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Wang L, Ge J, Han H, Jia Y, Qin Y. Crosstalk between the nervous system and tumor microenvironment: Functional aspects and potential therapeutic strategies. Cancer Lett 2024; 594:216986. [PMID: 38797233 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216986] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Recent advancements in understanding the tumor microenvironment (TME) have highlighted the critical role of the nervous system in cancer progression. This review comprehensively examines how the nervous system influences various aspects of tumorigenesis, including growth, motility, immune response, angiogenesis, and the behavior of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). We delineate the neurodevelopmental mechanisms associated with cancer, such as the secretion of neurotrophins and exosomes by cancer cells. Furthermore, we explore the emerging therapeutic strategy of targeting nerves associated with tumors. Evidence supporting this approach includes studies demonstrating direct tumor growth inhibition, enhanced efficacy of immunotherapy when combined with nervous system-modulating drugs, and the suppression of tumor blood vessel formation through nerve targeting. Finally, we discuss the current challenges in this field and emphasize the need for further exploration within cancer neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1, Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, PR China
| | - Jingjing Ge
- Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, No. 651, Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou, 510060, PR China
| | - Huiqiong Han
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1, Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, PR China
| | - Yongxu Jia
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1, Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, PR China
| | - Yanru Qin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1, Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, PR China.
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2
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Yang Y, Yang W, Zhang R, Wang Y. Peripheral Mechanism of Cancer-Induced Bone Pain. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:815-830. [PMID: 37798428 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01126-6] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) is a type of ongoing or breakthrough pain caused by a primary bone tumor or bone metastasis. CIBP constitutes a specific pain state with distinct characteristics; however, it shares similarities with inflammatory and neuropathic pain. At present, although various therapies have been developed for this condition, complete relief from CIBP in patients with cancer is yet to be achieved. Hence, it is urgent to study the mechanism underlying CIBP to develop efficient analgesic drugs. Herein, we focused on the peripheral mechanism associated with the initiation of CIBP, which involves tissue injury in the bone and changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and dorsal root ganglion. The nerve-cancer and cancer-immunocyte cross-talk in the TME creates circumstances that promote tumor growth and metastasis, ultimately leading to CIBP. The peripheral mechanism of CIBP and current treatments as well as potential therapeutic targets are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yachen Yang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ruofan Zhang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yanqing Wang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Institutes of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Zhongshan-Fudan Joint Innovation Center, Zhongshan, 528437, China.
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3
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Rakina M, Larionova I, Kzhyshkowska J. Macrophage diversity in human cancers: New insight provided by single-cell resolution and spatial context. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28332. [PMID: 38571605 PMCID: PMC10988020 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28332] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
M1/M2 paradigm of macrophage plasticity has existed for decades. Now it becomes clear that this dichotomy doesn't adequately reflect the diversity of macrophage phenotypes in tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a major population of innate immune cells in the TME that promotes tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, invasion and metastatic niche formation, as well as response to anti-tumor therapy. However, the fundamental restriction in therapeutic TAM targeting is the limited knowledge about the specific TAM states in distinct human cancer types. Here we summarized the results of the most recent studies that use advanced technologies (e.g. single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics) allowing to decipher novel functional subsets of TAMs in numerous human cancers. The transcriptomic profiles of these TAM subsets and their clinical significance were described. We emphasized the characteristics of specific TAM subpopulations - TREM2+, SPP1+, MARCO+, FOLR2+, SIGLEC1+, APOC1+, C1QC+, and others, which have been most extensively characterized in several cancers, and are associated with cancer prognosis. Spatial transcriptomics technologies defined specific spatial interactions between TAMs and other cell types, especially fibroblasts, in tumors. Spatial transcriptomics methods were also applied to identify markers of immunotherapy response, which are expressed by macrophages or in the macrophage-abundant regions. We highlighted the perspectives for novel techniques that utilize spatial and single cell resolution in investigating new ligand-receptor interactions for effective immunotherapy based on TAM-targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Militsa Rakina
- Laboratory of Translational Cellular and Molecular Biomedicine, National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy of Cancer, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, 634009, Russia
| | - Irina Larionova
- Laboratory of Translational Cellular and Molecular Biomedicine, National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy of Cancer, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, 634009, Russia
| | - Julia Kzhyshkowska
- Laboratory of Translational Cellular and Molecular Biomedicine, National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Immunology, Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, 68167, Germany
- German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg – Hessen, Mannheim, 68167, Germany
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4
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Li JSF, Tang PCT, Choi CKK, Chan ASW, Ng CSH, To KF, Tang PMK. Protocol to study immunodynamics in the tumor microenvironment using a tyramide signal amplification-based immunofluorescent multiplex panel. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:102823. [PMID: 38194342 PMCID: PMC10820311 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102823] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunodynamics in the tumor microenvironment can be precisely examined by using multiple antigen identification approaches. Here, we present a protocol for capturing expression levels of multiple target proteins in the same specimen at single-cell resolution using a tyramide signal amplification-based immunofluorescent multiplexing system. We describe steps for tumor tissue microarray preparation, multiplex immunohistochemistry staining, image acquisition, and quantification. This protocol can quantify immune cells in tissues from patients or experimental disease models at a protein level. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Chung et al. (2023),1 Tang et al. (2022),2 and Tang et al. (2022).3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Siu-Fan Li
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Philip Chiu-Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chun Kit K Choi
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Alex Siu-Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Calvin Sze-Hang Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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Wang W, Ji Y, Dong Z, Liu Z, Chen S, Dai L, Su X, Jiang Q, Deng H. Characterizing neuroinflammation and identifying prenatal diagnostic markers for neural tube defects through integrated multi-omics analysis. J Transl Med 2024; 22:257. [PMID: 38461288 PMCID: PMC10924416 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05051-8] [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: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) are congenital malformations of the central nervous system resulting from the incomplete closure of the neural tube during early embryonic development. Neuroinflammation refers to the inflammatory response in the nervous system, typically resulting from damage to neural tissue. Immune-related processes have been identified in NTDs, however, the detailed relationship and underlying mechanisms between neuroinflammation and NTDs remain largely unclear. In this study, we utilized integrated multi-omics analysis to explore the role of neuroinflammation in NTDs and identify potential prenatal diagnostic markers using a murine model. METHODS Nine public datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and ArrayExpress were mined using integrated multi-omics analysis to characterize the molecular landscape associated with neuroinflammation in NTDs. Special attention was given to the involvement of macrophages in neuroinflammation within amniotic fluid, as well as the dynamics of macrophage polarization and their interactions with neural cells at single-cell resolution. We also used qPCR assay to validate the key TFs and candidate prenatal diagnostic genes identified through the integrated analysis in a retinoic acid-induced NTDs mouse model. RESULTS Our analysis indicated that neuroinflammation is a critical pathological feature of NTDs, regulated both transcriptionally and epigenetically within central nervous system tissues. Key alterations in gene expression and pathways highlighted the crucial role of STATs molecules in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in regulating NTDs-associated neuroinflammation. Furthermore, single-cell resolution analysis revealed significant polarization of macrophages and their interaction with neural cells in amniotic fluid, underscoring their central role in mediating neuroinflammation associated with NTDs. Finally, we identified a set of six potential prenatal diagnostic genes, including FABP7, CRMP1, SCG3, SLC16A10, RNASE6 and RNASE1, which were subsequently validated in a murine NTDs model, indicating their promise as prospective markers for prenatal diagnosis of NTDs. CONCLUSIONS Our study emphasizes the pivotal role of neuroinflammation in the progression of NTDs and underlines the potential of specific inflammatory and neural markers as novel prenatal diagnostic tools. These findings provide important clues for further understanding the underlying mechanisms between neuroinflammation and NTDs, and offer valuable insights for the future development of prenatal diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshuang Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanhong Ji
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhexu Dong
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zheran Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuang Chen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Dai
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaolan Su
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingyuan Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics, Sichuan Provincial Hospital for Women and Children, Chengdu, China.
| | - Hongxin Deng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Shepherd AJ. Response to comment on: Fibroblast-derived PI16 sustains inflammatory pain via regulation of CD206 + myeloid cells. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 117:312. [PMID: 38307445 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.01.224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
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7
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Chiu-Tsun Tang P, Huang S, Ming-Kuen Tang P. Macrophage is more than a bystander in peripheral sensitisation. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 117:310-311. [PMID: 38307444 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.01.223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Philip Chiu-Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shujie Huang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
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Zhang W, Huckaby B, Talburt J, Weissman S, Yang MQ. cnnImpute: missing value recovery for single cell RNA sequencing data. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3946. [PMID: 38365936 PMCID: PMC10873334 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53998-x] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has revolutionized our ability to explore cellular diversity and unravel the complexities of intricate diseases. However, due to the inherently low signal-to-noise ratio and the presence of an excessive number of missing values, scRNA-seq data analysis encounters unique challenges. Here, we present cnnImpute, a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) based method designed to address the issue of missing data in scRNA-seq. Our approach starts by estimating missing probabilities, followed by constructing a CNN-based model to recover expression values with a high likelihood of being missing. Through comprehensive evaluations, cnnImpute demonstrates its effectiveness in accurately imputing missing values while preserving the integrity of cell clusters in scRNA-seq data analysis. It achieved superior performance in various benchmarking experiments. cnnImpute offers an accurate and scalable method for recovering missing values, providing a useful resource for scRNA-seq data analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Zhang
- MidSouth Bioinformatics Center and Joint Bioinformatics Graduate Program, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, 72204, AR, USA
- Department of Information Science, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, 72204, AR, USA
| | - Brandon Huckaby
- Department of Computer Science, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, 72204, AR, USA
| | - John Talburt
- Department of Information Science, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, 72204, AR, USA
| | - Sherman Weissman
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, 06520, CT, USA
| | - Mary Qu Yang
- MidSouth Bioinformatics Center and Joint Bioinformatics Graduate Program, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, 72204, AR, USA.
- Department of Information Science, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, 72204, AR, USA.
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9
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Tang PMK, Lam EWF, Mussal F, Zhang D, Li C. Editorial: New insights into fibrotic signaling in cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1369457. [PMID: 38371624 PMCID: PMC10869620 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1369457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Eric W-F. Lam
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong, China
| | - Francis Mussal
- Paediatric Oncology, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunjie Li
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Cao L, Meng X, Zhang Z, Liu Z, He Y. Macrophage heterogeneity and its interactions with stromal cells in tumour microenvironment. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:16. [PMID: 38303024 PMCID: PMC10832170 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01201-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophages and tumour stroma cells account for the main cellular components in the tumour microenvironment (TME). Current advancements in single-cell analysis have revolutionized our understanding of macrophage diversity and macrophage-stroma interactions. Accordingly, this review describes new insight into tumour-associated macrophage (TAM) heterogeneity in terms of tumour type, phenotype, metabolism, and spatial distribution and presents the association between these factors and TAM functional states. Meanwhile, we focus on the immunomodulatory feature of TAMs and highlight the tumour-promoting effect of macrophage-tumour stroma interactions in the immunosuppressive TME. Finally, we summarize recent studies investigating macrophage-targeted therapy and discuss their therapeutic potential in improving immunotherapy by alleviating immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liren Cao
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, National Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Xiaoyan Meng
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, National Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhang
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, National Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Zhonglong Liu
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, National Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Yue He
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, National Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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11
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Li S, Wu Y, Peng X, Chen H, Zhang T, Chen H, Yang J, Xie Y, Qi H, Xiang W, Huang B, Zhou S, Hu Y, Tan Q, Du X, Huang J, Zhang R, Li X, Luo F, Jin M, Su N, Luo X, Huang S, Yang P, Yan X, Lian J, Zhu Y, Xiong Y, Xiao G, Liu Y, Shen C, Kuang L, Ni Z, Chen L. A Novel Cargo Delivery System-AnCar-Exo LaIMTS Ameliorates Arthritis via Specifically Targeting Pro-Inflammatory Macrophages. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306143. [PMID: 38083984 PMCID: PMC10870055 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Macrophages are heterogenic phagocytic cells that play distinct roles in physiological and pathological processes. Targeting different types of macrophages has shown potent therapeutic effects in many diseases. Although many approaches are developed to target anti-inflammatory macrophages, there are few researches on targeting pro-inflammatory macrophages, which is partially attributed to their non-s pecificity phagocytosis of extracellular substances. In this study, a novel recombinant protein is constructed that can be anchored on an exosome membrane with the purpose of targeting pro-inflammatory macrophages via antigen recognition, which is named AnCar-ExoLaIMTS . The data indicate that the phagocytosis efficiencies of pro-inflammatory macrophages for different AnCar-ExoLaIMTS show obvious differences. The AnCar-ExoLaIMTS3 has the best targeting ability for pro-inflammatory macrophages in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, AnCar-ExoLaIMTS3 can specifically recognize the leucine-rich repeat domain of the TLR4 receptor, and then enter into pro-inflammatory macrophages via the TLR4-mediated receptor endocytosis pathway. Moreover, AnCar-ExoLaIMTS3 can efficiently deliver therapeutic cargo to pro-inflammatory macrophages and inhibit the synovial inflammatory response via downregulation of HIF-1α level, thus ameliorating the severity of arthritis in vivo. Collectively, the work established a novel gene/drug delivery system that can specifically target pro-inflammatory macrophages, which may be beneficial for the treatments of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.
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12
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Liang S, Hess J. Tumor Neurobiology in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Head and Neck Cancer. Cells 2024; 13:256. [PMID: 38334648 PMCID: PMC10854684 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030256] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The neurobiology of tumors has attracted considerable interest from clinicians and scientists and has become a multidisciplinary area of research. Neural components not only interact with tumor cells but also influence other elements within the TME, such as immune cells and vascular components, forming a polygonal relationship to synergistically facilitate tumor growth and progression. This review comprehensively summarizes the current state of the knowledge on nerve-tumor crosstalk in head and neck cancer and discusses the potential underlying mechanisms. Several mechanisms facilitating nerve-tumor crosstalk are covered, such as perineural invasion, axonogenesis, neurogenesis, neural reprogramming, and transdifferentiation, and the reciprocal interactions between the nervous and immune systems in the TME are also discussed in this review. Further understanding of the nerve-tumor crosstalk in the TME of head and neck cancer may provide new nerve-targeted treatment options and help improve clinical outcomes for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Liang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Tumors, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Jochen Hess
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Tumors, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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13
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Zheng S, Li Y, Yin L, Lu M. Identification of sulfur metabolism-related gene signature in osteoarthritis and TM9SF2's sustenance effect on M2 macrophages' phagocytic activity. J Orthop Surg Res 2024; 19:62. [PMID: 38218914 PMCID: PMC10787471 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-023-04384-2] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and low-grade inflammatory disease associated with metabolism disorder and multiple cell death types in the synovial tissues. Sulfur metabolism has not been studied in OA. METHODS First, we calculated the single sample gene set enrichment analysis score of sulfur metabolism-associated annotations (i.e., cysteine metabolism process, regulation of sulfur metabolism process, and disulfidptosis) between healthy and synovial samples from patients with OA. Sulfur metabolism-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed in OA. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator COX regression were used to identify the sulfur metabolism-associated gene signature for diagnosing OA. Correlation and immune cell deconvolution analyses were used to explore the correlated functions and cell specificity of the signature gene, TM9SF2. TM9SF2's effect on the phagocytosis of macrophages M2 was analyzed by coculturing macrophages with IgG-coated beads or apoptotic Jurkat cells. RESULTS A diagnostic six gene signature (i.e., MTHFD1, PDK4, TM9SF2, POU4F1, HOXA2, NCKAP1) was identified based on the ten DEGs, validated using GSE12021 and GSE1919 datasets. TM9SF2 was upregulated in the synovial tissues of OA at both mRNA and protein levels. The relationship between TM9SF2 and several functional annotations, such as antigen processing and presentation, lysosome, phagosome, Fcγ-mediated phagocytosis, and tyrosine metabolism, was identified. TM9SF2 and macrophages M2 were significantly correlated. After silencing TM9SF2 in THP-1-derived macrophages M2, a significantly reduced phagocytosis and attenuated activation of PLC-γ1 were observed. CONCLUSION A sulfur metabolism-associated six-gene signature for OA diagnosis was constructed and upregulation of the phagocytosis-associated gene, TM9SF2, was identified. The findings are expected to deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying OA development and be used as potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zheng
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No.218 Ji Xi Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
| | - Yetian Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No.218 Ji Xi Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Li Yin
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No.218 Ji Xi Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Ming Lu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No.218 Ji Xi Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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14
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Lyu Y, Xie F, Chen B, Shin WS, Chen W, He Y, Leung KT, Tse GMK, Yu J, To KF, Kang W. The nerve cells in gastrointestinal cancers: from molecular mechanisms to clinical intervention. Oncogene 2024; 43:77-91. [PMID: 38081962 PMCID: PMC10774121 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02909-x] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is a formidable malignancy with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Recent studies have shed light on the complex interplay between the nervous system and the GI system, influencing various aspects of GI tumorigenesis, such as the malignance of cancer cells, the conformation of tumor microenvironment (TME), and the resistance to chemotherapies. The discussion in this review first focused on exploring the intricate details of the biological function of the nervous system in the development of the GI tract and the progression of tumors within it. Meanwhile, the cancer cell-originated feedback regulation on the nervous system is revealed to play a crucial role in the growth and development of nerve cells within tumor tissues. This interaction is vital for understanding the complex relationship between the nervous system and GI oncogenesis. Additionally, the study identified various components within the TME that possess a significant influence on the occurrence and progression of GI cancer, including microbiota, immune cells, and fibroblasts. Moreover, we highlighted the transformation relationship between non-neuronal cells and neuronal cells during GI cancer progression, inspiring the development of strategies for nervous system-guided anti-tumor drugs. By further elucidating the deep mechanism of various neuroregulatory signals and neuronal intervention, we underlined the potential of these targeted drugs translating into effective therapies for GI cancer treatment. In summary, this review provides an overview of the mechanisms of neuromodulation and explores potential therapeutic opportunities, providing insights into the understanding and management of GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Lyu
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fuda Xie
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bonan Chen
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wing Sum Shin
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, Digestive Diseases Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yulong He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, Digestive Diseases Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kam Tong Leung
- Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gary M K Tse
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Kang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.
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15
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Tang PC, Chan MK, Chung JY, Chan AS, Zhang D, Li C, Leung K, Ng CS, Wu Y, To K, Lan H, Tang PM. Hematopoietic Transcription Factor RUNX1 is Essential for Promoting Macrophage-Myofibroblast Transition in Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2302203. [PMID: 37967345 PMCID: PMC10767400 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Macrophage-myofibroblast transition (MMT) is a newly discovered pathway for mass production of pro-tumoral cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in a TGF-β1/Smad3 dependent manner. Better understanding its regulatory signaling in tumor microenvironment (TME) may identify druggable target for the development of precision medicine. Here, by dissecting the transcriptome dynamics of tumor-associated macrophage at single-cell resolution, a crucial role of a hematopoietic transcription factor Runx1 in MMT formation is revealed. Surprisingly, integrative bioinformatic analysis uncovers Runx1 as a key regulator in the downstream of MMT-specific TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling. Stromal Runx1 level positively correlates with the MMT-derived CAF abundance and mortality in NSCLC patients. Mechanistically, macrophage-specific Runx1 promotes the transcription of genes related to CAF signatures in MMT cells at genomic level. Importantly, macrophage-specific genetic deletion and systemic pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad3/Runx1 signaling effectively prevent MMT-driven CAF and tumor formation in vitro and in vivo, representing a potential therapeutic target for clinical NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Chiu‐Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongShatin999077Hong Kong
| | - Max Kam‐Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongShatin999077Hong Kong
| | - Jeff Yat‐Fai Chung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongShatin999077Hong Kong
| | - Alex Siu‐Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social SciencesThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHunghom999077Hong Kong
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhou510632China
| | - Chunjie Li
- Department of Head and Neck OncologyWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Kam‐Tong Leung
- Department of PaediatricsThe Chinese University of Hong KongShatin999077Hong Kong
| | - Calvin Sze‐Hang Ng
- Department of SurgeryThe Chinese University of Hong KongShatin999077Hong Kong
| | - Yi Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to DiseasesSchool of Basic Medical SciencesXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710061China
| | - Ka‐Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongShatin999077Hong Kong
| | - Hui‐Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and TherapeuticsLi Ka Shing Institute of Health SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongShatin999077Hong Kong
| | - Patrick Ming‐Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongShatin999077Hong Kong
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16
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Chen W, Caiyun L, Yang Y, Xinwei H, Nan L, Jiaming Y, Huirong Y, Kai W, Liucheng Y. Circular RNA MTCL1 targets SMAD3 by sponging miR-145-5p for regulation of cell proliferation and migration in Hirschsprung's disease. Pediatr Surg Int 2023; 40:25. [PMID: 38127107 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-023-05621-9] [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] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a congenital disorder resulting from abnormal development of the enteric nervous system (ENS). Given the complexity of its pathogenesis, it is important to investigate the role of epigenetic inheritance in its development. As Circ-MTCL1 is abundant in brain tissue and colon tissue, whether it has a significant part in the development of ENS is worth exploring. This study clarifies its role in HSCR and identifies the specific molecular mechanisms involved. METHODS Diseased and dilated segment colon tissues diagnosed as HSCR were collected for the assessment of gene expression levels using RT-PCR. EdU and CCK-8 assays were adopted to evaluate cell proliferation, and Transwell assay was adopted to assess cell migration. The interaction between Circ-MTCL1, miR-145-5p and SMAD3 was confirmed by dual luciferase reporter gene analysis, RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS Circ-MTCL1 was down-regulated in the aganglionic colon tissues. The decreased expression of Circ-MTCL1 associated with a reduction in cell migration and proliferation. Bioinformatics analysis and cellular experiments confirmed its role might have been associated with the inhibition of miR-145-5p. MiR-145-5p was up-regulated in HSCR diseased segment colon tissues, exhibiting a negative correlation with Circ-MTCL1. Overexpression of miR-145-5p reversed the inhibition of cell migration and proliferation associated with Circ-MTCL1 down-regulation. The expression of SMAD3 was inhibited by miR-145-5p. The overexpression of SMAD3 eliminated the miR-145-5p-associated inhibition of cell migration and proliferation. Overexpression of miR-145-5p reversed the inhibitory effects of Circ-MTCL1 down-regulation-associated inhibition of cell migration and proliferation, while suppressing SMAD3 expression. Conversely, overexpression of SMAD3 counteracted the miR-145-5p-associated inhibition of cell migration and proliferation. CONCLUSIONS Circ-MTCL1 may function as a miR-145-5p sponge, regulating the expression of SMAD3 and influencing cell migration and proliferation, thus participating in the development of HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China
| | - Luo Caiyun
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China
| | - Hou Xinwei
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Nan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China
| | - Yang Jiaming
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China
| | - Yang Huirong
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China
| | - Wu Kai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yang Liucheng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China.
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17
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Winkler F. Neuroscience and oncology: state-of-the-art and new perspectives. Curr Opin Neurol 2023; 36:544-548. [PMID: 37973023 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Emerging discoveries suggest that both the central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS) nervous system are an important driver of cancer initiation, promotion, dissemination, and therapy resistance, not only in the brain but also in multiple cancer types throughout the body. This article highlights the most recent developments in this emerging field of research over the last year and provides a roadmap for the future, emphasizing its translational potential. RECENT FINDINGS Excitatory synapses between neurons and cancer cells that drive growth and invasion have been detected and characterized. In addition, a plethora of paracrine, mostly tumor-promoting neuro-cancer interactions are reported, and a neuro-immuno-cancer axis emerges. Cancer cell-intrinsic neural properties, and cancer (therapy) effects on the nervous system that cause morbidity in patients and can establish harmful feedback loops receive increasing attention. Despite the relative novelty of these findings, therapies that inhibit key mechanisms of this neuro-cancer crosstalk are developed, and already tested in clinical trials, largely by repurposing of approved drugs. SUMMARY Neuro-cancer interactions are manyfold, have multiple clinical implications, and can lead to novel neuroscience-instructed cancer therapies and improved therapies of neurological dysfunctions and cancer pain. The development of biomarkers and identification of most promising therapeutic targets is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Winkler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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18
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Tang PMK, Zhang D. Advance in Targeted Cancer Therapy and Mechanisms of Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16584. [PMID: 38068907 PMCID: PMC10705981 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance remains one of the important clinical challenges, making cancer one of the leading causes of death worldwide [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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19
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Liu L, Chen G, Gong S, Huang R, Fan C. Targeting tumor-associated macrophage: an adjuvant strategy for lung cancer therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1274547. [PMID: 38022518 PMCID: PMC10679371 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1274547] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape for various types of cancer. Nevertheless, lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide due to the development of resistance in most patients. As one of the most abundant groups of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play crucial and complex roles in the development of lung cancer, including the regulation of immunosuppressive TME remodeling, metabolic reprogramming, neoangiogenesis, metastasis, and promotion of tumoral neurogenesis. Hence, relevant strategies for lung cancer therapy, such as inhibition of macrophage recruitment, TAM reprograming, depletion of TAMs, and engineering of TAMs for drug delivery, have been developed. Based on the satisfactory treatment effect of TAM-targeted therapy, recent studies also investigated its synergistic effect with current therapies for lung cancer, including immunotherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) treatment, or photodynamic therapy. Thus, in this article, we summarized the key mechanisms of TAMs contributing to lung cancer progression and elaborated on the novel therapeutic strategies against TAMs. We also discussed the therapeutic potential of TAM targeting as adjuvant therapy in the current treatment of lung cancer, particularly highlighting the TAM-centered strategies for improving the efficacy of anti-programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Chunmei Fan
- *Correspondence: Chunmei Fan, ; Rongfu Huang,
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20
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Ji ZZ, Chan MKK, Chan ASW, Leung KT, Jiang X, To KF, Wu Y, Tang PMK. Tumour-associated macrophages: versatile players in the tumour microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1261749. [PMID: 37965573 PMCID: PMC10641386 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1261749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumour-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) are one of the pivotal components of the tumour microenvironment. Their roles in the cancer immunity are complicated, both pro-tumour and anti-cancer activities are reported, including not only angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, immunosuppression, drug resistance but also phagocytosis and tumour regression. Interestingly, TAMs are highly dynamic and versatile in solid tumours. They show anti-cancer or pro-tumour activities, and interplay between the tumour microenvironment and cancer stem cells and under specific conditions. In addition to the classic M1/M2 phenotypes, a number of novel dedifferentiation phenomena of TAMs are discovered due to the advanced single-cell technology, e.g., macrophage-myofibroblast transition (MMT) and macrophage-neuron transition (MNT). More importantly, emerging information demonstrated the potential of TAMs on cancer immunotherapy, suggesting by the therapeutic efficiency of the checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor engineered cells based on macrophages. Here, we summarized the latest discoveries of TAMs from basic and translational research and discussed their clinical relevance and therapeutic potential for solid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoey Zeyuan Ji
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Max Kam-Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Alex Siu-Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kam-Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiaohua Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yi Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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21
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Hume DA, Millard SM, Pettit AR. Macrophage heterogeneity in the single-cell era: facts and artifacts. Blood 2023; 142:1339-1347. [PMID: 37595274 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023020597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In this spotlight, we review technical issues that compromise single-cell analysis of tissue macrophages, including limited and unrepresentative yields, fragmentation and generation of remnants, and activation during tissue disaggregation. These issues may lead to a misleading definition of subpopulations of macrophages and the expression of macrophage-specific transcripts by unrelated cells. Recognition of the technical limitations of single-cell approaches is required in order to map the full spectrum of tissue-resident macrophage heterogeneity and assess its biological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Hume
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Susan M Millard
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Allison R Pettit
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
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22
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Shi RJ, Ke BW, Tang YL, Liang XH. Perineural invasion: A potential driver of cancer-induced pain. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 215:115692. [PMID: 37481133 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115692] [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: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Perineural invasion (PNI) is the process through which tumors invade and interact with nerves. The dynamic changes in the nerves caused by PNI may induce disturbing symptoms. PNI-related cancer pain in neuro-rich tumors has attracted much attention because the occurrence of tumor-induced pain is closely related to the invasion of nerves in the tumor microenvironment. PNI-related pain might indicate the occurrence of PNI, guide the improvement of treatment strategies, and predict the unresectability of tumors and the necessity of palliative care. Although many studies have investigated PNI, its relationship with tumor-induced pain and its common mechanisms have not been summarized thoroughly. Therefore, in this review, we evaluated the relationship between PNI and cancer-associated pain. We showed that PNI is a major cause of cancer-related pain and that this pain can predict the occurrence of PNI. We also elucidated the cellular and molecular mechanisms of PNI-induced pain. Finally, we analyzed the possible targets for alleviating PNI-related pain or combined antitumor and pain management. Our findings might provide new perspectives for improving the treatment of patients with malignant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong-Jia Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,West China Hospital of Stomatology (Sichuan University), No.14, Sec. 3, Renminnan Road, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Bo-Wen Ke
- Laboratory of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Ya-Ling Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Oral Pathology, West China Hospital of Stomatology (Sichuan University), No.14, Sec. 3, Renminnan Road, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Xin-Hua Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,West China Hospital of Stomatology (Sichuan University), No.14, Sec. 3, Renminnan Road, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
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23
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Raad M, López WOC, Sharafshah A, Assefi M, Lewandrowski KU. Personalized Medicine in Cancer Pain Management. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1201. [PMID: 37623452 PMCID: PMC10455778 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13081201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have documented pain as an important concern for quality of life (QoL) and one of the most challenging manifestations for cancer patients. Thus, cancer pain management (CPM) plays a key role in treating pain related to cancer. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate CPM, with an emphasis on personalized medicine, and introduce new pharmacogenomics-based procedures for detecting and treating cancer pain patients. METHODS This study systematically reviewed PubMed from 1990 to 2023 using keywords such as cancer, pain, and personalized medicine. A total of 597 publications were found, and after multiple filtering processes, 75 papers were included. In silico analyses were performed using the GeneCards, STRING-MODEL, miRTargetLink2, and PharmGKB databases. RESULTS The results reveal that recent reports have mainly focused on personalized medicine strategies for CPM, and pharmacogenomics-based data are rapidly being introduced. The literature review of the 75 highly relevant publications, combined with the bioinformatics results, identified a list of 57 evidence-based genes as the primary gene list for further personalized medicine approaches. The most frequently mentioned genes were CYP2D6, COMT, and OPRM1. Moreover, among the 127 variants identified through both the literature review and data mining in the PharmGKB database, 21 variants remain as potential candidates for whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis. Interestingly, hsa-miR-34a-5p and hsa-miR-146a-5p were suggested as putative circulating biomarkers for cancer pain prognosis and diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, this study highlights personalized medicine as the most promising strategy in CPM, utilizing pharmacogenomics-based approaches to alleviate cancer pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Raad
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - William Omar Contreras López
- Neurosurgeon Clinica Foscal Internacional, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia;
- Neurosurgeon Clinica Portoazul, Caribe, La Merced, Asunción, Centro, Barranquilla 680006, Colombia
| | - Alireza Sharafshah
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht 41937-1311, Iran;
| | - Marjan Assefi
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA;
| | - Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski
- Center for Advanced Spine Care of Southern Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA;
- Department of Orthopaedics, Fundación Universitaria Sanitas, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
- Department of Orthopedics, Hospital Universitário Gaffre e Guinle, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20270-004, Brazil
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24
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Li L, Tian Y. The role of metabolic reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages in shaping the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 161:114504. [PMID: 37002579 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are potent immune effector cells in innate immunity and exert dual-effects in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) make up a significant portion of TME immune cells. Similar to M1/M2 macrophages, TAMs are also highly plastic, and their functions are regulated by cytokines, chemokines and other factors in the TME. The metabolic changes in TAMs are significantly associated with polarization towards a protumour or antitumour phenotype. The metabolites generated via TAM metabolic reprogramming in turn promote tumor progression and immune tolerance. In this review, we explore the metabolic reprogramming of TAMs in terms of energy, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism and the potential roles of these changes in immune suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lunxu Li
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
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25
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Chung JYF, Tang PCT, Chan MKK, Xue VW, Huang XR, Ng CSH, Zhang D, Leung KT, Wong CK, Lee TL, Lam EWF, Nikolic-Paterson DJ, To KF, Lan HY, Tang PMK. Smad3 is essential for polarization of tumor-associated neutrophils in non-small cell lung carcinoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1794. [PMID: 37002229 PMCID: PMC10066366 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37515-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are dynamic with their phenotype and function shaped by the microenvironment, such as the N1 antitumor and N2 pro-tumor states within the tumor microenvironment (TME), but its regulation remains undefined. Here we examine TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling in tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients. Smad3 activation in N2 TANs is negatively correlate with the N1 population and patient survival. In experimental lung carcinoma, TANs switch from a predominant N2 state in wild-type mice to an N1 state in Smad3-KO mice which associate with enhanced neutrophil infiltration and tumor regression. Neutrophil depletion abrogates the N1 anticancer phenotype in Smad3-KO mice, while adoptive transfer of Smad3-KO neutrophils reproduces this protective effect in wild-type mice. Single-cell analysis uncovers a TAN subset showing a mature N1 phenotype in Smad3-KO TME, whereas wild-type TANs mainly retain an immature N2 state due to Smad3. Mechanistically, TME-induced Smad3 target genes related to cell fate determination to preserve the N2 state of TAN. Importantly, genetic deletion and pharmaceutical inhibition of Smad3 enhance the anticancer capacity of neutrophils against NSCLC via promoting their N1 maturation. Thus, our work suggests that Smad3 signaling in neutrophils may represent a therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Yat-Fai Chung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Philip Chiu-Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Max Kam-Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Vivian Weiwen Xue
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Carson International Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiao-Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Calvin Sze-Hang Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kam-Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Kwok Wong
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Tin-Lap Lee
- Reproduction, Development and Endocrinology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Eric W-F Lam
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong, 510060, China
| | - David J Nikolic-Paterson
- Department of Nephrology and Monash University Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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Chen Z, Yu H, Chen X, Chen W, Song W, Li Z. Mutual regulation between glycosylation and transforming growth factor-β isoforms signaling pathway. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 236:123818. [PMID: 36858092 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily members orchestrate a wide breadth of biological processes. Through Sma and Mad (Smad)-related dependent or noncanonical pathways, TGF-β members involve in the occurrence and development of many diseases such as cancers, fibrosis, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases and brain diseases. Glycosylation is one kind of the most common posttranslational modifications on proteins or lipids. Abnormal protein glycosylation can lead to protein malfunction and biological process disorder, thereby causing serious diseases. Previously, researchers commonly make comprehensive systematic overviews on the roles of TGF-β signaling in a specific disease or biological process. In recent years, more and more evidences associate glycosylation modification with TGF-β signaling pathway, and we can no longer disengage and ignore the roles of glycosylation from TGF-β signaling to make investigation. In this review, we provide an overview of current findings involved in glycosylation within TGF-βs and theirs receptors, and the interaction effects between glycosylation and TGF-β subfamily signaling, concluding that there is an intricate mutual regulation between glycosylation and TGF-β signaling, hoping to present the glycosylation regulatory patterns that concealed in TGF-βs signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Chen
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Hanjie Yu
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Xiangqin Chen
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Wentian Chen
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Wanghua Song
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Zheng Li
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, PR China.
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Chen JY, Yiu WH, Tang PMK, Tang SCW. New insights into fibrotic signaling in renal cell carcinoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1056964. [PMID: 36910160 PMCID: PMC9996540 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1056964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrotic signaling plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of solid cancers including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Intratumoral fibrosis (ITF) and pseudo-capsule (PC) fibrosis are significantly correlated to the disease progression of renal cell carcinoma. Targeting classic fibrotic signaling processes such as TGF-β signaling and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) shows promising antitumor effects both preclinically and clinically. Therefore, a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of fibrotic signaling in renal cell carcinoma at molecular resolution can facilitate the development of precision therapies against solid cancers. In this review, we systematically summarized the latest updates on fibrotic signaling, from clinical correlation and molecular mechanisms to its therapeutic strategies for renal cell carcinoma. Importantly, we examined the reported fibrotic signaling on the human renal cell carcinoma dataset at the transcriptome level with single-cell resolution to assess its translational potential in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao-Yi Chen
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wai-Han Yiu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sydney Chi-Wai Tang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Chan MKK, Chan ELY, Ji ZZ, Chan ASW, Li C, Leung KT, To KF, Tang PMK. Transforming growth factor-β signaling: from tumor microenvironment to anticancer therapy. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:316-343. [PMID: 37205317 PMCID: PMC10185444 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is an important pathway for promoting the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, including cancer. The roles of TGF-β signaling are heterogeneous and versatile in cancer development and progression, both anticancer and protumoral actions are reported. Interestingly, increasing evidence suggests that TGF-β enhances disease progression and drug resistance via immune-modulatory actions in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of solid tumors. A better understanding of its regulatory mechanisms in the TME at the molecular level can facilitate the development of precision medicine to block the protumoral actions of TGF-β in the TME. Here, the latest information about the regulatory mechanisms and translational research of TGF-β signaling in the TME for therapeutic development had been summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Kam-Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Emily Lok-Yiu Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Zoey Zeyuan Ji
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Alex Siu-Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Chunjie Li
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Kam-Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Correspondence: Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China.
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