Loss of NF-κB1 Causes Gastric Cancer with Aberrant Inflammation and Expression of Immune Checkpoint Regulators in a STAT-1-Dependent Manner. O'Reilly Lorraine A,Putoczki Tracy L,Mielke Lisa A,Low Jun T,Lin Ann,Preaudet Adele,Herold Marco J,Yaprianto Kelvin,Tai Lin,Kueh Andrew,Pacini Guido,Ferrero Richard L,Gugasyan Raffi,Hu Yifang,Christie Michael,Wilcox Stephen,Grumont Raelene,Griffin Michael D W,O'Connor Liam,Smyth Gordon K,Ernst Mathias,Waring Paul,Gerondakis Steve,Strasser Andreas Immunity Polymorphisms in NFKB1 that diminish its expression have been linked to human inflammatory diseases and increased risk for epithelial cancers. The underlying mechanisms are unknown, and the link is perplexing given that NF-κB signaling reportedly typically exerts pro-tumorigenic activity. Here we have shown that NF-κB1 deficiency, even loss of a single allele, resulted in spontaneous invasive gastric cancer (GC) in mice that mirrored the histopathological progression of human intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. Bone marrow chimeras revealed that NF-κB1 exerted tumor suppressive functions in both epithelial and hematopoietic cells. RNA-seq analysis showed that NF-κB1 deficiency resulted in aberrant JAK-STAT signaling, which dysregulated expression of effectors of inflammation, antigen presentation, and immune checkpoints. Concomitant loss of STAT1 prevented these immune abnormalities and GC development. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how polymorphisms that attenuate NFKB1 expression predispose humans to epithelial cancers, highlighting the pro-tumorigenic activity of STAT1 and identifying targetable vulnerabilities in GC. 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.03.003

Anti-inflammatory potential of Patrineolignan B isolated from Patrinia scabra in LPS-stimulated macrophages via inhibition of NF-κB, AP-1, and JAK/STAT pathways. Lee Hwi-Ho,Jang Eungyeong,Kang Shin-Young,Shin Ji-Sun,Han Hee-Soo,Kim Tae-Woo,Lee Da Hye,Lee Jang-Hoon,Jang Dae Sik,Lee Kyung-Tae International immunopharmacology Patrineolignan B (PB), a lignan compound isolated from the radix and rhizomes of Patrinia scabra, was previously reported to possess a strong tumor-specific cytotoxic activity and beneficial effects on nitric oxide (NO) levels in macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, we assessed the effects of PB on LPS-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells and clarified its molecular mechanisms. PB reversed LPS-induced increase in NO levels and prostaglandin E (PGE) production, as well as inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein and mRNA levels in macrophages. Besides, PB prevented the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in a concentration-dependent manner. The regulatory effects of PB on LPS-induced inflammatory mediators and overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines were shown to depend partly on the suppression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated transcription and AP-1 activation regulated by a c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK). Its anti-inflammatory activity was also mediated by regulating the phosphorylation of Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription 1/3 (STAT1/3) signaling pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that PB exhibits anti-inflammatory potency through interfering with the NF-κB, AP-1, and JAK/STAT signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated macrophages. 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106726

Loss of NFKB1 Results in Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor and Activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 to Promote Gastric Tumorigenesis in Mice. Low Jun T,Christie Michael,Ernst Matthias,Dumoutier Laure,Preaudet Adele,Ni Yanhong,Griffin Michael D W,Mielke Lisa A,Strasser Andreas,Putoczki Tracy L,O'Reilly Lorraine A Gastroenterology BACKGROUND & AIMS:Activity of nuclear factor κB transcription factors and signaling via signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) are frequently altered in gastric cancer cells. Mice lacking NFKB1 (Nfkb1 mice) develop invasive gastric cancer, and their gastric tissues have increased levels of cytokines, such as interleukin (IL) 6, IL22, IL11, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), as well as increased activation of STAT1. We investigated whether these cytokines were required for STAT1 activation in gastric tissues of mice and critical for gastric tumorigenesis. METHODS:We crossed Nfkb1 mice with Il6, Il22, Il11Rα, and Tnf mice. Stomach tissues from compound mutant mice were analyzed by histology, immunoblotting, and RNA sequencing. Lymphoid, myeloid, and epithelial cells were isolated from stomachs, and the levels of cytokines were determined by flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS:Nfkb1 mice developed gastritis, oxyntic atrophy, gastric dysplasia, and invasive tumors, whereas Nfkb1Stat1 mice did not, even when followed for as long as 2 years. The levels of Il6, Il11, Il22, and Tnf messenger RNA were increased in the body and antrum of the stomachs from Nfkb1 mice, from 3-6 months of age. However, Nfkb1Il6, Nfkb1Il22, and Nfkb1Il11Rα mice still developed gastric tumors, although the absence of IL11 receptor (IL11R) significantly reduced development of invasive gastric tumors. Stomachs from Nfkb1Tnf mice exhibited significantly less gastritis and oxyntic atrophy and fewer tumors than Nfkb1 mice. This correlated with reduced activation of STAT1 and STAT3 and fewer numbers of T cells and B cells infiltrating the gastric body. Loss of STAT1 or TNF significantly reduced expression of PD-L1 on epithelial and myeloid (CD11b) cells in the gastric mucosa of Nfkb1 mice-indeed, to the levels observed on the corresponding cells from wild-type mice. CONCLUSIONS:In studies of gastric tumor development in knockout mice, we found that loss of NFKB1 causes increased expression of TNF in the stomach and thereby drives activation of STAT1, resulting in an inflammatory immune response and the development of gastric cancer. IL11R appears to be required for the progression of gastric tumors to the invasive stage. These findings suggest that inhibitors of TNF, and possibly also inhibitors of IL11/IL11Rα, might be useful in the treatment of gastric cancer. 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.06.039

Cordycepin inhibits glioma growth by downregulating PD-L1 expression via the NOD-like receptor/NFKB1/STAT1 axis. Chemico-biological interactions Glioma is a serious primary malignant tumor of the human central nervous system with a poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate; however, inhibition of immune checkpoints can greatly improve the survival rate of patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulation of PD-L1 by cordycepin and the mechanism of its anti-tumor action. The results of previous studies indicate that cordycepin has good anti-proliferative and anti-migratory activities and can induce apoptosis in U251 and T98G cells in vitro. Here, transcriptome sequencing showed that cordycepin may exert anti-tumor effects through the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Further intervention with BMS-1, a small molecule inhibitor of PD-L1, was used to explore whether inhibition of PD-L1 affected the regulation of the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway by cordycepin. Mechanistically, on the one hand, cordycepin regulated the expression of NFKB1 and STAT1 through the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the expression of PD-L1. In addition, inhibition of PD-L1 enhanced the regulation by cordycepin of the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. On the other hand, cordycepin directly upregulated expression of STAT1 and downregulated that of PD-L1. In vivo studies further showed that cordycepin could downregulate expression of PD-L1 and NFKB1 and upregulate that of STAT1 in glioma xenograft tumor tissues, consistent with the results of in vitro studies. The results suggest that cordycepin may down-regulate the expression of PD-L1 through NOD-like receptor signaling pathway and NFKB signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the immune escape of glioma, and can be developed as a PD-L1 inhibitor. Our results therefore provide a theoretical foundation for the use of cordycepin in treatment of glioma and enrich our understanding of its pharmacological mechanism. 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.111178