1
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Mao W, Zhou T, Zhang F, Qian M, Xie J, Li Z, Shu Y, Li Y, Xu H. Pan-cancer single-cell landscape of drug-metabolizing enzyme genes. Pharmacogenet Genomics 2024; 34:217-225. [PMID: 38814173 DOI: 10.1097/fpc.0000000000000538] [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: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Varied expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes (DME) genes dictates the intensity and duration of drug response in cancer treatment. This study aimed to investigate the transcriptional profile of DMEs in tumor microenvironment (TME) at single-cell level and their impact on individual responses to anticancer therapy. METHODS Over 1.3 million cells from 481 normal/tumor samples across 9 solid cancer types were integrated to profile changes in the expression of DME genes. A ridge regression model based on the PRISM database was constructed to predict the influence of DME gene expression on drug sensitivity. RESULTS Distinct expression patterns of DME genes were revealed at single-cell resolution across different cancer types. Several DME genes were highly enriched in epithelial cells (e.g. GPX2, TST and CYP3A5 ) or different TME components (e.g. CYP4F3 in monocytes). Particularly, GPX2 and TST were differentially expressed in epithelial cells from tumor samples compared to those from normal samples. Utilizing the PRISM database, we found that elevated expression of GPX2, CYP3A5 and reduced expression of TST was linked to enhanced sensitivity of particular chemo-drugs (e.g. gemcitabine, daunorubicin, dasatinib, vincristine, paclitaxel and oxaliplatin). CONCLUSION Our findings underscore the varied expression pattern of DME genes in cancer cells and TME components, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for selecting appropriate chemotherapy agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Mao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine/Research Centre of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan
| | - Tao Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine/Research Centre of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan
| | - Feng Zhang
- Center for Precision Medicine, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang
| | - Maoxiang Qian
- Institute of Pediatrics and Department of Hematology and Oncology, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai
| | - Jianqiang Xie
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Sichan Second Veterans Hospital
| | - Zhengyan Li
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
| | - Yang Shu
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
| | - Yuan Li
- Institute of Digestive Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Heng Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine/Research Centre of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan
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2
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Yin Y, Wang Y, Yu X, Li Y, Zhao Y, Liu Z. Overactivation of XBP1 in plasma cells implies worse survival through innate immunity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2024; 597:217045. [PMID: 38871246 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
To maintain protein homeostasis, X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) undergoes splicing following the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Although targeting ER stress represents a promising therapeutic strategy, a comprehensive understanding of XBP1 at the cellular level and the link between XBP1 and the innate nervous system is lacking. Here, TCGA pancancer datasets from 33 cancer types, scRNA pancancer datasets from 454 patients and bulk RNA-seq datasets from 155 paired esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients were analyzed. To cope with ER stress, plasma cells tend to activate XBP1 after undergoing bacterial infection and inflammatory signaling from the innate immune system. Patients with high XBP1 expression in their plasma cells have a higher tumor grade and worse survival. However, activation of the innate immune system with increased XBP1 expression in plasma cells correlates with an increased lymphocyte ratio, indicative of a more robust immune response. Moreover, XBP1 activation appears to initiate leukocyte migration at the transcriptional level. Our study revealed that the XBP1-induced UPR could mediate the crosstalk between optimal acquired humoral immune responses and innate immunity in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yuhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yahui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Zhihua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
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3
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Leau R, Duplouye P, Huchet V, Nerrière-Daguin V, Martinet B, Néel M, Morin M, Danger R, Braudeau C, Josien R, Blancho G, Haspot F. Correct stimulation of CD28H arms NK cells against tumor cells. Eur J Immunol 2024:e2350901. [PMID: 39101623 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Tumor evasion has recently been associated with a novel member of the B7 family, HERV-H LTR-associating 2 (HHLA2), which is mostly overexpressed in PDL-1neg tumors. HHLA2 can either induce a costimulation signal when bound to CD28H or inhibit it by binding to KIR3DL3 on T- and NK cells. Given the broad distribution of CD28H expression on NK cells and its role, we compared two monoclonal antibodies targeting this novel NK-cell engager in this study. We show that targeting CD28H at a specific epitope not only strongly activates Ca2+ flux but also results in NK-cell activation. CD28H-activated NK cells further display increased cytotoxic activity against hematopoietic cell lines and bypass HHLA2 and HLA-E inhibitory signals. Additionally, scRNA-seq analysis of clear cell renal cancer cells revealed that HHLA2+ clear cell renal cancer cell tumors were infiltrated with CD28H+ NK cells, which could be targeted by finely chosen anti-CD28H Abs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaëlle Leau
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Pierre Duplouye
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Virginie Huchet
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Véronique Nerrière-Daguin
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Bernard Martinet
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Mélanie Néel
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Martin Morin
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Richard Danger
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Cécile Braudeau
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
- CHU Nantes, Laboratoire d'Immunologie, CIMNA, Nantes, France
| | - Régis Josien
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
- CHU Nantes, Laboratoire d'Immunologie, CIMNA, Nantes, France
| | - Gilles Blancho
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Fabienne Haspot
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
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4
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Tran MA, Youssef D, Shroff S, Chowhan D, Beaumont KG, Sebra R, Mehrazin R, Wiklund P, Lin JJ, Horowitz A, Farkas AM, Galsky MD, Sfakianos JP, Bhardwaj N. Urine scRNAseq reveals new insights into the bladder tumor immune microenvironment. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20240045. [PMID: 38847806 PMCID: PMC11157455 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20240045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to bladder tumors' contact with urine, urine-derived cells (UDCs) may serve as a surrogate for monitoring the tumor microenvironment (TME) in bladder cancer (BC). However, the composition of UDCs and the extent to which they mirror the tumor remain poorly characterized. We generated the first single-cell RNA-sequencing of BC patient UDCs with matched tumor and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). BC urine was more cellular than healthy donor (HD) urine, containing multiple immune populations including myeloid cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, B cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) in addition to tumor and stromal cells. Immune UDCs were transcriptionally more similar to tumor than blood. UDCs encompassed cytotoxic and activated CD4+ T cells, exhausted and tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells, macrophages, germinal-center-like B cells, tissue-resident and adaptive NK cells, and regulatory DCs found in tumor but lacking or absent in blood. Our findings suggest BC UDCs may be surrogates for the TME and serve as therapeutic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A. Tran
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dina Youssef
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sanjana Shroff
- Department of Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Disha Chowhan
- Department of Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristin G. Beaumont
- Department of Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert Sebra
- Department of Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Reza Mehrazin
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter Wiklund
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jenny J. Lin
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amir Horowitz
- Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Marc and Jennifer Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam M. Farkas
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew D. Galsky
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - John P. Sfakianos
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nina Bhardwaj
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Extramural Member, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
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5
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Liu YT, Wu HL, Su YD, Wang Y, Li Y. Development in the Study of Natural Killer Cells for Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2024. [PMID: 39093850 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2024.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPeM) is a rare primary malignant tumor originating from peritoneal mesothelial cells. Insufficient specificity of the symptoms and their frequent reappearance following surgery make it challenging to diagnose, creating a need for more efficient treatment options. Natural killer cells (NK cells) are part of the innate immune system and are classified as lymphoid cells. Under the regulation of activating and inhibiting receptors, NK cells secrete various cytokines to exert cytotoxic effects and participate in antiforeign body, antiviral, and antitumor activities. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the specific alterations observed in NK cells following MPeM treatment, including changes in cell number, subpopulation distribution, active receptors, and cytotoxicity. In addition, we summarize the impact of various therapeutic interventions, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, on NK cell function post-MPeM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Tong Liu
- Department of Peritoneal Cancer Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - He-Liang Wu
- Department of Peritoneal Cancer Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Peking University Ninth School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Dong Su
- Department of Peritoneal Cancer Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Peritoneal Cancer Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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6
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Choi WS, Kwon H, Yi E, Lee H, Kim JM, Park HJ, Choi EJ, Choi ME, Sung YH, Won CH, Sung CO, Kim HS. HPK1 Dysregulation-Associated NK Cell Dysfunction and Defective Expansion Promotes Metastatic Melanoma Progression. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400920. [PMID: 38828677 PMCID: PMC11304315 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Distant metastasis, the leading cause of cancer death, is efficiently kept in check by immune surveillance. Studies have uncovered peripheral natural killer (NK) cells as key antimetastatic effectors and their dysregulation during metastasis. However, the molecular mechanism governing NK cell dysfunction links to metastasis remains elusive. Herein, MAP4K1 encoding HPK1 is aberrantly overexpressed in dysfunctional NK cells in the periphery and the metastatic site. Conditional HPK1 overexpression in NK cells suffices to exacerbate melanoma lung metastasis but not primary tumor growth. Conversely, MAP4K1-deficient mice are resistant to metastasis and further protected by combined immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Mechanistically, HPK1 restrains NK cell cytotoxicity and expansion via activating receptors. Likewise, HPK1 limits human NK cell activation and associates with melanoma NK cell dysfunction couples to TGF-β1 and patient response to immune checkpoint therapy. Thus, HPK1 is an intracellular checkpoint controlling NK-target cell responses, which is dysregulated and hijacked by tumors during metastatic progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo Seon Choi
- Department of MicrobiologyStem Cell Immunomodulation Research CenterAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung‐Joon Kwon
- Department of MicrobiologyStem Cell Immunomodulation Research CenterAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Eunbi Yi
- Department of MicrobiologyStem Cell Immunomodulation Research CenterAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Haeun Lee
- Department of MicrobiologyStem Cell Immunomodulation Research CenterAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Min Kim
- Department of MicrobiologyStem Cell Immunomodulation Research CenterAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Jin Park
- Department of MicrobiologyStem Cell Immunomodulation Research CenterAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ji Choi
- Department of DermatologyAsan Institute for Life SciencesAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung Eun Choi
- Department of DermatologyAsan Institute for Life SciencesAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Young Hoon Sung
- Department of Cell and Genetic EngineeringAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Chong Hyun Won
- Department of DermatologyAsan Institute for Life SciencesAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Ohk Sung
- Department of PathologyAsan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and TechnologyAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
| | - Hun Sik Kim
- Department of MicrobiologyStem Cell Immunomodulation Research CenterAsan Medical CenterUniversity of Ulsan College of MedicineSeoul05505Republic of Korea
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7
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Netskar H, Pfefferle A, Goodridge JP, Sohlberg E, Dufva O, Teichmann SA, Brownlie D, Michaëlsson J, Marquardt N, Clancy T, Horowitz A, Malmberg KJ. Pan-cancer profiling of tumor-infiltrating natural killer cells through transcriptional reference mapping. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1445-1459. [PMID: 38956379 PMCID: PMC11291284 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01884-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The functional diversity of natural killer (NK) cell repertoires stems from differentiation, homeostatic, receptor-ligand interactions and adaptive-like responses to viral infections. In the present study, we generated a single-cell transcriptional reference map of healthy human blood- and tissue-derived NK cells, with temporal resolution and fate-specific expression of gene-regulatory networks defining NK cell differentiation. Transfer learning facilitated incorporation of tumor-infiltrating NK cell transcriptomes (39 datasets, 7 solid tumors, 427 patients) into the reference map to analyze tumor microenvironment (TME)-induced perturbations. Of the six functionally distinct NK cell states identified, a dysfunctional stressed CD56bright state susceptible to TME-induced immunosuppression and a cytotoxic TME-resistant effector CD56dim state were commonly enriched across tumor types, the ratio of which was predictive of patient outcome in malignant melanoma and osteosarcoma. This resource may inform the design of new NK cell therapies and can be extended through transfer learning to interrogate new datasets from experimental perturbations or disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herman Netskar
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Aline Pfefferle
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | | | - Ebba Sohlberg
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olli Dufva
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Clymphoid cells (ILCs)ampus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah A Teichmann
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Demi Brownlie
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jakob Michaëlsson
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicole Marquardt
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Trevor Clancy
- Oslo Cancer Cluster, NEC OncoImmunity AS, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Vaccine Informatics, Institute for Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Amir Horowitz
- Department of Immunology & Immunotherapy, Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karl-Johan Malmberg
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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8
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Rebuffet L, Melsen JE, Escalière B, Basurto-Lozada D, Bhandoola A, Björkström NK, Bryceson YT, Castriconi R, Cichocki F, Colonna M, Davis DM, Diefenbach A, Ding Y, Haniffa M, Horowitz A, Lanier LL, Malmberg KJ, Miller JS, Moretta L, Narni-Mancinelli E, O'Neill LAJ, Romagnani C, Ryan DG, Sivori S, Sun D, Vagne C, Vivier E. High-dimensional single-cell analysis of human natural killer cell heterogeneity. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1474-1488. [PMID: 38956378 PMCID: PMC11291291 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01883-0] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) contributing to immune responses to microbes and tumors. Historically, their classification hinged on a limited array of surface protein markers. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes by sequencing (CITE-seq) to dissect the heterogeneity of NK cells. We identified three prominent NK cell subsets in healthy human blood: NK1, NK2 and NK3, further differentiated into six distinct subgroups. Our findings delineate the molecular characteristics, key transcription factors, biological functions, metabolic traits and cytokine responses of each subgroup. These data also suggest two separate ontogenetic origins for NK cells, leading to divergent transcriptional trajectories. Furthermore, we analyzed the distribution of NK cell subsets in the lung, tonsils and intraepithelial lymphocytes isolated from healthy individuals and in 22 tumor types. This standardized terminology aims at fostering clarity and consistency in future research, thereby improving cross-study comparisons.
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Grants
- E.V laboratory at CIML and Assistance-Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille is supported by funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (TILC, grant agreement No. 694502 and MInfla-TILC, grand agreement No. 875102), the Agence Nationale de la Recherche including the PIONEER Project (ANR-17-RHUS-0007), MSDAvenir, Innate Pharma and institutional grants awarded to the CIML (INSERM, CNRS and Aix-Marseille University) and Marseille Immunopole.
- D.M.D laboratory is funded by the Medical Research Council (MR/W031698/1) and the Wellcome Trust (110091/Z/15/Z).
- A.D. laboratory is supported by the European Research Council (ERC AdG ILCAdapt, 101055309 to A.D.) and by the German Research Foundation (DFG) (SFB 1444/427826188 and TRR 241/375876048 to A.D., SPP1937/Di764 /9-2 to A.D.). We are grateful to the Benjamin Franklin Flow Cytometry Facility (BFFC) for support in cell sorting. BFFC is supported by DFG Instrument Grants INST 335/597-1 FUGG und INST 335/777-1 FUGG.
- KJM was supported by the Research Council of Norway, Center of Excellence: Precision Immunotherapy Alliance (332727), the US National Cancer Institute (P01 CA111412, P009500901).
- L.M. is funded by Associazione Italiana contro il Cancro (AIRC), 5xmille project n. 21147.
- C.R. laboratory is supported by the ERC Advanced Grant ‘MEM-CLONK’ (101055157) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) grants SFB TRR241 B02 and RO 3565/7-1.
- D.G.R is supported by funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) (MC_UU_00028) and Wellcome Trust-Academy of Medical Sciences (WT-AMS) (SBF009\1119).
- S.S. is funded by Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca: PRIN 2017WC8499_004 and Fondazione AIRC: AIRC 5×1000 project id. 21147.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Rebuffet
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Janine E Melsen
- Leiden University Medical Center, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Immunology, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Bertrand Escalière
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Daniela Basurto-Lozada
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Avinash Bhandoola
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Niklas K Björkström
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yenan T Bryceson
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Sweden Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Roberta Castriconi
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Frank Cichocki
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Marco Colonna
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Daniel M Davis
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Andreas Diefenbach
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology (I-MIDI), Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Mucosal and Developmental Immunology, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), an Institute of the Leibniz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yi Ding
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Muzlifah Haniffa
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of Dermatology and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Amir Horowitz
- Department of Immunology & Immunotherapy, The Marc and Jennifer Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lewis L Lanier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Karl-Johan Malmberg
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance, The University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- The Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jeffrey S Miller
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilie Narni-Mancinelli
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Luke A J O'Neill
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Chiara Romagnani
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Innate Immunity, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin (DRFZ), ein Leibniz Institut, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin University Alliance, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dylan G Ryan
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Simona Sivori
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Dan Sun
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Constance Vagne
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
| | - Eric Vivier
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France.
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France.
- APHM, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille-Immunopôle, Marseille, France.
- Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
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9
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Zheng X, Wu W, Zhao Z, Zhang X, Yu S. Single-cell transcriptomic insights into chemotherapy-induced remodeling of the osteosarcoma tumor microenvironment. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:356. [PMID: 39033089 PMCID: PMC11271355 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05787-2] [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: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Neoadjuvant chemotherapy serves as an effective strategy for treating osteosarcoma (OS) not only by targeting cancerous cells but also by influencing the tumor's immune and stromal elements. Gaining insights into how chemotherapy reshapes the tumor's local environment is crucial for advancing OS treatment protocols. METHODS Using single-cell RNA sequencing, this study analyzed tumor samples from patients with advanced osteosarcoma collected both before and after chemotherapy. RESULTS The results revealed that chemotherapy caused the remaining OS cells to express higher levels of genes associated with stemness. Additionally, this process enhances the presence of cancer-associated fibroblasts, increasing their ability to modify the extracellular matrix (ECM). Chemotherapy also increases the number of endothelial cells, albeit with compromised differentiation capabilities. Importantly, the treatment reduced the immune cell population, including myeloid and T/NK cells, particularly impacting the subpopulations with tumor-fighting capabilities. CONCLUSION These findings highlight the complex reaction of the tumor environment to chemotherapy, providing valuable insights into how chemotherapy influences OS cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). This knowledge is essential for understanding OS resistance mechanisms to treatments, potentially guiding the development of novel therapies for managing advanced OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejing Zheng
- Departments of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Nanli, Panjiayuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Wence Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Zhenguo Zhao
- Departments of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Nanli, Panjiayuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Departments of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Nanli, Panjiayuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Shengji Yu
- Departments of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Nanli, Panjiayuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China.
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10
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Cantoni C, Falco M, Vitale M, Pietra G, Munari E, Pende D, Mingari MC, Sivori S, Moretta L. Human NK cells and cancer. Oncoimmunology 2024; 13:2378520. [PMID: 39022338 PMCID: PMC11253890 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2024.2378520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The long story of NK cells started about 50 y ago with the first demonstration of a natural cytotoxic activity within an undefined subset of circulating leukocytes, has involved an ever-growing number of researchers, fascinated by the apparently easy-to-reach aim of getting a "universal anti-tumor immune tool". In fact, in spite of the impressive progress obtained in the first decades, these cells proved far more complex than expected and, paradoxically, the accumulating findings have continuously moved forward the attainment of a complete control of their function for immunotherapy. The refined studies of these latter years have indicated that NK cells can epigenetically calibrate their functional potential, in response to specific environmental contexts, giving rise to extraordinarily variegated subpopulations, comprehensive of memory-like cells, tissue-resident cells, or cells in various differentiation stages, or distinct functional states. In addition, NK cells can adapt their activity in response to a complex body of signals, spanning from the interaction with either suppressive or stimulating cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cells or dendritic cells, respectively) to the engagement of various receptors (specific for immune checkpoints, cytokines, tumor/viral ligands, or mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity). According to this picture, the idea of an easy and generalized exploitation of NK cells is changing, and the way is opening toward new carefully designed, combined and personalized therapeutic strategies, also based on the use of genetically modified NK cells and stimuli capable of strengthening and redirecting their effector functions against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cantoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Michela Falco
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Vitale
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Daniela Pende
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Simona Sivori
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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11
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Yang Y, Chen X, Pan J, Ning H, Zhang Y, Bo Y, Ren X, Li J, Qin S, Wang D, Chen MM, Zhang Z. Pan-cancer single-cell dissection reveals phenotypically distinct B cell subtypes. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00712-8. [PMID: 39047727 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Characterizing the compositional and phenotypic characteristics of tumor-infiltrating B cells (TIBs) is important for advancing our understanding of their role in cancer development. Here, we establish a comprehensive resource of human B cells by integrating single-cell RNA sequencing data of B cells from 649 patients across 19 major cancer types. We demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in their total abundance and subtype composition and observe immunoglobulin G (IgG)-skewness of antibody-secreting cell isotypes. Moreover, we identify stress-response memory B cells and tumor-associated atypical B cells (TAABs), two tumor-enriched subpopulations with prognostic potential, shared in a pan-cancer manner. In particular, TAABs, characterized by a high clonal expansion level and proliferative capacity as well as by close interactions with activated CD4 T cells in tumors, are predictive of immunotherapy response. Our integrative resource depicts distinct clinically relevant TIB subsets, laying a foundation for further exploration of functional commonality and diversity of B cells in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xueyan Chen
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jieying Pan
- Institute of Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| | - Huiheng Ning
- Institute of Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| | - Yaojun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yufei Bo
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xianwen Ren
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jiesheng Li
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shishang Qin
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Dongfang Wang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Min-Min Chen
- Institute of Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China.
| | - Zemin Zhang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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12
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Zhu Y, Wu X, Zhang Y, Gu J, Zhou R, Guo Z. Single cell transcriptomic analysis reveals tumor immune infiltration by NK cells gene signature in lung adenocarcinoma. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33928. [PMID: 39071697 PMCID: PMC11283104 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Natural Killer (NK) cells are vital components of the innate immune system, crucial for combating infections and tumor growth, making them pivotal in cancer prognosis and immunotherapy. We sought to understand the diverse characteristics of NK cells within lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) by conducting single-cell RNA sequencing analyses. Methods Using the scRNA-seq dataset for multiple primary lung cancers (MPLCs), we examined two major NK cell groups, NK1 and NK2, comparing the expression profiles of 422 differentially expressed NK signature genes. We identified eight genes (SPON2, PLEKHG3, CAMK2N1, RAB27B, CTBP2, EFHD2, GOLM1, and PLOD1) that distinguish NK1 from NK2 cells. A prognostic signature, the NK gene signature (NKGS) score, was established through LASSO Cox regression. High NKGS scores were linked to poorer overall survival in TCGA-LUAD patients and consistently validated in other datasets (GSE31210 and GSE14814). Results Functional analysis revealed an enrichment of genes related to the TGF-β signaling pathway in the high NKGS score group. Moreover, a high NKGS score correlated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) driven by immune evasion mechanisms. We also observed reduced T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire diversity in the high-risk NKGS group, indicating a negative association between inflammation and risk score. Conclusion This study introduced the innovative NKGS score, differentiating NK1 from NK2 cells. High NKGS scores were associated with the TGF-β pathway and provided insights into LUAD prognosis and immune activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimin Zhu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuhua Wu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunjiao Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Gu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongwei Zhou
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhong Guo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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13
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He R, Lu J, Feng J, Lu Z, Shen K, Xu K, Luo H, Yang G, Chi H, Huang S. Advancing immunotherapy for melanoma: the critical role of single-cell analysis in identifying predictive biomarkers. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1435187. [PMID: 39026661 PMCID: PMC11254669 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1435187] [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: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma, a malignant skin cancer arising from melanocytes, exhibits rapid metastasis and a high mortality rate, especially in advanced stages. Current treatment modalities, including surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy, offer limited success, with immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) being the most promising. However, the high mortality rate underscores the urgent need for robust, non-invasive biomarkers to predict patient response to adjuvant therapies. The immune microenvironment of melanoma comprises various immune cells, which influence tumor growth and immune response. Melanoma cells employ multiple mechanisms for immune escape, including defects in immune recognition and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which collectively impact treatment efficacy. Single-cell analysis technologies, such as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), have revolutionized the understanding of tumor heterogeneity and immune microenvironment dynamics. These technologies facilitate the identification of rare cell populations, co-expression patterns, and regulatory networks, offering deep insights into tumor progression, immune response, and therapy resistance. In the realm of biomarker discovery for melanoma, single-cell analysis has demonstrated significant potential. It aids in uncovering cellular composition, gene profiles, and novel markers, thus advancing diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Additionally, tumor-associated antibodies and specific genetic and cellular markers identified through single-cell analysis hold promise as predictive biomarkers. Despite these advancements, challenges such as RNA-protein expression discrepancies and tumor heterogeneity persist, necessitating further research. Nonetheless, single-cell analysis remains a powerful tool in elucidating the mechanisms underlying therapy response and resistance, ultimately contributing to the development of personalized melanoma therapies and improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru He
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jiaan Lu
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jianglong Feng
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ziqing Lu
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Kaixin Shen
- Department of Art and Design, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Xu
- Department of Oncology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huiyan Luo
- Department of Oncology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guanhu Yang
- Department of Specialty Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
| | - Hao Chi
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Shangke Huang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
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14
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Liu S, Chen B. China's top 10 achievements in hematology in 2023. BLOOD SCIENCE 2024; 6:e00195. [PMID: 38854482 PMCID: PMC11161293 DOI: 10.1097/bs9.0000000000000195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Liu
- Chinese Journal of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
- Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
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15
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Ma C, Hao Y, Shi B, Wu Z, Jin D, Yu X, Jin B. Unveiling mitochondrial and ribosomal gene deregulation and tumor microenvironment dynamics in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Gene Ther 2024; 31:1034-1048. [PMID: 38806621 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00788-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant clonal hematopoietic disease with a poor prognosis. Understanding the interaction between leukemic cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) can help predict the prognosis of leukemia and guide its treatment. Re-analyzing the scRNA-seq data from the CSC and G20 cohorts, using a Python-based pipeline including machine-learning-based scVI-tools, recapitulated the distinct hierarchical structure within the samples of AML patients. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted to construct a weighted gene co-expression network and to identify gene modules primarily focusing on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), multipotent progenitors (MPPs), and natural killer (NK) cells. The analysis revealed significant deregulation in gene modules associated with aerobic respiration and ribosomal/cytoplasmic translation. Cell-cell communications were elucidated by the CellChat package, revealing an imbalance of activating and inhibitory immune signaling pathways. Interception of genes upregulated in leukemic HSCs & MPPs as well as in NKG2A-high NK cells was used to construct prognostic models. Normal Cox and artificial neural network models based on 10 genes were developed. The study reveals the deregulation of mitochondrial and ribosomal genes in AML patients and suggests the co-occurrence of stimulatory and inhibitory factors in the AML TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ma
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuchao Hao
- Department of Hematology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116027, Liaoning, China
| | - Bo Shi
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, Liaoning, China
| | - Zheng Wu
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, Liaoning, China
| | - Di Jin
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, South Jiefang Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.
| | - Bilian Jin
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, Liaoning, China.
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16
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Bourel C, Lesage S. Highlight of 2023: From fundamental studies to clinical trials, the importance of NK cells against cancer. Immunol Cell Biol 2024; 102:441-443. [PMID: 38670548 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12763] [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] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
In this article for the Highlights of 2023 Series, we discuss how various factors affect the ability of natural killer (NK) cells to fight tumors. For instance, tumor cells can hinder NK cell function by reducing surface protrusions or increasing HLA-E expression via platelets. Lower UTX protein levels in male NK cells also decrease their cytotoxicity compared with females. Fortunately, recent advancements in therapeutic approaches have emerged, including the development of a comprehensive atlas of NK cell heterogeneity within the tumor microenvironment, as well as a trispecific engager molecule that has shown promise in enhancing the anti-tumor functions of NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Capucine Bourel
- Immunologie-oncologie, Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Lesage
- Immunologie-oncologie, Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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17
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Jiao JZ, Zhang Y, Zhang WJ, He MD, Meng M, Liu T, Ma QL, Xu Y, Gao P, Chen CH, Zhang L, Pi HF, Deng P, Wu YZ, Zhou Z, Yu ZP, Deng YC, Lu YH. Radiofrequency radiation reshapes tumor immune microenvironment into antitumor phenotype in pulmonary metastatic melanoma by inducing active transformation of tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T and NK cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:1492-1505. [PMID: 38538718 PMCID: PMC11192955 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01260-5] [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: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppression by the tumor microenvironment is a pivotal factor contributing to tumor progression and immunotherapy resistance. Priming the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) has emerged as a promising strategy for improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. In this study we investigated the effects of noninvasive radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure on tumor progression and TIME phenotype, as well as the antitumor potential of PD-1 blockage in a model of pulmonary metastatic melanoma (PMM). Mouse model of PMM was established by tail vein injection of B16F10 cells. From day 3 after injection, the mice were exposed to RFR at an average specific absorption rate of 9.7 W/kg for 1 h per day for 14 days. After RFR exposure, lung tissues were harvested and RNAs were extracted for transcriptome sequencing; PMM-infiltrating immune cells were isolated for single-cell RNA-seq analysis. We showed that RFR exposure significantly impeded PMM progression accompanied by remodeled TIME of PMM via altering the proportion and transcription profile of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. RFR exposure increased the activation and cytotoxicity signatures of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, particularly in the early activation subset with upregulated genes associated with T cell cytotoxicity. The PD-1 checkpoint pathway was upregulated by RFR exposure in CD8+ T cells. RFR exposure also augmented NK cell subsets with increased cytotoxic characteristics in PMM. RFR exposure enhanced the effector function of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and NK cells, evidenced by increased expression of cytotoxic molecules. RFR-induced inhibition of PMM growth was mediated by RFR-activated CD8+ T cells and NK cells. We conclude that noninvasive RFR exposure induces antitumor remodeling of the TIME, leading to inhibition of tumor progression, which provides a promising novel strategy for TIME priming and potential combination with cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Zheng Jiao
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Radiation Biology Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China
- Radiation Oncology Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Wen-Juan Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Min-di He
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Meng Meng
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Qin-Long Ma
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Ya Xu
- Radiation Biology Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China
- Radiation Oncology Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Chun-Hai Chen
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Hui-Feng Pi
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Ping Deng
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yong-Zhong Wu
- Radiation Oncology Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Zhou Zhou
- Center for Neurointelligence, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Zheng-Ping Yu
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - You-Cai Deng
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Yong-Hui Lu
- Key Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Medical Protection of Ministry of Education, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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18
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Shi X, Chen W, Yin Y, Cao H, Wang X, Jiang W, Li Q, Li X, Yu Y, Wang X. RAC1 high NK cell-based immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma via STAT3-NKG2D axis. Cancer Lett 2024; 592:216909. [PMID: 38679407 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216909] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells exert an indispensable role in innate immune responses against cancer progression, however NK cell dysfunction has been rarely reported in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study sought to uncover the immunoregulatory mechanisms of tumor-infiltrating NK cells in HCC. A consensus NK cell-based signature (NKS) was constructed using integrative machine learning algorithms based on multi-omics data of HCC patients. HCC tumors had lower numbers of infiltrating NK cells than para-tumor normal liver tissues. Based on the NK cell-associated genes, the NKS was built for HCC prognostic prediction and clinical utilities. Drug targets and novel compounds were then identified for high-NKS groups. RAC1 was confirmed as the hub gene in the NKS genes. RAC1 was upregulated in HCC tumors and positively correlated with shorter survival time. RAC1 overexpression in NK-92 cells facilitated the cancer-killing capacity by the anticancer cytotoxic effectors and the upregulated NKG2D. The survival time of PDX-bearing mice was also prolonged upon NK-92RAC1 cells. Mechanistically, RAC1 interacted with STAT3 and facilitated its activation, thereby enabling its binding to the promoter region of NKG2D and functioning as a transcriptional regulator in NK-92 via molecular docking, Co-IP assay, CHIP and luciferase experiments. Collectively, our study describes a novel function of RAC1 in potentiating NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against HCC, highlighting the clinical utilities of NKS score and RAC1high NK cell subset in HCC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Shi
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China; School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210009, China
| | - Wenwei Chen
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Yefeng Yin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Hengsong Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210009, China
| | - Xinyi Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210009, China
| | - Wangjie Jiang
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Qing Li
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China.
| | - Xiangcheng Li
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China.
| | - Yue Yu
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China.
| | - Xuehao Wang
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China; School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210009, China.
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19
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Jing ZQ, Luo ZQ, Chen SR, Sun ZJ. Heterogeneity of myeloid cells in common cancers: Single cell insights and targeting strategies. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 134:112253. [PMID: 38735257 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME), is characterized by a complex and heterogenous composition involving a substantial population of immune cells. Myeloid cells comprising over half of the solid tumor mass, are undoubtedly one of the most prominent cell populations associated with tumors. Studies have unambiguously established that myeloid cells play a key role in tumor development, including immune suppression, pro-inflammation, promote tumor metastasis and angiogenesis, for example, tumor-associated macrophages promote tumor progression in a variety of common tumors, including lung cancer, through direct or indirect interactions with the TME. However, due to previous technological constraints, research on myeloid cells often tended to be conducted as studies with low throughput and limited resolution. For example, the conventional categorization of macrophages into M1-like and M2-like subsets based solely on their anti-tumor and pro-tumor roles has disregarded their continuum of states, resulting in an inadequate analysis of the high heterogeneity characterizing myeloid cells. The widespread adoption of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in tumor immunology has propelled researchers into a new realm of understanding, leading to the establishment of novel subsets and targets. In this review, the origin of myeloid cells in high-incidence cancers, the functions of myeloid cell subsets examined through traditional and single-cell perspectives, as well as specific targeting strategies, are comprehensively outlined. As a result of this endeavor, we will gain a better understanding of myeloid cell heterogeneity, as well as contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qian Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Zhi-Qi Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Si-Rui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China.
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20
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McLean AK, Reynolds G, Pratt AG. Leveraging Multi-Tissue, Single-Cell Atlases as Tools to Elucidate Shared Mechanisms of Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1297. [PMID: 38927506 PMCID: PMC11201400 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061297] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The observation that certain therapeutic strategies for targeting inflammation benefit patients with distinct immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) is exemplified by the success of TNF blockade in conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and skin psoriasis, albeit only for subsets of individuals with each condition. This suggests intersecting "nodes" in inflammatory networks at a molecular and cellular level may drive and/or maintain IMIDs, being "shared" between traditionally distinct diagnoses without mapping neatly to a single clinical phenotype. In line with this proposition, integrative tumour tissue analyses in oncology have highlighted novel cell states acting across diverse cancers, with important implications for precision medicine. Drawing upon advances in the oncology field, this narrative review will first summarise learnings from the Human Cell Atlas in health as a platform for interrogating IMID tissues. It will then review cross-disease studies to date that inform this endeavour before considering future directions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony K. McLean
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Gary Reynolds
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Arthur G. Pratt
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
- Musculoskeletal Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN, UK
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21
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Ji K, Chen Y, Pan X, Chen L, Wang X, Wen B, Bao J, Zhong J, Lv Z, Zheng Z, Liu H. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveal alterations in trophoblasts at invasion sites and disturbed myometrial immune microenvironment in placenta accreta spectrum disorders. Biomark Res 2024; 12:55. [PMID: 38831319 PMCID: PMC11149369 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00598-6] [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: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Placenta accreta spectrum disorders (PAS) are a severe complication characterized by abnormal trophoblast invasion into the myometrium. The underlying mechanisms of PAS involve a complex interplay of various cell types and molecular pathways. Despite its significance, both the characteristics and intricate mechanisms of this condition remain poorly understood. METHODS Spatial transcriptomics (ST) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), were performed on the tissue samples from four PAS patients, including invasive tissues (ST, n = 3; scRNA-seq, n = 4), non-invasive normal placenta samples (ST, n = 1; scRNA-seq, n = 2). Three healthy term pregnant women provided normal myometrium samples (ST, n = 1; scRNA-seq, n = 2). ST analysis characterized the spatial expression landscape, and scRNA-seq was used to identify specific cellular components in PAS. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to validate the findings. RESULTS ST slices distinctly showed the myometrium in PAS was invaded by three subpopulations of trophoblast cells, extravillous trophoblast cells, cytotrophoblasts, and syncytiotrophoblasts, especially extravillous trophoblast cells. The pathways enriched by genes in trophoblasts, smooth muscle cells (SMC), and immune cells of PAS were mainly associated with immune and inflammation. We identified elevated expression of the angiogenesis-stimulating gene PTK2, alongside the cell proliferation-enhancing gene EGFR, within the trophoblasts of PAS group. Trophoblasts mainly contributed the enhancement of HLA-G and EBI3 signaling, which is crucial in establishing immune escape. Meanwhile, SMC regions in PAS exhibited upregulation of immunomodulatory markers such as CD274, HAVCR2, and IDO1, with CD274 expression experimentally verified to be increased in the invasive SMC areas of the PAS group. CONCLUSIONS This study provided information of cellular composition and spatial organization in PAS at single-cell and spatial level. The dysregulated expression of genes in PAS revealed a complex interplay between enhanced immune escape in trophoblasts and immune tolerance in SMCs during invasion in PAS. These findings will enhance our understanding of PAS pathogenesis for developing potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyuan Ji
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunshan Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuyu Pan
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lina Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaodi Wang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bolun Wen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junjie Bao
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junmin Zhong
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zi Lv
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheng Zheng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Huishu Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, China.
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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22
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Wong JKM, McCulloch TR, Alim L, Omer N, Mehdi AM, Tuong ZK, Bonfim-Melo A, Chung E, Nicol A, Simpson F, Rhee H, Rossi GR, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes F. TGF-β signalling limits effector function capacity of NK cell anti-tumour immunity in human bladder cancer. EBioMedicine 2024; 104:105176. [PMID: 38810560 PMCID: PMC11154198 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105176] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer (NK) cells are important innate immunity players and have unique abilities to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, particularly in settings of antibody-opsonization and antibody-dependant cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). However, NK cell-based responses in bladder cancers to therapeutic antibodies are typically immunosuppressed, and these immunosuppressive mechanisms are largely unknown. METHODS Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and high-dimensional flow cytometry were used to investigate the phenotype of tumour-infiltrating NK cells in patients with bladder cancer. Further, in vitro, and in vivo models of this disease were used to validate these findings. FINDINGS NK cells within bladder tumours displayed reduced expression of FcγRIIIa/CD16, the critical Fc receptor involved in ADCC-mediated cytotoxicity, on both transcriptional and protein levels. Transcriptional signatures of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-signalling, a pleiotropic cytokine known for its immunosuppressive and tissue residency-inducing effects, were upregulated in tumour-infiltrating NK cells. TGF-β mediated CD16 downregulation on NK cells, was further validated in vitro, which was accompanied by a transition into a tissue residency phenotype. This CD16 downregulation was also abrogated by TGF-βR signalling inhibition, which could also restore the ADCC ability of NK cells subject to TGF-β effects. In a humanized mouse model of bladder cancer, mice treated with a TGF-β inhibitor exhibited increased ADCC activity compared to mice treated only with antibodies. INTERPRETATION This study highlights how TGF-β-rich bladder cancers inhibit NK cell-mediated ADCC by downregulating CD16. TGF-β inhibition represents new avenues to reverse immunosuppression and enhance the tumoricidal capacity of NK cells in bladder cancer. FUNDING The Guimaraes Laboratory is funded by a US Department of Defense-Breast Cancer Research Program-Breakthrough Award Level 1 (#BC200025), a grant (#2019485) awarded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF, with the support of the Queensland Children's Hospital Foundation, Microba Life Sciences, Richie's Rainbow Foundation, Translational Research Institute (TRI) and UQ), and a grant (#RSS_2023_085) funded by a Metro South Health Research Support Scheme. J.K.M.W. is funded by a UQ Research Training Program PhD Scholarship and N.O. is funded by a NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship (#2021932).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua K M Wong
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Timothy R McCulloch
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Louisa Alim
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Natacha Omer
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Ahmed M Mehdi
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia; QCIF Bioinformatics, Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation Ltd, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Zewen Kelvin Tuong
- Ian Frazer Centre for Children's Immunotherapy Research, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Alexis Bonfim-Melo
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Eric Chung
- Princess Alexandra Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Jubilee II Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Alice Nicol
- Princess Alexandra Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Jubilee II Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Fiona Simpson
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Handoo Rhee
- Princess Alexandra Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Jubilee II Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
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23
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Wang Z, Ji X, Zhang Y, Yang F, Su H, Zhang H, Li Z, Zhang W, Sun W. Interactions between LAMP3+ dendritic cells and T-cell subpopulations promote immune evasion in papillary thyroid carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008983. [PMID: 38816233 PMCID: PMC11141193 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-008983] [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] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) continues to rise all over the world, 10-15% of the patients have a poor prognosis. Although immunotherapy has been applied in clinical practice, its therapeutic efficacy remains far from satisfactory, necessitating further investigation of the mechanism of PTC immune remodeling and exploration of novel treatment targets. METHODS This study conducted a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis using 18 surgical tissue specimens procured from 14 patients diagnosed with adjacent tissues, non-progressive PTC or progressive PTC. Key findings were authenticated through spatial transcriptomics RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunohistochemistry, and an independent bulk RNA-seq data set containing 502 samples. RESULTS A total of 151,238 individual cells derived from 18 adjacent tissues, non-progressive PTC and progressive PTC specimens underwent scRNA-seq analysis. We found that progressive PTC exhibits the following characteristics: a significant decrease in overall immune cells, enhanced immune evasion of tumor cells, and disrupted antigen presentation function. Moreover, we identified a subpopulation of lysosomal associated membrane protein 3 (LAMP3+) dendritic cells (DCs) exhibiting heightened infiltration in progressive PTC and associated with advanced T stage and poor prognosis of PTC. LAMP3+ DCs promote CD8+ T cells exhaustion (mediated by NECTIN2-TIGIT) and increase infiltration abundance of regulatory T cells (mediated by chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 17 (CCL17)-chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 4 (CCR4)) establishing an immune-suppressive microenvironment. Ultimately, we unveiled that progressive PTC tumor cells facilitate the retention of LAMP3+ DCs within the tumor microenvironment through NECTIN3-NECTIN2 interactions, thereby rendering tumor cells more susceptible to immune evasion. CONCLUSION Our findings expound valuable insights into the role of the interaction between LAMP3+ DCs and T-cell subpopulations and offer new and effective ideas and strategies for immunotherapy in patients with progressive PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Wang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Ji
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Zhang
- The First Laboratory of Cancer Institute, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongyue Su
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhendong Li
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqian Zhang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
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24
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Guo Q, Yuan M, Zhang L, Deng M. scPLAN: a hierarchical computational framework for single transcriptomics data annotation, integration and cell-type label refinement. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae305. [PMID: 38935069 PMCID: PMC11209730 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae305] [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: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION In the past decade, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a pivotal method for transcriptomic profiling in biomedical research. Precise cell-type identification is crucial for subsequent analysis of single-cell data. And the integration and refinement of annotated data are essential for building comprehensive databases. However, prevailing annotation techniques often overlook the hierarchical organization of cell types, resulting in inconsistent annotations. Meanwhile, most existing integration approaches fail to integrate datasets with different annotation depths and none of them can enhance the labels of outdated data with lower annotation resolutions using more intricately annotated datasets or novel biological findings. RESULTS Here, we introduce scPLAN, a hierarchical computational framework designed for scRNA-seq data analysis. scPLAN excels in annotating unlabeled scRNA-seq data using a reference dataset structured along a hierarchical cell-type tree. It identifies potential novel cell types in a systematic, layer-by-layer manner. Additionally, scPLAN effectively integrates annotated scRNA-seq datasets with varying levels of annotation depth, ensuring consistent refinement of cell-type labels across datasets with lower resolutions. Through extensive annotation and novel cell detection experiments, scPLAN has demonstrated its efficacy. Two case studies have been conducted to showcase how scPLAN integrates datasets with diverse cell-type label resolutions and refine their cell-type labels. AVAILABILITY https://github.com/michaelGuo1204/scPLAN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qirui Guo
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Yiheyuan Road, 100871, Beijing, China
| | - Musu Yuan
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Yiheyuan Road, 100871, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Yiheyuan Road, 100871, Beijing, China
- Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research, Peking University, Yiheyuan Road, 100871, Beijing, China
- Center for Machine Learning Research, Peking University, Yiheyuan Road, 100871, Beijing, China
| | - Minghua Deng
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Yiheyuan Road, 100871, Beijing, China
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Peking University, Yiheyuan Road, 100871, Beijing, China
- Center for Statistical Science, Peking University, Yiheyuan Road, 100871, Beijing, China
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25
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Shi S, Xing H, Xu X, Chai J, Lu Z, Wang J, Wang B. CXCR6 defines therapeutic subtypes of CD4 + cytotoxic T cell lineage for adoptive cell transfer therapy in pediatric B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 132:111972. [PMID: 38569429 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111972] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The potential of cytotoxic CD4+ T cells and tissue resident memory T cells (Trm) in achieving adult leukemia remission have been highlighted [1,2]. We hypothesized that CXCR6 could serve as a marker for cytotoxic CD4+ Trm cells in the bone marrow (BM) of pediatric B-ALL patients. Flow cytometry (FCM) and published single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets were employed to characterize CXCR6+CD4+ T cells in the BM and peripheral blood (PB) of pediatric B-ALL patients and healthy donors. FCM, scRNA-seq and co-culture were utilized to explore the cytotoxicity of CXCR6+CD4+ T cells in vitro based on in vitro induction of CXCR6+CD4+ T cells using tumor antigens and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The ssGSEA based on the cell markers identified according to the in vivo scRNA-seq data, the TARGET-ALL-P2 datasets, and integrated machine learning algorithm were employed to figure out the key cells with prognostic values, followed by simulation of adoptive cell transfer therapy (ACT). Integrated machine learning identified the high-risk cells for disease free survival, and overall survival, while simulation of ACT therapy using CXCR6+CD4+T cells indicated that CXCR6+CD4+ T cells could remodel the bone marrow microenvironments towards anti-tumor. Based on the expression of genes involved in formation of resident memory T cells, CXCR6 is not a marker of resident memory CD4+T cells but defines therapeutic subtypes of CD4+ cytotoxic T cell lineage for pediatric B-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojie Shi
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Haiyan Xing
- Department of Allergy, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China
| | - Xiangping Xu
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Jinquan Chai
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Zixuan Lu
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Jianyong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China.
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China.
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Liu Y, Li M, Fang Z, Gao S, Cheng W, Duan Y, Wang X, Feng J, Yu T, Zhang J, Wang T, Hu A, Zhang H, Rong Z, Shakila SS, Shang Y, Kong F, Liu J, Li Y, Ma F. Overexpressing S100A9 ameliorates NK cell dysfunction in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:117. [PMID: 38713229 PMCID: PMC11076447 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03699-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estrogen receptor (ER) positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative breast cancer (ER+/HER2-BC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are two distinct breast cancer molecular subtypes, especially in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The TIME of TNBC is considered to be more inflammatory than that of ER+/HER2-BC. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that play an important role of tumor eradication in TME. However, studies focusing on the different cell states of NK cells in breast cancer subtypes are still inadequate. METHODS In this study, single-cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk mRNA sequencing data from ER+/HER2-BC and TNBC were analyzed. Key regulator of NK cell suppression in ER+/HER2-BC, S100A9, was quantified by qPCR and ELISA in MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The prognosis predictability of S100A9 and NK activation markers was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analyses using TCGA-BRAC data. The phenotype changes of NK cells in ER+/HER2-BC after overexpressing S100A9 in cancer cells were evaluated by the production levels of IFN-gamma, perforin and granzyme B and cytotoxicity assay. RESULTS By analyzing scRNA-seq data, we found that multiple genes involved in cellular stress response were upregulated in ER+/HER2-BC compared with TNBC. Moreover, TLR regulation pathway was significantly enriched using differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from comparing the transcriptome data of ER+/HER2-BC and TNBC cancer cells, and NK cell infiltration high/low groups. Among the DEGs, S100A9 was identified as a key regulator. Patients with higher expression levels of S100A9 and NK cell activation markers had better overall survival. Furthermore, we proved that overexpression of S100A9 in ER+/HER2-cells could improve cocultured NK cell function. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the study we presented demonstrated that NK cells in ER+/HER2-BC were hypofunctional, and S100A9 was an important regulator of NK cell function in ER+BC. Our work contributes to elucidate the regulatory networks between cancer cells and NK cells and may provide theoretical basis for novel drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yansong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Mingcui Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Zhengbo Fang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Shan Gao
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Weilun Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yunqiang Duan
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Xuelian Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Jianyuan Feng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Tianshui Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Jiarui Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Anbang Hu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Hanyu Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Zhiyuan Rong
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Suborna S Shakila
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yuhang Shang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Fanjing Kong
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Jiangwei Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yanling Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China.
| | - Fei Ma
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China.
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Xiao R, Tian Y, Zhang J, Li N, Qi M, Liu L, Wang J, Li Z, Zhang J, Zhao F, Wang T, Tan S, Li C, Wu Z, Yu M, Jiang X, Zhan P, Gao L, Han B, Liu X, Liang X, Ma C. Increased Siglec-9/Siglec-9L interactions on NK cells predict poor HCC prognosis and present a targetable checkpoint for immunotherapy. J Hepatol 2024; 80:792-804. [PMID: 38331327 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Natural killer (NK) cell-based anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy is an increasingly attractive approach that warrants further study. Siglec-9 interacts with its ligand (Siglec-9L) and restrains NK cell functions, suggesting it is a potential therapeutic target. However, in situ Siglec-9/Siglec-9L interactions in HCC have not been reported, and a relevant interventional strategy is lacking. Herein, we aim to illustrate Siglec-9/Siglec-9L-mediated cell sociology and identify small-molecule inhibitors targeting Siglec-9 that could improve the efficacy of NK cell-based immunotherapy for HCC. METHODS Multiplexed immunofluorescence staining was performed to analyze the expression pattern of Siglec-7, -9 and their ligands in HCC tissues. Then we conducted docking-based virtual screening combined with bio-layer interferometry assays to identify a potent small-molecule Siglec-9 inhibitor. The therapeutic potential was further evaluated in vitro and in hepatoma-bearing NCG mice. RESULTS Siglec-9 expression, rather than Siglec-7, was markedly upregulated on tumor-infiltrating NK cells, which correlated significantly with reduced survival of patients with HCC. Moreover, the number of Siglec-9L+ cells neighboring Siglec-9+ NK cells was increased in HCC tissues and was also associated with tumor recurrence and reduced survival, further suggesting that Siglec-9/Siglec-9L interactions are a potential therapeutic target in HCC. In addition, we identified a small-molecule Siglec-9 inhibitor MTX-3937 which inhibited phosphorylation of Siglec-9 and downstream SHP1 and SHP2. Accordingly, MTX-3937 led to considerable improvement in NK cell function. Notably, MTX-3937 enhanced cytotoxicity of both human peripheral and tumor-infiltrating NK cells. Furthermore, transfer of MTX-3937-treated NK92 cells greatly suppressed the growth of hepatoma xenografts in NCG mice. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides the rationale for HCC treatment by targeting Siglec-9 on NK cells and identifies a promising small-molecule inhibitor against Siglec-9 that enhances NK cell-mediated HCC surveillance. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Herein, we found that Siglec-9 expression is markedly upregulated on tumor-infiltrating natural killer (TINK) cells and correlates with reduced survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, the number of Siglec-9L+ cells neighboring Siglec-9+ NK cells was increased in HCC tissues and was also associated with tumor recurrence and reduced survival. More importantly, we identified a small-molecule inhibitor targeting Siglec-9 that augments NK cell functions, revealing a novel immunotherapy strategy for liver cancer that warrants further clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Xiao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Ye Tian
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Jiwei Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Na Li
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Mei Qi
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Department of Pathology, Dezhou Municipal Hospital, Dezhou 253036, Shandong, China
| | - Jianping Wang
- Department of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Zhenyu Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Advanced Medical Research Institute and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Fabao Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Tixiao Wang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Siyu Tan
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Chunyang Li
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Zhuanchang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Mingyan Yu
- Shandong Institute for Food and Drug Control, Jinan 250101, Shandong, China
| | - Xuemei Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Lifen Gao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Bo Han
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Xiaohong Liang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
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Zhang J, Li AM, Kansler ER, Li MO. Cancer immunity by tissue-resident type 1 innate lymphoid cells and killer innate-like T cells. Immunol Rev 2024; 323:150-163. [PMID: 38506480 PMCID: PMC11102320 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13319] [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] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Cancer progression can be restrained by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in a process termed cancer immunosurveillance. Based on how lymphocytes are activated and recruited to the tumor tissue, cancer immunity is either pre-wired, in which innate lymphocytes and innate-like T cells are directly recruited to and activated in tumors following their differentiation in primary lymphoid organs; or priming-dependent, in which conventional adaptive T cells are first primed by cognate antigens in secondary lymphoid organs before homing to and reactivated in tumors. While priming-dependent cancer immunity has been a focus of cancer immunology research for decades, in part due to historical preconception of cancer theory and tumor model choice as well as clinical success of conventional adaptive T cell-directed therapeutic programs, recent studies have revealed that pre-wired cancer immunity mediated by tissue-resident type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) and killer innate-like T cells (ILTCKs) is an integral component of the cancer immunosurveillance process. Herein we review the distinct ontogenies and cancer-sensing mechanisms of ILC1s and ILTCKs in murine genetic cancer models as well as the conspicuously conserved responses in human malignancies. How ILC1s and ILTCKs may be targeted to broaden the scope of cancer immunotherapy beyond conventional adaptive T cells is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Albert M. Li
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily R. Kansler
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ming O. Li
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
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29
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Li CC, Liu M, Lee HP, Wu W, Ma L. Heterogeneity in Liver Cancer Immune Microenvironment: Emerging Single-Cell and Spatial Perspectives. Semin Liver Dis 2024; 44:133-146. [PMID: 38788780 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1787152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is a solid malignancy with a high mortality rate. The success of immunotherapy has shown great promise in improving patient care and highlights a crucial need to understand the complexity of the liver tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Recent advances in single-cell and spatial omics technologies, coupled with the development of systems biology approaches, are rapidly transforming the landscape of tumor immunology. Here we review the cellular landscape of liver TIME from single-cell and spatial perspectives. We also discuss the cellular interaction networks within the tumor cell community in regulating immune responses. We further highlight the challenges and opportunities with implications for biomarker discovery, patient stratification, and combination immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyi Cherry Li
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Meng Liu
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hsin-Pei Lee
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wenqi Wu
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lichun Ma
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
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30
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Zhou J, Chng WJ. Unveiling novel insights in acute myeloid leukemia through single-cell RNA sequencing. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1365330. [PMID: 38711849 PMCID: PMC11070491 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1365330] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a complex and heterogeneous group of aggressive hematopoietic stem cell disease. The presence of diverse and functionally distinct populations of leukemia cells within the same patient's bone marrow or blood poses a significant challenge in diagnosing and treating AML. A substantial proportion of AML patients demonstrate resistance to induction chemotherapy and a grim prognosis upon relapse. The rapid advance in next generation sequencing technologies, such as single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), has revolutionized our understanding of AML pathogenesis by enabling high-resolution interrogation of the cellular heterogeneity in the AML ecosystem, and their transcriptional signatures at a single-cell level. New studies have successfully characterized the inextricably intertwined interactions among AML cells, immune cells and bone marrow microenvironment and their contributions to the AML development, therapeutic resistance and relapse. These findings have deepened and broadened our understanding the complexity and heterogeneity of AML, which are difficult to detect with bulk RNA-seq. This review encapsulates the burgeoning body of knowledge generated through scRNA-seq, providing the novel insights and discoveries it has unveiled in AML biology. Furthermore, we discuss the potential implications of scRNA-seq in therapeutic opportunities, focusing on immunotherapy. Finally, we highlight the current limitations and future direction of scRNA-seq in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbiao Zhou
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Center for Translational Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wee-Joo Chng
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Center for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Center for Translational Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute of Singapore (NCIS), The National University Health System (NUHS), Singapore, Singapore
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Liu Y, Peng B, Chen Z, Shen Y, Zhang J, Yuan X. Pan-cancer transcriptional atlas of minimal residual disease links DUSP1 to chemotherapy persistence. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:42. [PMID: 38627863 PMCID: PMC11020193 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00509-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy is a commonly effective treatment for most types of cancer. However, many patients experience a relapse due to minimal residual disease (MRD) after chemotherapy. Previous studies have analyzed the changes induced by chemotherapy for specific types of cancer, but our study is the first to comprehensively analyze MRD across various types of cancer. We included both bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing datasets. We compared the expression of the entire genome and calculated scores for canonical pathway signatures and immune infiltrates before and after chemotherapy across different types of cancer. Our findings revealed that DUSP1 was the most significantly and widely enriched gene in pan-cancer MRD. DUSP1 was found to be essential for MRD formation and played a role in T cell-fibroblast communications and the cytotoxic function of CD4 + T cells. Overall, our analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the changes caused by chemotherapy and identifies potential targets for preventing and eliminating MRD, which could lead to long-term survival benefits for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanhui Liu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cancer Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Bi Peng
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ziqi Chen
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yimin Shen
- Laboratory for Bioinformatics, Fondation Jean Dausset - CEPH, Paris, France
| | - Jingmin Zhang
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Xianglin Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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32
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Luo R, Liu J, Wen J, Zhou X. Single-cell Landscape of Malignant Transition: Unraveling Cancer Cell-of-Origin and Heterogeneous Tissue Microenvironment. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4085185. [PMID: 38645221 PMCID: PMC11030487 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4085185/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Understanding disease progression and sophisticated tumor ecosystems is imperative for investigating tumorigenesis mechanisms and developing novel prevention strategies. Here, we dissected heterogeneous microenvironments during malignant transitions by leveraging data from 1396 samples spanning 13 major tissues. Within transitional stem-like subpopulations highly enriched in precancers and cancers, we identified 30 recurring cellular states strongly linked to malignancy, including hypoxia and epithelial senescence, revealing a high degree of plasticity in epithelial stem cells. By characterizing dynamics in stem-cell crosstalk with the microenvironment along the pseudotime axis, we found differential roles of ANXA1 at different stages of tumor development. In precancerous stages, reduced ANXA1 levels promoted monocyte differentiation toward M1 macrophages and inflammatory responses, whereas during malignant progression, upregulated ANXA1 fostered M2 macrophage polarization and cancer-associated fibroblast transformation by increasing TGF-β production. Our spatiotemporal analysis further provided insights into mechanisms responsible for immunosuppression and a potential target to control evolution of precancer and mitigate the risk for cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiajia Liu
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Jianguo Wen
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Xiaobo Zhou
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
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Su Y, Yu Z, Yang Y, Wong KC, Li X. Distribution-Agnostic Deep Learning Enables Accurate Single-Cell Data Recovery and Transcriptional Regulation Interpretation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2307280. [PMID: 38380499 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a robust method for studying gene expression at the single-cell level, but accurately quantifying genetic material is often hindered by limited mRNA capture, resulting in many missing expression values. Existing imputation methods rely on strict data assumptions, limiting their broader application, and lack reliable supervision, leading to biased signal recovery. To address these challenges, authors developed Bis, a distribution-agnostic deep learning model for accurately recovering missing sing-cell gene expression from multiple platforms. Bis is an optimal transport-based autoencoder model that can capture the intricate distribution of scRNA-seq data while addressing the characteristic sparsity by regularizing the cellular embedding space. Additionally, they propose a module using bulk RNA-seq data to guide reconstruction and ensure expression consistency. Experimental results show Bis outperforms other models across simulated and real datasets, showcasing superiority in various downstream analyses including batch effect removal, clustering, differential expression analysis, and trajectory inference. Moreover, Bis successfully restores gene expression levels in rare cell subsets in a tumor-matched peripheral blood dataset, revealing developmental characteristics of cytokine-induced natural killer cells within a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanchi Su
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Zhuohan Yu
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yuning Yang
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Ka-Chun Wong
- Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Xiangtao Li
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
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Shi W, Wu W, Wang J, Meng X. Single-cell transcriptomics reveals comprehensive microenvironment and highlights the dysfuntional state of NK cells in endometrioid carcinoma. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37555. [PMID: 38552055 PMCID: PMC10977572 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies. The interaction between cancer cells and the cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in determining disease progression and response to treatment. To better understand the diversity in the TME of ECC, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using single-cell RNA sequencing across 21 samples, including 16 ECC and 5 adjacent normal tissues. We primarily focused on tumor-infiltrating natural killer (NK) cells and their cell-cell interactions with other immune cell types. We identified a CD56dim_DNAJB1 NK cells subset, which had low cytotoxic capability and high stress levels, suggesting a dysfunctional state. This subset showed strong interactions with tumor-associated macrophages through several ligand-receptor pairs. Additionally, we observed that tumor-infiltrating LAMP3+ dendritic cells may inhibit CD8+ T cells or attract regulatory T cells to the tumor area. These dendritic cells also had impaired activation effects on NK cells within the TME. Our study provides valuable insights into the role of NK cells in cancer immunity and highlights the potential of targeting specific NK cell subsets for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Shi
- Department of Medical Technology, Beijing Health Vocational College, Beijing, China
| | - Wuchen Wu
- Neurosurgery Department of Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Medical Technology, Beijing Health Vocational College, Beijing, China
- Neurosurgery Department of Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xianghong Meng
- Department of Medical Technology, Beijing Health Vocational College, Beijing, China
- Neurosurgery Department of Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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35
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Marin D, Li Y, Basar R, Rafei H, Daher M, Dou J, Mohanty V, Dede M, Nieto Y, Uprety N, Acharya S, Liu E, Wilson J, Banerjee P, Macapinlac HA, Ganesh C, Thall PF, Bassett R, Ammari M, Rao S, Cao K, Shanley M, Kaplan M, Hosing C, Kebriaei P, Nastoupil LJ, Flowers CR, Moseley SM, Lin P, Ang S, Popat UR, Qazilbash MH, Champlin RE, Chen K, Shpall EJ, Rezvani K. Safety, efficacy and determinants of response of allogeneic CD19-specific CAR-NK cells in CD19 + B cell tumors: a phase 1/2 trial. Nat Med 2024; 30:772-784. [PMID: 38238616 PMCID: PMC10957466 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02785-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
There is a pressing need for allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-immune cell therapies that are safe, effective and affordable. We conducted a phase 1/2 trial of cord blood-derived natural killer (NK) cells expressing anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor and interleukin-15 (CAR19/IL-15) in 37 patients with CD19+ B cell malignancies. The primary objectives were safety and efficacy, defined as day 30 overall response (OR). Secondary objectives included day 100 response, progression-free survival, overall survival and CAR19/IL-15 NK cell persistence. No notable toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome, neurotoxicity or graft-versus-host disease were observed. The day 30 and day 100 OR rates were 48.6% for both. The 1-year overall survival and progression-free survival were 68% and 32%, respectively. Patients who achieved OR had higher levels and longer persistence of CAR-NK cells. Receiving CAR-NK cells from a cord blood unit (CBU) with nucleated red blood cells ≤ 8 × 107 and a collection-to-cryopreservation time ≤ 24 h was the most significant predictor for superior outcome. NK cells from these optimal CBUs were highly functional and enriched in effector-related genes. In contrast, NK cells from suboptimal CBUs had upregulation of inflammation, hypoxia and cellular stress programs. Finally, using multiple mouse models, we confirmed the superior antitumor activity of CAR/IL-15 NK cells from optimal CBUs in vivo. These findings uncover new features of CAR-NK cell biology and underscore the importance of donor selection for allogeneic cell therapies. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03056339 .
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Affiliation(s)
- David Marin
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ye Li
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rafet Basar
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hind Rafei
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - May Daher
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jinzhuang Dou
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vakul Mohanty
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Merve Dede
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yago Nieto
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nadima Uprety
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sunil Acharya
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Enli Liu
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey Wilson
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pinaki Banerjee
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Homer A Macapinlac
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christina Ganesh
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peter F Thall
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Roland Bassett
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mariam Ammari
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sheetal Rao
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kai Cao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mayra Shanley
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mecit Kaplan
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chitra Hosing
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Partow Kebriaei
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Loretta J Nastoupil
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christopher R Flowers
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sadie Mae Moseley
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paul Lin
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sonny Ang
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Uday R Popat
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Muzaffar H Qazilbash
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Richard E Champlin
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ken Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Shpall
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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36
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Vivier E, Rebuffet L, Narni-Mancinelli E, Cornen S, Igarashi RY, Fantin VR. Natural killer cell therapies. Nature 2024; 626:727-736. [PMID: 38383621 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06945-1] [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: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system. A key feature of NK cells is their ability to recognize a wide range of cells in distress, particularly tumour cells and cells infected with viruses. They combine both direct effector functions against their cellular targets and participate in the generation, shaping and maintenance of a multicellular immune response. As our understanding has deepened, several therapeutic strategies focused on NK cells have been conceived and are currently in various stages of development, from preclinical investigations to clinical trials. Here we explore in detail the complexity of NK cell biology in humans and highlight the role of these cells in cancer immunity. We also analyse the harnessing of NK cell immunity through immune checkpoint inhibitors, NK cell engagers, and infusions of preactivated or genetically modified, autologous or allogeneic NK cell products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Vivier
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France.
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France.
- APHM, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille-Immunopôle, Marseille, France.
- Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
| | - Lucas Rebuffet
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Emilie Narni-Mancinelli
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Stéphanie Cornen
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
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37
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Liu PW, Lin J, Hou R, Cai Z, Gong Y, He PA, Yang J. Single-cell RNA-seq reveals the metabolic status of immune cells response to immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer. Comput Biol Med 2024; 169:107926. [PMID: 38183706 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.107926] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy offers promise in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); however, its limited efficacy in certain TNBC patients poses a challenge. In this study, we elucidated the metabolic mechanism at 'sub-subtype' resolution underlying the non-response to ICB therapy in TNBC. Here, an analytic pipeline was developed to reveal the metabolic heterogeneity, which is correlated with the ICB outcomes, within each immune cell subtype. First, we identified metabolic 'sub-subtypes' within certain cell subtypes, predominantly T cell subsets, which are enriched in ICB non-responders and named as non-responder-enriched (NR-E) clusters. Notably, most of NR-E T metabolic cells exhibit globally higher metabolic activities compared to other cells within the same individual subtype. Further, we investigated the extra-cellular signals that trigger the metabolic status of NR-E T cells. In detail, the prediction of cell-to-cell communication indicated that NR-E T cells are regulated by plasmatic dendritic cells (pDCs) through TNFSF9, as well as by macrophages expressing SIGLEC9. In addition, we also validate the communication between TNFSF9+ pDCs and NR-E T cells utilizing deconvolution of spatial transcriptomics analysis. In summary, our research identified specific metabolic 'sub-subtypes' associated with ICB non-response and uncovered the mechanisms of their regulation in TNBC. And the proposed analytical pipeline can be used to examine metabolic heterogeneity within cell types that correlate with diverse phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Wen Liu
- School of Science, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China; Geneis Beijing Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Jun Lin
- Depatment of Pathology, The People's Hospital of QuZhou City, ZheJiang, China
| | - Rui Hou
- Geneis Beijing Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Cai
- Extendcity (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Gong
- Geneis Beijing Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Ping-An He
- School of Science, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China.
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38
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Dean I, Lee CYC, Tuong ZK, Li Z, Tibbitt CA, Willis C, Gaspal F, Kennedy BC, Matei-Rascu V, Fiancette R, Nordenvall C, Lindforss U, Baker SM, Stockmann C, Sexl V, Hammond SA, Dovedi SJ, Mjösberg J, Hepworth MR, Carlesso G, Clatworthy MR, Withers DR. Rapid functional impairment of natural killer cells following tumor entry limits anti-tumor immunity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:683. [PMID: 38267402 PMCID: PMC10808449 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44789-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune cell dysfunction within the tumor microenvironment (TME) undermines the control of cancer progression. Established tumors contain phenotypically distinct, tumor-specific natural killer (NK) cells; however, the temporal dynamics, mechanistic underpinning and functional significance of the NK cell compartment remains incompletely understood. Here, we use photo-labeling, combined with longitudinal transcriptomic and cellular analyses, to interrogate the fate of intratumoral NK cells. We reveal that NK cells rapidly lose effector functions and adopt a distinct phenotypic state with features associated with tissue residency. NK cell depletion from established tumors did not alter tumor growth, indicating that intratumoral NK cells cease to actively contribute to anti-tumor responses. IL-15 administration prevented loss of function and improved tumor control, generating intratumoral NK cells with both tissue-residency characteristics and enhanced effector function. Collectively, our data reveals the fate of NK cells after recruitment into tumors and provides insight into how their function may be revived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Dean
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Colin Y C Lee
- Department of Medicine, Molecular Immunity Unit, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zewen K Tuong
- Department of Medicine, Molecular Immunity Unit, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zhi Li
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Christopher A Tibbitt
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Claire Willis
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Fabrina Gaspal
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Bethany C Kennedy
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Veronika Matei-Rascu
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Rémi Fiancette
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Caroline Nordenvall
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet and Department of Pelvic Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrik Lindforss
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet and Department of Pelvic Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Syed Murtuza Baker
- Division of Informatics, Imaging & Data Science, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Jenny Mjösberg
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Lung and Allergy Research, Medical unit for Lung and Allergy Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthew R Hepworth
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Menna R Clatworthy
- Department of Medicine, Molecular Immunity Unit, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.
| | - David R Withers
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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39
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Lee CYC, Kennedy BC, Richoz N, Dean I, Tuong ZK, Gaspal F, Li Z, Willis C, Hasegawa T, Whiteside SK, Posner DA, Carlesso G, Hammond SA, Dovedi SJ, Roychoudhuri R, Withers DR, Clatworthy MR. Tumour-retained activated CCR7 + dendritic cells are heterogeneous and regulate local anti-tumour cytolytic activity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:682. [PMID: 38267413 PMCID: PMC10808534 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44787-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumour dendritic cells (DCs) internalise antigen and upregulate CCR7, which directs their migration to tumour-draining lymph nodes (dLN). CCR7 expression is coupled to an activation programme enriched in regulatory molecule expression, including PD-L1. However, the spatio-temporal dynamics of CCR7+ DCs in anti-tumour immune responses remain unclear. Here, we use photoconvertible mice to precisely track DC migration. We report that CCR7+ DCs are the dominant DC population that migrate to the dLN, but a subset remains tumour-resident despite CCR7 expression. These tumour-retained CCR7+ DCs are phenotypically and transcriptionally distinct from their dLN counterparts and heterogeneous. Moreover, they progressively downregulate the expression of antigen presentation and pro-inflammatory transcripts with more prolonged tumour dwell-time. Tumour-residing CCR7+ DCs co-localise with PD-1+CD8+ T cells in human and murine solid tumours, and following anti-PD-L1 treatment, upregulate stimulatory molecules including OX40L, thereby augmenting anti-tumour cytolytic activity. Altogether, these data uncover previously unappreciated heterogeneity in CCR7+ DCs that may underpin a variable capacity to support intratumoural cytotoxic T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Y C Lee
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bethany C Kennedy
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nathan Richoz
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Isaac Dean
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Zewen K Tuong
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fabrina Gaspal
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Zhi Li
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Claire Willis
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Tetsuo Hasegawa
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - David A Posner
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - David R Withers
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
| | - Menna R Clatworthy
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.
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40
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Wang J, Peng J, Chen Y, Nasser MI, Qin H. The role of stromal cells in epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and its therapeutic potential. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:13. [PMID: 38244071 PMCID: PMC10799841 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-00867-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical tumor invasion and metastasis process. EMT enables tumor cells to migrate, detach from their original location, enter the circulation, circulate within it, and eventually exit from blood arteries to colonize in foreign sites, leading to the development of overt metastases, ultimately resulting in death. EMT is intimately tied to stromal cells around the tumor and is controlled by a range of cytokines secreted by stromal cells. This review summarizes recent research on stromal cell-mediated EMT in tumor invasion and metastasis. We also discuss the effects of various stromal cells on EMT induction and focus on the molecular mechanisms by which several significant stromal cells convert from foes to friends of cancer cells to fuel EMT processes via their secretions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). As a result, a better knowledge of the role of stromal cells in cancer cells' EMT may pave the path to cancer eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjing Wang
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Junmei Peng
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonglin Chen
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
- The Hengyang Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment and Critical Human Diseases Prevention of Hunan Province Department of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - M I Nasser
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510100, Guangdong, China.
| | - Hui Qin
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
- The Hengyang Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment and Critical Human Diseases Prevention of Hunan Province Department of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
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41
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Torcellan T, Friedrich C, Doucet-Ladevèze R, Ossner T, Solé VV, Riedmann S, Ugur M, Imdahl F, Rosshart SP, Arnold SJ, Gomez de Agüero M, Gagliani N, Flavell RA, Backes S, Kastenmüller W, Gasteiger G. Circulating NK cells establish tissue residency upon acute infection of skin and mediate accelerated effector responses to secondary infection. Immunity 2024; 57:124-140.e7. [PMID: 38157853 PMCID: PMC10783803 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are present in the circulation and can also be found residing in tissues, and these populations exhibit distinct developmental requirements and are thought to differ in terms of ontogeny. Here, we investigate whether circulating conventional NK (cNK) cells can develop into long-lived tissue-resident NK (trNK) cells following acute infections. We found that viral and bacterial infections of the skin triggered the recruitment of cNK cells and their differentiation into Tcf1hiCD69hi trNK cells that share transcriptional similarity with CD56brightTCF1hi NK cells in human tissues. Skin trNK cells arose from interferon (IFN)-γ-producing effector cells and required restricted expression of the transcriptional regulator Blimp1 to optimize Tcf1-dependent trNK cell formation. Upon secondary infection, trNK cells rapidly gained effector function and mediated an accelerated NK cell response. Thus, cNK cells redistribute and permanently position at sites of previous infection via a mechanism promoting tissue residency that is distinct from Hobit-dependent developmental paths of NK cells and ILC1 seeding tissues during ontogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Torcellan
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christin Friedrich
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rémi Doucet-Ladevèze
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Ossner
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Immunobiology, Epigenetics, and Metabolism (IMPRS-IEM), 79108 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Virgínia Visaconill Solé
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sofie Riedmann
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Milas Ugur
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Fabian Imdahl
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research (HZI), 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stephan P Rosshart
- Department of Microbiome Research, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany; Department of Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian J Arnold
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Mercedes Gomez de Agüero
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nicola Gagliani
- Section of Molecular Immunology und Gastroenterology, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Richard A Flavell
- Department of Immunobiology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Simone Backes
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kastenmüller
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Georg Gasteiger
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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42
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Blunt MD, Khakoo SI. Harnessing natural killer cell effector function against cancer. IMMUNOTHERAPY ADVANCES 2023; 4:ltad031. [PMID: 38223411 PMCID: PMC10787374 DOI: 10.1093/immadv/ltad031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic innate lymphoid cells that participate in anti-tumour and anti-viral immune responses. Their ability to rapidly destroy abnormal cells and to enhance the anti-cancer function of dendritic cells, CD8+ T cells, and macrophages makes them an attractive target for immunotherapeutic strategies. The development of approaches that augment NK-cell activation against cancer is currently under intense preclinical and clinical research and strategies include chimeric antigen receptor NK cells, NK-cell engagers, cytokines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we highlight recent advances in NK-cell therapeutic development and discuss their potential to add to our armamentarium against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Blunt
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Salim I Khakoo
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Zheng C, Zhang Z. New era of cancer immunology driven by big data. MEDICAL REVIEW (2021) 2023; 3:449-451. [PMID: 38282800 PMCID: PMC10808867 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2023-0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Chunhong Zheng
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zemin Zhang
- BIOPIC, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Li Y, Luo C, Jiang J, He S, Liu Y, Yan W, Xia Y, Cui Q, Huang Y, Lim JQ, Huang D, Hussein IN, Gao Y, Lin G, Ling Y, Ma D, Zhang Y, Chan JY, Wei P, Wang X, Cheng CL, Xiong J, Zhao W, Ong CK, Lim ST, Huang H, Peng R, Bei J. Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Malignant Cells Reshape the Cellular Landscape and Foster an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment of Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303913. [PMID: 37949673 PMCID: PMC10754138 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is an aggressive type of lymphoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and characterized by heterogeneous tumor behaviors. To better understand the origins of the heterogeneity, this study utilizes single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis to profile the tumor microenvironment (TME) of NKTCL at the single-cell level. Together with in vitro and in vivo models, the study identifies a subset of LMP1+ malignant NK cells contributing to the tumorigenesis and development of heterogeneous malignant cells in NKTCL. Furthermore, malignant NK cells interact with various immunocytes via chemokines and their receptors, secrete substantial DPP4 that impairs the chemotaxis of immunocytes and regulates their infiltration. They also exhibit an immunosuppressive effect on T cells, which is further boosted by LMP1. Moreover, high transcription of EBV-encoded genes and low infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are favorable prognostic indicators for NKTCL in multiple patient cohorts. This study for the first time deciphers the heterogeneous composition of NKTCL TME at single-cell resolution, highlighting the crucial role of malignant NK cells with EBV-encoded LMP1 in reshaping the cellular landscape and fostering an immunosuppressive microenvironment. These findings provide insights into understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of NKTCL and developing novel therapeutic strategies against NKTCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi‐Qi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Chun‐Ling Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Jia‐Xin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Shuai He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Wen‐Xin Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Yi Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Qian Cui
- Guangdong Provincial People's HospitalGuangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangzhou510080China
| | - Ying Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Jing Quan Lim
- Lymphoma Translational Research LaboratoryCellular and Molecular ResearchNational Cancer Centre Singapore30 Hospital BoulevardSingapore168583Singapore
- ONCO‐ACPDuke‐NUS Medical School8 College RoadSingapore169857Singapore
| | - Dachuan Huang
- Lymphoma Translational Research LaboratoryCellular and Molecular ResearchNational Cancer Centre Singapore30 Hospital BoulevardSingapore168583Singapore
- ONCO‐ACPDuke‐NUS Medical School8 College RoadSingapore169857Singapore
| | - Izzah Nabilah Hussein
- Lymphoma Translational Research LaboratoryCellular and Molecular ResearchNational Cancer Centre Singapore30 Hospital BoulevardSingapore168583Singapore
| | - Yan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Guo‐Wang Lin
- Microbiome Medicine CenterDivision of Laboratory MedicineZhujiang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhou510280China
| | - Yi‐Hong Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Dong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Yue‐Tong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Jason Yongsheng Chan
- Division of Medical OncologyNational Cancer Centre Singapore30 Hospital BoulevardSingapore168583Singapore
| | - Pan‐Pan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Xiao‐Xiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Chee Leong Cheng
- Department of PathologySingapore General Hospital20 College RoadAcademia169856Singapore
| | - Jie Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical GenomicsShanghai Institute of HematologyNational Research Center for Translational MedicineShanghai Rui Jin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine197 Rui Jin Er RoadShanghai200025China
| | - Wei‐Li Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical GenomicsShanghai Institute of HematologyNational Research Center for Translational MedicineShanghai Rui Jin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine197 Rui Jin Er RoadShanghai200025China
| | - Choon Kiat Ong
- Lymphoma Translational Research LaboratoryCellular and Molecular ResearchNational Cancer Centre Singapore30 Hospital BoulevardSingapore168583Singapore
- Cancer and Stem Cell BiologyDuke‐NUS Medical School8 College RoadSingapore169857Singapore
| | - Soon Thye Lim
- Director's OfficeNational Cancer Centre Singapore30 Hospital BoulevardSingapore168583Singapore
- Office of EducationDuke‐NUS Medical SchoolSingapore169857Singapore
| | - Hui‐Qiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Rou‐Jun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Jin‐Xin Bei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
- Lymphoma Translational Research LaboratoryCellular and Molecular ResearchNational Cancer Centre Singapore30 Hospital BoulevardSingapore168583Singapore
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Zhang H, Wang J, Li F. Modulation of natural killer cell exhaustion in the lungs: the key components from lung microenvironment and lung tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1286986. [PMID: 38022613 PMCID: PMC10657845 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1286986] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of tumor-induced death worldwide and remains a primary global health concern. In homeostasis, due to its unique structure and physiological function, the lung microenvironment is in a state of immune tolerance and suppression, which is beneficial to tumor development and metastasis. The lung tumor microenvironment is a more complex system that further enhances the immunosuppressive features in the lungs. NK cells are abundantly located in the lungs and play crucial roles in lung tumor surveillance and antitumor immunity. However, the immunosuppressive microenvironment promotes significant challenges to NK cell features, leading to their hypofunction, exhaustion, and compromised antitumor activity. Thus, understanding the complex interactions among the lung microenvironment, lung tumor microenvironment, and NK cell exhaustion is critical for the development of effective cancer immunotherapeutic strategies. The present review will discuss NK cell hypofunction and exhaustion within the lung microenvironment and lung tumor microenvironment, focusing on lung tissue-specific factors, including key cytokines and unique environmental components, that modulate NK cell activation and function. Understanding the functional mechanisms of key factors would help to design strategies to reverse NK cell exhaustion and restore their antitumor function within the lung tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Zhang
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fenggqi Li
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, China
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