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Event: 149

Key Event Title

A descriptive phrase which defines a discrete biological change that can be measured. More help

Increase, Inflammation

Short name
The KE short name should be a reasonable abbreviation of the KE title and is used in labelling this object throughout the AOP-Wiki. More help
Increase, Inflammation
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Biological Context

Structured terms, selected from a drop-down menu, are used to identify the level of biological organization for each KE. More help
Level of Biological Organization
Cellular

Cell term

The location/biological environment in which the event takes place.The biological context describes the location/biological environment in which the event takes place.  For molecular/cellular events this would include the cellular context (if known), organ context, and species/life stage/sex for which the event is relevant. For tissue/organ events cellular context is not applicable.  For individual/population events, the organ context is not applicable.  Further information on Event Components and Biological Context may be viewed on the attached pdf. More help
Cell term
eukaryotic cell

Organ term

The location/biological environment in which the event takes place.The biological context describes the location/biological environment in which the event takes place.  For molecular/cellular events this would include the cellular context (if known), organ context, and species/life stage/sex for which the event is relevant. For tissue/organ events cellular context is not applicable.  For individual/population events, the organ context is not applicable.  Further information on Event Components and Biological Context may be viewed on the attached pdf. More help

Key Event Components

The KE, as defined by a set structured ontology terms consisting of a biological process, object, and action with each term originating from one of 14 biological ontologies (Ives, et al., 2017; https://aopwiki.org/info_pages/2/info_linked_pages/7#List). Biological process describes dynamics of the underlying biological system (e.g., receptor signalling).Biological process describes dynamics of the underlying biological system (e.g., receptor signaling).  The biological object is the subject of the perturbation (e.g., a specific biological receptor that is activated or inhibited). Action represents the direction of perturbation of this system (generally increased or decreased; e.g., ‘decreased’ in the case of a receptor that is inhibited to indicate a decrease in the signaling by that receptor).  Note that when editing Event Components, clicking an existing Event Component from the Suggestions menu will autopopulate these fields, along with their source ID and description.  To clear any fields before submitting the event component, use the 'Clear process,' 'Clear object,' or 'Clear action' buttons.  If a desired term does not exist, a new term request may be made via Term Requests.  Event components may not be edited; to edit an event component, remove the existing event component and create a new one using the terms that you wish to add.  Further information on Event Components and Biological Context may be viewed on the attached pdf. More help
Process Object Action
inflammatory response increased

Key Event Overview

AOPs Including This Key Event

All of the AOPs that are linked to this KE will automatically be listed in this subsection. This table can be particularly useful for derivation of AOP networks including the KE.Clicking on the name of the AOP will bring you to the individual page for that AOP. More help
AOP Name Role of event in AOP Point of Contact Author Status OECD Status
Cholestatic Liver Injury induced by Inhibition of the Bile Salt Export Pump (ABCB11) KeyEvent Mathieu Vinken (send email) Under development: Not open for comment. Do not cite Under Development
Epithelial cytotoxicity- forestomach tumor KeyEvent Charles Wood (send email) Under Development: Contributions and Comments Welcome
PPARγ inactivation leading to lung fibrosis KeyEvent Jinhee Choi (send email) Under development: Not open for comment. Do not cite Under Development
α-diketone-induced bronchiolitis obliterans KeyEvent Marvin Martens (send email) Under development: Not open for comment. Do not cite
AhR activation to metastatic breast cancer KeyEvent Louise Benoit (send email) Under Development: Contributions and Comments Welcome Under Development
ROS formation leads to cancer via inflammation pathway KeyEvent John Frisch (send email) Under development: Not open for comment. Do not cite

Taxonomic Applicability

Latin or common names of a species or broader taxonomic grouping (e.g., class, order, family) that help to define the biological applicability domain of the KE.In many cases, individual species identified in these structured fields will be those for which the strongest evidence used in constructing the AOP was available in relation to this KE. More help
Term Scientific Term Evidence Link
Homo sapiens Homo sapiens High NCBI
Mus musculus Mus musculus High NCBI
Rattus norvegicus Rattus norvegicus High NCBI

Life Stages

An indication of the the relevant life stage(s) for this KE. More help
Life stage Evidence
All life stages High

Sex Applicability

An indication of the the relevant sex for this KE. More help
Term Evidence
Unspecific High

Key Event Description

A description of the biological state being observed or measured, the biological compartment in which it is measured, and its general role in the biology should be provided. More help

Inflammation is complex to define. 

Villeneuve et al. (2018) analyzed the varied biological responses, provided guidance to simplify the  process representing inflammation in adverse outcome pathways, and recommended 3 key steps: 1. Tissue resident cell activation 2. Increased Pro-inflammatory mediators 3. Leukocyte recruitment/activation.  Tissue resident cell activation generally occurs when healthy tissue is exposed to a stressor, or when damage occurs, initiating a signal response of pro-inflammatory mediators (ex. cytokines).  Pro-inflammatory mediators result in the production of lipids and proteins, signaling, and initiate leukocyte recruitment/activation.  Leukocyte recruitment/activation initiate inflammation and other morphological changes. 

In cancer, inflammation is a cascade of events created by the host in response to the spread of the cancer (Coussens and Werb, 2002). In response to an injury or the presence of cancer, the host heals itself through inflammation. Indeed, the activation and the migration of  leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes and eosinophils) to the wound induces the healing process. These inflammatory cells provide an extracellular matrix that forms upon which fibroblast and endothelial cells proliferate and migrate in order to recreate a normal environment. Damage to the epithelial layer initiate inflammatory reactions (Palmer et al. 2011).  In cancer, this inflammatory state induces cell proliferation, increases the production of reactive oxygen species leading to oxidative DNA damage, and reduces DNA repair (Coussens and Werb, 2002).  For review of inflammation caused by microplastics in mammals, see Wright and Kelly (2017).

Inflammation can be defined as the response of the organism to a tissue injury (Coussens). Indeed, in order to heal this injury, a multitude of chemical signals initiate and maintain a host response. Leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes and eosinophils) are recruited to the site of the damage through the attraction by chemokines (TNF-α (tumour necrosis factor-α), interleukines…). A provisional extracellular matrix (ECM) is created, and fibroblast and endothelial cells proliferate and migrate to it. Wound healing is an example of physiological inflammation and is self-limiting (Coussens). In case of a dysregulation, inflammation can lead to pathologies. Inflammation can be caused by physical injury, ischemic injury, infection, exposure to toxins, or other types of trauma (Singh).

Inflammation was described as one of the hallmarks of cancer by Hannahan et al. as a response to tumor invasion through mainly two mechanisms: promoting genetic instatbility and supply pro-tumorogenic factors.

First, inflammation in cancer promotes genetic instability (Mantovani, colotta). Macrophages, in contact with the inflammatory site can be responsible of a reactive stress oxygen reaction (ROS) (Maeda, Pollard, Grivennikov). Indeed, they generate high levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species which produce mutagenic agents (peroxynitrite), which in turn causes DNA mutations.

Second, in inflammation, the tumor micro environment plays a critical role (Coussens). Indeed, in can supply growth factors, survival factors, proangiogenic factors, extracellular matrix-modifying enzymes that facilitate angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis, and inductive signals that lead to activation of EMT and other hallmark-facilitating programs (Hannahan). For example, macrophages can become tumor associated macrophage which promote cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion (Singh, Lin, Qian).

Moreover, chronic inflammation can also lead to tumorigenesis (Karin, Singh). Indeed, since 1863, Virchow has hypothesized that chronic inflammation causes cell proliferation (Balkwill). According to Aggarwall, several pro-inflammatory markers such as TNF and members of its superfamily, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, chemokines, MMP-9, VEGF, COX-2, and 5-LOX mediate suppression of apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis (Aggarwal).

How It Is Measured or Detected

A description of the type(s) of measurements that can be employed to evaluate the KE and the relative level of scientific confidence in those measurements.These can range from citation of specific validated test guidelines, citation of specific methods published in the peer reviewed literature, or outlines of a general protocol or approach (e.g., a protein may be measured by ELISA). Do not provide detailed protocols. More help

Inflammation is generally detected in histopathological examination of organs (ex. liver, intestines) or in changes in gene expression (ex. interleukins).  Activation of the innate immune response and the release of various inflammatory cytokines can also be assessed (Flake and Morgan, 2017).

Several assays can be used to measure inflammation:

  • Histopathology on samples. Several scoring tools exist (Goeboes)
  • Measuring chemokines in the blood (ELISA, multiplex bead assays : interleukines (IL1, IL6), TNF, interferon… ) (Brenner) and histopathology samples
  • Measuring Prostaglandin levels, COX-2 (ELISA Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, IHC)
  • Transcription factors : STAT3 Activation, NF-κB Activation (ELISA RtPCR to measure mRNA
  • Biomarkers (white cell count, CRP) ratios, and predictive score using
  • Measuring ROS(DCFDA, horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-oxidizing substrates, SOD-inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c) (Murphy).

 

Methods are extensively reviewed in Marchand et al and Murphy et al.

Domain of Applicability

A description of the scientific basis for the indicated domains of applicability and the WoE calls (if provided).  More help

Taxonomic: appears to be present broadly, with representative studies focused on mammals (humans, lab mice, lab rats).

Extensive data exists on the presence of inflammation in human (Coussens, Aggarwal, Hannhan, Mantovani..) In human, many examples of chronic inflammation leading to cancer or cancer progression exist. For instance, Helicobacter pylori infection leads to gut cancer (Wang).

References

List of the literature that was cited for this KE description. More help

Flake, G.P., and Morgan, D.L. 2017. Pathology of diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione airway lesions in a rat model of obliterative bronchiolitis. Toxicology, 388, 40–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2016.10.013

Palmer, S.M., Flake, G.P., Kelly, F.L., Zhang, H.L., Nugent, J.L., Kirby, P.J., Zhang, H.L., Nugent, J.L., Kirby, P.J., Foley, J.F., Gwinn, W.M., and Morgan, D.L. 2011. Severe airway epithelial injury, aberrant repair and Bronchiolitis obliterans develops after diacetyl instillation in rats. PLoS ONE6(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0017644

Wang F, Meng W, Wang B, Qiao L. Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation and gastric cancer. Cancer Lett. 2014 Apr 10;345(2):196-202. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.08.016. Epub 2013 Aug 24. PMID: 23981572.

Naylor MS, Stamp GW, Foulkes WD, Eccles D, Balkwill FR. Tumor necrosis factor and its receptors in human ovarian cancer. Potential role in disease progression. J Clin Invest. 1993;91:2194–206.

Coussens L.M. and Werb Z. Inflammation and cancer. Nature. 2002 Dec 19-26;420(6917):860-7. doi: 10.1038/nature01322. PMID: 12490959; PMCID: PMC2803035.

Wright, S.L. and Kelly, F.J.  2017.  Plastic and human health: a micro issue?  Enviromental Science and Technology 51: 6634-6647.

Villeneuve, D.L., Landesmann, B., Allavena, P., Ashley, N., Bal-Price, A., Corsini, E., Halappanavar, S., Hussell, T., Laskin, D., Lawrence, T., Nikolic-Paterson, D., Pallary, M., Paini, A., Pietrs, R., Roth, R., and Tschudi-Monnet, F.  2018.  Toxicological Sciences 163(2): 346-352.

Qian BZ, Pollard JW. Macrophage diversity enhances tumor progression and metastasis. Cell. 2010 Apr 2;141(1):39-51. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.03.014. PMID: 20371344; PMCID: PMC4994190.

Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell. 2011 Mar 4;144(5):646-74. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.02.013. PMID: 21376230.

Karin M. Nuclear factor-kappaB in cancer development and progression. Nature. 2006;441:431–6.

Aggarwal BB, Shishodia S, Sandur SK, Pandey MK, Sethi G. Inflammation and cancer: How hot is the link? Biochem Pharmacol. 2006;72:1605–21

Singh N, Baby D, Rajguru JP, Patil PB, Thakkannavar SS, Pujari VB. Inflammation and cancer. Ann Afr Med. 2019 Jul-Sep;18(3):121-126. doi: 10.4103/aam.aam_56_18. PMID: 31417011; PMCID: PMC6704802.

Coussens LM, Werb Z. Inflammation and cancer. Nature. 2002;420:860–7

Balkwill F, Mantovani A. Inflammation and cancer: back to Virchow? Lancet. 2001;357:539–545

Mantovani A, Allavena P, Sica A, Balkwill F. Cancer-related inflammation. Nature. 2008;454:436–44

Cancer-related inflammation, the seventh hallmark of cancer: Links to genetic instability. 

Maeda H, Akaike T. Nitric oxide and oxygen radicals in infection, inflammation, and cancer. Biochemistry (Mosc) 1998;63:854–65.

Pollard JW. Tumour-educated macrophages promote tumour progression and metastasis. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004;4:71–8

Lin, Y., Xu, J. & Lan, H. Tumor-associated macrophages in tumor metastasis: biological roles and clinical therapeutic applications. J Hematol Oncol 12, 76 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-019-0760-3

Grivennikov SI, Greten FR, Karin M. Immunity, inflammation, and cancer. Cell. 2010 Mar 19;140(6):883-99. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.01.025. PMID: 20303878; PMCID: PMC2866629.

Murphy, M.P., Bayir, H., Belousov, V. et al. Guidelines for measuring reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage in cells and in vivo. Nat Metab 4, 651–662 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-022-00591-z

Geboes K, Riddell R, Öst A, et al

A reproducible grading scale for histological assessment of inflammation in ulcerative colitis

Gut 2000;47:404-409.

Brenner DR, Scherer D, Muir K, Schildkraut J, Boffetta P, Spitz MR, Le Marchand L, Chan AT, Goode EL, Ulrich CM, Hung RJ. A review of the application of inflammatory biomarkers in epidemiologic cancer research. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014 Sep;23(9):1729-51. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-0064. Epub 2014 Jun 24. PMID: 24962838; PMCID: PMC4155060.