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Juan X, Fan Z, Cao X, Ding YY, Liu H, Shang QN, Zhao X, Chang Y, Wang Y, Xu L, Zhang X, Huang X, Zhao X. CD56 bright NK cell expansion correlated with EBV reactivation control post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Ann Hematol 2024:10.1007/s00277-024-05827-4. [PMID: 38862793 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-05827-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are equipped with anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) function, however, whether EBV infection will affect NK cells reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains unclear. To identify the characteristics of NK cells, we prospectively enrolled 11 patients who occurred EBV reactivation post allo-HSCT and 11 patients without EBV infection as control. We found that that EBV infection induced the expansion of CD56bright and NKG2A+KIR- NK subsets,and decreased the cytotoxicity function of NK cells. The frequency of NKG2A+KIR- NK cells were higher in patients who progressed into post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) than EBV viremia patients, which also correlated with decreased proliferation and cytotoxic function. By screening the activation receptors of NK cells, we found the DNAM-1+CD56bright NK cells is significantly increased after EBV stimulation, further we demonstrated that DNAM-1 is essential for EBV induced NK cells activation as the cytokine release against EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines(EBV-LCLs) of CD56bright NK cells were significantly decreased after DNAM-1 blockade. NK cells infusion suppressed the progression of EBV-related tumor mice model. A prospective cohort indicated that old donor age was an independent risk factor for EBV infection. Rapid CD56bri expansion and high expression of DNAM-1 on CD56bri NK cells in response to EBV reactivation correlated with rapid EBV clearance post allo-HSCT in patients with younger donors. In summary, our data showed that high expression of DNAM-1 receptors on NK cell may participate protective CD56bri NK cells response to EBV infection after allo-HSCT.
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Grants
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 82270228 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 2023XACX0004 Science, Technology& Innovation Project of Xiongan New area
- 2023XACX0004 Science, Technology& Innovation Project of Xiongan New area
- 2023XACX0004 Science, Technology& Innovation Project of Xiongan New area
- 2023XACX0004 Science, Technology& Innovation Project of Xiongan New area
- 2023XACX0004 Science, Technology& Innovation Project of Xiongan New area
- 2023XACX0004 Science, Technology& Innovation Project of Xiongan New area
- 2023XACX0004 Science, Technology& Innovation Project of Xiongan New area
- 2023XACX0004 Science, Technology& Innovation Project of Xiongan New area
- 2023XACX0004 Science, Technology& Innovation Project of Xiongan New area
- 2023XACX0004 Science, Technology& Innovation Project of Xiongan New area
- RDL2021-01 Peking University People's Hospital Research and Development Funds
- RDL2021-01 Peking University People's Hospital Research and Development Funds
- RDL2021-01 Peking University People's Hospital Research and Development Funds
- RDL2021-01 Peking University People's Hospital Research and Development Funds
- RDL2021-01 Peking University People's Hospital Research and Development Funds
- 2022YFA1103304 National Key Research and Development Program of China
- 2022YFA1103304 National Key Research and Development Program of China
- 2022YFA1103304 National Key Research and Development Program of China
- 2022YFA1103304 National Key Research and Development Program of China
- 2022YFA1103304 National Key Research and Development Program of China
- 2022YFA1103304 National Key Research and Development Program of China
- 20220484235 Beijing Nova Program
- 20220484235 Beijing Nova Program
- 20220484235 Beijing Nova Program
- 20220484235 Beijing Nova Program
- 20220484235 Beijing Nova Program
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Affiliation(s)
- Xie Juan
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Zeying Fan
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xunhong Cao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yi-Yang Ding
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Huixin Liu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Qian-Nan Shang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaosu Zhao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yingjun Chang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Lanping Xu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Beijing, China.
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Deng M, Zeng Y, Liu Y, Wang X, Chen N, Zhang M, Jiang M, Zhao H, Du J. Increased PD-1 + NK Cell Subset in the Older Population. Int J Gen Med 2024; 17:651-661. [PMID: 38435114 PMCID: PMC10907132 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s452476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The aging of the immune system is associated with various diseases. It is worth exploring the changes of the immune system in aging. Previous studies have shown that aged T cells have enhanced expression of co-inhibitory molecules. However, it remains unclear whether aged NK cells exhibit similar characteristics to aged T cells. The objective of our research was to clarify this aspect. Patients and Methods This study included 98 adults aged 24-90 years (50 males and 48 females). We detected the subset of peripheral blood NK cells and the expression of various receptors on NK cells among donors of different age groups by flow cytometry. Immune subsets were initially defined by forward and side-scatter characteristics and then staining with the appropriate marker. Results The absolute number and subset distribution of NK cells were not associated with age. However, CD57 expression and CD69 expression were correlated with age. Furthermore, we found that PD-1 was up-regulated on NK cells in older people, associated with aging, while no such change was observed in other co-inhibitory molecules, including 2B4, CTLA-4, TIM-3, BTLA, CD70, CD39, CD160, and TIGIT. PD-1+ NK cells expressed high levels of CD57 and CD69, indicating PD-1+ NK cells displayed a phenotype of over-activation and aging. Discussion This study indicated that PD-1+ NK cells were one of the characteristics of NK cells in older people. Conclusion This study indicated that PD-1+ NK cells were one of the characteristics of NK cells in older people. Those findings provided new ideas to explore the underlying drivers of NK aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiju Deng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Center for HIV/AIDS, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yongqin Zeng
- Clinical Center for HIV/AIDS, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Liu
- Clinical Center for HIV/AIDS, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaolei Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Center for HIV/AIDS, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
| | - Na Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Center for HIV/AIDS, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengyuan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- Beijing Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
| | - Meiqing Jiang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- Beijing Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongxin Zhao
- Clinical Center for HIV/AIDS, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
| | - Juan Du
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- Beijing Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China
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Preiksaitis J, Allen U, Bollard CM, Dharnidharka VR, Dulek DE, Green M, Martinez OM, Metes DM, Michaels MG, Smets F, Chinnock RE, Comoli P, Danziger-Isakov L, Dipchand AI, Esquivel CO, Ferry JA, Gross TG, Hayashi RJ, Höcker B, L'Huillier AG, Marks SD, Mazariegos GV, Squires J, Swerdlow SH, Trappe RU, Visner G, Webber SA, Wilkinson JD, Maecker-Kolhoff B. The IPTA Nashville Consensus Conference on Post-Transplant lymphoproliferative disorders after solid organ transplantation in children: III - Consensus guidelines for Epstein-Barr virus load and other biomarker monitoring. Pediatr Transplant 2024; 28:e14471. [PMID: 37294621 DOI: 10.1111/petr.14471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The International Pediatric Transplant Association convened an expert consensus conference to assess current evidence and develop recommendations for various aspects of care relating to post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders after solid organ transplantation in children. In this report from the Viral Load and Biomarker Monitoring Working Group, we reviewed the existing literature regarding the role of Epstein-Barr viral load and other biomarkers in peripheral blood for predicting the development of PTLD, for PTLD diagnosis, and for monitoring of response to treatment. Key recommendations from the group highlighted the strong recommendation for use of the term EBV DNAemia instead of "viremia" to describe EBV DNA levels in peripheral blood as well as concerns with comparison of EBV DNAemia measurement results performed at different institutions even when tests are calibrated using the WHO international standard. The working group concluded that either whole blood or plasma could be used as matrices for EBV DNA measurement; optimal specimen type may be clinical context dependent. Whole blood testing has some advantages for surveillance to inform pre-emptive interventions while plasma testing may be preferred in the setting of clinical symptoms and treatment monitoring. However, EBV DNAemia testing alone was not recommended for PTLD diagnosis. Quantitative EBV DNAemia surveillance to identify patients at risk for PTLD and to inform pre-emptive interventions in patients who are EBV seronegative pre-transplant was recommended. In contrast, with the exception of intestinal transplant recipients or those with recent primary EBV infection prior to SOT, surveillance was not recommended in pediatric SOT recipients EBV seropositive pre-transplant. Implications of viral load kinetic parameters including peak load and viral set point on pre-emptive PTLD prevention monitoring algorithms were discussed. Use of additional markers, including measurements of EBV specific cell mediated immunity was discussed but not recommended though the importance of obtaining additional data from prospective multicenter studies was highlighted as a key research priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jutta Preiksaitis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Upton Allen
- Division of Infectious Diseases and the Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Center, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine M Bollard
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Vikas R Dharnidharka
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Hypertension & Pheresis, Washington University School of Medicine & St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Daniel E Dulek
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Michael Green
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Olivia M Martinez
- Department of Surgery and Program in Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Diana M Metes
- Departments of Surgery and Immunology, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marian G Michaels
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Françoise Smets
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Patrizia Comoli
- Cell Factory & Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lara Danziger-Isakov
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Anne I Dipchand
- Labatt Family Heart Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Judith A Ferry
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas G Gross
- Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Robert J Hayashi
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Britta Höcker
- University Children's Hospital, Pediatrics I, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arnaud G L'Huillier
- Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit and Laboratory of Virology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephen D Marks
- Department of Paediatric Nephrology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - George Vincent Mazariegos
- Department of Surgery, Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James Squires
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Steven H Swerdlow
- Division of Hematopathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ralf U Trappe
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, DIAKO Ev. Diakonie-Krankenhaus Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine II: Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Gary Visner
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven A Webber
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - James D Wilkinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Barshidi A, Ardeshiri K, Ebrahimi F, Alian F, Shekarchi AA, Hojjat-Farsangi M, Jadidi-Niaragh F. The role of exhausted natural killer cells in the immunopathogenesis and treatment of leukemia. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:59. [PMID: 38254135 PMCID: PMC10802000 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01428-2] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The immune responses to cancer cells involve both innate and acquired immune cells. In the meantime, the most attention has been drawn to the adaptive immune cells, especially T cells, while, it is now well known that the innate immune cells, especially natural killer (NK) cells, play a vital role in defending against malignancies. While the immune cells are trying to eliminate malignant cells, cancer cells try to prevent the function of these cells and suppress immune responses. The suppression of NK cells in various cancers can lead to the induction of an exhausted phenotype in NK cells, which will impair their function. Recent studies have shown that the occurrence of this phenotype in various types of leukemic malignancies can affect the prognosis of the disease, and targeting these cells may be considered a new immunotherapy method in the treatment of leukemia. Therefore, a detailed study of exhausted NK cells in leukemic diseases can help both to understand the mechanisms of leukemia progression and to design new treatment methods by creating a deeper understanding of these cells. Here, we will comprehensively review the immunobiology of exhausted NK cells and their role in various leukemic malignancies. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asal Barshidi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Keivan Ardeshiri
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farbod Ebrahimi
- Nanoparticle Process Technology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Fatemeh Alian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Shekarchi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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5
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Maya J. Surveying the Metabolic and Dysfunctional Profiles of T Cells and NK Cells in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11937. [PMID: 37569313 PMCID: PMC10418326 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241511937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Millions globally suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The inflammatory symptoms, illness onset, recorded outbreak events, and physiological variations provide strong indications that ME/CFS, at least sometimes, has an infectious origin, possibly resulting in a chronic unidentified viral infection. Meanwhile, studies exposing generalized metabolic disruptions in ME/CFS have stimulated interest in isolated immune cells with an altered metabolic state. As the metabolism dictates the cellular function, dissecting the biomechanics of dysfunctional immune cells in ME/CFS can uncover states such as exhaustion, senescence, or anergy, providing insights into the consequences of these phenotypes in this disease. Despite the similarities that are seen metabolically between ME/CFS and other chronic viral infections that result in an exhausted immune cell state, immune cell exhaustion has not yet been verified in ME/CFS. This review explores the evidence for immunometabolic dysfunction in ME/CFS T cell and natural killer (NK) cell populations, comparing ME/CFS metabolic and functional features to dysfunctional immune cell states, and positing whether anergy, exhaustion, or senescence could be occurring in distinct immune cell populations in ME/CFS, which is consistent with the hypothesis that ME/CFS is a chronic viral disease. This comprehensive review of the ME/CFS immunometabolic literature identifies CD8+ T cell exhaustion as a probable contender, underscores the need for further investigation into the dysfunctional state of CD4+ T cells and NK cells, and explores the functional implications of molecular findings in these immune-cell types. Comprehending the cause and impact of ME/CFS immune cell dysfunction is critical to understanding the physiological mechanisms of ME/CFS, and developing effective treatments to alleviate the burden of this disabling condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Maya
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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6
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Cocker ATH, Guethlein LA, Parham P. The CD56-CD16+ NK cell subset in chronic infections. Biochem Soc Trans 2023:233017. [PMID: 37140380 DOI: 10.1042/bst20221374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Long-term human diseases can shape the immune system, and natural killer (NK) cells have been documented to differentiate into distinct subsets specifically associated with chronic virus infections. One of these subsets found in large frequencies in HIV-1 are the CD56-CD16+ NK cells, and this population's association with chronic virus infections is the subject of this review. Human NK cells are classically defined by CD56 expression, yet increasing evidence supports the NK cell status of the CD56-CD16+ subset which we discuss herein. We then discuss the evidence linking CD56-CD16+ NK cells to chronic virus infections, and the potential immunological pathways that are altered by long-term infection that could be inducing the population's differentiation. An important aspect of NK cell regulation is their interaction with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class-I molecules, and we highlight work that indicates both virus and genetic-mediated variations in HLA expression that have been linked to CD56-CD16+ NK cell frequencies. Finally, we offer a perspective on CD56-CD16+ NK cell function, taking into account recent work that implies the subset is comparable to CD56+CD16+ NK cell functionality in antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity response, and the definition of CD56-CD16+ NK cell subpopulations with varying degranulation capacity against target cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T H Cocker
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, U.S.A
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, U.S.A
| | - Lisbeth A Guethlein
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, U.S.A
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, U.S.A
| | - Peter Parham
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, U.S.A
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, U.S.A
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7
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Hojjatipour T, Maali A, Azad M. Natural killer cell epigenetic reprogramming in tumors and potential for cancer immunotherapy. Epigenomics 2023; 15:249-266. [PMID: 37125432 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are critical members of the innate lymphoid cell population and have a pivotal role in cancer eradication. NK cell maturation, development and function are tightly regulated by epigenetic modifications, which can also be recruited for cancer propagation and immune escape. NK cells have the potential to be activated against tumors through several epigenetic regulators. Given that epigenetic changes are inducible and reversible, focusing on aberrant epigenetic regulations recruited by tumor cells provides a tremendous opportunity for cancer treatment. This review presents a comprehensive picture of NK cell normal epigenetic regulation and cancer-driven epigenetic modifications. From our perspective, a better understanding of epigenetic regulators that can edit and revise NK cells' activity is a promising avenue for NK cell-based therapy in cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Hojjatipour
- Department of Hematology & Blood Transfusion, Students Research Center, School of Allied Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Maali
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Paramedicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Mehdi Azad
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
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8
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Zaffiri L, Messinger JE, Bush EJ, Staats JS, Patel P, Palmer SM, Weinhold KJ, Snyder LD, Luftig MA. Evaluation of host cellular responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in adult lung transplant patients with EBV-associated diseases. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28724. [PMID: 37185866 PMCID: PMC10481801 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28724] [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: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation is commonly observed in lung transplant recipients (LTRs). However, cellular immune responses to EBV in adult LTRs have not been well described. We aimed to study CD4/CD8 ratio, EBV-specific T cells polyfunctional responses and phenotypic changes in natural killer (NK) cells in adult LTRs presenting with EBV-associated diseases. The CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly decreased in LTRs with EBV DNAemia compared with LTRs without EBV DNAemia and healthy controls (HCs). Stimulation with EBV lytic antigen BZLF1 peptide pools induced significant individual and polyfunctional responses from CD8+ CD69+ T cells. Frequencies of CD8+ CD69+ T cells expressing CD107a were significantly higher in LTRs without EBV DNAemia than in LTRs with DNAemia. Frequencies of CD8+ CD69+ T cells concurrently expressing CD107a, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were significantly greater in LTRs with and without EBV DNAemia than in HCs. Finally, BZLF1 induced significantly higher frequencies of CD8+ CD69+ T cells expressing CD107a and IFN-γ in LTRs without EBV DNAemia when compared with EBNA3B. Frequency of more differentiated CD56dim CD16pos NK cells was significantly decreased in LTRs with EBV DNAemia and PTLD compared with HCs. In conclusion, we noted the presence of significant changes in circulating cellular immune responses to EBV in adult LTRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Zaffiri
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Duke University,
Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joshua E Messinger
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke
University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710
| | - Erika J Bush
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Duke University,
Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Scott M Palmer
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Duke University,
Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Laurie D Snyder
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Duke University,
Durham, NC, USA
| | - Micah A. Luftig
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke
University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710
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9
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Desimio MG, Covino DA, Rivalta B, Cancrini C, Doria M. The Role of NK Cells in EBV Infection and Related Diseases: Current Understanding and Hints for Novel Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061914. [PMID: 36980798 PMCID: PMC10047181 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus most often transmitted during infancy and infecting the vast majority of human beings. Usually, EBV infection is nearly asymptomatic and results in life-long persistency of the virus in a latent state under the control of the host immune system. Yet EBV can cause an acute infectious mononucleosis (IM), particularly in adolescents, and is associated with several malignancies and severe diseases that pose a serious threat to individuals with specific inborn error of immunity (IEI). While there is a general consensus on the requirement for functional CD8 T cells to control EBV infection, the role of the natural killer (NK) cells of the innate arm of immunity is more enigmatic. Here we provide an overview of the interaction between EBV and NK cells in the immunocompetent host as well as in the context of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. Moreover, we report in vitro data on the mechanisms that regulate the capacity of NK cells to recognize and kill EBV-infected cell targets and discuss the potential of recently optimized NK cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of EBV-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Desimio
- Primary Immunodeficiency Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela A Covino
- Primary Immunodeficiency Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
| | - Beatrice Rivalta
- Primary Immunodeficiency Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Cancrini
- Primary Immunodeficiency Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Margherita Doria
- Primary Immunodeficiency Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
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10
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Ghaedrahmati F, Esmaeil N, Abbaspour M. Targeting immune checkpoints: how to use natural killer cells for fighting against solid tumors. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2022; 43:177-213. [PMID: 36585761 PMCID: PMC9926962 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are unique innate immune cells that mediate anti-viral and anti-tumor responses. Thus, they might hold great potential for cancer immunotherapy. NK cell adoptive immunotherapy in humans has shown modest efficacy. In particular, it has failed to demonstrate therapeutic efficiency in the treatment of solid tumors, possibly due in part to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which reduces NK cell immunotherapy's efficiencies. It is known that immune checkpoints play a prominent role in creating an immunosuppressive TME, leading to NK cell exhaustion and tumor immune escape. Therefore, NK cells must be reversed from their dysfunctional status and increased in their effector roles in order to improve the efficiency of cancer immunotherapy. Blockade of immune checkpoints can not only rescue NK cells from exhaustion but also augment their robust anti-tumor activity. In this review, we discussed immune checkpoint blockade strategies with a focus on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells to redirect NK cells to cancer cells in the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhoodeh Ghaedrahmati
- Department of ImmunologySchool of MedicineIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
| | - Nafiseh Esmaeil
- Department of ImmunologySchool of MedicineIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran,Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non‐Communicable DiseaseIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
| | - Maryam Abbaspour
- Department of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyFaculty of PharmacyIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
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11
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Helmin-Basa A, Gackowska L, Balcerowska S, Ornawka M, Naruszewicz N, Wiese-Szadkowska M. The application of the natural killer cells, macrophages and dendritic cells in treating various types of cancer. PHYSICAL SCIENCES REVIEWS 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/psr-2019-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Innate immune cells such as natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) are involved in the surveillance and clearance of tumor. Intensive research has exposed the mechanisms of recognition and elimination of tumor cells by these immune cells as well as how cancers evade immune response. Hence, harnessing the immune cells has proven to be an effective therapy in treating a variety of cancers. Strategies aimed to harness and augment effector function of these cells for cancer therapy have been the subject of intense researches over the decades. Different immunotherapeutic possibilities are currently being investigated for anti-tumor activity. Pharmacological agents known to influence immune cell migration and function include therapeutic antibodies, modified antibody molecules, toll-like receptor agonists, nucleic acids, chemokine inhibitors, fusion proteins, immunomodulatory drugs, vaccines, adoptive cell transfer and oncolytic virus–based therapy. In this review, we will focus on the preclinical and clinical applications of NK cell, macrophage and DC immunotherapy in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Helmin-Basa
- Department of Immunology , Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun , 85-094 Bydgoszcz , Poland
| | - Lidia Gackowska
- Department of Immunology , Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun , 85-094 Bydgoszcz , Poland
| | - Sara Balcerowska
- Department of Immunology , Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun , 85-094 Bydgoszcz , Poland
| | - Marcelina Ornawka
- Department of Immunology , Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun , 85-094 Bydgoszcz , Poland
| | - Natalia Naruszewicz
- Department of Immunology , Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun , 85-094 Bydgoszcz , Poland
| | - Małgorzata Wiese-Szadkowska
- Department of Immunology , Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun , 85-094 Bydgoszcz , Poland
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12
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CD4+ Cytotoxic T Cells Involved in the Development of EBV-Associated Diseases. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080831. [PMID: 35894054 PMCID: PMC9330826 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080831] [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: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Activated cytotoxic CD4 T cells (HLA-DR+) play an important role in the control of EBV infection, especially in cells with latency I (EBNA-1). One of the evasion mechanisms of these latency cells is generated by gp42, which, via peripherally binding to the β1 domain of the β chain of MHC class II (HLA-DQ, -DR, and -DP) of the infected B lymphocyte, can block/alter the HLA class II/T-cell receptor (TCR) interaction, and confer an increased level of susceptibility towards the development of EBV-associated autoimmune diseases or cancer in genetically predisposed individuals (HLA-DRB1* and DQB1* alleles). The main developments predisposing the factors of these diseases are: EBV infection; HLA class II risk alleles; sex; and tissue that is infiltrated with EBV-latent cells, forming ectopic lymphoid structures. Therefore, there is a need to identify treatments for eliminating cells with EBV latency, because the current treatments (e.g., antivirals and rituximab) are ineffective.
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13
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Pesini C, Hidalgo S, Arias MA, Santiago L, Calvo C, Ocariz-Díez M, Isla D, Lanuza PM, Agustín MJ, Galvez EM, Ramírez-Labrada A, Pardo J. PD-1 is expressed in cytotoxic granules of NK cells and rapidly mobilized to the cell membrane following recognition of tumor cells. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2096359. [PMID: 35813574 PMCID: PMC9262365 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2096359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The contribution of the T cell-related inhibitory checkpoint PD-1 to the regulation of NK cell activity is still not clear with contradictory results concerning its expression and role in the modulation of NK cell cytotoxicity. We provide novel key findings on the mechanism involved in the regulation of PD-1 expression on NK cell membrane and its functional consequences for the elimination of cancer cells. In contrast to freshly isolated NK cells from cancer patients, those from healthy donors did not express PD-1 on the cell membrane. However, when healthy NK cells were incubated with tumor target cells, membrane PD-1 expression increased, concurrent with the CD107a surface mobilization. This finding suggested that PD-1 was translocated to the cell membrane during NK cell degranulation after contact with target cells. Indeed, cytosolic PD-1 was expressed in freshly-isolated-NK cells and partly co-localized with CD107a and GzmB, confirming that membrane PD-1 corresponded to a pool of preformed PD-1. Moreover, NK cells that had mobilized PD-1 to the cell membrane presented a significantly reduced anti-tumor activity on PD-L1-expressing-tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, which was partly reversed by using anti-PD-1 blocking antibodies. Our results indicate that NK cells from healthy individuals express cytotoxic granule-associated PD-1, which is rapidly mobilized to the cell membrane after interaction with tumor target cells. This novel finding helps to understand how PD-1 expression is regulated on NK cell membrane and the functional consequences of this expression during the elimination of tumor cells, which will help to design more efficient NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Pesini
- Immunotherapy, Inflammation and Cancer, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sandra Hidalgo
- Immunotherapy, Inflammation and Cancer, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Microbiology, Radiology, Pediatrics and Public Health, ARAID Foundation/University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Maykel A. Arias
- Immunotherapy, Inflammation and Cancer, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Microbiology, Radiology, Pediatrics and Public Health, ARAID Foundation/University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Llipsy Santiago
- Immunotherapy, Inflammation and Cancer, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Microbiology, Radiology, Pediatrics and Public Health, ARAID Foundation/University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlota Calvo
- Immunotherapy, Inflammation and Cancer, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Medical Oncopediatry Department, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Maitane Ocariz-Díez
- Medical Oncology Department, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Hospital Clinico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Dolores Isla
- Medical Oncology Department, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Hospital Clinico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pilar M. Lanuza
- Immunotherapy, Inflammation and Cancer, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - M José Agustín
- Pharmacy Department, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Eva M Galvez
- CSIC, Instituto de Carboquimica (ICB), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ariel Ramírez-Labrada
- Immunotherapy, Inflammation and Cancer, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Unidad de Nanotoxicología e Inmunotoxicología (UNATI), Biomedical Research Center of Aragón (CIBA), Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Julián Pardo
- Immunotherapy, Inflammation and Cancer, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Microbiology, Radiology, Pediatrics and Public Health, ARAID Foundation/University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Myers JA, Schirm D, Bendzick L, Hopps R, Selleck C, Hinderlie P, Felices M, Miller JS. Balanced engagement of activating and inhibitory receptors mitigates human NK cell exhaustion. JCI Insight 2022; 7:150079. [PMID: 35727627 PMCID: PMC9462468 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell exhaustion is caused by chronic exposure to activating stimuli during viral infection, tumorigenesis, and prolonged cytokine treatment. Evidence suggests that exhaustion may play a role in disease progression, however relative to T cell exhaustion, the mechanisms underlying NK cell exhaustion and methods of reversing it are poorly understood. Here, we describe a novel in vitro model of exhaustion that employs plate-bound agonists of the NK cell activating receptors NKp46 and NKG2D to induce canonical exhaustion phenotypes. In this model, prolonged activation results in downregulation of activating receptors, upregulation of checkpoint markers, decreased cytokine production and cytotoxicity in vitro, defects in glycolytic metabolism, and decreased persistence, function, and tumor control in vivo. Furthermore, we discover a beneficial effect of NK cell inhibitory receptor signaling during exhaustion. By simultaneously engaging the inhibitory receptor NKG2A during activation in our model, cytokine production and cytotoxicity defects can be mitigated, suggesting that balancing positive and negative signals integrated by effector NK cells can be beneficial for anti-tumor immunity. Together, these data uncover some of the mechanisms underlying NK cell exhaustion in humans and establish our novel in vitro model as a valuable tool for studying the processes regulating exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Myers
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Dawn Schirm
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Laura Bendzick
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Rachel Hopps
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Carly Selleck
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Peter Hinderlie
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Martin Felices
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
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15
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Hojjatipour T, Aslani S, Salimifard S, Mikaeili H, Hemmatzadeh M, Gholizadeh Navashenaq J, Ahangar Parvin E, Jadidi-Niaragh F, Mohammadi H. NK cells - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 107:108682. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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16
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Mechanisms underlying immune-related adverse events during checkpoint immunotherapy. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:771-785. [PMID: 35621125 DOI: 10.1042/cs20210042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint (IC) proteins are some of the most important factors that tumor cells hijack to escape immune surveillance, and inhibiting ICs to enhance or relieve antitumor immunity has been proven efficient in tumor treatment. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) agents such as antibodies blocking programmed death (PD) 1, PD-1 ligand (PD-L) 1, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA)-4 have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat several types of cancers. Although ICB agents have shown outstanding clinical success, and their application has continued to expand to additional tumor types in the past decade, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been observed in a wide range of patients who receive ICB treatment. Numerous studies have focused on the clinical manifestations and pathology of ICB-related irAEs, but the detailed mechanisms underlying irAEs remain largely unknown. Owing to the wide expression of IC molecules on distinct immune cell subpopulations and the fact that ICB agents generally affect IC-expressing cells, the influences of ICB agents on immune cells in irAEs need to be determined. Here, we discuss the expression and functions of IC proteins on distinct immune cells and the potential mechanism(s) related to ICB-targeted immune cell subsets in irAEs.
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17
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Abstract
The discovery of immune checkpoints (ICs) and the development of specific blockers to relieve immune effector cells from this inhibiting mechanism has changed the view of anti-cancer therapy. In addition to cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and programmed death 1 (PD1), classical ICs of T lymphocytes and recently described also on a fraction of natural killer (NK) cells, several NK cell receptors, including killer immunoglobulin-like inhibitory receptors (KIRs) and NGK2A, have been recognized as checkpoint members typical of the NK cell population. This offers the opportunity of a dual-checkpoint inhibition approach, targeting classical and non-classical ICs and leading to a synergistic therapeutic effect. In this review, we will overview and discuss this new perspective, focusing on the most relevant candidates for this role among the variety of potential NK ICs. Beside listing and defining classical ICs expressed also by NK cells, or non-classical ICs either on T or on NK cells, we will address their role in NK cell survival, chronic stimulation or functional exhaustion, and the potential relevance of this phenomenon on anti-tumor immune response. Furthermore, NK ICs will be proposed as possible new targets for the development of efficient combined immunotherapy, not forgetting the relevant concerns that may be raised on NK IC blockade. Finally, the impact of epigenetic drugs in such a complex therapeutic picture will be briefly addressed.
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18
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Buckle I, Guillerey C. Inhibitory Receptors and Immune Checkpoints Regulating Natural Killer Cell Responses to Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13174263. [PMID: 34503073 PMCID: PMC8428224 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Recent years marked the discovery and increased understanding of the role immune checkpoints play in immunity against cancer. This has revolutionized cancer treatment, saving the lives of many patients. For numerous years the spotlight of success has been directed towards T cells; however, it is now appreciated that other cells play vital roles in this protection. In this review we focused on cytotoxic lymphocytes Natural Killer (NK) cells, which are known to be well equipped in the fight against cancer. We explored the role of well-described and newly emerging inhibitory receptors, including immune checkpoints in regulating NK cell activity against cancer. The knowledge summarized in this review should guide the development of immunotherapies targeting inhibitory receptors with the aim of restoring NK cell responses in cancer patients. Abstract The discovery of immune checkpoints provided a breakthrough for cancer therapy. Immune checkpoints are inhibitory receptors that are up-regulated on chronically stimulated lymphocytes and have been shown to hinder immune responses to cancer. Monoclonal antibodies against the checkpoint molecules PD-1 and CTLA-4 have shown early clinical success against melanoma and are now approved to treat various cancers. Since then, the list of potential candidates for immune checkpoint blockade has dramatically increased. The current paradigm stipulates that immune checkpoint blockade therapy unleashes pre-existing T cell responses. However, there is accumulating evidence that some of these immune checkpoint molecules are also expressed on Natural Killer (NK) cells. In this review, we summarize our latest knowledge about targetable NK cell inhibitory receptors. We discuss the HLA-binding receptors KIRS and NKG2A, receptors binding to nectin and nectin-like molecules including TIGIT, CD96, and CD112R, and immune checkpoints commonly associated with T cells such as PD-1, TIM-3, and LAG-3. We also discuss newly discovered pathways such as IL-1R8 and often overlooked receptors such as CD161 and Siglecs. We detail how these inhibitory receptors might regulate NK cell responses to cancer, and, where relevant, we discuss their implications for therapeutic intervention.
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19
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Nakid-Cordero C, Choquet S, Gauthier N, Balegroune N, Tarantino N, Morel V, Arzouk N, Burrel S, Rousseau G, Charlotte F, Larsen M, Vieillard V, Autran B, Leblond V, Guihot A. Distinct immunopathological mechanisms of EBV-positive and EBV-negative posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:2846-2863. [PMID: 33621411 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
EBV-positive and EBV-negative posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) arise in different immunovirological contexts and might have distinct pathophysiologies. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted a multicentric prospective study with 56 EBV-positive and 39 EBV-negative PTLD patients of the K-VIROGREF cohort, recruited at PTLD diagnosis and before treatment (2013-2019), and compared them to PTLD-free Transplant Controls (TC, n = 21). We measured absolute lymphocyte counts (n = 108), analyzed NK- and T cell phenotypes (n = 49 and 94), and performed EBV-specific functional assays (n = 16 and 42) by multiparameter flow cytometry and ELISpot-IFNγ assays (n = 50). EBV-negative PTLD patients, NK cells overexpressed Tim-3; the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was poorer in patients with a CD4 lymphopenia (CD4+ <300 cells/mm3 , p < .001). EBV-positive PTLD patients presented a profound NK-cell lymphopenia (median = 60 cells/mm3 ) and a high proportion of NK cells expressing PD-1 (vs. TC, p = .029) and apoptosis markers (vs. TC, p < .001). EBV-specific T cells of EBV-positive PTLD patients circulated in low proportions, showed immune exhaustion (p = .013 vs. TC) and poorly recognized the N-terminal portion of EBNA-3A viral protein. Altogether, this broad comparison of EBV-positive and EBV-negative PTLDs highlight distinct patterns of immunopathological mechanisms between these two diseases and provide new clues for immunotherapeutic strategies and PTLD prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Nakid-Cordero
- Sorbonne Université (Univ. Paris 06), INSERM U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Choquet
- Service d'Hématologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Gauthier
- Sorbonne Université (Univ. Paris 06), INSERM U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | | | - Nadine Tarantino
- Sorbonne Université (Univ. Paris 06), INSERM U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,CNRS ERL8255, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France
| | - Véronique Morel
- Service d'Hématologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Nadia Arzouk
- Service de Néphrologie, Urologie et Transplantation Rénale, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Sonia Burrel
- Service de Virologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Géraldine Rousseau
- Service de Chirurgie Digestive, Hépato-Bilio-pancréatique et Transplantation Hépatique, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | | | - Martin Larsen
- Sorbonne Université (Univ. Paris 06), INSERM U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,CNRS ERL8255, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France
| | - Vincent Vieillard
- Sorbonne Université (Univ. Paris 06), INSERM U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,CNRS ERL8255, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France
| | - Brigitte Autran
- Sorbonne Université (Univ. Paris 06), INSERM U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | | | - Amélie Guihot
- Sorbonne Université (Univ. Paris 06), INSERM U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,Département d'Immunologie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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20
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Liu RT, Li W, Guo D, Yang CL, Ding J, Xu JX, Duan RS. Natural killer cells promote the differentiation of follicular helper T cells instead of inducing apoptosis in myasthenia gravis. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 98:107880. [PMID: 34174703 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence has shown that natural killer (NK) cells have an immunoregulatory function in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG). In this study, the phenotype and function of NK cell subsets in peripheral blood of new-onset MG (N-MG) and stable MG (S-MG) patients were explored. Circulating CD56dim and CD56bright NK cells were increased and decreased, respectively, in patients with N-MG and S-MG compared with healthy control (HC). Moreover, all circulating NK cell subsets from N-MG patients showed significantly lower expression of activating receptor NKG2D and production of Interferon (IFN) -γ than that from HC. The killing effects of NK cells on CD4+ T cells and Tfh cells were impaired in MG patients, whereas, they promoted the differentiation and activation of Tfh cells. These data indicated that the immune-regulation of NK cells on CD4+ T cells and Tfh cells in MG patients was abnormal, which may contribute to the immune-pathological mechanism of MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Ting Liu
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250014, PR China; Department of Neurology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, Shandong Province, PR China
| | - Wei Li
- The Neurosurgical Department, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, Shandong Province, PR China
| | - Dong Guo
- Department of Neurology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, Shandong Province, PR China
| | - Chun-Lin Yang
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250014, PR China
| | - Jie Ding
- Central Laboratory of Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, PR China
| | - Jian-Xin Xu
- Department of Neurology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, Shandong Province, PR China
| | - Rui-Sheng Duan
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250014, PR China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Institute of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China.
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21
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Pelosi A, Fiore PF, Di Matteo S, Veneziani I, Caruana I, Ebert S, Munari E, Moretta L, Maggi E, Azzarone B. Pediatric Tumors-Mediated Inhibitory Effect on NK Cells: The Case of Neuroblastoma and Wilms' Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102374. [PMID: 34069127 PMCID: PMC8156764 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Neuroblastoma (NB) and Wilms’ tumor (WT) are the most common childhood solid extracranial tumors. The current treatments consist of a combination of surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy in high-risk patients. Such treatments are responsible for significant adverse events requiring long-term monitoring. Thus, a main challenge in NB and WT treatment is the development of novel therapeutic strategies to eliminate or minimize the adverse effects. The characterization of the immune environment could allow for the identification of new therapeutic targets. Herein, we described the interaction between these tumors and innate immune cells, in particular natural killer cells and monocytes. The detection of the immunosuppressive activity of specific NB and WT tumor cells on natural killer cells and on monocytes could offer novel cellular and molecular targets for an effective immunotherapy of NB and WT. Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in the control of cancer development, progression and metastatic dissemination. However, tumor cells develop an array of strategies capable of impairing the activation and function of the immune system, including NK cells. In this context, a major event is represented by the establishment of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) composed of stromal cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, tumor-associated macrophages, regulatory T cells and cancer cells themselves. The different immunoregulatory cells infiltrating the TME, through the release of several immunosuppressive molecules or by cell-to-cell interactions, cause an impairment of the recruitment of NK cells and other lymphocytes with effector functions. The different mechanisms by which stromal and tumor cells impair NK cell function have been particularly explored in adult solid tumors and, in less depth, investigated and discussed in a pediatric setting. In this review, we will compare pediatric and adult solid malignancies concerning the respective mechanisms of NK cell inhibition, highlighting novel key data in neuroblastoma and Wilms’ tumor, two of the most frequent pediatric extracranial solid tumors. Indeed, both tumors are characterized by the presence of stromal cells acting through the release of immunosuppressive molecules. In addition, specific tumor cell subsets inhibit NK cell cytotoxic function by cell-to-cell contact mechanisms likely controlled by the transcriptional coactivator TAZ. These findings could lead to a more performant diagnostic approach and to the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies targeting the identified cellular and molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pelosi
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (P.F.F.); (S.D.M.); (I.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Piera Filomena Fiore
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (P.F.F.); (S.D.M.); (I.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Sabina Di Matteo
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (P.F.F.); (S.D.M.); (I.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Irene Veneziani
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (P.F.F.); (S.D.M.); (I.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Children’s Hospital of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (I.C.); (S.E.)
| | - Stefan Ebert
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Children’s Hospital of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (I.C.); (S.E.)
| | - Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (P.F.F.); (S.D.M.); (I.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Enrico Maggi
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (P.F.F.); (S.D.M.); (I.V.); (L.M.)
- Correspondence: (E.M.); (B.A.)
| | - Bruno Azzarone
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (P.F.F.); (S.D.M.); (I.V.); (L.M.)
- Correspondence: (E.M.); (B.A.)
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22
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Lenart M, Kluczewska A, Szaflarska A, Rutkowska-Zapała M, Wąsik M, Ziemiańska-Pięta A, Kobylarz K, Pituch-Noworolska A, Siedlar M. Selective downregulation of natural killer activating receptors on NK cells and upregulation of PD-1 expression on T cells in children with severe and/or recurrent Herpes simplex virus infections. Immunobiology 2021; 226:152097. [PMID: 34015527 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2021.152097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Severe, recurrent or atypical Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are still posing clinical and diagnostic problem in clinical immunology facilities. However, the molecular background of this disorder is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of activating receptors on NK cells (CD16, NKp46, NKG2D, NKp80, 2B4, CD48 and NTB-A) and checkpoint molecule PD-1 on T lymphocytes and NK cells, in patients with severe and/or recurrent infections with HSV and age-matched healthy control subjects. As a result, we noticed that patients with severe and/or recurrent infection with HSV had significantly lower percentage of CD16brightCD56dim and higher percentage of CD16dimCD56bright NK cell subsets, when compared to control subjects, which may be associated with abnormal NK cell maturation during chronic HSV infection. Patients had also significantly downregulated expression of CD16 receptor on CD16bright NK cells. The expression of activating receptors was significantly reduced on patients' NK cells - either both the percentage of NK cells expressing the receptor and MFI of its expression (NKp46, NKp80 and 2B4 on CD16brightCD56dim cells and NKp46 on CD16dimCD56bright cells) or only MFI (NKG2D on both NK cell subsets). It should be noted that the reduction of receptor expression was limited to NK cells, since there was no differences in the percentage of receptor-positive cells or MFI on T cells. However, NTB-A receptor was the only one which expression was not only simultaneously changed in patients' NK and T cells, but also significantly upregulated on CD16dimCD56bright NK cell and CD8+ cell subsets. Patients had also upregulated proportion of CD4+ T cells expressing PD-1. Thus, we suggest that an increased percentage of PD-1+ cells may represent an independent indirect mechanism of downregulation of antiviral response, separate from the reduction of NK cell activating receptors expression. Altogether, our studies indicate two possible mechanisms which may promote perpetuation of HSV infection: 1) selective inhibition of activating receptors on NK cells, but not on T cells, and 2) upregulation of checkpoint molecule PD-1 on CD4+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzena Lenart
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Kluczewska
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Szaflarska
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Rutkowska-Zapała
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Wąsik
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Ziemiańska-Pięta
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kobylarz
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Pituch-Noworolska
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow, Poland
| | - Maciej Siedlar
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow, Poland.
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23
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KSHV infection drives poorly cytotoxic CD56-negative natural killer cell differentiation in vivo upon KSHV/EBV dual infection. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109056. [PMID: 33951431 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Herpesvirus infections shape the human natural killer (NK) cell compartment. While Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) expands immature NKG2A+ NK cells, human cytomegalovirus (CMV) drives accumulation of adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells. Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a close relative of EBV, and both are associated with lymphomas, including primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), which nearly always harbors both viruses. In this study, KSHV dual infection of mice with reconstituted human immune system components leads to the accumulation of CD56-CD16+CD38+CXCR6+ NK cells. CD56-CD16+ NK cells were also more frequently found in KSHV-seropositive Kenyan children. This NK cell subset is poorly cytotoxic against otherwise-NK-cell-susceptible and antibody-opsonized targets. Accordingly, NK cell depletion does not significantly alter KSHV infection in humanized mice. These data suggest that KSHV might escape NK-cell-mediated immune control by driving CD56-CD16+ NK cell differentiation.
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24
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Natural Killer Cells in Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081836. [PMID: 33921413 PMCID: PMC8068932 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are life-threatening complications arising after solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantations. Although the majority of these lymphoproliferations are of B cell origin, and are frequently associated with primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection or reactivation in the post-transplant period, rare cases of T cell and natural killer (NK) cell-originated PTLDs have also been described. A general assumption is that PTLDs result from the impairment of anti-viral and anti-tumoral immunosurveillance due to the long-term use of immunosuppressants in transplant recipients. T cell impairment is known to play a critical role in the immune-pathogenesis of post-transplant EBV-linked complications, while the role of NK cells has been less investigated, and is probably different between EBV-positive and EBV-negative PTLDs. As a part of the innate immune response, NK cells are critical for protecting hosts during the early response to virus-induced tumors. The complexity of their function is modulated by a myriad of activating and inhibitory receptors expressed on cell surfaces. This review outlines our current understanding of NK cells in the pathogenesis of PTLD, and discusses their potential implications for current PTLD therapies and novel NK cell-based therapies for the containment of these disorders.
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25
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Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Ann Hematol 2021; 100:865-878. [PMID: 33547921 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-021-04433-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a severe complication of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), occurring in a setting of immune suppression and dysregulation. The disease is in most cases driven by the reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which induces B cell proliferation through different pathomechanisms. Beyond EBV, many factors, variably dependent on HSCT-related immunosuppression, contribute to the disease development. PTLDs share several features with primary lymphomas, though clinical manifestations may be different, frequently depending on extranodal involvement. According to the WHO classification, histologic examination is required for diagnosis, allowing also to distinguish among PTLD subtypes. However, in cases of severe and abrupt presentation, a diagnosis based on a combination of imaging studies and EBV-load determination is accepted. Therapies include prophylactic and pre-emptive interventions, aimed at eradicating EBV proliferation before symptoms onset, and targeted treatments. Among them, rituximab has emerged as first-line option, possibly combined with a reduction of immunosuppression, while EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes are effective and safe alternatives. Though prognosis remains poor, survival has markedly improved following the adoption of the aforementioned treatments. The validation of innovative, combined approaches is the future challenge.
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26
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Cho MM, Quamine AE, Olsen MR, Capitini CM. Programmed cell death protein 1 on natural killer cells: fact or fiction? J Clin Invest 2021; 130:2816-2819. [PMID: 32391808 DOI: 10.1172/jci137051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) has become one of the most investigated targets for cancer immunotherapy. Most research has centered on inhibiting PD-1 on T cells, but there is increased interest in understanding the role of PD-1 on NK cells. While the expression of PD-1 on NK cells has been controversial, with papers publishing contradictory results in multiple models, there is increased clinical interest in NK and PD-1 immunotherapy. In this issue of the JCI, Judge et al. comprehensively explore the lack of PD-1 expression on murine, canine, and human NK cells and the clinical implication of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Christian M Capitini
- Department of Pediatrics and.,Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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27
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Solorzano-Ibarra F, Alejandre-Gonzalez AG, Ortiz-Lazareno PC, Bastidas-Ramirez BE, Zepeda-Moreno A, Tellez-Bañuelos MC, Banu N, Carrillo-Garibaldi OJ, Chavira-Alvarado A, Bueno-Topete MR, Del Toro-Arreola S, Haramati J. Immune checkpoint expression on peripheral cytotoxic lymphocytes in cervical cancer patients: moving beyond the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Clin Exp Immunol 2021; 204:78-95. [PMID: 33306195 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapy to reverse natural killer (NK) and T cell exhaustion has emerged as a promising treatment in various cancers. While anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) pembrolizumab has recently gained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, other checkpoint molecules, such as T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin (Ig) and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM) domains (TIGIT) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (Tim-3), have yet to be fully explored in this disease. We report expression of TIGIT, Tim-3 and PD-1 on subsets of peripheral blood NK (CD56dim/neg CD16bright/dim/neg and CD56bright CD16dim/neg ) and T cells. The percentages of these cells were increased in women with cervical cancer and pre-malignant lesions. PD-1+ NK and T cells were likely to co-express TIGIT and/or Tim-3. These cells, with an apparently 'exhausted' phenotype, were augmented in patients. A subset of cells were also natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D)- and DNAX accessory molecule 1 (DNAM-1)-positive. PD-1int and PD-1high T cells were notably increased in cervical cancer. Soluble programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) was higher in cancer patient blood versus healthy donors and we observed a positive correlation between sPD-L1 and PD-1+ T cells in women with low-grade lesions. Within the cancer group, there were no significant correlations between sPD-L1 levels and cervical cancer stage. However, when comparing cancer versus healthy donors, we observed an inverse association between sPD-L1 and total T cells and a correlation between sPD-L1 and CD56dim NK cells. Our results may show an overview of the immune response towards pre-cancerous lesions and cervical cancer, perhaps giving an early clue as to whom to administer blocking therapies. The increase of multiple checkpoint markers may aid in identifying patients uniquely responsive to combined antibody therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Solorzano-Ibarra
- Instituto de Investigación en Enfermedades Crónico Degenerativas, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
| | - A G Alejandre-Gonzalez
- Instituto de Investigación en Enfermedades Crónico Degenerativas, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
| | - P C Ortiz-Lazareno
- División de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, México
| | - B E Bastidas-Ramirez
- Instituto de Investigación en Enfermedades Crónico Degenerativas, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
| | - A Zepeda-Moreno
- Instituto de Investigación en Cáncer en la Infancia y Adolescencia, Departamento de Clínicas de la Reproducción Humana, CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
| | - M C Tellez-Bañuelos
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
| | - N Banu
- Instituto de Investigación en Enfermedades Crónico Degenerativas, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
| | - O J Carrillo-Garibaldi
- Clínica de Tumores Pélvicos, Instituto Jalisciense de Cancerología, Organismo Público Descentralizado, Guadalajara, México
| | - A Chavira-Alvarado
- Clínica de Displasias, Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara "Dr Juan I. Menchaca", Organismo Público Descentralizado, Guadalajara, México
| | - M R Bueno-Topete
- Instituto de Investigación en Enfermedades Crónico Degenerativas, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
| | - S Del Toro-Arreola
- Instituto de Investigación en Enfermedades Crónico Degenerativas, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México.,Laboratorio de Inmunología, Departamento de Fisiología, CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
| | - J Haramati
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
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28
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Mele D, Oliviero B, Mantovani S, Ludovisi S, Lombardi A, Genco F, Gulminetti R, Novati S, Mondelli MU, Varchetta S. Adaptive Natural Killer Cell Functional Recovery in Hepatitis C Virus Cured Patients. Hepatology 2021; 73:79-90. [PMID: 32281670 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Current evidence suggests that dysfunctional natural killer (NK) cell responses during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can be restored after viral eradication with direct acting antivirals (DAAs). However, the fate of the recently described adaptive NK cell population, endowed with increased ability to mediate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), during HCV infection is poorly defined, while no study has explored the effects of DAAs on this NK subset. APPROACH AND RESULTS We performed multicolor flow cytometry to investigate CD57+ FcεRIγneg adaptive and FcεRIγpos conventional NK cell phenotype and function before and after DAA treatment in 59 patients chronically infected with HCV, 39 with advanced liver fibrosis, and 20 with mild-moderate liver fibrosis. Moreover, bulk NK cell phenotype and function were analyzed after cytokine activation following contact with K562 target cells. The proportion of FcεRIγneg NK cells in patients with HCV was associated with increased HCV load at baseline, and it was significantly reduced after treatment. Patients with an advanced fibrosis stage displayed increased NK cell activation and exhaustion markers that normalized after therapy. Of note, adaptive NK cells from patients with HCV were characterized by increased programmed death receptor 1 expression and reduced ADCC activity at baseline. DAA treatment restored ADCC ability and reduced programmed death receptor 1 expression. CONCLUSIONS HCV profoundly affects the frequency, phenotype, and function of adaptive NK cells. DAA therapy restores a normal adaptive NK phenotype and enhances interferon-gamma production by this cell subset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalila Mele
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - Barbara Oliviero
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania Mantovani
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Ludovisi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrea Lombardi
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Genco
- Virology and Microbiology Service, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Gulminetti
- Division of Infectious Diseases I, Department of Medical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefano Novati
- Division of Infectious Diseases I, Department of Medical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mario U Mondelli
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania Varchetta
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Pavia, Italy
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29
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Liu X, Hogg GD, DeNardo DG. Rethinking immune checkpoint blockade: 'Beyond the T cell'. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e001460. [PMID: 33468555 PMCID: PMC7817791 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical success of immune checkpoint inhibitors has highlighted the central role of the immune system in cancer control. Immune checkpoint inhibitors can reinvigorate anti-cancer immunity and are now the standard of care in a number of malignancies. However, research on immune checkpoint blockade has largely been framed with the central dogma that checkpoint therapies intrinsically target the T cell, triggering the tumoricidal potential of the adaptive immune system. Although T cells undoubtedly remain a critical piece of the story, mounting evidence, reviewed herein, indicates that much of the efficacy of checkpoint therapies may be attributable to the innate immune system. Emerging research suggests that T cell-directed checkpoint antibodies such as anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) can impact innate immunity by both direct and indirect pathways, which may ultimately shape clinical efficacy. However, the mechanisms and impacts of these activities have yet to be fully elucidated, and checkpoint therapies have potentially beneficial and detrimental effects on innate antitumor immunity. Further research into the role of innate subsets during checkpoint blockade may be critical for developing combination therapies to help overcome checkpoint resistance. The potential of checkpoint therapies to amplify innate antitumor immunity represents a promising new field that can be translated into innovative immunotherapies for patients fighting refractory malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuting Liu
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Graham D Hogg
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - David G DeNardo
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, Mo, USA
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30
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Frank K, Paust S. Dynamic Natural Killer Cell and T Cell Responses to Influenza Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:425. [PMID: 32974217 PMCID: PMC7461885 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza viruses have perplexed scientists for over a hundred years. Yearly vaccines limit their spread, but they do not prevent all infections. Therapeutic treatments for those experiencing severe infection are limited; further advances are held back by insufficient understanding of the fundamental immune mechanisms responsible for immunopathology. NK cells and T cells are essential in host responses to influenza infection. They produce immunomodulatory cytokines and mediate the cytotoxic response to infection. An imbalance in NK and T cell responses can lead to two outcomes: excessive inflammation and tissue damage or insufficient anti-viral functions and uncontrolled infection. The main cause of death in influenza patients is the former, mediated by hyperinflammatory responses termed “cytokine storm.” NK cells and T cells contribute to cytokine storm, but they are also required for viral clearance. Many studies have attempted to distinguish protective and pathogenic components of the NK cell and T cell influenza response, but it has become clear that they are dynamic and integrated processes. This review will analyze how NK cell and T cell effector functions during influenza infection affect the host response and correlate with morbidity and mortality outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Frank
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States.,The Skaggs Graduate Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Silke Paust
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States.,The Skaggs Graduate Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
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31
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Devine K, Ranganathan S, Mazariegos G, Bond G, Soltys K, Ganoza A, Sun Q, Sindhi R. Induction regimens and post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder after pediatric intestinal transplantation: Single-center experience. Pediatr Transplant 2020; 24:e13723. [PMID: 32424963 DOI: 10.1111/petr.13723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric recipients of intestinal transplants have a high incidence of PTLD, but the impact of specific induction immunosuppression agents is unclear. In this single-center retrospective review from 2000 to 2017, we describe the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of PTLD after primary intestinal transplantation in 173 children with or without liver, after induction with rATG, alemtuzumab, or anti-IL-2R agents. Thirty cases of PTLD occurred among 28 children, 28 EBV+ and 2 EBV-. Although not statistically significant, the PTLD incidence was higher after isolated intestinal transplant compared with liver-inclusive allograft (19.3% vs 13.3%, P = .393) and after induction with anti-IL-2R antibody and alemtuzumab compared with rATG (28.6% and 27.3% vs 13.3%, P = .076). The 30 PTLD cases included 13 monomorphic PTLD, 13 polymorphic PTLD, one spindle cell, one Burkitt lymphoma, and two cases too necrotic to classify. After reduction of immunosuppression, management was based on disease histology and extent. Resection with or without rituximab was used for polymorphic tumors and limited disease extent, whereas chemotherapy was used for diffuse disease. Of the 28 patients, 11 recovered with functioning allografts (39.3%), 10 recovered after enterectomy (35.7%), and seven patients died (25%), three due to PTLD and four due to other causes. All who died of progressive PTLD had received chemotherapy, highlighting the mortality of PTLD, toxicity of treatment and need for novel agents. Alemtuzumab is no longer used for induction at our center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin Devine
- Division of Oncology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - George Mazariegos
- Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Geoffrey Bond
- Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kyle Soltys
- Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Armando Ganoza
- Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Qing Sun
- Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Rakesh Sindhi
- Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Merino AM, Kim H, Miller JS, Cichocki F. Unraveling exhaustion in adaptive and conventional NK cells. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 108:1361-1368. [PMID: 32726880 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.4mr0620-091r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune exhaustion in T cells significantly impacts their ability to control malignancies and infections, and its discovery has led to revolutionary therapies for cancer in the form of checkpoint blockade. NK cells, like T cells, are lymphocytes that recognize virally infected and malignantly transformed cells. However, it remains unclear if NK cells are similarly susceptible to exhaustion. In this review, the aims are to summarize what is currently known and to identify key areas of variability that skew the scientific literature on NK cell exhaustion. A lack of consensus on the defining features of NK cell dysfunctional states such as senescence, suppression, and exhaustion has made a comparison between studies difficult. There are also significant differences in the biology of NK cell subsets with long-lived, adaptive NK cells sharing an epigenetic signature closer to memory CD8+ T cells than to conventional NK cells. Very different checkpoint receptor expression and effector functions have been shown in adaptive versus conventional NK cells chronically exposed to activating signals. Adaptive NK cells develop in individuals with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and well over half of the human population worldwide is CMV seropositive by adulthood. Despite this high prevalence, most studies do not account or control for this population. This may contribute to some of the variability reported in the literature on checkpoint receptor expression on NK cells. In this review, the protective role that exhaustion plays in T cells will also be discussed and the evidence for a similar phenomenon in NK cells will be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee M Merino
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Hansol Kim
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Miller
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Frank Cichocki
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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33
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Biomarkers for PTLD diagnosis and therapies. Pediatr Nephrol 2020; 35:1173-1181. [PMID: 31240394 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-019-04284-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) represents a spectrum of lymphoproliferative disorders and is a serious complication of pediatric transplantation. The majority of PTLD are associated with Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and the characteristic EBV+ B cell lymphomas are the leading post-transplant malignancy in children. EBV+ PTLD remains a formidable issue in pediatric transplantation and is thought to result from impaired immunity to EBV as a result of immunosuppression. However, the key viral and immune factors that determine whether EBV+ PTLD develops remain unknown. Recently, there has been much interest in developing biomarkers in order to improve and achieve more personalized approaches, in the clinical diagnosis, management, and treatment of EBV+ PTLD. Here, we review the status of immune-, viral-, and B cell lymphoma-derived candidates for biomarkers of EBV+ PTLD.
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Lam JKP, Azzi T, Hui KF, Wong AMG, McHugh D, Caduff N, Chan KH, Münz C, Chiang AKS. Co-infection of Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr Virus Diminishes the Frequency of CD56 dimNKG2A +KIR - NK Cells and Contributes to Suboptimal Control of EBV in Immunosuppressed Children With Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1231. [PMID: 32625211 PMCID: PMC7311655 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01231] [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: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication, frequently associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which develops after solid organ or stem cell transplantation. Immunosuppression received by transplant recipients has a significant impact on the development of PTLD by suppressing the function of T cells. The preferential proliferation of NKG2A-positive natural killer (NK) cells during primary symptomatic EBV infection known as infectious mononucleosis (IM) and their reactivity toward EBV-infected B cells point to a role of NK cell in the immune control of EBV. However, NK cell-mediated immune response to EBV in immunosuppressed transplant recipients who develop PTLD remains unclear. In this study, we longitudinally analyzed the phenotype and function of different NK cell subsets in a cohort of pediatric liver transplant patients who develop PTLD and compared them to those of children with IM. We found persistently elevated plasma EBV DNA levels in the PTLD patients indicating suboptimal anti-viral immune control. PTLD patients had markedly decreased frequency of CD56dimNKG2A+Killer Immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)− NK cells from the time of diagnosis through remission compared to those of IM patients. Whilst the proliferation of CD56dimNKG2A+KIR− NK cells was diminished in PTLD patients, this NK cell subset maintained its ability to potently degranulate against EBV-infected B cells. Compared to cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive and -negative IM patients, PTLD patients co-infected with CMV and EBV had significantly higher levels of a CMV-associated CD56dimNKG2ChiCD57+NKG2A−KIR+ NK cell subset accumulating at the expense of NKG2A+KIR− NK cells. Taken together, our data indicate that co-infection of CMV and EBV diminishes the frequency of CD56dimNKG2A+KIR− NK cells and contributes to suboptimal control of EBV in immunosuppressed children with PTLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice K P Lam
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Tarik Azzi
- Experimental Infectious Diseases and Cancer Research, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - K F Hui
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Aikha M G Wong
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Donal McHugh
- Department of Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Caduff
- Department of Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - K H Chan
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Christian Münz
- Department of Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alan K S Chiang
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
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35
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Trefny MP, Kaiser M, Stanczak MA, Herzig P, Savic S, Wiese M, Lardinois D, Läubli H, Uhlenbrock F, Zippelius A. PD-1 + natural killer cells in human non-small cell lung cancer can be activated by PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:1505-1517. [PMID: 32296919 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02558-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are critically involved in anti-tumor immunity by targeting tumor cells. In this study, we show that intratumoral NK cells from NSCLC patients expressed elevated levels of the immune checkpoint receptor PD-1 on their cell surface. In contrast to the expression of activating receptors, PD-1+ NK cells co-expressed more inhibitory receptors compared to PD-1- NK cells. Intratumoral NK cells were less functional compared to peripheral NK cells, and this dysfunction correlated with PD-1 expression. Tumor cells expressing PD-L1 inhibited the functionality of PD-1+ NK cells in ex vivo models and induced PD-1 clustering at the immunological synapse between NK cells and tumor cells. Notably, treatment with PD-1 blockade was able to reverse PD-L1-mediated inhibition of PD-1+ NK cells. Our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of PD-1+ NK cells in immune checkpoint blockade and could guide the development of NK cell-stimulating agents in combination with PD-1 blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel P Trefny
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Monika Kaiser
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michal A Stanczak
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Petra Herzig
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Spasenija Savic
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mark Wiese
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Didier Lardinois
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Heinz Läubli
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Uhlenbrock
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alfred Zippelius
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031, Basel, Switzerland. .,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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36
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PD-1 Expression on NK Cells in Malaria-Exposed Individuals Is Associated with Diminished Natural Cytotoxicity and Enhanced Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00711-19. [PMID: 31907195 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00711-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are key effector cells of innate resistance capable of destroying tumors and virus-infected cells through cytotoxicity and rapid cytokine production. The control of NK cell responses is complex and only partially understood. PD-1 is an inhibitory receptor that regulates T cell function, but a role for PD-1 in regulating NK cell function is only beginning to emerge. Here, we investigated PD-1 expression on NK cells in children and adults in Mali in a longitudinal analysis before, during, and after infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. We found that NK cells transiently upregulate PD-1 expression and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in some individuals during acute febrile malaria. Furthermore, the percentage of PD-1 expressing NK cells increases with age and cumulative malaria exposure. Consistent with this, NK cells of malaria-naive adults upregulated PD-1 following P. falciparum stimulation in vitro Additionally, functional in vitro studies revealed that PD-1 expression on NK cells is associated with diminished natural cytotoxicity but enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). These data indicate that PD-1+ NK cells expand in the context of chronic immune activation and suggest that PD-1 may contribute to skewing NK cells toward enhanced ADCC during infections such as malaria.
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37
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Judge SJ, Murphy WJ, Canter RJ. Characterizing the Dysfunctional NK Cell: Assessing the Clinical Relevance of Exhaustion, Anergy, and Senescence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:49. [PMID: 32117816 PMCID: PMC7031155 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing body of literature demonstrating the importance of T cell exhaustion in regulating and shaping immune responses to pathogens and cancer. Simultaneously, the parallel development of therapeutic antibodies targeting inhibitory molecules associated with immune exhaustion (such as PD-1, but also TIGIT, and LAG-3) has led to a revolution in oncology with dramatic benefits in a growing list of solid and hematologic malignancies. Given this success in reinvigorating exhausted T cells and the related anti-tumor effects, there are increasing efforts to apply immune checkpoint blockade to other exhausted immune cells beyond T cells. One approach involves the reinvigoration of “exhausted” NK cells, a non-T, non-B lymphoid cell of the innate immune system. However, in contrast to the more well-defined and established molecular, genetic, and immunophenotypic characteristics of T cell exhaustion, a consensus on the defining functional and phenotypic features of NK “exhaustion” is less clear. As is well-known from T cell biology, separate and distinct molecular and cellular processes including senescence, anergy and exhaustion can lead to diminished immune effector function with different implications for immune regulation and recovery. For NK cells, it is unclear if exhaustion, anergy, and senescence entail separate and distinct entities of dysfunction, though all are typically characterized by decreased effector function or proliferation. In this review, we seek to define these distinct spheres of NK cell dysfunction, analyzing how they have been shown to impact NK biology and clinical applications, and ultimately highlight key characteristics in NK cell function, particularly in relation to the role of “exhaustion.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean J Judge
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - William J Murphy
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Robert J Canter
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
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Khan M, Arooj S, Wang H. NK Cell-Based Immune Checkpoint Inhibition. Front Immunol 2020; 11:167. [PMID: 32117298 PMCID: PMC7031489 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy, with an increasing number of therapeutic dimensions, is becoming an important mode of treatment for cancer patients. The inhibition of immune checkpoints, which are the source of immune escape for various cancers, is one such immunotherapeutic dimension. It has mainly been aimed at T cells in the past, but NK cells are a newly emerging target. Simultaneously, the number of checkpoints identified has been increasing in recent times. In addition to the classical NK cell receptors KIRs, LIRs, and NKG2A, several other immune checkpoints have also been shown to cause dysfunction of NK cells in various cancers and chronic infections. These checkpoints include the revolutionized CTLA-4, PD-1, and recently identified B7-H3, as well as LAG-3, TIGIT & CD96, TIM-3, and the most recently acknowledged checkpoint-members of the Siglecs family (Siglec-7/9), CD200 and CD47. An interesting dimension of immune checkpoints is their candidacy for dual-checkpoint inhibition, resulting in therapeutic synergism. Furthermore, the combination of immune checkpoint inhibition with other NK cell cytotoxicity restoration strategies could also strengthen its efficacy as an antitumor therapy. Here, we have undertaken a comprehensive review of the literature to date regarding NK cell-based immune checkpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Khan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Sumbal Arooj
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, Pakistan
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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39
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A novel immature natural killer cell subpopulation predicts relapse after cord blood transplantation. Blood Adv 2019; 3:4117-4130. [PMID: 31821460 PMCID: PMC6963241 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019000835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are highly heterogeneous, with vast phenotypic and functional diversity at the single-cell level. They are involved in the innate immune response against malignant and virus-infected cells. To understand the effect of NK diversity during immune recovery on the antitumor response after cord blood transplantation (CBT), we used high-dimensional mass cytometry and the metrics of NK cell diversity to study the NK cell repertoire in serial samples from 43 CBT recipients. A higher-diversity index based on single-cell combinatorial phenotypes was significantly associated with a lower risk for relapse after CBT (P = .005). Cytomegalovirus reactivation was a major factor in the development of a more diverse NK repertoire after CBT. Notably, we identified a group of patients whose CB-derived NK cells after transplantation possessed an immature phenotype (CB-NKim), characterized by poor effector function and a low diversity index. Frequencies of CB-NKim of 11.8% or higher during the early post-CBT recovery phase were highly predictive for relapse (area under the curve [AUC], 0.979), a finding that was validated in a second independent cohort of patients (n = 25; AUC, 0.977). Moreover, we showed that the maturation, diversity, and acquisition of effector function by CB-NKim early after CBT were driven by interleukin 15. Our data indicate that the diversity of the NK cell repertoire after CBT contributes importantly to the risk for subsequent relapse. We suggest that the use of diversity metrics and high-dimensional mass cytometry may be useful tools in predicting clinical outcomes and informing the design of therapeutic strategies to prevent relapse after CBT.
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40
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Skewed T cell responses to Epstein-Barr virus in long-term asymptomatic kidney transplant recipients. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224211. [PMID: 31639143 PMCID: PMC6804993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) abnormally replicate the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). To better understand how long-term immunosuppression impacts the immune control of this EBV re-emergence, we systematically compared 10 clinically stable KTRs to 30 healthy controls (HCs). The EBV-specific T cell responses were determined in both groups by multiparameter flow cytometry with intra cellular cytokine staining (KTRs n = 10; HCs n = 15) and ELISpot-IFNγ assays (KTRs n = 7; HCs n = 7). The T/B/NK cell counts (KTRs n = 10; HCs n = 30) and the NK/T cell differentiation and activation phenotypes (KTRs n = 10; HCs n = 15/30) were also measured. We show that in KTRs, the Th1 effector CD4+ T cell responses against latent EBV proteins are weak (2/7 responders). Conversely, the frequencies total EBV-specific CD8+T cells are conserved in KTRs (n = 10) and span a wider range of EBNA-3A peptides (5/7responders) than in HCs (5/7responders). Those modifications of the EBV-specific T cell response were associated with a profound CD4+ T cell lymphopenia in KTRs compared to HCs, involving the naïve CD4+ T cell subset, and a persistent activation of highly-differentiated senescent CD8+ T cells. The proportion of total NK / CD8+ T cells expressing PD-1 was also increased in KTRs. Noteworthy, PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells normalized with time after transplantation. In conclusion, we show modifications of the EBV-specific cellular immunity in long term transplant recipients. This may be the result of both persistent EBV antigenic stimulation and profound immunosuppression induced by anti-rejection treatments. These findings provide new insights into the immunopathology of EBV infection after renal transplantation.
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41
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Bi J, Tian Z. NK Cell Dysfunction and Checkpoint Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1999. [PMID: 31552017 PMCID: PMC6736636 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells play important roles in the innate immune responses against tumors. The effector function of NK cells relies on the integration of activating and inhibitory signals. Emerging checkpoint receptors and molecules are being revealed to mediate NK cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment. Inhibition of some NK cell surface checkpoint receptors has displayed the potential to reverse NK cell dysfunction in tumors, and to boost anti-tumor immunity, both in clinical trials (anti-KIR and anti-NKG2A), and in preclinical studies (e.g., anti-TIGIT, and anti-CD96). To fully exploit the potential of NK-based checkpoint immunotherapy, more understanding of the regional features of NK cells in the tumor microenvironment is required. This will provide valuable information regarding the dynamic nature of NK cell immune response against tumors, as well as novel checkpoints or pathways to be targeted. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in the understanding of NK cell dysfunction in tumors, as well as emerging strategies of NK-based checkpoint immunotherapy for tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Bi
- Shenzhen Laboratory of Antibody Engineering, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhigang Tian
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
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42
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Freund-Brown J, Chirino L, Kambayashi T. Strategies to enhance NK cell function for the treatment of tumors and infections. Crit Rev Immunol 2019; 38:105-130. [PMID: 29953390 DOI: 10.1615/critrevimmunol.2018025248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells equipped with the ability to rapidly kill stressed cells that are neoplastic or virally infected. These cells are especially important in settings where these stressed cells downregulate MHC class I molecules and evade recognition by cytotoxic T cells. However, the activity of NK cells alone is often suboptimal to fully control tumor growth or to clear viral infections. Thus, the enhancement of NK cell function is necessary to fully harness their antitumor or antiviral potential. In this review, we discuss how NK cell function can be augmented by the modulation of signal transduction pathways, by the manipulation of inhibitory/activating receptors on NK cells, and by cytokine-induced activation. We also discuss how some of these strategies are currently impacting NK cells in the treatment of cancer and infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn Freund-Brown
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Leilani Chirino
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Taku Kambayashi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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43
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Merino A, Zhang B, Dougherty P, Luo X, Wang J, Blazar BR, Miller JS, Cichocki F. Chronic stimulation drives human NK cell dysfunction and epigenetic reprograming. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:3770-3785. [PMID: 31211698 DOI: 10.1172/jci125916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A population of Natural Killer (NK) cells expressing the activating receptor NKG2C and the maturation marker CD57 expands in response to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. CD3-CD56dimCD57+NKG2C+ NK cells are similar to CD8+ memory T cells with rapid and robust effector function upon re-stimulation, persistence, and epigenetic remodeling of the IFNG locus. Chronic antigen stimulation drives CD8+ memory T cell proliferation while also inducing genome-wide epigenetic reprograming and dysfunction. We hypothesized that chronic stimulation could similarly induce epigenetic reprograming and dysfunction in NK cells. Here we show that chronic stimulation of adaptive NK cells through NKG2C using plate-bound agonistic antibodies in combination with IL-15 drove robust proliferation and activation of CD3-CD56dimCD57+NKG2C+ NK cells while simultaneously inducing high expression of the checkpoint inhibitory receptors LAG-3 and PD-1. Marked induction of checkpoint inhibitory receptors was also observed on the surface of adaptive NK cells co-cultured with HCMV-infected endothelial cells. Chronically stimulated adaptive NK cells were dysfunctional when challenged with tumor targets. These cells exhibited a pattern of epigenetic reprograming, with genome-wide alterations in DNA methylation. Our study has important implications for cancer immunotherapy and suggest that exhausted NK cells could be targeted with inhibitory checkpoint receptor blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Merino
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Philip Dougherty
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Xianghua Luo
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bruce R Blazar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Miller
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Frank Cichocki
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Sanchez-Correa B, Lopez-Sejas N, Duran E, Labella F, Alonso C, Solana R, Tarazona R. Modulation of NK cells with checkpoint inhibitors in the context of cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2019; 68:861-870. [PMID: 30953117 PMCID: PMC11028212 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-019-02336-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of some types of tumours has increased progressively in recent years and is expected to continue growing in the coming years due in part to the aging of the population. The design of new therapies based on natural killer (NK) cells opens new possibilities especially for the treatment of elderly patients who are particularly susceptible to the toxicity of conventional chemotherapy treatments. In recent years, the potential use of NK cells in cancer immunotherapy has been of great interest thanks to advances in the study of NK cell biology. The identification of key points (checkpoints) in the activation of NK cells that can be regulated by monoclonal antibodies has allowed the design of new therapeutic strategies based on NK cells. However, there are still limitations for its use and the first clinical trials blocking KIR inhibitory receptors have shown little efficacy by inhibiting the maturation of NK cells. Blockade of other inhibitory receptors such as TIGIT, TIM3, LAG3 and PD1 may represent novel strategies to increase NK function in cancer patients. Altogether, the identification of NK cell and tumour cell markers of resistance or susceptibility to the action of NK cells will contribute to identifying those patients that will most likely benefit from NK cell-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Esther Duran
- Histology and Pathology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | | | - Corona Alonso
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Rafael Solana
- Immunology Unit, Universidad de Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain.
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain.
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Natural Killer Cells as Key Players of Tumor Progression and Angiogenesis: Old and Novel Tools to Divert Their Pro-Tumor Activities into Potent Anti-Tumor Effects. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11040461. [PMID: 30939820 PMCID: PMC6521276 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11040461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune cells, as a consequence of their plasticity, can acquire altered phenotype/functions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Some of these aberrant functions include attenuation of targeting and killing of tumor cells, tolerogenic/immunosuppressive behavior and acquisition of pro-angiogenic activities. Natural killer (NK) cells are effector lymphocytes involved in tumor immunosurveillance. In solid malignancies, tumor-associated NK cells (TANK cells) in peripheral blood and tumor-infiltrating NK (TINK) cells show altered phenotypes and are characterized by either anergy or reduced cytotoxicity. Here, we aim at discussing how NK cells can support tumor progression and how induction of angiogenesis, due to TME stimuli, can be a relevant part on the NK cell-associated tumor supporting activities. We will review and discuss the contribution of the TME in shaping NK cell response favoring cancer progression. We will focus on TME-derived set of factors such as TGF-β, soluble HLA-G, prostaglandin E2, adenosine, extracellular vesicles, and miRNAs, which can exhibit a dual function. On one hand, these factors can suppress NK cell-mediated activities but, on the other hand, they can induce a pro-angiogenic polarization in NK cells. Also, we will analyze the impact on cancer progression of the interaction of NK cells with several TME-associated cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, mast cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Then, we will discuss the most relevant therapeutic approaches aimed at potentiating/restoring NK cell activities against tumors. Finally, supported by the literature revision and our new findings on NK cell pro-angiogenic activities, we uphold NK cells to a key host cellular paradigm in controlling tumor progression and angiogenesis; thus, we should bear in mind NK cells like a TME-associated target for anti-tumor therapeutic approaches.
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have evolved to complement T and B cells in host defense against pathogens and cancer. They recognize infected cells and tumors using a sophisticated array of activating, costimulatory, and inhibitory receptors that are expressed on NK cell subsets to create extensive functional diversity. NK cells can be targeted to kill with exquisite antigen specificity by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. NK and T cells share many of the costimulatory and inhibitory receptors that are currently under evaluation in the clinic for cancer immunotherapy. As with T cells, genetic engineering is being employed to modify NK cells to specifically target them to tumors and to enhance their effector functions. As the selective pressures exerted by immunotherapies to augment CD8+T cell responses may result in loss of MHC class I, NK cells may provide an important fail-safe to eliminate these tumors by their capacity to eliminate tumors that are “missing self.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S. Miller
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Lewis L. Lanier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
- The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
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Collister M, Ellison C, Li Q, Minuk GY, Rempel JD, Kung SK. The Influence of Hepatitis C Viral Loads on Natural Killer Cell Function. Gastroenterology Res 2019; 12:8-15. [PMID: 30834029 PMCID: PMC6396790 DOI: 10.14740/gr1081w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has a high rate of chronicity, attributable to its capacity to alter host immunity, including natural killer (NK) cell function. In this study, the interaction between NK cell activity and HCV viral load was investigated. Methods Peripheral blood NK cells were examined for cytotoxicity and interferon (IFN)-γ expression in HCV infected low (LVL, < 800,000 IU/mL, n = 10) and high (HVL, > 800,000 IU/mL, n = 13) viral load patient cohorts. Results Spontaneous NK cell cytotoxicity was more robust in the LVL cohort resulting in a negative correlation with viral loads (spontaneous, r = -0.437, P = 0.037; IFN-α activated, r = -0.372, P = 0.081). Although the percent of IFN-γ+ NK cells did not associate with viral load, within the LVL cohort there was a marked increase in IFN-γ+ NK cells upon IFN-α activation relative to medium alone (P < 0.01). To examine the inability of NK cells derived from HVL patients to be further activated, the expression of the exhaustion marker programmed cell death protein (PD)-1 was evaluated. PD-1 expression upon NK cell activation correlated with viral load (r = 0.649, P = 0.009). In addition, HCV proteins upregulated PD-1 expression in vitro (P < 0.05), suggesting that HCV can directly promote NK cell exhaustion. Cells from HVL patients were also more likely to produce IFN-γ in response to HCV core protein. The finding that NK cell PD-1 and IFN-γ expression are linked (r = 0.542, P < 0.05) suggests that increased IFN-γ levels may induce PD-1 as a negative feedback mechanism. Conclusions High HCV loads appear to promote NK exhaustion in chronic HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Collister
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Section of Hepatology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Cindy Ellison
- Section of Hepatology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Pathology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Section of Hepatology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Gerald Y Minuk
- Section of Hepatology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Julia D Rempel
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Section of Hepatology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Sam K Kung
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Calabrese DR, Lanier LL, Greenland JR. Natural killer cells in lung transplantation. Thorax 2018; 74:397-404. [PMID: 30381399 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells that have been increasingly recognised as important in lung allograft tolerance and immune defence. These cells evolved to recognise alterations in self through a diverse set of germline-encoded activating and inhibitory receptors and display a broad range of effector functions that play important roles in responding to infections, malignancies and allogeneic tissue. Here, we review NK cells, their diverse receptors and the mechanisms through which NK cells are postulated to mediate important lung transplant clinical outcomes. NK cells can promote tolerance, such as through the depletion of donor antigen-presenting cells. Alternatively, these cells can drive rejection through cytotoxic effects on allograft tissue recognised as 'non-self' or 'stressed', via killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) or NKG2D receptor ligation, respectively. NK cells likely mediate complement-independent antibody-mediated rejection of allografts though CD16A Fc receptor-dependent activation induced by graft-specific antibodies. Finally, NK cells play an important role in response to infections, particularly by mediating cytomegalovirus infection through the CD94/NKG2C receptor. Despite these sometimes-conflicting effects on allograft function, enumeration of NK cells may have an important role in diagnosing allograft dysfunction. While the effects of immunosuppression agents on NK cells may currently be largely unintentional, further understanding of NK cell biology in lung allograft recipients may allow these cells to serve as biomarkers of graft injury and as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Calabrese
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Lewis L Lanier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.,The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - John R Greenland
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.,Medical Service, Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, California, USA
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Huang Y, Chen Z, Jang JH, Baig MS, Bertolet G, Schroeder C, Huang S, Hu Q, Zhao Y, Lewis DE, Qin L, Zhu MX, Liu D. PD-1 blocks lytic granule polarization with concomitant impairment of integrin outside-in signaling in the natural killer cell immunological synapse. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 142:1311-1321.e8. [PMID: 29679656 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.02.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The inhibitory receptor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is upregulated on a variety of immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells, during chronic viral infection and tumorigenesis. Blockade of PD-1 or its ligands produces durable clinical responses with tolerable side effects in patients with a broad spectrum of cancers. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of how PD-1 regulates NK cell function remain poorly characterized. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the effect of PD-1 signaling on NK cells. METHODS PD-1 was overexpressed in CD16-KHYG-1 (a human NK cell line with both antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity through CD16 and natural cytotoxicity through NKG2D) cells and stimulated by exposing the cells to NK-sensitive target cells expressing programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). RESULTS PD-1 engagement by PD-L1 specifically blocked NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity without interfering with the conjugation between NK cells and target cells. Further examination showed that PD-1 signaling blocked lytic granule polarization in NK cells, which was accompanied by failure of integrin-linked kinase, a key molecule in the integrin outside-in signaling pathway, to accumulate in the immunological synapse after NK-target cell conjugation. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that NK cell cytotoxicity is inhibited by PD-1 engagement, which blocks lytic granule polarization to the NK cell immunological synapse with concomitant impairment of integrin outside-in signaling. This study provides novel mechanistic insights into how PD-1 inhibition disrupts NK cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Huang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex; Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Zhiying Chen
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Joon Hee Jang
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Mirza S Baig
- Center for Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering (BSBE), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore, India
| | - Grant Bertolet
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex
| | - Casey Schroeder
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Shengjian Huang
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex
| | - Qian Hu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Cooperative Innovation Center for High Performance Computing, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Cooperative Innovation Center for High Performance Computing, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dorothy E Lewis
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Michael Xi Zhu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex.
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY.
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PD-1 mediates functional exhaustion of activated NK cells in patients with Kaposi sarcoma. Oncotarget 2018; 7:72961-72977. [PMID: 27662664 PMCID: PMC5341956 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed Death-1 (PD-1), an inhibitory receptor expressed by activated lymphocytes, is involved in regulating T- and B-cell responses. PD-1 and its ligands are exploited by a variety of cancers to facilitate tumor escape through PD-1-mediated functional exhaustion of effector T cells. Here, we report that PD-1 is upregulated on Natural Killer (NK) cells from patients with Kaposi sarcoma (KS). PD-1 was expressed in a sub-population of activated, mature CD56dimCD16pos NK cells with otherwise normal expression of NK surface receptors. PD-1pos NK cells from KS patients were hyporesponsive ex vivo following direct triggering of NKp30, NKp46 or CD16 activating receptors, or short stimulation with NK cell targets. PD-1pos NK cells failed to degranulate and release IFNγ, but exogenous IL-2 or IL-15 restored this defect. That PD-1 contributed to NK cell functional impairment and was not simply a marker of dysfunctional NK cells was confirmed in PD-1-transduced NKL cells. In vitro, PD-1 was induced at the surface of healthy control NK cells upon prolonged contact with cells expressing activating ligands, i.e. a condition mimicking persistent stimulation by tumor cells. Thus, PD-1 appears to plays a critical role in mediating NK cell exhaustion. The existence of this negative checkpoint fine-tuning NK activation highlights the possibility that manipulation of the PD-1 pathway may be a strategy for circumventing tumor escape not only from the T cell-, but also the NK-cell mediated immune surveillance.
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