Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome enhances the proliferation and migration of A549 lung cancer cells

Crosstalk between hypoxia-induced pyroptosis and immune escape in cancer: From mechanisms to therapy

Pyroptosis can be triggered through both canonical and non-canonical inflammasome pathways, involving the cleavage of gasdermin (GSDM) protein family members, like GSDMD and GSDME. The impact of pyroptosis on tumors is nuanced, because its role in regulating cancer progression and anti-tumor immunity may vary depending on the tumor type, stage, location, and immune status. However, pyroptosis cannot be simply categorized as promoting or inhibiting tumors based solely on whether it is acute or chronic in nature. The interplay between pyroptosis and cancer is intricate, with some evidence suggesting that chronic pyroptosis may facilitate tumor growth, while the acute induction of pyroptosis could stimulate anti-cancer immune responses. Tumor hypoxia activates hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling to modulate pyroptosis and immune checkpoint expression. Targeting this hypoxia-pyroptosis-immune escape axis could be a promising therapeutic strategy. This review highlights the complex crosstalk between hypoxia, pyroptosis, and immune evasion in the TME.

New prospects of cancer therapy based on pyroptosis and pyroptosis inducers

Pyroptosis is a gasdermin-mediated programmed cell death (PCD) pathway. It differs from apoptosis because of the secretion of inflammatory molecules. Pyroptosis is closely associated with various malignant tumors. Recent studies have demonstrated that pyroptosis can either inhibit or promote the development of malignant tumors, depending on the cell type (immune or cancer cells) and duration and severity of the process. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis, its relationship with malignancies, and focuses on current pyroptosis inducers and their significance in cancer treatment. The molecules involved in the pyroptosis signaling pathway could serve as therapeutic targets for the development of novel drugs for cancer therapy. In addition, we analyzed the potential of combining pyroptosis with conventional anticancer techniques as a promising strategy for cancer treatment.

E2F1-mediated Up-regulation of NCAPG Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development by Inhibiting Pyroptosis

Background and Aims

As a subunit of the condensin complex, NCAPG has an important role in maintaining chromosome condensation, but its biological function and regulatory mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains undefined.

Methods

The prognostic ability of NCAPG in HCC patients was examined by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. ROC curves were plotted to compare the predictive ability of NCAPG and AFP. Double luciferase reporter system, and ChIP were used to investigate transcriptional potential of E2F1 to NCAPG. Pyroptosis was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Protein expression of NCAPG, E2F1, and major proteins constituting NLRP3 inflammasome was determined by western blotting and ELISA. An in vivo tumor formation assay was conducted to verify the in vitro results.

Results

Up-regulated NCAPG was identified in HCC tissues compared with adjacent tissue and high NCAPG was positively correlated with poor prognosis. Serum NCAPG mRNA level was a prognostic factor in HCC patients and also a diagnostic factor with higher predictive ability compared with AFP [AUROC 0.766 (95% CI: 0.650-0.881) vs. 0.649 (95% CI 0.506-0.793)]. HBx transfection resulted in concomitant up-regulation of E2F1 and NCAPG. E2F1 significantly increased the activity of luciferase reporter fused with NCAPG reporter, and the interaction of E2F1 and NCAPG gene was confirmed by ChIP. Silencing of E2F1 resulted in significant down-regulation of NCAPG. Knockdown of NCAPG promote pyroptosis mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome activation in multiple HCC cell lines and also suppressed tumorigenesis in vitro.

Conclusions

We identified a novel role of NCAPG in the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis, which was regulated by its upstream transactivator, E2F1. The role of E2F1-NCAPG-NLRP3 regulation of pyroptosis network may be a potential target in HCC treatment.

Screening of novel tumor-associated antigens for lung adenocarcinoma mRNA vaccine development based on pyroptosis phenotype genes

This study aimed to identify new pyroptosis-associated tumor antigens for use in mRNA vaccines and the screening of sensitive LUAD populations suitable for vaccination. The association between tumor immune infiltrating cell abundance and potential tumor antigens was investigated and visualized using the analysis modules of gene expression, clinical outcomes, and somatic copy number variation. In addition, the pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) were clustered, the relative pyroptosis subtypes (PSs) and gene modules were identified, and the prognostic value of the PSs was examined. The expression of key PRGs in two lung adenocarcinoma cell lines was verified by RT-qPCR. Four tumor pyroptosis-associated antigens, CARD8, NAIP, NLRP1, and NLRP3, were screened as potential candidates for LUAD mRNA vaccine development. In the construction of consensus clusters for PRGs, two PSs, PS1 and PS2, were classified, in which patients with PS1 LUAD had a better prognosis. In contrast, patients with PS2 LUAD may have better responsiveness to mRNA vaccine treatment. The key PRGs can be regarded as biomarkers to predict the LUAD prognosis and identify patients suitable for mRNA vaccines. The RT-qPCR results showed that the expression levels of CSMD3, LRP1B, MUC16 and TTN were significantly increased in the two lung adenocarcinoma cell lines, while the expression levels of CARD8, TP53 and ZFHX4 were significantly reduced. The antigens CARD8, NAIP, NLRP1, and NLRP3, which are associated with tumor pyroptosis, could be candidate molecules for LUAD mRNA vaccine development. Patients with PS2 LUAD may be suitable candidates for mRNA vaccine treatment.

Ajmalicine induces the pyroptosis of hepatoma cells to exert the antitumor effect

Ajmalicine (AJM) is an alkaloid extracted from the root of Yunan Rauvolfia verticillata. At present, little research has reported the antitumor pharmacological action and mechanism of AJM. Therefore, this work aimed to conduct relevant research. The mouse hepatoma cell line H22 was intervened with a gradient concentration of AJM. Subsequently, the pyroptosis level was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of inflammatory factors and lactate dehydrogenase was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression was detected by dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe. In addition, the tumor-bearing model mice were also treated with AJM to analyze tumor growth as well as the expression levels of tissue inflammatory factors and proteins. According to our results, AJM promoted the pyroptosis of H22 cells, increased the pyroptosis rate, and upregulated the expression of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6. At the same time, it enhanced the openness of membrane pores and increased the expression of ROS. Moreover, AJM promoted the expression of Caspase-3 and N-terminal gasdermin E (GSDME). The AJM-induced pyroptosis was suppressed after N-acetylcysteine treatment to inhibit ROS, while Caspase-3 knockdown also inhibited the AJM-induced pyroptosis. In animals, AJM suppressed tumor growth. AJM can activate ROS to induce pyroptosis and exert the antitumor effect via the noncanonical Caspase-3-GSDME pyroptosis pathway.

Targeting NLRP3 Inflammasome: Structure, Function, and Inhibitors

Inflammasomes are multimeric protein complexes that can detect various physiological stimuli and danger signals. As a result, they perform a crucial function in the innate immune response. The NLRP3 inflammasome, as a vital constituent of the inflammasome family, is significant in defending against pathogen invasion and preserving cellhomeostasis. NLRP3 inflammasome dysregulation is connected to various pathological conditions, including inflammatory diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. This profile makes NLRP3 an applicable target for treating related diseases, and therefore, there are rising NLRP3 inhibitors disclosed for therapy. Herein, we summarized the updated advances in the structure, function, and inhibitors of NLRP3 inflammasome. Moreover, we aimed to provide an overview of the existing products and future directions for drug research and development.

Suppression of inflammation-induced lung cancer cells proliferation and metastasis by exiguaflavanone A and exiguaflavanone B from Sophora exigua root extract through NLRP3 inflammasome pathway inhibition

Objective: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is recognized for its aggressive nature and propensity for high rates of metastasis. The NLRP3 inflammasome pathway plays a vital role in the progression of NSCLC. This study aimed to investigate the effects of S. exigua extract and its active compounds on NLRP3 regulation in NSCLC using an in vitro model. Methods: S. exigua was extracted using hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol to obtain S. exigua hexane fraction (SE-Hex), S. exigua ethyl acetate fraction (SE-EA), and S. exigua ethanol fraction (SE-EtOH) respectively. The active compounds were identified using column chromatography and NMR analysis. A549 cells were primed with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for activated NLRP3 inflammasome. The anti-inflammatory properties were determined using ELISA assay. The anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis properties against LPS-ATP-induced A549 cells were determined by colony formation, cell cycle, wound healing, and trans-well migration and invasion assays. The inflammatory gene expressions and molecular mechanism were determined using RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results: SE-EA exhibited the greatest anti-inflammation properties compared with other two fractions as evidenced by the significant inhibition of IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-6, cytokine productions from LPS-ATP-induced A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). The analysis of active compounds revealed exiguaflavanone A (EGF-A) and exiguaflavanone B (EGF-B) as the major compounds present in SE-EA. Then, SE-EA and its major compound were investigated for the anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis properties. It was found that SE-EA, EGF-A, and EGF-B could inhibit the proliferation of LPS-ATP-induced A549 cells through cell cycle arrest induction at the G0/G1 phase and reducing the expression of cell cycle regulator proteins. Furthermore, SE-EA and its major compounds dose-dependently suppressed migration and invasion of LPS-ATP-induced A549 cells. At the molecular level, SE-EA, EGF-A, and EGF-B significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and NLRP3 in LPS-ATP-induced A549 cells. Regarding the mechanistic study, SE-EA, EGF-A, and EGF-B inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation through suppressing NLRP3, ASC, pro-caspase-1(p50 form), and cleaved-caspase-1(p20 form) expressions. Conclusion: Targeting NLRP3 inflammasome pathway holds promise as a therapeutic approach to counteract pro-tumorigenic inflammation and develop novel treatments for NSCLC.

Pyroptosis: shedding light on the mechanisms and links with cancers

Pyroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death (PCD) discovered after apoptosis and necrosis, is characterized by cell swelling, cytomembrane perforation and lysis, chromatin DNA fragmentation, and the release of intracellular proinflammatory contents, such as Interleukin (IL) 8, IL-1β, ATP, IL-1α, and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Our understanding of pyroptosis has increased over time with an increase in research on the subject: gasdermin-mediated lytic PCD usually, but not always, requires cleavage by caspases. Moreover, new evidence suggests that pyroptosis induction in tumor cells results in a strong inflammatory response and significant cancer regression, which has stimulated great interest among scientists for its potential application in clinical cancer therapy. It's worth noting that the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be triggered by pyroptosis. Thus, the intelligent use of pyroptosis, the double-edged sword for tumors, will enable us to understand the genesis and development of cancers and provide potential methods to develop novel anticancer drugs based on pyroptosis. Hence, in this review, we systematically summarize the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis and provide the latest available evidence supporting the antitumor properties of pyroptosis, and provide a summary of the various antitumor medicines targeting pyroptosis signaling pathways.

Machine Learning-Based Integration Develops a Macrophage-Related Index for Predicting Prognosis and Immunotherapy Response in Lung Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Macrophages play a critical role in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) formation and cancer progression in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, few studies have comprehensively and systematically described the characteristics of macrophages in LUAD.

METHODS

This study identified macrophage-related markers with single-cell RNA sequencing data from the GSE189487 dataset. An integrative machine learning-based procedure based on 10 algorithms was developed to construct a macrophage-related index (MRI) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), GSE30219, GSE31210, and GSE72094 datasets. Several algorithms were used to evaluate the associations of MRI with TIME and immunotherapy-related biomarkers. The role of MRI in predicting the immunotherapy response was evaluated with the GSE91061 dataset.

RESULTS

The optimal MRI constructed by the combination of the Lasso algorithm and plsRCox was an independent risk factor in LUAD and showed a stable and powerful performance in predicting the overall survival rate of patients with LUAD. Those with low MRI scores had a higher TIME score, a higher level of immune cells, a higher immunophenoscore, and a lower Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) score, indicating a better response to immunotherapy. The IC50 value of common drugs for chemotherapy and target therapy with low MRI scores was higher compared to high MRI scores. Moreover, the survival prediction nomogram, developed from MRI, had good potential for clinical application in predicting the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rate of LUAD.

CONCLUSION

Our study constructed for the first time a consensus MRI for LUAD with 10 machine learning algorithms. The MRI could be helpful for risk stratification, prognosis, and selection of treatment approach in LUAD.

IL-17A functions and the therapeutic use of IL-17A and IL-17RA targeted antibodies for cancer treatment

Interleukin 17A (IL-17A) is a major member of the IL-17 cytokine family and is produced mainly by T helper 17 (Th17) cells. Other cells such as CD8+ T cells, γδ T cells, natural killer T cells and innate lymphoid-like cells can also produce IL-17A. In healthy individuals, IL-17A has a host-protective capacity, but excessive elevation of IL-17A is associated with the development of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting IL-17A (e.g., ixekizumab and secukinumab) or IL-17A receptor (IL-17RA) (e.g., brodalumab) would be investigated as potential treatments for these diseases. Currently, the application of IL-17A-targeted drugs in autoimmune diseases will provide new ideas for the treatment of tumors, and its combined application with immune checkpoint inhibitors has become a research hotspot. This article reviews the mechanism of action of IL-17A and the application of anti-IL-17A antibodies, focusing on the research progress on the mechanism of action and therapeutic blockade of IL-17A in various tumors such as colorectal cancer (CRC), lung cancer, gastric cancer and breast cancer. Moreover, we also include the results of therapeutic blockade in the field of cancer as well as recent advances in the regulation of IL-17A signaling.

A novel necroptosis related gene signature and regulatory network for overall survival prediction in lung adenocarcinoma

We downloaded the mRNA expression profiles of patients with LUAD and corresponding clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and used the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Cox regression model to construct a multigene signature in the TCGA cohort, which was validated with patient data from the GEO cohort. Results showed differences in the expression levels of 120 necroptosis-related genes between normal and tumor tissues. An eight-gene signature (CYLD, FADD, H2AX, RBCK1, PPIA, PPID, VDAC1, and VDAC2) was constructed through univariate Cox regression, and patients were divided into two risk groups. The overall survival of patients in the high-risk group was significantly lower than of the patients in the low-risk group in the TCGA and GEO cohorts, indicating that the signature has a good predictive effect. The time-ROC curves revealed that the signature had a reliable predictive role in both the TCGA and GEO cohorts. Enrichment analysis showed that differential genes in the risk subgroups were associated with tumor immunity and antitumor drug sensitivity. We then constructed an mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA regulatory network, which identified lncRNA AL590666. 2/let-7c-5p/PPIA as a regulatory axis for LUAD. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to validate the expression of the 8-gene signature. In conclusion, necroptosis-related genes are important factors for predicting the prognosis of LUAD and potential therapeutic targets.

Protective Effects of Proanthocyanidin-Rich Fraction from Red Rice Germ and Bran on Lung Cell Inflammation via Inhibition of NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway

The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway during infectious pathogen-induced immunopathology can lead to chronic inflammation and various adverse health outcomes. Identification of functional foods with anti-inflammatory properties is crucial for preventing inflammation triggered by NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of a proanthocyanidin-rich fraction obtained from red rice germ and bran against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-induced condition in A549 lung cells. The proanthocyanidin-rich fraction from Yamuechaebia 3 red rice extract (YM3-PRF) was obtained using column chromatography with Sephadex LH20, and its total proanthocyanidin content was determined to be 351.43 ± 1.18 mg/g extract using the vanillin assay. A549 lung cells were pretreated with YM3-PRF at concentrations of 5-20 μg/mL prior to exposure to LPS (1 μg/mL) and ATP (5 nM). The results showed that YM3-PRF significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory mRNAs (NLRP3, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-18) and the secretion of cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-18) in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Mechanistically, YM3-PRF exerted its anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NF-κB translocation and downregulating proteins associated with the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway (NLRP3, ASC, pro-caspase-1, and cleaved-caspase-1). These findings suggest that the proanthocyanidin-rich fraction from red rice germ and bran has protective effects and may serve as a potential therapeutic option for chronic inflammatory diseases associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Clinical-mediated discovery of pyroptosis in CD8+ T cell and NK cell reveals melanoma heterogeneity by single-cell and bulk sequence

Histologically, melanoma tissues had fewer positive cells percentage of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs), GZMA, GSDMB, NLRP1, IL18, and CHMP4A in epidermal than in normal skin. Pyroptosis, a new frontier in cancer, affects the tumor microenvironment and tumor immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the role of pyroptosis remains controversial, which reason is partly due to the heterogeneity of the cellular composition in melanoma. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of the single-cell transcriptome landscape of pyroptosis in melanoma specimens. Our findings reveal dysregulation in the expression of PRGs, particularly in immune cells, such as CD8+ cells (representing CD8+ T cells) and CD57+ cells (representing NK cells). Additionally, the immunohistochemical and multiplex immunofluorescence staining experiments results further confirmed GZMA+ cells and GSDMB+ cells were predominantly expressed in immune cells, especially in CD8 + T cells and NK cells. Melanoma specimens secreted a minimal presence of GZMA+ merged CD8+ T cells (0.11%) and GSDMB+ merged CD57+ cells (0.08%), compared to the control groups exhibiting proportions of 4.02% and 0.62%, respectively. The aforementioned findings indicate that a reduced presence of immune cells within tumors may play a role in diminishing the ability of pyroptosis, consequently posing a potential risk to the anti-melanoma properties. To quantify clinical relevance, we constructed a prognostic risk model and an individualized nomogram (C-index=0.58, P = 0.002), suggesting a potential role of PRGs in malignant melanoma prevention. In conclusion, our integrated single-cell and bulk RNA-seq analysis identified immune cell clusters and immune gene modules with experiment validation, contributing to our better understanding of pyroptosis in melanoma.

Effects of dexmedetomidine on A549 non-small cell lung cancer growth in a clinically relevant surgical xenograft model

The perioperative milieu following curative lung cancer surgery is accompanied by a stress response. Inflammasomes mediate inflammation resulting in the unfavorable immunomodulation of natural killer (NK) cell activity, thus promoting cancer progression. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on the innate immune system, chronic inflammation, and lung cancer progression in a clinically relevant human-to-mouse xenograft model. The human lung cancer cell line A549-luc was subcutaneously injected into BALB/c nude mice. Saline or dexmedetomidine was administered for 2 weeks via an implanted osmotic minipump. After 4 weeks, the tumor size and weight were measured. NK cell activity, serum interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels were also measured. IL-10, IL-18, and inflammasome expression levels were assessed in the tumor tissues. DEX caused a decrease in tumor size, tumor weight, and IL-1β and TNF-α levels and an increase in NK cell activity and IFN-γ level. IL-10 and IL-18 expression was significantly decreased in the DEX-treated group. NLRP3, CTP1A, TXNIP, ASC, IL-1β, and caspase-1 protein levels were decreased in the DEX-treated group. In conclusion, the use of DEX for 2 weeks inhibited lung cancer progression by suppressing inflammasome- and IL-1β signaling-induced inflammation and enhancing NK cell activity.

NR1D1 deficiency in the tumor microenvironment promotes lung tumor development by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome

Nuclear receptor Rev-erbα (NR1D1) is a major negative regulator of the circadian clock. Numerous studies have investigated the role of circadian clock-related factors in the tumorigenesis of multiple cancer types, but little is known about the role of NR1D1 in cancer development. In this study, we identified the role of NR1D1 in lung tumorigenesis using genetically engineered mouse models of Nr1d1. Although NR1D1 overexpression or knockdown had little effect on the proliferation of NSCLC cells in vitro, NR1D1 deficiency in the tumor microenvironment increased lung cancer development compared with the control in the orthotopic model. NR1D1-deficient mice showed increased NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, and conditioned medium (CM) from NR1D1-deficient macrophages increased the proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lung cancer cells. Treatment with MCC950, a specific inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome, blocked tumorigenesis in NR1D1-deficient mice in an orthotopic lung cancer model. In addition, MCC950 treatment blocked the increased proliferation and EMT of cancer cells induced by CM from NR1D1-deficient macrophages in vitro. Our results showed that NR1D1 in the tumor microenvironment functions as a tumor suppressor by negatively regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome, suggesting that the NLRP3 inflammasome blockade via NR1D1 activation could be a therapeutic strategy to overcome lung cancer.

Targeting Spike Glycoprotein S1 Mediated by NLRP3 Inflammasome Machinery and the Cytokine Releases in A549 Lung Epithelial Cells by Nanocurcumin

Chronic inflammation and tissue damage can result from uncontrolled inflammation during SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 infections, leading to post-acute COVID conditions or long COVID. Curcumin, found in turmeric, has potent anti-inflammatory properties but limited effectiveness. This study developed nanocurcumin, a curcumin nanoparticle, to enhance its physical and chemical stability and investigate its in vitro anti-inflammatory properties upon CoV2-SP induction in lung epithelial cells. Nanocurcumin was prepared by encapsulating curcumin extract in phospholipids. The particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of nanocurcumin were measured using dynamic light scattering. The encapsulated curcumin content was determined using HPLC analysis. The encapsulation efficiency of curcumin was 90.74 ± 5.35% as determined by HPLC. Regarding the in vitro release of curcumin, nanocurcumin displayed a higher release content than non-nanoparticle curcumin. Nanocurcumin was further investigated for its anti-inflammatory properties using A549 lung epithelial cell line. As determined by ELISA, nanocurcumin showed inhibitory effects on inflammatory cytokine releases in CoV2-SP-stimulated conditions, as evidenced by a significant decrease in IL-6, IL-1β and IL-18 cytokine secretions compared with the spike-stimulated control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, as determined by RT-PCR, nanocurcumin significantly inhibited the CoV2-SP-stimulated expression of inflammatory genes (IL-6, IL-1β, IL-18, and NLRP3) compared with the spike-stimulated control group (p < 0.05). Regarding the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome machinery proteins by Western blot, nanocurcumin decreased the expressions of inflammasome machinery proteins including NLRP3, ASC, pro-caspase-1, and the active form of caspase-1 in CoV2-SP-stimulated A549 cells compared with the spike-stimulated control group (p < 0.05). Overall, the nanoparticle formulation of curcumin improved its solubility and bioavailability, demonstrating anti-inflammatory effects in a CoV2-SP-induced scenario by inhibiting inflammatory mediators and the NLRP3 inflammasome machinery. Nanocurcumin shows promise as an anti-inflammatory product for preventing COVID-19-related airway inflammation.

Clonal Hematopoiesis: Updates and Implications at the Solid Tumor-Immune Interface

Recent larger-scale studies of patients with cancer and longitudinal population cohorts have revealed how age-related expansions of mutant hematopoietic cells (clonal hematopoiesis [CH]) have differential associations with incident and prevalent cancers and their outcomes. Increasing recognition and deeper understanding of genetic subtypes of CH are yielding insights into the tumor-immune interface that may help to explain the heterogeneous impact of CH on tumorigenesis and treatment. Herein, we update the expanding influence of CH in precision oncology and propose important research and clinical questions to address to effectively manage and harness CH in oncology patients.

Pyroptosis-related genes prognostic model for predicting targeted therapy and immunotherapy response in soft tissue sarcoma

Several studies have highlighted the potential of pyroptosis as a target for cancer treatment. This article focuses on the specific roles and clinical implications of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in soft tissue sarcoma (STS). By analyzing differentially expressed PRGs in STS compared to normal tissue, our study evaluates the interactions, biological functions, and prognostic values of PRGs in STS. Through LASSO COX regression analysis, a five-gene survival related-risk score (PLCG1, PYCARD, CASP8, NOD1, and NOD2) was created, which examined both in TCGA cohort and training cohort (GSE21050, GSE30929, and GSE63157). Furthermore, we developed a nomogram incorporating clinic factors and the risk scores of the PRGs, which showed decent accuracy of prediction as evidenced by calibration curves. Additionally, our study analyzed the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion Algorithm (TIDE) and IMvigor 210 cohorts to investigate the immunotherapy response, and found that immunotherapy was more beneficial for patients with minimal risk of PRGs than those exhibiting greater risk. Finally, GDSC and CAMP databases were used to screen for effective chemotherapy or targeted drugs that are sensitive to the high-risk populations, including doxorubicin, imatinib, and sorafenib. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the PRG landscape in STS and constructs a novel risk model to predict prognosis and different therapeutic responses of STS patients, which is helpful for achieving precision medicine.

Progress in the study of molecular mechanisms of cell pyroptosis in tumor therapy

Pyroptosis, also known as cellular inflammatory necrosis, is a programmed cell death mediated by the Gasdermin family of proteins. The mechanisms by which pyroptosis occurs are divided into the GSDMD-mediated Caspase-1 and Caspase-4/-5/-11-dependent classical inflammatory vesicle pathway and the GSDME-mediated Caspase-3 and granzyme-dependent non-classical inflammatory vesicle pathways, among others. Recent studies have shown that pyroptosis has both inhibitory and promotive effects on tumor development. Pyroptosis induction also plays a dual role in antitumor immunotherapy: on the one hand, it suppresses antitumor immunity by promoting the release of inflammatory factors, and on the other hand, it inhibits tumor cell proliferation by triggering antitumor inflammatory responses. In addition, cell scorching plays an essential role in chemotherapy. It has been found that natural drugs modulating the induction of cell scorch are necessary to treat tumors. Therefore, studying the specific mechanisms of cell pyroptosis in different tumors can provide more ideas for developing oncology drugs. In this paper, we review the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis and the role of pyroptosis in tumor development and treatment to provide new targets for clinical tumor treatment, prognosis, and antitumor drug development.

Pyroptosis and its role in cancer

Programmed cell death (PCD) is mediated by specific genes that encode signals. It can balance cell survival and death. Pyroptosis is a type of inflammatory, caspase-dependent PCD mediated by gasdermin proteins, which function in pore formation, cell expansion, and plasma membrane rupture, followed by the release of intracellular contents. Pyroptosis is mediated by caspase-1/3/4/5/11 and is primarily divided into the classical pathway, which is dependent on caspase-1, and the non-classical pathway, which is dependent on caspase-4/5/11. Inflammasomes play a vital role in these processes. The various components of the pyroptosis pathway are related to the occurrence, invasion, and metastasis of tumors. Research on pyroptosis has revealed new options for tumor treatment. This article summarizes the recent research progress on the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis, the relationship between the various components of the pyroptosis pathway and cancer, and the applications and prospects of pyroptosis in anticancer therapy.

NLRP3 inflammasome-induced pyroptosis in digestive system tumors

Programmed cell death (PCD) refers to cell death in a manner that depends on specific genes encoding signals or activities. PCD includes apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy and necrosis (programmed necrosis). Among these mechanisms, pyroptosis is mediated by the gasdermin family and is accompanied by inflammatory and immune responses. When pathogens or other danger signals are detected, cytokine action and inflammasomes (cytoplasmic multiprotein complexes) lead to pyroptosis. The relationship between pyroptosis and cancer is complex and the effect of pyroptosis on cancer varies in different tissue and genetic backgrounds. On the one hand, pyroptosis can inhibit tumorigenesis and progression; on the other hand, pyroptosis, as a pro-inflammatory death, can promote tumor growth by creating a microenvironment suitable for tumor cell growth. Indeed, the NLRP3 inflammasome is known to mediate pyroptosis in digestive system tumors, such as gastric cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, in which a pyroptosis-induced cellular inflammatory response inhibits tumor development. The same process occurs in hepatocellular carcinoma and some colorectal cancers. The current review summarizes mechanisms and pathways of pyroptosis, outlining the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in digestive system tumors.

Novel Activity of ODZ10117, a STAT3 Inhibitor, for Regulation of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

The NLRP3 inflammasome serves as a host defense mechanism against various pathogens, but there is growing evidence linking its activation in sterile condition to diverse inflammatory diseases. Therefore, the identification of specific inhibitors that target NLRP3 inflammasome activation is meaningful and important for novel therapies for NLRP3 inflammasome-associated diseases. In this study, we identified a chemical compound, namely ODZ10117 (ODZ), that showed NLRP3 inflammasome-targeting anti-inflammatory effects during the screening of a chemical library for anti-inflammatory activity. Although ODZ was initially discovered as a STAT3 inhibitor, here we found it also has inhibitory activity on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. ODZ inhibited the cleavage of caspase-1 and IL-1β-induced canonical NLRP3 inflammasome triggers, but had no effect on those induced by AIM2 or NLRC4 triggers. Mechanistically, ODZ impairs NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the inhibition of NLRP3-NEK7 interaction that is required for inflammasome formation. Moreover, the results obtained from the in silico docking experiment suggested that ODZ targets NLRP3 protein, which provides evidence for the specificity of ODZ to the NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, ODZ administration significantly reduced MSU-induced IL-1β release and the mortality rate of mice with LPS-induced sepsis. Collectively, these results demonstrate a novel effect of ODZ10117 in regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation both in vitro and in vivo, making it a promising candidate for the treatment of NLRP3-inflammasome-associated immune disorders and cancer.

Involvement of inflammasomes in tumor microenvironment and tumor therapies

Inflammasomes are macromolecular platforms formed in response to damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns, whose formation would cause maturation of interleukin-1 (IL-1) family members and gasdermin D (GSDMD), leading to IL-1 secretion and pyroptosis respectively. Several kinds of inflammasomes detecting different types of dangers have been found. The activation of inflammasomes is regulated at both transcription and posttranscription levels, which is crucial in protecting the host from infections and sterile insults. Present findings have illustrated that inflammasomes are involved in not only infection but also the pathology of tumors implying an important link between inflammation and tumor development. Generally, inflammasomes participate in tumorigenesis, cell death, metastasis, immune evasion, chemotherapy, target therapy, and radiotherapy. Inflammasome components are upregulated in some tumors, and inflammasomes can be activated in cancer cells and other stromal cells by DAMPs, chemotherapy agents, and radiation. In some cases, inflammasomes inhibit tumor progression by initiating GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in cancer cells and stimulating IL-1 signal-mediated anti-tumor immunity. However, IL-1 signal recruits immunosuppressive cell subsets in other cases. We discuss the conflicting results and propose some possible explanations. Additionally, we also summarize interventions targeting inflammasome pathways in both preclinical and clinical stages. Interventions targeting inflammasomes are promising for immunotherapy and combination therapy.

Myeloid-cell-specific role of Gasdermin D in promoting lung cancer progression in mice

The activities of the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes and Gasdermin D (GsdmD) are implicated in lung cancer pathophysiology but it's not clear if their contributions promote or retard lung cancer progression. Using a metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cell model, we show that GsdmD knockout (GsdmD^-/-) mice form significantly fewer cancer foci in lungs, exhibit markedly decreased lung cancer metastasis, and show a significant ∼50% increase in median survival rate. The cleaved forms of GsdmD and IL-1β were detected in lung tumor tissue, indicating inflammasome activity in lung tumor microenvironment (TME). Increased migration and growth of LLC cells was observed upon exposure to the conditioned media derived from inflammasome-induced wild type, but not the GsdmD^-/-, macrophages. Using bone marrow transplantations, we show a myeloid-specific contribution of GsdmD in lung cancer metastasis. Taken together, our data show that GsdmD plays a myeloid-specific role in lung cancer progression.

Detection and analysis of lung microbiota in mice with lung cancer lacking the NLRP3 gene

To explore whether the lung microbiota have changed in the process of NLRP3 inflammasome promoting cancer, we constructed a murine lung cancer model using tracheal instillation of benzo(a)pyrene and an equal volume of tricaprylin, and characterized lung microbiota in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 24 SPF wild-type and NLRP3 gene knockout (NLRP3-/-) C57BL/6 mice. 16SrDNA sequencing was used to analyze the changes in the microbiota. The wild-type and the NLRP3-/- lung cancer group had statistically significant differences in tumor formation rate, tumor number, and tumor size. At the phylum and the genus level, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Sphingomonas were the highest in each group respectively. Simpson (P = 0.002) and Shannon (P = 0.008) indexes showed that the diversity of microbiota in the lung cancer group was lower than that in the control group under the NLRP3-/- background. According to the ANOSIM and MRPP analysis, there was a difference between the NLRP3-/- lung cancer group and the NLRP3-/- control group (P < 0.05). The knockout of the NLRP3 gene caused changes in the lung microbiota of mice. There may be a regulatory relationship between the NLRP3 inflammasome and the lung microbiota, which affects the occurrence and development of lung cancer.

Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in lung epithelial cells triggers radiation-induced lung injury

BACKGROUND

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is the most common and serious complication of chest radiotherapy. However, reported radioprotective agents usually lead to radiation resistance in tumor cells. The key to solving this problem is to distinguish between the response of tumor cells and normal lung epithelial cells to radiation damage.

METHODS

RNA-Seq was used to recognize potential target of alleviating the progression of RILI as well as inhibiting tumor growth. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in lung epithelial cells was screened by qRT-PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence, and ELISA. An in vivo model of RILI and in vitro conditioned culture model were constructed to evaluate the effect of NLRP3/interleukin-1β on fibroblasts activation. ROS, ATP, and (NADP)⁺/NADP(H) level in lung epithelial cells was detected to explore the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The lung macrophages of the mice were deleted to evaluate the role of lung epithelial cells in RILI. Moreover, primary cells were extracted to validate the results obtained from cell lines.

RESULTS

NLRP3 activation in epithelial cells after radiation depends on glycolysis-related reactive oxygen species accumulation. DPYSL4 is activated and acts as a negative regulator of this process. The NLRP3 inflammasome triggers interleukin-1β secretion, which directly affects fibroblast activation, proliferation, and migration, eventually leading to lung fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that NLRP3 inflammasome activation in lung epithelial cells is essential for radiation-induced lung injury. These data strongly indicate that targeting NLRP3 may be effective in reducing radiation-induced lung injury in clinical settings.

Implications of reactive oxygen species in lung cancer and exploiting it for therapeutic interventions

Lung cancer is the second (11.4%) most commonly diagnosed cancer and the first (18%) to cause cancer-related deaths worldwide. The incidence of lung cancer varies significantly among men, women, and high and low-middle-income countries. Air pollution, inhalable agents, and tobacco smoking are a few of the critical factors that determine lung cancer incidence and mortality worldwide. Reactive oxygen species are known factors of lung carcinogenesis resulting from the xenobiotics and their mechanistic paths are under critical investigation. Reactive oxygen species exhibit dual roles in cells, as a tumorigenic and anti-proliferative factor, depending on spatiotemporal context. During the precancerous state, ROS promotes cancer origination through oxidative stress and base-pair substitution mutations in pro-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. At later stages of tumor progression, they help the cancer cells in invasion, and metastases by activating the NF-kB and MAPK pathways. However, at advanced stages, when ROS exceeds the threshold, it promotes cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis in cancer cells. ROS activates extrinsic apoptosis through death receptors and intrinsic apoptosis through mitochondrial pathways. Moreover, ROS upregulates the expression of beclin-1 which is a critical component to initiate autophagy, another form of programmed cell death. ROS is additionally involved in an intermediatory step in necroptosis, which catalyzes and accelerates this form of cell death. Various therapeutic interventions have been attempted to exploit this cytotoxic potential of ROS to treat different cancers. Growing body of evidence suggests that ROS is also associated with chemoresistance and cancer cell immunity. Considering the multiple roles of ROS, this review highlights the exploitation of ROS for various therapeutic interventions. However, there are still gaps in the literature on the dual roles of ROS and the involvement of ROS in cancer cell immunity and therapy resistance.

Tumor-intrinsic NLRP3-HSP70-TLR4 axis drives premetastatic niche development and hyperprogression during anti-PD-1 immunotherapy

The tumor-intrinsic NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) signaling axis is triggered by CD8⁺ T cell cytotoxicity and contributes to the development of adaptive resistance to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) immunotherapy by recruiting granulocytic polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) into the tumor microenvironment. Here, we demonstrate that the tumor NLRP3-HSP70 axis also drives the accumulation of PMN-MDSCs into distant lung tissues in a manner that depends on lung epithelial cell Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling, establishing a premetastatic niche that supports disease hyperprogression in response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Lung epithelial HSP70-TLR4 signaling induces the downstream Wnt5a-dependent release of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CXCL5), thus promoting myeloid granulopoiesis and recruitment of PMN-MDSCs into pulmonary tissues. Treatment with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy enhanced the activation of this pathway through immunologic pressure and drove disease progression in the setting of Nlrp3 amplification. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of NLRP3 and HSP70 blocked PMN-MDSC accumulation in the lung in response to anti-PD-1 therapy and suppressed metastatic progression in preclinical models of melanoma and breast cancer. Elevated baseline concentrations of plasma HSP70 and evidence of NLRP3 signaling activity in tumor tissue specimens correlated with the development of disease hyperprogression and inferior survival in patients with stage IV melanoma undergoing anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Together, this work describes a pathogenic mechanism underlying the phenomenon of disease hyperprogression in melanoma and offers candidate targets and markers capable of improving the management of patients with melanoma.

Identification of a Prognostic Pyroptostic-Related Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on LASSO-Cox Regression Analysis

Pyroptosis is associated with the biological behavior of the tumor and with tumor immunity. We investigated the effect of pyroptosis on the tumor microenvironment and tumor immunity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). RNA sequencing data and clinical information of HNSCC were downloaded from TCGA. Differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes in HNSCC were identified between HNSCC and normal tissue. Pyroptosis-related classification of HNSCC was conducted based on consensus clustering analysis. LASSO-Cox regression analysis was used to construct a prognostic risk model-based pyroptosis-related gene. Evaluation of the immune microenvironment was conducted in prognostic risk signature based on pyroptosis-related genes. Total 22 differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes were identified in HNSCC. Six prognostic-related genes were included to construct a LASSO regression model with a prognostic risk score = (0.133 ∗ GSDME (DFNA5) + 0.084 ∗ NOD1 + 0.039 ∗ IL6 + 0.003 ∗ IL1B + 0.084 ∗ CASP3 + 0.028 ∗ NLRP2). Higher fraction of resting memory CD4+ T cells and macrophages M1 was infiltrated in the high-risk group compared with the low-risk group in HNSCC. Furthermore, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and the IL-17 signaling pathways were identified to be involved in the development of high-risk HNSCC. Our study constructed a prognostic risk signature based on pyroptosis-related genes, which emphasizes the critical importance of pyroptosis in HNSCC and provided a novel perspective of HNSCC therapy.

Phenolic diterpenes from Rosemary supercritical extract inhibit non-small cell lung cancer lipid metabolism and synergise with therapeutic drugs in the clinic

Lung cancer is one of the most deadly and common cancers in the world. The molecular features of patient's tumours dictate the different therapeutic decisions, which combines targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Altered cellular metabolism is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Tumour cells reprogram their metabolism to adapt to their novel requirements of growth, proliferation, and survival. Together with the Warburg effect, the role of lipid metabolism alterations in cancer development and prognosis has been highlighted. Several lipid related genes have been shown to promote transformation and progression of cancer cells and have been proposed as biomarkers for prognosis. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of the regulation of lipid metabolism and the biological consequences in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been elucidated yet. There is an urgent necessity to develop multidisciplinary and complementary strategies to improve NSCLC patients´ well-being and treatment response. Nutrients can directly affect fundamental cellular processes and some diet-derived ingredients, bioactive natural compounds and natural extracts have been shown to inhibit the tumour growth in preclinical and clinical trials. Previously, we described a supercritical extract of rosemary (SFRE) (12 - 16% composition of phenolic diterpenes carnosic acid and carnosol) as a potential antitumoral agent in colon and breast cancer due to its effects on the inhibition of lipid metabolism and DNA synthesis, and in the reduction of resistance to 5-FluoroUracil (5-FU). Herein, we demonstrate SFRE inhibits NSCLC cell bioenergetics identifying several lipid metabolism implicated targets. Moreover, SFRE synergises with standard therapeutic drugs used in the clinic, such as cisplatin, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab to inhibit of cell viability of NSCLC cells. Importantly, the clinical relevance of SFRE as a complement in the treatment of NSCLC patients is suggested based on the results of a pilot clinical trial where SFRE formulated with bioactive lipids (PCT/ES2017/070263) diminishes metabolic and inflammatory targets in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), such as MAPK (p=0.04), NLRP3 (p=0.044), and SREBF1 (p=0.047), which may augment the immune antitumour function. Based on these results, SFRE merits further investigation as a co-adjuvant in the treatment of NSCLC.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05080920.

Differential expression of immune-regulatory proteins C5AR1, CLEC4A and NLRP3 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients

Changes in gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) appear to represent the host's response to the cancer cells via paracrine signaling. We speculated that protein expression on circulating T-lymphocytes represent T-lymphocyte trafficking before infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. The possibility of using protein expression on circulating T-lymphocytes as a biomarker to discriminate early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was explored. Four independent PBMC gene expression microarray datasets (GSE12771, GSE13255, GSE20189 and GSE3934) were analyzed. We selected C5AR1, CLEC4A and NLRP3 based on their significant protein expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, but not in normal lymphoid tissue. A validation study using automated flow cytometry was conducted in 141 study participants including 76 treatment-naive early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC), 12 individuals with non-malignant pulmonary diseases, and 53 healthy individuals. Median ratios of C5AR1, CLEC4A and NLRP3 specific antibody staining to CD3 positive cells in early-stage NSCLC patients compared to healthy controls were 0.014 [0-0.37] vs. 0.01 [0-0.07, p = 0.13], 0.03 [0-0.87] vs. 0.02 [0-0.13, p = 0.10] and 0.19 [0-0.60] vs. 0.09 [0.02-0.31, p < 0.0001], respectively. Median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD3⁺C5AR1⁺, CD3⁺CLEC4A⁺ and CD3⁺NLRP3⁺ expression in early-stage NSCLC patients compared to healthy volunteers was 185 [64.2-4801] vs. 107.5 [27-229, p < 0.0001], 91.2 [42.4-2355] vs. 71.25 [46.2-103, p = 0.0005], and 1585 [478-5224] vs. 758.5 [318-1976, p < 0.0001], respectively. NLRP3:CD3 ratio, CD3⁺C5AR1⁺, CD3⁺CLEC4A⁺ and CD3⁺NLRP3⁺ MFI were significantly higher in early-stage NSCLC than healthy volunteers with an area under the ROC curve of 0.69-0.76. The CD3⁺NLRP3⁺ MFI provided the most distinguishable expression at 71.5% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Furthermore, CD3⁺NLRP3⁺ MFI potentially discriminated between early-stage NSCLC from malignant-mimic inflammation and infection pulmonary disease. Further validation in various pulmonary inflammatory disease might be warranted. Our proof-of-principle findings strengthen the hypothesis that malignancies generate distinctive protein expression fingerprints on circulating T-lymphocytes.

Mitophagy Induction and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Redox Signaling Contribute to the Suppression of Breast Cancer Cell Growth by Taloxifene via Regulation of Inflammasomes Activation

Aims: Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator, has been reported to exert the tumor-suppressive effects in both ER-positive and ER-negative cancer cells; however, the mechanisms underlying its ER-independent anti-cancer effects are poorly understood. The NLRP3 inflammasome, a critical component of the innate immune system, has recently received growing attention owing to its multifaceted roles in various aspects of cancer development. The present study aimed at examining the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the anti-breast cancer effects of raloxifene and its underlying mechanisms. Results: Raloxifene significantly inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in various breast cancer cell lines. Importantly, forced expression of a gain-of-function variant of NLRP3 rescued breast cancer cells from growth arrest by raloxifene, suggesting that the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasomes activation mediates the raloxifene-induced inhibition of breast cancer growth. Mechanistically, raloxifene suppressed NLRP3 inflammasomes activation by lowering the cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the modulation of redox signaling mediated via aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) axis or the impaired generation of mitochondrial ROS in a mitophagy-dependent manner. Further, the blockage of AhR signaling or inhibition of mitophagy abolished the tumor-suppressive effect of raloxifene in a human breast tumor xenograft model. Innovation: We elucidate a novel molecular mechanism underlying the breast tumor suppressing effect of raloxifene. Conclusion: The results observed in this study suggest that the modulation of NLRP3 inflammasomes activation is a critical event in the inhibition of breast tumor growth by raloxifene. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 37, 1030-1050.

IL-17A Promotes the Migration, Invasion and the EMT Process of Lung Cancer Accompanied by NLRP3 Activation

Background

Lung cancer is a deadly cancer worldwide, and its pathogenesis and treatment methods require continuous research and exploration. As a representative factor of adaptive immunity, the role of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in lung cancer is still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of IL-17A on the biological behaviour of lung cancer cells and the relative mechanism.

Methods

The human lung adenocarcinoma A549 and H1299 cell lines were used for in vitro study. The effects of IL-17A on cell proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed by CCK-8 assay, wound-healing assay, transwell invasion assay and real-time cell analysis (RTCA). The expression levels of marker proteins in the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were detected by western blot analysis. Caspase-1 activity and the concentration of IL-1β after NLRP3 inflammasome activation were measured by a Caspase-1 Activity Assay Kit and an IL-1β ELISA kit, respectively.

Results

Compared to the control group, IL-17A treatment did not affect the proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells in vitro, but it promoted cell migration, invasion and the EMT process. IL-17A treatment increased NLRP3 expression, caspase-1 activity and IL-1β level. Blockade of NLRP3 alleviated the cell migration, invasion and the EMT process induced by IL-17A.

Conclusions

In conclusion, these findings indicated that NLRP3 participates in the migration, invasion and the EMT process of IL-17A-stimulated lung cells in vitro.

Uncovering the Anticancer Potential of Polydatin: A Mechanistic Insight

Polydatin or 3-O-β-d-resveratrol-glucopyranoside (PD), a stilbenoid component of Polygonum cuspicadum (Polygonaceae), has a variety of biological roles. In traditional Chinese medicine, P. cuspicadum extracts are used for the treatment of infections, inflammation, and cardiovascular disorders. Polydatin possesses a broad range of biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and immunostimulatory effects. Currently, a major proportion of the population is victimized with cervical lung cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. PD has been recognized as a potent anticancer agent. PD could effectively inhibit the migration and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells, as well as the expression of the PI3K protein. The malignancy of lung cancer cells was reduced after PD treatments via targeting caspase 3, arresting cancer cells at the S phase and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome by downregulation of the NF-κB pathway. This ceases cell cycle, inhibits VEGF, and counteracts ROS in breast cancer. It also prevents cervical cancer by regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), apoptosis, and the C-Myc gene. The objective of this review is thus to unveil the polydatin anticancer potential for the treatment of various tumors, as well as to examine the mechanisms of action of this compound.

MiR-223-3p attenuates the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells by regulating NLRP3

Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with high invasion and metastasis, which seriously threatens public health. Previous study showed that NLRP3 could promote the occurrence of lung tumors in B(a)P-induced mice. MicroRNAs are closely related to the progression and metastasis of lung cancer by regulating target genes. However, which miRNAs affect the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells through regulating NLRP3 remains poorly defined. In this study, the miRNAs targeting NLRP3 were selected from TargetScan and miRDB database and finally miR-223-3p was chosen due to the consistent expression in both A549 and H520 cells. Then, the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells were detected with miR-223-3p mimic and inhibitor using Transwell assay, at the same time the expression of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 was determined using Western Blot and immunohistochemistry assay. Our data demonstrated that miR-223-3p was upregulated in both A549 and H520 cells. Furthermore, the migration and invasion of A549 and H520 cells were promoted after inhibiting miR-223-3p. Besides, the levels of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were increased in the two lung cancer cells. And the corresponding results were contrary in miR-223-3p mimic group. Taken together, miR-223-3p attenuates the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells by regulating NLRP3, which provides evidence for the prevention and targeted treatment of NSCLC.

AIM2 upregulation promotes metastatic progression and PD-L1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma

Cancer metastasis leading to the dysfunction of invaded organs is the main cause of the reduced survival rates in lung cancer patients. However, the molecular mechanism for lung cancer metastasis remains unclear. Recently, the increased activity of inflammasome appeared to correlate with the metastatic progression and immunosuppressive ability of various cancer types. Our results showed that the mRNA levels of absence in melanoma 2 (AIM2), one of the inflammasome members, are extensively upregulated in primary tumors compared with normal tissues derived from the TCGA lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) database. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that a higher mRNA level of AIM2 refers to a poor prognosis in LUAD patients. Particularly, AIM2 upregulation is closely correlated with smoking history and the absence of EGFR/KRAS/ALK mutations in LUAD. We further showed that the endogenous mRNA levels of AIM2 are causally associated with the metastatic potentials of the tested LUAD cell lines. AIM2 knockdown suppressed but overexpression promoted the migration ability and lung colony-forming ability of tested LUAD cells. In addition, we found that AIM2 upregulation is closely associated with an increased level of immune checkpoint gene set, as well as programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) transcript, in TCGA LUAD samples. AIM2 knockdown predominantly repressed but overexpression enhanced PD-L1 expression via altering the activity of PD-L1 transcriptional regulators NF-κB/STAT1 in LUAD cells. Our results not only provide a possible mechanism underlying the AIM2-promoted metastatic progression and immune evasion of LUAD but also offer a new strategy for combating metastatic/immunosuppressive LUAD via targeting AIM2 activity.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Dual-Target COX-2/CYP51 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Fungal Infectious Diseases

The design of novel dual-target (COX-2/CYP51) inhibitors was proposed in the study, and three series of compounds were constructed though the pathway of skeleton screening and combination; their molecular structures were synthesized and evaluated. Most of the compounds exhibited significant antifungal ability. Among them, potential compounds (10a-2, 16b-3) with excellent antifungal and anti-drug-resistant fungal ability (MIC₅₀, 0.125-2.0 μg/mL) were selected for the subsequent mechanistic study. On the one hand, these compounds could block the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway by inhibiting CYP51 and influence the internal physiological function of fungal cells, which included the increase of the ROS level, the anomaly of ΔΨ_m, and the emergence of an apoptotic state. On the other hand, these compounds also effectively showed COX-2 inhibition ability, eliminated the inflammatory reaction of the infected region, and activated the body's immune function. In summary, this study not only provided a novel antifungal drug design pathway but also discovered excellent target compounds.

Hesperetin from Root Extract of Clerodendrum petasites S. Moore Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein S1 Subunit-Induced NLRP3 Inflammasome in A549 Lung Cells via Modulation of the Akt/MAPK/AP-1 Pathway

Inhibition of inflammatory responses from the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 (Spike) by targeting NLRP3 inflammasome has recently been developed as an alternative form of supportive therapy besides the traditional anti-viral approaches. Clerodendrum petasites S. Moore (C. petasites) is a Thai traditional medicinal plant possessing antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, C. petasites ethanolic root extract (CpEE) underwent solvent-partitioned extraction to obtain the ethyl acetate fraction of C. petasites (CpEA). Subsequently, C. petasites extracts were determined for the flavonoid contents and anti-inflammatory properties against spike induction in the A549 lung cells. According to the HPLC results, CpEA significantly contained higher amounts of hesperidin and hesperetin flavonoids than CpEE (p < 0.05). A549 cells were then pre-treated with either C. petasites extracts or its active flavonoids and were primed with 100 ng/mL of spike S1 subunit (Spike S1) and determined for the anti-inflammatory properties. The results indicate that CpEA (compared with CpEE) and hesperetin (compared with hesperidin) exhibited greater anti-inflammatory properties upon Spike S1 induction through a significant reduction in IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-18 cytokine releases in A549 cells culture supernatant (p < 0.05). Additionally, CpEA and hesperetin significantly inhibited the Spike S1-induced inflammatory gene expressions (NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18, p < 0.05). Mechanistically, CpEA and hesperetin attenuated inflammasome machinery protein expressions (NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1), as well as inactivated the Akt/MAPK/AP-1 pathway. Overall, our findings could provide scientific-based evidence to support the use of C. petasites and hesperetin in the development of supportive therapies for the prevention of COVID-19-related chronic inflammation.

Signature based on RNA-binding protein-related genes for predicting prognosis and guiding therapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Background: Studies have reported that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are dysregulated in multiple cancers and are correlated with the progression and prognosis of disease. However, the functions of RBPs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore the function of RBPs in NSCLC and their prognostic and therapeutic value.

Methods: The mRNA expression profiles, DNA methylation data, gene mutation data, copy number variation data, and corresponding clinical information on NSCLC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus, and the University of California Santa Cruz Xena databases. The differentially expressed RBPs were identified between tumor and control tissues, and the expression and prognostic value of these RBPs were systemically investigated by bioinformatics analysis. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to validate the dysregulated genes in the prognostic signature.

Results: A prognostic RBP-related signature was successfully constructed based on eight RBPs represented as a risk score using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. The high-risk group had a worse overall survival (OS) probability than the low-risk group (p &lt; 0.001) with 1-, 3-, and 5-year area under the receiver operator characteristic curve values of 0.671, 0.638, and 0.637, respectively. The risk score was associated with the stage of disease (p &lt; 0.05) and was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC when adjusted for age and UICC stage (p &lt; 0.001, hazard ratio (HR): 1.888). The constructed nomogram showed a good predictive value. The P53, focal adhesion, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways were the primary pathways in the high-risk group (adjusted p value &lt;0.05). The high-risk group was correlated with increased immune infiltration (p &lt; 0.05), upregulated relative expression levels of programmed cell death 1 (PD1) (p = 0.015), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) (p = 0.042), higher gene mutation frequency, higher tumor mutational burden (p = 0.034), and better chemotherapy response (p &lt; 0.001). The signature was successfully validated using the GSE26939, GSE31210, GSE30219, and GSE157009 datasets. Dysregulation of these genes in patients with NSCLC was confirmed using the qPCR in an independent cohort (p &lt; 0.05).

Conclusion: An RBP-related signature was successfully constructed to predict prognosis in NSCLC, functioning as a reference for individualized therapy, including immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Ubiquitination as a key regulatory mechanism for O3-induced cutaneous redox inflammasome activation

NLRP1 is one of the major inflammasomes modulating the cutaneous inflammatory responses and therefore linked to a variety of cutaneous conditions. Although NLRP1 has been the first inflammasome to be discovered, only in the past years a significant progress was achieved in understanding the molecular mechanism and the stimuli behind its activation. In the past decades a crescent number of studies have highlighted the role of air pollutants as Particulate Matter (PM), Cigarette Smoke (CS) and Ozone (O₃) as trigger stimuli for inflammasomes activation, especially via Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) mediators. However, whether NLRP1 can be modulated by air pollutants via oxidative stress and the mechanism behind its activation is still poorly understood. Here we report for the first time that O₃, one of the most toxic pollutants, activates the NLRP1 inflammasome in human keratinocytes via oxidative stress mediators as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and 4-hydroxy-nonenal (4HNE). Our data suggest that NLRP1 represents a target protein for 4HNE adduction that possibly leads to its proteasomal degradation and activation via the possible involvement of E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR2. Of note, Catalase (Cat) treatment prevented inflammasome assemble and inflammatory cytokines release as well as NLRP1 ubiquitination in human keratinocytes upon O₃ exposure. The present work is a mechanistic study that follows our previous work where we have showed the ability of O₃ to induce cutaneous inflammasome activation in humans exposed to this pollutant. In conclusion, our results suggest that O₃ triggers the cutaneous NLRP1 inflammasome activation by ubiquitination and redox mechanism.

Novel Inflammasome-Based Risk Score for Predicting Survival and Efficacy to Immunotherapy in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been approved to improve outcomes and reduce recurrence. Biomarkers for patient selection are needed. In this paper, we proposed an inflammasome-based risk score (IRS) system for prognosis and prediction of ICI response for early-stage NSCLC. Cox regression analysis was used to identify significant genes (from 141 core inflammasome genes) for overall survival (OS) in a microarray discovery cohort (n = 467). IRS was established and independently validated by other datasets (n = 1320). We evaluated the inflammasome signaling steps based on five gene sets, which were IL1B-, CASP-1-, IL18-, GSDMD-, and inflammasome-regulated genes. Gene set enrichment analysis, the Kaplan–Meier curve, receiver operator characteristic with area under curve (AUC) analysis, and advanced bioinformatic tools were used to confirm the ability of IRS in prognosis and classification of patients into ICI responders and non-responders. A 30-gene IRS was developed, and it indicated good risk stratification at 10-year OS (AUC = 0.726). Patients were stratified into high- and low-risk groups based on optimal cutoff points, and high-risk IRS had significantly poorer OS and relapse-free survival. In addition, the high-risk group was characterized by an inflamed immunophenotype and higher proportion of ICI responders. Furthermore, expression of SLAMF8 was the key gene in IRS and indicated good correlation with biomarkers associated with immunotherapy. It could serve as a therapeutic target in the clinical setting of immunotherapy.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) Promote Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Metastasis by Suppressing lncRNA MIR503HG to Activate the NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that are produced in the tumour microenvironment (TME) have been suggested to play an essential role in the dissemination of metastatic cancer under multiple infectious and inflammatory conditions. However, the functions of NETs in promoting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastasis and the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we found that NETs promoted NSCLC cell invasion and migration by inducing epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). To explore how NETs contribute to NSCLC metastasis, microarrays were performed to identify substantial numbers of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs that were differentially expressed in NSCLC cells after stimulation with NETs. Interestingly, we observed that the expression of lncRNA MIR503HG was downregulated after NETs stimulation, and ectopic MIR503HG expression reversed the metastasis-promoting effect of NETs in vitro and in vivo. Notably, bioinformatics analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were involved in the NOD-like receptor and NF-κB signalling pathways that are associated with inflammation. NETs facilitated EMT and thereby contributed to NSCLC metastasis by activating the NF-κB/NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) signalling pathway. Further studies revealed that MIR503HG inhibited NETs-triggered NSCLC cell metastasis in an NF-κB/NLRP3-dependent manner, as overexpression of NF-κB or NLRP3 impaired the suppressive effect of MIR503HG on NETs-induced cancer cell metastasis. Together, these results show that NETs activate the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway by downregulating MIR503HG expression to promote EMT and NSCLC metastasis. Targeting the formation of NETs may be a novel therapeutic strategy for treating NSCLC metastasis.

Uterus globulin associated protein 1 (UGRP1) binds podoplanin (PDPN) to promote a novel inflammation pathway during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection

Background

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the major cause of life‐threatening infections. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) and NOD‐like receptors (NLRs) could recognise S. pneumoniae and regulate the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. UGRP1, highly expressed in lung, is predominantly secreted in airways. However, the function of UGRP1 in pneumonia is mainly unknown.

Methods and results

We showed that upon TLR2/TLR4/NOD2 agonists stimulation or S. pneumoniae infection, treatment with UGRP1 could promote phosphorylation of p65 and enhance IL‐6, IL‐1β and TNFα production in macrophages. We further elucidated that after binding with cell‐surface receptor PDPN, UGRP1 could activate RhoA to enhance interaction of IKKγ and IKKβ, which slightly activated NF‐κB to improve expression of TLR2, MyD88, NOD2 and NLRP3. Deletion of UGRP1 or blocking UGRP1 interaction with PDPN protected mice against S. pneumoniae‐induced severe pneumococcal pneumonia, and activating RhoA with agonist in UGRP1‐deficient mice restored the reduced IL‐6 production.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that UGRP1–PDPN–RhoA signaling could activate NF‐κB to promote expression of TLR2, MyD88, NOD2 and NLRP3, which enhanced inflammatory cytokines secretion during S. pneumoniae infection. Antibodies, which could interrupt interaction of UGRP1 and PDPN, are potential therapeutics against S. pneumoniae.

Sestrin2 in cancer: a foe or a friend?

Sestrin2 is a conserved antioxidant, metabolism regulator, and downstream of P53. Sestrin2 can suppress oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby preventing the development and progression of cancer. However, Sestrin2 attenuates severe oxidative stress by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), thereby enhancing cancer cells survival and chemoresistance. Sestrin2 inhibits endoplasmic reticulum stress and activates autophagy and apoptosis in cancer cells. Attenuation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and augmentation of autophagy hinders cancer development but can either expedite or impede cancer progression under specific conditions. Furthermore, Sestrin2 can vigorously inhibit oncogenic signaling pathways through downregulation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α). Conversely, Sestrin2 decreases the cytotoxic activity of T cells and natural killer cells which helps tumor cells immune evasion. Sestrin2 can enhance tumor cells viability in stress conditions such as glucose or glutamine deficiency. Cancer cells can also upregulate Sestrin2 during chemotherapy or radiotherapy to attenuate severe oxidative stress and ER stress, augment autophagy and resist the treatment. Recent studies unveiled that Sestrin2 is involved in the development and progression of several types of human cancer. The effect of Sestrin2 may differ depending on the type of tumor, for instance, several studies revealed that Sestrin2 protects against colorectal cancer, whereas results are controversial regarding lung cancer. Furthermore, Sestrin2 expression correlates with metastasis and survival in several types of human cancer such as colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Targeted therapy for Sestrin2 or regulation of its expression by new techniques such as non-coding RNAs delivery and vector systems may improve cancer chemotherapy and overcome chemoresistance, metastasis and immune evasion that should be investigated by future trials.

The pyrin inflammasome aggravates inflammatory cell migration in patients with familial Mediterranean fever

BACKGROUND

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease caused by pathogenic variants of the MEFV gene, which encodes pyrin. Leukocyte migration to serosal sites is a key event during inflammation in FMF. The pyrin inflammasome is a multiprotein complex involved in inflammation. Here, we aimed to determine the relationship between inflammatory cell migration and the pyrin inflammasome in FMF patients.

METHODS

Monocytes were isolated from blood samples collected from patients with FMF, healthy controls, and a patient with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS), which served as a disease control. Inflammasome proteins were analyzed under inflammasome activation and inhibition by western blotting. Cell migration assays were performed with the isolated primary monocytes as well as THP-1 monocytes and THP-1-derived macrophages.

RESULTS

When the pyrin inflammasome was suppressed, migration of monocytes from FMF patients was significantly decreased compared to the migration of monocytes from the CAPS patient and healthy controls. Cell line experiments showed a relationship between pyrin inflammasome activation and cell migration.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the increased cell migration in FMF is due to the presence of more active pyrin inflammasome. This study contributes to our understanding of the role of pyrin in inflammatory cell migration through inflammasome formation.

IMPACT

The pyrin inflammasome may play a role in inflammatory cell migration. FMF patients show a pyrin inflammasome-dependent increase in inflammatory cell migration. Correlations between the pyrin inflammasome and cell migration were observed in both THP-1 monocytes and THP-1-derived macrophages.

Comprehensive molecular analysis of a four-pyroptosis-gene signature with prognosis and immune landscape in lung adenocarcinoma

Pyroptosis plays an important role in tumor immunity. However, the biological behavior and prognostic significance of pyroptosis remain unclear. We identified 41 pyroptosis regulators differently expressed in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). All cases of LUAD can be classified into two molecular subtypes using unsupervised clustering algorithm. Using multiple analyses, a four-pyroptosis-gene signature was constructed, and all LUAD patients were categorized as low-risk or high-risk with a longer overall survival (OS) time in the low-risk group(P < 0.001). This signature had power prognosis and stratification which was validated by six independent datasets and clinical subtypes. Besides, this signature showed distinct clinical outcomes, immune landscapes in different risk groups. Moreover, the low-risk group had a higher response against immunotherapy with a lower TIDE score. Importantly, this signature surpassed other biomarkers (TIDE, TMB, PD-L1) in predicting prognosis. Overall, the current study might help with precise prognostic prediction and crucial treatment strategies, eventually promoting tailored therapy for LUAD patients.

Pan-cancer analyses of pyroptosis with functional implications for prognosis and immunotherapy in cancer

Background

Programmed cell death is an active and orderly form of cell death regulated by intracellular genes that plays an important role in the normal occurrence and development of the immune system, and pyroptosis has been found to be involved in tumorigenesis and development. However, compressive analysis and biological regulation of pyroptosis genes are lacking in cancers.

Methods

Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we established a score level model to quantify the pyroptosis level in cancer. Multiomics bioinformatic analyses were performed to assess pyroptosis-related molecular features and the effect of pyroptosis on immunotherapy in cancer.

Results

In the present study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of pyroptosis and its regulator genes in cancers. Most pyroptosis genes were aberrantly expressed in different types of cancer, attributed to the CAN frequency and differences in DNA methylation levels. We established a pyroptosis level model and found that pyroptosis had dual roles across cancers, while the pyroptosis levels were different among multiple cancers and were significantly associated with clinical prognosis. The dual role of pyroptosis was also shown to affect immunotherapeutic efficacy in several cancers. Multiple pyroptosis genes showed close associations with drug sensitivity across cancers and may be considered therapeutic targets in cancer.

Conclusions

Our comprehensive analyses provide new insight into the functions of pyroptosis in the initiation, development, progression and treatment of cancers, suggesting corresponding prognostic and therapeutic utility.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03313-x.

An Integrative Network Approach to Identify Common Genes for the Therapeutics in Tuberculosis and Its Overlapping Non-Communicable Diseases

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. The estimated total global TB deaths in 2019 were 1.4 million. The decline in TB incidence rate is very slow, while the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is exponentially increasing in low- and middle-income countries, where the prevention and treatment of TB disease remains a great burden, and there is enough empirical evidence (scientific evidence) to justify a greater research emphasis on the syndemic interaction between TB and NCDs. The current study was proposed to build a disease-gene network based on overlapping TB with NCDs (overlapping means genes involved in TB and other/s NCDs), such as Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, and lung cancer. We compared the TB-associated genes with genes of its overlapping NCDs to determine the gene-disease relationship. Next, we constructed the gene interaction network of disease-genes by integrating curated and experimentally validated interactions in humans and find the 13 highly clustered modules in the network, which contains a total of 86 hub genes that are commonly associated with TB and its overlapping NCDs, which are largely involved in the Inflammatory response, cellular response to cytokine stimulus, response to cytokine, cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, defense response, response to stress and immune system process. Moreover, the identified hub genes and their respective drugs were exploited to build a bipartite network that assists in deciphering the drug-target interaction, highlighting the influential roles of these drugs on apparently unrelated targets and pathways. Targeting these hub proteins by using drugs combination or drug repurposing approaches will improve the clinical conditions in comorbidity, enhance the potency of a few drugs, and give a synergistic effect with better outcomes. Thus, understanding the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and associated NCDs is a high priority to contain its short and long-term effects on human health. Our network-based analysis opens a new horizon for more personalized treatment, drug-repurposing opportunities, investigates new targets, multidrug treatment, and can uncover several side effects of unrelated drugs for TB and its overlapping NCDs.

The Interplay of Hypoxia Signaling on Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Approaches

Simple Summary

The regulation of hypoxia has recently emerged as having a central impact in mitochondrial function and dysfunction in various diseases, including the major disorders threatening worldwide: cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Despite the studies in this matter, its effective role in protection and disease progression even though its direct molecular mechanism in both disorders is still to be elucidated. This review aims to cover the current knowledge about the effect of hypoxia on mitochondrial function and dysfunction, and inflammation, in cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and reports further therapeutic strategies based on the modulation of hypoxic pathways.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer continue to be the primary cause of mortality worldwide and their pathomechanisms are a complex and multifactorial process. Insufficient oxygen availability (hypoxia) plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of both CVDs and cancer diseases, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), the main sensor of hypoxia, acts as a central regulator of multiple target genes in the human body. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that mitochondria are the major target of hypoxic injury, the most common source of reactive oxygen species during hypoxia and key elements for inflammation regulation during the development of both CVDs and cancer. Taken together, observations propose that hypoxia, mitochondrial abnormality, oxidative stress, inflammation in CVDs, and cancer are closely linked. Based upon these facts, this review aims to deeply discuss these intimate relationships and to summarize current significant findings corroborating the molecular mechanisms and potential therapies involved in hypoxia and mitochondrial dysfunction in CVDs and cancer.