Nanoparticle-based immunotherapy of breast cancer using recombinant Helicobacter pylori proteins

Effect of Helicobacter Pylori infection on immunotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer: a narrative review

Immunotherapy for gastrointestinal cancers has elicited considerable amount of attention as a viable therapeutic option for several cancer types. Gut microbiome as a whole plays a critical role in shaping immune responses and influencing cancer progression. Recent evidence suggests that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), may influence immunotherapy efficacy by modulating the tumor microenvironment. Infection with H. pylori is common as it affects approximately 50% of the global population and remains the leading risk factor for gastric cancer. Interestingly, recent clinical and preclinical data has associated H. pylori with colorectal cancer carcinogenesis. Gut microbiome appears to be a modulator of the relationship between the immune system, gastrointestinal cancer development and existing therapies. Infection with H. pylori may affect immunotherapy results in both gastroesophageal and colorectal cancer; favorable results were noticed in H. pylori positive patients with gastric cancer, while in colorectal cancer patients the pathogen seemed to impede immunotherapy's action. This article aims to review current data on the role of H. pylori in triggering gastric inflammation and cancer, as well as its potential involvement in colorectal cancer development. Additionally, it seeks to highlight the impact of H. pylori infection on the response to immunotherapy in gastrointestinal cancers.

Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment: Unveiling the Power of CAR T-cell Therapy

Cancer is a significant health challenge worldwide, causing social and economic burdens. Despite advancements in medicine, it remains a leading cause of death and is projected to increase by 2040. While conventional treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are effective, they often have severe side effects. CAR T-cell (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) treatment is a novel immunotherapy method personalized to the patient's immune system and directly targets cancer cells. It originated in the 1980s, and advancements have made it more effective. However, challenges remain, such as severe side effects, high costs, and manufacturing variability. Despite these challenges, the treatment with CAR T-cells has shown remarkable success, especially in hematologic malignancies. Though, it is new to solid tumours, ongoing research looks promising. CAR T-cell therapy offers hope for fightingcancer, and it stands poised to redefine cancer treatment paradigms, giving renewed optimism to patients globally.

Study on the Recombinant Human Interferon α1b, α2b, and Gamma Transient Expression and in Vitro Activities in Tobacco

Interferons (IFNs) are universally acknowledged for their pivotal role in antiviral and anticancer responses. Thus, the primary aim of our study was to explore the expressions of IFN-α1b, α2b, and gamma in tobacco leaves via agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation and investigate their possible activities. Briefly, fusion with green fluorescent protein tags aided in detecting the expressed IFN proteins in the foliar tissues. The genetic constructs encoding these fusion proteins were inserted into the MagnICON plant transient expression vector, followed by transformation into the Agrobacterium strain GV3101. The transformed bacteria were then used to infiltrate tobacco leaves. After post-infiltration, protein expression was confirmed within 72 h via sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the fusion proteins were subsequently purified using high-performance liquid chromatography for identification. Both the antiviral and anticancer potencies of these IFN fusion proteins were evaluated using the WISH/VSV (WISH cells/Vesicular stomatitis virus) microneutralization and MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays, respectively. Results indicated robust expression of the targeted IFN genes in plant tissues and significant biological activities against pathogens and cancer cells. Consequently, this study substantiated the viability of producing these therapeutic proteins in plants, potentially revolutionizing the manufacture of interferons biologically.

Biodegradable nanoplatforms for antigen delivery: part II - nanoparticles, hydrogels, and microneedles for cancer immunotherapy

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has resulted in a breakthrough in the treatment of patients with refractory or relapsed hematological malignancies. However, the identification of patients suitable for CAR-T cell therapy needs to be improved.

AREASCOVERED

CAR-T cell therapy has demonstrated excellent efficacy in hematological malignancies; however, views on determining when to apply CAR-T cells in terms of the evaluation of patient characteristics remain controversial.

EXPERT OPINION

We reviewed the current feasibility and challenges of CAR-T cell therapy in the most common hematological malignancies and classified them according to disease type and treatment priority, to guide clinicians and researchers in applying and investigating CAR-T cells further.

Bibliometric analysis of global research trends between gut microbiota and breast cancer: from 2013 to 2023

Background

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer globally and is associated with significant mortality. Recent research has provided crucial insights into the role of gut microbiota in the onset and progression of breast cancer, confirming its impact on the disease's management. Despite numerous studies exploring this relationship, there is a lack of comprehensive bibliometric analyses to outline the field's current state and emerging trends. This study aims to fill that gap by analyzing key research directions and identifying emerging hotspots.

Method

Publications from 2013 to 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The VOSviewer, R language and SCImago Graphica software were utilized to analyze and visualize the volume of publications, countries/regions, institutions, authors, and keywords in this field.

Results

A total of 515 publications were included in this study. The journal Cancers was identified as the most prolific, contributing 21 papers. The United States and China were the leading contributors to this field. The University of Alabama at Birmingham was the most productive institution. Peter Bai published the most papers, while James J. Goedert was the most cited author. Analysis of highly cited literature and keyword clustering confirmed a close relationship between gut microbiota and breast cancer. Keywords such as "metabolomics" and "probiotics" have been prominently highlighted in the keyword analysis, indicating future research hotspots in exploring the interaction between metabolites in the breast cancer microenvironment and gut microbiota. Additionally, these keywords suggest significant interest in the therapeutic potential of probiotics for breast cancer treatment.

Conclusion

Research on the relationship between gut microbiota and breast cancer is expanding. Attention should be focused on understanding the mechanisms of their interaction, particularly the metabolite-microbiota-breast cancer crosstalk. These insights have the potential to advance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for breast cancer. This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive assessment of the current state and future trends of research in this field, offering valuable perspectives for future studies on gut microbiota and breast cancer.

Impact of Helicobacter Pylori-Derived Outer Membrane Vesicles on Inflammation, Immune Responses, and Tumor Cell Migration in Breast Cancer Through the Snail/Β-Catenin Pathway

Background

Breast cancer remains a significant global health concern, with challenges in treating advanced stages necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches. Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) have shown promise in cancer immunotherapy by targeting cancer cells and modulating immune responses. This study investigated the effects of Helicobacter pylori-derived OMVs on the activation of the Snail/β-Catenin gene cascade in regulating inflammation and cell migration in a mouse model of breast cancer.

Methods

The OMVs were extracted from the culture of H. pylori strain 26695 (ATCC 700392) using ultracentrifugation. In the mouse model, the vesicles were injected intraperitoneally into Balb/c mice with breast tumors. Tumor growth was assessed through histological examination of tumor samples. IgA and IgG antibodies were measured using ELISA. The expression of E-cadherin and vimentin proteins was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and real-time PCR was used for vimentin, Snail, α-SMA, and β-catenin in serum samples from the different groups.

Results

The OMV treatment led to a significant increase in the expression of α-SMA, β-catenin, Snail, and vimentin genes, indicating a potential induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and enhanced cancer cell growth. Additionally, a decrease in vimentin expression and an increase in E-cadherin expression were observed, suggesting inhibition of cell migration. The study also revealed alterations in systemic IgA and IgG antibody levels, indicating potential immunomodulatory effects of OMVs.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of OMVs derived from H. pylori in breast cancer treatment by targeting gene cascades involved in cancer progression and modulating immune responses.

Unveiling the gastric microbiota: implications for gastric carcinogenesis, immune responses, and clinical prospects

High-throughput sequencing has ushered in a paradigm shift in gastric microbiota, breaking the stereotype that the stomach is hostile to microorganisms beyond H. pylori. Recent attention directed toward the composition and functionality of this 'community' has shed light on its potential relevance in cancer. The microbial composition in the stomach of health displays host specificity which changes throughout a person's lifespan and is subject to both external and internal factors. Distinctive alterations in gastric microbiome signature are discernible at different stages of gastric precancerous lesions and malignancy. The robust microbes that dominate in gastric malignant tissue are intricately implicated in gastric cancer susceptibility, carcinogenesis, and the modulation of immunosurveillance and immune escape. These revelations offer fresh avenues for utilizing gastric microbiota as predictive biomarkers in clinical settings. Furthermore, inter-individual microbiota variations partially account for differential responses to cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize current literature on the influence of the gastric microbiota on gastric carcinogenesis, anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy, providing insights into potential clinical applications.

An intranasal influenza virus vector vaccine protects against Helicobacter pylori in mice

Helicobacter pylori is a human pathogen that infects almost half of the population. Antibiotic resistance in H. pylori threatens health and increases the demand for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. Traditional oral vaccine research faces considerable challenges because of the epithelial barrier, potential enterotoxicity of adjuvants, and the challenging conditions of the gastric environment. We developed an intranasal influenza A virus (IAV) vector vaccine based on two live attenuated influenza viruses with modified acidic polymerase protein (PA) genes encoding the A subunit of H. pylori neutrophil-activating protein (NapA), named IAV-NapA, including influenza virus A/WSN/33 (WSN)-NapA and A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8)-NapA. These recombinant influenza viruses were highly attenuated and exhibited strong immunogenicity in mice. Vaccination with IAV-NapA induced antigen-specific humoral and mucosal immune responses while stimulating robust Th1 and Th17 cell immune responses in mice. Our findings suggest that prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination with influenza virus vector vaccines significantly reduces colonization of H. pylori and inflammation in the stomach of mice.IMPORTANCEHelicobacter pylori is the most common cause of chronic gastritis and leads to severe gastroduodenal pathology in some patients. Many studies have shown that Th1 and Th17 cellular and gastric mucosal immune responses are critical in reducing H. pylori load. IAV vector vaccines can stimulate these immune responses while overcoming potential adjuvant toxicity and antigen dosing issues. To date, no studies have demonstrated the role of live attenuated IAV vector vaccines in preventing and treating H. pylori infection. Our work indicates that vaccination with IAV-NapA induces antigen-specific humoral, cellular, and mucosal immunity, producing a protective and therapeutic effect against H. pylori infection in BALB/c mice. This undescribed H. pylori vaccination approach may provide valuable information for developing vaccines against H. pylori infection.

Bacteria-based immunotherapy for cancer: a systematic review of preclinical studies

Immunotherapy has been emerging as a powerful strategy for cancer management. Recently, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that bacteria-based immunotherapy including naive bacteria, bacterial components, and bacterial derivatives, can modulate immune response via various cellular and molecular pathways. The key mechanisms of bacterial antitumor immunity include inducing immune cells to kill tumor cells directly or reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Currently, bacterial antigens synthesized as vaccine candidates by bioengineering technology are novel antitumor immunotherapy. Especially the combination therapy of bacterial vaccine with conventional therapies may further achieve enhanced therapeutic benefits against cancers. However, the clinical translation of bacteria-based immunotherapy is limited for biosafety concerns and non-uniform production standards. In this review, we aim to summarize immunotherapy strategies based on advanced bacterial therapeutics and discuss their potential for cancer management, we will also propose approaches for optimizing bacteria-based immunotherapy for facilitating clinical translation.

Potential Antitumor Effect of α-Mangostin against Rat Mammary Gland Tumors Induced by LA7 Cells

In this study, the chemotherapeutic effect of α-mangostin (AM) was assessed in rats injected with LA7 cells. Rats received AM orally at 30 and 60 mg/kg twice a week for 4 weeks. Cancer biomarkers such as CEA and CA 15-3 were significantly lower in AM-treated rats. Histopathological evaluations showed that AM protects the rat mammary gland from the carcinogenic effects of LA7 cells. Interestingly, AM decreased lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant enzymes when compared to the control. Immunohistochemistry results of the untreated rats showed abundant PCNA and fewer p53-positive cells than AM-treated rats. Using the TUNEL test, AM-treated animals had higher apoptotic cell numbers than those untreated. This report revealed that that AM lessened oxidative stress, suppressed proliferation, and minimized LA7-induced mammary carcinogenesis. Therefore, the current study suggests that AM has significant potential for breast cancer treatment.

Implications of IL-21 in solid tumor therapy

Cancer, the most deadly disease, is known as a recent dilemma worldwide. Presently different treatments are used for curing cancers, especially solid cancers. Because of the immune-enhancing functions of cytokine, IL-21 as a cytokine may have new possibilities to manipulate the immune system in disease conditions, as it stimulates NK and CTL functions and drives IgG antibody production. Indeed, IL-21 has been revealed to elicit antitumor-immune responses in several tumor models. Combining IL-21 with other agents, which target tumor cells, immune-regulatory circuits, or other immune-enhancing molecules enhances this activity. The exciting breakthrough in the results obtained in pre-clinical situations has led to the early outset of present developing clinical trials in cancer patients. In the paper, we have reviewed the function of IL-21 in solid tumor immunotherapy.

The Role of Helicobacter pylori Neutrophil-Activating Protein in the Pathogenesis of H. pylori and Beyond: From a Virulence Factor to Therapeutic Targets and Therapeutic Agents

Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP), a major virulence factor of H. pylori, plays a role in bacterial protection and host inflammation. HP-NAP activates a variety of innate immune cells, including neutrophils, monocytes, and mast cells, to induce their pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory activities. This protein also induces T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune response and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity, supporting that HP-NAP is able to promote gastric inflammation by activation of adaptive immune responses. Thus, HP-NAP is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of H. pylori-induced gastric inflammation. The inflammatory responses triggered by HP-NAP are mediated by a PTX-sensitive G protein-coupled receptor and Toll-like receptor 2. Drugs designed to block the interactions between HP-NAP and its receptors could alleviate the inflammation in gastric mucosa caused by H. pylori infection. In addition, HP-NAP acts as a promising therapeutic agent for vaccine development, allergy treatment, and cancer immunotherapy. The high antigenicity of HP-NAP makes this protein a component of vaccines against H. pylori infection. Due to its immunomodulatory activity to stimulate the Th1-inducing ability of dendritic cells, enhance Th1 immune response and CTL activity, and suppress Th2-mediated allergic responses, HP-NAP could also act as an adjuvant in vaccines, a drug candidate against allergic diseases, and an immunotherapeutic agent for cancer. This review highlights the role of HP-NAP in the pathogenesis of H. pylori and the potential for this protein to be a therapeutic target in the treatment of H. pylori infection and therapeutic agents against H. pylori-associated diseases, allergies, and cancer.

Sustainable development through the bio-fabrication of ecofriendly ZnO nanoparticles and its approaches to toxicology and environmental protection

Mosquito control is becoming more difficult as a result of the rise in resistance to toxic chemical insecticides. The insecticides of bio-fabrication sources may serve as a convenient alternative to environmentally acceptable methods in the future. The larvicidal and pupicidal activities of bio-fabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on the different instar larvae and pupae of Anopheles subpictus Grassi (Malaria vector) and Culex quinquefasciatus Say (lymphatic filariasis) were investigated in this study. The results recorded from XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, and TEM analyses confirmed the bio-fabrication of ZnO NPs. Such nanoparticles were nearly spherical and agglomerated with a size of 34.21 nm. GC-MS analysis of methanol extract revealed the compound, stigmasterol (C29H48O) as major one. Mosquito larvae and pupae of targeted mosquito were tested against varied concentrations of the bio-fabricated ZnO NPs and methanol extract of Vitex negundo for 24 h. The maximum activity was recorded from ZnO NPs against the larvae and pupae of A. subpictus LC50 which were 1.70 (I), 1.66 (II), 1.93 (III), 2.48 (IV), and 3.63 mg/L (pupa) and C. quinquefasciatus LC50 were 1.95 (I), 2.63 (II), 2.90 (III), 4.32 (IV), and 4.61 mg/L (pupa) respectively. ZnO NPs exhibited strong DPPH radical and FRAP scavengers compared to the aqueous extract of V. negundo. Also, V. negundo leaf methanol extract (VNLME) and ZnO NPs were evaluated for their cytotoxicity on HeLa cells, which exhibited the IC50 values of 72.35 and 43.70μg/mL, respectively. The methylene blue (MB) dye, which is harmful to both aquatic and terrestrial life, was degraded using the biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles. At 664 nm, 81.2% of the MB dye had degraded after 120 min of exposure to sunlight. Overall, our results revealed that ZnO NPs are the perfect biological agent and economical for the control of malaria, filariasis vectors, antioxidant, HeLa cells, and MB blue dye degradation under sunlight irradiation.

Graphical abstract

Effect of Helicobacter pylori on immunotherapy is gaining more attention

BACKGROUND

Immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, has been widely used in tumor therapy and have shown ideal clinical efficacy. However, some cancers still do not respond to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy effectively. Helicobacter pylori infection might affect the curative effect of immunotherapy while it is rarely reported. We aimed to visualize the research hotspots and trends of H. pylori and immunotherapy using a bibliometric analysis to help understand the future development of basic and clinical research.

METHODS

The relevant publications on H. pylori and immunotherapy were searched on April 20, 2022, in the Web of Science Core Collection Database (WOSCC). The document types were limited to articles and reviews. The VOSviewer 1.6.16 software was used to assess the co-authorship, co-occurrence, citation of countries, institutions, authors, journals, and hotspot keywords. The research status and trend change of H. pylori and immunotherapy were analyzed by bibliometric analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 95 studies authored by 561 researchers were eventually included in this study. The majority of the retrieved studies were 55 (58%) original research articles. China conducted the greatest number of studies, followed by USA and Italy. The related topics included the following three aspects: the relationship between microorganisms and cancer, the relationship between gastric cancer and immunity, and the relationship between H. pylori and immunotherapy, including purified/cloned components of H. pylori acting as efficient adjuvant to boost tumor responses and H. pylori infection which modulate host immune responses and impact on the efficacy of antitumor immunity initiated by immune checkpoint inhibitors. The timing diagram revealed that the current research hotspots focused on effects of microorganisms on immunotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The effect of H. pylori on cancer immunotherapy is getting more and more attention in these years. It still remains uncertain, and more studies are needed in the future.

Effects of helicobacter pylori on tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy responses

Helicobacter pylori is closely associated with gastric cancer. During persistent infection, Helicobacter pylori can form a microenvironment in gastric mucosa which facilitates the survival and colony formation of Helicobacter pylori. Tumor stromal cells are involved in this process, including tumor-associated macrophages, mesenchymal stem cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and so on. The immune checkpoints are also regulated by Helicobacter pylori infection. Helicobacter pylori virulence factors can also act as immunogens or adjuvants to elicit or enhance immune responses, indicating their potential applications in vaccine development and tumor immunotherapy. This review highlights the effects of Helicobacter pylori on the immune microenvironment and its potential roles in tumor immunotherapy responses.

HP-NAP of Helicobacter pylori: The Power of the Immunomodulation

The miniferritin HP-NAP of Helicobacter pylori was originally described as a neutrophil-activating protein because of the capacity to activate neutrophils to generate oxygen radicals and adhere to endothelia. Currently, the main feature for which HP-NAP is known is the ability to promote Th1 responses and revert the immune suppressive profile of macrophages. In this review, we discuss the immune modulating properties of the protein regarding the H. pylori infection and the evidence that support the potential clinical application of HP-NAP in allergy and cancer immunotherapy.

Bio-vehicles of cytotoxic drugs for delivery to tumor specific targets for cancer precision therapy

Abnormal structural and molecular changes in malignant tissues were thoroughly investigated and utilized to target tumor cells, hence rescuing normal healthy tissues and lowering the unwanted side effects as non-specific cytotoxicity. Various ligands for cancer cell specific markers have been uncovered and inspected for directional delivery of the anti-cancer drug to the tumor site, in addition to diagnostic applications. Over the past few decades research related to the ligand targeted therapy (LTT) increased tremendously aiming to treat various pathologies, mainly cancers with well exclusive markers. Malignant tumors are known to induce elevated levels of a variety of proteins and peptides known as cancer "markers" as certain antigens (e.g., Prostate specific membrane antigen "PSMA", carcinoembryonic antigen "CEA"), receptors (folate receptor, somatostatin receptor), integrins (Integrin αvβ3) and cluster of differentiation molecules (CD13). The choice of an appropriate marker to be targeted and the design of effective ligand-drug conjugate all has to be carefully selected to generate the required therapeutic effect. Moreover, since some tumors express aberrantly high levels of more than one marker, some approaches investigated targeting cancer cells with more than one ligand (dual or multi targeting). We aim in this review to report an update on the cancer-specific receptors and the vehicles to deliver cytotoxic drugs, including recent advancements on nano delivery systems and their implementation in targeted cancer therapy. We will discuss the advantages and limitations facing this approach and possible solutions to mitigate these obstacles. To achieve the said aim a literature search in electronic data bases (PubMed and others) using keywords "Cancer specific receptors, cancer specific antibody, tumor specific peptide carriers, cancer overexpressed proteins, gold nanotechnology and gold nanoparticles in cancer treatment" was carried out.