Inflammation Research

LncRNA TYMSOS stimulates immune escape and the advancement of cervical squamous cell carcinoma by regulating miR-134-5p/KRAS expression

LncRNAs can regulate related miRNAs and participate in the regulation of tumorigenesis, progression, and immune escape in tumors. To examine the clinical and functional impact of lncRNA TYMSOS in the advancement and immune escape of cervical cancer. The abundances of TYMSOS in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) patients were detected using RT-qPCR and verified by bioinformatic analysis. The functional impact of TYMSOS in cervical cancer cells was assessed by CCK-8 and Transwell assays. ELISA assay was utilized to determine the amounts of IFN-γ and TNF-α released. The CytoTox 96 non-radioactive cytotoxicity assay was conducted to measure the cytotoxicity of NK92 cells against cervical cancer cells. The interaction among TYMSOS, miR-134-5p, and KRAS was assessed by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down, and RIP assays. TYMSOS and KRAS were upregulated while miR-134-5p was decreased in CSCC patients. Serum TYMSOS levels had predictive value for CSCC patients and tumor tissue TYMSOS had prognostic value in predicting progression-free survival. Silencing TYMSOS repressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities, while enhancing the cytotoxic activity of NK cells against cervical cancer cells and stimulated the release of IFN-γ and TNF-α. miR-134-5p was a target of TYMSOS and KRAS was a potential target of miR-134-5p. Interference of KRAS abolished the effects of miR-134-5p on the malignant behaviors and killing influence of NK92 cells to cervical cancer cells. Increased TYMSOS was linked to adverse prognosis, malignant progression, and immune escape in cervical cancer by modulating miR-134-5p/KRAS axis.

Inflammatory profile in cervical cancer: influence of purinergic signaling and possible therapeutic targets

Cervical cancer is the fourth most prevalent type of cancer in the world. The tumor microenvironment of this disease is associated with the production of several cytokines, pro and anti-inflammatory, and with the purinergic signaling system so that changes in these components are observed throughout the pathological process. The aim of this review is to understand the pathophysiology of cervical cancer based on immunological processes and purinergic signaling pathways, in addition to suggesting possibilities of therapeutic targets. To make up this review, studies covering topics of cervical cancer, inflammation and purinergic system were selected from the Pubmed. The main pro-inflammatory cytokines involved are IL-17, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18, and among the anti-inflammatory ones, IL-10 and TGF-β stand out. As new therapeutic targets, P2X7 and A2A receptors have been suggested, since blocking P2X7 would lead to reduced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and blocking A2A would increase activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the context of tumor combat. The association between the immune system and the purinergic system, already known in other types of disease, also presents possibilities for a better understanding of biomolecular processes and therapeutic possibilities in the context of cervical cancer.

Significance of glutathione peroxidase 4 and intracellular iron level in ovarian cancer cells—“utilization” of ferroptosis mechanism

Ovarian cancer is the major cause of death in gynecologic diseases worldwide. Ferroptosis, a nonapoptotic form of cell death, is featured by accumulation of iron-based lipid peroxidation. The elevated iron level and malondialdehyde (MDA) in ovarian cancer cells suggest more vulnerable to ferroptosis, nevertheless, ferroptosis is not observed in ovarian cancer cells. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is a critical regulator of ferroptosis. We determined whether GPX4 knockdown could induce ferroptosis to prevent cell proliferation in ovarian cancer. Human ovarian cancer cells and normal human ovarian epithelial cell line IOSE-80 were cultured and administrated with deferoxamine (DFO) or ferric ammonium citrate (FAC). GPX4 knockdown was established for investigating the functions of GPX4 in ovarian cancer cells and in tumor xenograft mice. A positively correlation was showed among the levels of GPX4, iron and cell proliferation. Chelation of intracellular iron by DFO disrupted intracellular iron level and was detrimental to ovarian cancer cell survival. FAC-induced elevation of intracellular iron inhibited proliferation, aggravated apoptosis, boosted inflammation and suppressed lipid peroxide reducibility in ovarian cancer cells. Knockdown of GPX4 had similar effects with FAC in ovarian cancer cells. Inhibition of GPX4 suppressed tumor growth, induced ferroptosis, accelerated cell apoptosis, reduced Fe We demonstrate the significance of GPX4 and intracellular iron level in ovarian cancer cells. Importantly, inhibition of GPX4 interferes with both intracellular iron homeostasis and lipid peroxide reducibility, inducing ferroptosis and exerting anti-cancer effect, which can be a potential effective strategy for ovarian cancer therapy.