The role of IL‐33/ST2 pathway in antitumor immunity is unclear. Using 4T1 breast cancer model we demonstrate time‐dependent increase of endogenous IL‐33 at both the mRNA and protein levels in primary ...tumors and metastatic lungs during cancer progression. Administration of IL‐33 accelerated tumor growth and development of lung and liver metastases, which was associated with increased intratumoral accumulation of CD11b+Gr‐1+ TGF‐β1+ myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that expressed IL‐13α1R, IL‐13‐producing Lin−Sca‐1+ST2+ innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and CD4+Foxp3+ST2+IL‐10+ Tregs compared to untreated mice. Higher incidence of monocytic vs. granulocytic MDSCs and plasmocytoid vs. conventional dendritic cells (DCs) was present in mammary tumors of IL‐33‐treated mice. Intratumoral NKp46+NKG2D+ and NKp46+FasL+ cells were markedly reduced after IL‐33 treatment, while phosphate‐buffered saline‐treated ST2‐deficient mice had increased frequencies of these tumoricidal natural killer (NK) cells compared to untreated wild‐type mice. IL‐33 promoted intratumoral cell proliferation and neovascularization, which was attenuated in the absence of ST2. Tumor‐bearing mice given IL‐33 had increased percentages of splenic MDSCs, Lin−Sca‐1+ ILCs, IL‐10‐expressing CD11c+ DCs and alternatively activated M2 macrophages and higher circulating levels of IL‐10 and IL‐13. A significantly reduced NK cell, but not CD8+ T‐cell cytotoxicity in IL‐33‐treated mice was observed and the mammary tumor progression was not affected when CD8+ T cells were in vivo depleted. We show a previously unrecognized role for IL‐33 in promoting breast cancer progression through increased intratumoral accumulation of immunosuppressive cells and by diminishing innate antitumor immunity. Therefore, IL‐33 may be considered as an important mediator in the regulation of breast cancer progression.
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This study employed a breast cancer cell line to investigate the role of interleukin‐33 in cancer progression. They found more IL‐33 in the cells as the disease advanced, and they showed that administring IL‐33 to mice accelerated growth and metastasis. The increased levels of IL‐33 sped cancer progression both by hindering antitumor immunity and by encouraging angiogenesis. Understanding the effects of IL‐33 on cancer suggests possible avenues for tumor immunotherapy.
The aim of this article is to review the immunoregulatory actions of frog skin-derived peptides in order to assess their potential as candidates for immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory therapy. ...Frog skin peptides with demonstrable immunomodulatory properties have been isolated from skin secretions of a range of species belonging to the families Alytidae, Ascaphidae, Discoglossidae, Leptodactylidae, Pipidae and Ranidae. Their effects upon production of inflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines by target cells have been evaluated ex vivo and effects upon cytokine expression and immune cell activity have been studied in vivo by flow cytometry after injection into mice. The naturally-occurring peptides and/or their synthetic analogues show complex and variable actions on the production of proinflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12, IL-23, IL-8, IFN-γ and IL-17), pleiotropic (IL-4 and IL-6) and immunosuppressive (IL-10 and TGF-β) cytokines by peripheral and spleen cells, peritoneal cells and/or isolated macrophages. The effects of frenatin 2.1S include enhancement of the activation state and homing capacity of Th1-type lymphocytes and NK cells in the mouse peritoneal cavity, as well as the promotion of their tumoricidal capacities. Overall, the diverse effects of frog skin-derived peptides on the immune system indicate their potential for development into therapeutic agents.
Obesity-induced diabetes is associated with low-grade inflammation in adipose tissue and macrophage infiltration of islets. We show that ablation of galectin-3 (Gal-3), a galactoside-binding lectin, ...accelerates high-fat diet-induced obesity and diabetes. Obese LGALS3(-/-) mice have increased body weight, amount of total visceral adipose tissue (VAT), fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and markers of systemic inflammation compared with diet-matched wild-type (WT) animals. VAT of obese LGALS3(-/-) mice exhibited increased incidence of type 1 T and NKT lymphocytes and proinflammatory CD11c(+)CD11b(+) macrophages and decreased CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages. Pronounced mononuclear cell infiltrate, increased expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in macrophages, and increased accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and receptor for AGE (RAGE) expression were present in pancreatic islets of obese LGALS3(-/-) animals accompanied with elevated phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 and mature caspase-1 protein expression in pancreatic tissue and VAT. In vitro stimulation of LGALS3(-/-) peritoneal macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and saturated fatty acid palmitate caused increased caspase-1-dependent IL-1β production and increased phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 compared with WT cells. Transfection of LGALS3(-/-) macrophages with NLRP3 small interfering RNA attenuated IL-1β production in response to palmitate and LPS plus palmitate. Obtained results suggest important protective roles for Gal-3 in obesity-induced inflammation and diabetes.
Immune reactivity plays an important role in obesity-associated metabolic disorders. We investigated immunometabolic phenotype of C57Bl/6 and BALB/c mice, prototypical Th1 and Th2-type strains, fed ...chow or high-fat diet (HFD) for 24 weeks. In comparison to C57Bl/6 mice, chow-fed BALB/c mice had higher body weight and weight gain, lower glycemia, more pronounced liver steatosis, but less inflammation and collagen deposition in liver. In response to HFD C57Bl/6 mice exhibited higher weight gain, higher glycemia, HbA1c and liver glycogen content, increased amount of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and number of VAT associated CD3+CXCR3+ T cells, CD11c+ dendritic cells (DCs) and F4/80+ macrophages than BALB/c mice. More numerous CD3+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, myeloid DCs, proinflammatory macrophages (F4/80+CD11b+CD11+ and F4/80+IL-1β+) and CD11b+Ly6Chigh monocytes and higher levels of proinflammatory IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ were present in liver in HFD-fed C57Bl/6 mice compared with diet-matched BALB/c mice. As opposed to C57Bl/6 mice, HFD induced marked liver steatosis and upregulated the hepatic LXRα and PPARγ genes in BALB/c mice. C57Bl/6 mice fed HFD developed liver fibrosis and increased hepatic procollagen and TGF-β mRNA expression, and IL-33, IL-13 and TGF-β levels in liver homogenates, while BALB/c mice fed HFD had scarce collagen deposition in liver. The obtained results suggest inherent immunometabolic differences in C57Bl/6 and BALB/c mice. Moreover, HFD Th1-type mice on high fat diet regimen are more susceptible to adiposity, liver inflammation and fibrosis, while Th2-type mice to liver steatosis, which is associated with differential immune cell composition in metabolic tissues. Strain-dependent differences in immunometabolic phenotype may be relevant for studies of obesity-associated metabolic diseases in humans.
Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a member of the IL-1 family of cytokines, binds to its plasma membrane receptor, heterodimeric complex consisted of membrane-bound ST2L and IL-1R accessory protein, inducing ...NFkB and MAPK activation. IL-33 exists as a nuclear precursor and may act as an alarmin, when it is released after cell damage or as negative regulator of NFκB gene transcription, when acts in an intracrine manner. ST2L is expressed on several immune cells: Th2 lymphocytes, NK, NKT and mast cells and on cells of myeloid lineage: monocytes, dendritic cells and granulocytes. IL-33/ST2 axis can promote both Th1 and Th2 immune responses depending on the type of activated cell and microenvironment and cytokine network in damaged tissue. We previously described and discuss here the important role of IL-33/ST2 axis in experimental models of type 1 diabetes, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, fulminant hepatitis and breast cancer. We found that ST2 deletion enhance the development of T cell-mediated autoimmune disorders, EAE and diabetes mellitus type I. Disease development was accompanied by dominantly Th1/Th17 immune response but also higher IL-33 production, which suggest that IL-33 in receptor independent manner could promote the development of inflammatory autoreactive T cells. IL-33/ST2 axis has protective role in Con A hepatitis. ST2-deficient mice had more severe hepatitis with higher influx of inflammatory cells in liver and dominant Th1/Th17 systemic response. Pretreatment of mice with IL-33 prevented Con A-induced liver damage through prevention of apoptosis of hepatocytes and Th2 amplification. Deletion of IL-33/ST2 axis enhances cytotoxicity of NK cells, production of IFN-γ in these cells and systemic production of IFN-γ, IL-17 and TNF-α, which leads to attenuated tumor growth. IL-33 treatment of tumor-bearing mice suppresses activity of NK cells, dendritic cell maturation and enhances alternative activation of macrophages. In conclusion, we observed that IL-33 has attenuated anti-inflammatory effects in T cell-mediated responses and that both IL-33 and ST2 could be further explored as potential therapeutic targets in treatment of immune-mediated diseases.
The role of the Galectin-3 (Gal-3) has already been explored in various somatic diseases, considering its engagement in infection, acute and chronic inflammation, and autoimmunity. Additionally, it ...has been recognized that Gal-3 is included in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, so we presented the possibility for its involvement in neuroprogression in schizophrenia. Gal-3 possibly participates in the early life programming of schizophrenia, also in the specific response to viral infections as a "second hit" later in life, and as a part of a unique systemic somatic dysfunction leading to the specific mental changes. In this review, we would like to put all these previous observations of Gal-3 properties in the context of schizophrenia onset, clinical symptoms presentation, frequent somatic comorbid states, and future options for Gal-3 centered treatment in schizophrenia.
Interleukin-33 (IL-33) regulates innate and acquired immune response to pathogens, self-antigens and tumors. IL-33 effects on tumors depend on the dose and mode of administration along with the type ...of malignancy. We studied the effects of IL-33 on the development of primary and metastatic melanoma induced by B16-F1 cell line in C57BL/6 mice. Intraperitoneally applied IL-33 restricts primary tumor growth. When administered intranasally 3 days prior to the intravenous injection of the tumor cells, IL-33 promoted growth of B16-F1 melanoma metastases, while B16-F10 gave massive metastases independently of IL-33. To mimic natural dissemination, we next used a limited number (5 × 10
4
) of B16-F1 cells intravenously followed by application of IL-33 intraperitoneally. IL-33 increased the size of metastases (10.96 ± 3.96 mm
2
) when compared to the control group (0.86 ± 0.39 mm
2
), without changing incidence and number of metastases. IL-33 increased expression of ST2 on both tumor and immune cells in metastases. Also, IL-33 enhanced eosinophils and anti-tumor NK cells in the lung. The striking finding was reduced cytotoxicity of CD8
+
T cells derived from metastatic lung of IL-33 injected mice. IL-33 reduced the percentage of TNF-α
+
and IFN-γ
+
CD8
+
T cells while increasing the frequency of CD8
+
T cells that express inhibitory molecules (PD-1, KLRG-1 and CTLA-4). There was a significant accumulation of CD11b
+
Gr-1
+
myeloid suppressor cells and FoxP3
+
, IL-10
+
and CTLA-4
+
regulatory T cells in the metastatic lung of IL-33 injected mice. The relevance of IL-33 for melanoma metastases was also documented in a significantly increased level of serum IL-33 in stage III melanoma patients.
Dinuclear palladium(II) complexes, {Pd(en)Cl}
2
(μ-L)(NO
3
)
2
(L is bridging ligand pirazine (Pd1), pyrimidine (Pd2), pyridazine (Pd3), phenazine (Pd4) and en is ethylenediamine), were synthesized ...and characterized. The interactions of the synthesized palladium(II) complexes with biomolecules such as DNA and BSA were studied using UV-Vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Analysis of tumoricidal activity of investigated complexes, tested on several tumor cell lines of human and mouse origin, revealed that Pd1 and Pd2 exhibited weak cytotoxic potential at lower concentrations. However, Pd3 showed higher cytotoxicity effects on the human MDA-MB 468 breast carcinoma and A375 melanoma cell lines, while Pd4 exhibited tumoricidal potential against MDA-MB 468 cells and A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Interestingly, A375 human melanoma cells were highly sensitive to Pd4 treatment similarly to the effect of cisplatin. Further, the antimicrobial effects of tested compounds were evaluated using different species of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeasts. Pd1-Pd4 showed variable antimicrobial activity depending on the microorganism species. Among tested complexes, Pd4 exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity. The obtained data suggest that palladium(II) complexes might be further investigated as potential antitumor and antimicrobial agents.
B cell malignancies are, despite the development of targeted therapy in a certain percentage of the patients still a chronic disease with relapses, requiring multiple lines of therapy. Regimens that ...include platinum-based drugs provide high response rates in different B cell lymphomas, high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and devastating complication of CLL, Richter’s syndrome. The aim of this study was to explore the potential antitumor activity of previously synthetized platinum(IV) complex with alkyl derivatives of thyosalicilc acid, PtCl2(S-pr-thiosal)2, toward murine BCL1 cells and to delineate possible mechanisms of action. The PtCl2(S-pr-thiosal)2 reduced the viability of BCL1 cells in vitro but also reduced the growth of metastases in the leukemia lymphoma model in BALB/c mice. PtCl2(S-pr-thiosal)2 induced apoptosis, inhibited proliferation of BCL1 cells, and induced cell cycle disturbance. Treatment of BCL1 cells with PtCl2(S-pr-thiosal)2 inhibited expression of cyclin D3 and cyclin E and enhanced expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p16, p21, and p27 resulting in cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, reduced the percentage of BCL1 cells in the S phase, and decreased expression of Ki-67. PtCl2(S-pr-thiosal)2 treatment reduced expression of phosphorylated STAT3 and downstream-regulated molecules associated with cancer stemness and proliferation, NANOG, cyclin D3, and c-Myc, and expression of phosphorylated NFκB in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, PtCl2(S-pr-thiosal)2 reduces STAT3 and NFκB phosphorylation resulting in inhibition of BCL1 cell proliferation and the triggering of apoptotic cell death.
Renewing interest in immune aspects of schizophrenia and new findings about the brain-fat axis encourage us to discuss the possible role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in schizophrenia. Previously, it was ...suggested that a primary alteration of the innate immune system may be relevant in schizophrenia. Functional dichotomy of IL-6 suggests that this chemical messenger may be responsible for regulating the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses, with tissue-specific properties at the periphery and in the central nervous system. Specific phase of this chronic and deteriorating disorder must be considered, which can involve IL-6 in acute or possible chronic inflammation and/or autoimmunity. We give an overview of IL-6 role in the onset and progression of this disorder, also considering cognitive impairment and metabolic changes in patients with schizophrenia. Data suggest that decreased serum level of IL-6 following antipsychotic therapy could be predisposing factor for the development of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders in schizophrenia. As we reviewed, the IL-6 plays significant role in disease genesis and progression, so the use of specific inhibitors may not only be beneficial for exacerbation and alleviation of positive symptoms, but may attenuate cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia.