Diagnostic and prognostic value of serum interleukin‑16 in patients with gastric cancer

Interleukin-16 is increased in dialysis patients but is not a cardiovascular risk factor

Oxalate, a uremic toxin that accumulates in dialysis patients, is associated with cardiovascular disease. As oxalate crystals can activate immune cells, we tested the hypothesis that plasma oxalate would be associated with cytokine concentrations and cardiovascular outcomes in dialysis patients. In a cohort of 104 US patients with kidney failure requiring dialysis (cohort 1), we measured 21 inflammatory markers. As IL-16 was the only cytokine to correlate with oxalate, we focused further investigations on IL-16. We searched for associations between concentrations of IL-16 and mortality and cardiovascular events in the 4D cohort (1255 patients, cohort 2) and assessed further associations of IL-16 with other uremic toxins in this cohort. IL-16 levels were positively correlated with pOx concentrations (ρ = 0.39 in cohort 1, r = 0.35 in cohort 2) and were elevated in dialysis patients when compared to healthy individuals. No significant association could be found between IL-16 levels and cardiovascular events or mortality in the 4D cohort. We conclude that the cytokine IL-16 correlates with plasma oxalate concentrations and is substantially increased in patients with kidney failure on dialysis. However, no association could be detected between IL-16 concentrations and cardiovascular disease in the 4D cohort.

Circulating Proteins as Diagnostic Markers in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly malignant disease affecting humans worldwide and has a poor prognosis. Most GC cases are detected at advanced stages due to the cancer lacking early detectable symptoms. Therefore, there is great interest in improving early diagnosis by implementing targeted prevention strategies. Markers are necessary for early detection and to guide clinicians to the best personalized treatment. The current semi-invasive endoscopic methods to detect GC are invasive, costly, and time-consuming. Recent advances in proteomics technologies have enabled the screening of many samples and the detection of novel biomarkers and disease-related signature signaling networks. These biomarkers include circulating proteins from different fluids (e.g., plasma, serum, urine, and saliva) and extracellular vesicles. We review relevant published studies on circulating protein biomarkers in GC and detail their application as potential biomarkers for GC diagnosis. Identifying highly sensitive and highly specific diagnostic markers for GC may improve patient survival rates and contribute to advancing precision/personalized medicine.

The role of miRNA-128 in the development and progression of gastrointestinal and urogenital cancer

Increasing data have shown the significance of various miRNAs in malignancy. In this regard, parallel to its biological role in normal tissues, miRNA-128 (miR-128) has been found to play an essential immunomodulatory function in the process of cancer initiation and development. The occurrence of the aberrant expression of miR-128 in tumors and the unique properties of miRNAs raise the prospect of their use as biomarkers and the next generation of molecular anticancer therapies. The function of miR-128 in malignancies such as breast, prostate, colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, esophageal, cervical, ovarian and bladder cancers and hepatocellular carcinoma is discussed in this review. Finally, the effect of exosomal miR-128 on cancer resistance to therapeutics and cancer immunotherapy in certain malignancies is highlighted.

Interleukins and redox impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus: mini-review and pilot study

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality, low-grade inflammation being acknowledged as a key contributor to its development and progression. A tailored therapeutic approach, based on sensitive and specific biomarkers, could allow a more accurate analysis of disease susceptibility/prognostic and of the response to treatment.

OBJECTIVES

This mini-review and pilot study had two main goals: (1) reviewing the most recent literature encompassing the use of interleukins as inflammatory markers influenced by the redox imbalances in T2DM and (2) assessing parameters that conjunctly evaluate the redox impairment and inflammatory burden of T2DM patients, taking into consideration smoking status, as such group-specific biomarkers are scarcely reported in literature.

METHODS

Firstly, PubMed database was surveyed to select and review the relevant studies employing interleukins as T2DM biomarkers and to assess if studies using combined inflammatory-redox indices were reported. Then, routine biochemical parameters were assessed in a pilot study -T2DM patients with 3 subgroups: non-smokers, smokers and ex-smokers, were compared to a control group of non-diabetic, apparently healthy non-smokers. Protein (AOPPs, AGEs), lipid/HDL (Amplex Red-based method) oxidative damage and inflammatory status (CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10) biomarkers were assessed. Cytokine ratios and 2 oxidative-inflammatory status indices were developed (IH1 and IH2) and evaluated.

RESULTS

We observed significant differences in terms of serum redox and inflammatory status (AOPPs, AGEs, CRP, CRP/HDL, CRP/IL-6, IL-10/IL-6, IH1) between T2DM patients compared to control and, moreover, between the subgroups formed considering smoking status (CRP, CRP/HDL, IH1). Glycemic control strongly influenced inflammatory status biomarkers: glycemia was positively correlated with the inflammatory parameters (CRP/IL-10) and inversely with the anti-inflammatory ones (IL-10, IL-10/IL-1β ratio).

CONCLUSIONS

Several of the assessed parameters may possess prognostic value for diabetics, especially when comparing subgroups with a different smoking history and could prove useful in clinical practice for assessing disease progress and therapeutic efficacy.

Association of Sarcopenia and Expression of Interleukin-16 in Gastric Cancer Survival

We designed the present work to explore the connection between sarcopenia and interleukin-16 (IL-16) expression and their integrated relation with gastric cancer (GC) survival. We deemed the sex-specific third lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle index cutoffs for sarcopenia to be ≤40.8 and ≤34.9 cm²/m² in male and female patients, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to detect IL-16 levels among GC tissues of the patients. We determined overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) by univariate and multivariate analyses. This study included 225 GC cases, with an average age of 62.7 years. There were 41 (18.2%) female patients, and 107 (47.5%) patients had sarcopenia. Sarcopenia and high IL-16 expression were identified as independent factors to predict OS (hazard ratios [HR] = 1.64 and 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.25–2.23 and 1.16–2.78, respectively) and RFS (HR = 1.43 and 1.60, 95% CI = 1.15–2.95 and 1.10–2.37, respectively). There were more cases showing high IL-16 expression detected in the sarcopenia group (55.7% vs. 37.3%, p = 0.003). Later, we grouped the patients with sarcopenia and IL-16 expression and discovered that the patients with sarcopenia and IL-16 upregulation displayed the poorest OS (HR = 3.02; 95% CI = 1.64–5.91) and RFS (HR = 2.34; 95% CI = 1.47–4.69). In conclusion, more IL-16 upregulation was noted in GC patients with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia accompanied by high IL-16 expression remarkably indicates a dismal prognosis in GC patients. This suggests that these biomarkers may be able to identify patients with GC with poor prognosis and enhance prognostication.

microRNA-128-3p inhibits CD4+ regulatory T cells enrichment by targeting interleukin 16 in gastric cancer

Previous studies have confirmed that microRNA (miR)-128-3p is expressed at low levels in gastric cancer (GC), and low miR-128-3p expression promotes the growth of GC cells. However, whether the dysregulation of miR-128-3p expression affects tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and leads to immune escape remains unclear. In the present study, predictive bioinformatics approaches showed that miR-128-3p expression was inversely correlated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte enrichment. When CD4 + T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) were enriched, lower miR-128-3p expression was associated with worse overall survival. However, when numbers of CD8 + T cells were decreased, the upregulation of miR-128-3p expression had a favorable effect on GC prognosis. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and cell biology experiments revealed that interleukin 16 (IL16) was the target of miR-128-3p and was negatively regulated by miR-128-3p. In addition, GC cells were cocultured with T lymphocytes, and the subsequent flow cytometric analysis showed that overexpression of miR-128-3p in tumor cells decreased the percentages of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs by downregulating IL16 expression in GC, whereas miR-128-3p inhibition had the opposite effect. Moreover, the recombinant IL16 reversed the effects of miR-128-3p overexpression, and a competitive antibody against the IL16 receptor CD4 also reversed the effects of miR-128-3p knockdown. These studies identified the mechanism by which the miR-128-3p/IL16 axis promotes the infiltration of CD4+ Tregs in GC, and this mechanism will be a promising therapeutic target in GC immunotherapy.

LRMP Associates With Immune Infiltrates and Acts as a Prognostic Biomarker in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background: Lymphoid-restricted membrane protein (LRMP) is an endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein that is expressed in a developmentally regulated manner in both B and T cell lineages. However, the role of LRMP in the growth, prognosis and immune infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear.

Method: The expression levels of LRMP mRNA in tumor and normal tissues were analyzed using Tumor Immune Estimation Resource 2.0 (TIMER 2.0) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA 2). LRMP protein expression was examined using the Human Protein Atlas. In vitro experiments, including qRT-PCR Western blot and immunohistochemistry staining were also performed to investigate LRMP expression. GEPIA2 and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases were used to analyze the clinical prognostic significance of LRMP. To further confirm the underlying function of LRMP, the data were analyzed using gene set enrichment analysis. Moreover, we also constructed plasmids to overexpress LRMP and explored the effect of LRMP in A549 cell line. Additionally, Tumor Immune single-cell Hub was used to investigate the distribution of LRMP in the LUAD immune microenvironment; TIMER and CIBERSORT were used to investigate the relationships among LRMP, LRMP co-expressed genes, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells; Finally, the correlations between LRMP and immune checkpoints were analyzed using TIMER 2.0.

Results: The expression of LRMP was significantly lower in LUAD tissues and cell lines. High LRMP expression is associated with a better prognosis in patients with LUAD. In vitro experimental studies demonstrated that overexpression of LRMP could decrease the proliferation, migration and invasion in A549 cells, and downregulated multiple oncogenic signaling pathways, including p-STAT3, p-PI3K-p-AKT, p-MEK and EMT pathways. GSEA results showed that immuno-related and cell adhesion pathways were enriched in samples with high LRMP expression. LRMP and its co-expressed genes were positively correlated with various tumor-infiltrating immune cells and their markers. Additionally, LRMP positively correlated with immune checkpoints.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that LRMP may act as a tumor suppressor gene and indicates a better prognosis. Moreover, LRMP is associated with immune infiltrates which may be involved in immunotherapy response in LUAD. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.

Effects of macrophage-conditioned medium on sika deer (Cervus nippon) antler stem cells

Context Immune system has been claimed as the ‘main switch’ of tissue or organ regeneration. Among immune cells, macrophages stand out as important modulators in mutiple regeneration models, such as planarian, axolotl, mammalian hair and liver. As a unique model for mammals, deer antler is considered to ideal for studying complete mammalian organ regeneration. Studies have found that antler regeneration is a stem cell-based process and antler stem cells locate in the pedicle periosteum (PP). Although the regulatory roles of the immune system in other regeneration models have been extensively studied, they remain unstudied in antler regeneration. Aims To explore the possible role of macrophages in the PP cells (PPCs). Methods We treated PPCs with a macrophage-conditioned medium (MCM) and detected effects of MCM on proliferation, migration and apoptosis of the PPCs, and identified differentially expressed genes by using the RNA-seq technique. Key results We found that MCM enhanced proliferation rate and migration rate significantly and stimulated apoptosis of the PPCs. Using the RNA-seq technique, we identified 112 differentially expressed genes in the PPCs (38 downregulated and 74 upregulated) after the MCM treatment. Furthermore, gene-ontology annotation analyses showed that the upregulated genes were mainly involved in cell adhesion, chemotaxis, wound healing, growth factor-stimulated responses, and bone formation, and the downregulated genes were involved in regulation of biosynthesis. Conclusions MCM had a great influence on the antler stem cells, and macrophages might regulate antler regeneration through altering the microenvironment and gene-expression profiles of the PPCs. Implications We believe that the results of the present study would facilitate the discovery of the roles of immune system in antler stem cells and, thus, mammalian organ regeneration in general.

Synovial fluid interleukin-16, interleukin-18, and CRELD2 as novel biomarkers of prosthetic joint infections

Objectives

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) diagnosis is a major challenge in orthopaedics, and no reliable parameters have been established for accurate, preoperative predictions in the differential diagnosis of aseptic loosening or PJI. This study surveyed factors in synovial fluid (SF) for improving PJI diagnosis.

Methods

We enrolled 48 patients (including 39 PJI and nine aseptic loosening cases) who required knee/hip revision surgery between January 2016 and December 2017. The PJI diagnosis was established according to the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria. SF was used to survey factors by protein array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to compare protein expression patterns in SF among three groups (aseptic loosening and first- and second-stage surgery). We compared routine clinical test data, such as C-reactive protein level and leucocyte number, with potential biomarker data to assess the diagnostic ability for PJI within the same patient groups.

Results

Cut-off values of 1473 pg/ml, 359 pg/ml, and 8.45 pg/ml were established for interleukin (IL)-16, IL-18, and cysteine-rich with EGF-like domains 2 (CRELD2), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that these factors exhibited an accuracy of 1 as predictors of PJI. These factors represent potential biomarkers for decisions associated with prosthesis reimplantation based on their ability to return to baseline values following the completion of debridement.

Conclusion

IL-16, IL-18, and CRELD2 were found to be potential biomarkers for PJI diagnosis, with SF tests outperforming blood tests in accuracy. These factors could be useful for assessing successful debridement based on their ability to return to baseline values following the completion of debridement.Cite this article: M-F. Chen, C-H. Chang, L-Y. Yang, P-H. Hsieh, H-N. Shih, S. W. N. Ueng, Y. Chang. Synovial fluid interleukin-16, interleukin-18, and CRELD2 as novel biomarkers of prosthetic joint infections. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:179-188. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.84.BJR-2018-0291.R1.

Polymorphisms of TGFBR1, TLR4 are associated with prognosis of gastric cancer in a Chinese population

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced gastric cancer is an intricate progression of immune response against H. pylori infection. IL-16, TGF-β1 and TLR4 pathways were the mediators involved in the immune response. We hypothesized that genetic variations in genes of these pathways have potential susceptibility to gastric cancer risk, and predict clinical outcomes of patients.

Methods

To investigate the susceptibility and prognostic value of genetic variations of IL-16, TGFBR1 and TLR4 pathways to gastric cancer, we performed a case–control study combined a retrospective study in a Chinese population. Genotyping for all polymorphisms was based on the Sequenom’s MassARRAY platform, and H. pylori infection was determined by using an immunogold testing kit.

Results

We found rs10512263 CC genotype was found to be a decreased risk of gastric cancer (CC vs. TT: adjusted OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.31–0.97); however, rs334348 GG genotype was associated with increased risk of gastric cancer (GG vs. AA: adjusted OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.05–2.18). We found that carriers harboring rs1927911 A allele (GA/AA) or rs10512263 C allele (CT/CC) have unfavorable survival time than none carriers (rs1927911: GA/AA vs. GG: adjusted HR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.00–1.63; rs10512263: CT/CC vs. TT: adjusted HR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.02–1.63) and that individuals harboring both two minor alleles (rs1927911 GA/AA and rs10512263 CT/CC) suffered a significant unfavorable survival (adjusted HR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.17–2.31).

Conclusion

In short, we concluded that two polymorphisms (rs334348, rs10512263) in TGFBR1 were associated with risk of gastric cancer, and that TLR4 rs1927911 and TGFBR1 rs10512263 were associated with clinical outcomes of gastric cancer patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12935-018-0682-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.