CD44~+/CD24~-和CK5/6在乳腺浸润性导管癌、乳腺普通型导管增生和低级别导管原位癌中的表达

目的探讨乳腺浸润性导管癌、普通型导管增生和低级别导管原位癌组织中CD44~+/CD24~-和CK5/6的表达和意义。方法采用免疫组织化学染色检测30例乳腺浸润性导管癌中CD44~+/CD24~-、CK5/6和P63的表达、30例乳腺普通型导管增生组织中CD44~+/CD24~-、CK5/6、34βE12和CK8的表达和30例低级别导管原位癌中CD44~+/CD24~-、CK5/6的表达。结果 30例乳腺浸润性导管癌中24例呈CD44~+/CD24~-,30例普通型导管增生中9例呈CD44~+/CD24~-和30例低级别导管原位癌中19例呈CD44~+/CD24~-,3组相比具有统计学意义。浸润性导管癌中CD44~+/CD24~-表型与患者的年龄、月经状况、肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移、组织学分级、ER、PR和HER~-2无相关性。30例乳腺浸润性导管癌中6例表达CK5/6,30例乳腺普通型导管增生中全部表达CK5/6,30例低级别导管原位癌中8例表达CK5/6,3组相比具有统计学意义。结论 CD44~+/CD24~-和CK5/6联合使用可用于鉴别乳腺浸润性导管癌、普通型导管增生和低级别导管原位癌。     

E-cadherin和CD44V6在食管上皮癌变过程及癌组织中的表达

研究不同类型的食管上皮增生和癌组织的 E- cadherin (E- cad)和 CD44 V6的表达 ,并探讨其与食管癌发生和发展的关系。应用免疫组织化学 SABC法 ,观察 10例正常、 3例消化性溃疡、 2 5例单纯性增生、 15例不典型增生的食管粘膜上皮 ,5例食管原位癌与 5 4例浸润癌组织中的 E- cad和 CD44 V6蛋白的表达情况。结果显示正常食管鳞状上皮和高分化肿瘤细胞膜和细胞浆 E- cad和 CD44 V6染色 ,非典型增生、低分化肿瘤细胞两种蛋白抗体表达减弱或呈阴性。E- cad和 CD44 V6的表达与癌组织的组织学分级、类型和淋巴结转移有关 (P<0 .0 1,P<0 .0 5 ) ,与癌组织的浸润深度无关 (P>0 .0 5 )。提示E- cad和 CD44 V6表达减弱是癌组织低分化和高度恶性的生物学标志 ,但其与淋巴结转移的关系有待进一步研究     

乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中CAS蛋白表达的临床病理意义

目的研究乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中细胞凋亡易感蛋白（CAS）表达的临床病理意义。方法选取乳腺浸润性导管癌53例、普通导管增生20例、异型导管增生20例、导管原位癌10例、正常乳腺组织14例,应用免疫组化方法观察CAS蛋白的表达,并探讨CAS与乳腺癌临床病理因素的关系,分析CAS和HER2、ER、PR以及ki-67指数的关系。结果 CAS在正常乳腺、普通导管增生、异型导管增生、导管原位癌、浸润性导管癌中的阳性率逐渐升高,分别为14.3%、25.0%、40.0%、60%、75.5%（P=0.000）,CAS、HER2均与乳腺癌组织学分级、核分裂像、淋巴结转移有关;CAS评分与ki-67指数（r=0.439,P=0.003）和HER2评分（r=0.598,P=0.000）正相关。结论 CAS与乳腺癌的发生、发展、增殖、淋巴结转移有关,可能作为反映乳腺癌生物学行为的肿瘤标记物,CAS蛋白的表达和HER2有一定的相关性。     

三阴乳腺癌CD44~+/CD24~(-/LOW)细胞与CXCR4表达的临床意义

目的探讨CD44+/CD24-/low表型在三阴乳腺癌中的临床病理意义以及与CXCR4表达的相关性。方法根据ER、PR、Her-2表达情况将118例乳腺癌分为三阴及非三阴组,应用免疫组织化学检测其CD44、CD24及CXCR4表达情况,分析CD44+/CD24-/low表型及CXCR4在三阴乳腺癌中表达情况及其与临床病理的关系。结果 34例三阴乳腺癌肿瘤细胞CD44+/CD24-/low表型阳性率为55.9%,CD44+/CD24-/low阳性与一般临床特征不相关,但与远处转移或复发密切相关。CXCR4的表达与CD44+/CD24-/low阳性细胞成正相关。结论三阴乳腺癌的复发和远处转移可能与CD44+/CD24-/low较高的表达率有关,并且可能是由CXCR4介导的。     

miR-429对乳腺癌干细胞干性维持和体内成瘤能力的影响

目的:探究miR-429在乳腺癌干性维持中所发挥的作用,并探索miR-429对乳腺癌干细胞体内成瘤能力的影响。方法:无血清悬浮培养法用于培养经流式细胞仪分选得到的CD44~+CD24~-表型乳腺癌细胞系干细胞MCF-7-S、SKBR3-S、MDA-MB-231-S及乳腺正常上皮干细胞MCF-10A-S,实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(qRT-PCR)用于检测miR-429在上述4株干细胞中的表达。将包含miR-429的重组慢病毒质粒及其阴性对照空载体质粒vector分别以病毒:细胞数量为15:1的比例感染MDA-MB-231细胞,经2.0μg/m L嘌呤霉素筛选,成功构建稳定表达miR-429或vector的MDA-MB-231细胞,经流式分选出上述两株稳转细胞株的CD44~+CD24~-表型干细胞MDA-MB-231-Svector和MDA-MB-231-SmiR-429。无血清悬浮培养后,镜下观察过表达miR-429对肿瘤球形成能力的影响,流式细胞术检测过表达miR-429对CD44~+CD24~-表型细胞亚群比例的影响,Western Blot检测过表达miR-429对乳腺癌干细胞干性相关因子ALDH1、SOX2和Bmi1蛋白表达的影响,将MDA-MB-231-Svector和MDA-MB-231-SmiR-429干细胞分别注射到BALB/c裸鼠右侧胸壁第二对乳腺脂肪垫中,构建乳腺癌干细胞裸鼠移植瘤模型,观察过表达miR-429对裸鼠体内成瘤能力的影响。结果:与MCF-10A-S相比,miR-429在MCF-7-S、SKBR3-S和MDA-MB-231-S细胞系中的表达水平均异常降低,其中,miR-429在MDA-MB-231-S细胞中表达最低(P0.05)。与MDA-MB-231-Svector细胞相比,经流式分选后的CD44~+CD24~-表型MDA-MB-231-SmiR-429干细胞形成的肿瘤球的大小和数量、分选时CD44~+CD24~-表型细胞亚群的比例、ALDH1、SOX2和Bmi1的蛋白表达水平以及裸鼠体内成瘤的体积和重量均显著降低(P0.05)。结论:miR-429可降低乳腺癌干细胞的干性和体内成瘤能力,其可能是抑制乳腺癌转移和耐药的关键分子。     

CD44v6和PTEN在胃印戒细胞癌中的表达意义

目的:探讨CD44v6和PTEN在胃印戒细胞癌组织中的表达与临床病理特征及预后之间的关系.方法:应用免疫组织化学SP二步法,检测73例胃印戒细胞癌组织中CD44v6及PTEN的表达,分析CD44v6、PTEN与胃印戒细胞癌浸润深度、淋巴结转移、器官转移、临床分期和三年生存率的关系.结果:73例胃印戒细胞癌组织中CD44v6阳性率为78.1%(57/73),PTEN阳性表达率为34.2%(25/73),PTEN表达与器官转移、临床分期有差异(P＜0.05),CD44v6、PTEN表达均与胃印戒细胞癌浸润深度、淋巴结转移有差异(P＜0.05).两者之间Spearman等级表达呈负相关(r=-0.214,P＜0.05);Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示PTEN阴性组三年生存率16.1%显著低于PTEN阳性组66.9%(P＜0.01).结论:进行CD44v6和PTEN免疫组织化学检测对评估胃印戒细胞癌的预后具有一定意义.     

胃癌及相应癌旁组织中VEGF、CD34、CD44v6的检测及临床意义

目的:探讨血管内皮生长因子(Vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)、CD34和CD44v6在胃癌及相应癌旁组织中的表达及其与临床病理意义.方法:应用免疫组化技术检测60例胃癌以及相应癌旁组织中VEGF、CD34和CD44v6的表达.结果:胃癌组织VEGF阳性率为71.67%(43/60)明显低于癌旁组织88.34%(53/60),两组间有显著性差异(P=0.022);VEGF阳性表达与胃癌病理分级、浸润深度、淋巴结转移和临床分期密切相关(P＜0.05).癌旁组织中微血管密度(MVD)明显高于癌组织MVD(P=0.000),有淋巴结转移癌组织中MVD高于无淋巴结转移者(P=0.043),并随浸润深度、临床分期MVD升高(P=0.046,P=0.000).癌旁组织中CD44v6阳性率为48.34%(29/60)低于癌组织的61.67%(37/60),两者无明显差别.CD44v6的阳性率随胃癌浸润的加深而升高,与淋巴结转移和TNM分期呈正相关.VEGF、CD34及CD44v6三指标间两两相关(P＜0.05).结论:VEGF、CD34和CD44v6三者联合检测有助于判断胃癌的浸润、转移及预后情况.     

凋亡相关基因p53、bcl-2在乳腺导管非典型增生中表达的研究

为观察凋亡相关基因-p53,bcl-2在乳腺导管非典型增生及乳腺癌中的表达,探讨其与乳腺癌组织发生的关系。本实验应用原位杂交方法检测凋亡相关基因p53,bcl-2mRNA,应用免疫组织化学方法检测p53蛋白在44例乳腺导管非典型增生组织中的表达,并与6例乳腺导管单纯性增生及26例乳腺癌对比分析,实验结果为,p53mRNA在乳腺导管单纯性增生组织中呈较强表达（66.7%),在乳腺导自欺欺人这非典型增生组织中阳性表达为40%（轻度;55.6%,中度：41.7%,重度;26.1%)。在癌组织中的表达率为19.2%(导管内癌：21.4%,浸润性导管癌：16.7%),p53蛋白在导管单纯性增生组无表达,在导管非典型增生组阳性表达为24%（轻度：11.1%,中度;25%,重度;34.8%)。在癌组织中的阳性表达为38.4%(导管内癌：35.7%,浸润性导管癌：41.7%),bcl-2mRNA在单纯性增生组无表达,在非典型增生组中阳性表达为轻度：11.1%,中度：16.7%,重度：39.1%,在乳腺癌组织中阳性表达为导管内癌;78.6%,浸润性导管癌83.3%。实验结果表明,在乳腺导管重度非典型增生组织中可检测到p53基因有较高的表达缺失,突变及bcl-2mRNA过表达。     

乳腺癌及癌前病变血管生成相关分子的表达及意义

目的探讨血管生成异常与乳腺癌发生发展的关系。方法采用免疫组化方法检测30例正常乳腺,30例普通性增生,30例非典型增生（AH）,20例导管内癌,50例浸润性导管癌组织中微血管密度（MVD）、VEGF及受体Flk-1/KDR的表达变化。结果各组CD34、VEGF及Flk-1/KDR的表达程度不同,浸润性导管癌组最高。随病程演进,MVD增加（P〈0.05）,VEGF及其受体Flk-1/KDR在血管内皮细胞表达渐进增高（P〈0.05）,但在病程初期各主要指标改变不明显,显著变化始于AH阶段。MVD在AH与导管内癌组间差异不显著（P〉0.05）,VEGF及Flk-1/KDR的表达在AH与导管内癌组间有显著差异（P〈0.05）。结论血管生成在乳腺癌发生发展过程中起着重要作用,血管生成异常可能是乳腺癌发生过程中的早期事件。VEGF及其受体Flk-1/KDR的表达异常可能是乳腺普通性增生-AH-乳腺癌这一癌性转化过程中血管生成异常的主要始动因素,VEGF及其受体Flk-1/KDR可能成为乳腺癌早期诊断及治疗的分子靶标。     

CD147 在前列腺癌中的表达及其与肿瘤临床病理特征的关系

目的:研究CD147在还没前列腺癌组织中的表达及其与肿瘤临床病理特征的关系。方法:选择2013年10月-2015年10月我院收治的前列腺癌患者61例作为研究对象,另选取同期接受手术治疗的前列腺增生患者49例作为对照组,术中收集前列腺癌患者的肿瘤组织和癌旁组织以及前列腺增生患者的组织标本,采用免疫组化法检测CD147在前列腺癌组织、癌旁组织及前列腺增生组织中的表达情况。结果:CD147在前列腺癌组织中的阳性表达率(95.08%)显著高于癌旁组织(32.79%)和前列腺增生组织(16.32%),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);CD147在癌旁组织中的阳性表达率(32.79%)高于前列腺增生组织(16.32%),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。CD147的阳性表达与前列腺癌Gleason分级、临床分期、淋巴结转移及远处转移呈正相关关系(P0.05)。结论:CD147在前列腺癌组织中呈阳性表达,且Gleason病理分级≥5、临床分期T3~4、淋巴结转移N1及远处转移M1均为前列腺癌组织中CD147m RNA阳性表达的危险因素。     

CD44/CD24 as potential prognostic markers in node-positive invasive ductal breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy

The hypothesis on cancer stem cells assumes the existence of small subpopulation of cells that possess the ability to undergo self-renewal and can give rise to the diversity of differentiated cells that form the tumour. It has been accepted that CD44⁺/CD24^?/low phenotype is one of the features characterizing breast cancer stem cells. The aim of our study was to assess (1) prognostic significance of CD44/CD24 expression as well as (2) a relation between the above-mentioned phenotype and breast cancer subtypes [based on estrogen (ER), progesterone receptors, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and Ki67 status] and expression of selected markers such as fascin, laminin-5 gamma-2 chain, cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and 8/18, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), smooth muscle actin, P-cadherin and lymphocytic infiltration in invasive ductal breast cancer patients (T ≥ 1, N ≥ 1, M0), who underwent mastectomy followed by chemotherapy (with taxanes and/or anthracyclines) or/and hormonotherapy. We noted that most cancers with CD44?/CD24? and CD44?/CD24+ phenotype were ER positive. The majority of CD44?/CD24?, CD44?/CD24+ and CD44+/CD24? tumours were characterized by CK5/6 and EGFR negativity. In univariate analysis we demonstrated that patients with pN1/pN2 and with CD44 +/CD24- carcinomas had significantly lower risk of progression or cancer-related death than those with pN3 or tumours characterised by other CD44/CD24 expression patterns. We also found 100 % DFS in 12 patients with CD44+/CD24?/CK5/6+/ER? phenotype. Other analysed parameters were insignificant. We conclude that tumours with immunophenotypes: CD44+/CD24? and CD44+/CD24?/CK5/6+/ER? might be more sensitive for chemotherapy based on taxanes and/or anthracyclines.     

CD80、CD86在鼻咽癌中的表达及其临床病理意义

目的:研究CD80、CD86在鼻咽癌中的表达变化及其临床病理意义。方法:选择2014年10月至2018年10月本院接诊的鼻咽癌确诊患者64例纳入研究,依据鼻咽癌复发情况分复发组(n=30)和未复发组(n=34);同期选取正常鼻粘膜活检组织33例作为正常对照组,采用SP免疫组化法检测鼻咽癌患者癌组织或正常鼻粘膜活检组织CD80、CD86蛋白的表达,并经Spearman相关性分析法分析CD80、CD86蛋白表达与鼻咽癌恶化程度的相关性。结果:鼻咽癌的癌组织CD80、CD86蛋白均呈高表达,阳性表达主要定位于细胞膜、细胞质,与肿瘤临床TNM分期、淋巴结转移均显著相关(P0.05)。复发组、未复发组肿瘤组织中的mRNA(ARD1、Ptch1、Survivin)表达显著高于对照组,且复发组高于未复发组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。Spearman相关性分析显示CD80、CD86蛋白表达与鼻咽癌细胞侵袭能力呈显著正相关(r=0.403、0.547,P0.05)。结论:鼻咽癌的癌组织内CD80、CD86蛋白均呈高表达,与鼻咽癌的临床分期、淋巴结转移及放疗预后关系密切,可能作鼻咽癌临床诊治及预后评估的重要参考指标。     

CD44+ fibroblasts increases breast cancer cell survival and drug resistance via IGF2BP3‐CD44‐IGF2 signalling

CD44, a cell adhesion protein, involves in various process in cancer such as cell survival and metastasis. Most researches on CD44 in cancer focus on cancer cells. Recently, it is found that CD44 expression is high in fibroblasts of tumour microenvironment. However, its role in communication between fibroblasts and breast cancer cells is seldom known. In this study, CD44‐positive (CD44⁺Fbs) and CD44‐negative carcinoma‐associated fibroblasts (CD44^?Fbs) were isolated and cocultured with breast cancer cells for analysis of cell survival and drug resistance. We found that CD44⁺Fbs promoted breast cancer cell survival and paclitaxel resistance and inhibited paclitaxel‐induced apoptosis. Our further research for the molecular mechanism showed that IGF2BP3 bound to CD44 mRNA and enhanced CD44 expression, which increased IGF2 levels of fibroblasts and then stimulated breast cancer cell proliferation and drug resistance. IGF2 was found to activate Hedgehog signal pathway in breast cancer cells. In conclusion, the results illustrated that in CD44⁺Fbs, binding of IGF2BP3 and CD44 promotes IGF2 expression and then accelerates breast cancer cell proliferation, survival and induced chemotherapy resistance likely by activating Hedgehog signal pathways.     

Co-expression of Oct-4 and Nestin in human breast cancers

The aim is to investigate the clinical implications of the Oct-4 and Nestin protein in human breast cancers. A total of 346 cases including 26 fresh and 320 paraffin-embedded tumor tissues were selected for characterizing the frequency of CD44⁺CD24⁻ tumor cells by flow cytometry and the differential expression of the stem cell-related genes between CD44⁺CD24⁻ and non-CD44⁺CD24⁻ tumor cells was analyzed by PCR Array and immunofluorescence. In comparison with the non-CD44⁺CD24⁻ tumor cells, the CD44⁺CD24⁻, particularly for those with high percentage of Oct-4⁺ and Nestin⁺, tumor cells had higher tumorigenicity by forming mammospheres in vitro. More importantly, 42 (13.125%) out of 320 tumor tissues were positive for Oct-4 and Nestin staining. Universal analysis and multivariate analysis revealed that the expression of Oct-4 and Nestin was associated significantly with younger age, pathogenic degrees, lymph node metastasis and triple-negative breast cancer independently (P < 0.05) as well as shorter survival (P = 0.001). Oct-4 and Nestin were important regulators of the development of breast cancer, and Oct-4 and Nestin may be used as predictors for the prognosis of breast cancers.     

Uncoupling of the ERα regulated morphological phenotype from the cancer stem cell phenotype in human breast cancer cell lines

The CD24^low/−CD44⁺EpCAM⁺ phenotype is associated with breast cancer initiating cells. To investigate if these putative breast cancer stem cell markers are regulated by estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) we have determined the expression levels of EpCAM, CD44 and CD24 in several well characterized breast cancer cell lines. The expression levels of the three adhesion proteins were quantitatively different in the cell lines but the composite CD24^low/−CD44⁺EpCAM⁺ breast cancer stem cell phenotype was shown to exist as a small fraction, between 0.1% and 1.2%, in all breast cancer cell lines tested. Experimental silencing of ERα resulted in a reduced epithelial appearance and partial reduction of CD24 mRNA, while levels of CD44 and EpCAM were unaltered. Moreover, knockdown of ERα led to a change in the morphology of the cells similar to the epithelial to mesenchymal transition phenotype and was associated with decreased E-cadherin expression. Our findings offer new insights into the regulation of the breast cancer stem cell phenotype by ERα and suggest that treatments targeting the breast cancer stem cell adhesion molecules and the ERα pathway may be complementary.     

Phenotypic characterization of mammosphere-forming cells from the human MA-11 breast carcinoma cell line

The phenotypic diversity of breast carcinoma may be explained by the existence of a sub-population of breast cancer cells, endowed with stem cell-like properties and gene expression profiles, able to differentiate along different pathways. A stem cell-like population of CD44⁺CD24^−/low breast cancer cells was originally identified using cells from metastatic pleural effusions of breast carcinoma patients. We have previously reported that upon in vitro culture as mammospheres under stem cell-like conditions, human MA-11 breast carcinoma cells acquired increased tumorigenicity and lost CD24 expression compared with the parental cell line. We now report that upon passage of MA-11 mammospheres into serum-supplemented cultures, CD24 expression was restored; the rapid increase in CD24 expression was consistent with up-regulation of the antigen, and not with in vitro selection of CD24⁺ cells. In tumors derived from subcutaneous injection of MA-11 mammospheres in athymic nude mice, 76.1 ± 9.7% of cells expressed CD24, vs. 0.5 ± 1% in MA-11 cells dissociated from mammospheres before injection. The tumorigenicity of sorted CD44⁺CD24⁻ and CD44⁺CD24^high MA-11 cells was equal. Single cell-sorted CD24⁻ and CD24^high MA-11 gave rise in vitro to cell populations with heterogeneous CD24 expression. Also, subcutaneous tumors derived from sorted CD24⁻ sub-populations and single-cell clones had levels of CD24 expression similar to the unsorted cells. To investigate whether the high expression of CD24 contributed to the tumorigenic potential of MA-11 cells, we silenced CD24 by shRNA. CD24 silencing (95%) resulted in no difference in tumorigenicity upon s.c. injection in athymic nude mice compared with mock-transduced MA-11 cells. Since CD24 silencing was maintained in vivo, our data suggest that the level of expression of CD24 is associated with but does not contribute to tumorigenicity. We then compared the molecular profile of the mammospheres with the adherent cell fraction. Gene expression profiling revealed that the increased tumorigenicity of MA-11 mammospheres was associated with changes in 10 signal transduction pathways, including MAP kinase, Notch and Wnt, and increased expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase, a cancer-initiating cell-associated marker. Our data demonstrate that (i) the level of CD24 expression is neither a stable feature of mammosphere-forming cells nor confers tumorigenic potential to MA-11 cells; (ii) cancer-initiating cell-enriched MA-11 mammospheres have activated specific signal transduction pathways, potential targets for anti-breast cancer therapy.     

Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Inhibitors suppress the Tumor-initiating properties of a CD44+CD133+ subpopulation of Caco-2 cells

Tumor-initiating cells or cancer stem cells are a subset of cancer cells that have tumorigenic potential in human cancer. Although several markers have been proposed to distinguish tumor-initiating cells from colorectal cancer cells, little is known about how this subpopulation contributes to tumorigenesis. Here, we characterized a tumor-initiating cell subpopulation from Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells. Based on the findings that Caco-2 cell subpopulations express different cell surface markers, we were able to discriminate three main fractions, CD44^-CD133^-, CD44^-CD133⁺, and CD44⁺CD133⁺ subsets, and characterized their biochemical and tumorigenic properties. Our results show that CD44⁺CD133⁺ cells possessed an unusual capacity to proliferate and could form tumors when transplanted into NSG mice. Additionally, primary tumors grown from CD44⁺CD133⁺ Caco-2 cells contained mixed populations of CD44⁺CD133⁺ and non-CD44⁺CD133⁺ Caco-2 cells, indicating that the full phenotypic heterogeneity of the parental Caco-2 cells was re-created. Notably, only the CD44⁺CD133⁺ subset of Caco-2-derived primary tumors had tumorigenic potential in NSG mice, and the tumor growth of CD44⁺CD133⁺ cells was faster in secondary xenografts than in primary transplants. Gene expression analysis revealed that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was over-activated in CD44⁺CD133⁺ cells, and the growth and tumorigenic potential of this subpopulation were significantly suppressed by small-molecule Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitors. Our findings suggest that the CD44⁺CD133⁺ subpopulation from Caco-2 cells was highly enriched in tumorigenic cells and will be useful for investigating the mechanisms leading to human colorectal cancer development.     

Characteristics and clinical significance of CD163+/CD206+M2 mono-macrophage in the bladder cancer microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment may recruit monocytes, with a protumoral macrophage phenotype (M2) that plays an important role in solid tumor progression and metastasis. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of these cells for cancer prevention and treatment. Bladder cancer tissue samples and paracarcinoma tissues samples were collected, and the expression of CD163⁺ cells in tumor tissues was observed. Then, we observed the expression of infiltrating CD45⁺CD14⁺CD163⁺ cell subset and analyzed the molecular expressions related to immunity and angiogenesis. C57/BL6 mice were inoculated subcutaneously, and dynamic changes of CD11b⁺F4/80⁺CD206⁺ mononuclear macrophages expression for tumor-bearing mice were detected. The results showed that the proportion of CD45⁺CD14⁺CD163⁺ mono-macrophage subset infiltrated by tumor tissue was significantly higher than that in paracarcinoma tissues. In bladder cancer tissue, the expression rate of CD40 in CD45⁺CD14⁺CD163^- mono-macrophage subset was significantly lower than that in CD45⁺CD14⁺CD163⁺ mono-macrophage subset. Similar results were found in the paracarcinoma tissues. We found that, as the proportion of CD11b⁺F4/80⁺CD206⁺ mono-macrophages increased gradually, the difference was statistically significant. CD163⁺/CD206⁺ mono-macrophages in bladder cancer microenvironment are abnormally elevated, and these cells are closely related to tumor progression. CD40 may be an important molecule that exerts biological function in this subset.     

Interleukin 2 and interleukin 10 function synergistically to promote CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity,which is suppressed by regulatory T cells in breast cancer

The precise role of interleukin (IL)-10 in breast cancer is not clear. Previous studies suggested a tumor-promoting role of IL-10 in breast cancer, whereas recent discoveries that IL-10 activated and expanded tumor-resident CD8⁺ T cells challenged the traditional view. Here, we investigated the role of IL-10 in HLA-A2-positive breast cancer patients with Grade III, Stage IIA or IIB in-situ and invasive ductal carcinoma, and compared it with that of IL-2, the canonical CD8⁺ T cell growth factor. We first observed that breast cancer patients presented higher serum levels of IL-2 and IL-10 than healthy controls. Upon prolonged TCR stimulation, peripheral blood CD8⁺ T cells from breast cancer patients tended to undergo apoptosis, which could be prevented by the addition of IL-2 and/or IL-10. The cytotoxicity of TCR-activated CD8⁺ T cells was also enhanced by exogenous IL-2 and/or IL-10. Interestingly, IL-2 and IL-10 demonstrated synergistic effects, since the enhancement in CD8⁺ T cell function when both cytokines were added was greater than the sum of the improvements mediated by each individual cytokine. IL-10 by itself could not promote the proliferation of CD8⁺ T cells but could significantly enhance IL-2-mediated promotion of CD8⁺ T cell proliferation. In addition, the cytotoxicity of tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells in breast tumor was elevated when both IL-2 and IL-10 were present but not when either one was absent. This synergistic effect was stopped by CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells (Treg), which depleted IL-2 in a cell number-dependent manner. Together, these results demonstrated that IL-2 and IL-10 could work synergistically to improve the survival, proliferation, and cytotoxicity of activated CD8⁺ T cells, an effect suppressible by CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg cells.     

Self-renewal and circulating capacities of metastatic hepatocarcinoma cells required for collaboration between TM4SF5 and CD44

Tumor metastasis involves circulating and tumor-initiating capacities of metastatic cancer cells. Hepatic TM4SF5 promotes EMT for malignant growth and migration. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biomarkers remain unexplored for metastatic potential throughout metastasis. Here, novel TM4SF5/CD44 interaction-mediated self-renewal and circulating tumor cell (CTC) capacities were mechanistically explored. TM4SF5-dependent sphere growth was correlated with CD133⁺, CD24^-, ALDH activity, and a physical association between CD44 and TM4SF5. The TM4SF5/CD44 interaction activated c-Src/STAT3/ Twist1/ B mi1 signaling for spheroid formation, while disturbing the interaction, expression, or activity of any component in this signaling pathway inhibited spheroid formation. In serial xenografts of less than 5,000 cells/injection, TM4SF5-positive tumors exhibited locally-increased CD44 expression, suggesting tumor cell differentiation. TM4SF5-positive cells were identified circulating in blood 4 to 6 weeks after orthotopic liver-injection. Anti-TM4SF reagents blocked their metastasis to distal intestinal organs. Altogether, our results provide evidence that TM4SF5 promotes self-renewal and CTC properties supported by CD133⁺/TM4SF5⁺/CD44^{+(TM4SF5-bound)}/ALDH⁺/ CD24^- markers during HCC metastasis. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(3): 127-128]