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Wang S, Wang J, Xia Y, Zhang L, Jiang Y, Liu M, Gao Q, Zhang C. Harnessing the potential of HLA-G in cancer therapy: advances, challenges, and prospects. J Transl Med 2024; 22:130. [PMID: 38310272 PMCID: PMC10838004 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04938-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockades have been prized in circumventing and ablating the impediments posed by immunosuppressive receptors, reaching an exciting juncture to be an innovator in anticancer therapy beyond traditional therapeutics. Thus far, approved immune checkpoint blockades have principally targeted PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 with exciting success in a plethora of tumors and yet are still trapped in dilemmas of limited response rates and adverse effects. Hence, unveiling new immunotherapeutic targets has aroused immense scientific interest in the hope of expanding the clinical application of immune checkpoint blockades to scale new heights. Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G), a non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule, is enriched on various malignant cells and is involved in the hindrance of immune effector cells and the facilitation of immunosuppressive cells. HLA-G stands out as a crucial next-generation immune checkpoint showing great promise for the benefit of cancer patients. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the expression pattern and immunological functions of HLA-G, as well as its interaction with well-characterized immune checkpoints. Since HLA-G can be shed from the cell surface or released by various cells as free soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) or as part of extracellular vesicles (EVs), namely HLA-G-bearing EVs (HLA-GEV), we discuss the potential of sHLA-G and HLA-GEV as predictive biomarkers. This review also addresses the advancement of HLA-G-based therapies in preclinical and clinical settings, with a focus on their clinical application in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jiaxin Wang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yu Xia
- Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of Chinese Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Le Zhang
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yueqiang Jiang
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Man Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qinglei Gao
- Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of Chinese Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Cuntai Zhang
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Chen QY, Zhou WJ, Zhang JG, Zhang X, Han QY, Lin A, Yan WH. Prognostic significance of the immune checkpoint HLA-G/ILT-4 in the survival of patients with gastric cancer. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 109:108798. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Bucova M, Kluckova K, Kozak J, Rychly B, Suchankova M, Svajdler M, Matejcik V, Steno J, Zsemlye E, Durmanova V. HLA-G 14bp Ins/Del Polymorphism, Plasma Level of Soluble HLA-G, and Association with IL-6/IL-10 Ratio and Survival of Glioma Patients. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12051099. [PMID: 35626255 PMCID: PMC9139224 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12051099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
HLA-G is an immune checkpoint molecule with immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activities, and its expression and level of its soluble form (sHLA-G) may play an important role in tumor prognosis. The HLA-G 14bp ins/del polymorphism and the plasma level of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) were investigated by a polymerase chain reaction and ELISA, respectively, in 59 glioma patients. A significantly higher proportion of glioma patients had the 14 nt insert in both homozygous and heterozygous states compared to the control group. Glioma patients also had higher plasma levels of sHLA-G. Patients with methylated MGMT promoters had lower levels of sHLA-G than those with unmethylated MGMT promoters. The level of sHLA-G negatively correlated with the overall survival of patients. Glioblastoma patients who survived more than one year after diagnosis had lower levels of sHLA-G than those surviving less than one year. Patients with sHLA-G levels below the cut-off value of 40 U/mL survived significantly longer than patients with sHLA-G levels above 40 U/mL. The levels of sHLA-G were also negatively correlated with the level of IL-6 (p = 0.0004) and positively with IL-10/IL-6 (p = 0.046). Conclusion: The presence of the 14 nt insert in both homozygous and heterozygous states of the HLA-G 14bp ins/del polymorphism is more frequent in glioma patients and the elevated plasma levels of sHLA-G are negatively associated with their survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bucova
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.K.); (M.S.); (E.Z.); (V.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +421-59-357-351
| | - Kristina Kluckova
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.K.); (M.S.); (E.Z.); (V.D.)
| | - Jan Kozak
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, 833 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.K.); (V.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Boris Rychly
- Alpha Medical, Ltd., 841 01 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Magda Suchankova
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.K.); (M.S.); (E.Z.); (V.D.)
| | - Marian Svajdler
- Cytopathos Ltd., 831 03 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Sikl’s Department of Pathology, the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, 306 05 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Matejcik
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, 833 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.K.); (V.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Juraj Steno
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, 833 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.K.); (V.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Eszter Zsemlye
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.K.); (M.S.); (E.Z.); (V.D.)
| | - Vladimira Durmanova
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.K.); (M.S.); (E.Z.); (V.D.)
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Zoehler B, Fracaro L, Boldrini-Leite LM, da Silva JS, Travers PJ, Brofman PRS, Bicalho MDG, Senegaglia AC. HLA-G and CD152 Expression Levels Encourage the Use of Umbilical Cord Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as an Alternative for Immunosuppressive Therapy. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081339. [PMID: 35456019 PMCID: PMC9032010 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been used in immunosuppressive therapy due to their therapeutic effects, with the HLA-G molecule seeming to play a fundamental role. This work evaluated alternative MSC sources to bone marrow (BM), namely, umbilical cord tissue (UC), adipose tissue (AD) and dental pulp tissue (DP), and the influence of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and hypoxia on the cultivation of these cells for use in immunosuppression therapies. Expression of costimulatory markers CD40, CD80 and CD86 and immunosuppressive molecules CD152 and HLA-G was analyzed. Lymphocyte inhibition assays were also performed. Sequencing of the HLA-G gene from exons 1 to 5 was performed using next-generation sequencing to determine the presence of alleles. UC-derived MSCs (UCMSCs) expressed higher CD152 and HLA-G1 under standard cultivation. UCMSCs and DP-derived MSCs (DPSCs) secreted similar levels of HLA-G5. All MSC sources inhibited the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); growth under regular versus hypoxic conditions resulted in similar levels of inhibition. When IFN-γ was added, PBMC growth was inhibited to a lesser extent by UCMSCs. The HLA-G*01:04:01:01 allele appears to generate a more efficient MSC response in inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation. However, the strength of this conclusion was limited by the small sample size. UCMSCs are an excellent alternative to BM in immunosuppressive therapy: they express high concentrations of inhibitory molecules and can be cultivated without stimuli, which minimizes cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo Zoehler
- Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 81530-001, PR, Brazil; (J.S.d.S.); (M.d.G.B.)
- Correspondence: (B.Z.); (A.C.S.)
| | - Letícia Fracaro
- Core for Cell Technology, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba 80910-215, PR, Brazil; (L.F.); (L.M.B.-L.); (P.R.S.B.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine, INCT-REGENERA, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lidiane Maria Boldrini-Leite
- Core for Cell Technology, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba 80910-215, PR, Brazil; (L.F.); (L.M.B.-L.); (P.R.S.B.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine, INCT-REGENERA, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - José Samuel da Silva
- Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 81530-001, PR, Brazil; (J.S.d.S.); (M.d.G.B.)
| | - Paul J. Travers
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK;
| | - Paulo Roberto Slud Brofman
- Core for Cell Technology, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba 80910-215, PR, Brazil; (L.F.); (L.M.B.-L.); (P.R.S.B.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine, INCT-REGENERA, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria da Graça Bicalho
- Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 81530-001, PR, Brazil; (J.S.d.S.); (M.d.G.B.)
| | - Alexandra Cristina Senegaglia
- Core for Cell Technology, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba 80910-215, PR, Brazil; (L.F.); (L.M.B.-L.); (P.R.S.B.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine, INCT-REGENERA, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- Correspondence: (B.Z.); (A.C.S.)
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Martín-Villa JM, Vaquero-Yuste C, Molina-Alejandre M, Juarez I, Suárez-Trujillo F, López-Nares A, Palacio-Gruber J, Barrera-Gutiérrez L, Fernández-Cruz E, Rodríguez-Sainz C, Arnaiz-Villena A. HLA-G: Too Much or Too Little? Role in Cancer and Autoimmune Disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:796054. [PMID: 35154112 PMCID: PMC8829012 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.796054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
HLA-G is a non-classical HLA class I molecule with immunomodulatory properties. It was initially described at the maternal-fetal interface, and it was later found that this molecule was constitutively expressed on certain immuneprivileged tissues, such as cornea, endothelial and erythroid precursors, and thymus. The immunosuppressive effect of HLA-G is exerted through the interaction with its cognate receptors, expressed on immunocompetent cells, like ILT2, expressed on NK, B, T cells and APCs; ILT4, on APCs; KIR, found on the surface of NK cells; and finally, the co-receptor CD8. Because of these immunomodulatory functions, HLA-G has been involved in several processes, amongst which organ transplantation, viral infections, cancer progression, and autoimmunity. HLA-G neo-expression on tumors has been recently described in several types of malignancies. In fact, tumor progression is tightly linked to the presence of the molecule, as it exerts its tolerogenic function, inhibiting the cells of the immune system and favoring tumor escape. Several polymorphisms in the 3’UTR region condition changes in HLA-G expression (14bp and +3142C/G, among others), which have been associated with both the development and outcome of patients with different tumor types. Also, in recent years, several studies have shown that HLA-G plays an important role in the control of autoimmune diseases. The ability of HLA-G to limit the progression of these diseases has been confirmed and, in fact, levels of the molecule and several of its polymorphisms have been associated with increased susceptibility to the development of autoimmune diseases, as well as increased disease severity. Thus, modulating HLA-G expression in target tissues of oncology patients or patients with autoimmune diseases may be potential therapeutic approaches to treat these pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Manuel Martín-Villa
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Christian Vaquero-Yuste
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Molina-Alejandre
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Juarez
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabio Suárez-Trujillo
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián López-Nares
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Palacio-Gruber
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Barrera-Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Fernández-Cruz
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Rodríguez-Sainz
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Arnaiz-Villena
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
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The HLA-G Immune Checkpoint Plays a Pivotal Role in the Regulation of Immune Response in Autoimmune Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413348. [PMID: 34948145 PMCID: PMC8706866 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The human G-leukocyte antigen (HLA-G) molecule is a non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule. The pertinence of HLA-G has been investigated in numerous studies which have sought to elucidate the relevance of HLA-G in pathologic conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, cancers, and hematologic malignancies. One of the main goals of the current research on HLA-G is to use this molecule in clinical practice, either in diagnostics or as a therapeutic target. Since HLA-G antigens are currently considered as immunomodulatory molecules that are involved in reducing inflammatory and immune responses, in this review, we decided to focus on this group of antigens as potential determinants of progression in autoimmune diseases. This article highlights what we consider as recent pivotal findings on the immunomodulatory function of HLA-G, not only to establish the role of HLA-G in the human body, but also to explain how these proteins mediate the immune response.
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Jan CI, Huang SW, Canoll P, Bruce JN, Lin YC, Pan CM, Lu HM, Chiu SC, Cho DY. Targeting human leukocyte antigen G with chimeric antigen receptors of natural killer cells convert immunosuppression to ablate solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-003050. [PMID: 34663641 PMCID: PMC8524382 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immunotherapy against solid tumors has long been hampered by the development of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and the lack of a specific tumor-associated antigen that could be targeted in different kinds of solid tumors. Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is an immune checkpoint protein (ICP) that is neoexpressed in most tumor cells as a way to evade immune attack and has been recently demonstrated as a useful target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy of leukemia by in vitro studies. Here, we design and test for targeting HLA-G in solid tumors using a CAR strategy. Methods We developed a novel CAR strategy using natural killer (NK) cell as effector cells, featuring enhanced cytolytic effect via DAP12-based intracellular signal amplification. A single-chain variable fragment (scFv) against HLA-G is designed as the targeting moiety, and the construct is tested both in vitro and in vivo on four different solid tumor models. We also evaluated the synergy of this anti-HLA-G CAR-NK strategy with low-dose chemotherapy as combination therapy. Results HLA-G CAR-transduced NK cells present effective cytolysis of breast, brain, pancreatic, and ovarian cancer cells in vitro, as well as reduced xenograft tumor growth with extended median survival in orthotopic mouse models. In tumor coculture assays, the anti-HLA-G scFv moiety promotes Syk/Zap70 activation of NK cells, suggesting reversal of the HLA-G-mediated immunosuppression and hence restoration of native NK cytolytic functions. Tumor expression of HLA-G can be further induced using low-dose chemotherapy, which when combined with anti-HLA-G CAR-NK results in extensive tumor ablation both in vitro and in vivo. This upregulation of tumor HLA-G involves inhibition of DNMT1 and demethylation of transporter associated with antigen processing 1 promoter. Conclusions Our novel CAR-NK strategy exploits the dual nature of HLA-G as both a tumor-associated neoantigen and an ICP to counteract tumor spread. Further ablation of tumors can be boosted when combined with administration of chemotherapeutic agents in clinical use. The readiness of this novel strategy envisions a wide applicability in treating solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Ing Jan
- Department of Pathology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Translational Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shi-Wei Huang
- Translational Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Institute of New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Peter Canoll
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey N Bruce
- Department of Neurosurgery, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yu-Chuan Lin
- Translational Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ming Pan
- Translational Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Man Lu
- Department of Psychology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Chih Chiu
- Translational Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan .,Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Der-Yang Cho
- Translational Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan .,Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Neurosurgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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8
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Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Treat Graft Versus Host Disease: the Role of HLA-G and the Impact of its Polymorphisms. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 16:459-471. [PMID: 32088839 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-09960-1] [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: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is widely performed for the treatment of hematologic diseases and is increasingly being used for the experimental treatment of various autoimmune diseases. Despite the rapid evolution of this therapy, the mortality rate of patients undergoing this procedure is still high, mainly due to the development of graft versus host disease (GvHD). Even with the administration of immunosuppressive therapy, some patients manifest the chronic form of the disease. For these cases, infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was proposed as a therapeutic strategy, considering the immunosuppressive potential of these cells. This review describes the main results obtained in cell therapy with MSCs for the treatment of GvHD. Despite the encouraging results found, some points differed among the studies. Although the factors that influence the different results are uncertain, some investigators have suggested that variations in immunosuppressive molecules are responsible for these divergences. We highlight the key role of the HLA-G gene in modulating the immune response, and the importance of the polymorphisms and alleles of this gene associated with the outcome of the transplants. We suggest that the HLA-G gene and its polymorphisms be analyzed as a factor in selecting the MSCs to be used in treating GvHD, given its strong immunosuppressive role.
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9
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Ishikawa M, Brooks AJ, Fernández-Rojo MA, Medina J, Chhabra Y, Minami S, Tunny KA, Parton RG, Vivian JP, Rossjohn J, Chikani V, Ramm GA, Ho KKY, Waters MJ. Growth Hormone Stops Excessive Inflammation After Partial Hepatectomy, Allowing Liver Regeneration and Survival Through Induction of H2-Bl/HLA-G. Hepatology 2021; 73:759-775. [PMID: 32342533 PMCID: PMC7894545 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Growth hormone (GH) is important for liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PHx). We investigated this process in C57BL/6 mice that express different forms of the GH receptor (GHR) with deletions in key signaling domains. APPROACH AND RESULTS PHx was performed on C57BL/6 mice lacking GHR (Ghr-/- ), disabled for all GH-dependent Janus kinase 2 signaling (Box1-/- ), or lacking only GH-dependent signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) signaling (Ghr391-/- ), and wild-type littermates. C57BL/6 Ghr-/- mice showed striking mortality within 48 hours after PHx, whereas Box1-/- or Ghr391-/- mice survived with normal liver regeneration. Ghr-/- mortality was associated with increased apoptosis and elevated natural killer/natural killer T cell and macrophage cell markers. We identified H2-Bl, a key immunotolerance protein, which is up-regulated by PHx through a GH-mediated, Janus kinase 2-independent, SRC family kinase-dependent pathway. GH treatment was confirmed to up-regulate expression of the human homolog of H2-Bl (human leukocyte antigen G [HLA-G]) in primary human hepatocytes and in the serum of GH-deficient patients. We find that injury-associated innate immune attack by natural killer/natural killer T cell and macrophage cells are instrumental in the failure of liver regeneration, and this can be overcome in Ghr-/- mice by adenoviral delivery of H2-Bl or by infusion of HLA-G protein. Further, H2-Bl knockdown in wild-type C57BL/6 mice showed elevated markers of inflammation after PHx, whereas Ghr-/- backcrossed on a strain with high endogenous H2-Bl expression showed a high rate of survival following PHx. CONCLUSIONS GH induction of H2-Bl expression is crucial for reducing innate immune-mediated apoptosis and promoting survival after PHx in C57BL/6 mice. Treatment with HLA-G may lead to improved clinical outcomes following liver surgery or transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Ishikawa
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLDAustralia.,Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and ArteriosclerosisNippon Medical School Musashikosugi HospitalKawasakiJapan
| | - Andrew J Brooks
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLDAustralia.,The University of Queensland Diamantina InstituteThe University of QueenslandWoolloongabbaQLDAustralia
| | - Manuel A Fernández-Rojo
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLDAustralia.,The University of Queensland Diamantina InstituteThe University of QueenslandWoolloongabbaQLDAustralia.,Hepatic Fibrosis GroupQIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbaneQLDAustralia.,School of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia.,Hepatic Regenerative Medicine LaboratoryMadrid Institute for Advanced Studies in FoodCEI UAM+CSICMadridSpain
| | - Johan Medina
- The University of Queensland Diamantina InstituteThe University of QueenslandWoolloongabbaQLDAustralia
| | - Yash Chhabra
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLDAustralia.,The University of Queensland Diamantina InstituteThe University of QueenslandWoolloongabbaQLDAustralia
| | - Shiro Minami
- Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and ArteriosclerosisNippon Medical School Musashikosugi HospitalKawasakiJapan
| | - Kathryn A Tunny
- The University of Queensland Diamantina InstituteThe University of QueenslandWoolloongabbaQLDAustralia
| | - Robert G Parton
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLDAustralia.,Centre for Microscopy and MicroanalysisThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Julian P Vivian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology School of Biomedical SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular ImagingMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology School of Biomedical SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular ImagingMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia.,Institute of Infection and ImmunityCardiff University School of MedicineHeath ParkCardiffUnited Kingdom
| | - Viral Chikani
- Princess Alexandra Hospital and Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Grant A Ramm
- Hepatic Fibrosis GroupQIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbaneQLDAustralia.,School of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Ken K Y Ho
- Princess Alexandra Hospital and Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Michael J Waters
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLDAustralia
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10
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Xu D, Zhu Y, Li L, Xu Y, Yan W, Dai M, Gan L. Evaluation of Maternal Serum sHLA-G Levels for Trisomy 18 Fetuses Screening at Second Trimester. Front Genet 2021; 11:497264. [PMID: 33574829 PMCID: PMC7870785 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.497264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) has been widely acknowledged to play critical roles in fetal-maternal maintenance. However, the significance of using maternal serum sHLA-G to detect prenatal chromosomal abnormality has not been investigated. In China, prenatal screening using maternal α-fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated estriol (uE3), and free β subunit human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) in the second trimester has been widely applied. In this study, we evaluated the use of sHLA-G as a screening marker, compared with traditional second trimester prenatal screening. Serum samples from 1,019 singleton women in their second trimester were assessed. Among them, 139 infants were confirmed with trisomy 21 (T21) by karyotyping, 83 were confirmed with trisomy 18 (T18), and the remaining 797 infants had no abnormalities. The sHLA-G levels in maternal sera were significantly lower in pregnant women with T18 fetuses (median: 47.8 U/ml, range: 9.8-234.2 U/ml) and significantly higher in those with T21 fetuses (median: 125.7 U/ml, range: 28.7-831.7 U/ml), compared with the normal controls (median: 106.3 U/ml, range: 50.5-1136.4 U/ml) (p < 0.001). The risk values of the screening of T21 or T18 fetuses were assessed using mean and standard deviation log10 analyte multiples of median (MoM) which showed that the predictive values of sHLA-G were the same as free β-hCG, and superior to AFP and uE3 for T18 screening. Logistic regression analysis revealed that sHLA-G MoM was the highest risk factor associated with pregnant women carrying T18 fetuses [Exp(B): 171.26, 95% CI: 36.30-807.97, p < 0.001]. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that the area under ROC curve for sHLA-G MoM was 0.915 (95% CI, 0.871-0.959, p < 0.001), for AFP MoM was 0.796 (95% CI, 0.730-0.861, p < 0.001), for free β-hCG MoM was 0.881 (95% CI, 0.829-0.934, p < 0.001), and for uE3 MoM was 0.876 (95% CI, 0.828-0.923, p < 0.001) in the T18 group. sHLA-G MoM demonstrated the best sensitivity and negative predictive value. For the first time, our findings reveal that sHLA-G is a better second trimester screening marker for the detection of T18 fetuses and the combined application of sHLA-G with AFP, free β-hCG, and uE3 could improve clinical screening for T18 fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danping Xu
- Reproductive Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wezhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yiyang Zhu
- Reproductive Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wezhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Lanfang Li
- Reproductive Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wezhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yingping Xu
- Reproductive Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wezhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Weihua Yan
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wezhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Meizhen Dai
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wezhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Linghong Gan
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wezhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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11
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Fu J, Mao J, Wang C. The microRNA-152/human leukocyte antigen-G axis affects proliferation and immune escape of non-small cell lung cancer cells. J Int Med Res 2020; 48:300060520970758. [PMID: 33249973 PMCID: PMC7708723 DOI: 10.1177/0300060520970758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA-G) on proliferation, invasion, and immune escape in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods The relationship between HLA-G and overall survival (OS) of NSCLC patients was analyzed using the KMPlot database. The expression of micro (mi)R-152 or HLA-G was modulated by transfecting synthetic oligonucleotides, and the impact of the miR-152/HLA-G axis on proliferation, invasion, colony formation in soft agar, and tolerance to natural killer (NK) cell cytolysis was measured. Results Bioinformatics analysis showed that high HLA-G expression was correlated with poor OS in NSCLC patients. The tolerance of NSCLC cells to NK cytotoxicity was negatively correlated with HLA-G and positively correlated with miR-152 expression. Over-expressing miR-152 inhibited HLA-G expression in A549 cells and attenuated cell proliferation, migration, colony formation ability, and tolerance to NK cells. However, blocking HLA-G expression by small interfering RNA did not affect migration or colony formation, but only proliferation and tolerance to NK cells in vitro and in vivo. Blocking Ig-like transcript 2 on the surface of NK cells increased their killing effect in the presence of high HLA-G expression. Conclusions miR-152/HLA-G axis plays an oncogenic role in NSCLC by affecting cell proliferation and immune escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Fu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jun Mao
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Chun Wang
- Department of Oncology, the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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12
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Zhang X, Lin A, Han QY, Zhang JG, Chen QY, Ye YH, Zhou WJ, Xu HH, Gan J, Yan WH. Intratumor Heterogeneity of HLA-G Expression in Cancer Lesions. Front Immunol 2020; 11:565759. [PMID: 33329527 PMCID: PMC7717930 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.565759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Signaling pathway between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G and immune inhibitory receptors immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT)-2/4 has been acknowledged as one of immune checkpoints, and as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. Like other immune checkpoints, inter- and even intratumor heterogeneity of HLA-G could render a rather complexity for HLA-G-target immunotherapy. However, little information for intratumor heterogeneity of HLA-G is available. In this study, HLA-G expression in a serial section of colorectal cancer (CRC) lesions from three CRC patients (each sample with serial section of 50 slides, 10 randomized slides for each antibody), three different locations within a same sample (five CRC), and three case-matched blocks that each includes 36 esophageal cancer samples, were evaluated with immunohistochemistry using anti-HLA-G antibodies (mAbs 4H84, MEM-G/1 and MEM-G/2 probing for all denatured HLA-G isoforms, 5A6G7, and 2A12 probing for denatured HLA-G5 and HLA-G6 isoforms). Our results revealed that, in addition to the frequently observed inter-tumor heterogeneity, intratumor heterogeneous expression of HLA-G is common in different areas within a tumor in CRC and esophageal cancer samples included in this study. Moreover, percentage of HLA-G expression probed with different anti-HLA-G antibodies also varies dramatically within a tumor. Given HLA-G has been considered as an important immune checkpoint, intratumor heterogeneity of HLA-G expression, and different specificity of anti-HLA-G antibodies being used among studies, interpretation and clinical significance of HLA-G expression in cancers should be with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Zhang
- Biological Resource Center, TaiZhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), LinHai, China
| | - Aifen Lin
- Biological Resource Center, TaiZhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), LinHai, China
| | - Qiu-Yue Han
- Biological Resource Center, TaiZhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), LinHai, China
| | - Jian-Gang Zhang
- Biological Resource Center, TaiZhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), LinHai, China
| | - Qiong-Yuan Chen
- Biological Resource Center, TaiZhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), LinHai, China
| | - Yao-Han Ye
- Biological Resource Center, TaiZhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), LinHai, China
| | - Wen-Jun Zhou
- Biological Resource Center, TaiZhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), LinHai, China
| | - Hui-Hui Xu
- Medical Research Center, TaiZhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), LinHai, China
| | - Jun Gan
- Medical Research Center, TaiZhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), LinHai, China
| | - Wei-Hua Yan
- Medical Research Center, TaiZhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), LinHai, China
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13
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Lin A, Yan W. Intercellular transfer of HLA-G: its potential in cancer immunology. Clin Transl Immunology 2019; 8:e1077. [PMID: 31489189 PMCID: PMC6716982 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intercellular protein transfer between cancer cells and immune cells is a very common phenomenon that can affect different stages of host antitumor immune responses. HLA-G, a non-classical HLA class I antigen, has been observed to be widely expressed in various malignancies, and its immune-suppressive functions have been well recognised. HLA-G expression in cancer cells can directly mediate immune tolerance by interacting with inhibitory receptors such as ILT2 and ILT4 expressed on immune cells. Moreover, a network of multiple directional intercellular transfers of HLA-G among cancer cells and immune cells through trogocytosis, exosomes and tunnelling nanotubes provides malignant cells with an alternative ploy for antigen sharing and induces more complex heterogeneity, to modulate immune responses, ultimately leading to immune evasion, therapy resistance, disease progression and poor clinical outcome. Herein, we discuss the relative aspects of the intercellular transfer of HLA-G between tumor cells and immune cells and its potential use in tumor immunology research and translational cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aifen Lin
- Biological Resource CenterTaizhou Hospital of Zhejiang ProvinceWenzhou Medical UniversityLinhaiZhejiangChina
| | - Wei‐Hua Yan
- Medical Research CenterTaizhou Hospital of Zhejiang ProvinceWenzhou Medical UniversityLinhaiZhejiangChina
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14
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Würfel FM, Winterhalter C, Trenkwalder P, Wirtz RM, Würfel W. European Patent in Immunoncology: From Immunological Principles of Implantation to Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20081830. [PMID: 31013867 PMCID: PMC6514949 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20081830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The granted European patent EP 2 561 890 describes a procedure for an immunological treatment of cancer. It is based on the principles of the HLA-supported communication of implantation and pregnancy. These principles ensure that the embryo is not rejected by the mother. In pregnancy, the placenta, more specifically the trophoblast, creates an “interface” between the embryo/fetus and the maternal immune system. Trophoblasts do not express the “original” HLA identification of the embryo/fetus (HLA-A to -DQ), but instead show the non-classical HLA groups E, F, and G. During interaction with specific receptors of NK cells (e.g., killer-immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR)) and lymphocytes (lymphocyte-immunoglobulin-like receptors (LIL-R)), the non-classical HLA groups inhibit these immunocompetent cells outside pregnancy. However, tumors are known to be able to express these non-classical HLA groups and thus make use of an immuno-communication as in pregnancies. If this occurs, the prognosis usually worsens. This patent describes, in a first step, the profiling of the non-classical HLA groups in primary tumor tissue as well as metastases and recurrent tumors. The second step comprises tailored antibody therapies, which is the subject of this patent. In this review, we analyze the underlying mechanisms and describe the currently known differences between HLA-supported communication of implantation and that of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska M Würfel
- STRATIFYER Molecular Pathology GmbH, D-50935 Cologne, Werthmannstrasse 1c, 50935 Cologne, Germany.
| | | | | | - Ralph M Wirtz
- STRATIFYER Molecular Pathology GmbH, D-50935 Cologne, Werthmannstrasse 1c, 50935 Cologne, Germany.
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15
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Natural Killer Cells as Key Players of Tumor Progression and Angiogenesis: Old and Novel Tools to Divert Their Pro-Tumor Activities into Potent Anti-Tumor Effects. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11040461. [PMID: 30939820 PMCID: PMC6521276 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11040461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune cells, as a consequence of their plasticity, can acquire altered phenotype/functions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Some of these aberrant functions include attenuation of targeting and killing of tumor cells, tolerogenic/immunosuppressive behavior and acquisition of pro-angiogenic activities. Natural killer (NK) cells are effector lymphocytes involved in tumor immunosurveillance. In solid malignancies, tumor-associated NK cells (TANK cells) in peripheral blood and tumor-infiltrating NK (TINK) cells show altered phenotypes and are characterized by either anergy or reduced cytotoxicity. Here, we aim at discussing how NK cells can support tumor progression and how induction of angiogenesis, due to TME stimuli, can be a relevant part on the NK cell-associated tumor supporting activities. We will review and discuss the contribution of the TME in shaping NK cell response favoring cancer progression. We will focus on TME-derived set of factors such as TGF-β, soluble HLA-G, prostaglandin E2, adenosine, extracellular vesicles, and miRNAs, which can exhibit a dual function. On one hand, these factors can suppress NK cell-mediated activities but, on the other hand, they can induce a pro-angiogenic polarization in NK cells. Also, we will analyze the impact on cancer progression of the interaction of NK cells with several TME-associated cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, mast cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Then, we will discuss the most relevant therapeutic approaches aimed at potentiating/restoring NK cell activities against tumors. Finally, supported by the literature revision and our new findings on NK cell pro-angiogenic activities, we uphold NK cells to a key host cellular paradigm in controlling tumor progression and angiogenesis; thus, we should bear in mind NK cells like a TME-associated target for anti-tumor therapeutic approaches.
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16
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Manzo G. Similarities Between Embryo Development and Cancer Process Suggest New Strategies for Research and Therapy of Tumors: A New Point of View. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:20. [PMID: 30899759 PMCID: PMC6416183 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, I propose that cancer stem cells (CSCs) would be equivalent to para-embryonic stem cells (p-ESCs), derived from adult cells de-re-programmed to a ground state. p-ESCs would differ from ESCs by the absence of genomic homeostasis. A p-ESC would constitute the cancer cell of origin (i-CSC or CSC0), capable of generating an initial tumor, corresponding to a pre-implantation blastocyst. In a niche with proper signals, it would engraft as a primary tumor, corresponding to a post-implantation blastocyst. i-CSC progeny would form primary pluripotent and slow self-renewing CSCs (CSC1s), blocked in an undifferentiated state, corresponding to epiblast cells; CSC1s would be tumor-initiating cells (TICs). CSC1s would generate secondary CSCs (CSC2s), corresponding to hypoblast cells; CSC2s would be tumor growth cells (TGCs). CSC1s/CSC2s would generate tertiary CSCs (CSC3s), with a mesenchymal phenotype; CSC3s would be tumor migrating cells (TMCs), corresponding to mesodermal precursors at primitive streak. CSC3s with more favorable conditions (normoxia), by asymmetrical division, would differentiate into cancer progenitor cells (CPCs), and these into cancer differentiated cells (CDCs), thus generating a defined cell hierarchy and tumor progression, mimicking somito-histo-organogenesis. CSC3s with less favorable conditions (hypoxia) would delaminate and migrate as quiescent circulating micro-metastases, mimicking mesenchymal cells in gastrula morphogenetic movements. In metastatic niches, these CSC3s would install and remain dormant in the presence of epithelial/mesenchymal transition (EMT) signals and hypoxia. But, in the presence of mesenchymal/epithelial transition (MET) signals and normoxia, they would revert to self-renewing CSC1s, reproducing the same cell hierarchy of the primary tumor as macro-metastases. Further similarities between ontogenesis and oncogenesis involving crucial factors, such as ID, HSP70, HLA-G, CD44, LIF, and STAT3, are strongly evident at molecular, physiological and immunological levels. Much experimental data about these factors led to considering the cancer process as ectopic rudimentary ontogenesis, where CSCs have privileged immunological conditions. These would consent to CSC development in an adverse environment, just like an embryo, which is tolerated, accepted and favored by the maternal organism in spite of its paternal semi-allogeneicity. From all these considerations, novel research directions, potential innovative tumor therapy and prophylaxis strategies might, theoretically, result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Manzo
- General Pathology, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Retired, Botrugno, Italy
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17
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Lin A, Yan WH. Heterogeneity of HLA-G Expression in Cancers: Facing the Challenges. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2164. [PMID: 30319626 PMCID: PMC6170620 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic heterogeneity has been observed in most malignancies, which represents a considerable challenge for tumor therapy. In recent decades, the biological function and clinical significance of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G have been intensively explored. It is now widely accepted that HLA-G is a critical marker of immunotolerance in cancer cell immune evasion and is strongly associated with disease progress and prognosis for cancer patients. Moreover, it has recently been emphasized that the signaling pathway linking HLA-G and immunoglobulin-like transcripts (ILTs) is considered an immune checkpoint. In addition, HLA-G itself can generate at least seven distinct isoforms, and intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity of HLA-G expression is common across different tumor types. Furthermore, HLA-G heterogeneity in cancers has been related to disease stage and outcomes, metastatic status and response to different therapies. This review focuses on the heterogeneity of HLA-G expression in malignant lesions, and clinical implications of this heterogeneity that might be relevant to personalized treatments are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aifen Lin
- Biological Resource Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Wei-Hua Yan
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
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18
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Lin A, Zhang X, Zhang RL, Zhang JG, Zhou WJ, Yan WH. Clinical Significance of Potential Unidentified HLA-G Isoforms Without α1 Domain but Containing Intron 4 in Colorectal Cancer Patients. Front Oncol 2018; 8:361. [PMID: 30234020 PMCID: PMC6131604 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ectopic HLA-G expression in malignancies has been extensively explored and clinical significance of the molecule was widely acknowledged. Besides previously well-documented seven isoforms (HLA-G1~-G7), other novel isoforms of HLA-G have been reported but their clinical relavenace remians evaluated. In this study, lesion HLA-G expression in 379 case-matched serial section primary colorectal cancers (CRC) were evaluated with mAb 4H84 (recognizing an epitope in HLA-G α1 domain), and mAb 5A6G7 (recognizing an epitope encoded by intron 4), respectively. Data showed that HLA-G positive staining with mAbs 4H84 and 5A6G7 was 70.7 and 60.4%, respectively. When percentage of HLA-G expression detected with mAb 4H84 subtracted that with mAb 5A6G7, the difference (ΔHLA-G) with negative (ΔHLA-Gneg), comparable (ΔHLA-Gcom) and positive (ΔHLA-Gpos) were observed in 64 (16.9%), 159 (42.0%), and 156 (41.2%) cases, respectively. Noteworthy, unexpected immunostaining was observed in 44 (11.6%) lesions that no staining was detected with mAb 4H84 but positive with mAb 5A6G7 (4H84neg5A6G7pos). This staining pattern was unpredictable because all seven known HLA-G isoforms containing the α 1 domain could be recognized by the mAb 4H84. Moreover, patients with ΔHLA-Gneg had obviously better survival than those with ΔHLA-Gcom and ΔHLA-Gpos (p = 0.017), and ΔHLA-G could be an independent prognostic factor for CRC patients (p = 0.008). Our findings provides the first report that potential unidentified HLA-G isoforms is of distinct clinical significance in CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aifen Lin
- Biological Resource Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Biological Resource Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Rui-Li Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Jian-Gang Zhang
- Biological Resource Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Wen-Jun Zhou
- Biological Resource Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Wei-Hua Yan
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
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19
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Sharif K, Sharif Y, Watad A, Yavne Y, Lichtbroun B, Bragazzi NL, Amital H, Shoenfeld Y. Vitamin D, autoimmunity and recurrent pregnancy loss: More than an association. Am J Reprod Immunol 2018; 80:e12991. [PMID: 29923244 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) affects close to 1% of couples; however, the etiology is known in only about 50% of the cases. Recent studies show that autoimmune dysregulation is a probable cause of RPL, which in some cases may be overlooked. In order for a pregnancy to proceed to term, early modulation of immunologic response is required to induce tolerance to the semi-allogenic fetus. Certain subsets of both the innate and adaptive immune responses play a role in the induction of fetomaternal tolerance. A relatively predominant T-cell helper (Th) 2 and T regulatory (Treg) cell population seem to favor a better pregnancy outcome, whereas Th1 and Th17 cell populations appear to have an opposite effect. Lately, the role of vitamin D in the modulation of immune response was established. Vitamin D has been shown to promote a more favorable environment for pregnancy through various mechanisms, such as enhancement of the shift toward Th2 cells and regulation of immune cell differentiation and cytokine secretion. Therefore, it seems that vitamin D deficiency sways the balance toward a worse outcome and may play a part in recurrent pregnancy loss. This review sheds light on the immunologic changes, which occur in early pregnancy and the regulatory role vitamin D has in the maintenance of this delicate balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kassem Sharif
- Department of Medicine 'B', Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Zabludowicz center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Yousra Sharif
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Abdulla Watad
- Department of Medicine 'B', Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Zabludowicz center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Yarden Yavne
- Department of Medicine 'B', Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Zabludowicz center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Benjamin Lichtbroun
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Howard Amital
- Department of Medicine 'B', Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Zabludowicz center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Yehuda Shoenfeld
- Zabludowicz center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
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20
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Predictive value of different proportion of lesion HLA-G expression in colorectal cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8:107441-107451. [PMID: 29296176 PMCID: PMC5746078 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Differential expression of HLA-G has been observed among cancer types and tumors from individuals with the same type of cancer; however, its clinical significance is rather limited. In this study, expression and predictive relevance of HLA-G expression in 457 primary colorectal cancer (CRC, ncolon = 232, nrectal = 225) patients was investigated. Data showed 70.7% (323/457) of the CRC were HLA-G expression when the above 5% (HLA-GLow) was considered as positive, which wasn't associated with patient survival (p = 0.109). However, HLA-G expression above 55% (HLA-GHigh) was associated with a worse prognosis of CRC patients (p = 0.042). Furthermore, a shorter survival was found for the female (p = 0.042) and elder (p = 0.037) patients whose HLA-G expression was above HLA-GLow level. HLA-G expression above HLA-GHigh level showed a worse prognosis for female (p = 0.013), elder (p = 0.023), colon cancer (p = 0.016), advanced tumor burden (T3+4, p = 0.018), regional lymph node status (N1+2, p = 0.044), and advanced clinical stage patients (AJCC III+IV, p = 0.037). In conclusion, our results demonstrated for the first time that combination of differential lesion HLA-G expression notably improved the value of traditional survival prediction for CRC patients.
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Rescuing lymphocytes from HLA-G immunosuppressive effects mediated by the tumor microenvironment. Oncotarget 2016; 6:37385-97. [PMID: 26460949 PMCID: PMC4741936 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated that the antitumor activities of both T and natural killer (NK) effector populations are limited by the immunosuppressive strategies of tumors. In several malignant transformations, the expression of HLA-G by tumor cells rises dramatically, rendering them strongly immunosuppressive. In this study, we postulated that the absence of HLA-G receptors would prevent the immunosuppressive effects of both soluble and membrane-bound HLA-G. Thus, we investigated the therapeutic potential of effector NK cells genetically modified to downregulate the expression of ILT2 (HLA-G receptor) on their cell surfaces. We have shown that the proliferation of modified NK is still dependent on stimulation signals (no malignant transformation). ILT2− NK cells proliferate, migrate, and eliminate HLA-G negative targets cells to the same extent parental NK cells do. However, in the presence of HLA-G positive tumors, ILT2− NK cells exhibit superior proliferation, conjugate formation, degranulation, and killing activities compared to parent NK cells. We tested the effectiveness of ILT2− NK cells in vivo using a xenograft cancer model and found that silencing ILT2 rescued their anti-tumor activity. We believe that combining ILT2− NK cells with existing therapeutic strategies will strengthen the antitumor response in cancer patients.
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Ishibashi K, Kumai T, Ohkuri T, Kosaka A, Nagato T, Hirata Y, Ohara K, Oikawa K, Aoki N, Akiyama N, Sado M, Kitada M, Harabuchi Y, Celis E, Kobayashi H. Epigenetic modification augments the immunogenicity of human leukocyte antigen G serving as a tumor antigen for T cell-based immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2016; 5:e1169356. [PMID: 27471649 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1169356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor immune escape has been a major problem for developing effective immunotherapy. The human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is a non-classical MHC class I molecule whose primary function is to protect the fetus from the mother's immune system. While HLA-G is hardly found in normal adult tissues, various tumor cells are known to express it, aiding their escape from the immune system. Thus, HLA-G is an attractive immunotherapy target. CD4(+) helper T lymphocytes (HTLs) play an important role in the immune reaction against tumors by assisting in the generation and persistence of CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) or by displaying direct antitumor effects. We report here that HLA-G expression in breast cancer significantly correlates with a poor prognosis. Also, we describe that the MHC class II-binding peptide HLA-G26-40 was effective in eliciting tumor-reactive CD4(+) T cell responses. Furthermore, treatment with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine increased HLA-G expression in tumors and subsequently enhanced recognition by HLA-G26-40-specific HTLs. These findings predict that a combination immunotherapy targeting HLA-G together with a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor could be useful against some cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Ishibashi
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan; Respiratory and Breast Center, Asahikawa Medical University Hospital, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Takumi Kumai
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan; Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan; Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Augusta University Cancer Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Takayuki Ohkuri
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University , Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Akemi Kosaka
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University , Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Nagato
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University , Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Yui Hirata
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan; Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Kenzo Ohara
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan; Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Kensuke Oikawa
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University , Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Naoko Aoki
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University , Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Naoko Akiyama
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University Hospital , Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Sado
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University Hospital , Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kitada
- Respiratory and Breast Center, Asahikawa Medical University Hospital , Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Harabuchi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University , Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Esteban Celis
- Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Augusta University Cancer Center , Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Hiroya Kobayashi
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University , Asahikawa, Japan
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Abstract
HLA-G is a nonclassical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecule which plays important tolerogenic functions in various physiological and pathological situations such as fetus and transplant acceptance, and immune escaping of virus-infected and malignant cells. Here we describe a method, which allows for studying cell surface expression of HLA-G using specific antibodies with flow cytometry analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aifen Lin
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, 317000, China
| | - Wei-Hua Yan
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, 317000, China.
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24
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Zhang X, Han QY, Li JB, Ruan YY, Yan WH, Lin A. Lesion HLA-G5/-G6 isoforms expression in patients with ovarian cancer. Hum Immunol 2015; 77:780-4. [PMID: 26687271 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 12/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
HLA-G is an immune tolerant with seven isoforms. HLA-G expression was observed to be associated with tumor cell immune escaping, invasion and metastasis, and with poor prognosis in cancer patients. Different types of HLA-G isoforms could be expressed in clinical settings when meet different cellular and environmental conditions. Lesion total HLA-G expression detected by the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 4H84 was widely investigated in previous studies, while specific HLA-G isoforms such as HLA-G5/-G6 remains to be clarified. In this study, 118 primary ovarian cancer lesions were probed with mAb 5A6G7 which recognizes HLA-G5/-G6 was performed by immunohistochemistry. Data showed that HLA-G5/-G6 was expressed in 79.7% (94/118) of these ovarian cancer lesions, where HLA-G5/-G6 expression was observed in 75.7% (53/70) serous, 63.6% (7/11) mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and in 100% (11/11) endometrioid adenocarcinoma, in 85.7% (6/7) clear cell carcinoma, 100% (10/10) sex cord-stromal tumor and 77.8% (7/9) germ cell tumors. However, lesion HLA-G5/-G6 expression was unrelated to histological type, patient age, FIGO stage and patient survival. Unlike total HLA-G expression, no clinical significance of HLA-G5/-G6 expression in ovarian cancer lesion was observed in this study. Our findings indicated that different HLA-G isoforms might have different biological functions in malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Zhang
- Human Tissue Bank, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiu-Yue Han
- Human Tissue Bank, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing-Bo Li
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan-Yun Ruan
- Human Tissue Bank, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei-Hua Yan
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, China
| | - Aifen Lin
- Human Tissue Bank, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, China.
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25
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Lin A, Yan WH. Human Leukocyte Antigen-G (HLA-G) Expression in Cancers: Roles in Immune Evasion, Metastasis and Target for Therapy. Mol Med 2015; 21:782-791. [PMID: 26322846 PMCID: PMC4749493 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2015.00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant induction of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) expression has been observed in various malignancies and is strongly associated with tumor immune escape, metastasis and poor prognosis. To date, great achievements have been made in understanding the underlying mechanisms of HLA-G involved in tumor progression. HLA-G could lead to tumor evasion by inhibition of immune cell cytolysis, differentiation and proliferation and inhibition of cytokine production, induction of immune cell apoptosis, generation of regulatory cells and expansion of myeloid-derived suppressive cells and by impairment of chemotaxis. Moreover, HLA-G could arm tumor cells with a higher invasive and metastatic potential with the upregulation of tumor-promoting factor expression such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), indicating that ectopic HLA-G expression could render multiple effects during the progression of malignancies. In this review, we summarized the mechanisms of HLA-G involved in promoting tumor cell immune escaping, metastasis and disease progression. Special attention will be paid to its significance as an attractive therapeutic target in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aifen Lin
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei-Hua Yan
- Medical Research Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
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26
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Djurisic S, Skibsted L, Hviid TVF. A Phenotypic Analysis of Regulatory T Cells and Uterine NK Cells from First Trimester Pregnancies and Associations with HLA-G. Am J Reprod Immunol 2015; 74:427-44. [DOI: 10.1111/aji.12421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Snezana Djurisic
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry; Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI); Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde); University of Copenhagen; Roskilde Denmark
| | - Lillian Skibsted
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde); Roskilde Denmark
| | - Thomas Vauvert F. Hviid
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry; Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI); Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde); University of Copenhagen; Roskilde Denmark
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27
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Djurisic S, Hviid TVF. HLA Class Ib Molecules and Immune Cells in Pregnancy and Preeclampsia. Front Immunol 2014; 5:652. [PMID: 25566263 PMCID: PMC4274990 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research, the highly prevalent pregnancy complication preeclampsia, “the disease of theories,” has remained an enigma. Indeed, the etiology of preeclampsia is largely unknown. A compiling amount of studies indicates that the pathological basis involves a complex array of genetic predisposition and immunological maladaptation, and that a contribution from the mother, the father, and the fetus is likely to be important. The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-G is an increasing focus of research in relation to preeclampsia. The HLA-G molecule is primarily expressed by the extravillous trophoblast cells lining the placenta together with the two other HLA class Ib molecules, HLA-E and HLA-F. Soluble isoforms of HLA-G have been detected in the early endometrium, the matured cumulus–oocyte complex, maternal blood of pregnant women, in umbilical cord blood, and lately, in seminal plasma. HLA-G is believed to be involved in modulating immune responses in the context of vascular remodeling during pregnancy as well as in dampening potential harmful immune attacks raised against the semi-allogeneic fetus. In addition, HLA-G genetic variants are associated with both membrane-bound and soluble forms of HLA-G, and, in some studies, with preeclampsia. In this review, a genetic contribution from the mother, the father, and the fetus, together with the presence and function of various immune cells of relevance in pregnancy are reviewed in relation to HLA-G and preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snezana Djurisic
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde), University of Copenhagen , Roskilde , Denmark
| | - Thomas Vauvert F Hviid
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde), University of Copenhagen , Roskilde , Denmark
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28
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Amodio G, Sales de Albuquerque R, Gregori S. New insights into HLA-G mediated tolerance. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 84:255-63. [PMID: 25132109 DOI: 10.1111/tan.12427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Human Leukocyte Antigen G (HLA-G) is a nonclassical HLA class I molecule with well-characterized immunomodulatory activities. HLA-G was first described as a regulatory molecule that allows the fetus to elude the maternal immune response. In the last decade it has become evident that HLA-G is involved in modulating both innate and adaptive immune responses, in maintaining tolerance in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and after transplantation, and in promoting immune escape in cancer and infectious diseases. HLA-G exerts its modulatory/regulatory functions directly by interacting with specific inhibitory receptors. The expression of HLA-G is finely tuned by genetic variations in the noncoding region of the locus. The recent discovery of dendritic cells-10 (DC-10) as naturally occurring HLA-G-expressing dendritic cells opens new perspectives in the identification of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying HLA-G-mediated tolerance. An overview on the HLA-G-mediated inhibition of innate and adaptive immune cells, on the genetic influence on HLA-G expression, and on HLA-G-expressing DC-10 is presented. Moreover, we discuss the central and critical role of DC-10 in the HLA-G-mediated tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Amodio
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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29
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Zhang WQ, Xu DP, Liu D, Li YY, Ruan YY, Lin A, Yan WH. HLA-G1 and HLA-G5 isoforms have an additive effect on NK cytolysis. Hum Immunol 2014; 75:182-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2013.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Revised: 11/06/2013] [Accepted: 11/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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