Abstract
BackgroundInnate lymphoid cells (ILCs), so far studied mostly in mouse models, are important tissue-resident innate immune cells that play important roles in the colorectal cancer microenvironment and maintain mucosal tissue homeostasis. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) present complexity in various tumor types and are correlated with poor prognosis. pDCs can promote HIV-1–induced group 3 ILC (ILC3) depletion through the CD95 pathway. However, the role of ILC3s in human colon cancer and their correlation with other immune cells, especially pDCs, remain unclear.MethodsWe characterized ILCs and pDCs in the tumor microenvironment of 58 colon cancer patients by flow cytometry and selected three patients for RNA sequencing.ResultsILC3s were negatively correlated, and pDCs were positively correlated, with cancer pathological stage. There was a negative correlation between the numbers of ILC3s and pDCs in tumor tissues. RNA sequencing confirmed the correlations between ILC3s and pDCs and highlighted the potential function of many ILC- and pDC-associated differentially expressed genes in the regulation of tumor immunity. pDCs can induce apoptosis of ILC3s through the CD95 pathway in the tumor-like microenvironment.ConclusionsOne of the interactions between ILC3s and pDCs is via the CD95 pathway, which may help explain the role of ILC3s in colon cancer.
Highlights
Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide [1,2,3]; its incidence has significantly increased recently [4] and is expected to further rise by 50% in the five years [5]
RNA sequencing confirmed the correlations between group 3 ILCs (ILC3s) and Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and highlighted the potential function of many Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs)- and pDC-associated differentially expressed genes in the regulation of tumor immunity. pDCs can induce apoptosis of ILC3s through the CD95 pathway in the tumor-like microenvironment
One of the interactions between ILC3s and pDCs is via the CD95 pathway, which may help explain the role of ILC3s in colon cancer
Summary
Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide [1,2,3]; its incidence has significantly increased recently [4] and is expected to further rise by 50% in the five years [5]. It is important to fully understand the causes of colon cancer to promote the discovery of novel and effective therapeutic targets; this reflects an urgent clinical need from both a theoretical and a practical point of view. The immune system plays an important role in the protection of the host against tumor onset (i.e., tumor immunosurveillance) [10]. The differential distribution of these cells in the tumor microenvironment reflects the diversity of tumor biology [13]. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), so far studied mostly in mouse models, are important tissue-resident innate immune cells that play important roles in the colorectal cancer microenvironment and maintain mucosal tissue homeostasis. The role of ILC3s in human colon cancer and their correlation with other immune cells, especially pDCs, remain unclear
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