1
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Arifin MZ, Leitner J, Egan D, Waidhofer-Söllner P, Kolch W, Zhernovkov V, Steinberger P. BTLA and PD-1 signals attenuate TCR-mediated transcriptomic changes. iScience 2024; 27:110253. [PMID: 39021788 PMCID: PMC11253514 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110253] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
T cell co-inhibitory immune checkpoints, such as PD-1 or BTLA, are bona fide targets in cancer therapy. We used a human T cell reporter line to measure transcriptomic changes mediated by PD-1- and BTLA-induced signaling. T cell receptor (TCR)-complex stimulation resulted in the upregulation of a large number of genes but also in repression of a similar number of genes. PD-1 and BTLA signals attenuated transcriptomic changes mediated by TCR-complex signaling: upregulated genes tended to be suppressed and the expression of a significant number of downregulated genes was higher during PD-1 or BTLA signaling. BTLA was a significantly stronger attenuator of TCR-complex-induced transcriptome changes than PD-1. A strong overlap between genes that were regulated indicated quantitative rather than qualitative differences between these receptors. In line with their function as attenuators of TCR-complex-mediated changes, we found strongly regulated genes to be prime targets of PD-1 and BTLA signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Zainul Arifin
- Systems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Judith Leitner
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Donagh Egan
- Systems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Petra Waidhofer-Söllner
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Kolch
- Systems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Vadim Zhernovkov
- Systems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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2
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Liu Y, Zhao Z, Su S, Li Y, Chen N, He L, Dong M, Xu B, Zhang Z, Zhou Y, Zhu Z. Blockade of BTLA alone or in combination with PD-1 restores the activation and proliferation of CD8 + T cells during in vitro infection with NCP BVDV. Vet Microbiol 2024; 290:110004. [PMID: 38281324 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110004] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection can result in typical peripheral blood lymphopenia and immune dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the onset of lymphopenia remains unclear. B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is a novel immune checkpoint molecule that primarily inhibits activation and proliferation of T cells. Blockade of BTLA with antibodies can boost the proliferation and anti-viral immune functions of T cells. Nonetheless, the immunomodulatory effects of BTLA in CD8+ T cells during BVDV infection remain unknown. Therefore, BTLA expression was measured in bovine peripheral blood CD8+ T cells infected with BVDV in vitro. Furthermore, the effects of BTLA or PD-1 blockade on CD8+ T cell activation, proliferation, and anti-viral immunological activities were investigated, as well as expression of signaling molecules downstream of BTLA, both alone and in combination. The results demonstrated that BTLA and PD-1 mRNA and protein levels were considerably increased in CD8+ T cells infected with cytopathic and non-cytopathic (NCP) BVDV. Surprisingly, as compared to blockade of either BTLA or PD-1, blockade of both dramatically increased proliferation and expression of CD25 and p-EKR of CD8+ T cells infected with NCP BVDV. Furthermore, blockade of BTLA, but not PD-1, had no effect on BVDV replication or IFN-γ expression. These findings confirmed the immunomodulatory roles of BTLA during BVDV infection, as well as the synergistic role of BTLA and PD-1 in NCP BVDV infection, thereby providing new insights to promote activation and the anti-viral immunological activities of CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, HeiLongJiang BaYi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China; Key Laboratory of Bovine Disease Control in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Daqing 163319, China; Engineering Research Center of Prevention and Control of Cattle Diseases, Heilongjiang Province, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Zhibo Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, HeiLongJiang BaYi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Siyu Su
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, HeiLongJiang BaYi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Yang Li
- Engineering Research Center of Prevention and Control of Cattle Diseases, Heilongjiang Province, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Nannan Chen
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, HeiLongJiang BaYi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Linru He
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, HeiLongJiang BaYi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Meiqi Dong
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, HeiLongJiang BaYi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Bin Xu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, HeiLongJiang BaYi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Zecai Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, HeiLongJiang BaYi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Yulong Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, HeiLongJiang BaYi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Zhanbo Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, HeiLongJiang BaYi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China; Key Laboratory of Bovine Disease Control in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Daqing 163319, China; Engineering Research Center of Prevention and Control of Cattle Diseases, Heilongjiang Province, Daqing 163319, China.
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3
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Aigner-Radakovics K, De Sousa Linhares A, Salzer B, Lehner M, Izadi S, Castilho A, Pickl WF, Leitner J, Steinberger P. The ligand-dependent suppression of TCR signaling by the immune checkpoint receptor LAG3 depends on the cytoplasmic RRFSALE motif. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eadg2610. [PMID: 37788323 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adg2610] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) is an inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor that restrains autoimmune and antitumor responses, but its evolutionarily conserved cytoplasmic tail lacks classical inhibitory motifs. Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC class II) is an established LAG3 ligand, and fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1), lymph node sinusoidal endothelial cell C-type lectin (LSECtin), and Galectin-3 have been proposed as alternative binding partners that play important roles in LAG3 function. Here, we used a fluorescent human T cell reporter system to study the function of LAG3. We found that LAG3 reduced the response to T cell receptor stimulation in the presence of MHC class II molecules to a lesser extent compared with the receptor programmed cell death protein 1. Analysis of deletion mutants demonstrated that the RRFSALE motif in the cytoplasmic tail of LAG3 was necessary and sufficient for LAG3-mediated inhibition. In this system, FGL1, but not LSECtin or Galectin-3, acted as a LAG3 ligand that weakly induced inhibition. LAG3-blocking antibodies attenuated LAG3-mediated inhibition in our reporter cells and enhanced reporter cell activation even in the absence of LAG3 ligands, indicating that they could potentially enhance T cell responses independently of their blocking effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Aigner-Radakovics
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Annika De Sousa Linhares
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin Salzer
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Next Generation CAR T Cells, Vienna, Austria
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manfred Lehner
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Next Generation CAR T Cells, Vienna, Austria
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shiva Izadi
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology (IPBT), Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology (DAGZ), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra Castilho
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology (IPBT), Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology (DAGZ), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Winfried F Pickl
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University, Krems, Austria
| | - Judith Leitner
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Vienna, Austria
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4
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Kuncewicz K, Bojko M, Battin C, Karczyńska A, Sieradzan A, Sikorska E, Węgrzyn K, Wojciechowicz K, Wardowska A, Steinberger P, Rodziewicz-Motowidło S, Spodzieja M. BTLA-derived peptides as inhibitors of BTLA/HVEM complex formation - design, synthesis and biological evaluation. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115161. [PMID: 37473684 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115161] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoints can be divided into co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules that regulate the activation and effector functions of T cells. The co-inhibitory pathways mediated by ICPs are used by cancer cells to escape from immune surveillance, and therefore the blockade of these receptor/ligand interactions is one of the strategies used in the treatment of cancer. The two main pathways currently under investigation are CTLA-4/CD80/CD86 and PD-1/PD-L1, and the monoclonal Abs targeting them have shown potent immunomodulatory effects and activity in clinical environments. Another interesting target in cancer treatment is the BTLA/HVEM complex. Binding of BTLA protein on T cells to HVEM on cancer cells leads to inhibition of T cell proliferation and cytokine production. In the presented work, we focused on blocking the HVEM protein using BTLA-derived peptides. Based on the crystal structure of the BTLA/HVEM complex and MM/GBSA analysis performed here, we designed and synthesized peptides, specifically fragments of BTLA protein. We subsequently checked the inhibitory capacities of these compounds using ELISA and a cellular reporter platform. Two of these peptides, namely BTLA(35-43) and BTLA(33-64)C58Abu displayed the most promising properties, and we therefore performed further studies to evaluate their affinity to HVEM protein, their stability in plasma and their effect on viability of human PBMCs. In addition, the 3D structure for the peptide BTLA(33-64)C58Abu was determined using NMR. Obtained data confirmed that the BTLA-derived peptides could be the basis for future drugs and their immunomodulatory potential merits further examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kuncewicz
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Bojko
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Claire Battin
- Medical University of Vienna, Institute of Immunology, Division of Immune Receptors and T cell Activation, Lazarettgasse 19, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Karczyńska
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Adam Sieradzan
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Emilia Sikorska
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Węgrzyn
- University of Gdańsk, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Karolina Wojciechowicz
- Medical University of Gdańsk, Department of Physiopathology, Dębinki 7, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Wardowska
- Medical University of Gdańsk, Department of Physiopathology, Dębinki 7, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Medical University of Vienna, Institute of Immunology, Division of Immune Receptors and T cell Activation, Lazarettgasse 19, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Marta Spodzieja
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland.
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5
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Sordo-Bahamonde C, Lorenzo-Herrero S, Granda-Díaz R, Martínez-Pérez A, Aguilar-García C, Rodrigo JP, García-Pedrero JM, Gonzalez S. Beyond the anti-PD-1/PD-L1 era: promising role of the BTLA/HVEM axis as a future target for cancer immunotherapy. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:142. [PMID: 37649037 PMCID: PMC10466776 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01845-4] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent introduction of monoclonal antibodies targeting immune checkpoints to harness antitumor immunity has revolutionized the cancer treatment landscape. The therapeutic success of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-based therapies mainly relies on PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 blockade. However, the limited overall responses and lack of reliable predictive biomarkers of patient´s response are major pitfalls limiting immunotherapy success. Hence, this reflects the compelling need of unveiling novel targets for immunotherapy that allow to expand the spectrum of ICB-based strategies to achieve optimal therapeutic efficacy and benefit for cancer patients. This review thoroughly dissects current molecular and functional knowledge of BTLA/HVEM axis and the future perspectives to become a target for cancer immunotherapy. BTLA/HVEM dysregulation is commonly found and linked to poor prognosis in solid and hematological malignancies. Moreover, circulating BTLA has been revealed as a blood-based predictive biomarker of immunotherapy response in various cancers. On this basis, BTLA/HVEM axis emerges as a novel promising target for cancer immunotherapy. This prompted rapid development and clinical testing of the anti-BTLA blocking antibody Tifcemalimab/icatolimab as the first BTLA-targeted therapy in various ongoing phase I clinical trials with encouraging results on preliminary efficacy and safety profile as monotherapy and combined with other anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that the intricate signaling network constituted by BTLA/HVEM/CD160/LIGHT involved in immune response regulation, tumor development and tumor microenvironment could limit therapeutic success. Therefore, in-depth functional characterization in different cancer settings is highly recommended for adequate design and implementation of BTLA-targeted therapies to guarantee the best clinical outcomes to benefit cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Sordo-Bahamonde
- Department of Functional Biology, Immunology, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
| | - Seila Lorenzo-Herrero
- Department of Functional Biology, Immunology, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
| | - Rocío Granda-Díaz
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), Oviedo, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandra Martínez-Pérez
- Department of Functional Biology, Immunology, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
| | - Candelaria Aguilar-García
- Department of Functional Biology, Immunology, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
| | - Juan P Rodrigo
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), Oviedo, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juana M García-Pedrero
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), Oviedo, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Segundo Gonzalez
- Department of Functional Biology, Immunology, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Oviedo, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain.
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6
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Balasko AL, Kowatsch MM, Graydon C, Lajoie J, Fowke KR. The effect of blocking immune checkpoints LAG-3 and PD-1 on human invariant Natural Killer T cell function. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10082. [PMID: 37344517 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36468-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells undergo immune exhaustion during chronic activation caused by cancer and viral infections, such as HIV. Exhaustion is marked by cell dysfunction and increased expression of immune checkpoint proteins programmed cell-death-1 (PD-1) and lymphocyte-activation-gene-3 (LAG-3). We hypothesize that blockade of PD-1 and/or LAG-3 will enhance iNKT cell function. Utilizing peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors, LAG-3 and PD-1 expression on iNKT cells was assessed using flow cytometry following in vitro stimulation with iNKT-specific stimulant α-galactosylceramide (n = 4). Efficacy of anti-LAG-3 and/or anti-PD-1 antibody blockades in enhancing iNKT cell function was assessed by determining proliferative capacity and IFN-γ production (n = 9). LAG-3 and PD-1 expression on iNKT cells peaked at Day 4 (98.8%; p ≤ 0.0001 and 98.8%; p = 0.005, respectively), followed by steep decrease by Day 10, coinciding with peak iNKT cell proliferation. In a 10-day blocking assay, both the anti-PD-1 alone and dual anti-PD-1 and anti-LAG-3 significantly increased iNKT proliferation (6 and 6.29 log2 fold-change respectively) compared to the no blockade control (ANOVA-p = 0.0005) with the dual blockade system being more effective (t-test-p = 0.013). This provides proof-of-concept for LAG-3 and PD-1 as immunotherapeutic targets to enhance human iNKT cell function, with the long-term goal of addressing immune exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison L Balasko
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Monika M Kowatsch
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Colin Graydon
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Julie Lajoie
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Keith R Fowke
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
- Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
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7
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Xia L, Yuan LZ, Hu YH, Liu JY, Hu GS, Qi RY, Zhang TY, Xiong HL, Zheng ZZ, Lin HW, Zhang JM, Yu C, Zhou M, Ma J, Cheng T, Chen RR, Guan Y, Xia NS, Liu W. A SARS-CoV-2-specific CAR-T-cell model identifies felodipine, fasudil, imatinib, and caspofungin as potential treatments for lethal COVID-19. Cell Mol Immunol 2023; 20:351-364. [PMID: 36864189 PMCID: PMC9979130 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-00985-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-induced cytokine storm is closely associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and lethality. However, drugs that are effective against inflammation to treat lethal COVID-19 are still urgently needed. Here, we constructed a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific CAR, and human T cells infected with this CAR (SARS-CoV-2-S CAR-T) and stimulated with spike protein mimicked the T-cell responses seen in COVID-19 patients, causing cytokine storm and displaying a distinct memory, exhausted, and regulatory T-cell phenotype. THP1 remarkably augmented cytokine release in SARS-CoV-2-S CAR-T cells when they were in coculture. Based on this "two-cell" (CAR-T and THP1 cells) model, we screened an FDA-approved drug library and found that felodipine, fasudil, imatinib, and caspofungin were effective in suppressing the release of cytokines, which was likely due to their ability to suppress the NF-κB pathway in vitro. Felodipine, fasudil, imatinib, and caspofungin were further demonstrated, although to different extents, to attenuate lethal inflammation, ameliorate severe pneumonia, and prevent mortality in a SARS-CoV-2-infected Syrian hamster model, which were also linked to their suppressive role in inflammation. In summary, we established a SARS-CoV-2-specific CAR-T-cell model that can be utilized as a tool for anti-inflammatory drug screening in a fast and high-throughput manner. The drugs identified herein have great potential for early treatment to prevent COVID-19 patients from cytokine storm-induced lethality in the clinic because they are safe, inexpensive, and easily accessible for immediate use in most countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Lun-Zhi Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Ya-Hong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Jun-Yi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Guo-Sheng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Ruo-Yao Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Tian-Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Hua-Long Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Zao-Zao Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Hong-Wei Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Jia-Mo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Chao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Ming Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Jian Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Tong Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Ri-Rong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yi Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ning-Shao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China.
| | - Wen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China.
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiang'an South Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China.
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8
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Tauber PA, Kratzer B, Schatzlmaier P, Smole U, Köhler C, Rausch L, Kranich J, Trapin D, Neunkirchner A, Zabel M, Jutz S, Steinberger P, Gadermaier G, Brocker T, Stockinger H, Derdak S, Pickl WF. The small molecule inhibitor BX-795 uncouples IL-2 production from inhibition of Th2 inflammation and induces CD4 + T cells resembling iTreg. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1094694. [PMID: 37090735 PMCID: PMC10117943 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1094694] [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: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Treg cells have been shown to be an important part of immune-homeostasis and IL-2 which is produced upon T cell receptor (TCR)-dependent activation of T lymphocytes has been demonstrated to critically participate in Treg development. Objective To evaluate small molecule inhibitors (SMI) for the identification of novel IL-2/Treg enhancing compounds. Materials and methods We used TCR-dependent and allergen-specific cytokine secretion of human and mouse T cells, next generation messenger ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-Seq) and two different models of allergic airway inflammation to examine lead SMI-compounds. Results We show here that the reported 3-phosphoinositide dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) SMI BX-795 increased IL-2 in culture supernatants of Jurkat E6-1 T cells, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) and allergen-specific mouse T cells upon TCR-dependent and allergen-specific stimulation while concomitantly inhibiting Th2 cytokine secretion. RNA-Seq revealed that the presence of BX-795 during allergen-specific activation of T cells induces a bona fide Treg cell type highly similar to iTreg but lacking Foxp3 expression. When applied in mugwort pollen and house dust mite extract-based models of airway inflammation, BX-795 significantly inhibited Th2 inflammation including expression of Th2 signature transcription factors and cytokines and influx into the lungs of type 2-associated inflammatory cells such as eosinophils. Conclusions BX-795 potently uncouples IL-2 production from Th2 inflammation and induces Th-IL-2 cells, which highly resemble induced (i)Tregs. Thus, BX-795 may be a useful new compound for the treatment of allergic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A. Tauber
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Kratzer
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Schatzlmaier
- Institute of Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ursula Smole
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cordula Köhler
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Rausch
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Kranich
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Doris Trapin
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alina Neunkirchner
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maja Zabel
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabrina Jutz
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Thomas Brocker
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hannes Stockinger
- Institute of Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sophia Derdak
- Core Facilities, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Winfried F. Pickl
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University of Healthcare, Krems, Austria
- *Correspondence: Winfried F. Pickl,
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9
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Chandrasekar AP, Badley AD. Prime, shock and kill: BCL-2 inhibition for HIV cure. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1033609. [PMID: 36341439 PMCID: PMC9631312 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1033609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
While modern HIV therapy can effectively suppress viral replication, the persistence of the latent reservoir posits the greatest hurdle to complete cure. The "shock and kill" strategy is under investigation for HIV therapy, aiming to reactivate latent HIV, and subsequently eliminate it through anti-retroviral therapy and host immune function. However, thus far, studies have yielded suboptimal results, stemming from a combination of ineffective latency reversal and poor immune clearance. Concomitantly, studies have now revealed the importance of the BCL-2 anti-apoptotic protein as a critical mediator of infected cell survival, reservoir maintenance and immune evasion in HIV. Furthermore, BCL-2 inhibitors are now recognized for their anti-HIV effects in pre-clinical studies. This minireview aims to examine the intersection of BCL-2 inhibition and current shock and kill efforts, hoping to inform future studies which may ultimately yield a cure for HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aswath P. Chandrasekar
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Andrew D. Badley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
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10
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Brunet-Ratnasingham E, Morou A, Dubé M, Niessl J, Baxter AE, Tastet O, Brassard N, Ortega-Delgado G, Charlebois R, Freeman GJ, Tremblay C, Routy JP, Kaufmann DE. Immune checkpoint expression on HIV-specific CD4+ T cells and response to their blockade are dependent on lineage and function. EBioMedicine 2022; 84:104254. [PMID: 36150362 PMCID: PMC9508408 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) partially reverses the dysfunctional state of antigen-specific T cell in chronic infections. However, its impact on the diverse subsets of CD4+ T cells in humans is largely unknown. Methods We examined immune checkpoint (IC) expression and function in HIV-specific CD4+ T cells of viremic individuals (≥5000 vRNA cp/ml, n = 17) prior to ART and persons with spontaneous (n = 11) or therapy-induced (n = 16) viral suppression (<40 cp/ml). We investigated IC patterns associated with exhaustion-related transcription factors and chemokine receptors using activation-induced marker assays. We determined effector functions representative of TFH, TH1, and TH17/TH22 using RNA flow cytometric fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). We compared increase in cytokine expression upon ICB across functions and patient status. Findings Expression of dysfunction-related molecules, such as transcription factors and ICs PD-1, TIGIT, and CD200, followed a hierarchy associated with infection status and effector profile. In vitro responsiveness to PD-L1 blockade varied with defined functions rather than IC levels: frequencies of cells with TH1- and TH17/TH22-, but not TFH-related functions, increased. Cells co-expressing TH1 and TFH functions showed response to ICB, suggesting that the cell's state rather than function dictates responsiveness to PD-L1 blockade. Response to PD-L1 blockade was strongest in viremic participants and reduced after ART initiation. Interpretation Our data highlight a polarization-specific regulation of IC expression and differing sensitivities of antigen-specific T helper subsets to PD-1-mediated inhibition. This heterogeneity may direct and constrain ICB efficacy in restoring CD4+ T cell function in HIV infection and other diseases. Funding NIH, CIHR, CFI, FRQS
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Brunet-Ratnasingham
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Antigoni Morou
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mathieu Dubé
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Julia Niessl
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Amy E Baxter
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Olivier Tastet
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nathalie Brassard
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gloria Ortega-Delgado
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Roxanne Charlebois
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gordon J Freeman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Cécile Tremblay
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Routy
- Chronic Viral Illnesses Service and Division of Hematology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Daniel E Kaufmann
- Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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11
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Battin C, Leitner J, Waidhofer-Söllner P, Grabmeier-Pfistershammer K, Olive D, Steinberger P. BTLA inhibition has a dominant role in the cis-complex of BTLA and HVEM. Front Immunol 2022; 13:956694. [PMID: 36081508 PMCID: PMC9446882 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.956694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The engagement of the herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM, TNFRSF14) by the B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) represents a unique interaction between an activating receptor of the TNFR-superfamily and an inhibitory receptor of the Ig-superfamily. BTLA and HVEM have both been implicated in the regulation of human T cell responses, but their role is complex and incompletely understood. Here, we have used T cell reporter systems to dissect the complex interplay of HVEM with BTLA and its additional ligands LIGHT and CD160. Co-expression with LIGHT or CD160, but not with BTLA, induced strong constitutive signaling via HVEM. In line with earlier reports, we observed that in cis interaction of BTLA and HVEM prevented HVEM co-stimulation by ligands on surrounding cells. Intriguingly, our data indicate that BTLA mediated inhibition is not impaired in this heterodimeric complex, suggesting a dominant role of BTLA co-inhibition. Stimulation of primary human T cells in presence of HVEM ligands indicated a weak costimulatory capacity of HVEM potentially owed to its in cis engagement by BTLA. Furthermore, experiments with T cell reporter cells and primary T cells demonstrate that HVEM antibodies can augment T cell responses by concomitantly acting as checkpoint inhibitors and co-stimulation agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Battin
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith Leitner
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Waidhofer-Söllner
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Daniel Olive
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7258; Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Expression Profile and Biological Role of Immune Checkpoints in Disease Progression of HIV/SIV Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030581. [PMID: 35336991 PMCID: PMC8955100 DOI: 10.3390/v14030581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
During HIV/SIV infection, the upregulation of immune checkpoint (IC) markers, programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), lymphocyte-activation gene-3 (LAG-3), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 (Tim-3), CD160, 2B4 (CD244), and V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), can lead to chronic T cell exhaustion. These ICs play predominant roles in regulating the progression of HIV/SIV infection by mediating T cell responses as well as enriching latent viral reservoirs. It has been demonstrated that enhanced expression of ICs on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells could inhibit cell proliferation and cytokine production. Overexpression of ICs on CD4+ T cells could also format and prolong HIV/SIV persistence. IC blockers have shown promising clinical results in HIV therapy, implying that targeting ICs may optimize antiretroviral therapy in the context of HIV suppression. Here, we systematically review the expression profile, biological regulation, and therapeutic efficacy of targeted immune checkpoints in HIV/SIV infection.
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13
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Sorrentino C, D'Antonio L, Fieni C, Ciummo SL, Di Carlo E. Colorectal Cancer-Associated Immune Exhaustion Involves T and B Lymphocytes and Conventional NK Cells and Correlates With a Shorter Overall Survival. Front Immunol 2022; 12:778329. [PMID: 34975867 PMCID: PMC8716410 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.778329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancer worldwide, with a growing impact on public health and clinical management. Immunotherapy has shown promise in the treatment of advanced cancers, but needs to be improved for CRC, since only a limited fraction of patients is eligible for treatment, and most of them develop resistance due to progressive immune exhaustion. Here, we identify the transcriptional, molecular, and cellular traits of the immune exhaustion associated with CRC and determine their relationships with the patient's clinic-pathological profile. Bioinformatic analyses of RNA-sequencing data of 594 CRCs from TCGA PanCancer collection, revealed that, in the wide range of immune exhaustion genes, those coding for PD-L1, LAG3 and T-bet were associated (Cramér's V=0.3) with MSI/dMMR tumors and with a shorter overall survival (log-rank test: p=0.0004, p=0.0014 and p=0.0043, respectively), whereas high levels of expression of EOMES, TRAF1, PD-L1, FCRL4, BTLA and SIGLEC6 were associated with a shorter overall survival (log-rank test: p=0.0003, p=0.0188, p=0.0004, p=0.0303, p=0.0052 and p=0.0033, respectively), independently from the molecular subtype of CRC. Expression levels of PD-L1, PD-1, LAG3, EOMES, T-bet, and TIGIT were significantly correlated with each other and associated with genes coding for CD4+ and CD8+CD3+ T cell markers and NKp46+CD94+EOMES+T-bet+ cell markers, (OR >1.5, p<0.05), which identify a subset of group 1 innate lymphoid cells, namely conventional (c)NK cells. Expression of TRAF1 and BTLA co-occurred with both T cell markers, CD3γ, CD3δ, CD3ε, CD4, and B cell markers, CD19, CD20 and CD79a (OR >2, p<0.05). Expression of TGFβ1 was associated only with CD4 + and CD8+CD3ε+ T cell markers (odds ratio >2, p<0.05). Expression of PD-L2 and IDO1 was associated (OR >1.5, p<0.05) only with cNK cell markers, whereas expression of FCRL4, SIGLEC2 and SIGLEC6 was associated (OR >2.5; p<0.05) with CD19+CD20+CD79a+ B cell markers. Morphometric examination of immunostained CRC tissue sections, obtained from a validation cohort of 53 CRC patients, substantiated the biostatistical findings, showing that the highest percentage of immune exhaustion gene expressing cells were found in tumors from short-term survivors and that functional exhaustion is not confined to T lymphocytes, but also involves B cells, and cNK cells. This concept was strengthened by CYBERSORTx analysis, which revealed the expression of additional immune exhaustion genes, in particular FOXP1, SIRT1, BATF, NR4A1 and TOX, by subpopulations of T, B and NK cells. This study provides novel insight into the immune exhaustion landscape of CRC and emphasizes the need for a customized multi-targeted therapeutic approach to overcome resistance to current immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Sorrentino
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology and Immuno-Oncology Unit, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Luigi D'Antonio
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology and Immuno-Oncology Unit, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Cristiano Fieni
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology and Immuno-Oncology Unit, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Stefania Livia Ciummo
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology and Immuno-Oncology Unit, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Emma Di Carlo
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology and Immuno-Oncology Unit, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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14
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Gubser C, Chiu C, Lewin SR, Rasmussen TA. Immune checkpoint blockade in HIV. EBioMedicine 2022; 76:103840. [PMID: 35123267 PMCID: PMC8882999 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically improved life expectancy for people with HIV (PWH) and helps to restore immune function but is not curative and must be taken lifelong. Achieving long term control of HIV in the absence of ART will likely require potent T cell function, but chronic HIV infection is associated with immune exhaustion that persists even on ART. This is driven by elevated expression of immune checkpoints that provide negative signalling to T cells. In individuals with cancer, immune checkpoint blockade augments tumour-directed T-cell responses resulting in significant clinical cures. There is therefore high interest if ICB can contribute to HIV cure or remission by reversing HIV-latency and/or drive recovery of HIV-specific T-cells. We here review recent evidence on the role of immune checkpoints in persistent HIV infection and discuss the potential for employing immune checkpoint blockade as a therapeutic approach to target HIV persistence on ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Gubser
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Chris Chiu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Sharon R Lewin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Thomas A Rasmussen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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15
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Chiu CY, Chang JJ, Dantanarayana AI, Soloman A, Evans VA, Pascoe R, Gubser C, Trautman L, Fromentin R, Chomont N, McMahon JH, Cameron PU, Rasmussen TA, Lewin SR. Combination Immune Checkpoint Blockade Enhances IL-2 and CD107a Production from HIV-Specific T Cells Ex Vivo in People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:54-62. [PMID: 34853078 PMCID: PMC8702486 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART), immune dysfunction persists, including elevated expression of immune checkpoint (IC) proteins on total and HIV-specific T cells. Reversing immune exhaustion is one strategy to enhance the elimination of HIV-infected cells that persist in PWH on ART. We aimed to evaluate whether blocking CTL-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), T cell Ig domain and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3), T cell Ig and ITIM domain (TIGIT) and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) alone or in combination would enhance HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell function ex vivo. Intracellular cytokine staining was performed using human PBMCs from PWH on ART (n = 11) and expression of CD107a, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 was quantified with HIV peptides and Abs to IC. We found the following: 1) IC blockade enhanced the induction of CD107a and IL-2 but not IFN-γ and TNF-α in response to Gag and Nef peptides; 2) the induction of CD107a and IL-2 was greatest with multiple combinations of two Abs; and 3) Abs to LAG-3, CTLA-4, and TIGIT in combinations showed synergistic induction of IL-2 in HIV-specific CD8+ and CD107a and IL-2 production in HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These results demonstrate that the combination of Abs to LAG-3, CTLA-4, or TIGIT can increase the frequency of cells expressing CD107a and IL-2 that associated with cytotoxicity and survival of HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in PWH on ART. These combinations should be further explored for an HIV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Y. Chiu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Judy J. Chang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Ashanti I. Dantanarayana
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Ajantha Soloman
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Vanessa A. Evans
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Rachel Pascoe
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Céline Gubser
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Lydie Trautman
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Rémi Fromentin
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H2X 3E4, Canada
| | - Nicolas Chomont
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H2X 3E4, Canada;,Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - James H. McMahon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University and the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Paul U. Cameron
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia;,Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University and the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Thomas A. Rasmussen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Sharon R. Lewin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia;,Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University and the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia;,Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
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16
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Effects of sex and aging on the immune cell landscape as assessed by single-cell transcriptomic analysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2023216118. [PMID: 34385315 PMCID: PMC8379935 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2023216118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in immune functioning stem from multiple factors, including sex and aging. However, the specific roles of these variables in immunity remain elusive. We profiled immunocytes from young and old males and females at single-cell resolution and constructed a precise atlas of blood-circulating immunocytes. T cell– and B cell–activated signals were higher in young females than males, while aging increased the sex-related differences in immunocytes, cellular composition, and inflammatory signaling. Additionally, males showed a higher accumulation of inflammatory factors during aging, whereas cell–cell communication analysis revealed different trends in gene expression between females and males with aging. These findings might aid in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying sex-based differences in immunity and disease susceptibility across the lifespan. Sex and aging influence the human immune system, resulting in disparate responses to infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. However, the impact of sex and aging on the immune system is not yet fully elucidated. Using small conditional RNA sequencing, we found that females had a lower percentage of natural killer (NK) cells and a higher percentage of plasma cells in peripheral blood compared with males. Bioinformatics revealed that young females exhibited an overrepresentation of pathways that relate to T and B cell activation. Moreover, cell–cell communication analysis revealed evidence of increased activity of the BAFF/APRIL systems in females. Notably, aging increased the percentage of monocytes and reduced the percentage of naïve T cells in the blood and the number of differentially expressed genes between the sexes. Aged males expressed higher levels of inflammatory genes. Collectively, the results suggest that females have more plasma cells in the circulation and a stronger BAFF/APRIL system, which is consistent with a stronger adaptive immune response. In contrast, males have a higher percentage of NK cells in blood and a higher expression of certain proinflammatory genes. Overall, this work expands our knowledge of sex differences in the immune system in humans.
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17
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Porsche CE, Delproposto JB, Geletka L, O'Rourke R, Lumeng CN. Obesity results in adipose tissue T cell exhaustion. JCI Insight 2021; 6:139793. [PMID: 33724954 PMCID: PMC8119198 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.139793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite studies implicating adipose tissue T cells (ATT) in the initiation and persistence of adipose tissue inflammation, fundamental gaps in knowledge regarding ATT function impedes progress toward understanding how obesity influences adaptive immunity. We hypothesized that ATT activation and function would have tissue-resident–specific properties and that obesity would potentiate their inflammatory properties. We assessed ATT activation and inflammatory potential within mouse and human stromal vascular fraction (SVF). Surprisingly, murine and human ATTs from obese visceral white adipose tissue exhibited impaired inflammatory characteristics upon stimulation. Both environmental and cell-intrinsic factors are implicated in ATT dysfunction. Soluble factors from obese SVF inhibit ATT activation. Additionally, chronic signaling from macrophage major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII) is necessary for ATT impairment in obese adipose tissue but is independent of increased PD1 expression. To assess intracellular signaling mechanisms responsible for ATT inflammation impairments, single-cell RNA sequencing of ATTs was performed. ATTs in obese adipose tissue exhibit enrichment of genes characteristic of T cell exhaustion and increased expression of coinhibitory receptor Btla. In sum, this work suggests that obesity-induced ATTs have functional characteristics and gene expression resembling T cell exhaustion induced by local soluble factors and cell-to-cell interactions in adipose tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lynn Geletka
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, and
| | - Robert O'Rourke
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Surgery, Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Carey N Lumeng
- Graduate Program in Immunology.,Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, and
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18
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Ning Z, Liu K, Xiong H. Roles of BTLA in Immunity and Immune Disorders. Front Immunol 2021; 12:654960. [PMID: 33859648 PMCID: PMC8043046 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.654960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is one of the most important cosignaling molecules. It belongs to the CD28 superfamily and is similar to programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) in terms of its structure and function. BTLA can be detected in most lymphocytes and induces immunosuppression by inhibiting B and T cell activation and proliferation. The BTLA ligand, herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM), does not belong to the classic B7 family. Instead, it is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily. The association of BTLA with HVEM directly bridges the CD28 and TNFR families and mediates broad and powerful immune effects. Recently, a large number of studies have found that BTLA participates in numerous physiopathological processes, such as tumor, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and transplantation rejection. Therefore, the present work aimed to review the existing knowledge about BTLA in immunity and summarize the diverse functions of BTLA in various immune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaochen Ning
- Institute of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, China.,Jining Key Laboratory of Immunology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Keyan Liu
- Department of Public Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Huabao Xiong
- Institute of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, China.,Jining Key Laboratory of Immunology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
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19
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Xu X, Hou B, Fulzele A, Masubuchi T, Zhao Y, Wu Z, Hu Y, Jiang Y, Ma Y, Wang H, Bennett EJ, Fu G, Hui E. PD-1 and BTLA regulate T cell signaling differentially and only partially through SHP1 and SHP2. J Cell Biol 2021; 219:151801. [PMID: 32437509 PMCID: PMC7265324 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201905085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Blockade antibodies of the immunoinhibitory receptor PD-1 can stimulate the anti-tumor activity of T cells, but clinical benefit is limited to a fraction of patients. Evidence suggests that BTLA, a receptor structurally related to PD-1, may contribute to resistance to PD-1 targeted therapy, but how BTLA and PD-1 differ in their mechanisms is debated. Here, we compared the abilities of BTLA and PD-1 to recruit effector molecules and to regulate T cell signaling. While PD-1 selectively recruited SHP2 over the stronger phosphatase SHP1, BTLA preferentially recruited SHP1 to more efficiently suppress T cell signaling. Contrary to the dominant view that PD-1 and BTLA signal exclusively through SHP1/2, we found that in SHP1/2 double-deficient primary T cells, PD-1 and BTLA still potently inhibited cell proliferation and cytokine production, albeit more transiently than in wild type T cells. Thus, PD-1 and BTLA can suppress T cell signaling through a mechanism independent of both SHP1 and SHP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozheng Xu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Bowen Hou
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Amitkumar Fulzele
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Takeya Masubuchi
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Yunlong Zhao
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Zijun Wu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Yanyan Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanzhe Ma
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Haopeng Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Eric J Bennett
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Guo Fu
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Enfu Hui
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
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20
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Effect of the use of Galectin-9 and blockade of TIM-3 receptor in the latent cellular reservoir of HIV-1. J Virol 2021; 95:JVI.02214-20. [PMID: 33361434 PMCID: PMC8092815 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02214-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactivation of latent HIV-1 is a necessary step for the purging of the viral reservoir, although it does not seem to be enough. The stimulation of HIV-1 specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) may be just as essential for this purpose. In this study, we aimed to show the effect of galectin-9 (Gal-9), known to revert HIV-1 latency, in combination with the blockade of TIM-3, a natural receptor for Gal-9 and an exhaustion marker. We confirmed the ability of Gal-9 to reactivate latent HIV-1 in Jurkat-LAT-GFP cells, as well as in an IL-7-based cellular model. This reactivation was not mediated via the TIM-3 receptor, but rather by the recognition of the Gal-9 of a specific oligosaccharide pattern of resting memory CD4+ T cells' surfaces. The potency of Gal-9 in inducing transcription of latent HIV-1 was equal to or greater than that of other latency-reversing agents (LRA). Furthermore, the combination of Gal-9 with other LRA did not show synergistic effects in the reactivation of the latent virus. To evaluate the impact of TIM-3 inhibition on the CTL-response, different co-culture experiments with CD4+T, CD8+ T, and NK cells were performed. Our data showed that blocking TIM-3 was associated with control of viral replication in both in vitro and ex vivo models in cells from PLWH on antiretroviral therapy. A joint strategy of the use of Gal-9 to reactivate latent HIV-1 and the inhibition of TIM-3 to enhance the HIV-1 CTL specific-response was associated with control of the replication of the virus that was being reactivated, thus potentially contributing to the elimination of the viral reservoir. Our results place this strategy as a promising approach to be tested in future studies. Reactivation of latent-HIV-1 by Gal-9 and reinvigoration of CD8+ T cells by TIM-3 blockade could be used separately or in combination.ImportanceHIV-1 infection is a health problem of enormous importance that still causes significant mortality. Antiretroviral treatment (ART) has demonstrated efficacy in the control of HIV-1 replication, decreasing the morbidity and mortality of the infection, but it cannot eradicate the virus. In our work, we tested a protein, galectin-9 (Gal-9), an HIV-1 latency-reversing agent, using an in vitro cellular model of latency and in cells from people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) on antiretroviral therapy. Our results confirmed the potential role of Gal-9 as a molecule with a potent HIV-1 reactivation capacity. More importantly, using a monoclonal antibody against T cell immunoglobulin and the mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (TIM-3) receptor we were able to enhance the HIV-1 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific response to eliminate the CD4+ T cells in which the virus had been reactivated. When used together, i.e., Gal-9 and TIM-3 blockade, control of the replication of HIV-1 was observed, suggesting a decrease in the cellular reservoir.
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21
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Bayati F, Mohammadi M, Valadi M, Jamshidi S, Foma AM, Sharif-Paghaleh E. The Therapeutic Potential of Regulatory T Cells: Challenges and Opportunities. Front Immunol 2021; 11:585819. [PMID: 33519807 PMCID: PMC7844143 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.585819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are an immunosuppressive subgroup of CD4+ T cells which are identified by the expression of forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3). The modulation capacity of these immune cells holds an important role in both transplantation and the development of autoimmune diseases. These cells are the main mediators of self-tolerance and are essential for avoiding excessive immune reactions. Tregs play a key role in the induction of peripheral tolerance that can prevent autoimmunity, by protecting self-reactive lymphocytes from the immune reaction. In contrast to autoimmune responses, tumor cells exploit Tregs in order to prevent immune cell recognition and anti-tumor immune response during the carcinogenesis process. Recently, numerous studies have focused on unraveling the biological functions and principles of Tregs and their primary suppressive mechanisms. Due to the promising and outstanding results, Tregs have been widely investigated as an alternative tool in preventing graft rejection and treating autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, targeting Tregs for the purpose of improving cancer immunotherapy is being intensively evaluated as a desirable and effective method. The purpose of this review is to point out the characteristic function and therapeutic potential of Tregs in regulatory immune mechanisms in transplantation tolerance, autoimmune diseases, cancer therapy, and also to discuss that how the manipulation of these mechanisms may increase the therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Bayati
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research & Development Department, Aryogen Pharmed, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mahsa Mohammadi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Valadi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Jamshidi
- Research & Development Department, Aryogen Pharmed, Karaj, Iran
| | - Arron Munggela Foma
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Sharif-Paghaleh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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22
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Immune Checkpoints in Viral Infections. Viruses 2020; 12:v12091051. [PMID: 32967229 PMCID: PMC7551039 DOI: 10.3390/v12091051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As evidence has mounted that virus-infected cells, such as cancer cells, negatively regulate the function of T-cells via immune checkpoints, it has become increasingly clear that viral infections similarly exploit immune checkpoints as an immune system escape mechanism. Although immune checkpoint therapy has been successfully used in cancer treatment, numerous studies have suggested that such therapy may also be highly relevant for treating viral infection, especially chronic viral infections. However, it has not yet been applied in this manner. Here, we reviewed recent findings regarding immune checkpoints in viral infections, including COVID-19, and discussed the role of immune checkpoints in different viral infections, as well as the potential for applying immune checkpoint blockades as antiviral therapy.
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23
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Yi Y, Ni XC, Liu G, Yin YR, Huang JL, Gan W, Zhou PY, Guan RY, Zhou C, Sun BY, Qiu SJ. Clinical significance of herpes virus entry mediator expression in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:19. [PMID: 32774492 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) is overexpressed in several malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, to the best of our knowledge, the clinical significance of HVEM in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC remains unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the clinical significance of HVEM in HBV-related HCC. In the present study, HVEM expression was evaluated in HCC cell lines and HCC frozen samples. The prognostic value of HVEM was assessed in a cohort of 221 patients with HBV-related HCC, following radical resection. B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) expression in subsets of CD8+ T cells was determined via flow cytometry analysis. The results demonstrated high HVEM expression in HCC cell lines, and in HCC tissues compared with paired non-cancerous liver tissues. HVEM expression was demonstrated to be significantly associated with tumor encapsulation and vascular invasion. Furthermore, tumor HVEM status was significantly associated with infiltration of regulatory T cells, but not with CD8+ T cells. Notably, high HVEM expression in HCC was determined to be an independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome of patients with HCC following radical resection. Higher BTLA expression (the receptor of HVEM) was observed in both HCC-infiltrating CD8+ effector memory (CCR7- CD45RA-) and CD45RA+ effector memory (CCR7- CD45RA+) T cells in HCC tissues and blood compared with those in paired peritumor tissues or peripheral blood. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that HVEM may serve a critical role in HBV-related HCC, most likely by promoting tumor progression and tumor immune evasion, thus the HVEM/BLTA signaling pathway may be a potential target in tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Yi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Chun Ni
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital of Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200000, P.R. China
| | - Gao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Rui Yin
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Jing-Long Huang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Wei Gan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Pei-Yun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Ruo-Yu Guan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Cheng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Bao-Ye Sun
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Shuang-Jian Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
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24
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Chen H, Moussa M, Catalfamo M. The Role of Immunomodulatory Receptors in the Pathogenesis of HIV Infection: A Therapeutic Opportunity for HIV Cure? Front Immunol 2020; 11:1223. [PMID: 32714317 PMCID: PMC7343933 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune activation is the hallmark of HIV infection and plays a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In the context of suppressed HIV RNA replication by combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), there remains immune activation which is associated to the HIV reservoirs. Persistent virus contributes to a sustained inflammatory environment promoting accumulation of "activated/exhausted" T cells with diminished effector function. These T cells show increased expression of immunomodulatory receptors including Programmed cell death protein (PD1), Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Associated Protein 4 (CTLA4), Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3), T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing 3 (TIM3) among others. More importantly, recent reports had demonstrated that, HIV infected T cells express checkpoint receptors, contributing to their survival and promoting maintenance of the viral reservoir. Therapeutic strategies are focused on viral reservoir elimination and/or those to achieve sustained cART-free virologic remission. In this review, we will discuss the immunological basis and the latest advances of the use of checkpoint inhibitors to treat HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
- CMRS/Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Maha Moussa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Marta Catalfamo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
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25
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Vigano S, Bobisse S, Coukos G, Perreau M, Harari A. Cancer and HIV-1 Infection: Patterns of Chronic Antigen Exposure. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1350. [PMID: 32714330 PMCID: PMC7344140 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The main role of the human immune system is to eliminate cells presenting foreign antigens and abnormal patterns, while maintaining self-tolerance. However, when facing highly variable pathogens or antigens very similar to self-antigens, this system can fail in completely eliminating the anomalies, leading to the establishment of chronic pathologies. Prototypical examples of immune system defeat are cancer and Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. In both conditions, the immune system is persistently exposed to antigens leading to systemic inflammation, lack of generation of long-term memory and exhaustion of effector cells. This triggers a negative feedback loop where effector cells are unable to resolve the pathology and cannot be replaced due to the lack of a pool of undifferentiated, self-renewing memory T cells. In addition, in an attempt to reduce tissue damage due to chronic inflammation, antigen presenting cells and myeloid components of the immune system activate systemic regulatory and tolerogenic programs. Beside these homologies shared between cancer and HIV-1 infection, the immune system can be shaped differently depending on the type and distribution of the eliciting antigens with ultimate consequences at the phenotypic and functional level of immune exhaustion. T cell differentiation, functionality, cytotoxic potential and proliferation reserve, immune-cell polarization, upregulation of negative regulators (immune checkpoint molecules) are indeed directly linked to the quantitative and qualitative differences in priming and recalling conditions. Better understanding of distinct mechanisms and functional consequences underlying disease-specific immune cell dysfunction will contribute to further improve and personalize immunotherapy. In the present review, we describe relevant players of immune cell exhaustion in cancer and HIV-1 infection, and enumerate the best-defined hallmarks of T cell dysfunction. Moreover, we highlight shared and divergent aspects of T cell exhaustion and T cell activation to the best of current knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selena Vigano
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne and Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sara Bobisse
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne and Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - George Coukos
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne and Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthieu Perreau
- Service of Immunology and Allergy, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Harari
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne and Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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26
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Coulon PG, Roy S, Prakash S, Srivastava R, Dhanushkodi N, Salazar S, Amezquita C, Nguyen L, Vahed H, Nguyen AM, Warsi WR, Ye C, Carlos-Cruz EA, Mai UT, BenMohamed L. Upregulation of Multiple CD8 + T Cell Exhaustion Pathways Is Associated with Recurrent Ocular Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:454-468. [PMID: 32540992 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
A large proportion of the world's population harbors latent HSV type 1 (HSV-1). Cross-talk between antiviral CD8+ T cells and HSV-1 appear to control latency/reactivation cycles. We found that compared with healthy asymptomatic individuals, in symptomatic (SYMP) patients, the CD8+ T cells with the same HLA-A*0201-restricted HSV-1 epitope specificities expressed multiple genes and proteins associated to major T cell exhaustion pathways and were dysfunctional. Blockade of immune checkpoints with anti-LAG-3 and anti-PD-1 antagonist mAbs synergistically restored the frequency and function of antiviral CD8+ T cells, both 1) ex vivo, in SYMP individuals and SYMP HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice; and 2) in vivo in HSV-1-infected SYMP HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice. This was associated with a significant reduction in virus reactivation and recurrent ocular herpetic disease. These findings confirm antiviral CD8+ T cell exhaustion during SYMP herpes infection and pave the way to targeting immune checkpoints to combat recurrent ocular herpes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Grégoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Soumyabrata Roy
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Nisha Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Stephanie Salazar
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Cassandra Amezquita
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Lan Nguyen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Angela M Nguyen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Wasay R Warsi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Caitlin Ye
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Edgar A Carlos-Cruz
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Uyen T Mai
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697; .,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697; and.,Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
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27
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The review recalls recent findings regarding the induction of vaccinal effects by HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and highlights potential therapeutic strategies to exploit such immunomodulatory properties. RECENT FINDINGS Studies in different animal models have shown that mAbs can generate long-lasting protective immunity. Induction of this vaccinal effect by HIV-1 bNAbs has also been more recently reported in animal models of HIV-1 infection. Notably, bNAbs treatment of macaques infected with the chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) improved both humoral and cellular adaptive immune responses that contributed to disease control. Importantly, this concept has been extended to HIV-1-infected patients as enhancement of humoral responses was recently reported in HIV-1 patients treated with bNAbs. Studies aiming at elucidating the mechanisms underlying these immunomodulatory properties of bNAbs have identified a role for immune complexes in shaping immune responses against HIV-1. They also highlight different Fc (fragment crystallizable) region effector functions that might be required for the enhancement of HIV-1 immune responses upon bNAbs treatment. SUMMARY HIV-1 bNAbs can elicit protective adaptive immune responses through mechanisms involving multiple cellular and molecular actors of the immune system. Harnessing these mechanisms will be crucial to achieve protective immunity against HIV-1 infection by bNAbs.
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De Sousa Linhares A, Kellner F, Jutz S, Zlabinger GJ, Gabius HJ, Huppa JB, Leitner J, Steinberger P. TIM-3 and CEACAM1 do not interact in cis and in trans. Eur J Immunol 2020; 50:1126-1141. [PMID: 32222966 PMCID: PMC7496933 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
TIM‐3 has been considered as a target in cancer immunotherapy. In T cells, inhibitory as well as activating functions have been ascribed to this molecule. Its role may therefore depend on the state of T cells and on the presence of interaction partners capable to perform functional pairing. Carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM1) has been proposed to bind TIM‐3 and to regulate its function. Using a T cell reporter platform we confirmed CEACAM1‐mediated inhibition, but CEACAM1 did not functionally engage TIM‐3. TIM‐3 and CEACAM1 coexpression was limited to a small subset of activated T cells. Moreover, results obtained in extensive binding studies were not in support of an interaction between TIM‐3 and CEACAM1. Cytoplasmic sequences derived from TIM‐3 induced inhibitory signaling in our human T cell reporter system. Our results indicate that TIM‐3 functions are independent of CEACAM1 and that this receptor has the capability to promote inhibitory signaling pathways in human T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika De Sousa Linhares
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Kellner
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabrina Jutz
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard J Zlabinger
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hans-Joachim Gabius
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Physiological Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes B Huppa
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith Leitner
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Liu Y, Liu S, Wu C, Huang W, Xu B, Lian S, Wang L, Yue S, Chen N, Zhu Z. PD-1-Mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Caspase 9/Caspase 3 and ERK Pathways Are Involved in Regulating the Apoptosis and Proliferation of CD4 + and CD8 + T Cells During BVDV Infection in vitro. Front Immunol 2020; 11:467. [PMID: 32256500 PMCID: PMC7089960 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute infection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is associated with immune dysfunction and can cause peripheral blood lymphopenia and lymphocyte apoptosis. Our previous study has confirmed that programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade inhibits peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) apoptosis and restores proliferation and anti-viral immune functions of lymphocytes after BVDV infection in vitro. However, the immunomodulatory effects of PD-1 pathway on major PBL subsets are unclear and their underlying molecular mechanisms need to be further studied. Therefore, in this study, we examined PD-1 expression in bovine PBL subsets after BVDV infection in vitro and analyzed the effects of PD-1 blockade on the apoptosis and proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and expression of PD-1 downstream signaling molecules. The results showed that PD-1 expression was enhanced on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, but not on CD21+ B cells after cytopathic (CP) BVDV (strain NADL) and non-cytopathic (NCP) BVDV (strain KD) infection in vitro and PD-1 blockade significantly reduced the apoptosis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after these two strains infection. Remarkably, PD-1 blockade significantly increased the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after CP BVDV infection, but only significantly increased the proliferation of CD4+ T cells after NCP BVDV infection. In addition, we confirmed that PD-1-mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR, caspase 9/caspase 3 and ERK pathways are involved in regulating the apoptosis and proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during BVDV infection in vitro. Notably, ERK is involved in the regulation mechanism PD-1 mediated only when the cells are infected with CP BVDV. Our findings provide a scientific basis for exploring the molecular mechanism of immune dysfunction caused by acute BVDV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of Prevention and Control of Cattle Diseases, Daqing, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Bovine Diseases, Daqing, China
| | - Shanshan Liu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Chenhua Wu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Wenjing Huang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Bin Xu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Shuai Lian
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Li Wang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Shan Yue
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Nannan Chen
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Zhanbo Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of Prevention and Control of Cattle Diseases, Daqing, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Bovine Diseases, Daqing, China
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Zhang M, Shi Y, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Alotaibi F, Qiu L, Wang H, Peng S, Liu Y, Li Q, Gao D, Wang Z, Yuan K, Dou FF, Koropatnick J, Xiong J, Min W. miRNA-5119 regulates immune checkpoints in dendritic cells to enhance breast cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:951-967. [PMID: 32076794 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02507-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic cell (DC) based immunotherapy is a promising approach to clinical cancer treatment. miRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that bind to RNAs to mediate multiple events which are important in diverse biological processes. miRNA mimics and antagomirs may be potent agents to enhance DC-based immunotherapy against cancers. miRNA array analysis was used to identify a representative miR-5119 potentially regulating PD-L1 in DCs. We evaluated levels of ligands of immune cell inhibitory receptors (IRs) and miR-5119 in DCs from immunocompetent mouse breast tumor-bearing mice, and examined the molecular targets of miR-5119. We report that miRNA-5119 was downregulated in spleen DCs from mouse breast cancer-bearing mice. In silico analysis and qPCR data showed that miRNA-5119 targeted mRNAs encoding multiple negative immune regulatory molecules, including ligands of IRs such as PD-L1 and IDO2. DCs engineered to express a miR-5119 mimic downregulated PD-L1 and prevented T cell exhaustion in mice with breast cancer homografts. Moreover, miR-5119 mimic-engineered DCs effectively restored function to exhausted CD8+ T cells in vitro and in vivo, resulting in robust anti-tumor cell immune response, upregulated cytokine production, reduced T cell apoptosis, and exhaustion. Treatment of 4T1 breast tumor-bearing mice with miR-5119 mimic-engineered DC vaccine reduced T cell exhaustion and suppressed mouse breast tumor homograft growth. This study provides evidence supporting a novel therapeutic approach using miRNA-5119 mimic-engineered DC vaccines to regulate inhibitory receptors and enhance anti-tumor immune response in a mouse model of breast cancer. miRNA/DC-based immunotherapy has potential for advancement to the clinic as a new strategy for DC-based anti-breast cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Medical Laboratory Education Center, Colleges of Basic Medicine and Pharmacology, Jiangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yanmei Shi
- Medical Laboratory Education Center, Colleges of Basic Medicine and Pharmacology, Jiangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yujuan Zhang
- Medical Laboratory Education Center, Colleges of Basic Medicine and Pharmacology, Jiangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
| | - Yifan Wang
- Medical Laboratory Education Center, Colleges of Basic Medicine and Pharmacology, Jiangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - Faizah Alotaibi
- Departments of Surgery, Pathology, Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Li Qiu
- Department of Endocrinology of Metabolism, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hongmei Wang
- Medical Laboratory Education Center, Colleges of Basic Medicine and Pharmacology, Jiangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Shanshan Peng
- Medical Laboratory Education Center, Colleges of Basic Medicine and Pharmacology, Jiangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yanling Liu
- Jiangxi University of Technology, Nanchang, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Dian Gao
- Medical Laboratory Education Center, Colleges of Basic Medicine and Pharmacology, Jiangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- Medical Laboratory Education Center, Colleges of Basic Medicine and Pharmacology, Jiangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Keng Yuan
- Medical Laboratory Education Center, Colleges of Basic Medicine and Pharmacology, Jiangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | | | - James Koropatnick
- Departments of Surgery, Pathology, Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jianping Xiong
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Weiping Min
- Medical Laboratory Education Center, Colleges of Basic Medicine and Pharmacology, Jiangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China. .,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China. .,Departments of Surgery, Pathology, Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. .,The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
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Abstract
A disease of more than 39.6 million people worldwide, HIV-1 infection has no curative therapy. To date, one man has achieved a sterile cure, with millions more hoping to avoid the potential pitfalls of lifelong antiretroviral therapy and other HIV-related disorders, including neurocognitive decline. Recent developments in immunotherapies and gene therapies provide renewed hope in advancing efforts toward a sterilizing or functional cure. On the horizon is research concentrated in multiple separate but potentially complementary domains: vaccine research, viral transcript editing, T-cell effector response targeting including checkpoint inhibitors, and gene editing. Here, we review the concept of targeting the HIV-1 tissue reservoirs, with an emphasis on the central nervous system, and describe relevant new work in functional cure research and strategies for HIV-1 eradication.
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Role of Co-stimulatory Molecules in T Helper Cell Differentiation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1189:153-177. [PMID: 31758534 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9717-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
CD4+ T cells play a central role in orchestrating the immune response to a variety of pathogens but also regulate autoimmune responses, asthma, allergic responses, as well as tumor immunity. To cover this broad spectrum of responses, naïve CD4+ T cells differentiate into one of several lineages of T helper cells, including Th1, Th2, Th17, and TFH, as defined by their cytokine pattern and function. The fate decision of T helper cell differentiation integrates signals delivered through the T cell receptor, cytokine receptors, and the pattern of co-stimulatory signals received. In this review, we summarize the contribution of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory receptors to the differentiation and maintenance of T helper cell responses.
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Cheng L, Tang X, Xu L, Zhang L, Shi H, Peng Q, Zhao F, Zhou Y, He Y, Wang H, Zhou B, Gao Z, Chen Z. Interferon-γ upregulates Δ42PD1 expression on human monocytes via the PI3K/AKT pathway. Immunobiology 2019; 224:388-396. [PMID: 30846331 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We recently identified a novel alternatively spliced isoform of human programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), named Δ42PD1, which contains a 42-base-pair in-frame deletion compared with the full-length PD-1. Δ42PD1 is likely constitutively expressed on human monocytes and down-regulated in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The mechanism underlying the regulation of Δ42PD-1 expression in monocytes remains unknown. METHODS By flow cytometry, we investigated the effect of Interferon-gamma (INF-γ) on the expression of Δ42PD1 in primary human monocytes as well as monocytic cell lines THP-1 and U937 cells. In addition, signaling pathway inhibitors and Δ42PD1-specific blocking antibody were used to explore the pathway involved in INF-γ-induced Δ42PD1 upregulation, and to elucidate the relationship between Δ42PD1 and TNF-α or IL-6 production by INF-γ primed monocytes in response to pre-fixed E. coli. Furthermore, we assessed T-cell proliferation, activation and cytokine production as enriched CD4+ T cells were co-cultured with THP-1 or U937 cells, with or without Δ42PD1-blocking antibody. RESULTS Treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with IFN-γ resulted in an approximately 4-fold increase in the expression of Δ42PD1 on monocytes. Similarly, IFN-γ upregulates Δ42PD1 expression on human monocytic cell lines THP-1 and U937, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. IFN-γ-induced Δ42PD1 upregulation was abolished by JAK inhibitors Ruxolitinib and Tasocitinib, PI3K inhibitor LY294002, and AKT inhibitor MK-2206, respectively, but not by STAT1 inhibitor and MAPK signaling pathway inhibitors. JAK, PI3K-AKT, and MAPK signaling inhibitors abolished effectively the production of TNF-α and IL-6 in INF-γ-primed monocytes in response to pre-fixed E. coli. In contrast, Δ42PD1-specific blocking antibody did not affect the IFN-γ-induced priming effect. Furthermore, the MFI ratio of Δ42PD1 to full-length PD-1 (PD-1 Δ/F ratio) was significantly and positively correlated with TNF-α (P = 0.0289, r = 0.6038) produced by circulating CD14+ monocytes in response to pre-fixed E. coli. Notably, Δ42PD1 blockage significantly inhibited CD4+ T-cells proliferation and cytokine production in the co-culture conditions. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that IFN-γ increases Δ42PD1 expression on human monocytes via activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway downstream of JAKs, and that the PD-1 Δ/F ratio is a potential biomarker to predict the functional state of monocytes. Notably, we revealed the Δ42PD1 play a role in T-cell regulation, providing a novel potential approach to manipulate adaptive immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xian Tang
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liumei Xu
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lukun Zhang
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huichun Shi
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiaoli Peng
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fang Zhao
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yun He
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hui Wang
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Boping Zhou
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhiliang Gao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zhiwei Chen
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China; AIDS Institute, Research Center for Infection and Immunity, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Blockade of the PD-1 axis alone is not sufficient to activate HIV-1 virion production from CD4+ T cells of individuals on suppressive ART. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211112. [PMID: 30682108 PMCID: PMC6347234 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Blockade of the programmed cell death protein/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) is now commonly used for cancer immunotherapy and has therapeutic potential in chronic viral infections including HIV-1. PD-1/PD-L1 blockade could augment HIV-1-specific immune responses and reverse HIV-1 latency, but the latter effect has not been clearly shown. We tested the ability of the human anti-PD-L1 mAb BMS-936559 and the human anti-PD-1 mAb nivolumab to increase HIV-1 virion production ex vivo from different peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations obtained from donors on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). Fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), CD8-depleted PBMC, total CD4+ T cells, and resting CD4+ T cells were purified from whole blood of HIV-1-infected donors and cultured in varying concentrations of BMS-936559 (20, 5, or 1.25μg/mL) or nivolumab (5 or 1.25μg/mL), with or without anti-CD3/CD28 stimulatory antibodies. Culture supernatants were assayed for virion HIV-1 RNA by qRT-PCR. Ex vivo exposure to BMS-936559 or nivolumab, with or without anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation, did not consistently increase HIV-1 virion production from blood mononuclear cell populations. Modest (2-fold) increases in virus production were observed in a subset of donors and in some cell types but were not reproducible in longitudinal samples. Cell surface expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 were not associated with changes in virus production. Ex vivo blockade of the PD-1 axis alone has limited effects on HIV-1 latency.
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Rosskopf S, Leitner J, Zlabinger GJ, Steinberger P. CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab negatively affects CD4 + T-cell responses in vitro. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2019; 68:1359-1368. [PMID: 31332464 PMCID: PMC6683241 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-019-02369-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting coinhibitory pathways in T cells possess efficacy in combating cancer. In addition to PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 antibodies which are already established in tumor immunotherapy, immune checkpoints such as LAG-3 or BTLA are emerging, which may have the potential to enhance T-cell responses alone or in combination with PD-1 blockers. CD4+ T cells play a central role in the immune system and contribute to productive immune responses in multiple ways. The effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors on this cell subset may thus critically influence therapeutic outcomes. Here, we have used in vitro responses to tetanus toxoid (TT) as a model system to study the effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors on CD4+ T-cell responses. CFSE-labeled PBMCs of 65 donors were stimulated with TT in the presence of blocking antibodies to PD-L1, CTLA-4, LAG-3, or BTLA for 7 days. We found that the PD-L1 antibody greatly enhanced cytokine production and antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell proliferation, whereas blocking antibodies to BTLA or LAG-3 did not augment responses to TT. Surprisingly, the presence of the therapeutic CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab resulted in a significant reduction of CD4+ T-cell proliferation and cytokine production. Stimulation experiments with an IgG4 variant of ipilimumab indicated that the inhibitory effect of ipilimumab was dependent on its IgG1 isotype. Our results indicate that the therapeutic CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab can impair CD4+ effector T-cell responses and that this activity is mediated by its Fc part and CD16-expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Rosskopf
- 0000 0000 9259 8492grid.22937.3dDivision of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 19, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith Leitner
- 0000 0000 9259 8492grid.22937.3dDivision of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 19, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard J. Zlabinger
- 0000 0000 9259 8492grid.22937.3dDivision of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steinberger
- 0000 0000 9259 8492grid.22937.3dDivision of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 19, Vienna, Austria
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Szostak B, Machaj F, Rosik J, Pawlik A. CTLA4 antagonists in phase I and phase II clinical trials, current status and future perspectives for cancer therapy. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2018; 28:149-159. [PMID: 30577709 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1559297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In cancer, the immune response to tumor antigens is often suppressed by inhibitors and ligands. Checkpoint blockade, considered one of the most promising frontiers for anti-cancer therapy, aims to stimulate the immune anti-cancer response. Agents such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors offer prolonged survival with manageable side effects. AREAS COVERED We summarize the recent clinical successes of CTLA-4 inhibitors and place a strong emphasis on those in early phase clinical trials, often in combination with other immune check-point inhibitors, i.e., programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and BRAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors. EXPERT OPINION Recent phase I and phase II clinical trials confirm the efficacy of anti-CTLA-4 therapy for treatment of cancers such as renal cell carcinoma. These studies also indicated increased efficacy with combined immune checkpoint blockade with PD-1 or Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK)/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitors. Researchers must search for new immune targets that may enable more effective and safe immune checkpoint blockade and cancer therapy. This goal may be achieved by next-generation combination therapies to overcome immune checkpoint therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Szostak
- a Department of Physiology , Pomeranian Medical University , Szczecin , Poland
| | - Filip Machaj
- a Department of Physiology , Pomeranian Medical University , Szczecin , Poland
| | - Jakub Rosik
- a Department of Physiology , Pomeranian Medical University , Szczecin , Poland
| | - Andrzej Pawlik
- a Department of Physiology , Pomeranian Medical University , Szczecin , Poland
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Naran K, Nundalall T, Chetty S, Barth S. Principles of Immunotherapy: Implications for Treatment Strategies in Cancer and Infectious Diseases. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:3158. [PMID: 30622524 PMCID: PMC6308495 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The advances in cancer biology and pathogenesis during the past two decades, have resulted in immunotherapeutic strategies that have revolutionized the treatment of malignancies, from relatively non-selective toxic agents to specific, mechanism-based therapies. Despite extensive global efforts, infectious diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, necessitating novel, innovative therapeutics that address the current challenges of increasing antimicrobial resistance. Similar to cancer pathogenesis, infectious pathogens successfully fashion a hospitable environment within the host and modulate host metabolic functions to support their nutritional requirements, while suppressing host defenses by altering regulatory mechanisms. These parallels, and the advances made in targeted therapy in cancer, may inform the rational development of therapeutic interventions for infectious diseases. Although "immunotherapy" is habitually associated with the treatment of cancer, this review accentuates the evolving role of key targeted immune interventions that are approved, as well as those in development, for various cancers and infectious diseases. The general features of adoptive therapies, those that enhance T cell effector function, and ligand-based therapies, that neutralize or eliminate diseased cells, are discussed in the context of specific diseases that, to date, lack appropriate remedial treatment; cancer, HIV, TB, and drug-resistant bacterial and fungal infections. The remarkable diversity and versatility that distinguishes immunotherapy is emphasized, consequently establishing this approach within the armory of curative therapeutics, applicable across the disease spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krupa Naran
- Medical Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Trishana Nundalall
- Medical Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shivan Chetty
- Medical Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Stefan Barth
- Medical Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Research Chair in Cancer Biotechnology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Yasuma-Mitobe K, Matsuoka M. The Roles of Coinhibitory Receptors in Pathogenesis of Human Retroviral Infections. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2755. [PMID: 30538707 PMCID: PMC6277675 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Costimulatory and coinhibitory receptors play a key role in regulating immune responses to infection and cancer. Coinhibitory receptors include programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), and T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), which suppress immune responses. Coinhibitory receptors are highly expressed on exhausted virus-specific T cells, indicating that viruses evade host immune responses through enhanced expression of these molecules. Human retroviruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), infect T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Therefore, one needs to consider the effects of coinhibitory receptors on both uninfected effector T cells and infected target cells. Coinhibitory receptors are implicated not only in the suppression of immune responses to viruses by inhibition of effector T cells, but also in the persistence of infected cells in vivo. Here we review recent studies on coinhibitory receptors and their roles in retroviral infections such as HIV and HTLV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Yasuma-Mitobe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masao Matsuoka
- Department of Hematology, Rheumatology and Infectious Disease, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.,Laboratory of Virus Control, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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Rosskopf S, Jahn-Schmid B, Schmetterer KG, Zlabinger GJ, Steinberger P. PD-1 has a unique capacity to inhibit allergen-specific human CD4 + T cell responses. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13543. [PMID: 30201974 PMCID: PMC6131174 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31757-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
T lymphocytes have a crucial role in initiating and promoting type I allergies. Their responses are tightly regulated by numerous activating and inhibitory signals provided by APCs. Here we have addressed the role of the major coinhibitory receptors PD-1, CTLA-4, BTLA and LAG-3 in allergen-specific CD4+ T cell responses. PBMCs of healthy individuals and 41 patients allergic to house dust mites, birch, grass or mugwort pollen were stimulated with allergenic extracts and expression of coinhibitory receptors on responding CD4+ T cells was assessed. Blocking antibodies to PD-1, CTLA-4, BTLA and LAG-3 were used to evaluate the role of coinhibitory pathways. Allergen-specific CD4+ T cells showed strong upregulation of PD-1, LAG-3 and CTLA-4 upon stimulation, whereas BTLA was downregulated. Blockade of PD-1 strongly enhanced proliferation and cytokine production (IL-10; TH1 cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α; TH2 cytokines IL-5, IL-13) of allergen-specific CD4+ T cells derived from allergic as well as non-allergic individuals. BTLA blockade enhanced proliferation but not cytokine production in response to house dust mite extract. Blocking LAG-3 was ineffective and surprisingly, we observed reduced proliferation and cytokine production in presence of a CTLA-4 antibody. Our results point to a unique potency of PD-1 pathways to dampen allergen-specific human T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Rosskopf
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Beatrice Jahn-Schmid
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Gerhard J Zlabinger
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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De Sousa Linhares A, Leitner J, Grabmeier-Pfistershammer K, Steinberger P. Not All Immune Checkpoints Are Created Equal. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1909. [PMID: 30233564 PMCID: PMC6127213 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies that block T cell inhibition via the immune checkpoints CTLA-4 and PD-1 have revolutionized cancer therapy during the last 15 years. T cells express additional inhibitory surface receptors that are considered to have potential as targets in cancer immunotherapy. Antibodies against LAG-3 and TIM-3 are currently clinically tested to evaluate their effectiveness in patients suffering from advanced solid tumors or hematologic malignancies. In addition, blockade of the inhibitory BTLA receptors on human T cells may have potential to unleash T cells to effectively combat cancer cells. Much research on these immune checkpoints has focused on mouse models. The analysis of animals that lack individual inhibitory receptors has shed some light on the role of these molecules in regulating T cells, but also immune responses in general. There are current intensive efforts to gauge the efficacy of antibodies targeting these molecules called immune checkpoint inhibitors alone or in different combinations in preclinical models of cancer. Differences between mouse and human immunology warrant studies on human immune cells to appreciate the potential of individual pathways in enhancing T cell responses. Results from clinical studies are not only highlighting the great benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitors for treating cancer but also yield precious information on their role in regulating T cells and other cells of the immune system. However, despite the clinical relevance of CTLA-4 and PD-1 and the high potential of the emerging immune checkpoints, there are still substantial gaps in our understanding of the biology of these molecules, which might prevent the full realization of their therapeutic potential. This review addresses PD-1, CTLA-4, BTLA, LAG-3, and TIM-3, which are considered major inhibitory immune checkpoints expressed on T cells. It provides summaries of our current conception of the role of these molecules in regulating T cell responses, and discussions about major ambiguities and gaps in our knowledge. We emphasize that each of these molecules harbors unique properties that set it apart from the others. Their distinct functional profiles should be taken into account in therapeutic strategies that aim to exploit these pathways to enhance immune responses to combat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika De Sousa Linhares
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith Leitner
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Grabmeier-Pfistershammer
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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