Is NLRP3 or NLRP6 inflammasome activation associated with inflammation-related lung tumorigenesis induced by benzo(a)pyrene and lipopolysaccharide?

A systematic toxicologic study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on aquatic organisms via food-web bioaccumulation

Pollution-induced declines in fishery resources restrict the sustainable development of fishery. As a kind of typical environmental pollutant, the mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) facilitating fishery resources declines needs to be fully illustrated. To determine how PAHs have led to declines in fishery resources, a systematic toxicologic analysis of the effects of PAHs on aquatic organisms via food-web bioaccumulation was performed in the Pearl River and its estuary. Overall, PAH bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms was correlated with the trophic levels along food-web, exhibiting as significant positive correlations were observed between PAHs concentration and the trophic levels of fishes in the Pearl River Estuary. Additionally, waterborne PAHs exerted significant direct effects on dietary organisms (P < 0.05), and diet-borne PAHs subsequently exhibited significant direct effects on fish (P < 0.05). However, an apparent block effect was found in dietary organisms (e.g., zooplankton) where 33.49 % of the total system throughput (TST) was retained at trophic level II, exhibiting as the highest PAHs concentration, bioaccumulation factor (BAF), and biomagnification factor (BMF) of ∑15PAHs in zooplankton were at least eight-fold greater than those in fishes in both the Pearl River and its estuary, thereby waterborne PAHs exerted either direct or indirect effects on fishes that ultimately led to food-web simplification. Regardless of the block effect of dietary organisms, a general toxic effect of PAHs on aquatic organisms was observed, e.g., Phe and BaP exerted lethal effects on phytoplankton Chlorella pyrenoidosa and zooplankton Daphnia magna, and decreased reproduction in fishes Danio rerio and Megalobrama hoffmanni via activating the NOD-like receptors (NLRs) signaling pathway. Consequently, an assembled aggregate exposure pathway for PAHs revealed that increases in waterborne PAHs led to bioaccumulation of PAHs in aquatic organisms along food-web, and this in turn decreased the reproductive ability of fishes, thus causing decline in fishery resources.

Fatty acids metabolism in ozone-induced pulmonary inflammatory injury: Evidence, mechanism and prevention

Ozone (O3) is a major air pollutant that directly threatens the respiratory system, lung fatty acid metabolism disorder is an important molecular event in pulmonary inflammatory diseases. Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome not only regulate inflammation, but also have close relationship with fatty acid metabolism. However, the role and mechanism of LKB1 and NLRP3 inflammasome in lung fatty acid metabolism, which may contribute to ozone-induced lung inflammation, remain unclear, and effective strategy for preventing O3-induced pulmonary inflammatory injury is lacking. To explore these, mice were exposed to 1.00 ppm O3 (3 h/d, 5 days), and pulmonary inflammation was determined by airway hyperresponsiveness, histopathological examination, total cells and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Targeted fatty acids metabolomics was used to detect medium and long fatty acid in lung tissue. Then, using LKB1-overexpressing adenovirus and NLRP3 knockout (NLRP3-/-) mice to explore the mechanism of O3-induced lung fatty acid metabolism disorder. Results demonstrated that O3 exposure caused pulmonary inflammatory injury and lung medium and long chain fatty acids metabolism disorder, especially decreased dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA). Meanwhile, LKB1 expression was decreased, and NLRP3 inflammasome was activated in lung of mice after O3 exposure. Additionally, LKB1 overexpression alleviated O3-induced lung inflammation and inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. And we found that pulmonary fatty acid metabolism disorder was ameliorated of NLRP3 -/- mice compared with those in wide type mice after O3 exposure. Furthermore, administrating DGLA intratracheally prior to O3 exposure significantly attenuated O3-induced pulmonary inflammatory injury. Taken together, these findings suggest that fatty acids metabolism disorder is involved in O3-induced pulmonary inflammation, which is regulated by LKB1-mediated NLRP3 pathway, DGLA supplement could be a useful preventive strategy to ameliorate ozone-associated lung inflammatory injury.

3,4-benzo[a]pyrene aggravates myocardial infarction injury by activating NLRP3-related pyroptosis through PINK1/Parkin-mitophagy-mPTP opening axis

BACKGROUND

Air pollution is an important and interventionable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Air pollution exposure, even for a short-term exposure, is conspicuously relevant to increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) mortality and clinical evidence has shown that air pollution particulate matter (PM) induces the aggravation of AMI. 3,4-benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), an extremely toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and a common component of PM, is listed as one of the main objects of environmental pollution monitoring. Both epidemiological and toxicological studies suggest that BaP exposure may be associated with cardiovascular disease. Since PM is significantly associated with the increased risk of MI mortality, and BaP is an important component of PM associated with cardiovascular disease, we intend to investigate the effect of BaP on MI models.

METHODS

The MI mouse model and the oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) H9C2 cell model were used to investigate the effect of BaP in MI injury. The involvement of mitophagy and pyroptosis in regulating deterioration of cardiac function and aggravation of MI injury induced by BaP was comprehensively evaluated.

RESULTS

Our study shows that BaP exacerbates MI injury in vivo and in vitro, a result based on BaP-induced NLRP3-related pyroptosis. In addition, BaP can inhibit PINK1/Parkin dependent mitophagy through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), thus the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) was induced to open.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a role for the BaP from air pollution in MI injury aggravation and reveal that BaP aggravates MI injury by activating NLRP3-related pyroptosis via the PINK1/Parkin-mitophagy-mPTP opening axis.

Spotlight on NLRP6 and Tumor Research Situation: A Potential Cancer Participant

NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 6 (NLRP6) is a new pattern recognition receptor in the mammalian innate immune system. Both the liver and the gut exhibit substantial levels of cytoplasmic expression. It can speed up cell response to endogenous danger signals or exogenous pathogen infection. NLRP6 can function in various ways as an inflammasome or a noninflammasome. The understanding of NLRP6 is steadily increasing thanks to ongoing investigations, but due to discrepancies in how those studies have described their link with tumors, the significance of NLRP6 in the emergence of cancer is still debatable as of this writing. This article will use the structure and function of NLRP6 as the pivotal point and thoroughly explain the present interactions between NLRP6 and tumors and any possible clinical benefits.

Detection and analysis of lung microbiota in mice with lung cancer lacking the NLRP3 gene

To explore whether the lung microbiota have changed in the process of NLRP3 inflammasome promoting cancer, we constructed a murine lung cancer model using tracheal instillation of benzo(a)pyrene and an equal volume of tricaprylin, and characterized lung microbiota in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 24 SPF wild-type and NLRP3 gene knockout (NLRP3-/-) C57BL/6 mice. 16SrDNA sequencing was used to analyze the changes in the microbiota. The wild-type and the NLRP3-/- lung cancer group had statistically significant differences in tumor formation rate, tumor number, and tumor size. At the phylum and the genus level, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Sphingomonas were the highest in each group respectively. Simpson (P = 0.002) and Shannon (P = 0.008) indexes showed that the diversity of microbiota in the lung cancer group was lower than that in the control group under the NLRP3-/- background. According to the ANOSIM and MRPP analysis, there was a difference between the NLRP3-/- lung cancer group and the NLRP3-/- control group (P < 0.05). The knockout of the NLRP3 gene caused changes in the lung microbiota of mice. There may be a regulatory relationship between the NLRP3 inflammasome and the lung microbiota, which affects the occurrence and development of lung cancer.

ACE2 overexpressing mesenchymal stem cells alleviates COVID-19 lung injury by inhibiting pyroptosis

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown some efficacy in the COVID-19 treatment. We proposed that exogenous supplementation of ACE2 via MSCs (ACE2-MSCs) might have better therapeutic effects. We constructed SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein stably transfected AT-II and Beas-2B cells and used SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirus to infect hACE2 transgenic mice. The results showed that spike glycoprotein transfection triggers the release of apoptotic bodies and formation of membrane pores in pyroptosis. Inflammatory factors and pyroptosis factors were highly upregulated by spike glycoprotein transfection. SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirus worsened lung injury and increased the main factors of cytokine storm and pyroptosis. Compared to using MSCs or rh-ACE2 alone, the administration of ACE2-MSCs could significantly reduce these factors better and alleviate lung injury in vivo and in vitro, which might be because of the increased activities of secretory ACE2. Our proposal is a promising therapeutic solution for preclinical or clinical research.

Intestinal Candida albicans Promotes Hepatocarcinogenesis by Up-Regulating NLRP6

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary liver cancer, is closely associated with the gut microbiota. However, the role of gut fungi in the development of HCC remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of intestinal Candida albicans on HCC. Here, We found that patients with HCC showed significantly decreased diversity of the gut mycobiome and increased abundance of C. albicans, compared to the patients with liver cirrhosis. The gavage of C. albicans in the WT models increased the tumor size and weight and influenced the plasma metabolome, which was indicated by alterations in 117 metabolites, such as L-carnitine and L-acetylcarnitine, and several KEGG enriched pathways, such as phenylalanine metabolism and citrate cycle. Moreover, the expression of nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 6 (NLRP6) in the intestinal tissues and primary intestinal epithelial cells of the WT mice interacted with C. albicans increased. Notably, the colonization of C. albicans had no effect on tumor growth in Nlrp6^–/– mice. In conclusion, the abnormal colonization of C. albicans reprogrammed HCC metabolism and contributed to the progression of HCC dependent on NLRP6, which provided new targets for the treatment of HCC.

Mechanistic insight into the synergism of IL-27 and IL-28B in regulation of benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung carcinogenesis associated ROS/NF-κB/NLRP3 crosstalk

AIM

Our previous work depicted that benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-induced lung cancer associated pulmonary redox imbalance and inflammation were effectively regulated by the combinatorial treatment of IL-27 and IL-28B. So in continuation of that finding the present study was designed to reveal the inflammation regulating signaling network modulated by IL-27 and IL-28B treatment related to BaP-induced lung cancer.

METHODS

Male Swiss albino mice were treated with BaP to induce lung tumor. Then they received individual as well as combinatorial treatment of IL-27 and IL-28B. At the end of the experimental schedule, the expression of NF-κB signaling proteins, the formation of NLRP3 inflammasome complex and IL-18; IL-17A expression in the lung were observed using Western blot and RT-PCR. The tissue and serum levels of some proinflammatory cytokines were also studied using ELISA. Mast cell density was also studied using toluidine blue staining procedure.

RESULTS

Treatment with IL-27 or IL-28B alone was successful to regulate the expression of NF-κB signaling proteins and NLRP3 complex in some cases but best attenuation was observed in animals who received both IL-27 and IL-28B in combination. In combination, it was successful in down-regulating the expression of p-ERK1/2 and in reducing the accumulation of mast cells in the lung tissue associated with BaP-induced lung carcinogenesis. The impaired PPARγ expression was also reinstated upon combination treatment.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, the treatment in combination with IL-27 and IL-28B is an effective regimen to attenuate the ROS/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis associated with BaP-induced lung carcinogenesis.

Chlorogenic acid suppresses mitochondrial apoptotic effectors Bax/Bak to counteract Nod-like receptor pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in thiram exposed chondrocytes

BACKGROUND

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a common disease characterized by proliferation and the deterioration of growth plate's chondrocytes due to widespread utilization of thiram in the agriculture and industrial sector.

PURPOSE

In recent years, Nod-like receptor pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has become a dilemma in the occurrence of many diseases. According to many research investigations, NLRP3 inflammasome has been linked to various diseases caused by pesticides and environmental toxins. Its involvement in such conditions opens up new treatment approaches. However, the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the development of TD is not fully understood under the impact of chlorogenic acid (CGA).

METHODS

Chondrocytes were cultured with our previously developed methodology from growth plates. After morphological and molecular identification, chondrocytes were split into different groups to investigate the efficacy of chlorogenic acid. Cell apoptosis was determined through flow cytometry and Tunnel assay. Furthermore, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting techniques were used to check marker genes and proteins expression.

RESULTS

In thiram-induced TD, Bax/Bak activation persuade a parallel pathway, mediated by the NLRP3 base inflammasome. It is worth mentioning that the apoptotic executioners (caspase-3 and caspase-7) act upstream for inflammasome. Furthermore, chondrocytes' ability to undergo mitochondrial apoptosis was governed by anti-apoptotic members, e.g., Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. Equilibrium of these anti-apoptotic proteins ensured appropriate regulation of apoptosis during the development and survival of chondrocytes.

CONCLUSION

Chondrocytes have ability to undergo Bax/Bak-mediated apoptosis and generate pro-inflammatory signals, e.g., NLRP3 in thiram-induced TD. So, the Nod-like receptor pyrin domain 3 is the potential target to eliminate TD at all stages of pathology, while drugs, e.g., CGA, can significantly improve chondrocytes' survival by targeting these pro-inflammatory signals.

SP1 transcriptionally activates NLRP6 inflammasome and induces immune evasion and radioresistance in glioma cells

Glioma accounts for approximately 80% of all malignant brain tumors. This study aimed to investigate the interaction between specificity protein 1 (SP1) and NLR family pyrin domain containing 6 (NLRP6) and their roles in the activity of glioma cells. Differentially expressed genes in glioma were identified using transcriptome analysis tools, and a protein-protein-interaction network was performed based on the DEGs. SP1 and NLRP6 were abundantly expressed in glioma cells and indicated unfavorable prognosis of patients according to the GEO datasets. SP1could bind to the promoter of NLRP6 and induce its transcriptional activity. Downregulation of SP1 reduced proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma U87 cells in vitro as well as tumorigenesis in vivo. The malignancy of cells was restored after NLRP6 upregulation. Downregulation of SP1 in glioma cells also increased proliferation of CD8+ T cells and the immune activity in U87 cells, and it reduced the radioresistance of U87 cells. However, the immune evasion and radioresistance of glioma cells were restored upon NLRP6 upregulation. NLRP6 mediated the innate immune pathway through an ASC/caspase-1/IL-1β axis. To conclude, this study suggested that SP1 interacts with NLRP6 inflammasome to enhance malignant behaviors, immune evasion and radioresistance in glioma cells.

Glyburide attenuates B(a)p and LPS-induced inflammation-related lung tumorigenesis in mice

Glyburide (Gly) could inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome, as well as could be treated with Type 2 diabetes as a common medication. Despite more and more studies show that Gly could influence cancer risk and tumor growth, it remains unclear about the effect of Gly in lung tumorigenesis. To evaluate whether Gly inhibited lung tumorigenesis and explore the possible mechanisms, a benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)p] plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced non-diabetes mice model was established with B(a)p for 4 weeks and once a week (1 mg/mouse), then instilled with LPS for 15 weeks and once every 3 weeks (2.5 μg/mouse) intratracheally. Subsequently, Gly was administered by gavage (10 μl/g body weight) 1 week before B(a)p were given to the mice until the animal model finished (when Gly was first given named Week 0). At the end of the experiment called Week 34, we analyzed the incidence, number and histopathology of lung tumors, and detected the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, and Cleaved-IL-1β protein. We found that vehicles and tricaprylin+Gly could not cause lung carcinogenesis in the whole process. While the incidence and mean tumor count of mice in B(a)P/LPS+Gly group were decreased compared with B(a)p/LPS group. Moreover, Gly could alleviate inflammatory changes and reduce pathological tumor nest numbers compared with mice administrated with B(a)p/LPS in histopathological examination. The B(a)p/LPS increased the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, and Cleaved-IL-1β protein significantly than Vehicle, whereas decreased in B(a)P/LPS+Gly (0.96 mg/kg) group compared with B(a)p/LPS group. Results suggested glyburide might inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome to attenuate inflammation-related lung tumorigenesis caused by intratracheal instillation of B(a)p/LPS in non-diabetes mice.

Relationship between Lung Carcinogenesis and Chronic Inflammation in Rodents

Simple Summary

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There are various risk factors for lung cancer, including tobacco smoking, inhalation of dust particles, chronic inflammation, and genetic factors. Chronic inflammation has been considered a key factor that promotes tumor progression via production of cytokines, chemokines, cytotoxic mediators, and reactive oxygen species by inflammatory cells. Here, we review rodent models of lung tumor induced by tobacco, tobacco-related products, and pro-inflammatory materials as well as genetic modifications, and discuss the relationship between chronic inflammation and lung tumor. Through this review, we hope to clarify the effects of chronic inflammation on lung carcinogenesis and help develop new treatments for lung cancer.

Abstract

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with an estimated 1.76 million deaths reported in 2018. Numerous studies have focused on the prevention and treatment of lung cancer using rodent models. Various chemicals, including tobacco-derived agents induce lung cancer and pre-cancerous lesions in rodents. In recent years, transgenic engineered rodents, in particular, those generated with a focus on the well-known gene mutations in human lung cancer (KRAS, EGFR, and p53 mutations) have been widely studied. Animal studies have revealed that chronic inflammation significantly enhances lung carcinogenesis, and inhibition of inflammation suppresses cancer progression. Moreover, the reduction in tumor size by suppression of inflammation in animal experiments suggests that chronic inflammation influences the promotion of tumorigenesis. Here, we review rodent lung tumor models induced by various chemical carcinogens, including tobacco-related carcinogens, and transgenics, and discuss the roles of chronic inflammation in lung carcinogenesis.

NLRP3 Inflammasome: A Promising Therapeutic Target for Drug-Induced Toxicity

Drug-induced toxicity, which impairs human organ function, is a serious problem during drug development that hinders the clinical use of many marketed drugs, and the underlying mechanisms are complicated. As a sensor of infections and external stimuli, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a key role in the pathological process of various diseases. In this review, we specifically focused on the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in drug-induced diverse organ toxicities, especially the hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity. NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in the initiation and deterioration of drug-induced toxicity through multiple signaling pathways. Therapeutic strategies via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome for drug-induced toxicity have made significant progress, especially in the protective effects of the phytochemicals. Growing evidence collected in this review indicates that NLRP3 is a promising therapeutic target for drug-induced toxicity.

N6-methyladenosine modification of circCUX1 confers radioresistance of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma through caspase1 pathway

Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in otolaryngology head and neck surgery and is one of the worst prognostic malignant tumors. Endogenous circular RNA (circRNA) is more stable than mRNA, microRNA (miRNA), and long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) in exosomes, plasma, and urine, and participates in gene expression regulation to perform different functions. Therefore, circRNA is expected to become a biomarker and therapy target for many tumors. However, the expression and function of circRNA regulated by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) are still unclear in HNSCC. In this study, we demonstrated that a specific circRNA, circCUX1, was upregulated in HPSCC patients who are resistant to radiotherapy and predicts poor survival outcome. We further found that methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) mediated the m6A methylation of circCUX1 and stabilizes its expression. Knockdown circCUX1 promotes the sensitivity of hypopharyngeal cancer cells to radiotherapy. In addition, circCUX1 binds to Caspase1 and inhibits its expression, resulting in a decrease in the release of inflammatory factors, thereby developing tolerance to radiotherapy. Our findings indicate that circCUX1 is a potential therapeutic target for radiotherapy tolerance in HPSCC patients.

Inflammation-Related Carcinogenesis: Lessons from Animal Models to Clinical Aspects

Simple Summary

In multicellular organisms, inflammation is the body’s most primitive and essential protective response against any external agent. Inflammation, however, not only causes various modern diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndrome, infectious diseases, and cancer but also shortens the healthy life expectancy. This review focuses on the onset of carcinogenesis due to chronic inflammation caused by pathogen infections and inhalation/ingestion of foreign substances. This study summarizes animal models associated with inflammation-related carcinogenesis by organ. By determining factors common to inflammatory carcinogenesis models, we examined strategies for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory carcinogenesis in humans.

Abstract

Inflammation-related carcinogenesis has long been known as one of the carcinogenesis patterns in humans. Common carcinogenic factors are inflammation caused by infection with pathogens or the uptake of foreign substances from the environment into the body. Inflammation-related carcinogenesis as a cause for cancer-related death worldwide accounts for approximately 20%, and the incidence varies widely by continent, country, and even region of the country and can be affected by economic status or development. Many novel approaches are currently available concerning the development of animal models to elucidate inflammation-related carcinogenesis. By learning from the oldest to the latest animal models for each organ, we sought to uncover the essential common causes of inflammation-related carcinogenesis. This review confirmed that a common etiology of organ-specific animal models that mimic human inflammation-related carcinogenesis is prolonged exudation of inflammatory cells. Genotoxicity or epigenetic modifications by inflammatory cells resulted in gene mutations or altered gene expression, respectively. Inflammatory cytokines/growth factors released from inflammatory cells promote cell proliferation and repair tissue injury, and inflammation serves as a “carcinogenic niche”, because these fundamental biological events are common to all types of carcinogenesis, not just inflammation-related carcinogenesis. Since clinical strategies are needed to prevent carcinogenesis, we propose the therapeutic apheresis of inflammatory cells as a means of eliminating fundamental cause of inflammation-related carcinogenesis.

Interleukin-18 and -10 may be associated with lymph node metastasis in breast cancer

Reports on the expression of interleukin (IL)-10 in breast cancer are rare. The present study investigated the correlation between IL-18 and −10 in breast cancer, and assessed their clinical significance. Breast cancer (n=104) and breast fibroadenoma (n=31) tissues that were surgically removed and pathologically confirmed at Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University (Jinan, China) between November 2016 and January 2019 were collected. The expression of IL-18 and −10 was observed via immunohistochemistry. Breast cancer tissues were positive for IL-18 expression, which was primarily located in the cell membrane and cytoplasm. A significant difference in IL-18 expression was observed between breast cancer and fibroadenoma tissues (75.0 vs. 19.4%; P<0.001). IL-10 was expressed in breast cancer tissues and primarily located in the cytoplasm. Breast cancer tissues showed a significantly higher level of IL-10 expression compared with breast fibroadenoma tissues (78.8 vs. 22.6%; P<0.001). The regions of positive IL-18 and −10 expression were consistent. Tissues with positive expression of IL-18 and/or −10 had a significantly higher rate of lymph node metastasis than those with negative expression (IL-18: 67.9 vs. 42.3%; P=0.035; and IL-10: 67.1 vs. 40.9%; P=0.047). In conclusion, IL-18 is highly expressed in breast cancer and correlates positively with IL-10. Both IL-18 and −10 may correlate positively with lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.

Crosstalk of long non-coding RNAs and EMT: Searching the missing pieces of an incomplete puzzle for lung cancer therapy

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is considered to be the first place among the cancer-related deaths worldwide and demands novel strategies in the treatment of this life-threatening disorder. The aim of this review is to explore regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION

LncRNAs can be considered as potential factors for targeting in cancer therapy, since they regulate a bunch of biological processes, e.g. cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The abnormal expression of lncRNAs occurs in different cancer cells. On the other hand, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical mechanism participating in migration and metastasis of cancer cells.

METHOD

Different databases including Googlescholar, Pubmed and Sciencedirect were used for collecting articles using keywords such as "LncRNA", "EMT", and "Lung cancer".

RESULT

There are tumor-suppressing lncRNAs that can suppress EMT and metastasis of lung cancer cells. Expression of such lncRNAs undergoes down-regulation in lung cancer progression and restoring their expression is of importance in suppressing lung cancer migration. There are tumor-promoting lncRNAs triggering EMT in lung cancer and enhancing their migration.

CONCLUSION

LncRNAs are potential regulators of EMT in lung cancer, and targeting them, both pharmacologically and genetically, can be of importance in controlling migration of lung cancer cells.

Glyburide attenuates ozone-induced pulmonary inflammation and injury by blocking the NLRP3 inflammasome

Glyburide is a classic antidiabetic drug that is dominant in inflammation regulation, but its specific role in ozone-induced lung inflammation and injury remains unclear. In order to investigate whether glyburide prevents ozone-induced pulmonary inflammation and its mechanism, C57BL/6 mice were intratracheally pre-instilled with glyburide or the vehicle 1 hour before ozone (1 ppm, 3 hours) or filtered air exposure. After 24 hours, the total inflammatory cells and total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected. The pathological alternations in lung tissues were evaluated by HE staining. The expression of NLRP3, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 protein in lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blotting was used to examine the levels of caspase-1 p10 and active IL-1β protein. Levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in BALF were measured using ELISA kits. Glyburide treatment decreased the total cells in BALF, the inflammatory score, and the mean linear intercept induced by ozone in lung tissues. In addition, glyburide inhibited the expression of NLRP3, IL-18, and IL-1β protein in lung tissues, and also suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation, including caspase-1 p10, active IL-1β protein in lung tissues, IL-1β, and IL-18 in BALF. These results demonstrate that glyburide effectively attenuates ozone-induced pulmonary inflammation and injury via blocking the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Prognostic Inflammasome-Related Signature Construction in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma Based on a Pan-Cancer Landscape

Objective

To investigate the expression patterns and prognostic characteristics of inflammasome-related genes (IRGs) across cancer types and develop a robust biomarker for the prognosis of KIRC.

Methods

The differentially expressed IRGs and prognostic genes among 10 cancers were analyzed based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Subsequently, an IRGs risk signature was developed in KIRC. Its prognostic accuracy was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The independent predictive capacity was identified by stratification survival and multivariate Cox analyses. The gene ontology (GO) analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed to explore biological functions of the IRGs signature in KIRC.

Results

The expression patterns and prognostic association of IRGs varied from different cancers, while KIRC showed the most abundant survival-related dysregulated IRGs. The IRG signature for KIRC was able to independently predict survival, and the signature genes were mainly involved inimmune-related processes.

Conclusions

The pan-cancer analysis provided a comprehensive landscape of IRGs across cancer types and identified a strong association between IRGs and the prognosis of KIRC. Further IRGs signature represented a reliable prognostic predictor for KIRC and verified the prognostic value of inflammasomes in KIRC, contributing to our understanding of therapies targeting inflammasomes for human cancers.