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@ARTICLE{Ahmed:181848,
author = {A. Ahmed$^*$ and R. Klotz and S. Köhler and N. Giese and
T. Hackert and C. Springfeld and D. Jäger$^*$ and N.
Halama$^*$},
title = {{I}mmune features of the peritumoral stroma in pancreatic
ductal adenocarcinoma.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {13},
issn = {1664-3224},
address = {Lausanne},
publisher = {Frontiers Media},
reportid = {DKFZ-2022-02263},
pages = {947407},
year = {2022},
note = {#EA:D240#LA:D240# / HI-TRON},
abstract = {The peritumoral stroma is a hallmark of pancreatic ductal
adenocarcinoma (PDA) with implications for disease
development, progression and therapy resistance. We
systematically investigated immune features of the stroma in
PDA patients to identify markers of clinical importance and
potential therapeutic targets.Tissue and blood samples of 51
PDA patients with clinical and follow-up information were
included. Laser Capture Microdissection allowed us to
analyze the stromal compartment in particular. Systematic
immunohistochemistry, followed by software-based image
analysis were conducted. Also, multiplex cytokine analyses
(including 50 immune-related molecules) were performed.
Functional analyses were performed using patient-derived 3D
bioprints. Clinical information was used for survival
analyses. Intercompartmental IL9 and IL18 gradients were
assessed in matched samples of tumor epithelium, stroma, and
serum of patients. Serum levels were compared to an
age-matched healthy control group.Stromal IL9 and IL18 are
significantly associated with patient survival. While IL9 is
a prognostic favorable marker (p=0.041), IL18 associates
with poor patient outcomes (p=0.030). IL9 correlates with an
anti-tumoral cytokine network which connects regulation of T
helper (Th) 9, Th1 and Th17 cells (all: p<0.05 and r>0.5).
IL18 correlates with a Th1-type cytokine phenotype and
stromal CXCL12 expression (all: p<0.05 and r>0.5). Further,
IL18 associates with a higher level of exhausted T cells.
Inhibition of IL18 results in diminished Th1- and Th2-type
cytokines. Patients with high stromal IL9 expression have a
tumor-to-stroma IL9 gradient directed towards the stroma
(p=0.019). Low IL18 expression associates with a
tumor-to-stroma IL18 gradient away from the stroma
(p=0.007). PDA patients showed higher serum levels of IL9
than healthy controls while serum IL18 levels were
significantly lower than in healthy individuals. The stromal
immune cell composition is distinct from the tumor
epithelium. Stromal density of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells
showed a tendency towards improved patient survival
(p=0.071).An unexpected high expression of the cytokines IL9
and IL18 at different ends is of significance in the stroma
of PDA and relates to opposing patient outcomes.
Sub-compartmental cytokine analyses highlight the importance
of a differentiated gradient assessment. The findings
suggest stromal IL9 and/or IL18 as markers for patient
stratification and as potential therapeutic targets. Future
steps include investigating e. g. the role of local
microbiota as both cytokines are also regulated by microbial
compositions.},
keywords = {Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal: pathology / Cytokines /
Forkhead Transcription Factors / Humans / Interleukin-18 /
Interleukin-9 / Pancreatic Neoplasms: pathology / IL18
(Other) / IL9 (Other) / pancreatic cancer (Other) / stroma
(Other) / stromal immunology (Other) / Cytokines (NLM
Chemicals) / Forkhead Transcription Factors (NLM Chemicals)
/ Interleukin-18 (NLM Chemicals) / Interleukin-9 (NLM
Chemicals)},
cin = {D240 / D120},
ddc = {610},
cid = {I:(DE-He78)D240-20160331 / I:(DE-He78)D120-20160331},
pnm = {314 - Immunologie und Krebs (POF4-314)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-314},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
pubmed = {pmid:36131941},
pmc = {pmc:PMC9483939},
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2022.947407},
url = {https://inrepo02.dkfz.de/record/181848},
}