1
|
Expression of costimulatory and inhibitory receptors in FoxP3 + regulatory T cells within the tumor microenvironment: Implications for combination immunotherapy approaches. Adv Cancer Res 2019; 144:193-261. [PMID: 31349899 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The unprecedented success of immune checkpoint inhibitors has given rise to a rapidly growing number of immuno-oncology agents undergoing preclinical and clinical development and an exponential increase in possible combinations. Defining a clear rationale for combinations by identifying synergies between immunomodulatory pathways has therefore become a high priority. Immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) represent a major roadblock to endogenous and therapeutic tumor immunity. However, Tregs are also essential for the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance, and share many molecular pathways with conventional T cells including cytotoxic T cells, the primary mediators of tumor immunity. Hence the inability to specifically target and neutralize Tregs within the TME of cancer patients without globally compromising self-tolerance poses a significant challenge. Here we review recent advances in the characterization of tumor-infiltrating Tregs with a focus on costimulatory and inhibitory receptors. We discuss receptor expression patterns, their functional role in Treg biology and mechanistic insights gained from targeting these receptors in preclinical models to evaluate their potential as clinical targets. We further outline a framework of parameters that could be used to refine the assessment of Tregs in cancer patients and increase their value as predictive biomarkers. Finally, we propose modalities to integrate our increasing knowledge on Treg phenotype and function for the rational design of checkpoint inhibitor-based combination therapies. Such combinations have great potential for synergy, as they could concomitantly enhance cytotoxic T cells and inhibit Tregs within the TME, thereby increasing the efficacy of current cancer immunotherapies.
Collapse
|
2
|
Bi E, Ma X, Lu Y, Yang M, Wang Q, Xue G, Qian J, Wang S, Yi Q. Foxo1 and Foxp1 play opposing roles in regulating the differentiation and antitumor activity of T H9 cells programmed by IL-7. Sci Signal 2017; 10:10/500/eaak9741. [PMID: 29018172 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aak9741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Tumor-specific CD4+ T helper 9 (TH9) cells, so-called because of their production of the cytokine interleukin-9 (IL-9), are a powerful effector T cell subset for cancer immunotherapy. We found that pretreatment of naïve CD4+ T cells with IL-7 further enhanced their differentiation into TH9 cells and augmented their antitumor activity. IL-7 markedly increased the abundance of the histone acetyltransferase p300 by activating the STAT5 and PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathways and promoting the acetylation of histones at the Il9 promoter. As a result, the transcriptional regulator Foxo1 was dephosphorylated and translocated to the nucleus, bound to the Il9 promoter, and induced the production of IL-9 protein. In contrast, Foxp1, which bound to the Il9 promoter in naïve CD4+ T cells and inhibited Il9 expression, was outcompeted for binding to the Il9 promoter by Foxo1 and translocated to the cytoplasm. Furthermore, forced expression of Foxo1 or a deficiency in Foxp1 in CD4+ T cells markedly increased the production of IL-9, whereas a deficiency in Foxo1 inhibited the ability of IL-7 to enhance the differentiation and antitumor activity of TH9 cells. Thus, we identified the roles of Foxo1 as a positive regulator and Foxp1 as a negative regulator of TH9 cell differentiation and antitumor activity, which may provide potential targets for cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enguang Bi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Xingzhe Ma
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Yong Lu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Maojie Yang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Gang Xue
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Jianfei Qian
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Siqing Wang
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Qing Yi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Suzuki T, Kishimoto H, Abe R. Requirement of interleukin 7 signaling for anti-tumor immune response under lymphopenic conditions in a murine lung carcinoma model. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2016; 65:341-54. [PMID: 26880265 PMCID: PMC11028809 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-016-1808-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Induction of lymphopenia before adoptive transfer of T cells was followed by lymphopenia-induced proliferation (LIP) and generated a potent anti-tumor immune response in rodents and in a clinical setting. Previously, we reported that CD28 signaling is essential for the differentiation of functional effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) under lymphopenic conditions and sequential LIP of T cells. In this study, to clarify the correlation between LIP and the anti-tumor effect, LIP was inhibited with interleukin 7 (IL7) receptor blockade at various stages, and the anti-tumor effect then assessed. We confirmed that IL7 signaling at the start of LIP is crucial for the anti-tumor immune response. In contrast, continuous IL7 signaling was not required for tumor regression, although LIP of naïve CD8+ T cells is usually regulated by IL7. The expansion and migration of CTLs in lymphopenic hosts depend on IL7 signaling during the induction phase. Here, we propose that IL7 signaling and subsequent LIP of T cells have distinct roles in the induction of T cell immunity during lymphopenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Suzuki
- Division of Immunobiology, Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2669 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, 278-0022, Japan
| | - Hidehiro Kishimoto
- Parasitology and Immunopathoetiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Ryo Abe
- Division of Immunobiology, Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2669 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, 278-0022, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yuan CH, Yang XQ, Zhu CL, Liu SP, Wang BC, Wang FB. Interleukin-7 enhances the in vivo anti-tumor activity of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells with induction of IFN-gamma in a murine breast cancer model. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2014; 15:265-71. [PMID: 24528037 DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.1.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a potent anti-apoptotic cytokine that enhances immune effector cell functions and is essential for lymphocyte survival. While it known to induce differentiation and proliferation in some haematological malignancies, including certain types of leukaemias and lymphomas, little is known about its role in solid tumours, including breast cancer. In the current study, we investigated whether IL-7 could enhance the in vivo antitumor activity of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells with induction of IFN-γ in a murine breast cancer model. Human IL-7 cDNA was constructed into the eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1, and then the recombinational pcDNA3.1-IL-7 was intratumorally injected in the TM40D BALB/C mouse graft model. Serum and intracellular IFN-γ levels were measured by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. CD8+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity was analyzed using the MTT method. Our results showed that IL-7 administration significantly inhibited tumor growth from day 15 after direct intratumoral injection of pcDNA3.1-IL-7. The anti-tumor effect correlated with a marked increase in the level of IFN-γ and breast cancer cells-specific CTL cytotoxicity. In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that IL-7-treatment could augment cytolytic activity of CD8+ T cells from tumor bearing mice, while anti-IFN-γ blocked the function of CD8+ T cells, suggesting that IFN-γ mediated the cytolytic activity of CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, in vivo neutralization of CD8+ T lymphocytes by CD8 antibodies reversed the antitumor benefit of IL-7. Thus, we demonstrated that IL-7 exerts anti-tumor activity mainly through activating CD8+ T cells and stimulating them to secrete IFN-γ in a murine breast tumor model. Based on these results, our study points to a potential novel way to treat breast cancer and may have important implications for clinical immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Hui Yuan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China E-mail :
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore whether IL-7 participates in the pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). This was a prospective study. 20 GO patients (40 eyes) and 20 healthy volunteers (40 eyes) were recruited. The tear concentration of IL-7 was measured using ELISA assay. IL-7 expression in orbital tissues was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Patients with inactive GO had the highest IL-7 concentrations in the tears, followed by healthy controls and patients with active GO per ELISA. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that IL-7 expression in orbital tissues of the inactive GO samples was higher than that of the volunteers. Changes of IL-7 expression in different phases of GO suggested that IL-7 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of GO.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- KeBo Cai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Changzheng Hospital Affiliated the Second Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Toe JG, Pellegrini M, Mak TW. Promoting immunity during chronic infection--the therapeutic potential of common gamma-chain cytokines. Mol Immunol 2013; 56:38-47. [PMID: 23685259 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2013.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The continued global burden wrought by chronic infectious disease is unrelenting. Current therapies have curbed the severity of disease for patients, but Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B (HBV) infection remain incurable and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is rapidly becoming resistant to our existing antibiotics. Much attention has been given to enhancing T cell immunity through the use of certain common gamma-chain cytokines, which have proven to be essential and necessary for T cell survival and function. This article reviews the pre-clinical and clinical literature surrounding IL-2, IL-7, IL-15 and IL-21 and we comment on the potential therapeutic promise of these cytokines as adjuvant treatments for chronic infectious diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse G Toe
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Steffensen MA, Jensen BAH, Holst PJ, Bassi MR, Christensen JP, Thomsen AR. Pre-existing vector immunity does not prevent replication deficient adenovirus from inducing efficient CD8 T-cell memory and recall responses. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34884. [PMID: 22514686 PMCID: PMC3326056 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenoviral vectors have shown a great potential for vaccine development due to their inherent ability to induce potent and protective CD8 T-cell responses. However, a critical issue regarding the use of these vectors is the existence of inhibitory immunity against the most commonly used Ad5 vector in a large part of the human population. We have recently developed an improved adenoviral vaccine vector system in which the vector expresses the transgene tethered to the MHC class II associated invariant chain (Ii). To further evaluate the potential of this system, the concept of pre-existing inhibitory immunity to adenoviral vectors was revisited to investigate whether the inhibition previously seen with the Ad5 vector also applied to the optimized vector system. We found this to be the case, and antibodies dominated as the mechanism underlying inhibitory vector immunity. However, presence of CD8 T cells directed against epitopes in the adenoviral vector seemed to correlate with repression of the induced response in re-vaccinated B-cell deficient mice. More importantly, despite a repressed primary effector CD8 T-cell response in Ad5-immune animals subjected to vaccination, memory T cells were generated that provided the foundation for an efficient recall response and protection upon subsequent viral challenge. Furthermore, the transgene specific response could be efficiently boosted by homologous re-immunization. Taken together, these studies indicate that adenoviral vectors can be used to induce efficient CD8 T-cell memory even in individuals with pre-existing vector immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Abildgaard Steffensen
- Institute of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Peter Johannes Holst
- Institute of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Rosaria Bassi
- Institute of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Pravsgaard Christensen
- Institute of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Allan Randrup Thomsen
- Institute of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
|
9
|
|