Emerging advances in identifying signal transmission molecules involved in the interaction between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the host

The role of neutrophil response in lung damage and post-tuberculosis lung disease: a translational narrative review

It is estimated that more than 150 million individuals alive in 2020 had survived tuberculosis (TB). A portion of this large population continues to experience chronic respiratory abnormalities, with or without symptoms, due to previous active pulmonary TB. This condition known as Post-TB Lung Disease (PTLD), involves a complex interaction between pathogen, host and environmental factors. These interactions are believed to drive a hyperinflammatory process in the lungs during active TB, resulting in tissue damage, which may lead to radiological sequelae, impaired pulmonary function, clinical symptoms, such as cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis, and respiratory infections. Such complications impose significant health, financial, and social burdens, which remain poorly understood and inadequately addressed by health care systems. Given the heterogeneity of immune cells and their products infiltrating the airways and the lung parenchyma during acute and chronic inflammation caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, it is evident that TB immunopathology is multifactorial. Among the various components involved, neutrophils have recently emerged as critical contributors to the deleterious immune response against TB, leading to severe pulmonary damage. In this translational narrative review, we aim to summarize the role of neutrophils and their primary products - proteases (such as elastase), matrix metalloproteinases and neutrophils extracellular traps (NETs) - in pulmonary TB. We highlight new concepts and emerging evidence of neutrophil involvement during the active disease, translating these insights from "bench to bedside" to facilitate dialogue between fundamental researchers and clinical practitioners. Additionally, we present potential targets for future treatment strategies that could mitigate or even prevent PTLD.

A comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of RNF187 in human tumors

PURPOSE

RING Finger 187 (RNF187) has recently emerged as a potential contributor to tumorigenesis. However, a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of RNF187 in human tumors has not been undertaken until now.

METHODS

Our study aims to investigate RNF187 expression across 33 different types of human tumors, utilizing data from the TCGA and GTEx databases.

RESULTS

The pan-cancer analysis revealed significant upregulation of RNF187 in 27 types of cancers, contrasting with only low expression in LAML, with no statistical differences in OV and SARC. Notably, discernible associations were identified between RNF187 expression and the prognosis of cancer patients. Our investigation also unveiled correlations between RNA modification of RNF187 across various cancer types. Further exploration indicated a positive correlation between RNF187 levels and the presence of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in numerous tumor types. Additionally, RNF187 exhibited correlations with a majority of immune inhibitory and stimulatory genes, as well as chemokines, receptors, MHC molecules, immunoinhibitors, and immunostimulators in various cancers. The findings highlighted associations between RNF187 expression and Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB), Microsatellite Instability (MSI) and Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) in specific tumors. Finally, RNF187 showed a significant positive association with five genes (ALKBH4, FAM134A, MLST8, SANP47 and TMEM9) across the majority of tumors. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses suggested that RNF187 may play a role in the pathogenesis of cancer through processes such as "bounding membrane of organelle," "macroautophagy," "proton-transporting V-type ATPase complex," "autophagy," "Ubiquitin mediated proteolysis," "Ferroptosis," "Phagosome," and etc. CONCLUSION: Our inaugural pan-cancer study aims to provide a profound understanding of RNF187 in tumorigenesis across diverse types of tumors.