IL-33/ST2 Signaling and its Correlation with Macrophage Heterogeneity and Clinicopathologic Features in Human Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Title:IL-33/ST2 Signaling and its Correlation with Macrophage Heterogeneity and Clinicopathologic Features in Human Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Volume: 24

Author(s): Aimaiti Yasen, ZhanDong Yang, Jun Feng, RunBin Liang, TianXing Dai, Kai Li, YuHong Cai and GuoYing Wang*

Affiliation:

• Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China

Keywords: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, IL-33/ST2 signaling, macrophages, heterogeneity, correlation.

Abstract: Background: IL-33/ST2 signaling plays crucial roles in the development and progression of various human malignancies. However, its significance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) still remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the expression of IL-33/ST2 signaling and its correlations with macrophage heterogeneity and ICC patients' clinicopathologic features.

Methods: The expression of different phenotype macrophage markers and IL-33/ST2 signalingrelated markers was detected. The correlation between L-33/ST2 signaling and different phenotype macrophage markers as well as ICC patients' clinicopathologic data was evaluated.

Results: Massive heterogeneous cancer cells and PAS-positive cells were observed in tumor tissues. CD68-positive cells accumulated in tumor tissues and expression of both M1 phenotype markers and M2 phenotype macrophage markers was higher in tumor samples than para-carcinoma samples. However, M2 phenotype macrophages represented the dominant macrophage population in ICC tissues. Plasma levels of IL-33, ST2, and MIF were evidently enhanced in ICC patients compared to healthy controls. IL-33/ST2 signaling-related markers exhibited a massive increase in tumor samples than para-carcinoma samples. IL-33 and ST2 expression in ICC tissues was positively associated with M1 and M2 phenotype macrophages. Plasma levels of IL-33, ST2, and MIF were correlated with the diameter of tumor lesions, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and tumor differentiation degree. Multivariate analysis demonstrated IL-33 expression to exhibit a correlation with the diameter of tumor lesions, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage. Additionally, there was a relationship observed between ST2, MIF expression, and diameter of tumor lesions plus TNM stage.

Conclusion: IL-33/ST2 signaling exhibited a positive relationship with macrophage heterogeneity in ICC tissues, and upregulated levels of IL-33, ST2, and MIF were associated with aggressive clinicopathologic characteristics. These findings may provide promising diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic strategies for ICC patients targeting IL-33/ST2 signaling.

Cite this article as:

Yasen Aimaiti, Yang ZhanDong, Feng Jun, Liang RunBin, Dai TianXing, Li Kai, Cai YuHong and Wang GuoYing*, IL-33/ST2 Signaling and its Correlation with Macrophage Heterogeneity and Clinicopathologic Features in Human Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma, Current Cancer Drug Targets 2024; 24 () . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0115680096276605240108112135