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Liang J, Lei K, Liang R, Huang J, Tan B, Lin H, Wang M. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the MIF-ACKR3 receptor-ligand interaction between iCAFs and tumor cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Signal 2024; 117:111093. [PMID: 38336189 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The heterogeneity of ESCC poses challenges in treatment and contributes to the poor prognosis of patients. Therefore, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity and identify novel therapeutic targets. METHODS To solve this problem, we performed a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of ESCC samples obtained from the GEO database. RESULTS A total of 31,283 single cells were categorized into nine cell types, which included four non-immune cells (epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, schwann cells) and five immune cells (T cells, macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils, B cells). Our study revealed the presence of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments in ESCC. We have also identified not only inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblast (iCAFs) and myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts (myCAFs) but also a subset of antigen presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts (apCAFs) which express high levels of HLA class II molecules in ESCC. Furthermore, our analysis of cell communication showed up-regulation of MIF-ACKR3 interaction between iCAFs and tumor cells in tumors compared to normal tissues. Finally, it was demonstrated that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) facilitates tumor cell migration and invasion through interacting with ACKR3 in vitro. CONCLUSIONS This study exposes the features of the tumor microenvironment of ESCC via scRNA-seq and examines the dynamics of various cellular subpopulations, thus facilitating the identification of future therapeutic targets for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialu Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Lei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruihao Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Binhua Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huayue Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Minghui Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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Zhang Z, Wang J, Shi Y, Wang B, Wang D. Cathepsin L promotes oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma development and may be associated with tumour-associated macrophages. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29273. [PMID: 38601581 PMCID: PMC11004422 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide because existing treatments are often insufficient. Therefore, new, reliable biomarkers must be identified. CTSL overexpression is closely associated with tumour progression and poor prognosis. However, the role and mechanism of CTSL as an oncogene in ESCC remain unclear. Methods Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were used for Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the possible relationships between CTSL and ESCC. The correlation between CTSL expression and prognosis was analysed using GEO, TCGA, and GEPIA data. We compared CTSL expression among the cell types using single-cell sequencing. Correlations between CTSL and the tumour microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, tumour mutational load, immunological checkpoints, and treatment sensitivity in patients with ESCC were investigated. Finally, using mouse models and cellular investigations, we assessed the effects of CTSL on the growth, apoptosis, and metastasis of ESCC tumour cells. Results CTSL was overexpressed in ESCC and correlated with prognosis. We also discovered its close association with cell immunity, especially with tumour-associated macrophages and immune checkpoints in the tumour microenvironment. CTSL may play a key role in ESCC development by affecting M2 macrophage polarisation. CTSL and the M2 macrophage marker genes showed significant positive correlations. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed a relationship between CTSL and ESCC. Finally, our in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that CTSL promoted the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells, validating our bioinformatic analysis. Conclusion CTSL emerged as a crucial gene in ESCC that influences patient prognosis and immunity, particularly in association with M2 macrophages. Therefore, targeting or modulating CTSL levels may provide new therapeutic strategies for patients with ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhu Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Jianyu Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Yamin Shi
- School of Foreign Languages, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Ben Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
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Zhang Z, Shang B, Mao X, Shi Y, Zhang G, Wang D. Prognostic Risk Models Using Epithelial Cells Identify β-Sitosterol as a Potential Therapeutic Target Against Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Gen Med 2024; 17:1193-1211. [PMID: 38559590 PMCID: PMC10981899 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s447023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive and fatal malignancy that leads to epithelial cancer. The association between epithelial cell heterogeneity, prognosis, and immune response in this cancer remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate epithelial cell heterogeneity in ESCC and develop a predictive risk model using the identified cell types. Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and differential ESCC gene data were accessed from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Functional enrichment analysis, inferCNV, cell development trajectories, and intercellular communication were analyzed following epithelial cell characterization. Differentially expressed ESCC (n = 773) and epithelial cell marker genes (n = 3407) were intersected to obtain core genes, and epithelial cell-related prognostic genes were identified. LASSO regression analysis was used to construct a prognostic model. The external dataset GSE53624 was used to further validate the stability of the model. Drug sensitivity predictions, and immune cell infiltration were analyzed. Molecular docking clarified the possible therapeutic role of β-sitosterol in ESCC. Finally, wound healing assay, cell colony, and transwell assay were constructed to detect the effects of the core gene PDLIM2 on ESCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Results Eight cell clusters were identified, and epithelial cells were categorized into tumor and paratumor groups. The tumor group possessed more chromosomal variants than the paratumor group. Epithelial cells were associated with multiple cell types and significantly correlated with the Wnt, transforming growth factor, and epidermal growth factor signaling pathways. From 231 intersected genes, five core genes were screened for use in the risk model: CTSL, LAPTM4B, MYO10, NCF2, and PDLIM2. These genes may contribute to the cancerous transformation of normal esophageal epithelial cells and thereby act as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in patients with ESCC. β-Sitosterol furthermore displayed excellent docking potential with these genes. Meanwhile, further experiments demonstrated that the gene PDLIM2 plays a major role in the progression of oesophageal squamous carcinoma. Conclusion We successfully developed a risk model for the prognosis of ESCC based on epithelial cells that addresses the response of ESCC to immunotherapy and offers novel cancer treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhu Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bin Shang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Mao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yamin Shi
- School of Foreign Languages, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan, 250014, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guodong Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, People’s Republic of China
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Li C, Song W, Zhang J, Luo Y. Single-cell transcriptomics reveals heterogeneity in esophageal squamous epithelial cells and constructs models for predicting patient prognosis and immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1322147. [PMID: 38098487 PMCID: PMC10719955 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1322147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), characterized by its high invasiveness and malignant potential, has long been a formidable challenge in terms of treatment. Methods A variety of advanced analytical techniques are employed, including single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), cell trajectory inference, transcription factor regulatory network analysis, GSVA enrichment analysis, mutation profile construction, and the inference of potential immunotherapeutic drugs. The purpose is to conduct a more comprehensive exploration of the heterogeneity among malignant squamous epithelial cell subgroups within the ESCC microenvironment and establish a model for predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy outcomes of ESCC patients. Results An analysis was conducted through scRNA-seq, and three Cluster of malignant epithelial cells were identified using the infer CNV method. Cluster 0 was found to exhibit high invasiveness, whereas Cluster 1 displayed prominent characteristics associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Confirmation of these findings was provided through cell trajectory analysis, which positioned Cluster 0 at the initiation stage of development and Cluster 1 at the final developmental stage. The abundance of Cluster 0-2 groups in TCGA-LUAD samples was assessed using ssGSEA and subsequently categorized into high and low-expression groups. Notably, it was observed that Cluster 0-1 had a significant impact on survival (p<0.05). Furthermore, GSVA enrichment analysis demonstrated heightened activity in hallmark pathways for Cluster 0, whereas Cluster 1 exhibited notable enrichment in pathways related to cell proliferation. It is noteworthy that a prognostic model was established utilizing feature genes from Cluster 0-1, employing the Lasso and stepwise regression methods. The results revealed that in TCGA and GSE53624 cohorts, the low-risk group demonstrated significantly higher overall survival and increased levels of immune infiltration. An examination of four external immunotherapy cohorts unveiled that the low-risk group exhibited improved immunotherapeutic efficacy. Additionally, more meaningful treatment options were identified for the low-risk group. Conclusion The findings revealed distinct interactions between malignant epithelial cells of ESCC and subgroups within the tumor microenvironment. Two cell clusters, strongly linked to survival, were pinpointed, and a signature was formulated. This signature is expected to play a crucial role in identifying and advancing precision medicine approaches for the treatment of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglin Li
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Song
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jialing Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yonggang Luo
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
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Nakamura S, Ohuchida K, Hayashi M, Katayama N, Tsutsumi C, Yamada Y, Hisano K, Okuda S, Ohtsubo Y, Iwamoto C, Torata N, Mizuuchi Y, Shindo K, Nakata K, Moriyama T, Morisaki T, Oda Y, Nakamura M. Tertiary lymphoid structures correlate with enhancement of antitumor immunity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:1314-1326. [PMID: 37604932 PMCID: PMC10575855 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02396-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are associated with a favorable prognosis in several cancers. However, the correlation between TLSs and outcomes of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the impact of TLSs on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remain unknown. METHODS We pathologically evaluated the significance of TLSs in ESCC focusing on TLS maturation using 180 ESCC specimens and performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) using 14 ESCC tissues to investigate functional differences of immune cells according to TLS presence. RESULTS TLS+ cases had better recurrence-free-survival (RFS) (p < 0.0001) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.0016) compared with TLS- cases. Additionally, mature TLS+ cases had better RFS and OS compared with immature TLS+ cases (p = 0.019 and p = 0.015) and TLS- cases (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0002). The scRNA-seq showed that CD8+ T cells in TLS+ tumors expressed high levels of cytotoxic signatures and antigen-presentation of dendritic cells (DCs) was enhanced in TLS+ tumors. Immunohistochemistry showed that the densities of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and DCs were significantly higher in TLS+ tumors than those in TLS- tumors. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest the prognostic and functional significance of TLSs in ESCC and provides new insights into TLSs on the TIME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoichi Nakamura
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kenoki Ohuchida
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
| | - Masataka Hayashi
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Naoki Katayama
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Chikanori Tsutsumi
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yutaka Yamada
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kyoko Hisano
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Sho Okuda
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Ohtsubo
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Chika Iwamoto
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Ehime, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Torata
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yusuke Mizuuchi
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Koji Shindo
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kohei Nakata
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Taiki Moriyama
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takashi Morisaki
- Department of Cancer Immunotherapy, Fukuoka General Cancer Clinic, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshinao Oda
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masafumi Nakamura
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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Huang D, Ma N, Li X, Gou Y, Duan Y, Liu B, Xia J, Zhao X, Wang X, Li Q, Rao J, Zhang X. Advances in single-cell RNA sequencing and its applications in cancer research. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:98. [PMID: 37612741 PMCID: PMC10463514 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01494-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancers are a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by the acquisition of functional capabilities during the transition from a normal to a neoplastic state. Powerful experimental and computational tools can be applied to elucidate the mechanisms of occurrence, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance; however, challenges remain. Bulk RNA sequencing techniques only reflect the average gene expression in a sample, making it difficult to understand tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment. The emergence and development of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have provided opportunities to understand subtle changes in tumor biology by identifying distinct cell subpopulations, dissecting the tumor microenvironment, and characterizing cellular genomic mutations. Recently, scRNA-seq technology has been increasingly used in cancer studies to explore tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment, which has increased the understanding of tumorigenesis and evolution. This review summarizes the basic processes and development of scRNA-seq technologies and their increasing applications in cancer research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dezhi Huang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Naya Ma
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Xinlei Li
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Yang Gou
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Yishuo Duan
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Bangdong Liu
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Jing Xia
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Xianlan Zhao
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Xiaoqi Wang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Qiong Li
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
| | - Jun Rao
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
| | - Xi Zhang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
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Wang H, Su C, Li Z, Ma C, Hong L, Li Z, Ma X, Xu Y, Wei X, Geng Y, Zhang W, Li P, Gu J. Evaluation of multiple immune cells and patient outcomes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1091098. [PMID: 36891293 PMCID: PMC9986480 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1091098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent reports indicate that immune cells in solid cancers have significant predictive and therapeutic value. IgG4 is a subclass of IgG and we recently found that it exerted an inhibitory effect in tumor immunity. We aimed to assess the significance of IgG4 and T cell subtypes in tumor prognosis. We investigated the density, distribution and relationship of five immune markers CD4, CD8, Foxp3, IL-10 and IgG4 with multiple immunostaining method in 118 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) together with clinical data. The relationship among different immune cell types and with clinical data were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards model to identify independent risk factors among immune and clinicopathological parameters. Five-year survival rate of these patients treated with surgery reached 61%. Higher number of CD4+ plus CD8+ T cells predicted better prognosis (p=0.01) in tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) and could add to the value of TNM staging. Density of the newly identified immune inhibitor IgG4+ B lymphocytes was found positively correlated to that of CD4+ cells (p=0.02) and IL-10+ cells (p=0.0005), but number of infiltrating IgG4+ cells by itself was not an independent factor for prognosis. However, increased serum concentration of IgG4 indicated a poor prognosis of ESCC (p=0.03). 5-year survival rate of esophageal cancer after surgery has been significantly improved. Increased T cells in TLS predicted better survival, suggesting that T cells in TLS may actively participate in anti-tumor immunity. Serum IgG4 could be a useful predictor of prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chanjuan Su
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ziteng Li
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Changchun Ma
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Liangli Hong
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhe Li
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaonan Ma
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yien Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaolong Wei
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yiqun Geng
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Weifeng Zhang
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Penghao Li
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.,Jinxin Research Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Xinan Hospital for Maternal and Child Health Care, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiang Gu
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine, Center of Collaborative and Creative Center, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.,Jinxin Research Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Xinan Hospital for Maternal and Child Health Care, Chengdu, China
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