Low Tumor Infiltrating Mast Cell Density Reveals Prognostic Benefit in Cervical Carcinoma.

Objectives: Research on the role of mast cells (MCs) in cervical tumor immunity is more limited. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of MCs and their correlation with the immune microenvironment of cervical carcinoma (CC). Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data was utilized to obtain the degree of immune infiltration of MCs in CC. Meanwhile, this study retrospectively collected patient clinical characteristic data and tissue specimens to further verify the relevant conclusions. Mast cell density (MCD) was measured by the CIBERSORT algorithm in TCGA data and immunohistochemical staining of tryptase in CC tissues. Finally, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of TCGA data were performed using "limma" packages and key gene modules were identified using the MCODE application in Cytoscape. Results: The results showed MCs were diffusely distributed in CC tissues. Moreover, we found that low tumor-infiltrating MCD was beneficial for overall survival (OS) in the TCGA cohort. Consistent conclusions were also obtained in a clinical cohort. In addition, a total of 305 DEGs were analyzed between the high tumor-infiltrating MCD and low tumor-infiltrating MCD group. Seven key modules, a total of 34 genes, were screened through the MCODE plug-in, which was mainly related to inflammatory response and immune response and closely correlated with cytokines including CSF2, CCL20, IL1A, IL1B, and CXCL8. Conclusion: In short, high tumor-infiltration MCs in CC tissue was associated with worse OS in patients. Furthermore, MCs were closely related to cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, suggesting that they collectively played a role in the immune response of the tumor. Therefore, MCD may be a potential prognostic indicator and immunotherapy target of CC.

Effect of different types of macrophages on hepatic fibrosis in Echinococcus Granulosus mice.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to illustrate the therapeutic effect of which kind of polarized macrophages-based cell therapy in hepatic fibrosis caused by cystic echinococcosis. METHODS: The isolation culture and polarization induction of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) are established in an in vitro environment. A model of Echinococcus granulosus infection is established by direct injection of the Echinococcus granulosus suspension into the left hepatic lobe. The macrophages are labeled in vitro and the localization of the returned macrophages in the liver of the mice is determined by in vivo tracing. Macrophages of different polarization types are injected into the successfully modeled mice through the tail vein, and the results of HE, Masson, Sirius Red, Desmin immunohistochemistry and Hyp content are inspected to evaluate by liver tissue. Liver pathology and changes in the degree of fibrosis. RESULTS: Bone marrow-derived macrophages have been successfully obtained and induced into M1 and M2 macrophages by different conditions; a model of Echinococcus granulosus infection was successfully established. Macrophages labeled in vitro were returned to the model through the tail vein and they can be located in the liver; a variety of experimental results show that compared with the PBS group, the degree of fibrosis in the M0 group and the M1 group have been reduced, with statistical difference, and the M1 is better than M0 in terms of the therapeutic effect. There is no significant change in the degree of fibrosis in the M2 group. CONCLUSION: Both M1 and M0 macrophages can alleviate liver fibrosis caused by persistent infection of Echinococcus granulosus, but the treatment effect of M1 macrophages is more significant. Cell therapy based on M1 macrophages may be a new idea for treating liver fibrosis caused by persistent infection of Echinococcus granulosus.