Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a progressive lineage reprogramming process characterized by loss of gastric identity and acquisition of intestinal features. Although disruption of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) homeostasis is closely linked to chronic inflammation, its role in gastric metaplastic conversion remains unclear. Here, we establish the first human-derived organoid model of type III incomplete GIM recapitulating goblet cell differentiation, alongside four complementary mouse models representing distinct etiologies of metaplasia. Across human tissues, organoids, and in vivo models, we identify consistent upregulation of the NAD+-consuming enzyme CD38, resulting in chronic NAD+ depletion. We also confirm NAD+ loss reduces SIRT1 activity and increases acetylation of the gastric lineage regulator SOX2 at lysine 73, promoting its nuclear export and functional inactivation. The acute NAD+ depletion disrupts gastric lineage maintenance programs without immediately inducing CDX2, while sustained metabolic erosion permits stable intestinal commitment, defining a hierarchical model of lineage conversion. In parallel, the supplementation with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) restores NAD+ pools, rescues SIRT1 activity, reduces SOX2 acetylation, and reverses metaplastic phenotypes in both human-derived organoids and mouse models. Our findings reveal a CD38-NAD+-SIRT1-SOX2 axis that metabolically drives gastric epithelial identity and position NAD+ homeostasis as a potential strategy for intercepting early gastric tumorigenesis.

Two-dimensional gastric organoid-derived mucosoids provide a physiologically relevant model for studying epithelial differentiation and function. We demonstrated that withdrawal of WNT3a (WNT) and TGFβ inhibitor promotes differentiation and compartmentalization in human gastric mucosoids without impairing functionality. This results in a phenotype resembling the in vivo antral glands. Compared with WNT/TGFβi + conditions, WNT/TGFβi - cultures exhibited increased cell height, enhanced barrier function, and reduced cell density, accompanied by reduced stemness markers and increased tight junction and secreted factors. Phenotypically, WNT/TGFβi⁻ cultures resembled the antral gland tip, showing increased MUC5AC expression, whereas WNT/TGFβi⁺ condition maintained gland base–like features with higher nuclear density. We applied the adenylyl cyclase activator Forskolin (FSK), which enhanced expression of mucus and hormone-related marker without additional WNT supplementation. Differential proteomic confirmed that withdrawal of WNT and TGFβ inhibitor shift cells from stemness toward differentiated epithelial states with enhanced tight junctions and secretory features. FSK promoted a more parietal cell-like state, dependent on the absence of WNT and TGFβ inhibition. Proteomic analysis revealed that the mucus layer has a protein composition distinct from matched cellular lysates, enriched in extracellular matrix, immune, antimicrobial, coagulation, and GPCR-related proteins. This mucus signature was conserved across organoid lines despite marked donor-to-donor variability. WNT, TGFβ, and cAMP signalling further shaped the composition of the mucus proteome while preserving patient-specific protein signatures. We show that the withdrawal of WNT and TGFβ inhibition alone is sufficient to drive broad epithelial differentiation of cells and the enrichment of multiple differentiated subpopulations, without the need for supplementation of additional growth factors. At the same time, standard culture protocols can be used to preserve the proliferative zone, enabling study of both compartments of the gland. Together, these findings establish gastric mucosoids as a versatile model to investigate epithelial differentiation, functional compartmentalization, and secretion with enhanced in vitro differentiation.

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been associated with gastric carcinogenesis. However, the precise involvement of LRP8, the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8, in H. pylori pathogenesis and gastric cancer (GC) remains poorly understood. Objectives: To investigate the potential role of LRP8 in H. pylori infection and gastric carcinogenesis. Methods: Three-dimensional human-derived gastric organoids (hGO) and gastric cancer organoids (hGCO) were synthesized from the tissues obtained from human donors. In this work, multi-omics com- bined with in vivo and in vitro studies were conducted to investigate the potential involvement of LRP8 in H. pylori-induced GC. Results: We found that H. pylori infection significantly upregulated the expression of LRP8 in human GC tissues, cells, organoids, and mouse gastric mucous. In particular, LRP8 exhibited a distinct enrichment in cancer stem cells (CSC). Functionally, silencing of LRP8 affected the formation and proliferation of tumor spheroids, while increased expression of LRP8 was associated with increased proliferation and stemness of GC cells and organoids. Mechanistically, LRP8 promotes the binding of E-cadherin to (3-catenin, thereby promoting nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity of (3-catenin. Furthermore, LRP8 interacts with the cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) to form the CagA/LRP8/(3-catenin complex. This complex fur- ther amplifies H. pylori-induced (3-catenin nuclear translocation, leading to increased transcription of inflammatory factors and CSC markers. Clinical analysis demonstrated that abnormal overexpression of LRP8 is correlated with a poor prognosis and resistance to 5-Fluorouracil in patients with GC. Conclusion: Our findings provide valuable information on the molecular intricacies of H. pylori-induced gastric carcinogenesis, offering potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers for GC. (c) 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Cairo University. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Parkinson’s disease is a complex, multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by aggregation of α-Synuclein into Lewy bodies, with phosphorylation at serine 129 (pSer129), serving as a key regulatory site and pathological hallmark. However, the exact mechanisms by which environmental triggers lead to this disease phenotype remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the impact of representative infectious and pesticide exposures on pSer129 α-Synuclein, with a particular focus on the role of cellular kinases in mediating this process. Neuronal cells were exposed to two distinct environmental stressors: the pesticide rotenone and the well-characterized gastric bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Phosphorylation of Ser129 α-Synuclein and mitochondrial damage were assessed by immunofluorescence staining or Western blotting. To investigate the involvement of c-Abl, cells were treated with mechanistically distinct c-Abl inhibitors and siRNA. Levels of pSer129 α-Synuclein were quantified by Western blotting, while the activities of the upstream serine/threonine kinase were predicted by kinase profiling and validated by Western blotting. Additionally, transcriptome analyses of treated cells were performed and ingenuity pathway analysis and DESeq2 were applied to identify neurodegenerative pathways affected by the infection/treatment. The functional analysis of our RNA-sequencing data revealed that both H. pylori and rotenone induce neuroinflammatory and cellular stress response pathways. Although they likely activate c-Abl through distinct upstream mediators, both triggers ultimately promote α-synuclein phosphorylation. Treatment with the c-Abl inhibitors, Ponatinib and Asciminib, effectively prevented the accumulation of pSer129 α-synuclein and reversed the associated gene expression changes induced by H. pylori or rotenone. Additionally, GSK3β has been identified as a contributor to Ser129 phosphorylation occurring downstream of activated c-Abl signaling. Notably, the vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) produced by H. pylori appears to play a critical role in c-Abl–mediated phosphorylation of α-synuclein at Ser129. These findings highlight the pivotal role of c-Abl in α-Synucleinopathies and provide insights into shared mechanisms between infection and pesticide exposure, offering potential therapeutic targets for Parkinson’s disease and related pathologies involving α-Synuclein modification.

The female reproductive tract is comprised of different regions, each with distinctive physiological characteristics. One of them is the fallopian tubes, which are vital for human reproductive health and success. The ability to model their function and physiology is of utmost importance. So far, in vitro models have been based on a few immortalized or cancer cell lines derived from fallopian tube cells that lacked differentiated, specialized cell types and did not allow for the study of cancer initiation due to their implicit biases. Organoids, in contrast, overcome these limitations and provide an advanced, three-dimensional system for the study of healthy fallopian tube physiology and pathology. Fallopian tube organoids are comprised of epithelial progenitors that can be enriched using chemical or hormonal treatment into the different cell types that are found in the in vivo tissue, namely detyrosinated-tubulin-positive ciliated cells or paired-box protein 8 (PAX8)-positive secretory cells. This protocol provides a step-by-step guide for the establishment and maintenance of a long-term culture of organoids from healthy human fallopian tube tissue. The organoid model described here closely mimics the in vivo physiology and anatomy of human fallopian tube epithelium and provides a comprehensive basis for future studies on its underlying molecular characteristics and possible pathology.

A low-carbohydrate diet or host mismatch-repair deficiency promotes colorectal cancer in synergy with colibactin-producing Escherichia coli, while soluble fibre supplements counteract these effects.

The gastroesophageal squamocolumnar junction (GE-SCJ) is a critical tissue interface between the esophagus and stomach, with significant relevance in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal diseases. Despite this, the molecular mechanisms underlying GE-SCJ development remain unclear. Using single-cell transcriptomics, organoids, and spatial analysis, we examine the cellular heterogeneity and spatiotemporal dynamics of GE-SCJ development from embryonic to adult mice. We identify distinct transcriptional states and signaling pathways in the epithelial and mesenchymal compartments of the esophagus and stomach during development. Fibroblast-epithelial interactions are mediated by various signaling pathways, including WNT, BMP, TGF-β, FGF, EGF, and PDGF. Our results suggest that fibroblasts predominantly send FGF and TGF-β signals to the epithelia, while epithelial cells mainly send PDGF and EGF signals to fibroblasts. We observe differences in the ligands and receptors involved in cell-cell communication between the esophagus and stomach. Our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying GE-SCJ development and fibroblast-epithelial crosstalk involved, paving the way to elucidate mechanisms during adaptive metaplasia development and carcinogenesis.

INTRODUCTION:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been associated with gastric carcinogenesis. However, the precise involvement of LRP8, the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8, in H. pylori pathogenesis and gastric cancer (GC) remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVES:To investigate the potential role of LRP8 in H. pylori infection and gastric carcinogenesis. METHODS:Three-dimensional human-derived gastric organoids (hGO) and gastric cancer organoids (hGCO) were synthesized from the tissues obtained from human donors. In this work, multi-omics combined with in vivo and in vitro studies were conducted to investigate the potential involvement of LRP8 in H. pylori-induced GC. RESULTS:We found that H. pylori infection significantly upregulated the expression of LRP8 in human GC tissues, cells, organoids, and mouse gastric mucous. In particular, LRP8 exhibited a distinct enrichment in cancer stem cells (CSC). Functionally, silencing of LRP8 affected the formation and proliferation of tumor spheroids, while increased expression of LRP8 was associated with increased proliferation and stemness of GC cells and organoids. Mechanistically, LRP8 promotes the binding of E-cadherin to β-catenin, thereby promoting nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity of β-catenin. Furthermore, LRP8 interacts with the cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) to form the CagA/LRP8/β-catenin complex. This complex further amplifies H. pylori-induced β-catenin nuclear translocation, leading to increased transcription of inflammatory factors and CSC markers. Clinical analysis demonstrated that abnormal overexpression of LRP8 is correlated with a poor prognosis and resistance to 5-Fluorouracil in patients with GC. CONCLUSION:Our findings provide valuable information on the molecular intricacies of H. pylori-induced gastric carcinogenesis, offering potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers for GC.

Copper is an essential trace element for the human body, and its requirement for optimistic immune functions has been recognized for decades. How copper is involved in the innate immune pathway, however, remains to be clarified. Here, we report that copper serves as a signal molecule to regulate the kinase activity of alpha-kinase 1 (ALPK1), a cytosolic pattern-recognition receptor (PRR), and therefore promotes host cell defense against bacterial infection. We show that in response to infection, host cells actively accumulate copper in the cytosol, and the accumulated cytosolic copper enhances host cell defense against evading pathogens, including intracellular and, unexpectedly, extracellular bacteria. Subsequently, we demonstrate that copper activates the innate immune pathway of host cells in an ALPK1-dependent manner. Further mechanistic studies reveal that copper binds to ALPK1 directly and is essential for the kinase activity of this cytosolic PRR. Moreover, the binding of copper to ALPK1 enhances the sensitivity of ALPK1 to the bacterial metabolite ADP-heptose and eventually prompts host cells to elicit an enhanced immune response during bacterial infection. Finally, using a zebrafish in vivo model, we show that a copper-treated host shows an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, enhanced recruitment of phagosome cells, and promoted bacterial clearance. Our findings uncover a previously unrecognized role of copper in the modulation of host innate immune response against bacterial pathogens and advance our knowledge on the cross talk between cytosolic copper homeostasis and immune system.

Background Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is an essential precancerous lesion. Although the reversal of GIM is challenging, it potentially brings a state-to-art strategy for gastric cancer therapeutics (GC). The lack of the appropriate in vitro model limits studies of GIM pathogenesis, which is the issue this work aims to address for further studies.Method The air-liquid interface (ALI) model was adopted for the long-term culture of GIM cells in the present work. This study conducted Immunofluorescence (IF), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), transcriptomic sequencing, and mucoproteomic sequencing (MS) techniques to identify the pathways for differential expressed genes (DEGs) enrichment among different groups, furthermore, to verify novel biomarkers of GIM cells.Result Our study suggests that GIM-ALI model is analog to the innate GIM cells, which thus can be used for mucus collection and drug screening. We found genes MUC17, CDA, TRIM15, TBX3, FLVCR2, ONECUT2, ACY3, NMUR2, and MAL2 were highly expressed in GIM cells, while GLDN, SLC5A5, MAL, and MALAT1 showed down-regulated, which can be used as potential biomarkers for GIM cells. In parallel, these genes that highly expressed in GIM samples were mainly involved in cancer-related pathways, such as the MAPK signal pathway and oxidative phosphorylation signal pathway.Conclusion The ALI model is validated for the first time for the in vitro study of GIM. GIM-ALI model is a novel in vitro model that can mimic the tissue micro-environment in GIM patients and further provide an avenue for studying the characteristics of GIM mucus. Our study identified new markers of GIM as well as pathways associated with GIM, which provides outstanding insight for exploring GIM pathogenesis and potentially other related conditions.

The mucus serves as a protective barrier in the gastrointestinal tract against microbial attacks. While its role extends beyond merely being a physical barrier, the extent of its active bactericidal properties remains unclear, and the mechanisms regulating these properties are not yet understood. We propose that inflammation induces epithelial cells to secrete antimicrobial peptides, transforming mucus into an active bactericidal agent. To investigate the properties of mucus, we previously developed mucosoid culture models that mimic the healthy human stomach epithelium. Similar to organoids, mucosoids are stem cell-driven cultures; however, the cells are cultivated on transwells at air-liquid interface. The epithelial cells of mucosoids form a polarized monolayer, allowing differentiation into all stomach lineages, including mucus-secreting cells. This setup facilitates the secretion and accumulation of mucus on the apical side of the mucosoids, enabling analysis of its bactericidal effects and protein composition, including antimicrobial peptides. Our findings show that TNF alpha, IL1 beta, and IFN gamma induce the secretion of antimicrobials such as lactotransferrin, lipocalin2, complement component 3, and CXCL9 into the mucus. This antimicrobial-enriched mucus can partially eliminate Helicobacter pylori, a key stomach pathogen. The bactericidal activity depends on the concentration of each antimicrobial and their gene expression is higher in patients with inflammation and H.pylori-associated chronic gastritis. However, we also find that H. pylori infection can reduce the expression of antimicrobial encoding genes promoted by inflammation. These findings suggest that controlling antimicrobial secretion in the mucus is a critical component of epithelial immunity. However, pathogens like H. pylori can overcome these defenses and survive in the mucosa. [GRAPHICS] .

IntroductionCervical cancer represents one of the main causes of female, cancer-related mortality worldwide. The majority of cancers are caused by human papillomaviruses such as HPV16 and HPV18. As chemotherapeutic resistance to first-line platinum treatment is still a predominant clinical challenge in advanced cervical cancer, novel treatment options including combinatorial therapies are urgently required to overcome chemotherapeutic resistance. Inhibition of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase (ADAM)-family members, heavily involved in tumour progression of a vast range of solid tumours, strongly improved response to chemotherapeutic treatment in other tumour entities including ovarian cancer.MethodsWe established two- and three-dimensional models derived from three traditional cervical cancer cell lines and ectocervical cancer-derived organoids. Following characterisation, these models were used to investigate their response to cisplatin treatment in the absence and presence of ADAM inhibitors using viability assays and automated live cell imaging.ResultsThe pivotal role of the metalloprotease ADAM17 driving chemotherapy resistance was detectable in all ectocervical cultures irrespective of the model system used, whereas ADAM10 inhibition was predominantly effective only in loosely aggregated spheroids. We showed prominent differences regarding treatment responses between 2D monolayers compared to 3D spheroid and 3D organoid model systems. Particularly, the organoid system, regarded as the closest representation of primary tumours, exhibited reliably the combinatorial effect of ADAM17 inhibition and cisplatin in all three individual donors.DiscussionAs two- and three-dimensional models of the same cell lines differ in their responses to chemotherapy it is essential to validate treatment strategies in more advanced model systems representing the patient situation more realistically. Ectocervical organoids showed reliable results regarding treatment responses closely mimicking the primary tumours and could therefore serve as an important tool for personalized medicine in cervical cancer. These findings strengthen the role of ADAM17 as a potential novel target for combinatorial treatments to overcome chemoresistance in cervical cancer.

Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) constitutes a pre-neoplastic stage in the development of stomach cancer. While strong evidence points to a role of infection with CagA positive Helicobacter pylori in the development of GIM, currently available experimental models have not provided mechanistic clues on this association. Here, we ectopically expressed the H. pylori CagA protein in human gastric organoids derived from normal, primary epithelial cells. Native CagA protein was produced and rapidly processed to yield a tyrosine-phosphorylated C-terminal fragment of ∼35 kDa. It led to an activation of the STAT3 pathway and aberrant elevation of CDX2 expression, a marker of intestinal type of cells, as well as other intestinal markers. Thus, CagA drives re-programming of gastric cells towards an intestinal-like phenotype, towards GIM. In summary, we describe a cooperative mechanism of CagA-induced STAT3 signaling and intestinal-like trans-differentiation, promoting a pre-neoplastic state. Our model provides mechanistic evidence for a direct role of CagA in driving premalignancy in gastric pathogenesis.

Background and purpose The objective was to assess the performance of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a wide range of disease courses, in terms of progression, duration and tracheostomy invasive ventilation (TIV).Methods A prospective cross-sectional study at 12 ALS centers in Germany was performed. sNfL concentrations were age adjusted using sNfL Z scores expressing the number of standard deviations from the mean of a control reference database and correlated to ALS duration and ALS progression rate (ALS-PR), defined by the decline of the ALS Functional Rating Scale.Results In the total ALS cohort (n = 1378) the sNfL Z score was elevated (3.04; 2.46-3.43; 99.88th percentile). There was a strong correlation of sNfL Z score with ALS-PR (p < 0.001). In patients with long (5-10 years, n = 167) or very long ALS duration (>10 years, n = 94) the sNfL Z score was significantly lower compared to the typical ALS duration of <5 years (n = 1059) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, in patients with TIV, decreasing sNfL Z scores were found in correlation with TIV duration and ALS-PR (p = 0.002; p < 0.001).Conclusions The finding of moderate sNfL elevation in patients with long ALS duration underlined the favorable prognosis of low sNfL. The strong correlation of sNfL Z score with ALS-PR strengthened its value as progression marker in clinical management and research. The lowering of sNfL in correlation with long TIV duration could reflect a reduction either in disease activity or in the neuroaxonal substrate of biomarker formation during the protracted course of ALS.

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death among women globally, primarily driven by high-risk papillomaviruses. However, the effectiveness of chemotherapy is limited, underscoring the potential of personalized immunotherapies. Patient-derived organoids, which possess cellular heterogeneity, proper epithelial architecture and functionality, and long-term propagation capabilities offer a promising platform for developing viable strategies. In addition to αβ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, γδ T cells represent an immune cell population with significant therapeutic potential against both hematologic and solid tumours. To evaluate the efficacy of γδ T cells in cervical cancer treatment, we generated patient-derived healthy and cancer ectocervical organoids. Furthermore, we examined transformed healthy organoids, expressing HPV16 oncogenes E6 and E7. We analysed the effector function of in vitro expanded γδ T cells upon co-culture with organoids. Our findings demonstrated that healthy cervical organoids were less susceptible to γδ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity compared to HPV-transformed organoids and cancerous organoids. To identify the underlying pathways involved in this observed cytotoxicity, we performed bulk-RNA sequencing on the organoid lines, revealing differences in DNA-damage and cell cycle checkpoint pathways, as well as transcription of potential γδ T cell ligands. We validated these results using immunoblotting and flow cytometry. We also demonstrated the involvement of BTN3A1 and BTN2A1, crucial molecules for γδ T cell activation, as well as differential expression of PDL1/CD274 in cancer, E6/E7+ and healthy organoids. Interestingly, we observed a significant reduction in cytotoxicity upon blocking MSH2, a protein involved in DNA mismatch-repair. In summary, we established a co-culture system of γδ T cells with cervical cancer organoids, providing a novel in vitro model to optimize innovative patient-specific immunotherapies for cervical cancer.

Helicobacter pylori causes gastric inflammation, gland hyperplasia and is linked to gastric cancer. Here, we studied the interplay between gastric epithelial stem cells and their stromal niche under homeostasis and upon H. pylori infection. We find that gastric epithelial stem cell differentiation is orchestrated by subsets of stromal cells that either produce BMP inhibitors in the gland base, or BMP ligands at the surface. Exposure to BMP ligands promotes a feed-forward loop by inducing Bmp2 expression in the epithelial cells themselves, enforcing rapid lineage commitment to terminally differentiated mucous pit cells. H. pylori leads to a loss of stromal and epithelial Bmp2 expression and increases expression of BMP inhibitors, promoting self-renewal of stem cells and accumulation of gland base cells, which we mechanistically link to IFN-γ signaling. Mice that lack IFN-γ signaling show no alterations of BMP gradient upon infection, while exposure to IFN-γ resembles H. pylori-driven mucosal responses.

Background Epigenetic modifications in mammalian DNA are commonly manifested by DNA methylation. In the stomach, altered DNA methylation patterns have been observed following chronic Helicobacter pylori infections and in gastric cancer. In the context of epigenetic regulation, the regional nature of the stomach has been rarely considered in detail. Results Here, we establish gastric mucosa derived primary cell cultures as a reliable source of native human epithelium. We describe the DNA methylation landscape across the phenotypically different regions of the healthy human stomach, i.e., antrum, corpus, fundus together with the corresponding transcriptomes. We show that stable regional DNA methylation differences translate to a limited extent into regulation of the transcriptomic phenotype, indicating a largely permissive epigenetic regulation. We identify a small number of transcription factors with novel region-specific activity and likely epigenetic impact in the stomach, including GATA4, IRX5, IRX2, PDX1 and CDX2. Detailed analysis of the Wnt pathway reveals differential regulation along the craniocaudal axis, which involves non-canonical Wnt signaling in determining cell fate in the proximal stomach. By extending our analysis to pre-neoplastic lesions and gastric cancers, we conclude that epigenetic dysregulation characterizes intestinal metaplasia as a founding basis for functional changes in gastric cancer. We present insights into the dynamics of DNA methylation across anatomical regions of the healthy stomach and patterns of its change in disease. Finally, our study provides a well-defined resource of regional stomach transcription and epigenetics.

Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection is the leading cause of intestinal-type adenocarcinoma, as prolonged Helicobacter colonization triggers chronic active gastritis, which may evolve into adenocarcinoma of the intestinal type. In this environment, cytokines play a significant role in determining the evolution of the infection. In combination with other factors (genetic, environmental and nutritional), the pro-inflammatory response may trigger pro-oncogenic mechanisms that lead to the silencing of tumour-suppressor genes, such as trefoil factor 1 (TFF1). The latter is known to play a protective role by maintaining the gastric mucosa integrity and retaining H. pylori in the mucus layer, preventing the progression of infection and, consequently, the development of gastric cancer (GC). Since TFF1 expression is reduced during chronic Helicobacter infection with a loss of gastric mucosa protection, we investigated the molecular pathways involved in this reduction. Specifically, we evaluated the effect of some pro-inflammatory cytokines on TFF1 regulation in GC and primary gastric cells by RT-qPCR and luciferase reporter assay analyses and the repressor role of the transcription factor C/EBPβ, overexpressed in gastric-intestinal cancer. Our results show that, among several cytokines, IFNγ stimulates C/EBPβ expression, which acts as a negative regulator of TFF1 by binding its promoter at three different sites.