Dihydroartemisinin increased the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila by YAP1 depression that sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy / 医学前沿

The effect of anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) immunotherapy is limited in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) expression increased in liver tumor cells in early HCC, and Akkermansia muciniphila abundance decreased in the colon. The response to anti-PD-1 treatment is associated with A. muciniphila abundance in many tumors. However, the interaction between A. muciniphila abundance and YAP1 expression remains unclear in HCC. Here, anti-PD-1 treatment decreased A. muciniphila abundance in the colon, but increased YAP1 expression in the tumor cells by mice with liver tumors in situ. Mechanistically, hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout (Yap1LKO) maintained bile acid homeostasis in the liver, resulting in an increased abundance of A. muciniphila in the colon. Yap1 knockout enhanced anti-PD-1 efficacy. Therefore, YAP1 inhibition is a potential target for increasing A. muciniphila abundance to promote anti-PD-1 efficacy in liver tumors. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), acting as YAP1 inhibitor, increased A. muciniphila abundance to sensitize anti-PD-1 therapy. A. muciniphila by gavage increased the number and activation of CD8+ T cells in liver tumor niches during DHA treatment or combination with anti-PD-1. Our findings suggested that the combination anti-PD-1 with DHA is an effective strategy for liver tumor treatment.

Effect of SABP, A Water-soluble Component of Salvia Miltiorrhiza, on Immune Microenvironment of Mice with Liver Cancer / 肿瘤防治研究

Objective To investigate the effect of SABP, a water-soluble component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on the growth of orthotopic transplantation of H22 liver cancer and the immune microenvironment of liver cancer. Methods We established a mouse model of orthotopic transplantation of H22 cell liver cancer in BALB/c mice. ELISA was used to detect the expression of PD-L1, TGF-β, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-18, IL-7, IL-2, CCL-2 and CCL-21 in the liver. We counted the organ indexes of liver, spleen and kidney. Results SABP inhibited the growth of orthotopic transplantation tumors of H22 cell liver cancer, and increased the expression levels of PD-L1, TGF-β, IL-1β and IL-10 in the microenvironment of liver cancer, as well as the liver, spleen and kidney coefficients. Conclusion SABP could inhibit the growth of orthotopic transplantation tumors of H22 cell liver cancer and promote the expression of PD-L1, TGF-β, IL-1β and IL-10 in the microenvironment of liver cancer.