs unveiled correlations between B7 molecules and different drug sensitivities. Specific B7s exp. patterns were linked to the clinical effectiveness of IT. Using GSEA, several enriched immune-related functions and pathways were identified. Particularly in BLCA, IIA revealed significant connections between B7 CNVs, mutation status, and various immune cell infiltrates. RT-PCR confirmed elevated B7-H3 gene levels in BLCA tumor tissues.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study confirmed the significance of B7s exp. and genomic changes in predicting outcomes and treatment across different cancer types. Moreover, they indicate a critical function of B7s in BLCA and their potential as IT biomarkers.

Fully human anti-B7-H3 recombinant antibodies inhibited tumor growth by increasing T cell infiltration

Mortality due to malignant tumors is one of the major factors affecting the life expectancy of the global population. Therapeutic antibodies are a cutting-edge treatment method for restricting tumor growth. B7-H3 is highly expressed in tumor tissues, but rarely in normal tissues. B7-H3 is closely associated with poor prognosis in patients with tumors. B7-H3 is an important target for antitumor therapy. In this study, the fully human anti-B7H3 single-chain antibodies (scFvs) were isolated and screened from the fully human phage immune library with B7H3 as the target. The antibodies screened from a fully human phage library had low immunogenicity and high affinity, which was more beneficial for clinical application. Leveraging B7-H3 scFvs as a foundation, we constructed two distinct recombinant antibody formats, scFv-Fc and IgG1, characterized by elevated affinity and a prolonged half-life. The results demonstrated that the recombinant antibodies had high specificity and affinity for the B7-H3 antigen and inhibited tumor cell growth by enhancing the ADCC. After treatment with anti-B7H3 recombinant antibody, the number of infiltrating T cells in the tumor increased and the secretion of IFN- γ by infiltrating T cells increased in vivo. Additionally, the use of pleural fluid samples obtained from tumor-afflicted patients revealed the ability of anti-B7-H3 recombinant antibodies to reverse CD8+ T cell exhaustion. In summary, we screened the fully human anti-B7H3 recombinant antibodies with specificity and high affinity that increase immune cell infiltration and IFN-γ secretion, thereby inhibiting tumor cell growth to a certain extent. This finding provides a theoretical basis for the development of therapeutic tumor antibodies and could help promote further development of antibody-based drugs.

B7-H3 at the crossroads between tumor plasticity and colorectal cancer progression: a potential target for therapeutic intervention

B7-H3 (B7 homology 3 protein) is an important transmembrane immunoregulatory protein expressed in immune cells, antigen-presenting cells, and tumor cells. Studies reveal a multifaceted role of B7-H3 in tumor progression by modulating various cancer hallmarks involving angiogenesis, immune evasion, and tumor microenvironment, and it is also a promising candidate for cancer immunotherapy. In colorectal cancer (CRC), B7-H3 has been associated with various aspects of disease progression, such as evasion of tumor immune surveillance, tumor-node metastasis, and poor prognosis. Strategies to block or interfere with B7-H3 in its immunological and non-immunological functions are under investigation. In this study, we explore the role of B7-H3 in tumor plasticity, emphasizing tumor glucose metabolism, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cells, apoptosis, and changing immune signatures in the tumor immune landscape. We discuss how B7-H3-induced tumor plasticity contributes to immune evasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Furthermore, we delve into the most recent advancements in targeting B7-H3-based tumor immunotherapy as a potential approach to CRC treatment.

A promising target for breast cancer: B7-H3

Breast cancer (BC) is the second-leading factor of mortality for women globally and is brought on by a variety of genetic and environmental causes. The conventional treatments for this disease have limitations, making it difficult to improve the lifespan of breast cancer patients. As a result, extensive research has been conducted over the past decade to find innovative solutions to these challenges. Targeting of the antitumor immune response through the immunomodulatory checkpoint protein B7 family has revolutionized cancer treatment and led to intermittent patient responses. B7-H3 has recently received attention because of its significant demodulation and its immunomodulatory effects in many cancers. Uncontrolled B7-H3 expression and a bad outlook are strongly associated, according to a substantial body of cancer research. Numerous studies have shown that BC has significant B7-H3 expression, and B7-H3 induces an immune evasion phenotype, consequently enhancing the survival, proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance of BC cells. Thus, an innovative target for immunotherapy against BC may be the B7-H3 checkpoint.In this review, we discuss the structure and regulation of B7-H3 and its double costimulatory/coinhibitory function within the framework of cancer and normal physiology. Then we expound the malignant behavior of B7-H3 in BC and its role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and finally focus on targeted drugs against B7-H3 that have opened new therapeutic opportunities in BC.

New Emerging Targets in Cancer Immunotherapy: The Role of B7-H3

Immune checkpoints (ICs) are molecules implicated in the fine-tuning of immune response via co-inhibitory or co-stimulatory signals, and serve to secure minimized host damage. Targeting ICs with various therapeutic modalities, including checkpoint inhibitors/monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and CAR-T cells has produced remarkable results, especially in immunogenic tumors, setting a paradigm shift in cancer therapeutics through the incorporation of these IC-targeted treatments. However, the large proportion of subjects who experience primary or secondary resistance to available IC-targeted options necessitates further advancements that render immunotherapy beneficial for a larger patient pool with longer duration of response. B7-H3 (B7 Homolog 3 Protein, CD276) is a member of the B7 family of IC proteins that exerts pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects both in physiologic and pathologic contexts. Mounting evidence has demonstrated an aberrant expression of B7-H3 in various solid malignancies, including tumors less sensitive to current immunotherapeutic options, and has associated its expression with advanced disease, worse patient survival and impaired response to IC-based regimens. Anti-B7-H3 agents, including novel mAbs, bispecific antibodies, ADCs, CAR-T cells, and radioimmunotherapy agents, have exhibited encouraging antitumor activity in preclinical models and have recently entered clinical testing for several cancer types. In the present review, we concisely present the functional implications of B7-H3 and discuss the latest evidence regarding its prognostic significance and therapeutic potential in solid malignancies, with emphasis on anti-B7-H3 modalities that are currently evaluated in clinical trial settings. Better understanding of B7-H3 intricate interactions in the tumor microenvironment will expand the oncological utility of anti-B7-H3 agents and further shape their role in cancer therapeutics.

B7-H3 regulates anti-tumor immunity and promotes tumor development in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract and one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have become a milestone in many cancer treatments with significant curative effects. However, its therapeutic effect on colorectal cancer is still limited. B7-H3 is a novel immune checkpoint molecule of the B7/CD28 family and is overexpressed in a variety of solid tumors including colorectal cancer. B7-H3 was considered as a costimulatory molecule that promotes anti-tumor immunity. However, more and more studies support that B7-H3 is a co-inhibitory molecule and plays an important immunosuppressive role in colorectal cancer. Meanwhile, B7-H3 promoted metabolic reprogramming, invasion and metastasis, and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer. Therapies targeting B7-H3, including monoclonal antibodies, antibody drug conjugations, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells, have great potential to improve the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.

Targeting B7-H3-A Novel Strategy for the Design of Anticancer Agents for Extracranial Pediatric Solid Tumors Treatment

Recent scientific data recognize the B7-H3 checkpoint molecule as a potential target for immunotherapy of pediatric solid tumors (PSTs). B7-H3 is highly expressed in extracranial PSTs such as neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, nephroblastoma, osteosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma, whereas its expression is absent or very low in normal tissues and organs. The influence of B7-H3 on the biological behavior of malignant solid neoplasms of childhood is expressed through different molecular mechanisms, including stimulation of immune evasion and tumor invasion, and cell-cycle disruption. It has been shown that B7-H3 knockdown decreased tumor cell proliferation and migration, suppressed tumor growth, and enhanced anti-tumor immune response in some pediatric solid cancers. Antibody-drug conjugates targeting B7-H3 exhibited profound anti-tumor effects against preclinical models of pediatric solid malignancies. Moreover, B7-H3-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells demonstrated significant in vivo activity against different xenograft models of neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, and osteosarcoma. Finally, clinical studies demonstrated the potent anti-tumor activity of B7-H3-targeting antibody-radioimmunoconjugates in metastatic neuroblastoma. This review summarizes the established data from various PST-related studies, including in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research, and explains all the benefits and potential obstacles of targeting B7-H3 by novel immunotherapeutic agents designed to treat malignant extracranial solid tumors of childhood.

Decreased B7-H3 promotes unexplained recurrent miscarriage via RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway and regulates the secretion of decidual NK cells†

The cause for at least 50% of recurrent miscarriages is unclear, which is defined as unexplained recurrent miscarriages. The B7-H1 (PD-L1), a molecule of the B7 family, promotes tumor development by modulating immune evasion, and recent researchers have also attached importance to the role of B7-H3, another molecule of B7 family, in tumor. Based on the similarity between growth and immune response in tumors and pregnancy, we first explored the role of B7-H3 in unexplained recurrent miscarriages. We found reduced levels of B7-H3 in the villus tissue of unexplained recurrent miscarriage patients, and it was mainly expressed on the cell membrane of extravillous trophoblasts. Further, the HTR-8/SVneo and JEG-3 cells were selected to explore the role of B7-H3 in proliferation, apoptosis, tube formation, migration, and invasion. We found that B7-H3 regulated trophoblast migration and invasion via RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway. Inflammatory cytokines were detected through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after co-culturing with decidual natural killer cells and B7-H3-knockout JEG-3. Results showed that B7-H3 inhibited IL-8 and IP-10 secretion from the decidual natural killer cells. In a CBA/J × DBA/2 abortion-prone mice model, treatment with B7-H3-Fc protein successfully reduced the rate of embryo resorption. In conclusion, our results revealed a possible mechanism by which decreased B7-H3 on trophoblasts of unexplained recurrent miscarriages inhibited trophoblast migration and invasion and increased IL-8 and IP-10 secretion from the decidual natural killer cells. Furthermore, B7-H3 may be a promising new therapeutic target in unexplained recurrent miscarriage patients.

B7-H3 as a Therapeutic Target in Advanced Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND

B7-H3 is a cell surface immunomodulatory glycoprotein overexpressed in prostate cancers (PCs). Understanding its longitudinal expression at emergence of castration resistance and association with tumour genomics are critical to the development of and patient selection for B7-H3 targeted therapies.

OBJECTIVE

To characterise B7-H3 expression in same-patient hormone-sensitive (HSPC) and castration-resistant (CRPC) PC biopsies, associating this with PC genomics, and to evaluate the antitumour activity of an anti-B7-H3 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) in human CRPC in vitro and in vivo.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

We performed immunohistochemistry and next-generation sequencing on a cohort of 98 clinically annotated CRPC biopsies, including 72 patients who also had HSPC biopsies for analyses. We analysed two CRPC transcriptome and exome datasets, and PC scRNASeq datasets. PC organoids (patient-derived xenograft [PDX]-derived organoids [PDX-Os]) were derived from PDXs generated from human CRPC biopsies.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

We evaluated B7-H3 mRNA expression in relation to a panel of 770 immune-related genes, compared B7-H3 protein expression between same-patient HSPC and CRPC biopsies, determined associations with PC genomic alterations, and evaluated the antitumour activity of DS-7300a, a topoisomerase-1 inhibitor payload anti-B7-H3 ADC, in human PC cell lines, organoids (PDX-Os), and xenografts (PDXs) of different histologies, B7-H3 expressions, and genomics.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

B7-H3 was among the most highly expressed immunomodulatory genes in CRPCs. Most CRPCs (93%) expressed B7-H3, and in patients who developed CRPC, B7-H3 expression was frequently expressed at the time of HSPC diagnosis (97%). Conversion from B7-H3 positive to negative, or vice versa, during progression from HSPC to CRPC was uncommon. CRPC with neuroendocrine features were more likely to be B7-H3 negative (28%) than adenocarcinomas. B7-H3 is overexpressed in tumours with defective DNA repair gene (ATM and BRCA2) alterations and is associated with ERG expression, androgen receptor (AR) expression, and AR activity signature. DS7300a had antitumour activity against B7-H3 expressing human PC models including cell lines, PDX-Os, and PDXs of adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine histology.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequent overexpression of B7-H3 in CRPC compared with normal tissue and other B7 family members implicates it as a highly relevant therapeutic target in these diseases. Mechanisms driving differences in B7-H3 expression across genomic subsets warrant investigation for understanding the role of B7-H3 in cancer growth and for the clinical development of B7-H3 targeted therapies.

PATIENT SUMMARY

B7-H3, a protein expressed on the surface of the most lethal prostate cancers, in particular those with specific mutations, can be targeted using drugs that bind B7-H3. These findings are relevant for the development of such drugs and for deciding which patients to treat with these new drugs.

Variable Intrinsic Expression of Immunoregulatory Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Cell Lines, Mammospheres, and Co-Cultures

Advances in immunotherapy have increased interest in knowing the role of the immune system in breast cancer (BC) pathogenesis. Therefore, immune checkpoints (IC) and other pathways related to immune regulation, such as JAK2 and FoXO1, have emerged as potential targets for BC treatment. However, their intrinsic gene expression in vitro has not been extensively studied in this neoplasia. Thus, we evaluated the mRNA expression of tumor-cell-intrinsic CTLA-4, PDCD1 (PD1), CD274 (PD-L1), PDCD1LG2 (PD-L2), CD276 (B7-H3), JAK2, and FoXO1 in different BC cell lines, derived mammospheres, and co-cultures with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Our results showed that intrinsic CTLA-4, CD274 (PD-L1), and PDCD1LG2 (PD-L2) were highly expressed in triple-negative cell lines, while CD276 was predominantly overexpressed in luminal cell lines. In contrast, JAK2 and FoXO1 were under-expressed. Moreover, high levels of CTLA-4, PDCD1 (PD1), CD274 (PD-L1), PDCD1LG2 (PD-L2), and JAK2 were found after mammosphere formation. Finally, the interaction between BC cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulates the intrinsic expression of CTLA-4, PCDC1 (PD1), CD274 (PD-L1), and PDCD1LG2 (PD-L2). In conclusion, the intrinsic expression of immunoregulatory genes seems very dynamic, depending on BC phenotype, culture conditions, and tumor-immune cell interactions.

To kill a cancer: Targeting the immune inhibitory checkpoint molecule, B7-H3

Targeting the anti-tumor immune response via the B7 family of immune-regulatory checkpoint proteins has revolutionized cancer treatment and resulted in punctuated responses in patients. B7-H3 has gained recent attention given its prominent deregulation and immunomodulatory role in a multitude of cancers. Numerous cancer studies have firmly established a strong link between deregulated B7-H3 expression and poorer outcomes. B7-H3 has been shown to augment cancer cell survival, proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance by inducing an immune evasive phenotype through its effects on tumor-infiltrating immune cells, cancer cells, cancer-associated vasculature, and the stroma. Given the complex interplay between each of these components of the tumor microenvironment, a deeper understanding of B7-H3 signaling properties is inherently crucial to developing efficacious therapies that can target and inhibit these cancer-promoting interactions. This review delves into the various ways B7-H3 acts as an immunomodulator to facilitate immune evasion and promote tumor growth and spread. With post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications giving rise to different active isoforms coupled with recent discoveries of its putative receptors, B7-H3 can perform diverse functions. Here, we first discuss the dual co-stimulatory/co-inhibitory functions of B7-H3 in the context of normal physiology and cancer. We then discuss the crosstalk facilitated by B7-H3 between stromal components and tumor cells that promote tumor growth and metastasis in different populations of tumor cells, associated vasculature, and the stroma. Concurrently, we highlight therapeutic strategies that can exploit these interactions and their associated limitations, concluding with a special focus on the promise of next-gen in silico-based approaches to small molecule inhibitor drug discovery for B7-H3 that may mitigate these limitations.

Canonical and noncanonical regulatory roles for JAK2 in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) are two fibrotic interstitial lung diseases that share the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) injury pattern. Here, we report that RNA sequencing of lung biopsies from patients with RA-ILD and IPF revealed shared and distinct disease-causing pathways. Analysis of transcriptomic data identified a JAK2 related JAK/STAT signaling pathway gene signature that distinguishes RA-UIP from idiopathic UIP. This was further confirmed by immunohistostaining, which identified JAK2 phosphorylation with two distinct forms of activation: a cytoplasmic form of JAK2 activation in most IPF cases (13/20) and a nuclear form of p-JAK2 in RA-UIP (5/5) and a minority of IPF (6/20) cases. Further immunohistostaining identified STAT5A&B as the downstream transcriptional activator for JAK2-mediated canonical signal transduction and phosphorylation of Tyr41 on histone H3 (H3Y41ph) as the downstream epigenetic regulation site for JAK2-mediated noncanonical signal transduction. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) of the RNA-Seq data further supported this shared pathogenic mechanism for the two diseases with the enrichment of STAT5A&B target gene sets as well as the JAK2 regulated H3Y41ph target gene set. This regulatory role of JAK2 in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis was further demonstrated by the attenuation of bleomycin-induced murine pulmonary fibrosis using a JAK2-selective pharmacological inhibitor CEP33779. In vitro studies with normal and IPF derived lung fibroblasts revealed a central role for JAK2 as an essential intermediary molecule in TGF-β-mediated myofibroblast trans-differentiation, proliferation, and extracellular matrix protein production. These observations support a crucial role for JAK2 as an intermediary molecule in fibrotic lung disease development.

Spatial proteomics finds CD155 and Endophilin-A1 as mediators of growth and invasion in medulloblastoma

The composition of the plasma membrane (PM)-associated proteome of tumor cells determines cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and the response to environmental cues. Whether the PM-associated proteome impacts the phenotype of Medulloblastoma (MB) tumor cells and how it adapts in response to growth factor cues is poorly understood. Using a spatial proteomics approach, we observed that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase c-MET in MB cells changes the abundance of transmembrane and membrane-associated proteins. The depletion of MAP4K4, a pro-migratory effector kinase downstream of c-MET, leads to a specific decrease of the adhesion and immunomodulatory receptor CD155 and of components of the fast-endophilin-mediated endocytosis (FEME) machinery in the PM-associated proteome of HGF-activated MB cells. The decreased surface expression of CD155 or of the fast-endophilin-mediated endocytosis effector endophilin-A1 reduces growth and invasiveness of MB tumor cells in the tissue context. These data thus describe a novel function of MAP4K4 in the control of the PM-associated proteome of tumor cells and identified two downstream effector mechanisms controlling proliferation and invasiveness of MB cells.

CD276 (B7H3) improve cancer stem cells formation in cervical carcinoma cell lines

Background

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been considered as a potential therapeutic target for cervical carcinoma. CD 276 is a well-known immune check point molecular, but its relationship with cervical CSCs was still unclear.

Methods

HeLa cell lines were obtained as cervical carcinoma in vitro model. HeLa cell Sphere formation culture was performed and CD276, OCT4 and SOX2 expression were determined by RT-qPCR. Transiently transfection and siRNA interference were used to modify CD276 expression. HeLa cell colony has been counted and cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. The relationship between CD276 and chemotherapy resistance of HeLa cell were evaluated by cisplatin treatment. Additionally, the mice model of xenograft tumor was established and CD276’s function was evaluated in vivo.

Results

Here, we demonstrate that the expression of CD276 is positively correlated with the amount of sphere-forming cells in HeLa cell lines. Overexpression of CD276 causes the inhibition of HeLa cells’ sphere formation, colony formation and cell viability. Meanwhile, the downregulation of CD276 leads to the other way. We also demonstrate that CD276 contributes to the chemotherapy resistance in the cell line. Furthermore, we verify the CD276’s function on HeLa xenotransplantation mice model.

Conclusions

These results suggest that CD276 elevates the self-renewal capacity of HeLa CSCs.

Regulatory Mechanism of lncRNAs in M1/M2 Macrophages Polarization in the Diseases of Different Etiology

Precise expression and regulation of genes in the immune system is important for organisms to produce strong immunity towards pathogens and limit autoimmunity. In recent years, an increasing number of studies has shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely related to immune function and can participate in regulating immune responses by regulating immune cell differentiation, development, and function. As immune cells, the polarization response of macrophages (Mφs) plays an important role in immune function and inflammation. LncRNAs can regulate the phenotypic polarization of Mφs to M1 or M2 through various mechanisms; promote pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects; and participate in the pathogenesis of cancers, inflammatory diseases, infections, metabolic diseases, and autoimmune diseases. In addition, it is important to explore the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs on the dynamic transition between different Mφs phenotypes. Thus, the regulatory role of lncRNAs in the polarization of Mφs and their mechanism are discussed in this review.

MicroRNA-141-3p inhibits the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via targeting PBX1 through the JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which is the most common epithelial malignant neoplasm in the head and neck, is characterized by local infiltration and metastasis of lymph nodes. The five-year survival rate of OSCC remains low despite the advances in clinical methods. miR-141-3p has been shown to activate or inhibit tumorigenesis. However, the effects of miR-141-3p on invasion and migration of OSCC remain unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of miR-141-3p on invasion, proliferation, and migration in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Reverse transcription quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect microRNA(miR)-141-3p and pre-B-cell leukaemia homeobox-1 (PBX1) expression in OSCC tissues and cell lines. The luciferase reporter assay was used to detect targets of miR-141-3p in OSCC. MTT, Transwell and wound healing assays were used to determine the cell proliferation and invasive and migratory abilities, respectively. Expression of constitutive phosphorylated (p)-Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was detected using western blotting in tissues and cells. miR-141-3p expression was decreased in OSCC tissues and cells, while PBX1 protein expression was increased compared with non-cancerous controls. The result from the dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that PBX1 was the direct target of miR-141-3p in OSCC tissues. Furthermore, miR-141-3p overexpression and PBX1 knockdown could reduce cell invasion, proliferation and migration, and inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 pathway; however, miR-141-3p downregulation had the opposite effects. In addition, silencing of PBX1 using small interfering RNA could weaken the effects of miR-141-3p inhibitor on JAK2/STAT3 pathway and cell progression in CAL27 cells. In summary, the findings from this study indicated that miR-141-3p upregulation could inhibit OSCC cell invasion, proliferation and migration, by targeting PBX1 via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

The role of B7-H3 in tumors and its potential in clinical application

B7-H3 (CD276 molecule) is an immune checkpoint from the B7 family of molecules that acts more as a co-inhibitory molecule to promote tumor progression. It is abnormally expressed on tumor cells and can be induced to express on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) including dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), B7-H3 promotes tumor progression by impairing T cell response, promoting the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to M2, inhibiting the function of DCs, and promoting the migration and invasion of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). In addition, through non-immunological functions, B7-H3 promotes tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, resistance, angiogenesis, and metabolism, or in the form of exosomes to promote tumor progression. In this process, microRNAs can regulate the expression of B7-H3. B7-H3 may serve as a potential biomarker for tumor diagnosis and a marker of poor prognosis. Immunotherapy targeting B7-H3 and the combination of B7-H3 and other immune checkpoints have shown certain efficacy. In this review, we summarized the basic characteristics of B7-H3 and its mechanism to promote tumor progression by inducing immunosuppression and non-immunological functions, as well as the potential clinical applications of B7-H3 and immunotherapy based on B7-H3.

B7 homologue 3 as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in gastrointestinal tumors

The most common digestive system (DS) cancers, including tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) such as colorectal cancer (CRC), gastric cancer (GC) and esophageal cancer (EC) as well as tumors of DS accessory organs such as pancreatic and liver cancer, are responsible for more than one-third of all cancer-related deaths worldwide, despite the progress that has been achieved in anticancer therapy. Due to these limitations in treatment strategies, oncological research has taken outstanding steps towards a better understanding of cancer cell biological complexity and heterogeneity. These studies led to new molecular target-driven therapeutic approaches. Different in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed significant expression of B7 homologue 3 (B7-H3) among the most common cancers of the GIT, including CRC, GC, and EC, whereas B7-H3 expression in normal healthy tissue of these organs was shown to be absent or minimal. This molecule is able to influence the biological behavior of GIT tumors through the various immunological and nonimmunological molecular mechanisms, and some of them are shown to be the result of B7-H3-related induction of signal transduction pathways, such as Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and nuclear factor-κB. B7-H3 exerts an important role in progression, metastasis and resistance to anticancer therapy in these tumors. In addition, the results of many studies suggest that B7-H3 stimulates immune evasion in GIT tumors by suppressing antitumor immune response. Accordingly, it was observed that experimental depletion or inhibition of B7-H3 in gastrointestinal cancers improved antitumor immune response, impaired tumor progression, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis and decreased resistance to anticancer therapy. Finally, the high expression of B7-H3 in most common cancers of the GIT was shown to be associated with poor prognosis. In this review, we summarize the established data from different GIT cancer-related studies and suggest that the B7-H3 molecule could be a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for anticancer immunotherapy in these tumors.

CD276 is an important player in macrophage recruitment into the tumor and an upstream regulator for PAI-1

More than 70% of colorectal, prostate, ovarian, pancreatic and breast cancer specimens show expression of CD276 (B7–H3), a potential immune checkpoint family member. Several studies have shown that high CD276 expression in cancer cells correlates with a poor clinical prognosis. This has been associated with the presence of lower tumor infiltrating leukocytes. Among those, tumor-associated macrophages can comprise up to 50% of the tumor mass and are thought to support tumor growth through various mechanisms. However, a lack of information on CD276 function and interaction partner(s) impedes rigorous evaluation of CD276 as a therapeutic target in oncology. Therefore, we aimed to understand the relevance of CD276 in tumor-macrophage interaction by employing a 3D spheroid coculture system with human cells. Our data show a role for tumor-expressed CD276 on the macrophage recruitment into the tumor spheroid, and also in regulation of the extracellular matrix modulator PAI-1. Furthermore, our experiments focusing on macrophage-expressed CD276 suggest that the antibody-dependent CD276 engagement triggers predominantly inhibitory signaling networks in human macrophages.

Halting colorectal cancer metastasis via novel dual nanomolar MMP-9/MAO-A quinoxaline-based inhibitors; design, synthesis, and evaluation

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) are central signaling nodes in CRC and promotors of distant metastasis associated with high mortality rates. Novel series of quinoxaline-based dual MMP-9/MAO-A inhibitors were synthesized to suppress CRC progression. The design rationale combines the thematic pharmacophoric features of MMP-9 and MAO-A inhibitors in hybrid scaffolds. All derivatives were initially screened via MTT assay for cytotoxic effects on normal colonocytes to assess their safety profiles, then evaluated for their anticancer potential on HCT116 cells overexpressing MMP-9 and MAO-A. The most promising derivatives 8, 16, 17, 19, and 28 exhibited single digit nanomolar IC₅₀ against HCT116 cells within their safe doses (EC₁₀₀) on normal colonocytes. They suppressed HCT116 cell migration by 73.32, 61.29, 21.27, 28.82, and 27.48%, respectively as detected by wound healing assay. Enzymatic assays revealed that the selected derivatives were superior to the reference MMP-9 and MAO-A inhibitors (quercetin and clorgyline, respectively). The nanomolar dual MMP-9/MAO-A inhibitor 19 was identified as the most potent and balanced dual inhibitor among the evaluated series with considerable selectivity against MAO-A over MAO-B. Besides, qRT-PCR analysis was conducted to explore the hit compounds' potential to downregulate hypoxia-inducing factor (HIF-1α) in HCT116 cells being correlated with MAO-A mediated CRC migration and invasion. The five above-mentioned compounds significantly downregulated HIF-1α by more than 5 folds. Docking simulations predicted their possible binding modes with MMP-9 and MAO-A and highlighted their essential structural features. Finally, they recorded drug-like in silico physicochemical parameters and ADMET profiles.

B7-H3 targeted antibody-based immunotherapy of malignant diseases

Introduction: Recent advances in immuno-oncology and bioengineering have rekindled the interest in monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based immunotherapies for malignancies. Crucial for their success is the identification of tumor antigens (TAs) that can serve as targets. B7-H3, a member of the B7 ligand family, represents such a TA. Although its exact functions and receptor(s) remain unclear, B7-H3 has predominantly a pro-tumorigenic effect mainly by suppressing the anti-tumor functions of T-cells.Areas covered: Initially we present a historical perspective on TA-specific antibodies for diagnosis and treatment of malignancies. Following a description of the TA requirements to be an attractive antibody-based immunotherapy target, we show that B7-H3 fulfills these criteria. We discuss its structure and functions. In a review and pooled analysis, we describe the limited B7-H3 expression in normal tissues and estimate B7-H3 expression frequency in tumors, tumor-associated vasculature and cancer initiating cells (CICs). Lastly, we discuss the association of B7-H3 expression in tumors with poor prognosis.Expert opinion: B7-H3 is an attractive target for mAb-based cancer immunotherapy. B7-H3-targeting strategies are expected to be highly effective and - importantly - safe. To fully exploit the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of B7-H3, its expression in pre-malignant lesions, serum, metastases, and CICs requires further investigation.

The complexity of tumour angiogenesis based on recently described molecules

Tumour angiogenesis is a crucial factor associated with tumour growth, progression, and metastasis. The whole process is the result of an interaction between a wide range of different molecules, influencing each other. Herein we summarize novel discoveries related to the less known angiogenic molecules such as galectins, pentraxin-3, Ral-interacting protein of 76 kDa (RLIP76), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), B7-H3, and delta-like ligand-4 (DLL-4) and their role in the process of tumour angiogenesis. These molecules influence the most important molecular pathways involved in the formation of blood vessels in cancer, including the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor interaction (VEGFR), HIF1-a activation, or PI3K/Akt/mTOR and JAK-STAT signalling pathways. Increased expression of galectins, RLIP76, and B7H3 has been proven in several malignancies. Pentraxin-3, which appears to inhibit tumour angiogenesis, shows reduced expression in tumour tissues. Anti-angiogenic treatment based mainly on VEGF inhibition has proved to be of limited effectiveness, leading to the development of drug resistance. The newly discovered molecules are of great interest as a potential source of new anti-cancer therapies. Their role as targets for new drugs and as prognostic markers in neoplasms is discussed in this review.

MicroRNA-124-3p suppresses PD-L1 expression and inhibits tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer cells via modulating STAT3 signaling

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) plays a significant role in colorectal tumorigenesis through induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and suppression of antitumor immunity. Furthermore, microRNAs (miRNAs) as the posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression show considerable promise as a therapeutic target for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Considering this, in vitro effects of miRNA-124 (miR-124-3p) on CRC cell tumorigenesis and Tregs differentiation via targeting PD-L1 were investigated in the current study. Functional analysis showed that miR-124 is significantly downregulated in CRC tissues as compared with marginal normal samples (p < .0001), and its downregulation was negatively correlated with PD-L1 expression. Moreover, a specific region in PD-L1 3'-untranslated region was predicted as the miR-124 target and validated using the luciferase assay. Further investigation showed that transfection of HT29 and SW480 cells with miR-124 mimics significantly reduced PD-L1 mRNA, protein, and cell surface expression, and inhibited Tregs in coculture models via modulating interleukin [IL]-10, IL-2, tumor necrosis factor α, transforming growth factor beta, and interferon gamma expression levels. Besides, miR-124 overexpression decreased CRC cell proliferation and arrested cell cycle at the G1 phase through downregulation of c-Myc and induced apoptosis in CRC cells via upregulation of both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Also, miR-124 exogenous overexpression could reduce colony and spheroid formation ability of CRC cells via downregulating CD44 mRNA expression. miR-124 also diminished MMP-9 expression and subsequently suppressed cell migration and invasion. We also illustrated that STAT3 signaling was repressed by miR-124 in CRC cells. Taken together, our findings imply that considering the involvement of miR-124 in the regulation of PD-L1 through colorectal tumorigenesis and its remarkable antitumor effects, this miRNA could be regarded as the promising target for the development of therapeutic approaches for colorectal cancer.

Non-coding RNAs regulation of macrophage polarization in cancer

Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts that did not code proteins but regulate their functions were extensively studied for the last two decades and the plethora of discoveries have instigated scientists to investigate their dynamic roles in several diseases especially in cancer. However, there is much more to learn about the role of ncRNAs as drivers of malignant cell evolution in relation to macrophage polarization in the tumor microenvironment. At the initial stage of tumor development, macrophages have an important role in directing Go/No-go decisions to the promotion of tumor growth, immunosuppression, and angiogenesis. Tumor-associated macrophages behave differently as they are predominantly induced to be polarized into M2, a pro-tumorigenic type when recruited with the tumor tissue and thereby favoring the tumorigenesis. Polarization of macrophages into M1 or M2 subtypes plays a vital role in regulating tumor progression, metastasis, and clinical outcome, highlighting the importance of studying the factors driving this process. A substantial number of studies have demonstrated that ncRNAs are involved in the macrophage polarization based on their ability to drive M1 or M2 polarization and in this review we have described their functions and categorized them into oncogenes, tumor suppressors, Juggling tumor suppressors, and Juggling oncogenes.

The COX-2-derived PGE2 autocrine contributes to bradykinin-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and astrocytic migration via STAT3 signaling

Background

The matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is up-regulated by several proinflammatory mediators in the central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Increasing reports show that MMP-9 expression is an inflammatory biomarker of several CNS disorders, including the CNS inflammation and neurodegeneration. Bradykinin (BK) is a common proinflammatory mediator and elevated in several brain injury and inflammatory disorders. The raised BK may be detrimental effects on the CNS that may aggravate brain inflammation through MMP-9 up-regulation or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-derived prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production in brain astrocytes. However, the relationship between BK-induced MMP-9 expression and COX-2-derived PGE₂ release in brain astrocytes remains unclear.

Methods

Herein we used rat brain astrocytes (RBA) to investigate the role of the COX-2/PGE₂ system in BK-induced MMP-9 expression. We used zymographic, RT-PCR, EIA, and Western blotting analyses to confirm that BK induces MMP-9 expression via a COX-2/PGE₂-dependent pathway.

Results

Our results show activation of native COX-2 by BK led to PGE₂ production and release. Subsequently, PGE₂ induced MMP-9 expression via PGE₂ receptor (EP)-mediated c-Src, Jak2, ERK1/2, and then activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. Finally, up-regulation of MMP-9 by BK via the pathway may promote astrocytic migration.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that a novel autocrine pathway for BK-induced MMP-9 protein expression is mediated through activation of STAT3 by native COX-2/PGE₂-mediated c-Src/Jak2/ERK cascades in brain astrocytes.

B7-H3: An Attractive Target for Antibody-based Immunotherapy

The recent impressive clinical responses to antibody-based immunotherapy have prompted the identification of clinically relevant tumor antigens that can serve as targets in solid tumors. Among them, B7-H3, a member of the B7 ligand family, represents an attractive target for antibody-based immunotherapy, it is overexpressed on differentiated malignant cells and cancer-initiating cells, with limited heterogeneity, and high frequency (60% of 25,000 tumor samples) in many different cancer types, but has a limited expression at low level in normal tissues. In nonmalignant tissues, B7-H3 has a predominantly inhibitory role in adaptive immunity, suppressing T-cell activation and proliferation. In malignant tissues, B7-H3 inhibits tumor antigen-specific immune responses, leading to a protumorigenic effect. B7-H3 also has nonimmunologic protumorigenic functions, such as promoting migration and invasion, angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, as well as affecting tumor cell metabolism. As a result, B7-H3 expression in tumors is associated with poor prognosis. Although experimental B7-H3 silencing reduces cancer cell malignant potential, there has been limited emphasis on the development of B7-H3-blocking antibodies, most likely because the B7-H3 receptor remains unknown. Instead, many antibody-based strategies utilizing distinct effector mechanisms to target B7-H3-expressing cancer cells have been developed. These strategies have demonstrated potent antitumor activity and acceptable safety profiles in preclinical models. Ongoing clinical trials are assessing their safety and efficacy in patients. Identification of the B7-H3 receptor will improve our understanding of its role in tumor immunity, and will suggest rational strategies to develop blocking antibodies, which may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of tumor immunity.

Clinical and Prognostic Relevance of B7-H3 and Indicators of Glucose Metabolism in Colorectal Cancer

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the clinical and prognostic relevance of B7-H3 expression and indicators of glucose metabolism in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

Using immunohistochemistry, the expression of B7-H3 was detected in a total of 213 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded CRC tissue specimens. Furthermore, levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and fructosamine (FMN) as indicators of glucose metabolism were analyzed in CRC patients and stratified into high or low expression sub-groups based on Youden Index. The relationship between B7-H3, FBG, LDH, FMN expression, and clinicopathological characteristics were also evaluated to establish their prognostic significance in patients with CRC.

Results

B7-H3 was highly expressed in CRC tissue. The positive rates of B7-H3 expression was 63.8% (136/213). We found a linear correlation between B7-H3 and FBG in depth of tumor invasion (T3/4) (p = 0.037, r = 0.259), lymph node metastasis (N0) (p = 0.004, r = 0.259), and TNM stage (I/II) (p = 0.009, r = 0.242). High expression of FBG, LDH, FMN [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.916, 95% CI: 1.223–3.00, p = 0.005; HR = 1.801, 95% CI: 1.153–2.813, p = 0.010; HR = 2.154, 95% CI: 1.336–3.472, p = 0.002], respectively, was identified as a significant independent predictor of poor overall survival (OS). Although B7-H3 expression did not affect OS, CRC patients expressing both high B7-H3 and high FMN contributed to a significant decrease in OS (HR = 1.881, 95%CI: 1.059–3.339, p = 0.031). Moreover, with low expression of B7-H3, high expression of FBG, LDH and FMN were also recognized as predictors of inferior OS (HR = 3.393, 95% CI: 1.493-7.709, p = 0.004; HR = 7.107, 95% CI: 2.785–18.138, p = 0.000; HR = 2.800, 95% CI: 1.184–6.625, p = 0.019).

Conclusion

B7-H3 combined with FBG, LDH, or FMN, could reflect the clinical outcomes of patients with CRC.

B7-H3 Immune Checkpoint Protein in Human Cancer

B7-H3 belongs to the B7 family of immune checkpoint proteins, which are important regulators of the adaptive immune response and emerging key players in human cancer. B7-H3 is a transmembrane protein expressed on the surface of tumor cells, antigen presenting cells, natural killer cells, tumor endothelial cells, but can also be present in intra- and extracellular vesicles. Additionally, B7-H3 may be present as a circulating soluble isoform in serum and other body fluids. B7-H3 is overexpressed in a variety of tumor types, in correlation with poor prognosis. B7-H3 is a promising new immunotherapy target for anti-cancer immune response, as well as a potential biomarker. Besides its immunoregulatory role, B7-H3 has intrinsic pro-tumorigenic activities related to enhanced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, metastatic capacity and anti-cancer drug resistance. B7-H3 has also been found to regulate key metabolic enzymes, promoting the high glycolytic capacity of cancer cells. B7-H3 receptors are still not identified, and little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying B7-H3 functions. Here, we review the current knowledge on the involvement of B7-H3 in human cancer.

High B7-H3 expression is linked to increased risk of prostate cancer progression

B7-H3 is a member of the B7 superfamily of immune checkpoint molecules. B7-H3 up regulation has been linked to cancer development and progression in many tumors including prostate cancer. To clarify the potential utility of B7-H3 as a prognostic biomarker, B7-H3 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in more than 17 000 prostate cancers. Normal prostatic glands were largely B7-H3 negative, while membranous B7-H3 immunostaining was seen in 47.0% of analyzed cancers. B7-H3 immunostaining was weak in 12.3%, moderate in 21.1% and strong in 13.5% of cases. High B7-H3 expression was associated with pT, Gleason score, lymph node metastasis, high Ki67 labeling index and early prostate-specific antigen recurrence (P < 0.0001 each). High B7-H3 expression was also linked to high androgen receptor expression and TMPRSS2:V-ets avian erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog (ERG) fusions (P < 0.0001 each). Multivariate analyses showed a strong independent prognostic impact of high B7-H3 expression in all cancers and in the ERG negative subgroup. Comparison with previously analyzed frequent chromosomal deletions revealed a close association with Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog deletions. Analysis of B7-H3, alone or in combination with other markers, might be of clinical utility, especially in the subgroup of ERG negative prostate cancers.

Inhibitory effect of microRNA-608 on lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting BRD4 through the JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality around the world. This malignancy has a 5-year survival rate of 21%, because most of the patients are diagnosed in the middle or late stage of the disease when local metastasis and tumor invasion have already progressed. Therefore, the investigation of the pathogenesis of lung cancer is an issue of crucial importance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) seem to be involved in the evolution and development of lung cancer. MicroRNA-608 is likely to be downregulated in lung cancer tissues. Regarding this, the current study involved the determination of the fundamental mechanism of microRNA-608 in the development of lung cancer. Based on the results of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), the expression level of microRNA-608 was downregulated in 40 lung cancer tissues, compared to that in the adjacent normal tissues. The results of dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) was the direct target of microRNA-608. Accordingly, the lung cancer tissues had an elevated expression level of BRD4, in contrast to the adjacent normal tissues. The results of Cell Counting Kit 8 assay demonstrated that the high expression of microRNA-608 notably restrained lung cancer cell proliferation. The scratch wound and transwell assays showed that the upregulation of microRNA-608 suppressed the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells. Finally, the western blot assay showed that in the microRNA-608 mimics group, the expression levels of BRD4, p-JAK2, p-STATA3, CD44, and MMP9 were significantly decreased, compared with those in the negative control miRNA mimics group. Our results indicate that high expression of microRNA-608 inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells by targeting BRD4 via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Potential Therapeutic Targets of B7 Family in Colorectal Cancer

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway blockade has impressively benefited cancer patients with a wide spectrum of tumors. However, its efficacy in colorectal cancer (CRC) is modest, and only a small subset of patients benefits from approved checkpoint inhibitors. Newer checkpoints that target additional immunomodulatory pathways are becoming necessary to activate durable antitumor immune responses in patients with CRC. In this review, we evaluated the mRNA expression of all 10 reported B7 family members in human CRC by retrieving and analyzing the TCGA database and reviewed the current understanding of the top three B7 family checkpoint molecules (B7-H3, VISTA, and HHLA2) with the highest mRNA expression, introducing them as putative therapeutic targets in CRC.

B7-H3: A promising therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases

B7-H3 as a newly identified costimulatory molecule that belongs to B7 ligand family, is broadly expressed in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. The overexpression of B7-H3 has been verified to be correlated with the poor prognosis and poor clinical outcome of several human cancers. In recent years, researchers reveal that B7-H3 is involved in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), etc. In this review, we will discuss the biological function of B7-H3 and summarize the progress made over past years regarding its role in the occurrence and development of autoimmune diseases. The insights gained from these findings could serve as the foundation for future therapies of these diseases.

B7-H3 promotes the cell cycle-mediated chemoresistance of colorectal cancer cells by regulating CDC25A

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies, and chemoresistance is one of the key obstacles in the clinical outcome. Here, we studied the function of B7-H3 in regulating cell cycle-mediated chemoresistance in CRC. The ability of B7-H3 in regulating chemoresistance was investigated via cell viability, clonogenicity, apoptosis and cycle analysis in vitro. Moreover, the role of B7-H3/CDC25A axis in regulating chemoresistance in vivo in the xenograft tumor models by intraperitoneal injection of oxaliplatin (L-OHP) and CDC25A inhibitors. The correlation between B7-H3 and CDC25A was examined in the CRC patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and pathological analyses. We found that B7-H3 could effectively enhance the resistance to a chemotherapeutic drug (oxaliplatin or 5-fluorouracil) via CDC25A. B7-H3 regulated the expression of CDC25A by the STAT3 signaling pathway in CRC cells. Furthermore, overexpression of B7-H3 enhanced chemoresistance by reducing the G2/M phase arrest in a CDC25A-dependent manner. Silencing CDC25A or treatment with CDC25A inhibitor could reverse the B7-H3-induced chemoresistance of cancer cells. Moreover, both B7-H3 and CDC25A were significantly upregulated in CRC samples compared with normal adjacent tissues and that the levels correlated with tumor stage. CDC25A was positively correlated with B7-H3 expression in this cohort. Taken together, our findings provide an alternative mechanism by which CRC cells can acquire chemoresistance via the B7-H3/CDC25A axis.

LncRNA NEAT1 sponges miR-214 to regulate M2 macrophage polarization by regulation of B7-H3 in multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND

LncRNA NEAT1 was associated with the tumorigenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). However, the mechanisms of M2 macrophage polarization involved with NEAT1 in MM are still unknown.

METHODS

Bone marrow samples, multiple myeloma cells RPMI 8226 and monocyte cell line THP-1 were used in this study. The expression of NEAT1 and miR-214 was modified by transfection with the shNEAT1 or miR-214 inhibitor. The expression of NEAT1, miR-214 and B7-H3 in MM patient tissues and cells was analyzed by RT-qPCR. ELISA assay was used to determine the release of B7-H3 in the supernatant of cell culture. The patient survival curve was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. The macrophage polarization markers were examined by RT-qPCR and western blotting. The interaction between NEAT1, miR-214 and B7-H3 was analyzed by Dual-Luciferase reporter and RIP assays. AG490 was used to block the JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Co-culture of THP-1 and RPMI 8226 cells was used for macrophage polarization.

RESULTS

NEAT1 and B7-H3 were up-regulated, but miR-214 was obviously down-regulated in MM patients. B7-H3, NEAT1 and miR-214 were associated with overall survival time of MM patients. NEAT1 silencing induced miR-214 and inhibited the expression and release of B7-H3 and then suppressed M2 macrophage polarization via inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling. NEAT1 directly targeted miR-214, and miR-214 directly bound to B7-H3. MiR-214 inhibitor reversed the down-regulation and release of B7-H3 and M2 macrophage polarization caused by shNEAT1. The specific JAK2/STAT3 signaling inhibitor AG490 abrogated M2 macrophage polarization.

CONCLUSION

NEAT1 promoted M2 macrophage polarization by sponging miR-214 and then regulating B7-H3, thus accelerating MM progression via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Our study revealed novel mechanisms of M2 macrophage polarization and provided new potential clinical therapeutic targets for MM.

Pterostilbene Inhibits Adipocyte Conditioned-Medium-Induced Colorectal Cancer Cell Migration through Targeting FABP5-Related Signaling Pathway

Pterostilbene (PTS) is a phenolic compound with diverse pharmacologic activities. However, its potential for inhibiting obesity-related colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Our study evaluated the mechanism of inhibitory effects of PTS on adipocyte conditioned-medium (aCM)-induced malignant transformation in HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. The results demonstrated that PTS could downregulate the expression of aCM-induced fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) and prometastatic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), MMP9, and extracellular tumor necrosis factor α via inhibiting aCM-induced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), β-catenin, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ). Moreover, PTS can suppress aCM-stimulated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinases 1/2 (JNK 1/2) signaling pathways activation that are upstream of NF-κB, β-catenin, and PPAR-γ. Therefore, we suggest that PTS could alleviate adiposity-induced metastasis in CRC via inhibiting cell migration through downregulating FABP5 gene expression.

B7H3 regulates differentiation and serves as a potential biomarker and theranostic target for human glioblastoma

B7H3 (CD276), a co-stimulator molecule of the cell surface B7 protein superfamily, is expressed on glioblastomas (GBM). Recently, B7H3 functions beyond immune costimulation have been demonstrated. However, the mechanisms underlying B7H3 function are diverse and not well understood. GBM tumors contain undifferentiated self-renewing cells, which confound therapeutic attempts. We investigated the role of B7H3 in the regulation of GBM cell differentiation and the regulatory pathways involved. Analysis of public databases (TCGA, Rembrandt, and GEO NCBI) and RNA sequencing were performed to explore the role of B7H3 in GBM. Knockdown and overexpression of B7H3, were used to verify the downstream pathway in vitro. Further studies in vivo were performed to support the new finding. Bioinformatics analysis identified a correlation between the expression of B7H3, the expression of glioma self-renewing cell (GSC)-related genes, and MYC expression. These observations were verified by RNA-sequencing analyses in primary GBM cell lines. In vitro knockdown of B7H3-induced differentiation, associated with downregulation of SMAD6 (a TGF-β pathway inhibitor) and enhancement of SMAD1 phosphorylation-induced SMAD4 expression. Importantly, activation of the TGF-β pathway resulted in downregulation of MYC expression. In vivo assays conducted in a human GBM cell line xenograft mouse model demonstrated that B7H3 knockdown decreased MYC expression and inhibited tumor growth. B7H3 knockdown could regulate GBM differentiation by modulating MYC expression. So, B7H3 could serve as a potential theranostic target for the treatment of patients with GBM.

The novel non-immunological role and underlying mechanisms of B7-H3 in tumorigenesis

B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3) has been proven to be involved in tumorigenesis. An elucidation of its role and underlying mechanisms is essential to an understanding of tumorigenesis and the development of effective clinical applications. B7-H3 is abnormally overexpressed in many types of cancer and is generally associated with a poor clinical prognosis. B7-H3 inhibits the initiation of the "caspase cascade" by the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription pathway to resist tumor cell apoptosis. B7-H3 accelerates malignant proliferation by attacking the checkpoint mechanism of the tumor cell cycle through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase B pathway. B7-H3 reprograms the metabolism of glucose and lipids and transforms the metabolic flux of tumor cells to promote tumorigenesis. B7-H3 induces abnormal angiogenesis by recruiting vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase to tumor lesions. B7-H3 strongly promotes tumorigenesis through antiapoptotic, pro-proliferation, metabolism reprogramming, and pro-angiogenesis.

B7-H3 promotes aerobic glycolysis and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer cells by regulating HK2

Accumulating evidence suggests that aerobic glycolysis is important for colorectal cancer (CRC) development. However, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. B7-H3, an immunoregulatory protein, is broadly overexpressed by multiple tumor types and plays a vital role in tumor progression. In this study, we found that overexpression of B7-H3 effectively increased the rate of glucose consumption and lactate production, whereas knockdown of B7-H3 had the opposite effect. Furthermore, we showed that B7-H3 increased glucose consumption and lactate production by promoting hexokinase 2 (HK2) expression in CRC cells, and we also found that HK2 was a key mediator of B7-H3-induced CRC chemoresistance. Depletion of HK2 expression or treating cells with HK2 inhibitors could reverse the B7-H3-induced increase in aerobic glycolysis and B7-H3-endowed chemoresistance of cancer cells. Moreover, we verified a positive correlation between the expression of B7-H3 and HK2 in tumor tissues of CRC patients. Collectively, our findings suggest that B7-H3 may be a novel regulator of glucose metabolism and chemoresistance via controlling HK2 expression in CRC cells, a result that could help develop B7-H3 as a promising therapeutic target for CRC treatment.

Failed immune responses across multiple pathologies share pan-tumor and circulating lymphocytic targets

Rationale Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes are widely associated with positive outcomes, yet carry key indicators of a systemic failed immune response against unresolved cancer. Cancer immunotherapies can reverse their tolerance phenotypes, while preserving tumor-reactivity and neoantigen-specificity shared with circulating immune cells. Objectives We performed comprehensive transcriptomic analyses to identify gene signatures common to circulating and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in the context of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Modulated genes also associated with disease outcome were validated in other cancer types. Findings Using bioinformatics, we identified practical diagnostic markers and actionable targets of the failed immune response. On circulating lymphocytes, three genes, LEF1, FASLG, and MMP9, could efficiently stratify patients from healthy control donors. From their associations with resistance to cancer immunotherapies and microbial infections, we uncovered not only pan-cancer, but pan-pathology failed immune response profiles. A prominent lymphocytic matrix metallopeptidase cell migration pathway, is central to a panoply of diseases and tumor immunogenicity, correlates with multi-cancer recurrence, and identifies a feasible, non-invasive approach to pan-pathology diagnoses. Conclusions The non-invasive differently expressed genes we have identified warrant future investigation towards the development of their potential in precision diagnostics and precision pan-disease immunotherapeutics.

Downregulated miR-187 contributes to the keratinocytes hyperproliferation in psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common chronic skin disease characterized by epidermal hyperplasia and inflammation. However, the pathogenesis of psoriasis is multifactorial and is not fully understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a promising class of small, noncoding RNA molecules that have a large impact on cellular functions by regulating gene expression. Here we reported that microRNA-187 (miR-187), which is one of the most dynamic microRNAs identified in the deep screening miRNAs profile, is downregulated in inflammatory cytokines-stimulated keratinocytes and psoriatic skins. By luciferase activity assay and gain-of-function studies, we showed that miR-187 inhibits keratinocytes hyperproliferation by targeting CD276. Moreover, overexpression of miR-187 decreases acanthosis and reduces the disease severity in psoriasis mouse models. Taken together, the results of our study implies miR-187 as a critical factor in psoriasis pathogenesis, which could be a potent target for psoriasis treatment.

Effects and mechanism of STAT3 silencing on the growth and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) have roles in various cellular processes, including angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle progression, cell migration and drug resistance. To clarify the effects of STAT3 in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms, STAT3 was directly silenced, and the effects of STAT3 silencing on cell proliferation, apoptosis and growth with phenotype-associated molecules were examined.pSH1-Si-STAT3 was successfully transfected into the CRC HCT-116 and SW480 cell lines, which was verified by GFP tagging under a fluorescence microscope. An MTT assay revealed that the proliferation of both cell lines that were transfected with pSH1-Si-STAT3 was significantly suppressed in comparison with the control and mock (P<0.05). Acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining and flow cytometry indicated that the transfected cell lines had a significantly higher rate of apoptosis than the control- and mock-treated cells (P<0.05). STAT3-silienced cells were also significantly arrested at the G₂/M stage compared with the cells that were transfected with control and mock plasmids (P<0.05). At the mRNA level, the expression of STAT3 and survivin was significantly downregulated (P<0.05), but p53 and caspase-3 were significantly upregulated (P<0.05). The significantly different patterns of expression were observed in western blot analysis (P<0.05). The findings of the present study indicate that STAT3 silencing may suppress the proliferation and growth of CRC cells, and induce their apoptosis by upregulating the expression of survivin, p53 and caspase-3. Therefore, STAT3 may be a good candidate for CRC gene therapy.

B7H3 As a Promoter of Metastasis and Promising Therapeutic Target

B7H3 (also known as CD276, an immune checkpoint molecule) is aberrantly overexpressed in many types of cancer, and such upregulation is generally associated with a poor clinical prognosis. Recent discoveries indicate a crucial role for B7H3 in promoting carcinogenesis and metastasis. This review will focus on the latest developments relating specifically to the oncogenic activity of B7H3 and will describe the upstream regulators and downstream effectors of B7H3 in cancer. Finally, we discuss the emerging roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in inhibiting B7H3-mediated tumor promotion. Excellent recent studies have shed new light on the functions of B7H3 in cancer and identified B7H3 as a critical promoter of tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cancer stemness, drug resistance, and the Warburg effect. Numerous miRNAs are reported to regulate the expression of B7H3. Our meta-analysis of miRNA database revealed that 17 common miRNAs potentially interact with B7H3 mRNA. The analysis of the TCGA ovarian cancer dataset indicated that low miR-187 and miR-489 expression was associated with poor prognosis. Future studies aimed at delineating the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning B7H3-mediated tumor promotion will provide further insights into the cell biology of tumor development. In addition, inhibition of B7H3 signaling, to be used alone or in combination with other treatments, will contribute to improvements in clinical practice and benefit cancer patients.

A bi-specific inhibitor targeting IL-17A and MMP-9 reduces invasion and motility in MDA-MB-231 cells

The cytokine IL-17A is associated with the progression of various cancers, but little is known about the molecular cross-talk between IL-17A and other tumor-promoting factors. Previous studies have shown that the IL-17A-mediated invasion of breast cancer cells can be inhibited by selective antagonists of the matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), suggesting that the cross-talk between IL-17A and MMP-9 may promote cancer invasiveness and metastasis. Here, we present a novel strategy for developing cancer therapeutics, based on the simultaneous binding and inhibition of both IL-17A and MMP-9. To this end, we use a bi-specific heterodimeric fusion protein, comprising a natural inhibitor of MMPs (N-TIMP2) fused with an engineered extracellular domain (V3) of the IL-17A receptor. We show that, as compared with the mono-specific inhibitors of IL-17A (V3) and MMP-9 (N-TIMP2), the engineered bi-specific fusion protein inhibits both MMP-9 activation and IL-17A-induced cytokine secretion from fibroblasts and exhibits a synergistic inhibition of both the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that dual targeting of inflammatory (IL-17A) and extracellular matrix remodeling (MMP) pathways can potentially be used as a novel therapeutic approach against cancer. Moreover, the platform developed here for generating the bi-specific IL-17A/MMP-9 inhibitor can be utilized for generating bi-specific inhibitors for other cytokines and MMPs.

Correlation of IDH1 and B7H3 expression with prognosis of CRC patients

BACKGROUND

B7H3 is an immuno-stimulatory glycoprotein that is overexpressed in cancer. However, its functional contributions to cancer development and progression are not well understood. In several reports, it was demonstrated that B7H3 reprograms lipid metabolism and regulates glucose metabolism. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), a metabolic enzyme in the TCA cycle, its reaction product is involved in lipid synthesis. Thus, we aimed to identify a novel marker to predict the prognosis of CRC patients and to investigate the relationship between IDH1 and B7H3.

METHODS

We analyzed IDH1 and B7H3 expression levels in 225 CRC specimens by immunochemistry. Moreover, in vitro studies were performed to demonstrate the correlation between IDH1 and B7H3.

RESULTS

Among 225 tissues, the positive rates of IDH1 and B7H3 were 37.8% (85/225) and 87.6% (197/225), respectively. In CRC samples, IDH1 significantly correlated with B7H3 expression (P = 0.044). Moreover, multivariate analyses revealed that high expression of both B7H3 and IDH1 and a high tumor grade were related to the prognosis of CRC patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with co-expression of IDH1 and B7H3 had a poor overall survival. In SW480B7H3-EGFP cells, which highly express B7H3, IDH1 was up-regulated. Similarly, knockdown of B7H3 expression in Caco-2-shB7-H3 contributed to reduced IDH1 levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Although IDH1 and B7H3 cannot be used as independent prognostic factors, co-expression of IDH1 and B7H3 significantly correlated with the prognosis of CRC patients and may serve as a combined predictive marker. Thus, the correlation between IDH1 and B7H3 has been proven in vivo and in vitro.

Expression and phosphorylation of Stathmin 1 indicate poor survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and associate with immune suppression

AIM

Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Stathmin 1 and Serine 38 phospho-Stathmin 1 (p-Stathmin 1^S38) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and research its correlation with clinical parameters, survival and expression of immune checkpoint molecules.

RESULTS

Stathmin 1 and p-Stathmin 1^S38 overexpression in primary HNSCC is associated with poor overall survival. Stathmin 1 expression is related to tumor size, category and lymph node status. Stathmin 1 expression correlates with PD-L1, TIM3, VISTA, B7-H3, B7-H4, LAG-3 and p-STAT3 expression in HNSCC. P-Stathmin 1^S38 expression correlates with PD-L1, VISTA, B7-H4, LAG-3 and p-STAT3 in HNSCC.

CONCLUSION

We found expression of Stathmin 1 and p-Stathmin 1^S38 indicates poor survival in HNSCC and may be associated with immune suppression.

The Correlation Between the Immune and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Signatures Suggests Potential Therapeutic Targets and Prognosis Prediction Approaches in Kidney Cancer

Both epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immune regulation are important biological process in malignant tumours. The current research aims to comprehensively explore the potential association between the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signature and immune checkpoint signature and its role in predicting the prognosis of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients. EMT-related genes were collected from an experiment-based study and then were investigated using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas. A total of 357 genes were included, and 23 of them that were upregulated and correlated with prognosis were analysed further as core EMT genes in ccRCC. Interestingly, the emerging immune checkpoints CD276, OX40 and TGFB1 were found to be significantly co-expressed with core EMT genes, and TGFB1, CXCR4, IL10, and IL6 were the most important molecules potentially interacting with EMT molecules in our model, as determined from mRNA co-expression and protein-protein interaction network analysis. Additionally, an integrated scoring model based on FOXM1, TIMP1 and IL6 was successfully established to distinguish ccRCC patients with different clinical risks. Our results identified core genes in the EMT-immunophenotyping correlation and evaluated their risk assessment capabilities, providing more potential therapeutic targets and prediction approaches regarding the translational research of treatment and prognosis in ccRCC.