IL-6 mediates the signal pathway of JAK-STAT3-VEGF-C promoting growth, invasion and lymphangiogenesis in gastric cancer

Low-dose cadmium induces lymphangiogenesis through activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread environmental toxicant that poses significant threat to public health. After intake, Cd is distributed throughout the body via blood and lymphatic circulation. However, the effect of Cd on lymphatic vessels has not been revealed. In this study, mice were exposed to 10 μM cadmium chloride through drinking water immediately after corneal alkali burn. In vivo analyses showed that Cd treatment enhances the alkali burn-induced corneal lymphangiogenesis, which is characterized by increased expression of lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE-1), prospero-related homeobox 1 (PROX-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3). In vitro, the proliferation and migration of human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (HDLECs) are increased by 1 μM Cd treatment, while inhibited by 10 μM Cd treatment. At a concentration of 1 μM, Cd specifically induces phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), but has no effect on the MAPK, AKT, or NF-κB signaling pathway. In the presence of the STAT3 inhibitor STATTIC, Cd fails to induce HDLECs proliferation and migration. In addition, Cd upregulates VEGFR3 expression and its gene promoter activity in a STAT3-dependent manner. Our study suggests that low-dose Cd promotes lymphangiogenesis through activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Long-term hematopoietic transfer of the anti-cancer and lifespan-extending capabilities of a genetically engineered blood system by transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells

A causal relationship exists among the aging process, organ decay and disfunction, and the occurrence of various diseases including cancer. A genetically engineered mouse model, termed Klf1K74R/K74R or Klf1(K74R), carrying mutation on the well-conserved sumoylation site of the hematopoietic transcription factor KLF1/EKLF has been generated that possesses extended lifespan and healthy characteristics, including cancer resistance. We show that the healthy longevity characteristics of the Klf1(K74R) mice, as exemplified by their higher anti-cancer capability, are likely gender-, age-, and genetic background-independent. Significantly, the anti-cancer capability, in particular that against melanoma as well as hepatocellular carcinoma, and lifespan-extending property of Klf1(K74R) mice, could be transferred to wild-type mice via transplantation of their bone marrow mononuclear cells at a young age of the latter. Furthermore, NK(K74R) cells carry higher in vitro cancer cell-killing ability than wild-type NK cells. Targeted/global gene expression profiling analysis has identified changes in the expression of specific proteins, including the immune checkpoint factors PDCD and CD274, and cellular pathways in the leukocytes of the Klf1(K74R) that are in the directions of anti-cancer and/or anti-aging. This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing a transferable hematopoietic/blood system for long-term anti-cancer and, potentially, for anti-aging.

Targeting interleukin-6 as a treatment approach for peritoneal carcinomatosis

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is a complex manifestation of abdominal cancers, with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Recent work identifying high concentrations of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its soluble receptor (sIL-6-Rα) in the peritoneal cavity of patients with PC has highlighted this pathway as an emerging potential therapeutic target. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the potential role of IL-6 in the development and progression of PC. We discuss mechansims by which the IL-6 pathway may contribute to peritoneal tumor dissemination, mesothelial adhesion and invasion, stromal invasion and proliferation, and immune response modulation. Finally, we review the prospects for targeting the IL-6 pathway in the treatment of PC, focusing on common sites of origin, including ovarian, gastric, pancreatic, colorectal and appendiceal cancer, and mesothelioma.

IL-6 facilitates cross-talk between epithelial cells and tumor- associated macrophages in Helicobacter pylori-linked gastric carcinogenesis

PURPOSE

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a significant risk factor for development of gastric cancer (GC), one of the deadliest malignancies in the world. However, the mechanism by which H. pylori induces gastric oncogenesis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the function of IL-6 in gastric oncogenesis and macrophage-epithelial cell interactions.

METHODS

We analyzed publicly available datasets to investigate the expression of IL-6 and infiltration of M2 macrophages in GC tissues, and determine the inter-cellular communication in the context of IL-6. Human gastric epithelial and macrophage cell lines (GES-1 and THP-1-derived macrophages, respectively) were used in mono- and co-culture experiments to investigate autocrine-and paracrine induction of IL-6 expression in response to H. pylori or IL-6 stimulation.

RESULTS

We found that IL-6 is highly expressed in GC and modulates survival. M2 macrophage infiltration is predominant in GC and drives an IL-6 mediated communication with gastric epithelium cells. In vitro, IL-6 triggers its own expression in GES-1 and THP-1-derived macrophages cells. In addition, these cell lines are able to upregulate each other's IL-6 levels in an autocrine fashion, which is enhanced by H. pylori stimulation.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that IL-6 in the tumor microenvironment is essential for intercellular communication. We show that H. pylori enhances an IL-6-driven autocrine and paracrine positive feedback loop between macrophages and gastric epithelial cells, which may contribute to gastric carcinogenesis.

Mechanisms of sunitinib resistance in renal cell carcinoma and associated opportunities for therapeutics

Sunitinib is the first-line drug for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treatment. However, patients who received sunitinib treatment will ultimately develop drug resistance after 6-15 months, creating a huge obstacle to the current treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Therefore, it is urgent to clarify the mechanisms of sunitinib resistance and develop new strategies to overcome it. In this review, the mechanisms of sunitinib resistance in renal cell carcinoma have been summarized based on five topics: activation of bypass or alternative pathway, inadequate drug accumulation, tumour microenvironment, metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic regulation. Furthermore, present and potential biomarkers, as well as potential treatment strategies for overcoming sunitinib resistance in renal cell carcinoma, are also covered.

Lymphangiogenesis in gastric cancer: function and mechanism

Increased lymphangiogenesis and lymph node (LN) metastasis are thought to be important steps in cancer metastasis, and are associated with patient's poor prognosis. There is increasing evidence that the lymphatic system may play a crucial role in regulating tumor immune response and limiting tumor metastasis, since tumor lymphangiogenesis is more prominent in tumor metastasis and diffusion. Lymphangiogenesis takes place in embryonic development, wound healing, and a variety of pathological conditions, including tumors. Tumor cells and tumor microenvironment cells generate growth factors (such as lymphangiogenesis factor VEGF-C/D), which can promote lymphangiogenesis, thereby inducing the metastasis and diffusion of tumor cells. Nevertheless, the current research on lymphangiogenesis in gastric cancer is relatively scattered and lacks a comprehensive understanding. Therefore, in this review, we aim to provide a detailed perspective on molecules and signal transduction pathways that regulate gastric cancer lymphogenesis, which may provide new insights for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Angiogenesis, coagulation, and fibrinolytic markers in acute promyelocytic leukemia (NB4): An evaluation of melatonin effects

Melatonin is a powerful biological agent that has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis and also exerts anti-inflammatory effects. It is well known that new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) has become an urgent issue in leukemia as well as solid tumors. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a form of liquid cancer that manifests increased angiogenesis in the bone marrow of patients. Despite high-rate curable treatment with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and recently arsenic-trioxide (ATO), early death because of hemorrhage, coagulopathy, and Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) remains still a concerning issue in these patients. It is, therefore, urgent to seek treatment strategies with antiangiogenic capabilities that also diminish coagulopathy and hyperfibrinolysis in APL patients. In this study, a coculture system with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and NB4 APL cells was used to investigate the direct effect of melatonin on angiogenesis and its possible action on tissue factor (TF) and tissue-type plasminogen activator-1 (TPA-1) expression. Our experiments revealed that HUVEC-induced angiogenesis by cocultured NB4 cells was suppressed when melatonin alone or in combination with ATRA was added to the incubation medium. Melatonin at concentrations of 1 mM inhibited tube formation of HUVECs and also decreased interleukin-6 secretion and VEGF mRNA expression in HUVEC and NB4 cells. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that melatonin inhibits accelerated angiogenesis of HUVECs and ameliorates the coagulation and fibrinolysis indices stimulated by coculturing with NB4 cells.

Lymph node metastasis in cancer progression: molecular mechanisms, clinical significance and therapeutic interventions

Lymph nodes (LNs) are important hubs for metastatic cell arrest and growth, immune modulation, and secondary dissemination to distant sites through a series of mechanisms, and it has been proved that lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an essential prognostic indicator in many different types of cancer. Therefore, it is important for oncologists to understand the mechanisms of tumor cells to metastasize to LNs, as well as how LNM affects the prognosis and therapy of patients with cancer in order to provide patients with accurate disease assessment and effective treatment strategies. In recent years, with the updates in both basic and clinical studies on LNM and the application of advanced medical technologies, much progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanisms of LNM and the strategies for diagnosis and treatment of LNM. In this review, current knowledge of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of LNs, as well as the molecular mechanisms of LNM, are described. The clinical significance of LNM in different anatomical sites is summarized, including the roles of LNM playing in staging, prognostic prediction, and treatment selection for patients with various types of cancers. And the novel exploration and academic disputes of strategies for recognition, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions of metastatic LNs are also discussed.

The putative pleiotropic functions of meprin β in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The gastric microbiome and inflammation play a key role in gastric cancer (GC) by regulating the immune response in a complex manner and by inflammatory events supporting carcinogenesis. Meprin β is a zinc endopeptidase and participates in tissue homeostasis, intestinal barrier function and immunological processes. It influences local inflammatory processes, dysbiosis and the microbiome. Here, we tested the hypothesis that meprin β is expressed in GC and of tumor biological significance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Four hundred forty whole mount tissue sections of patients with therapy-naive GC were stained with an anti-meprin β antibody. The histoscore and staining pattern were analyzed for each case. Following dichotomization at the median histoscore into a "low" and "high" group, the expression was correlated with numerous clinicopathological patient characteristics.

RESULTS

Meprin β was found intracellularly and at the cell membrane of GC. Cytoplasmic expression correlated with the phenotype according to Lauren, microsatellite instability and PD-L1 status. Membranous expression correlated with intestinal phenotype, mucin-1-, E-cadherin-, β-catenin status, mucin typus, microsatellite instability, KRAS mutation and PD-L1-positivity. Patients with cytoplasmic expression of meprin β showed a better overall and tumor-specific survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Meprin β is differentially expressed in GC and has potential tumor biological relevance. It might function as a tumor suppressor or promotor depending on histoanatomical site and context.

NRF2 and STAT3: friends or foes in carcinogenesis?

NRF2 is a transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis, also through the interaction with several pro-survival pathways. NRF2 controls the transcription of detoxification enzymes and a variety of other molecules impinging in several key biological processes. This perspective will focus on the complex interplay of NRF2 with STAT3, another transcription factor often aberrantly activated in cancer and driving tumorigenesis as well as immune suppression. Both NRF2 and STAT3 can be regulated by ER stress/UPR activation and their cross-talk influences and is influenced by autophagy and cytokines, contributing to shape the microenvironment, and both control the execution of DDR, also by regulating the expression of HSPs. Given the importance of these transcription factors, more investigations aimed at better elucidating the outcome of their networking could help to discover new and more efficacious strategies to fight cancer.

Gastric immune homeostasis imbalance: An important factor in the development of gastric mucosal diseases

The gastric mucosal immune system is a unique immune organ independent of systemic immunity that not only maintains nutrient absorption but also plays a role in resisting the external environment. Gastric mucosal immune disorder leads to a series of gastric mucosal diseases, including autoimmune gastritis (AIG)-related diseases, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced diseases, and various types of gastric cancer (GC). Therefore, understanding the role of gastric mucosal immune homeostasis in gastric mucosal protection and the relationship between mucosal immunity and gastric mucosal diseases is very important. This review focuses on the protective effect of gastric mucosal immune homeostasis on the gastric mucosa, as well as multiple gastric mucosal diseases caused by gastric immune disorders. We hope to offer new prospects for the prevention and treatment of gastric mucosal diseases.

Human papillomavirus 16 E6 promotes angiogenesis of lung cancer via SNHG1

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for lung cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms are not known. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play an important role in the occurrence and development of lung cancer due to their particular characteristics. HPV-induced lung carcinogenesis is incompletely defined. We aimed to screen and clarify the functions of lncRNAs that are differentially expressed in HPV-related lung cancer. We found that lncRNA SNHG1 is upregulated in lung cancer cells infected with HPV16 E6 by qRT‒PCR. Further results demonstrated that SNHG1 overexpression facilitates the tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Our results also indicated that SNHG1 might function in lung cancer by binding with EGFR. Further studies revealed that SNHG1 overexpression could activate the nuclear factor κb (NF-κB) pathway, which increases the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6). We also found that IL-6 can activate the STAT3 pathway, which promotes VEGF-D expression. These results expanded our understanding of SNHG1 as a new avenue for therapeutic intervention against lung cancer progression. Upregulation of SNHG1 by HPV infection might be an undefined link between lung cancer and HPV.

Lymphatic vessels in bone support regeneration after injury

Blood and lymphatic vessels form a versatile transport network and provide inductive signals to regulate tissue-specific functions. Blood vessels in bone regulate osteogenesis and hematopoiesis, but current dogma suggests that bone lacks lymphatic vessels. Here, by combining high-resolution light-sheet imaging and cell-specific mouse genetics, we demonstrate presence of lymphatic vessels in mouse and human bones. We find that lymphatic vessels in bone expand during genotoxic stress. VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling and genotoxic stress-induced IL6 drive lymphangiogenesis in bones. During lymphangiogenesis, secretion of CXCL12 from proliferating lymphatic endothelial cells is critical for hematopoietic and bone regeneration. Moreover, lymphangiocrine CXCL12 triggers expansion of mature Myh11+ CXCR4+ pericytes, which differentiate into bone cells and contribute to bone and hematopoietic regeneration. In aged animals, such expansion of lymphatic vessels and Myh11-positive cells in response to genotoxic stress is impaired. These data suggest lymphangiogenesis as a therapeutic avenue to stimulate hematopoietic and bone regeneration.

A cohort study using IL-6/Stat3 activity and PD-1/PD-L1 expression to predict five-year survival for patients after gastric cancer resection

OBJECTIVES

The expression/activation of IL-6, p-Stat3, PD-1 and PD-L1 in gastric cancer (GC) tissues were examined to evaluate their abilities in predicting the survival prognosis in postoperative patients with GC.

METHODS

The clinicopathological data and paraffin-embedded tissues of 205 patients who underwent gastric cancer resection were collected at the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University School of Medicine, and the patients were followed-up annually after surgery. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression of IL-6, p-Stat3, PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins using tissue microarrays derived from these patients. Statistical analyses were performed using non-parametric tests, Spearman's correlation, ROC curves, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox single-factor and multifactor regression models. In comparison, the analyses were also performed for GC patients from public databases (407 patients from TCGA and 433 patients from GEO, respectively).

RESULTS

(1) The expression levels of IL-6, p-Stat3, PD-1 and PD-L1 in GC tissues were significantly higher than adjacent normal tissues (ANT) (81.01% vs. 52.78%, P<0.001; 100% vs. 93.41%, P<0.001; 58.58% vs. 40.12%, P<0.001; 38.20% vs. 26.90%, P = 0.025, respectively). The mean optical density (MOD) values of IL-6, p-Stat3, PD-1 and PD-L1 were significantly higher in GC tissues. (2) The higher the levels of IL-6 (P<0.001), p-Stat3 (P<0.001), and PD-L1 (P = 0.003) were, the worse the survival prognoses were observed, respectively, among GC patients. The expression of PD-1 was not correlated with the prognosis of GC patients (P>0.05). The lower the degree of cell differentiation (P<0.001) was, the worse the survival prognoses were observed among GC patients. (3) Independent risk factors for postoperative prognosis in GC patients included age (≥60 years old), poor cell differentiation, invasion depth (T3/T4), lymph node metastasis (N1-3), distant metastasis (M1), and high levels of IL-6 (2+/3+). (4) A multi-factor combination (cell differentiation+IL-6+p-Stat3+PD-1+PD-L1) appeared to be the best survival predictor for GC patients as indicated by AUC (AUC 0.782, 95% CI = 0.709, 0.856, P<0.001). This combination may be the optimal predictor for postoperative survival of GC patients. (5) The levels of IL-6, p-Stat3, PD-1 and PD-L1 correlated with the infiltration levels of various tumor-infiltrating immune cells. (6) The analyses of ROC curves, calibration, DCA and Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival curves in TCGA dataset confirmed that the nomogram model could accurately predict the prognosis in GC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) The expressed levels of IL-6, p-Stat3, PD-1 and PD-L1 are higher in GC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. (2) The high levels of IL-6, p-Stat3 and PD-L1 are correlated with poor survival in GC patients. (3) The high levels of IL-6, p-Stat3, PD-1 and PD-L1 have influences in GC tumor microenvironment. (4) The multi-predictor combination of "IL-6+p-Stat3+PD-1+cell differentiation" serves as an optimal survival predictor for postoperative GC patients and better than the TNM staging system. As these molecules can be examined in preoperative biopsies, these observations may provide a useful guide for clinicians to strategize individualized surgical plans for GC patients before surgery.

circBGN accelerates gastric cancer cell proliferation and invasion via activating IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway

Circular RNAs participate in the pathogenesis of various tumors, including gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we investigated the role of circBGN in regulating proliferation and invasion of GC cells and elucidated the mechanism. The expression of circBGN was assessed by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR and in situ hybridization. In addition, loss- and gain-of-function investigations in vitro and in vivo were performed to determine the biological functions of circBGN. Luciferase reporter assays and rescue experiments were applied to investigate the interaction between circBGN and miR-149-5p as well as the relationship between miR-149-5p and IL6. Our results showed that circBGN expression was significantly elevated in GC tissues and cells. Knockdown of circBGN dramatically suppressed GC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. Xenograft experiments revealed that knockdown of circBGN delayed tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, circBGN can directly bind to miR-149-5p, thereby preventing miR-149-5p from binding to its target mRNA [IL6 mRNA], thus activating IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway. Rescue assays indicated that circBGN regulates GC cell proliferation and invasion by upregulating miR-149-5p/IL6 axis output. Taken together, our investigation indicates that circBGN supports GC progression by activating IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway, thus pointing to a new possible therapeutic target in GC.

PDP1 Promotes Cell Malignant Behavior and Is Associated with Worse Clinical Features in Ovarian Cancer Patients: Evidence from Bioinformatics and In Vitro Level

PDP1 has been reported in multiple diseases. However, it has not been fully explored in ovarian cancer (OC). The public data was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Differentially expressed gene analysis was conducted out using the limma package. Prognosis analysis was performed using the survival package. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed using the fgsea package. Immune infiltration analysis was performed based on the CIBERSORT algorithm. CCK8 assay was used to evaluate the cell proliferation ability of cancer cells. Transwell assay was used for the invasion and migration ability. Our result showed that PDP1 was overexpressed in OC tissue in RNA and protein level based on multiple databases (TCGA, GSE18520, GSE27651, and GSE54388). At the same time, we found PDP1 was correlated with poor prognosis and worse clinical parameters. In vitro experiment showed that PDP1 could significantly promote proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of OC cells. GSEA analysis showed that in the OC patients with high PDP1 expression, the pathway of IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling, interferon-alpha response, apoptosis, adipogenesis, KRAS signaling, and IL2/STAT5 signaling was activated, which might be responsible for its oncogenic effect in OC. Immune infiltration analysis indicated that PDP1 was positively correlated with activated myeloid dendritic cells, resting CD4 memory T cells, neutrophil, and M1 and M2 macrophages, yet negatively correlated with M0 macrophages, plasma B cells, γδT cells, and activated CD4 memory T cells. Drug sensitivity analysis showed a negative correlation between PDP1 expression and the IC50 of bleomycin and gemcitabine, yet a positive correlation of cisplatin, indicating that the OC patients with high PDP1 expression might be more sensitive to bleomycin and gemcitabine and more resistant to cisplatin. PDP1 could facilitate OC progression and is associated with patient prognosis and chemosensitivity, making it an underlying biomarker of OC.

Application progress of liquid biopsy in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors globally. Guiding the individualized treatment of GC is the focus of research. Obtaining representative biological samples to study the biological characteristics of GC is the focus of diagnosis and treatment of GC. Liquid biopsy technology can use high-throughput sequencing technology to detect biological genetic information in blood. Compared with traditional tissue biopsy, liquid biopsy can determine the dynamic changes of tumor. As a noninvasive auxiliary diagnostic method, liquid biopsy can provide diagnostic and prognostic information concerning the progression of the disease. Liquid biopsy includes circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, circulating tumor RNA, tumor educated platelets, exosomes, and cytokines. This article describes the classification of liquid biopsy and its application value in the occurrence, development, and therapeutic efficacy of GC.

Targeting IL-1β in patients with advanced Helicobacter pylori infection: a potential therapy for gastric cancer

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a causal factor of gastric cancer. Among the cytokines secreted during this infection, IL-1β is highly associated with promotion and progression of gastric cancer. On the therapeutic front, eradication of H. pylori was thought to be efficient to restore gastric homeostasis. However, successful H. pylori eradication in patients with advanced stages (intestinal metaplasia) failed to diminish inflammation that is due to heightened Th17 response and elevated IL-1β levels. In fact, association between these two components was established, suggesting that IL-1β is a critical target in these cases. In this review, we will discuss the functional relevance of IL-1β in advanced H. pylori infection and how its targeting may bring clinical benefit.

Topical Administration of 0.3% Tofacitinib Suppresses M1 Macrophage Polarization and Allograft Corneal Rejection by Blocking STAT1 Activation in the Rat Cornea

Purpose

M1 macrophages can promote corneal allograft rejection (CGR). Inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization by the JAK/STAT1 pathway may be a new strategy to prevent CGR. Tofacitinib, a potent pan-JAK inhibitor, can inhibit JAK/STAT activation. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effects of tofacitinib on M1 macrophage polarization and its therapeutic effect on rat CGR.

Methods

Corneal allograft transplantation was performed and administrated with 0.3% tofacitinib in rats. The corneal allografts were assessed clinically. The corneas were detected for M1 macrophages, lymphatic vessels, and inflammatory cytokine expression using immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Dendritic cells (DCs) in ipsilateral cervical lymph nodes were detected by flow cytometry. The effect and mechanism of tofacitinib on macrophages were explored by real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunoassay, and western blot analysis in vitro.

Results

The results showed that topical administration of 0.3% tofacitinib significantly prolonged corneal graft survival. Tofacitinib-treated corneal allografts displayed a proportionate decrease in M1 macrophages and reduced lymphatic vessel density with fewer DCs in rat ipsilateral cervical lymph nodes. Tofacitinib reduced the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines, including iNOS, MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and VEGF-C, and inhibited STAT1 activation in rat corneal grafts. In addition, tofacitinib suppressed M1 macrophage polarization via STAT1 activation after IFN-γ and lipopolysaccharide stimulation in vitro.

Conclusions

Tofacitinib could suppress M1 macrophage polarization and subsequently delay CGR by inhibiting STAT1 activation. The data indicate that tofacitinib is an effective drug for CGR.

Translational Relevance

This study provided evidence that topical administration of 0.3% tofacitinib may be a novel clinical strategy to prevent CGR.

Revealing the transcriptional heterogeneity of organ‐specific metastasis in human gastric cancer using single‐cell RNA Sequencing

Background

Deciphering intra‐ and inter‐tumoural heterogeneity is essential for understanding the biology of gastric cancer (GC) and its metastasis and identifying effective therapeutic targets. However, the characteristics of different organ‐tropism metastases of GC are largely unknown.

Methods

Ten fresh human tissue samples from six patients, including primary tumour and adjacent non‐tumoural samples and six metastases from different organs or tissues (liver, peritoneum, ovary, lymph node) were evaluated using single‐cell RNA sequencing. Validation experiments were performed using histological assays and bulk transcriptomic datasets.

Results

Malignant epithelial subclusters associated with invasion features, intraperitoneal metastasis propensity, epithelial–mesenchymal transition‐induced tumour stem cell phenotypes, or dormancy‐like characteristics were discovered. High expression of the first three subcluster‐associated genes displayed worse overall survival than those with low expression in a GC cohort containing 407 samples. Immune and stromal cells exhibited cellular heterogeneity and created a pro‐tumoural and immunosuppressive microenvironment. Furthermore, a 20‐gene signature of lymph node‐derived exhausted CD8⁺ T cells was acquired to forecast lymph node metastasis and validated in GC cohorts. Additionally, although anti‐NKG2A (KLRC1) antibody have not been used to treat GC patients even in clinical trials, we uncovered not only malignant tumour cells but one endothelial subcluster, mucosal‐associated invariant T cells, T cell‐like B cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils may contribute to HLA‐E‐KLRC1/KLRC2 interaction with cytotoxic/exhausted CD8⁺ T cells and/or natural killer (NK) cells, suggesting novel clinical therapeutic opportunities in GC. Additionally, our findings suggested that PD‐1 expression in CD8⁺ T cells might predict clinical responses to PD‐1 blockade therapy in GC.

Conclusions

This study provided insights into heterogeneous microenvironment of GC primary tumours and organ‐specific metastases and provide support for precise diagnosis and treatment.

EGR1 Enhances Lymphangiogenesis via SOX18-Mediated Activation of JAK2/STAT3 Pathway

Background. Lymphangiogenesis is a process involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Identifying key molecules and pathway targeting this process is critical for lymphatic regeneration-associated disorders. EGR1 is a transcription factor, but its function in lymphangiogenesis is not yet known. This study is aimed at exploring the functional activity and molecular mechanism of EGR1 implicated in lymphangiogenesis. Methods. The CCK-8 method, transwell migration assay, and tube formation assay were used to detect the cell viability, motility, and tube formation of HDLEC cells, respectively. The luciferase reporter assay was applied to detect the impact of EGR1 on SOX18 promoter activity. CHIP assay was used to analyze the direct binding of EGR1 to the SOX18 promoter. qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to investigate molecules and pathway involved in lymphangiogenesis. Results. The EGR1 ectopic expression markedly increased the cell growth, mobility, tube formation, and the expression of lymphangiogenesis-associated markers (LYVE-1 and PROX1) in HDLEC cells. EGR1 interacted with the SXO18 gene promoter and transcriptionally regulated the SXO18 expression in HDLEC cells. Silencing of SOX18 abrogated the promotional activities of EGR1 on the cell viability, mobility, tube formation, and LYVE-1/PROX1 expression in HDLEC cells. SOX18 overexpression activated JAK/STAT signaling, which resulted in an increase in lymphangiogenesis in HDLEC cells. Conclusions. ERG1 can promote lymphangiogenesis, which is mediated by activating the SOX18/JAK/STAT3 cascade. ERG1 may serve as a promising target for the therapy of lymphatic vessel-related disorders.

Transcriptome analysis reveals upregulation of immune response pathways at the invasive tumour front of metastatic seminoma germ cell tumours

Background

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) have a high metastasis rate. However, the mechanisms related to their invasion, progression and metastasis are unclear. Therefore, we investigated gene expression changes that might be linked to metastasis in seminomatous testicular germ cell tumour (STGCT) patients.

Methods

Defined areas [invasive tumour front (TF) and tumour centre (TC)] of non-metastatic (with surveillance and recurrence-free follow-up >2 years) and metastatic STGCTs were collected separately using laser capture microdissection. The expression of 760 genes related to tumour progression and metastasis was analysed using nCounter technology and validated with quantitative real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Distinct gene expression patterns were observed in metastatic and non-metastatic seminomas with respect to both the TF and TC. Comprehensive pathway analysis showed enrichment of genes related to tumour functions such as inflammation, angiogenesis and metabolism at the TF compared to the TC. Remarkably, prominent inflammatory and cancer-related pathways, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) signalling, integrin signalling and nuclear factor-κB signalling, were significantly upregulated in the TF of metastatic vs non-metastatic tumours.

Conclusions

IL-6 signalling was the most significantly upregulated pathway in metastatic vs non-metastatic tumours and therefore could constitute a therapeutic target for future personalised therapy. In addition, this is the first study showing intra- and inter-tumour heterogeneity in STGCT.

Berberine inhibits gastric cancer development and progression by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and downregulating IL-6

AIM

Gastric cancer is a prevalent malignant tumor that seriously affects human health. Berberine (BBR), an alkaloid from Chinese herbal medicines, inhibits the proliferation of various cancers. We evaluated the effects and related mechanisms of BBR on gastric cancer.

MAIN METHODS

The MTT assay, flow cytometry, scratch assays, transwell experiments and xenograft nude mice models were used to investigate the antineoplastic effects of BBR. RNA-Seq, qRT-PCR, WB and ELISA were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms of BBR on gastric cancer metastasis.

KEY FINDINGS

BBR treatment inhibited the proliferation of MKN-45 and HGC-27 cells, induced their apoptosis, G0/G1 cell arrest, and suppressed the migration as well as invasion of GC cells in vitro. Moreover, BBR inhibited in vivo tumor growth in MKN-45 xenograft mice. RNA-seq showed that interactions between cytokines and their receptors was one of the greatest enrichment modulated pathways and IL-6 was a key target. IL-6 knockdown significantly inhibited the activities of MKN-45 cells. Mechanistically, these findings imply that BBR inhibits GC cell proliferation by modulating the signaling pathways related to IL-6/JAK2/STAT3.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study provides a theoretical basis for the use of BBR in gastric cancer prevention.

Issues of origin, morphology and clinical significance of tumor microvessels in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a serious oncological problem, ranking third in the structure of mortality from malignant neoplasms. Improving treatment outcomes for this pathology largely depends on understanding the pathogenesis and biological characteristics of GC, including the identification and characterization of diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, and therapeutic biomarkers. It is known that the main cause of death from malignant neoplasms and GC, in particular, is tumor metastasis. Given that angiogenesis is a critical process for tumor growth and metastasis, it is now considered an important marker of disease prognosis and sensitivity to anticancer therapy. In the presented review, modern concepts of the mechanisms of tumor vessel formation and the peculiarities of their morphology are considered; data on numerous factors influencing the formation of tumor microvessels and their role in GC progression are summarized; and various approaches to the classification of tumor vessels, as well as the methods for assessing angiogenesis activity in a tumor, are highlighted. Here, results from studies on the prognostic and predictive significance of tumor microvessels in GC are also discussed, and a new classification of tumor microvessels in GC, based on their morphology and clinical significance, is proposed for consideration.

The diagnostic value of interleukin 6 as a biomarker for gastric cancer: A meta-analysis and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and a main cause of global cancer death. The expression of interleukin 6 is associated with the risk of gastric cancer. But the diagnostic accuracy of interleukin 6 remains unclear. This study was designed to assess the diagnostic performance of interleukin 6 in gastric cancer diagnosis.

METHODS

The related data was obtained from Oncomine and studied using bioinformatics analysis. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of science databases were searched for related studies published from inception to July 14, 2020. Measuring tools of diagnostic performance including sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio were pooled using bivariate mixed-effects meta-analysis model. The summery receiver operator characteristic curves were plotted.

RESULTS

The result from Oncomine showed that the expression of interleukin 6 in gastric cancer (GC) patients was higher than the normal groups (P < .05). Furthermore, a total of 4 eligible articles were enrolled, containing 390 cases and 404 controls. The diagnostic results were as follows: a sensitivity of 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57-0.92), a specificity of 0.86 (95% CI 0.74-0.93), a positive likelihood ratio of 5.76 (95% CI 3.49-9.49), a negative likelihood ratio of 0.23 (95% CI 0.11-0.51) and a diagnostic odds ratio of 24.58 (95% CI 14.14-42.73). The summary area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.90 (95% CI 0.87-0.93).

CONCLUSION

Higher interleukin 6 expression was detected in GC patients, and interleukin 6 could be a helpful indicator of diagnosis of gastric cancer. Further large-scale prospective studies are required for identifying the diagnostic value of interleukin 6 in gastric cancer.

Inhibition of Interleukin-6-Induced Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Expression and Invasive Ability of Lemon Peel Polyphenol Extract in Human Primary Colon Cancer Cells

Among matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-9/2 are key enzymes involved in the proteolysis of extracellular matrices in the inflammatory process and in cancer. Since MMP-9/2 expression levels, activity, and secretion is up-regulated during inflammation in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), many efforts have been devoted to identifying factors that could inhibit the IL-6-induced MMP-9/2 expression. Up to now, several reports indicated that polyphenols from fruits and vegetables are among the major components of health promotion for their antioxidant properties and also for their anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents. Among plant derived polyphenols, lemon (Citrus limon) peel extract (LPE) shows anti-cancer properties in various cancer types. In our previous work, we demonstrated that LPE can reduce IL-6-induced migration/invasiveness and MMP-9/2 up-regulation in some gastric cancer cell lines. This study aims to exploit the anti-cancer properties of LPE using an in vitro system model of inflammation, consisting of IL-6-exposed human primary colon cancer cells. We first analyzed the effect of LPE on IL-6-induced cell migration and invasiveness by wound healing and Boyden chamber assay, respectively. The MMP-2 mRNA expression levels and gelatinolytic activity in the cell culture media were determined by q-PCR analysis and gelatin zymography, respectively, and finally, the effects of LPE on IL-6-induced JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways have been investigated by Western blotting analysis. Our results show that LPE is able to inhibit the IL-6-dependent cell migration and invasiveness associated with the up-regulation of MMP-2 expression levels and that these effects are correlated to the STAT3 phosphorylation in human primary T88 and T93 colon cancer cells.

Network Pharmacology-Based Study on the Active Component and Mechanism of the Anti-Gastric-Cancer Effect of Herba Sarcandrae

Background

Herba Sarcandrae is used in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine to deal with gastric cancer. However, there are few studies on its precise mechanism.

Method

In this study, a network pharmacological approach was utilized to construct a molecular/target/pathway molecular regulatory network for the anti-gastric-cancer effect of Herba Sarcandrae. The active components of Herba Sarcandrae and their potential mechanisms were explored. Chemical components of the Herba Sarcandrae were identified through a database, and they were evaluated and screened based on oral bioavailability and drug similarity.

Results

Genes related to gastric cancer were found in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and gene targets related to anti-gastric-cancer were chosen by comparison. Using annotation, visualization, and a comprehensive discovery database, the function and related pathways of target genes were analyzed and screened. Cytoscape software was utilized to construct a component/target/pathway network for the antitumor effect of Herba Sarcandrae. Finally, 6 drug ingredients and 29 target genes related to gastric cancer were detected. IL-17 signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and other signaling pathways were significantly enriched. Many signaling pathways that directly act on tumors and indirect pathways inhibit the development of gastric cancer.

Conclusion

This study provides a scientific basis for further elucidating the mechanism of the anti-gastric-cancer effect of Herba Sarcandrae.

Swertia chirayita suppresses the growth of non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells and concomitantly induces apoptosis via downregulation of JAK1/STAT3 pathway

Lung carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer-related mortalities worldwide, and present therapeutical interventions are not successful enough to treat this disease in many cases. Recent years have witnessed a surge in exploring natural compounds for their antiproliferative efficacy to expedite the characterization of novel anticancer chemotherapeutics. Swertia chirayita is a valued medicinal herb and possess intrinsic pharmaceutical potential. However, elucidation of its anticancer effects at molecular levels remains unclear and needs to be investigated. We assessed the anticancer and apoptotic efficacy of S. chirayita ethanolic extract (Sw-EtOH) on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells during this exploratory study. The results elucidated that S. chirayita extract induced toxic effects within lung cancer cells by ~1 fold during cytotoxicity and LDH release assay at a 400 μg/ml concentration. Sw-EtOH extract elevates the level of ROS, resulting in the disruption of Δψm and release of cytosolic cytochrome c by 3.15 fold. Activation of caspases-3, -8 & -9 also escalated by ~1 fold, which further catalyze the augmentation of PARP cleavage (~3 folds), resulting in a four-fold increase in Sw-EtOH induced apoptosis. The gene expression analysis further demonstrated that Sw-EtOH extracts inhibited JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway by down-regulating the levels of JAK1 and STAT3 to nearly half a fold. Treatment of Sw-EtOH modulates the expression level of various STAT3 associated proteins, including Bcl-XL, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax, p53, Fas, Fas-L, cyclinD1, c-myc, IL-6, p21 and p27 in NSCLC cells. Thus, our study provided a strong impetus that Sw-EtOH holds the translational potential of being further evaluated as efficient cancer therapeutics and a preventive agent for the management of NSCLC.

The lymphatic vasculature: An active and dynamic player in cancer progression

The lymphatic vasculature has been widely described and explored for its key functions in fluid homeostasis and in the organization and modulation of the immune response. Besides transporting immune cells, lymphatic vessels play relevant roles in tumor growth and tumor cell dissemination. Cancer cells that have invaded into afferent lymphatics are propagated to tumor‐draining lymph nodes (LNs), which represent an important hub for metastatic cell arrest and growth, immune modulation, and secondary dissemination to distant sites. In recent years many studies have reported new mechanisms by which the lymphatic vasculature affects cancer progression, ranging from induction of lymphangiogenesis to metastatic niche preconditioning or immune modulation. In this review, we provide an up‐to‐date description of lymphatic organization and function in peripheral tissues and in LNs and the changes induced to this system by tumor growth and progression. We will specifically focus on the reported interactions that occur between tumor cells and lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), as well as on interactions between immune cells and LECs, both in the tumor microenvironment and in tumor‐draining LNs. Moreover, the most recent prognostic and therapeutic implications of lymphatics in cancer will be reported and discussed in light of the new immune‐modulatory roles that have been ascribed to LECs.

Current Study of RhoA and Associated Signaling Pathways in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth-most common cancer in the world, with an estimated 1.034 million new cases in 2015, and the third-highest cause of cancer deaths, estimated at 785,558, in 2014. Early diagnosis and treatment greatly affect the survival rate in patients with GC: the 5-year survival rate of early GC reaches 90%-95%, while the mortality rate significantly increases if GC develops to the late stage. Recently, studies for the role of RhoA in the diseases have become a hot topic, especially in the development of tumors. A study found that RhoA can regulate actin polymerization, cell adhesion, motor-myosin, cell transformation, and the ability to participate in the activities of cell movement, proliferation, migration, which are closely related to the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. However, the specific role of RhoA in tumor cells remains to be studied. Therefore, our current study aimed to briefly review the role of RhoA in GC, especially for its associated signaling pathways involved in the GC progression.

Increased expression of interleukin-6 gene in gastritis and gastric cancer

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces an intense inflammatory response, mediated by proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and its membrane receptor (IL-6R), which activates important signaling pathways in the development of gastric disease and cancer. We investigated the gene and protein expression of IL-6 and IL-6R and the influence of polymorphisms rs1800795, rs1800796, and rs1800797 on its gene expression together with H. pylori infection. Furthermore, an in-silico analysis was performed to support our results. Gastric biopsies were obtained from patients with gastric symptoms and patients with gastric cancer (GC) and were divided into groups (Control, Gastritis, and Cancer). H. pylori was detected by PCR. Real-time-qPCR was employed to determine gene expression, and western blot assay was used to analyze protein expression levels. PCR-RFLP was used to characterize IL-6 polymorphisms. Bioinformatics analyses were performed using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and GEO2R to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs). H. pylori was detected in 43.3% of the samples. Statistically significant differences were found for IL-6 (P=0.0001) and IL-6R (P=0.0005) genes among the three groups, regardless of the presence of H. pylori. Among patients with H. pylori infection, the IL-6 and IL-6R gene and protein expressions were significantly increased, highlighting IL-6 gene overexpression in patients with GC. No statistically significant differences were found for the rs1800795, rs1800796, and rs1800797 polymorphisms compared to IL-6 gene expression. The results indicated that the IL-6 polymorphisms do not influence its expression, but IL-6 and IL-6R expression seems to be altered by the presence of H. pylori.

Subconjunctival injections of dimethyl fumarate inhibit lymphangiogenesis and allograft rejection in the rat cornea

Corneal lymphangiogenesis induced by macrophages played a critical role in corneal allograft rejection (CGR). However, there are few Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs that target lymphangiogenesis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effects of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on corneal allograft survival in rats. Penetrating corneal transplantation was performed in rats. Subconjunctival injections of dimethyl fumarate (20 µg) were administered at the end of the operation and postoperative day 3 to day 11. The clinical signs of corneal allografts were evaluated. Immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), flow cytometry and western blot were performed respectively. The effects and mechanism of DMF on RAW264.7 cells were determined by qPCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and western blot in vitro. The results showed that subconjunctival injections of DMF could significantly inhibit corneal lymphangiogenesis and CGR with decreased corneal macrophage infiltration compared with the vehicle group. Moreover, DMF could reduce the mRNA expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in the corneal grafts and RAW264.7 macrophages by inhibiting NF-κB activation. Furthermore, compared with the vehicle group, the number of dendritic cells in the ipsilateral cervical lymph nodes of the DMF-treated group was decreased significantly. Collectively, our findings showed that DMF could suppress CGR by inhibiting the macrophage-induced corneal lymphoangiogenesis.

Weighted correlation network analysis identifies FN1, COL1A1 and SERPINE1 associated with the progression and prognosis of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most deadliest tumours worldwide, and its prognosis remains poor.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify and validate hub genes associated with the progression and prognosis of GC by constructing a weighted correlation network.

METHODS

The gene co-expression network was constructed by the WGCNA package based on GC samples and clinical data from the TCGA database. The module of interest that was highly related to clinical traits, including stage, grade and overall survival (OS), was identified. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the clusterprofiler package in R. Cytoscape software was used to identify the 10 hub genes. Differential expression and survival analyses were performed on GEPIA web resources and verified by four GEO datasets and our clinical gastric specimens. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of hub genes were plotted using the pROC package in R. The potential pathogenic mechanisms of hub genes were analysed using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) software.

RESULTS

A total of ten modules were detected, and the magenta module was identified as highly related to OS, stage and grade. Enrichment analysis of magenta module indicated that ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, PI3K-Akt pathway, proteoglycans in cancer were significantly enriched. The PPI network identified ten hub genes, namely COL1A1, COL1A2, FN1, POSTN, THBS2, COL11A1, SPP1, MMP13, COMP, and SERPINE1. Three hub genes (FN1, COL1A1 and SERPINE1) were finally identified to be associated with carcinogenicity and poor prognosis of GC, and all were independent risk factors for GC. The area under the curve (AUC) values of FN1, COL1A1 and SERPINE1 for the prediction of GC were 0.702, 0.917 and 0.812, respectively. GSEA showed that three hub genes share 15 common upregulated biological pathways, including hypoxia, epithelial mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

We identified FN1, COL1A1 and SERPINE1 as being associated with the progression and poor prognosis of GC.

Development and Clinical Validation of a Seven-Gene Prognostic Signature Based on Multiple Machine Learning Algorithms in Kidney Cancer

About a third of patients with kidney cancer experience recurrence or cancer-related progression. Clinically, kidney cancer prognoses may be quite different, even in patients with kidney cancer at the same clinical stage. Therefore, there is an urgent need to screen for kidney cancer prognosis biomarkers. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using kidney cancer RNA sequencing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Biomarkers were screened using random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) models, and a multigene signature was constructed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to explore the relationships between clinical features and prognosis. Finally, the reliability and clinical applicability of the model were validated, and relationships with biological pathways were identified. Western blots were also performed to evaluate gene expression. A total of 50 DEGs were obtained by intersecting the RF and SVM models. A seven-gene signature (RNASET2, EZH2, FXYD5, KIF18A, NAT8, CDCA7, and WNT7B) was constructed by LASSO regression. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that the seven-gene signature was an independent prognostic factor for kidney cancer. Finally, a predictive nomogram was established in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort and validated internally. In tumor tissue, RNASET2 and FXYD5 were highly expressed and NAT8 was lowly expressed at the protein and transcription levels. This model could complement the clinicopathological characteristics of kidney cancer and promote the personalized management of patients with kidney cancer.

Phenolic Compounds Impact on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Microbiota Modulation

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are nowadays the principal cause of death, especially in most industrialized nations. These illnesses have increased exponentially with the consumption of diets very high in fat and sugar, not to mention stress and physical inactivity among other factors. The potential impact of suboptimal diets on NCDs’ morbidity and mortality rates brings to the forefront the necessity for a new way of improving dietary habits. The literature provides extensive scientific work that presents evidence that phenolic compounds from diets have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities that impact human health. Gut microbiota modulation by some phenolic compounds leads to favorable changes in abundance, diversity, and in the immune system. However, polyphenol’s limited bioavailability needs to be overcome, highlighting their application in new delivery systems and providing their health benefits in well-established ways such as health maintenance, treatment or adjuvant to conventional pharmacological treatments. In this context, novel dietary approaches, including new food supplements, have emerged to prevent diseases and preserve health.

Recapitulating pancreatic tumor microenvironment through synergistic use of patient organoids and organ-on-a-chip vasculature

Tumor progression relies heavily on the interaction between the neoplastic epithelial cells and their surrounding stromal partners. This cell cross-talk affects stromal development, and ultimately the heterogeneity impacts drug efflux and efficacy. To mimic this evolving paradigm, we have micro-engineered a three-dimensional (3D) vascularized pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissue in a tri-culture system composed of patient derived pancreatic organoids, primary human fibroblasts and endothelial cells on a perfusable InVADE platform situated in a 96-well plate. Uniquely, through synergistic engineering we combined the benefits of cellular fidelity of patient tumor derived organoids with the addressability of a plastic organ-on-a-chip platform. Validation of this platform included demonstrating the growth of pancreatic tumor organoids by monitoring the change in metabolic activity of the tissue. Investigation of tumor microenvironmental behavior highlighted the role of fibroblasts in symbiosis with patient organoid cells, resulting in a six-fold increase of collagen deposition and a corresponding increase in tissue stiffness in comparison to fibroblast free controls. The value of a perfusable vascular network was evident in drug screening, as perfusion of gemcitabine into a stiffened matrix did not show the dose-dependent effects on tumor viability as those under static conditions. These findings demonstrate the importance of studying the dynamic synergistic relationship between patient cells with stromal fibroblasts, in a 3D perfused vascular network, to accurately understand and recapitulate the tumor microenvironment.

Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Nurse-Like Cells Are the Caretakers of Leukemic Cells

Macrophages are terminally differentiated innate immune cells. Through their activation, they can be polarized towards the pro-inflammatory M1 type or the wound healing-associated, anti-inflammatory M2 type macrophages. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), M2 is the dominant phenotype and these cells are referred to as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). TAMs secrete cytokines and chemokines, exerting an antiapoptotic, proliferative and pro-metastatic effect on the tumor cells. TAMs can be found in many cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), where they are called nurse-like cells (NLCs). Despite the generally indolent behavior of CLL, the proportion of treatment-refractory patients is significant. As with the majority of cancers, despite significant recent progress, CLL pathogenesis is poorly understood. The emerging role of the TME in nurturing the neoplastic process warrants the investigation of macrophages as a significant pathogenetic element of tumors. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the role of stromal macrophages in CLL.

Human cytomegalovirus protein UL136 activates the IL-6/STAT3 signal through MiR-138 and MiR-34c in gastric cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidences have indicated that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) may link to multiple human malignancies, including gastric cancer. However, the mechanistic role of HCMV in GC remains largely unknown.

METHODS

In this study, we have successfully established HCMV latent gene UL-136-expressing gastric cancer cells. We measured cell proliferation of GC cells, MNK-45 and SGC-7901, with stable UL136 expression or paired control cells by using CCK-8 assay. We have showed that GC cells with stable UL136 expression had a rapid cell growth. Furthermore, our data from matrigel-coated transwell assay have demonstrated that UL136 expressing GC cells showed an enhanced invasion capacity compared to control cells. Furthermore, ectopic expression of UL136 inhibits tumorigenicity in an animal model.

RESULTS

We observed that IL-6/STAT3 was stimulated by UL136 overexpression. Also, miR-138 is consistently up-regulated, while miR-34 down-regulated by UL136 in either MNK-45 or SGC-7901 cells. Our mechanistic study showed that treatment of miR-138 mimics in MNK-45 cells indeed inhibited SIRT1 expression to increase phosphorylation level of STAT3. MiR-34c suppressed expression of IL6R through direct binding with the putative 3'UTR binding sites of this gene. UL136 regulate IL6/STAT3 pathway, at least in part, through down-regulation of miR-34c in GC cells.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, HCMV-induced miR-34c or miR-138 involves in the activation of IL6/STAT3 signaling. Targeting the IL6-STAT3 axis or miRNAs represent a promising strategy for HCMV-related tumor formation.

Tumor purity as a prognosis and immunotherapy relevant feature in gastric cancer

Tumor microenvironment (TME) has been illustrated their clinic pathological significance in predicting outcomes and therapeutic efficacy by more and more studies. Tumor purity, which reflects the features of TME, is defined as the proportion of cancer cell in the tumor tissue. However, the current staging and prognostic prediction system in gastric cancer (GC) paid little attention to TME. Therefore, we carried out the study to explore the role of tumor purity in GC. We retrospectively collected the clinical and transcriptomic data from four public data sets (n = 1340), GSE15459, GSE26253, GSE62254, and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). About 34 GC patients from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) were assigned as an independent validation group. Tumor purity was measured by a computational method. Low tumor purity was associated with unfavorable prognosis, upregulated EMT and stemness pathways, more infiltrating of Tregs, M1 and M2 macrophages and a higher expression level of various immune checkpoints and chemokines recruiting immune suppressive cells. Our study indicates low tumor purity in GC was associated with unfavorable prognosis and immune‐evasion phenotype. Further investigations toward tumor purity in GC may contribute to prognosis prediction and the decision of therapy strategies.

STAT3 Pathway in Gastric Cancer: Signaling, Therapeutic Targeting and Future Prospects

Molecular signaling pathways play a significant role in the regulation of biological mechanisms, and their abnormal expression can provide the conditions for cancer development. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key member of the STAT proteins and its oncogene role in cancer has been shown. STAT3 is able to promote the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells and induces chemoresistance. Different downstream targets of STAT3 have been identified in cancer and it has also been shown that microRNA (miR), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and other molecular pathways are able to function as upstream mediators of STAT3 in cancer. In the present review, we focus on the role and regulation of STAT3 in gastric cancer (GC). miRs and lncRNAs are considered as potential upstream mediators of STAT3 and they are able to affect STAT3 expression in exerting their oncogene or onco-suppressor role in GC cells. Anti-tumor compounds suppress the STAT3 signaling pathway to restrict the proliferation and malignant behavior of GC cells. Other molecular pathways, such as sirtuin, stathmin and so on, can act as upstream mediators of STAT3 in GC. Notably, the components of the tumor microenvironment that are capable of targeting STAT3 in GC, such as fibroblasts and macrophages, are discussed in this review. Finally, we demonstrate that STAT3 can target oncogene factors to enhance the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells.

Coinhibition of S1PR1 and GP130 by siRNA-loaded alginate-conjugated trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles robustly blocks development of cancer cells

There is an interconnected network between S1P/sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1), IL-6/glycoprotein 130 (GP130), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways in the tumor microenvironment, which leads to cancer progression. S1P/S1PR1 and IL-6/GP130 signaling pathways phosphorylate and activate STAT3, and it then induces the expression of S1PR1 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a positive feedback loop leading to cancer progression. We hypothesized that blockade of this amplification loop can suppress the growth and development of cancer cells. Therefore, we silenced STAT3 upstream molecules including the S1PR1 and GP130 molecules in cancer cells using small interfering RNA (siRNA)-loaded alginate-conjugated trimethyl chitosan (ATMC) nanoparticles (NPs). The generated NPs had competent properties including the appropriate size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, morphology, high uptake of siRNA, high rate of capacity, high stability, and low toxicity. We evaluated the effects of siRNA loaded ATMC NPs on tumor hallmarks of three murine-derived cancer cell lines, including 4T1 (breast cancer), B16-F10 (melanoma), and CT26 (colon cancer). The results confirmed the tumor-suppressive effects of combinational targeting of S1PR1 and GP130. Moreover, combination therapy could potently suppress tumor growth as assessed by the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. In this study, we targeted this positive feedback loop for the first time and applied this novel combination therapy, which provides a promising approach for cancer treatment. The development of a potent nanocarrier system with ATMC for this combination was also another aspect of this study, which should be further investigated in cancer animal models in further studies.

Contribution of Macrophages and T Cells in Skeletal Metastasis

Bone is a common site for metastases with a local microenvironment that is highly conducive for tumor establishment and growth. The bone marrow is replete with myeloid and lymphoid linage cells that provide a fertile niche for metastatic cancer cells promoting their survival and growth. Here, we discuss the role of macrophages and T cells in pro- and anti-tumoral mechanisms, their interaction to support cancer cell growth, and their contribution to the development of skeletal metastases. Importantly, immunotherapeutic strategies targeting macrophages and T cells in cancer are also discussed in this review as they represent a great promise for patients suffering from incurable bone metastases.

Immunological Aspects of the Tumor Microenvironment and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Carcinogenesis

Infection with Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative, microaerophilic pathogen often results in gastric cancer in a subset of affected individuals. This explains why H. pylori is the only bacterium classified as a class I carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Several studies have pinpointed mechanisms by which H. pylori alters signaling pathways in the host cell to cause diseases. In this article, the authors have reviewed 234 studies conducted over a span of 18 years (2002-2020). The studies investigated the various mechanisms associated with gastric cancer induction. For the past 1.5 years, researchers have discovered new mechanisms contributing to gastric cancer linked to H. pylori etiology. Alongside alteration of the host signaling pathways using oncogenic CagA pathways, H. pylori induce DNA damage in the host and alter the methylation of DNA as a means of perturbing downstream signaling. Also, with H. pylori, several pathways in the host cell are activated, resulting in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), together with the induction of cell proliferation and survival. Studies have shown that H. pylori enhances gastric carcinogenesis via a multifactorial approach. What is intriguing is that most of the targeted mechanisms and pathways appear common with various forms of cancer.

Down-regulation of lncRNA LINC00152 Suppresses Gastric Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion Through Inhibition of the ERK/MAPK Signaling Pathway

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore the regulatory role and mechanism of long noncoding RNA LINC00152 in gastric cancer (GC) cells.

Methods

LINC00152 expression in GC tissues and cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). MKN45 and MGC-803 cells were selected and assigned into different groups after transfection with si-LINC00152, activated ERK/MAPK signaling pathway (SA), or negative control. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, cycle, migration and invasion were assessed by CCK-8, flow cytometry, Transwell assay and Scratch test, respectively. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and ERK/MAPK signaling pathway protein.

Results

Compared with the normal tissues, higher expression of LINC00152 was found in GC tissues and LINC00152 was remarkably correlative with clinical stage and lymphatic metastasis. LINC00152 expression in GC cells was higher than that in GES-1 cells. Compared with the NC group, the cell proliferation rate, cells in G2/M phase, migration and invasion abilities as well as the expression of N-cadherin and p-ERK-1/2 were significantly decreased, and the expression of E-cadherin, cells in G0/G1 phase and cell apoptosis rate were significantly increased in the si-LINC00152-1 group. ERK/MAPK signaling pathway activator SA could reverse the biological role of LINC00152 in GC cells.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that the interference of LINC00152 expression may inhibit the invasion and migration of GC cells by inhibiting the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.

CircRBM33 regulates IL-6 to promote gastric cancer progression through targeting miR-149

There is increasing evidence of the vital role played by circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). A circRNA, hsa_circ_0001772, was generated from the RBM33 gene and named circRBM33. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of circRBM33 in GC. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to quantify the expression of circRBM33 in 79 pairs of GC tissues and paracancerous tissues and 4 GC cell lines (MGC-803, BGC-823, SGC-7901, and AGS). Bioinformatics databases were used to predict downstream targets of circRNA and micro RNA (miRNA). Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to verify whether miR-149 was a direct binding target for circRBM33. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 5-Ethynyl-2´-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay, transwell assay, and flow-cytometric analyses were performed to determine the role of circRBM33 in the biological functioning of GC cells. Western blot technique was used to quantify the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6). CircRBM33 was distinctly upregulated in GC specimens and cell lines and a close correlation between circRBM33 expression and clinical characteristics of GC was observed. After silencing circRBM33, the apoptosis of GC cells increased, while proliferation, migration, and invasion decreased. Rescue experiments indicated that circRBM33 manipulates biological function in GC cells through the circRBM33/miR-149/IL-6 axis. CircRBM33 can be used as a tumor biomarker and a possible therapeutic target in the future.

Inhibition of Tumor Lymphangiogenesis is an Important Part that EGFR-TKIs Play in the Treatment of NSCLC

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been widely used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because they inhibit tumour growth and metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we investigate whether anti-lymphangiogenesis mechanisms contribute to the anti-tumour effects of EGFR-TKIs. Three different EGFR-TKIs (Gefitinib, Afatinib, and AZD9291) were used to determine the possible biological effects of EGFR-TKIs on lymphangiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. EGFR-TKIs inhibited human lymphatic endothelial cells (HLEC) proliferation, migration and tube formation at the indicated concentrations. Conditioned medium from human lung adenocarcinoma HCC827 cells treated with EGFR-TKIs also inhibited HLEC migration and tube formation. EGFR-TKIs inhibited VEGFC secretion, which further influenced HLEC behaviour in vitro. Afatinib inhibited tumour growth and lymphangiogenesis in the HCC827 xenograft mouse model. The densities and tube diameters of the lymphatic vessels were decreased in a dose-dependent manner, as shown by lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE-1) staining. EGFR-TKIs also inhibited the expression of important lymphangiogenesis regulatory factors vascular endothelial growth factor 2/3 (VEGF2/3), VEGFC, and chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) as shown by immunocytochemistry (IHC) staining. Additional assays confirmed that the JAK/STAT3 signalling pathways play important roles in the anti-lymphangiogenesis process induced by EGFR-TKIs. Inhibition of lymphangiogenesis is another important role that the three EGFR-TKIs play in the treatment of lung cancer and the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3) maybe an important signalling pathway regulating lymphangiogenesis, which provides a new idea for clinical therapy of lung cancer.

Lemon Peel Polyphenol Extract Reduces Interleukin-6-Induced Cell Migration, Invasiveness, and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9/2 Expression in Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma MKN-28 and AGS Cell Lines

Among plant polyphenols, lemon peels extract (LPE) from the residues of the industrial processing of lemon (Citrus limon) shows anti-proliferative properties in cancer cells and anticholinesterase activity. In this study, we analyze the anti-cancer properties of LPE on migration and invasiveness in MKN-28 and AGS human gastric cancer cell lines either in the absence or presence of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. We find that the pretreatment with non-cytotoxic concentrations (0.5–1 μg/ml of gallic acid equivalent) of LPE inhibits interleukin-6 (IL-6)-induced cell migration and invasiveness in MKN-28 and AGS cells, as analyzed by wound and matrigel assays. Pretreatment with LPE is able to prevent either IL-6-induced matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9/2 activity, as assessed by gel zymography, or mRNA and protein MMP-9/2 expression, as evaluated by qPCR and Western blotting analysis, respectively. These LPE effects are associated with an IL-6-dependent STAT3 signaling pathway in MKN-28 and AGS cells. Furthermore, LPE shows acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity when assayed by the Ellman method. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that LPE reduces the invasiveness of gastric MKN-28 and AGS cancer cells through the reduction of IL-6-induced MMP-9/2 up-regulation. Therefore, these data suggest that LPE exerts a protective role against the metastatic process in gastric cancer.

Natural Sesquiterpene Lactones Enhance Chemosensitivity of Tumor Cells through Redox Regulation of STAT3 Signaling

STAT3 is a nuclear transcription factor that regulates genes involved in cell cycle, cell survival, and immune response. Although STAT3 activation drives cells to physiological response, its deregulation is often associated with the development and progression of many solid and hematological tumors as well as with drug resistance. STAT3 is a redox-sensitive protein, and its activation state is related to intracellular GSH levels. Under oxidative conditions, STAT3 activity is regulated by S-glutathionylation, a reversible posttranslational modification of cysteine residues. Compounds able to suppress STAT3 activation and, on the other hand, to modulate intracellular redox homeostasis may potentially improve cancer treatment outcome. Nowadays, about 35% of commercial drugs are natural compounds that derive from plant extracts used in phytotherapy and traditional medicine. Sesquiterpene lactones are an interesting chemical group of plant-derived compounds often employed in traditional medicine against inflammation and cancer. This review focuses on sesquiterpene lactones able to downmodulate STAT3 signaling leading to an antitumor effect and correlates the anti-STAT3 activity with their ability to decrease GSH levels in cancer cells. These properties make them lead compounds for the development of a new therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.

Genistein inhibits angiogenesis developed during rheumatoid arthritis through the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3/VEGF signalling pathway

Background

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which increases the supply of nutrients, cytokines, and inflammatory cells to the synovial membrane. Genistein (GEN), a soy-derived isoflavone, has been validated that can effectively inhibit the angiogenesis of several tumours. We thus carried out a study in vitro to investigate the effect of GEN in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and angiogenesis induced by the inflammatory environment of RA.

Methods

MH7A cells were used to verify whether GEN can inhibit the expression of VEGF in MH7A cells under inflammatory conditions and demonstrate the mechanism. EA.hy926 ​cells were used to verify whether GEN can inhibit the migration and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells in inflammatory environment.

Results

GEN dose-dependently inhibited the expression and secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 and VEGF, as well as the nucleus translocation of Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in MH7A. Furthermore, GEN inhibited IL-6-induced vascular endothelial cell migration and tube formation in vitro.

Conclusion

GEN inhibits IL-6-induced VEGF expression and angiogenesis partially through the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/STAT3 pathway in RA, which has provided a novel insight into the antiangiogenic activity of GEN in RA.

The translational potential of this article

Our study provides scientific guidance for the clinical translational research of GEN in the RA treatment.