NF-κB fingerprinting reveals heterogeneous NF-κB composition in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

NF-κB signaling driven by oncogenic Ras contributes to tumorigenesis in a Drosophila carcinoma model

Cancer-driving mutations synergize with inflammatory stress signaling pathways during carcinogenesis. Drosophila melanogaster tumor models are increasingly recognized as models to inform conserved molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis with both local and systemic effects of cancer. Although initial discoveries of the Toll-NFκB signaling pathway in development and immunity were pioneered in Drosophila, limited information is available for its role in cancer progression. Using a well-studied cooperative RasV12-driven epithelial-derived tumor model, we here describe functions of Toll-NF-κB signaling in malignant RasV12, scrib- tumors. The extracellular Toll pathway components ModSP and PGRP-SA and intracellular signaling Kinase, Pelle/IRAK, are rate-limiting for tumor growth. The Toll pathway NFκB protein Dorsal as well as cactus/IκΒ show elevated expression in tumors with highest expression in invasive cell populations. Oncogenic RasV12, and not loss of scribble, confers increased expression and heterogenous distribution of two Dorsal isoforms, DorsalA and DorsalB, in different tumor cell populations. Mechanistic analyses demonstrates that Dorsal, in concert with the BTB-transcription factor Chinmo, drives growth and malignancy by suppressing differentiation, counteracting apoptosis, and promoting invasion of RasV12, scrib- tumors.

Systems biology-enabled targeting of NF-κΒ and BCL2 overcomes microenvironment-mediated BH3-mimetic resistance in DLBCL

In Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), elevated anti-apoptotic BCL2-family proteins (e.g., MCL1, BCL2, BCLXL) and NF-κB subunits (RelA, RelB, cRel) confer poor prognosis. Heterogeneous expression, regulatory complexity, and redundancy offsetting the inhibition of individual proteins, complicate the assignment of targeted therapy. We combined flow cytometry "fingerprinting", immunofluorescence imaging, and computational modeling to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities in DLBCL. The combined workflow predicted selective responses to BCL2 inhibition (venetoclax) and non-canonical NF-κB inhibition (Amgen16). Within the U2932 cell line we identified distinct resistance mechanisms to BCL2 inhibition in cellular sub-populations recapitulating intratumoral heterogeneity. Co-cultures with CD40L-expressing stromal cells, mimicking the tumor microenvironment (TME), induced resistance to BCL2 and BCLXL targeting BH3-mimetics via cell-type specific upregulation of BCLXL or MCL1. Computational models, validated experimentally, showed that basal NF-κB activation determined whether CD40 activation drove BH3-mimetic resistance through upregulation of RelB and BCLXL, or cRel and MCL1. High basal NF-κB activity could be overcome by inhibiting BTK to resensitize cells to BH3-mimetics in CD40L co-culture. Importantly, non-canonical NF-κB inhibition overcame heterogeneous compensatory BCL2 upregulation, restoring sensitivity to both BCL2- and BCLXL-targeting BH3-mimetics. Combined molecular fingerprinting and computational modelling provides a strategy for the precision use of BH3-mimetics and NF-κB inhibitors in DLBCL.

Research Progress Regarding the Effect and Mechanism of Dietary Polyphenols in Liver Fibrosis

The development of liver fibrosis is a result of chronic liver injuries may progress to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. In recent years, liver fibrosis has become a major global problem, and the incidence rate and mortality are increasing year by year. However, there are currently no approved treatments. Research on anti-liver-fibrosis drugs is a top priority. Dietary polyphenols, such as plant secondary metabolites, have remarkable abilities to reduce lipid metabolism, insulin resistance and inflammation, and are attracting more and more attention as potential drugs for the treatment of liver diseases. Gradually, dietary polyphenols are becoming the focus for providing an improvement in the treatment of liver fibrosis. The impact of dietary polyphenols on the composition of intestinal microbiota and the subsequent production of intestinal microbial metabolites has been observed to indirectly modulate signaling pathways in the liver, thereby exerting regulatory effects on liver disease. In conclusion, there is evidence that dietary polyphenols can be therapeutically useful in preventing and treating liver fibrosis, and we highlight new perspectives and key questions for future drug development.