Cholinergic signalling influences the expression of immune checkpoint inhibitors, PD-L1 and PD-L2, in human colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines

Author(s):  
Nyanbol Kuol ◽  
Janusz Godlewski ◽  
Zbigniew Kmiec ◽  
Sarah Fraser ◽  
Vasso Apostolopoulos ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cancer cells express immunosuppressive molecules, such as programmed death ligands (PD-L)1 and PD-L2, enabling evasion from the host's immune system. Cancer cells synthesize and secrete acetylcholine (ACh), acting as an autocrine or paracrine hormone to promote their proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Methods We correlated the expression PD-L1, PD-L2, cholinergic muscarinic receptor 3 (M3R), alpha 7 nicotinic receptor (α7nAChR), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues with the stage of disease, gender, age, risk, and patient survival. The effects of a muscarinic receptor blocker, atropine, and a selective M3R blocker, 4-DAMP, on the expression of immunosuppressive and cholinergic markers were evaluated in human CRC (LIM-2405, HT-29) and intestinal epithelial (T4056) cells. Results Increased expression of PD-L1, M3R and ChAT at stages III-IV was associated with a high risk of CRC and poor survival outcomes independent of patients' gender and age. α7nAChR and PD-L2 were not changed at any CRC stages. Atropine and 4-DAMP suppressed proliferation and migration of human CRC and T4056 cells, induced apoptosis, decreased PD-L1, PD-L2 and M3R expression in CRC cells via inhibition of EGFR and phosphorylation of ERK and STAT3. Conclusions The expression of immunosuppressive and cholinergic markers may increase the risk of recurrence of CRC. These markers might be used in determining prognosis and treatment regimens for CRC patients. Blocking cholinergic signalling may be a potential therapeutic for CRC through anti-proliferation and anti-migration via inhibition of EGFR and phosphorylation of ERK and STAT3. These effects allow the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 6492
Author(s):  
Paola Giussani ◽  
Alessandro Prinetti ◽  
Cristina Tringali

Immunotherapy is now considered an innovative and strong strategy to beat metastatic, drug-resistant, or relapsing tumours. It is based on the manipulation of several mechanisms involved in the complex interplay between cancer cells and immune system that culminates in a form of immune-tolerance of tumour cells, favouring their expansion. Current immunotherapies are devoted enforcing the immune response against cancer cells and are represented by approaches employing vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, interleukins, checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells. Despite the undoubted potency of these treatments in some malignancies, many issues are being investigated to amplify the potential of application and to avoid side effects. In this review, we discuss how sphingolipids are involved in interactions between cancer cells and the immune system and how knowledge in this topic could be employed to enhance the efficacy of different immunotherapy approaches. In particular, we explore the following aspects: how sphingolipids are pivotal components of plasma membranes and could modulate the functionality of surface receptors expressed also by immune cells and thus their functionality; how sphingolipids are related to the release of bioactive mediators, sphingosine 1-phosphate, and ceramide that could significantly affect lymphocyte egress and migration toward the tumour milieu, in addition regulating key pathways needed to activate immune cells; given the renowned capability of altering sphingolipid expression and metabolism shown by cancer cells, how it is possible to employ sphingolipids as antigen targets.


2020 ◽  

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential function of miR-214 in the apoptosis induction by targeting p53 in human colorectal cancer cells (CRC) in combination with doxorubicin (DOX). Methods: miR-214 mimics were transfected to HT-29 CRC cells. Following that, the transfected cells were treated with DOX. Cell viability, apoptosis, and migration were evaluated by MTT, flow cytometry, and scratch-wound motility assays, respectively. Furthermore, the expression level of miR-214 and p53 was evaluated by qRT-PCR. Results: miR-214 transfection significantly inhibited the cell proliferation rate (P<0.05), induced apoptosis (P<0.05), and harnessed migration (P<0.05) in the HT-29 cells after 48 h. Furthermore, more effectiveness was observed in combination with DOX. Additionally, miR-214 transfection led to a reduction in p53 expression offering that it might be a potential target for miR-214. Conclusion: In conclusion, miR-214 sensitizes HT-29 cells to doxorubicin by targeting p53 indicating the significant role of this miRNA in colorectal cancer chemotherapy.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4417
Author(s):  
Rabin Neupane ◽  
Saloni Malla ◽  
Mariam Sami Abou-Dahech ◽  
Swapnaa Balaji ◽  
Shikha Kumari ◽  
...  

A novel series of 4-anilinoquinazoline analogues, DW (1–10), were evaluated for anticancer efficacy in human breast cancer (BT-20) and human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines (HCT116, HT29, and SW620). The compound, DW-8, had the highest anticancer efficacy and selectivity in the colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116, HT29, and SW620, with IC50 values of 8.50 ± 2.53 µM, 5.80 ± 0.92 µM, and 6.15 ± 0.37 µM, respectively, compared to the non-cancerous colon cell line, CRL1459, with an IC50 of 14.05 ± 0.37 µM. The selectivity index of DW-8 was >2-fold in colon cancer cells incubated with vehicle. We further determined the mechanisms of cell death induced by DW-8 in SW620 CRC cancer cells. DW-8 (10 and 30 µM) induced apoptosis by (1) producing cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase; (2) activating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, as indicated by the activation of caspase-9 and the executioner caspases-3 and 7; (3) nuclear fragmentation and (4) increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overall, our results suggest that DW-8 may represent a suitable lead for developing novel compounds to treat CRC.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasamin Dabiri ◽  
Sara Kalman ◽  
Clara-Marie Gürth ◽  
Jee Young Kim ◽  
Viola Mayer ◽  
...  

Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Sugano ◽  
Yoshihiro Shirai ◽  
Takashi Horiuchi ◽  
Nobuhiro Saito ◽  
Yohta Shimada ◽  
...  

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery is the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced low rectal cancer. However, several studies have reported that ionizing radiation (IR) activates nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) that causes radioresistance and induces matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/-9, which promote tumor migration and invasion. Nafamostat mesilate (FUT175), a synthetic serine protease inhibitor, enhances the chemosensitivity to cytotoxic agents in digestive system cancer cells by inhibiting NF-κB activation. Therefore, we evaluated the combined effect of IR and FUT175 on cell proliferation, migration and invasion of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. IR-induced upregulation of intranuclear NF-κB, FUT175 counteracted this effect. Moreover, the combination treatment suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis. Similar effects were also observed in xenograft tumors. In addition, FUT175 prevented the migration and invasion of cancer cells caused by IR by downregulating the enzymatic activity of MMP-2/-9. In conclusion, FUT175 enhances the anti-tumor effect of radiotherapy through downregulation of NF-κB and reduces IR-induced tumor invasiveness by directly inhibiting MMP-2/-9 in CRC cells. Therefore, the use of FUT175 during radiotherapy might improve the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with CRC.


2018 ◽  
Vol 233 (7) ◽  
pp. 5458-5467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsi-Hsien Hsu ◽  
Ming-Cheng Chen ◽  
Rathinasamy Baskaran ◽  
Yueh-Min Lin ◽  
Cecilia H. Day ◽  
...  

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