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Mohammad Taheri M, Javan F, Poudineh M, Athari SS. Beyond CAR-T: The rise of CAR-NK cell therapy in asthma immunotherapy. J Transl Med 2024; 22:736. [PMID: 39103889 PMCID: PMC11302387 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05534-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Asthma poses a major public health burden. While existing asthma drugs manage symptoms for many, some patients remain resistant. The lack of a cure, especially for severe asthma, compels exploration of novel therapies. Cancer immunotherapy successes with CAR-T cells suggest its potential for asthma treatment. Researchers are exploring various approaches for allergic diseases including membrane-bound IgE, IL-5, PD-L2, and CTLA-4 for asthma, and Dectin-1 for fungal asthma. NK cells offer several advantages over T cells for CAR-based immunotherapy. They offer key benefits: (1) HLA compatibility, meaning they can be used in a wider range of patients without the need for matching tissue types. (2) Minimal side effects (CRS and GVHD) due to their limited persistence and cytokine profile. (3) Scalability for "off-the-shelf" production from various sources. Several strategies have been introduced that highlight the superiority and challenges of CAR-NK cell therapy for asthma treatment including IL-10, IFN-γ, ADCC, perforin-granzyme, FASL, KIR, NCRs (NKP46), DAP, DNAM-1, TGF-β, TNF-α, CCL, NKG2A, TF, and EGFR. Furthermore, we advocate for incorporating AI for CAR design optimization and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology for precise gene manipulation to generate highly effective CAR constructs. This review will delve into the evolution and production of CAR designs, explore pre-clinical and clinical studies of CAR-based therapies in asthma, analyze strategies to optimize CAR-NK cell function, conduct a comparative analysis of CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapy with their respective challenges, and finally present established novel CAR designs with promising potential for asthma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fatemeh Javan
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Mohadeseh Poudineh
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Seyed Shamseddin Athari
- Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, Zanjan School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, 12th Street, Shahrake Karmandan, Zanjan, 45139-561111, Iran.
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2
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Samarpita S, Srivastava S, Srikanth M, Miriam Jose A, Rithvik A, Rasool M. IL-17A/IL-17RA interaction blockade sensitizes synovial macrophages to efferocytosis and PD-L1 signaling via rewiring STAT-3/ADAM17/MERTK axis in rheumatoid arthritis animal model. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 136:112343. [PMID: 38810305 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112343] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Defective clearance of apoptotic cells due to impaired efferocytosis sustains error in self-tolerance that exacerbates rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the molecular determinant that directly or specifically impairs efferocytosis in RA is not yet studied. We identified a new perspective that IL-17A significantly impedes efferocytosis via preferential activation of the JAK/STAT-3/ADAM17 signaling axis. In contrast, disruption of the IL-17A/IL-17RA interaction using cyanidin or silencing of IL-17RA obstructed JAK/STAT-3 activation that further abolished ADAM17 expression. Subsequent depletion of ADAM17 inhibited the shedding of Mer tyrosine kinase receptor (MERTK), which significantly increased apoptotic cell intake and restored efferocytosis in adjuvant-induced arthritic (AA) model. Concomitantly, the amplification of the efferocytosis process due to IL-17A/IL-17RA interaction disruption was sensitive to mitochondrial fission mediated via Drp-1 phosphorylation downstream of STAT-3 inhibition. As expected, cyanidin treated AA synovial macrophages that exhibited increased efferocytosis demonstrated a phenotypic shift towards CD163 anti-inflammatory phenotype in a STAT-5 dependent manner. Similar results were obtained in IL-17A-sensitized AA synovial macrophages treated with S3I-201 (a STAT-3 inhibitor) indicating that IL-17A influences efferocytosis via the STAT-3 pathway. In view of our previous work where cyanidin restored Th17/Treg balance, our present investigation fulfils a critical gap by providing scientific validation that cyanidin escalated PD-L1 expression during the efferocytosis process that could have impacted the restoration of Th17/Treg balance in an AA model. Together, these data corroborate the hypothesis that IL-17A signaling can impair efferocytosis via regulating STAT-3/ADAM17/FL-MERTK axis and that its inhibition can amplify a pro-resolution signal against RA progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snigdha Samarpita
- Immunopathology Lab, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India; Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Susmita Srivastava
- Immunopathology Lab, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Manupati Srikanth
- Immunopathology Lab, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ann Miriam Jose
- Immunopathology Lab, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arulkumaran Rithvik
- Immunopathology Lab, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mahaboobkhan Rasool
- Immunopathology Lab, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India.
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3
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Wang X, Zhang C, Su J, Ren S, Wang X, Zhang Y, Yuan Z, He X, Wu X, Li M, Du F, Chen Y, Deng S, Zhao Y, Wang X, Sun Y, Shen J, Ji H, Hou Y, Xiao Z. Rejuvenation Strategy for Inducing and Enhancing Autoimmune Response to Eliminate Senescent Cells. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0579. [PMID: 39122450 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The process of aging, which involves progressive changes in the body over time, is closely associated with the development of age-related diseases. Cellular senescence is a pivotal hallmark and mechanism of the aging process. The accumulation of senescent cells can significantly contribute to the onset of age-related diseases, thereby compromising overall health. Conversely, the elimination of senescent cells enhances the body's regenerative and reparative capacity, thereby retarding the aging process. Here, we present a brief overview of 12 Hallmarks of aging and subsequently emphasize the potential of immune checkpoint blockade, innate immune cell therapy (including T cells, iNKT cells, macrophages, and NK cells), as well as CAR-T cell therapy for inducing and augmenting immune responses aimed at eliminating senescent cells. In addition to CAR-T cells, we also explore the possibility of engineered immune cells such as CAR-NK and CAR-M cells to eliminate senescent cells. In summary, immunotherapy, as an emerging strategy for the treatment of aging, offers new prospects for age-related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyue Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Chengyu Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jiahong Su
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Siqi Ren
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yinping Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zijun Yuan
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xinyu He
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xu Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy &;amp Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Mingxing Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy &;amp Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Fukuan Du
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy &;amp Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy &;amp Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuai Deng
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy &;amp Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yueshui Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy &;amp Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Disease, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Yuhong Sun
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jing Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy &;amp Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Huijiao Ji
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yunqing Hou
- LongmaTan District People's Hospital of Luzhou City, Luzhou 646600, China
| | - Zhangang Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy &;amp Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sichuan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mianyang 621000, China
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4
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Taheri MM, Javan F, Poudineh M, Athari SS. CAR-NKT Cells in Asthma: Use of NKT as a Promising Cell for CAR Therapy. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2024:10.1007/s12016-024-08998-0. [PMID: 38995478 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-024-08998-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
NKT cells, unique lymphocytes bridging innate and adaptive immunity, offer significant potential for managing inflammatory disorders like asthma. Activating iNKT induces increasing IFN-γ, TGF-β, IL-2, and IL-10 potentially suppressing allergic asthma. However, their immunomodulatory effects, including granzyme-perforin-mediated cytotoxicity, and expression of TIM-3 and TRAIL warrant careful consideration and targeted approaches. Although CAR-T cell therapy has achieved remarkable success in treating certain cancers, its limitations necessitate exploring alternative approaches. In this context, CAR-NKT cells emerge as a promising approach for overcoming these challenges, potentially achieving safer and more effective immunotherapies. Strategies involve targeting distinct IgE-receptors and their interactions with CAR-NKT cells, potentially disrupting allergen-mast cell/basophil interactions and preventing inflammatory cytokine release. Additionally, targeting immune checkpoints like PDL-2, inducible ICOS, FASL, CTLA-4, and CD137 or dectin-1 for fungal asthma could further modulate immune responses. Furthermore, artificial intelligence and machine learning hold immense promise for revolutionizing NKT cell-based asthma therapy. AI can optimize CAR-NKT cell functionalities, design personalized treatment strategies, and unlock a future of precise and effective care. This review discusses various approaches to enhancing CAR-NKT cell efficacy and longevity, along with the challenges and opportunities they present in the treatment of allergic asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fatemeh Javan
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Mohadeseh Poudineh
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Seyyed Shamsadin Athari
- Cancer Gene therapy Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
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5
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Sobstyl M, Mertowska P, Mertowski S, Zaborek-Łyczba M, Dudziński D, Polak G, Grywalska E. The PD-1/PD-L1 Gateway: Peripheral Immune Regulation in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6775. [PMID: 38928479 PMCID: PMC11203925 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126775] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, causing pain and infertility. Despite the rather unclear etiopathogenesis, recent studies suggest the involvement of the immune system in the development and progression of endometriosis. The role of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in the modulation of the immune response in this disease seems to be particularly interesting. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 on T and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood in patients with endometriosis to assess their potential impact on disease progression. Our study involved peripheral blood samples from 80 patients diagnosed with endometriosis and 20 healthy women as a control group were analyzed. Flow cytometry was used to assess the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 on T and B lymphocytes, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to assess their soluble forms in serum and peritoneal fluid.in our research we observe significantly higher expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 on T and B lymphocytes was found in patients with endometriosis compared to the control group. Higher expression of both tested molecules correlated with the stage of endometriosis. The results of our preliminary studies indicate a potential role of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in the modulation of the immune response in endometriosis. Modified expression of these proteins may contribute to immune evasion by ectopic tissues, supporting their survival and proliferation. These findings suggest that targeting PD-1/PD-L1 could be explored as a therapeutic option for the treatment of endometriosis, though further research with larger sample sizes is necessary to confirm these results and clarify the role of PD-1/PD-L1 in the pathogenesis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Sobstyl
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-049 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Paulina Mertowska
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (S.M.); (M.Z.-Ł.); (D.D.); (E.G.)
| | - Sebastian Mertowski
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (S.M.); (M.Z.-Ł.); (D.D.); (E.G.)
| | - Monika Zaborek-Łyczba
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (S.M.); (M.Z.-Ł.); (D.D.); (E.G.)
| | - Dominik Dudziński
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (S.M.); (M.Z.-Ł.); (D.D.); (E.G.)
| | - Grzegorz Polak
- Independent Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Gynecology and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Ewelina Grywalska
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (S.M.); (M.Z.-Ł.); (D.D.); (E.G.)
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6
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Zitta K, Hummitzsch L, Lichte F, Fändrich F, Steinfath M, Eimer C, Kapahnke S, Buerger M, Hess K, Rusch M, Rusch R, Berndt R, Albrecht M. Effects of temporal IFNγ exposure on macrophage phenotype and secretory profile: exploring GMP-Compliant production of a novel subtype of regulatory macrophages (Mreg IFNγ0) for potential cell therapeutic applications. J Transl Med 2024; 22:534. [PMID: 38835045 PMCID: PMC11151567 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05336-y] [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: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Macrophages are involved in tissue homeostasis, angiogenesis and immunomodulation. Proangiogenic and anti-inflammatory macrophages (regulatory macrophages, Mreg) can be differentiated in-vitro from CD14+ monocytes by using a defined cell culture medium and a stimulus of IFNγ. AIM OF THE STUDY To scrutinize the potential impact of temporal IFNγ exposure on macrophage differentiation as such exposure may lead to the emergence of a distinct and novel macrophage subtype. METHODS Differentiation of human CD14+ monocytes to Mreg was performed using a GMP compliant protocol and administration of IFNγ on day 6. Monocytes from the same donor were in parallel differentiated to MregIFNγ0 using the identical protocol but with administration of IFNγ on day 0. Cell characterization was performed using brightfield microscopy, automated and metabolic cell analysis, transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry, qPCR and secretome profiling. RESULTS Mreg and MregIFNγ0 showed no differences in cell size and volume. However, phenotypically MregIFNγ0 exhibited fewer intracellular vesicles/vacuoles but larger pseudopodia-like extensions. MregIFNγ0 revealed reduced expression of IDO and PD-L1 (P < 0.01 for both). They were positive for CD80, CD14, CD16 and CD38 (P < 0.0001vs. Mreg for all), while the majority of MregIFNγ0 did not express CD206, CD56, and CD103 on their cell surface (P < 0.01 vs. Mreg for all). In terms of their secretomes, MregIFNγ0 differed significantly from Mreg. MregIFNγ0 media exhibited reduced levels of ENA-78, Osteopontin and Serpin E1, while the amounts of MIG (CXCL9) and IP10 were increased. CONCLUSION Exposing CD14+ monocytes to an alternatively timed IFNγ stimulation results in a novel macrophage subtype which possess additional M1-like features (MregIFNγ0). MregIFNγ0 may therefore have the potential to serve as cellular therapeutics for clinical applications beyond those covered by M2-like Mreg, including immunomodulation and tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Zitta
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel, Germany.
| | - Lars Hummitzsch
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel, Germany
| | - Frank Lichte
- Department of Anatomy, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Fred Fändrich
- Clinic for Applied Cell Therapy, UKSH, Kiel, Germany
| | - Markus Steinfath
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel, Germany
| | - Christine Eimer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Matthias Buerger
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, UKSH, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Melanie Rusch
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, UKSH, Kiel, Germany
| | - Rene Rusch
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, UKSH, Kiel, Germany
| | - Rouven Berndt
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, UKSH, Kiel, Germany
| | - Martin Albrecht
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel, Germany
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7
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Choi SH, Mani M, Kim J, Cho WJ, Martin TFJ, Kim JH, Chu HS, Jeong WJ, Won YW, Lee BJ, Ahn B, Kim J, Jeon DY, Park JW. DRG2 is required for surface localization of PD-L1 and the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:260. [PMID: 38802348 PMCID: PMC11130180 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02027-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
More than half of tumor patients with high PD-L1 expression do not respond to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, and the underlying mechanisms are yet to be clarified. Here we show that developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2) is required for response of PD-L1-expressing tumors to anti-PD-1 therapy. DRG2 depletion enhanced IFN-γ signaling and increased the PD-L1 level in melanoma cells. However, it inhibited recycling of endosomal PD-L1 and reduced surface PD-L1 levels, which led to defects in interaction with PD-1. Anti-PD-1 did not expand effector-like T cells within DRG2-depleted tumors and failed to improve the survival of DRG2-depleted tumor-bearing mice. Cohort analysis revealed that patients bearing melanoma with low DRG2 protein levels were resistant to anti-PD-1 therapy. These findings identify DRG2 as a key regulator of recycling of endosomal PD-L1 and response to anti-PD-1 therapy and provide insights into how to increase the correlation between PD-L1 expression and response to anti-PD-1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Hee Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea
- RopheLBio, B102, Seoul Forest M Tower, Seoul, Korea
| | - Muralidharan Mani
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jeonghwan Kim
- School of System Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Wha Ja Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea
| | - Thomas F J Martin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jee Hyun Kim
- RopheLBio, B102, Seoul Forest M Tower, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hun Su Chu
- RopheLBio, B102, Seoul Forest M Tower, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Young-Wook Won
- RopheLBio, B102, Seoul Forest M Tower, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Byung Ju Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea
- Basic-Clinic Convergence Research Institute, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea
| | - Byungyong Ahn
- Basic-Clinic Convergence Research Institute, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea
| | - Junil Kim
- School of System Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Do Yong Jeon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea.
| | - Jeong Woo Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea.
- Basic-Clinic Convergence Research Institute, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea.
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8
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Santoro A, Angelico G, Inzani F, Arciuolo D, d'Amati A, Addante F, Travaglino A, Scaglione G, D'Alessandris N, Valente M, Tinnirello G, Raffone A, Narducci N, Piermattei A, Cianfrini F, Bragantini E, Zannoni GF. The emerging and challenging role of PD-L1 in patients with gynecological cancers: An updating review with clinico-pathological considerations. Gynecol Oncol 2024; 184:57-66. [PMID: 38295614 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.01.032] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Over recent years, there has been significant progress in the development of immunotherapeutic molecules designed to block the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. These molecules have demonstrated their ability to enhance the immune response by prompting T cells to identify and suppress neoplastic cells. PD-L1 is a type 1 transmembrane protein ligand expressed on T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and antigen-presenting cells and is considered a key inhibitory checkpoint involved in cancer immune regulation. PD-L1 immunohistochemical expression in gynecological malignancies is extremely variable based on tumor stage and molecular subtypes. As a result, a class of monoclonal antibodies targeting the PD-1 receptor and PD-L1, known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, has found successful application in clinical settings. In clinical practice, the standard method for identifying suitable candidates for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy involves immunohistochemical assessment of PD-L1 expression in neoplastic tissues. The most commonly used PD-L1 assays in clinical trials are SP142, 28-8, 22C3, and SP263, each of which has been rigorously validated on specific platforms. Gynecologic cancers encompass a wide spectrum of malignancies originating from the ovaries, uterus, cervix, and vulva. These neoplasms have shown variable response to immunotherapy which appears to be influenced by genetic and protein expression profiles, including factors such as mismatch repair status, tumor mutational burden, and checkpoint ligand expression. In the present paper, an extensive review of PD-L1 expression in various gynecologic cancer types is discussed, providing a guide for their pathological assessment and reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Santoro
- Unità Operativa Complessa Anatomia Patologica Generale, Dipartimento di scienze della salute della donna, del bambino e di sanità pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy; Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Angelico
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Frediano Inzani
- Anatomic Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia and Fondazione IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Damiano Arciuolo
- Unità Operativa Complessa Anatomia Patologica Generale, Dipartimento di scienze della salute della donna, del bambino e di sanità pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio d'Amati
- Unità Operativa Complessa Anatomia Patologica Generale, Dipartimento di scienze della salute della donna, del bambino e di sanità pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Francesca Addante
- Unità Operativa Complessa Anatomia Patologica Generale, Dipartimento di scienze della salute della donna, del bambino e di sanità pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Travaglino
- Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Giulia Scaglione
- Unità Operativa Complessa Anatomia Patologica Generale, Dipartimento di scienze della salute della donna, del bambino e di sanità pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Nicoletta D'Alessandris
- Unità Operativa Complessa Anatomia Patologica Generale, Dipartimento di scienze della salute della donna, del bambino e di sanità pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Michele Valente
- Unità Operativa Complessa Anatomia Patologica Generale, Dipartimento di scienze della salute della donna, del bambino e di sanità pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Giordana Tinnirello
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Raffone
- Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Nadine Narducci
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessia Piermattei
- Unità Operativa Complessa Anatomia Patologica Generale, Dipartimento di scienze della salute della donna, del bambino e di sanità pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Federica Cianfrini
- Unità Operativa Complessa Anatomia Patologica Generale, Dipartimento di scienze della salute della donna, del bambino e di sanità pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Emma Bragantini
- Department of Pathology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy
| | - Gian Franco Zannoni
- Unità Operativa Complessa Anatomia Patologica Generale, Dipartimento di scienze della salute della donna, del bambino e di sanità pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy; Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy.
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Yang H, Ma L, Deng W, Fu B, Nie J, Liu X. Prognostic biomarker DARS2 correlated with immune infiltrates in bladder tumor. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1301945. [PMID: 38299141 PMCID: PMC10827901 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1301945] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background DARS2 is a pivotal member of the Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases family that is critical for regulating protein translation. However, the biological role of DARS2 in bladder cancer remains elusive. Methods We analyzed the correlation between DARS2 expression and prognosis, tumor stage, and immune infiltration in bladder cancer using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We validated findings in clinical samples from The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University and explored the biological functions of DARS2 using cell and animal models. Results We found DARS2 to be upregulated in bladder cancer, associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis. Immune infiltration analysis suggested that DARS2 may facilitate immune evasion by modulating PD-L1. Cell and animal experiments validated that DARS2 knockdown and overexpress can inhibit or increase cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, tumorigenesis, immune escape, and PD-L1 levels. Conclusions Our study reveals DARS2 as a potential prognostic biomarker and immunotherapy target in BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailang Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Wen Deng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Institute of Urology, Nanchang, China
| | - Bin Fu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Institute of Urology, Nanchang, China
| | - Jianqiang Nie
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Institute of Urology, Nanchang, China
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Jung M, Bonavida B. Immune Evasion in Cancer Is Regulated by Tumor-Asociated Macrophages (TAMs): Targeting TAMs. Crit Rev Oncog 2024; 29:1-17. [PMID: 38989734 DOI: 10.1615/critrevoncog.2024053096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Recent advancements in cancer treatment have explored a variety of approaches to address the needs of patients. Recently, immunotherapy has evolved as an efficacious treatment for various cancers resistant to conventional therapies. Hence, significant milestones in immunotherapy were achieved clinically in a large subset of cancer patients. Unfortunately, some cancer types do not respond to treatment, and among the responsive cancers, some patients remain unresponsive to treatment. Consequently, there is a critical need to examine the mechanisms of immune resistance and devise strategies to target immune suppressor cells or factors, thereby allowing for tumor sensitivity to immune cytotoxic cells. M2 macrophages, also known as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), are of interest due to their role in suppressing the immune system and influencing antitumor immune responses through modulating T cell activity and immune checkpoint expression. TAMs are associated with signaling pathways that modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME), contributing to immune evasion. One approach targets TAMs, focusing on preventing the polarization of M1 macrophages into the protumoral M2 phenotype. Other strategies focus on direct or indirect targeting of M2 macrophages through understanding the interaction of TAMs with immune factors or signaling pathways. Clinically, biomarkers associated with TAMs' immune resistance in cancer patients have been identified, opening avenues for intervention using pharmacological agents or immunotherapeutic approaches. Ultimately, these multifaceted approaches are promising in overcoming immune resistance and improving cancer treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Jung
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Johnson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90025-1747, USA
| | - Benjamin Bonavida
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Johnson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90025-1747, USA
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