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Burn OK, Dasyam N, Hermans IF. Recruiting Natural Killer T Cells to Improve Vaccination: Lessons from Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Crit Rev Oncog 2024; 29:31-43. [PMID: 38421712 DOI: 10.1615/critrevoncog.2023049407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The capacity of type I natural killer T (NKT) cells to provide stimulatory signals to antigen-presenting cells has prompted preclinical research into the use of agonists as immune adjuvants, with much of this work focussed on stimulating T cell responses to cancer. In attempting to evaluate this approach in the clinic, our recent dendritic-cell based study failed to show an advantage to adding an agonist to the vaccine. Here we present potential limitations of the study, and suggest why other simpler strategies may be more effective. These include strategies to target antigen-presenting cells in the host, either through promoting efficient transfer from injected cell lines, facilitating uptake of antigen and agonist as injected conjugates, or encapsulating the components into injected nanovectors. While the vaccine landscape has changed with the rapid uptake of mRNA vaccines, we suggest that there is still a role for recruiting NKT cells in altering T cell differentiation programmes, notably the induction of resident memory T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia K Burn
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Ian F Hermans
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
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2
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Tsumura R, Haruta M, Kuwano M, Yasunaga M. Expansion of mixed immune cells using CD3/CD161 co-stimulation for the treatment of cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6803. [PMID: 37100864 PMCID: PMC10133288 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33987-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) is a type of personalized immunotherapy in which expanded immune cells are administered to patients with cancer. However, single-cell populations, such as killer T cells, dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and NKT (NKT) cells, have been generally used, and their effectiveness remains limited. Here, we established a novel culture method via CD3/CD161 co-stimulation and successfully expanded CD3+/CD4+ helper T cells, CD3+/CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), CD3-/CD56+ NK cells, CD3+/CD1d+ NKT cells, CD3+/CD56+ NKT cells, CD3+/TCRγδ+ T cells, and CD3-/CD11c+/HLA-DR+ dendritic cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors; their respective numbers were 155.5, 1132.5, 5.7, 117.0, 659.2, 325.6, and 6.8 times higher than those before expansion. These mixed immune cells showed strong cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines Capan-1 and SW480. Moreover, both CD3+/CD8+ CTLs and CD3+/CD56+ NKT cells killed tumor cells in cell contact-dependent and -independent manners via granzyme B and interferon-γ/TNF-α, respectively. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the mixed cells was significantly superior to that of CTLs or NKTs alone. A bet-hedging CTL-NKT circuitry is one potential mechanism underlying this cooperative cytotoxicity. Collectively, CD3/CD161 co-stimulation may be a promising culture method to expand multiple, distinct immune cell populations for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Tsumura
- Division of Developmental Therapeutics, EPOC, National Cancer Center, 6-5-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8577, Japan
| | - Miwa Haruta
- Dojin institute of cancer immunology, Co., Ltd. Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 862-0967, Japan
| | - Masataka Kuwano
- Dojin institute of cancer immunology, Co., Ltd. Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 862-0967, Japan
| | - Masahiro Yasunaga
- Division of Developmental Therapeutics, EPOC, National Cancer Center, 6-5-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8577, Japan.
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3
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Look A, Burns D, Tews I, Roghanian A, Mansour S. Towards a better understanding of human iNKT cell subpopulations for improved clinical outcomes. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1176724. [PMID: 37153585 PMCID: PMC10154573 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1176724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a unique T lymphocyte population expressing semi-invariant T cell receptors (TCRs) that recognise lipid antigens presented by CD1d. iNKT cells exhibit potent anti-tumour activity through direct killing mechanisms and indirectly through triggering the activation of other anti-tumour immune cells. Because of their ability to induce potent anti-tumour responses, particularly when activated by the strong iNKT agonist αGalCer, they have been the subject of intense research to harness iNKT cell-targeted immunotherapies for cancer treatment. However, despite potent anti-tumour efficacy in pre-clinical models, the translation of iNKT cell immunotherapy into human cancer patients has been less successful. This review provides an overview of iNKT cell biology and why they are of interest within the context of cancer immunology. We focus on the iNKT anti-tumour response, the seminal studies that first reported iNKT cytotoxicity, their anti-tumour mechanisms, and the various described subsets within the iNKT cell repertoire. Finally, we discuss several barriers to the successful utilisation of iNKT cells in human cancer immunotherapy, what is required for a better understanding of human iNKT cells, and the future perspectives facilitating their exploitation for improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Look
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Burns
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ivo Tews
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ali Roghanian
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Salah Mansour
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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4
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Gu X, Chu Q, Ma X, Wang J, Chen C, Guan J, Ren Y, Wu S, Zhu H. New insights into iNKT cells and their roles in liver diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1035950. [PMID: 36389715 PMCID: PMC9643775 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1035950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer T cells (NKTs) are an important part of the immune system. Since their discovery in the 1990s, researchers have gained deeper insights into the physiology and functions of these cells in many liver diseases. NKT cells are divided into two subsets, type I and type II. Type I NKT cells are also named iNKT cells as they express a semi-invariant T cell-receptor (TCR) α chain. As part of the innate immune system, hepatic iNKT cells interact with hepatocytes, macrophages (Kupffer cells), T cells, and dendritic cells through direct cell-to-cell contact and cytokine secretion, bridging the innate and adaptive immune systems. A better understanding of hepatic iNKT cells is necessary for finding new methods of treating liver disease including autoimmune liver diseases, alcoholic liver diseases (ALDs), non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLDs), and liver tumors. Here we summarize how iNKT cells are activated, how they interact with other cells, and how they function in the presence of liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qingfei Chu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jun Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanli Ren
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haihong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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5
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Neospora caninum inhibits tumor development by activating the immune response and destroying tumor cells in a B16F10 melanoma model. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:332. [PMID: 36138417 PMCID: PMC9503190 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05456-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Melanoma is a malignant tumor with a high mortality rate. Some microorganisms have been shown to activate the immune system and limit cancer progression. The objective of this study is to evaluate the anti-melanoma effect of Neospora caninum, a livestock pathogen with no pathogenic activity in humans. Methods Neospora caninum tachyzoites were inoculated into a C57BL/6 mouse melanoma model by intratumoral and distal subcutaneous injections. Tumor volumes were measured, and cell death areas were visualized by hematoxylin and eosin staining and quantified. Apoptosis in cell cultures and whole tumors was detected by propidium iodide (PI) and TUNEL staining, respectively. Cytokine and tumor-associated factor levels in tumors and spleens were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Infiltration of macrophages and CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) were detected by immunohistochemistry with anti-CD68 and anti-CD8 antibodies, respectively. Finally, 16S rRNA sequencing of mice cecal contents was performed to evaluate the effect of N. caninum on gut microbial diversity. Results Intratumoral and distal subcutaneous injections of N. caninum resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth (P < 0.001), and more than 50% of tumor cells were dead without signs of apoptosis. Neospora caninum treatment significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, TNF-α, and PD-L1 in the TME, and IL-12 and IFN-γ in the spleen of tumor-bearing mice (P < 0.05). An increase in the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and macrophages in the TME was observed with these cytokine changes. Neospora caninum also restored the abundance of gut microbiota Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae, Adlercreutzia, and Prevotellaceae associated with tumor growth, but the changes were not significant. Conclusion Neospora caninum inhibits B16F10 melanoma by activating potent immune responses and directly destroying the cancer cells. The stable, non-toxic, and efficacious properties of N. caninum demonstrate the potential for its use as a cancer treatment. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05456-8.
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Human iNKT Cells Modulate Macrophage Survival and Phenotype. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071723. [PMID: 35885028 PMCID: PMC9313099 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
CD1d-restricted invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells are unconventional innate-like T cells whose functions highly depend on the interactions they establish with other immune cells. Although extensive studies have been reported on the communication between iNKT cells and macrophages in mice, less data is available regarding the relevance of this crosstalk in humans. Here, we dove into the human macrophage-iNKT cell axis by exploring how iNKT cells impact the survival and polarization of pro-inflammatory M1-like and anti-inflammatory M2-like monocyte-derived macrophages. By performing in vitro iNKT cell-macrophage co-cultures followed by flow cytometry analysis, we demonstrated that antigen-stimulated iNKT cells induce a generalized activated state on all macrophage subsets, leading to upregulation of CD40 and CD86 expression. CD40L blocking with a specific monoclonal antibody prior to co-cultures abrogated CD40 and CD86 upregulation, thus indicating that iNKT cells required CD40-CD40L co-stimulation to trigger macrophage activation. In addition, activated iNKT cells were cytotoxic towards macrophages in a CD1d-dependent manner, killing M1-like macrophages more efficiently than their naïve M0 or anti-inflammatory M2-like counterparts. Hence, this work highlighted the role of human iNKT cells as modulators of macrophage survival and phenotype, untangling key features of the human macrophage-iNKT cell axis and opening perspectives for future therapeutic modulation.
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Nelson A, Lukacs JD, Johnston B. The Current Landscape of NKT Cell Immunotherapy and the Hills Ahead. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205174. [PMID: 34680322 PMCID: PMC8533824 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a subset of lipid-reactive T cells that enhance anti-tumor immunity. While preclinical studies have shown NKT cell immunotherapy to be safe and effective, clinical studies lack predictable therapeutic efficacy and no approved treatments exist. In this review, we outline the current strategies, challenges, and outlook for NKT cell immunotherapy. Abstract NKT cells are a specialized subset of lipid-reactive T lymphocytes that play direct and indirect roles in immunosurveillance and anti-tumor immunity. Preclinical studies have shown that NKT cell activation via delivery of exogenous glycolipids elicits a significant anti-tumor immune response. Furthermore, infiltration of NKT cells is associated with a good prognosis in several cancers. In this review, we aim to summarize the role of NKT cells in cancer as well as the current strategies and status of NKT cell immunotherapy. This review also examines challenges and future directions for improving the therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Nelson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (A.N.); (J.D.L.)
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Jordan D. Lukacs
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (A.N.); (J.D.L.)
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Brent Johnston
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (A.N.); (J.D.L.)
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Correspondence:
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8
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Khurana P, Burudpakdee C, Grupp SA, Beier UH, Barrett DM, Bassiri H. Distinct Bioenergetic Features of Human Invariant Natural Killer T Cells Enable Retained Functions in Nutrient-Deprived States. Front Immunol 2021; 12:700374. [PMID: 34434191 PMCID: PMC8380770 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.700374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells comprise a unique subset of lymphocytes that are primed for activation and possess innate NK-like functional features. Currently, iNKT cell-based immunotherapies remain in early clinical stages, and little is known about the ability of these cells to survive and retain effector functions within the solid tumor microenvironment (TME) long-term. In conventional T cells (TCONV), cellular metabolism is linked to effector functions and their ability to adapt to the nutrient-poor TME. In contrast, the bioenergetic requirements of iNKT cells - particularly those of human iNKT cells - at baseline and upon stimulation are not well understood; neither is how these requirements affect effector functions such as production of cytokines and cytolytic proteins. We find that unlike TCONV, human iNKT cells are not dependent upon glucose or glutamine for these effector functions upon stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28. Additionally, transcriptional profiling revealed that stimulated human iNKT cells are less glycolytic than TCONV and display higher expression of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway genes. Furthermore, stimulated iNKT cells displayed higher mitochondrial mass and membrane potential relative to TCONV. Real-time Seahorse metabolic flux analysis revealed that stimulated human iNKT cells utilize fatty acids as substrates for oxidation more than stimulated TCONV. Together, our data suggest that human iNKT cells possess different bioenergetic requirements from TCONV and display a more oxidative metabolic program relative to effector TCONV. Importantly, iNKT cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies could co-opt such unique features of iNKT cells to improve their efficacy and longevity of anti-tumor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Khurana
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Chakkapong Burudpakdee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Stephan A. Grupp
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Cell and Therapy Transplant Section, Division of Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ulf H. Beier
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA, United States
| | | | - Hamid Bassiri
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Abstract
Cellular metabolism is critical for generating energy and macromolecules for cell growth and survival. In recent years, the importance of metabolism in mediating T cell differentiation, proliferation, and function has been a hot topic of investigation. However, very little is known about metabolic regulation in invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. In this viewpoint, we will discuss what is currently known about immunometabolism in iNKT cells and how these findings relate to CD4 T cells.
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10
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Painter GF, Burn OK, Hermans IF. Using agonists for iNKT cells in cancer therapy. Mol Immunol 2020; 130:1-6. [PMID: 33340930 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The capacity of α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) to act as an anti-cancer agent in mice through the specific stimulation of type I NKT (iNKT) cells has prompted extensive investigation to translate this finding to the clinic. However, low frequencies of iNKT cells in cancer patients and their hypo-responsiveness to repeated stimulation have been seen as barriers to its efficacy. Currently the most promising clinical application of α-GalCer, or its derivatives, is as stimuli for ex vivo expansion of iNKT cells for adoptive therapy, although some encouraging clinical results have recently been reported using α-GalCer pulsed onto large numbers of antigen presenting cells (APCs). In on-going preclinical studies, attempts to improve efficacy of injected iNKT cell agonists have focussed on optimising presentation in vivo, through encapsulation in particulate vectors, making structural changes that help binding to the presenting molecule CD1d, or injecting agonists covalently attached to recombinant CD1d. Variations on these same approaches are being used to enhance the APC-licencing function of iNKT cells in vivo to induce adaptive immune responses to associated tumour antigens. Looking ahead, a unique capacity of in vivo-activated iNKT cells to facilitate formation of resident memory CD8+ T cells is a new observation that could find a role in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin F Painter
- Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Lower Hutt, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Olivia K Burn
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Ian F Hermans
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, New Zealand; Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
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11
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McNerney KO, Karageorgos SA, Hogarty MD, Bassiri H. Enhancing Neuroblastoma Immunotherapies by Engaging iNKT and NK Cells. Front Immunol 2020; 11:873. [PMID: 32457760 PMCID: PMC7225357 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children and, in the high-risk group, has a 5-year mortality rate of ~50%. The high mortality rate and significant treatment-related morbidities associated with current standard of care therapies belie the critical need for more tolerable and effective treatments for this disease. While the monoclonal antibody dinutuximab has demonstrated the potential for immunotherapy to improve overall NB outcomes, the 5-year overall survival of high-risk patients has not yet substantially changed. The frequency and type of invariant natural killer T cells (iNKTs) and natural killer cells (NKs) has been associated with improved outcomes in several solid and liquid malignancies, including NB. Indeed, iNKTs and NKs inhibit tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), kill cancer stem cells (CSCs) and neuroblasts, and robustly secrete cytokines to recruit additional immune effectors. These capabilities, and promising pre-clinical and early clinical data suggest that iNKT- and NK-based therapies may hold promise as both stand-alone and combination treatments for NB. In this review we will summarize the biologic features of iNKTs and NKs that confer advantages for NB immunotherapy, discuss the barriers imposed by the NB tumor microenvironment, and examine the current state of such therapies in pre-clinical models and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin O McNerney
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Spyridon A Karageorgos
- School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michael D Hogarty
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Hamid Bassiri
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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12
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Patel S, Burga RA, Powell AB, Chorvinsky EA, Hoq N, McCormack SE, Van Pelt SN, Hanley PJ, Cruz CRY. Beyond CAR T Cells: Other Cell-Based Immunotherapeutic Strategies Against Cancer. Front Oncol 2019; 9:196. [PMID: 31024832 PMCID: PMC6467966 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells have successfully harnessed T cell immunity against malignancies, but they are by no means the only cell therapies in development for cancer. Main Text Summary: Systemic immunity is thought to play a key role in combatting neoplastic disease; in this vein, genetic modifications meant to explore other components of T cell immunity are being evaluated. In addition, other immune cells—from both the innate and adaptive compartments—are in various stages of clinical application. In this review, we focus on these non-CAR T cell immunotherapeutic approaches for malignancy. The first section describes engineering T cells to express non-CAR constructs, and the second section describes other gene-modified cells used to target malignancy. Conclusions: CAR T cell therapies have demonstrated the clinical benefits of harnessing our body's own defenses to combat tumor cells. Similar research is being conducted on lesser known modifications and gene-modified immune cells, which we highlight in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnum Patel
- GW Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Rachel A Burga
- GW Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Allison B Powell
- GW Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Chorvinsky
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Nia Hoq
- GW Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Sarah E McCormack
- GW Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Stacey N Van Pelt
- GW Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Patrick J Hanley
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Conrad Russell Y Cruz
- GW Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.,Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States
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13
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King LA, Lameris R, de Gruijl TD, van der Vliet HJ. CD1d-Invariant Natural Killer T Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapy: α-Galactosylceramide and Beyond. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1519. [PMID: 30013569 PMCID: PMC6036112 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are considered an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy. Upon their activation by glycolipid antigen and/or cytokines, iNKT cells can induce direct lysis of tumor cells but can also induce an antitumor immune response via their rapid production of proinflammatory cytokines that trigger the cytotoxic machinery of other components of the innate and adaptive immune system. Here, we provide an overview of various therapeutic approaches that have been evaluated or that are currently being developed and/or explored. These include administration of α-GalCer or alternative (glyco) lipid antigens, glycolipid-loaded antigen-presenting cells and liposomes, strategies that enhance CD1d expression levels or are based on ligation of CD1d, adoptive transfer of iNKT cells or chimeric antigen receptor iNKT cells, and tumor targeting of iNKT cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A King
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center and Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Roeland Lameris
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center and Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tanja D de Gruijl
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center and Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hans J van der Vliet
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center and Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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14
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Wolf BJ, Choi JE, Exley MA. Novel Approaches to Exploiting Invariant NKT Cells in Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2018; 9:384. [PMID: 29559971 PMCID: PMC5845557 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
iNKT cells are a subset of innate-like T cells that utilize an invariant TCR alpha chain complexed with a limited repertoire of TCR beta chains to recognize specific lipid antigens presented by CD1d molecules. Because iNKT cells have an invariant TCR, they can be easily identified and targeted in both humans and mice via standard reagents, making this a population of T cells that has been well characterized. iNKT cells are some of the first cells to respond during an infection. By making different types of cytokines in response to different infection stimuli, iNKT cells help determine what kind of immune response then develops. It has been shown that iNKT cells are some of the first cells to respond during infection with a pathogen and the type of cytokines that iNKT cells make help determine the type of immune response that develops in various situations. Indeed, along with immunity to pathogens, pre-clinical mouse studies have clearly demonstrated that iNKT cells play a critical role in tumor immunosurveillance. They can mediate anti-tumor immunity by direct recognition of tumor cells that express CD1d, and/or via targeting CD1d found on cells within the tumor microenvironment. Multiple groups are now working on manipulating iNKT cells for clinical benefit within the context of cancer and have demonstrated that targeting iNKT cells can have a therapeutic benefit in patients. In this review, we briefly introduce iNKT cells, then discuss preclinical data on roles of iNKT cells and clinical trials that have targeted iNKT cells in cancer patients. We finally discuss how future trials could be modified to further increase the efficacy of iNKT cell therapies, in particular CAR-iNKT and rTCR-iNKT cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiyoung Elizabeth Choi
- Agenus Inc., Lexington, MA, United States.,Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mark A Exley
- Agenus Inc., Lexington, MA, United States.,Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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15
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Nair S, Dhodapkar MV. Natural Killer T Cells in Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1178. [PMID: 29018445 PMCID: PMC5614937 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer T (NKT) cells are specialized CD1d-restricted T cells that recognize lipid antigens. Following stimulation, NKT cells lead to downstream activation of both innate and adaptive immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. This has impelled the development of NKT cell-targeted immunotherapies for treating cancer. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the stimulatory and regulatory functions of NKT cells in tumor immunity as well as highlight preclinical and clinical studies based on NKT cells. Finally, we discuss future perspectives to better harness the potential of NKT cells for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiny Nair
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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16
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Ghinnagow R, Cruz LJ, Macho-Fernandez E, Faveeuw C, Trottein F. Enhancement of Adjuvant Functions of Natural Killer T Cells Using Nanovector Delivery Systems: Application in Anticancer Immune Therapy. Front Immunol 2017; 8:879. [PMID: 28798749 PMCID: PMC5529346 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Type I natural killer T (NKT) cells have gained considerable interest in anticancer immune therapy over the last decade. This “innate-like” T lymphocyte subset has the unique ability to recognize foreign and self-derived glycolipid antigens in association with the CD1d molecule expressed by antigen-presenting cells. An important property of these cells is to bridge innate and acquired immune responses. The adjuvant function of NKT cells might be exploited in the clinics. In this review, we discuss the approaches currently being used to target NKT cells for cancer therapy. In particular, we highlight ongoing strategies utilizing NKT cell-based nanovaccines to optimize immune therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Ghinnagow
- Univ. Lille, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL - Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Lille, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8204, Lille, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1019, Lille, France.,Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France.,Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Luis Javier Cruz
- Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Elodie Macho-Fernandez
- Univ. Lille, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL - Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Lille, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8204, Lille, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1019, Lille, France.,Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France.,Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Christelle Faveeuw
- Univ. Lille, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL - Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Lille, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8204, Lille, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1019, Lille, France.,Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France.,Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - François Trottein
- Univ. Lille, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL - Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Lille, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8204, Lille, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1019, Lille, France.,Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France.,Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
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17
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Exley MA, Friedlander P, Alatrakchi N, Vriend L, Yue S, Sasada T, Zeng W, Mizukami Y, Clark J, Nemer D, LeClair K, Canning C, Daley H, Dranoff G, Giobbie-Hurder A, Hodi FS, Ritz J, Balk SP. Adoptive Transfer of Invariant NKT Cells as Immunotherapy for Advanced Melanoma: A Phase I Clinical Trial. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:3510-3519. [PMID: 28193627 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-0600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: Invariant NKT cells (iNKT) are innate-like CD1d-restricted T cells with immunoregulatory activity in diseases including cancer. iNKT from advanced cancer patients can have reversible defects including IFNγ production, and iNKT IFNγ production may stratify for survival. Previous clinical trials using iNKT cell activating ligand α-galactosylceramide have shown clinical responses. Therefore, a phase I clinical trial was performed of autologous in vitro expanded iNKT cells in stage IIIB-IV melanoma.Experimental Design: Residual iNKT cells [<0.05% of patient peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)] were purified from autologous leukapheresis product using an antibody against the iNKT cell receptor linked to magnetic microbeads. iNKT cells were then expanded with CD3 mAb and IL2 in vitro to obtain up to approximately 109 cells.Results: Expanded iNKT cells produced IFNγ, but limited or undetectable IL4 or IL10. Three iNKT infusions each were completed on 9 patients, and produced only grade 1-2 toxicities. The 4th patient onward received systemic GM-CSF with their second and third infusions. Increased numbers of iNKT cells were seen in PBMCs after some infusions, particularly when GM-CSF was also given. IFNγ responses to α-galactosylceramide were increased in PBMCs from some patients after infusions, and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to Candida increased in 5 of 8 evaluated patients. Three patients have died, three were progression-free at 53, 60, and 65 months, three received further treatment and were alive at 61, 81, and 85 months. There was no clear correlation between outcome and immune parameters.Conclusions: Autologous in vitro expanded iNKT cells are a feasible and safe therapy, producing Th1-like responses with antitumor potential. Clin Cancer Res; 23(14); 3510-9. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Exley
- Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. .,Gastroenterology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Phillip Friedlander
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nadia Alatrakchi
- Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lianne Vriend
- Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Simon Yue
- Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tetsuro Sasada
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Wanyong Zeng
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yo Mizukami
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Justice Clark
- Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David Nemer
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Christine Canning
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Heather Daley
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Glenn Dranoff
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anita Giobbie-Hurder
- Biostatistics & Computational Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - F Stephen Hodi
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jerome Ritz
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Steven P Balk
- Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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18
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Huang JR, Tsai YC, Chang YJ, Wu JC, Hung JT, Lin KH, Wong CH, Yu AL. α-Galactosylceramide but Not Phenyl-Glycolipids Induced NKT Cell Anergy and IL-33–Mediated Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Accumulation via Upregulation of egr2/3. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 192:1972-81. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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19
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Kidoya H, Kunii N, Naito H, Muramatsu F, Okamoto Y, Nakayama T, Takakura N. The apelin/APJ system induces maturation of the tumor vasculature and improves the efficiency of immune therapy. Oncogene 2011; 31:3254-64. [PMID: 22037214 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2011.489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Immature and unstable tumor vasculature provides an aberrant tumor microenvironment and leads to resistance of tumors to conventional therapy. Hence, normalization of tumor vessels has been reported to improve the effect of immuno-, chemo- and radiation therapy. However, the humoral factors, which can effectively induce maturation of tumor vasculature, have not been elucidated. In this study, we found that the novel peptide apelin and its receptor APJ can induce the morphological and functional maturation of blood vessels in tumors. This apelin-induced tumor vascular maturation enhances the efficacy of cancer dendritic cell-based immunotherapy and significantly suppresses tumor growth by promoting the infiltration of invariant natural killer T cells into the central region of the tumor and thereby robustly inducing apoptosis of tumor cells. Additionally, we showed APJ expression to be enhanced in the tumor endothelium in comparison with normal-state endothelial cells. These findings provide a new target for tumor vascular-specific maturation, which is expected to improve the efficacy of conventional cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Kidoya
- Department of Signal Transduction, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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20
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Nowak M, Schmidt-Wolf IGH. Natural killer T cells subsets in cancer, functional defects in prostate cancer and implications for immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:3661-75. [PMID: 24212972 PMCID: PMC3759215 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3033661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2011] [Revised: 09/01/2011] [Accepted: 09/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer T cells are T lymphocytes with unique activation and effector properties. The majority of NKT cells, termed type-I or iNKT cells, recognize lipid antigens presented on MHC-like CD1d molecules. Type-I NKT cells have the capacity to rapidly secrete various cytokines upon activation, thereby regulate immune responses exerts dominant anti-tumor and anti-microbial effector functions. Specific activation of type-I NKT cells in mouse models boosts immunity and prevents metastasis, which has led to a number of phase I-II clinical trials. Since the discovery of NKT cells other subsets with different specificities and effector functions have been described. This article briefly reviews the physiological functions of NKT cell subsets, their implications in cancer and the attempts that have been made to employ NKT cells for immune therapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Nowak
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, Bonn 53127, Germany.
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21
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Exley MA, Lynch L, Varghese B, Nowak M, Alatrakchi N, Balk SP. Developing understanding of the roles of CD1d-restricted T cell subsets in cancer: reversing tumor-induced defects. Clin Immunol 2011; 140:184-95. [PMID: 21646050 PMCID: PMC3143311 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2011.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Revised: 04/20/2011] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Invariant natural killer T-cells ('iNKT') are the best-known CD1d-restricted T-cells, with recently-defined roles in controlling adaptive immunity. CD1d-restricted T-cells can rapidly produce large amounts of Th1 and/or Th2//Treg/Th17-type cytokines, thereby regulating immunity. iNKT can stimulate potent anti-tumor immune responses via production of Th1 cytokines, direct cytotoxicity, and activation of effectors. However, Th2//Treg-type iNKT can inhibit anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, iNKT are decreased and/or reversibly functionally impaired in many advanced cancers. In some cases, CD1d-restricted T-cell cancer defects can be traced to CD1d(+) tumor interactions, since hematopoietic, prostate, and some other tumors can express CD1d. Ligand and IL-12 can reverse iNKT defects and therapeutic opportunities exist in correcting such defects alone and in combination. Early stage clinical trials have shown potential for reconstitution of iNKT IFN-gamma responses and evidence of activity in a subset of patients, with rational new approaches to capitalize on this progress ongoing, as will be discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Exley
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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22
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Regulation of the induction and function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by natural killer T cell. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010; 2010:641757. [PMID: 20508728 PMCID: PMC2873660 DOI: 10.1155/2010/641757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2009] [Revised: 02/14/2010] [Accepted: 03/09/2010] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a crucial role in the infections and the antitumor immunity. Induction and activation of antigen-specific CTLs is an important strategy in immunotherapy for various diseases, and several researchers have focused on the modulation of CTL induction and function. Natural killer T (NKT) cells are an important focus area of researchers studying immunomodulatory responses to tumors and infectious diseases. CD1d-restricted NKT cells consist of type I NKT cells and type II NKT cells. α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer)-activated type I NKT cells secrete both Th1 (e.g., IFN-γ) and Th2 cytokines, affect the expression of costimulatory molecules in immune cells, and regulate the host immune system. Type II NKT cells, however, are stimulated by sulfatide, a self-glycolipid derived from myelin, and play an immunosuppressive role in animal model of autoimmune diseases. CTL generation, activation, and suppression are strongly affected by activated type I and type II NKT cells. Thus, the regulation of these NKT cells leads to the modification of CTL function. CTLs contribute to antimicrobial responses, antitumor immune and autoimmune responses. Understanding the role of NKT cells in the regulation of CTL generation, activation, and suppression enable the development of novel treatment strategies for these diseases.
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23
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Uemura A, Takehara T, Miyagi T, Suzuki T, Tatsumi T, Ohkawa K, Kanto T, Hiramatsu N, Hayashi N. Natural killer cell is a major producer of interferon gamma that is critical for the IL-12-induced anti-tumor effect in mice. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2010; 59:453-63. [PMID: 19756594 PMCID: PMC11030467 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-009-0764-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2009] [Accepted: 08/24/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Although the anti-tumor effect of IL-12 is mediated mostly by IFNgamma, which cell types most efficiently produce IFNgamma and therefore initiate or promote the anti-tumor effect of IL-12 has not been clearly determined. In the present study, we demonstrated hydrodynamic injection of the IL-12 gene led to prolonged IFNgamma production, NK-cell activation and complete inhibition of liver metastasis of CT-26 colon cancer cells in wild-type mice, but not in IFNgamma knockout mice. NK cells expressed higher levels of STAT4 and upon IL-12 administration displayed stronger STAT4 phosphorylation and IFNgamma production than non-NK cells. Adoptive transfer of wild-type NK cells into IFNgamma knockout mice restored IL-12-induced IFNgamma production, NK-cell activation and anti-tumor effect, whereas transfer of the same number of wild-type non-NK cells did not. In conclusion, NK cells are predominant producers of IFNgamma that is critical for IL-12 anti-tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akio Uemura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamada-oka, Suita, Japan.
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24
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Kunii N, Horiguchi S, Motohashi S, Yamamoto H, Ueno N, Yamamoto S, Sakurai D, Taniguchi M, Nakayama T, Okamoto Y. Combination therapy of in vitro-expanded natural killer T cells and alpha-galactosylceramide-pulsed antigen-presenting cells in patients with recurrent head and neck carcinoma. Cancer Sci 2009; 100:1092-8. [PMID: 19302288 PMCID: PMC11158111 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2009.01135.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this clinical trial was to investigate the feasibility of intra-arterial infusion of in vitro-expanded Valpha24 natural killer T (NKT) cells combined with submucosal injection of alpha-galactosylceramide (KRN7000; alphaGalCer)-pulsed antigen-presenting cells (APC). A phase I clinical study was carried out in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Patients with locally recurrent HNSCC refractory to standard therapy were eligible. Eight patients received super-selective transcatheter intra-arterial infusion of activated Valpha24 NKT cells into tumor-feeding arteries and nasal submucosal injections of alphaGalCer-pulsed APC twice with a 1-week interval. Valpha24 NKT cell-specific immune responses, safety, and antitumor effects were evaluated. The number of Valpha24 NKT cells and interferon-gamma-producing cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells increased in seven out of eight patients enrolled. Grade 3 toxicity with a pharyngocutaneous fistula related to local tumor reduction was observed in one patient and mild adverse events with grade 1-2 symptoms occurred in seven patients. Regarding the clinical responses, three cases exhibited a partial but significant response, four were classified as stable disease, and one patient continued to develop progressive disease. The use of the intra-arterial infusion of activated Valpha24 NKT cells and the submucosal injection of alphaGalCer-pulsed APC has been shown to induce significant antitumor immunity and had beneficial clinical effects in the management of advanced HNSCC. The use of such therapeutic modalities may be helpful in the management of tumors and therefore needs to be explored in further detail. The clinical trial registration number was UMIN000000722.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Kunii
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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25
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Invariant natural killer T cells and immunotherapy of cancer. Clin Immunol 2008; 129:182-94. [PMID: 18783990 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2008.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2007] [Revised: 07/29/2008] [Accepted: 07/29/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Invariant CD1d restricted natural killer T (iNKT) cells are regulatory cells that express a canonical TCR-Valpha-chain (Valpha24.Jalpha18 in humans and Valpha14.Jalpha18 in mice) which recognizes glycolipid antigens presented by the monomorphic CD1d molecule. They can secrete a wide variety of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines very swiftly upon their activation. Evidence for the significance of iNKT cells in human cancer has been ambiguous. Still, the (pre-)clinical findings reviewed here, provide evidence for a distinct contribution of iNKT cells to natural anti-tumor immune responses in humans. Furthermore, clinical phase I studies that are discussed here have revealed that the infusion of cancer patients with ligand-loaded dendritic cells or cultured iNKT cells is well tolerated. We thus underscore the potential of iNKT cell based immunotherapy in conjunction with established modalities such as surgery and radiotherapy, as adjuvant therapy against carcinomas.
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26
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Molling JW, Moreno M, de Groot J, van der Vliet HJJ, von Blomberg BME, van den Eertwegh AJM, Scheper RJ, Bontkes HJ. Chronically stimulated mouse invariant NKT cell lines have a preserved capacity to enhance protection against experimental tumor metastases. Immunol Lett 2008; 118:36-43. [PMID: 18405982 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2008.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2007] [Revised: 02/18/2008] [Accepted: 02/25/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In pre-clinical models, CD1d restricted invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells play a pivotal role in natural anti-tumor immune responses, mainly by trans-activating cells of both the innate and adaptive arms via swift and potent cytokine secretion. We have previously reported that patients with a severely reduced circulating iNKT cell pool have a poor clinical response to radio therapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, these patients might benefit from an immunotherapeutic approach aimed at the increase of circulating levels of iNKT cells. Furthermore, we have generated both human and mouse iNKT cell lines, and demonstrated that they had retained the capacity to release both Th1 and Th2 type cytokines even after long-term in vitro expansion using alpha-galactosylceramide (alphaGalCer) pulsed dendritic cells (DC). Here, we establish, in a pre-clinical tumor model that the large scale long lived polyclonal iNKT cell lines we generated have a preserved capacity to evoke an in vivo cytokine storm upon adoptive transfer, independently of supplemental alphaGalCer administration. This results in an augmented NK cell mediated protection against B16.F10 experimental lung metastases in vivo. These findings underscore the potential of autologous adoptive transfer of ex vivo expanded iNKT cells as a strategy to enhance immunotherapeutic modalities for the treatment of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan W Molling
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, VUMC Institute for Cancer and Immunology (V-ICI), Division of Immune Therapy, Department of Pathology, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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27
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Abstract
CD1d-restricted T cells (NKT cells) are potent regulators of a broad range of immune responses. In particular, an abundance of research has focussed on the role of NKT cells in tumor immunity. This field of research has been greatly facilitated by the finding of agonist ligands capable of potently stimulating NKT cells and also animal models where NKT cells have been shown to play a natural role in the surveillance of tumors. Herein, we review the capability of NKT cells to promote the rejection of tumors and the mechanisms by which this occurs. We also highlight a growing field of research that has found that NKT cells are capable of suppressing anti-tumor immunity and discuss the progress to date for the immunotherapeutic use of NKT cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Swann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, 3010 Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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28
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Molling JW, Langius JAE, Langendijk JA, Leemans CR, Bontkes HJ, van der Vliet HJJ, von Blomberg BME, Scheper RJ, van den Eertwegh AJM. Low levels of circulating invariant natural killer T cells predict poor clinical outcome in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 2007; 25:862-8. [PMID: 17327607 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2006.08.5787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Evading antitumor immune responses is an important aspect of the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Invariant CD1d-restricted natural killer T (iNKT) cells play an allegedly pivotal role in such responses via transactivation of immune effector cells. It has been reported that iNKT cells are reduced in peripheral blood of cancer patients compared with healthy controls. Here, we investigated whether the extent of this deficiency affected disease outcome in HNSCC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a prospective study, circulating iNKT cell numbers were evaluated in 47 patients before radiotherapy. Patients were stratified in three groups based on iNKT cell levels, and clinical data were obtained during a median follow-up period of 31 months. RESULTS A small, compared with an intermediate or large, circulating iNKT cell fraction was significantly associated with decreased 3-year overall survival rate (39% v 75% and 92%, respectively), disease-specific survival rate (43% v 87% and 92%, respectively), and locoregional control rate (31% v 74% and 92%, respectively) in HNSCC patients. Cox regression revealed that the iNKT cell level, as well as clinical T stage, was an independent prognostic parameter even after correction for the confounding effect of age. CONCLUSION A severe circulating iNKT cell deficiency was related to poor clinical outcome in HNSCC patients, suggesting their critical contribution to antitumor immune responses. Furthermore, screening for iNKT cell levels may be useful for determining which patients can benefit from immunotherapeutic adjuvant therapies aimed at reconstitution of the circulating iNKT cell pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan W Molling
- Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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29
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans J J van der Vliet
- Cancer Biology Program, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Komita H, Homma S, Saotome H, Zeniya M, Ohno T, Toda G. Interferon-gamma produced by interleukin-12-activated tumor infiltrating CD8+T cells directly induces apoptosis of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2006; 45:662-72. [PMID: 16935390 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2006.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2005] [Revised: 05/08/2006] [Accepted: 05/22/2006] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Interleukin-12 (IL-12), a cytokine with antitumor activity, was examined for the suppressive effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in mouse model, and its mechanism of antitumor activity was analyzed. METHODS Mice implanted with MIH-2 HCC cells were treated with recombinant mouse IL-12 (500 ng/mouse). Involvement of CD4(+), CD8(+), NK cells and interferon (IFN)-gamma on tumor suppression by IL-12 was examined by treatment of mice with each antibody. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by tumor infiltrating cells was analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analysis. Signal transduction for apoptosis induction was examined by immunoblot analysis. RESULTS The growth of implanted MIH-2 tumors was significantly suppressed by IL-12 and the suppression was inhibited by depletion of CD8(+)T cells. IL-12 treatment caused numerous IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+)T cells to infiltrate into MIH-2 tumors. Antitumor activity of IL-12 was blocked by treating mice with anti-IFN-gamma mAb. CD8(+)T cells from IL-12-treated mice attached to MIH-2 cells and produced IFN-gamma in vitro. Cell attachment might be associated with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 induced by IFN-gamma. In vitro treatment with IFN-gamma induced apoptosis of MIH-2 cells via a mitochondria-dependent pathway. CONCLUSIONS IL-12 suppressed HCC growth in mouse model. IFN-gamma produced by IL-12-activated tumor-infiltrating CD8(+)T cells directly induced apoptosis of HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideo Komita
- Department of Oncology, Institute of DNA Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
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Ikarashi Y, Iizuka A, Heike Y, Yoshida M, Takaue Y, Wakasugi H. Cytokine production and migration of in vitro-expanded NK1.1(-) invariant Valpha14 natural killer T (Valpha14i NKT) cells using alpha-galactosylceramide and IL-2. Immunol Lett 2006; 101:160-7. [PMID: 16054231 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2005.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2005] [Revised: 05/25/2005] [Accepted: 05/26/2005] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Mouse natural killer T cells with invariant Valpha14 rearrangement (Valpha14i NKT cells) can rapidly produce both Th1 and Th2 cytokines and regulate various immune responses, such as autoimmunity and tumor immunity. In this study, we describe the phenotypical and functional characterization of in vitro-expanded mouse Valpha14i NKT cells from spleen using a combination of alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) and IL-2. The expanded Valpha14i NKT cells retained the memory/activated (CD44(+)CD69(+)CD62L(-)) and CD4(+) or CD4(-)8(-) double negative phenotypes but modulated or lost the classical NKT cell marker, NK1.1. The expanded Valpha14i NKT cells continuously released IL-4 and IFNgamma and induced NK cell IFNgamma production in vitro. Furthermore, the expanded Valpha14i NKT cells migrated into the liver and spleen after adoptive transfer into lymphopenic SCID mice, and they were able to rapidly produce IL-4 and IFNgamma after alpha-GalCer injection. Our findings suggest that the intrinsic characteristics of the cytokine secretion of Valpha14i NKT cells were equivalent to that of in vitro-expanded Valpha14i NKT cells. In vitro-expanded Valpha14i NKT cells are considered to be useful for NKT cell defect-related diseases, such as autoimmunity and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Ikarashi
- Pharmacology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan.
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Ishikawa A, Motohashi S, Ishikawa E, Fuchida H, Higashino K, Otsuji M, Iizasa T, Nakayama T, Taniguchi M, Fujisawa T. A Phase I Study of α-Galactosylceramide (KRN7000)–Pulsed Dendritic Cells in Patients with Advanced and Recurrent Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2005; 11:1910-7. [PMID: 15756017 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-04-1453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 332] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Human Valpha24 natural killer T (NKT) cells bearing an invariant Valpha24JalphaQ antigen receptor, the counterpart of murine Valpha14 NKT cells, are activated by a specific ligand, alpha-galactosylceramide (alphaGalCer, KRN7000), in a CD1d-dependent manner. I.v. administration of alphaGalCer-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) induces significant activation and expansion of Valpha14 NKT cells in the lung and resulting potent antitumor activities in mouse tumor metastatic models. We did a phase I dose escalation study with alphaGalCer-pulsed DCs in lung cancer patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer or recurrent lung cancer received i.v. injections of alphaGalCer-pulsed DCs (level 1: 5 x 10(7)/m(2); level 2: 2.5 x 10(8)/m(2); and level 3: 1 x 10(9)/m(2)) to test the safety, feasibility, and clinical response. Immunomonitoring was also done in all completed cases. RESULTS Eleven patients were enrolled in this study. No severe adverse events were observed during this study in any patient. After the first and second injection of alphaGalCer-pulsed DCs, dramatic increase in peripheral blood Valpha24 NKT cells was observed in one case and significant responses were seen in two cases receiving the level 3 dose. No patient was found to meet the criteria for partial or complete responses, whereas two cases in the level 3 group remained unchanged for more than a year with good quality of life. CONCLUSIONS In this clinical trial, alphaGalCer-pulsed DC administration was well tolerated and could be safely done even in patients with advanced disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki Ishikawa
- Department of Immunology and Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
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van der Vliet HJJ, Molling JW, von Blomberg BME, Nishi N, Kölgen W, van den Eertwegh AJM, Pinedo HM, Giaccone G, Scheper RJ. The immunoregulatory role of CD1d-restricted natural killer T cells in disease. Clin Immunol 2004; 112:8-23. [PMID: 15207777 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2004.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2004] [Accepted: 03/02/2004] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer T (NKT) cells constitute a T cell subpopulation that shares several characteristics with NK cells. NKT cells are characterized by a narrow T cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoire, recognize glycolipid antigen in the context of the monomorphic CD1d antigen-presenting molecule, and have the unique capacity to rapidly produce large amounts of both T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cytokines. Important roles of NKT cells have now been demonstrated in the regulation of autoimmune, allergic, antimicrobial, and antitumor immune responses. Here, we review the immunoregulatory role of NKT cells in disease and discuss NKT cell based immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans J J van der Vliet
- The Departments of Pathology, Vrije Universiteit Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract
This review summarizes the major features of CD1 genes and proteins, the patterns of intracellular trafficking of CD1 molecules, and how they sample different intracellular compartments for self- and foreign lipids. We describe how lipid antigens bind to CD1 molecules with their alkyl chains buried in hydrophobic pockets and expose their polar lipid headgroup whose fine structure is recognized by the TCR of CD1-restricted T cells. CD1-restricted T cells carry out effector, helper, and adjuvant-like functions and interact with other cell types including macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells, T cells, and B cells, thereby contributing to both innate and adaptive immune responses. Insights gained from mice and humans now delineate the extensive range of diseases in which CD1-restricted T cells play important roles and reveal differences in the role of CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c in contrast to CD1d. Invariant TCR alpha chains, self-lipid reactivity, and rapid effector responses empower a subset of CD1d-restricted T cells (NKT cells) to have unique effector functions without counterpart among MHC-restricted T cells. This review describes the function of CD1-restricted T cells in antimicrobial responses, antitumor immunity, and in regulating the balance between tolerance and autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Brigl
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
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Rogers PR, Matsumoto A, Naidenko O, Kronenberg M, Mikayama T, Kato S. Expansion of human Valpha24+ NKT cells by repeated stimulation with KRN7000. J Immunol Methods 2004; 285:197-214. [PMID: 14980434 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2003.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2003] [Revised: 10/21/2003] [Accepted: 12/01/2003] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Changes in Valpha24+Vbeta11+ NKT cell number and function are associated with human autoimmune diseases and cancer. Restoration of this corresponding NKT cell population in mice or in vivo activation with alpha-galactosylceramide (KRN7000) can prevent or reduce tumor growth and autoimmunity. Although the therapeutic value of these natural killer T (NKT) cells in man remains to be determined, large numbers of functional antigen-specific NKT cells can be expanded in vitro. We show that Valpha24+Vbeta11+ human NKT cells are expanded by repeated stimulation with KRN7000, unfractionated donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2). NKT cells were expanded continuously for more than 2 months with a potential yield of >10(12) cells. The expanded NKT cells retained their CD4+ or CD4- phenotype after restimulation and were functional as shown by cytokine secretion, killing of antigen-pulsed target cells, and activation of NK cell cytotoxicity. This expansion method may be useful for proof-of-concept studies involving adoptive transfer of ex vivo-expanded NKT cells as a new therapeutic option for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul R Rogers
- Research Laboratory, Gemini Science, Inc., 10355 Science Center Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
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Roberts TJ, Lin Y, Spence PM, Van Kaer L, Brutkiewicz RR. CD1d1-Dependent Control of the Magnitude of an Acute Antiviral Immune Response. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2004; 172:3454-61. [PMID: 15004145 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.172.6.3454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CD1d1-restricted NK T (NKT) cells rapidly secrete both Th1 and Th2 cytokines upon activation and are therefore thought to play a regulatory role during an immune response. In this study we examined the role of CD1d1 molecules and NKT cells in regulating virus-induced cytokine production. CD1d1-deficient (CD1KO) mice, which lack NKT cells, were infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and spontaneous cytokine release from splenocytes was measured. We found that CD1KO mice produce significantly higher amounts of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma compared with wild-type controls postinfection. Depletion studies of individual lymphocyte subpopulations suggested that CD4+ T cells are required; however, isolation of specific lymphocyte populations indicated that CD4+ T cells alone are not sufficient for the increase in cytokine production in CD1KO mice. Splenocytes from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-infected CD1KO mice continued to produce enhanced cytokine levels long after viral clearance and cleared viral RNA faster than wild-type mice. There was no difference in the number of splenocytes between uninfected wild-type and CD1KO mice, whereas the latter knockout mice had an increased number of splenocytes after infection. Collectively, these data provide clear evidence that the expression of CD1d1 molecules controls the magnitude of the cell-mediated immune response to an acute viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonya J Roberts
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, and The Walther Oncology Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Dhodapkar KM, Cirignano B, Chamian F, Zagzag D, Miller DC, Finlay JL, Steinman RM. Invariant natural killer T cells are preserved in patients with glioma and exhibit antitumor lytic activity following dendritic cell-mediated expansion. Int J Cancer 2004; 109:893-9. [PMID: 15027123 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.20050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Brain tumors carry a poor prognosis, and newer approaches to their therapy are urgently needed. Natural killer T (NKT) cells are distinct innate lymphocytes with antitumor potentials. Defects in NKT cell function have been observed in patients with other forms of cancer. Here we show that both the frequency and interferon-gamma-producing function of NKT cells are well preserved in adult patients with glioma (n=9) and comparable to findings in healthy controls (n=9). These cells can be readily expanded in culture using autologous mature dendritic cells loaded with the NKT ligand, alpha-galactosyl ceramide. The expanded NKT cells from glioma patients are functional and, importantly, kill glioma cells in a ligand- and CD1d-dependent manner. Expression of CD1d is detected both on primary glioma cells as well as endothelial cells in infiltrating new blood vessels by immunohistochemistry of glioma tissue sections. These data suggest that targeting NKT cells may provide a novel strategy for immunotherapy of glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavita M Dhodapkar
- Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology and Chris Browne Center for Immunology and Human Disease, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA
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Fujii SI, Shimizu K, Steinman RM, Dhodapkar MV. Detection and activation of human Valpha24+ natural killer T cells using alpha-galactosyl ceramide-pulsed dendritic cells. J Immunol Methods 2003; 272:147-59. [PMID: 12505720 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-1759(02)00497-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Human CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells, which are postulated to regulate the immune response in several clinical settings, can be activated by alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) presented by CD1d molecules on antigen presenting cells (APCs). Simple methods to quantify NKT function in fresh blood will greatly benefit studies targeting NKT cells in humans. Here we show that freshly isolated human NKT cells can be readily quantified by an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay and have a Th1 profile (secreting interferon-gamma, but not IL-4), after stimulation using alpha-GalCer loaded APCs. Using this assay, we also evaluated APC requirements for human NKT cell activation in fresh blood. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) are more effective than monocytes/macrophages for detecting and activating NKT cells in fresh blood, with mature alpha-GalCer pulsed DCs being optimal. DCs are also efficient APCs for expanding NKT cells in culture and generating NKT cell lines. NKT cells expanded with DCs were functional, secreting both IFN-gamma and IL-4, and killing NKT-sensitive targets. Optimal activation of these lines was seen using mature DCs loaded with 10-100 ng/ml of alpha-GalCer. DCs matured with several different stimuli were effective. These data help to establish the conditions for loading DCs with alpha-GalCer for immune therapeutic targeting of NKT cells, and provide a new simple assay to monitor NKT function in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-ichiro Fujii
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA
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Motohashi S, Kobayashi S, Ito T, Magara KK, Mikuni O, Kamada N, Iizasa T, Nakayama T, Fujisawa T, Taniguchi M. Preserved IFN-alpha production of circulating Valpha24 NKT cells in primary lung cancer patients. Int J Cancer 2002; 102:159-65. [PMID: 12385012 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.10678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Human Valpha24 NKT cells bearing an invariant Valpha24JalphaQ antigen receptor, the counterpart of murine Valpha14 NKT cells, are activated by a specific ligand, alpha-GalCer, in a CD1d-dependent manner. Here, we demonstrate decreased numbers of circulating Valpha24 NKT cells in patients with primary lung cancer compared to healthy volunteers. However, Valpha24 NKT cells and DCs from lung cancer patients were functionally normal, even in the presence of tumor. Furthermore, levels of Valpha24 NKT cells in surgically resected lung tissue appeared to be equivalent to those of Valpha14 NKT cells in the mouse lung. Levels of Valpha24 NKT cells in the tumor tissue itself were increased about 2.5 times. Administration of alpha-GalCer-pulsed DCs expanded Valpha14 NKT cells in the lung more than 10 times, and the increased levels were sustained for 1 week. This may explain the previous finding that alpha-GalCer-pulsed DCs exerted strong antitumor activity in mouse lung tumor metastatic models. The potential use of alpha-GalCer-pulsed DCs for immunotherapy aimed at activating endogenous Valpha24 NKT cells in the lung of cancer patients is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichiro Motohashi
- CREST (Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology) Project, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
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40
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Fujii SI, Shimizu K, Kronenberg M, Steinman RM. Prolonged IFN-gamma-producing NKT response induced with alpha-galactosylceramide-loaded DCs. Nat Immunol 2002; 3:867-74. [PMID: 12154358 DOI: 10.1038/ni827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 421] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes mediate a rapid reaction to the glycolipid drug alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha GalCer), which triggers release of large amounts of cytokines into the serum within 12 h, starting with interleukin 4 (IL-4). When alpha GalCer is administered to mice on dendritic cells (DCs) instead, the response is more prolonged (>4 days) and marked by a large expansion in IFN-gamma-producing NKT cells as well as greater resistance to metastases of the B16 melanoma. Nevertheless, DCs from mice given free alpha GalCer are able to induce strong IFN-gamma-producing NKT responses when transferred to naïve mice, but not when transferred to alpha GalCer-treated recipients. In the latter, the NKT cells are energized and can respond to glycolipid only in the presence of supplemental IL-2. Therefore, when alpha GalCer is selectively targeted to DCs, mice develop a stronger, more prolonged and effector type of NKT response, but this response can be blocked by the induction of anergy after presentation of alpha GalCer on other cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-ichiro Fujii
- Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA
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41
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Lee NC, Tsung K, Norton JA. Production of interferon-gamma by tumor-sensitized T cells is essential for interleukin-12-induced complete tumor eradication. Surgery 2002; 132:365-8. [PMID: 12219036 DOI: 10.1067/msy.2002.125352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is essential for eradication of established large tumors by interleukin-12 (IL-12), but the critical source of IFN-gamma has not been defined. Adoptive transfer of T cells into T cell-deficient mice allows for evaluation of the role of T cells and T cell production of IFN-gamma in the antitumor immune response. METHODS Wild-type C57BL/6, IL-12 receptor-beta1 knockout (IL-12Rbeta1 KO), IFN-gamma knockout (IFN-gamma KO), and IFN-gamma receptor-alpha knockout (IFN-gammaRalpha KO) mice were immunized and used as donors for adoptive transfer. Transfer of either splenocytes or CD90(+) T cells was performed into recipient T cell receptor-beta knockout (TCRbeta KO) and IFN-gamma/TCRbeta double knockout mice bearing 14-day subcutaneous MCA207 tumors. Half of the mice were treated with IL-12, and cure rates were compared. RESULTS Transfer of either 1/4 immunized spleen equivalent or 10(7) immunized T cells into both TCRbeta KO and IFN-gamma/TCRbeta KO mice resulted in 80% to 100% cure when given with IL-12. However, transfer of 10(7) immunized T cells from IFN-gamma KO mice into TCRbeta KO mice was ineffective with or without IL-12. T cell response to IL-12, but not IFN-gamma, was required for tumor regression. CONCLUSIONS Production of IFN-gamma by IL-12-responsive tumor-sensitized T cells is both necessary and sufficient for complete tumor eradication induced by IL-12. T cells are the source, but not the target, of IFN-gamma during tumor regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie C Lee
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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Smyth MJ, Crowe NY, Hayakawa Y, Takeda K, Yagita H, Godfrey DI. NKT cells - conductors of tumor immunity? Curr Opin Immunol 2002; 14:165-71. [PMID: 11869887 DOI: 10.1016/s0952-7915(02)00316-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
NKT cells are key players in the regulation of antitumor immunity, particularly in experimental models of tumor immunotherapy, such as IL-12 or alpha-galactosylceramide administration. They may also operate in natural antitumor immunity. NKT cells are best known for their immunosuppressive functions; however, NKT cells interact with a range of other cell types (particularly dendritic cells and NK cells) and the outcome of NKT-cell stimulation depends on these and on the cytokine/co-stimulatory milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Smyth
- Cancer Immunology, Trescowthick Laboratories, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Akutsu Y, Nakayama T, Harada M, Kawano T, Motohashi S, Shimizu E, Ito T, Kamada N, Saito T, Matsubara H, Miyazawa Y, Ochiai T, Taniguchi M. Expansion of lung V alpha 14 NKT cells by administration of alpha-galactosylceramide-pulsed dendritic cells. Jpn J Cancer Res 2002; 93:397-403. [PMID: 11985789 PMCID: PMC5927009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2002.tb01270.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
NKT cells, a novel murine lymphoid lineage bearing an invariant T cell receptor encoded by V alpha 14 and J alpha 281 gene segments, recognize a specific ligand glycolipid, alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) in a CD1d-dependent manner. Recent research has revealed that activated V alpha 14 NKT cells have dramatic antitumor effects against a wide variety of tumor cell lines in vivo and in vitro. Here, we demonstrate strong in vivo antitumor effects brought about by treatment with alpha-GalCer-pulsed dendritic cells in comparison with in vitro-activated V alpha 14 NKT cells. Furthermore, we show a significant expansion of endogenous V alpha 14 NKT cells in the lung following the administration of alpha-GalCer-pulsed dendritic cells. The feasibility of immunotherapy with alpha-GalCer-pulsed dendritic cells is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Akutsu
- CREST (Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology) Project, JST, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
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Brutkiewicz RR, Sriram V. Natural killer T (NKT) cells and their role in antitumor immunity. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2002; 41:287-98. [PMID: 11880205 DOI: 10.1016/s1040-8428(01)00198-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer T (NKT) cells have become a major focus for those who study the innate immune response to tumors and infectious diseases, as well as autoimmunity. These novel T lymphocytes produce both Th1 and Th2 cytokines, recognize phospholipid and glycolipid antigens presented by CD1 molecules in a similar manner as peptides are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), and kill tumor cell targets by a perforin-dependent mechanism like NK cells and CTL. These ascribed functions thus demonstrate that NKT cells are a unique cytotoxic effector cell subpopulation with a kaleidoscope of activities. Because they can mediate antitumor effects in vivo with or without the collaboration of NK cells, the study of NKT cells in antitumor immunity may lead to novel treatments based on the ability to manipulate the generation and/or activity of these multifunctional lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randy R Brutkiewicz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine and the Walther Oncology Center, Building R4, Room 302, 1044 W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
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Le HN, Lee NC, Tsung K, Norton JA. Pre-existing tumor-sensitized T cells are essential for eradication of established tumors by IL-12 and cyclophosphamide plus IL-12. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2001; 167:6765-72. [PMID: 11739491 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.167.12.6765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The antitumor immune response activated by IL-12, especially by a combination of cyclophosphamide and IL-12 (Cy+IL-12), is clinically significant in certain experimental tumor models, in that a number of well-established (10-20 mm in diameter) s.c. tumors are completely eradicated. Furthermore, Cy+IL-12 treatment is also able to eradicate well-established grossly detectable experimental lung metastases and advanced ascites tumors. Despite the dramatic antitumor effects seen in some tumor models, Cy+IL-12 fails to induce regression of other established tumors. Characterization of tumor immunogenicity shows that all tumors responding to IL-12 and Cy+IL-12 treatments are immunogenic tumors, in that an antitumor immune response is detectable in tumor-bearing hosts upon tumor establishment. In contrast, none of the nonimmunogenic tumor responds to IL-12 and Cy+IL-12 treatments. Analysis of cellular requirements for successful tumor rejection through an adoptive cell transfer approach reveals that the presence of tumor-sensitized, but not naive, T cells is essential for tumor rejection by IL-12 and Cy+IL-12. Transfer of these tumor-sensitized T cells must be conducted before, but not after, IL-12 treatment in order for tumor rejection to occur. The requirement of sensitized T cells is also tumor specific. In mice bearing immunogenic tumors, the presence of pre-existing tumor-sensitized T cells is demonstrated by adoptive cell transfer experiments using purified spleen T cells from these mice. Results from our study show that Cy+IL-12-based immunotherapy of cancer may be highly effective and that pre-existing tumor-sensitized T cells are essential for the success of the therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- H N Le
- Department of Surgery, University of California and San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
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Abstract
Members of the CD1 family of antigen-presenting molecules bind and present a variety of mammalian and microbial glycolipids for specific recognition by T cells. CD1 proteins accomplish their antigen-presenting function by binding the alkyl chains of the antigens within a deep, hydrophobic groove on the membrane distal surface of CD1, making the hydrophilic elements of the antigen available for contact with the variable regions of antigen-specific T-cell receptors. Most models of CD1-restricted T cells function in infectious, neoplastic, or autoimmune diseases and are based on the premise that CD1-restricted T-cell responses are initiated by alterations in cellular glycolipid content. Although a growing number of self, altered self and foreign glycolipid antigens have been identified, the cellular mechanisms that could lead to the generation of antigenic glycolipids within cells, or control the presentation of particular classes of altered self or microbial glycolipids in disease states have only recently come under investigation. Here we review the structures of known glycolipid antigens for T cells and discuss how the chemical nature of these antigens, which is quite different from that of peptides, influences their recognition by T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Moody
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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