|
1
|
Salnikov MY, Fonseca GJ, Mymryk JS. Differences in the Tumor Microenvironment of EBV-Associated Gastric Cancers Revealed Using Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3178. [PMID: 37370788 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123178] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a gamma-herpesvirus associated with nearly 10% of gastric cancers (GCs). These EBV-associated GCs (EBVaGCs) are molecularly, histopathologically, and clinically distinct from EBV-negative GCs (EBVnGCs). While viral genes in EBVaGCs contribute to the carcinogenesis process, viral proteins also represent foreign antigens that could trigger enhanced immune responses compared to EBVnGCs. Despite prior investigations of the EBVaGC tumor microenvironment (TME), the cellular composition has not been thoroughly explored. In this study, cellular subpopulations overrepresented in EBVaGCs were identified and molecularly characterized. Genes consistently expressed across both bulk tumor and single-cell RNA sequencing data were highlighted, with the expression across the identified cellular subpopulations analyzed. As expected, based on existing histopathological analysis, EBVaGC is characterized by abundant lymphocytic infiltration of the stroma. Our molecular analysis identified three unique immune cell subpopulations in EBVaGC: T and B cells expressing high levels of proliferation markers and B cells expressing T cell features. The proliferating T cell cluster also expressed markers of follicular T helper cells. Overall, EBVaGC also exhibited unique features indicative of a higher inflammatory response. These substantial differences within the TME suggest that further detailed exploration of the cellular composition of EBVaGCs is needed, which may identify cellular subpopulations and phenotypes associated with patient outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Y Salnikov
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Gregory J Fonseca
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada
- Quantitative Life Sciences Program, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Joe S Mymryk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Otolaryngology, Western University, London, ON N6A 5W9, Canada
- London Regional Cancer Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5W9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Ahmed EH, Lustberg M, Hale C, Sloan S, Mao C, Zhang X, Ozer HG, Schlotter S, Smith PL, Jeney F, Chan WK, Harrington BK, Weigel C, Brooks E, Klimaszewski HL, Oakes CC, Abebe T, Ibrahim ME, Alinari L, Behbehani GK, Shindiapina P, Caligiuri MA, Baiocchi RA. Follicular Helper and Regulatory T Cells Drive the Development of Spontaneous Epstein-Barr Virus Lymphoproliferative Disorder. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3046. [PMID: 37297008 PMCID: PMC10252287 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15113046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous herpes virus associated with various cancers. EBV establishes latency with life-long persistence in memory B-cells and can reactivate lytic infection placing immunocompromised individuals at risk for EBV-driven lymphoproliferative disorders (EBV-LPD). Despite the ubiquity of EBV, only a small percentage of immunocompromised patients (~20%) develop EBV-LPD. Engraftment of immunodeficient mice with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy EBV-seropositive donors leads to spontaneous, malignant, human B-cell EBV-LPD. Only about 20% of EBV+ donors induce EBV-LPD in 100% of engrafted mice (High-Incidence, HI), while another 20% of donors never generate EBV-LPD (No-Incidence, NI). Here, we report HI donors to have significantly higher basal T follicular helper (Tfh) and regulatory T-cells (Treg), and depletion of these subsets prevents/delays EBV-LPD. Transcriptomic analysis of CD4+ T cells from ex vivo HI donor PBMC revealed amplified cytokine and inflammatory gene signatures. HI vs. NI donors showed a marked reduction in IFNγ production to EBV latent and lytic antigen stimulation. In addition, we observed abundant myeloid-derived suppressor cells in HI donor PBMC that decreased CTL proliferation in co-cultures with autologous EBV+ lymphoblasts. Our findings identify potential biomarkers that may identify individuals at risk for EBV-LPD and suggest possible strategies for prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elshafa Hassan Ahmed
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
| | - Mark Lustberg
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
| | - Claire Hale
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Shelby Sloan
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
| | - Charlene Mao
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics/Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Hatice Gulcin Ozer
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Sarah Schlotter
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
| | - Porsha L. Smith
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
| | - Frankie Jeney
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
| | - Wing Keung Chan
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (C.W.); (G.K.B.)
| | - Bonnie K. Harrington
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | - Christoph Weigel
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (C.W.); (G.K.B.)
| | - Eric Brooks
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
| | | | - Christopher C. Oakes
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (C.W.); (G.K.B.)
| | - Tamrat Abebe
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, School of Medicine Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa AB1000, Ethiopia;
| | - Muntaser E. Ibrahim
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan;
| | - Lapo Alinari
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (C.W.); (G.K.B.)
| | - Gregory K. Behbehani
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (C.W.); (G.K.B.)
| | - Polina Shindiapina
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (C.W.); (G.K.B.)
| | | | - Robert A. Baiocchi
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.H.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.); (S.S.); (P.L.S.); (F.J.); (W.K.C.); (E.B.); (C.C.O.); (L.A.); (P.S.)
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (C.W.); (G.K.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Liu M, Wang R, Xie Z. T cell-mediated immunity during Epstein-Barr virus infections in children. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 112:105443. [PMID: 37201619 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is extremely common worldwide, with approximately 90% of adults testing positive for EBV antibodies. Human are susceptible to EBV infection, and primary EBV infection typically occurs early in life. EBV infection can cause infectious mononucleosis (IM) as well as some severe non-neoplastic diseases, such as chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV) and EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH), which can have a heavy disease burden. After primary EBV infection, individuals develop robust EBV-specific T cell immune responses, with EBV-specific CD8+ and part of CD4+ T cells functioning as cytotoxic T cells, defending against virus. Different proteins expressed during EBV's lytic replication and latent proliferation can cause varying degrees of cellular immune responses. Strong T cell immunity plays a key role in controlling infection by decreasing viral load and eliminating infected cells. However, the virus persists as latent infection in EBV healthy carriers even with robust T cell immune response. When reactivated, it undergoes lytic replication and then transmits virions to a new host. Currently, the relationship between the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative diseases and the adaptive immune system is still not fully clarified and needs to be explored in the future. Investigating the T cell immune responses evoked by EBV and utilizing this knowledge to design promising prophylactic vaccines are urgent issues for future research due to the importance of T cell immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengjia Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Laboratory of Infection and Virology, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing 100045, China; Research Unit of Critical Infection in Children, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100045, China
| | - Ran Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Laboratory of Infection and Virology, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing 100045, China; Research Unit of Critical Infection in Children, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100045, China.
| | - Zhengde Xie
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Laboratory of Infection and Virology, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing 100045, China; Research Unit of Critical Infection in Children, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100045, China.
| |
Collapse
|
|
4
|
Cox BS, Alharshawi K, Mena-Palomo I, Lafuse WP, Ariza ME. EBV/HHV-6A dUTPases contribute to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome pathophysiology by enhancing TFH cell differentiation and extrafollicular activities. JCI Insight 2022; 7:158193. [PMID: 35482424 PMCID: PMC9220958 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.158193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic, debilitating multisystem illness of unknown etiology for which there is no cure and no diagnostic tests available. Despite increasing evidence implicating EBV and human herpesvirus-6A (HHV-6A) as potential causative infectious agents in a subset of ME/CFS patients, there are few mechanistic studies to address a causal relationship. In this study we examined a large ME/CFS cohort (n=351) and 77 controls and demonstrate a significant increase in activin A and IL-21serum levels, which correlated with seropositivity for antibodies to the EBV and HHV-6 protein deoxyuridine-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase), but not CXCL13. These cytokines are critical for T follicular helper (TFH) cell differentiation, generation of high-affinity antibodies and long-lived plasma cells. Notably, ME/CFS serum was sufficient to drive TFH cell differentiation via an activin A-dependent mechanism. The lack of simultaneous CXCL13 increase with IL-21 indicates impaired TFH-function in ME/CFS. In vitro studies revealed that virus-dUTPases strongly induced activin A secretion while in vivo, EBV-dUTPase induced the formation of splenic marginal zone B and invariant NKTFH cells. Altogether, our data indicate abnormal germinal center (GC) activity in ME/CFS subjects and highlight a mechanism by which EBV and HHV6-dUTPases may alter GC and extrafollicular Ab responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon S Cox
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, United States of America
| | - Khaled Alharshawi
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, United States of America
| | - Irene Mena-Palomo
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, United States of America
| | - William P Lafuse
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, United States of America
| | - Maria E Ariza
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
|
5
|
Clinicopathologic findings of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection in adults: A single-center retrospective study in China. Clin Exp Med 2021; 21:369-377. [PMID: 33635476 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-021-00689-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) infection is a rare disease with a high mortality rate. Our study aimed to summarize the clinicopathological characteristics of CAEBV infection in adults and improve knowledge of the disease. Data for 19 adult patients with CAEBV confirmed at our hospital from January 2010 to December 2019 were collected retrospectively. There were 14 males and 5 females, and the median age was 33 years (range 14-83). The main clinical manifestations included recurrent fever (84.2%, 16/19), splenomegaly (89.5%, 17/19), hepatomegaly (73.6%, 14/19), lymphadenopathy (42.1%, 8/19), abnormal liver function (78.9%, 15/19), hemopenia (94.7%, 18/19), and hemophagocytosis (52.6%, 10/19). A total of 22 specimens were collected from 19 patients for histopathology. Most of the biopsy specimens showed lymphocyte infiltration. Immunohistochemical staining and EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization were performed for 14 of the 22 samples. CD3 and CD20 staining were positive, with more CD3-positive cells than CD20-positive cells (100%, 14/14), and EBER in situ hybridization was positive in most cases (85.7%, 12/14). More than half of TCR gene rearrangement tests showed monoclonal rearrangement (66.6%, 4/6). Mortality was high, with most CAEBV patients dying during the period from diagnosis to the end of follow-up (12/19, 63%); the median survival time was only 20.75 months. Based on limited data, we consider that CAEBV is a disease with different ages of onset and is a complex and heterogeneous syndrome with features of both immunodeficiency and malignant neoplasms. Furthermore, the prognosis of adult-onset CAEBV appears to be very poor.
Collapse
|