Exercise accelerates recruitment of CD8+ T cell to promotes anti-tumor immunity in lung cancer via epinephrine

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In recent years, there has been extensive research on the role of exercise as an adjunctive therapy for cancer. However, the potential mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor therapy of exercise in lung cancer remain to be fully elucidated. As such, our study aims to confirm whether exercise-induced elevation of epinephrine can accelerate CD8+ T cell recruitment through modulation of chemokines and thus ultimately inhibit tumor progression.

METHOD

C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneously inoculated with Lewis lung cancer cells (LLCs) to establish a subcutaneous tumor model. The tumor mice were randomly divided into different groups to performed a moderate-intensity exercise program on a treadmill for 5 consecutive days a week, 45 min a day. The blood samples and tumor tissues were collected after exercise for IHC, RT-qPCR, ELISA and Western blot. In addition, another group of mice received daily epinephrine treatment for two weeks (0.05 mg/mL, 200 µL i.p.) (EPI, n = 8) to replicate the effects of exercise on tumors in vivo. Lewis lung cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of epinephrine (0, 5, 10, 20 µM) to detect the effect of epinephrine on chemokine levels via ELISA and RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

This study reveals that both pre- and post-cancer exercise effectively impede the tumor progression. Exercise led to an increase in EPI levels and the infiltration of CD8+ T cell into the lung tumor. Exercise-induced elevation of EPI is involved in the regulation of Ccl5 and Cxcl10 levels further leading to enhanced CD8+ T cell infiltration and ultimately inhibiting tumor progression.

CONCLUSION

Exercise training enhance the anti-tumor immunity of lung cancer individuals. These findings will provide valuable insights for the future application of exercise therapy in clinical practice.

CRISPR-Cas9 screening identifies an IRF1-SOCS1-mediated negative feedback loop that limits CXCL9 expression and antitumor immunity

CXCL9 expression is a strong predictor of response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Accordingly, we sought to develop therapeutic strategies to enhance the expression of CXCL9 and augment antitumor immunity. To perform whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 screening for regulators of CXCL9 expression, a CXCL9-GFP reporter line is generated using a CRISPR knockin strategy. This approach finds that IRF1 limits CXCL9 expression in both tumor cells and primary myeloid cells through induction of SOCS1, which subsequently limits STAT1 signaling. Thus, we identify a subset of STAT1-dependent genes that do not require IRF1 for their transcription, including CXCL9. Targeting of either IRF1 or SOCS1 potently enhances CXCL9 expression by intratumoral macrophages, which is further enhanced in the context of immune checkpoint blockade therapy. We hence show a non-canonical role for IRF1 in limiting the expression of a subset of STAT1-dependent genes through induction of SOCS1.

Heat Shock Protein Upregulation Supplemental to Complex mRNA Alterations in Autoimmune Glaucoma

Glaucomatous optic neuropathy is a common cause for blindness. An elevated intraocular pressure is the main risk factor, but also a contribution of the immune system seems likely. In the experimental autoimmune glaucoma model used here, systemic immunization with an optic nerve homogenate antigen (ONA) leads to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) and optic nerve degeneration. We processed retinae for quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistology 28 days after immunization. Furthermore, we performed mRNA profiling in this model for the first time. We detected a significant RGC loss in the ONA retinae. This was accompanied by an upregulation of mRNA expression of genes belonging to the heat shock protein family. Furthermore, mRNA expression levels of the genes of the immune system, such as C1qa, C1qb, Il18, and Nfkb1, were upregulated in ONA animals. After laser microdissection, inner retinal layers were used for mRNA microarrays. Nine of these probes were significantly upregulated in ONA animals (p < 0.05), including Hba-a1 and Cxcl10, while fifteen probes were significantly downregulated in ONA animals (p < 0.05), such as Gdf15 and Wwox. Taken together, these findings provide further insights into the pivotal role of the immune response in glaucomatous optic neuropathy and could help to identify novel diagnostic or therapeutic strategies.

Potential novel biomarkers in small intestine for obesity/obesity resistance revealed by multi-omics analysis

Background

Although obesity is caused by different factors, individual susceptibility to obesity differs among people under the same circumstances. The microbiota in the caecum or fresh faeces and metabolites in blood or urine contribute to obesity resistance; however, the microbiota or metabolites in the small intestine have not been extensively studied.

Methods

To investigate the relationship between the microbiota or metabolites in the small intestine and susceptibility to obesity, eighty-eight male C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to establish two models of obesity and obesity resistance. For further study, six mice were chosen from among the obesity models, and twelve mice were randomly chosen from among the obesity resistance models. After fasting plasma glucose and behavioural testing, the mice were fed in single cages for another 4 weeks to observe their weight and food intake. All mice were sacrificed at 20 weeks of age. Serum ALT, AST, HDL, LDL, TG and TC levels were measured using an automatic biochemical analyser. The microbiota and metabolites in the small intestine contents were analysed using 16 S sequencing and an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatographic system, respectively. Transcripts in the jejunum were evaluated using full-length transcriptome sequencing and verified by qPCR.

Results

The results showed that HFD induced depression and anxiety behaviours and higher fasting plasma glucose, ALT, AST, HDL, LDL, TG and TC levels in the obese mice; however, these levels were improved in obese resistance mice. The correlation analysis showed that the phosphatidylcholine, TG, and phosphatidylethanolamine levels were higher in obese mice and correlated positively with intestinal microflora (Desulfovibrio and Gemella) and the Cxcl10 gene. A higher abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 in obesity-resistant mice correlated negatively with the metabolite contents (neuromedin N and enkephalin L) and Pck1 gene expression and correlated positively with certain metabolites (5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, cinnamyl alcohol and 1 H-indole-3-acetamide) and genes expression (Gdf15, Igfbp6 and Spp1).

Conclusion

Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, neuromedin N, enkephalin L, Pck1, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, Cxcl10 and cinnamyl alcohol may be novel biomarkers in the small intestine for obesity/obesity resistance. These might be helpful for obesity prevention or for treating obese patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12944-022-01711-0.

In Vivo protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection by ATN-161 in k18-hACE2 transgenic mice

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an infectious disease that has spread worldwide. Current treatments are limited in both availability and efficacy, such that improving our understanding of the factors that facilitate infection is urgently needed to more effectively treat infected individuals and to curb the pandemic. We and others have previously demonstrated the significance of interactions between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, integrin α5β1, and human ACE2 to facilitate viral entry into host cells in vitro. We previously found that inhibition of integrin α5β1 by the clinically validated small peptide ATN-161 inhibits these spike protein interactions and cell infection in vitro. In continuation with our previous findings, here we have further evaluated the therapeutic potential of ATN-161 on SARS-CoV-2 infection in k18-hACE2 transgenic (SARS-CoV-2 susceptible) mice in vivo. We discovered that treatment with single or repeated intravenous doses of ATN-161 (1 mg/kg) within 48 h after intranasal inoculation with SARS-CoV-2 lead to a reduction of lung viral load, viral immunofluorescence, and improved lung histology in a majority of mice 72 h post-infection. Furthermore, ATN-161 reduced SARS-CoV-2-induced increased expression of lung integrin α5 and αv (an α5-related integrin that has also been implicated in SARS-CoV-2 interactions) as well as the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (Cxcl10), further supporting the potential involvement of these integrins, and the anti-inflammatory potential of ATN-161, respectively, in SARS-CoV-2 infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the potential therapeutic efficacy of targeting integrin α5β1 in SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo and supports the development of ATN-161 as a novel SARS-CoV-2 therapy.

Lower threshold to NFκB activity sensitizes murine β-cells to streptozotocin

The β-cell response to injury may be as critical for the development of diabetes as the specific insult. In the current study, we used streptozotocin (STZ) to injure the β-cell in order to study the response with a focus on NFκB. MIN6 cells were exposed to STZ (0.5-8 mM, 0-24h) ±TNFα (100 ng/mL) and ±IκBβ siRNA to lower the threshold to NFκB activation. Cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion. NFκB activation was determined by the expression of the target genes Nos2 and Cxcl10, localization of the NFκB proteins p65 and p50, and expression and localization of the NFκB inhibitors, IκBβ and IκBα. There was no NFκB activation in MIN6 cell exposed to STZ (2 mM) alone. However, knocking down IκBβ expression using siRNA resulted in STZ-induced expression of NFκB target genes and increased cell death, while co-incubation with STZ and TNFα enhanced cell death compared to either exposure alone. Adult male IκBβ-/- and WT mice were exposed to STZ and monitored for diabetes. The IκBβ-/- mice developed hyperglycemia and diabetes more frequently than controls following STZ exposure. Based on these results we conclude that STZ exposure alone does not induce NFκB activity. However, lowering the threshold to NFκB activation by co-incubation with TNFα or lowering IκBβ levels by siRNA sensitizes the NFκB response to STZ and results in a higher likelihood of developing diabetes in vivo. Therefore, increasing the threshold to NFκB activation through stabilizing NFκB inhibitory proteins may prevent β-cell injury and the development of diabetes.

Knockdown of Cxcl10 Inhibits Mesangial Cell Proliferation in Murine Habu Nephritis Via ERK Signaling

BACKGROUND/AIMS

IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10, CXCL10) has been widely demonstrated to be involved in chemotaxis, cell growth regulation and angiogenesis inhibition. It has been reported that CXCL10 expression is significantly increased in patients with MesPGN (Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis). However, the underlying mechanism of CXCL10 in MesPGN reminds unclear.

METHODS

Wildtype (Cxcl10+/+) mice and Cxcl10-deficient (Cxcl10-/-) mice were used to generate a murine model of MesPGN. The histological changes in glomeruli were examined by PAS staining (Periodic Acid-Schiff staining), and cell proliferation was detected by PCNA immunohistochemistry staining. The expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins was analyzed by Western blotting and the effects of CXCL10 on primary mouse renal mesangial cells (MRMC) proliferation were detected using the EDU assay. Furthermore, the specific mechanisms by which CXCL10 affected mesangial cells were investigated in vitro using a specific inhibitor.

RESULTS

Typical pathological phenotypes were observed in both mouse types, while the Cxcl10-/- mice had lighter accumulation of extracellular matrix, less cell proliferation and diminished up-regulation of cell cycle regulatory proteins compared to Cxcl10+/+ mice at day 7. Furthermore, we observed that CXCL10 inhibition resulted in less activation of ERK phosphorylation, and ERK pathway inhibition by a specific inhibitor, U0126, prevented CXCL10 induced MRMC proliferation and the activation of phosphorylated ERK.

CONCLUSIONS

CXCL10 may aggravate mesangial proliferation in MesPGN by activating the ERK signaling pathway. These results provide a novel insight into the mechanism and potential therapy target of MesPGN.

Amplification of N-Myc is associated with a T-cell-poor microenvironment in metastatic neuroblastoma restraining interferon pathway activity and chemokine expression

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly improved the treatment of several cancers. T-cell infiltration and the number of neoantigens caused by tumor-specific mutations are correlated to favorable responses in cancers with a high mutation load. Accordingly, checkpoint immunotherapy is thought to be less effective in tumors with low mutation frequencies such as neuroblastoma, a neuroendocrine tumor of early childhood with poor outcome of the high-risk disease group. However, spontaneous regressions and paraneoplastic syndromes seen in neuroblastoma patients suggest substantial immunogenicity. Using an integrative transcriptomic approach, we investigated the molecular characteristics of T-cell infiltration in primary neuroblastomas as an indicator of pre-existing immune responses and potential responsiveness to checkpoint inhibition. Here, we report that a T-cell-poor microenvironment in primary metastatic neuroblastomas is associated with genomic amplification of the MYCN (N-Myc) proto-oncogene. These tumors exhibited lower interferon pathway activity and chemokine expression in line with reduced immune cell infiltration. Importantly, we identified a global role for N-Myc in the suppression of interferon and pro-inflammatory pathways in human and murine neuroblastoma cell lines. N-Myc depletion potently enhanced targeted interferon pathway activation by a small molecule agonist of the cGAS-STING innate immune pathway. This promoted chemokine expression including Cxcl10 and T-cell recruitment in microfluidics migration assays. Hence, our data suggest N-Myc inhibition plus targeted IFN activation as adjuvant strategy to enforce cytotoxic T-cell recruitment in MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas.

Identification of potential biomarkers for post-traumatic complications released after trauma-hemorrhage from murine Kupffer cells and its investigation in lung and liver

CONTEXT

Early diagnosis of complications after severe trauma by specific biomarkers remains difficult.

OBJECTIVE

Identify potential new biomarkers for early diagnosis of post-traumatic complications.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Mice underwent pressure-controlled hemorrhage or sham procedure. Four hours later, genome-wide expression of isolated Kupffer cells was compared with controls using Affymetrix-Genechip-Expression-Analysis and real-time-PCR.

RESULTS

Expression analysis and real-time-PCR revealed a significant increase of gene expression of Cxcl10, Il4ra, Csf2rb2, Lcn2, and Gbp5.

CONCLUSION

Cxcl10, Il4ra, Csf2rb2, Lcn2, and Gbp5 might represent new biomarkers for early diagnosis of post-traumatic complications, if they are linked to the development of post-traumatic complications.

Key genes expressed in different stages of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury

The temporal expression of microRNA after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury is not yet fully understood. In the present study, we established a model of spinal cord ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats by clamping the abdominal aorta for 90 minutes, before allowing reperfusion for 24 or 48 hours. A sham-operated group underwent surgery but the aorta was not clamped. The damaged spinal cord was removed for hematoxylin-eosin staining and RNA extraction. Neuronal degeneration and tissue edema were the most severe in the 24-hour reperfusion group, and milder in the 48-hour reperfusion group. RNA amplification, labeling, and hybridization were used to obtain the microRNA expression profiles of each group. Bioinformatics analysis confirmed four differentially expressed microRNAs (miR-22-3p, miR-743b-3p, miR-201-5p and miR-144-5p) and their common target genes (Tmem69 and Cxcl10). Compared with the sham group, miR-22-3p was continuously upregulated in all three ischemia groups but was highest in the group with no reperfusion, whereas miR-743b-3p, miR-201-5p and miR-144-5p were downregulated in the three ischemia groups. We have successfully identified the key genes expressed at different stages of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury, which provide a reference for future investigations into the mechanism of spinal cord injury.

Inhibitory effect of α-lipoic acid on thioacetamide-induced tumor promotion through suppression of inflammatory cell responses in a two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis model in rats

To investigate the protective effect of α-lipoic acid (a-LA) on the hepatocarcinogenic process promoted by thioacetamide (TAA), we used a two-stage liver carcinogenesis model in N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-initiated and TAA-promoted rats. We examined the modifying effect of co-administered a-LA on the liver tissue environment surrounding preneoplastic hepatocellular lesions, with particular focus on hepatic macrophages and the mechanism behind the decrease in apoptosis of cells surrounding preneoplastic hepatocellular lesions during the early stages of hepatocellular tumor promotion. TAA increased the number and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)(+) liver cell foci and the numbers of proliferating and apoptotic cells in the liver. Co-administration with a-LA suppressed these effects. TAA also increased the numbers of ED2(+), cyclooxygenase-2(+), and heme oxygenase-1(+) hepatic macrophages as well as the number of CD3(+) lymphocytes. These effects were also suppressed by a-LA. Transcript levels of some inflammation-related genes were upregulated by TAA and downregulated by a-LA in real-time RT-PCR analysis. Outside the GST-P(+) foci, a-LA reduced the numbers of apoptotic cells, active caspase-8(+) cells and death receptor (DR)-5(+) cells. These results suggest that hepatic macrophages producing proinflammatory factors may be activated in TAA-induced tumor promotion. a-LA may suppress tumor-promoting activity by suppressing the activation of these macrophages and the subsequent inflammatory responses. Furthermore, a-LA may suppress tumor-promoting activity by suppressing the DR5-mediated extrinsic pathway of apoptosis and the subsequent regeneration of liver cells outside GST-P(+) foci.

Usp18 deficient mammary epithelial cells create an antitumour environment driven by hypersensitivity to IFN-λ and elevated secretion of Cxcl10

The theory of cancer immunoediting refers to mechanisms by which the immune system can suppress or promote tumour progression. A major challenge for the development of novel cancer immunotherapies is to find ways to exploit the immune system's antitumour activity while concomitantly reducing its protumour activity. Using the PyVmT model of mammary tumourigenesis, we show that lack of the Usp18 gene significantly inhibits tumour growth by creating a tumour-suppressive microenvironment. Generation of this antitumour environment is driven by elevated secretion of the potent T-cell chemoattractant Cxcl10 by Usp18 deficient mammary epithelial cells (MECs), which leads to recruitment of Th1 subtype CD4⁺ T cells. Furthermore, we show that Cxcl10 upregulation in MECs is promoted by interferon-λ and that Usp18 is a novel inhibitor of interferon-λ signalling. Knockdown of the interferon-λ specific receptor subunit IL-28R1 in Usp18 deficient MECs dramatically enhances tumour growth. Taken together, our data suggest that targeting Usp18 may be a viable approach to boost antitumour immunity while suppressing the protumour activity of the immune system.