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Jin Z, Han Y, Zhang J, Liu Z, Li R, Liu Z. Prognosis and therapy in thyroid cancer by gene signatures related to natural killer cells. J Gene Med 2024; 26:e3657. [PMID: 38282150 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3657] [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: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial to cancer development and prognosis. However, the role of NK cell-related genes in immunotherapy and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is not well understood. This study aimed to develop reliable risk signatures associated with NK cell-related genes for predicting thyroid cancer (THCA). METHODS The single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from seven THCA samples (GSE184362) and bulk-RNA-seq data of 502 THCA patients (TCGA-THCA) were included. The scRNA-seq data was analyzed using the "Seurat" R package to identify differentially expressed genes in NK cells. The clustering analysis was carried out using the R package "ConsensusClusterPlus". The gene set variation analysis (GSVA) algorithm was applied to assess the variations in biological pathways among subtypes. The ESTIMATE algorithm was utilized to calculate the scores for stromal, immune and estimate variables. In addition, we used the single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and CIBERSORT algorithms to assess the degree to which immune cells and pathways related to immunity were enriched based on the meta-cohort. In the TCGA-THCA cohort, the "glmnet" R package was used for the gene selection, and LASSO Cox analysis was used to construct prognostic features. The "maftools" R package was used to examine the somatic mutation landscape of THCA in both low- and high-risk groups. RESULTS One-hundred and eighty-five NK cell marker genes were screened, and nine genes were associated with the THCA prognosis. KLF2, OSTF1 and TAPBP were finally identified and constructed a risk signature with significant prognostic value. KLF2 and OSTF1 were protective genes, and TAPBP was a risk gene. Patients at high risk had a considerably lower overall survival compared with those at low risk. Mutations in the TCGA-THCA cohort were predominantly C > T. Increased tumor mutation burden (TMB) levels were linked to overall survival. The low-risk H-TMB+ group had a better prognosis, while the high-risk L-TMB+ group had the worst prognosis. CONCLUSION Natural killer cell-related genes KLF2, OSTF1 and TAPBP were used to develop a novel prognostic risk signature, offering a new perspective on the prognosis and treatment of THCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Jin
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yadong Han
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhao Liu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ran Li
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhao Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Vineretsky KA, Domingo-Musibay E, Karagas MR, Lazovich D, Kuriger-Laber JK, Hunter-Schlichting D, Nelson HH. A functional variant in the immune signalling receptor NKG2D alters skin cancer risk. Br J Dermatol 2021; 186:898-899. [PMID: 34878657 PMCID: PMC9064906 DOI: 10.1111/bjd.20943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K A Vineretsky
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - E Domingo-Musibay
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - M R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States of America
| | - D Lazovich
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - J K Kuriger-Laber
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - D Hunter-Schlichting
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - H H Nelson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
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Effect of Donor NKG2D Polymorphism on Relapse after Haploidentical Transplantation with Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide. Transplant Cell Ther 2021; 28:20.e1-20.e10. [PMID: 34607074 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2021.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity is regulated by the single nucleotide polymorphism rs1049174, and its antitumor effect has been observed in various clinical settings. There are no previously published data on the influence of donor rs1049174 polymorphism on HLA-haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy-haplo). We aimed to investigate the effect of donor NKG2D gene polymorphism on PTCy-haplo recipients. We retrospectively reviewed 91 consecutive PTCy-haplo recipients at our institution, and genotyped rs1049174 of the NKG2D gene in both donors and patients. In the patients who received PTCy without antithymocyte globulin (ATG) as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis, the 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse/progression (RI) of PTCy-haplo from rs1049174 CC donors was lower than that from rs1049174 CG/GG donors (25.0% versus 52.4%; P = .041), and rs1049174 CC donors were associated with a decreased risk of relapse/progression (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.0 to 0.6; P = .007). Furthermore, a beneficial effect of rs1049174 CC donor on OS and RI was observed in non-acute myelogenous leukemia patients. This study demonstrates that receipt of PTCy-haplo from rs1049174 CC donors was associated with a decreased risk of relapse/progression in the patients who underwent PTCy-haplo without ATG. Future large-scale validation studies are needed to test the significance of donor NKG2D polymorphism in the development of a new donor selection algorithm for PTCy-haplo. © 2021 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc.
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NKG2D Natural Killer Cell Receptor-A Short Description and Potential Clinical Applications. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061420. [PMID: 34200375 PMCID: PMC8229527 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are natural cytotoxic, effector cells of the innate immune system. They can recognize transformed or infected cells. NK cells are armed with a set of activating and inhibitory receptors which are able to bind to their ligands on target cells. The right balance between expression and activation of those receptors is fundamental for the proper functionality of NK cells. One of the best known activating receptors is NKG2D, a member of the CD94/NKG2 family. Due to a specific NKG2D binding with its eight different ligands, which are overexpressed in transformed, infected and stressed cells, NK cells are able to recognize and attack their targets. The NKG2D receptor has an enormous significance in various, autoimmune diseases, viral and bacterial infections as well as for transplantation outcomes and complications. This review focuses on the NKG2D receptor, the mechanism of its action, clinical relevance of its gene polymorphisms and a potential application in various clinical settings.
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Recent Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of the NKG2D Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10020301. [PMID: 32075046 PMCID: PMC7094213 DOI: 10.3390/biom10020301] [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: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common malignant tumor with high mortality. Its malignant proliferation, invasion, and metastasis are closely related to the cellular immune function of the patients. NKG2D is a key activated and type II membrane protein molecule expressed on the surface of almost all NK cells. The human NKG2D gene is 270 kb long, located at 12p12.3-p13.1, and contains 10 exons and 9 introns. The three-dimensional structure of the NKG2D monomeric protein contains two alpha-helices, two beta-lamellae, and four disulfide bonds, and its' signal of activation is transmitted mainly by the adaptor protein (DAP). NKG2D ligands, including MICA, MICB, and ULBPs, can be widely expressed in hepatoma cells. After a combination of NKG2D and DAP10 in the form of homologous two polymers, the YxxM motif in the cytoplasm is phosphorylated and then signaling pathways are also gradually activated, such as PI3K, PLCγ2, JNK-cJunN, and others. Activated NK cells can enhance the sensitivity to hepatoma cells and specifically dissolve by releasing a variety of cytokines (TNF-α and IFN-γ), perforin, and high expression of FasL, CD16, and TRAIL. NK cells may specifically bind to the over-expressed MICA, MICB, and ULBPs of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the surface activating receptor NKG2D, which can help to accurately identify hepatoma, play a critical role in anti-hepatoma via the pathway of cytotoxic effects, and obviously delay the poor progress of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Vazquez-Gonzalez WG, Martinez-Alvarez JC, Arrazola-Garcia A, Perez-Rodriguez M. Haplotype block 1 variant (HB-1v) of the NKG2 family of receptors. Hum Immunol 2019; 80:842-847. [PMID: 31320124 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2019.07.276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The natural killer group 2 (NKG2) family of receptors, encoded within the NK complex gene region (NKC), modulate the cytotoxic activity of NK cells. Two haplotype blocks throughout the NKC, hb-1 and hb-2 have been associated with different levels of overall natural cytotoxicity. Here, we evaluated allelic and genotype frequencies at rs1049174, rs2617160, rs2617170, rs2617171, rs1983526 (hb-1 haplotype), and rs2255336 and rs2246809 (hb-2 haplotype) in 928 subjects examined from Mexico City. The most frequent alleles and genotypes were as follows: C, CG to rs1049174; G, GG to rs2255336; T, AT to rs2617160; G, GG to rs2246809; C, CT to rs2617170; G, CG to rs2617171; and G, CG to rs1983526. Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed that rs1049174, rs2617160, rs2617170, and rs2617171 constituted the haplotype block-1 variant (hb-1v) (r2 ≥ 0.89). Two predominant haplotypes of hb-1v were identified based on the allele content and included CTCG and GATC. This study is the first to evaluate the allelic and genotype frequency distribution of rs1049174, rs2255336, rs2617160, rs2246809, rs2617170, rs2617171, and rs1983526 in the population of Mexico City.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Guadalupe Vazquez-Gonzalez
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunología, Hospital de Pediatría Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Cuauhtémoc 330, Col. Doctores, CP 06720 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Julio Cesar Martinez-Alvarez
- Banco Central de Sangre, Hospital de Especialidades Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Cuauhtémoc 330, Col. Doctores, CP 06720 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Araceli Arrazola-Garcia
- Banco Central de Sangre, Hospital de Especialidades Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Cuauhtémoc 330, Col. Doctores, CP 06720 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Martha Perez-Rodriguez
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunología, Hospital de Pediatría Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Cuauhtémoc 330, Col. Doctores, CP 06720 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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Iwaszko M, Świerkot J, Kolossa K, Jeka S, Wiland P, Bogunia-Kubik K. Influence of NKG2D Genetic Variants on Response to Anti-TNF Agents in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9020064. [PMID: 29370129 PMCID: PMC5852560 DOI: 10.3390/genes9020064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) acts as a powerful activating and co-stimulatory receptor on immune effector cells including NK and T cells. Disruptions within the NKG2D signalling pathway may trigger an exacerbated immune response and promote autoimmune reactions. The objective of the study was to evaluate a plausible role of polymorphisms within the NKG2D gene as a predictor of how effective anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy is in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. A total of 280 RA patients receiving anti-TNF therapy were genotyped for NKG2D rs2255336 (A > G), rs1049174 (C > G), and rs1154831 (C > A). Clinical response was evaluated according to the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria at the 12th and 24th week. Both the NKG2D rs225336 and rs1049174 polymorphisms were significantly associated with efficacy of TNF inhibitors. Inefficient therapy was more frequently observed in patients with rs2255336 GG or rs1049174 CC genotype as compared to other genotypes (p-value = 0.003 and p-value = 0.004, respectively). The presence of the rs2255336 G or the rs1049174 C allele correlated with a worse EULAR response (p-value = 0.002, p-value = 0.031, respectively). Moreover, patients carrying the rs2255336 or rs1049174 heterozygous genotype achieved better EULAR responses than patients with homozygous genotypes (p-value = 0.010 and p-value = 0.002, respectively). Data from the present study provides evidence that NKG2D polymorphisms may affect response to anti-TNF inhibitors in RA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Iwaszko
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Jerzy Świerkot
- Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Wrocław Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Kolossa
- Clinical Department of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Hospital University Number 2 Jana Biziela, Ujejskiego 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
| | - Sławomir Jeka
- Clinical Department of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Hospital University Number 2 Jana Biziela, Ujejskiego 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
| | - Piotr Wiland
- Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Wrocław Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.
- Department of Internal, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wrocław Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland.
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