Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on COPD exacerbations in Japanese patients: a retrospective study.

Various infection control measures implemented during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have reduced the number of respiratory infections, which are the most common cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. Here, we investigated whether infectious disease prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced COPD exacerbations and the characteristics of patients exhibiting exacerbations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We included outpatients and inpatients with moderate or severe COPD exacerbations who required systemic steroids between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2022. Their medical records were retrospectively compared and analyzed in 2-year intervals (before and during the COVID-19 pandemic). During the 4-year observation period, 70,847 outpatients and 2,772 inpatients were enrolled; 55 COPD exacerbations were recorded. The number of COPD exacerbations decreased from 36 before to 19 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding the characteristics of patients with exacerbations, the % forced expiratory volume in one second (52.3% vs. 38.6%, P = 0.0224) and body mass index (BMI) (22.5 vs. 19.3, P = 0.0127) were significantly lower during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic. The number of COPD exacerbations during the pandemic decreased. Additionally, the tendency for a reduction in COPD exacerbation was greatest in patients with preserved lung function or above-standard BMI patients.

Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot Placement for Hepatic Abscess and Bronchobiliary Fistula Following Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

A bronchobiliary fistula (BBF) is an uncommon but severe complication after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, the definitive salvage methods are controversial. We herein report a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatic abscess and BBF following RFA. We also review previous reports of BBF after RFA. The patient was a man in his 70s who underwent RFA for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in the subphrenic area. Despite percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage, bilioptysis persisted. Finally, the BBF was occluded with an endobronchial Watanabe spigot under fiber-optic bronchoscopy. Placing an endobronchial Watanabe spigot should be considered as a salvage therapy for refractory BBF following RFA.

Presence of spontaneous epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in esophageal cancer.

Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) refers to the reversible cellular transition between epithelial and mesenchymal status. Spontaneous EMP is also reported in breast and prostate cancer, leading to the acquisition of stem-cell properties and chemoresistance. However, the presence of spontaneous EMP is still not reported in esophageal cancer. We screened 11 esophageal squamous cancer cell (ESCC) cell lines by CD44 isoform expression. KYSE520 was found to comprise heterogenous populations consisting of CD44v+ and CD44v- subpopulations. CD44v+ and CD44v- cells showed the expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers, respectively. Single-cell sorting of CD44v+ and CD44v- cells revealed both cells gave rise to cell populations consisting of CD44v+ and CD44v- cells, indicating CD44v+ epithelial-like and CD44v- mesenchymal-like cells can generate counterparts, respectively. The ablation of Epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 (ESRP1), a major regulator of CD44 mRNA splicing, resulted in the shift from CD44v+ to CD44v- cells in KYSE520. However, the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers or transcriptional factors were almost not affected, suggesting ESRP1 functions downstream of EMP. Our results revealed the presence of spontaneous EMP in esophageal cancer and KYSE520 is useful model to understand spontaneous EMP.

Zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) plays a crucial role in the maintenance of lung cancer stem cells resistant to gefitinib.

BACKGROUND: Zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is an important regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and is involved in the maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) via miR-200c and BMI1 pathway. Recent studies revealed that ZEB1 contributes to the EMT-mediated acquired resistance to gefitinib in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the precise role of ZEB1 in the maintenance of lung CSCs that lead to acquired resistance to gefitinib remains unclear. METHODS: PC9 and HCC827 NSCLC cell lines were treated with high concentrations of gefitinib, and surviving cells were referred to as "gefitinib-resistant persisters" (GRPs). ZEB1 knockdown or overexpression was performed to determine the biological significance of ZEB1 in the CSC features of GRPs, and animal models were studied for in vivo validation. Expression of ZEB1, BMI1, and ALDH1A1 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in tumor specimens from NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to gefitinib. RESULTS: GRPs had characteristic features of mesenchymal and CSC phenotypes with high expression of ZEB1 and BMI1, and decreased miR-200c, in vitro and in vivo. ZEB1 silencing attenuated the suppression of miR-200c, resulting in the reduction in BMI1 and reversed the mesenchymal and CSC features of GRPs. Furthermore, ZEB1 overexpression induced EMT and increased the levels of CD133- and BMI1-positive GRPs in vitro and gefitinib resistance in vivo. Finally, ZEB1, BMI1, and ALDH1A1 were highly expressed in tumor specimens from EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with gefitinib resistance. CONCLUSIONS: ZEB1 plays an important role in gefitinib-resistant lung CSCs with EMT features via regulation of miR-200c and BMI1.

Nintedanib inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in A549 alveolar epithelial cells through regulation of the TGF-ß/Smad pathway.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disorder. Recent studies have suggested that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells influences development of pulmonary fibrosis, which is mediated by transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß). Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), an important proinflammatory cytokine in IPF, has been shown to enhance TGF-ß-induced EMT. Nintedanib, a multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is currently used to treat IPF, has been shown to suppress EMT in various cancer cell lines. However, the mechanism of EMT inhibition by nintedanib and its effect on TGF-ß and TNF-α signaling pathways in alveolar epithelial cells have not been fully elucidated. METHODS: A549 alveolar epithelial cells were stimulated with TGF-ß2 and TNF-α, and the effects of nintedanib on global gene expression were evaluated using microarray analysis. Furthermore, Smad2/3 phosphorylation was assessed using western blotting. RESULTS: We found that in A549 cells, TGF-ß2 and TNF-α treatment induces EMT, which was inhibited by nintedanib. Gene ontology analysis showed that nintedanib significantly attenuates the gene expression of EMT-related cellular pathways and the TGF-ß signaling pathway, but not in the TNF-α-mediated signaling pathway. Furthermore, hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that EMT-related genes were attenuated in nintedanib-treated cells. Additionally, nintedanib was found to markedly suppress phosphorylation of Smad2/3. CONCLUSION: Nintedanib inhibits EMT by mediating EMT-related gene expression and the TGF-ß/Smad pathway in A549 alveolar epithelial cells.

SETD1A protects from senescence through regulation of the mitotic gene expression program.

SETD1A, a Set1/COMPASS family member maintaining histone-H3-lysine-4 (H3K4) methylation on transcriptionally active promoters, is overexpressed in breast cancer. Here, we show that SETD1A supports mitotic processes and consequentially, its knockdown induces senescence. SETD1A, through promoter H3K4 methylation, regulates several genes orchestrating mitosis and DNA-damage responses, and its depletion causes chromosome misalignment and segregation defects. Cell cycle arrest in SETD1A knockdown senescent cells is independent of mutations in p53, RB and p16, known senescence mediators; instead, it is sustained through transcriptional suppression of SKP2, which degrades p27 and p21. Rare cells escaping senescence by restoring SKP2 expression display genomic instability. In > 200 cancer cell lines and in primary circulating tumor cells, SETD1A expression correlates with genes promoting mitosis and cell cycle suggesting a broad role in suppressing senescence induced by aberrant mitosis. Thus, SETD1A is essential to maintain mitosis and proliferation and its suppression unleashes the tumor suppressive effects of senescence.

Role of FBXW7 in the quiescence of gefitinib-resistant lung cancer stem cells in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.

Several recent studies suggest that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are involved in intrinsic resistance to cancer treatment. Maintenance of quiescence is crucial for establishing resistance of CSCs to cancer therapeutics. F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 7 (FBXW7) is a ubiquitin ligase that regulates quiescence by targeting the c-MYC protein for ubiquitination. We previously reported that gefitinib-resistant persisters (GRPs) in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells highly expressed octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct-4) as well as the lung CSC marker CD133, and they exhibited distinctive features of the CSC phenotype. However, the role of FBXW7 in lung CSCs and their resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in NSCLC is not fully understood. In this study, we developed GRPs from the two NSCLC cell lines PC9 and HCC827, which express an EGFR exon 19 deletion mutation, by treatment with a high concentration of gefitinib. The GRPs from both PC9 and HCC827 cells expressed high levels of CD133 and FBXW7, but low levels of c-MYC. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that the majority of GRPs existed in the G0/G1 phase. Knockdown of the FBXW7 gene significantly reduced the cell number of CD133-positive GRPs and reversed the cell population in the G0/G1-phase. We also found that FBXW7 expression in CD133-positive cells was increased and c-MYC expression was decreased in gefitinib-resistant tumors of PC9 cells in mice and in 9 out of 14 tumor specimens from EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to gefitinib. These findings suggest that FBXW7 plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of quiescence in gefitinib-resistant lung CSCs in EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC.

Genomic Instability Is Induced by Persistent Proliferation of Cells Undergoing Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition.

TGF-ß secreted by tumor stroma induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells, a reversible phenotype linked to cancer progression and drug resistance. However, exposure to stromal signals may also lead to heritable changes in cancer cells, which are poorly understood. We show that epithelial cells failing to undergo proliferation arrest during TGF-ß-induced EMT sustain mitotic abnormalities due to failed cytokinesis, resulting in aneuploidy. This genomic instability is associated with the suppression of multiple nuclear envelope proteins implicated in mitotic regulation and is phenocopied by modulating the expression of LaminB1. While TGF-ß-induced mitotic defects in proliferating cells are reversible upon its withdrawal, the acquired genomic abnormalities persist, leading to increased tumorigenic phenotypes. In metastatic breast cancer patients, increased mesenchymal marker expression within single circulating tumor cells is correlated with genomic instability. These observations identify a mechanism whereby microenvironment-derived signals trigger heritable genetic changes within cancer cells, contributing to tumor evolution.

SETD1A modulates cell cycle progression through a miRNA network that regulates p53 target genes.

Expression of the p53-inducible antiproliferative gene BTG2 is suppressed in many cancers in the absence of inactivating gene mutations, suggesting alternative mechanisms of silencing. Using a shRNA screen targeting 43 histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs), we show that SETD1A suppresses BTG2 expression through its induction of several BTG2-targeting miRNAs. This indirect but highly specific mechanism, by which a chromatin regulator that mediates transcriptional activating marks can lead to the downregulation of a critical effector gene, is shared with multiple genes in the p53 pathway. Through such miRNA-dependent effects, SETD1A regulates cell cycle progression in vitro and modulates tumorigenesis in mouse xenograft models. Together, these observations help explain the remarkably specific genetic consequences associated with alterations in generic chromatin modulators in cancer.

Pneumothorax developing for the first time in a 73-year-old woman diagnosed with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in the elderly commonly occurs due to underlying pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, etc. A 73-year-old woman developed pneumothorax for the first time that was a clinical clue to a diagnosis of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS), an autosomal dominant condition characterized by fibrofolliculomas of the skin, renal tumors and multiple lung cysts predisposing to pneumothorax. Although BHDS patients frequently develop pneumothorax during their twenties to forties, the present case indicates that BHDS should be considered as an underlying cause of pneumothorax in the elderly with undisclosed BHDS.

xCT inhibition depletes CD44v-expressing tumor cells that are resistant to EGFR-targeted therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The targeting of antioxidant systems that allow stem-like cancer cells to avoid the adverse consequences of oxidative stress might be expected to improve the efficacy of cancer treatment. Here, we show that head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells that express variant isoforms of CD44 (CD44v) rely on the activity of the cystine transporter subunit xCT for control of their redox status. xCT inhibition selectively induces apoptosis in CD44v-expressing tumor cells without affecting CD44v-negative differentiated cells in the same tumor. In contrast to CD44v-expressing undifferentiated cells, CD44v-negative differentiated cells manifest EGF receptor (EGFR) activation and rely on EGFR activity for their survival. Combined treatment with inhibitors of xCT-dependent cystine transport and of EGFR resulted in a synergistic reduction of EGFR-expressing HNSCC tumor growth. Thus, xCT-targeted therapy may deplete CD44v-expressing undifferentiated HNSCC cells and concurrently sensitize the remaining differentiating cells to available treatments including EGFR-targeted therapy.

Alternative splicing of CD44 mRNA by ESRP1 enhances lung colonization of metastatic cancer cell.

In cancer metastasis, various environmental stressors attack the disseminating cells. The successful colonization of cancer cells in secondary sites therefore requires the ability of the cells to avoid the consequences of such exposure to the stressors. Here we show that orthotopic transplantation of a CD44 variant isoform-expressing (CD44v(+)) subpopulation of 4T1 breast cancer cells, but not that of a CD44v(-) subpopulation, in mice results in efficient lung metastasis accompanied by expansion of stem-like cancer cells. Such metastasis is dependent on the activity of the cystine transporter xCT, and the stability of this protein is controlled by CD44v. We find that epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 regulates the expression of CD44v, and knockdown of epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 in CD44v(+) cells results in an isoform switch from CD44v to CD44 standard (CD44s), leading to reduced cell surface expression of xCT and suppression of lung colonization. The epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1-CD44v-xCT axis is thus a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of metastasis.

Modulation of glucose metabolism by CD44 contributes to antioxidant status and drug resistance in cancer cells.

An increased glycolytic flux accompanied by activation of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is implicated in chemoresistance of cancer cells. In this study, we found that CD44, a cell surface marker for cancer stem cells, interacts with pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and thereby enhances the glycolytic phenotype of cancer cells that are either deficient in p53 or exposed to hypoxia. CD44 ablation by RNA interference increased metabolic flux to mitochondrial respiration and concomitantly inhibited entry into glycolysis and the PPP. Such metabolic changes induced by CD44 ablation resulted in marked depletion of cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) and increased the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species in glycolytic cancer cells. Furthermore, CD44 ablation enhanced the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs in p53-deficient or hypoxic cancer cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that metabolic modulation by CD44 is a potential therapeutic target for glycolytic cancer cells that manifest drug resistance.

Hochuekkito (TJ-41), a Kampo Formula, Ameliorates Cachexia Induced by Colon 26 Adenocarcinoma in Mice.

Cachexia, a major cause of cancer-related death, is characterized by depletion of muscle and fat tissues, anorexia, asthenia, and hypoglycemia. Recent studies indicate that secretions of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) play a crucial role in cachexia development, and that these cytokines are secreted from not only cancer cells but also host cells such as macrophages. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of hochuekkito, a Kampo formula, on cachexia induced by colon 26 adenocarcinoma in mice. Hochuekkito treatment did not inhibit tumor growth, but significantly attenuated the reduction in carcass weight, food and water intake, weight of the gastrocnemius muscle and fat tissue around the testes, and decrease of serum triglyceride level compared with controls. Furthermore, hochuekkito treatment significantly reduced serum IL-6 level and IL-6 expression level in macrophages in tissues surrounding the tumor. In vitro studies showed that hochuekkito suppressed the production of IL-6 by THP-1 or RAW264.7 macrophage cells, although it did not affect IL-6 production by colon 26 carcinoma cells. These results suggest that hochuekkito inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-6, by host cells such as macrophages. Therefore, hochuekkito may be a promising anticachectic agent for the treatment of patients with cancer.

Transient depletion of p53 followed by transduction of c-Myc and K-Ras converts ovarian stem-like cells into tumor-initiating cells.

Although the existence of tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) in several types of human cancer has been documented, the contribution of somatic stem cells to the development of T-ICs has remained unclear. Here, we show that normal mouse ovary contains epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)-expressing stem-like cells that possess the ability to differentiate into cytokeratin 8 (CK8)-expressing epithelial progeny cells. Furthermore, RNA interference-mediated transient depletion of the tumor suppressor p53 followed by retrovirus-mediated transfer of c-Myc and K-Ras oncogenes in EpCAM-expressing ovarian stem-like cells resulted in the generation of ovarian T-ICs. The established ovarian T-ICs gave rise to hierarchically organized lethal tumors in vivo and were able to undergo peritoneal metastasis. Finally, subsequent RNA interference-mediated knockdown of p53 in tumor cells triggered the expansion of EpCAM-expressing stem-like tumor cells and induced further tumor growth. These data reveal a role for p53 in the development and expansion of ovarian stem-like tumor cells and subsequent malignant progression.

CD44 variant regulates redox status in cancer cells by stabilizing the xCT subunit of system xc(-) and thereby promotes tumor growth.

CD44 is an adhesion molecule expressed in cancer stem-like cells. Here, we show that a CD44 variant (CD44v) interacts with xCT, a glutamate-cystine transporter, and controls the intracellular level of reduced glutathione (GSH). Human gastrointestinal cancer cells with a high level of CD44 expression showed an enhanced capacity for GSH synthesis and defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ablation of CD44 induced loss of xCT from the cell surface and suppressed tumor growth in a transgenic mouse model of gastric cancer. It also induced activation of p38(MAPK), a downstream target of ROS, and expression of the gene for the cell cycle inhibitor p21(CIP1/WAF1). These findings establish a function for CD44v in regulation of ROS defense and tumor growth.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha regulates transforming growth factor-beta-dependent epithelial-mesenchymal transition by promoting hyaluronan-CD44-moesin interaction.

Aberrant epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in development of fibrotic disorders and cancer invasion. Alterations of cell-extracellular matrix interaction also contribute to those pathological conditions. However, the functional interplay between EMT and cell-extracellular matrix interactions remains poorly understood. We now show that the inflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induces the formation of fibrotic foci by cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells through activation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling in a manner dependent on hyaluronan-CD44-moesin interaction. TNF-alpha promoted CD44 expression and moesin phosphorylation by protein kinase C, leading to the pericellular interaction of hyaluronan and CD44. Formation of the hyaluronan-CD44-moesin complex resulted in both cell-cell dissociation and increased cellular motility through actin remodeling. Furthermore, this complex was found to be associated with TGF-beta receptor II and clathrin at actin microdomains, leading to activation of TGF-beta signaling. We established an in vivo model of TNF-alpha-induced fibrosis in the mouse eye, and such ocular fibrosis was attenuated in CD44-null mice. The production of hyaluronan and its interaction with CD44, thus, play an essential role in TNF-alpha-induced EMT and are potential therapeutic targets in fibrotic disorders.

[Two cases of familial summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis requiring differentiation from bird breeder's lung].

A 74-year-old-man (case 1) was admitted to our hospital because of dry cough, fever, and dyspnea on effort. His daughter-in-law, a 53-year-old-woman (case 2), was also admitted to our hospital on suspicion of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). Their diagnoses of HP were established by radiological, serological, and histological examinations. It was necessary to differentiate between summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis (SHP) and bird breeder's lung due to their special environment. Several examinations, including immunological findings of BALF, returning-home provocation test, and antigen inhalation challenge test, enabled us to establish their diagnoses of SHP.

[Efficacy of gefitinib according to smoking status in non-small cell lung cancer patients].

Gefitinib is a molecular targeting agent and more effective in patients with characteristics of oriental ethnicity, female gender, adenocarcinoma and non-smokers. It is sometimes effective in smokers, but few papers have focused on the association between efficacy and smoking history. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between efficacy of gefitinib and patients' characteristics, especially smoking history. Between July 2002 and September 2006, 89 patients were diagnosed as non-small cell lung cancer and administered gefitinib. Eighty of them were assessable for efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib. Response rate was 16.2% and 39.6%(p=0.031)in smokers and non-smokers. Survival was statistically greater in non-smokers. In smokers, there are more cases which showed response to gefitinib with a lower smoking index and longer duration after smoking cessation. Smoking index and duration after smoking cessation should be considered when gefitinib is administered or EGFR mutation analysis is conducted in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.