Achaete-scute complex-like 2 regulated inflammatory mechanism through Toll-like receptor 4 activating in stomach adenocarcinoma

• Published in: World journal of surgical oncology 2022-08, Vol.20 (1), p.1-266, Article 266
• Main Authors: Zheng, Enqi, Cai, Zhun, Li, Wangyong, Ni, Chuandou, Fang, Qian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Analysis; Antibodies; Apoptosis; ASCL2; Bioinformatics; Biomarkers; Biotechnology; Cancer; Care and treatment; CD8 antigen; Cell growth; Cell proliferation; Correlation; Dendritic cells; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Gastric cancer; Gastritis; Gene expression; Health aspects; Immune system; In vitro methods and tests; In vivo methods and tests; Inflammation; Laboratory animals; Leukocytes (neutrophilic); Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Macrophages; Monocytes; Mutation; Pathogenesis; Patient outcomes; Prognosis; Signal transduction; Statistical analysis; Stomach; Stomach cancer; Stomach carcinoma; TLR4; TLR4 protein; Toll-like receptors; Tumors; Western blotting
• ISSN: 1477-7819; 1477-7819
• DOI: 10.1186/s12957-022-02722-y

Background To investigate the role of achaete-scute complex-like 2 (ASCL2) in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD), we analyze whether ASCL2 suppression could retard cancer development and further observe the relevance between ASCL2 and inflammation via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation in STAD, both in vitro and in vivo. Methods Proliferation, development, inflammation, and apoptosis in STAD are observed using sh-ASCL2 lentivirus via TLR4 activation in vitro and in vivo. The relationship between ASCL2 and inflammation is analyzed. Western blotting of ASCL2 with the target protein of immune-associated cells is performed. The prognosis of STAD and associated ASCL2 mutation are analyzed. Results The ASCL2 level in STAD tumor tissues is increased, compared to normal tissues, and brings a worse prognosis. The ASCL2 shows a negative correlation with inflammation, and TLR4 reveals a positive correlation with gastric cancer. ASCL2 expression is high in MGC803 cells. Sh-ASCL2 could reduce STAD development by decreasing proliferation, tumor volume, and biomarker levels and increasing apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. The inflammatory role of ASCL2 is regulated through TLR4 activation. ASCL2 levels may be related to CNTNAP3, CLIP1, C9orf84, ARIH2, and IL1R2 mutations; positively correlated with M2 macrophage and T follicular helper cell levels; negatively correlated with neutrophil, dendritic cell, monocyte, CD8 T cell, and M1 macrophage levels; and involved in STAD prognosis. Conclusions The ASCL2 may adjust inflammation in STAD through TLR4 activation and may be associated with related immune cells. ASCL2 is possibly an upstream target factor of the TLR4 signaling pathway. Keywords: ASCL2, Stomach carcinoma, TLR4, Inflammation