Project description:Many patients with advanced cancers develop cachexia. Despite the high prevalence and catastrophic impact on quality of life and survival, the critical pathobiological mediators responsible for the cancer cachexia development remain poorly defined. Here, we show that a distinct subset of neutrophil-like monocytes, which we term cachexia-inducible monocytes (CiMs), emerges in advanced cancer pathogenesis and promotes skeletal muscle loss. Unbiased transcriptome analysis revealed that IL36G-producing CD38+ CiMs are induced during cachexia progression in the pathogenesis of chronic monocytic blood cancer characterized by persistent monocytosis and cachexia. The emergence of CiMs and activation of CiM-related gene signature in inflammatory monocytes were confirmed in multiple mouse models and patients with advanced solid cancers. Notably, genetic inhibition of IL36G/IL1RL2 signaling attenuated skeletal muscle loss and rescued cachexia phenotypes derived by both blood and solid cancers in mice. These data highlight the critical role for a subset of neutrophil-like monocyte induced in cancer pathogenesis.
Project description:Many patients with advanced cancers develop cachexia. Despite the high prevalence and catastrophic impact on quality of life and survival, the critical pathobiological mediators responsible for the cancer cachexia development remain poorly defined. Here, we show that a distinct subset of neutrophil-like monocytes, which we term cachexia-inducible monocytes (CiMs), emerges in advanced cancer pathogenesis and promotes skeletal muscle loss. Unbiased transcriptome analysis revealed that IL36G-producing CD38+ CiMs are induced during cachexia progression in the pathogenesis of chronic monocytic blood cancer characterized by persistent monocytosis and cachexia. The emergence of CiMs and activation of CiM-related gene signature in inflammatory monocytes were confirmed in multiple mouse models and patients with advanced solid cancers. Notably, genetic inhibition of IL36G/IL1RL2 signaling attenuated skeletal muscle loss and rescued cachexia phenotypes derived by both blood and solid cancers in mice. These data highlight the critical role for a subset of neutrophil-like monocyte induced in cancer pathogenesis.
Project description:Epigenetic changes including DNA methylation caused by environmental exposures may contribute to the heterogeneous inflammatory response in asthma. Here we investigate alterations in DNA methylation of purified blood monocytes that are associated with inflammatory phenotypes of asthma.
Project description:Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial condition characterized by skeletal muscle loss that impairs longevity and quality of life of the vast majority of cancer patients. However, the ability to develop therapeutic strategies to counter cachexia is impeded by the limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms of cachexia in human cancer patients. The purpose of this study was therefore to characterize the proteomic signature of skeletal muscle obtained from cachectic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients, who exhibit one of the highest rates of cachexia. Muscle biopsies (rectus abdominis) were obtained from PDAC patients (n=8; 70±10yr; BMI: 26.8±5.9kg・m-2) undergoing tumor resection surgery as well as age and sex-matched non-cancer controls (n=6; 66±9yr; BMI: 30.8±5.2kg・m-2). PDAC patients were cachectic (6 month body weight loss > 5%; mean: 15.7±7.9%) and did not undergo neoadjuvant therapy.
Project description:Objectives: Pinolenic acid (PNLA), an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid from pine nuts, has anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects. We aimed to investigate the direct anti-inflammatory effect and anti-atherogenic effects of PNLA on activated purified CD14 monocytes from peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in vitro. Methods: Flow cytometry was used to assess the proportions of CD14 monocytes expressing TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-8 in purified monocytes from patients with RA after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation with/without PNLA pre-treatment. The whole genomic transcriptome (WGT) profile of PNLA-treated, and LPS-activated monocytes from patients with active RA was investigated by RNA-sequencing. Results: PNLA reduced percentage of monocytes expressing cytokines: TNF-a by 23% (p=0.048), IL-6 by 25% (p=0.011), IL-1B by 23% (p=0.050), IL-8 by 20% (p=0.066). Pathway analysis identified upstream activation of peroxisomes proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), sirtuin3, and let7miRNA, KLF15 which are anti-inflammatory and antioxidative. In contrast, DAP3, LIF and STAT3, which are involved in TNF-a, and IL-6 signal transduction, were inhibited. Canonical Pathway analysis showed that PNLA inhibited oxidative phosphorylation (p=9.14E-09) and mitochondrial dysfunction (p=4.18E-08), while the sirtuin (SIRTs) signalling pathway was activated (p=8.89E-06) which interfere with the pathophysiologic process of atherosclerosis. Many miRNAs were modulated by PNLA suggesting potential post-transcriptional regulation of metabolic and immune response that has not been described previously. Multiple miRNAs target pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-4 (PDK4), single-immunoglobulin interleukin-1 receptor molecule (SIGIRR), mitochondrially encoded ATP synthase membrane subunit 6 (MT-ATP6) and Acetyl-CoA Acyltranferase2 (ACAA2); genes implicated in regulation of lipid and cell metabolism, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Conclusion: PNLA has potential anti-atherogenic and immune-metabolic effects on monocytes that are pathogenic in RA and atherosclerosis. Dietary PNLA supplementation regulates key miRNAs that are involved in metabolic, mitochondrial, and inflammatory pathways.