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Sivakanthan T, Tanner J, Mahata B, Agrawal A. Investigating the role of tumour-to-skin proximity in predicting nodal metastasis in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2024; 205:109-116. [PMID: 38308767 PMCID: PMC11063104 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-07230-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the factors influencing nodal status in breast cancer is vital for axillary staging, therapy, and patient survival. The nodal stage remains a crucial factor in prognostication indices. This study investigates the relationship between tumour-to-skin distance (in T1-T3 tumours where the skin is not clinically involved) and the risk of nodal metastasis. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed data from 100 patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Besides patient demographics and tumour variables, a radiologist retrospectively reviewed pre-operative MRI to measure tumour-to-skin distance. R core packages were used for univariate (χ2 and T-Wilcoxon tests) and bivariate logistic regression statistical analysis. RESULTS Of 95 analysable datasets, patients' median age was 51 years (IQR: 42-61), 97% were symptomatic (rest screen detected), and the median tumour size was 43 mm (IQR, 26-52). On multivariate analysis, increasing invasive tumour size (p = 0.02), ER positivity (p = 0.007) and shorter tumour-to-skin distance (p = 0.05) correlated with nodal metastasis. HER2 was not included in multivariate analysis as there was no association with nodal status on univariate analysis. In node-positive tumours, as tumour size increased, the tumour-to-skin distance decreased (r = - 0.34, p = 0.026). In node-negative tumours, there was no correlation (r = + 0.18, p = 0.23). CONCLUSION This study shows that non-locally advanced cancers closer to the skin (and consequent proximity to subdermal lymphatics) are associated with a greater risk of nodal metastasis. Pre-operative identification of those more likely to be node positive may suggest the need for a second-look USS since a higher nodal stage may lead to a change in therapeutic strategies, such as upfront systemic therapy, node marking, and axillary clearance without the need to return to theatre following sentinel node biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J Tanner
- Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - B Mahata
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A Agrawal
- Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
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Shan Y, Xie T, Sun Y, Lu Z, Topatana W, Juengpanich S, Chen T, Han Y, Cao J, Hu J, Li S, Cai X, Chen M. Lipid metabolism in tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells: perspective to precision immunotherapy. Biomark Res 2024; 12:41. [PMID: 38644503 PMCID: PMC11034130 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00588-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential to the negative regulation of the immune system, as they avoid excessive inflammation and mediate tumor development. The abundance of Tregs in tumor tissues suggests that Tregs may be eliminated or functionally inhibited to stimulate antitumor immunity. However, immunotherapy targeting Tregs has been severely hampered by autoimmune diseases due to the systemic elimination of Tregs. Recently, emerging studies have shown that metabolic regulation can specifically target tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and lipid accumulation in TME is associated with immunosuppression. Nevertheless, how Tregs actively regulate metabolic reprogramming to outcompete effector T cells (Teffs), and how lipid metabolic reprogramming contributes to the immunomodulatory capacity of Tregs have not been fully discussed. This review will discuss the physiological processes by which lipid accumulation confers a metabolic advantage to tumor-infiltrating Tregs (TI-Tregs) and amplifies their immunosuppressive functions. Furthermore, we will provide a summary of the driving effects of various metabolic regulators on the metabolic reprogramming of Tregs. Finally, we propose that targeting the lipid metabolism of TI-Tregs could be efficacious either alone or in conjunction with immune checkpoint therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukai Shan
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianao Xie
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuchao Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ziyi Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China
| | - Win Topatana
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sarun Juengpanich
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianen Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yina Han
- Department of Pathology, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310016, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiasheng Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiahao Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shijie Li
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China.
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Xiujun Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China.
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China.
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Mingyu Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technique Research of Zhejiang Province, No.3 East Qingchun Road, 310016, Hangzhou, China.
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 310016, Hangzhou, China.
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China.
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Sandor LF, Huh JB, Benko P, Hiraga T, Poliska S, Dobo-Nagy C, Simpson JP, Homer NZM, Mahata B, Gyori DS. De novo steroidogenesis in tumor cells drives bone metastasis and osteoclastogenesis. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113936. [PMID: 38489269 PMCID: PMC10995766 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteoclasts play a central role in cancer-cell-induced osteolysis, but the molecular mechanisms of osteoclast activation during bone metastasis formation are incompletely understood. By performing RNA sequencing on a mouse breast carcinoma cell line with higher bone-metastatic potential, here we identify the enzyme CYP11A1 strongly upregulated in osteotropic tumor cells. Genetic deletion of Cyp11a1 in tumor cells leads to a decreased number of bone metastases but does not alter primary tumor growth and lung metastasis formation in mice. The product of CYP11A1 activity, pregnenolone, increases the number and function of mouse and human osteoclasts in vitro but does not alter osteoclast-specific gene expression. Instead, tumor-derived pregnenolone strongly enhances the fusion of pre-osteoclasts via prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit beta (P4HB), identified as a potential interaction partner of pregnenolone. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Cyp11a1-expressing tumor cells produce pregnenolone, which is capable of promoting bone metastasis formation and osteoclast development via P4HB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca F Sandor
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University School of Medicine, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Joon B Huh
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University School of Medicine, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Benko
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University School of Medicine, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Toru Hiraga
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Matsumoto Dental University, Shiojiri, Nagano 399-0781, Japan
| | - Szilard Poliska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Csaba Dobo-Nagy
- Department of Oral Diagnostics, Semmelweis University School of Dentistry, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Joanna P Simpson
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK
| | - Natalie Z M Homer
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK; University of Edinburgh/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK
| | - Bidesh Mahata
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB21QP Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - David S Gyori
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University School of Medicine, 1094 Budapest, Hungary.
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El Hajj Y, Shahin T, Dieng MM, Alshaikh M, Khair M, Manikandan V, Idaghdour Y. Pregnenolone sulfate induces transcriptional and immunoregulatory effects on T cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6782. [PMID: 38514798 PMCID: PMC10958000 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57327-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnenolone sulfate is a steroid metabolite of the steroidogenesis precursor, pregnenolone, with similar functional properties, including immunosuppression. We recently reported an elevation in serum levels of pregnenolone sulfate in children with malaria, contributing to an immunosuppressed state. Yet, the molecular mechanisms in which this steroid exerts its immunoregulatory functions are lacking. In this study, we examined the effects of pregnenolone sulfate on T cell viability, proliferation and transcriptome. We observed a pregnenolone sulfate dose-dependent induction of T cell death and reduction in proliferation. RNA sequencing analysis of pregnenolone sulfate-treated T cells for 2 and 24 h revealed the downregulation of pro-inflammatory genes and the upregulation of the steroid nuclear receptor superfamily, NR4A, as early-response genes. We also report a strong activation of the integrated stress response mediated by the upregulation of EIF2AK3. These results contribute to the knowledge on transcriptional regulation driving the immunoregulatory effects of pregnenolone sulfate on T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine El Hajj
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tala Shahin
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mame Massar Dieng
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Manar Alshaikh
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mostafa Khair
- Core Technology Platforms, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vinu Manikandan
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Youssef Idaghdour
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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Cao W, Wang C, Zhang Y, Yang J, Luo X, Zhao Y, Wu M, Cheng S, Wang Y. Identification of the prognostic value of LACTB2 and its correlation with immune infiltrates in ovarian cancer by integrated bioinformatics analyses. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:166. [PMID: 38475882 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01762-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common reproductive tumors in women, whereas current treatment options are limited. β-lactamase-like-protein 2 (LACTB2) has been observed to be associated with various cancers, but its function in OC is unknown. Therefore, we evaluate the prognostic value and the underlying function of LACTB2 in OC. In this study, high expression of LACTB2 was observed in OC compared with normal controls. Kaplan-Meier Plotter analysis revealed that overexpressed LACTB2 is strongly correlated with poor prognosis. We conducted GO/KEGG analysis to investigate the potential biological function of LACTB2 in OC. GESA analysis showed that LACTB2 was closely related to immune-related pathways. Subsequently, we explored the relationship between LACTB2 and 24 types of immune cells in OC. The results suggested that LACTB2 was positively associated with multiple tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Importantly, LACTB2 may modulate immune cell infiltration in OC to influence prognosis. In conclusion, LACTB2 can be used as a promising prognostic biomarker and immunotherapy target for OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Cao
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jiani Yang
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaomei Luo
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yaqian Zhao
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Meixuan Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Shanshan Cheng
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201204, China.
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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Dong X, Wang L, Wang D, Yu M, Yang XJ, Cai H. Proteomic study on nintedanib in gastric cancer cells. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16771. [PMID: 38406279 PMCID: PMC10893871 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Gastric cancer is a very common gastrointestinal tumor with a high mortality rate. Nintedanib has been shown to significantly reduce tumor cell proliferation and increase apoptosis in gastric cancer cells in vitro. However, its systemic action mechanism on gastric cancer cells remains unclear. A high-throughput proteomic approach should help identify the potential mechanisms and targets of nintedanib on gastric cancer cells. Methods The effects of nintedanib on the biological behavior of gastric cancer cells were evaluated. A cytotoxic proliferation assay was performed to estimate the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). AGS cells were divided into control, and nintedanib-treated groups (5 µM, 48 h), and differential protein expression was investigated using tandem mass tags (TMT) proteomics. The molecular mechanisms of these differentially expressed proteins and their network interactions were then analyzed using bioinformatics, and potential nintedanib targets were identified. Results This study identified 845 differentially expressed proteins in the nintedanib-treated group (compared to the control group), comprising 526 up-regulated and 319 down-regulated proteins. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the differentially expressed proteins were primarily enriched in biological pathways for branched-chain amino acid metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, propionate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, lysosome, peroxisome, and ferroptosis. Key driver analysis revealed that proteins, such as enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (EHHADH), isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1), acyl-CoA oxidase 2 (ACOX2), acyl-CoA oxidase 3 (ACOX3), and acetyl-CoA acyltransferase 1 (ACAA1) could be linked with nintedanib action. Conclusion Nintedanib inhibits the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of gastric cancer cells. The crossover pathways and protein networks predicted by proteomics should provide more detailed molecular information enabling the use of nintedanib against gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Dong
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, LanZhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital, LanZhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Precision Medicine for Surgical Oncology in Gansu Province and NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, LanZhou, China
| | - Liuli Wang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, LanZhou, China
| | - Da Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital, LanZhou, China
| | - Miao Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital, LanZhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Precision Medicine for Surgical Oncology in Gansu Province and NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, LanZhou, China
| | - Xiao jun Yang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, LanZhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital, LanZhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Precision Medicine for Surgical Oncology in Gansu Province and NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, LanZhou, China
| | - Hui Cai
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, LanZhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital, LanZhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Precision Medicine for Surgical Oncology in Gansu Province and NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, LanZhou, China
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Peng C, Jiang X, Jaeger M, van Houten P, van Herwaarden AE, Koeken VACM, Moorlag SJCFM, Mourits VP, Lemmers H, Dijkstra H, Koenen HJPM, Joosten I, van Cranenbroek B, Li Y, Joosten LAB, Netea MG, Netea-Maier RT, Xu CJ. 11-deoxycortisol positively correlates with T cell immune traits in physiological conditions. EBioMedicine 2024; 99:104935. [PMID: 38134621 PMCID: PMC10776925 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endogenous steroid hormones have significant effects on inflammatory and immune processes, but the immunological activities of steroidogenesis precursors remain largely unexplored. METHODS We conducted a systematic approach to examine the association between steroid hormones profile and immune traits in a cohort of 534 healthy volunteers. Serum concentrations of steroid hormones and their precursors (cortisol, progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, 11-deoxycortisol and 17-OH progesterone) were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Immune traits were evaluated by quantifying cellular composition of the circulating immune system and ex vivo cytokine responses elicited by major human pathogens and microbial ligands. An independent cohort of 321 individuals was used for validation, followed by in vitro validation experiments. FINDINGS We observed a positive association between 11-deoxycortisol and lymphoid cellular subsets numbers and function (especially IL-17 response). The association with lymphoid cellularity was validated in an independent validation cohort. In vitro experiments showed that, as compared to androstenedione and 17-OH progesterone, 11-deoxycortisol promoted T cell proliferation and Candida-induced Th17 polarization at physiologically relevant concentrations. Functionally, 11-deoxycortisol-treated T cells displayed a more activated phenotype (PD-L1high CD25high CD62Llow CD127low) in response to CD3/CD28 co-stimulation, and downregulated expression of T-bet nuclear transcription factor. INTERPRETATION Our findings suggest a positive association between 11-deoxycortisol and T-cell function under physiological conditions. Further investigation is needed to explore the potential mechanisms and clinical implications. FUNDING Found in acknowledgements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunying Peng
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Xun Jiang
- Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Jaeger
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Pepijn van Houten
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Valerie A C M Koeken
- Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Research Centre Innovations in Care, Rotterdam University of Applied Science, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Simone J C F M Moorlag
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Vera P Mourits
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Heidi Lemmers
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Helga Dijkstra
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Hans J P M Koenen
- Laboratory Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Irma Joosten
- Laboratory Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Bram van Cranenbroek
- Laboratory Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Yang Li
- Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Romana T Netea-Maier
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Cheng-Jian Xu
- Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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8
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Whiteside SK, Grant FM, Alvisi G, Clarke J, Tang L, Imianowski CJ, Zhang B, Evans AC, Wesolowski AJ, Conti AG, Yang J, Lauder SN, Clement M, Humphreys IR, Dooley J, Burton O, Liston A, Alloisio M, Voulaz E, Langhorne J, Okkenhaug K, Lugli E, Roychoudhuri R. Acquisition of suppressive function by conventional T cells limits antitumor immunity upon T reg depletion. Sci Immunol 2023; 8:eabo5558. [PMID: 38100544 PMCID: PMC7615475 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abo5558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells contribute to immune homeostasis but suppress immune responses to cancer. Strategies to disrupt Treg cell-mediated cancer immunosuppression have been met with limited clinical success, but the underlying mechanisms for treatment failure are poorly understood. By modeling Treg cell-targeted immunotherapy in mice, we find that CD4+ Foxp3- conventional T (Tconv) cells acquire suppressive function upon depletion of Foxp3+ Treg cells, limiting therapeutic efficacy. Foxp3- Tconv cells within tumors adopt a Treg cell-like transcriptional profile upon ablation of Treg cells and acquire the ability to suppress T cell activation and proliferation ex vivo. Suppressive activity is enriched among CD4+ Tconv cells marked by expression of C-C motif receptor 8 (CCR8), which are found in mouse and human tumors. Upon Treg cell depletion, CCR8+ Tconv cells undergo systemic and intratumoral activation and expansion, and mediate IL-10-dependent suppression of antitumor immunity. Consequently, conditional deletion of Il10 within T cells augments antitumor immunity upon Treg cell depletion in mice, and antibody blockade of IL-10 signaling synergizes with Treg cell depletion to overcome treatment resistance. These findings reveal a secondary layer of immunosuppression by Tconv cells released upon therapeutic Treg cell depletion and suggest that broader consideration of suppressive function within the T cell lineage is required for development of effective Treg cell-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Whiteside
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Francis M Grant
- Immunology Programme, Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Giorgia Alvisi
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - James Clarke
- La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Leqi Tang
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Charlotte J Imianowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Baojie Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Alexander C Evans
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Alexander J Wesolowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Alberto G Conti
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Sarah N Lauder
- Division of Infection and Immunity/System Immunity University Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Mathew Clement
- Division of Infection and Immunity/System Immunity University Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Ian R Humphreys
- Division of Infection and Immunity/System Immunity University Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - James Dooley
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Oliver Burton
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Adrian Liston
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Marco Alloisio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuele Voulaz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Jean Langhorne
- Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Klaus Okkenhaug
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Enrico Lugli
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Rahul Roychoudhuri
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
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9
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Sandor LF, Ragacs R, Gyori DS. Local Effects of Steroid Hormones within the Bone Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17482. [PMID: 38139309 PMCID: PMC10744126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormone production via the adrenal cortex, gonads, and placenta (so-called glandular steroidogenesis) is responsible for the endocrine control of the body's homeostasis and is organized by a feedback regulatory mechanism based on the hypothalamus-pituitary-steroidogenic gland axis. On the other hand, recently discovered extraglandular steroidogenesis occurring locally in different tissues is instead linked to paracrine or autocrine signaling, and it is independent of the control by the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. Bone cells, such as bone-forming osteoblasts, osteoblast-derived osteocytes, and bone-resorbing osteoclasts, respond to steroid hormones produced by both glandular and extraglandular steroidogenesis. Recently, new techniques to identify steroid hormones, as well as synthetic steroids and steroidogenesis inhibitors, have been introduced, which greatly empowered steroid hormone research. Based on recent literature and new advances in the field, here we review the local role of steroid hormones in regulating bone homeostasis and skeletal lesion formation. The novel idea of extraglandular steroidogenesis occurring within the skeletal system raises the possibility of the development of new therapies for the treatment of bone diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David S. Gyori
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
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10
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Roy S, Roy S, Mahata B, Pramanik J, Hennrich ML, Gavin AC, Teichmann SA. CLICK-chemoproteomics and molecular dynamics simulation reveals pregnenolone targets and their binding conformations in Th2 cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1229703. [PMID: 38022565 PMCID: PMC10644475 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1229703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnenolone (P5) is synthesized as the first bioactive steroid in the mitochondria from cholesterol. Clusters of differentiation 4 (CD4+) and Clusters of differentiation 8 (CD8+) immune cells synthesize P5 de novo; P5, in turn, play important role in immune homeostasis and regulation. However, P5's biochemical mode of action in immune cells is still emerging. We envisage that revealing the complete spectrum of P5 target proteins in immune cells would have multifold applications, not only in basic understanding of steroids biochemistry in immune cells but also in developing new therapeutic applications. We employed a CLICK-enabled probe to capture P5-binding proteins in live T helper cell type 2 (Th2) cells. Subsequently, using high-throughput quantitative proteomics, we identified the P5 interactome in CD4+ Th2 cells. Our study revealed P5's mode of action in CD4+ immune cells. We identified novel proteins from mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum membranes to be the primary mediators of P5's biochemistry in CD4+ and to concur with our earlier finding in CD8+ immune cells. Applying advanced computational algorithms and molecular simulations, we were able to generate near-native maps of P5-protein key molecular interactions. We showed bonds and interactions between key amino acids and P5, which revealed the importance of ionic bond, hydrophobic interactions, and water channels. We point out that our results can lead to designing of novel molecular therapeutics strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sougata Roy
- Department of Biology, Ashoka University, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana, India
| | - Sudeep Roy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czechia
| | - Bidesh Mahata
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jhuma Pramanik
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marco L. Hennrich
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
- Cellzome, a GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) company, Genomic Sciences, Pharma R&D, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne-Claude Gavin
- Department for Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Centre Medical Universitaire, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Diabetes Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sarah A. Teichmann
- Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Theory of Condensed Matter, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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11
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Taves MD, Otsuka S, Taylor MA, Donahue KM, Meyer TJ, Cam MC, Ashwell JD. Tumors produce glucocorticoids by metabolite recycling, not synthesis, and activate Tregs to promote growth. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e164599. [PMID: 37471141 PMCID: PMC10503810 DOI: 10.1172/jci164599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones with potent immunosuppressive properties. Their primary source is the adrenals, where they are generated via de novo synthesis from cholesterol. In addition, many tissues have a recycling pathway in which glucocorticoids are regenerated from inactive metabolites by the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1, encoded by Hsd11b1). Here, we find that multiple tumor types express Hsd11b1 and produce active glucocorticoids. Genetic ablation of Hsd11b1 in such cells had no effect on in vitro growth, but reduced in vivo tumor progression, which corresponded with increased frequencies of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) expressing activation markers and producing effector cytokines. Tumor-derived glucocorticoids were found to promote signatures of Treg activation and suppress signatures of conventional T cell activation in tumor-infiltrating Tregs. Indeed, CD8+ T cell activation was restored and tumor growth reduced in mice with Treg-specific glucocorticoid receptor deficiency. Importantly, pharmacologic inhibition of 11β-HSD1 reduced tumor growth to the same degree as gene knockout and rendered immunotherapy-resistant tumors susceptible to PD-1 blockade. Given that HSD11B1 expression is upregulated in many human tumors and that inhibition of 11β-HSD1 is well tolerated in clinical studies, these data suggest that targeting 11β-HSD1 may be a beneficial adjunct in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Thomas J. Meyer
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Margaret C. Cam
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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12
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Swatler J, Ju YJ, Anderson AC, Lugli E. Tumors recycle glucocorticoids to drive Treg-mediated immunosuppression. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e173141. [PMID: 37712416 PMCID: PMC10503790 DOI: 10.1172/jci173141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Suppression of antitumor immunity is a prominent feature of the tumor microenvironment. In this issue of the JCI, Taves, Otsuka, and authors show that glucocorticoids (GCs), which are potent immunosuppressive hormones mainly produced by the adrenals, can be reconverted from their inactive form to active metabolites via the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) enzyme expressed by murine tumor cell lines. In the tumor microenvironment, GCs acted on CD4+ regulatory T cells to enhance their immunosuppressive function and promote tumor growth. The findings suggest that targeting GC recycling as a strategy for modulating tumor immunosuppression has the potential to improve therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Swatler
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan
| | - Young-Jun Ju
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ana C. Anderson
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Enrico Lugli
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan
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13
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ZHANG PENGCHENG, ZHANG XINGLONG, ZHU YONGFU, CUI YIYI, XU JING, ZHANG WEIPING. Polo-like kinase 1 suppresses lung adenocarcinoma immunity through necroptosis. Oncol Res 2023; 31:937-953. [PMID: 37744268 PMCID: PMC10513947 DOI: 10.32604/or.2023.030933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) plays a crucial role in cell mitosis and has been associated with necroptosis. However, the role of PLK1 and necroptosis in lung adenocarcinoma (LA) remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression databases to evaluate the prognostic value and mechanistic role of PLK1 in LA. PLK1 was found to be highly expressed in LA and was positively associated with advanced disease staging and poor survival outcomes. Functional enrichment analysis showed that PLK1 was involved in cell mitosis, neurotransmitter transmission, and drug metabolism. Further analysis using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis and ESTIMATE algorithm revealed a correlation between PLK1 expression and immune infiltration in LA. Silencing of PLK1 using miRNA transfection in LA cells reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis, as well as upregulating the expression of necroptosis-related proteins, such as RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL. Additionally, nude mouse transplantation tumor experiments demonstrated that silencing PLK1 reduced the growth capacity of LA cells. These findings suggest that PLK1 plays a critical role in LA progression by regulating necroptosis and immune infiltration, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for immunotherapy. Furthermore, PLK1 expression can be used as a prognostic biomarker for LA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- PENGCHENG ZHANG
- Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - XINGLONG ZHANG
- Department of Oncology, Anhui Zhongke Gengjiu Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - YONGFU ZHU
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - YIYI CUI
- Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - JING XU
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - WEIPING ZHANG
- Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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14
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Jiang C, Fan F, Xu W, Jiang X. POLD4 Promotes Glioma Cell Proliferation and Suppressive Immune Microenvironment: A Pan-Cancer Analysis Integrated with Experimental Validation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13919. [PMID: 37762224 PMCID: PMC10530695 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
POLD4 plays a crucial part in the complex machinery of DNA replication and repair as a vital component of the DNA polymerase delta complex. In this research, we obtained original information from various publicly available databases. Using a blend of R programming and internet resources, we initiated an extensive examination into the correlation between POLD4 expression and the various elements of cancers. In addition, we performed knockdown experiments in glioma cell lines to authenticate its significant impact. We discovered that POLD4 is upregulated in various malignant tumors, demonstrating a significant correlation with poor patient survival prognosis. Using function analysis, it was uncovered that POLD4 exhibited intricate associations with signaling pathways spanning multiple tumor types. Subsequent investigations unveiled the close association of POLD4 with the immune microenvironment and the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Drugs like trametinib, saracatinib, and dasatinib may be used in patients with high POLD4. Using experimental analysis, we further confirmed the overexpression of POLD4 in gliomas, as well as its correlation with glioma recurrence, proliferation, and the suppressive immune microenvironment. Our research findings indicate that the expression pattern of POLD4 not only serves as a robust indicator of prognosis in cancer patients but also holds promising potential as a new focus for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Xiaobing Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China (W.X.)
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15
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Merk VM, Renzulli P, Vrugt B, Fleischmann A, Brunner T. Glucocorticoids are differentially synthesized along the murine and human respiratory tree. Allergy 2023; 78:2428-2440. [PMID: 37171450 DOI: 10.1111/all.15765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synthetic glucocorticoids (GC) are effective in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the lung. However, long-term use leads to severe side effects. Endogenous GC can be synthesized locally, either de novo from cholesterol in a 11β-hydroxylase (Cyp11b1)-dependent manner, or by reactivation from 11-dehydrocorticosterone/cortisone by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (Hsd11b1). We aimed to define the molecular pathways of endogenous GC synthesis along the respiratory tree to provide a basis for understanding how local GC synthesis contributes to tissue homeostasis. METHODS Expression of steroidogenic enzymes in murine lung epithelium was analyzed by macroscopic and laser capture microdissection, followed by RT-qPCR. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to identify the cellular source of steroidogenic enzymes. Additionally, the induction of steroidogenic enzyme expression in the lung was analyzed after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. mRNA and protein expression of steroidogenic enzymes was confirmed in human lung tissue by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, GC synthesis was examined in ex vivo cultures of fresh tissue from mice and human lobectomy patients. RESULTS We observed that the murine and human lung tissue differentially expresses synthesis pathway-determining enzymes along the respiratory tree. We detected Hsd11b1 expression in bronchial, alveolar, club and basal epithelial cells, whereas Cyp11b1 expression was detectable only in tracheal epithelial cells of mice. Accordingly, de novo synthesis of bioactive GC occurred in the large conducting airways, whereas reactivation occurred everywhere along the respiratory tree. Strikingly, Cyp11b1 but not Hsd11b1 expression was enhanced in the trachea upon LPS injection in mice. CONCLUSION We report here the differential synthesis of bioactive GC along the murine and human respiratory tree. Thus, extra-adrenal de novo GC synthesis and reactivation may differentially contribute to the regulation of immunological and inflammatory processes in the lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena M Merk
- Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Pietro Renzulli
- Department of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Münsterlingen, Münsterlingen, Switzerland
| | - Bart Vrugt
- Institute of Pathology, Cantonal Hospital Münsterlingen, Münsterlingen, Switzerland
| | - Achim Fleischmann
- Institute of Pathology, Cantonal Hospital Münsterlingen, Münsterlingen, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Brunner
- Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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16
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Papageorgiou SG, Mavroeidi I, Kostakis M, Spathis A, Leventakou D, Kritikou E, Oikonomopoulos N, Kourkouti C, Krania M, Bouchla A, Thomopoulos T, Tsakiraki Z, Markakis K, Panayiotides IG, Thomaidis N, Pappa V, Foukas PG, Peppa M. Primary Adrenal Lymphomas with Cushing's Syndrome: Two Cases with Evidence of Endogeneous Cortisol Production by the Neoplastic Lymphoid Cells. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5032. [PMID: 37568434 PMCID: PMC10419581 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12155032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary adrenal lymphoma (PAL) is a rare entity that presents as unilateral or bilateral rapidly growing adrenal masses, with signs and symptoms most commonly related to adrenal insufficiency due to the mass effect on the surrounding tissues. Although steroeidogenesis has not been previously described in PAL, we herein report two cases of PAL presenting as adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) that demonstrated autonomous cortisol production. A 52-year-old woman presented with lumbar pain; a computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a left AI measuring 8.5 × 15 × 10 cm. Similarly, an 80-year-old woman presented with lumbar pain, demonstrating in a CT scan a bilateral AI (right: 9 × 6.5 cm, left: 3.6 × 3.2 cm). Both cases underwent a full hormonal evaluation according to the algorithm for the investigation of AIs, demonstrating increased 24-h cortisol excretion, suppressed fasting adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels, and non-suppressed serum cortisol levels in both the overnight and the low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests, indicating autonomous cortisol secretion and Cushing's syndrome. In a relatively short time, both patients developed night sweats, and their clinical picture deteriorated, while the CT scans showed increased dimensions of the masses with radiological characteristics compatible to lymphoma. Both patients underwent ultrasound-guided biopsies (FNBs), revealing infiltration of the left adrenal by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the first case, whereas bilateral adrenal infiltration from the same histological type was noted in the second case. Subsequently, they were treated with immunochemotherapy, but the second patient died from an infection shortly after the initiation of the treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of PAL presenting with Cushing's syndrome due to autonomous cortisol production, indicating that neoplastic lymphoid cells in PAL might acquire the potential for steroidogenesis; therefore, more cases of PAL should be analyzed so as to further elucidate the complex pathogenesis and the natural course of this entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotirios G. Papageorgiou
- Hematology Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (A.B.); (T.T.); (V.P.)
| | - Ioanna Mavroeidi
- Endocrine Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (I.M.); (C.K.); (M.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Marios Kostakis
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece; (M.K.); (E.K.); (N.T.)
| | - Aris Spathis
- Second Department of Pathology, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (D.L.); (Z.T.); (I.G.P.)
| | - Danai Leventakou
- Second Department of Pathology, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (D.L.); (Z.T.); (I.G.P.)
| | - Evangelia Kritikou
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece; (M.K.); (E.K.); (N.T.)
| | - Nikolaos Oikonomopoulos
- Second Department of Radiology, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece;
| | - Chrysoula Kourkouti
- Endocrine Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (I.M.); (C.K.); (M.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Maria Krania
- Endocrine Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (I.M.); (C.K.); (M.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Anthi Bouchla
- Hematology Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (A.B.); (T.T.); (V.P.)
| | - Thomas Thomopoulos
- Hematology Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (A.B.); (T.T.); (V.P.)
| | - Zoi Tsakiraki
- Second Department of Pathology, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (D.L.); (Z.T.); (I.G.P.)
| | - Konstantinos Markakis
- Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece;
| | - Ioannis G. Panayiotides
- Second Department of Pathology, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (D.L.); (Z.T.); (I.G.P.)
| | - Nikolaos Thomaidis
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece; (M.K.); (E.K.); (N.T.)
| | - Vasiliki Pappa
- Hematology Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (A.B.); (T.T.); (V.P.)
| | - Periklis G. Foukas
- Second Department of Pathology, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (D.L.); (Z.T.); (I.G.P.)
| | - Melpomeni Peppa
- Endocrine Unit, Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, University General Hospital “Attikon”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (I.M.); (C.K.); (M.K.); (M.P.)
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17
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Vaišvilas M, Ciano-Petersen NL, Macarena Villagrán-García MD, Muñiz-Castrillo S, Vogrig A, Honnorat J. Paraneoplastic encephalitis: clinically based approach on diagnosis and management. Postgrad Med J 2023; 99:669-678. [PMID: 37389581 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2022-141766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNSs) comprise a subset of immune-mediated nervous system diseases triggered by an underlying malignancy. Each syndrome usually shows a distinct clinical presentation and outcome according to the associated neural antibodies. PNSs generally have a subacute onset with rapid progression and severe neurological disability. However, some patients may have hyperacute onset or even show chronic progression mimicking neurodegenerative diseases. Updated diagnostic criteria for PNS have been recently established in order to increase diagnostic specificity and to encourage standardisation of research initiatives related to PNS. Treatment for PNS includes oncological therapy and immunomodulation to halt neurological deterioration although current treatment options are seldom effective in reversing disability. Nevertheless, growing knowledge and better understanding of PNS pathogenesis promise better recognition, earlier diagnosis and novel treatment strategies. Considering that PNSs provide a model of effective anticancer immunity, the impact of these studies will extend far beyond the field of neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Vaišvilas
- Department of Neuro-oncology Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- Department of Neuro-oncology, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne, Lyon, France
| | - Nicolás Lundahl Ciano-Petersen
- Department of Neuro-oncology Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- Department of Neuro-oncology, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne, Lyon, France
| | - M D Macarena Villagrán-García
- Department of Neuro-oncology Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- Department of Neuro-oncology, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne, Lyon, France
| | - Sergio Muñiz-Castrillo
- Department of Neuro-oncology Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- Department of Neuro-oncology, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne, Lyon, France
| | - Alberto Vogrig
- Department of Neuro-oncology Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- Department of Neuro-oncology, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne, Lyon, France
| | - Jérôme Honnorat
- Department of Neuro-oncology, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne, Lyon, France
- Department of Neuro-oncology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France
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18
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Martins Nascentes Melo L, Herrera-Rios D, Hinze D, Löffek S, Oezel I, Turiello R, Klein J, Leonardelli S, Westedt IV, Al-Matary Y, Egea-Rodriguez S, Brenzel A, Bau M, Sucker A, Hadaschik E, Wirsdörfer F, Hanenberg H, Uhlenbrock N, Rauh D, Poźniak J, Rambow F, Marine JC, Effern M, Glodde N, Schadendorf D, Jablonska J, Hölzel M, Helfrich I. Glucocorticoid activation by HSD11B1 limits T cell-driven interferon signaling and response to PD-1 blockade in melanoma. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e004150. [PMID: 37028818 PMCID: PMC10083881 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune responses against tumors are subject to negative feedback regulation. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) blocking Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), a receptor expressed on T cells, or its ligand PD-L1 have significantly improved the treatment of cancer, in particular malignant melanoma. Nevertheless, responses and durability are variables, suggesting that additional critical negative feedback mechanisms exist and need to be targeted to improve therapeutic efficacy. METHODS We used different syngeneic melanoma mouse models and performed PD-1 blockade to identify novel mechanisms of negative immune regulation. Genetic gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches as well as small molecule inhibitor applications were used for target validation in our melanoma models. We analyzed mouse melanoma tissues from treated and untreated mice by RNA-seq, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry to detect changes in pathway activities and immune cell composition of the tumor microenvironment. We analyzed tissue sections of patients with melanoma by immunohistochemistry as well as publicly available single-cell RNA-seq data and correlated target expression with clinical responses to ICIs. RESULTS Here, we identified 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (HSD11B1), an enzyme that converts inert glucocorticoids into active forms in tissues, as negative feedback mechanism in response to T cell immunotherapies. Glucocorticoids are potent suppressors of immune responses. HSD11B1 was expressed in different cellular compartments of melanomas, most notably myeloid cells but also T cells and melanoma cells. Enforced expression of HSD11B1 in mouse melanomas limited the efficacy of PD-1 blockade, whereas small molecule HSD11B1 inhibitors improved responses in a CD8+ T cell-dependent manner. Mechanistically, HSD11B1 inhibition in combination with PD-1 blockade augmented the production of interferon-γ by T cells. Interferon pathway activation correlated with sensitivity to PD-1 blockade linked to anti-proliferative effects on melanoma cells. Furthermore, high levels of HSD11B1, predominantly expressed by tumor-associated macrophages, were associated with poor responses to ICI therapy in two independent cohorts of patients with advanced melanomas analyzed by different methods (scRNA-seq, immunohistochemistry). CONCLUSION As HSD11B1 inhibitors are in the focus of drug development for metabolic diseases, our data suggest a drug repurposing strategy combining HSD11B1 inhibitors with ICIs to improve melanoma immunotherapy. Furthermore, our work also delineated potential caveats emphasizing the need for careful patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiza Martins Nascentes Melo
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Dayana Herrera-Rios
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Hinze
- Institute of Experimental Oncology (IEO), Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Stefanie Löffek
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Irem Oezel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Roberta Turiello
- Institute of Experimental Oncology (IEO), Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Juliane Klein
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sonia Leonardelli
- Institute of Experimental Oncology (IEO), Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Isa-Vanessa Westedt
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Yahya Al-Matary
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Sara Egea-Rodriguez
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexandra Brenzel
- Institute for Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Maja Bau
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Antje Sucker
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Eva Hadaschik
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Florian Wirsdörfer
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Helmut Hanenberg
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Niklas Uhlenbrock
- Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Dortmund, Belgium
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Daniel Rauh
- Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Dortmund, Belgium
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Joanna Poźniak
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Florian Rambow
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maike Effern
- Institute of Experimental Oncology (IEO), Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nicole Glodde
- Institute of Experimental Oncology (IEO), Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dirk Schadendorf
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Jadwiga Jablonska
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Hölzel
- Institute of Experimental Oncology (IEO), Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Iris Helfrich
- Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department, Medical Faculty, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
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19
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Slominski RM, Raman C, Chen JY, Slominski AT. How cancer hijacks the body's homeostasis through the neuroendocrine system. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:263-275. [PMID: 36803800 PMCID: PMC10038913 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
During oncogenesis, cancer not only escapes the body's regulatory mechanisms, but also gains the ability to affect local and systemic homeostasis. Specifically, tumors produce cytokines, immune mediators, classical neurotransmitters, hypothalamic and pituitary hormones, biogenic amines, melatonin, and glucocorticoids, as demonstrated in human and animal models of cancer. The tumor, through the release of these neurohormonal and immune mediators, can control the main neuroendocrine centers such as the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenals, and thyroid to modulate body homeostasis through central regulatory axes. We hypothesize that the tumor-derived catecholamines, serotonin, melatonin, neuropeptides, and other neurotransmitters can affect body and brain functions. Bidirectional communication between local autonomic and sensory nerves and the tumor, with putative effects on the brain, is also envisioned. Overall, we propose that cancers can take control of the central neuroendocrine and immune systems to reset the body homeostasis in a mode favoring its expansion at the expense of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radomir M Slominski
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Informatics Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Chander Raman
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jake Y Chen
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Informatics Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Andrzej T Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Chemoprevention Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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20
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Abstract
The immune system plays critical roles in both autoimmunity and cancer, diseases at opposite ends of the immune spectrum. Autoimmunity arises from loss of T cell tolerance against self, while in cancer, poor immunity against transformed self fails to control tumor growth. Blockade of pathways that preserve self-tolerance is being leveraged to unleash immunity against many tumors; however, widespread success is hindered by the autoimmune-like toxicities that arise in treated patients. Knowledge gained from the treatment of autoimmunity can be leveraged to treat these toxicities in patients. Further, the understanding of how T cell dysfunction arises in cancer can be leveraged to induce a similar state in autoreactive T cells. Here, we review what is known about the T cell response in autoimmunity and cancer and highlight ways in which we can learn from the nexus of these two diseases to improve the application, efficacy, and management of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Mangani
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Universita della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona 6500, Switzerland.
| | - Dandan Yang
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ana C Anderson
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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21
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Ntostis P, Swanson G, Kokkali G, Iles D, Huntriss J, Pantou A, Tzetis M, Pantos K, Picton HM, Krawetz SA, Miller D. Trophectoderm non-coding RNAs reflect the higher metabolic and more invasive properties of young maternal age blastocysts. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2023; 69:3-19. [PMID: 36576378 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2022.2153636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Increasing female age is accompanied by a corresponding fall in her fertility. This decline is influenced by a variety of factors over an individual's life course including background genetics, local environment and diet. Studying both coding and non-coding RNAs of the embryo could aid our understanding of the causes and/or effects of the physiological processes accompanying the decline including the differential expression of sub-cellular biomarkers indicative of various diseases. The current study is a post-hoc analysis of the expression of trophectoderm RNA data derived from a previous high throughput study. Its main aim is to determine the characteristics and potential functionalities that characterize long non-coding RNAs. As reported previously, a maternal age-related component is potentially implicated in implantation success. Trophectoderm samples representing the full range of maternal reproductive ages were considered in relation to embryonic implantation potential, trophectoderm transcriptome dynamics and reproductive maternal age. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) biomarkers identified here are consistent with the activities of embryo-endometrial crosstalk, developmental competency and implantation and share common characteristics with markers of neoplasia/cancer invasion. Corresponding genes for expressed lncRNAs were more active in the blastocysts of younger women are associated with metabolic pathways including cholesterol biosynthesis and steroidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Ntostis
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Department of Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Grace Swanson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Georgia Kokkali
- Genesis Athens Clinic, Reproductive Medicine Unit, Athens, Greece
| | - David Iles
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - John Huntriss
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Agni Pantou
- Genesis Athens Clinic, Reproductive Medicine Unit, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Tzetis
- Department of Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Helen M Picton
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Stephen A Krawetz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - David Miller
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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22
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Khadka S, Druffner SR, Duncan BC, Busada JT. Glucocorticoid regulation of cancer development and progression. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1161768. [PMID: 37143725 PMCID: PMC10151568 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1161768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that regulate a host of cellular and physiological functions. However, they are arguably best known for their potent anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic inflammation is well-known to promote the development and progression of numerous types of cancer, and emerging evidence suggests that glucocorticoid regulation of inflammation affects cancer development. However, the timing, intensity, and duration of glucocorticoid signaling have important but often contradictory effects on cancer development. Moreover, glucocorticoids are widely used in parallel with radiation and chemotherapy to control pain, dyspnea, and swelling, but their use may compromise anti-tumor immunity. This review will explore the effects of glucocorticoids on cancer development and progression with particular focus on pro and anti-tumor immunity.
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23
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Zamora-Sánchez CJ, Camacho-Arroyo I. Allopregnanolone: Metabolism, Mechanisms of Action, and Its Role in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010560. [PMID: 36614002 PMCID: PMC9820109 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Allopregnanolone (3α-THP) has been one of the most studied progesterone metabolites for decades. 3α-THP and its synthetic analogs have been evaluated as therapeutic agents for pathologies such as anxiety and depression. Enzymes involved in the metabolism of 3α-THP are expressed in classical and nonclassical steroidogenic tissues. Additionally, due to its chemical structure, 3α-THP presents high affinity and agonist activity for nuclear and membrane receptors of neuroactive steroids and neurotransmitters, such as the Pregnane X Receptor (PXR), membrane progesterone receptors (mPR) and the ionotropic GABAA receptor, among others. 3α-THP has immunomodulator and antiapoptotic properties. It also induces cell proliferation and migration, all of which are critical processes involved in cancer progression. Recently the study of 3α-THP has indicated that low physiological concentrations of this metabolite induce the progression of several types of cancer, such as breast, ovarian, and glioblastoma, while high concentrations inhibit it. In this review, we explore current knowledge on the metabolism and mechanisms of action of 3α-THP in normal and tumor cells.
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24
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Su K, Wang Y, Gu H, Ma L, Xuan G. Overexpression of fatty acid desaturase 3 predicts poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e32119. [PMID: 36626435 PMCID: PMC9750517 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000032119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, because its discovery time is in the late stage of the disease, so it is important to develop HNSCC biomarkers to achieve the purpose of early detection and treatment. Fatty acid desaturase 3 (FADS3), the third member of the FADS family, is involved in sphingolipid biosynthesis. Here, we for the first time investigated FADS3 expression in HNSCC, as well as its potential biological function, prognostic value and its impact on the immune system. In this study, we used bioinformatics for gene expression analysis, clinicopathological analysis, enrichment analysis, and immune infiltration analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. Statistical analysis was done using R. Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and CIBERSORT were used to analyze the effect of FADS3 on immune responses in HNSCC. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis, and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) data were used to validate the results from bioinformatics analysis. Our findings indicate that FADS3 influences HNSCC prognosis. High expression of FADS3 is related to higher lymphatic metastasis, histologic grade, and lymphovascular invasion. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that FADS3 is related to inhibition of amino acid metabolism. CIBERSORT analysis showed high FADS3 expression correlates with reduced levels of B cells. FADS3 is a marker of HNSCC, and high expression of FADS3 is associated with poor prognosis of HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuiwei Su
- Department of Stomatology, Shaoxing People's Hospital (Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine), Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China
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25
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Denaro N, Garrone O, Morelli A, Pellegrino B, Merlano MC, Vacca D, Pearce J, Farci D, Musolino A, Scartozzi M, Tommasi C, Solinas C. A narrative review of the principal glucocorticoids employed in cancer. Semin Oncol 2022; 49:429-438. [PMID: 36737303 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are a pharmacological class of drugs widely used in oncology in both supportive and palliative settings. GCs differentially impact organs with immediate and long-term effects; with suppressive effect on the immune system anchoring their use to manage the toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In addition, GCs are often used in the management of symptoms related to cancer or chemotherapy and as adjuvants in the treatment of pain in the management of other. In the palliative setting, GCs, especially administered subcutaneously can be to assist in the control of nausea, dyspnea, asthenia, and anorexia-cachexia syndrome. In this narrative review, we aim to summarize the role of GCs in the different settings (curative, supportive, and palliative) to help clinicians use these important drugs in their daily clinical practice with cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerina Denaro
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Ornella Garrone
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Benedetta Pellegrino
- Medical Oncology and Breast Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
| | | | - Denise Vacca
- Palliative Care Unit, Ospedale Sirai, Carbonia, ASSL Carbonia, Italy
| | - Josie Pearce
- Harvard Premedical Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniele Farci
- Medical Oncology, Nuova Casa di Cura, Decimomannu, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Antonino Musolino
- Medical Oncology and Breast Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Medical Oncology, AOU Cagliari, Policlinico di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Chiara Tommasi
- Medical Oncology and Breast Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Solinas
- Medical Oncology, AOU Cagliari, Policlinico di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
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26
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Ma Y, Zhan L, Yang J, Zhang J. SLC11A1 associated with tumor microenvironment is a potential biomarker of prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy for colorectal cancer. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:984555. [PMID: 36438826 PMCID: PMC9681808 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.984555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most lethal cancers of the digestive system. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a central role in the initiation and development of CRC. However, little is known about the modulation mechanism of the TME in CRC. In our study, we attempted to identify a biomarker related to the TME modulation that could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for CRC. We identified differentially expressed genes between the ImmuneScore high/low and StromalScore high/low groups. Using univariate COX regression analysis and hub gene analysis (cytoHubba), SLC11A1 was identified as the only candidate gene for subsequent analysis. CIBERSORT, EPIC, MCPcounter, and immunogenic cell death were performed to evaluate the effect of SLC11A1 on the TME. We also collected samples and performed Real-time quantitative PCR to verify the expression levels of SLC11A1 in CRC and adjacent normal tissues. The IMvigor210 cohort, TIDE score, and immunophenoscore (IPS) were used to analyze the association between SLC11A1 and immunotherapy efficacy. SLC11A1 was highly expressed in CRC tissues compared with its expression in normal colorectal tissues and was associated with poor prognosis and advanced clinicopathological stages. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that TGF-β pathways, JAK-STAT pathways, and angiogenesis were significantly enriched in the high-SLC11A1 group. Single-cell analysis validated the correlation between SLC11A1 and the TME. Using CIBERSORT, EPIC, and MCPcounter algorithms, we found that there was more macrophage and fibroblast infiltration in the SLC11A1 high-expression group. Meanwhile, high-SLC11A1 patients had lower IPS scores, higher TIDE scores, and fewer immunotherapy benefits than those of low-SLC11A1 patients. In conclusion, SLC11A1 plays a crucial role in the TME and could serve as a potential biomarker for poor prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Ma
- Medical Oncology Department of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Lei Zhan
- Medical Oncology Department of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Medical Oncology Department of Breast Tumors, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Jingdong Zhang
- Medical Oncology Department of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
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Chen H, Hung P, Chen C, Yu Y, Syu M, Hu M. HSD3B1 Expression Is Upregulated by Interleukin 4 in HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells via Multiple Signaling Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13572. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase is essential for the synthesis of active steroid hormones. Interleukin 4 (IL4) induces the expression of HSD3B1 in various human cancer cell lines. Here, we demonstrated that administration of IL4 to an HT-29 colon cancer cell line induced high expression of HSD3B1 at the mRNA and protein levels. In the HT-29 cells, IL4 stimulated the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) and promoted its binding to the STAT6-binding site in the HSD3B1 promoter. The STAT6 inhibitor significantly suppressed HSD3B1 induction by IL4 in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, inhibition of the PI3-kinase/AKT pathway strongly suppressed the IL4-induced HSD3B1 expression. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), a downstream target of AKT, had a stimulatory effect on the IL4-induced HSD3B1 expression. However, IL4 stimulated the phosphorylation of AKT, which inhibited the GSK3 activity at the early stage. Hence, GSK3 potentiated the HSD3B1 levels at the late stage of the IL4 stimulation. Additionally, inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), ERK1/2 and p38, but not of JNK, partly reduced the HSD3B1 expression following the IL4 stimulation. We further demonstrated that IL4 potently promoted steroid synthesis. Our results indicate that IL4 induces HSD3B1 expression via multiple signaling pathways in HT-29 cells and may play a role in the regulation of steroid synthesis.
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Ana C. Anderson, Nandini Acharya. Steroid hormone regulation of immune responses in cancer. Immunometabolism (Cobham) 2022; 4. [PMID: 36337733 DOI: 10.1097/IN9.0000000000000012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol and can be classified into sex hormones (estrogens, androgens, progesterone) that are primarily synthesized in the gonads and adrenal hormones (glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids) that are primarily synthesized in the adrenal gland. Although, it has long been known that steroid hormones have potent effects on the immune system, recent studies have led to renewed interest in their role in regulating anti-tumor immunity. Extra-glandular cells, such as epithelial cells and immune cells, have been shown to synthesize glucocorticoids and thereby modulate immune responses in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, new insight into the role of androgens on immune cell responses have shed light on mechanisms underpinning the observed sex bias in cancer survival outcomes. Here, we review the role of steroid hormones, specifically glucocorticoids and androgens, in regulating anti-tumor immunity and discuss how their modulation could pave the way for designing novel therapeutic strategies to improve anti-tumor immune responses.
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29
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Wang G, Wang H, Cheng S, Zhang X, Feng W, Zhang P, Wang J. N1-methyladenosine methylation-related metabolic genes signature and subtypes for predicting prognosis and immune microenvironment in osteosarcoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:993594. [PMID: 36147503 PMCID: PMC9485621 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.993594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
N1-methyladenosine methylation (m1A), as an important RNA methylation modification, regulates the development of many tumours. Metabolic reprogramming is one of the important features of tumour cells, and it plays a crucial role in tumour development and metastasis. The role of RNA methylation and metabolic reprogramming in osteosarcoma has been widely reported. However, the potential roles and mechanisms of m1A-related metabolic genes (MRmetabolism) in osteosarcoma have not been currently described. All of MRmetabolism were screened, then selected two MRmetabolism by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and multifactorial regression analysis to construct a prognostic signature. Patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the median riskscore of all patients. After randomizing patients into train and test cohorts, the reliability of the prognostic signature was validated in the whole, train and test cohort, respectively. Subsequently, based on the expression profiles of the two MRmetabolism, we performed consensus clustering to classify patients into two clusters. In addition, we explored the immune infiltration status of different risk groups and different clusters by CIBERSORT and single sample gene set enrichment analysis. Also, to better guide individualized treatment, we analyzed the immune checkpoint expression differences and drug sensitivity in the different risk groups and clusters. In conclusion, we constructed a MRmetabolism prognostic signature, which may help to assess patient prognosis, immunotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guowei Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongyi Wang
- Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Sha Cheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaobo Zhang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wanjiang Feng
- Department of Spine Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Wanjiang Feng, ; Pan Zhang, ; Jianlong Wang,
| | - Pan Zhang
- Department of Infectious Disease, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Wanjiang Feng, ; Pan Zhang, ; Jianlong Wang,
| | - Jianlong Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Wanjiang Feng, ; Pan Zhang, ; Jianlong Wang,
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Yang W, Liang Y, Zheng Y, Luo H, Yang X, Li F. Identification of Novel Multi-Omics Expression Landscapes and Meta-Analysis of Landscape-Based Competitive Endogenous RNA Networks in ALDH+ Lung Adenocarcinoma Stem Cells. Biomed Res Int 2022; 2022:9545609. [PMID: 36093399 PMCID: PMC9453044 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9545609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
ALDH+ H1975 lung adenocarcinoma stem cells (LSCs) are a rare cell population identified in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). LSCs can self-renew, drive tumor initiation, growth, metastasis, and recurrence and are also the predominant cause of poor prognosis due to their intrinsic resistance to drugs and chemotherapy. Consequently, LSCs are a promising target for LUAD therapy. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), exert many significant regulatory functions in the pathogenesis of human cancers, showing the necessity for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that underlie lung carcinogenesis. Nonetheless, research on many known transcripts and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) has already generated new information. Unknown biomarkers in ncRNAs and systematic and comprehensive interrelation with unknown ncRNAs and mRNAs may provide further insights into the biology of LUAD. Herein, a set of novel ncRNAs that include miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs were identified, and differentially expressed patterns of ncRNAs and mRNAs in LSCs and ALDH-H1975 LUAD tumor cells (LTCs) were obtained using stringent bioinformatics pipelines. Through a meta-analysis of the identified landscapes, novel competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed to reveal the potential molecular mechanisms that regulate the hallmarks of LSCs and LTCs. This study presents a summary of novel ncRNAs and the fundamental roles of differentially expressed ncRNAs implicated in the activity of LSCs and LTCs. In addition, the study also provides a comprehensive resource for the future identification of diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic biomarkers in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yang
- Translational Medicine Collaborative Innovation Center, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Stem cell and Cell Therapy, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Transformation, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Yong Liang
- Shenzhen Xbiome Biotech Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zheng
- Translational Medicine Collaborative Innovation Center, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Stem cell and Cell Therapy, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Transformation, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Haitao Luo
- Translational Medicine Collaborative Innovation Center, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Stem cell and Cell Therapy, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Transformation, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Xiaofei Yang
- Translational Medicine Collaborative Innovation Center, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Stem cell and Cell Therapy, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Transformation, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Furong Li
- Translational Medicine Collaborative Innovation Center, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Stem cell and Cell Therapy, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Transformation, Shenzhen 518020, China
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31
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Vasseur S, Guillaumond F. Lipids in cancer: a global view of the contribution of lipid pathways to metastatic formation and treatment resistance. Oncogenesis 2022; 11:46. [PMID: 35945203 PMCID: PMC9363460 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-022-00420-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipids are essential constituents for malignant tumors, as they are absolutely required for tumor growth and dissemination. Provided by the tumor microenvironment (TME) or by cancer cells themselves through activation of de novo synthesis pathways, they orchestrate a large variety of pro-tumorigenic functions. Importantly, TME cells, especially immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs), are also prone to changes in their lipid content, which hinder or promote tumor aggressiveness. In this review, we address the significant findings for lipid contribution in tumor progression towards a metastatic disease and in the poor response to therapeutic treatments. We also highlight the benefits of targeting lipid pathways in preclinical models to slow down metastasis development and overcome chemo-and immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Vasseur
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, F-13009, Marseille, France
| | - Fabienne Guillaumond
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, F-13009, Marseille, France.
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32
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Hinton T, Karnak D, Tang M, Jiang R, Luo Y, Boonstra P, Sun Y, Nancarrow DJ, Sandford E, Ray P, Maurino C, Matuszak M, Schipper MJ, Green MD, Yanik GA, Tewari M, Naqa IE, Schonewolf CA, Haken RT, Jolly S, Lawrence TS, Ray D. Improved prediction of radiation pneumonitis by combining biological and radiobiological parameters using a data-driven Bayesian network analysis. Transl Oncol 2022; 21:101428. [PMID: 35460942 PMCID: PMC9046881 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Grade 2 and higher radiation pneumonitis (RP2) is a potentially fatal toxicity that limits efficacy of radiation therapy (RT). We wished to identify a combined biomarker signature of circulating miRNAs and cytokines which, along with radiobiological and clinical parameters, may better predict a targetable RP2 pathway. In a prospective clinical trial of response-adapted RT for patients (n = 39) with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, we analyzed patients' plasma, collected pre- and during RT, for microRNAs (miRNAs) and cytokines using array and multiplex enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Interactions between candidate biomarkers, radiobiological, and clinical parameters were analyzed using data-driven Bayesian network (DD-BN) analysis. We identified alterations in specific miRNAs (miR-532, -99b and -495, let-7c, -451 and -139-3p) correlating with lung toxicity. High levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor 1 (sTNFR1) were detected in a majority of lung cancer patients. However, among RP patients, within 2 weeks of RT initiation, we noted a trend of temporary decline in sTNFR1 (a physiological scavenger of TNFα) and ADAM17 (a shedding protease that cleaves both membrane-bound TNFα and TNFR1) levels. Cytokine signature identified activation of inflammatory pathway. Using DD-BN we combined miRNA and cytokine data along with generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) to identify pathways with better accuracy of predicting RP2 as compared to either miRNA or cytokines alone. This signature suggests that activation of the TNFα-NFκB inflammatory pathway plays a key role in RP which could be specifically ameliorated by etanercept rather than current therapy of non-specific leukotoxic corticosteroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonaye Hinton
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - David Karnak
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Ming Tang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ralph Jiang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yi Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Philip Boonstra
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yilun Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Derek J Nancarrow
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Erin Sandford
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Cancer Institute/Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Paramita Ray
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Christopher Maurino
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Martha Matuszak
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Matthew J Schipper
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michael D Green
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Gregory A Yanik
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Cancer Institute/Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Muneesh Tewari
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Cancer Institute/Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Issam El Naqa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Caitlin A Schonewolf
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Randall Ten Haken
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Shruti Jolly
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Theodore S Lawrence
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA
| | - Dipankar Ray
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, The University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2026, USA.
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Landskron G, Dubois-Camacho K, Orellana-Serradell O, De la Fuente M, Parada-Venegas D, Bitrán M, Diaz-Jimenez D, Tang S, Cidlowski JA, Li X, Molina H, Gonzalez CM, Simian D, Lubascher J, Pola V, Montecino M, Blokzijl T, Faber KN, González MJ, Quera R, Hermoso MA. Regulation of the Intestinal Extra-Adrenal Steroidogenic Pathway Component LRH-1 by Glucocorticoids in Ulcerative Colitis. Cells 2022; 11:1905. [PMID: 35741034 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and can be treated with glucocorticoids (GC), although some patients are unresponsive to this therapy. The transcription factor LRH-1/NR5A2 is critical to intestinal cortisol production (intestinal steroidogenesis), being reduced in UC patients. However, the relationship between LRH-1 expression and distribution with altered corticosteroid responses is unknown. To address this, we categorized UC patients by their steroid response. Here, we found that steroid-dependent and refractory patients presented reduced glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated intestinal steroidogenesis compared to healthy individuals and responder patients, possibly related to increased colonic mucosa GR isoform beta (GRβ) content and cytoplasmic LRH-1 levels in epithelial and lamina propria cells. Interestingly, an intestinal epithelium-specific GR-induced knockout (GRiKO) dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-colitis mice model presented decreased epithelial LRH-1 expression, whilst it increased in the lamina propria compared to DSS-treated control mice. Mechanistically, GR directly induced NR5A2 gene expression in CCD841CoN cells and human colonic organoids. Furthermore, GR bound to two glucocorticoid-response elements within the NR5A2 promoter in dexamethasone-stimulated CCD841CoN cells. We conclude that GR contributes to intestinal steroidogenesis by inducing LRH-1 in epithelial cells, suggesting LRH-1 as a potential marker for glucocorticoid-impaired response in UC. However, further studies with a larger patient cohort will be necessary to confirm role of LRH-1 as a therapeutic biomarker.
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Bassi G, Sidhu SK, Mishra S. The intracellular cholesterol pool in steroidogenic cells plays a role in basal steroidogenesis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2022; 220:106099. [PMID: 35339650 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2022.106099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The framework of steroidogenesis across steroidogenic cells is constructed around cholesterol - the precursor substrate molecule for all steroid hormones - including its cellular uptake, storage in intracellular lipid droplets, mobilization upon steroidogenic stimulation, and finally, its transport to the mitochondria, where steroidogenesis begins. Thus, cholesterol and the mitochondria are highly interconnected in steroidogenic cells. Moreover, accruing evidence suggests that autophagy and mitochondrial dynamics are important cellular events in the regulation of trophic hormone-induced cholesterol homeostasis and steroidogenesis. However, a potential role of cholesterol in itself in the regulation of steroidogenic factors and events remain largely unexplored. We tested the hypothesis that cholesterol plays a role in the regulation of cell-intrinsic factors and events involving steroidogenesis. Here, we show that depleting the intracellular cholesterol pool in steroidogenic cells induces autophagy, affects mitochondrial dynamics, and upregulates steroidogenic factors and basal steroidogenesis in three different steroidogenic cell types producing different steroid hormones. Notably, the cholesterol insufficiency-induced changes in different steroidogenic cell types occur independent of pertinent hormone stimulation and work in a dynamic and temporal manner with or without hormonal stimulation. Such effects of cholesterol deprivation on autophagy and mitochondrial dynamics were not observed in the non-steroidogenic cells, indicating that cholesterol insufficiency-induced changes in steroidogenic cells are specific to steroidogenesis. Thus, our data suggests a role of cholesterol in steroidogenesis beyond being a mere substrate for steroid hormones. The implications of our findings are broad and offer new insights into trophic hormone-dependent and hormone-independent steroidogenesis during development, as well as in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetika Bassi
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Simarjit Kaur Sidhu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Suresh Mishra
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada; Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada.
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35
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Abstract
The tumor microenvironment and its contribution to tumorigenesis has been a focal highlight in recent years. A two-way communication between the tumor and the surrounding microenvironment sustains and contributes to the growth and metastasis of tumors. Progression and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been reported to be exceedingly influenced by diverse microenvironmental cues. In this study, we present a 3D-culture model of liver cancer to better mimic in vivo tumor settings. By creating novel 3D co-culture model that combines free-floating and scaffold-based 3D-culture techniques of liver cancer cells and fibroblasts, we aimed to establish a simple albeit reproducible ex vivo cancer microenvironment model that captures tumor-stroma interactions. The model presented herein exhibited unique gene expression and protein expression profiles when compared to 2D and 3D mono-cultures of liver cancer cells. Our results showed that in vivo like conditions cannot be mimicked by simply growing cancer cells as spheroids, but by co-culturing them with 3D fibroblast with which they were able to crosstalk. This was evident by the upregulation of several pathways involved in HCC, and the increase in secreted factors by co-cultured cancer cells, many of which are also involved in tumor-stroma interactions. Compared to the conventional 2D culture, the proposed model exhibits an increase in the expression of genes associated with development, progression, and poor prognosis of HCC. Our results correlated with an aggressive outcome that better mirrors in vivo HCC, and therefore, a more reliable platform for molecular understanding of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ala'a Al Hrout
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Biology Department, College of Science, UAE University, P.O. Box 15551, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Karla Cervantes-Gracia
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Richard Chahwan
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Amr Amin
- Biology Department, College of Science, UAE University, P.O. Box 15551, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
- The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
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36
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Abstract
Steroidogenesis is an essential biological process for embryonic development, reproduction, and adult health. While specific glandular cells, such as Leydig cells in the testis, are traditionally known to be the principal players in steroid hormone production, there are other cell types that contribute to the process of steroidogenesis. In particular, immune cells are often an important component of the cellular niche that is required for the production of steroid hormones. For several decades, studies have reported that testicular macrophages and Leydig cells are intimately associated and exhibit a dependency on the other cell type for their proper development; however, the mechanisms that underlie the functional relationship between macrophages and Leydig cells are unclear. Beyond the testis, in certain instances immune cells themselves, such as certain types of lymphocytes, are capable of steroid hormone production, thus highlighting the complexity and diversity that underlie steroidogenesis. In this review we will describe how immune cells are critical regulators of steroidogenesis in the testis and in extra-glandular locations, as well as discuss how this area of research offers opportunities to uncover new insights into steroid hormone production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Gu
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Shu-Yun Li
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Satoko Matsuyama
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Tony DeFalco
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Tony DeFalco,
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37
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King RJ, Singh PK, Mehla K. The cholesterol pathway: impact on immunity and cancer. Trends Immunol 2022; 43:78-92. [PMID: 34942082 PMCID: PMC8812650 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Cholesterol is a multifaceted metabolite that is known to modulate processes in cancer, atherosclerosis, and autoimmunity. A common denominator between these diseases appears to be the immune system, in which many cholesterol-associated metabolites impact both adaptive and innate immunity. Many cancers display altered cholesterol metabolism, and recent studies demonstrate that manipulating systemic cholesterol metabolism may be useful in improving immunotherapy responses. However, cholesterol can have both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory roles in mammals, acting via multiple immune cell types, and depending on context. Gaining mechanistic insights into various cholesterol-related metabolites can improve our understanding of their functions and extensive effects on the immune system, and ideally will inform the design of future therapeutic strategies against cancer and/or other pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. King
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. 68198
| | - Pankaj K. Singh
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. 68198,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. 68198,Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. 68198,Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. 68198,Correspondence: Pankaj K. Singh, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 987696 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805, , Phone: 402.559.2726, FAX: 402-559-2813 and Kamiya Mehla, Ph.D., Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 987696 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805, , Phone: 402.836.9117, FAX: 402-559-2813
| | - Kamiya Mehla
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. 68198,Correspondence: Pankaj K. Singh, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 987696 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805, , Phone: 402.559.2726, FAX: 402-559-2813 and Kamiya Mehla, Ph.D., Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 987696 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805, , Phone: 402.836.9117, FAX: 402-559-2813
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Slominski AT, Mahata B, Raman C, Bereshchenko O. Editorial: Steroids and Secosteroids in the Modulation of Inflammation and Immunity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:825577. [PMID: 34987528 PMCID: PMC8720852 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.825577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej T. Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Pathology Laboratory Service, Veteran Administration Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, United States
- *Correspondence: Andrzej T. Slominski, ; Bidesh Mahata, ; Chander Raman, ; Oxana Bereshchenko,
| | - Bidesh Mahata
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Andrzej T. Slominski, ; Bidesh Mahata, ; Chander Raman, ; Oxana Bereshchenko,
| | - Chander Raman
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- *Correspondence: Andrzej T. Slominski, ; Bidesh Mahata, ; Chander Raman, ; Oxana Bereshchenko,
| | - Oxana Bereshchenko
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Andrzej T. Slominski, ; Bidesh Mahata, ; Chander Raman, ; Oxana Bereshchenko,
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Deng Y, Xia X, Zhao Y, Zhao Z, Martinez C, Yin W, Yao J, Hang Q, Wu W, Zhang J, Yu Y, Xia W, Yao F, Zhao D, Sun Y, Ying H, Hung MC, Ma L. Glucocorticoid receptor regulates PD-L1 and MHC-I in pancreatic cancer cells to promote immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7041. [PMID: 34873175 PMCID: PMC8649069 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27349-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite unprecedented responses of some cancers to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, the application of checkpoint inhibitors in pancreatic cancer has been unsuccessful. Glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling are long thought to suppress immunity by acting on immune cells. Here we demonstrate a previously undescribed tumor cell-intrinsic role for GR in activating PD-L1 expression and repressing the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells through transcriptional regulation. In mouse models of PDAC, either tumor cell-specific depletion or pharmacologic inhibition of GR leads to PD-L1 downregulation and MHC-I upregulation in tumor cells, which in turn promotes the infiltration and activity of cytotoxic T cells, enhances anti-tumor immunity, and overcomes resistance to ICB therapy. In patients with PDAC, GR expression correlates with high PD-L1 expression, low MHC-I expression, and poor survival. Our results reveal GR signaling in cancer cells as a tumor-intrinsic mechanism of immunosuppression and suggest that therapeutic targeting of GR is a promising way to sensitize pancreatic cancer to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Deng
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xianghou Xia
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 310022, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Zilong Zhao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Consuelo Martinez
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wenjuan Yin
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 310022, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Yao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Qinglei Hang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Weiche Wu
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 310022, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weiya Xia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Fan Yao
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Di Zhao
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- The University of Texas MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yutong Sun
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Haoqiang Ying
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- The University of Texas MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, 413, Taiwan.
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- The University of Texas MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Sharpe MA, Baskin DS, Jenson AV, Baskin AM. Hijacking Sexual Immuno-Privilege in GBM-An Immuno-Evasion Strategy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10983. [PMID: 34681642 PMCID: PMC8536168 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222010983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are immunosuppressive T-cells, which arrest immune responses to 'Self' tissues. Some immunosuppressive Tregs that recognize seminal epitopes suppress immune responses to the proteins in semen, in both men and women. We postulated that GBMs express reproductive-associated proteins to manipulate reproductive Tregs and to gain immune privilege. We analyzed four GBM transcriptome databases representing ≈900 tumors for hypoxia-responsive Tregs, steroidogenic pathways, and sperm/testicular and placenta-specific genes, stratifying tumors by expression. In silico analysis suggested that the presence of reproductive-associated Tregs in GBM tumors was associated with worse patient outcomes. These tumors have an androgenic signature, express male-specific antigens, and attract reproductive-associated Related Orphan Receptor C (RORC)-Treg immunosuppressive cells. GBM patient sera were interrogated for the presence of anti-sperm/testicular antibodies, along with age-matched controls, utilizing monkey testicle sections. GBM patient serum contained anti-sperm/testicular antibodies at levels > six-fold that of controls. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are associated with estrogenic tumors which appear to mimic placental tissue. We demonstrate that RORC-Tregs drive poor patient outcome, and Treg infiltration correlates strongly with androgen levels. Androgens support GBM expression of sperm/testicular proteins allowing Tregs from the patient's reproductive system to infiltrate the tumor. In contrast, estrogen appears responsible for MDSC/TAM immunosuppression.
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MESH Headings
- Androgens/metabolism
- Brain Neoplasms/immunology
- Brain Neoplasms/mortality
- Brain Neoplasms/pathology
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Databases, Factual
- Estrogens/metabolism
- Female
- Glioblastoma/immunology
- Glioblastoma/mortality
- Glioblastoma/pathology
- Humans
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism
- Kaplan-Meier Estimate
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/metabolism
- Male
- Microglia/immunology
- Microglia/metabolism
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/genetics
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Tumor-Associated Macrophages/immunology
- Tumor-Associated Macrophages/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyn A. Sharpe
- Kenneth R. Peak Brain and Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital and Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (D.S.B.); (A.V.J.); (A.M.B.)
| | - David S. Baskin
- Kenneth R. Peak Brain and Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital and Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (D.S.B.); (A.V.J.); (A.M.B.)
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Amanda V. Jenson
- Kenneth R. Peak Brain and Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital and Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (D.S.B.); (A.V.J.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Alexandra M. Baskin
- Kenneth R. Peak Brain and Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital and Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (D.S.B.); (A.V.J.); (A.M.B.)
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41
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Zhou C, Wang Z, Cao Y, Zhao L. Pan-cancer analysis reveals the oncogenic role of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 1. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2021; 5:e1562. [PMID: 34549901 PMCID: PMC9458500 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging studies reveals that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 1 (HMGCS1) plays vital oncogenic roles in a broad spectrum of human cancers, but there is no pan-cancer evidence on the relationship between HMGCS1 and various tumor types. AIM To explore the potential role of HMGCS1 across various tumor types based on big clinical data. METHODS We conducted a pan-cancer analysis across more than 30 tumor types, based on the most comprehensive database available, including TCGA, GSCA, clinical proteomic tumor analysis consortium, Kaplan-Meier Plotter dataset, GEPIA2, TIMER2, STRING, and GDSC dataset. RESULTS HMGCS1 was highly expressed and negatively correlated with the prognosis in most cancer types. The infiltration levels of cancer associated fibroblast and CD8+ T-cell were closely associated with HMGCS1 expression. Amplification was the most common genetic alteration of HMGCS1 in different cancers, while the frequency of mutation was low. Besides, ACAT2 and MVD were closely correlated and bind to HMGCS1. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that HMGCS1 was actively involved in steroid biosynthesis. Moreover, high HMGCS1 expression could reduce the sensitivity to most drugs in the GDSC dataset. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed the potential oncogenic role of HMGCS1 in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhiqin Wang
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yueqing Cao
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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42
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El-Kenawi A, Dominguez-Viqueira W, Liu M, Awasthi S, Abraham-Miranda J, Keske A, Steiner KK, Noel L, Serna AN, Dhillon J, Gillies RJ, Yu X, Koomen JM, Yamoah K, Gatenby RA, Ruffell B. Macrophage-derived cholesterol contributes to therapeutic resistance in prostate cancer. Cancer Res 2021; 81:5477-5490. [PMID: 34301759 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-4028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a lethal stage of disease in which androgen receptor (AR) signaling is persistent despite androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Most studies have focused on investigating cell-autonomous alterations in CRPC, while the contributions of the tumor microenvironment are less well understood. Here we sought to determine the role of tumor-associated macrophages in CRPC, based upon their role in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. In a syngeneic model that reflected the mutational landscape of CRPC, macrophage depletion resulted in a reduced transcriptional signature for steroid and bile acid synthesis, indicating potential perturbation of cholesterol metabolism. As cholesterol is the precursor of the five major types of steroid hormones, we hypothesized that macrophages were regulating androgen biosynthesis within the prostate tumor microenvironment. Macrophage depletion reduced androgen levels within prostate tumors and restricted androgen receptor (AR) nuclear localization in vitro and in vivo. Macrophages were also cholesterol-rich and were able to transfer cholesterol to tumor cells in vitro. AR nuclear translocation was inhibited by activation of Liver X Receptor (LXR)-β, the master regulator of cholesterol homeostasis. Consistent with these data, macrophage depletion extended survival during ADT and the presence of macrophages correlated with therapeutic resistance in patient-derived explants. Taken together, these findings support the therapeutic targeting of macrophages in CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa El-Kenawi
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | | | - Min Liu
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Shivanshu Awasthi
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Julieta Abraham-Miranda
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Aysenur Keske
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - KayLee K Steiner
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Leenil Noel
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Amparo N Serna
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jasreman Dhillon
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Robert J Gillies
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Xiaoqing Yu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - John M Koomen
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Kosj Yamoah
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Radiation Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Robert A Gatenby
- Department of Radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Brian Ruffell
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
- Department of Breast Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
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43
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Chakraborty S, Pramanik J, Mahata B. Revisiting steroidogenesis and its role in immune regulation with the advanced tools and technologies. Genes Immun 2021; 22:125-140. [PMID: 34127827 PMCID: PMC8277576 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-021-00139-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Historically tools and technologies facilitated scientific discoveries. Steroid hormone research is not an exception. Unfortunately, the dramatic advancement of the field faded this research area and flagged it as a solved topic. However, it should have been the opposite. The area should glitter with its strong foundation and attract next-generation scientists. Over the past century, a myriad of new facts on biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, physiology and pathology of the steroid hormones was discovered. Several innovations were made and translated into life-saving treatment strategies such as synthetic steroids, and inhibitors of steroidogenesis and steroid signaling. Steroid molecules exhibit their diverse effects on cell metabolism, salt and water balance, development and function of the reproductive system, pregnancy, and immune-cell function. Despite vigorous research, the molecular basis of the immunomodulatory effect of steroids is still mysterious. The recent excitement on local extra-glandular steroidogenesis in regulating inflammation and immunity is revitalizing the topic with a new perspective. Therefore, here we review the role of steroidogenesis in regulating inflammation and immunity, discuss the unresolved questions, and how this area can bring another golden age of steroid hormone research with the development of new tools and technologies and advancement of the scientific methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jhuma Pramanik
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bidesh Mahata
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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44
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Abdrabou W, Dieng MM, Diawara A, Sermé SS, Almojil D, Sombié S, Henry NB, Kargougou D, Manikandan V, Soulama I, Idaghdour Y. Metabolome modulation of the host adaptive immunity in human malaria. Nat Metab 2021; 3:1001-1016. [PMID: 34113019 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-021-00404-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Host responses to infection with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum vary among individuals for reasons that are poorly understood. Here we reveal metabolic perturbations as a consequence of malaria infection in children and identify an immunosuppressive role of endogenous steroid production in the context of P. falciparum infection. We perform metabolomics on matched samples from children from two ethnic groups in West Africa, before and after infection with seasonal malaria. Analysing 306 global metabolomes, we identify 92 parasitaemia-associated metabolites with impact on the host adaptive immune response. Integrative metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses, and causal mediation and moderation analyses, reveal an infection-driven immunosuppressive role of parasitaemia-associated pregnenolone steroids on lymphocyte function and the expression of key immunoregulatory lymphocyte genes in the Gouin ethnic group. In children from the less malaria-susceptible Fulani ethnic group, we observe opposing responses following infection, consistent with the immunosuppressive role of endogenous steroids in malaria. These findings advance our understanding of P. falciparum pathogenesis in humans and identify potential new targets for antimalarial therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael Abdrabou
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mame Massar Dieng
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Aïssatou Diawara
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Samuel Sindié Sermé
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Dareen Almojil
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Salif Sombié
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Noelie Bere Henry
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Désiré Kargougou
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Vinu Manikandan
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Issiaka Soulama
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Youssef Idaghdour
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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45
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Postlethwaite AE, Tuckey RC, Kim TK, Li W, Bhattacharya SK, Myers LK, Brand DD, Slominski AT. 20 S-Hydroxyvitamin D3, a Secosteroid Produced in Humans, Is Anti-Inflammatory and Inhibits Murine Autoimmune Arthritis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:678487. [PMID: 34276665 PMCID: PMC8278399 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.678487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to use large doses of vitamin D3 (D3) to chronically treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is prohibitive due to its calcemic effect which can damage vital organs. Cytochrome P450scc (CYP11A1) is able to convert D3 into the noncalcemic analog 20S-hydroxyvitamin D3 [20S(OH)D3]. We demonstrate that 20S(OH)D3 markedly suppresses clinical signs of arthritis and joint damage in a mouse model of RA. Furthermore, treatment with 20S(OH)D3 reduces lymphocyte subsets such as CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells leading to a significant reduction in inflammatory cytokines. The ratio of T reg cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells) to CD3+CD4+ T cells is increased while there is a decrease in critical complement-fixing anti-CII antibodies. Since pro-inflammatory cytokines and antibodies against type II collagen ordinarily lead to destruction of cartilage and bone, their decline explains why arthritis is attenuated by 20(OH) D3. These results provide a basis for further consideration of 20S(OH)D3 as a potential treatment for RA and other autoimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnold E. Postlethwaite
- Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Robert C. Tuckey
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Tae-Kang Kim
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Syamal K. Bhattacharya
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Linda K. Myers
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - David D. Brand
- Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Andrzej T. Slominski
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, United States
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46
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Slominski RM, Raman C, Elmets C, Jetten AM, Slominski AT, Tuckey RC. The significance of CYP11A1 expression in skin physiology and pathology. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 530:111238. [PMID: 33716049 PMCID: PMC8205265 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
CYP11A1, a member of the cytochrome P450 family, plays several key roles in the human body. It catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis, converting cholesterol to pregnenolone. Aside from the classical steroidogenic tissues such as the adrenals, gonads and placenta, CYP11A1 has also been found in the brain, gastrointestinal tract, immune systems, and finally the skin. CYP11A1 activity in the skin is regulated predominately by StAR protein and hence cholesterol levels in the mitochondria. However, UVB, UVC, CRH, ACTH, cAMP, and cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and TNFα can also regulate its expression and activity. Indeed, CYP11A1 plays several critical roles in the skin through its initiation of local steroidogenesis and specific metabolism of vitamin D, lumisterol, and 7-dehydrocholesterol. Products of these pathways regulate the protective barrier and skin immune functions in a context-dependent fashion through interactions with a number of receptors. Disturbances in CYP11A1 activity can lead to skin pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Slominski
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, USA; Department of Dermatology, USA
| | - C Raman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, USA; Department of Dermatology, USA
| | - C Elmets
- Department of Dermatology, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Chemoprevention Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - A M Jetten
- Cell Biology Section, Immunity, Inflammation, Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - A T Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, USA; VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - R C Tuckey
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
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47
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Mamanova L, Miao Z, Jinat A, Ellis P, Shirley L, Teichmann SA. High-throughput full-length single-cell RNA-seq automation. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:2886-2915. [PMID: 33990801 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00523-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Existing protocols for full-length single-cell RNA sequencing produce libraries of high complexity (thousands of distinct genes) with outstanding sensitivity and specificity of transcript quantification. These full-length libraries have the advantage of allowing probing of transcript isoforms, are informative regarding single-nucleotide polymorphisms and allow assembly of the VDJ region of the T- and B-cell-receptor sequences. Since full-length protocols are mostly plate-based at present, they are also suited to profiling cell types where cell numbers are limiting, such as rare cell types during development. A disadvantage of these methods has been the scalability and cost of the experiments, which has limited their popularity as compared with droplet-based and nanowell approaches. Here, we describe an automated protocol for full-length single-cell RNA sequencing, including both an in-house automated Smart-seq2 protocol and a commercial kit-based workflow. The protocols take 3-5 d to complete, depending on the number of plates processed in a batch. We discuss these two protocols in terms of ease of use, equipment requirements, running time, cost per sample and sequencing quality. By benchmarking the lysis buffers, reverse transcription enzymes and their combinations, we have optimized the in-house automated protocol to dramatically reduce its cost. An automated setup can be adopted easily by a competent researcher with basic laboratory skills and no prior automation experience. These pipelines have been employed successfully for several research projects allied with the Human Cell Atlas initiative ( www.humancellatlas.org ).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhichao Miao
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Sarah A Teichmann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK. .,Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Roy S, Sipthorp J, Mahata B, Pramanik J, Hennrich ML, Gavin AC, Ley SV, Teichmann SA. CLICK-enabled analogues reveal pregnenolone interactomes in cancer and immune cells. iScience 2021; 24:102485. [PMID: 34036248 PMCID: PMC8138728 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnenolone (P5) promotes prostate cancer cell growth, and de novo synthesis of intratumoural P5 is a potential cause of development of castration resistance. Immune cells can also synthesize P5 de novo. Despite its biological importance, little is known about P5's mode of actions, which appears to be context dependent and pleiotropic. A comprehensive proteome-wide spectrum of P5-binding proteins that are involved in its trafficking and functionality remains unknown. Here, we describe an approach that integrates chemical biology for probe synthesis with chemoproteomics to map P5-protein interactions in live prostate cancer cells and murine CD8+ T cells. We subsequently identified P5-binding proteins potentially involved in P5-trafficking and in P5's non-genomic action that may drive the promotion of castrate-resistance prostate cancer and regulate CD8+ T cell function. We envisage that this methodology could be employed for other steroids to map their interactomes directly in a broad range of living cells, tissues, and organisms. Developed four functional click-enabled analogues of pregnenolone (P5) Chemoproteomics prioritizes 62 P5 target proteins in live cancer and immune cells These include shared and distinct biochemical role of P5 in cancer and immune cells P5 activity in cancer and immune cells is mediated through non-genomic pathways
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Affiliation(s)
- Sougata Roy
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.,EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK.,Ashoka University, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana 131029, India
| | - James Sipthorp
- The Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Bidesh Mahata
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.,EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK.,Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Jhuma Pramanik
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.,Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Marco L Hennrich
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne-Claude Gavin
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany.,University of Geneva, Department for Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Centre Medical Universitaire, Rue Michel-Servet 1, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Steven V Ley
- The Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Sarah A Teichmann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.,Theory of Condensed Matter, Cavendish Laboratory, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
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Ergang P, Vagnerová K, Hermanová P, Vodička M, Jágr M, Šrůtková D, Dvořáček V, Hudcovic T, Pácha J. The Gut Microbiota Affects Corticosterone Production in the Murine Small Intestine. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084229. [PMID: 33921780 PMCID: PMC8073041 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are hormones that are released in response to stressors and exhibit many activities, including immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. They are primarily synthesized in the adrenal gland but are also produced in peripheral tissues via regeneration of adrenal 11-oxo metabolites or by de novo synthesis from cholesterol. The present study investigated the influence of the microbiota on de novo steroidogenesis and regeneration of corticosterone in the intestine of germ-free (GF) and specific pathogen-free mice challenged with a physical stressor (anti-CD3 antibody i.p. injection). In the small intestine, acute immune stress resulted in increased mRNA levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL1β, IL6 and Tnfα and genes involved in de novo steroidogenesis (Stard3 and Cyp11a1), as well as in regeneration of active GCs from their 11-oxo metabolites (Hsd11b1). GF mice showed a generally reduced transcriptional response to immune stress, which was accompanied by decreased intestinal corticosterone production and reduced expression of the GC-sensitive marker Fkbp5. In contrast, the interaction between stress and the microbiota was not detected at the level of plasma corticosterone or the transcriptional response of adrenal steroidogenic enzymes. The results indicate a differential immune stress-induced intestinal response to proinflammatory stimuli and local corticosterone production driven by the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Ergang
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (P.E.); (K.V.); (M.V.)
| | - Karla Vagnerová
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (P.E.); (K.V.); (M.V.)
| | - Petra Hermanová
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-549 22 Nový Hrádek, Czech Republic; (P.H.); (D.Š.); (T.H.)
| | - Martin Vodička
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (P.E.); (K.V.); (M.V.)
| | - Michal Jágr
- Crop Research Institute, CZ-161 06 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.J.); (V.D.)
| | - Dagmar Šrůtková
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-549 22 Nový Hrádek, Czech Republic; (P.H.); (D.Š.); (T.H.)
| | - Václav Dvořáček
- Crop Research Institute, CZ-161 06 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.J.); (V.D.)
| | - Tomáš Hudcovic
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-549 22 Nový Hrádek, Czech Republic; (P.H.); (D.Š.); (T.H.)
| | - Jiří Pácha
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (P.E.); (K.V.); (M.V.)
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, CZ-128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
Dynamic, coordinated changes in metabolic pathway activity underpin the protective and inflammatory activity of T cells, through provision of energy and biosynthetic precursors for effector functions, as well as direct effects of metabolic enzymes, intermediates and end-products on signaling pathways and transcriptional mechanisms. Consequently, it has become increasingly clear that the metabolic status of the tissue microenvironment directly influences T cell activity, with changes in nutrient and/or metabolite abundance leading to dysfunctional T cell metabolism and interlinked immune function. Emerging evidence now indicates that additional signals are integrated by T cells to determine their overall metabolic phenotype, including those arising from interaction with cytokines and hormones in their environment. The impact of these on T cell metabolism, the mechanisms involved and the pathological implications are discussed in this review article.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah Dimeloe
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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