Immunosuppressive reprogramming of neutrophils by lung mesenchymal cells promotes breast cancer metastasis

CCNA2 and NEK2 regulate glioblastoma progression by targeting the cell cycle

Glioblastoma (GBM) is characterized by significant heterogeneity, leading to poor survival outcomes for patients, despite the implementation of comprehensive treatment strategies. The roles of cyclin A2 (CCNA2) and NIMA related kinase 2 (NEK2) have been extensively studied in numerous cancers, but their specific functions in GBM remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms of CCNA2 and NEK2 in GBM. CCNA2 and NEK2 expression and prognosis in glioma were evaluated by bioinformatics methods. In addition, the distribution of CCNA2 and NEK2 expression in GBM subsets was determined using pseudo-time analysis and tricycle position of single-cell sequencing. Gene Expression Omnibus and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome databases were employed and enrichment analyses were conducted to investigate potential signaling pathways in GBM subsets and a nomogram was established to predict 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival probability in GBM. CCNA2 and NEK2 expression levels were further validated by western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining in GBM samples. High expression of CCNA2 and NEK2 in glioma indicates poor clinical outcomes. Single-cell sequencing of GBM revealed that these genes were upregulated in a subset of positive neural progenitor cells (P-NPCs), which showed significant proliferation and progression properties and may activate G2M checkpoint pathways. A comprehensive nomogram predicts 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival probability in GBM by considering P-NPCs, age, chemotherapy and radiotherapy scores. CCNA2 and NEK2 regulate glioblastoma progression by targeting the cell cycle, thus indicating the potential of novel therapy directed to CCNA2 and NEK2 in GBM.

Engineering and Targeting Neutrophils for Cancer Therapy

Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cells in the circulation and act as the first line of defense against infections. Increasing evidence suggests that neutrophils possess heterogeneous phenotypes and functional plasticity in human health and diseases, including cancer. Neutrophils play multifaceted roles in cancer development and progression, and an N1/N2 paradigm of neutrophils in cancer is proposed, where N1 neutrophils exert anti-tumor properties while N2 neutrophils display tumor-supportive and immune-suppressive functions. Selective activation of beneficial neutrophil population and targeted inhibition or re-polarization of tumor-promoting neutrophils has shown an important potential in tumor therapy. In addition, due to the natural inflammation-responsive and physical barrier-crossing abilities, neutrophils and their derivatives (membranes and extracellular vesicles (EVs)) are regarded as advanced drug delivery carriers for enhanced tumor targeting and improved therapeutic efficacy. In this review, the recent advances in engineering neutrophils for drug delivery and targeting neutrophils for remodeling tumor microenvironment (TME) are comprehensively presented. This review will provide a broad understanding of the potential of neutrophils in cancer therapy.

A DNA circuit that records molecular events

Characterizing the relative onset time, strength, and duration of molecular signals is critical for understanding the operation of signal transduction and genetic regulatory networks. However, detecting multiple such molecules as they are produced and then quickly consumed is challenging. A MER can encode information about transient molecular events as stable DNA sequences and are amenable to downstream sequencing or other analysis. Here, we report the development of a de novo molecular event recorder that processes information using a strand displacement reaction network and encodes the information using the primer exchange reaction, which can be decoded and quantified by DNA sequencing. The event recorder was able to classify the order at which different molecular signals appeared in time with 88% accuracy, the concentrations with 100% accuracy, and the duration with 75% accuracy. This simultaneous and highly programmable multiparameter recording could enable the large-scale deciphering of molecular events such as within dynamic reaction environments, living cells, or tissues.

Neutrophils in cancer: dual roles through intercellular interactions

Neutrophils, the most abundant immune cells in human blood, play crucial and diverse roles in tumor development. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), cancer cells regulate the recruitment and behaviors of neutrophils, transforming some of them into a pro-tumor phenotype. Pro-tumor neutrophils interact with cancer cells in various ways to promote cancer initiation, growth, and metastasis, while anti-tumor neutrophils interact with cancer cells to induce senescence and death. Neutrophils can also interact with other cells in TME, including T cells, macrophages, stromal cells, etc. to exert anti- or pro-tumor functions. In this review, we will analyze the anti- and pro-tumor intercellular interactions mediated by neutrophils, with a focus on generalizing the mechanisms underlying the interaction of neutrophils with tumor cells and T cells. Furthermore, we will provide an overview of cancer treatment strategies targeting neutrophil-mediated cellular interactions.

Wnt5 controls splenic myelopoiesis and neutrophil functional ambivalency during DSS-induced colitis

Neutrophils are important innate immune cells with plasticity, heterogenicity, and functional ambivalency. While bone marrow is often regarded as the primary source of neutrophil production, the roles of extramedullary production in regulating neutrophil plasticity and heterogenicity in autoimmune diseases remain poorly understood. Here, we report that the lack of wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 5 (WNT5) unleashes anti-inflammatory protection against colitis in mice, accompanied by reduced colonic CD8+ T cell activation and enhanced splenic extramedullary myelopoiesis. In addition, colitis upregulates WNT5 expression in splenic stromal cells. The ablation of WNT5 leads to increased splenic production of hematopoietic niche factors, as well as elevated numbers of splenic neutrophils with heightened CD8+ T cell suppressive capability, in part due to elevated CD101 expression and attenuated pro-inflammatory activities. Thus, our study reveals a mechanism by which neutrophil plasticity and heterogenicity are regulated in colitis through WNT5 and highlights the role of splenic neutrophil production in shaping inflammatory outcomes.

Neutrophils at the Crossroads: Unraveling the Multifaceted Role in the Tumor Microenvironment

Over the past decade, research has prominently established neutrophils as key contributors to the intricate landscape of tumor immune biology. As polymorphonuclear granulocytes within the innate immune system, neutrophils play a pivotal and abundant role, constituting approximately ∼70% of all peripheral leukocytes in humans and ∼10-20% in mice. This substantial presence positions them as the frontline defense against potential threats. Equipped with a diverse array of mechanisms, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, degranulation, phagocytosis, and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), neutrophils undeniably serve as indispensable components of the innate immune system. While these innate functions enable neutrophils to interact with adaptive immune cells such as T, B, and NK cells, influencing their functions, they also engage in dynamic interactions with rapidly dividing tumor cells. Consequently, neutrophils are emerging as crucial regulators in both pro- and anti-tumor immunity. This comprehensive review delves into recent research to illuminate the multifaceted roles of neutrophils. It explores their diverse functions within the tumor microenvironment, shedding light on their heterogeneity and their impact on tumor recruitment, progression, and modulation. Additionally, the review underscores their potential anti-tumoral capabilities. Finally, it provides valuable insights into clinical therapies targeting neutrophils, presenting a promising approach to leveraging innate immunity for enhanced cancer treatment.

A nano-platform combats the "attack" and "defense" of cytoskeleton to block cascading tumor metastasis

The cytoskeleton facilitates tumor cells invasion into the bloodstream via vasculogenic mimicry (VM) for "attack", and protects cells against external threats through cytoskeletal remodeling and tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) for "defense". However, the existing strategies involving cytoskeleton are not sufficient to eliminate tumor metastasis due to mitochondrial energy supply, both within tumor cells and from outside microenvironment. Here, considering the close relationship between cytoskeleton and mitochondria both in location and function, we construct a nano-platform that combats the "attack" and "defense" of cytoskeleton in the cascading metastasis. The nano-platform is composed of KFCsk@LIP and KTMito@LIP for the cytoskeletal collapse and mitochondrial dysfunction. KFCsk@LIP prevents the initiation and circulation of cascading tumor metastasis, but arouses limited suppression in tumor cell proliferation. KTMito@LIP impairs mitochondria to trigger apoptosis and impede energy supply both from inside and outside, leading to an amplified effect for metastasis suppression. Further mechanisms studies reveal that the formation of VM and TNTs are seriously obstructed. Both in situ and circulating tumor cells are disabled. Subsequently, the broken metastasis cascade results in a remarkable anti-metastasis effect. Collectively, based on the nano-platform, the cytoskeletal collapse with synchronous mitochondrial dysfunction provides a potential therapeutic strategy for cascading tumor metastasis suppression.

Surface CD52, CD84, and PTGER2 mark mature PMN-MDSCs from cancer patients and G-CSF-treated donors

Precise molecular characterization of circulating polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) is hampered by their mixed composition of mature and immature cells and lack of specific markers. Here, we focus on mature CD66b+CD10+CD16+CD11b+ PMN-MDSCs (mPMN-MDSCs) from either cancer patients or healthy donors receiving G-CSF for stem cell mobilization (GDs). By RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) experiments, we report the identification of a distinct gene signature shared by the different mPMN-MDSC populations under investigation, also validated in mPMN-MDSCs from GDs and tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) by single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) experiments. Analysis of such a gene signature uncovers a specific transcriptional program associated with mPMN-MDSC differentiation and allows us to identify that, in patients with either solid or hematologic tumors and in GDs, CD52, CD84, and prostaglandin E receptor 2 (PTGER2) represent potential mPMN-MDSC-associated markers. Altogether, our findings indicate that mature PMN-MDSCs distinctively undergo specific reprogramming during differentiation and lay the groundwork for selective immunomonitoring, and eventually targeting, of mature PMN-MDSCs.

Novel immunotherapies for breast cancer: Focus on 2023 findings

Immunotherapy has emerged as a revolutionary approach in cancer therapy, and recent advancements hold significant promise for breast cancer (BCa) management. Employing the patient's immune system to combat BCa has become a focal point in immunotherapeutic investigations. Strategies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), adoptive cell transfer (ACT), and targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME) have disclosed encouraging clinical outcomes. ICIs, particularly programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 inhibitors, exhibit efficacy in specific BCa subtypes, including triple-negative BCa (TNBC) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive cancers. ACT approaches, including tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, showed promising clinical outcomes in enhancing tumor recognition and elimination. Targeting the TME through immune agonists and oncolytic viruses signifies a burgeoning field of research. While challenges persist in patient selection, resistance mechanisms, and combination therapy optimization, these novel immunotherapies hold transformative potential for BCa treatment. Continued research and clinical trials are imperative to refine and implement these innovative approaches, paving the way for improved outcomes and revolutionizing the management of BCa. This review provides a concise overview of the latest immunotherapies (2023 studies) in BCa, highlighting their potential and current status.

Loss of NAT10 disrupts enhancer organization via p300 mislocalization and suppresses transcription of genes necessary for metastasis progression

Acetylation of protein and RNA represent a critical event for development and cancer progression. NAT10 is the only known RNA acetylase that catalyzes the N4-actylcytidine (ac4C) modification of RNAs. Here, we show that the loss of NAT10 significantly decreases lung metastasis in allograft and genetically engineered mouse models of breast cancer. NAT10 interacts with a mechanosensitive, metastasis susceptibility protein complex at the nuclear pore. In addition to its canonical role in RNA acetylation, we find that NAT10 interacts with p300 at gene enhancers. NAT10 loss is associated with p300 mislocalization into heterochromatin regions. NAT10 depletion disrupts enhancer organization, leading to alteration of gene transcription necessary for metastatic progression, including reduced myeloid cell-recruiting chemokines that results in a less metastasis-prone tumor microenvironment. Our study uncovers a distinct role of NAT10 in enhancer organization of metastatic tumor cells and suggests its involvement in the tumor-immune crosstalk dictating metastatic outcomes.

Nanotechnology Reprogramming Metabolism for Enhanced Tumor Immunotherapy

Mutation burden, hypoxia, and immunoediting contribute to altered metabolic profiles in tumor cells, resulting in a tumor microenvironment (TME) characterized by accumulation of toxic metabolites and depletion of various nutrients, which significantly hinder the antitumor immunity via multiple mechanisms, hindering the efficacy of tumor immunotherapies. In-depth investigation of the mechanisms underlying these phenomena are vital for developing effective antitumor drugs and therapies, while the therapeutic effects of metabolism-targeting drugs are restricted by off-target toxicity toward effector immune cells and high dosage-mediated side effects. Nanotechnologies, which exhibit versatility and plasticity in targeted delivery and metabolism modulation, have been widely applied to boost tumor immunometabolic therapies via multiple strategies, including targeting of metabolic pathways. In this review, recent advances in understanding the roles of tumor cell metabolism in both immunoevasion and immunosuppression are reviewed, and nanotechnology-based metabolic reprogramming strategies for enhanced tumor immunotherapies are discussed.

Cell-cell communication characteristics in breast cancer metastasis

Breast cancer, a highly fatal disease due to its tendency to metastasize, is the most prevalent form of malignant tumors among women worldwide. Numerous studies indicate that breast cancer exhibits a unique predilection for metastasis to specific organs including the bone, liver, lung, and brain. However, different types of, The understanding of the heterogeneity of metastatic breast cancer has notably improved with the recent advances in high-throughput sequencing techniques. Focusing on the modification in the microenvironment of the metastatic organs and the crosstalk between tumor cells and in situ cells, noteworthy research points include the identification of two distinct modes of tumor growth in bone metastases, the influence of type II pneumocyte on lung metastases, the paradoxical role of Kupffer cells in liver metastases, and the breakthrough of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) breach in brain metastases. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of breast cancer metastases, shedding light on the pivotal roles of immune and resident cells in the development of distinct metastatic foci.

Cancer-educated neutrophils promote lung cancer progression via PARP-1-ALOX5-mediated MMP-9 expression

OBJECTIVE

Neutrophils are one of the most predominant infiltrating leukocytes in lung cancer tissues and are associated with lung cancer progression. How neutrophils promote lung cancer progression, however, has not been established.

METHODS

Kaplan-Meier plotter online analysis and tissue immunohistochemistry were used to determine the relationship between neutrophils and overall survival in lung cancer patients. The effect of neutrophils on lung cancer was determined using the Transwell migration assay, a proliferation assay, and a murine tumor model. Gene knockdown was used to determine poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP)-1 function in lung cancer-educated neutrophils. Western blot analysis and gelatin zymography were used to demonstrate the correlation between PARP-1 and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9). Immunoprecipitation coupled to mass spectrometry (IP/MS) was used to identify the proteins interacting with PARP-1. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) was used to confirm that PARP-1 interacts with arachidonate 5-lipooxygenase (ALOX5). Neutrophil PARP-1 blockage by AG14361 rescued neutrophil-promoted lung cancer progression.

RESULTS

An increased number of infiltrating neutrophils was negatively associated with overall survival in lung cancer patients (P < 0.001). Neutrophil activation promoted lung cancer cell invasion, migration, and proliferation in vitro, and murine lung cancer growth in vivo. Mechanistically, PARP-1 was shown to be involved in lung cancer cell-induced neutrophil activation to increase MMP-9 expression through interacting and stabilizing ALOX5 by post-translational protein modification (PARylation). Blocking PARP-1 by gene knockdown or AG14361 significantly decreased ALOX5 expression and MMP-9 production, and eliminated neutrophil-mediated lung cancer cell invasion and in vivo tumor growth.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a novel mechanism by which PARP-1 mediates lung cancer cell-induced neutrophil activation and PARylates ALOX5 to regulate MMP-9 expression, which exacerbates lung cancer progression.

RNA m6A methylation and MDSCs: Roles and therapeutic implications for radiotherapy

Emerging evidence suggests that local tumor radiotherapy reshapes the repertoire of circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and leads to their infiltration into the tumor microenvironment, which poses a major obstacle for radiotherapy efficacy. Recent findings have identified RNA m6A modification at the nexus of both anti-tumor immunity and radiation response. Here, we examine the mechanisms by which this RNA modification modulates the immune milieu of the radiation-remodeled tumor microenvironment. We discuss potential therapeutic interventions targeting m6A machinery to improve radiotherapy response.

Modulation of natural killer cell exhaustion in the lungs: the key components from lung microenvironment and lung tumor microenvironment

Lung cancer is the leading cause of tumor-induced death worldwide and remains a primary global health concern. In homeostasis, due to its unique structure and physiological function, the lung microenvironment is in a state of immune tolerance and suppression, which is beneficial to tumor development and metastasis. The lung tumor microenvironment is a more complex system that further enhances the immunosuppressive features in the lungs. NK cells are abundantly located in the lungs and play crucial roles in lung tumor surveillance and antitumor immunity. However, the immunosuppressive microenvironment promotes significant challenges to NK cell features, leading to their hypofunction, exhaustion, and compromised antitumor activity. Thus, understanding the complex interactions among the lung microenvironment, lung tumor microenvironment, and NK cell exhaustion is critical for the development of effective cancer immunotherapeutic strategies. The present review will discuss NK cell hypofunction and exhaustion within the lung microenvironment and lung tumor microenvironment, focusing on lung tissue-specific factors, including key cytokines and unique environmental components, that modulate NK cell activation and function. Understanding the functional mechanisms of key factors would help to design strategies to reverse NK cell exhaustion and restore their antitumor function within the lung tumor microenvironment.

Ferroptosis in the post-transplantation inflammatory response

Transplantation is a life-saving therapy for patients with end-stage organ disease. Successful outcomes after transplantation require mitigation of the post-transplant inflammatory response, limiting alloreactivity, and prevention of organ rejection. Traditional immunosuppressive regimens aim to dampen the adaptive immune response; however, recent studies have shown the feasibility and efficacy of targeting the innate immune response. Necroinflammation initiated by donor organ cell death is implicated as a critical mediator of primary graft dysfunction, acute rejection, and chronic rejection. Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that triggers post-transplantation inflammation and drives the activation of both innate and adaptive immune cells. There is a growing acceptance of the clinical relevance of ferroptosis to solid organ transplantation. Modulating ferroptosis may be a potentially promising strategy to reduce complications after organ transplantation.

Role of neutrophils on cancer cells and other immune cells in the tumor microenvironment

The notion that neutrophils only perform a specific set of single functions in the body has changed with the advancement of research methods. As the most abundant myeloid cells in human blood, neutrophils are currently emerging as important regulators of cancer. Given the duality of neutrophils, neutrophil-based tumor therapy has been clinically carried out in recent years and has made some progress. But due to the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, the therapeutic effect is still not satisfactory. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the direct interaction of neutrophils with the five most common cancer cells and other immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Also, this review covered current limitations, potential future possibilities, and therapeutic approaches targeting neutrophil function in cancer therapy.

The temporal progression of immune remodeling during metastasis

Tumor metastasis requires systemic remodeling of distant organ microenvironments which impacts immune cell phenotypes, population structure, and intercellular communication networks. However, our understanding of immune phenotypic dynamics in the metastatic niche remains incomplete. Here, we longitudinally assayed lung immune cell gene expression profiles in mice bearing PyMT-driven metastatic breast tumors from the onset of primary tumorigenesis, through formation of the pre-metastatic niche, to the final stages of metastatic outgrowth. Computational analysis of these data revealed an ordered series of immunological changes that correspond to metastatic progression. Specifically, we uncovered a TLR-NFκB myeloid inflammatory program which correlates with pre-metastatic niche formation and mirrors described signatures of CD14+ 'activated' MDSCs in the primary tumor. Moreover, we observed that cytotoxic NK cell proportions increased over time which illustrates how the PyMT lung metastatic niche is both inflammatory and immunosuppressive. Finally, we predicted metastasis-associated immune intercellular signaling interactions involving Igf1 and Ccl6 which may organize the metastatic niche. In summary, this work identifies novel immunological signatures of metastasis and discovers new details about established mechanisms that drive metastatic progression.

Graphical abstract

In brief

McGinnis et al. report a longitudinal scRNA-seq atlas of lung immune cells in mice bearing PyMT-driven metastatic breast tumors and identify immune cell transcriptional states, shifts in population structure, and rewiring of cell-cell signaling networks which correlate with metastatic progression.

Highlights

Longitudinal scRNA-seq reveals distinct stages of immune remodeling before, during, and after metastatic colonization in the lungs of PyMT mice.TLR-NFκB inflammation correlates with pre-metastatic niche formation and involves both tissue-resident and bone marrow-derived myeloid cell populations. Inflammatory lung myeloid cells mirror 'activated' primary tumor MDSCs, suggesting that primary tumor-derived cues induce Cd14 expression and TLR-NFκB inflammation in the lung. Lymphocytes contribute to the inflammatory and immunosuppressive lung metastatic microenvironment, highlighted by enrichment of cytotoxic NK cells in the lung over time. Cell-cell signaling network modeling predicts cell type-specific Ccl6 regulation and IGF1-IGF1R signaling between neutrophils and interstitial macrophages.