Aims: This study was aimed at elucidating whether arecoline-induced ROS production is significantly correlated with the secretion of mtDNA D-loop and PD-L1 in EVs, whether mtDNA D-loop attenuates T cell immunity and is a prognostic biomarker for OSCC patients, and whether orally administered WGP β-glucan reduces Treg cell numbers and promotes oral cancer cell apoptosis.Main methods: ROS production and cytosolic mtDNA D-loop were analyzed using fluorescent DCF and qPCR in OSCC cell lines. mtDNA D-loop and PD-L1 in EVs, serum IFN-γ, and Treg cells were identified using qPCR, ELISA, and flow cytometry for 60 OSCC patients.Key findings: We demonstrated that arecoline stimulated ROS production in a dose-dependent manner to significantly induce cytosolic mtDNA D-loop leakage and PD-L1 expression, which were packaged by EVs to promote immunosuppressive Treg cell numbers. Higher mtDNA D-loop, PD-L1, and Treg cell numbers were significantly correlated with larger tumor size, nodal metastasis, advanced clinical stage, and areca quid chewing. Furthermore, multivariate analysis confirmed that higher mtDNA D-loop levels and Treg cell numbers were unfavorable independent factors for survival. However, WGP β-glucan could mitigate Treg cell numbers and promote oral cancer cell apoptosis.Significance: Arecoline induced ROS to elicit cytosolic mtDNA D-loop leakage and immune suppression. Upregulated EV mtDNA D-loop and serum Treg cell numbers were independent poor prognostic biomarkers, but WGP β-glucan could enhance dual effects on T cell immunity and cancer cell apoptosis and we highly recommend its integration with targeted and immune therapies against OSCC.
CD8+ T cells play important roles in anti-tumor immunity but distribution profile or functional characteristics of effector memory subsets during tumor progression are unclear. We found that, in oral squamous carcinoma patients, circulating CD8+ T cell pools skewed toward effector memory subsets with the distribution frequency of CCR7−CD45RA−CD8+ T cells and CCR7− CD45RA+CD8+ T cells negatively correlated with each other. A significantly higher frequency of CD127lo CCR7−CD45RA−CD8+ T cells or CCR7−CD45RA+CD8+ T cells among total CD8+ T cells was found in peripheral blood or tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, but not in regional lymph nodes. The CD127hi CCR7−CD45RA−CD8+ T cells or CCR7−CD45RA+CD8+ T cells maintained significantly higher IFN-γ, IL-2 productivity and ex vivo proliferative capacity, while the CD127lo CCR7−CD45RA−CD8+ T cells or CCR7−CD45RA+CD8+ T cells exhibited higher granzyme B productivity and susceptibility to activation induced cell death. A higher ratio of CCR7−CD45RA+CD8+ T cells to CCR7−CD45RA−CD8+ T cells was associated with advanced cancer staging and poor differentiation of tumor cells. Therefore, the CD127lo CCR7−CD45RA−CD8+ T cells and CCR7−CD45RA+CD8+ T cells are functionally similar CD8+ T cell subsets which exhibit late differentiated effector phenotypes and the shift of peripheral CD8+ effector memory balance toward CCR7−CD45RA+CD8+ T cells is associated with OSCC progression.
Abstract Two different training strategies to improve turning performance in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) were designed and investigated in this study. Subjects were randomly assigned to a specific exercise group, turning-based training group, or control group to receive training that emphasized balance and strengthening, turning-based treadmill training, and general exercise training, respectively. A total of 12 30-min training sessions followed by 10 min of turning training on a level surface were administered over 4 to 6 weeks. The results (n = 12 for each group) showed that both the specific exercise and turning-based training group experienced improved turning performance, the primary outcome, compared with the control group (specific exercise, 33% change, p = 0.016; turning-based training, 35% change, p = 0.021). For the secondary outcomes, the specific exercise group performed better than the control group on the Tinetti balance scale, limit of stability test and lower extremity extensor and abductor strength. The turning-based training groups performed better than the control group in sensory organization and ankle plantar flexor strength. In summary, specific exercise training and turning-based treadmill training were both effective in improving turning performance in participants with PD. However, the improvements in turning performance of these two groups resulted from improving different aspects of impairment in individuals with PD.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignancy often associated with poor prognosis due to chemoresistance. In this study, we investigated whether arecoline, a major alkaloid in betel nuts, can stimulate aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) levels in OSCC, promoting cancer stemness and leading to resistance to cisplatin (CDDP)-based chemotherapy. Gain- and Loss- of AKR1B10 functions were analyzed using WB and q-PCR of OSCC cells. Stemness, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and CDDP drug resistance in overexpressed AKR1B10 were also identified. Upregulated AKR1B10 in OSCC significantly increased cell motility and aggregation. The results also showed that the canonical TGF-β1-Smad3 pathway was involved in arecoline-induced AKR1B10 expression, further increasing cancer stemness with CDDP resistance via the Snail-dependent EMT pathway. Moreover, oleanolic acid (OA) and ROS/RNS (reactive oxygen/nitrogen species) inhibitors effectively reversed AKR1B10-induced CDDP-resistance. Arecoline-induced ROS/RNS to hyper-activate AKR1B10 in tumor sphere cells via the TGF-β1-Smad3 pathway. Furthermore, AKR1B10 enhanced CDDP resistance in OSCC cells via EMT-inducing markers. Finally, Finally, OA may efficiently target CDDP resistance, reverse stemness in OSCC cells, and have the potential as a novel anticancer drug.