Kanazawa University Research: Scientists at Kanazawa University Have Unravelled a Link Between Inflammation and Cancer

KANAZAWA, Japan, December 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

A new study published in Gastroenterology highlights the role of a gene-modulator in provoking stomach cancer

Severe inflammation in tissues is often associated with the occurrence of cancer. The mechanism linking both these conditions is not clearly understood. Furthermore, inflamed and cancerous tissues contain a heterogenous mix of damaged and protective cells. This makes it very difficult to isolate the primary damaged cells and study them further. Researchers at Kanazawa University have recently developed a technique to make this possible.

     (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/801687/Gastric_Epithelial_Cells.jpg )

The team used a method of isolating preferred cells from the site of damage, called as laser microdissection (LMD). This involved employing a laser beam to focus on and pick out a specific set of cells. LMD was subsequently applied to understand how gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) can lead to gastric cancer.

The stomach lining comprises mainly epithelial cells. Epithelial cells were therefore isolated from the damaged lining of mice suffering from either gastritis, or inflammation-associated gastric cancer. It was seen that in both these instances, miR-I35B, a gene modulator, was increased to the same extent; much higher than levels observed in healthy mice. Interestingly, miR-I35B levels were already quite high at early stages of cancer - they did not seem to change much as the cancer advanced. This observation was confirmed in human patient samples too.

To then understand what spikes the levels of miR-I35B, the researchers used different chemical triggers of inflammation. They found that IL-1α and IL-1β, two specific inflammatory cytokines present in the body, were responsible for driving this increase. miR-I35B changes were thus closely connected to an inflammatory response. The exact link between miR-I35B and the development of cancer, however, remained a mystery. Using established cancer cell lines, the research group then showed that a miR-I35B mimicking agent led the cells to attach firmly, proliferate and migrate; very much like cancer cells in the body.

Since miR-I35B is a type of microRNA, or gene modulating agent, what genes did it target to bring about these actions? A series of gene-analysis studies on the mice suggested a list of implicated genes. Two such candidates, namely, FOXN3 and RECK, were found to be severely inhibited by miR-135B. In the healthy state, FOXN3 and RECK are known to suppress tumour formation. Inhibition of these genes led to increased cell migration, which is a prime feature of cancer cells. FOXN3 and RECK are likely the primary mediators of miR-135B-induced gastric cancer.

This study highlighted a complex mechanism driving inflammation, its close relative cancer, and elucidated how one molecule is involved in both. "The association of miR-135b with gastritis and early-stage gastric carcinogenesis suggest miR-135b may find utility in the development of diagnostic tools for the early detection of gastric abnormalities", suggest the authors. This detailed understanding of the miR-135B network also paves the way for developing strategies to fight such conditions.

Background 

Inflammation: Inflammation is a type of defence mechanism triggered in the body. It usually manifests as swelling and redness of tissues and results in pain. Inflammation can also be triggered to combat infectious agents. There are two kinds of inflammation: acute or short-term and chronic or long-term. These can both manifest as life-threatening conditions, if left untreated.

miRNA and genes: microRNA or miRNA are molecules made up of the same material as DNA, although they differ in size and structure. microRNA act as controllers of genetic material (such as messenger RNA). They function by activating or silencing specific genes. In most cases this phenomenon ensures that genes are properly regulated. However, sometimes this process can go awry, resulting in disease.

Reference 

Tae-Su Han, Dominic Chih-Cheng Voon, Hiroko Oshima, Mizuho Nakayama, Kanae Echizen, Eri Sakai, Zachary Wei Ern Yong, Kazuhiro Murakami, Liang Yu, Toshinari Minamoto, Chan-Young Ock, Brendan J. Jenkins, Seong-Jin Kim, Han-Kwang Yang and Masanobu Oshima. Interleukin 1 Upregulates MicroRNA 135b to Promote Inflammation associated Gastric Carcinogenesis in Mice. Gastroenterology, 2018.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2018.11.059

This research is supported by the AMED-CREST (JP17gm0410014) and AMED (JP17ck0106259) from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and development, AMED; and by an World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), a Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) (JP15H02362, JP18H04030; M.O.), a Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (JP18K07228; D.C.V) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan; and by National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grants funded by the Korean government (NRF-2017R1C1B2012268; T-S.H.) and KRIBB Research Initiative Program.

About WPI Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University
The Kanazawa University Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) was launched October 2017 following the selection of The University for the World Premier International Research Initiative (WPI) by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
The mission of the NanoLSI is to combine the world's foremost knowledge of bio-scanning probe microscopy and supramolecular chemistry to develop 'nano-endoscopic techniques' to directly image, analyze, and manipulate the nano-dynamics of proteins and nucleic acids both on the surface and inside of living cells. Notably, complementary experimental and multi-scale simulation techniques developed in this research will form a basis for elucidating wide ranging molecular and cellular dynamics by comparing healthy and cancer cells.
Based on the techniques and expertise gained through this process, NanoLSI will create the new academic field of 'Nanoprobe Life Science', to promote fundamental understanding of critical mechanisms governing diverse life phenomena such as diseases and aging.
https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

About Kanazawa University Cancer Research Institute (KU-CRI)
The Kanazawa University Cancer Research Institute (KU-CRI) bears the distinction of being the only institute solely focused on cancer research amongst the Research Institutes and Centers of Japan National Universities. Since its establishment in 1967, KU-CRI has made numerous groundbreaking contributions to the fields of basic and clinical cancer research.
In 2010, KU-CRI was commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) as a Joint Usage/Research Center on "Metastasis and Drug Resistance". This initiative brings together scientists from diverse fields including natural science, engineering, and clinical therapeutics in forming a cross-discipline alliance against cancer metastasis and drug resistance. With this mandate from the government of Japan, KU-CRI members endeavor to broaden our collaboration nationally and internationally in our battle against cancer.
http://ganken.cri.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/eng/

About Kanazawa University
As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.
The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa - a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas.
Kanazawa University website: http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/e/

Further information
Hiroe Yoneda
Public Affairs
WPI Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University
Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
Email: nanolsi-office@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Tel: +81-(76)-23--4550