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Huang S, Qin Z, Wang F, Kang Y, Ren B. A potential mechanism of tumor immune escape: Regulation and application of soluble natural killer group 2 member D ligands (Review). Oncol Rep 2024; 52:137. [PMID: 39155864 PMCID: PMC11358674 DOI: 10.3892/or.2024.8796] [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: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The immune system is integral to the surveillance and eradication of tumor cells. Interactions between the natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) receptor and its ligands (NKG2DLs) are vital for activating NKG2D receptor‑positive immune cells, such as natural killer cells. This activation enables these cells to identify and destroy tumor cells presenting with NKG2DLs, which is an essential aspect of tumor immunity. However, tumor immune escape is facilitated by soluble NKG2DL (sNKG2DL) shed from the surface of tumor cells. The production of sNKG2DL is predominantly regulated by metalloproteinases [a disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAM) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) families] and exosomes. sNKG2DL not only diminish immune recognition on the tumor cell surface but also suppress the function of immune cells, such as NK cells, and reduce the expression of the NKG2D receptor. This process promotes immune evasion, progression, and metastasis of tumors. In this review, an in‑depth summary of the mechanisms and factors that influence sNKG2DL production and their contribution to immune suppression within the tumor microenvironment are provided. Furthermore, due to the significant link between sNKG2DLs and tumor progression and metastasis, they have great potential as novel biomarkers. Detectable via liquid biopsies, sNKG2DLs could assess tumor malignancy and prognosis, and act as pivotal targets for immunotherapy. This could lead to the discovery of new drugs or the enhancement of existing treatments. Thus, the application of sNKG2DLs in clinical oncology was explored, offering substantial theoretical support for the development of innovative immunotherapeutic strategies for sNKG2DLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhao Huang
- Hunan Center for Clinical Laboratory, Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410007, P.R. China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Zihao Qin
- Hunan Center for Clinical Laboratory, Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410007, P.R. China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Feiyang Wang
- Hunan Center for Clinical Laboratory, Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410007, P.R. China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Yiping Kang
- Hunan Center for Clinical Laboratory, Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410007, P.R. China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Biqiong Ren
- Hunan Center for Clinical Laboratory, Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410007, P.R. China
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Guo F, Du N, Wen X, Li Z, Guo Y, Zhou L, Hoffman AR, Li L, Hu JF, Cui J. CircARAP2 controls sMICA-induced NK cell desensitization by erasing CTCF/PRC2-induced suppression in early endosome marker RAB5A. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:307. [PMID: 39048814 PMCID: PMC11335232 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05285-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer cells (NK) are the "professional killer" of tumors and play a crucial role in anti-tumor immunotherapy. NK cell desensitization is a key mechanism of tumor immune escape. Dysregulated NKG2D-NKG2DL signaling is a primary driver of this desensitization process. However, the factors that regulate NK cell desensitization remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we present the first report that circular RNA circARAP2 (hsa_circ_0069396) is involved in the soluble MICA (sMICA)-induced NKG2D endocytosis in the NK cell desensitization model. CircARAP2 was upregulated during NK cell desensitization and the loss of circARAP2 alleviated NKG2D endocytosis and NK cell desensitization. Using Chromatin isolation by RNA purification (ChIRP) and RNA pull-down approaches, we identified that RAB5A, a molecular marker of early endosomes, was its downstream target. Notably, transcription factor CTCF was an intermediate functional partner of circARAP2. Mechanistically, we discovered that circARAP2 interacted with CTCF and inhibited the recruitment of CTCF-Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) to the promoter region of RAB5A, thereby erasing histone H3K27 and H3K9 methylation suppression to enhance RAB5A transcription. These data demonstrate that inhibition of circARAP2 effectively alleviates sMICA-induced NKG2D endocytosis and NK cell desensitization, providing a novel target for therapeutic intervention in tumor immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Guo
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Nawen Du
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xue Wen
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Zhaozhi Li
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yantong Guo
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Andrew R Hoffman
- Stanford University School of Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Lingyu Li
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Ji-Fan Hu
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
- Stanford University School of Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
| | - Jiuwei Cui
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
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Zhao NQ, Pi R, Nguyen DN, Ranganath T, Seiler C, Holmes S, Marson A, Blish CA. NKp30 and NKG2D contribute to natural killer recognition of HIV-infected cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.24.600449. [PMID: 38979175 PMCID: PMC11230221 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.24.600449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells respond rapidly in early HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 prevention and control strategies harnessing NK cells could be enabled by mechanistic understanding of how NK cells recognize HIV-infected T cells. Here, we profiled the phenotype of human primary NK cells responsive to autologous HIV-1-infected CD4 + T cells in vitro. We characterized the patterns of NK cell ligand expression on CD4 + T cells at baseline and after infection with a panel of transmitted/founder HIV-1 strains to identify key receptor-ligand pairings. CRISPR editing of CD4 + T cells to knockout the NKp30 ligand B7-H6, or the NKG2D ligands MICB or ULBP2 reduced NK cell responses to HIV-infected cells in some donors. In contrast, overexpression of NKp30 or NKG2D in NK cells enhanced their targeting of HIV-infected cells. Collectively, we identified receptor-ligand pairs including NKp30:B7-H6 and NKG2D:MICB/ULBP2 that contribute to NK cell recognition of HIV-infected cells.
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Wang J, Wang Y, Jiang X, Xu M, Wang M, Wang R, Zheng B, Chen M, Ke Q, Long J. Unleashing the power of immune checkpoints: Post-translational modification of novel molecules and clinical applications. Cancer Lett 2024; 588:216758. [PMID: 38401885 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint molecules play a pivotal role in the initiation, regulation, and termination of immune responses. Tumor cells exploit these checkpoints to dampen immune cell function, facilitating immune evasion. Clinical interventions target this mechanism by obstructing the binding of immune checkpoints to their ligands, thereby restoring the anti-tumor capabilities of immune cells. Notably, therapies centered on immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 blocking antibodies, have demonstrated significant clinical promise. However, a considerable portion of patients still encounter suboptimal efficacy and develop resistance. Recent years have witnessed an exponential surge in preclinical and clinical trials investigating novel immune checkpoint molecules such as TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, NKG2D, and CD47, along with their respective ligands. The processes governing immune checkpoint molecules, from their synthesis to transmembrane deployment, interaction with ligands, and eventual degradation, are intricately tied to post-translational modifications. These modifications encompass glycosylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, neddylation, SUMOylation, palmitoylation, and ectodomain shedding. This discussion proceeds to provide a concise overview of the structural characteristics of several novel immune checkpoints and their ligands. Additionally, it outlines the regulatory mechanisms governed by post-translational modifications, offering insights into their potential clinical applications in immune checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Oncology & Diagnostic Pathology Center, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
| | - Yian Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animals and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xianjie Jiang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Meifang Xu
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Oncology & Diagnostic Pathology Center, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Meifeng Wang
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Oncology & Diagnostic Pathology Center, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Oncology & Diagnostic Pathology Center, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Boshu Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Oncology & Diagnostic Pathology Center, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Mingfen Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Qi Ke
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jun Long
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute & Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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Wang R, Ma X, Zhang X, Jiang D, Mao H, Li Z, Tian Y, Cheng B. Autophagy-mediated NKG2D internalization impairs NK cell function and exacerbates radiation pneumonitis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1250920. [PMID: 38077388 PMCID: PMC10704197 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1250920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Radiation pneumonitis is a critical complication that constrains the use of radiation therapy for thoracic malignancies, leading to substantial morbidity via respiratory distress and lung function impairment. The role of Natural killer (NK) cells in inflammatory diseases is well-documented; however, their involvement in radiation pneumonitis is not fully understood. Methods To explore the involvement of NK cells in radiation pneumonitis, we analyzed tissue samples for NK cell presence and function. The study utilized immunofluorescence staining, western blotting, and immunoprecipitation to investigate CXCL10 and ROS levels, autophagy activity, and NKG2D receptor dynamics in NK cells derived from patients and animal models subjected to radiation. Result In this study, we observed an augmented infiltration of NK cells in tissues affected by radiation pneumonitis, although their function was markedly diminished. In animal models, enhancing NK cell activity appeared to decelerate the disease progression. Concomitant with the disease course, there was a notable upsurge in CXCL10 and ROS levels. CXCL10 was found to facilitate NK cell migration through CXCR3 receptor activation. Furthermore, evidence of excessive autophagy in patient NK cells was linked to ROS accumulation, as indicated by immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses. The association between the NKG2D receptor and its adaptor proteins (AP2 subunits AP2A1 and AP2M1), LC3, and lysosomes was intensified after radiation exposure, as demonstrated by immunoprecipitation. This interaction led to NKG2D receptor endocytosis and subsequent lysosomal degradation. Conclusion Our findings delineate a mechanism by which radiation-induced lung injury may suppress NK cell function through an autophagy-dependent pathway. The dysregulation observed suggests potential therapeutic targets; hence, modulating autophagy and enhancing NK cell activity could represent novel strategies for mitigating radiation pneumonitis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yu Tian
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Bo Cheng
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Wang Y, Jiang Y, Wang J, Li S, Jia X, Xiao X, Sun W, Wang P, Zhang Q. Retinopathy as an initial sign of hereditary immunological diseases: report of six families and challenges in eye clinic. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1239886. [PMID: 37711606 PMCID: PMC10498122 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1239886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Retinal degenerative or inflammatory changes may occur with hereditary immunological disorders (HID) due to variants in approximately 20 genes. This study aimed to investigate if such retinopathy may present as an initial sign of immunological disorders in eye clinic. Methods The variants in the 20 genes were selected from in-house exome sequencing data from 10,530 individuals with different eye conditions. Potential pathogenic variants were assessed by multistep bioinformatic analysis. Pathogenic variants were defined according to the ACMG/AMP criteria and confirmed by Sanger sequencing, co-segregation analysis, and consistency with related phenotypes. Ocular clinical data were thoroughly reviewed, especially fundus changes. Results A total of seven pathogenic variants in four of the 20 genes were detected in six probands from six families, including three with hemizygous nonsense variants p.(Q308*), p.(Q416*), and p.(R550*) in MSN, one with homozygous nonsense variants p.(R257*) in AIRE, one with compound heterozygous nonsense variants p.(R176*) and p.(T902*) in LAMB2, and one with a known c.1222T>C (p.W408R) heterozygous variant in CBL. Ocular presentation, as the initial signs of the diseases, was mainly retinopathy mimicking other forms of hereditary retinal degeneration, including exudative vitreoretinopathy in the three patients with MSN variants or tapetoretinal degeneration in the other three patients. Neither extraocular symptoms nor extraocular manifestations were recorded at the time of visit to our eye clinic. However, of the 19 families in the literature with retinopathy caused by variants in these four genes, only one family with an AIRE homozygous variant had retinopathy as an initial symptom, while the other 18 families had systemic abnormalities that preceded retinopathy. Discussion This study, for the first time, identified six unrelated patients with retinopathy as their initial and only presenting sign of HID, contrary to the previous reports where retinopathy was the accompanying sign of systemic HID. Recognizing such phenotype of HID may facilitate the clinical care of these patients. Follow-up visits to such patients and additional studies are expected to validate and confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Qingjiong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China
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Molfetta R, Petillo S, Cippitelli M, Paolini R. SUMOylation and related post-translational modifications in natural killer cell anti-cancer responses. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1213114. [PMID: 37313439 PMCID: PMC10258607 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1213114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMOylation is a reversible modification that involves the covalent attachment of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) to target proteins, leading to changes in their localization, function, stability, and interactor profile. SUMOylation and additional related post-translational modifications have emerged as important modulators of various biological processes, including regulation of genomic stability and immune responses. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that play a critical role in host defense against viral infections and tumors. NK cells can recognize and kill infected or transformed cells without prior sensitization, and their activity is tightly regulated by a balance of activating and inhibitory receptors. Expression of NK cell receptors as well as of their specific ligands on target cells is finely regulated during malignant transformation through the integration of different mechanisms including ubiquitin- and ubiquitin-like post-translational modifications. Our review summarizes the role of SUMOylation and other related pathways in the biology of NK cells with a special emphasis on the regulation of their response against cancer. The development of novel selective inhibitors as useful tools to potentiate NK-cell mediated killing of tumor cells is also briefly discussed.
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Milito ND, Zingoni A, Stabile H, Soriani A, Capuano C, Cippitelli M, Gismondi A, Santoni A, Paolini R, Molfetta R. NKG2D engagement on human NK cells leads to DNAM-1 hypo-responsiveness through different converging mechanisms. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2250198. [PMID: 36440686 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202250198] [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: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell activation is regulated by activating and inhibitory receptors that facilitate diseased cell recognition. Among activating receptors, NKG2D and DNAM-1 play a pivotal role in anticancer immune responses since they bind ligands upregulated on transformed cells. During tumor progression, however, these receptors are frequently downmodulated and rendered functionally inactive. Of note, NKG2D internalization has been associated with the acquisition of a dysfunctional phenotype characterized by the cross-tolerization of unrelated activating receptors. However, our knowledge of the consequences of NKG2D engagement is still incomplete. Here, by cytotoxicity assays combined with confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that NKG2D engagement on human NK cells impairs DNAM-1-mediated killing through two different converging mechanisms: by the upregulation of the checkpoint inhibitory receptor TIGIT, that in turn suppresses DNAM-1-mediated cytotoxic function, and by direct inhibition of DNAM-1-promoted signaling. Our results highlight a novel interplay between NKG2D and DNAM-1/TIGIT receptors that may facilitate neoplastic cell evasion from NK cell-mediated clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia D Milito
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zingoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Helena Stabile
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Soriani
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Capuano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Cippitelli
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Gismondi
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Molfetta
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Vulpis E, Loconte L, Peri A, Molfetta R, Caracciolo G, Masuelli L, Tomaipitinca L, Peruzzi G, Petillo S, Petrucci MT, Fazio F, Simonelli L, Fionda C, Soriani A, Cerboni C, Cippitelli M, Paolini R, Bernardini G, Palmieri G, Santoni A, Zingoni A. Impact on NK cell functions of acute versus chronic exposure to extracellular vesicle-associated MICA: Dual role in cancer immunosurveillance. J Extracell Vesicles 2022; 11:e12176. [PMID: 34973063 PMCID: PMC8720178 DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate cytotoxic lymphocytes that play a key role in cancer immunosurveillance thanks to their ability to recognize and kill cancer cells. NKG2D is an activating receptor that binds to MIC and ULBP molecules typically induced on damaged, transformed or infected cells. The release of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) in the extracellular milieu through protease-mediated cleavage or by extracellular vesicle (EV) secretion allows cancer cells to evade NKG2D-mediated immunosurveillance. In this work, we investigated the immunomodulatory properties of the NKG2D ligand MICA*008 associated to distinct populations of EVs (i.e., small extracellular vesicles [sEVs] and medium size extracellular vesicles [mEVs]). By using as model a human MICA*008-transfected multiple myeloma (MM) cell line, we found that this ligand is present on both vesicle populations. Interestingly, our findings reveal that NKG2D is specifically involved in the uptake of vesicles expressing its cognate ligand. We provide evidence that MICA*008-expressing sEVs and mEVs are able on one hand to activate NK cells but, following prolonged stimulation induce a sustained NKG2D downmodulation leading to impaired NKG2D-mediated functions. Moreover, our findings show that MICA*008 can be transferred by vesicles to NK cells causing fratricide. Focusing on MM as a clinically and biologically relevant model of tumour-NK cell interactions, we found enrichment of EVs expressing MICA in the bone marrow of a cohort of patients. All together our results suggest that the accumulation of NKG2D ligands associated to vesicles in the tumour microenvironment could favour the suppression of NK cell activity either by NKG2D down-modulation or by fratricide of NK cell dressed with EV-derived NKG2D ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Vulpis
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Luisa Loconte
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Agnese Peri
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Rosa Molfetta
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular MedicineSapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental MedicineSapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Luana Tomaipitinca
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro ScienceIstituto Italiano di TecnologiaRomeItaly
| | - Sara Petillo
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Maria Teresa Petrucci
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and HematologySapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Francesca Fazio
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and HematologySapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Lucilla Simonelli
- Department of Experimental MedicineSapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Cinzia Fionda
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Alessandra Soriani
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Cristina Cerboni
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Marco Cippitelli
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Giovanni Bernardini
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
| | | | - Angela Santoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
- Neuromed I.R.C.C.S.‐Istituto Neurologico MediterraneoPozzilliItaly
| | - Alessandra Zingoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci BolognettiDepartment of Molecular MedicineSapienza’ University of RomeRomeItaly
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Fionda C, Stabile H, Molfetta R, Kosta A, Peruzzi G, Ruggeri S, Zingoni A, Capuano C, Soriani A, Paolini R, Gismondi A, Cippitelli M, Santoni A. Cereblon regulates NK cell cytotoxicity and migration via Rac1 activation. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:2607-2617. [PMID: 34392531 PMCID: PMC9291148 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149269] [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: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton is critical for cytotoxic and immunoregulatory functions as well as migration of natural killer (NK) cells. However, dynamic reorganization of actin is a complex process, which remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the role of the protein Cereblon (CRBN), an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex co‐receptor and the primary target of the immunomodulatory drugs, in NK cells. We observed that CRBN partially colocalizes with F‐actin in chemokine‐treated NK cells and is recruited to the immunological synapse, thus suggesting a role for this protein in cytoskeleton reorganization. Accordingly, silencing of CRBN in NK cells results in a reduced cytotoxicity that correlates with a defect in conjugate and lytic synapse formation. Moreover, CRBN depletion significantly impairs the ability of NK cells to migrate and reduces the enhancing effect of lenalidomide on NK cell migration. Finally, we provided evidence that CRBN is required for activation of the small GTPase Rac1, a critical mediator of cytoskeleton dynamics. Indeed, in CRBN‐depleted NK cells, chemokine‐mediated or target cell–mediated Rac1 activation is significantly reduced. Altogether our data identify a critical role for CRBN in regulating NK cell functions and suggest that this protein may mediate the stimulatory effect of lenalidomide on NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Fionda
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Helena Stabile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Kosta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Ruggeri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zingoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Capuano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Soriani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Gismondi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Cippitelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.,RCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
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11
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Desimio MG, Finocchi A, Di Matteo G, Di Cesare S, Giancotta C, Conti F, Chessa L, Piane M, Montin D, Dellepiane M, Rossi P, Cancrini C, Doria M. Altered NK-cell compartment and dysfunctional NKG2D/NKG2D-ligand axis in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia. Clin Immunol 2021; 230:108802. [PMID: 34298181 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2021.108802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a multisystem disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the gene encoding A-T mutated (ATM) kinase, a master regulator of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway. Most A-T patients show cellular and/or humoral immunodeficiency that has been associated with cancer risk and reduced survival, but NK cells have not been thoroughly studied. Here we investigated NK cells of A-T patients with a special focus on the NKG2D receptor that triggers cytotoxicity upon engagement by its ligands (NKG2DLs) commonly induced via the DDR pathway on infected, transformed, and variously stressed cells. Using flow cytometry, we examined the phenotype and function of NK cells in 6 A-T patients as compared with healthy individuals. NKG2D expression was evaluated also by western blotting and RT-qPCR; plasma soluble NKG2DLs (sMICA, sMICB, sULBP1, ULBP2) were measured by ELISA. Results showed that A-T NK cells were skewed towards the CD56neg anergic phenotype and displayed decreased expression of NKG2D and perforin. NKG2D was reduced at the protein but not at the mRNA level and resulted in impaired NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity in 4/6 A-T patients. Moreover, in A-T plasma we found 24-fold and 2-fold increase of sMICA and sULBP1, respectively, both inversely correlated with NKG2D expression. Overall, NK cells are disturbed in A-T patients showing reduced NKG2D expression, possibly caused by persistent engagement of its ligands, that may contribute to susceptibility to cancer and infections and represent novel targets for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Giovanna Desimio
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Finocchi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Gigliola Di Matteo
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Cesare
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Giancotta
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Conti
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Piane
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Montin
- Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Marta Dellepiane
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Paolo Rossi
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Cancrini
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Margherita Doria
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
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12
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Quamine AE, Olsen MR, Cho MM, Capitini CM. Approaches to Enhance Natural Killer Cell-Based Immunotherapy for Pediatric Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2796. [PMID: 34199783 PMCID: PMC8200074 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of metastatic pediatric solid tumors remain a significant challenge, particularly in relapsed and refractory settings. Standard treatment has included surgical resection, radiation, chemotherapy, and, in the case of neuroblastoma, immunotherapy. Despite such intensive therapy, cancer recurrence is common, and most tumors become refractory to prior therapy, leaving patients with few conventional treatment options. Natural killer (NK) cells are non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted lymphocytes that boast several complex killing mechanisms but at an added advantage of not causing graft-versus-host disease, making use of allogeneic NK cells a potential therapeutic option. On top of their killing capacity, NK cells also produce several cytokines and growth factors that act as key regulators of the adaptive immune system, positioning themselves as ideal effector cells for stimulating heavily pretreated immune systems. Despite this promise, clinical efficacy of adoptive NK cell therapy to date has been inconsistent, prompting a detailed understanding of the biological pathways within NK cells that can be leveraged to develop "next generation" NK cell therapies. Here, we review advances in current approaches to optimizing the NK cell antitumor response including combination with other immunotherapies, cytokines, checkpoint inhibition, and engineering NK cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) for the treatment of pediatric solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aicha E. Quamine
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (A.E.Q.); (M.R.O.); (M.M.C.)
| | - Mallery R. Olsen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (A.E.Q.); (M.R.O.); (M.M.C.)
| | - Monica M. Cho
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (A.E.Q.); (M.R.O.); (M.M.C.)
| | - Christian M. Capitini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (A.E.Q.); (M.R.O.); (M.M.C.)
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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13
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Zhou X, Sun SC. Targeting ubiquitin signaling for cancer immunotherapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:16. [PMID: 33436547 PMCID: PMC7804490 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00421-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has become an attractive approach of cancer treatment with tremendous success in treating various advanced malignancies. The development and clinical application of immune checkpoint inhibitors represent one of the most extraordinary accomplishments in cancer immunotherapy. In addition, considerable progress is being made in understanding the mechanism of antitumor immunity and characterizing novel targets for developing additional therapeutic approaches. One active area of investigation is protein ubiquitination, a post-translational mechanism of protein modification that regulates the function of diverse immune cells in antitumor immunity. Accumulating studies suggest that E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases form a family of potential targets to be exploited for enhancing antitumor immunity in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Zhou
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 7455 Fannin Street, Box 902, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Shao-Cong Sun
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 7455 Fannin Street, Box 902, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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14
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Jafari D, Mousavi MJ, Keshavarz Shahbaz S, Jafarzadeh L, Tahmasebi S, Spoor J, Esmaeilzadeh A. E3 ubiquitin ligase Casitas B lineage lymphoma-b and its potential therapeutic implications for immunotherapy. Clin Exp Immunol 2021; 204:14-31. [PMID: 33306199 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The distinction of self from non-self is crucial to prevent autoreactivity and ensure protection from infectious agents and tumors. Maintaining the balance between immunity and tolerance of immune cells is strongly controlled by several sophisticated regulatory mechanisms of the immune system. Among these, the E3 ligase ubiquitin Casitas B cell lymphoma-b (Cbl-b) is a newly identified component in the ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation system, which is thought to be an important negative regulator of immune cells. An update on the current knowledge and new concepts of the relevant immune homeostasis program co-ordinated by Cbl-b in different cell populations could pave the way for future immunomodulatory therapies of various diseases, such as autoimmune and allergic diseases, infections, cancers and other immunopathological conditions. In the present review, the latest findings are comprehensively summarized on the molecular structural basis of Cbl-b and the suppressive signaling mechanisms of Cbl-b in physiological and pathological immune responses, as well as its emerging potential therapeutic implications for immunotherapy in animal models and human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Jafari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Immunotherapy Research and Technology Group, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - M J Mousavi
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Allied medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - S Keshavarz Shahbaz
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - L Jafarzadeh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - S Tahmasebi
- Department of Immunology, School of public health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - J Spoor
- Erasmus University Medical Centre, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - A Esmaeilzadeh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Immunotherapy Research and Technology Group, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
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15
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Bald T, Krummel MF, Smyth MJ, Barry KC. The NK cell-cancer cycle: advances and new challenges in NK cell-based immunotherapies. Nat Immunol 2020; 21:835-847. [PMID: 32690952 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-020-0728-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the innate immune system and contribute to protecting the host through killing of infected, foreign, stressed or transformed cells. Additionally, via cellular cross-talk, NK cells orchestrate antitumor immune responses. Hence, significant efforts have been undertaken to exploit the therapeutic properties of NK cells in cancer. Current strategies in preclinical and clinical development include adoptive transfer therapies, direct stimulation, recruitment of NK cells into the tumor microenvironment (TME), blockade of inhibitory receptors that limit NK cell functions, and therapeutic modulation of the TME to enhance antitumor NK cell function. In this Review, we introduce the NK cell-cancer cycle to highlight recent advances in NK cell biology and to discuss the progress and problems of NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Bald
- Oncology and Cellular Immunology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Matthew F Krummel
- Department of Pathology, ImmunoX Initiative, and Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark J Smyth
- Immunology of Cancer and Infection Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Kevin C Barry
- Translational Research Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
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16
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Bian J, He L, Wu Y, Liu W, Ma H, Sun M, Yu J, Yu Z, Wei M. Anterior gradient 2-derived peptide upregulates major histocompatibility complex class I-related chains A/B in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Life Sci 2020; 246:117396. [PMID: 32035130 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Decrease in NKG2D ligand levels and exhaustion of NK cells in HCC patients are major causes of immune escape, high recurrence, poor prognosis, and low overall survival. Enhancing the susceptibility of HCC to NK cells by upregulating NKG2DLs on tumor cells is an effective treatment strategy. This study aimed to identify the effect of the Anterior gradient 2 (AGR2)-derived peptide P1, which was reported to bind to HLA-A*0201 as an epitope, on both the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I-related chains A/B (MICA/B) on HCC cells and the cytotoxicity of NK cells. MAIN METHODS The effect of P1 on MICA/B expression on HCC cells was determined by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and flow cytometry analysis. HCC cells were pre-treated with various pathway inhibitors to identify the molecular pathways associated with P1 treatment. The cytotoxicity of NK cells toward HCC was investigated by LDH cytotoxicity assay. The tumor-suppression effect of P1 was determined in vivo using a NOD/SCID mice HCC model. KEY FINDINGS P1 significantly increased MICA/B expression on HCC cells, thereby enhancing their susceptibility to the cytotoxicity of NK cells in vitro and in vivo. Further, p38 MAPK cell signaling pathway inhibitor SB203580 significantly attenuated the effects of P1 in vivo and in vitro. SIGNIFICANCE P1 upregulates MICA and MICB expression on HCC cells, thereby promoting their recognition and elimination by NK cells, which makes P1 an attractive novel immunotherapy agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Bian
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of molecular targeted anti-tumor drug development and evaluation; Liaoning Cancer immune peptide drug Engineering Technology Research Center; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education; China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Linxiu He
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of molecular targeted anti-tumor drug development and evaluation; Liaoning Cancer immune peptide drug Engineering Technology Research Center; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education; China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yutong Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of molecular targeted anti-tumor drug development and evaluation; Liaoning Cancer immune peptide drug Engineering Technology Research Center; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education; China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Wensi Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of molecular targeted anti-tumor drug development and evaluation; Liaoning Cancer immune peptide drug Engineering Technology Research Center; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education; China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Heyao Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of molecular targeted anti-tumor drug development and evaluation; Liaoning Cancer immune peptide drug Engineering Technology Research Center; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education; China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Mingli Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of molecular targeted anti-tumor drug development and evaluation; Liaoning Cancer immune peptide drug Engineering Technology Research Center; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education; China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jiankun Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of molecular targeted anti-tumor drug development and evaluation; Liaoning Cancer immune peptide drug Engineering Technology Research Center; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education; China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Zhaojin Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of molecular targeted anti-tumor drug development and evaluation; Liaoning Cancer immune peptide drug Engineering Technology Research Center; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education; China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China..
| | - Minjie Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of molecular targeted anti-tumor drug development and evaluation; Liaoning Cancer immune peptide drug Engineering Technology Research Center; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education; China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China..
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17
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Capuano C, Pighi C, Maggio R, Battella S, Morrone S, Palmieri G, Santoni A, Klein C, Galandrini R. CD16 pre-ligation by defucosylated tumor-targeting mAb sensitizes human NK cells to γ c cytokine stimulation via PI3K/mTOR axis. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:501-512. [PMID: 31950225 PMCID: PMC7113231 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02482-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Obinutuzumab is a glycoengineered tumor-targeting anti-CD20 mAb with a modified crystallizable fragment (Fc) domain designed to increase the affinity for the FcγRIIIA/CD16 receptor, which was recently approved for clinical use in CLL and follicular lymphoma. Here we extend our previous observation that, in human NK cells, the sustained CD16 ligation by obinutuzumab-opsonized targets leads to a markedly enhanced IFN-γ production upon a subsequent cytokine re-stimulation. The increased IFN-γ competence in response to IL-2 or IL-15 is attributable to post-transcriptional regulation, as it does not correlate with the upregulation of IFN-γ mRNA levels. Different from the reference molecule rituximab, we observe that the stimulation with obinutuzumab promotes the upregulation of microRNA (miR)-155 expression. A similar trend was also observed in NK cells from untreated CLL patients stimulated with obinutuzumab-opsonized autologous leukemia. miR-155 upregulation associates with reduced levels of SHIP-1 inositol phosphatase, which acts in constraining PI3K-dependent signals, by virtue of its ability to mediate phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) de-phosphorylation. Downstream of PI3K, the phosphorylation status of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) effector molecule, S6, results in amplified response to IL-2 or IL-15 stimulation in obinutuzumab-experienced cells. Importantly, NK cell treatment with the PI3K or mTOR inhibitors, idelalisib and rapamycin, respectively, prevents the enhanced cytokine responsiveness, thus, highlighting the relevance of the PI3K/mTOR axis in CD16-dependent priming. The enhanced IFN-γ competence may be envisaged to potentiate the immunoregulatory role of NK cells in a therapeutic setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Capuano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Pighi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Maggio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Clinical Cancer Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Simone Battella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Morrone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Palmieri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Christian Klein
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Ricciarda Galandrini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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18
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Molfetta R, Zingoni A, Santoni A, Paolini R. Post-translational Mechanisms Regulating NK Cell Activating Receptors and Their Ligands in Cancer: Potential Targets for Therapeutic Intervention. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2557. [PMID: 31736972 PMCID: PMC6836727 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient clearance of transformed cells by Natural Killer (NK) cells is regulated by several activating receptors, including NKG2D, NCRs, and DNAM-1. Expression of these receptors as well as their specific “induced self” ligands is finely regulated during malignant transformation through the integration of different mechanisms acting on transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels. Among post-translational mechanisms, the release of activating ligands in the extracellular milieu through protease-mediated cleavage or by extracellular vesicle secretion represents some relevant cancer immune escape processes. Moreover, covalent modifications including ubiquitination and SUMOylation also contribute to negative regulation of NKG2D and DNAM-1 ligand surface expression resulting either in ligand intracellular retention and/or ligand degradation. All these mechanisms greatly impact on NK cell mediated recognition and killing of cancer cells and may be targeted to potentiate NK cell surveillance against tumors. Our mini review summarizes the main post-translational mechanisms regulating the expression of activating receptors and their ligands with particular emphasis on the contribution of ligand shedding and of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modifications in reducing target cell susceptibility to NK cell-mediated killing. Strategies aimed at inhibiting shedding of activating ligands and their modifications in order to preserve ligand expression on cancer cells will be also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zingoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
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19
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Schmiedel D, Mandelboim O. NKG2D Ligands-Critical Targets for Cancer Immune Escape and Therapy. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2040. [PMID: 30254634 PMCID: PMC6141707 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA damage, oncogene activation and excessive proliferation, chromatin modulations or oxidative stress are all important hallmarks of cancer. Interestingly, all of these abnormalities also induce a cellular stress response. By upregulating “stress-induced ligands,” damaged or transformed cells can be recognized by immune cells and cleared. The human genome encodes eight functional “stress-induced ligands”: MICA, MICB, and ULBP1-6. All of them are recognized by a single receptor, NKG2D, which is expressed on natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T cells and other T cell subsets. The NKG2D ligand/NKG2D-axis is well-recognized as an important mediator of anti-tumor activity; however, patient data about the role of NKG2D ligands in immune surveillance and escape appears conflicting. As these ligands are often actively transcribed, tumor cells are urged to manipulate the expression of these ligands on post-transcriptional or post-translational level. Although our knowledge on the regulation of NKG2D ligand expression remains fragmentary, research of the past years revealed multiple cellular mechanisms that are adopted by tumor cells to reduce the expression of “stress-induced ligands” and therefore escape immune recognition. Here, we review the post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms by which NKG2D ligands are modulated in cancer cells and their impact on patient prognosis.We discuss controversies and approaches to apply our understanding of the NKG2D ligand/NKG2D-axis for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Schmiedel
- The Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, The BioMedical Research Institute Israel Canada of the Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ofer Mandelboim
- The Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, The BioMedical Research Institute Israel Canada of the Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
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Bálint Š, Lopes FB, Davis DM. A nanoscale reorganization of the IL-15 receptor is triggered by NKG2D in a ligand-dependent manner. Sci Signal 2018; 11:11/525/eaal3606. [PMID: 29636390 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aal3606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer group 2D (NKG2D), an activating receptor on natural killer (NK) cells and a subset of T cells, recognizes stress-inducible proteins, including MICA and ULBP2, which are present on infected or transformed cells. Whether each NKG2D ligand (NKG2DL) has a distinct biological role is not clear. Using superresolution microscopy, we found that NKG2D is constitutively arranged in nanoclusters at the surface of human primary NK cells. Nanoclusters of NKG2D became smaller upon ligation with MICA but became larger upon activation by ULBP2. In addition, ULBP2 induced the reorganization of nanoclusters of the cytokine receptor subunit for both interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-15 (IL-2/IL-15Rβ), such that these cytokine receptor subunits coalesced with nanoclusters of NKG2D. Functionally, the response of NK cells activated by ULBP2 was augmented by an interaction between ULBP2-bound NKG2D and IL-15R ligated by IL-15 (trans-presented by IL-15Rα-coated surfaces). These data suggest that NKG2DLs are not equivalent in their capacity to activate NKG2D and establish a previously unknown paradigm in how ligand-induced changes to the nanoscale organization of the cell surface can affect immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Štefan Bálint
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Filipa B Lopes
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Daniel M Davis
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.
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21
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Zingoni A, Molfetta R, Fionda C, Soriani A, Paolini R, Cippitelli M, Cerboni C, Santoni A. NKG2D and Its Ligands: "One for All, All for One". Front Immunol 2018; 9:476. [PMID: 29662484 PMCID: PMC5890157 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The activating receptor NKG2D is peculiar in its capability to bind to numerous and highly diversified MHC class I-like self-molecules. These ligands are poorly expressed on normal cells but can be induced on damaged, transformed or infected cells, with the final NKG2D ligand expression resulting from multiple levels of regulation. Although redundant molecular mechanisms can converge in the regulation of all NKG2D ligands, different stimuli can induce specific cellular responses, leading to the expression of one or few ligands. A large body of evidence demonstrates that NK cell activation can be triggered by different NKG2D ligands, often expressed on the same cell, suggesting a functional redundancy of these molecules. However, since a number of evasion mechanisms can reduce membrane expression of these molecules both on virus-infected and tumor cells, the co-expression of different ligands and/or the presence of allelic forms of the same ligand guarantee NKG2D activation in various stressful conditions and cell contexts. Noteworthy, NKG2D ligands can differ in their ability to down-modulate NKG2D membrane expression in human NK cells supporting the idea that NKG2D transduces different signals upon binding various ligands. Moreover, whether proteolytically shed and exosome-associated soluble NKG2D ligands share with their membrane-bound counterparts the same ability to induce NKG2D-mediated signaling is still a matter of debate. Here, we will review recent studies on the NKG2D/NKG2D ligand biology to summarize and discuss the redundancy and/or diversity in ligand expression, regulation, and receptor specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zingoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Fionda
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Soriani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Cippitelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Cerboni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
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22
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Huang YX, Chen XT, Guo KY, Li YH, Wu BY, Song CY, He YJ. Sunitinib Induces NK-κB-dependent NKG2D Ligand Expression in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Hepatoma Cells. J Immunother 2018; 40:164-174. [PMID: 28452850 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0000000000000168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (MTKIs) have been shown to combine with natural killer (NK) cell adoptive transfer for the treatment in various cancers. MTKIs sensitize cancer cells to NK cell therapy through upregulation of nature killer group 2 member D ligands (NKG2DLs) on tumor cells. However, the molecular mechanism of MTKIs-mediated upregulation of NKG2DLs is still unknown. In this study, we confirmed sunitinib induced downregulation of its targets, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and c-kit in multiple-drug-resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE2/DDP and hepatoma cell line HepG2. Then, we further showed sunitinib induced cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, and DNA damage in CNE2/DDP and HepG2 cells. Coculture experiments showed that sunitinib-treated CNE2/DDP and HepG2 cells were able to increase the activation and cytotoxicity of NK cells. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed that sunitinib upregulated NKG2DLs, apoptotic genes, DNA damage repair genes, and nuclear factor (NF)-κβ family genes. Silencing of NF-κβ1, NF-κβ2, or RelB (NF-κβ pathway) inhibited sunitinib-induced upregulation of NKG2DLs. Taken together, we concluded that sunitinib upregulated NKG2DLs through NF-κβ signaling noncanonical pathway which might mediate higher cytotoxic sensitivity of CNE2/DDP and HepG2 cells to NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Xian Huang
- *Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China †Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, New York State University, New York, NY
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23
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Schäfer C, Ascui G, Ribeiro CH, López M, Prados-Rosales R, González PA, Bueno SM, Riedel CA, Baena A, Kalergis AM, Carreño LJ. Innate immune cells for immunotherapy of autoimmune and cancer disorders. Int Rev Immunol 2017; 36:315-337. [PMID: 28933579 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2017.1365145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Modulation of the immune system has been widely targeted for the treatment of several immune-related diseases, such as autoimmune disorders and cancer, due to its crucial role in these pathologies. Current available therapies focus mainly on symptomatic treatment and are often associated with undesirable secondary effects. For several years, remission of disease and subsequently recovery of immune homeostasis has been a major goal for immunotherapy. Most current immunotherapeutic strategies are aimed to inhibit or potentiate directly the adaptive immune response by modulating antibody production and B cell memory, as well as the effector potential and memory of T cells. Although these immunomodulatory approaches have shown some success in the clinic with promising therapeutic potential, they have some limitations related to their effectiveness in disease models and clinical trials, as well as elevated costs. In the recent years, a renewed interest has emerged on targeting innate immune cells for immunotherapy, due to their high plasticity and ability to exert a potent and extremely rapid response, which can influence the outcome of the adaptive immune response. In this review, we discuss the immunomodulatory potential of several innate immune cells, as well as they use for immunotherapy, especially in autoimmunity and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Schäfer
- a Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy Santiago , Chile.,b Programa de Inmunología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile
| | - Gabriel Ascui
- a Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy Santiago , Chile.,b Programa de Inmunología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile
| | - Carolina H Ribeiro
- b Programa de Inmunología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile
| | - Mercedes López
- a Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy Santiago , Chile.,b Programa de Inmunología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile
| | - Rafael Prados-Rosales
- c Centro de Investigaciones Cooperativas en Biociencias (CIC bioGUNE) , Bilbao , Spain
| | - Pablo A González
- a Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy Santiago , Chile.,d Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile
| | - Susan M Bueno
- a Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy Santiago , Chile.,d Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile
| | - Claudia A Riedel
- a Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy Santiago , Chile.,e Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina , Universidad Andrés Bello , Santiago , Chile
| | - Andrés Baena
- f Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Antioquia , Medellín , Colombia
| | - Alexis M Kalergis
- a Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy Santiago , Chile.,d Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.,g Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile
| | - Leandro J Carreño
- a Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy Santiago , Chile.,b Programa de Inmunología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile
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24
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Zitti B, Molfetta R, Fionda C, Quatrini L, Stabile H, Lecce M, de Turris V, Ricciardi MR, Petrucci MT, Cippitelli M, Gismondi A, Santoni A, Paolini R. Innate immune activating ligand SUMOylation affects tumor cell recognition by NK cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10445. [PMID: 28874810 PMCID: PMC5585267 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10403-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer cells are innate lymphocytes involved in tumor immunosurveillance. They express activating receptors able to recognize self-molecules poorly expressed on healthy cells but up-regulated upon stress conditions, including transformation. Regulation of ligand expression in tumor cells mainly relays on transcriptional mechanisms, while the involvement of ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like modifiers remains largely unexplored. Here, we focused on the SUMO pathway and demonstrated that the ligand of DNAM1 activating receptor, PVR, undergoes SUMOylation in multiple myeloma. Concurrently, we found that PVR is preferentially located in intracellular compartments in human multiple myeloma cell lines and malignant plasma cells and that inhibition of the SUMO pathway promotes its translocation to the cell surface, increasing tumor cell susceptibility to NK cell-mediated cytolysis. Our findings provide the first evidence of an innate immune activating ligand regulated by SUMOylation, and confer to this modification a novel role in impairing recognition and killing of tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Zitti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Fionda
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université UM2, Inserm, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Helena Stabile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Lecce
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria de Turris
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Ricciardi
- Division of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Petrucci
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Cippitelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Gismondi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Mediterraneo di Neuroscienze, Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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25
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Molfetta R, Quatrini L, Santoni A, Paolini R. Regulation of NKG2D-Dependent NK Cell Functions: The Yin and the Yang of Receptor Endocytosis. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18081677. [PMID: 28767057 PMCID: PMC5578067 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural-killer receptor group 2, member D (NKG2D) is a well characterized natural killer (NK) cell activating receptor that recognizes several ligands poorly expressed on healthy cells but up-regulated upon stressing stimuli in the context of cancer or viral infection. Although NKG2D ligands represent danger signals that render target cells more susceptible to NK cell lysis, accumulating evidence demonstrates that persistent exposure to ligand-expressing cells causes the decrease of NKG2D surface expression leading to a functional impairment of NKG2D-dependent NK cell functions. Upon ligand binding, NKG2D is internalized from the plasma membrane and sorted to lysosomes for degradation. However, receptor endocytosis is not only a mechanism of receptor clearance from the cell surface, but is also required for the proper activation of signalling events leading to the functional program of NK cells. This review is aimed at providing a summary of current literature relevant to the molecular mechanisms leading to NKG2D down-modulation with particular emphasis given to the role of NKG2D endocytosis in both receptor degradation and signal propagation. Examples of chronic ligand-induced down-regulation of NK cell activating receptors other than NKG2D, including natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM1) and CD16, will be also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université UM2, Inserm, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, 13288 Marseille, France.
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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26
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Vyas M, Müller R, Pogge von Strandmann E. Antigen Loss Variants: Catching Hold of Escaping Foes. Front Immunol 2017; 8:175. [PMID: 28286501 PMCID: PMC5323381 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Since mid-1990s, the field of cancer immunotherapy has seen steady growth and selected immunotherapies are now a routine and preferred therapeutic option of certain malignancies. Both active and passive cancer immunotherapies exploit the fact that tumor cells express specific antigens on the cell surface, thereby mounting an immune response specifically against malignant cells. It is well established that cancer cells typically lose surface antigens following natural or therapy-induced selective pressure and these antigen-loss variants are often the population that causes therapy-resistant relapse. CD19 and CD20 antigen loss in acute lymphocytic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, respectively, and lineage switching in leukemia associated with mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangements are well-documented evidences in this regard. Although increasing number of novel immunotherapies are being developed, majority of these do not address the control of antigen loss variants. Here, we review the occurrence of antigen loss variants in leukemia and discuss the therapeutic strategies to tackle the same. We also present an approach of dual-targeting immunoligand effectively retargeting NK cells against antigen loss variants in MLL-associated leukemia. Novel immunotherapies simultaneously targeting more than one tumor antigen certainly hold promise to completely eradicate tumor and prevent therapy-resistant relapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maulik Vyas
- Experimental Tumor Research, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology, Clinic for Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Philipps University , Marburg , Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Tumor Research, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology, Philipps University , Marburg , Germany
| | - Elke Pogge von Strandmann
- Experimental Tumor Research, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology, Clinic for Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Philipps University , Marburg , Germany
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27
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Capuano C, Pighi C, Molfetta R, Paolini R, Battella S, Palmieri G, Giannini G, Belardinilli F, Santoni A, Galandrini R. Obinutuzumab-mediated high-affinity ligation of FcγRIIIA/CD16 primes NK cells for IFNγ production. Oncoimmunology 2017; 6:e1290037. [PMID: 28405525 PMCID: PMC5384385 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1290037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), based on the recognition of IgG-opsonized targets by the low-affinity receptor for IgG FcγRIIIA/CD16, represents one of the main mechanisms by which therapeutic antibodies (mAbs) mediate their antitumor effects. Besides ADCC, CD16 ligation also results in cytokine production, in particular, NK-derived IFNγ is endowed with a well-recognized role in the shaping of adaptive immune responses. Obinutuzumab is a glycoengineered anti-CD20 mAb with a modified crystallizable fragment (Fc) domain designed to increase the affinity for CD16 and consequently the killing of mAb-opsonized targets. However, the impact of CD16 ligation in optimized affinity conditions on NK functional program is not completely understood. Herein, we demonstrate that the interaction of NK cells with obinutuzumab-opsonized cells results in enhanced IFNγ production as compared with parental non-glycoengineered mAb or the reference molecule rituximab. We observed that affinity ligation conditions strictly correlate with the ability to induce CD16 down-modulation and lysosomal targeting of receptor-associated signaling elements. Indeed, a preferential degradation of FcεRIγ chain and Syk kinase was observed upon obinutuzumab stimulation independently from CD16-V158F polymorphism. Although the downregulation of FcεRIγ/Syk module leads to the impairment of cytotoxic function induced by NKp46 and NKp30 receptors, obinutuzumab-experienced cells exhibit an increased ability to produce IFNγ in response to different stimuli. These data highlight a relationship between CD16 aggregation conditions and the ability to promote a degradative pathway of CD16-coupled signaling elements associated to the shift of NK functional program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Capuano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University , Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Pighi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University , Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University , Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University , Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Battella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University , Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Palmieri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University , Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University , Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Belardinilli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University , Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Ricciarda Galandrini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratorio Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University , Rome, Italy
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28
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Molfetta R, Zitti B, Santoni A, Paolini R. Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modifiers modulate NK cell-mediated recognition and killing of damaged cells. AIMS ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.3934/allergy.2017.4.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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29
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Molfetta R, Quatrini L, Zitti B, Capuano C, Galandrini R, Santoni A, Paolini R. Regulation of NKG2D Expression and Signaling by Endocytosis. Trends Immunol 2016; 37:790-802. [PMID: 27667711 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2016.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
NKG2D is an activating receptor that can bind to a large number of stress-induced ligands that are expressed in the context of cancer or viral infection. This receptor is expressed on many cytotoxic lymphocytes, and plays a crucial role in antitumor and antiviral immune responses. However, exposure to NKG2D ligand-expressing target cells promotes receptor endocytosis, ultimately leading to lysosomal receptor degradation and impairment of NKG2D-mediated functions. Interestingly, before being degraded, internalized receptors can signal from the endosomal compartment, leading to the appropriate activation of cellular functional programs. This review summarizes recent findings on ligand-induced receptor internalization, with particular emphasis on the role of endocytosis in the control of both NKG2D-mediated intracellular signaling and receptor degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Beatrice Zitti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Capuano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Ricciarda Galandrini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy; Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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30
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Rojas JM, Spada R, Sanz-Ortega L, Morillas L, Mejías R, Mulens-Arias V, Pérez-Yagüe S, Barber DF. PI3K p85 β regulatory subunit deficiency does not affect NK cell differentiation and increases NKG2D-mediated activation. J Leukoc Biol 2016; 100:1285-1296. [PMID: 27381007 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.1a1215-541rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of NK cells depends on a balance between activating and inhibitory signals. Class Ia PI3K are heterodimeric proteins with a catalytic and a regulatory subunit and have a central role in cell signaling by associating with tyrosine kinase receptors to trigger signaling cascades. The regulatory p85 subunit participates in signaling through NKG2D, one of the main activating receptors on NK cells, via its interaction with the adaptor protein DAP10. Although the effects of inhibiting catalytic subunits or deleting the regulatory p85α subunit have been studied, little attention has focused on the role of the p85β subunit in NK cells. Using p85β knockout mice, we found that p85β deficiency does not alter NK cell differentiation and maturation in spleen or bone marrow. NK cells from p85β-/- mice nonetheless produced more IFN-γ and degranulated more effectively when stimulated with anti-NKG2D antibody. These cells also degranulated and killed NKG2D ligand-expressing target cells more efficiently. We show that p85β deficiency impaired NKG2D internalization, which could contribute to the activated phenotype. Decreasing p85β subunit protein levels might thus constitute a therapeutic target to promote NK cell activity toward NKG2D ligand-expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Rojas
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Spada
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Sanz-Ortega
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Morillas
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Mejías
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vladimir Mulens-Arias
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Pérez-Yagüe
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Domingo F Barber
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
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31
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Rouce RH, Shaim H, Sekine T, Weber G, Ballard B, Ku S, Barese C, Murali V, Wu MF, Liu H, Shpall EJ, Bollard CM, Rabin KR, Rezvani K. The TGF-β/SMAD pathway is an important mechanism for NK cell immune evasion in childhood B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2016; 30:800-11. [PMID: 26621337 PMCID: PMC4823160 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2015.327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are key components of the innate immune system, providing potent antitumor immunity. Here, we show that the tumor growth factor-β (TGF-β)/SMAD signaling pathway is an important mechanism for NK cell immune evasion in childhood B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We characterized NK cells in 50 consecutive children with B-ALL at diagnosis, end induction and during maintenance therapy compared with age-matched controls. ALL-NK cells at diagnosis had an inhibitory phenotype associated with impaired function, most notably interferon-γ production and cytotoxicity. By maintenance therapy, these phenotypic and functional abnormalities partially normalized; however, cytotoxicity against autologous blasts remained impaired. We identified ALL-derived TGF-β1 to be an important mediator of leukemia-induced NK cell dysfunction. The TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway was constitutively activated in ALL-NK cells at diagnosis and end induction when compared with healthy controls and patients during maintenance therapy. Culture of ALL blasts with healthy NK cells induced NK dysfunction and an inhibitory phenotype, mediated by activation of the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway, and abrogated by blocking TGF-β. These data indicate that by regulating the TGF-β/SMAD pathway, ALL blasts induce changes in NK cells to evade innate immune surveillance, thus highlighting the importance of developing novel therapies to target this inhibitory pathway and restore antileukemic cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayne H. Rouce
- Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston
| | - Hila Shaim
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
| | - Takuya Sekine
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
| | - Gerrit Weber
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston
| | - Brandon Ballard
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston
| | - Stephanie Ku
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston
| | - Cecilia Barese
- Program for Cell Enhancement and Technologies for Immunotherapy, and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC
| | - Vineeth Murali
- Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Meng-Fen Wu
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston
| | - Hao Liu
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston
| | - Elizabeth J. Shpall
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
| | - Catherine M. Bollard
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston
- Program for Cell Enhancement and Technologies for Immunotherapy, and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC
| | - Karen R. Rabin
- Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
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32
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Quatrini L, Molfetta R, Zitti B, Peruzzi G, Fionda C, Capuano C, Galandrini R, Cippitelli M, Santoni A, Paolini R. Ubiquitin-dependent endocytosis of NKG2D-DAP10 receptor complexes activates signaling and functions in human NK cells. Sci Signal 2015; 8:ra108. [PMID: 26508790 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aab2724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cytotoxic lymphocytes share the presence of the activating receptor NK receptor group 2, member D (NKG2D) and the signaling-competent adaptor DNAX-activating protein 10 (DAP10), which together play an important role in antitumor immune surveillance. Ligand stimulation induces the internalization of NKG2D-DAP10 complexes and their delivery to lysosomes for degradation. In experiments with human NK cells and cell lines, we found that the ligand-induced endocytosis of NKG2D-DAP10 depended on the ubiquitylation of DAP10, which was also required for degradation of the internalized complexes. Moreover, through combined biochemical and microscopic analyses, we showed that ubiquitin-dependent receptor endocytosis was required for the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and NK cell functions, such as the secretion of cytotoxic granules and the inflammatory cytokine interferon-γ. These results suggest that NKG2D-DAP10 endocytosis represents a means to decrease cell surface receptor abundance, as well as to control signaling outcome in cytotoxic lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Quatrini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Beatrice Zitti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, CLNS@Sapienza, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Fionda
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Capuano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Ricciarda Galandrini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Cippitelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy. Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy. Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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33
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Capuano C, Romanelli M, Pighi C, Cimino G, Rago A, Molfetta R, Paolini R, Santoni A, Galandrini R. Anti-CD20 Therapy Acts via FcγRIIIA to Diminish Responsiveness of Human Natural Killer Cells. Cancer Res 2015; 75:4097-108. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-0781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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34
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Battella S, Cox MC, Santoni A, Palmieri G. Natural killer (NK) cells and anti-tumor therapeutic mAb: unexplored interactions. J Leukoc Biol 2015; 99:87-96. [PMID: 26136506 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.5vmr0415-141r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-targeting mAb are widely used in the treatment of a variety of solid and hematopoietic tumors and represent the first immunotherapeutic approach successfully arrived to the clinic. Nevertheless, the role of distinct immune mechanisms in contributing to their therapeutic efficacy is not completely understood and may vary depending on tumor- or antigen/antibody-dependent characteristics. Availability of next-generation, engineered, tumor-targeting mAb, optimized in their capability to recruit selected immune effectors, re-enforces the need for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying anti-tumor mAb functionality. NK cells participate with a major role to innate anti-tumor responses, by exerting cytotoxic activity and producing a vast array of cytokines. As the CD16 (low-affinity FcγRIIIA)-activating receptor is expressed on the majority of NK cells, its effector functions can be ideally recruited against therapeutic mAb-opsonized tumor cells. The exact role of NK cells in determining therapeutic efficacy of tumor-targeting mAb is still unclear and much sought after. This knowledge will be instrumental to design innovative combination schemes with newly validated immunomodulatory agents. We will summarize what is known about the role of NK cells in therapeutic anti-tumor mAb therapy, with particular emphasis on RTX chimeric anti-CD20 mAb, the first one used in clinical practice for treating B cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Battella
- Departments of *Experimental Medicine and Molecular Medicine, Hematology Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, and Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Christina Cox
- Departments of *Experimental Medicine and Molecular Medicine, Hematology Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, and Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Departments of *Experimental Medicine and Molecular Medicine, Hematology Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, and Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Palmieri
- Departments of *Experimental Medicine and Molecular Medicine, Hematology Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, and Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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35
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Zingoni A, Cecere F, Vulpis E, Fionda C, Molfetta R, Soriani A, Petrucci MT, Ricciardi MR, Fuerst D, Amendola MG, Mytilineos J, Cerboni C, Paolini R, Cippitelli M, Santoni A. Genotoxic Stress Induces Senescence-Associated ADAM10-Dependent Release of NKG2D MIC Ligands in Multiple Myeloma Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:736-48. [PMID: 26071561 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Genotoxic stress can promote antitumor NK cell responses by upregulating the surface expression of activating ligands on cancer cells. Moreover, a number of studies suggested a role for soluble NK group 2D ligands in the impairment of NK cell tumor recognition and killing. We investigated whether genotoxic stress could promote the release of NK group 2D ligands (MHC class I-related chain [MIC]A and MICB), as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying this event in human multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Our results show that genotoxic agents used in the therapy of MM (i.e., doxorubicin and melphalan) selectively affect the shedding of MIC molecules that are sensitive to proteolytic cleavage, whereas the release of the short MICA*008 allele, which is frequent in the white population, is not perturbed. In addition, we found that a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 expression is upregulated upon chemotherapeutic treatment both in patient-derived CD138(+)/CD38(+) plasma cells and in several MM cell lines, and we demonstrate a crucial role for this sheddase in the proteolytic cleavage of MIC by means of silencing and pharmacological inhibition. Interestingly, the drug-induced upregulation of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 on MM cells is associated with a senescent phenotype and requires generation of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, the combined use of chemotherapeutic drugs and metalloproteinase inhibitors enhances NK cell-mediated recognition of MM cells, preserving MIC molecules on the cell surface and suggesting that targeting of metalloproteinases in conjunction with chemotherapy could be exploited for NK cell-based immunotherapeutic approaches, thus contributing to avoid the escape of malignant cells from stress-elicited immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zingoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy;
| | - Francesca Cecere
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Vulpis
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Cinzia Fionda
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Alessandra Soriani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Petrucci
- Department of Cellular Biotechnology and Hematology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Ricciardi
- Department of Cellular Biotechnology and Hematology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniel Fuerst
- Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm of the German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Baden Wuerttemberg-Hessen, 89081 Ulm, Germany; Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; and
| | | | - Joannis Mytilineos
- Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm of the German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Baden Wuerttemberg-Hessen, 89081 Ulm, Germany; Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; and
| | - Cristina Cerboni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Rossella Paolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Marco Cippitelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy; Institute Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
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36
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Cox ST, Laza-Briviesca R, Pearson H, Soria B, Gibson D, Gomez S, Madrigal JA, Saudemont A. Umbilical cord blood plasma contains soluble NKG2D ligands that mediate loss of natural killer cell function and cytotoxicity. Eur J Immunol 2015; 45:2324-34. [PMID: 25991034 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201444990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
NK cells play a key role in innate elimination of virally infected or neoplastic cells but they can be circumvented by immunoevasive mechanisms enabling viral spread or tumor progression. Engagement of the NKG2D activating receptor with soluble forms of its ligand is one such mechanism of inducing NK cell hyporesponsiveness. Interestingly, this immunoevasive strategy among others is described at the maternal-fetal interface where tolerance of the semi-allogeneic fetus is required to allow successful human pregnancy. Understanding of maternal-fetal tolerance is increasing but mechanisms preventing alloreactivity of fetal immune cells against the maternal host are less well understood. The study of umbilical cord blood has enabled insight of the fetal immune system, which appears immature and inert. We have found that soluble NKG2D ligands (sNKG2DLs) are present in cord blood plasma (CBP) and associate with adult NK cell hyporesponsiveness demonstrated by reduced CD107a expression and secretion of IFN-γ upon stimulation. The capacity of NK cells to kill K562 cells or proliferate was also reduced by incubation with CBP; however, physical removal of sNKG2DL from CBP restored K562 lytic function and NKG2D expression. Therefore, our results strongly suggest sNKG2DLs are expressed in CBP as a mechanism of fetal-maternal tolerance in human pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven T Cox
- The Anthony Nolan Research Institute, The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, UK
| | - Raquel Laza-Briviesca
- The Anthony Nolan Research Institute, The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, UK
| | - Hayley Pearson
- The Anthony Nolan Research Institute, The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, UK
| | - Bernat Soria
- Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER), Fundación Progreso y Salud, Seville, Spain.,Biomedical Research Network on Diabetes and Related Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Gibson
- Cell Therapy Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Susana Gomez
- Cell Therapy Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - J Alejandro Madrigal
- The Anthony Nolan Research Institute, The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, UK.,Cell Therapy Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.,UCL Cancer Institute, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Aurore Saudemont
- The Anthony Nolan Research Institute, The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, UK.,UCL Cancer Institute, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
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37
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Lutz-Nicoladoni C, Wolf D, Sopper S. Modulation of Immune Cell Functions by the E3 Ligase Cbl-b. Front Oncol 2015; 5:58. [PMID: 25815272 PMCID: PMC4356231 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2015.00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of immunological tolerance is a critical hallmark of the immune system. Several signaling checkpoints necessary to balance activating and inhibitory input to immune cells have been described so far, among which the E3 ligase Cbl-b appears to be a central player. Cbl-b is expressed in all leukocyte subsets and regulates several signaling pathways in T cells, NK cells, B cells, and different types of myeloid cells. In most cases, Cbl-b negatively regulates activation signals through antigen or pattern recognition receptors and co-stimulatory molecules. In line with this function, cblb-deficient immune cells display lower activation thresholds and cblb knockout mice spontaneously develop autoimmunity and are highly susceptible to experimental autoimmunity. Interestingly, genetic association studies link CBLB-polymorphisms with autoimmunity also in humans. Vice versa, the increased activation potential of cblb-deficient cells renders them more potent to fight against malignancies or infections. Accordingly, several reports have shown that cblb knockout mice reject tumors, which mainly depends on cytotoxic T and NK cells. Thus, targeting Cbl-b may be an interesting strategy to enhance anti-cancer immunity. In this review, we summarize the findings on the molecular function of Cbl-b in different cell types and illustrate the potential of Cbl-b as target for immunomodulatory therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Lutz-Nicoladoni
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical University Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria ; Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute , Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Dominik Wolf
- Medical Clinic III for Oncology, Haematology and Rheumatology, University Clinic Bonn (UKB) , Bonn , Germany
| | - Sieghart Sopper
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical University Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria ; Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute , Innsbruck , Austria
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