1
|
Tano-Menka R, Singh NK, Muzhingi I, Li X, Mandanas MV, Kaseke C, Crain CR, Zhang A, Ogunshola FJ, Vecchiarello L, Piechocka-Trocha A, Bashirova A, Birnbaum ME, Carrington M, Walker BD, Gaiha GD. Polymorphic residues in HLA-B that mediate HIV control distinctly modulate peptide interactions with both TCR and KIR molecules. Structure 2024; 32:1121-1136.e5. [PMID: 38733995 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.04.015] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Immunogenetic studies have shown that specific HLA-B residues (67, 70, 97, and 156) mediate the impact of HLA class I on HIV infection, but the molecular basis is not well understood. Here we evaluate the function of these residues within the protective HLA-B∗5701 allele. While mutation of Met67, Ser70, and Leu156 disrupt CD8+ T cell recognition, substitution of Val97 had no significant impact. Thermal denaturation of HLA-B∗5701-peptide complexes revealed that Met67 and Leu156 maintain HLA-peptide stability, while Ser70 and Leu156 facilitate T cell receptor (TCR) interactions. Analyses of existing structures and structural models suggested that Val97 mediates HLA-peptide binding to inhibitory KIR3DL1 molecules, which was confirmed by experimental assays. These data thereby demonstrate that the genetic basis by which host immunity impacts HIV outcomes occurs by modulating HLA-B-peptide stability and conformation for interaction with TCR and killer immunoglobulin receptor (KIR) molecules. Moreover, they indicate a key role for epitope specificity and HLA-KIR interactions to HIV control.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Humans
- HLA-B Antigens/chemistry
- HLA-B Antigens/metabolism
- HLA-B Antigens/genetics
- HLA-B Antigens/immunology
- Protein Binding
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/chemistry
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- HIV-1/immunology
- HIV-1/metabolism
- HIV Infections/immunology
- HIV Infections/virology
- Models, Molecular
- Receptors, KIR3DL1/metabolism
- Receptors, KIR3DL1/chemistry
- Receptors, KIR3DL1/genetics
- Peptides/chemistry
- Peptides/metabolism
- Binding Sites
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Protein Stability
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhoda Tano-Menka
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Nishant K Singh
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Itai Muzhingi
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xiaolong Li
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; The First Affiliated School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Michael V Mandanas
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Clarety Kaseke
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Charles R Crain
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Angela Zhang
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Funsho J Ogunshola
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | | | - Alicja Piechocka-Trocha
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Arman Bashirova
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michael E Birnbaum
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mary Carrington
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Bruce D Walker
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Gaurav D Gaiha
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liang Z, Anderson HD, Locher V, O'Leary C, Riesenfeld SJ, Jabri B, McDonald BD, Bendelac A. Eomes expression identifies the early bone marrow precursor to classical NK cells. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1172-1182. [PMID: 38871999 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01861-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells traffic through the blood and mount cytolytic and interferon-γ (IFNγ)-focused responses to intracellular pathogens and tumors. Type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) also produce type 1 cytokines but reside in tissues and are not cytotoxic. Whether these differences reflect discrete lineages or distinct states of a common cell type is not understood. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry, we focused on populations of TCF7+ cells that contained precursors for NK cells and ILC1s and identified a subset of bone marrow lineage-negative NK receptor-negative cells that expressed the transcription factor Eomes, termed EomeshiNKneg cells. Transfer of EomeshiNKneg cells into Rag2-/-Il2rg-/- recipients generated functional NK cells capable of preventing metastatic disease. By contrast, transfer of PLZF+ ILC precursors generated a mixture of ILC1s, ILC2s and ILC3s that lacked cytotoxic potential. These findings identified EomeshiNKneg cells as the bone marrow precursor to classical NK cells and demonstrated that the NK and ILC1 lineages diverged early during development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhitao Liang
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hope D Anderson
- Biophysical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Veronica Locher
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Crystal O'Leary
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Samantha J Riesenfeld
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bana Jabri
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Albert Bendelac
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Piersma SJ, Li S, Wong P, Bern MD, Poursine-Laurent J, Yang L, Beckman DL, Parikh BA, Yokoyama WM. Expression of a single inhibitory Ly49 receptor is sufficient to license NK cells for effector functions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.04.597367. [PMID: 38895234 PMCID: PMC11185686 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.04.597367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells recognize target cells through germline-encoded activation and inhibitory receptors enabling effective immunity against viruses and cancer. The Ly49 receptor family in the mouse and killer immunoglobin-like receptor family in humans play a central role in NK cell immunity through recognition of MHC class I and related molecules. Functionally, these receptor families are involved in licensing and rejection of MHC-I-deficient cells through missing-self. The Ly49 family is highly polymorphic, making it challenging to detail the contributions of individual Ly49 receptors to NK cell function. Herein, we showed mice lacking expression of all Ly49s were unable to reject missing-self target cells in vivo, were defective in NK cell licensing, and displayed lower KLRG1 on the surface of NK cells. Expression of Ly49A alone on a H-2Dd background restored missing-self target cell rejection, NK cell licensing, and NK cell KLRG1 expression. Thus, a single inhibitory Ly49 receptor is sufficient to license NK cells and mediate missing-self in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sytse J. Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shasha Li
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Pamela Wong
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael D. Bern
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jennifer Poursine-Laurent
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Liping Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Diana L. Beckman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Bijal A. Parikh
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Wayne M. Yokoyama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Fan C, Xing X, Murphy SJH, Poursine-Laurent J, Schmidt H, Parikh BA, Yoon J, Choudhary MNK, Saligrama N, Piersma SJ, Yokoyama WM, Wang T. Cis-regulatory evolution of the recently expanded Ly49 gene family. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4839. [PMID: 38844462 PMCID: PMC11156856 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48990-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomics has revealed the rapid expansion of multiple gene families involved in immunity. Members within each gene family often evolved distinct roles in immunity. However, less is known about the evolution of their epigenome and cis-regulation. Here we systematically profile the epigenome of the recently expanded murine Ly49 gene family that mainly encode either inhibitory or activating surface receptors on natural killer cells. We identify a set of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) for activating Ly49 genes. In addition, we show that in mice, inhibitory and activating Ly49 genes are regulated by two separate sets of proximal CREs, likely resulting from lineage-specific losses of CRE activity. Furthermore, we find that some Ly49 genes are cross-regulated by the CREs of other Ly49 genes, suggesting that the Ly49 family has begun to evolve a concerted cis-regulatory mechanism. Collectively, we demonstrate the different modes of cis-regulatory evolution for a rapidly expanding gene family.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changxu Fan
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Xiaoyun Xing
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Samuel J H Murphy
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Jennifer Poursine-Laurent
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Heather Schmidt
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Bijal A Parikh
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Jeesang Yoon
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Mayank N K Choudhary
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Naresha Saligrama
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Sytse J Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
| | - Wayne M Yokoyama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Piersma SJ. Tissue-specific features of innate lymphoid cells in antiviral defense. Cell Mol Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41423-024-01161-x. [PMID: 38684766 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01161-x] [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: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Innate lymphocytes (ILCs) rapidly respond to and protect against invading pathogens and cancer. ILCs include natural killer (NK) cells, ILC1s, ILC2s, ILC3s, and lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells and include type I, type II, and type III immune cells. While NK cells have been well recognized for their role in antiviral immunity, other ILC subtypes are emerging as players in antiviral defense. Each ILC subset has specialized functions that uniquely impact the antiviral immunity and health of the host depending on the tissue microenvironment. This review focuses on the specialized functions of each ILC subtype and their roles in antiviral immune responses across tissues. Several viruses within infection-prone tissues will be highlighted to provide an overview of the extent of the ILC immunity within tissues and emphasize common versus virus-specific responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sytse J Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Annis JL, Duncan JBW, Billcheck HO, Kuzma AG, Crittenden RB, Brown MG. Multiple Immune and Genetic Mechanisms Contribute to Cmv5s-Driven Susceptibility and Tissue Damage during Acute Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:813-824. [PMID: 38224204 PMCID: PMC10922835 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The MHC class I molecule H-2Dk conveys resistance to acute murine CMV infection in both C57L (H-2Dk transgenic) and MA/My mice. M.H2k/b mice are on an MA/My background aside from a C57L-derived region spanning the MHC (Cmv5s), which diminishes this resistance and causes significant spleen histopathology. To hone in on the effector elements within the Cmv5s interval, we generated several Cmv5-recombinant congenic mouse strains and screened them in vivo, allowing us to narrow the phenotype-associated interval >6-fold and segment the genetic mechanism to at least two independent loci within the MHC region. In addition, we sought to further characterize the Cmv5s-associated phenotypes in their temporal appearance and potential direct relationship to viral load. To this end, we found that Cmv5s histopathology and NK cell activation could not be fully mirrored in the MA/My mice with increased viral dose, and that marginal zone destruction was the first apparent Cmv5s phenotype, being reliably quantified as early as 2 d postinfection in the M.H2k/b mice, prior to divergence in viral load, weight loss, or NK cell phenotype. Finally, we further dissect NK cell involvement, finding no intrinsic differences in NK cell function, despite increased upregulation of activation markers and checkpoint receptors. In conclusion, these data dissect the genetic and immunologic underpinnings of Cmv5 and reveal a model in which polymorphism within the MHC region of the genome leads to the development of tissue damage and corrupts protective NK cell immunity during acute viral infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Annis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville Virginia, USA
- Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - John Benjamin W. Duncan
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Helen O. Billcheck
- Center for Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Anna G. Kuzma
- Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Rowena B. Crittenden
- Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Michael G. Brown
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville Virginia, USA
- Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Center for Immunity, Inflammation, and Regenerative Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Piersma SJ, Bangru S, Yoon J, Liu TW, Yang L, Hsieh CS, Plougastel-Douglas B, Kalsotra A, Yokoyama WM. NK cell expansion requires HuR and mediates control of solid tumors and long-term virus infection. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20231154. [PMID: 37698554 PMCID: PMC10497399 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20231154] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes capable of controlling tumors and virus infections through direct lysis and cytokine production. While both T and NK cells expand and accumulate in affected tissues, the role of NK cell expansion in tumor and viral control is not well understood. Here, we show that posttranscriptional regulation by the RNA-binding protein HuR is essential for NK cell expansion without negatively affecting effector functions. HuR-deficient NK cells displayed defects in the metaphase of the cell cycle, including decreased expression and alternative splicing of Ska2, a component of the spindle and kinetochore complex. HuR-dependent NK cell expansion contributed to long-term cytomegalovirus control and facilitated control of subcutaneous tumors but not tumor metastases in two independent tumor models. These results show that posttranscriptional regulation by HuR specifically affects NK cell expansion, which is required for the control of long-term virus infection and solid tumors, but not acute infection or tumor metastases, highlighting fundamental differences with antigen-specific T cell control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sytse J. Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sushant Bangru
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Jeesang Yoon
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tom W. Liu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Liping Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Chyi-Song Hsieh
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Beatrice Plougastel-Douglas
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Auinash Kalsotra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Wayne M. Yokoyama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Improved Antitumor Effect of NK Cells Activated by Neutrophils in a Bone Marrow Transplant Model. Mediators Inflamm 2023; 2023:6316581. [PMID: 36762286 PMCID: PMC9904906 DOI: 10.1155/2023/6316581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The licensing process mediated by inhibitory receptors of the Ly49 C-type lectin superfamily that recognizes self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I in mice is essential for the proper antitumor function of natural killer (NK) cells. Several models for NK cell licensing can be exploited for adoptive immunotherapy for cancer. However, the appropriate adoptive transfer setting to induce efficient graft versus tumor/leukemia effects remains elusive, especially after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In our previous experiment, we showed that intraperitoneal neutrophil administration with their corresponding NK receptor ligand-activated NK cells using congenic mice without HSCT. In this experiment, we demonstrate enhanced antitumor effects of licensed NK cells induced by weekly intraperitoneal injections of irradiated neutrophil-enriched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) in recipient mice bearing lymphoma. Bone marrow transplantation was performed using BALB/c mice (H-2d) as the recipient and B10 mice (H-2b) as the donor. The tumor was A20, a BALB/c-derived lymphoma cell line, which was injected subcutaneously into the recipient at the same time as the HSCT. Acute graft versus host disease was not exacerbated in this murine MHC class I mismatched HSCT setting. The intraperitoneal injection of PBMNCs activated a transient licensing of NK subsets expressed Ly49G2, its corresponding NK receptor ligand to H-2d, and reduced A20 tumor growth in the recipient after HSCT. Pathological examination revealed that increased donor-oriented NK1.1+NK cells migrated into the recipient tumors, depending on neutrophil counts in the administered PBMNCs. Collectively, our data reveal a pivotal role of neutrophils in promoting NK cell effector functions and adoptive immunotherapy for cancer.
Collapse
|
9
|
Rascle P, Woolley G, Jost S, Manickam C, Reeves RK. NK cell education: Physiological and pathological influences. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1087155. [PMID: 36742337 PMCID: PMC9896005 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1087155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells represent a critical defense against viral infections and cancers. NK cells require integration of activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors to detect target cells and the balance of these NK cell inputs defines the global NK cell response. The sensitivity of the response is largely defined by interactions between self-major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules and specific inhibitory NK cell receptors, so-called NK cell education. Thus, NK cell education is a crucial process to generate tuned effector NK cell responses in different diseases. In this review, we discuss the relationship between NK cell education and physiologic factors (type of self-MHC-I, self-MHC-I allelic variants, variant of the self-MHC-I-binding peptides, cytokine effects and inhibitory KIR expression) underlying NK cell education profiles (effector function or metabolism). Additionally, we describe the broad-spectrum of effector educated NK cell functions on different pathologies (such as HIV-1, CMV and tumors, among others).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Rascle
- Division of Innate and Comparative Immunology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Griffin Woolley
- Division of Innate and Comparative Immunology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Stephanie Jost
- Division of Innate and Comparative Immunology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Cordelia Manickam
- Division of Innate and Comparative Immunology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - R. Keith Reeves
- Division of Innate and Comparative Immunology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Augustine T, John P, Friedman T, Jiffry J, Guzik H, Mannan R, Gupta R, Delano C, Mariadason JM, Zang X, Maitra R, Goel S. Potentiating effect of reovirus on immune checkpoint inhibition in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1018767. [PMID: 36387154 PMCID: PMC9642964 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1018767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of colorectal cancers (CRCs) are microsatellite stable (MSS) and resistant to immunotherapy. The current study explores the possibility of using oncolytic reovirus to sensitize MSS CRC to immune checkpoint inhibition. While reovirus reduced metabolic activity among KRAS Mut cells, microarray/computational analysis revealed microsatellite status-oriented activation of immune-response pathways. Reovirus plus anti-PD-1 treatment increased cell death among MSS cells ex vivo. Reduced tumorigenicity and proliferative index, and increased apoptosis were evident among CT26 [MSS, KRAS Mut], but not in MC38 [microsatellite unstable/MSI, KRAS Wt] syngeneic mouse models under combinatorial treatment. PD-L1-PD-1 signaling axis were differentially altered among CT26/MC38 models. Combinatorial treatment activated the innate immune system, pattern recognition receptors, and antigen presentation markers. Furthermore, we observed the reduction of immunosuppressive macrophages and expansion of effector T cell subsets, as well as reduction in T cell exhaustion. The current investigation sheds light on the immunological mechanisms of the reovirus-anti-PD-1 combination to reduce the growth of MSS CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Titto Augustine
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Peter John
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Tyler Friedman
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Jeeshan Jiffry
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Hillary Guzik
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Rifat Mannan
- Department of Pathology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Riya Gupta
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Computer Science, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Catherine Delano
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - John M. Mariadason
- Gastrointestinal Cancers Program and Oncogenic Transcription Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Xingxing Zang
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Radhashree Maitra
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Biology, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sanjay Goel
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Cronk JM, Dziewulska KH, Puchalski P, Crittenden RB, Hammarskjöld ML, Brown MG. Altered-Self MHC Class I Sensing via Functionally Disparate Paired NK Cell Receptors Counters Murine Cytomegalovirus gp34-Mediated Immune Evasion. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1545-1554. [PMID: 36165178 PMCID: PMC9529956 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200441] [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: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The murine CMV (MCMV) immunoevasin m04/gp34 escorts MHC class I (MHC I) molecules to the surface of infected cells where these complexes bind Ly49 inhibitory receptors (IRs) and prevent NK cell attack. Nonetheless, certain self-MHC I-binding Ly49 activating and inhibitory receptors are able to promote robust NK cell expansion and antiviral immunity during MCMV infection. A basis for MHC I-dependent NK cell sensing of MCMV-infected targets and control of MCMV infection however remains unclear. In this study, we discovered that the Ly49R activation receptor is selectively triggered during MCMV infection on antiviral NK cells licensed by the Ly49G2 IR. Ly49R activating receptor recognition of MCMV-infected targets is dependent on MHC I Dk and MCMV gp34 expression. Remarkably, although Ly49R is critical for Ly49G2-dependent antiviral immunity, blockade of the activation receptor in Ly49G2-deficient mice has no impact on virus control, suggesting that paired Ly49G2 MCMV sensing might enable Ly49R+ NK cells to better engage viral targets. Indeed, MCMV gp34 facilitates Ly49G2 binding to infected cells, and the IR is required to counter gp34-mediated immune evasion. A specific requirement for Ly49G2 in antiviral immunity is further explained by its capacity to license cytokine receptor signaling pathways and enhance Ly49R+ NK cell proliferation during infection. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular basis for functionally disparate self-receptor enhancement of antiviral NK cell immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John M Cronk
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
- Beirne Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Karolina H Dziewulska
- Beirne Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Patryk Puchalski
- Beirne Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; and
| | - Rowena B Crittenden
- Beirne Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; and
| | - Marie-Louise Hammarskjöld
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Michael G Brown
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA;
- Beirne Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; and
- Center for Immunity, Inflammation, and Regenerative Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hammer Q, Dunst J, Christ W, Picarazzi F, Wendorff M, Momayyezi P, Huhn O, Netskar HK, Maleki KT, García M, Sekine T, Sohlberg E, Azzimato V, Aouadi M, Degenhardt F, Franke A, Spallotta F, Mori M, Michaëlsson J, Björkström NK, Rückert T, Romagnani C, Horowitz A, Klingström J, Ljunggren HG, Malmberg KJ. SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 encodes for an HLA-E-stabilizing peptide that abrogates inhibition of NKG2A-expressing NK cells. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110503. [PMID: 35235832 PMCID: PMC8858686 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that contribute to host defense against virus infections. NK cells respond to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro and are activated in patients with acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, by which mechanisms NK cells detect SARS-CoV-2-infected cells remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the Non-structural protein 13 of SARS-CoV-2 encodes for a peptide that is presented by human leukocyte antigen E (HLA-E). In contrast with self-peptides, the viral peptide prevents binding of HLA-E to the inhibitory receptor NKG2A, thereby rendering target cells susceptible to NK cell attack. In line with these observations, NKG2A-expressing NK cells are particularly activated in patients with COVID-19 and proficiently limit SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected lung epithelial cells in vitro. Thus, these data suggest that a viral peptide presented by HLA-E abrogates inhibition of NKG2A+ NK cells, resulting in missing self-recognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Quirin Hammer
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Josefine Dunst
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wanda Christ
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Francesca Picarazzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Mareike Wendorff
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Pouria Momayyezi
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oisín Huhn
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Herman K Netskar
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kimia T Maleki
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marina García
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Takuya Sekine
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ebba Sohlberg
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Valerio Azzimato
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Myriam Aouadi
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Frauke Degenhardt
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Andre Franke
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Francesco Spallotta
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "A. Ruberti," National Research Council (IASI-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Mori
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Jakob Michaëlsson
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Niklas K Björkström
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Timo Rückert
- Innate Immunity, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), Institute of the Leibniz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chiara Romagnani
- Innate Immunity, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), Institute of the Leibniz Association, Berlin, Germany; Division of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Medical Department I, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Amir Horowitz
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Precision Immunology Institute, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonas Klingström
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karl-Johan Malmberg
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wang D, Burns R, Khalil M, Mei A, Hashemi E, Malarkannan S. Methods to Analyze the Developmental Trajectory of Human Primary NK Cells Using Monocle and SCENIC Analyses. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2463:81-102. [PMID: 35344169 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2160-8_7] [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: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Development of novel cellular therapies based on primary human NK cells is under active investigation. Human NK cells are comprised of distinct subsets with high transcriptomic heterogeneity. Unique methodologies are being developed to determine the transcriptomic profiles of human NK cells. NK cells account for 10-20% of total lymphocytes in the human peripheral blood, which mediates anti-tumor and anti-viral effector functions. Therapeutic success in the clinic depends on a better understanding of the single-cell transcriptome of human NK cell subsets. Moreover, a better understanding of the transcriptional network that regulates NK cell development, subset specification, and terminal maturation is obligatory for their in vitro generation and expansion toward clinical utilization. Here, we describe the procedure for single-cell RNA-sequencing of human NK cells and strategies for bioinformatic analyses. This protocol provides a data analysis roadmap for investigators who work on the basic biology and therapeutic applications of human NK cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Robert Burns
- Bioinformatics Core, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Mohamed Khalil
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Ao Mei
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Elaheh Hashemi
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Subramaniam Malarkannan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Depierreux DM, Kieckbusch J, Shreeve N, Hawkes DA, Marsh B, Blelloch R, Sharkey A, Colucci F. Beyond Maternal Tolerance: Education of Uterine Natural Killer Cells by Maternal MHC Drives Fetal Growth. Front Immunol 2022; 13:808227. [PMID: 35619712 PMCID: PMC9127083 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.808227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproductive immunology has moved on from the classical Medawar question of 60 years ago "why doesn't the mother reject the fetus?". Looking beyond fetal-maternal tolerance, modern reproductive immunology focuses on how the maternal immune system supports fetal growth. Maternal uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, in partnership with fetal trophoblast cells, regulate physiological vascular changes in the uterus of pregnant women and mice. These vascular changes are necessary to build the placenta and sustain fetal growth. NK cell functions in the uterus and elsewhere, including anti-viral and anti-tumour immunity mediated mostly by blood NK cells, are modulated by NK cell education, a quantifiable process that determines cellular activation thresholds. This process relies largely on interactions between self-MHC class I molecules and inhibitory NK cell receptors. By getting to know self, the maternal immune system sets up uNK cells to participate to tissue homeostasis in the womb. Placentation can be viewed as a form of natural transplantation unique in vertebrates and this raises the question of how uNK cell education or missing-self recognition affect their function and, ultimately fetal growth. Here, using combinations of MHC-sufficient and -deficient mice, we show that uNK cell education is linked to maternal and not fetal MHC, so that MHC-deficient dams produce more growth-restricted fetuses, even when the fetuses themselves express self-MHC. We also show that, while peripheral NK cells reject bone marrow cells according to the established rules of missing-self recognition, uNK cells educated by maternal MHC do not reject fetuses that miss self-MHC and these fetuses grow to their full potential. While these results are not directly applicable to clinical research, they show that NK education by maternal MHC-I is required for optimal fetal growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Delphine M Depierreux
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jens Kieckbusch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Norman Shreeve
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Delia A Hawkes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Bryan Marsh
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Robert Blelloch
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Andrew Sharkey
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Colucci
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Licensing Natural Killers for Antiviral Immunity. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070908. [PMID: 34358058 PMCID: PMC8308748 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM)-bearing receptors (IRs) enable discrimination between self- and non-self molecules on the surface of host target cells. In this regard, they have a vital role in self-tolerance through binding and activating intracellular tyrosine phosphatases which can inhibit cellular activation. Yet, self-MHC class I (MHC I)-specific IRs are versatile in that they can also positively impact lymphocyte functionality, as exemplified by their role in natural killer (NK) cell education, often referred to as ’licensing‘. Recent discoveries using defined mouse models of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection have revealed that select self-MHC I IRs can increase NK cell antiviral defenses as well, whereas other licensing IRs cannot, or instead impede virus-specific NK responses for reasons that remain poorly understood. This review highlights a role for self-MHC I ‘licensing’ IRs in antiviral immunity, especially in the context of CMV infection, their impact on virus-specific NK cells during acute infection, and their potential to affect viral pathogenesis and disease.
Collapse
|
16
|
Increased donor inhibitory KIR with known HLA interactions provide protection from relapse following HLA matched unrelated donor HCT for AML. Bone Marrow Transplant 2021; 56:2714-2722. [PMID: 34234295 DOI: 10.1038/s41409-021-01393-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and KIR-ligand (KIRL) interactions play an important role in natural killer cell-mediated graft versus leukemia effect (GVL) after hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) for AML. Accounting for known KIR-KIRL interactions may identify donors with optimal NK cell-mediated alloreactivity and GVL. A retrospective study of 2359 donor-recipient pairs (DRP) who underwent unrelated donor (URD) HCT for AML was performed. KIR-KIRL combinations were determined and associations with clinical outcomes examined. Relapse risk was reduced in DRP with both higher inhibitory KIR-KIRL (iKIR) and missing KIRL (mKIR) scores, with HR 0.86 (P = 0.01) & HR 0.84 (P = 0.02) respectively. The iKIR and mKIR score components were summed to give a maximal inhibitory KIR ligand (IM-KIR) score for each donor, which if it was 5, as opposed to <5, was also associated with a lower relapse risk, SHR 0.8 (P = 0.004). All IM = 5 donors possess KIR Haplotype B/x. Transplant-related mortality was increased among those with IM-KIR = 5, HR, 1.32 (P = 0.01). In a subset analysis of those transplanted with 8/8 HLA-matched DRP, anti-thymocyte globulin recipients with IM-KIR = 5, had a lower relapse rate HR, 0.61 (p = 0.001). This study demonstrates that HLA-matched unrelated donors with the highest inhibitory KIR content confer relapse protection, albeit with increased TRM. These donors all have KIR haplotype B. Clinical trials utilizing donors with a higher iKIR content in conjunction with novel strategies to reduce TRM should be considered for URD HCT in recipients with AML to optimize clinical outcomes.
Collapse
|
17
|
Sportoletti P, De Falco F, Del Papa B, Baldoni S, Guarente V, Marra A, Dorillo E, Rompietti C, Adamo FM, Ruggeri L, Di Ianni M, Rosati E. NK Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Their Therapeutic Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136665. [PMID: 34206399 PMCID: PMC8268440 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Key features of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are defects in the immune system and the ability of leukemic cells to evade immune defenses and induce immunosuppression, resulting in increased susceptibility to infections and disease progression. Several immune effectors are impaired in CLL, including T and natural killer (NK) cells. The role of T cells in defense against CLL and in CLL progression and immunotherapy has been extensively studied. Less is known about the role of NK cells in this leukemia, and data on NK cell alterations in CLL are contrasting. Besides studies showing that NK cells have intrinsic defects in CLL, there is a large body of evidence indicating that NK cell dysfunctions in CLL mainly depend on the escape mechanisms employed by leukemic cells. In keeping, it has been shown that NK cell functions, including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), can be retained and/or restored after adequate stimulation. Therefore, due to their preserved ADCC function and the reversibility of CLL-related dysfunctions, NK cells are an attractive source for novel immunotherapeutic strategies in this disease, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy. Recently, satisfying clinical responses have been obtained in CLL patients using cord blood-derived CAR-NK cells, opening new possibilities for further exploring NK cells in the immunotherapy of CLL. However, notwithstanding the promising results of this clinical trial, more evidence is needed to fully understand whether and in which CLL cases NK cell-based immunotherapy may represent a valid, alternative/additional therapeutic option for this leukemia. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge about phenotypic and functional alterations of NK cells in CLL and the mechanisms by which CLL cells circumvent NK cell-mediated immunosurveillance. Additionally, we discuss the potential relevance of using NK cells in CLL immunotherapy.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Biomarkers
- Cell Communication
- Disease Management
- Disease Susceptibility
- Humans
- Immune System/immunology
- Immune System/metabolism
- Immunotherapy/adverse effects
- Immunotherapy/methods
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/etiology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Ligands
- Protein Binding
- Receptors, Natural Killer Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Natural Killer Cell/metabolism
- Treatment Outcome
- Tumor Escape/genetics
- Tumor Escape/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Sportoletti
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (P.S.); (F.D.F.); (B.D.P.); (S.B.); (V.G.); (A.M.); (E.D.); (C.R.); (F.M.A.); (L.R.)
| | - Filomena De Falco
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (P.S.); (F.D.F.); (B.D.P.); (S.B.); (V.G.); (A.M.); (E.D.); (C.R.); (F.M.A.); (L.R.)
| | - Beatrice Del Papa
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (P.S.); (F.D.F.); (B.D.P.); (S.B.); (V.G.); (A.M.); (E.D.); (C.R.); (F.M.A.); (L.R.)
| | - Stefano Baldoni
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (P.S.); (F.D.F.); (B.D.P.); (S.B.); (V.G.); (A.M.); (E.D.); (C.R.); (F.M.A.); (L.R.)
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Valerio Guarente
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (P.S.); (F.D.F.); (B.D.P.); (S.B.); (V.G.); (A.M.); (E.D.); (C.R.); (F.M.A.); (L.R.)
| | - Andrea Marra
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (P.S.); (F.D.F.); (B.D.P.); (S.B.); (V.G.); (A.M.); (E.D.); (C.R.); (F.M.A.); (L.R.)
| | - Erica Dorillo
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (P.S.); (F.D.F.); (B.D.P.); (S.B.); (V.G.); (A.M.); (E.D.); (C.R.); (F.M.A.); (L.R.)
| | - Chiara Rompietti
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (P.S.); (F.D.F.); (B.D.P.); (S.B.); (V.G.); (A.M.); (E.D.); (C.R.); (F.M.A.); (L.R.)
| | - Francesco Maria Adamo
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (P.S.); (F.D.F.); (B.D.P.); (S.B.); (V.G.); (A.M.); (E.D.); (C.R.); (F.M.A.); (L.R.)
| | - Loredana Ruggeri
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (P.S.); (F.D.F.); (B.D.P.); (S.B.); (V.G.); (A.M.); (E.D.); (C.R.); (F.M.A.); (L.R.)
| | - Mauro Di Ianni
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Ospedale Civile “Santo Spirito”, ASL Pescara, 65124 Pescara, Italy
| | - Emanuela Rosati
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Piersma SJ, Brizić I. Natural killer cell effector functions in antiviral defense. FEBS J 2021; 289:3982-3999. [PMID: 34125493 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells involved in the control of tumors and viral infections. They provide protection by producing cytokines and by directly lysing target cells. Both effector mechanisms have been identified to contribute to viral control, depending on the context of infection. Activation of NK cells depends on the integration of signals received by cytokine receptors and activation and inhibitory receptors recognizing ligands expressed by virus-infected cells. While the control of viral infections by NK cells is well established, the signals perceived by NK cells and how these signals integrate to mediate optimal viral control have been focus of ongoing research. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on NK cell activation and integration of signals that lead to interferon gamma production and cytotoxicity in viral infections. We review NK cell interactions with viruses, with particular focus on murine cytomegalovirus studies, which helped elucidate crucial aspects of antiviral NK cell immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sytse J Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ilija Brizić
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
The Advances and Challenges of NK Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 28:1077-1093. [PMID: 33652996 PMCID: PMC8025748 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol28020105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells can be widely applied for cancer immunotherapy due to their ability to lyse tumor targets without prior sensitization or human leukocyte antigens-matching. Several NK-based therapeutic approaches have been attempted in clinical practice, but their efficacy is not sufficient to suppress tumor development mainly because of lacking specificity. To this end, the engineering of NK cells with T cell receptor along with CD3 subunits (TCR-NK) has been developed to increase the reactivity and recognition specificity of NK cells toward tumor cells. Here, we review recent advances in redirecting NK cells for cancer immunotherapy and discuss the major challenges and future explorations for their clinical applications.
Collapse
|
20
|
Soluble and Exosome-Bound α-Galactosylceramide Mediate Preferential Proliferation of Educated NK Cells with Increased Anti-Tumor Capacity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020298. [PMID: 33467442 PMCID: PMC7830699 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells can kill target cells via the recognition of stress molecules and down-regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I). Some NK cells are educated to recognize and kill cells that have lost their MHC-I expression, e.g., tumor or virus-infected cells. A desired property of cancer immunotherapy is, therefore, to activate educated NK cells during anti-tumor responses in vivo. We here analyze NK cell responses to α-galactosylceramide (αGC), a potent activator of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells, or to exosomes loaded with αGC. In mouse strains which express different MHC-I alleles using an extended NK cell flow cytometry panel, we show that αGC induces a biased NK cell proliferation of educated NK cells. Importantly, iNKT cell-induced activation of NK cells selectively increased in vivo missing self-responses, leading to more effective rejection of tumor cells. Exosomes from antigen-presenting cells are attractive anti-cancer therapy tools as they may induce both innate and adaptive immune responses, thereby addressing the hurdle of tumor heterogeneity. Adding αGC to antigen-loaded dendritic-cell-derived exosomes also led to an increase in missing self-responses in addition to boosted T and B cell responses. This study manifests αGC as an attractive adjuvant in cancer immunotherapy, as it increases the functional capacity of educated NK cells and enhances the innate, missing self-based antitumor response.
Collapse
|