Analysis of the effect of CCR7 on the microenvironment of mouse oral squamous cell carcinoma by single-cell RNA sequencing technology

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that CCR7, an important inflammatory factor, can promote the proliferation and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but its role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unclear. This paper explores the role of CCR7 in the TME of OSCC.

METHODS

In this work, we constructed CCR7 gene knockout mice and OSCC mouse models. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bioinformatics were used to analyze the differences in the OSCC microenvironment between three CCR7 gene knockout mice (KO) and three wild-type mice (WT). Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry were used to analyze the expression of key genes in significantly different cell types between the KO and WT groups. An in vitro experiment was used to verify the effect of CCR7 on M2 macrophage polarization.

RESULTS

In the mouse OSCC models, the tumor growth rate in the KO group was significantly lower than that in the WT group. Eight main cell types (including tumor cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, granulocytes, T cells, endothelial cells, monocytes, and B cells) were identified by Seurat analysis. The scRNA-seq results showed that the proportion of tumor cells was lower, but the proportion of inflammatory cells was significantly higher in the KO group than in the WT group. CellPhoneDB analysis results indicated a strong interaction relationship between tumor cells and macrophages, T cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Functional enrichment results indicated that the expression level of the Dusp1 gene in the KO group was generally higher than that in the WT group in various cell types. Macrophage subclustering results indicated that the proportion of M2 macrophages in the KO group was lower than that in the WT group. In vitro experimental results showed that CCR7 can promote M2 macrophage polarization, thus promoting the proliferation, invasion and migration of OSCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

CCR7 gene knockout can significantly inhibit the growth of mouse oral squamous cell carcinoma by promoting the polarization of M2 macrophages.

The application of radiomics machine learning models based on multimodal MRI with different sequence combinations in predicting cervical lymph node metastasis in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to explore preliminary the performance of radiomics machine learning models based on multimodal MRI to predict the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) patients.

METHODS

A total of 400 patients were enrolled in this study and divided into six groups according to the different combinations of MRI sequences. Group I consisted of patients with T1-weighted images (T1WI) and FS-T2WI (fat-suppressed T2-weighted images), group II consisted of patients with T1WI, FS-T2WI, and contrast enhanced MRI (CE-MRI), group III consisted of patients with T1WI, FS-T2WI, and T2-weighted images (T2WI), group IV consisted of patients with T1WI, FS-T2WI, CE-MRI, and T2WI, group V consisted of patients with T1WI, FS-T2WI, T2WI, and apparent diffusion coefficient map (ADC), and group VI consisted of patients with T1WI, FS-T2WI, CE-MRI, T2WI, and ADC. Machine learning models were constructed. The performance of the models was compared in each group.

RESULTS

The machine learning model in group IV including T1WI, FS-T2WI, T2WI, and CE-MRI presented best prediction performance, with AUCs of 0.881 and 0.868 in the two sets. The models with CE-MRI performed better than the models without CE-MRI(I vs. II, III vs. IV, V vs. VI).

CONCLUSIONS

The radiomics machine learning models based on CE-MRI showed great accuracy and stability in predicting the risk of CLNM for OTSCC patients.

Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury Caused by HLA-II Antibodies: A Case Report

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the etiology of a case of suspected transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) occurring after blood transfusion.

METHODS

The clinical symptoms, signs, imaging examinations, and laboratory test results of a patient with suspected TRALI after blood transfusion were retrospectively analyzed, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping of the patient and HLA antibodies of the plasma donors were performed.

RESULTS

The clinical manifestations of the patient were consistent with those of TRALI after blood transfusion. This TRALI was treated by timely ventilator support. The patient results of high-resolution HLA genotyping were HLA-A* 01:01, 11:01; HLA-B* 15:02, 37:01; HLA-C* 06:02, 08:01; DRB1* 10:01, 12:02; DRB3* 03:01, 03:01; DQA1* 01:05, 06:01; DQB1* 03:01, 05:01; DPA1* 01:03, 02:01; and DPB1* 02:01, 09:01. Of the 6 plasma donors tested, 3 were found to have HLA-II antibodies, which were HLA-DPA1*01:03, HLA-DQB1*03:01, and HLA-DQB1*03:01 antibodies.

CONCLUSION

We described a case of TRALI caused by HLA-DQB1*03:01 antibody and DPA1*01:03 antibody.

Platelet-Derived Microparticles and Autoimmune Diseases

Extracellular microparticles provide a means of cell-to-cell communication and can promote information exchanges between adjacent or distant cells. Platelets are cell fragments that are derived from megakaryocytes. Their main functions are to stop bleeding, regulate inflammation, and maintain the integrity of blood vessels. When platelets are activated, they can perform related tasks by secreting platelet-derived microparticles that contain lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and even organelles. There are differences in the circulating platelet levels in many autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, and Sjogren's syndrome. In this paper, the latest findings in the research field of platelet-derived microparticles are reviewed, including the potential pathogenesis of platelet-derived microparticles in various types of immune diseases, their potential as related markers, and for monitoring the progress and prognosis of disease treatment are expounded.

A single-center, retrospective analysis of 17 cases of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn caused by anti-M antibodies

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to summarize the laboratory findings and clinical features of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data for 17 infants with anti-M-induced HDFN (anti-M-HDFN) diagnosed between June 2013 and May 2019. Their maternal history, neonatal diagnosis on admission, and laboratory test results were compared with those of 15 infants with HDFN involving the ABO blood group system, 15 infants with HDFN involving the Rh system, and 15 premature infants.

RESULTS

In the anti-M-HDFN group, 94.12% (16/17), 35.29% (6/17), and 17.65% (3/17) had free antibodies in plasma, a positive direct antiglobulin test, and a positive elution test, respectively. In 12 infants, free antibody reactions were stronger at 4°C than at 37°C, and the antibody titer at 4°C ranged from 1 to 512. All 17 infants with anti-M-HDFN developed anemia: 14 were treated with blood transfusion and 1 with neonatal exchange transfusion. Sixteen infants improved, and one died. Anti-M-HDFN had a higher rate of maternal stillbirth, lower gestational age, lower birthweight, and higher incidence of respiratory distress than other HDFN types.

CONCLUSION

Anti-M may cause HDFN. It may present with varying degrees of anemia, low regenerative anemia, and low bilirubin levels. In addition, infants with anti-M-HDFN may have a negative elution test and direct antiglobulin test. These tests are helpful in examining antibody responses at a low temperature of 4°C.

CC chemokine receptor 7 promotes macrophage recruitment and induces M2-polarization through CC chemokine ligand 19&21 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the impact of CC chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) on the recruitment and polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

METHODS

We analyzed CCR7 expression pattern, clinicopathological significance, and its association with M2 macrophage infiltration in OSCC by bioinformatic methods. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was utilized to silence CCR7 in OSCC cells. Conditioned media (CM) was harvested from transfected OSCC cells to establish a co-culture model of THP-1 derived macrophages and OSCC cells. Transwell assay and cell adhesion assay were performed to examine the effect of CCR7 on macrophages recruitment and adhesion. Cytoskeleton was labelled by phalloidin to observe macrophage morphological changes. Moreover, phenotypic alteration of macrophages was measured using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Ultimately, recombinant human CCL19 and CCL21 were added into the medium of THP-1 derived macrophages to explore their effects on polarization in vitro.

RESULTS

In OSCC patients, the overexpression of CCR7 positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and M2 macrophage infiltration. Macrophage not only exhibited enhanced migration, invasion and adhesion abilities, but also appeared more spindle and branched in vitro when treated with CM from OSCC cells. However, these phenomena were abrogated with knockdown of CCR7. We also discovered that inhibition of CCR7 in OSCC cells suppressed TAMs polarization to an M2 phenotype. In addition, recombinant human CCL19 and CCL21 promoted macrophage M2-polarization in vitro.

CONCLUSION

CCR7 in OSCC cells promoted recruitment and M2-polarization of THP-1 derived macrophages in vitro by regulating production of CCL19 and CCL21.