Forkhead box transcription factor M1 ( FOXM 1) is a proliferation‐associated transcription factor involved in tumorigenesis through transcriptional regulation of its target genes in various cells, including dendritic cells ( DC s). Although previous work has shown that FOXM 1 enhances DC maturation in response to house dust mite allergens, it is not known whether FOXM 1 affects DC maturation in the context of tumor‐specific immunity. In this study, we examined the central role of FOXM 1 in regulating bone marrow‐derived dendritic cell ( BMDC ) maturation phenotypes and function in pancreatic cancer and colon cancer. FOXM 1 retarded maturation phenotypes of BMDC s, inhibited promotion of T‐cell proliferation, and decreased interleukin‐12 ( IL ‐12) p70 in tumor‐bearing mice ( TBM ). Notably, FOXM 1 expression was epigenetically regulated by dimethylation on H3 lysine 79 (H3K79me2), a modification present in both tumor cells and BMDC s. Increased H3K79me2 enrichment was observed at the FOXM 1 promoter in both BMDC s from TBM , and in BMDC s from wild‐type mice cultured with tumor‐conditioned medium that mimics the tumor microenvironment ( TME ). Furthermore, inhibition of the H3K79 methyltransferase DOT 1L not only decreased enrichment of H3K79me2, but also downregulated expression of FOXM 1 and partially reversed its immunosuppressive effects on BMDC s. Furthermore, we found that FOXM 1 upregulated transcription of Wnt family number 5A (Wnt5a) in BMDC s in vitro ; we also observed that exogenous Wnt5a expression abrogated BMDC maturation phenotypes by inhibiting FOXM 1 and H3K79me2 modification. Therefore, our results reveal that upregulation of FOXM 1 by H3K79me2 in pancreatic cancer and colon cancer significantly inhibits maturation phenotypes and function of BMDC s through the Wnt5a signaling pathway, and thus provide novel insights into FOXM 1‐based antitumor immunotherapy.

According to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine, spleen deficiency often leads to diarrhea, and deep-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma (DAR) is commonly used for the treatment. However, the association between spleen deficiency and diarrhea remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of DAR for the treatment of diarrhea caused by spleen deficiency and analyze the related mechanisms. It was found that a high dose group of an ethanolic extract of deep-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma (EEDAR-H) significantly inhibited weight loss, diarrhea, and pathological changes in colon tissue induced by rhubarb. EEDAR-H was found to significantly reduce the level of intestinal inflammatory cytokines and increase the expression of gastrointestinal motility hormones. In addition, EEDAR-H significantly increased the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) and aquaporin 8 (AQP8) and restored abnormal water metabolism; Shen-Ling-Bai-Zhu-San (SLBZS) induced the same effect as EEDAR-H. Additional tests on the mechanism found that EEDAR-H and SLBZS promoted the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Both significantly increased the expression of the tight junction protein ZO-1 and Occludin, inhibited the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and MLC, and significantly reduced the expression levels of PAR-2. Analysis of the gut microbiota indicated that overall changes in its structure were reversed after treatment with EEDAR-H or SLBZS, in addition to significant modulation of the abundance of different phyla. At the genus level, EEDAR-H or SLBZS significantly reduced the levels of potential pathogens and increased those of beneficial bacteria.

Reg3g is a potential risk for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We previously demonstrated that Reg3g promoted pancreatic carcinogenesis via a STAT3 signaling pathway in a murine model of chronic pancreatitis. Whether the immune response is involved in tumorigenesis induced by Reg3g remains unknown. In this study, Reg3g-regulated tumor immunity was evaluated in tumor-implanted murine models, immune cells, and tumor microenvironment. In mice that had been orthotopically or ectopically implanted with Panc02 cells, Reg3g overexpression increased EGFR and Ki67, diminished MHC-I and caspase-3 expression, and accelerated growth of tumors. By interacting with PD-1/PD-L1, Reg3g also promoted differentiation of Tregs and recruitment of MDSC, retarded maturation of DCs and inactivation of CD8+ T cells, and suppressed cross-priming of CD8+ T-cell responses by DCs in tumor-bearing mice. Knockdown of Reg3g delayed tumor development in normal mice, but not in CD8+ T-cell-deficient mice. In vitro, Reg3g upregulated EGFR in DCs, activated heme oxygenase-1 (Hmox1) involved JAK2/STAT3 signaling, raised levels of Th2 cytokines in and suppressed maturation of DCs, and enhanced tumor cell proliferation. These results reveal a novel role of Reg3g as an immunosuppressive promoter that weakens tumor-specific antigenicity and suppresses antitumor effects of CD8+ T cells in a murine model of pancreatic cancer. Reg3g produces these effects by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in DCs, triggering the generation of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.

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In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and mechanism of atractylodin (ATL) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. We found that atractylodin could significantly reverse the effects of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis, such as weight loss, disease activity index score; shorten the colon length, and reverse the pathological changes in the colon of mice. Atractylodin could inhibit the activation of colonic macrophages by inhibiting the MAPK pathway and alleviate intestinal inflammation in the mouse model of ulcerative colitis. Moreover, it could protect the intestinal barrier by inhibiting the decrease of the tight junction proteins, ZO-1, occludin, and MUC2. Additionally, atractylodin could decrease the abundance of harmful bacteria and increase that of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract of mice, effectively improving the intestinal microecology. In an LPS-induced macrophage model, atractylodin could inhibit the MAPK pathway and expression of the inflammatory factors of macrophages. Atractylodin could also inhibit the production of lactate, which is the end product of glycolysis; inhibit the activity of GAPDH, which is an important rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis; inhibit the malonylation of GAPDH, and, thus, inhibit the translation of TNF-α. Therefore, ours is the first study to highlight the potential of atractylodin in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and reveal its possible mechanism.