Chronic inflammation has been associated with a variety of human cancers. Although all surgical prostate specimens contain evidence of inflammation, the causal relationship between inflammation and prostate cancer has not been established. Interleulin-17 (IL-17) has been well accepted as a critical cytokine in inflammation. Both TH17 cells (T helper cells secreting IL-17) and IL-17 cytokine are increased in prostate cancer specimens, and the IL-17 receptors, IL-17RA and IL-17RC, are expressed in prostate cancer cells. However, the fundamental question of whether IL-17 plays an active role in prostate cancer needs to be determined. Our preliminary experiments revealed that in a mouse model of prostate cancer caused by conditionally mutant for Pten in the prostatic epithelium, IL- 17RC deficient (IL-17RC-) mice displayed smaller prostates and developed a reduced number of invasive prostate cancers with decreased inflammatory infiltration, reduced cellular proliferation, and increased apoptosis, compared to mice that express IL-17RC. Further, the fibromuscular stroma surrounding the prostatic glands was significantly thicker in IL-17RC- mice, a finding that we have associated with a decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7). Addition of a recombinant mouse IL-17 induced the expression of MMP7 in the mouse prostate. Based on these findings, we have formulated a central hypothesis that, in prostate carcinogenesis caused by a Pten mutation, IL-17 facilitates prostate cancer formation and growth through an MMP7-mediated mechanism. This concept has clinical significance because blocking IL-17 or its downstream effectors such as MMP7 has the potential to be developed into new therapeutics in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer; further, assessing the expression of IL-17- MMP7 signaling axis can be utilized as a prognostic indicator of prostate cancer. We propose to test our central hypothesis through the following three specific aims:
Aim 1 : Does MMP7 mediate IL-17's function in facilitating prostate cancer formation and growth in Pten- null mice? Aim 2: Assess the efficacy of targeting IL-17-MMP7 axis in preventing prostate cancer formation and growth in Pten-null mice.
Aim 3 : Determine the association between the IL-17-MMP7 axis and progression of human prostate cancer. Successful completion of the proposed studies will provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying IL-17-mediated prostate carcinogenesis. Further, if any or all of the tested agents show efficacy, they can potentially be developed into preventive and/or therapeutic drugs against prostate cancer and other cancer types where IL-17 plays a role. The IL-17-MMP7 axis can potentially be utilized as new biomarkers in the prognosis of prostate cancer and in distinguishing between aggressive and indolent prostate cancers.

Public Health Relevance

The goals of this project are to determine the mechanisms of how a proinflammatory cytokine IL-17 facilitates formation and growth of prostate cancer, to assess if blocking IL-17's functions can prevent prostate cancer formation and growth, and to test if IL-17-associated molecules can be used as biomarkers to predict the prognosis of prostate cancer patients. The findings from this project will have significant potentials to be translated into prevention and treatment of human prostate cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
4R01CA174714-04
Application #
9081548
Study Section
Molecular Oncogenesis Study Section (MONC)
Project Start
2013-07-01
Project End
2018-06-30
Budget Start
2016-07-01
Budget End
2017-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Tulane University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053785812
City
New Orleans
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70118
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Angajala, Anusha; Lim, Sangbin; Phillips, Joshua B et al. (2018) Diverse Roles of Mitochondria in Immune Responses: Novel Insights Into Immuno-Metabolism. Front Immunol 9:1605
Wu, Victor J; Pang, Darren; Tang, Wendell W et al. (2017) Obesity, age, ethnicity, and clinical features of prostate cancer patients. Am J Clin Exp Urol 5:1-9
Wang, Xun; Yang, Lingyun; Huang, Feng et al. (2017) Inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and TNF-? up-regulate PD-L1 expression in human prostate and colon cancer cells. Immunol Lett 184:7-14
Zhang, Q; Liu, S; Parajuli, K R et al. (2017) Interleukin-17 promotes prostate cancer via MMP7-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Oncogene 36:687-699
Ma, Lin; Li, Jingwu; Nie, Qiang et al. (2017) Organoid culture of human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and C4-2B. Am J Clin Exp Urol 5:25-33
Yang, Lingyun; Huang, Feng; Mei, Jiandong et al. (2017) Posttranscriptional Control of PD-L1 Expression by 17?-Estradiol via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway in ER?-Positive Cancer Cell Lines. Int J Gynecol Cancer 27:196-205
Zhang, Qiuyang; Liu, Sen; Ge, Dongxia et al. (2017) Targeting Th17-IL-17 Pathway in Prevention of Micro-Invasive Prostate Cancer in a Mouse Model. Prostate 77:888-899
Chen, Zhiquan; Mei, Jiandong; Liu, Lunxu et al. (2016) PD-L1 expression is associated with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Oncol Lett 12:921-927
Cunningham, David; Parajuli, Keshab R; Zhang, Changde et al. (2016) Monomethyl Auristatin E Phosphate Inhibits Human Prostate Cancer Growth. Prostate 76:1420-30

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