Gr-1 blockade remodels the immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by incomplete microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background Ablation is one of the main methods for local treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Different from radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) is not limited by tissue conductivity, and can use multiple electrodes at the same time to improve ablation efficiency...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tian Huang, Hensong Cao, Shipeng Dai, Yonghua Zhu, Hanyuan Liu, Shuxian Zhu, Zhengqing Lu, Chuan Liu, Chengyu Lv, Zhouxiao Li, Jinhua Song, Han Zhuo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Cancer Cell International
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-024-03578-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846136794729414656
author Tian Huang
Hensong Cao
Shipeng Dai
Yonghua Zhu
Hanyuan Liu
Shuxian Zhu
Zhengqing Lu
Chuan Liu
Chengyu Lv
Zhouxiao Li
Jinhua Song
Han Zhuo
author_facet Tian Huang
Hensong Cao
Shipeng Dai
Yonghua Zhu
Hanyuan Liu
Shuxian Zhu
Zhengqing Lu
Chuan Liu
Chengyu Lv
Zhouxiao Li
Jinhua Song
Han Zhuo
author_sort Tian Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Ablation is one of the main methods for local treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Different from radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) is not limited by tissue conductivity, and can use multiple electrodes at the same time to improve ablation efficiency. In addition, MWA can form a larger ablation area, which makes it possible to completely ablate large HCC. However, MWA may be incomplete due to factors such as larger tumors or tumors in high-risk areas. The mechanism by which the cellular and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is involved in the in vitro effects of incomplete microwave ablation (iMWA) needs to be further elucidated. Methods H22 tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice were treated with iMWA with several combinations of ablation power and time duration. The effects of iMWA on the genes of HCC cancer cells and the TIME were investigated by RNA sequencing, mass cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. The effect of iMWA in combination with anti-Gr-1 on HCC tumor growth was also evaluated. Results Thermal stress generated by iMWA induced coagulative necrosis and apoptosis in the region of the ablation center of HCC. RNA sequencing analysis showed that iMWA can boost chemokine CXCL5, which was further confirmed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Mass cytometry results showed that relative to Ctrl group, iMWA-treated led to decreased CD4+ T, CD8+ T, Natural killer (NK), macrophages including both M1 and M2 types but increased monocytes and bone marrow-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Therefore, inhibiting MDSC is the main target in the later stage of iMWA. In vivo results showed that the tumor volume and weight of iMWA+ anti-Gr-1 group were significantly reduced compared with iMWA+ anti-IgG group. In addition, the merged expressions of CD11b and Gr-1 proteins were found reduced in the iMWA+ anti-Gr-1 group compared with the iMWA+ anti-IgG group by immunofluorescence staining. Immunohistochemistry suggested that CD8 was enriched in the iMWA+ anti-Gr-1 group but not in the iMWA+ anti-IgG group. Conclusion Our data suggests that iMWA and Gr-1 blocking combined therapy can further inhibit HCC growth and significantly improve the CD8+ T cells in the mouse subcutaneous tumor model, which brings good news to HCC patients.
format Article
id doaj-art-c34d76695a77457ea832b4b73d298045
institution Kabale University
issn 1475-2867
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Cancer Cell International
spelling doaj-art-c34d76695a77457ea832b4b73d2980452024-12-08T12:46:36ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672024-12-0124111510.1186/s12935-024-03578-wGr-1 blockade remodels the immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by incomplete microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinomaTian Huang0Hensong Cao1Shipeng Dai2Yonghua Zhu3Hanyuan Liu4Shuxian Zhu5Zhengqing Lu6Chuan Liu7Chengyu Lv8Zhouxiao Li9Jinhua Song10Han Zhuo11Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NHC Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary CancersDepartment of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical UniversityHepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NHC Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary CancersHepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NHC Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary CancersDepartment of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical UniversityCanyon Medical Inc.Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NHC Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary CancersHepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NHC Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary CancersDepartment of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineHepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NHC Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary CancersHepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NHC Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary CancersAbstract Background Ablation is one of the main methods for local treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Different from radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) is not limited by tissue conductivity, and can use multiple electrodes at the same time to improve ablation efficiency. In addition, MWA can form a larger ablation area, which makes it possible to completely ablate large HCC. However, MWA may be incomplete due to factors such as larger tumors or tumors in high-risk areas. The mechanism by which the cellular and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is involved in the in vitro effects of incomplete microwave ablation (iMWA) needs to be further elucidated. Methods H22 tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice were treated with iMWA with several combinations of ablation power and time duration. The effects of iMWA on the genes of HCC cancer cells and the TIME were investigated by RNA sequencing, mass cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. The effect of iMWA in combination with anti-Gr-1 on HCC tumor growth was also evaluated. Results Thermal stress generated by iMWA induced coagulative necrosis and apoptosis in the region of the ablation center of HCC. RNA sequencing analysis showed that iMWA can boost chemokine CXCL5, which was further confirmed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Mass cytometry results showed that relative to Ctrl group, iMWA-treated led to decreased CD4+ T, CD8+ T, Natural killer (NK), macrophages including both M1 and M2 types but increased monocytes and bone marrow-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Therefore, inhibiting MDSC is the main target in the later stage of iMWA. In vivo results showed that the tumor volume and weight of iMWA+ anti-Gr-1 group were significantly reduced compared with iMWA+ anti-IgG group. In addition, the merged expressions of CD11b and Gr-1 proteins were found reduced in the iMWA+ anti-Gr-1 group compared with the iMWA+ anti-IgG group by immunofluorescence staining. Immunohistochemistry suggested that CD8 was enriched in the iMWA+ anti-Gr-1 group but not in the iMWA+ anti-IgG group. Conclusion Our data suggests that iMWA and Gr-1 blocking combined therapy can further inhibit HCC growth and significantly improve the CD8+ T cells in the mouse subcutaneous tumor model, which brings good news to HCC patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-024-03578-wMicrowave ablationGr-1Cancer immunotherapyBone marrow-derived suppressor cellsHepatocellular carcinoma
spellingShingle Tian Huang
Hensong Cao
Shipeng Dai
Yonghua Zhu
Hanyuan Liu
Shuxian Zhu
Zhengqing Lu
Chuan Liu
Chengyu Lv
Zhouxiao Li
Jinhua Song
Han Zhuo
Gr-1 blockade remodels the immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by incomplete microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma
Cancer Cell International
Microwave ablation
Gr-1
Cancer immunotherapy
Bone marrow-derived suppressor cells
Hepatocellular carcinoma
title Gr-1 blockade remodels the immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by incomplete microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full Gr-1 blockade remodels the immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by incomplete microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma
title_fullStr Gr-1 blockade remodels the immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by incomplete microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Gr-1 blockade remodels the immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by incomplete microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma
title_short Gr-1 blockade remodels the immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by incomplete microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma
title_sort gr 1 blockade remodels the immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by incomplete microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma
topic Microwave ablation
Gr-1
Cancer immunotherapy
Bone marrow-derived suppressor cells
Hepatocellular carcinoma
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-024-03578-w
work_keys_str_mv AT tianhuang gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT hensongcao gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT shipengdai gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT yonghuazhu gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT hanyuanliu gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT shuxianzhu gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT zhengqinglu gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT chuanliu gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT chengyulv gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT zhouxiaoli gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT jinhuasong gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT hanzhuo gr1blockaderemodelstheimmunosuppressivemicroenvironmentinducedbyincompletemicrowaveablationofhepatocellularcarcinoma