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Wang D, Dou L, Sui L, Xue Y, Xu S. Natural killer cells in cancer immunotherapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e626. [PMID: 38882209 PMCID: PMC11179524 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, as innate lymphocytes, possess cytotoxic capabilities and engage target cells through a repertoire of activating and inhibitory receptors. Particularly, natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) receptor on NK cells recognizes stress-induced ligands-the MHC class I chain-related molecules A and B (MICA/B) presented on tumor cells and is key to trigger the cytolytic response of NK cells. However, tumors have developed sophisticated strategies to evade NK cell surveillance, which lead to failure of tumor immunotherapy. In this paper, we summarized these immune escaping strategies, including the downregulation of ligands for activating receptors, upregulation of ligands for inhibitory receptors, secretion of immunosuppressive compounds, and the development of apoptosis resistance. Then, we focus on recent advancements in NK cell immune therapies, which include engaging activating NK cell receptors, upregulating NKG2D ligand MICA/B expression, blocking inhibitory NK cell receptors, adoptive NK cell therapy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered NK cells (CAR-NK), and NKG2D CAR-T cells, especially several vaccines targeting MICA/B. This review will inspire the research in NK cell biology in tumor and provide significant hope for improving cancer treatment outcomes by harnessing the potent cytotoxic activity of NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- DanRu Wang
- National Key Lab of Immunity and Inflammation and Institute of Immunology Naval Medical University Shanghai China
| | - LingYun Dou
- National Key Lab of Immunity and Inflammation and Institute of Immunology Naval Medical University Shanghai China
| | - LiHao Sui
- National Key Lab of Immunity and Inflammation and Institute of Immunology Naval Medical University Shanghai China
| | - Yiquan Xue
- National Key Lab of Immunity and Inflammation and Institute of Immunology Naval Medical University Shanghai China
| | - Sheng Xu
- National Key Lab of Immunity and Inflammation and Institute of Immunology Naval Medical University Shanghai China
- Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation Dongfang Hospital Shanghai China
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Zhang Y, Patel RP, Kim KH, Cho H, Jo JC, Jeong SH, Oh SY, Choi YS, Kim SH, Lee JH, Angelos M, Guruprasad P, Cohen I, Ugwuanyi O, Lee YG, Pajarillo R, Cho JH, Carturan A, Paruzzo L, Ghilardi G, Wang M, Kim S, Kim SM, Lee HJ, Park JH, Cui L, Lee TB, Hwang IS, Lee YH, Lee YJ, Porazzi P, Liu D, Lee Y, Kim JH, Lee JS, Yoon DH, Chung J, Ruella M. Safety and efficacy of a novel anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cell product targeting a membrane-proximal domain of CD19 with fast on- and off-rates against non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a first-in-human study. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:200. [PMID: 38066564 PMCID: PMC10709913 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01886-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Commercial anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CART19) are efficacious against advanced B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); however, most patients ultimately relapse. Several mechanisms contribute to this failure, including CD19-negative escape and CAR T dysfunction. All four commercial CART19 products utilize the FMC63 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) specific to a CD19 membrane-distal epitope and characterized by slow association (on) and dissociation (off) rates. We hypothesized that a novel anti-CD19 scFv that engages an alternative CD19 membrane-proximal epitope independent of FMC63 and that is characterized by faster on- and off-rates could mitigate CART19 failure and improve clinical efficacy. METHODS We developed an autologous CART19 product with 4-1BB co-stimulation using a novel humanized chicken antibody (h1218). This antibody is specific to a membrane-proximal CD19 epitope and harbors faster on/off rates compared to FMC63. We tested h1218-CART19 in vitro and in vivo using FMC63-CART19-resistant models. We conducted a first-in-human multi-center phase I clinical trial to test AT101 (clinical-grade h1218-CART19) in patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) NHL. RESULTS Preclinically, h1218- but not FMC63-CART19 were able to effectively eradicate lymphomas expressing CD19 point mutations (L174V and R163L) or co-expressing FMC63-CAR19 as found in patients relapsing after FMC63-CART19. Furthermore, h1218-CART19 exhibited enhanced killing of B-cell malignancies in vitro and in vivo compared with FMC63-CART19. Mechanistically, we found that h1218-CART19 had reduced activation-induced cell death (AICD) and enhanced expansion compared to FMC63-CART19 owing to faster on- and off-rates. Based on these preclinical results, we performed a phase I dose-escalation trial, testing three dose levels (DL) of AT101 (the GMP version of h1218) using a 3 + 3 design. In 12 treated patients (7 DLBCL, 3 FL, 1 MCL, and 1 MZL), AT101 showed a promising safety profile with 8.3% grade 3 CRS (n = 1) and 8.3% grade 4 ICANS (n = 1). In the whole cohort, the overall response rate was 91.7%, with a complete response rate of 75.0%, which improved to 100% in DL-2 and -3. AT101 expansion correlates with CR and B-cell aplasia. CONCLUSIONS We developed a novel, safe, and potent CART19 product that recognizes a membrane-proximal domain of CD19 with fast on- and off-rates and showed significant efficacy and promising safety in patients with relapsed B-cell NHL. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT05338931; Date: 2022-04-01.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlin Zhang
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ruchi P Patel
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ki Hyun Kim
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyungwoo Cho
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-Ro 43-Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae-Cheol Jo
- Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea
| | | | - Sung Yong Oh
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | | | - Sung Hyun Kim
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Ji Hyun Lee
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Mathew Angelos
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Puneeth Guruprasad
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ivan Cohen
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ositadimma Ugwuanyi
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yong Gu Lee
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea
| | - Raymone Pajarillo
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jong Hyun Cho
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Alberto Carturan
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Luca Paruzzo
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Guido Ghilardi
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael Wang
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Soohwan Kim
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung-Min Kim
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun-Jong Lee
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ji-Ho Park
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Leiguang Cui
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae Bum Lee
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - In-Sik Hwang
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young-Ha Lee
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong-Jun Lee
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Patrizia Porazzi
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Yoon Lee
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong-Hoon Kim
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong-Seo Lee
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AbClon Inc., #1401, Ace Twin Tower1, 285 Digital-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Dok Hyun Yoon
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-Ro 43-Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Junho Chung
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Suite 510, Samsung Cancer Research Building, 103 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Marco Ruella
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, SPE 8-112, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Lymphoma Program, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Mace EM. Human natural killer cells: Form, function, and development. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2023; 151:371-385. [PMID: 36195172 PMCID: PMC9905317 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Human natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells that mediate important effector functions in the control of viral infection and malignancy. Their ability to distinguish "self" from "nonself" and lyse virally infected and tumorigenic cells through germline-encoded receptors makes them important players in maintaining human health and a powerful tool for immunotherapeutic applications and fighting disease. This review introduces our current understanding of NK cell biology, including key facets of NK cell differentiation and the acquisition and execution of NK cell effector function. Further, it addresses the clinical relevance of NK cells in both primary immunodeficiency and immunotherapy. It is intended to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of this important and interesting innate immune effector cell subset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Mace
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York.
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Identification of Two CDK5R1-Related Subtypes and Characterization of Immune Infiltrates in Alzheimer's Disease Based on an Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:6766460. [PMID: 36561735 PMCID: PMC9767738 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6766460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the major cause of senile dementia. The Reelin pathway has been involved in both learning and AD pathogenesis. However, the specific Reelin-related gene signature during the pathological process remains unknown. Methods Reelin-related gene (CDK5R1) expression was analyzed using the GEO datasets. The relevant genes of CDK5R1 were identified using differential expression analysis and weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) based on the GSE43850 dataset. ConsensusClusterPlus analysis was applied to identify subtypes (C1 and C2) of AD. The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to assess the immune cell infiltration between the two AD subtypes. Results CDK5R1 was downregulated in AD. 244 differentially expressed CDK5R1-related genes (DECRGs) between the two subgroups were mainly enriched in GABAergic synapse, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, synapse organization, neurotransmitter transport, etc. Furthermore, the GSVA results indicated that immune-related pathways were significantly enriched in the C1 subgroup. Interestingly, 10 Reelin pathway-related genes (CRK, DAB2IP, LRP8, RELN, STAT5A, CDK5, CDK5R1, DAB1, FYN, and SH3KBP1) were abnormally expressed between the two subgroups. The proportion of T cell gamma delta, monocytes, macrophage M2, and dendritic cells activated decreased from C1 to C2, while the proportion of plasma cells, T cell follicular helper, and NK cells activated increased. Conclusion Two CDK5R1-related subtypes of AD were identified, helping us to better understand the role of CDK5R1 in the pathological process of AD.
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Cho JH, Tsao WC, Naghizadeh A, Liu D. Standardized protocol for the evaluation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified cell immunological synapse quality using the glass-supported planar lipid bilayer. Methods Cell Biol 2022; 173:155-171. [PMID: 36653082 PMCID: PMC10768727 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified cell therapy is an effective therapy that harnesses the power of the human immune system by re-engineering immune cells that specifically kill tumor cells with tumor antigen specificity. Key to the effective elimination of tumor cells is the establishment of the immunological synapse (IS) between CAR-modified immune cells and their susceptible tumors. For functional activity, CAR-modified cells must form an effective IS to kill tumor cells specifically. The formation of the CAR-specific IS requires the coordination of many cellular processes including reorganization of the cytoskeletal structure, polarization of lytic granules, accumulation of tumor antigen, and phosphorylation of key signaling molecules within the IS. Visualization and assessment of the CAR IS quality can reveal much about the molecular mechanisms that underlie the efficacy of various CAR-modified immune cells. This chapter provides a standardized method of assessing the IS quality by quantifying the tumor antigen (defining the CAR IS formation), cytoskeleton (key component of CAR IS structure), and various molecules of interest involved in the IS formation (key molecular mechanism signatures of CAR IS function) using immunofluorescence on the glass-supported planar lipid bilayer, with a focus on tumor antigen only in this study. We provide specific insights and helpful tips for reagent and sample preparation, assay design, and machine learning (ML)-based data analysis. The protocol described in this chapter will provide a valuable tool to visualize and assess the IS quality of various CAR-modified immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Hyun Cho
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States; Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Wei-Chung Tsao
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States; Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Alireza Naghizadeh
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States; Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States; Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States.
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Grewal RK, Das J. Spatially resolved in silico modeling of NKG2D signaling kinetics suggests a key role of NKG2D and Vav1 Co-clustering in generating natural killer cell activation. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010114. [PMID: 35584138 PMCID: PMC9154193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells provide key resistance against viral infections and tumors. A diverse set of activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors (NKRs) interact with cognate ligands presented by target host cells, where integration of dueling signals initiated by the ligand-NKR interactions determines NK cell activation or tolerance. Imaging experiments over decades have shown micron and sub-micron scale spatial clustering of activating and inhibitory NKRs. The mechanistic roles of these clusters in affecting downstream signaling and activation are often unclear. To this end, we developed a predictive in silico framework by combining spatially resolved mechanistic agent based modeling, published TIRF imaging data, and parameter estimation to determine mechanisms by which formation and spatial movements of activating NKG2D microclusters affect early time NKG2D signaling kinetics in a human cell line NKL. We show co-clustering of NKG2D and the guanosine nucleotide exchange factor Vav1 in NKG2D microclusters plays a dominant role over ligand (ULBP3) rebinding in increasing production of phospho-Vav1(pVav1), an activation marker of early NKG2D signaling. The in silico model successfully predicts several scenarios of inhibition of NKG2D signaling and time course of NKG2D spatial clustering over a short (~3 min) interval. Modeling shows the presence of a spatial positive feedback relating formation and centripetal movements of NKG2D microclusters, and pVav1 production offers flexibility towards suppression of activating signals by inhibitory KIR ligands organized in inhomogeneous spatial patterns (e.g., a ring). Our in silico framework marks a major improvement in developing spatiotemporal signaling models with quantitatively estimated model parameters using imaging data. Natural Killer cells are lymphocytes of our innate immunity and provide important resistance against viral infections and tumors. NK cells scan the local environment with diverse activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors (NKRs) and remain tolerized or lyse target cells expressing cognate ligands to NKRs. NKRs have been found to form micron sized clusters (or microclusters) as they interact with cognate ligands, and mechanisms regarding how the formation and movements of these microclusters influence NK cell signaling and activation, specifically related to activating NKRs, are often unclear. To this end, we develop a predictive spatially resolved early-time NK cell signaling model to study the interplay between membrane-proximal biochemical signaling events and the kinetics of microclusters of activating NKG2D and inhibitory KIR2DL2 receptors. We used published TIRF imaging data to validate our in silico models and estimate model parameters. Predictions from multiple in silico models are tested against a variety of data obtained from published imaging experiments and immunoassays. Our analysis suggests co-clustering of NKG2D and the guanosine nucleotide exchange factor Vav1 in the microclusters plays a major role in enhancing downstream activating signals. The developed framework can be extended to describe spatiotemporal signaling for other activating NKRs including CD16.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajdeep Kaur Grewal
- Battelle Center for Mathematical Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jayajit Das
- Battelle Center for Mathematical Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Biophysics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Ramos-Mejia V, Arellano-Galindo J, Mejía-Arangure JM, Cruz-Munoz ME. A NK Cell Odyssey: From Bench to Therapeutics Against Hematological Malignancies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:803995. [PMID: 35493522 PMCID: PMC9046543 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.803995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In 1975 two independent groups noticed the presence of immune cells with a unique ability to recognize and eliminate transformed hematopoietic cells without any prior sensitization or expansion of specific clones. Since then, NK cells have been the axis of thousands of studies that have resulted until June 2021, in more than 70 000 publications indexed in PubMed. As result of this work, which include approaches in vitro, in vivo, and in natura, it has been possible to appreciate the role played by the NK cells, not only as effectors against specific pathogens, but also as regulators of the immune response. Recent advances have revealed previous unidentified attributes of NK cells including the ability to adapt to new conditions under the context of chronic infections, or their ability to develop some memory-like characteristics. In this review, we will discuss significant findings that have rule our understanding of the NK cell biology, the developing of these findings into new concepts in immunology, and how these conceptual platforms are being used in the design of strategies for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Ramos-Mejia
- GENYO: Centro Pfizer, Universidad de Granada, Junta de Andalucía de Genómica e Investigación Oncológica, Granada, Spain
| | - Jose Arellano-Galindo
- Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Infantil de México “Dr. Federico Gomez”, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Juan Manuel Mejía-Arangure
- Genómica del Cancer, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica (INMEGEN) & Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Mario Ernesto Cruz-Muñoz, ; Juan Manuel Mejía-Arangure,
| | - Mario Ernesto Cruz-Munoz
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Mario Ernesto Cruz-Muñoz, ; Juan Manuel Mejía-Arangure,
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Naghizadeh A, Tsao WC, Hyun Cho J, Xu H, Mohamed M, Li D, Xiong W, Metaxas D, Ramos CA, Liu D. In vitro machine learning-based CAR T immunological synapse quality measurements correlate with patient clinical outcomes. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1009883. [PMID: 35303007 PMCID: PMC8955962 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The human immune system consists of a highly intelligent network of billions of independent, self-organized cells that interact with each other. Machine learning (ML) is an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that automatically processes huge amounts of image data. Immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of blood cancer. Specifically, one such therapy involves engineering immune cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), which combine tumor antigen specificity with immune cell activation in a single receptor. To improve their efficacy and expand their applicability to solid tumors, scientists optimize different CARs with different modifications. However, predicting and ranking the efficacy of different "off-the-shelf" immune products (e.g., CAR or Bispecific T-cell Engager [BiTE]) and selection of clinical responders are challenging in clinical practice. Meanwhile, identifying the optimal CAR construct for a researcher to further develop a potential clinical application is limited by the current, time-consuming, costly, and labor-intensive conventional tools used to evaluate efficacy. Particularly, more than 30 years of immunological synapse (IS) research data demonstrate that T cell efficacy is not only controlled by the specificity and avidity of the tumor antigen and T cell interaction, but also it depends on a collective process, involving multiple adhesion and regulatory molecules, as well as tumor microenvironment, spatially and temporally organized at the IS formed by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells. The optimal function of cytotoxic lymphocytes (including CTL and NK) depends on IS quality. Recognizing the inadequacy of conventional tools and the importance of IS in immune cell functions, we investigate a new strategy for assessing CAR-T efficacy by quantifying CAR IS quality using the glass-support planar lipid bilayer system combined with ML-based data analysis. Previous studies in our group show that CAR-T IS quality correlates with antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. However, current manually quantified IS quality data analysis is time-consuming and labor-intensive with low accuracy, reproducibility, and repeatability. In this study, we develop a novel ML-based method to quantify thousands of CAR cell IS images with enhanced accuracy and speed. Specifically, we used artificial neural networks (ANN) to incorporate object detection into segmentation. The proposed ANN model extracts the most useful information to differentiate different IS datasets. The network output is flexible and produces bounding boxes, instance segmentation, contour outlines (borders), intensities of the borders, and segmentations without borders. Based on requirements, one or a combination of this information is used in statistical analysis. The ML-based automated algorithm quantified CAR-T IS data correlates with the clinical responder and non-responder treated with Kappa-CAR-T cells directly from patients. The results suggest that CAR cell IS quality can be used as a potential composite biomarker and correlates with antitumor activities in patients, which is sufficiently discriminative to further test the CAR IS quality as a clinical biomarker to predict response to CAR immunotherapy in cancer. For translational research, the method developed here can also provide guidelines for designing and optimizing numerous CAR constructs for potential clinical development. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00881920.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Naghizadeh
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Wei-chung Tsao
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Jong Hyun Cho
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Hongye Xu
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Mohab Mohamed
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Dali Li
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Wei Xiong
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Dimitri Metaxas
- Department of Computer Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway Township, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Carlos A. Ramos
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
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9
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Licensing Natural Killers for Antiviral Immunity. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070908. [PMID: 34358058 PMCID: PMC8308748 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM)-bearing receptors (IRs) enable discrimination between self- and non-self molecules on the surface of host target cells. In this regard, they have a vital role in self-tolerance through binding and activating intracellular tyrosine phosphatases which can inhibit cellular activation. Yet, self-MHC class I (MHC I)-specific IRs are versatile in that they can also positively impact lymphocyte functionality, as exemplified by their role in natural killer (NK) cell education, often referred to as ’licensing‘. Recent discoveries using defined mouse models of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection have revealed that select self-MHC I IRs can increase NK cell antiviral defenses as well, whereas other licensing IRs cannot, or instead impede virus-specific NK responses for reasons that remain poorly understood. This review highlights a role for self-MHC I ‘licensing’ IRs in antiviral immunity, especially in the context of CMV infection, their impact on virus-specific NK cells during acute infection, and their potential to affect viral pathogenesis and disease.
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10
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Murphy KJ, Reed DA, Trpceski M, Herrmann D, Timpson P. Quantifying and visualising the nuances of cellular dynamics in vivo using intravital imaging. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2021; 72:41-53. [PMID: 34091131 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2021.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Intravital imaging is a powerful technology used to quantify and track dynamic changes in live cells and tissues within an intact environment. The ability to watch cell biology in real-time 'as it happens' has provided novel insight into tissue homeostasis, as well as disease initiation, progression and response to treatment. In this minireview, we highlight recent advances in the field of intravital microscopy, touching upon advances in awake versus anaesthesia-based approaches, as well as the integration of biosensors into intravital imaging. We also discuss current challenges that, in our opinion, need to be overcome to further advance the field of intravital imaging at the single-cell, subcellular and molecular resolution to reveal nuances of cell behaviour that can be targeted in complex disease settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendelle J Murphy
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research & The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Theme, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Daniel A Reed
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research & The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Theme, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Michael Trpceski
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research & The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Theme, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - David Herrmann
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research & The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Theme, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
| | - Paul Timpson
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research & The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Theme, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
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11
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Antigen-independent activation enhances the efficacy of 4-1BB-costimulated CD22 CAR T cells. Nat Med 2021; 27:842-850. [PMID: 33888899 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01326-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
While CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells can induce remission in patients with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a large subset relapse with CD19- disease. Like CD19, CD22 is broadly expressed by B-lineage cells and thus serves as an alternative immunotherapy target in ALL. Here we present the composite outcomes of two pilot clinical trials ( NCT02588456 and NCT02650414 ) of T cells bearing a 4-1BB-based, CD22-targeting CAR in patients with relapsed or refractory ALL. The primary end point of these studies was to assess safety, and the secondary end point was antileukemic efficacy. We observed unexpectedly low response rates, prompting us to perform detailed interrogation of the responsible CAR biology. We found that shortening of the amino acid linker connecting the variable heavy and light chains of the CAR antigen-binding domain drove receptor homodimerization and antigen-independent signaling. In contrast to CD28-based CARs, autonomously signaling 4-1BB-based CARs demonstrated enhanced immune synapse formation, activation of pro-inflammatory genes and superior effector function. We validated this association between autonomous signaling and enhanced function in several CAR constructs and, on the basis of these observations, designed a new short-linker CD22 single-chain variable fragment for clinical evaluation. Our findings both suggest that tonic 4-1BB-based signaling is beneficial to CAR function and demonstrate the utility of bedside-to-bench-to-bedside translation in the design and implementation of CAR T cell therapies.
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12
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Ben-Shmuel A, Sabag B, Biber G, Barda-Saad M. The Role of the Cytoskeleton in Regulating the Natural Killer Cell Immune Response in Health and Disease: From Signaling Dynamics to Function. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:609532. [PMID: 33598461 PMCID: PMC7882700 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.609532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells, which play key roles in elimination of virally infected and malignant cells. The balance between activating and inhibitory signals derived from NK surface receptors govern the NK cell immune response. The cytoskeleton facilitates most NK cell effector functions, such as motility, infiltration, conjugation with target cells, immunological synapse assembly, and cytotoxicity. Though many studies have characterized signaling pathways that promote actin reorganization in immune cells, it is not completely clear how particular cytoskeletal architectures at the immunological synapse promote effector functions, and how cytoskeletal dynamics impact downstream signaling pathways and activation. Moreover, pioneering studies employing advanced imaging techniques have only begun to uncover the architectural complexity dictating the NK cell activation threshold; it is becoming clear that a distinct organization of the cytoskeleton and signaling receptors at the NK immunological synapse plays a decisive role in activation and tolerance. Here, we review the roles of the actin cytoskeleton in NK cells. We focus on how actin dynamics impact cytolytic granule secretion, NK cell motility, and NK cell infiltration through tissues into inflammatory sites. We will also describe the additional cytoskeletal components, non-muscle Myosin II and microtubules that play pivotal roles in NK cell activity. Furthermore, special emphasis will be placed on the role of the cytoskeleton in assembly of immunological synapses, and how mutations or downregulation of cytoskeletal accessory proteins impact NK cell function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviad Ben-Shmuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Batel Sabag
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Guy Biber
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Mira Barda-Saad
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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13
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Kim N, Lee DH, Choi WS, Yi E, Kim H, Kim JM, Jin HS, Kim HS. Harnessing NK cells for cancer immunotherapy: immune checkpoint receptors and chimeric antigen receptors. BMB Rep 2021. [PMID: 33298244 PMCID: PMC7851441 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2021.54.1.214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, key antitumor effectors of the innate immune system, are endowed with the unique ability to spontaneously eliminate cells undergoing a neoplastic transformation. Given their broad reactivity against diverse types of cancer and close association with cancer prognosis, NK cells have gained considerable attention as a promising therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. NK cell-based therapies have demonstrated favorable clinical efficacies in several hematological malignancies but limited success in solid tumors, thus highlighting the need to develop new therapeutic strategies to restore and optimize antitumor activity while preventing tumor immune escape. The current therapeutic modalities yielding encouraging results in clinical trials include the blockade of immune checkpoint receptors to overcome the immune-evasion mechanism used by tumors and the incorporation of tumor-directed chimeric antigen receptors to enhance NK cell antitumor specificity and activity. These observations, together with recent advances in the understanding of NK cell activation within the tumor microenvironment, will facilitate the optimal design of NK cell-based therapy against a broad range of cancers and, more desirably, refractory cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayoung Kim
- Department of Convergence MedicineAsan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Dong-Hee Lee
- Department of Convergence MedicineAsan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Woo Seon Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center (SCIRC), Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Eunbi Yi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center (SCIRC), Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - HyoJeong Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center (SCIRC), Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Jung Min Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Hyung-Seung Jin
- Department of Convergence MedicineAsan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Hun Sik Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center (SCIRC), Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
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14
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Hoerster K, Uhrberg M, Wiek C, Horn PA, Hanenberg H, Heinrichs S. HLA Class I Knockout Converts Allogeneic Primary NK Cells Into Suitable Effectors for "Off-the-Shelf" Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2021; 11:586168. [PMID: 33584651 PMCID: PMC7878547 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.586168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) so far has almost exclusively used autologous peripheral blood-derived T cells as immune effector cells. However, harvesting sufficient numbers of T cells is often challenging in heavily pre-treated patients with malignancies and perturbed hematopoiesis and perturbed hematopoiesis. Also, such a CAR product will always be specific for the individual patient. In contrast, NK cell infusions can be performed in non-HLA-matched settings due to the absence of alloreactivity of these innate immune cells. Still, the infused NK cells are subject to recognition and rejection by the patient's immune system, thereby limiting their life-span in vivo and undermining the possibility for multiple infusions. Here, we designed genome editing and advanced lentiviral transduction protocols to render primary human NK cells unsusceptible/resistant to an allogeneic response by the recipient's CD8+ T cells. After knocking-out surface expression of HLA class I molecules by targeting the B2M gene via CRISPR/Cas9, we also co-expressed a single-chain HLA-E molecule, thereby preventing NK cell fratricide of B2M-knockout (KO) cells via "missing self"-induced lysis. Importantly, these genetically engineered NK cells were functionally indistinguishable from their unmodified counterparts with regard to their phenotype and their natural cytotoxicity towards different AML cell lines. In co-culture assays, B2M-KO NK cells neither induced immune responses of allogeneic T cells nor re-activated allogeneic T cells which had been expanded/primed using irradiated PBMNCs of the respective NK cell donor. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of genome editing in primary allogeneic NK cells to diminish their recognition and killing by mismatched T cells and is an important prerequisite for using non-HLA-matched primary human NK cells as readily available, "off-the-shelf" immune effectors for a variety of immunotherapy indications in human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keven Hoerster
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Markus Uhrberg
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Constanze Wiek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Head/Neck Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter A. Horn
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Helmut Hanenberg
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Head/Neck Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children’s Hospital of Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan Heinrichs
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
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15
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Mordechay L, Le Saux G, Edri A, Hadad U, Porgador A, Schvartzman M. Mechanical Regulation of the Cytotoxic Activity of Natural Killer Cells. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 7:122-132. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lital Mordechay
- Department of Materials Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Guillaume Le Saux
- Department of Materials Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Avishay Edri
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Uzi Hadad
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Angel Porgador
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Mark Schvartzman
- Department of Materials Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
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16
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Zhao Q, Pang J, Yan F, Jiang Y, Cui D, Liu J, Jing L, Li Y, Liu Z, Tao L, Zhao X, Diao A. Production of a novel bispecific protein ULBP1×CD19-scFv targeting the NKG2D receptor and CD19 to promote the activation of NK cells. Protein Expr Purif 2020; 178:105783. [PMID: 33122138 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2020.105783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are potent cytotoxic effector cells of the innate immune system and play an important role in tumor immunosurveillance and control. NKG2D is an activating receptor of NK cells. The NKG2D receptor-ligand system has contributed to immune cells recognizing tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. In order to stretch the application of NK cells on adoptive immunotherapy for B-cell malignancies, we designed and produced a novel bispecific ULBP1×CD19-scFv fusion protein, in which the extracellular domain of NKG2D ligand ULBP1 was fused to a single chain variable fragment (scFv) of anti-CD19. The vector expressing ULBP1×CD19-scFv protein was constructed and expressed in Pichia pastoris. Effects of medium composition, concentration of methanol as the inducer, induction time and broth content in shake flask on the expression of the recombinant protein were investigated. The results showed that the optimized conditions for ULBP1×CD19-scFv expression were 1% methanol induction for 96 h with 15% broth content. The secreted recombinant protein was purified using ammonium sulfate fractionation and Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and the purity is about 93%. The cytotoxicity of NK92-MI cells against CD19+ Raji cells was enhanced in the presence of purified ULBP1×CD19-scFv protein. These results indicated that ULBP1 could be used as an activating element of bispecific killer engagers (BiKEs) and Pichia pastoris yeast might be an alternative expression host for BiKEs production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhao
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Safety Control Technology in Food Processing, Tianjin, 300457, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Chemistry, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China.
| | - Jie Pang
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Fushan Yan
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Dongxu Cui
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Juanjuan Liu
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Lei Jing
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Yuyin Li
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Zhenxing Liu
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Li Tao
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | | | - Aipo Diao
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, China.
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17
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Murin CD. Considerations of Antibody Geometric Constraints on NK Cell Antibody Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1635. [PMID: 32849559 PMCID: PMC7406664 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been well-established that antibody isotype, glycosylation, and epitope all play roles in the process of antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). For natural killer (NK) cells, these phenotypes are linked to cellular activation through interaction with the IgG receptor FcγRIIIa, a single pass transmembrane receptor that participates in cytoplasmic signaling complexes. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that there may be underlying spatial and geometric principles that guide proper assembly of an activation complex within the NK cell immune synapse. Further, synergy of antibody phenotypic properties as well as allosteric changes upon antigen binding may also play an as-of-yet unknown role in ADCC. Understanding these facets, however, remains hampered by difficulties associated with studying immune synapse dynamics using classical approaches. In this review, I will discuss relevant NK cell biology related to ADCC, including the structural biology of Fc gamma receptors, and how the dynamics of the NK cell immune synapse are being studied using innovative microscopy techniques. I will provide examples from the literature demonstrating the effects of spatial and geometric constraints on the T cell receptor complex and how this relates to intracellular signaling and the molecular nature of lymphocyte activation complexes, including those of NK cells. Finally, I will examine how the integration of high-throughput and "omics" technologies will influence basic NK cell biology research moving forward. Overall, the goal of this review is to lay a basis for understanding the development of drugs and therapeutic antibodies aimed at augmenting appropriate NK cell ADCC activity in patients being treated for a wide range of illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles D. Murin
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, United States
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18
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Yang Y, Badeti S, Tseng HC, Ma MT, Liu T, Jiang JG, Liu C, Liu D. Superior Expansion and Cytotoxicity of Human Primary NK and CAR-NK Cells from Various Sources via Enriched Metabolic Pathways. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 18:428-445. [PMID: 32695845 PMCID: PMC7364029 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Clinical success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy requires the engineering of autologous T cells, which limits the broader implementation of CAR cell therapy. The development of allogeneic and universal cell products will significantly broaden their application and reduce costs. Allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells can be used for universal CAR immunotherapy. Here, we develop an alternative approach for the rapid expansion of primary NK and CAR-NK cells with superior expansion capability and in vivo cytotoxicity from various sources (including peripheral blood, cord blood, and tumor tissue). We apply a human B-lymphoblastoid cell-line 721.221 (hereinafter, 221)-based artificial feeder cell system with membrane-bound interleukin 21 (mIL-21) to propagate NK and CAR-NK cells. The expansion capability, purity, and cytotoxicity of NK cells expanded with 221-mIL-21 feeder cells are superior to that of conventional K562-mIL-21 feeder cells. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data show that 221-mIL-21 feeder cell-expanded NK cells display a less differentiated, non-exhausted, limited fratricidal, memory-like phenotype correlated with enriched metabolic pathways, which explains underlying mechanisms. Thus, “off-the-shelf” NK and CAR-NK cells with superior functionalities and expansion using a genetically modified 221-mIL-21 feeder cell expansion system will greatly support clinical use of NK immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Saiaditya Badeti
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Hsiang-Chi Tseng
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Minh Tuyet Ma
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Ting Liu
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Jie-Gen Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.,Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, 205 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
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19
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Crk1/2 and CrkL play critical roles in maintaining podocyte morphology and function. Exp Cell Res 2020; 394:112135. [PMID: 32535035 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.112135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Podocytes are actin-rich epithelial cells whose effacement and detachment are the main cause of glomerular disease. Crk family proteins: Crk1/2 and CrkL are reported to be important intracellular signaling proteins that are involved in many biological processes. However, the roles of them in maintaining podocyte morphology and function remain poorly understood. In this study, specific knocking down of Crk1/2 and CrkL in podocytes caused abnormal cell morphology, actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and dysfunction in cell adhesion, spreading, migration, and viability. The p130Cas, focal adhesion kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, p38 and JNK signaling pathways involved in these alterations. Furthermore, knocking down CrkL alone conferred a more modest phenotype than did the Crk1/2 knockdown and the double knockdown. Kidney biopsy specimens from patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and minimal change nephropathy showed downregulation of Crk1/2 and CrkL in glomeruli. In zebrafish embryos, Crk1/2 and CrkL knockdown compromised the morphology and caused abnormal glomerular development. Thus, our results suggest that Crk1/2 and CrkL expression are important in podocytes; loss of either will cause podocyte dysfunction, leading to foot process effacement and podocyte detachment.
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20
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Meza Guzman LG, Keating N, Nicholson SE. Natural Killer Cells: Tumor Surveillance and Signaling. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12040952. [PMID: 32290478 PMCID: PMC7226588 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play a pivotal role in cancer immunotherapy due to their innate ability to detect and kill tumorigenic cells. The decision to kill is determined by the expression of a myriad of activating and inhibitory receptors on the NK cell surface. Cell-to-cell engagement results in either self-tolerance or a cytotoxic response, governed by a fine balance between the signaling cascades downstream of the activating and inhibitory receptors. To evade a cytotoxic immune response, tumor cells can modulate the surface expression of receptor ligands and additionally, alter the conditions in the tumor microenvironment (TME), tilting the scales toward a suppressed cytotoxic NK response. To fully harness the killing power of NK cells for clinical benefit, we need to understand what defines the threshold for activation and what is required to break tolerance. This review will focus on the intracellular signaling pathways activated or suppressed in NK cells and the roles signaling intermediates play during an NK cytotoxic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizeth G. Meza Guzman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Correspondence: (L.G.M.G.); (S.E.N.); Tel.: +61-9345-2555 (S.E.N.)
| | - Narelle Keating
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Sandra E. Nicholson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Correspondence: (L.G.M.G.); (S.E.N.); Tel.: +61-9345-2555 (S.E.N.)
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21
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Saeed MB, Record J, Westerberg LS. Two sides of the coin: Cytoskeletal regulation of immune synapses in cancer and primary immune deficiencies. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 356:1-97. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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22
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Kennedy PR, Barthen C, Williamson DJ, Pitkeathly WTE, Hazime KS, Cumming J, Stacey KB, Hilton HG, Carrington M, Parham P, Davis DM. Genetic diversity affects the nanoscale membrane organization and signaling of natural killer cell receptors. Sci Signal 2019; 12:eaaw9252. [PMID: 31848320 PMCID: PMC6944503 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aaw9252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Genetic diversity in human natural killer (NK) cell receptors is linked to resistance and susceptibility to many diseases. Here, we tested the effect of this diversity on the nanoscale organization of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). Using superresolution microscopy, we found that inhibitory KIRs encoded by different genes and alleles were organized differently at the surface of primary human NK cells. KIRs that were found at low abundance assembled into smaller clusters than those formed by KIRs that were more highly abundant, and at low abundance, there was a greater proportion of KIRs in clusters. Upon receptor triggering, a structured interface called the immune synapse assembles, which facilitates signal integration and controls NK cell responses. Here, triggering of low-abundance receptors resulted in less phosphorylation of the downstream phosphatase SHP-1 but more phosphorylation of the adaptor protein Crk than did triggering of high-abundance receptors. In cells with greater KIR abundance, SHP-1 dephosphorylated Crk, which potentiated NK cell spreading during activation. Thus, genetic variation modulates both the abundance and nanoscale organization of inhibitory KIRs. That is, as well as the number of receptors at the cell surface varying with genotype, the way in which these receptors are organized in the membrane also varies. Essentially, a change in the average surface abundance of a protein at the cell surface is a coarse descriptor entwined with changes in local nanoscale clustering. Together, our data indicate that genetic diversity in inhibitory KIRs affects membrane-proximal signaling and, unexpectedly, the formation of activating immune synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippa R Kennedy
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Charlotte Barthen
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - David J Williamson
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - William T E Pitkeathly
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Khodor S Hazime
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Joshua Cumming
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Kevin B Stacey
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Hugo G Hilton
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, D159, Sherman Fairchild Science Building, 299 Campus Drive West, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mary Carrington
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Building 560, Room 21-89, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Peter Parham
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, D159, Sherman Fairchild Science Building, 299 Campus Drive West, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Daniel M Davis
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.
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23
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Zhuang X, Long EO. CD28 Homolog Is a Strong Activator of Natural Killer Cells for Lysis of B7H7 + Tumor Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2019; 7:939-951. [PMID: 31018957 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The CD28-B7 family of receptor-ligand pairs regulates lymphocyte responses through costimulation and coinhibition. It includes checkpoint inhibitors, such as PD-1, which limit antitumor and antivirus T-cell responses. CD28 homolog (CD28H) and B7H7 have been identified as a receptor-ligand pair in this family, which has costimulatory activity in T cells. Here, we show that CD28H is expressed in primary natural killer (NK) cells and that it is a strong activator of NK cells through selective synergy with receptors NKp46 and 2B4 to induce degranulation, lysis of target cells, and production of proinflammatory cytokines. Expression of B7H7 on target cells enhanced both natural and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of NK cells. Mutation of tyrosine 192 on the CD28H cytoplasmic tail abolished NK-cell activation through CD28H. As B7H7 is broadly expressed in tumor tissues, we engineered a CD28H chimeric antigen receptor (CD28H-CAR) consisting of full-length CD28H fused to the cytoplasmic domain of T-cell receptor ζ chain. Remarkably, expression of CD28H-CAR in NK cells triggered lysis of B7H7+ HLA-E+ tumor cells by overriding inhibition by the HLA-E receptor NKG2A. The cytoplasmic domains of CD28H and of the ζ chain were both required for this activity. Thus, CD28H is a powerful activation receptor of NK cells that broadens their antitumor activity and holds promise as a component of NK-based CARs for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Zhuang
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Eric O Long
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, Maryland.
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24
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Cichocki F, Miller JS. Setting traps for NKG2A gives NK cell immunotherapy a fighting chance. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:1839-1841. [PMID: 30985296 DOI: 10.1172/jci128480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The equilibrium of signaling through activating and inhibitory receptors dictates whether a given NK cell will execute cellular cytotoxicity. In this issue of the JCI, Kamiya et al. describe a novel approach to efficiently inhibiting surface expression of the inhibitory receptor CD94/NK group 2 member A (NKG2A) through retention of the protein in the endoplasmic reticulum. In adoptive transfer experiments into tumor-bearing immunodeficient mice, NKG2Anull NK cells were significantly more effective at eliminating HLA-E-expressing tumor cells than NKG2A+ NK cells. This study provides proof of concept for a new immunotherapeutic approach using NKG2Anull NK cells.
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25
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Kim N, Lee HH, Lee HJ, Choi WS, Lee J, Kim HS. Natural killer cells as a promising therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. Arch Pharm Res 2019; 42:591-606. [DOI: 10.1007/s12272-019-01143-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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26
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Le Saux G, Schvartzman M. Advanced Materials and Devices for the Regulation and Study of NK Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E646. [PMID: 30717370 PMCID: PMC6386824 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that contribute to immune protection by cytosis, cytokine secretion, and regulation of adaptive responses of T cells. NK cells distinguish between healthy and ill cells, and generate a cytotoxic response, being cumulatively regulated by environmental signals delivered through their diverse receptors. Recent advances in biomaterials and device engineering paved the way to numerous artificial microenvironments for cells, which produce synthetic signals identical or similar to those provided by the physiological environment. In this paper, we review recent advances in materials and devices for artificial signaling, which have been applied to regulate NK cells, and systematically study the role of these signals in NK cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Le Saux
- Department of Materials Engineering, Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel.
| | - Mark Schvartzman
- Department of Materials Engineering, Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel.
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27
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Gao L, Jiang Y, Wang Y, Qu X, Li L, Lou X, Wang Y, Guo H, Liu Y. Male asymptomatic hyperuricemia patients display a lower number of NKG2D+ NK cells before and after a low-purine diet. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e13668. [PMID: 30558070 PMCID: PMC6320027 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000013668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant activation of the immune system has been reported in asymptomatic hyperuricemia (HUA) patients. However, very few studies have elucidated the role of natural killer (NK) cells in this disease. METHODS In this study, we evaluated the relationship between NK cells and HUA in 16 control subjects and 20 patients, who were all on a low-purine diet. We analyzed the number of circulating NK cells, its subsets, interferon-γ, and CD107 NK cells, by flow cytometry, before and after 4 and 24 weeks of diet control. We also assessed the potential association of the NK cells with clinical measures. RESULTS The patients consistently had a lower number of NKG2D NK cells before and after low-purine diet, even the serum uric acid (SUA) levels <7 mg/dL after diet control. Moreover, a lower number of NK cells and a higher number of CD107a NK cells were observed on recruitment. Low-purine diet was benefit on the improvement of the SUA levels, body mass index (BMI), and the number and functions of NK cells. Furthermore, the number of CD3CD56 NK cells and NKG2D NK cells negatively correlated with the BMI before and after diet control. CONCLUSION The consistent lower number of NKG2D NK cells and correlated with BMI before and after low-purine diet may be involved in the occurrence and development of HUA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichao Gao
- The School of Public Health
- Department of Endocrinology of The First Hospital, Jilin University
| | - Yanfang Jiang
- Genetic Diagnosis Center
- Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Research, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yichen Wang
- Department of Endocrinology of The First Hospital, Jilin University
| | - Xiaozhang Qu
- Department of Endocrinology of The First Hospital, Jilin University
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Endocrinology of The First Hospital, Jilin University
| | - Xiaoqian Lou
- Department of Endocrinology of The First Hospital, Jilin University
| | - Ye Wang
- Department of Endocrinology of The First Hospital, Jilin University
| | - Hui Guo
- Department of Endocrinology of The First Hospital, Jilin University
| | - Ya Liu
- The School of Public Health
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28
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Kim N, Kim HS. Targeting Checkpoint Receptors and Molecules for Therapeutic Modulation of Natural Killer Cells. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2041. [PMID: 30250471 PMCID: PMC6139314 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the most promising therapeutic modalities for cancer treatment is the blockade of immune checkpoint pathways, which are frequently co-opted by tumors as a major mechanism of immune escape. CTLA-4 and PD-1 are the representative examples, and their blockade by therapeutic antibodies leads to enhanced anti-tumor immunity with durable clinical responses, but only in a minority of patients. This has highlighted the need to identify and target additional immune checkpoints that can be exploited to further enhance immune responses to refractory cancers. These emerging targets include natural killer (NK) cell-directed checkpoint receptors (KIR and CD94/NKG2A) as well as the NK- and T cell-expressed checkpoints TIM-3, TIGIT, CD96, and LAG-3. Interestingly, the potentiation of anti-tumor immunity by checkpoint blockade relies not only on T cells but also on other components of the innate immune system, including NK cells. NK cells are innate lymphoid cells that efficiently kill tumor cells without MHC specificity, which is complementary to the MHC-restricted tumor lysis mediated by cytotoxic T cells. However, the role of these immune checkpoints in modulating the function of NK cells remains unclear and somewhat controversial. Unraveling the mechanisms by which these immune checkpoints function in NK cells and other immune cells will pave the way to developing new therapeutic strategies to optimize anti-tumor immunity while limiting cancer immune escape. Here, we focus on recent findings regarding the roles of immune checkpoints in regulating NK cell function and their potential application in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayoung Kim
- Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hun Sik Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center (SCIRC), Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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29
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Huang Y, Chen Z, Jang JH, Baig MS, Bertolet G, Schroeder C, Huang S, Hu Q, Zhao Y, Lewis DE, Qin L, Zhu MX, Liu D. PD-1 blocks lytic granule polarization with concomitant impairment of integrin outside-in signaling in the natural killer cell immunological synapse. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 142:1311-1321.e8. [PMID: 29679656 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.02.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The inhibitory receptor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is upregulated on a variety of immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells, during chronic viral infection and tumorigenesis. Blockade of PD-1 or its ligands produces durable clinical responses with tolerable side effects in patients with a broad spectrum of cancers. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of how PD-1 regulates NK cell function remain poorly characterized. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the effect of PD-1 signaling on NK cells. METHODS PD-1 was overexpressed in CD16-KHYG-1 (a human NK cell line with both antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity through CD16 and natural cytotoxicity through NKG2D) cells and stimulated by exposing the cells to NK-sensitive target cells expressing programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). RESULTS PD-1 engagement by PD-L1 specifically blocked NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity without interfering with the conjugation between NK cells and target cells. Further examination showed that PD-1 signaling blocked lytic granule polarization in NK cells, which was accompanied by failure of integrin-linked kinase, a key molecule in the integrin outside-in signaling pathway, to accumulate in the immunological synapse after NK-target cell conjugation. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that NK cell cytotoxicity is inhibited by PD-1 engagement, which blocks lytic granule polarization to the NK cell immunological synapse with concomitant impairment of integrin outside-in signaling. This study provides novel mechanistic insights into how PD-1 inhibition disrupts NK cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Huang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex; Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Zhiying Chen
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Joon Hee Jang
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Mirza S Baig
- Center for Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering (BSBE), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore, India
| | - Grant Bertolet
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex
| | - Casey Schroeder
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Shengjian Huang
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex
| | - Qian Hu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Cooperative Innovation Center for High Performance Computing, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Cooperative Innovation Center for High Performance Computing, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dorothy E Lewis
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Michael Xi Zhu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex.
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY.
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30
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells express an array of germ-line encoded receptors that are capable of triggering cytotoxicity. NK cells tend to express many members of a given family of signalling molecules. The presence of many activating receptors and many members of a given family of signalling molecules can enable NK cells to detect different kinds of target cells, and to mount different kinds of responses. This contributes also to the robustness of NK cells responses; cytotoxic functions of NK cells often remain unaffected in the absence of selected signalling molecules. NK cells express many MHC-I-specific inhibitory receptors. Signals from MHC-I-specific inhibitory receptors tightly control NK cell cytotoxicity and, paradoxically, maintain NK cells in a state of proper responsiveness. This review provides a brief overview of the events that underlie NK cell activation, and how signals from inhibitory receptors intercept NK cell activation to prevent inappropriate triggering of cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kumar
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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31
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Nabekura T, Chen Z, Schroeder C, Park T, Vivier E, Lanier LL, Liu D. Crk Adaptor Proteins Regulate NK Cell Expansion and Differentiation during Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 200:3420-3428. [PMID: 29618525 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer cells are critical in the immune response to infection and malignancy. Prior studies have demonstrated that Crk family proteins can influence cell apoptosis, proliferation, and cell transformation. In this study, we investigated the role of Crk family proteins in mouse NK cell differentiation and host defense using a mouse CMV infection model. The number of NK cells, maturational state, and the majority of the NKR repertoire was similar in Crk x Crk-like (CrkL)-double-deficient and wild type NK cells. However, Crk family proteins were required for optimal activation, IFN-γ production, expansion, and differentiation of Ly49H+ NK cells, as well as host defense during mouse CMV infection. The diminished function of Crk x CrkL-double-deficient NK cells correlated with decreased phosphorylation of STAT4 and STAT1 in response to IL-12 and IFN-α stimulation, respectively. Together, our findings analyzing NK cell-specific Crk-deficient mice provide insights into the role of Crk family proteins in NK cell function and host defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsukasa Nabekura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143.,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94143.,Life Science Center, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Zhiying Chen
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Casey Schroeder
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Taeju Park
- Children's Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108
| | - Eric Vivier
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS, 13288 Marseille, France.,Service d'Immunologie, Hôpital de la Timone, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, 13288 Marseille, France; and
| | - Lewis L Lanier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143; .,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030; .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
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32
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Xiong W, Chen Y, Kang X, Chen Z, Zheng P, Hsu YH, Jang JH, Qin L, Liu H, Dotti G, Liu D. Immunological Synapse Predicts Effectiveness of Chimeric Antigen Receptor Cells. Mol Ther 2018; 26:963-975. [PMID: 29503199 PMCID: PMC6080133 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cell therapy has the potential to improve the overall survival of patients with malignancies by enhancing the effectiveness of CAR T cells. Precisely predicting the effectiveness of various CAR T cells represents one of today’s key unsolved problems in immunotherapy. Here, we predict the effectiveness of CAR-modified cells by evaluating the quality of the CAR-mediated immunological synapse (IS) by quantitation of F-actin, clustering of tumor antigen, polarization of lytic granules (LGs), and distribution of key signaling molecules within the IS. Long-term killing capability, but not secretion of conventional cytokines or standard 4-hr cytotoxicity, correlates positively with the quality of the IS in two different CAR T cells that share identical antigen specificity. Xenograft model data confirm that the quality of the IS in vitro correlates positively with performance of CAR-modified immune cells in vivo. Therefore, we propose that the quality of the IS predicts the effectiveness of CAR-modified immune cells, which provides a novel strategy to guide CAR therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, CD19/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Biomarkers
- Cell Line
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Disease Models, Animal
- Gene Expression
- Gene Order
- Genes, Reporter
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- Humans
- Immunological Synapses/immunology
- Immunological Synapses/metabolism
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Mice
- Microscopy, Confocal
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- Retroviridae/genetics
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Transduction, Genetic
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xiong
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yuhui Chen
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xi Kang
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhiying Chen
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, USA; Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Peilin Zheng
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yi-Hsin Hsu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joon Hee Jang
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hao Liu
- Biostatistics Core of the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gianpietro Dotti
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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33
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Bertolet G, Liu D. The Planar Lipid Bilayer System Serves as a Reductionist Approach for Studying NK Cell Immunological Synapses and Their Functions. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1441:151-65. [PMID: 27177664 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3684-7_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
The immunological synapse (IS) is the junction between an immune cell (e.g., a T or NK cell) and another cell (e.g., an antigen-presenting cell (APC), or a tumor cell). The formation of the IS is crucial for cell-mediated immunity, and as such, an understanding of both the composition of the IS and the factors that drive its formation are essential for understanding how and when NK cells eliminate susceptible target cells. The supported lipid bilayer (SLB) system is a highly effective tool for directly studying the IS. SLBs confer three main advantages: (1) they allow for synapse formation on a level horizontal surface, allowing for direct visualization of the IS under high resolution imaging systems, (2) they mimic the surface of a target cell by providing a fluid mosaic into which surface proteins can be embedded while permitting free motion in two dimensions, which is important for studying the dynamics of synapse formation, and (3) they allow investigators to determine the exact composition of the bilayer, thus in turn allowing them to answer very specific questions about the IS. It is our hope that this chapter will furnish readers with an awareness of the applications of the SLB system for studying the IS in NK cells, and also of a basic knowledge of how to use this system for themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant Bertolet
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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34
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Kumar S, Davra V, Obr AE, Geng K, Wood TL, De Lorenzo MS, Birge RB. Crk adaptor protein promotes PD-L1 expression, EMT and immune evasion in a murine model of triple-negative breast cancer. Oncoimmunology 2017; 7:e1376155. [PMID: 29296536 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1376155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor infiltration of immune cells in solid cancers can profoundly influence host antitumor responses. In recent years, immunotherapeutic regimens, that target immune checkpoints, demonstrated significant antitumor response by increasing intra-tumoral immune cell populations, including CD8+ effector T cells. However, administration of such immune checkpoint inhibitors is largely inefficacious in inducing immunogenicity and treating breast cancer. Currently, there is a great need to better understand cell autonomous mechanisms of immune evasion in breast cancer to identify upstream therapeutic targets that increase the efficacy of immunotherapy. Here we show that Crk, an SH2 and SH3 domain-containing adaptor protein implicated in focal adhesion signaling, cell migration, and invasion, and frequently up-regulated in human cancers, has an important role in regulating the tumor immune microenvironment. Using a murine 4T1 breast adenocarcinoma model of spontaneous metastasis in immune-competent BALB/C mice, we show that genetic ablation of Crk by CRISPR-Cas9 leads to enhanced anti-tumor immune cell populations, cytotoxic effector and immune surveillance cytokines in primary tumor. Pathologically, this leads to a significant reduction in tumor growth and lung metastasis. Mechanistically, Crk KO suppresses EMT and PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and acts additively with anti-PD1 therapy to suppress tumor growth and metastasis outcomes. Taken together, these data reveal a previously un-described function of Crk adaptor protein expression in tumor cells for cell autonomous regulation of tumor immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushil Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Viralkumar Davra
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Alison E Obr
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Ke Geng
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Teresa L Wood
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Mariana S De Lorenzo
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Medicine Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, USA
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Inhibition of the B7-H3 immune checkpoint limits tumor growth by enhancing cytotoxic lymphocyte function. Cell Res 2017; 27:1034-1045. [PMID: 28685773 DOI: 10.1038/cr.2017.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 230] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between tumor and the immune system is still poorly understood. Significant clinical responses have been achieved in cancer patients treated with antibodies against the CTLA4 and PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoints; however, only a small portion of patients responded to the therapies, indicating a need to explore additional co-inhibitory molecules for cancer treatment. B7-H3, a member of the B7 superfamily, was previously shown by us to inhibit T-cell activation and autoimmunity. In this study, we have analyzed the function of B7-H3 in tumor immunity. Expression of B7-H3 was found in multiple tumor lines, tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells, and macrophages. B7-H3-deficient mice or mice treated with an antagonistic antibody to B7-H3 showed reduced growth of multiple tumors, which depended on NK and CD8+ T cells. With a putative receptor expressed by cytotoxic lymphocytes, B7-H3 inhibited their activation, and its deficiency resulted in increased cytotoxic lymphocyte function in tumor-bearing mice. Combining blockades of B7-H3 and PD-1 resulted in further enhanced therapeutic control of late-stage tumors. Taken together, our results indicate that the B7-H3 checkpoint may serve as a novel target for immunotherapy against cancer.
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Oberschmidt O, Kloess S, Koehl U. Redirected Primary Human Chimeric Antigen Receptor Natural Killer Cells As an "Off-the-Shelf Immunotherapy" for Improvement in Cancer Treatment. Front Immunol 2017. [PMID: 28649246 PMCID: PMC5465249 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary human natural killer (NK) cells recognize and subsequently eliminate virus infected cells, tumor cells, or other aberrant cells. However, cancer cells are able to develop tumor immune escape mechanisms to undermine this immune control. To overcome this obstacle, NK cells can be genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) in order to improve specific recognition of cancer surface markers (e.g., CD19, CD20, and ErbB2). After target recognition, intracellular CAR domain signaling (CD3ζ, CD28, 4-1BB, and 2B4) leads to activation of PI3K or DNAX proteins (DAP10, DAP12) and finally to enhanced cytotoxicity, proliferation, and/or interferon γ release. This mini-review summarizes both the first preclinical trials with CAR-engineered primary human NK cells and the translational implications for “off-the-shelf immunotherapy” in cancer treatment. Signal transduction in NK cells as well as optimization of CAR signaling will be described, becoming more and more a focal point of interest in addition to redirected T cells. Finally, strategies to overcome off-target effects will be discussed in order to improve future clinical trials and to avoid attacking healthy tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf Oberschmidt
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stephan Kloess
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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37
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Liu D, Tian S, Zhang K, Xiong W, Lubaki NM, Chen Z, Han W. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified natural killer cell-based immunotherapy and immunological synapse formation in cancer and HIV. Protein Cell 2017; 8:861-877. [PMID: 28488245 PMCID: PMC5712291 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-017-0415-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells contribute to the body’s immune defenses. Current chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cell immunotherapy shows strong promise for treating various cancers and infectious diseases. Although CAR-modified NK cell immunotherapy is rapidly gaining attention, its clinical applications are mainly focused on preclinical investigations using the NK92 cell line. Despite recent advances in CAR-modified T cell immunotherapy, cost and severe toxicity have hindered its widespread use. To alleviate these disadvantages of CAR-modified T cell immunotherapy, additional cytotoxic cell-mediated immunotherapies are urgently needed. The unique biology of NK cells allows them to serve as a safe, effective, alternative immunotherapeutic strategy to CAR-modified T cells in the clinic. While the fundamental mechanisms underlying the cytotoxicity and side effects of CAR-modified T and NK cell immunotherapies remain poorly understood, the formation of the immunological synapse (IS) between CAR-modified T or NK cells and their susceptible target cells is known to be essential. The role of the IS in CAR T and NK cell immunotherapies will allow scientists to harness the power of CAR-modified T and NK cells to treat cancer and infectious diseases. In this review, we highlight the potential applications of CAR-modified NK cells to treat cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and discuss the challenges and possible future directions of CAR-modified NK cell immunotherapy, as well as the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms of CAR-modified T cell- or NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and side effects, with a focus on the CAR-modified NK cell IS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongfang Liu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Shuo Tian
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kai Zhang
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wei Xiong
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ndongala Michel Lubaki
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Zhiying Chen
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Weidong Han
- Institute of Basic Medicine, College of Life Sciences, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
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38
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Zinc-Induced Polymerization of Killer-Cell Ig-like Receptor into Filaments Promotes Its Inhibitory Function at Cytotoxic Immunological Synapses. Mol Cell 2016; 62:21-33. [PMID: 27058785 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The inhibitory function of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) that bind HLA-C and block activation of human natural killer (NK) cells is dependent on zinc. We report that zinc induced the assembly of soluble KIR into filamentous polymers, as detected by electron microscopy, which depolymerized after zinc chelation. Similar KIR filaments were isolated from lysates of cells treated with zinc, and membrane protrusions enriched in zinc were detected on whole cells by scanning electron microscopy and imaging mass spectrometry. Two independent mutations in the extracellular domain of KIR, away from the HLA-C binding site, impaired zinc-driven polymerization and inhibitory function. KIR filaments formed spontaneously, without the addition of zinc, at functional inhibitory immunological synapses of NK cells with HLA-C(+) cells. Adding to the recent paradigm of signal transduction through higher order molecular assemblies, zinc-induced polymerization of inhibitory KIR represents an unusual mode of signaling by a receptor at the cell surface.
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39
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Forbes CA, Scalzo AA, Degli-Esposti MA, Coudert JD. Ly49C Impairs NK Cell Memory in Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 197:128-40. [PMID: 27233959 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
NK cells possess inhibitory receptors that are responsible for self-MHC class I recognition; beyond their inhibitory function, accumulating evidence indicates that such receptors confer NK cell functional competence through an unclear process termed "licensing." Ly49C is the main self-specific inhibitory Ly49 receptor in H-2(b) C57BL/6 (B6) mice. We used B6 Ly49C-transgenic and B6 β2 microglobulin (β2m)-knockout Ly49C-transgenic mice to investigate the impact of licensing through this inhibitory receptor in precursor and mature NK cells. We found that self-specific inhibitory receptors affected NK cell precursor survival and proliferation at particular developmental stages in an MHC class I-dependent manner. The presence of Ly49C impacted the NK cell repertoire in a β2m-dependent manner, with reduced Ly49A(+), Ly49G2(+), and Ly49D(+) subsets, an increased DNAM-1(+) subset, and higher NKG2D expression. Licensed NK cells displayed a skewed distribution of the maturation stages, which was characterized by differential CD27 and CD11b expression, toward the mature phenotypes. We found that Ly49C-mediated licensing induced a split effect on NK cell functions, with increased cytokine-production capabilities following engagement of various activating receptors while cytotoxicity remained unchanged. Analysis of licensed NK cell functions in vivo, in a system of mouse CMV infection, indicated that licensing did not play a major role in the NK cell antiviral response during acute infection, but it strongly impaired the generation and/or persistence of memory NK cells. This study unravels multifaceted effects of licensing on NK cell populations and their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Forbes
- Centre for Experimental Immunology, Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia; and
| | - Anthony A Scalzo
- Centre for Experimental Immunology, Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia; and
| | - Mariapia A Degli-Esposti
- Centre for Experimental Immunology, Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia; and Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jerome D Coudert
- Centre for Experimental Immunology, Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia; and Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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40
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Phatarpekar PV, Lee DA, Somanchi SS. Electroporation of siRNA to Silence Gene Expression in Primary NK Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1441:267-276. [PMID: 27177673 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3684-7_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Gene silencing through siRNA is an effective experimental tool to unravel molecular mechanisms involved in cellular processes. Here we describe a method to silence gene expression in primary human natural killer (NK) cells by transfecting ON-TARGETplus SMART pool siRNA using an electroporation-based method called Nucleofection(®). The technique yields effective silencing of the target gene without any off-target effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasad V Phatarpekar
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Dean A Lee
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Srinivas S Somanchi
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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41
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Voss M, Bryceson YT. Natural killer cell biology illuminated by primary immunodeficiency syndromes in humans. Clin Immunol 2015; 177:29-42. [PMID: 26592356 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2015.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cytotoxic effector cells well known for their role in antiviral immunity and tumor immunosurveillance. In parts, this knowledge stems from rare inherited immunodeficiency disorders in humans that abrogate NK cell function leading to immune impairments, most notably associated with a high susceptibility to viral infections. Phenotypically, these disorders range from deficiencies selectively affecting NK cells to complex general immune defects that affect NK cells but also other immune cell subsets. Moreover, deficiencies may be associated with reduced NK cell numbers or rather impair specific NK cell effector functions. In recent years, genetic defects underlying the various NK cell deficiencies have been uncovered and have triggered investigative efforts to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying these disorders. Here we review the associations between inherited human diseases and NK cell development as well as function, with a particular focus on defects in NK cell exocytosis and cytotoxicity. Furthermore we outline how reports of diverse genetic defects have shaped our understanding of NK cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Voss
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yenan T Bryceson
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden; Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
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42
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Anton OM, Vielkind S, Peterson ME, Tagaya Y, Long EO. NK Cell Proliferation Induced by IL-15 Transpresentation Is Negatively Regulated by Inhibitory Receptors. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:4810-21. [PMID: 26453750 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
IL-15 bound to the IL-15Rα-chain (IL-15Rα) is presented in trans to cells bearing the IL-2Rβ-chain and common γ-chain. As IL-15 transpresentation occurs in the context of cell-to-cell contacts, it has the potential for regulation by and of other receptor-ligand interactions. In this study, human NK cells were tested for the sensitivity of IL-15 transpresentation to inhibitory receptors. Human cells expressing HLA class I ligands for inhibitory receptors KIR2DL1, KIR2DL2/3, or CD94-NKG2A were transfected with IL-15Rα. Proliferation of primary NK cells in response to transpresented IL-15 was reduced by engagement of either KIR2DL1 or KIR2DL2/3 by cognate HLA-C ligands. Inhibitory KIR-HLA-C interactions did not reduce the proliferation induced by soluble IL-15. Therefore, transpresentation of IL-15 is subject to downregulation by MHC class I-specific inhibitory receptors. Similarly, proliferation of the NKG2A(+) cell line NKL induced by IL-15 transpresentation was inhibited by HLA-E. Coengagement of inhibitory receptors, either KIR2DL1 or CD94-NKG2A, did not inhibit phosphorylation of Stat5 but inhibited selectively phosphorylation of Akt and S6 ribosomal protein. IL-15Rα was not excluded from, but was evenly distributed across, inhibitory synapses. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism to attenuate IL-15-dependent NK cell proliferation and suggest that inhibitory NK cell receptors contribute to NK cell homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga M Anton
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852; and
| | - Susina Vielkind
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852; and
| | - Mary E Peterson
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852; and
| | - Yutaka Tagaya
- Division of Basic Science and Vaccine Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Eric O Long
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852; and
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43
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E-cadherin junction formation involves an active kinetic nucleation process. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:10932-7. [PMID: 26290581 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1513775112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial (E)-cadherin-mediated cell-cell junctions play important roles in the development and maintenance of tissue structure in multicellular organisms. E-cadherin adhesion is thus a key element of the cellular microenvironment that provides both mechanical and biochemical signaling inputs. Here, we report in vitro reconstitution of junction-like structures between native E-cadherin in living cells and the extracellular domain of E-cadherin (E-cad-ECD) in a supported membrane. Junction formation in this hybrid live cell-supported membrane configuration requires both active processes within the living cell and a supported membrane with low E-cad-ECD mobility. The hybrid junctions recruit α-catenin and exhibit remodeled cortical actin. Observations suggest that the initial stages of junction formation in this hybrid system depend on the trans but not the cis interactions between E-cadherin molecules, and proceed via a nucleation process in which protrusion and retraction of filopodia play a key role.
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44
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Jang JH, Huang Y, Zheng P, Jo MC, Bertolet G, Zhu MX, Qin L, Liu D. Imaging of Cell-Cell Communication in a Vertical Orientation Reveals High-Resolution Structure of Immunological Synapse and Novel PD-1 Dynamics. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2015; 195:1320-1330. [PMID: 26123352 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403143/-/dcsupplemental] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The immunological synapse (IS) is one of the most pivotal communication strategies in immune cells. Understanding the molecular basis of the IS provides critical information regarding how immune cells mount an effective immune response. Fluorescence microscopy provides a fundamental tool to study the IS. However, current imaging techniques for studying the IS cannot sufficiently achieve high resolution in real cell-cell conjugates. In this study, we present a new device that allows for high-resolution imaging of the IS with conventional confocal microscopy in a high-throughput manner. Combining micropits and single-cell trap arrays, we have developed a new microfluidic platform that allows visualization of the IS in vertically "stacked" cells. Using this vertical cell pairing (VCP) system, we investigated the dynamics of the inhibitory synapse mediated by an inhibitory receptor, programed death protein-1, and the cytotoxic synapse at the single-cell level. In addition to the technique innovation, we have demonstrated novel biological findings by this VCP device, including novel distribution of F-actin and cytolytic granules at the IS, programed death protein-1 microclusters at the NK IS, and kinetics of cytotoxicity. We propose that this high-throughput, cost-effective, easy-to-use VCP system, along with conventional imaging techniques, can be used to address a number of significant biological questions in a variety of disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Hee Jang
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030; Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Yu Huang
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Peilin Zheng
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Myeong Chan Jo
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Grant Bertolet
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
| | - Michael Xi Zhu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
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45
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Jang JH, Huang Y, Zheng P, Jo MC, Bertolet G, Zhu MX, Qin L, Liu D. Imaging of Cell-Cell Communication in a Vertical Orientation Reveals High-Resolution Structure of Immunological Synapse and Novel PD-1 Dynamics. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:1320-30. [PMID: 26123352 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The immunological synapse (IS) is one of the most pivotal communication strategies in immune cells. Understanding the molecular basis of the IS provides critical information regarding how immune cells mount an effective immune response. Fluorescence microscopy provides a fundamental tool to study the IS. However, current imaging techniques for studying the IS cannot sufficiently achieve high resolution in real cell-cell conjugates. In this study, we present a new device that allows for high-resolution imaging of the IS with conventional confocal microscopy in a high-throughput manner. Combining micropits and single-cell trap arrays, we have developed a new microfluidic platform that allows visualization of the IS in vertically "stacked" cells. Using this vertical cell pairing (VCP) system, we investigated the dynamics of the inhibitory synapse mediated by an inhibitory receptor, programed death protein-1, and the cytotoxic synapse at the single-cell level. In addition to the technique innovation, we have demonstrated novel biological findings by this VCP device, including novel distribution of F-actin and cytolytic granules at the IS, programed death protein-1 microclusters at the NK IS, and kinetics of cytotoxicity. We propose that this high-throughput, cost-effective, easy-to-use VCP system, along with conventional imaging techniques, can be used to address a number of significant biological questions in a variety of disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Hee Jang
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030; Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Yu Huang
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Peilin Zheng
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Myeong Chan Jo
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Grant Bertolet
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
| | - Michael Xi Zhu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
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46
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Thomas LM. Current perspectives on natural killer cell education and tolerance: emerging roles for inhibitory receptors. Immunotargets Ther 2015; 4:45-53. [PMID: 27471711 PMCID: PMC4918248 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s61498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are regulated through the coordinated functions of activating and inhibitory receptors. These receptors can act during the initial engagement of an NK cell with a target cell, or in subsequent NK cell engagements to maintain tolerance. Notably, each individual possesses a sizable minority-population of NK cells that are devoid of inhibitory receptors that recognize the surrounding MHC class I (ie, self-MHC). Since these NK cells cannot perform conventional inhibition, they are rendered less responsive through the process of NK cell education (also known as licensing) in order to reduce the likelihood of auto-reactivity. This review will delineate current views on NK cell education, clarify various misconceptions about NK cell education, and, lastly, discuss the relevance of NK cell education in anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Michael Thomas
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
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47
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Zheng P, Noroski LM, Hanson IC, Chen Y, Lee ME, Huang Y, Zhu MX, Banerjee PP, Makedonas G, Orange JS, Shearer WT, Liu D. Molecular mechanisms of functional natural killer deficiency in patients with partial DiGeorge syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2015; 135:1293-302. [PMID: 25748067 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2014] [Revised: 01/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND DiGeorge syndrome affects more than 3.5 million persons worldwide. Partial DiGeorge syndrome (pDGS), which is characterized by a number of gene deletions in chromosome 22, including the chicken tumor virus number 10 regulator of kinase (Crk)-like (CrkL) gene, is one of the most common genetic disorders in human subjects. To date, the role of natural killer (NK) cells in patients with pDGS remains unclear. OBJECTIVE We sought to define the effect of pDGS-related Crk haploinsufficiency on NK cell activation and cytotoxic immunological synapse (IS) structure and function. METHODS Inducible CrkL-silenced NK cells were used to recapitulate the pDGS, CrkL-haploinsufficient phenotype. Findings were validated by using NK cells from patients with actual pDGS. Ultimately, deficits in the function of NK cells from patients with pDGS were restored by lentiviral transduction of CrkL. RESULTS Silencing of CrkL expression inhibits NK cell function. Specifically, pDGS haploinsufficiency of CrkL inhibits accumulation of activating receptors, polarization of cytolytic machinery and key signaling molecules, and activation of β2-integrin at the IS. Reintroduction of CrkL protein restores NK cell cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION CrkL haploinsufficiency causes functional NK deficits in patients with pDGS by disrupting both β2-integrin activation and activating receptor accumulation at the IS. Our results suggest that NK cell IS quality can directly affect immune status, providing a potential target for diagnosis and therapeutic manipulation in patients with pDGS and in other patients with functional NK cell deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peilin Zheng
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex
| | - Lenora M Noroski
- Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex
| | - Imelda C Hanson
- Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex
| | - Yuhui Chen
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex
| | - Michelle E Lee
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Wiess School of Natural Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Tex
| | - Yu Huang
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex
| | - Michael X Zhu
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex
| | - Pinaki P Banerjee
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex
| | - George Makedonas
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex
| | - Jordan S Orange
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex; Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex
| | - William T Shearer
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex; Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
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48
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Lisovsky I, Isitman G, Bruneau J, Bernard NF. Functional analysis of NK cell subsets activated by 721.221 and K562 HLA-null cells. J Leukoc Biol 2015; 97:761-7. [PMID: 25713086 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.4ab1014-499r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
HLA-null cell lines [721.221 (henceforth, 721) and K562] are often used to study NK cell activation. NK cells are innate immune lymphocytes that express a variety of stochastically expressed inhibitory and activating receptors. Although it is known that 721 and K562 have divergent origins, they have been used interchangeably to stimulate NK cells in many studies. We hypothesized that the differences between 721 and K562 cells may result in differential NK cell-activation patterns. In this report, we assessed all possible combinations of CD107a expression and IFN-γ and CCL4 secretion in total NK and 3DL1(+/-) NK cell populations induced by these 2 cell lines. 721 activates a significantly higher frequency of NK cells and 3DL1(+) NK cells than K562. The NK cell functional subsets that are stimulated to a higher degree by 721 than K562 include those secreting IFN-γ and/or CCL4. On the other hand, the functional subsets that include CD107 expression contribute to a higher proportion of the total NK cell response following stimulation with K562 than 721. These results have implications for the selection of HLA-null cell lines to use as NK cell stimuli in investigations of their role in infectious diseases, cancer, and transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Lisovsky
- *Research Institute, Chronic Viral Illness Service, and Division of Clinical Immunology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Department of Family Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gamze Isitman
- *Research Institute, Chronic Viral Illness Service, and Division of Clinical Immunology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Department of Family Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Julie Bruneau
- *Research Institute, Chronic Viral Illness Service, and Division of Clinical Immunology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Department of Family Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nicole F Bernard
- *Research Institute, Chronic Viral Illness Service, and Division of Clinical Immunology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Department of Family Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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49
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Zheng P, Bertolet G, Chen Y, Huang S, Liu D. Super-resolution imaging of the natural killer cell immunological synapse on a glass-supported planar lipid bilayer. J Vis Exp 2015. [PMID: 25741636 PMCID: PMC4354632 DOI: 10.3791/52502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The glass-supported planar lipid bilayer system has been utilized in a variety of disciplines. One of the most useful applications of this technique has been in the study of immunological synapse formation, due to the ability of the glass-supported planar lipid bilayers to mimic the surface of a target cell while forming a horizontal interface. The recent advances in super-resolution imaging have further allowed scientists to better view the fine details of synapse structure. In this study, one of these advanced techniques, stimulated emission depletion (STED), is utilized to study the structure of natural killer (NK) cell synapses on the supported lipid bilayer. Provided herein is an easy-to-follow protocol detailing: how to prepare raw synthetic phospholipids for use in synthesizing glass-supported bilayers; how to determine how densely protein of a given concentration occupies the bilayer's attachment sites; how to construct a supported lipid bilayer containing antibodies against NK cell activating receptor CD16; and finally, how to image human NK cells on this bilayer using STED super-resolution microscopy, with a focus on distribution of perforin positive lytic granules and filamentous actin at NK synapses. Thus, combining the glass-supported planar lipid bilayer system with STED technique, we demonstrate the feasibility and application of this combined technique, as well as intracellular structures at NK immunological synapse with super-resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peilin Zheng
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Grant Bertolet
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Yuhui Chen
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Shengjian Huang
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine;
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50
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Forbes CA, Coudert JD. Mechanisms regulating NK cell activation during viral infection. Future Virol 2015. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl.14.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT NK cells constitute a population of lymphocytes involved in innate immune functions. They play a critical role in antiviral immune surveillance. Viruses have evolved with their host species for millions of years, each exerting a selective pressure upon the other. As a corollary, the pathways used by the immune system that are critical to control viral infection can be revealed by defining the role of viral gene products that are nonessential for virus replication. We relate here the battery of resources available to NK cells to recognize and eliminate viruses and reciprocally the immune evasion mechanisms developed by viruses to prevent NK cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Forbes
- Centre for Experimental Immunology, Lions Eye Institute, 2 Verdun St, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jerome D Coudert
- Centre for Experimental Immunology, Lions Eye Institute, 2 Verdun St, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- Centre for Ophthalmology & Vision Science, M517, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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