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Although tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) display a M2-skewed tumor-promoting phenotype in most cancers, in colorectal cancer, both TAM polarization and its impact remain controversial. We investigated the role of the M2-polarizing p50 NF-κB subunit in orchestrating TAM phenotype, tumor microenvironment composition, and colorectal cancer progression. We first demonstrated, by parallel studies in colitis-associated cancer (CAC) and in genetically driven Apc Min mouse models, that the p50-dependent inhibition of M1-polarized gut inflammation supported colorectal cancer development. In accordance with these studies, p50 -/- mice displayed exacerbated CAC with fewer and smaller tumors, along with enhanced levels of M1/Th1 cytokines/chemokines, including IL12 and CXCL10, whose administration restrained CAC development in vivo The inflammatory profile supporting tumor resistance in colons from p50 -/- tumor bearers correlated inversely with TAM load and positively with both recruitment of NK, NKT, CD8 + T cells and number of apoptotic tumor cells. In agreement, myeloid-specific ablation of p50 promoted tumor resistance in mice, whereas in colorectal cancer patients, a high number of p50 + TAMs at the invasive margin was associated with decreased IL12A and TBX21 expression and worse postsurgical outcome. Our findings point to p50 involvement in colorectal cancer development, through its engagement in the protumor activation of macrophages, and identify a candidate for prognostic and target therapeutic intervention. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(5); 578-93. ©2018 AACR ., (©2018 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Dysregulated hippocampal neurogenesis has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), in which it may potentially represent an auto-reparatory mechanism that could counteract neuronal loss and cognitive impairment. We evaluated hippocampal neurogenesis in TgCRND8 mice and reported that, at 32 weeks of age, corresponding to an advanced AD-like neuropathology stage, increased numbers of proliferating cells, doublecortin-expressing progenitors/neuroblasts, and early postmitotic calretinin-expressing neurons were present compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. When hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) were isolated from TgCRND8 mice, we demonstrated that (1) their neurogenic potential was higher compared with WT NPCs; (2) medium conditioned by TgCRND8 NPC promoted neuronal differentiation of WT NPCs; and (3) the proneurogenic effect of TgCRND8-conditioned medium was counteracted by blockade of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) axis. Furthermore, we showed that β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ(1-42)) oligomers, but not monomers and fibrils, and the alarmin high-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB-1) could promote neuronal differentiation of NPCs via activation of the RAGE/NF-κB axis. Altogether, these data suggest that, in AD brain, an endogenous proneurogenic response could be potentially triggered and involve signals (Aβ(1-42) oligomers and HMGB-1) and pathways (RAGE/NF-κB activation) that also contribute to neuroinflammation/neurotoxicity. A more detailed analysis confirmed no significant increase of new mature neurons in hippocampi of TgCRND8 compared with WT mice, suggesting reduced survival and/or integration of newborn neurons. Therapeutic strategies in AD should ideally combine the ability of sustaining hippocampal neurogenesis as well as of counteracting an hostile brain microenvironment so to promote survival of vulnerable cell populations, including adult generated neurons.

Dendritic cells play a central role in keeping the balance between immunity and immune tolerance. A key factor in this equilibrium is the lifespan of DC, as its reduction restrains antigen availability leading to termination of immune responses. Here we show that lipopolysaccharide-driven DC maturation is paralleled by increased nuclear levels of p50 NF-κB, an event associated with DC apoptosis. Lack of p50 in murine DC promoted increased lifespan, enhanced level of maturation associated with increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-18 and IFN-β, enhanced capacity of activating and expanding CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in vivo and decreased ability to induce differentiation of FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells. In agreement, vaccination of melanoma-bearing mice with antigen-pulsed LPS-treated p50(-/-) BM-DC boosted antitumor immunity and inhibition of tumor growth. We propose that nuclear accumulation of the p50 NF-κB subunit in DC, as occurring during lipopolysaccharide-driven maturation, is a homeostatic mechanism tuning the balance between uncontrolled activation of adaptive immunity and immune tolerance.

The Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-products (RAGE) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface receptors which interacts with a wide range of ligands, such as High-Mobility Group Box-1 (HMGB-1), S100B, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Here we provided evidence for the restricted expression of RAGE in the undifferentiated neural stem/progenitor cells of mouse adult SubVentricular Zone (SVZ) neurogenic region and adult SVZ-derived neurospheres. Additionally, RAGE ligands stimulated both proliferation and neuronal differentiation of SVZ-derived neural progenitor cells (NPC) in vitro. NF-kappaB nuclear translocation occurred upon RAGE activation in SVZ-derived neurospheres and its blockade (by SN-50) or its absence (in p50(-/-) derived NPC) resulted in the inhibition of the ligand-mediated effects on neuronal differentiation. These novel findings delineate an interesting scenario where the RAGE-NF-kappaB axis may contribute to regulate adult neural stem/progenitor cell function in physiological and possibly pathological conditions where this axis is upregulated., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

One of the great challenges of medicinal chemistry is to create novel, effective, chemotherapeutic agents that show specificity for cancer cells combined with low systemic toxicity. A novel idea is to target the enzymes of the NAD biosynthesis and recycling pathways given that cancer cells display a higher NAD turnover rate than healthy cells. To this end, the compound FK866 (APO866; (E)-N-[4-(1-benzoylpiperidin-4-yl) butyl]-3-(pyridin-3-yl) acrylamide), which blocks nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NMPRTase) has entered clinical trials as a potential chemotherapeutic agent. Here we report the synthesis of analogues of FK866 synthesized by click chemistry.