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Monti M, Ferrari G, Gazzurelli L, Bugatti M, Facchetti F, Vermi W. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells at the forefront of anti-cancer immunity: rewiring strategies for tumor microenvironment remodeling. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:196. [PMID: 39020402 PMCID: PMC11253500 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03121-9] [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: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are multifaceted immune cells executing various innate immunological functions. Their first line of defence consists in type I interferons (I-IFN) production upon nucleic acids sensing through endosomal Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7- and 9-dependent signalling pathways. Type I IFNs are a class of proinflammatory cytokines that have context-dependent functions on cancer immunosurveillance and immunoediting. In the last few years, different studies have reported that pDCs are also able to sense cytosolic DNA through cGAS-STING (stimulator of interferon genes) pathway eliciting a potent I-IFN production independently of TLR7/9. Human pDCs are also endowed with direct effector functions via the upregulation of TRAIL and production of granzyme B, the latter modulated by cytokines abundant in cancer tissues. pDCs have been detected in a wide variety of human malignant neoplasms, including virus-associated cancers, recruited by chemotactic stimuli. Although the role of pDCs in cancer immune surveillance is still uncompletely understood, their spontaneous activation has been rarely documented; moreover, their presence in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has been associated with a tolerogenic phenotype induced by immunosuppressive cytokines or oncometabolites. Currently tested treatment options can lead to pDCs activation and disruption of the immunosuppressive TME, providing a relevant clinical benefit. On the contrary, the antibody-drug conjugates targeting BDCA-2 on immunosuppressive tumor-associated pDCs (TA-pDCs) could be proposed as novel immunomodulatory therapies to achieve disease control in patients with advance stage hematologic malignancies or solid tumors. This Review integrate recent evidence on the biology of pDCs and their pharmacological modulation, suggesting their relevant role at the forefront of cancer immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Monti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Pathology, University of Brescia, P.Le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgia Ferrari
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Pathology, University of Brescia, P.Le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luisa Gazzurelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Pathology, University of Brescia, P.Le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mattia Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Pathology, University of Brescia, P.Le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Fabio Facchetti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Pathology, University of Brescia, P.Le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - William Vermi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Pathology, University of Brescia, P.Le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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Carenza C, Franzese S, Castagna A, Terzoli S, Simonelli M, Persico P, Bello L, Nibali MC, Pessina F, Kunderfranco P, Peano C, Balin S, Mikulak J, Calcaterra F, Bonecchi R, Savino B, Locati M, Della Bella S, Mavilio D. Perioperative corticosteroid treatment impairs tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells in patients with newly diagnosed adult-type diffuse gliomas. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1074762. [PMID: 36703985 PMCID: PMC9872516 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1074762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Adult-type diffuse gliomas are malignant primary brain tumors characterized by very poor prognosis. Dendritic cells (DCs) are key in priming antitumor effector functions in cancer, but their role in gliomas remains poorly understood. Methods In this study, we characterized tumor-infiltrating DCs (TIDCs) in adult patients with newly diagnosed diffuse gliomas by using multi-parametric flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing. Results We demonstrated that different subsets of DCs are present in the glioma microenvironment, whereas they are absent in cancer-free brain parenchyma. The largest cluster of TIDCs was characterized by a transcriptomic profile suggestive of severe functional impairment. Patients undergoing perioperative corticosteroid treatment showed a significant reduction of conventional DC1s, the DC subset with key functions in antitumor immunity. They also showed phenotypic and transcriptional evidence of a more severe functional impairment of TIDCs. Discussion Overall, the results of this study indicate that functionally impaired DCs are recruited in the glioma microenvironment. They are severely affected by dexamethasone administration, suggesting that the detrimental effects of corticosteroids on DCs may represent one of the mechanisms contributing to the already reported negative prognostic impact of steroids on glioma patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Carenza
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Franzese
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Castagna
- Laboratory of Leukocyte Biology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Terzoli
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Simonelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy,Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Pasquale Persico
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy,Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Bello
- Unit of Oncological Neurosurgery, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Conti Nibali
- Unit of Oncological Neurosurgery, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Pessina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy,Department of Neurosurgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Kunderfranco
- Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Clelia Peano
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan, National Research Council, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Balin
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Joanna Mikulak
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Calcaterra
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Bonecchi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Chemokine Biology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Benedetta Savino
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Leukocyte Biology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Locati
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Leukocyte Biology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Della Bella
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy,*Correspondence: Silvia Della Bella, ; Domenico Mavilio,
| | - Domenico Mavilio
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy,*Correspondence: Silvia Della Bella, ; Domenico Mavilio,
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3
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Ni L. Advances in Human Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy Against Gastrointestinal Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:887189. [PMID: 35619702 PMCID: PMC9127253 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.887189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs), the strongest antigen-presenting cells, are a focus for orchestrating the immune system in the fight against cancer. Basic scientific investigations elucidating the cellular biology of the DCs have resulted in new strategies in this fight, including cancer vaccinology, combination therapy, and adoptive cellular therapy. Although immunotherapy is currently becoming an unprecedented bench-to-bedside success, the overall response rate to the current immunotherapy in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers is pretty low. Here, we have carried out a literature search of the studies of DCs in the treatment of GI cancer patients. We provide the advances in DC-based immunotherapy and highlight the clinical trials that indicate the therapeutic efficacies and toxicities related with each vaccine. Moreover, we also offer the yet-to-be-addressed questions about DC-based immunotherapy. This study focuses predominantly on the data derived from human studies to help understand the involvement of DCs in patients with GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Ni
- Institute for Immunology and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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4
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Chiang JCB, Goldstein D, Tavakoli A, Trinh T, Klisser J, Lewis CR, Friedlander M, Naduvilath TJ, Au K, Park SB, Krishnan AV, Markoulli M. Corneal dendritic cells and the subbasal nerve plexus following neurotoxic treatment with oxaliplatin or paclitaxel. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22884. [PMID: 34819589 PMCID: PMC8613280 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02439-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune cell infiltration has been implicated in neurotoxic chemotherapy for cancer treatment. However, our understanding of immune processes is still incomplete and current methods of observing immune cells are time consuming or invasive. Corneal dendritic cells are potent antigen-presenting cells and can be imaged with in-vivo corneal confocal microscopy. Corneal dendritic cell densities and nerve parameters in patients treated with neurotoxic chemotherapy were investigated. Patients treated for cancer with oxaliplatin (n = 39) or paclitaxel (n = 48), 3 to 24 months prior to assessment were recruited along with 40 healthy controls. Immature (ImDC), mature (MDC) and total dendritic cell densities (TotalDC), and corneal nerve parameters were analyzed from in-vivo corneal confocal microscopy images. ImDC was increased in the oxaliplatin group (Median, Md = 22.7 cells/mm2) compared to healthy controls (Md = 10.1 cells/mm2, p = 0.001), but not in the paclitaxel group (Md = 10.6 cells/mm2). ImDC was also associated with higher oxaliplatin cumulative dose (r = 0.33, p = 0.04) and treatment cycles (r = 0.40, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in MDC between the three groups (p > 0.05). Corneal nerve parameters were reduced in both oxaliplatin and paclitaxel groups compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). There is evidence of elevation of corneal ImDC in oxaliplatin-treated patients. Further investigation is required to explore this potential link through longitudinal studies and animal or laboratory-based immunohistochemical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Chung Bo Chiang
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - David Goldstein
- Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Azadeh Tavakoli
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Terry Trinh
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jacob Klisser
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Craig R Lewis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael Friedlander
- Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Thomas J Naduvilath
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Brien Holden Vision Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kimberley Au
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Susanna B Park
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Arun V Krishnan
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Maria Markoulli
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Subtil B, Cambi A, Tauriello DVF, de Vries IJM. The Therapeutic Potential of Tackling Tumor-Induced Dendritic Cell Dysfunction in Colorectal Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:724883. [PMID: 34691029 PMCID: PMC8527179 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.724883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Locally advanced and metastatic disease exhibit resistance to therapy and are prone to recurrence. Despite significant advances in standard of care and targeted (immuno)therapies, the treatment effects in metastatic CRC patients have been modest. Untreatable cancer metastasis accounts for poor prognosis and most CRC deaths. The generation of a strong immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) by CRC constitutes a major hurdle for tumor clearance by the immune system. Dendritic cells (DCs), often impaired in the TME, play a critical role in the initiation and amplification of anti-tumor immune responses. Evidence suggests that tumor-mediated DC dysfunction is decisive for tumor growth and metastasis initiation, as well as for the success of immunotherapies. Unravelling and understanding the complex crosstalk between CRC and DCs holds promise for identifying key mechanisms involved in tumor progression and spread that can be exploited for therapy. The main goal of this review is to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the impact of CRC-driven immunosuppression on DCs phenotype and functionality, and its significance for disease progression, patient prognosis, and treatment response. Moreover, present knowledge gaps will be highlighted as promising opportunities to further understand and therapeutically target DC dysfunction in CRC. Given the complexity and heterogeneity of CRC, future research will benefit from the use of patient-derived material and the development of in vitro organoid-based co-culture systems to model and study DCs within the CRC TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Subtil
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Alessandra Cambi
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Daniele V. F. Tauriello
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - I. Jolanda M. de Vries
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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6
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Carenza C, Franzese S, Calcaterra F, Mavilio D, Della Bella S. Comprehensive Phenotyping of Dendritic Cells in Cancer Patients by Flow Cytometry. Cytometry A 2020; 99:218-230. [PMID: 33098618 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.24245] [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: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in the complex interplay between tumor cells and the immune system. During the elimination phase of cancer immunoediting, immunostimulatory DCs are critical for the control of tumor growth. During the escape phase, regulatory DCs sustain tumor tolerance and contribute to the development of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that characterizes this phase. Moreover, increasing evidence indicates that DCs are also critical for the success of cancer immunotherapy. Hence, there is increasing need to fully characterize DC subsets and their activatory/inhibitory profile in cancer patients. In this review, we describe the role played by different DC subsets in the different phases of cancer immunoediting, the function exerted by different activatory and inhibitory molecules expressed on DC surface, and the cytokines produced by distinct DC subsets, in order to provide an overview on the DC features that may be useful to be assessed when dealing with the flow cytometric characterization of DCs in cancer patients. © 2020 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Carenza
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Franzese
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Calcaterra
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Domenico Mavilio
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Della Bella
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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7
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Monti M, Consoli F, Vescovi R, Bugatti M, Vermi W. Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells and Cutaneous Melanoma. Cells 2020; 9:E417. [PMID: 32054102 PMCID: PMC7072514 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of metastatic melanoma (MM) patients has remained poor for a long time. However, the recent introduction of effective target therapies (BRAF and MEK inhibitors for BRAFV600-mutated MM) and immunotherapies (anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1) has significantly improved the survival of MM patients. Notably, all these responses are highly dependent on the fitness of the host immune system, including the innate compartment. Among immune cells involved in cancer immunity, properly activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) exert an important role, bridging the innate and adaptive immune responses and directly eliminating cancer cells. A distinctive feature of pDCs is the production of high amount of type I Interferon (I-IFN), through the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and 9 signaling pathway activation. However, published data indicate that melanoma-associated escape mechanisms are in place to hijack pDC functions. We have recently reported that pDC recruitment is recurrent in the early phases of melanoma, but the entire pDC compartment collapses over melanoma progression. Here, we summarize recent advances on pDC biology and function within the context of melanoma immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Monti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (M.M.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Francesca Consoli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Medical Oncology, University of Brescia at ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Raffaella Vescovi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (M.M.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Mattia Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (M.M.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
| | - William Vermi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (M.M.); (R.V.); (M.B.)
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Agallou M, Athanasiou E, Kammona O, Tastsoglou S, Hatzigeorgiou AG, Kiparissides C, Karagouni E. Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Immune Markers Related to Visceral Leishmaniasis Establishment in the Experimental Model of BALB/c Mice. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2749. [PMID: 31849951 PMCID: PMC6902045 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania donovani and L. infantum is a potentially fatal disease. To date there are no registered vaccines for disease prevention despite the fact that several vaccines are in preclinical development. Thus, new strategies are needed to improve vaccine efficacy based on a better understanding of the mechanisms mediating protective immunity and mechanisms of host immune responses subversion by immunopathogenic components of Leishmania. We found that mice vaccinated with CPA162−189-loaded p8-PLGA nanoparticles, an experimental nanovaccine, induced the differentiation of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in spleen compared to control mice, characterized by increased dynamics of proliferation and high amounts of IFN-γ production after ex vivo re-stimulation with CPA162−189 antigen. Vaccination with CPA162−189-loaded p8-PLGA nanoparticles resulted in about 80% lower parasite load in spleen and liver at 4 weeks after challenge with L. infantum promastigotes as compared to control mice. However, 16 weeks after infection the parasite load in spleen was comparable in both mouse groups. Decreased protection levels in vaccinated mice were followed by up-regulation of the anti-inflammatory IL-10 production although at lower levels in comparison to control mice. Microarray analysis in spleen tissue at 4 weeks post challenge revealed different immune-related profiles among the two groups. Specifically, vaccinated mice were characterized by similar profile to naïve mice. On the other hand, the transcriptome of the non-vaccinated mice was dominated by increased expression of genes related to interferon type I, granulocyte chemotaxis, and immune cells suppression. This profile was significantly enriched at 16 weeks post challenge, a time-point which is relative to disease establishment, and was common for both groups, further suggesting that type I signaling and granulocyte influx has a significant role in disease establishment, pathogenesis and eventually in decreased vaccine efficacy for stimulating long-term protection. Overall, we put a spotlight on host immune networks during active VL as potential targets to improve and design more effective vaccines against disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Agallou
- Parasite Immunology Group, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Evita Athanasiou
- Parasite Immunology Group, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Olga Kammona
- Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Spyros Tastsoglou
- DIANA-Lab, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
| | - Artemis G Hatzigeorgiou
- DIANA-Lab, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.,DIANA-Lab, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Costas Kiparissides
- Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evdokia Karagouni
- Parasite Immunology Group, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
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9
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Gessani S, Belardelli F. Immune Dysfunctions and Immunotherapy in Colorectal Cancer: The Role of Dendritic Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1491. [PMID: 31623355 PMCID: PMC6827143 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC), a multi-step malignancy showing increasing incidence in today's societies, represents an important worldwide health issue. Exogenous factors, such as lifestyle, diet, nutrition, environment and microbiota, contribute to CRC pathogenesis, also influencing non neoplastic cells, including immune cells. Several immune dysfunctions were described in CRC patients at different disease stages. Many studies underline the role of microbiota, obesity-related inflammation, diet and host reactive cells, including dendritic cells (DC), in CRC pathogenesis. Here, we focused on DC, the main cells linking innate and adaptive anti-cancer immunity. Variations in the number and phenotype of circulating and tumor-infiltrating DC have been found in CRC patients and correlated with disease stages and progression. A critical review of DC-based clinical studies and of recent advances in cancer immunotherapy leads to consider new strategies for combining DC vaccination strategies with check-point inhibitors, thus opening perspectives for a more effective management of this neoplastic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Gessani
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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10
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Martin Lluesma S, Graciotti M, Chiang CLL, Kandalaft LE. Does the Immunocompetent Status of Cancer Patients Have an Impact on Therapeutic DC Vaccination Strategies? Vaccines (Basel) 2018; 6:E79. [PMID: 30477198 PMCID: PMC6313858 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines6040079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although different types of therapeutic vaccines against established cancerous lesions in various indications have been developed since the 1990s, their clinical benefit is still very limited. This observed lack of effectiveness in cancer eradication may be partially due to the often deficient immunocompetent status of cancer patients, which may facilitate tumor development by different mechanisms, including immune evasion. The most frequently used cellular vehicle in clinical trials are dendritic cells (DCs), thanks to their crucial role in initiating and directing immune responses. Viable vaccination options using DCs are available, with a positive toxicity profile. For these reasons, despite their limited therapeutic outcomes, DC vaccination is currently considered an additional immunotherapeutic option that still needs to be further explored. In this review, we propose potential actions aimed at improving DC vaccine efficacy by counteracting the detrimental mechanisms recognized to date and implicated in establishing a poor immunocompetent status in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Martin Lluesma
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.
| | - Michele Graciotti
- Vaccine development laboratory, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.
| | - Cheryl Lai-Lai Chiang
- Vaccine development laboratory, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.
| | - Lana E Kandalaft
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.
- Vaccine development laboratory, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for gastrointestinal cancer and other diseases. Most studies have focused on cytokines and chemokines as mediators connecting chronic inflammation to cancer, whereas the involvement of lipid mediators, including prostanoids, has not been extensively investigated. Prostanoids are among the earliest signaling molecules released in response to inflammation. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that prostanoids are involved in gastrointestinal cancer. In this Review, we discuss how prostanoids impact gastrointestinal cancer development. In particular, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of how prostaglandin E2 induces the immunosuppressive microenvironment in gastrointestinal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingzhi Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Raymond N DuBois
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Department of Research and Division of Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
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12
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Di J, Zhuang M, Yang H, Jiang B, Wang Z, Su X. Clinical significance of circulating immune cells in left- and right-sided colon cancer. PeerJ 2017; 5:e4153. [PMID: 29230377 PMCID: PMC5724405 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Left-sided and right-sided colon cancers (LCCs and RCCs, respectively) differ in their epidemiology, pathogenesis, genetic and epigenetic alterations, molecular pathways and prognosis. Notably, immune response gene expression profiles have been shown to differ between patients with LCC and patients with RCC. The immune system plays an important role in tumor immunosurveillance, and there is increasing evidence that peripheral blood immune cells have a profound influence on tumor prognosis. This study aimed to determine the clinical significance of circulating immune cells with respect to colon tumor locations. Methods Different types of circulating immune cells were separated and analysed based on their surface markers by flow cytometry. We compared the numbers of dendritic cells (DCs) and T cell subsets in the peripheral blood of 94 patients with RCC or LCC and analysed the proportions of these immune cells in relation to tumor stage, tumor differentiation and lymphatic metastasis. Results We show that at later tumor stages, patients with LCC had higher levels of circulating myeloid DCs (P = 0.049) and plasmacytoid DCs (P = 0.018) than patients with RCC. In poorly differentiated tumors, LCC patients had significantly higher amount of plasmacytoid DCs (P = 0.036), CD4+ memory T (Tm) cells (P = 0.012), CD4+ T cells (P = 0.028), Tm cells (P = 0.014), and regulatory T cells (P = 0.001) than RCC patients. The levels of circulating CD4+ T cells, Tm cells and CD4+ Tm cells were significantly elevated at later stages in patients with LCC or RCC, while these cells decreased in poorly differentiated tumors in patients with RCC. Moreover, CD4+ Tm cell and CD4+ T cell levels are significantly associated with lymph node metastasis in patients with LCC and RCC. Discussion Circulating immune cells were associated with tumor location, tumor stage and tumor differentiation, and can be used to predict lymphatic metastasis in patients with colon cancer. This variation in systemic immunity could contribute to the differential prognosis of patients with colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabo Di
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Beihai Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zaozao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangqian Su
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
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13
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van der Touw W, Chen HM, Pan PY, Chen SH. LILRB receptor-mediated regulation of myeloid cell maturation and function. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2017. [PMID: 28638976 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-017-2023-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LILR) family comprises a set of paired immunomodulatory receptors expressed among human myeloid and lymphocyte cell populations. While six members of LILR subfamily A (LILRA) associate with membrane adaptors to signal via immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activating motifs (ITAM), LILR subfamily B (LILRB) members signal via multiple cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIM). Ligand specificity of some LILR family members has been studied in detail, but new perspective into the immunoregulatory aspects of this receptor family in human myeloid cells has been limited. LILRB receptors and the murine ortholog, paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PIRB), have been shown to negatively regulate maturation pathways in myeloid cells including mast cells, neutrophils, dendritic cells, as well as B cells. Our laboratory further demonstrated in mouse models that PIRB regulated functional development of myeloid-derived suppressor cell and the formation of a tumor-permissive microenvironment. Based on observations from the literature and our own studies, our laboratory is focusing on how LILRs modulate immune homeostasis of human myeloid cells and how these pathways may be targeted in disease states. Integrity of this pathway in tumor microenvironments, for example, permits a myeloid phenotype that suppresses antitumor adaptive immunity. This review presents the evidence supporting a role of LILRs as myeloid cell regulators and ongoing efforts to understand the functional immunology surrounding this family.
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Affiliation(s)
- William van der Touw
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Hui-Ming Chen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Houston Methodist Research institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ping-Ying Pan
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Houston Methodist Research institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Shu-Hsia Chen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Houston Methodist Research institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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14
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Legitimo A, Consolini R, Failli A, Orsini G, Spisni R. Dendritic cell defects in the colorectal cancer. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 10:3224-35. [PMID: 25483675 PMCID: PMC4514061 DOI: 10.4161/hv.29857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) results from the accumulation of both genetic and epigenetic alterations of the genome. However, also the formation of an inflammatory milieu plays a pivotal role in tumor development and progression. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a relevant role in tumor by exerting differential pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic functions, depending on the local milieu. Quantitative and functional impairments of DCs have been widely observed in several types of cancer, including CRC, representing a tumor-escape mechanism employed by cancer cells to elude host immunosurveillance. Understanding the interactions between DCs and tumors is important for comprehending the mechanisms of tumor immune surveillance and escape, and provides novel approaches to therapy of cancer. This review summarizes updated information on the role of the DCs in colon cancer development and/or progression.
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Key Words
- APC, antigen presenting cells
- CRC, Colorectal cancer
- CTLA-4, anticytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4
- DCregs, regulatory DCs
- DCs, dendritic cells
- GM-CSF, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor
- HMGB, high mobility group box
- HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
- IFN, interferon
- IL, interleukin
- MDSCs, myeloid-derived suppressor cells
- MHC, major histocompatibility complex
- NK,natural killer
- PAMP, pathogen-associated molecular pattern
- PD-1, programmed death 1
- PRRs, pattern recognition receptors
- TDLNs, draining lymph nodes
- TGF, transforming growth factor
- TIDCs, tumor-infiltrating DCs
- TLR, toll-like receptor
- TNF, tumor necrosis factor
- Th, T helper
- VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor
- colorectal cancer
- dendritic cells
- immune response
- immunoescape
- mDCs, myeloid dendritic cells
- pDCs, plasmacytoid dendritic cells
- tumor microenvironment
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Legitimo
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine ; University of Pisa ; Pisa , Italy
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15
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de Goeje PL, Bezemer K, Heuvers ME, Dingemans AMC, Groen HJ, Smit EF, Hoogsteden HC, Hendriks RW, Aerts JG, Hegmans JP. Immunoglobulin-like transcript 3 is expressed by myeloid-derived suppressor cells and correlates with survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e1014242. [PMID: 26140237 PMCID: PMC4485803 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1014242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2014] [Revised: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in immune suppression and accumulate under pathologic conditions such as cancer and chronic inflammation. They comprise a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells that exert their immunosuppressive function via a variety of mechanisms. Immunoglobulin-like transcript 3 (ILT3) is a receptor containing immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motifs (ITIMs) that can be expressed on antigen-presenting cells and is an important regulator of dendritic cell tolerance. ILT3 exists in a membrane-bound and a soluble form and can interact with a yet unidentified ligand on T cells and thereby induce T-cell anergy, regulatory T cells, or T suppressor cells. In this study, we analyzed freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 105 patients with non-small cell lung cancer and 20 healthy controls and demonstrated for the first time that ILT3 is expressed on MDSCs. We show that increased levels of circulating MDSCs correlate with reduced survival. On the basis of ILT3 cell surface expression, an ILT3low and ILT3high population of polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSCs could be distinguished. Interestingly, in line with the immunosuppressive function of ILT3 on dendritic cells, patients with an increased proportion of PMN-MDSCs and an increased fraction of the ILT3high subset had a shorter median survival than patients with elevated PMN-MDSC and a smaller ILT3high fraction. No correlation between the ILT3high subset and other immune variables was found. ILT3 expressed on MDSCs might reflect a previously unknown mechanism by which this cell population induces immune suppression and could therefore be an attractive target for immune intervention.
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Key Words
- APC, antigen-presenting cell
- CD85k
- DC, dendritic cell
- ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- HC, healthy control
- ILT3, immunoglobulin-like transcript 3
- LILRB4
- LIR-5
- MDSC, myeloid-derived suppressor cell
- MFI, mean fluorescence intensity
- MO-MDSC, monocytic MDSC
- NFκB, nuclear factor κB
- NSCLC, non-small cell lung carcinoma
- PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell
- PMN-MDSC, polymorphonuclear MDSC
- Treg, regulatory T cell
- Ts, T suppressor cell
- immune suppression
- immunoglobulin-like transcript 3
- myeloid-derived suppressor cells
- non-small cell lung cancer
- overall survival
- sILT3, soluble ILT3
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline L de Goeje
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Koen Bezemer
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marlies E Heuvers
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie C Dingemans
- Maastricht University Medical Center; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Harry Jm Groen
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Egbert F Smit
- VU University Medical Center; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Current address: Netherlands Cancer Institute; Department of Thoracic Oncology; Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henk C Hoogsteden
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rudi W Hendriks
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joachim Gjv Aerts
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Amphia Hospital; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Breda, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Pjj Hegmans
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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16
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Orsini G, Legitimo A, Failli A, Ferrari P, Nicolini A, Spisni R, Miccoli P, Consolini R. Defective generation and maturation of dendritic cells from monocytes in colorectal cancer patients during the course of disease. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:22022-41. [PMID: 24213603 PMCID: PMC3856049 DOI: 10.3390/ijms141122022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Revised: 10/09/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. Today, the role of the host’s immune system in controlling the progression and spread of solid tumors is broadly established. Tumor immunosurveillance escape mechanisms, such as those involving dendritic cells (DCs), the most important antigen-presenting cells, are likewise recognized processes involved in cancer. The present study evaluates the ability of CRC patients to generate DCs in vitro from circulating monocytes at both pre- and post-operative timepoints; the results are correlated with the stage of disease to shed light on the systemic immune statuses of CRC patients. Our data showed that patients’ DCs had lower co-stimulatory molecule expression and were less able to present antigens to allogeneic T cells compared to healthy controls’ (HC) DCs. Furthermore altered cytokine secretion, such as increased IL-10 and reduced IL-12 and TNF-α, was observed. At the post-operative timepoints we observed a recovery of the patients’ ability to generate immature DCs, compared to HCs, but the maturational capacity remained affected. Our study conclusively highlights the persistently impaired in vitro generation of fully mature and functional DCs, which appears to be more altered during advanced stages. This work sheds light on a dendritic cell-based tumor immune escape mechanism that could be useful for the development of more effective immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Orsini
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Roma, 67, Pisa 56126, Italy; E-Mails: (A.L.); (A.F.); (R.C.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: or ; Tel.: +39-050-992-222
| | - Annalisa Legitimo
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Roma, 67, Pisa 56126, Italy; E-Mails: (A.L.); (A.F.); (R.C.)
| | - Alessandra Failli
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Roma, 67, Pisa 56126, Italy; E-Mails: (A.L.); (A.F.); (R.C.)
| | - Paola Ferrari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), via Roma, 67, Pisa 56126, Italy; E-Mail:
| | - Andrea Nicolini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section Medical Oncology, University of Pisa, via Roma, 67, Pisa 56126, Italy; E-Mail:
| | - Roberto Spisni
- Department of Surgery, Molecular, Medical and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, via Paradisa, 2, Pisa 56126, Italy; E-Mails: (R.S.) (P.M.)
| | - Paolo Miccoli
- Department of Surgery, Molecular, Medical and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, via Paradisa, 2, Pisa 56126, Italy; E-Mails: (R.S.) (P.M.)
| | - Rita Consolini
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Roma, 67, Pisa 56126, Italy; E-Mails: (A.L.); (A.F.); (R.C.)
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