Induction of Immunogenic Cell Death of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by 5-Fluorouracil and Cisplatin

BACKGROUND/AIM

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) using 5-FU (5-fluorouracil)/CDDP (cisplatin) is a standard therapy for stage II/III thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate whether 5-FU/CDDP could induce immunogenic cell death in ESCC cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tumor samples for immunohistochemistry were obtained from 50 patients (mean age=63.1 years) with pathological stage 0-IVa ESCC who underwent NAC followed by surgery. Cell lines T.T and KYSE30 were used for the in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

The concentrations of HMGB1 were elevated in the cell line supernatants treated with 5-FU/CDDP. 5-FU/CDDP treated dendritic cells (DCs) showed a mature phenotype, and enhanced T cell proliferation capacity. In addition, mature DCs were observed in surgical specimens with a histological response after treatment with 5-FU/CDDP chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

5-FU/CDDP could induce immunogenic cell death in the tumor microenvironment of ESCC.

Impact of tumor-infiltrating LAMP-3 dendritic cells on the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the tumor environment. After acquiring antigens, DCs undergo maturation and their expression of MHC and co-stimulation molecules are enhanced, along with lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein 3 (LAMP-3), which is a specific marker of mature DCs. In general, mature DCs are usually considered to be immunostimulatory in the cancer microenvironment. In addition, it is known that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are associated with a good prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, few studies have targeted the interaction between DCs and TILs in the local immunity of ESCC. We investigated the localization of mature DCs within ESCC tissue and their relationship to TILs as well as the clinical outcome.

METHODS

We evaluated 80 ESCC patients who underwent surgical treatment without preoperative treatment, using immunohistochemistry with LAMP-3 and CD8.

RESULTS

The results showed that LAMP-3 DCs were predominantly observed in the peritumoral area. Intratumoral CD8 T cells were found to be associated with a favorable prognosis, and the number of infiltrating LAMP-3 DCs was correlated with the number of intratumoral CD8 T cells.

CONCLUSION

At the local tumor site, mature LAMP-3 DCs might be associated with increasing tumor infiltrating CD8 T cells.

TIMP-1 promotes hypermigration of Toxoplasma-infected primary dendritic cells via CD63-ITGB1-FAK signaling

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) exerts pleiotropic effects on cells including conferring metastatic properties to cancer cells. As for metastatic cells, recent paradigms of leukocyte migration attribute important roles to the amoeboid migration mode of dendritic cells (DCs) for rapid locomotion in tissues. However, the role of TIMP-1 in immune cell migration and in the context of infection has not been addressed. We report that, upon challenge with the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, primary DCs secrete TIMP-1 with implications for their migratory properties. Using a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) gene silencing approach, we demonstrate that secreted TIMP-1 and its ligand CD63 are required for the onset of hypermotility in DCs challenged with T. gondii Further, gene silencing and antibody blockade of the β1-integrin CD29 (ITGB1) inhibited DC hypermotility, indicating that signal transduction occurred via ITGB1. Finally, gene silencing of the ITGB1-associated focal adhesion kinase (FAK, also known as PTK2), as well as pharmacological antagonism of FAK and associated kinases SRC and PI3K, abrogated hypermotility. The present study identifies a TIMP-1-CD63-ITGB1-FAK signaling axis in primary DCs, which T. gondii hijacks to drive high-speed amoeboid migration of the vehicle cells that facilitate its systemic dissemination.

Co-expression of TIMP-1 and its cell surface binding partner CD63 in glioblastomas

Background

We have previously identified tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) as a prognostic marker in glioblastomas. TIMP-1 has been associated with chemotherapy resistance, and CD63, a known TIMP-1-binding protein, has been suggested to be responsible for this effect. The aim of this study was to assess CD63 expression in astrocytomas focusing on the prognostic potential of CD63 alone and in combination with TIMP-1.

Methods

CD63 expression was investigated immunohistochemically in a cohort of 111 astrocytomas and correlated to tumor grade and overall survival by semi-quantitative scoring. CD63 expression in tumor-associated microglia/macrophages was examined by double-immunofluorescence with ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1). The association between CD63 and TIMP-1 was investigated using previously obtained TIMP-1 data from our astrocytoma cohort. Cellular co-expression of TIMP-1 and CD63 as well as TIMP-1 and the tumor stem cell-related markers CD133 and Sox2 was investigated with immunofluorescence. TIMP-1 and CD63 protein interaction was detected by an oligonucleotide-based proximity ligation assay and verified using co-immunoprecipitation.

Results

The expression of CD63 was widely distributed in astrocytomas with a significantly increased level in glioblastomas. CD63 levels did not significantly correlate with patient survival at a protein level, and CD63 did not augment the prognostic significance of TIMP-1. Up to 38% of the CD63+ cells expressed Iba1; however, Iba1 did not appear to impact the prognostic value of CD63. A significant correlation was found between TIMP-1 and CD63, and the TIMP-1 and CD63 proteins were co-expressed at the cellular level and located in close molecular proximity, suggesting that TIMP-1 and CD63 could be co-players in glioblastomas. Some TIMP-1+ cells expressed CD133 and Sox2.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that CD63 is highly expressed in glioblastomas and that TIMP-1 and CD63 interact. CD63 does not add to the prognostic value of TIMP-1. Co-expression of TIMP-1 and stem cell markers as well as the wide expression of CD63 might suggest a role for TIMP-1 and CD63 in glioblastoma stemness.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4179-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

LAMP-3 (Lysosome-Associated Membrane Protein 3) Promotes the Intracellular Proliferation of Salmonella typhimurium

Lysosomes are cellular organelles containing diverse classes of catabolic enzymes that are implicated in diverse cellular processes including phagocytosis, autophagy, lipid transport, and aging. Lysosome-associated membrane proteins (LAMP-1 and LAMP-2) are major glycoproteins important for maintaining lysosomal integrity, pH, and catabolism. LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 are constitutively expressed in Salmonella-infected cells and are recruited to Salmonella-containing vacuoles (SCVs) as well as Salmonella-induced filaments (Sifs) that promote the survival and proliferation of the Salmonella. LAMP-3, also known as DC-LAMP/CD208, is a member of the LAMP family of proteins, but its role during Salmonella infection remains unclear. DNA microarray analysis identified LAMP-3 as one of the genes responding to LPS stimulation in THP-1 macrophage cells. Subsequent analyses reveal that LPS and Salmonella induced the expression of LAMP-3 at both the transcriptional and translational levels. Confocal Super resolution N-SIM imaging revealed that LAMP-3, like LAMP-2, shifts its localization from the cell surface to alongside Salmonella. Knockdown of LAMP-3 by specific siRNAs decreased the number of Salmonella recovered from the infected cells. Therefore, we conclude that LAMP-3 is induced by Salmonella infection and recruited to the Salmonella pathogen for intracellular proliferation.