RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment, only a minority of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients respond to them. Enhancing tumor immunogenicity by increasing major histocompatibility complex I (MHC-I) surface expression is a promising strategy to boost the antitumor efficacy of ICIs. METHODS: Dual luciferase reporter assays were performed to find drug candidates that can increase MHC-I expression. The effect of nilotinib on MHC-I expression was verified by dual luciferase reporter assays, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry and western blotting. The biological functions of nilotinib were evaluated through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Using RNA-seq analysis, immunofluorescence assays, western blotting, flow cytometry, rescue experiments and microarray chip assays, the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated. RESULTS: Nilotinib induces MHC-I expression in CRC cells, enhances CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity and subsequently enhances the antitumor effects of anti-PDL1 in both microsatellite instability and microsatellite stable models. Mechanistically, nilotinib promotes MHC-I mRNA expression via the cGAS-STING-NF-κB pathway and reduces MHC-I degradation by suppressing PCSK9 expression in CRC cells. PCSK9 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for CRC, with nilotinib potentially targeting PCSK9 to exert anti-CRC effects. CONCLUSION: This study reveals a previously unknown role of nilotinib in antitumor immunity by inducing MHC-I expression in CRC cells. Our findings suggest that combining nilotinib with anti-PDL1 therapy may be an effective strategy for the treatment of CRC.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales , Pirimidinas , Neoplasias Colorrectales/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Colorrectales/genética , Neoplasias Colorrectales/patología , Neoplasias Colorrectales/inmunología , Neoplasias Colorrectales/metabolismo , Humanos , Pirimidinas/farmacología , Pirimidinas/uso terapéutico , Animales , Línea Celular Tumoral , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Antígeno B7-H1/metabolismo , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/inmunología , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/efectos de los fármacos , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidad Clase I/metabolismo , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidad Clase I/genética , Ratones , Inestabilidad de Microsatélites/efectos de los fármacos , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/farmacología , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Extracellular ATP-AMP-adenosine metabolism plays a pivotal role in modulating tumor immune responses. Previous studies have shown that the conversion of ATP to AMP is primarily catalysed by Ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (ENTPD1/CD39), a widely studied ATPase, which is expressed in tumor-associated immune cells. However, the function of ATPases derived from tumor cells themselves remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of colon cancer cell-derived ATPases in the development and progression of colon cancer. METHODS: Bioinformatic and tissue microarray analyses were performed to investigate the expression of ATPase family members in colon cancer. An ATP hydrolysis assay, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and CCK8 and colony formation assays were used to determine the effects of ENTPD2 on the biological functions of colon cancer cells. Flow cytometric and RNA-seq analyses were used to explore the function of CD8+ T cells. Immunoelectron microscopy and western blotting were used to evaluate the expression of ENTPD2 in exosomes. Double-labelling immunofluorescence and western blotting were used to examine the expression of ENTPD2 in serum exosomes and colon cancer tissues. RESULTS: We found that ENTPD2, rather than the well-known ATPase CD39, is highly expressed in cancer cells and is significantly positively associated with poor patient prognosis in patients with colon cancer. The overexpression of ENTPD2 in cancer cells augmented tumor progression in immunocompetent mice by inhibiting the function of CD8+ T cells. Moreover, ENTPD2 is localized primarily within exosomes. On the one hand, exosomal ENTPD2 reduces extracellular ATP levels, thereby inhibiting P2X7R-mediated NFATc1 nuclear transcription; on the other hand, it facilitates the increased conversion of ATP to adenosine, hence promoting adenosine-A2AR pathway activity. In patients with colon cancer, the serum level of exosomal ENTPD2 is positively associated with advanced TNM stage and high tumor invasion depth. Moreover, the level of ENTPD2 in the serum exosomes of colon cancer patients is positively correlated with the ENTPD2 expression level in paired colon cancer tissues, and the ENTPD2 level in both serum exosomes and tissues is significantly negatively correlated with the ENTPD2 expression level in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that exosomal ENTPD2, originated from colon cancer cells, contributes to the immunosuppressive microenvironment by promoting ATP-adenosine metabolism. These findings highlight the importance of exosome-derived hydrolytic enzymes as independent entities in shaping the tumor immune microenvironment.
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Adenosina Trifosfatasas , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Neoplasias del Colon , Exosomas , Animales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Ratones , Adenosina Trifosfato/metabolismo , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/metabolismo , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/inmunología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Neoplasias del Colon/patología , Neoplasias del Colon/metabolismo , Exosomas/metabolismo , Reprogramación Metabólica , Receptor de Adenosina A2A , Adenosina Trifosfatasas/genética , Adenosina Trifosfatasas/metabolismoRESUMEN
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract for which treatment options remain limited. In this study, we used a dual-luciferase-based screening of an FDA-approved drug library, identifying Bazedoxifene (BZA) as an inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway. We further investigated its therapeutic effects in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model and explored its impact on gut microbiota regulation and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that BZA significantly reduced DSS-induced colitis symptoms in mice, evidenced by decreased colon length shortening, lower histological scores, and increased expression of intestinal mucosal barrier-associated proteins, such as Claudin 1, Occludin, Zo-1, Mucin 2 (Muc2), and E-cadherin. Used independently, BZA showed therapeutic effects comparable to those of infliximab (IFX). In addition, BZA modulated the abundance of gut microbiota especially Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, and influenced microbial metabolite production. Crucially, BZA's alleviation of DSS-induced colitis in mice was linked to change in gut microbiota composition, as evidenced by in vivo gut microbiota depletion and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) mice model. Molecularly, BZA inhibited STAT3 and NF-κB activation in DSS-induced colitis in mice. In general, BZA significantly reduced DSS-induced colitis in mice through modulating the gut microbiota and inhibiting STAT3 and NF-κB activation, and its independent use demonstrated a therapeutic potential comparable to IFX. This study highlights gut microbiota's role in IBD drug development, offering insights for BZA's future development and its clinical applications.
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Colitis , Sulfato de Dextran , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , FN-kappa B , Factor de Transcripción STAT3 , Transducción de Señal , Animales , FN-kappa B/metabolismo , Factor de Transcripción STAT3/metabolismo , Colitis/inducido químicamente , Colitis/tratamiento farmacológico , Colitis/metabolismo , Colitis/microbiología , Colitis/patología , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/efectos de los fármacos , Ratones , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Indoles/farmacología , Indoles/uso terapéutico , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Colon/efectos de los fármacos , Colon/patología , Colon/metabolismo , Colon/microbiología , Masculino , HumanosRESUMEN
Uncertainty exists regarding the mechanisms by which hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) control CD8+T-cell migration into tumor microenvironments. Here, we found that HIF-1α knockdown or overexpression resulted in increased or decreased CXCL9, -10, and -11 expression in vitro, respectively. Gene Set Variation Analysis revealed that elevated HIF-1α levels correlated with a poor prognosis, severe pathological stage, and an absence of CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. HIF-1α was inversely associated with pathways beneficial to anti-tumor immunotherapy and cytokine/chemokine function. In vivo, inhibiting HIF-1α or its upstream regulator BIRC2 significantly suppressed tumor growth and promoted CD8+ T-cell infiltration. CXCR3 neutralizing antibodies reversed these effects, implicating the involvement of CXCL9, -10, and -11/CXCR3 axis. The presence of HIF-1α weakened the upregulation of CXCL9, -10, and -11 by bleomycin and doxorubicin. Combining HIF-1α inhibition with bleomycin promoted CD8+ T-cell infiltration and tumor suppression in vivo. Moreover, doxorubicin could upregulate CXCL9, -10 and -11 by suppressing HIF-1α. Our findings highlight the potential of HIF-1α inhibition to improve CRC microenvironments and increase chemotherapy sensitivity.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos , Subunidad alfa del Factor 1 Inducible por Hipoxia , Humanos , Bleomicina , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Línea Celular Tumoral , Quimiocina CXCL9/genética , Quimiocina CXCL9/metabolismo , Neoplasias Colorrectales/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Colorrectales/genética , Neoplasias Colorrectales/inmunología , Neoplasias Colorrectales/metabolismo , Citocinas , Doxorrubicina/farmacología , Subunidad alfa del Factor 1 Inducible por Hipoxia/genética , Subunidad alfa del Factor 1 Inducible por Hipoxia/metabolismo , Microambiente TumoralRESUMEN
Atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) combined with bevacizumab (anti-VEGFA) is the first-line immunotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the number of patients who benefit from this regimen remains limited. Here, we combine dual PD-L1 and VEGFA blockade (DPVB) with low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT), which rapidly inflames tumors, rendering them vulnerable to immunotherapy. The combinatorial therapy exhibits superior antitumor efficacy mediated by CD8+ T cells in various preclinical HCC models. Treatment efficacy relies upon mobilizing exhausted-like CD8+ T cells (CD8+ Tex) with effector function and cytolytic capacity. Mechanistically, LDRT sensitizes tumors to DPVB by recruiting stem-like CD8+ Tpex, the progenitor exhausted CD8+ T cells, from draining lymph nodes (dLNs) into the tumor via the CXCL10/CXCR3 axis. Together, these results further support the rationale for combining LDRT with atezolizumab and bevacizumab, and its clinical translation.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Humanos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/radioterapia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamiento farmacológico , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/patología , Antígeno B7-H1 , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Bevacizumab/farmacología , Bevacizumab/uso terapéutico , Línea Celular Tumoral , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial VascularRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Autophagy is involved in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) radioresistance. Replication protein A 1 (RPA1) and RPA3, substrates of the RPA complex, are potential therapeutic targets for reversing NPC radioresistance. Nevertheless, the role of RPA in autophagy is not adequately understood. This investigation was performed to reveal the cytotoxic mechanism of a pharmacologic RPA inhibitor (RPAi) in NPC cells and the underlying mechanism by which RPAi-mediated autophagy regulates NPC radiosensitivity. METHODS AND RESULTS: We characterized a potent RPAi (HAMNO) that was substantially correlated with radiosensitivity enhancement and proliferative inhibition of in vivo and in NPC cell lines in vitro. We show that the RPAi induced autophagy at multiple levels by inducing autophagic flux, AMPK/mTOR pathway activation, and autophagy-related gene transcription by decreasing glycolytic function. We hypothesized that RPA inhibition impaired glycolysis and increased NPC dependence on autophagy. We further demonstrated that combining autophagy inhibition with chloroquine (CQ) treatment or genetic inhibition of the autophagy regulator ATG5 and RPAi treatment was more effective than either approach alone in enhancing the antitumor response of NPC to radiation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that HAMNO is a potent RPAi that enhances radiosensitivity and induces autophagy in NPC cell lines by decreasing glycolytic function and activating autophagy-related genes. We suggest a novel treatment strategy in which pharmacological inhibitors that simultaneously disrupt RPA and autophagic processes improve NPC responsiveness to radiation.
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Antineoplásicos , Autofagia , Carcinoma Nasofaríngeo , Neoplasias Nasofaríngeas , Tolerancia a Radiación , Proteína de Replicación A , Humanos , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Apoptosis , Autofagia/efectos de los fármacos , Autofagia/genética , Línea Celular Tumoral , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Carcinoma Nasofaríngeo/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Nasofaríngeo/genética , Carcinoma Nasofaríngeo/radioterapia , Neoplasias Nasofaríngeas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Nasofaríngeas/genética , Neoplasias Nasofaríngeas/radioterapia , Tolerancia a Radiación/efectos de los fármacos , Tolerancia a Radiación/genética , Proteína de Replicación A/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteína de Replicación A/genética , Proteína 5 Relacionada con la Autofagia/genéticaRESUMEN
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy worldwide nowadays and liver metastasis is the primary cause of death in patients with CRC. Although lysosomal integral membrane protein 2 (LIMP2) has been reported to play important roles in gastric cancer and prostate cancer, its role in CRC remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of LIMP2 in CRC invasion and migration, along with the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that LIMP2 levels were higher in CRC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that high expression of LIMP2 was associated with worse prognosis in CRC patients. Knockdown of LIMP2 significantly inhibited invasion, migration, and wound healing abilities of CRC cells in vitro, and inhibited CRC liver metastasis in vivo. Additionally, LIMP2 knockdown inhibited autophagy in CRC. Therefore, LIMP2 plays an important role in CRC progression. High expression of LIMP2 was associated with worse prognosis in CRC patients. Knockdown LIMP2 can effectively inhibit CRC cell migration and invasion in vitro and prevent liver metastasis in vivo. These findings suggest that LIMP2 may serve as an independent prognostic factor and potential therapeutic target for CRC.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Neoplasias de la Próstata , Masculino , Humanos , Movimiento Celular/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Proteínas de Membrana de los Lisosomas , Neoplasias Colorrectales/genéticaRESUMEN
Apolipoprotein E (apoE) has previously been reported to play vital roles in tumor progression. However, the impact of apoE on colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the role of apoE in CRC metastasis and to identify the transcription factor and receptor of apoE involved in regulation of CRC metastasis. Bioinformatic analyses were conducted to examine the expression pattern and prognosis of apolipoproteins. APOE-overexpressing cell lines were utilized to explore the effects of apoE on proliferation, migration and invasion of CRC cells. Additionally, the transcription factor and receptor of apoE were screened via bioinformatics, and further validated through knockdown experiments. We discovered that the mRNA levels of APOC1, APOC2, APOD and APOE were higher in lymphatic invasion group, and a higher apoE level indicated poorer overall survival and progression-free interval. In vitro studies demonstrated that APOE-overexpression did not affect proliferation but promoted the migration and invasion of CRC cells. We also reported that APOE-expression was modulated by the transcription factor Jun by activating the proximal promoter region of APOE, and APOE-overexpression reversed the metastasis suppression of JUN knockdown. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis suggested an interaction between apoE and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1). LRP1 was highly expressed in both the lymphatic invasion group and the APOEHigh group. Additionally, we found that APOE-overexpression upregulated LRP1 protein levels, and LRP1 knockdown attenuated the metastasis-promoting function of APOE. Overall, our study suggests that the Jun-APOE-LRP1 axis contributes to tumor metastasis in CRC.
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Apolipoproteínas E , Neoplasias Colorrectales , Humanos , Apolipoproteínas E/metabolismo , Proteína 1 Relacionada con Receptor de Lipoproteína de Baja Densidad/genética , Factores de Transcripción/metabolismo , Movimiento Celular/genética , Proteínas Portadoras , Neoplasias Colorrectales/genéticaRESUMEN
4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor herbicides are widely used in modern agriculture. Plant root exudates (REs) play an important role in the adsorption, degradation, migration and transformation of pesticides in soil. In the present study, the structural affinity and interaction mechanism between four HPPD inhibitors (HPPDi) and soybean REs were investigated via multispectral technologies and two-dimensional correlation analysis (2D-COS). UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra showed that mesotrione, tembotrione, sulcotrione and topramezone effectively quench the intrinsic fluorescence of soybean REs through static quenching. The binding constant Ka revealed that the binding ability of HPPDi to soybean REs takes the following order: mesotrione > tembotrione > sulcotrione > topramezone. According to the thermodynamic parameters, the main interaction force between tembotrione, sulcotrione, topramezone and soybean REs is electrostatic interaction, while the main interaction force is a hydrogen bond or van der Waals force between mesotrione and soybean REs. The conformational changes of REs were attributed to HPPDi by 3D spectral evaluation. FTIR spectroscopy and 2D-COS analysis suggested that soybean REs mainly formed stable complexes with HPPDi through functional groups such as carbonyl, carboxyl, methoxy and nitrate, and the first binding groups were carbonyl and carboxyl. These results provide helpful information for the adsorption and desorption process of environmental pollutants on the surface of plants and soil.
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Herbicidas , 4-Hidroxifenilpiruvato Dioxigenasa/antagonistas & inhibidores , 4-Hidroxifenilpiruvato Dioxigenasa/metabolismo , Exudados y Transudados/metabolismo , Herbicidas/farmacología , Herbicidas/metabolismo , Glycine maxRESUMEN
Despite advances in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment, most advanced CRC patients who experience disease progression after chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy face a situation in which there is no available medicine. Thus, new therapeutic drugs for CRC are urgently needed. Studies have shown that cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) has a vital role in tumor development and is a possible target for CRC therapy. We found that Evacetrapib, a CETP inhibitor, suppressed CRC cell growth by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and activating the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway in CRC. Therefore, Evacetrapib displays an anti-cancer effect and is a possible option for treating CRC.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales , Vía de Señalización Wnt , Benzodiazepinas , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular , Neoplasias Colorrectales/patología , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Sistema de Señalización de MAP Quinasas , beta Catenina/metabolismoRESUMEN
4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor is one of the important herbicides to solve the problem of weed control. With the widespread and continued use of HPPD inhibitor (HPPDi) herbicides, it may inevitably put pressure on the environment. Humic acid (HA) can effectively interact with pesticides through sorption or covalent bond formation and promote the degradation of pesticides, which can reduce the risk of pesticides in the environment. In the present study, the interactions of four HPPDi herbicides (sulcotrione, tembotrione, topramezone and mesotrione) with HA were reported and comparative assessment of the binding using multispectral technology, density functional theory (DFT) calculation and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS). Time-resolved measurements and the Stern-Volmer constant at different temperature verified that HPPDi can bind with HA through the static quenching mechanism. From the thermodynamic parameters, the interaction force between HA and sulcotrione, tembotrione, topramezone and mesotrione was provided by electrostatic force. DFT, binding constant and three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence peak variation all indicated that the order of the binding ability of the four HPPDi and HA was mesotrione > tembotrione > sulcotrione > topramezone. According to dynamic light scattering (DLS), pH 7 is most conducive to the formation of HA-HPPDi complexes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 2D-COS showed that HA combined with HPPDi through aromatic C-H, CO and C-X, and the first binding group to HA was almost all CO. Sulcotrione, tembotrione, topramezone and mesotrione quench the endogenous fluorescence of HA by a static quenching mechanism and bind to HA through electrostatic interaction to form a complex. These results provide important insights into the combination of environmental pollutants with HA.
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4-Hidroxifenilpiruvato Dioxigenasa , Herbicidas , 4-Hidroxifenilpiruvato Dioxigenasa/metabolismo , Herbicidas/metabolismo , Sustancias Húmicas , Espectroscopía Infrarroja por Transformada de Fourier , Control de MalezasRESUMEN
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common gastrointestinal cancer with high incidence and mortality rates. CRC may be associated with regulation of circulating nucleotides. This study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of nucleotide-metabolizing enzymes (ATPase and AMPase) in patients with CRC and to explore the clinical diagnostic value of these enzymes. The gene set variation analysis (GSVA) score of the ATP-adenosine signature was calculated using tumor samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). ATP-adenosine signaling plays a central role in CRC progression. A total of 135 subjects, including 87 patients with CRC and 48 healthy controls, were included. The serum levels of ATPase and AMPase in the CRC group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, ATP and AMP hydrolysis levels significantly increased in the advanced CRC group (P < 0.05). ATP and AMP hydrolysis was decreased by the ENTPDase inhibitors (POM-1 and ARL67156) and CD73 inhibitor (APCP). The sensitivities of ATPase and AMPase were 95.4% and 75.9%, respectively, which were higher than those of CEA (67.8%) and CA19-9 (72.4%). The specificities of ATPase and AMPase were 69.9% and 73.9%, respectively, which were higher than that of CA19-9 (47.8%). The combination of CEA, ATPase, and AMPase demonstrated high sensitivity (92.0%) and specificity (87.0%). Collectively, ATPase and AMPase activities are upregulated in CRC with considerable diagnostic significance. The combination of CEA, ATPase, and AMPase may provide a novel approach for CRC screening.
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Adenosina Monofosfato , Adenosina Trifosfatasas , Adenosina Trifosfato , Neoplasias Colorrectales , Nucleotidasas , Adenosina Monofosfato/sangre , Adenosina Trifosfatasas/sangre , Adenosina Trifosfatasas/genética , Adenosina Trifosfato/sangre , Biomarcadores de Tumor/sangre , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Antígeno CA-19-9/sangre , Antígeno Carcinoembrionario/metabolismo , Neoplasias Colorrectales/sangre , Neoplasias Colorrectales/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Colorrectales/enzimología , Neoplasias Colorrectales/genética , Humanos , Nucleotidasas/sangre , Nucleotidasas/genéticaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The emergence of nonresponse or resistance to traditional chemotherapeutic agents is one of the main challenges of colorectal cancer (CRC) therapies. Thus, novel therapeutic drugs that can improve the clinical outcomes of CRC patients are urgently needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of pyrimethamine in CRC. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we assessed the role of pyrimethamine on CRC cell growth by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Cell cycle distribution and cellular senescence were determined by flow cytometry and senescence-associated ß-galactosidase staining respectively. RNA-seq analysis and western blotting were used to investigate the potential pathways of pyrimethamine in CRC development. Moreover, animal experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of pyrimethamine in vivo. Our results demonstrated that pyrimethamine could inhibit cell growth by inducing S phase arrest followed by cellular senescence in CRC cells, and the p38MAPK-p53 axis was probably involved in that effect. In addition, pyrimethamine could also boost CD8+ T-cell mediated cytotoxicity and exert antitumor activity in vivo. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that pyrimethamine may be a promising candidate agent for CRC treatment.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales , Pirimetamina , Animales , Apoptosis , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Ciclo Celular , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular , Senescencia Celular , Neoplasias Colorrectales/metabolismo , Pirimetamina/farmacología , Pirimetamina/uso terapéutico , Linfocitos T/metabolismoRESUMEN
Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) spore can serve as an ideal vehicle for expressing heterologous antigens, and elicit specific immune responses by oral administration. In previous studies, we successfully constructed the recombinant B. subtilis spores expressing cysteine protease of Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis, B.s-CsCP), and confirmed that oral administration of B.s-CsCP could elicit good protective immune responses in mice. In this study, Gram staining was used to observe the morphology of B.s-CsCP in different form, and the storage of liquid spores and lyophilized spores at different temperatures was compared. The mice were orally immunized with three different doses of spores (2×108, 1×109, and 5×109 CFU/day) for three times in total at biweekly interval. Then, antibody levels of mice were measured, the safety of spores was evaluated, and the changes of gut microbiota after oral gavage of spores (1×109 dose) were investigated. Results showed that B. subtilis was a typical Gram-positive bacterium, and its spore had good resistance to chemical dye. Liquid B. subtilis spores resuspended in sterile water could be stored for a long time at 4 °C or below, while lyophilized spores could be well stored even at RT and better at lower temperatures. Oral administration of B. subtilis spores to mice could stimulate both local mucosal and systemic immune responses in a dose-dependent manner without toxic side effects. Besides, beneficial bacteria producing butyrate such as Odoribacter were increased, while potential pathogens such as Escherichia-Shigella were decreased in mice intestine. Therefore, our work further confirmed that B. subtilis spores expressing CsCP could be a promising oral vaccine against C. sinensis with the advantages of stability, safety, easy storage, and promotion of intestinal health.Key Points⢠Recombinant CsCP B. subtilis spores could be easily preserved in either liquid or freeze-dried state.⢠Oral immunization of recombinant spores in mice could increase both local and system immune levels in a dose-dependent manner.⢠Oral administration of recombinant spores increased the number of beneficial bacteria and reduced the number of harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract of mice.
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Clonorquiasis , Clonorchis sinensis , Proteasas de Cisteína , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Animales , Anticuerpos Antihelmínticos , Bacillus subtilis/genética , Clonorquiasis/prevención & control , Clonorchis sinensis/genética , Ratones , Esporas BacterianasRESUMEN
Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis), an important fishborne zoonotic parasite threatening public health, is of major socioeconomic importance in epidemic areas. Effective strategies are still urgently expected to prevent against C. sinensis infection. In the present study, paramyosin of C. sinensis (CsPmy) was stably and abundantly expressed on the surface of Bacillus subtilis spores. The recombinant spores (B.s-CotC-CsPmy) were incorporated in the basal pellets diet in three different dosages (1 × 105, 1 × 108, 1 × 1011 CFU/g pellets) and orally administrated to grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The immune responses and intestinal microbiota in the treated grass carp were investigated. Results showed that specific anti-CsPmy IgM levels in sera, skin mucus, bile, and intestinal mucus, as well as mRNA levels of IgM and IgZ in the spleen and head kidney, were significantly increased in B.s-CotC-CsPmy-1011 group. Besides, transcripts levels of IL-8 and TNF-αin the spleen and head kidney were also significantly elevated than the control groups. Moreover, mRNA levels of tight junction proteins in the intestines of B.s-CotC-CsPmy-1011 group increased. Potential pathogenetic bacteria with lower abundance and higher abundances of candidate probiotics and bacteria associated with digestion in 1 × 1011 CFU/g B.s-CotC-CsPmy spores administrated fishes could be detected compared with control group. The amount of metacercaria in per gram fish flesh was statistically decreased in 1 × 1011 CFU/g B.s-CotC-CsPmy spores orally immunized group. Our work demonstrated that B. subtilis spores presenting CsPmy on the surface could be a promising effective, safe, and needle-free candidate vaccine against C. sinensis infection for grass carp.
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Bacillus subtilis , Carpas/parasitología , Clonorquiasis/veterinaria , Esporas Bacterianas , Tropomiosina/inmunología , Vacunas/administración & dosificación , Administración Oral , Alimentación Animal/microbiología , Animales , Anticuerpos Antihelmínticos/sangre , Carpas/inmunología , Cercarias/inmunología , Clonorquiasis/inmunología , Clonorquiasis/prevención & control , Clonorchis sinensis , Enfermedades de los Peces/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Peces/prevención & control , Inmunoglobulina M/inmunología , Intestinos/inmunología , Tropomiosina/genética , Vacunas/inmunologíaRESUMEN
CD8+ T cells are thought to be the primary cytotoxic lymphocytes exerting antitumor effects. However, few studies have focused on the antitumor effects of CD8+ T cell-mediated humoral immunity or on interactions between CD8+ T cells and B cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that the frequency of IL-21-producing CD8+CXCR5+ T cells was higher in HCC tumor tissue than in peritumoral tissue or peripheral blood from the same patients or in blood from healthy donors. Moreover, CD8+CXCR5+ T cells migrated in response to supernatants from primary HCC (HCC-SN) cells, and HCC-SN cells also powerfully induced CXCR5 expression in CD8+ T cells and IL-21 expression in CD8+CXCR5+ T cells. CD8+CXCR5+ T cells from HCC patients, but not those from healthy individuals, stimulated CD19+ B cells to differentiate into IgG-producing plasmablasts. These findings reveal that CD8+CXCR5+ T cells strongly infiltrate HCC tumors, and their infiltration is predictive of a better prognosis. Surprisingly, moreover, CD8+CXCR5+ T cells produced IL-21, which induced B cells to differentiate into IgG-producing plasmablasts and to play a key role in humoral immunity in HCC.
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Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/fisiología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/inmunología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/inmunología , Receptores CXCR5/metabolismo , Anciano , Femenino , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Interleucinas/genética , Interleucinas/metabolismo , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Receptores CXCR5/genéticaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Regulatory B (Breg) cells represent one of the B cell subsets that infiltrate solid tumors and exhibit distinct phenotypes in different tumor microenvironments. However, the phenotype, function and clinical relevance of Breg cells in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are presently unknown. METHODS: Flow cytometry analyses were performed to determine the levels, phenotypes and functions of TIM-1+Breg cells in samples from 51 patients with HCC. Kaplan-Meier plots for overall survival and disease-free survival were generated using the log-rank test. TIM-1+Breg cells and CD8+ T cells were isolated, stimulated and/or cultured in vitro for functional assays. Exosomes and B cells were isolated and cultured in vitro for TIM-1+Breg cell expansion assays. RESULTS: Patients with HCC showed a significantly higher TIM-1+Breg cell infiltration in their tumor tissue compared with the paired peritumoral tissue. The infiltrating TIM-1+Breg cells showed a CD5highCD24-CD27-/+CD38+/high phenotype, expressed high levels of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 and exhibited strong suppressive activity against CD8+ T cells. B cells activated by tumor-derived exosomes strongly expressed TIM-1 protein and were equipped with suppressive activity against CD8+ T cells similar to TIM-1+Breg cells isolated from HCC tumor tissue. Moreover, the accumulation of TIM-1+Breg cells in tumors was associated with advanced disease stage, predicted early recurrence in HCC and reduced HCC patient survival. Exosome-derived HMGB1 activated B cells and promoted TIM-1+Breg cell expansion via the Toll like receptor (TLR) 2/4 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Our results illuminate a novel mechanism of TIM-1+Breg cell-mediated immune escape in HCC and provide functional evidence for the use of these novel exosomal HMGB1-TLR2/4-MAPK pathways to prevent and to treat this immune tolerance feature of HCC.
Asunto(s)
Linfocitos B Reguladores/inmunología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/etiología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Exosomas/metabolismo , Proteína HMGB1/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/etiología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Escape del Tumor , Linfocitos B Reguladores/metabolismo , Biomarcadores , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/mortalidad , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Citocinas/metabolismo , Técnica del Anticuerpo Fluorescente , Receptor Celular 1 del Virus de la Hepatitis A , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Inmunomodulación , Inmunofenotipificación , Neoplasias Hepáticas/mortalidad , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Activación de Linfocitos/inmunología , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/inmunología , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinasas Activadas por Mitógenos/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal , Receptores Toll-Like/metabolismo , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Clonorchiasis caused by Clonorchis sinensis has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Effective prevention strategies are urgently needed to control this food-borne infectious disease. Previous studies indicated that paramyosin of C. sinensis (CsPmy) is a potential vaccine candidate. METHODS: We constructed a recombinant plasmid of PEB03-CotC-CsPmy, transformed it into Bacillus subtilis WB600 strain (B.s-CotC-CsPmy), and confirmed CsPmy expression on the spore surface by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay. The immune response and protective efficacy of the recombinant spore were investigated in BALB/c mice after intragastrical or intraperitoneal immunization. Additionally, biochemical enzyme activities in sera, the intestinal histopathology and gut microflora of spore-treated mice were investigated. RESULTS: CsPmy was successfully expressed on the spore surface and the fusion protein on the spore surface with thermostability. Specific IgG in sera and intestinal mucus were increased after intraperitoneal and intragastrical immunization. The sIgA level in intestinal mucus, feces and bile of B.s-CotC-CsPmy orally treated mice were also significantly raised. Furthermore, numerous IgA-secreting cells were detected in intestinal mucosa of intragastrically immunized mice. No inflammatory injury was observed in the intestinal tissues and there was no significant difference in levels of enzyme-indicated liver function among the groups. Additionally, the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota were not changed after oral immunization. Intragastric and intraperitoneal immunization of B.s-CotC-CsPmy spores in mice resulted in egg reduction rates of 48.3 and 51.2% after challenge infection, respectively. Liver fibrosis degree in B.s-CotC-CsPmy spores treated groups was also significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: CsPmy expressed on the spore surface maintained its immunogenicity. Both intragastrical and intraperitoneal immunization with B.s-CotC-CsPmy spores induced systemic and local mucosal immune response in mice. Although both intragastric and intraperitoneal immunization elicited a similar protective effect, intragastric immunization induced stronger mucosal immune response without side effects to the liver, intestine and gut microbiota, compared with intraperitoneal immunization. Oral immunization with B. subtilis spore expressing CsPmy on the surface was a promising, safe and needle-free vaccination strategy against clonorchiasis.
Asunto(s)
Bacillus subtilis/genética , Clonorquiasis/prevención & control , Clonorchis sinensis/inmunología , Portadores de Fármacos , Esporas Bacterianas/genética , Tropomiosina/inmunología , Vacunas Sintéticas/inmunología , Administración Oral , Animales , Anticuerpos Antihelmínticos/análisis , Bilis/química , Análisis Químico de la Sangre , Técnicas de Visualización de Superficie Celular , Clonorchis sinensis/genética , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Heces/química , Histocitoquímica , Inmunoglobulina A Secretora/análisis , Inyecciones Intraperitoneales , Mucosa Intestinal/inmunología , Intestinos/inmunología , Intestinos/patología , Cirrosis Hepática/patología , Cirrosis Hepática/prevención & control , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Moco/química , Recuento de Huevos de Parásitos , Resultado del Tratamiento , Tropomiosina/genética , Vacunas Sintéticas/administración & dosificación , Vacunas Sintéticas/genéticaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) is the most widespread human liver fluke in East Asia including China and Korea. Clonorchiasis as a neglected tropical zoonosis, leads to serious economic and public health burden in China. There are considerable evidences for an etiological relation between chronic clonorchiasis and liver fibrosis in human beings. Liver fibrosis is a highly conserved and over-protected response to hepatic tissue injury. Immune cells including CD4+ T cell as well as dendritic cell (DC), and pro-fibrogenic cytokines like interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-13 have been identified as vital manipulators in liver fibrogenesis. Our previous studies had a mere glimpse of T helper type 2 (Th2) dominant immune responses as key players in liver fibrosis induced by C. sinensis infection, but little is known about the involved mechanisms in this pathological process. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: By flow cytometry (FACS), adult-derived total proteins of C. sinensis (CsTPs) down-regulated the expression of surface markers CD80, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced DC. ELISA results demonstrated that CsTPs inhibited IL-12p70 release from LPS-treated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC). IL-10 level increased in a time-dependent manner in LPS-treated BMDCs after incubation with CsTPs. CD4+ T cells incubated with LPS-treated BMDCs plus CsTPs could significantly elevate IL-4 level by ELISA. Meanwhile, elevated expression of pro-fibrogenic mediators including IL-13 and IL-4 were detected in a co-culture system of LPS-activated BMDCs and naive T cells containing CsTPs. In vivo, CsTPs-immunized mice enhanced expression of type 2 cytokines IL-13, IL-10 and IL-4 in both splenocytes and hepatic tissue. Exposure of BMDCs to CsTPs activated expression of mannose receptor (MR) but not toll like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, C-type lectin receptor DC-SIGN and Dectin-2 on the cell surface by RT-PCR and FACS. Blockade of MR almost completely reversed the capacity of CsTPs to suppress LPS-induced BMDCs surface markers CD80, CD86 and MHC-II expression, and further made these BMDCs fail to induce a Th2-skewed response as well as Th2 cell-associated cytokines IL-13 and IL-4 release in vitro. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Collectively, we validated that CsTPs could suppress the maturation of BMDCs in the presence of LPS via binding MR, and showed that the CsTPs-pulsed BMDCs actively polarized naive T helper cells to Th2 cells though the production of IL-10 instead of IL-12. CsTPs endowed host with the capacity to facilitate Th2 cytokines production including IL-13 and IL-4 in vitro and vivo. The study might provide useful information for developing potential therapeutic targets against the disease.
Asunto(s)
Clonorquiasis/inmunología , Clonorchis sinensis/inmunología , Citocinas/inmunología , Células Dendríticas/inmunología , Lectinas Tipo C/metabolismo , Lectinas de Unión a Manosa/metabolismo , Receptores de Superficie Celular/metabolismo , Células Th2/inmunología , Animales , Femenino , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidad Clase II/metabolismo , Lipopolisacáridos/farmacología , Receptor de Manosa , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB CRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Clonorchis sinensis, the causative agent of clonorchiasis, is classified as one of the most neglected tropical diseases and affects more than 15 million people globally. This hepatobiliary disease is highly associated with cholangiocarcinoma. As key molecules in the infectivity and subsistence of trematodes, glycolytic enzymes have been targets for drug and vaccine development. Clonorchis sinensis pyruvate kinase (CsPK), a crucial glycolytic enzyme, was characterized in this research. RESULTS: Differences were observed in the sequences and spatial structures of CsPK and PKs from humans, rats, mice and rabbits. CsPK possessed a characteristic active site signature (IKLIAKIENHEGV) and some unique sites but lacked the N-terminal domain. The predicted subunit molecular mass (Mr) of CsPK was 53.1 kDa. Recombinant CsPK (rCsPK) was a homopentamer with a Mr. of approximately 290 kDa by both native PAGE and gel filtration chromatography. Significant differences in the protein and mRNA levels of CsPK were observed among four life stages of C. sinensis (egg, adult worm, excysted metacercaria and metacercaria), suggesting that these developmental stages may be associated with diverse energy demands. CsPK was widely distributed in adult worms. Moreover, an intense Th1-biased immune response was persistently elicited in rats immunized with rCsPK. Also, rat anti-rCsPK sera suppressed C. sinensis adult subsistence both in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: The sequences and spatial structures, molecular mass, and expression profile of CsPK have been characterized. rCsPK was indicated to be a homopentamer. Rat anti-rCsPK sera suppressed C. sinensis adult subsistence both in vivo and in vitro. CsPK is worthy of further study as a promising target for drug and vaccine development.