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Ke CH, Wu HY, Wang YS, Huang WH, Lin CS. Tumors Established in a Defective Immune Environment Reprogram the Oncogenic Signaling Pathways to Escalate Tumor Antigenicity. Biomedicines 2024; 12:846. [PMID: 38672200 PMCID: PMC11047836 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040846] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumors developed in immunocompromised hosts are more immunogenic. However, few studies have addressed the potential mechanisms underlying the high immunogenicity of tumors found in a suppressed immune system. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the impacts of the immune system on tumor behaviors and immunogenicity sculpting. A murine colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, CT26wt, was administrated into immunocompetent (BALB/c) and immunocompromised (NOD.SCID) mice, respectively. On day 11, the CT26 cells slowly progressed in the NOD.SCID mice compared to the BALB/c mice. We then performed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and analyzed the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). The DEPs participated in numerous oncogenic pathways, PI3K/AKT/mTOR cell signaling, and the silencing of several tumor suppressors, such as PTEN and RBL1, during tumorigenesis. On day 34, the CT26/SCID tumors inversely became malignant counterparts; then the CT26/SCID tumors were harvested and re-inoculated into immunocompetent mice (CT26/SCID-Re tumors) to determine the immunogenicity. The CT26/SCID-Re tumor growth rate significantly decreased. Furthermore, increased infiltrations of dendritic cells and tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes were found in the CT26/SCID-Re tumors. These findings suggest that immunogenic tumors might express multiple tumor rejection antigens, unlike wild-type tumors, and attract more immune cells, therefore decreasing the growth rate. Collectively, our study first revealed that in immunodeficient hosts, tumor suppressors were silenced and oncogenic signaling pathways were changed during the initial phase of tumor development. With tumor progression, the tumor antigens were overexpressed, exhibiting elevated immunogenicity. This study offers a hint on the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and provides a niche for investigating the interaction between host immunity and cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiao-Hsu Ke
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (C.-H.K.); (Y.-S.W.)
| | - Hsin-Yi Wu
- Instrumentation Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
| | - Yu-Shan Wang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (C.-H.K.); (Y.-S.W.)
- Uni-Pharma Co., Ltd., Taipei 11494, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hsiang Huang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
| | - Chen-Si Lin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (C.-H.K.); (Y.-S.W.)
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Jia W, Shen X, Guo Z, Cheng X, Zhao R. The future of cancer vaccines against colorectal cancer. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2024; 24:269-284. [PMID: 38644655 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2024.2341744] [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: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most lethal malignancy worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) benefit only 15% of patients with mismatch repair-deficient/microsatellite instability (dMMR/MSI) CRC. The majority of patients are not suitable due to insufficient immune infiltration. Cancer vaccines are a potential approach for inducing tumor-specific immunity within the solid tumor microenvironment. AREA COVERED In this review, we have provided an overview of the current progress in CRC vaccines over the past three years and briefly depict promising directions for further exploration. EXPERT OPINION Cancer vaccines are certainly a promising field for the antitumor treatment against CRC. Compared to monotherapy, cancer vaccines are more appropriate as adjuvants to standard treatment, especially in combination with ICI blockade, for microsatellite stable patients. Improved vaccine construction requires neoantigens with sufficient immunogenicity, satisfactory HLA-binding affinity, and an ideal delivery platform with perfect lymph node retention and minimal off-target effects. Prophylactic vaccines that potentially prevent CRC carcinogenesis are also worth investigating. The exploration of appropriate biomarkers for cancer vaccines may benefit prognostic prediction analysis and therapeutic response prediction in patients with CRC. Although many challenges remain, CRC vaccines represent an exciting area of research that may become an effective addition to current guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Jia
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaonan Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zichao Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ren Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Jiang HW, Wu HY, Wang CH, Yang CH, Ko JT, Ho HC, Tsai MD, Bryant DA, Li FW, Ho MC, Ho MY. A structure of the relict phycobilisome from a thylakoid-free cyanobacterium. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8009. [PMID: 38049400 PMCID: PMC10696076 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43646-9] [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: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Phycobilisomes (PBS) are antenna megacomplexes that transfer energy to photosystems II and I in thylakoids. PBS likely evolved from a basic, inefficient form into the predominant hemidiscoidal shape with radiating peripheral rods. However, it has been challenging to test this hypothesis because ancestral species are generally inaccessible. Here we use spectroscopy and cryo-electron microscopy to reveal a structure of a "paddle-shaped" PBS from a thylakoid-free cyanobacterium that likely retains ancestral traits. This PBS lacks rods and specialized ApcD and ApcF subunits, indicating relict characteristics. Other features include linkers connecting two chains of five phycocyanin hexamers (CpcN) and two core subdomains (ApcH), resulting in a paddle-shaped configuration. Energy transfer calculations demonstrate that chains are less efficient than rods. These features may nevertheless have increased light absorption by elongating PBS before multilayered thylakoids with hemidiscoidal PBS evolved. Our results provide insights into the evolution and diversification of light-harvesting strategies before the origin of thylakoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Wei Jiang
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Yi Wu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hsiung Wang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Han Yang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Tse Ko
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Han-Chen Ho
- Department of Anatomy, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Daw Tsai
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Donald A Bryant
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Fay-Wei Li
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Plant Biology Section, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Meng-Chiao Ho
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Ming-Yang Ho
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Institute of Plant Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Ke CH, Chiu YH, Huang KC, Lin CS. Exposure of Immunogenic Tumor Antigens in Surrendered Immunity and the Significance of Autologous Tumor Cell-Based Vaccination in Precision Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010147. [PMID: 36613591 PMCID: PMC9820296 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010147] [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: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms by which immune systems identify and destroy tumors, known as immunosurveillance, have been discussed for decades. However, several factors that lead to tumor persistence and escape from the attack of immune cells in a normal immune system have been found. In the process known as immunoediting, tumors decrease their immunogenicity and evade immunosurveillance. Furthermore, tumors exploit factors such as regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressive cells, and inhibitory cytokines that avoid cytotoxic T cell (CTL) recognition. Current immunotherapies targeting tumors and their surroundings have been proposed. One such immunotherapy is autologous cancer vaccines (ACVs), which are characterized by enriched tumor antigens that can escalate specific CTL responses. Unfortunately, ACVs usually fail to activate desirable therapeutic effects, and the low immunogenicity of ACVs still needs to be elucidated. This difficulty highlights the significance of immunogenic antigens in antitumor therapies. Previous studies have shown that defective host immunity triggers tumor development by reprogramming tumor antigenic expressions. This phenomenon sheds new light on ACVs and provides a potential cue to improve the effectiveness of ACVs. Furthermore, synergistically with the ACV treatment, combinational therapy, which can reverse the suppressive tumor microenvironments, has also been widely proposed. Thus, in this review, we focus on tumor immunogenicity sculpted by the immune systems and discuss the significance and application of restructuring tumor antigens in precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiao-Hsu Ke
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Han Chiu
- Department of Microbiology, Soochow University, Taipei 111002, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Chin Huang
- Holistic Education Center, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City 25245, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Si Lin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-233-661-286
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Innovative Hybrid-Alignment Annotation Method for Bioinformatics Identification and Functional Verification of a Novel Nitric Oxide Synthase in Trichomonas vaginalis. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11081210. [PMID: 36009837 PMCID: PMC9404748 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Both the annotation and identification of genes in pathogenic parasites remain challenging. As a survival factor, nitric oxide (NO) has been proven to be synthesized in Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). However, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) has not yet been annotated in the TV genome. By aligning whole coding sequences of TV against a thousand sequences of known proteins from other organisms via the Smith–Waterman and Needleman–Wunsch algorithms, we developed a witness-to-suspect strategy to identify incorrectly annotated genes in TV. A novel NOS of TV (TV NOS) with a high witness-to-suspect ratio, which was originally annotated as a hydrogenase in the NCBI database, was successfully identified. We then performed in silico modeling of the protein structure and the molecular docking of all cofactors (NADPH, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), heme and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)), cloned the gene, expressed and purified the protein, and ultimately performed mass spectrometry analysis and enzymatic activity assays. We clearly showed that although the predicted structure of TV NOS is not similar to that of NOS proteins of other species, all cofactor-binding motifs can interact with their ligands with high affinities. Most importantly, the purified protein is a functional NOS, as it has a high enzymatic activity for generating NO in vitro. This study provides an innovative approach to identify incorrectly annotated genes. Abstract Both the annotation and identification of genes in pathogenic parasites are still challenging. Although, as a survival factor, nitric oxide (NO) has been proven to be synthesized in Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) has not yet been annotated in the TV genome. We developed a witness-to-suspect strategy to identify incorrectly annotated genes in TV via the Smith–Waterman and Needleman–Wunsch algorithms through in-depth and repeated alignment of whole coding sequences of TV against thousands of sequences of known proteins from other organisms. A novel NOS of TV (TV NOS), which was annotated as hydrogenase in the NCBI database, was successfully identified; this TV NOS had a high witness-to-suspect ratio and contained all the NOS cofactor-binding motifs (NADPH, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), heme and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) motifs). To confirm this identification, we performed in silico modeling of the protein structure and cofactor docking, cloned the gene, expressed and purified the protein, performed mass spectrometry analysis, and ultimately performed an assay to measure enzymatic activity. Our data showed that although the predicted structure of the TV NOS protein was not similar to the structure of NOSs of other species, all cofactor-binding motifs could interact with their ligands with high affinities. We clearly showed that the purified protein had high enzymatic activity for generating NO in vitro. This study provides an innovative approach to identify incorrectly annotated genes in TV and highlights a novel NOS that might serve as a virulence factor of TV.
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