Neutrophils Recruited by NKX2-1 Suppression via Activation of CXCLs/CXCR2 Axis Promote Lung Adenocarcinoma Progression

Exosomal CMTM4 Induces Immunosuppressive Macrophages to Promote Ovarian Cancer Progression and Attenuate Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy

Exosomes shape the tumor microenvironment (TME) by modulating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and promoting ovarian cancer (OC) progression. This study reveals that exosomal CKLF Like MARVEL Transmembrane Domain Containing 4 (CMTM4) enhances OC malignancy and orchestrates immune evasion. Excessive macrophage infiltration in the TME, particularly in the presence of CMTM4, is strongly associated with poor prognosis. Within the TME, exosomal CMTM4 is actively internalized by macrophages, promoting M2 polarization and subsequently initiating immunosuppressive signaling. Exosomal CMTM4 activates the NF-κB pathway in TAMs, suppressing immune function through enhanced secretion of cytokines, including TGF-β1 and CXCL12, while simultaneously upregulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) expression to further promote M2 polarization and facilitate cancer metastasis. Depletion of CMTM4 increases sensitivity to anti-PD-1 therapy by reversing immunosuppression. Notably, eltrombopag is identified as a CMTM4 inhibitor that attenuates OC progression in vivo and modulates the tumor immune microenvironment, synergizing with PD-1 blockade immunotherapy to enhance therapeutic efficacy. The exosomal CMTM4-ICAM1-CD206 axis exacerbates disease risk in patients with OC. Collectively, the study highlights the critical role of tumor-derived exosomal CMTM4 in immune suppression, emphasizing its potential as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target in OC immunotherapy.

NKX2-5/LHX1 and UHRF1 Establishing a Positive Feedback Regulatory Circuitry Drives Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma through Epigenetic Dysregulation

DNA methylation regulators play critical roles in modulating oncogenic driver genes in cancers. However, the precise mechanisms through which these DNA methylation regulators influence oncogenesis and clinical therapy have yet to be fully elucidated. This study reveals that hypermethylation of under-methylated regions (UMRs) within gene bodies is involved in the activation of oncogenic homeobox genes, particularly NKX2-5 and LHX1, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Mechanistically, NKX2-5 and LHX1 synergistically bind to the promoter region of UHRF1, thereby augmenting its transcription. In turn, UHRF1 orchestrates the recruitment of DNMT1/DNMT3A, alongside NKX2-5 and LHX1, to the UMRs of these genes, thereby increasing DNA methylation levels and their expression. This intricate interplay forms a positive transcriptional feedback loop between NKX2-5/LHX1 and UHRF1, thus promoting the overexpression of all three genes and ultimately facilitating tumor growth. Notably, concurrent inhibition of UHRF1 and DNMTs impedes tumor growth by suppressing NKX2-5 and LHX1 expression. Overall, this study identifies a positive feedback regulatory circuitry underlying the UMR hypermethylation-mediated activation of oncogenic drivers in ESCC and proposes a promising therapeutic strategy for ESCC patients.

Identification of the role of MED6 in the development and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma based on multi-omics profiling

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of lung cancer. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of Mediator complex subunits in cancer, but their specific roles in LUAD are still unclear. Methods: The CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function data was used to assess gene dependency in cell growth. RNA-seq data were analyzed to evaluate the prognostic value of Mediator subunits and explore their downstream pathways. Single-cell sequencing data were utilized to examine the tumor microenvironment in LUAD. A drug sensitivity analysis was performed to identify potential therapeutic options. Results: Mediator complex subunit 6 (MED6) was found to influence tumor cell growth in LUAD. Additionally, MED6 expression levels were associated with patient prognosis. MED6-positive tumor cells showed more active interactions with other cells in the LUAD microenvironment, promoting tumor progression. Based on MED6 expression, drugs such as paclitaxel, afatinib, and brivanib were identified as potential treatments. Conclusions: This study revealed the role of MED6 in LUAD and its potential as a biomarker. Our findings suggest that MED6 has an effect on LUAD progression and provide valuable insights for patient stratification and personalized treatment strategies.

CXCL2: a key player in the tumor microenvironment and inflammatory diseases

CXCL2 (C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2), a constituent of the C-X-C chemokine subfamily, serves as a powerful chemotactic factor for neutrophils, facilitating leukocyte recruitment and movement while initiating an inflammatory response. Recent investigations have demonstrated the pivotal involvement of CXCL2 in carcinogenesis. Within the tumor microenvironment, CXCL2 modulates cellular activity primarily via its interaction with the CXCR2 receptor. The activation of signaling pathways, including ERK/MAPK, NF-κB/MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and JAK/STAT3, highlights CXCL2's inclination to promote tumorigenesis. Furthermore, the role of CXCL2 encompasses inflammatory conditions like lung inflammation, atherosclerosis, and obesity. This article examines the structural characteristics, biological roles, and molecular foundation of CXCL2 in carcinogenesis and inflammatory disorders.

Characterizing Chemokine Signaling Pathways and Hub Genes in Calcium Oxalate-Induced Kidney Stone Formation: Insights from Rodent Models

The predominant component of kidney stone is calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM), a fact widely acknowledged. Although rodent models are frequently used to induce calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization, further exploration of Randall's plaques (RPs) in these models is still needed. We first selected the GSE89028 and GSE75542 datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify commonly differentially expressed genes (co-DEGs). Based on co-DEGs, we conducted Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses to identify significantly enriched pathways. Additionally, we performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to validate the enriched pathways. In order to identify hub genes, we established a network of protein-protein interactions (PPI). Finally, we conducted real-time PCR and Western blot to validate the findings from the bioinformatics analysis. We selected 28 co-DEGs from two datasets. The enrichment analysis using GO, KEGG, and GSEA revealed significant enrichment of chemokine-related signaling pathways. The histogram analysis showed that three chemokine factor-related genes were involved in multiple pathways. We used Cytohubba to confirm the presence of three hub genes. Subsequently, analysis of external datasets and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot demonstrated significant upregulation of CCL2, CXCL1, and CXCL2 in HK-2 cells following CaOx treatment compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Our study demonstrated that upon stimulation by CaOx, renal tubular epithelial cells release chemokines, including CCL2, CXCL1, and CXCL2. This release of chemokines is accompanied by the activation of signaling pathways such as TNF and IL-17. These findings may provide new directions for future research on Kidney Stone Disease.