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Faitova T, Coelho M, Da Cunha-Bang C, Ozturk S, Kartal E, Bork P, Seiffert M, Niemann CU. The diversity of the microbiome impacts chronic lymphocytic leukemia development in mice and humans. Haematologica 2024; 109:3237-3250. [PMID: 38721725 PMCID: PMC11443378 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2023.284693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining a healthy human body and its dysregulation is associated with various diseases. In this study, we investigated the influence of gut microbiome diversity on the development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Analysis of stool samples from 59 CLL patients revealed individual and heterogeneous microbiome compositions, but allowed for grouping of patients according to their microbiome diversity. Interestingly, CLL patients with lower microbiome diversity and an enrichment of bacteria linked to poor health suffered from a more advanced or aggressive form of CLL. In the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL, we observed a faster course of disease when mice were housed in high hygiene conditions. Shotgun DNA sequencing of fecal samples showed that this was associated with a lower microbiome diversity which was dominated by Mucispirillum and Parabacteroides genera in comparison to mice kept under lower hygiene conditions. In conclusion, we applied taxonomic microbiome analyses to demonstrate a link between gut microbiome diversity and the clinical course of CLL in humans, as well as the development of CLL in mice. Our novel data serve as a basis for further investigations to decipher the pathological and mechanistic role of intestinal microbiota in CLL development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariana Coelho
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences of the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg
| | | | - Selcen Ozturk
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Ece Kartal
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg
| | - Peer Bork
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany; Yonsei Frontier Lab (YFL), Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea; Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin
| | - Martina Seiffert
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg. m.seiffert@dkfzheidelberg
| | - Carsten U Niemann
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen.
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2
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Brinkmann BJ, Floerchinger A, Schniederjohann C, Roider T, Coelho M, Mack N, Bruch PM, Liebers N, Dötsch S, Busch DH, Schmitt M, Neumann F, Roessner PM, Seiffert M, Dietrich S. CD20-bispecific antibodies improve response to CD19-CAR T cells in lymphoma in vitro and CLL in vivo models. Blood 2024; 144:784-789. [PMID: 38805637 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023022682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Relapse after anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CD19-CAR) occurs in a substantial proportion of patients with lymphoid malignancies. We assessed the potential benefits of co-administering CD20-targeting bispecific antibodies (CD20-BsAbs) with CD19-CAR T cells with the aim of enhancing immunotherapeutic efficacy. Addition of CD20-BsAbs to cocultures of CD19-CARs and primary samples of B-cell malignancies, comprising malignant B cells and endogenous T cells, significantly improved killing of malignant cells and enhanced the expansion of both endogenous T cells and CD19-CAR T cells. In an immunocompetent mouse model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, relapse after initial treatment response frequently occurred after CD19-CAR T-cell monotherapy. Additional treatment with CD20-BsAbs significantly enhanced the treatment response and led to improved eradication of malignant cells. Higher efficacy was accompanied by improved T-cell expansion with CD20-BsAb administration and led to longer survival with 80% of the mice being cured with no detectable malignant cell population within 8 weeks of therapy initiation. Collectively, our in vitro and in vivo data demonstrate enhanced therapeutic efficacy of CD19-CAR T cells when combined with CD20-BsAbs in B-cell malignancies. Activation and proliferation of both infused CAR T cells and endogenous T cells may contribute to improved disease control.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Mice
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Humans
- Antigens, CD19/immunology
- Antigens, CD20/immunology
- Antibodies, Bispecific/therapeutic use
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Berit J Brinkmann
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Genome Biology, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Molecular Hematology/Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alessia Floerchinger
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christina Schniederjohann
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tobias Roider
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Genome Biology, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mariana Coelho
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Norman Mack
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter-Martin Bruch
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nora Liebers
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Translational Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sarah Dötsch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk H Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Schmitt
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium and German Cancer Research Center/National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Neumann
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Martina Seiffert
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sascha Dietrich
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Genome Biology, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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3
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Lewis RI, Vom Stein AF, Hallek M. Targeting the tumor microenvironment for treating double-refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 2024; 144:601-614. [PMID: 38776510 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023022861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT The introduction of BTK inhibitors and BCL2 antagonists to the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has revolutionized therapy and improved patient outcomes. These agents have replaced chemoimmunotherapy as standard of care. Despite this progress, a new group of patients is currently emerging, which has become refractory or intolerant to both classes of agents, creating an unmet medical need. Here, we propose that the targeted modulation of the tumor microenvironment provides new therapeutic options for this group of double-refractory patients. Furthermore, we outline a sequential strategy for tumor microenvironment-directed combination therapies in CLL that can be tested in clinical protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard I Lewis
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander F Vom Stein
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Hallek
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne, Germany
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4
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Dasanu CA, Mann SK, Baidya M, Mdluli XP, Stapleton AE, Codreanu I. Evaluation of infectious morbidity due to BTK inhibitors in indolent B-cell lymphomas: latest research findings and systematic analysis. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2024; 25:1525-1540. [PMID: 39109526 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2024.2390121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have suggested that BTK inhibitors (BTKis) might increase infectious disease (ID) risk. Systematic analysis of this topic as derived from RCTs and clinical practice is needed. AREAS COVERED An extensive Medline, Embase, and Cochrane search of peer-reviewed sources reporting on ID morbidity in patients on BTKis was performed (1 January 2014 - 31 December 2013). Contribution of intrinsic immune defects in indolent B-cell lymphomas to this morbidity was carefully considered. EXPERT OPINION Patients with indolent B-cell lymphomas display a wide range of innate and adaptive immune defects. In addition, BTKi use is linked with an increased signal of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and pneumonias, mainly grade 1-2. These agents also increase the risk of rare invasive fungal infections (IFIs), mainly due to Cryptococcus and Aspergillus spp. with a peak within several months after the start of therapy. More than half of these IFIs are fatal. Research suggests a similar ID risk across 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations of BTKis, all causing B-cell dysfunction due to BTK inhibition, along with off-target functional neutrophil/macrophage alterations. Expanding the knowledge base on ID morbidity in patients on BTKis would facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment, and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantin A Dasanu
- Lucy Curci Cancer Center, Eisenhower Health, Rancho Mirage, CA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, UC San Diego Health System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Samar K Mann
- Department of Graduate Medical Education, Oakland William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - Melvin Baidya
- Lucy Curci Cancer Center, Eisenhower Health, Rancho Mirage, CA, USA
| | - Xolani P Mdluli
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Eisenhower Health, Rancho Mirage, CA, USA
| | - Ann E Stapleton
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Eisenhower Health, Rancho Mirage, CA, USA
| | - Ion Codreanu
- Translational Imaging Center, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Radiology, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
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5
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Jestrabek H, Kohlhas V, Hallek M, Nguyen PH. Impact of leukemia-associated macrophages on the progression and therapy response of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Res 2024; 143:107531. [PMID: 38851084 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2024.107531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
The treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has advanced remarkably over the past decade. The advent and approval of the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib and BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, as well as monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies rituximab and obinutuzumab, have resulted in deep remissions and substantially improved survival outcomes for patients. However, CLL remains a complex disease with many patients still experiencing relapse and unsatisfactory treatment responses. CLL cells are highly dependent on their pro-leukemic tumor microenvironment (TME), which comprises different cellular and soluble factors. A large body of evidence suggests that CLL-associated macrophages shaped by leukemic cells play a pivotal role in maintaining CLL cell survival. In this review, we summarize the pro-survival interactions between CLL cells and macrophages, as well as the impact of the current first-line treatment agents, including ibrutinib, venetoclax, and CD20 antibodies on leukemia-associated macrophages.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
- Tumor-Associated Macrophages/immunology
- Tumor-Associated Macrophages/drug effects
- Disease Progression
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology
- Adenine/analogs & derivatives
- Sulfonamides/therapeutic use
- Piperidines/therapeutic use
- Macrophages/pathology
- Macrophages/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Jestrabek
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne 50931, Germany; Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Viktoria Kohlhas
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Michael Hallek
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne 50931, Germany; Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Phuong-Hien Nguyen
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne 50931, Germany.
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6
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Taghiloo S, Asgarian-Omran H. Cross-talk between leukemic and immune cells at the tumor microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: An update review. Eur J Haematol 2024; 113:4-15. [PMID: 38698678 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.14224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a mature-type B cell malignancy correlated with significant changes and defects in both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, together with a high dependency on the tumor microenvironment. Overall, the tumor microenvironment (TME) in CLL provides a supportive niche for leukemic cells to grow and survive, and interactions between CLL cells and the TME can contribute to disease progression and treatment resistance. Therefore, the increasing knowledge of the complicated interaction between immune cells and tumor cells, which is responsible for immune evasion and cancer progression, has provided an opportunity for the development of new therapeutic approaches. In this review, we outline tumor microenvironment-driven contributions to the licensing of immune escape mechanisms in CLL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeid Taghiloo
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Hossein Asgarian-Omran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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7
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Bertilaccio MTS, Chen SS. Mouse models of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Richter transformation: what we have learnt and what we are missing. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1376660. [PMID: 38903501 PMCID: PMC11186982 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1376660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment landscape has changed dramatically, unmet clinical needs are emerging, as CLL in many patients does not respond, becomes resistant to treatment, relapses during treatment, or transforms into Richter. In the majority of cases, transformation evolves the original leukemia clone into a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Richter transformation (RT) represents a dreadful clinical challenge with limited therapeutic opportunities and scarce preclinical tools. CLL cells are well known to highly depend on survival signals provided by the tumor microenvironment (TME). These signals enhance the frequency of immunosuppressive cells with protumor function, including regulatory CD4+ T cells and tumor-associated macrophages. T cells, on the other hand, exhibit features of exhaustion and profound functional defects. Overall immune dysfunction and immunosuppression are common features of patients with CLL. The interaction between malignant cells and TME cells can occur during different phases of CLL development and transformation. A better understanding of in vivo CLL and RT biology and the availability of adequate mouse models that faithfully recapitulate the progression of CLL and RT within their microenvironments are "conditio sine qua non" to develop successful therapeutic strategies. In this review, we describe the xenograft and genetic-engineered mouse models of CLL and RT, how they helped to elucidate the pathophysiology of the disease progression and transformation, and how they have been and might be instrumental in developing innovative therapeutic approaches to finally eradicate these malignancies.
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MESH Headings
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Animals
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
- Humans
- Mice
- Disease Models, Animal
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/immunology
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/immunology
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/therapy
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shih-Shih Chen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United States
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8
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Floerchinger A, Seiffert M. Lessons learned from the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL. Semin Hematol 2024; 61:194-200. [PMID: 38839457 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2024.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The Eµ-TCL1 mouse model has been used for over 20 years to study the pathobiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and for preclinical testing of novel therapies. A CLL-like disease develops with increasing age in these mice due to a B cell specific overexpression of human TCL1. The reliability of this model to mirror human CLL is controversially discussed, as none of the known driver mutations identified in patients are found in Eµ-TCL1 mice. It has to be acknowledged that this mouse model was key to develop targeted therapies that aim at inhibiting the constitutive B cell receptor (BCR) signaling, a main driver of CLL. Inhibitors of BCR signaling became standard-of-care for a large proportion of patients with CLL as they are highly effective. The Eµ-TCL1 model further advanced our understanding of CLL biology owed to studies that crossed this mouse line with various transgenic mouse models and demonstrated the relevance of CLL-cell intrinsic and -extrinsic drivers of disease. These studies were instrumental in showing the relevance of the tumor microenvironment in the lymphoid tissues for disease progression and immune escape in CLL. It became clear that CLL cells shape and rely on stromal and immune cells, and that immune suppressive mechanisms and T cell exhaustion contribute to CLL progression. Based on this knowledge, new immunotherapy strategies were clinically tested for CLL, but so far with disappointing results. As some of these therapies were effective in the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model, the question arose concerning the translatability of preclinical studies in these mice. The aim of this review is to summarize lessons we have learnt over the last decades by studying CLL-like disease in the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model. The article focuses on pitfalls and limitations of the model, as well as the gained knowledge and potential of using this model for the development of novel treatment strategies to achieve the goal of curing patients with CLL.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Mice
- Disease Models, Animal
- Humans
- Mice, Transgenic
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Floerchinger
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences of the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martina Seiffert
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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9
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Vom Stein AF, Hallek M, Nguyen PH. Role of the tumor microenvironment in CLL pathogenesis. Semin Hematol 2024; 61:142-154. [PMID: 38220499 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2023.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells extensively interact with and depend on their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME encompasses a heterogeneous array of cell types, soluble signals, and extracellular vesicles, which contribute significantly to CLL pathogenesis. CLL cells and the TME cooperatively generate a chronic inflammatory milieu, which reciprocally reprograms the TME and activates a signaling network within CLL cells, promoting their survival and proliferation. Additionally, the inflammatory milieu exerts chemotactic effects, attracting CLL cells and other immune cells to the lymphoid tissues. The intricate CLL-TME interactions also facilitate immune evasion and compromise leukemic cell surveillance. We also review recent advances that have shed light on additional aspects that are substantially influenced by the CLL-TME interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander F Vom Stein
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne; CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Hallek
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne; CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne, Germany
| | - Phuong-Hien Nguyen
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne; CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne, Germany.
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10
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Fernandez Botana I, Gonder S, Klapp V, Moussay E, Paggetti J. Eμ-TCL1 adoptive transfer mouse model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Methods Cell Biol 2024; 188:109-129. [PMID: 38880520 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Despite being the most common adult leukemia in the western world, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) remains a life-threatening and incurable disease. Efforts to develop new treatments are highly dependent on the availability of appropriate mouse models for pre-clinical testing. The Eμ-TCL1 mouse model is the most established pre-clinical approach to study CLL pathobiology and response to treatment, backed by numerous studies highlighting its resemblance to the most aggressive form of this malignancy. In contrast to the transgenic Eμ-TCL1 model, employing the adoptive transfer of Eμ-TCL1-derived splenocytes in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice results in a comparably rapid (e.g., leukemic development within weeks compared to months in the transgenic model) and reliable model mimicking CLL. In this chapter, we would like to provide readers with a thoroughly optimized, detailed, and comprehensive protocol to use the adoptive transfer Eμ-TCL1 model in their research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iria Fernandez Botana
- Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Susanne Gonder
- Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Vanessa Klapp
- Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Etienne Moussay
- Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
| | - Jerome Paggetti
- Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
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11
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Li WH, Su JY, Zhang BD, Zhao L, Zhuo SH, Wang TY, Hu HG, Li YM. Myeloid Cell-Triggered In Situ Cell Engineering for Robust Vaccine-Based Cancer Treatment. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2308155. [PMID: 38295870 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202308155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Following the success of the dendritic cell (DC) vaccine, the cell-based tumor vaccine shows its promise as a vaccination strategy. Except for DC cells, targeting other immune cells, especially myeloid cells, is expected to address currently unmet clinical needs (e.g., tumor types, safety issues such as cytokine storms, and therapeutic benefits). Here, it is shown that an in situ injected macroporous myeloid cell adoptive scaffold (MAS) not only actively delivers antigens (Ags) that are triggered by scaffold-infiltrating cell surface thiol groups but also releases granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and other adjuvant combos. Consequently, this promotes cell differentiation, activation, and migration from the produced monocyte and DC vaccines (MASVax) to stimulate antitumor T-cell immunity. Neoantigen-based MASVax combined with immune checkpoint blockade induces rejection of established tumors and long-term immune protection. The combined depletion of immunosuppressive myeloid cells further enhances the efficacy of MASVax, indicating the potential of myeloid cell-based therapies for immune enhancement and normalization treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hao Li
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jing-Yun Su
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Bo-Dou Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Lang Zhao
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Shao-Hua Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Tian-Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Hong-Guo Hu
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yan-Mei Li
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, 100069, China
- Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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12
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de Jong MME, Chen L, Raaijmakers MHGP, Cupedo T. Bone marrow inflammation in haematological malignancies. Nat Rev Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41577-024-01003-x. [PMID: 38491073 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-01003-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Tissue inflammation is a hallmark of tumour microenvironments. In the bone marrow, tumour-associated inflammation impacts normal niches for haematopoietic progenitor cells and mature immune cells and supports the outgrowth and survival of malignant cells residing in these niche compartments. This Review provides an overview of our current understanding of inflammatory changes in the bone marrow microenvironment of myeloid and lymphoid malignancies, using acute myeloid leukaemia and multiple myeloma as examples and highlights unique and shared features of inflammation in niches for progenitor cells and plasma cells. Importantly, inflammation exerts profoundly different effects on normal bone marrow niches in these malignancies, and we provide context for possible drivers of these divergent effects. We explore the role of tumour cells in inflammatory changes, as well as the role of cellular constituents of normal bone marrow niches, including myeloid cells and stromal cells. Integrating knowledge of disease-specific dynamics of malignancy-associated bone marrow inflammation will provide a necessary framework for future targeting of these processes to improve patient outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelon M E de Jong
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lanpeng Chen
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Tom Cupedo
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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13
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Mazzarello AN, Gugiatti E, Cossu V, Bertola N, Bagnara D, Carta S, Ravera S, Salvetti C, Ibatici A, Ghiotto F, Colombo M, Cutrona G, Marini C, Sambuceti G, Fais F, Bruno S. Unexpected chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cell activation by bisphosphonates. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:27. [PMID: 38280019 PMCID: PMC10821833 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03588-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease of the elderly, often presenting comorbidities like osteoporosis and requiring, in a relevant proportion of cases, treatment with bisphosphonates (BPs). This class of drugs was shown in preclinical investigations to also possess anticancer properties. We started an in vitro study of the effects of BPs on CLL B cells activated by microenvironment-mimicking stimuli and observed that, depending on drug concentration, hormetic effects were induced on the leukemic cells. Higher doses induced cytotoxicity whereas at lower concentrations, more likely occurring in vivo, the drugs generated a protective effect from spontaneous and chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, and augmented CLL B cell activation/proliferation. This CLL-activation effect promoted by the BPs was associated with markers of poor CLL prognosis and required the presence of bystander stromal cells. Functional experiments suggested that this phenomenon involves the release of soluble factors and is increased by cellular contact between stroma and CLL B cells. Since CLL patients often present comorbidities such as osteoporosis and considering the diverse outcomes in both CLL disease progression and CLL response to treatment among patients, illustrating this phenomenon holds potential significance in driving additional investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea N Mazzarello
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via De Toni 14, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elena Gugiatti
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via De Toni 14, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Vanessa Cossu
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via De Toni 14, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nadia Bertola
- Molecular Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Davide Bagnara
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via De Toni 14, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sonia Carta
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Ravera
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via De Toni 14, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Chiara Salvetti
- Clinic of Hematology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Adalberto Ibatici
- Division of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fabio Ghiotto
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via De Toni 14, 16132, Genoa, Italy
- Molecular Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Monica Colombo
- Molecular Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanna Cutrona
- Molecular Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cecilia Marini
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Gianmario Sambuceti
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Franco Fais
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via De Toni 14, 16132, Genoa, Italy
- Molecular Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Bruno
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via De Toni 14, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
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14
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Merchand-Reyes G, Santhanam R, Valencia-Pena ML, Kumar K, Mo X, Belay T, Woyach JA, Mundy-Bosse B, Tridandapani S, Butchar JP. Active Hexose-Correlated Compound Shows Direct and Indirect Effects against Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Nutrients 2023; 15:5138. [PMID: 38140397 PMCID: PMC10747249 DOI: 10.3390/nu15245138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease characterized by the accumulation of mature CD19+CD5+CD23+ B cells in the bloodstream and in lymphoid organs. It usually affects people over 70 years of age, which limits the options for treatments. The disease is typically well-managed, but to date is still incurable. Hence, the need for novel therapeutic strategies remains. Nurse-like cells (NLCs) are major components of the microenvironment for CLL, supporting tumor cell survival, proliferation, and even drug resistance. They are of myeloid lineage, guided toward differentiating into their tumor-supportive role by the CLL cells themselves. As such, they are analogous to tumor-associated macrophages and represent a major therapeutic target. Previously, it was found that a mushroom extract, Active Hexose-Correlated Compound (AHCC), promoted the death of acute myeloid leukemia cells while preserving normal monocytes. Given these findings, it was asked whether AHCC might have a similar effect on the abnormally differentiated myeloid-lineage NLCs in CLL. CLL-patient PBMCs were treated with AHCC, and it was found that AHCC treatment showed a direct toxic effect against isolated CLL cells. In addition, it significantly reduced the number of tumor-supportive NLCs and altered their phenotype. The effects of AHCC were then tested in the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL and the MllPTD/WT Flt3ITD/WT model of AML. Results showed that AHCC not only reduced tumor load and increased survival in the CLL and AML models, but it also enhanced antitumor antibody treatment in the CLL model. These results suggest that AHCC has direct and indirect effects against CLL and that it may be of benefit when combined with existing treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Merchand-Reyes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
| | - Ramasamy Santhanam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
| | - Maria L. Valencia-Pena
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
| | - Krishan Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
| | - Xiaokui Mo
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Tesfaye Belay
- Department of Applied Sciences and Mathematics, Bluefield State University, Bluefield, WV 24701, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Woyach
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Bethany Mundy-Bosse
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Susheela Tridandapani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jonathan P. Butchar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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15
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Liu C, Zhou Y, Guo D, Huang Y, Ji X, Li Q, Chen N, Fan C, Song H. Reshaping Intratumoral Mononuclear Phagocytes with Antibody-Opsonized Immunometabolic Nanoparticles. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303298. [PMID: 37867225 PMCID: PMC10700695 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Mononuclear phagocytes (MPs) are vital components of host immune defenses against cancer. However, tumor-infiltrating MPs often present tolerogenic and pro-tumorigenic phenotypes via metabolic switching triggered by excessive lipid accumulation in solid tumors. Inspired by viral infection-mediated MP modulation, here enveloped immunometabolic nanoparticles (immeNPs) are designed to co-deliver a viral RNA analog and a fatty acid oxidation regulator for synergistic reshaping of intratumoral MPs. These immeNPs are camouflaged with cancer cell membranes for tumor homing and opsonized with anti-CD163 antibodies for specific MP recognition and uptake. It is found that internalized immeNPs coordinate lipid metabolic reprogramming with innate immune stimulation, inducing M2-to-M1 macrophage repolarization and tolerogenic-to-immunogenic dendritic cell differentiation for cytotoxic T cell infiltration. The authors further demonstrate that the use of immeNPs confers susceptibility to anti-PD-1 therapy in immune checkpoint blockade-resistant breast and ovarian tumors, and thereby provide a promising strategy to expand the potential of conventional immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related GenesCenter for Single‐Cell OmicsSchool of Public HealthShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200025China
| | - Yanfeng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related GenesCenter for Single‐Cell OmicsSchool of Public HealthShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200025China
| | - Daoxia Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related GenesCenter for Single‐Cell OmicsSchool of Public HealthShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200025China
| | - Yan Huang
- College of Chemistry and Materials ScienceThe Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource ChemistryJoint International Research Laboratory of Resource Chemistry of Ministry of EducationShanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materialsand Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Biomimetic CatalysisShanghai Normal UniversityShanghai200234China
| | - Xiaoyuan Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related GenesCenter for Single‐Cell OmicsSchool of Public HealthShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200025China
| | - Qian Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringFrontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules and National Center for Translational MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
| | - Nan Chen
- College of Chemistry and Materials ScienceThe Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource ChemistryJoint International Research Laboratory of Resource Chemistry of Ministry of EducationShanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materialsand Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Biomimetic CatalysisShanghai Normal UniversityShanghai200234China
| | - Chunhai Fan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringFrontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules and National Center for Translational MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
| | - Haiyun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related GenesCenter for Single‐Cell OmicsSchool of Public HealthShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200025China
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16
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Cencini E, Sicuranza A, Ciofini S, Fabbri A, Bocchia M, Gozzetti A. Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Multiple Myeloma: Key Role in Disease Biology and Potential Therapeutic Implications. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:6111-6133. [PMID: 37504315 PMCID: PMC10378698 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30070455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by multiple relapse and, despite the introduction of novel therapies, the disease becomes ultimately drug-resistant. The tumor microenvironment (TME) within the bone marrow niche includes dendritic cells, T-cytotoxic, T-helper, reactive B-lymphoid cells and macrophages, with a complex cross-talk between these cells and the MM tumor cells. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) have an important role in the MM pathogenesis, since they could promote plasma cells proliferation and angiogenesis, further supporting MM immune evasion and progression. TAM are polarized towards M1 (classically activated, antitumor activity) and M2 (alternatively activated, pro-tumor activity) subtypes. Many studies demonstrated a correlation between TAM, disease progression, drug-resistance and reduced survival in lymphoproliferative neoplasms, including MM. MM plasma cells in vitro could favor an M2 TAM polarization. Moreover, a possible correlation between the pro-tumor effect of M2 TAM and a reduced sensitivity to proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs was hypothesized. Several clinical studies confirmed CD68/CD163 double-positive M2 TAM were associated with increased microvessel density, chemoresistance and reduced survival, independently of the MM stage. This review provided an overview of the biology and clinical relevance of TAM in MM, as well as a comprehensive evaluation of a potential TAM-targeted immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Cencini
- Unit of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Sicuranza
- Unit of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sara Ciofini
- Unit of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alberto Fabbri
- Unit of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Monica Bocchia
- Unit of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gozzetti
- Unit of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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17
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Coyne V, Mead HL, Mongini PKA, Barker BM. B Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Development in Mice with Chronic Lung Exposure to Coccidioides Fungal Arthroconidia. Immunohorizons 2023; 7:333-352. [PMID: 37195872 PMCID: PMC10579974 DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2300013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Links between repeated microbial infections and B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) have been proposed but not tested directly. This study examines how prolonged exposure to a human fungal pathogen impacts B-CLL development in Eµ-hTCL1-transgenic mice. Monthly lung exposure to inactivated Coccidioides arthroconidia, agents of Valley fever, altered leukemia development in a species-specific manner, with Coccidioides posadasii hastening B-CLL diagnosis/progression in a fraction of mice and Coccidioides immitis delaying aggressive B-CLL development, despite fostering more rapid monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis. Overall survival did not differ significantly between control and C. posadasii-treated cohorts but was significantly extended in C. immitis-exposed mice. In vivo doubling time analyses of pooled B-CLL showed no difference in growth rates of early and late leukemias. However, within C. immitis-treated mice, B-CLL manifests longer doubling times, as compared with B-CLL in control or C. posadasii-treated mice, and/or evidence of clonal contraction over time. Through linear regression, positive relationships were noted between circulating levels of CD5+/B220low B cells and hematopoietic cells previously linked to B-CLL growth, albeit in a cohort-specific manner. Neutrophils were positively linked to accelerated growth in mice exposed to either Coccidioides species, but not in control mice. Conversely, only C. posadasii-exposed and control cohorts displayed positive links between CD5+/B220low B cell frequency and abundance of M2 anti-inflammatory monocytes and T cells. The current study provides evidence that chronic lung exposure to fungal arthroconidia affects B-CLL development in a manner dependent on fungal genotype. Correlative studies suggest that fungal species differences in the modulation of nonleukemic hematopoietic cells are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Coyne
- Pathogen Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
| | - Heather L. Mead
- Pathogen Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
| | | | - Bridget M. Barker
- Pathogen Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
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18
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Ni J, Zhang J, Liu J, Fan L, Lin X, Yu H, Sun G. Exosomal NAMPT from chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells orchestrate monocyte survival and phenotype under endoplasmic reticulum stress. Hematol Oncol 2023; 41:61-70. [PMID: 36321597 DOI: 10.1002/hon.3093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been reported to be transmitted from tumor cells to immune cells via exosome and implicated in immune escape. However, the influence of ER stress on monocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells is largely unknown. Here, we observed the expression of ER stress markers (GRP78, ATF6, PERK, IRE1a, and XBP1s) in CLL cells. The increasing mRNA expression of these ER stress response components was positively correlated with more aggressive disease. Exosome from ER stress inducer tunicamycin (TM)-primed CLL cells (ERS-exo) up-regulated the expression of ER stress marker on monocytes, indicating ER stress is transmissible in vitro via exosome. Treatment with ERS-exo promoted the survival of monocytes and induced phenotypic changes with a significantly larger percentage of CD14+ CD16+ monocytes. Finally, we identified exosome-mediated transfer of extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (eNAMPT) from ER stressed CLL cells into monocytes as a novel mechanism through which ERS-exo regulated monocytes. Exosomal eNAMPT up-regulated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ ) production which subsequently activated SIRT1-C/EBPβ signaling pathway in monocytes. Our results suggest the role of ER stress in mediating immunological dysfunction in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ni
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Department of Hematology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ju Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jiatao Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lulu Fan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiao Lin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hanqing Yu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Guoping Sun
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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19
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Magalhães-Gama F, Alves-Hanna FS, Araújo ND, Barros MS, Silva FS, Catão CLS, Moraes JS, Freitas IC, Tarragô AM, Malheiro A, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Costa AG. The Yin-Yang of myeloid cells in the leukemic microenvironment: Immunological role and clinical implications. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1071188. [PMID: 36532078 PMCID: PMC9751477 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1071188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The leukemic microenvironment has a high diversity of immune cells that are phenotypically and functionally distinct. However, our understanding of the biology, immunology, and clinical implications underlying these cells remains poorly investigated. Among the resident immune cells that can infiltrate the leukemic microenvironment are myeloid cells, which correspond to a heterogeneous cell group of the innate immune system. They encompass populations of neutrophils, macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). These cells can be abundant in different tissues and, in the leukemic microenvironment, are associated with the clinical outcome of the patient, acting dichotomously to contribute to leukemic progression or stimulate antitumor immune responses. In this review, we detail the current evidence and the many mechanisms that indicate that the activation of different myeloid cell populations may contribute to immunosuppression, survival, or metastatic dissemination, as well as in immunosurveillance and stimulation of specific cytotoxic responses. Furthermore, we broadly discuss the interactions of tumor-associated neutrophils and macrophages (TANs and TAMs, respectively) and MDSCs in the leukemic microenvironment. Finally, we provide new perspectives on the potential of myeloid cell subpopulations as predictive biomarkers of therapeutical response, as well as potential targets in the chemoimmunotherapy of leukemias due to their dual Yin-Yang roles in leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio Magalhães-Gama
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores de Diagnóstico e Monitoração, Instituto René Rachou – FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Fabíola Silva Alves-Hanna
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Nilberto Dias Araújo
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Mateus Souza Barros
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Flavio Souza Silva
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Claudio Lucas Santos Catão
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Hematologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Júlia Santos Moraes
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Izabela Cabral Freitas
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Andréa Monteiro Tarragô
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Hematologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Adriana Malheiro
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Hematologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Andréa Teixeira-Carvalho
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores de Diagnóstico e Monitoração, Instituto René Rachou – FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Allyson Guimarães Costa
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Hematologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA), Manaus, Brazil
- Escola de Enfermagem de Manaus, UFAM, Manaus, Brazil
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20
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Macrophage- and BCR-derived but not TLR-derived signals support the growth of CLL and Richter syndrome murine models in vivo. Blood 2022; 140:2335-2347. [PMID: 36084319 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022016272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A large amount of circumstantial evidence has accumulated suggesting that Toll-like receptor (TLR) signals are involved in driving chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell proliferation, but direct in vivo evidence for this is still lacking. We have now further addressed this possibility by pharmacologically inhibiting or genetically inactivating the TLR pathway in murine CLL and human Richter syndrome (RS) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cells. Surprisingly, we show that pharmacologic inhibition of TLR signaling by treatment with an IRAK1/4 inhibitor delays the growth of the transplanted malignant cells in recipient mice, but genetic inactivation of the same pathway by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of IRAK4 or its proximal adaptor MyD88 has no effect. We further show that treatment with the IRAK1/4 inhibitor results in depletion of macrophages and demonstrate that these cells can support the survival and enhance the proliferation of both murine Eμ-TCL1 leukemia and human RS cells. We also show that genetic disruption of the B-cell receptor (BCR) by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the immunoglobulin M constant region gene inhibits the growth of human RS-PDX cells in vivo, consistent with our previous finding with murine Eμ-TCL1 leukemia cells. Finally, we show that genetic disruption of IRAK4 does not result in negative selection of human CLL cell lines xenografted in immunodeficient mice. The obtained data suggest that TLR signals are unlikely to represent a major driver of CLL/RS cell proliferation and provide further evidence that signals from macrophages and the BCR promote the growth and survival of CLL and RS cells in vivo.
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21
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Merchand-Reyes G, Santhanam R, Robledo-Avila FH, Weigel C, Ruiz-Rosado JDD, Mo X, Partida-Sánchez S, Woyach JA, Oakes CC, Tridandapani S, Butchar JP. Disruption of Nurse-like Cell Differentiation as a Therapeutic Strategy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1212-1223. [PMID: 35995507 PMCID: PMC9492647 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia, but, despite advances in treatment, many patients still experience relapse. CLL cells depend on interactions with supportive cells, and nurse-like cells (NLCs) are the major such cell type. However, little is known about how NLCs develop. Here, we performed DNA methylation analysis of CLL patient-derived NLCs using the 850K Illumina array, comparing CD14+ cells at day 1 (monocytes) versus day 14 (NLCs). We found a strong loss of methylation in AP-1 transcription factor binding sites, which may be driven by MAPK signaling. Testing of individual MAPK pathways (MEK, p38, and JNK) revealed a strong dependence on MEK/ERK for NLC development, because treatment of patient samples with the MEK inhibitor trametinib dramatically reduced NLC development in vitro. Using the adoptive transfer Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL, we found that MEK inhibition slowed CLL progression, leading to lower WBC counts and to significantly longer survival time. There were also lower numbers of mouse macrophages, particularly within the M2-like population. In summary, NLC development depends on MEK signaling, and inhibition of MEK leads to increased survival time in vivo. Hence, targeting the MEK/ERK pathway may be an effective treatment strategy for CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ramasamy Santhanam
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Christoph Weigel
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Xiaokui Mo
- Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Jennifer A Woyach
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | - Christopher C Oakes
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Jonathan P Butchar
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH;
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22
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McCay J, Gribben JG. The role of BTK inhibitors on the tumor microenvironment in CLL. Leuk Lymphoma 2022; 63:2023-2032. [PMID: 35465824 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2022.2064995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The CLL disease course is heterogeneous with many patients never requiring treatment and some having very aggressive rapid onset disease.Innate and adaptive immune compensatory mechanisms driven by malignant cells often lead to clonal proliferation, migration and resistance to treatment in CLL. Cell-to-cell interactions occurring within the tumor Micro-environment (TME) can impact greatly on the course of the disease as well as contribute to the variable spread of CLL cells, known as spatial heterogeneity. Following evidence showing the expression of BTK on many hematopoietic cells (an exception beting T lymphocytes) has given rise to the idea that inhibition of BTK with BTK inhibitors (BTKi) such as ibrutinib can help treat CLL.As BTK has a wide variation of expression among cells the use of BTKi has been shown to not only control CLL clones but also redistribute the balance of humoral immunity back toward those of healthy control. n this review article we look at role of BTK in the pathogenesis of CLL, the use of BTKi and their effect on humoral immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel McCay
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London UK
| | - John G Gribben
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London UK
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23
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Tettamanti S, Rotiroti MC, Attianese GMPG, Arcangeli S, Zhang R, Banerjee P, Galletti G, McManus S, Mazza M, Nicolini F, Martinelli G, Ivan C, Rodriguez TV, Barbaglio F, Scarfò L, Ponzoni M, Wierda W, Gandhi V, Keating MJ, Biondi A, Caligaris-Cappio F, Biagi E, Ghia P, Bertilaccio MTS. Lenalidomide enhances CD23.CAR T cell therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 2022; 63:1566-1579. [PMID: 35259043 PMCID: PMC9828187 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2022.2043299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR)-modified T cells are an emerging therapeutic tool for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, in patients with CLL, well-known T-cell defects and the inhibitory properties of the tumor microenvironment (TME) hinder the efficacy of CAR T cells. We explored a novel approach combining CARs with lenalidomide, an immunomodulatory drug that tempers the immunosuppressive activity of the CLL TME. T cells from patients with CLL were engineered to express a CAR specific for CD23, a promising target antigen. Lenalidomide maintained the in vitro effector functions of CD23.CAR+ T cells effector functions in terms of antigen-specific cytotoxicity, cytokine release and proliferation. Overall, lenalidomide preserved functional CAR T-CLL cell immune synapses. In a Rag2-/-γc-/--based xenograft model of CLL, we demonstrated that, when combined with low-dose lenalidomide, CD23.CAR+ T cells efficiently migrated to leukemic sites and delayed disease progression when compared to CD23.CAR+ T cells given with rhIL-2. These observations underline the therapeutic potential of this novel CAR-based combination strategy in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Tettamanti
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Clinica Pediatrica, Università Milano Bicocca, Osp. San Gerardo/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - Maria Caterina Rotiroti
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Clinica Pediatrica, Università Milano Bicocca, Osp. San Gerardo/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - Greta Maria Paola Giordano Attianese
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Clinica Pediatrica, Università Milano Bicocca, Osp. San Gerardo/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy;,GMPGA is presently at Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Arcangeli
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Clinica Pediatrica, Università Milano Bicocca, Osp. San Gerardo/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - Ronghua Zhang
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Priyanka Banerjee
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA,P.B. is presently at Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Giovanni Galletti
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA,GG is presently at Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sheighlah McManus
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA,The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Massimiliano Mazza
- Immunotherapy, Cell Therapy and Biobank (ITCB), IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori, Meldola, Italy
| | - Fabio Nicolini
- Immunotherapy, Cell Therapy and Biobank (ITCB), IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori, Meldola, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Immunotherapy, Cell Therapy and Biobank (ITCB), IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori, Meldola, Italy
| | - Cristina Ivan
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Federica Barbaglio
- Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Lydia Scarfò
- Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy,Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy,Strategic Research Program on CLL, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurilio Ponzoni
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy,Strategic Research Program on CLL, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy;,Pathology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - William Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Varsha Gandhi
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael J. Keating
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Andrea Biondi
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Clinica Pediatrica, Università Milano Bicocca, Osp. San Gerardo/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - Federico Caligaris-Cappio
- Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy,FCC is presently scientific director of AIRC (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro), 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Ettore Biagi
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Clinica Pediatrica, Università Milano Bicocca, Osp. San Gerardo/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy;,EB is presently at BMS/Celgene, Boudry, Canton Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Ghia
- Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy,Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy,Strategic Research Program on CLL, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
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24
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The immune microenvironment shapes transcriptional and genetic heterogeneity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood Adv 2022; 7:145-158. [PMID: 35358998 PMCID: PMC9811214 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021006941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), B-cell receptor signaling, tumor-microenvironment interactions, and somatic mutations drive disease progression. To better understand the intersection between the microenvironment and molecular events in CLL pathogenesis, we integrated bulk transcriptome profiling of paired peripheral blood (PB) and lymph node (LN) samples from 34 patients. Oncogenic processes were upregulated in LN compared with PB and in immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable (IGHV) region unmutated compared with mutated cases. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) distinguished 3 major cell states: quiescent, activated, and proliferating. The activated subpopulation comprised only 2.2% to 4.3% of the total tumor bulk in LN samples. RNA velocity analysis found that CLL cell fate in LN is unidirectional, starts in the proliferating state, transitions to the activated state, and ends in the quiescent state. A 10-gene signature derived from activated tumor cells was associated with inferior treatment-free survival (TFS) and positively correlated with the proportion of activated CD4+ memory T cells and M2 macrophages in LN. Whole exome sequencing (WES) of paired PB and LN samples showed subclonal expansion in LN in approximately half of the patients. Since mouse models have implicated activation-induced cytidine deaminase in mutagenesis, we compared AICDA expression between cases with and without clonal evolution but did not find a difference. In contrast, the presence of a T-cell inflamed microenvironment in LN was associated with clonal stability. In summary, a distinct minor tumor subpopulation underlies CLL pathogenesis and drives the clinical outcome. Clonal trajectories are shaped by the LN milieu, where T-cell immunity may contribute to suppressing clonal outgrowth. The clinical study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00923507.
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25
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Jiang Y, Lin W, Zhu L. Targeted Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Blood Cancers. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27041310. [PMID: 35209102 PMCID: PMC8880555 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Blood cancers are a type of liquid tumor which means cancer is present in the body fluid. Multiple myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma are the three common types of blood cancers. Chemotherapy is the major therapy of blood cancers by systemic administration of anticancer agents into the blood. However, a high incidence of relapse often happens, due to the low efficiency of the anticancer agents that accumulate in the tumor site, and therefore lead to a low survival rate of patients. This indicates an urgent need for a targeted drug delivery system to improve the safety and efficacy of therapeutics for blood cancers. In this review, we describe the current targeting strategies for blood cancers and recently investigated and approved drug delivery system formulations for blood cancers. In addition, we also discuss current challenges in the application of drug delivery systems for treating blood cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Jiang
- Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK;
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Weifeng Lin
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Sciences, Rehovot 761001, Israel;
| | - Linyi Zhu
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK
- Correspondence:
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26
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Interleukin-10 receptor signaling promotes the maintenance of a PD-1 int TCF-1 + CD8 + T cell population that sustains anti-tumor immunity. Immunity 2021; 54:2825-2841.e10. [PMID: 34879221 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
T cell exhaustion limits anti-tumor immunity and responses to immunotherapy. Here, we explored the microenvironmental signals regulating T cell exhaustion using a model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Single-cell analyses identified a subset of PD-1hi, functionally impaired CD8+ T cells that accumulated in secondary lymphoid organs during disease progression and a functionally competent PD-1int subset. Frequencies of PD-1int TCF-1+ CD8+ T cells decreased upon Il10rb or Stat3 deletion, leading to accumulation of PD-1hi cells and accelerated tumor progression. Mechanistically, inhibition of IL-10R signaling altered chromatin accessibility and disrupted cooperativity between the transcription factors NFAT and AP-1, promoting a distinct NFAT-associated program. Low IL10 expression or loss of IL-10R-STAT3 signaling correlated with increased frequencies of exhausted CD8+ T cells and poor survival in CLL and in breast cancer patients. Thus, balance between PD-1hi, exhausted CD8+ T cells and functional PD-1int TCF-1+ CD8+ T cells is regulated by cell-intrinsic IL-10R signaling, with implications for immunotherapy.
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27
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Guo HZ, Guo ZH, Yu SH, Niu LT, Qiang WT, Huang MM, Tian YY, Chen J, Yang H, Weng XQ, Zhang Y, Zhang W, Hu SY, Shi J, Zhu J. Leukemic progenitor cells enable immunosuppression and post-chemotherapy relapse via IL-36-inflammatory monocyte axis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabg4167. [PMID: 34623912 PMCID: PMC8500518 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg4167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy can effectively reduce the leukemic burden and restore immune cell production in most acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases. Nevertheless, endogenous immunosurveillance usually fails to recover after chemotherapy, permitting relapse. The underlying mechanisms of this therapeutic failure have remained poorly understood. Here, we show that abnormal IL-36 production activated by NF-κB is an essential feature of mouse and human leukemic progenitor cells (LPs). Mechanistically, IL-36 directly activates inflammatory monocytes (IMs) in bone marrow, which then precludes clearance of leukemia mediated by CD8+ T cells and facilitates LP growth. While sparing IMs, common chemotherapeutic agents stimulate IL-36 production from residual LPs via caspase-1 activation, thereby enabling the persistence of this immunosuppressive IL-36–IM axis after chemotherapy. Furthermore, IM depletion by trabectedin, with chemotherapy and PD-1 blockade, can synergistically restrict AML progression and relapse. Collectively, these results suggest inhibition of the IL-36–IM axis as a potential strategy for improving AML treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- He-Zhou Guo
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Zi-Hua Guo
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shan-He Yu
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Li-Ting Niu
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Wan-Ting Qiang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Meng-Meng Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Tian
- Fels Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Juan Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiang-Qin Weng
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Fels Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Wu Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shao-Yan Hu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, No 92, Zhongnan Street, Suzhou 215025, China
| | - Jun Shi
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Jiang Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
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28
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Valero JG, Matas-Céspedes A, Arenas F, Rodriguez V, Carreras J, Serrat N, Guerrero-Hernández M, Yahiaoui A, Balagué O, Martin S, Capdevila C, Hernández L, Magnano L, Rivas-Delgado A, Tannheimer S, Cid MC, Campo E, López-Guillermo A, Colomer D, Pérez-Galán P. The receptor of the colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1R) is a novel prognostic factor and therapeutic target in follicular lymphoma. Leukemia 2021; 35:2635-2649. [PMID: 33731849 PMCID: PMC8410584 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01201-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Microenvironment contributes to follicular lymphoma (FL) pathogenesis and impacts survival with macrophages playing a controversial role. In the present study, using FL primary samples and HK follicular dendritic cells (FDC) to mimic the germinal center, together with mouse models, we have analyzed the three-way crosstalk of FL-FDC-macrophages and derived therapeutic opportunities. Ex vivo primary FL-FDC co-cultures (n = 19) and in vivo mouse co-xenografts demonstrated that FL-FDC crosstalk favors tumor growth and, via the secretion of CCL2 and CSF-1, promotes monocyte recruitment, differentiation, and polarization towards an M2-like protumoral phenotype. Moreover, FL-M2 co-cultures displayed enhanced angiogenesis, dissemination, and immunosuppression. Analysis of the CSF-1/CSF-1R pathway uncovered that CSF-1 was significantly higher in serum from grade 3A FL patients, and that high CSF-1R expression in FL biopsies correlated with grade 3A, reduced overall survival and risk of transformation. Furthermore, CSF-1R inhibition with pexidartinib (PLX3397) preferentially affected M2-macrophage viability and polarization program disrupting FL-M2 positive crosstalk. In vivo CSF1-R inhibition caused M2 reduction and repolarization towards M1 macrophages and antitumor effect cooperating with anti-CD20 rituximab. In summary, these results support the role of macrophages in FL pathogenesis and indicate that CSF-1R may be a relevant prognostic factor and a novel therapeutic target cooperating with anti-CD20 immunotherapy.
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MESH Headings
- Aminopyridines/pharmacology
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Proliferation
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Lymphoma, Follicular/drug therapy
- Lymphoma, Follicular/metabolism
- Lymphoma, Follicular/pathology
- Macrophages/drug effects
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Macrophages/pathology
- Mice
- Monocytes/drug effects
- Monocytes/metabolism
- Monocytes/pathology
- Phosphorylation
- Pyrroles/pharmacology
- Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/genetics
- Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/metabolism
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Garcia Valero
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Oncología (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alba Matas-Céspedes
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Oncología (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fabián Arenas
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Oncología (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Vanina Rodriguez
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Joaquim Carreras
- Department of Pathology, Tokai University, School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Neus Serrat
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martina Guerrero-Hernández
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Gene Regulation, Stem Cells and Cancer Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG-PRBB), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Olga Balagué
- Hematopathology Unit, Pathology Department, Hospital Clínic-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Martin
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Oncología (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Lluis Hernández
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Oncología (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Magnano
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Clinic -IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfredo Rivas-Delgado
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Clinic -IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Maria C Cid
- Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elías Campo
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Oncología (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Hematopathology Unit, Pathology Department, Hospital Clínic-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- University of Barcelona, Medical School, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Armando López-Guillermo
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Oncología (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Clinic -IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- University of Barcelona, Medical School, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dolors Colomer
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Oncología (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Hematopathology Unit, Pathology Department, Hospital Clínic-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- University of Barcelona, Medical School, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Pérez-Galán
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Oncología (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
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29
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Lévesque JP, Summers KM, Millard SM, Bisht K, Winkler IG, Pettit AR. Role of macrophages and phagocytes in orchestrating normal and pathologic hematopoietic niches. Exp Hematol 2021; 100:12-31.e1. [PMID: 34298116 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The bone marrow (BM) contains a mosaic of niches specialized in supporting different maturity stages of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells such as hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid, lymphoid, and erythroid progenitors. Recent advances in BM imaging and conditional gene knockout mice have revealed that niches are a complex network of cells of mesenchymal, endothelial, neuronal, and hematopoietic origins, together with local physicochemical parameters. Within these complex structures, phagocytes, such as neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells, all of which are of hematopoietic origin, have been found to be important in regulating several niches in the BM, including hematopoietic stem cell niches, erythropoietic niches, and niches involved in endosteal bone formation. There is also increasing evidence that these macrophages have an important role in adapting hematopoiesis, erythropoiesis, and bone formation in response to inflammatory stressors and play a key part in maintaining the integrity and function of these. Likewise, there is also accumulating evidence that subsets of monocytes, macrophages, and other phagocytes contribute to the progression and response to treatment of several lymphoid malignancies such as multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as lymphoblastic leukemia, and may also play a role in myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative neoplasms associated with Noonan syndrome and aplastic anemia. In this review, the potential functions of macrophages and other phagocytes in normal and pathologic niches are discussed, as are the challenges in studying BM and other tissue-resident macrophages at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Lévesque
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
| | - Kim M Summers
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Susan M Millard
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Kavita Bisht
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Ingrid G Winkler
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Allison R Pettit
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
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30
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Cencini E, Fabbri A, Sicuranza A, Gozzetti A, Bocchia M. The Role of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Hematologic Malignancies. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13143597. [PMID: 34298810 PMCID: PMC8304632 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) represent a leading component of the tumor microenvironment in hematologic malignancies. TAM could display antitumor activity or, conversely, could contribute to tumor growth and survival, depending on their polarization. TAM are polarized towards form M1, with a pro-inflammatory phenotype and an antineoplastic activity, or M2, with an alternately activated phenotype, associated with a poor outcome in patients presenting with leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma. The molecular mechanisms of TAM in different types of hematologic malignancies are different due to the peculiar microenvironment of each disease. TAM could contribute to tumor progression, reduced apoptosis and angiogenesis; a different TAM polarization could explain a reduced treatment response in patients with a similar disease subtype. The aim of our review is to better define the role of TAM in patients with leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma. Finally, we would like to focus on TAM as a possible target for antineoplastic therapy. Abstract The tumor microenvironment includes dendritic cells, T-cytotoxic, T-helper, reactive B-lymphoid cells and macrophages; these reactive cells could interplay with malignant cells and promote tumor growth and survival. Among its cellular components, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) represent a component of the innate immune system and play an important role, especially in hematologic malignancies. Depending on the stimuli that trigger their activation, TAM are polarized towards form M1, contributing to antitumor responses, or M2, associated with tumor progression. Many studies demonstrated a correlation between TAM, disease progression and the patient’s outcome in lymphoproliferative neoplasms, such as Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), even if with conflicting results. A critical hurdle to overcome is surely represented by the heterogeneity in the choice of the optimal markers and methods used for TAM analysis (gene-expression profile vs. immunohistochemistry, CD163vs. CD68vs. CD163/CD68 double-positive cells). TAM have been recently linked to the development and progression of multiple myeloma and leukemia, with a critical role in the homing of malignant cells, drug resistance, immune suppression and angiogenesis. As such, this review will summarize the role of TAM in different hematologic malignancies, focusing on the complex interplay between TAM and tumor cells, the prognostic value of TAM and the possible TAM-targeted therapeutic strategies.
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31
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Proteomic and bioinformatic profiling of neutrophils in CLL reveals functional defects that predispose to bacterial infections. Blood Adv 2021; 5:1259-1272. [PMID: 33651101 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) typically suffer from frequent and severe bacterial infections. Although it is well known that neutrophils are critical innate immune cells facilitating the early defense, the underlying phenotypical and functional changes in neutrophils during CLL remain largely elusive. Using a murine adoptive transfer model of CLL, we demonstrate aggravated bacterial burden in CLL-bearing mice upon a urinary tract infection with uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Bioinformatic analyses of the neutrophil proteome revealed increased expression of proteins associated with interferon signaling and decreased protein expression associated with granule composition and neutrophil migration. Functional experiments validated these findings by showing reduced levels of myeloperoxidase and acidification of neutrophil granules after ex vivo phagocytosis of bacteria. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated decreased expression of molecules critical for neutrophil recruitment, and migration of neutrophils into the infected urinary bladder was significantly reduced. These altered migratory properties of neutrophils were also associated with reduced expression of CD62L and CXCR4 and correlated with an increased incidence of infections in patients with CLL. In conclusion, this study describes a molecular signature of neutrophils through proteomic, bioinformatic, and functional analyses that are linked to a reduced migratory ability, potentially leading to increased bacterial infections in patients with CLL.
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32
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Sun C, Wiestner A. Can Immunocompetence Be Restored in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia? Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2021; 35:827-845. [PMID: 34174988 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2021.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Reversing or preventing immunodeficiency in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is of the highest priority. The past decade of research has met the challenge of treating CLL for most patients. Patients continue to struggle, however, with infections and second primary malignancies related to immunodeficiency. Strategies addressing this need currently are limited to vaccinations, with suboptimal efficacy, and immunoglobulin replacement. Correlative studies have provided insights into immunologic alterations on treatment. Understanding vulnerabilities in the immune system may help identify potential interventions to boost immunity. An emphasis on systematically testing such interventions is required to restore immunocompetence in patients with CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Sun
- Hematology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, Room 3-5132, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-0004, USA.
| | - Adrian Wiestner
- Hematology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, Room 3-5140, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-0004, USA
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33
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Arruga F, Serra S, Vitale N, Guerra G, Papait A, Baffour Gyau B, Tito F, Efremov D, Vaisitti T, Deaglio S. Targeting of the A2A adenosine receptor counteracts immunosuppression in vivo in a mouse model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica 2021; 106:1343-1353. [PMID: 32299906 PMCID: PMC8094100 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.242016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor immunosuppression is a major cause for treatment failure and disease relapse, both in solid tumors and leukemia. Local hypoxia is among the conditions that cause immunosuppression, acting at least in part through the upregulation of extracellular adenosine levels, which potently suppress T cell responses and skew macrophages towards an M2 phenotype. Hence, there is intense investigation to identify drugs that target this axis. By using the TCL1 adoptive transfer CLL mouse model, we show that adenosine production and signaling are upregulated in the hypoxic lymphoid niches, where intense colonization of leukemic cells occurs. This leads to a progressive remodeling of the immune system towards tolerance, with expansion of T regulatory cells (Tregs), loss of CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity and differentiation of murine macrophages towards the patrolling (M2-like) subset. In vivo administration of SCH58261, an inhibitor the A2A adenosine receptor, re-awakens T cell responses, while limiting Tregs expansion, and re-polarizes monocytes towards the inflammatory (M1-like) phenotype. These results show for the first time the in vivo contribution of adenosine signaling to immune tolerance in CLL, and the translational implication of drugs interrupting this pathway. Although the effects of SCH58261 on leukemic cells are limited, interfering with adenosine signaling may represent an appealing strategy for combination-based therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Arruga
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Serra
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Vitale
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giulia Guerra
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Papait
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Benjamin Baffour Gyau
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Tito
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Tiziana Vaisitti
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Deaglio
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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34
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Öztürk S, Kalter V, Roessner PM, Sunbul M, Seiffert M. IDO1-Targeted Therapy Does Not Control Disease Development in the Eµ-TCL1 Mouse Model of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081899. [PMID: 33920868 PMCID: PMC8071295 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme IDO1 and its metabolite kynurenine were shown to be enhanced in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and their involvement in T cell suppression and immune escape was suggested. As we have observed increased IDO1 expression and kynurenine serum levels in the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of targeting IDO1 in preclinical treatment studies with two IDO1 inhibitors in mice developing CLL. As both studies revealed only minor effects of IDO1 inhibition on leukemia development and the immune compartment at early time points of treatment which disappeared over time, our data suggest that even though IDO1 might be involved in immunosuppressive mechanisms in CLL, its targeting is not sufficient for preventing immune escape. Thus, compensatory mechanisms beyond IDO1 seem to be of relevance to prevent clinically relevant benefits with IDO1-targeting drugs. Abstract Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), a tryptophan (Trp)-catabolizing enzyme producing metabolites such as kynurenine (Kyn), is expressed by myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and associated with cancer immune escape. IDO1-expressing monocytic MDSCs were shown to accumulate in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and to suppress T cell activity and induce suppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vitro. In the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL, we observed a strong upregulation of IDO1 in monocytic and granulocytic MDSCs, and a significantly increased Kyn to Trp serum ratio. To explore the potential of IDO1 as a therapeutic target for CLL, we treated mice after adoptive transfer of Eµ-TCL1 leukemia cells with the IDO1 modulator 1-methyl-D-tryptophan (1-MT) which resulted in a minor reduction in leukemia development which disappeared over time. 1-MT treatment further led to a partial rescue of the immune cell changes that are induced with CLL development. Similarly, treatment of leukemic mice with the clinically investigated IDO1 inhibitor epacadostat reduced the frequency of Tregs and initially delayed CLL development slightly, an effect that was, however, lost at later time points. In sum, despite the observed upregulation of IDO1 in CLL, its inhibition is not sufficient to control leukemia development in the Eµ-TCL1 adoptive transfer model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selcen Öztürk
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.Ö.); (V.K.); (P.M.R.)
| | - Verena Kalter
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.Ö.); (V.K.); (P.M.R.)
| | - Philipp M. Roessner
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.Ö.); (V.K.); (P.M.R.)
| | - Murat Sunbul
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Martina Seiffert
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.Ö.); (V.K.); (P.M.R.)
- Correspondence:
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35
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Hanna BS, Yazdanparast H, Demerdash Y, Roessner PM, Schulz R, Lichter P, Stilgenbauer S, Seiffert M. Combining ibrutinib and checkpoint blockade improves CD8+ T-cell function and control of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Em-TCL1 mice. Haematologica 2021; 106:968-977. [PMID: 32139435 PMCID: PMC8017821 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.238154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ibrutinib is a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor approved for the treatment of multiple B-cell malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In addition to blocking B-cell receptor signaling and chemokine receptor-mediated pathways in CLL cells, that are known drivers of disease, ibrutinib also affects the microenvironment in CLL via targeting BTK in myeloid cells and IL-2–inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) in T cells. These non-BTK effects were suggested to contribute to the success of ibrutinib in CLL. By using the Eμ-TCL1 adoptive transfer mouse model of CLL, we observed that ibrutinib effectively controls leukemia development, but also results in significantly lower numbers of CD8+ effector T cells, with lower expression of activation markers, as well as impaired proliferation and effector function. Using CD8+ T cells from a T-cell receptor (TCR) reporter mouse, we verified that this is due to a direct effect of ibrutinib on TCR activity, and demonstrate that co-stimulation via CD28 overcomes these effects. Most interestingly, combination of ibrutinib with blocking antibodies targeting PD-1/PD-L1 axis in vivo improved CD8+ T-cell effector function and control of CLL. In summary, these data emphasize the strong immunomodulatory effects of ibrutinib and the therapeutic potential of its combination with immune checkpoint blockade in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bola S Hanna
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Yasmin Demerdash
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp M Roessner
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralph Schulz
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Lichter
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Martina Seiffert
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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36
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Llaó-Cid L, Roessner PM, Chapaprieta V, Öztürk S, Roider T, Bordas M, Izcue A, Colomer D, Dietrich S, Stilgenbauer S, Hanna B, Martín-Subero JI, Seiffert M. EOMES is essential for antitumor activity of CD8 + T cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia 2021; 35:3152-3162. [PMID: 33731848 PMCID: PMC8550953 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01198-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) affecting the transcription factor Eomesodermin (EOMES) associated with a significantly increased risk to develop chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Epigenetic analyses, RNA sequencing, and flow cytometry revealed that EOMES is not expressed in CLL cells, but in CD8+ T cells for which EOMES is a known master regulator. We thus hypothesized that the increased CLL risk associated with the EOMES SNP might be explained by its negative impact on CD8+ T-cell-mediated immune control of CLL. Flow cytometry analyses revealed a higher EOMES expression in CD8+ T cells of CLL patients compared to healthy individuals, and an accumulation of PD-1+ EOMES+ CD8+ T cells in lymph nodes rather than blood or bone marrow in CLL. This was in line with an observed expansion of EOMES+ CD8+ T cells in the spleen of leukemic Eµ-TCL1 mice. As EOMES expression was highest in CD8+ T cells that express inhibitory receptors, an involvement of EOMES in T-cell exhaustion and dysfunction seems likely. Interestingly, Eomes-deficiency in CD8+ T cells resulted in their impaired expansion associated with decreased CLL control in mice. Overall, these observations suggest that EOMES is essential for CD8+ T-cell expansion and/or maintenance, and therefore involved in adaptive immune control of CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Llaó-Cid
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp M Roessner
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vicente Chapaprieta
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Selcen Öztürk
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Roider
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marie Bordas
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ana Izcue
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany.,Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Medical Center Freiburg and University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Dolors Colomer
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Hematopathology Section, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Fonaments Clínics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sascha Dietrich
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Stilgenbauer
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine I, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Bola Hanna
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - José Ignacio Martín-Subero
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Fonaments Clínics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martina Seiffert
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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37
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Ferrant J, Lhomme F, Le Gallou S, Irish JM, Roussel M. Circulating Myeloid Regulatory Cells: Promising Biomarkers in B-Cell Lymphomas. Front Immunol 2021; 11:623993. [PMID: 33603754 PMCID: PMC7884747 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.623993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The monocyte/macrophage lineage has been shown to be involved in the promotion of a protumoral tumor microenvironment and resistance to treatment in B cell lymphomas. However, it is still poorly described at the single cell level, and tissue samples are not easily accessible. Thus, a detailed analysis of the circulating myeloid cell compartment in the different B lymphomas is needed to better understand the mechanisms of resistance to treatment and identify at risk patients. In this Perspective, we review current knowledge on the phenotypic and functional description of the circulating monocytic lineage in B cell lymphomas and provide first insights into the heterogeneity of these cell populations in health and lymphoma, using mass cytometry. Indeed, the monocytic compartment is a continuum more than distinct subpopulations, as demonstrated by our high-resolution approach, explaining the sometimes confusing and contradictory conclusions on the prognostic impact of the different populations, including monocytes and monocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC). By identifying S100A9high monocytic cells as a potential biomarker in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in this proof-of-concept preliminary study including a limited number of samples, we underline the potential of circulating myeloid regulatory cells as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in B-cell lymphomas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Faustine Lhomme
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Service Hématologie, Rennes, France
| | - Simon Le Gallou
- UMR_S_1236, Univ Rennes, Inserm, Rennes, France
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Laboratoire Hématologie, Pôle Biologie, Rennes, France
| | - Jonathan M. Irish
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Mikael Roussel
- UMR_S_1236, Univ Rennes, Inserm, Rennes, France
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Laboratoire Hématologie, Pôle Biologie, Rennes, France
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38
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Abstract
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia can be divided into three categories: those who are minimally affected by the problem, often never requiring therapy; those that initially follow an indolent course but subsequently progress and require therapy; and those that from the point of diagnosis exhibit an aggressive disease necessitating treatment. Likewise, such patients pass through three phases: development of the disease, diagnosis, and need for therapy. Finally, the leukemic clones of all patients appear to require continuous input from the exterior, most often through membrane receptors, to allow them to survive and grow. This review is presented according to the temporal course that the disease follows, focusing on those external influences from the tissue microenvironment (TME) that support the time lines as well as those internal influences that are inherited or develop as genetic and epigenetic changes occurring over the time line. Regarding the former, special emphasis is placed on the input provided via the B-cell receptor for antigen and the C-X-C-motif chemokine receptor-4 and the therapeutic agents that block these inputs. Regarding the latter, prominence is laid upon inherited susceptibility genes and the genetic and epigenetic abnormalities that lead to the developmental and progression of the disease.
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MESH Headings
- Disease Progression
- Humans
- Immunotherapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/etiology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Mutation
- PAX5 Transcription Factor/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
- Signal Transduction
- Tumor Microenvironment
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Chiorazzi
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA
| | - Shih-Shih Chen
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA
| | - Kanti R Rai
- The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York 11549, USA
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Fiorcari S, Maffei R, Atene CG, Potenza L, Luppi M, Marasca R. Nurse-Like Cells and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia B Cells: A Mutualistic Crosstalk inside Tissue Microenvironments. Cells 2021; 10:217. [PMID: 33499012 PMCID: PMC7911538 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia in Western countries and is an example of hematological disease where cooperation between genetic defects and tumor microenvironmental interaction is involved in pathogenesis. CLL is a disease that is considered as "addicted to the host"; indeed, the crosstalk between leukemic cells and the tumor microenvironment is essential for leukemic clone maintenance supporting CLL cells' survival, proliferation, and protection from drug-induced apoptosis. CLL cells are not innocent bystanders but actively model and manipulate the surrounding microenvironment to their own advantage. Besides the different players involved in this crosstalk, nurse-like cells (NLC) resemble features related to leukemia-associated macrophages with an important function in preserving CLL cell survival and supporting an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role played by NLC in creating a nurturing and permissive milieu for CLL cells, illustrating the therapeutic possibilities in order to specifically target and re-educate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Fiorcari
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Rossana Maffei
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Claudio Giacinto Atene
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Leonardo Potenza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Mario Luppi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Roberto Marasca
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
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40
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Man Y, Yao X, Yang T, Wang Y. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche During Homeostasis, Malignancy, and Bone Marrow Transplantation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:621214. [PMID: 33553181 PMCID: PMC7862549 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.621214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are strictly regulated by numerous cellular components and cytokines in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. Several cell types that regulate HSC niche have been identified, including both non-hematopoietic cells and HSC-derived cells. Specific changes in the niche composition can result in hematological malignancies. Furthermore, processes such as homing, proliferation, and differentiation of HSCs are strongly controlled by the BM niche and have been reported to be related to the success of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Single-cell sequencing and in vivo imaging are powerful techniques to study BM microenvironment in hematological malignancies and after HSCT. In this review, we discuss how different components of the BM niche, particularly non-hematopoietic and hematopoietic cells, regulate normal hematopoiesis, and changes in the BM niche in leukemia and after HSCT. We believe that this comprehensive review will provide clues for further research on improving HSCT efficiency and exploring potential therapeutic targets for leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Man
- Department of Hematology, National Key Clinical Specialty of Hematology, Yunnan Blood Disease Clinical Medical Center, Yunnan Blood Disease Hospital, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China.,Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Xiangmei Yao
- Department of Hematology, National Key Clinical Specialty of Hematology, Yunnan Blood Disease Clinical Medical Center, Yunnan Blood Disease Hospital, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China.,Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Tonghua Yang
- Department of Hematology, National Key Clinical Specialty of Hematology, Yunnan Blood Disease Clinical Medical Center, Yunnan Blood Disease Hospital, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China.,Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Yajie Wang
- Department of Hematology, National Key Clinical Specialty of Hematology, Yunnan Blood Disease Clinical Medical Center, Yunnan Blood Disease Hospital, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China.,Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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41
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Ioannou N, Hagner PR, Stokes M, Gandhi AK, Apollonio B, Fanous M, Papazoglou D, Sutton LA, Rosenquist R, Amini RM, Chiu H, Lopez-Girona A, Janardhanan P, Awan FT, Jones J, Kay NE, Shanafelt TD, Tallman MS, Stamatopoulos K, Patten PEM, Vardi A, Ramsay AG. Triggering interferon signaling in T cells with avadomide sensitizes CLL to anti-PD-L1/PD-1 immunotherapy. Blood 2021; 137:216-231. [PMID: 33024998 PMCID: PMC7820876 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020006073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer treatment has been transformed by checkpoint blockade therapies, with the highest anti-tumor activity of anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) antibody therapy seen in Hodgkin lymphoma. Disappointingly, response rates have been low in the non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with no activity seen in relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with PD-1 blockade. Thus, identifying more powerful combination therapy is required for these patients. Here, we preclinically demonstrate enhanced anti-CLL activity following combinational therapy with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) and avadomide, a cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD). Avadomide induced type I and II interferon (IFN) signaling in patient T cells, triggering a feedforward cascade of reinvigorated T-cell responses. Immune modeling assays demonstrated that avadomide stimulated T-cell activation, chemokine expression, motility and lytic synapses with CLL cells, as well as IFN-inducible feedback inhibition through upregulation of PD-L1. Patient-derived xenograft tumors treated with avadomide were converted to CD8+ T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironments that responded to anti-PD-L1/PD-1-based combination therapy. Notably, clinical analyses showed increased PD-L1 expression on T cells, as well as intratumoral expression of chemokine signaling genes in B-cell malignancy patients receiving avadomide-based therapy. These data illustrate the importance of overcoming a low inflammatory T-cell state to successfully sensitize CLL to checkpoint blockade-based combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Ioannou
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Benedetta Apollonio
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mariam Fanous
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Despoina Papazoglou
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lesley-Ann Sutton
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Richard Rosenquist
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rose-Marie Amini
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University and University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Farrukh T Awan
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Neil E Kay
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | | | | | - Kostas Stamatopoulos
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Piers E M Patten
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Haematology, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom; and
| | - Anna Vardi
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Hematology Department and HCT Unit, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alan G Ramsay
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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42
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Deciphering the complex circulating immune cell microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia using patient similarity networks. Sci Rep 2021; 11:322. [PMID: 33431934 PMCID: PMC7801466 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79121-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The tissue microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of CLL, but the complex blood microenvironment in CLL has not yet been fully characterised. Therefore, immunophenotyping of circulating immune cells in 244 CLL patients and 52 healthy controls was performed using flow cytometry and analysed by multivariate Patient Similarity Networks (PSNs). Our study revealed high inter-individual heterogeneity in the distribution and activation of bystander immune cells in CLL, depending on the bulk of the CLL cells. High CLL counts were associated with low activation on circulating monocytes and T cells and vice versa. The highest activation of immune cells, particularly of intermediate and non-classical monocytes, was evident in patients treated with novel agents. PSNs revealed a low activation of immune cells in CLL progression, irrespective of IgHV status, Binet stage and TP53 disruption. Patients with high intermediate monocytes (> 5.4%) with low activation were 2.5 times more likely (95% confidence interval 1.421–4.403, P = 0.002) to had shorter time-to-treatment than those with low monocyte counts. Our study demonstrated the association between the activation of circulating immune cells and the bulk of CLL cells. The highest activation of bystander immune cells was detected in patients with slow disease course and in those treated with novel agents. The subset of intermediate monocytes showed predictive value for time-to-treatment in CLL.
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43
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Menzel L, Höpken UE, Rehm A. Angiogenesis in Lymph Nodes Is a Critical Regulator of Immune Response and Lymphoma Growth. Front Immunol 2020; 11:591741. [PMID: 33343570 PMCID: PMC7744479 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.591741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-induced remodeling of the microenvironment in lymph nodes (LNs) includes the formation of blood vessels, which goes beyond the regulation of metabolism, and shaping a survival niche for tumor cells. In contrast to solid tumors, which primarily rely on neo-angiogenesis, hematopoietic malignancies usually grow within pre-vascularized autochthonous niches in secondary lymphatic organs or the bone marrow. The mechanisms of vascular remodeling in expanding LNs during infection-induced responses have been studied in more detail; in contrast, insights into the conditions of lymphoma growth and lodging remain enigmatic. Based on previous murine studies and clinical trials in human, we conclude that there is not a universal LN-specific angiogenic program applicable. Instead, signaling pathways that are tightly connected to autochthonous and infiltrating cell types contribute variably to LN vascular expansion. Inflammation related angiogenesis within LNs relies on dendritic cell derived pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulating vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) expression in fibroblastic reticular cells, which in turn triggers vessel growth. In high-grade B cell lymphoma, angiogenesis correlates with poor prognosis. Lymphoma cells immigrate and grow in LNs and provide pro-angiogenic growth factors themselves. In contrast to infectious stimuli that impact on LN vasculature, they do not trigger the typical inflammatory and hypoxia-related stroma-remodeling cascade. Blood vessels in LNs are unique in selective recruitment of lymphocytes via high endothelial venules (HEVs). The dissemination routes of neoplastic lymphocytes are usually disease stage dependent. Early seeding via the blood stream requires the expression of the homeostatic chemokine receptor CCR7 and of L-selectin, both cooperate to facilitate transmigration of tumor and also of protective tumor-reactive lymphocytes via HEV structures. In this view, the HEV route is not only relevant for lymphoma cell homing, but also for a continuous immunosurveillance. We envision that HEV functional and structural alterations during lymphomagenesis are not only key to vascular remodeling, but also impact on tumor cell accessibility when targeted by T cell-mediated immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutz Menzel
- Translational Tumor Immunology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uta E. Höpken
- Microenvironmental Regulation in Autoimmunity and Cancer, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Armin Rehm
- Translational Tumor Immunology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
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Griggio V, Perutelli F, Salvetti C, Boccellato E, Boccadoro M, Vitale C, Coscia M. Immune Dysfunctions and Immune-Based Therapeutic Interventions in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Front Immunol 2020; 11:594556. [PMID: 33312177 PMCID: PMC7708380 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.594556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell malignancy characterized by a wide range of tumor-induced alterations, which affect both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response, and accumulate during disease progression. In recent years, the development of targeted therapies, such as the B-cell receptor signaling inhibitors and the Bcl-2 protein inhibitor venetoclax, has dramatically changed the treatment landscape of CLL. Despite their remarkable anti-tumor activity, targeted agents have some limitations, which include the development of drug resistance mechanisms and the inferior efficacy observed in high-risk patients. Therefore, additional treatments are necessary to obtain deeper responses and overcome drug resistance. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which exploits immune-mediated graft-versus-leukemia effect to eradicate tumor cells, currently represents the only potentially curative therapeutic option for CLL patients. However, due to its potential toxicities, HSCT can be offered only to a restricted number of younger and fit patients. The growing understanding of the complex interplay between tumor cells and the immune system, which is responsible for immune escape mechanisms and tumor progression, has paved the way for the development of novel immune-based strategies. Despite promising preclinical observations, results from pilot clinical studies exploring the safety and efficacy of novel immune-based therapies have been sometimes suboptimal in terms of long-term tumor control. Therefore, further advances to improve their efficacy are needed. In this context, possible approaches include an earlier timing of immunotherapy within the treatment sequencing, as well as the possibility to improve the efficacy of immunotherapeutic agents by administering them in combination with other anti-tumor drugs. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive overview of main immune defects affecting patients with CLL, also describing the complex networks leading to immune evasion and tumor progression. From the therapeutic standpoint, we will go through the evolution of immune-based therapeutic approaches over time, including i) agents with broad immunomodulatory effects, such as immunomodulatory drugs, ii) currently approved and next-generation monoclonal antibodies, and iii) immunotherapeutic strategies aiming at activating or administering immune effector cells specifically targeting leukemic cells (e.g. bi-or tri-specific antibodies, tumor vaccines, chimeric antigen receptor T cells, and checkpoint inhibitors).
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Griggio
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Francesca Perutelli
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Chiara Salvetti
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Elia Boccellato
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Mario Boccadoro
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Candida Vitale
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Marta Coscia
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
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45
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Nisticò N, Maisano D, Iaccino E, Vecchio E, Fiume G, Rotundo S, Quinto I, Mimmi S. Role of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)-Derived Exosomes in Tumor Progression and Survival. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:E244. [PMID: 32937811 PMCID: PMC7557731 DOI: 10.3390/ph13090244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-lymphoproliferative disease, which consists of the abnormal proliferation of CD19/CD5/CD20/CD23 positive lymphocytes in blood and lymphoid organs, such as bone marrow, lymph nodes and spleen. The neoplastic transformation and expansion of tumor B cells are commonly recognized as antigen-driven processes, mediated by the interaction of antigens with the B cell receptor (BCR) expressed on the surface of B-lymphocytes. The survival and progression of CLL cells largely depend on the direct interaction of CLL cells with receptors of accessory cells of tumor microenvironment. Recently, much interest has been focused on the role of tumor release of small extracellular vesicles (EVs), named exosomes, which incorporate a wide range of biologically active molecules, particularly microRNAs and proteins, which sustain the tumor growth. Here, we will review the role of CLL-derived exosomes as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Nisticò
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine – University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (N.N.); (D.M.); (E.V.); (G.F.); (I.Q.)
| | - Domenico Maisano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine – University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (N.N.); (D.M.); (E.V.); (G.F.); (I.Q.)
| | - Enrico Iaccino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine – University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (N.N.); (D.M.); (E.V.); (G.F.); (I.Q.)
| | - Eleonora Vecchio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine – University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (N.N.); (D.M.); (E.V.); (G.F.); (I.Q.)
| | - Giuseppe Fiume
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine – University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (N.N.); (D.M.); (E.V.); (G.F.); (I.Q.)
| | - Salvatore Rotundo
- Department of Health Sciences–University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Ileana Quinto
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine – University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (N.N.); (D.M.); (E.V.); (G.F.); (I.Q.)
| | - Selena Mimmi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine – University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (N.N.); (D.M.); (E.V.); (G.F.); (I.Q.)
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46
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Relevant Cytokines in the B Cell Lymphoma Micro-Environment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12092525. [PMID: 32899476 PMCID: PMC7564074 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are soluble protein factors with importance in intercellular communication and, as such, play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of B cell malignancies. Evidence from in vitro cultures permitted us to choose example cytokines that bind to different biochemical receptor types. Activated malignant B cells or stromal fibroblasts and macrophages prominently secrete the chemokines CCL3 or CXCL12 and CXCL13, respectively. Apart from helper T cells, various cell types of the B cell lymphoma microenvironment are capable of producing the cytokines IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and TNFα. Owing to its impact on the development of myeloid cells, CSF-1 is among important soluble factors in the B cell lymphoma microenvironment. Inhibitors of B cell receptor-associated kinases often act via the blockade of cytokine production, but also prevent cytokine effects, e.g., chemotaxis. Increments in blood levels in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients compared to healthy donors and normalization upon treatment with ibrutinib can be explained by producing cell types and modulation of cytokine production observed in vitro.
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47
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IL4I1 Is a Metabolic Immune Checkpoint that Activates the AHR and Promotes Tumor Progression. Cell 2020; 182:1252-1270.e34. [PMID: 32818467 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 267] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) activation by tryptophan (Trp) catabolites enhances tumor malignancy and suppresses anti-tumor immunity. The context specificity of AHR target genes has so far impeded systematic investigation of AHR activity and its upstream enzymes across human cancers. A pan-tissue AHR signature, derived by natural language processing, revealed that across 32 tumor entities, interleukin-4-induced-1 (IL4I1) associates more frequently with AHR activity than IDO1 or TDO2, hitherto recognized as the main Trp-catabolic enzymes. IL4I1 activates the AHR through the generation of indole metabolites and kynurenic acid. It associates with reduced survival in glioma patients, promotes cancer cell motility, and suppresses adaptive immunity, thereby enhancing the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in mice. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) induces IDO1 and IL4I1. As IDO1 inhibitors do not block IL4I1, IL4I1 may explain the failure of clinical studies combining ICB with IDO1 inhibition. Taken together, IL4I1 blockade opens new avenues for cancer therapy.
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48
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Bordas M, Genard G, Ohl S, Nessling M, Richter K, Roider T, Dietrich S, Maaß KK, Seiffert M. Optimized Protocol for Isolation of Small Extracellular Vesicles from Human and Murine Lymphoid Tissues. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155586. [PMID: 32759826 PMCID: PMC7432511 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are nanoparticles responsible for cell-to-cell communication released by healthy and cancer cells. Different roles have been described for sEVs in physiological and pathological contexts, including acceleration of tissue regeneration, modulation of tumor microenvironment, or premetastatic niche formation, and they are discussed as promising biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in body fluids. Although efforts have been made to standardize techniques for isolation and characterization of sEVs, current protocols often result in co-isolation of soluble protein or lipid complexes and of other extracellular vesicles. The risk of contaminated preparations is particularly high when isolating sEVs from tissues. As a consequence, the interpretation of data aiming at understanding the functional role of sEVs remains challenging and inconsistent. Here, we report an optimized protocol for isolation of sEVs from human and murine lymphoid tissues. sEVs from freshly resected human lymph nodes and murine spleens were isolated comparing two different approaches—(1) ultracentrifugation on a sucrose density cushion and (2) combined ultracentrifugation with size-exclusion chromatography. The purity of sEV preparations was analyzed using state-of-the-art techniques, including immunoblots, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and electron microscopy. Our results clearly demonstrate the superiority of size-exclusion chromatography, which resulted in a higher yield and purity of sEVs, and we show that their functionality alters significantly between the two isolation protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Bordas
- Division of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (M.B.); (S.O.)
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Géraldine Genard
- Division of Biomedical Physics in Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Sibylle Ohl
- Division of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (M.B.); (S.O.)
| | - Michelle Nessling
- Central Unit Electron Microscopy, DKFZ, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (M.N.); (K.R.)
| | - Karsten Richter
- Central Unit Electron Microscopy, DKFZ, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (M.N.); (K.R.)
| | - Tobias Roider
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (T.R.); (S.D.)
| | - Sascha Dietrich
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (T.R.); (S.D.)
| | - Kendra K. Maaß
- Hopp-Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martina Seiffert
- Division of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (M.B.); (S.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-6221-42-4586
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49
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Bessler H, Leibovitch CM, Djaldetti M. Cytokine Release Ensuing Interaction Between Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclears and Epstein-Barr Virus Transformed B-CLL Cell Line. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOTHERAPY AND PRECISION ONCOLOGY 2020; 3:99-104. [PMID: 35663257 PMCID: PMC9165579 DOI: 10.36401/jipo-19-33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is a common form of leukemia affecting mostly elderly individuals. The course of the disease is usually unremarkable, but because it may proceed with impaired immune defense, B-CLL might be complicated with infections and even death. The leukemic microenvironment containing a number of immune cells, mainly lymphocytes and macrophages capable to produce various molecules including inflammatory cytokines, plays an important role in the development and outcome of the disease. We studied the capacity of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cell line (EHEB) cells, an EBV-transformed line established from a B-CLL patient, to affect the production of inflammatory cytokines by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). METHODS PBMC isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors were incubated either with EHEB cells or with their supernatants and the production of the following cytokines: tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-1ra, and IL-10 were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS Direct contact of PBMC incubated with EHEB cells induced a marked increase of TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IFNγ, and IL-10 release by the immune cells. Yet, incubation of PBMC with EHEB cells' supernatant resulted in a mild production of the same cytokines. CONCLUSIONS The noticeable increased production of inflammatory cytokines by PBMC following direct contact with EHEB cells and to a lesser degree with their supernatants implies the existence of an immune dialogue between these two types of cells. The results support the concept that not only leukemic cells, but also peripheral blood mononuclears could serve as a therapeutic target for B-CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Bessler
- Laboratory for Immunology and Hematology Research, Rabin Medical Center, Hasharon Hospital, Petah-Tiqva, the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
| | - Chiya Moshe Leibovitch
- Institute of Hematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tiqva, the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
| | - Meir Djaldetti
- Laboratory for Immunology and Hematology Research, Rabin Medical Center, Hasharon Hospital, Petah-Tiqva, the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
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HDAC7 is an actionable driver of therapeutic antibody resistance by macrophages from CLL patients. Oncogene 2020; 39:5756-5767. [PMID: 32709923 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01394-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Resistance, to therapeutic antibodies used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients is common. Monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) are a major effector of antitumour responses to therapeutic antibodies and we have previously reported that resistance to therapeutic antibodies, by MDMs, increases as CLL disease progresses. In this study, we examine the effect of a Class IIa-selective HDAC inhibitor (TMP195) on the phagocytic response to opsonised tumor cells or non-opsonised targets by MDMs derived from CLL patients. We report that TMP195 enhances phagocytic responses to antibody-opsonised CLL cells and E. coli within 30 min of treatment. The enhanced response is phenocopied by knockdown of the Class IIa HDAC, HDAC7, or by low concentrations of the pan-HDAC inhibitor, vorinostat. HDAC7 knockdown and inhibition induces hyperacetylation and hyperphosphorylation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). Moreover, BTK inhibitors abrogated the enhanced response to HDAC7 inhibition. Our data show that HDAC7 is an actionable driver of resistance to therapeutic antibodies by MDMs derived from CLL patients.
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