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Chen Y, Qin Y, Fu Y, Gao Z, Deng Y. Integrated Analysis of Bulk RNA-Seq and Single-Cell RNA-Seq Unravels the Influences of SARS-CoV-2 Infections to Cancer Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415698. [PMID: 36555339 PMCID: PMC9779348 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly contagious and pathogenic coronavirus that emerged in late 2019 and caused a pandemic of respiratory illness termed as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cancer patients are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The treatment of cancer patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 is more complicated, and the patients are at risk of poor prognosis compared to other populations. Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 are prone to rapid development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) of which pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is considered a sequelae. Both ARDS and PF are factors that contribute to poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients. However, the molecular mechanisms among COVID-19, ARDS and PF in COVID-19 patients with cancer are not well-understood. In this study, the common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between COVID-19 patients with and without cancer were identified. Based on the common DEGs, a series of analyses were performed, including Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and hub gene extraction, transcription factor (TF)-DEG regulatory network construction, TF-DEG-miRNA coregulatory network construction and drug molecule identification. The candidate drug molecules (e.g., Tamibarotene CTD 00002527) obtained by this study might be helpful for effective therapeutic targets in COVID-19 patients with cancer. In addition, the common DEGs among ARDS, PF and COVID-19 patients with and without cancer are TNFSF10 and IFITM2. These two genes may serve as potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of COVID-19 patients with cancer. Changes in the expression levels of TNFSF10 and IFITM2 in CD14+/CD16+ monocytes may affect the immune response of COVID-19 patients. Specifically, changes in the expression level of TNFSF10 in monocytes can be considered as an immune signature in COVID-19 patients with hematologic cancer. Targeting N6-methyladenosine (m6A) pathways (e.g., METTL3/SERPINA1 axis) to restrict SARS-CoV-2 reproduction has therapeutic potential for COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Yujia Qin
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Fu
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Zitong Gao
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Youping Deng
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-8086921664
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Hackstein CP, Klenerman P. Emerging features of MAIT cells and other unconventional T cell populations in human viral disease and vaccination. Semin Immunol 2022; 61-64:101661. [PMID: 36374780 PMCID: PMC10933818 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
MAIT cells are one representative of a group of related unconventional or pre-set T cells, and are particularly abundant in humans. While these unconventional T cell types, which also include populations of Vδ2 cells and iNKT cells, recognise quite distinct ligands, they share functional features including the ability to sense "danger" by integration of cytokine signals. Since such signals are common to many human pathologies, activation of MAIT cells in particular has been widely observed. In this review we will discuss recent trends in these data, for example the findings from patients with Covid-19 and responses to novel vaccines. Covid-19 is an example where MAIT cell activation has been correlated with disease severity by several groups, and the pathways leading to activation are being clarified, but the overall role of the cells in vivo requires further exploration. Given the potential wide functional responsiveness of these cells, which ranges from tissue repair to cytotoxicity, and likely impacts on the activity of many other cell populations, defining the role of these cells - not only as sensitive biomarkers but also as mediators - across human disease remains an important task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl-Philipp Hackstein
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Dept of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK; Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Nuffield Dept of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Dept of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK; Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Nuffield Dept of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
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Bosch-Barrera J, Roqué A, Teixidor E, Carmona-Garcia MC, Arbusà A, Brunet J, Martin-Castillo B, Cuyàs E, Verdura S, Menendez JA. Clinical Management of COVID-19 in Cancer Patients with the STAT3 Inhibitor Silibinin. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 15:19. [PMID: 35056076 PMCID: PMC8778965 DOI: 10.3390/ph15010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 pathophysiology is caused by a cascade of respiratory and multiorgan failures arising, at least in part, from the SARS-CoV-2-driven dysregulation of the master transcriptional factor STAT3. Pharmacological correction of STAT3 over-stimulation, which is at the root of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and coagulopathy/thrombosis events, should be considered for treatment of severe COVID-19. In this perspective, we first review the current body of knowledge on the role of STAT3 in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19. We then exemplify the potential clinical value of treating COVID-19 disease with STAT3 inhibitors by presenting the outcomes of two hospitalized patients with active cancer and COVID-19 receiving oral Legalon®-a nutraceutical containing the naturally occurring STAT3 inhibitor silibinin. Both patients, which were recruited to the clinical trial SIL-COVID19 (EudraCT number: 2020-001794-77) had SARS-CoV-2 bilateral interstitial pneumonia and a high COVID-GRAM score, and showed systemic proinflammatory responses in terms of lymphocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia. Both patients were predicted to be at high risk of critical COVID-19 illness in terms of intensive care unit admission, invasive ventilation, or death. In addition to physician's choice of best available therapy or supportive care, patients received 1050 mg/day Legalon® for 10 days without side-effects. Silibinin-treated cancer/COVID-19+ patients required only minimal oxygen support (2-4 L/min) during the episode, exhibited a sharp decline of the STAT3-regulated C-reactive protein, and demonstrated complete resolution of the pulmonary lesions. These findings might inspire future research to advance our knowledge and improve silibinin-based clinical interventions aimed to target STAT3-driven COVID-19 pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Bosch-Barrera
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital of Girona, 17007 Girona, Spain
- Department of Medical Sciences, Medical School, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
| | - Ariadna Roqué
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital of Girona, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | - Eduard Teixidor
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital of Girona, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | | | - Aina Arbusà
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | - Joan Brunet
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital of Girona, 17007 Girona, Spain
- Department of Medical Sciences, Medical School, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
- Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, 08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Begoña Martin-Castillo
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
- Unit of Clinical Research, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Cuyàs
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | - Sara Verdura
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | - Javier A Menendez
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain
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