[Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 cell balance in peripheral blood of patients with ovarian cancer]

[Changes in percentage of GATA3+ regulatory T cells and their pathogenic roles in allergic rhinitis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes in percentage of GATA3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and mouse models.

METHODS

The nasal mucosa specimens were obtained from 6 AR patients and 6 control patients for detection of nasal mucosal inflammation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 12 AP patients and 12 control patients to determine the percentages of Treg cells and GATA3+ Treg cells. In a C57BL/6 mouse model of AR, the AR symptom score, peripheral blood OVA-sIgE level, and nasal mucosal inflammation were assessed, and the spleen of mice was collected for detecting the percentages of Treg cells and GATA3+ Treg cells and the expressions of Th2 cytokines.

RESULTS

Compared with the control patients, AR patients showed significantly increased eosinophil infiltration and goblet cell proliferation in the nasal mucosa (P < 0.01) and decreased percentages of Treg cells and GATA3+ Treg cells (P < 0.05). The mouse models of AR also had more obvious allergic symptoms, significantly increased OVA-sIgE level in peripheral blood, eosinophil infiltration and goblet cell hyperplasia (P < 0.01), markedly lowered percentages of Treg cells and GATA3+ Treg cells in the spleen (P < 0.01), and increased expressions of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The percentage of GATA3+ Treg cells is decreased in AR patients and mouse models. GATA3+ Treg cells possibly participate in Th2 cell immune response, both of which are involved in the occurrence and progression of AR, suggesting the potential of GATA3+ Treg cells as a new therapeutic target for AR.

Propofol maintains Th17/Treg cell balance in elderly patients undergoing lung cancer surgery through GABAA receptor

Propofol is widely used in clinical anesthesia due to its advantages of rapid onset and less adverse reactions. This study focused on the role of propofol in the balance of Th17/Treg in elderly patients with lung cancer during perioperative period. Patients undergoing lung cancer surgery were anesthetized by propofol or sevoflurane. Veinal blood was collected at different time points to evaluate the changes of Th17/Treg cell. Propofol better maintained the balance of Th17/Treg in vivo. The peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer was collected in vitro before surgery. Cluster of differentiation (CD)4⁺ T cells were obtained and then treated with propofol at different concentrations and γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor antagonists. Propofol affected Th17/Treg cell balance by increasing Th17 cells, decreasing Treg cells, thus elevating Th17/Treg ratio, and inhibited invasion and migration of lung cancer cells through GABAA receptor, which was counteracted by GABAA receptor inhibitors. Subsequently, tumor in situ model of lung cancer in aged mice was established. Propofol anesthetized mice had lower change of Th17/Treg ratio, higher survival rate and less metastasis. In brief, propofol regulated balance of Th17/Treg in elderly patients undergoing lung cancer surgery through GABAA receptor. Additionally, propofol could inhibit metastasis of lung cancer.

m6A-Related lncRNA Signature Is Involved in Immunosuppression and Predicts the Patient Prognosis of the Age-Associated Ovarian Cancer

Background

Epithelial ovarian cancers are age-associated diseases, usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. lncRNA has been discovered to interplay with N6-methyladenosine (m6A), working in tandem to promote cancer progression and worsening patient outcomes. This study is aimed at investigating the roles and mechanism of m6A-related lncRNA signature on ovarian cancers.

Methods

We retrieved TCGA and CGGA sequencing data to identify m6A-related lncRNA signature and constructed an m6A score (MS) using the LASSO algorithm. A clinical nomogram was then established to predict the overall survival of patients. Subsequently, GSEA analyses were conducted to obtain pathways involved. Expression of HLA genes, 28 tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte infiltration, and anticancer cycle were analyzed the immunological differences between high-MS and low-MS groups. Finally, immune checkpoint gene expressions and IC₅₀ of chemotherapeutic drugs were calculated, and CMap was run to identify the potential compounds and their corresponding mechanisms.

Results

We identified 16 m6A-related lncRNAs and constructed an MS model. The high-MS group showed a poor prognosis. A clinical nomogram consists of MS, and age was constructed and predicted the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival with high accuracy. GSEA analyses presented downregulated antigen processing and presentation pathways. Immunocyte infiltrating analyses demonstrated that high-MS was associated with high infiltration of Treg cells, macrophages, and low Th1/Th2 rate. Also, high expression of immune checkpoint genes NRP1, TNFSF9, and VSIR was observed in the high-MS group. Finally, the high-MS group also predicted low IC₅₀ of vinorelbine and vorinostat.

Conclusion

This study constructed a robust prediction model for prognostic management and revealed the cross-talk between m6A and immunosuppression. Besides, the m6A lncRNA signature can predict the chemotherapeutic drug response. These will shed light on the development of novel therapeutic strategies and render survival benefits for ovarian patients.

Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases: A Tale of Two Immunological Opposites?

The present article compares, side-by-side, cancer and autoimmune diseases in terms of innate and adaptive immune cells involvement, MHC Class I and Class II expression, TGFβ effect, immune modulating drugs effect and the effect of reactive oxygen species. The change in the inflammatory immune reaction during the progress of cancer and the effect of this change on the comorbidity of autoimmune diseases and cancer are discussed. The similar inflammatory properties of autoimmune diseases and early cancer, and the contrasting inflammatory properties of autoimmune diseases and advanced cancer elucidate the increased incidence of many types of cancer in patients with pre-existing autoimmune diseases and the decreased cancer-specific mortality of these patients. Stage-dependent effects of reactive oxygen-species on tumor proliferation are an additional probable cause for these epidemiological observations. The relationship: {standardized incidence ratio (SIR)} > {cancer-specific hazard ratio (HR)} for cancer patients with a history of autoimmune diseases is substantiated and rationalized.