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Kang K, Lin X, Chen P, Liu H, Liu F, Xiong W, Li G, Yi M, Li X, Wang H, Xiang B. T cell exhaustion in human cancers. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189162. [PMID: 39089484 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
T cell exhaustion refers to a progressive state in which T cells become functionally impaired due to sustained antigenic stimulation, which is characterized by increased expression of immune inhibitory receptors, but weakened effector functions, reduced self-renewal capacity, altered epigenetics, transcriptional programme and metabolism. T cell exhaustion is one of the major causes leading to immune escape of cancer, creating an environment that supports tumor development and metastatic spread. In addition, T cell exhaustion plays a pivotal role to the efficacy of current immunotherapies for cancer. This review aims to provide a comprehensive view of roles of T cell exhaustion in cancer development and progression. We summerized the regulatory mechanisms that involved in T cell exhaustion, including transcription factors, epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming events, and various microenvironmental factors such as cytokines, microorganisms, and tumor autocrine substances. The paper also discussed the challenges posed by T cell exhaustion to cancer immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, highlightsing the obstacles encountered in ICB therapies and CAR-T therapies due to T cell exhaustion. Finally, the article provides an overview of current therapeutic options aimed to reversing or alleviating T cell exhaustion in ICB and CAR-T therapies. These therapeutic approaches seek to overcome T cell exhaustion and enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies in treating tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Kang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Xin Lin
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Pan Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Huai Liu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Guiyuan Li
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Mei Yi
- Department of Dermatology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Xiayu Li
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Infammation and Cancer, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China.
| | - Hui Wang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China.
| | - Bo Xiang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China; FuRong Laboratory, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China.
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Ma Y, Hu Y, Liu H, Li X, Li Y, Zhao Y, Zhang Q, Zhang Z, Leng Q, Luo L, Li L, Dai Y, Chen G, Zhang J, Li Z. High-Lactate-Metabolizing Photosynthetic Bacteria Reprogram Tumor Immune Microenvironment. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2405930. [PMID: 38924191 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202405930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The elevated levels of lactate in tumor tissue play a pivotal role in fostering an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Therefore, efficiently reducing lactate levels to reprogram tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) is considered a crucial step for boosted immunotherapy. Here, a high-lactate-metabolizing photosynthetic bacteria (LAB-1) is selectively screened for TIM reprogramming, which then improves the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. The culture medium for LAB-1 screening is initially developed through an orthogonal experiment, simulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and utilizing lactate as the sole organic carbon source. As demonstrated in a murine 4T1 model, LAB-1 colonizes the TME selectively, resulting in a significant reduction in lactate levels and a subsequent increase in pH values within the tumor tissue. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis reveals that LAB-1 effectively reprograms the TIM, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of antitumor immune therapy. This approach of utilizing lactate-consuming bacteria represents a potent tool for augmenting tumor immunotherapy efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichuan Ma
- College of Chemistry & Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Yujing Hu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Huifang Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Xiaoya Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Yuanhang Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- College of Chemistry & Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Ziyang Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Qingqing Leng
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Li Luo
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523059, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Function and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Lanya Li
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523059, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Function and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yunlu Dai
- Cancer Centre and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, SAR, 999078, China
| | - Guojun Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Jinchao Zhang
- College of Chemistry & Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Zhenhua Li
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523059, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Function and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, 510515, China
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Yao J, Ji Y, Liu T, Bai J, Wang H, Yao R, Wang J, Zhou X. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Shows T-Cell Exhaustion Landscape in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure. Gut Liver 2024; 18:520-530. [PMID: 37317515 PMCID: PMC11096905 DOI: 10.5009/gnl220449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background/Aims The occurrence and development of hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is closely related to the immune pathway. We explored the heterogeneity of peripheral blood T cell subsets and the characteristics of exhausted T lymphocytes, in an attempt to identify potential therapeutic target molecules for immune dysfunction in ACLF patients. Methods A total of 83,577 T cells from HBV-ACLF patients and healthy controls were screened for heterogeneity by single-cell RNA sequencing. In addition, exhausted T-lymphocyte subsets were screened to analyze their gene expression profiles, and their developmental trajectories were investigated. Subsequently, the expression of exhausted T cells and their capacity in secreting cytokines (interleukin 2, interferon γ, and tumor necrosis factor α) were validated by flow cytometry. Results A total of eight stable clusters were identified, among which CD4+ TIGIT+ subset and CD8+ LAG-3+ subset, with high expression of exhaust genes, were significantly higher in the HBV-ACLF patients than in normal controls. As shown by pseudotime analysis, T cells experienced a transition from naïve T cells to effector T cells and then exhausted T cells. Flow cytometry confirmed that the CD4+TIGIT+ subset and CD8+LAG-3+ subset in the peripheral blood of the ACLF patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy controls. Moreover, in vitro cultured CD8+LAG-3+ T cells were significantly fewer capable of secreting cytokines than CD8+LAG-3- subset. Conclusions Peripheral blood T cells are heterogeneous in HBV-ACLF. The exhausted T cells markedly increase during the pathogenesis of ACLF, suggesting that T-cell exhaustion is involved in the immune dysfunction of HBV-ACLF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (Shanxi Bethune Hospital), Taiyuan, China
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplant Center, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yaqiu Ji
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Tian Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (Shanxi Bethune Hospital), Taiyuan, China
| | - Jinjia Bai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (Shanxi Bethune Hospital), Taiyuan, China
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (Shanxi Bethune Hospital), Taiyuan, China
| | - Ruoyu Yao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (Shanxi Bethune Hospital), Taiyuan, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (Shanxi Bethune Hospital), Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Zhou
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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Zhu Y, Tan H, Wang J, Zhuang H, Zhao H, Lu X. Molecular insight into T cell exhaustion in hepatocellular carcinoma. Pharmacol Res 2024; 203:107161. [PMID: 38554789 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality globally. The emergence of immunotherapy has been shown to be a promising therapeutic approach for hepatocellular carcinoma in recent years. It has been well known that T cell plays a key role in current immunotherapy. However, sustained exposure to antigenic stimulation within the tumor microenvironment may lead to T cell exhaustion, which may cause treatment ineffectiveness. Therefore, reversing T cell exhaustion has been an important issue for the clinical application of immunotherapy, and a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies surrounding T cell exhaustion and its underlying mechanisms is imperative for devising strategies to overcome the T cell exhaustion during treatment. In this review, we summarized the reported drivers of T cell exhaustion in hepatocellular carcinoma and delineate potential ways to reverse it. Additionally, we discussed the interplay among metabolic plasticity, epigenetic regulation, and transcriptional factors in exhausted T cells in hepatocellular carcinoma, and their implication for future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghua Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huabing Tan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology Institute, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China; Shiyan Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province 442000, China
| | - Jincheng Wang
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Japan
| | - Haiwen Zhuang
- Department of General Surgery, Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huanbin Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
| | - Xiaojie Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Li CC, Liu M, Lee HP, Wu W, Ma L. Heterogeneity in Liver Cancer Immune Microenvironment: Emerging Single-Cell and Spatial Perspectives. Semin Liver Dis 2024; 44:133-146. [PMID: 38788780 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1787152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is a solid malignancy with a high mortality rate. The success of immunotherapy has shown great promise in improving patient care and highlights a crucial need to understand the complexity of the liver tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Recent advances in single-cell and spatial omics technologies, coupled with the development of systems biology approaches, are rapidly transforming the landscape of tumor immunology. Here we review the cellular landscape of liver TIME from single-cell and spatial perspectives. We also discuss the cellular interaction networks within the tumor cell community in regulating immune responses. We further highlight the challenges and opportunities with implications for biomarker discovery, patient stratification, and combination immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyi Cherry Li
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Meng Liu
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hsin-Pei Lee
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wenqi Wu
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lichun Ma
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
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Zhou Y, Wu W, Cai W, Zhang D, Zhang W, Luo Y, Cai F, Shi Z. Prognostic prediction using a gene signature developed based on exhausted T cells for liver cancer patients. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28156. [PMID: 38533068 PMCID: PMC10963654 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28156] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is a solid primary malignancy with poor prognosis. This study discovered key prognostic genes based on T cell exhaustion and used them to develop a prognostic prediction model for LIHC. Methods SingleR's annotations combined with Seurat was used to automatically annotate the single-cell clustering results of the LIHC dataset GSE166635 downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and to identify clusters related to exhausted T cells. Patients were classified using ConsensusClusterPlus package. Next, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) package was employed to distinguish key gene module, based on which least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) and multi/univariate cox analysis were performed to construct a RiskScore system. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were employed to evaluate the efficacy of the model. To further optimize the risk model, a nomogram capable of predicting immune infiltration and immunotherapy sensitivity in different risk groups was developed. Expressions of genes were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and immunofluorescence and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) were performed for analyzing cell functions. Results We obtained 18,413 cells and clustered them into 7 immune and non-immune cell subpopulations. Based on highly variable genes among T cell exhaustion clusters, 3 molecular subtypes (C1, C2 and C3) of LIHC were defined, with C3 subtype showing the highest score of exhausted T cells and a poor prognosis. The Lasso and multivariate cox analysis selected 7 risk genes from the green module, which were closely associated with the C3 subtype. All the patients were divided into low- and high-risk groups based on the medium value of RiskScore, and we found that high-risk patients had higher immune infiltration and immune escape and poorer prognosis. The nomogram exhibited a strong performance for predicting long-term LIHC prognosis. In vitro experiments revealed that the 7 risk genes all had a higher expression in HCC cells, and that both liver HCC cell numbers and cell viability were reduced by knocking down MMP-9. Conclusion We developed a RiskScore model for predicting LIHC prognosis based on the scRNA-seq and RNA-seq data. The RiskScore as an independent prognostic factor could improve the clinical treatment for LIHC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhou
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Wanrui Wu
- Department of Vasointerventional, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Yunling Luo
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Fujing Cai
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Zhenjing Shi
- Department of Vasointerventional, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
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Liu S, Jia M, Dai R. Deciphering the tumour immune microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Scand J Immunol 2023; 98:e13327. [PMID: 38441331 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Current treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are less effective and prone to recurrence after surgery, so it's needed to seek new ideas for its therapy. Tumour immune microenvironment (TME) is crucial for the pathogenesis, development and metastasis of HCC. Interactions between immune cells and tumour cells significantly impact responses to immunotherapies and patient prognosis. In recent years, immunotherapies for HCC have shown promising potential, but the response rate is still unsatisfactory. Understanding their cross-talks is helpful for selecting potential therapeutic targets, predicting immunotherapy responses, determining immunotherapy efficacy, identifying prognostic markers and selecting individualized treatment options. In this paper, we reviewed the research advances on the roles of immune cells and multi-omic research associated with HCC pathogenesis and therapy, and future perspectives on TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Department of Pain, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Man Jia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Rongyang Dai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
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Zhong X, Lv M, Ma M, Huang Q, Hu R, Li J, Yi J, Sun J, Zhou X. State of CD8 + T cells in progression from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis to hepatocellular carcinoma: From pathogenesis to immunotherapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115131. [PMID: 37429231 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
With the obesity epidemic, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is emerging as the fastest growing potential cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NASH has been demonstrated to establish a tumor-prone liver microenvironment where both innate and adaptive immune systems are involved. As the most typical anti-tumor effector, the cell function of CD8+ T cells is remodeled by chronic inflammation, metabolic alteration, lipid toxicity and oxidative stress in the liver microenvironment along the NASH to HCC transition. Unexpectedly, NASH may blunt the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy against HCC due to the dysregulated CD8+ T cells. Growing evidence has supported that NASH is likely to facilitate the state transition of CD8+ T cells with changes in cell motility, effector function, metabolic reprogramming and gene transcription according to single-cell sequencing. However, the mechanistic insight of CD8+ T cell states in the NASH-driven HCC is not comprehensive. Herein, we focus on the characterization of state phenotypes of CD8+ T cells with both functional and metabolic signatures in NASH-driven fibrosis and HCC. The NASH-specific CD8+ T cells are speculated to mainly have a dualist effect, where its aberrant activated phenotype sustains chronic inflammation in NASH but subsequently triggers its exhaustion in HCC. As the exploration of CD8+ T cells on the distribution and phenotypic shifts will provide a new direction for the intervention strategies against HCC, we also discuss the implications for targeting different phenotypes of CD8+ T cells, shedding light on the personalized immunotherapy for NASH-driven HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhong
- Department of Liver Disease, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Liver Disease, the fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Minling Lv
- Department of Liver Disease, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Liver Disease, the fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - MengQing Ma
- Department of Liver Disease, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Liver Disease, the fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qi Huang
- Department of Liver Disease, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Liver Disease, the fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Rui Hu
- Department of Liver Disease, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Liver Disease, the fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Liver Disease, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Liver Disease, the fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinyu Yi
- Department of Liver Disease, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Liver Disease, the fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jialing Sun
- Department of Liver Disease, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Liver Disease, the fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaozhou Zhou
- Department of Liver Disease, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Liver Disease, the fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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Tang X, Miao Y, Yang L, Ha W, Li Z, Mi D. Single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq explore the prognostic value of exhausted T cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. IET Syst Biol 2023; 17:228-244. [PMID: 37431788 PMCID: PMC10439497 DOI: 10.1049/syb2.12072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a worldwide health problem. Mounting evidence indicates that exhausted T cells play a critical role in the progress and treatment of HCC. Therefore, a detailed characterisation of exhausted T cells and their clinical significance warrants further investigation in HCC. Based on the GSE146115, we presented a comprehensive single-cell Atlas in HCC. Pseudo-time analysis revealed that tumour heterogeneity progressively increased, and the exhausted T cells gradually appeared during tumour progression. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the evolutionary process of exhausted T cells mainly contained the pathway of cadherin binding, proteasome, cell cycle, and T cell receptor regulation of apoptosis. In the International Cancer Genome Consortium database, we divided patients into three clusters with the T cell evolution-associated genes. We found that the exhausted T cells are significantly related to poor outcomes through immunity and survival analysis. In The Cancer Genome Atlas database, the authors enrolled weighted gene co-expression network analysis, univariate Cox analysis, and Lasso Cox analysis, then screened the 19 core genes in T cells evolution and built a robust prognostic model. This study offers a fresh view on evaluating the patients' outcomes from an exhausted T cells perspective and might help clinicians develop therapeutic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Tang
- The First Clinical Medical CollegeLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
- The Second Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryAffiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical CollegeNanchongChina
| | - Yandong Miao
- The First Clinical Medical CollegeLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
- Department of OncologyYantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical UniversityThe Second Clinical Medical College of Binzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Lixia Yang
- Gansu Academy of Traditional Chinese MedicineLanzhouChina
| | - Wuhua Ha
- The First Clinical Medical CollegeLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Zheng Li
- Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesLanzhouChina
| | - Denghai Mi
- The First Clinical Medical CollegeLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
- Gansu Academy of Traditional Chinese MedicineLanzhouChina
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Murai N, Koyanagi-Aoi M, Terashi H, Aoi T. Re-generation of cytotoxic γδT cells with distinctive signatures from human γδT-derived iPSCs. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:853-868. [PMID: 36963392 PMCID: PMC10147660 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
For a long time, ex vivo-expanded peripheral-blood-derived γδT cell (PBγδT)-based immunotherapy has been attractive, and clinical trials have been undertaken. However, the difficulty in expanding cytotoxic γδT cells to an adequate number has been a major limitation to the efficacy of treatment in most cases. We successfully re-generated γδT cells from γδT cell-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The iPSC-derived γδT cells (iγδTs) killed several cancer types in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-unrestricted manner. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed that the iγδTs were identical to a minor subset of PBγδTs. Compared with a major subset of PBγδTs, the iγδTs showed a distinctive gene expression pattern: lower CD2, CD5, and antigen-presenting genes; higher CD7, KIT, and natural killer (NK) cell markers. The iγδTs expressed granzyme B and perforin but not interferon gamma (IFNγ). Our data provide a new source for γδT cell-based immunotherapy without quantitative limitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyuki Murai
- Division of Stem Cell Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Division of Advanced Medical Science, Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Division of Plastic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Michiyo Koyanagi-Aoi
- Division of Stem Cell Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Division of Advanced Medical Science, Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Center for Human Resource Development for Regenerative Medicine, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hiroto Terashi
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Takashi Aoi
- Division of Stem Cell Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Division of Advanced Medical Science, Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Center for Human Resource Development for Regenerative Medicine, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
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11
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Wang S, Sun ST, Zhang XY, Ding HR, Yuan Y, He JJ, Wang MS, Yang B, Li YB. The Evolution of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Technology and Application: Progress and Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032943. [PMID: 36769267 PMCID: PMC9918030 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As an emerging sequencing technology, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) has become a powerful tool for describing cell subpopulation classification and cell heterogeneity by achieving high-throughput and multidimensional analysis of individual cells and circumventing the shortcomings of traditional sequencing for detecting the average transcript level of cell populations. It has been applied to life science and medicine research fields such as tracking dynamic cell differentiation, revealing sensitive effector cells, and key molecular events of diseases. This review focuses on the recent technological innovations in scRNA-Seq, highlighting the latest research results with scRNA-Seq as the core technology in frontier research areas such as embryology, histology, oncology, and immunology. In addition, this review outlines the prospects for its innovative application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research and discusses the key issues currently being addressed by scRNA-Seq and its great potential for exploring disease diagnostic targets and uncovering drug therapeutic targets in combination with multiomics technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bin Yang
- Correspondence: (B.Y.); (Y.-B.L.)
| | - Yu-Bo Li
- Correspondence: (B.Y.); (Y.-B.L.)
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12
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Zheng J, Fan W, Zhang X, Quan W, Wu Y, Shu M, Chen M, Liang M. PAIP1 regulates expression of immune and inflammatory response associated genes at transcript level in liver cancer cell. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15070. [PMID: 37101794 PMCID: PMC10124545 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Poly(A) binding protein interacting protein 1 (PAIP1) is a translation regulator and also regulate the decay of mRNA. PAIP1 has also been reported to be a marker of increased invasive potential of liver cancer. However, the roles and underlying molecular mechanism of PAIP1 in liver cancer is still unclear. Here, cell viability and the gene expression profile of liver cancer line HepG2 transfected with PAIP1 siRNA was compared with cells transfected with non-targeting control siRNA. The results showed that PAIP1 knockdown inhibited cell viability, and extensively affects expression of 893 genes at transcriptional level in HepG2 cells. Gene function analysis showed that a large number of PAIP1 up-regulated genes were enriched in term of DNA-dependent transcription and the down-regulated genes were enriched in some pathways including immune response and inflammatory response. qPCR confirmed that PAIP1 knockdown positively regulated the expression of selected immune and inflammatory factor genes in HepG2 cells. Expression analysis of TCGA revealed that PAIP1 had positive correlations with two immune associated genes IL1R2 and PTAFR in liver tumor tissue. Taken together, our results demonstrated that PAIP1 was not only a translation regulator, but also a transcription regulator in liver cancer. Moreover, PAIP1 could function as a regulatory factor of immune and inflammatory genes in liver cancer. Thus, our study provides important cues for further study on the regulatory mechanism of PAIP1 in liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Zheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Baoan Central Hospital of Shenzhen, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Weiwei Fan
- Department of Infectious Medicine, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- First Department of Infection, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Weili Quan
- Center for Genome Analysis, ABLife Inc., Wuhan, Hubei, China
- ABLife BioBigData Institute, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yunfei Wu
- Center for Genome Analysis, ABLife Inc., Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mengni Shu
- First Department of Infection, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Moyang Chen
- First Department of Infection, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Ming Liang
- First Department of Infection, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
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13
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Li XY, Shen Y, Zhang L, Guo X, Wu J. Understanding initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through single cell sequencing. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188720. [PMID: 35304295 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Unsatisfied clinical outcome drives to better understand hepatic carcinogenesis, microenvironment and escape of immune surveillance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) has generated enormous data to pinpoint pathophysiologic alterations in tumor microenvironment (TME) or trace lineage development in cancer stem cells (CSCs), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and subsets of immune cells, such as exhausting T cells, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), dendritic cells or other lineages. New insights have significantly advanced current understanding in progression, poor responses to molecular-targeted therapeutics or immune checkpoint inhibitors, metastasis in both basic research and clinical practice. The present review intends to cover a basic workflow of the scRNA-seq technology, existing limitations and improvement areas. Moreover, in-depth understanding in TME, exhausting T cells, CSCs, CTCs, tumor-associated macrophages, dendritic cells in HCC facilitates implementation of personalized and precise therapy in an era of availability with an array of systemic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yue Li
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yue Shen
- Dept. of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China; Pathogenic Research Core Facility, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China; Dept. of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China.
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14
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Xu Y, Wang H, Wang T, Chen C, Sun R, Yao W, Ma Y, Zhang Q, Wu L, Zeng S, Sun X. Dahuang Fuzi Baijiang Decoction restricts progenitor to terminally exhausted T cell differentiation in colorectal cancer. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:1739-1751. [PMID: 35238098 PMCID: PMC9128181 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity contributes to about 30% incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). Obese tumor microenvironment compromises anti-tumor immunity by eliciting exhausted T cells (Tex). Hypothesizing that Dahuang Fuzi Baijiang Decoction (DFB), a combined classical prescription from "Synopsis of Golden Chamber", modulates the differentiation of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, we firstly demonstrate that DFB regresses tumor growth in high-fat diet induced obese mice via expanding PD-1int TIM3- and restricting PD-1hi TIM3+ subset. TCF1 is highly expressed in PD-1int TIM3- subset but is absent in PD-1hi TIM3+ cells. We next confirm that progenitor PD-1int TCF+ cells robustly produce TNFɑ and IFNγ while terminally differentiated PD-1int TCF+ cells have defects in generating TNFɑ. With transgenic ob/ob mice, we find that DFB produces cooperative efficacy with anti-PD-1 (ɑPD-1) by limiting PD-1hi Tim3+ subset and amplifying PD-1int TCF+ population. Finally, we define CCR2+ CD8+ subset as teminal Tex and identify that the differentiation from progenitor to terminal Tex is driven, at least in part, by CCL2/CCR2 axis. CCR2 inhibitor enhances the response to ɑPD-1 by promoting the counts of progenitor Tex. Altogether, DFB dampens CCL2 and preserves progenitor Tex in obese microenvironment to restrain CRC progression. These finds provide unambiguous evidence that traditional Chinese formula DFB can prevent tumor progression by modulating adaptive immunity and give rise to strong rationale for further clinical verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihua Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, 528401, Guangdong, China
| | - Chunhui Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruibo Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Wanyu Yao
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Ye Ma
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Qingyuan Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Liyi Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Shanmei Zeng
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuegang Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.,Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, Guangdong, China
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15
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Wang S, Xie J, Zou X, Pan T, Yu Q, Zhuang Z, Zhong Y, Zhao X, Wang Z, Li R, Lei Y, Yin J, Yuan Y, Wei X, Liu L, Liu S, Yang H, Wu L. Establish an assessment model to characterized metastasis ability Single-cell multiomics reveals heterogeneous cell states linked to metastatic potential in liver cancer cell lines. iScience 2022; 25:103857. [PMID: 35198910 PMCID: PMC8850337 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer with a high rate of metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms that drive metastasis remain unclear. We combined single-cell transcriptomic, proteomic, and chromatin accessibility data to investigate how heterogeneous phenotypes contribute to metastatic potential in five HCC cell lines. We confirmed that the prevalence of a mesenchymal state and levels of cell proliferation are linked to the metastatic potential. We also identified a rare hypoxic subtype that has a higher capacity for glycolysis and exhibits dormant, invasive, and malignant characteristics. This subtype has increased metastatic potential. We further identified a robust 14-gene panel representing this hypoxia signature and this hypoxia signature could serve as a prognostic index. Our data provide a valuable data resource, facilitate a deeper understanding of metastatic mechanisms, and may help diagnosis of metastatic potential in individual patients, thus supporting personalized medicine. Provide a high-resolution single-cell triple-omics data of five liver cancer cell lines Identify a robust 14-gene set representing hypoxia signature The hypoxia signature is associated with prognosis Establish an assessment model to characterized metastasis ability
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16
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Gao J, Liu Y, Wei J, Jiang L, Mao J, Chang CH, Wu D. Targeting T cell metabolism for immunotherapy. J Leukoc Biol 2021; 110:1081-1090. [PMID: 34779530 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.5mr0921-011r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells play an important role in antitumor immunity. Numbers and function of T cells are controlled by regulating the uptake and utilization of nutrients, and their antitumor activity can be promoted by targeting metabolic pathways. In this review, we highlight the relationship between metabolism and cellular function of T cells. Specifically, we emphasize the metabolic state of tumor-infiltrating T cells and review key pathways that affect the antitumor function of T cells. In the field of tumor immunotherapy, targeting T cell metabolism to enhance the immune response is a new therapeutic strategy for enhancing immunotherapy combined with traditional treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanbo Liu
- Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Wei
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
| | - Linlan Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianwen Mao
- Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Duojiao Wu
- Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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17
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Yang Y, Liu F, Liu W, Ma M, Gao J, Lu Y, Huang L, Li X, Shi Y, Wang X, Wu D. Analysis of single-cell RNAseq identifies transitional states of T cells associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Med 2020; 10:e133. [PMID: 32659053 PMCID: PMC7418813 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exhausted T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) comprise diverse subsets of tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment that play key roles in tumor progress. Understanding subset diversity in T cells is a critical question for developing cancer immunotherapy. METHODS A total of 235 specimens from surgical resections of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients were examined for infiltration of exhausted T cell (Tex) in tumor and adjacent tissue. We conducted deep single-cell targeted immune profiling on CD3+ cells collected from tumor tissues, adjacent normal tissues (ANTs) and peripheral blood of HCC patients. Total 10 cell clusters were identified with distinct distributions and characteristics. RESULTS We observed transitional differentiation of exhausted CD8+ T cells and Tregs increasingly enriched in tumor tissue. The accumulation and location of Tex were related to the differences in the long-term clinical outcome of HCC. Furthermore, data of single-cell RNA-seq showed that (1) cells transforming from effector CD8+ T cells to exhausted CD8+ T cells simultaneously expressed upregulated effector molecules and inhibitory receptors, (2) indicated alteration of gene expression related to stress response and cell cycle at early exhaustion stage, and (3) immunosuppressive Treg had profound activation in comparison to resting Tregs. CONCLUSIONS T cell exhaustion is a progressive process, and the gene-expression profiling displayed T cell exhaustion and anergy are different. Accordingly, it is possible that functional exhaustion is caused by the combination effects of passive defects and overactivation in stress response. The results help to understand the dynamic framework of T cells function in cancer which is important for designing rational cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanying Yang
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismZhongshan HospitalKey Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicinethe Ministry of EducationFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Fangming Liu
- Institute of Clinical ScienceZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Weiren Liu
- Liver Surgery Department of Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Mingyue Ma
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismZhongshan HospitalKey Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicinethe Ministry of EducationFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jie Gao
- Institute of Clinical ScienceZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismZhongshan HospitalKey Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicinethe Ministry of EducationFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Li‐Hao Huang
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyWashington University School of MedicineSaint LouisMissouri
| | - Xiaoying Li
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismZhongshan HospitalKey Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicinethe Ministry of EducationFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yinghong Shi
- Liver Surgery Department of Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiangdong Wang
- Institute of Clinical ScienceZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Duojiao Wu
- Institute of Clinical ScienceZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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