Cystatin A promotes the antitumor activity of T helper type 1 cells and dendritic cells in murine models of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a disease with poor prognosis due to diagnostic and therapeutic limitations. We previously identified cystatin A (CSTA) as a PDAC biomarker and have conducted the present study to investigate the antitumor effects of CSTA. PDAC murine models were establishe...

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Main Authors: Alessandro Nasti, Shingo Inagaki, Tuyen Thuy Bich Ho, Akihiro Seki, Keiko Yoshida, Kosuke Satomura, Yoshio Sakai, Shuichi Kaneko, Taro Yamashita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Molecular Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.13796
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author Alessandro Nasti
Shingo Inagaki
Tuyen Thuy Bich Ho
Akihiro Seki
Keiko Yoshida
Kosuke Satomura
Yoshio Sakai
Shuichi Kaneko
Taro Yamashita
author_facet Alessandro Nasti
Shingo Inagaki
Tuyen Thuy Bich Ho
Akihiro Seki
Keiko Yoshida
Kosuke Satomura
Yoshio Sakai
Shuichi Kaneko
Taro Yamashita
author_sort Alessandro Nasti
collection DOAJ
description Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a disease with poor prognosis due to diagnostic and therapeutic limitations. We previously identified cystatin A (CSTA) as a PDAC biomarker and have conducted the present study to investigate the antitumor effects of CSTA. PDAC murine models were established with genetically modified PAN02 tumor cell lines to evaluate the antitumor immune response. PDAC mouse survival was significantly longer with CSTA, and its antitumor effect was mediated mainly by CD4+ cells and partly by CD8+ cells. We also observed an increased infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in tumors of mice overexpressing CSTA. Phenotypically, we confirmed higher T helper type 1 (Th1) cell activity and increased frequency and activity of M1 macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) in CSTA‐overexpressing mice. Gene expression analysis highlighted pathways related to interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) induction and Th1 lymphocyte activation that were induced by CSTA. Macrophages and DCs shifted toward proinflammatory antitumor phenotypes. Furthermore, activated splenocytes of PDAC model mice expressing CSTA had increased proapoptotic activity. CSTA also promoted the selective migration of CD4+ and CD11c+ immune cells in an in vitro migration assay. In conclusion, CSTA exerts antitumor effects by enhancing Th1‐mediated antitumor effects through promotion of DC and M1 macrophage activity, thereby increasing immune cell chemotaxis. CSTA could be a novel therapeutic candidate for PDAC.
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spelling doaj-art-ff21b8ae963a47b986f5e7d793af55ca2025-08-20T01:50:39ZengWileyMolecular Oncology1574-78911878-02612025-05-011951452147010.1002/1878-0261.13796Cystatin A promotes the antitumor activity of T helper type 1 cells and dendritic cells in murine models of pancreatic cancerAlessandro Nasti0Shingo Inagaki1Tuyen Thuy Bich Ho2Akihiro Seki3Keiko Yoshida4Kosuke Satomura5Yoshio Sakai6Shuichi Kaneko7Taro Yamashita8Information‐Based Medicine Development Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University JapanSystem Biology, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences Kanazawa University JapanInformation‐Based Medicine Development Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology Kanazawa University Hospital JapanSystem Biology, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences Kanazawa University JapanSystem Biology, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences Kanazawa University JapanSystem Biology, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences Kanazawa University JapanInformation‐Based Medicine Development Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University JapanSystem Biology, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences Kanazawa University JapanPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a disease with poor prognosis due to diagnostic and therapeutic limitations. We previously identified cystatin A (CSTA) as a PDAC biomarker and have conducted the present study to investigate the antitumor effects of CSTA. PDAC murine models were established with genetically modified PAN02 tumor cell lines to evaluate the antitumor immune response. PDAC mouse survival was significantly longer with CSTA, and its antitumor effect was mediated mainly by CD4+ cells and partly by CD8+ cells. We also observed an increased infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in tumors of mice overexpressing CSTA. Phenotypically, we confirmed higher T helper type 1 (Th1) cell activity and increased frequency and activity of M1 macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) in CSTA‐overexpressing mice. Gene expression analysis highlighted pathways related to interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) induction and Th1 lymphocyte activation that were induced by CSTA. Macrophages and DCs shifted toward proinflammatory antitumor phenotypes. Furthermore, activated splenocytes of PDAC model mice expressing CSTA had increased proapoptotic activity. CSTA also promoted the selective migration of CD4+ and CD11c+ immune cells in an in vitro migration assay. In conclusion, CSTA exerts antitumor effects by enhancing Th1‐mediated antitumor effects through promotion of DC and M1 macrophage activity, thereby increasing immune cell chemotaxis. CSTA could be a novel therapeutic candidate for PDAC.https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.13796antitumorCD4+ T cellsCSTAcystatin ADCsdendritic cells
spellingShingle Alessandro Nasti
Shingo Inagaki
Tuyen Thuy Bich Ho
Akihiro Seki
Keiko Yoshida
Kosuke Satomura
Yoshio Sakai
Shuichi Kaneko
Taro Yamashita
Cystatin A promotes the antitumor activity of T helper type 1 cells and dendritic cells in murine models of pancreatic cancer
Molecular Oncology
antitumor
CD4+ T cells
CSTA
cystatin A
DCs
dendritic cells
title Cystatin A promotes the antitumor activity of T helper type 1 cells and dendritic cells in murine models of pancreatic cancer
title_full Cystatin A promotes the antitumor activity of T helper type 1 cells and dendritic cells in murine models of pancreatic cancer
title_fullStr Cystatin A promotes the antitumor activity of T helper type 1 cells and dendritic cells in murine models of pancreatic cancer
title_full_unstemmed Cystatin A promotes the antitumor activity of T helper type 1 cells and dendritic cells in murine models of pancreatic cancer
title_short Cystatin A promotes the antitumor activity of T helper type 1 cells and dendritic cells in murine models of pancreatic cancer
title_sort cystatin a promotes the antitumor activity of t helper type 1 cells and dendritic cells in murine models of pancreatic cancer
topic antitumor
CD4+ T cells
CSTA
cystatin A
DCs
dendritic cells
url https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.13796
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