1
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Sun B, da Costa KAS, Alrubayyi A, Kokici J, Fisher-Pearson N, Hussain N, D'Anna S, Piermatteo L, Salpini R, Svicher V, Kucykowicz S, Ghosh I, Burns F, Kinloch S, Simoes P, Bhagani S, Kennedy PTF, Maini MK, Bashford-Rogers R, Gill US, Peppa D. HIV/HBV coinfection remodels the immune landscape and natural killer cell ADCC functional responses. Hepatology 2024; 80:649-663. [PMID: 38687604 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HBV and HIV coinfection is a common occurrence globally, with significant morbidity and mortality. Both viruses lead to immune dysregulation including changes in natural killer (NK) cells, a key component of antiviral defense and a promising target for HBV cure strategies. Here we used high-throughput single-cell analysis to explore the immune cell landscape in people with HBV mono-infection and HIV/HBV coinfection, on antiviral therapy, with emphasis on identifying the distinctive characteristics of NK cell subsets that can be therapeutically harnessed. APPROACH AND RESULTS Our data show striking differences in the transcriptional programs of NK cells. HIV/HBV coinfection was characterized by an over-representation of adaptive, KLRC2 -expressing NK cells, including a higher abundance of a chemokine-enriched ( CCL3/CCL4 ) adaptive cluster. The NK cell remodeling in HIV/HBV coinfection was reflected in enriched activation pathways, including CD3ζ phosphorylation and ZAP-70 translocation that can mediate stronger antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity responses and a bias toward chemokine/cytokine signaling. By contrast, HBV mono-infection imposed a stronger cytotoxic profile on NK cells and a more prominent signature of "exhaustion" with higher circulating levels of HBsAg. Phenotypic alterations in the NK cell pool in coinfection were consistent with increased "adaptiveness" and better capacity for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity compared to HBV mono-infection. Overall, an adaptive NK cell signature correlated inversely with circulating levels of HBsAg and HBV-RNA in our cohort. CONCLUSIONS This study provides new insights into the differential signature and functional profile of NK cells in HBV and HIV/HBV coinfection, highlighting pathways that can be manipulated to tailor NK cell-focused approaches to advance HBV cure strategies in different patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Sun
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kelly A S da Costa
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Jonida Kokici
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Noshin Hussain
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stefano D'Anna
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Romina Salpini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Stephanie Kucykowicz
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
| | - Indrajit Ghosh
- Department of HIV, Mortimer Market Centre, CNWL NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Fiona Burns
- The Ian Charleson Day Centre, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- UCL Faculty of Population Health Sciences, Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sabine Kinloch
- The Ian Charleson Day Centre, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Pedro Simoes
- The Ian Charleson Day Centre, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sanjay Bhagani
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
- Department of HIV Medicine, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Patrick T F Kennedy
- Centre for Immunobiology, Barts Liver Centre, Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, QMUL, London, UK
| | - Mala K Maini
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Upkar S Gill
- Centre for Immunobiology, Barts Liver Centre, Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, QMUL, London, UK
| | - Dimitra Peppa
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
- Department of HIV, Mortimer Market Centre, CNWL NHS Trust, London, UK
- The Ian Charleson Day Centre, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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2
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Stary V, Pandey RV, List J, Kleissl L, Deckert F, Kabiljo J, Laengle J, Gerakopoulos V, Oehler R, Watzke L, Farlik M, Lukowski SW, Vogt AB, Stary G, Stockinger H, Bergmann M, Pilat N. Dysfunctional tumor-infiltrating Vδ1 + T lymphocytes in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6949. [PMID: 39138181 PMCID: PMC11322529 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51025-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Although γδ T cells are known to participate in immune dysregulation in solid tumors, their relevance to human microsatellite-stable (MSS) colorectal cancer (CRC) is still undefined. Here, using integrated gene expression analysis and T cell receptor sequencing, we characterized γδ T cells in MSS CRC, with a focus on Vδ1 + T cells. We identified Vδ1+ T cells with shared motifs in the third complementarity-determining region of the δ-chain, reflective of antigen recognition. Changes in gene and protein expression levels suggested a dysfunctional effector state of Vδ1+ T cells in MSS CRC, distinct from Vδ1+ T cells in microsatellite-instable (MSI). Interaction analysis highlighted an immunosuppressive role of fibroblasts in the dysregulation of Vδ1+ T cells in MSS CRC via the TIGIT-NECTIN2 axis. Blocking this pathway with a TIGIT antibody partially restored cytotoxicity of the dysfunctional Vδ1 phenotype. These results define an operative pathway in γδ T cells in MSS CRC.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology
- Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics
- Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Receptors, Immunologic/genetics
- Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism
- Receptors, Immunologic/immunology
- Microsatellite Instability
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/metabolism
- Microsatellite Repeats/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Female
- Male
- Complementarity Determining Regions/genetics
- Complementarity Determining Regions/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Stary
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna, Austria.
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ram V Pandey
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Dermatology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia List
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Kleissl
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Dermatology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Deckert
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julijan Kabiljo
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Laengle
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vasileios Gerakopoulos
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Oehler
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Watzke
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Pathology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Farlik
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Dermatology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Samuel W Lukowski
- Department of Human Cancer Immunology, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmBH & Co KG., Dr. Boehringer Gasse 5-11, 1120, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne B Vogt
- Department of Human Cancer Immunology, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmBH & Co KG., Dr. Boehringer Gasse 5-11, 1120, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Stary
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Dermatology, Vienna, Austria
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannes Stockinger
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Bergmann
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Pilat
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna, Austria
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Vienna, Austria
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery, Vienna, Austria
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3
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Sacristán C, Youngblood BA, Lu P, Bally APR, Xu JX, McGary K, Hewitt SL, Boss JM, Skok JA, Ahmed R, Dustin ML. Chronic viral infection alters PD-1 locus subnuclear localization in cytotoxic CD8 + T cells. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114547. [PMID: 39083377 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
During chronic infection, virus-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) progressively lose their ability to mount effective antiviral responses. This "exhaustion" is coupled to persistent upregulation of inhibitory receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1) (Pdcd1)-key in suppressing antiviral CTL responses. Here, we investigate allelic Pdcd1 subnuclear localization and transcription during acute and chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection in mice. Pdcd1 alleles dissociate from transcriptionally repressive chromatin domains (lamin B) in virus-specific exhausted CTLs but not in naive or effector CTLs. Relative to naive CTLs, nuclear positioning and Pdcd1-lamina dissociation in exhausted CTLs reflect loss of Pdcd1 promoter methylation and greater PD-1 upregulation, although a direct correlation is not observed in effector cells, 8 days post-infection. Genetic deletion of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1) enhances Pdcd1-lamina dissociation in effector CTLs, suggesting that Blimp-1 contributes to maintaining Pdcd1 localization to repressive lamina. Our results identify mechanisms governing Pdcd1 subnuclear localization and the broader role of chromatin dynamics in T cell exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Sacristán
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ben A Youngblood
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Immunology Department, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Peiyuan Lu
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alexander P R Bally
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jean Xiaojin Xu
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Katelyn McGary
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susannah L Hewitt
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy M Boss
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jane A Skok
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rafi Ahmed
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michael L Dustin
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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4
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Hirsch T, Neyens D, Duhamel C, Bayard A, Vanhaver C, Luyckx M, Sala de Oyanguren F, Wildmann C, Dauguet N, Squifflet JL, Montiel V, Deschamps M, van der Bruggen P. IRF4 impedes human CD8 T cell function and promotes cell proliferation and PD-1 expression. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114401. [PMID: 38943641 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Human CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) with impaired effector functions and PD-1 expression are categorized as exhausted. However, the exhaustion-like features reported in TILs might stem from their activation rather than the consequence of T cell exhaustion itself. Using CRISPR-Cas9 and lentiviral overexpression in CD8 T cells from non-cancerous donors, we show that the T cell receptor (TCR)-induced transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) promotes cell proliferation and PD-1 expression and hampers effector functions and expression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)-regulated genes. While CD8 TILs with impaired interferon γ (IFNγ) production exhibit activation markers IRF4 and CD137 and exhaustion markers thymocyte selection associated high mobility group box (TOX) and PD-1, activated T cells in patients with COVID-19 do not demonstrate elevated levels of TOX and PD-1. These results confirm that IRF4+ TILs are exhausted rather than solely activated. Our study indicates, however, that PD-1 expression, low IFNγ production, and active cycling in TILs are all influenced by IRF4 upregulation after T cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Hirsch
- De Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Damien Neyens
- De Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Céline Duhamel
- De Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Bayard
- De Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Mathieu Luyckx
- De Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; Département de Gynécologie, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Claude Wildmann
- De Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Dauguet
- De Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Luc Squifflet
- Département de Gynécologie, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Virginie Montiel
- Unité de Soins Intensifs, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mélanie Deschamps
- Unité de Soins Intensifs, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre van der Bruggen
- De Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO Department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium
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5
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Vera R, Lamberti MJ, Gonzalez AL, Fernandez-Zapico ME. Epigenetic regulation of the tumor microenvironment: A leading force driving pancreatic cancer. Pancreatology 2024:S1424-3903(24)00685-9. [PMID: 39095296 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2024.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the epigenomic landscape of tumor cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. However, these alterations are not only restricted to neoplastic cells. The behavior of other cell populations in the tumor stroma such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells, and others are mostly regulated by epigenetic pathways. Here, we present an overview of the main cellular and acellular components of the pancreatic cancer tumor microenvironment and discuss how the epigenetic mechanisms operate at different levels in the stroma to establish a differential gene expression to regulate distinct cellular phenotypes contributing to pancreatic tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renzo Vera
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Rochester, MN, 55901, USA.
| | - María Julia Lamberti
- INBIAS-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (UNRC), Río Cuarto, Córdoba, 5800, Argentina
| | - Alina L Gonzalez
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Ciencias de La Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa (INCITAP), Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UNLPam-CONICET), Santa Rosa, Argentina
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6
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Wu H, Wu Z, Li H, Wang Z, Chen Y, Bao J, Chen B, Xu S, Xia E, Ye D, Dai X. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor biosynthesis pathway-based biomarker identification with machine learning for prognosis and T cell exhaustion status prediction in breast cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1392940. [PMID: 39015576 PMCID: PMC11249538 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1392940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
As the primary component of anti-tumor immunity, T cells are prone to exhaustion and dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment (TME). A thorough understanding of T cell exhaustion (TEX) in the TME is crucial for effectively addressing TEX in clinical settings and promoting the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapies. In eukaryotes, numerous cell surface proteins are tethered to the plasma membrane via Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors, which play a crucial role in facilitating the proper translocation of membrane proteins. However, the available evidence is insufficient to support any additional functional involvement of GPI anchors. Here, we investigate the signature of GPI-anchor biosynthesis in the TME of breast cancer (BC)patients, particularly its correlation with TEX. GPI-anchor biosynthesis should be considered as a prognostic risk factor for BC. Patients with high GPI-anchor biosynthesis showed more severe TEX. And the levels of GPI-anchor biosynthesis in exhausted CD8 T cells was higher than normal CD8 T cells, which was not observed between malignant epithelial cells and normal mammary epithelial cells. In addition, we also found that GPI -anchor biosynthesis related genes can be used to diagnose TEX status and predict prognosis in BC patients, both the TEX diagnostic model and the prognostic model showed good AUC values. Finally, we confirmed our findings in cells and clinical samples. Knockdown of PIGU gene expression significantly reduced the proliferation rate of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines. Immunofluorescence results from clinical samples showed reduced aggregation of CD8 T cells in tissues with high expression of GPAA1 and PIGU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haodong Wu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhixuan Wu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongfeng Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ziqiong Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yao Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingxia Bao
- Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Buran Chen
- School of Molecular Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Shuning Xu
- Department of Computer Information Systems, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Erjie Xia
- Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Daijiao Ye
- Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuanxuan Dai
- Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
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7
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Strongin Z, Raymond Marchand L, Deleage C, Pampena MB, Cardenas MA, Beusch CM, Hoang TN, Urban EA, Gourves M, Nguyen K, Tharp GK, Lapp S, Rahmberg AR, Harper J, Del Rio Estrada PM, Gonzalez-Navarro M, Torres-Ruiz F, Luna-Villalobos YA, Avila-Rios S, Reyes-Teran G, Sekaly R, Silvestri G, Kulpa DA, Saez-Cirion A, Brenchley JM, Bosinger SE, Gordon DE, Betts MR, Kissick HT, Paiardini M. Distinct SIV-specific CD8 + T cells in the lymph node exhibit simultaneous effector and stem-like profiles and are associated with limited SIV persistence. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1245-1256. [PMID: 38886592 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01875-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cure efforts are increasingly focused on harnessing CD8+ T cell functions, which requires a deeper understanding of CD8+ T cells promoting HIV control. Here we identifiy an antigen-responsive TOXhiTCF1+CD39+CD8+ T cell population with high expression of inhibitory receptors and low expression of canonical cytolytic molecules. Transcriptional analysis of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-specific CD8+ T cells and proteomic analysis of purified CD8+ T cell subsets identified TOXhiTCF1+CD39+CD8+ T cells as intermediate effectors that retained stem-like features with a lineage relationship with terminal effector T cells. TOXhiTCF1+CD39+CD8+ T cells were found at higher frequency than TCF1-CD39+CD8+ T cells in follicular microenvironments and were preferentially located in proximity of SIV-RNA+ cells. Their frequency was associated with reduced plasma viremia and lower SIV reservoir size. Highly similar TOXhiTCF1+CD39+CD8+ T cells were detected in lymph nodes from antiretroviral therapy-naive and antiretroviral therapy-suppressed people living with HIV, suggesting this population of CD8+ T cells contributes to limiting SIV and HIV persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Strongin
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Laurence Raymond Marchand
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Claire Deleage
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - M Betina Pampena
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for AIDS Research and Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Christian Michel Beusch
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Timothy N Hoang
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Urban
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Mael Gourves
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Viral Reservoirs and Immune Control Unit, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, HIV Inflammation and Persistence Unit, Paris, France
| | - Kevin Nguyen
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gregory K Tharp
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stacey Lapp
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andrew R Rahmberg
- Barrier Immunity Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAIDNIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Justin Harper
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Perla M Del Rio Estrada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mauricio Gonzalez-Navarro
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fernanda Torres-Ruiz
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yara Andrea Luna-Villalobos
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Santiago Avila-Rios
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gustavo Reyes-Teran
- Comision Coordinadora de los Institutos Nacionales de Salud y Hospitales de Alta Especialidad, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rafick Sekaly
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Guido Silvestri
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Deanna A Kulpa
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Asier Saez-Cirion
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Viral Reservoirs and Immune Control Unit, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, HIV Inflammation and Persistence Unit, Paris, France
| | - Jason M Brenchley
- Barrier Immunity Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAIDNIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Steven E Bosinger
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David Ezra Gordon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michael R Betts
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for AIDS Research and Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Haydn T Kissick
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mirko Paiardini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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8
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Takahashi M, So TY, Chamberlain-Evans V, Hughes R, Yam-Puc JC, Kania K, Ruhle M, Mann T, Schuijs MJ, Coupland P, Naisbitt D, Halim TY, Lyons PA, Lio P, Roychoudhuri R, Okkenhaug K, Adams DJ, Smith KG, Jodrell DI, Chapman MA, Thaventhiran JED. Intratumoral antigen signaling traps CD8 + T cells to confine exhaustion to the tumor site. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eade2094. [PMID: 38787961 PMCID: PMC7616235 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade2094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy advances have been hindered by difficulties in tracking the behaviors of lymphocytes after antigen signaling. Here, we assessed the behavior of T cells active within tumors through the development of the antigen receptor signaling reporter (AgRSR) mouse, fate-mapping lymphocytes responding to antigens at specific times and locations. Contrary to reports describing the ready egress of T cells out of the tumor, we find that intratumoral antigen signaling traps CD8+ T cells in the tumor. These clonal populations expand and become increasingly exhausted over time. By contrast, antigen-signaled regulatory T cell (Treg) clonal populations readily recirculate out of the tumor. Consequently, intratumoral antigen signaling acts as a gatekeeper to compartmentalize CD8+ T cell responses, even within the same clonotype, thus enabling exhausted T cells to remain confined to a specific tumor tissue site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munetomo Takahashi
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge; Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 1QR, UK
- Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo,
113-0033, Japan
| | - Tsz Y. So
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge; Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 1QR, UK
- University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute; Cambridge,
CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Vitalina Chamberlain-Evans
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge; Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Robert Hughes
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge; Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Juan Carlos Yam-Puc
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge; Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Katarzyna Kania
- University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute; Cambridge,
CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Michelle Ruhle
- University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute; Cambridge,
CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Tiffeney Mann
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge; Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Martijn J. Schuijs
- University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute; Cambridge,
CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Paul Coupland
- University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute; Cambridge,
CB2 0RE, UK
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute, Cambridge CB21 6GP, UK
| | - Dean Naisbitt
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool; Sherrington Building, Ashton Street,
Liverpool,
L69 3G, UK
| | | | - Paul A. Lyons
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious
Disease, University of Cambridge; Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus,
Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine; Cambridge Biomedical Campus,
Cambridge, UK
| | - Pietro Lio
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge; Cambridge,
CB3 0FD, UK
| | | | - Klaus Okkenhaug
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge; Cambridge, UK
| | - David J. Adams
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute; Hinxton, Cambridge,
CB10 1SA
| | - Ken G.C. Smith
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious
Disease, University of Cambridge; Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus,
Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine; Cambridge Biomedical Campus,
Cambridge, UK
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical
Research, Parkville, VIC 3052,
Australia
- The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052,
Australia
| | - Duncan I. Jodrell
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine; Box 197, Cambridge
Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2
0XZ, UK
| | - Michael A. Chapman
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge; Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 1QR, UK
- Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge,
CB2 0RE, UK
| | - James E. D. Thaventhiran
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge; Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 1QR, UK
- University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute; Cambridge,
CB2 0RE, UK
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9
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Chen H, Yan D, Sun J, Zhou M. Inference of Developmental Hierarchy and Functional States of Exhausted T Cells from Epigenetic Profiles with Deep Learning. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:3579-3591. [PMID: 38545680 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Exhausted T cells are a key component of immune cells that play a crucial role in the immune response against cancer and influence the efficacy of immunotherapy. Accurate assessment and measurement of T-cell exhaustion (TEX) are critical for understanding the heterogeneity of TEX in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and tailoring individualized immunotherapeutic strategies. In this study, we introduced DeepEpiTEX, a novel computational framework based on deep neural networks, for inferring the developmental hierarchy and functional states of exhausted T cells in the TME from epigenetic profiles. DeepEpiTEX was trained using various modalities of epigenetic data, including DNA methylation data, microRNA expression data, and long non-coding RNA expression data from 30 bulk solid cancer types in the TCGA pan-cancer cohort, and identified five optimal TEX subsets with significant survival differences across the majority of cancer types. The performance of DeepEpiTEX was further evaluated and validated in external multi-center and multi-type cancer cohorts, consistently demonstrating its generalizability and applicability in different experimental settings. In addition, we discovered the potential relationship between TEX subsets identified by DeepEpiTEX and the response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy, indicating that individuals with immune-favorable TEX subsets may experience the greatest benefits. In conclusion, our study sheds light on the role of epigenetic regulation in TEX and provides a powerful and promising tool for categorizing TEX in different disease settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Dongxue Yan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Jie Sun
- School of Biomedical Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Meng Zhou
- School of Biomedical Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
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10
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Long SA, Muir VS, Jones BE, Wall VZ, Ylescupidez A, Hocking AM, Pribitzer S, Thorpe J, Fuchs B, Wiedeman AE, Tatum M, Lambert K, Uchtenhagen H, Speake C, Ng B, Heubeck AT, Torgerson TR, Savage AK, Maldonado MA, Ray N, Khaychuk V, Liu J, Linsley PS, Buckner JH. Abatacept increases T cell exhaustion in early RA individuals who carry HLA risk alleles. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1383110. [PMID: 38650930 PMCID: PMC11033422 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383110] [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: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Exhausted CD8 T cells (TEX) are associated with worse outcome in cancer yet better outcome in autoimmunity. Building on our past findings of increased TIGIT+KLRG1+ TEX with teplizumab therapy in type 1 diabetes (T1D), in the absence of treatment we found that the frequency of TIGIT+KLRG1+ TEX is stable within an individual but differs across individuals in both T1D and healthy control (HC) cohorts. This TIGIT+KLRG1+ CD8 TEX population shares an exhaustion-associated EOMES gene signature in HC, T1D, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and cancer subjects, expresses multiple inhibitory receptors, and is hyporesponsive in vitro, together suggesting co-expression of TIGIT and KLRG1 may broadly define human peripheral exhausted cells. In HC and RA subjects, lower levels of EOMES transcriptional modules and frequency of TIGIT+KLRG1+ TEX were associated with RA HLA risk alleles (DR0401, 0404, 0405, 0408, 1001) even when considering disease status and cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity. Moreover, the frequency of TIGIT+KLRG1+ TEX was significantly increased in RA HLA risk but not non-risk subjects treated with abatacept (CTLA4Ig). The DR4 association and selective modulation with abatacept suggests that therapeutic modulation of TEX may be more effective in DR4 subjects and TEX may be indirectly influenced by cellular interactions that are blocked by abatacept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Alice Long
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Virginia S. Muir
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Britta E. Jones
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Valerie Z. Wall
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Alyssa Ylescupidez
- Center for Interventional Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Anne M. Hocking
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Stephan Pribitzer
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jerill Thorpe
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Bryce Fuchs
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Alice E. Wiedeman
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Megan Tatum
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Katharina Lambert
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Hannes Uchtenhagen
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Cate Speake
- Center for Interventional Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Bernard Ng
- VA National Rheumatology Program, Specialty Care Program Office, Washington, DC, United States
- Rheumatology Section, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | | | - Adam K. Savage
- Allen Institute for Immunology, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Jinqi Liu
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Peter S. Linsley
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jane H. Buckner
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
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11
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Chen Q, Chen J, Lu Z, Nian R, Li W, Yao Z, Mou S, Liu Y, Cao X, He W, Zhu C. The prognostic value of LAYN in HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and its influence on immune cell infiltration. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:57. [PMID: 38430385 PMCID: PMC10908921 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-00913-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) exhibits different characteristics from HPV-negative tumors in terms of tumor development, clinical features, treatment response, and prognosis. Layilin (LAYN), which contains homology with C-type lectins, plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, the prognostic value of LAYN and the relationship between LAYN and immune infiltration levels in HPV-related HNSCC patients still require a comprehensive understanding. Herein, we aimed to assess the prognostic value of LAYN and to investigate its underlying immunological function in HPV-related HNSCC. METHODS Through various bioinformatics methods, we analyzed the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases to explore the potential underlying oncogenic impression of LAYN, including the relevance of LAYN to survival outcomes, clinicopathological factors, immune cell infiltration, and immune marker sets in HPV-related HNSCC. The expression levels of LAYN and HPV were also verified in HNSCC patient tissues. RESULTS LAYN was differentially expressed in a variety of tumors. The expression of LAYN in HNSCC was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.0001), and high expression of LAYN was correlated with poor overall survival (OS) in HNSCC patients (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.3, P = 0.035). Moreover, LAYN expression level in HPV-positive HNSCC patients was significantly lower than that in HPV-negative patients, with HPV-positive HNSCC patients displaying a trend of favorable prognosis. In addition, the relationship between LAYN expression and immune infiltration levels in HPV-positive HNSCC group was less tightly correlated than that in HPV-negative HNSCC group, and there was a strong relationship between LAYN expression and markers of M2 macrophage (P < 0.001) and exhausted T cells (P < 0.05) in HPV-negative HNSCC. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis suggested that LAYN potentially influenced tumor progression through HPV infection and other cancer-related pathways. CONCLUSIONS LAYN might contribute to tumorigenesis via its positive correlation with immune checkpoint molecules and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Our study might provide a novel prognostic biomarker and latent therapeutic target for the treatment of HPV-related HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingjuan Chen
- Department of Oncology, 3201 Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Oncology, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 40016, China
| | - Jiankang Chen
- Department of Oncology, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 40016, China
| | - Zuzhuang Lu
- Department of Oncology, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 40016, China
| | - Rui Nian
- Department of Pathology, 3201 Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wanjun Li
- Department of Pathology, 3201 Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhongqiang Yao
- Department of Oncology, 3201 Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shangdong Mou
- Department of Oncology, 3201 Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Oncology, 3201 Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xia Cao
- Department of Oncology, 3201 Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenjing He
- Department of Oncology, Xianyang Center Hospital, Xi'an, 712000, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Chenjing Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China.
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12
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Liang S, Zheng R, Zuo B, Li J, Wang Y, Han Y, Dong H, Zhao X, Zhang Y, Wang P, Meng R, Jia L, Yang A, Yan B. SMAD7 expression in CAR-T cells improves persistence and safety for solid tumors. Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:213-226. [PMID: 38177245 PMCID: PMC10901810 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01120-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the tremendous progress of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy in hematological malignancies, their application in solid tumors has been limited largely due to T-cell exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and systemic toxicity caused by excessive cytokine release. As a key regulator of the immunosuppressive TME, TGF-β promotes cytokine synthesis via the NF-κB pathway. Here, we coexpressed SMAD7, a suppressor of TGF-β signaling, with a HER2-targeted CAR in engineered T cells. These novel CAR-T cells displayed high cytolytic efficacy and were resistant to TGF-β-triggered exhaustion, which enabled sustained tumoricidal capacity after continuous antigen exposure. Moreover, SMAD7 substantially reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines by antigen-primed CAR-T cells. Mechanistically, SMAD7 downregulated TGF-β receptor I and abrogated the interplay between the TGF-β and NF-κB pathways in CAR-T cells. As a result, these CAR-T cells persistently inhibited tumor growth and promoted the survival of tumor-challenged mice regardless of the hostile tumor microenvironment caused by a high concentration of TGF-β. SMAD7 coexpression also enhanced CAR-T-cell infiltration and persistent activation in patient-derived tumor organoids. Therefore, our study demonstrated the feasibility of SMAD7 coexpression as a novel approach to improve the efficacy and safety of CAR-T-cell therapy for solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sixin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
- School of Medicine Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Rui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Baile Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
- School of Medicine Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital of Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Yiyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Yujie Han
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
- School of Medicine Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Hao Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
- School of Medicine Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Xiaojuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Yiting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Pengju Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Ruotong Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
- College of Life Science, Yan'an University, Yan'an, Shaanxi, 716000, China
| | - Lintao Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
| | - Angang Yang
- Department of Immunology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
| | - Bo Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
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13
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Palmeri JR, Lax BM, Peters JM, Duhamel L, Stinson JA, Santollani L, Lutz EA, Pinney W, Bryson BD, Dane Wittrup K. CD8 + T cell priming that is required for curative intratumorally anchored anti-4-1BB immunotherapy is constrained by Tregs. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1900. [PMID: 38429261 PMCID: PMC10907589 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45625-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Although co-stimulation of T cells with agonist antibodies targeting 4-1BB (CD137) improves antitumor immune responses in preclinical studies, clinical success has been limited by on-target, off-tumor activity. Here, we report the development of a tumor-anchored ɑ4-1BB agonist (ɑ4-1BB-LAIR), which consists of a ɑ4-1BB antibody fused to the collagen-binding protein LAIR. While combination treatment with an antitumor antibody (TA99) shows only modest efficacy, simultaneous depletion of CD4+ T cells boosts cure rates to over 90% of mice. Mechanistically, this synergy depends on ɑCD4 eliminating tumor draining lymph node regulatory T cells, resulting in priming and activation of CD8+ T cells which then infiltrate the tumor microenvironment. The cytotoxic program of these newly primed CD8+ T cells is then supported by the combined effect of TA99 and ɑ4-1BB-LAIR. The combination of TA99 and ɑ4-1BB-LAIR with a clinically approved ɑCTLA-4 antibody known for enhancing T cell priming results in equivalent cure rates, which validates the mechanistic principle, while the addition of ɑCTLA-4 also generates robust immunological memory against secondary tumor rechallenge. Thus, our study establishes the proof of principle for a clinically translatable cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Palmeri
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Brianna M Lax
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Joshua M Peters
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lauren Duhamel
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jordan A Stinson
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Luciano Santollani
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Emi A Lutz
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - William Pinney
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bryan D Bryson
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - K Dane Wittrup
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA.
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14
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Luo YH, Shen CI, Chiang CL, Huang HC, Chen YM. Dynamic immune signatures of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer for infection prediction after immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1269253. [PMID: 38343550 PMCID: PMC10853389 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1269253] [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: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Pulmonary infections are a crucial health concern for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Whether the clinical outcome of pulmonary infection is influenced by immunotherapy(IO) remains unclear. By evaluating immune signatures, this study investigated the post-immunotherapy risk of pulmonary infection in patients with lung cancer and identified circulating biomarkers that predict post-immunotherapy infection. Methods Blood specimens were prospectively collected from patients with NSCLC before and after chemotherapy(C/T) and/or IO to explore dynamic changes in immune signatures. Real-world clinical data were extracted from medical records for outcome evaluation. Mass cytometry and ELISA were employed to analyze immune signatures and cytokine profiles to reveal potential correlations between immune profiles and the risk of infection. Results The retrospective cohort included 283 patients with advanced NSCLC. IO was associated with a lower risk of pneumonia (odds ratio=0.46, p=0.012). Patients receiving IO and remained pneumonia-free exhibited the most favorable survival outcomes compared with those who received C/T or developed pneumonia (p<0.001). The prospective cohort enrolled 30 patients. The proportion of circulating NK cells significantly increased after treatment in IO alone (p<0.001) and C/T+IO group (p<0.01). An increase in cell densities of circulating PD-1+CD8+(cytotoxic) T cells (p<0.01) and PD-1+CD4+ T cells (p<0.01) were observed in C/T alone group after treatment. In IO alone group, a decrease in cell densities of TIM-3+ and PD-1+ cytotoxic T cells (p<0.05), and PD-1+CD4+ T cells (p<0.01) were observed after treatment. In C/T alone and C/T+IO groups, cell densities of circulating PD-1+ cytotoxic T cells significantly increased in patients with pneumonia after treatment(p<0.05). However, in IO alone group, cell density of PD-1+ cytotoxic T cells significantly decreased in patients without pneumonia after treatment (p<0.05). TNF-α significantly increased after treatment with IO alone (p<0.05) but decreased after C/T alone (p<0.01). Conclusions Our results indicate that the incorporation of immunotherapy into treatment regimens may potentially offer protective effects against pulmonary infection. Protective effects are associated with reduction of exhausted T-cells and augmentation of TNF-α and NK cells. Exhausted T cells, NK cells, and TNF-α may play crucial roles in immune responses against infections. These observations highlight the potential utility of certain circulating biomarkers, particularly exhausted T cells, for predicting post-treatment infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Hung Luo
- Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-I Shen
- Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Lu Chiang
- Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsu-Ching Huang
- Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuh-Min Chen
- Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
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15
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Lang-Meli J, Neumann-Haefelin C, Thimme R. Targeting virus-specific CD8+ T cells for treatment of chronic viral hepatitis: from bench to bedside. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2024; 24:77-89. [PMID: 38290716 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2024.2313112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION More than 350 million people worldwide live with chronic viral hepatitis and are thus at risk for severe complications like liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To meet the goals of the World Health Organization (WHO) global hepatitis strategy, there is an urgent need for new immunotherapeutic approaches. These are particularly required for chronic hepatitis B virus infection and - B/D coinfection. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes data on mechanisms of CD8+ T cells failure in chronic hepatitis B, D, C and E virus infection. The relative contribution of the different concepts (viral escape, CD8+ T cell exhaustion, defective priming) will be discussed. On this basis, examples for future therapeutic approaches targeting virus-specific CD8+ T cells for the individual hepatitis viruses will be discussed. EXPERT OPINION Immunotherapeutic approaches targeting virus-specific CD8+ T cells have the potential to change clinical practice, especially in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Further clinical development, however, requires a more detailed understanding of T cell immunology in chronic viral hepatitis. Some important conceptual questions remain to be addressed, e.g. regarding heterogeneity of exhausted virus-specific CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Lang-Meli
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg and Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- IMM-PACT Programm, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Neumann-Haefelin
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg and Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg and Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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16
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Beltra JC, Abdel-Hakeem MS, Manne S, Zhang Z, Huang H, Kurachi M, Su L, Picton L, Ngiow SF, Muroyama Y, Casella V, Huang YJ, Giles JR, Mathew D, Belman J, Klapholz M, Decaluwe H, Huang AC, Berger SL, Garcia KC, Wherry EJ. Stat5 opposes the transcription factor Tox and rewires exhausted CD8 + T cells toward durable effector-like states during chronic antigen exposure. Immunity 2023; 56:2699-2718.e11. [PMID: 38091951 PMCID: PMC10752292 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Rewiring exhausted CD8+ T (Tex) cells toward functional states remains a therapeutic challenge. Tex cells are epigenetically programmed by the transcription factor Tox. However, epigenetic remodeling occurs as Tex cells transition from progenitor (Texprog) to intermediate (Texint) and terminal (Texterm) subsets, suggesting development flexibility. We examined epigenetic transitions between Tex cell subsets and revealed a reciprocally antagonistic circuit between Stat5a and Tox. Stat5 directed Texint cell formation and re-instigated partial effector biology during this Texprog-to-Texint cell transition. Constitutive Stat5a activity antagonized Tox and rewired CD8+ T cells from exhaustion to a durable effector and/or natural killer (NK)-like state with superior anti-tumor potential. Temporal induction of Stat5 activity in Tex cells using an orthogonal IL-2:IL2Rβ-pair fostered Texint cell accumulation, particularly upon PD-L1 blockade. Re-engaging Stat5 also partially reprogrammed the epigenetic landscape of exhaustion and restored polyfunctionality. These data highlight therapeutic opportunities of manipulating the IL-2-Stat5 axis to rewire Tex cells toward more durably protective states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Christophe Beltra
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mohamed S Abdel-Hakeem
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Sasikanth Manne
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hua Huang
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Makoto Kurachi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Leon Su
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lora Picton
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Shin Foong Ngiow
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yuki Muroyama
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Valentina Casella
- Infection Biology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yinghui J Huang
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Josephine R Giles
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Divij Mathew
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan Belman
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Max Klapholz
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hélène Decaluwe
- Cytokines and Adaptive Immunity Laboratory, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Immunology and Rheumatology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alexander C Huang
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - K Christopher Garcia
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, 1 Letterman Drive, Suite D3500, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - E John Wherry
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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17
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Velasco Cárdenas RMH, Brandl SM, Meléndez AV, Schlaak AE, Buschky A, Peters T, Beier F, Serrels B, Taromi S, Raute K, Hauri S, Gstaiger M, Lassmann S, Huppa JB, Boerries M, Andrieux G, Bengsch B, Schamel WW, Minguet S. Harnessing CD3 diversity to optimize CAR T cells. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:2135-2149. [PMID: 37932456 PMCID: PMC10681901 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01658-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Current US Food and Drug Administration-approved chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells harbor the T cell receptor (TCR)-derived ζ chain as an intracellular activation domain in addition to costimulatory domains. The functionality in a CAR format of the other chains of the TCR complex, namely CD3δ, CD3ε and CD3γ, instead of ζ, remains unknown. In the present study, we have systematically engineered new CD3 CARs, each containing only one of the CD3 intracellular domains. We found that CARs containing CD3δ, CD3ε or CD3γ cytoplasmic tails outperformed the conventional ζ CAR T cells in vivo. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis revealed differences in activation potential, metabolism and stimulation-induced T cell dysfunctionality that mechanistically explain the enhanced anti-tumor performance. Furthermore, dimerization of the CARs improved their overall functionality. Using these CARs as minimalistic and synthetic surrogate TCRs, we have identified the phosphatase SHP-1 as a new interaction partner of CD3δ that binds the CD3δ-ITAM on phosphorylation of its C-terminal tyrosine. SHP-1 attenuates and restrains activation signals and might thus prevent exhaustion and dysfunction. These new insights into T cell activation could promote the rational redesign of synthetic antigen receptors to improve cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubí M-H Velasco Cárdenas
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon M Brandl
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ana Valeria Meléndez
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Emilia Schlaak
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Annabelle Buschky
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Timo Peters
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fabian Beier
- Institute for Surgical Pathology, Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bryan Serrels
- Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- NanoString Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sanaz Taromi
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences, University of Furtwangen, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Raute
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Hauri
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Gstaiger
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Silke Lassmann
- Institute for Surgical Pathology, Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johannes B Huppa
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Melanie Boerries
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium and German Cancer Research Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Geoffroy Andrieux
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bertram Bengsch
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W Schamel
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center of Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Clinics and Medical Faculty, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Susana Minguet
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Center of Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Clinics and Medical Faculty, Freiburg, Germany.
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18
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Tao Q, Du JX, Zhang S, Lin W, Luo Y, Liu Y, Zeng J, Chen XL. Longitudinal multi-functional analysis identified responses of T cells, B cells, and monocytes as hallmarks of immunotherapy tolerance in patients with merkel cell carcinoma. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293922. [PMID: 37983224 PMCID: PMC10659156 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a neuroendocrine carcinoma originating in the skin. Studies are needed to determine the mechanisms of immune escape in patients with MCC, and malignant cell conditions that promote immune evasion. METHODS We used Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to determine cellular features associated with MCC disease trajectory. A longitudinal multi-omics study was performed using scRNA-seq data of peripheral blood harvested from four-time points. Six major cell types and fifteen cell subgroups were identified and confirmed their presence by expression of characteristic markers. The expression patterns and specific changes of different cells at different time points were investigated. Subsequently, bulk RNA data was used to validate key findings. RESULTS The dynamic characteristics of the cells were identified during the critical period between benign improvement and acquisition of resistance. Combined with the results of the validation cohort, the resistance program expressed in the relapse stage is mainly associated with T cell exhaustion and immune cell crosstalk disorder. Coinciding with immune escape, we also identified a decrease non-classical monocytes and an expansion of classical monocytes with features of high inflammation and immune deficiency. CONCLUSION Changes in cellular status, such as depletion of T cells and dysregulation of B cell proliferation and differentiation, may lead to drug resistance in MCC patients. Meanwhile, the widespread decreased antigen presentation ability and immune disorders caused by deletion of MHC class II gene expression should not be ignored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quyuan Tao
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jia-xin Du
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shijing Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenjia Lin
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongxin Luo
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingyan Zeng
- Shenzhen Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin-lin Chen
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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19
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Rossi M, Vecchi A, Tiezzi C, Barili V, Fisicaro P, Penna A, Montali I, Daffis S, Fletcher SP, Gaggar A, Medley J, Graupe M, Lad L, Loglio A, Soffredini R, Borghi M, Pollicino T, Musolino C, Alfieri A, Brillo F, Laccabue D, Massari M, Boarini C, Abbati G, Pedrazzi G, Missale G, Lampertico P, Ferrari C, Boni C. Phenotypic CD8 T cell profiling in chronic hepatitis B to predict HBV-specific CD8 T cell susceptibility to functional restoration in vitro. Gut 2023; 72:2123-2137. [PMID: 36717219 PMCID: PMC10579518 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-327202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Exhausted hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific CD8 T cells in chronic HBV infection are broadly heterogeneous. Characterisation of their functional impairment may allow to distinguish patients with different capacity to control infection and reconstitute antiviral function. DESIGN HBV dextramer+CD8 T cells were analysed ex vivo for coexpression of checkpoint/differentiation markers, transcription factors and cytokines in 35 patients with HLA-A2+chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and in 29 control HBsAg negative CHB patients who seroconverted after NUC treatment or spontaneously. Cytokine production was also evaluated in HBV peptide-stimulated T cell cultures, in the presence or absence of antioxidant, polyphenolic, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and TLR-8 agonist compounds and the effect on HBV-specific responses was further validated on additional 24 HLA-A2 negative CHB patients. RESULTS Severely exhausted HBV-specific CD8 T cell subsets with high expression of inhibitory receptors, such as PD-1, TOX and CD39, were detected only in a subgroup of chronic viraemic patients. Conversely, a large predominance of functionally more efficient HBV-specific CD8 T cell subsets with lower expression of coinhibitory molecules and better response to in vitro immune modulation, typically detected after resolution of infection, was also observed in a proportion of chronic viraemic HBV patients. Importantly, the same subset of patients who responded more efficiently to in vitro immune modulation identified by HBV-specific CD8 T cell analysis were also identified by staining total CD8 T cells with PD-1, TOX, CD127 and Bcl-2. CONCLUSIONS The possibility to distinguish patient cohorts with different capacity to respond to immune modulatory compounds in vitro by a simple analysis of the phenotypic CD8 T cell exhaustion profile deserves evaluation of its clinical applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Rossi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Vecchi
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Camilla Tiezzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Valeria Barili
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Fisicaro
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Amalia Penna
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Ilaria Montali
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Anuj Gaggar
- Gilead Sciences Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | | | | | - Latesh Lad
- Gilead Sciences Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | - Alessandro Loglio
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberta Soffredini
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Marta Borghi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Teresa Pollicino
- Department of Human Pathology, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Cristina Musolino
- Department of Human Pathology, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Arianna Alfieri
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Brillo
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Diletta Laccabue
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Massari
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Chiara Boarini
- Division of Internal Medicine 2 and Center for Hemochromatosis, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Abbati
- Division of Internal Medicine 2 and Center for Hemochromatosis, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pedrazzi
- Department of Neuroscience - Biophysics and Medical Physics Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Gabriele Missale
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Pietro Lampertico
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, CRC "A. M. and A. Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, Milano, Italy
| | - Carlo Ferrari
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Carolina Boni
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
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20
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Bulliard Y, Andersson BS, Baysal MA, Damiano J, Tsimberidou AM. Reprogramming T cell differentiation and exhaustion in CAR-T cell therapy. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:108. [PMID: 37880715 PMCID: PMC10601191 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01504-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell differentiation is a highly regulated, multi-step process necessary for the progressive establishment of effector functions, immunological memory, and long-term control of pathogens. In response to strong stimulation, as seen in severe or chronic infections or cancer, T cells acquire a state of hypo-responsiveness known as exhaustion, limiting their effector function. Recent advances in autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies have revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies by taking advantage of the basic principles of T cell biology to engineer products that promote long-lasting T cell response. However, many patients' malignancies remain unresponsive to treatment or are prone to recur. Discoveries in T cell biology, including the identification of key regulators of differentiation and exhaustion, offer novel opportunities to have a durable impact on the fate of CAR-T cells after infusion. Such next-generation CAR-T cell therapies and their clinical implementation may result in the next leap forward in cancer treatment for selected patients. In this context, this review summarizes the foundational principles of T cell differentiation and exhaustion and describes how they can be utilized and targeted to further improve the design and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Borje S Andersson
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Mehmet A Baysal
- Unit 455, Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jason Damiano
- Appia Bio, 6160 Bristol Pkwy, Culver City, CA, 90230, USA
| | - Apostolia M Tsimberidou
- Unit 455, Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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21
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Blise KE, Sivagnanam S, Betts CB, Betre K, Kirchberger N, Tate B, Furth EE, Dias Costa A, Nowak JA, Wolpin BM, Vonderheide RH, Goecks J, Coussens LM, Byrne KT. Machine learning links T cell function and spatial localization to neoadjuvant immunotherapy and clinical outcome in pancreatic cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.20.563335. [PMID: 37961410 PMCID: PMC10634700 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.563335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Tumor molecular datasets are becoming increasingly complex, making it nearly impossible for humans alone to effectively analyze them. Here, we demonstrate the power of using machine learning to analyze a single-cell, spatial, and highly multiplexed proteomic dataset from human pancreatic cancer and reveal underlying biological mechanisms that may contribute to clinical outcome. A novel multiplex immunohistochemistry antibody panel was used to audit T cell functionality and spatial localization in resected tumors from treatment-naive patients with localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) compared to a second cohort of patients treated with neoadjuvant agonistic CD40 (αCD40) monoclonal antibody therapy. In total, nearly 2.5 million cells from 306 tissue regions collected from 29 patients across both treatment cohorts were assayed, and more than 1,000 tumor microenvironment (TME) features were quantified. We then trained machine learning models to accurately predict αCD40 treatment status and disease-free survival (DFS) following αCD40 therapy based upon TME features. Through downstream interpretation of the machine learning models' predictions, we found αCD40 therapy to reduce canonical aspects of T cell exhaustion within the TME, as compared to treatment-naive TMEs. Using automated clustering approaches, we found improved DFS following αCD40 therapy to correlate with the increased presence of CD44+ CD4+ Th1 cells located specifically within cellular spatial neighborhoods characterized by increased T cell proliferation, antigen-experience, and cytotoxicity in immune aggregates. Overall, our results demonstrate the utility of machine learning in molecular cancer immunology applications, highlight the impact of αCD40 therapy on T cells within the TME, and identify potential candidate biomarkers of DFS for αCD40-treated patients with PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie E. Blise
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
- The Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Shamilene Sivagnanam
- The Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Courtney B. Betts
- The Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
- Current affiliation: Akoya Biosciences, 100 Campus Drive, 6th Floor, Marlborough, MA USA
| | - Konjit Betre
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Nell Kirchberger
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Benjamin Tate
- The Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
- Immune Monitoring and Cancer Omics Services, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Emma E. Furth
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Andressa Dias Costa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Jonathan A. Nowak
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Brian M. Wolpin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Robert H. Vonderheide
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Jeremy Goecks
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
- The Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
- Current affiliation: Department of Machine Learning, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL USA
- Current affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL USA
| | - Lisa M. Coussens
- The Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Katelyn T. Byrne
- The Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
- Lead contact
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22
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Winkler F, Hipp AV, Ramirez C, Martin B, Villa M, Neuwirt E, Gorka O, Aerssens J, Johansson SE, Rana N, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Price DA, Panning M, Groß O, Pearce EL, Hermann CM, Schumann K, Hannibal L, Neumann-Haefelin C, Boettler T, Knolle P, Hofmann M, Wohlleber D, Thimme R, Bengsch B. Enolase represents a metabolic checkpoint controlling the differential exhaustion programmes of hepatitis virus-specific CD8 + T cells. Gut 2023; 72:1971-1984. [PMID: 37541771 PMCID: PMC10511960 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-328734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Exhausted T cells with limited effector function are enriched in chronic hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infection. Metabolic regulation contributes to exhaustion, but it remains unclear how metabolism relates to different exhaustion states, is impacted by antiviral therapy, and if metabolic checkpoints regulate dysfunction. DESIGN Metabolic state, exhaustion and transcriptome of virus-specific CD8+ T cells from chronic HBV-infected (n=31) and HCV-infected patients (n=52) were determined ex vivo and during direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. Metabolic flux and metabolic checkpoints were tested in vitro. Intrahepatic virus-specific CD8+ T cells were analysed by scRNA-Seq in a HBV-replicating murine in vivo model of acute and chronic infection. RESULTS HBV-specific (core18-27, polymerase455-463) and HCV-specific (NS31073-1081, NS31406-1415, NS5B2594-2602) CD8+ T cell responses exhibit heterogeneous metabolic profiles connected to their exhaustion states. The metabolic state was connected to the exhaustion profile rather than the aetiology of infection. Mitochondrial impairment despite intact glucose uptake was prominent in severely exhausted T cells linked to elevated liver inflammation in chronic HCV infection and in HBV polymerase455-463 -specific CD8+ T cell responses. In contrast, relative metabolic fitness was observed in HBeAg-negative HBV infection in HBV core18-27-specific responses. DAA therapy partially improved mitochondrial programmes in severely exhausted HCV-specific T cells and enriched metabolically fit precursors. We identified enolase as a metabolic checkpoint in exhausted T cells. Metabolic bypassing improved glycolysis and T cell effector function. Similarly, enolase deficiency was observed in intrahepatic HBV-specific CD8+ T cells in a murine model of chronic infection. CONCLUSION Metabolism of HBV-specific and HCV-specific T cells is strongly connected to their exhaustion severity. Our results highlight enolase as metabolic regulator of severely exhausted T cells. They connect differential bioenergetic fitness with distinct exhaustion subtypes and varying liver disease, with implications for therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances Winkler
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Anna V Hipp
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Carlos Ramirez
- Health Data Science Unit, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bianca Martin
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Matteo Villa
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Emilia Neuwirt
- Institute of Neuropathology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Oliver Gorka
- Institute of Neuropathology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Jeroen Aerssens
- Translational Biomarkers, Infectious Diseases Therapeuic Area, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Susanne E Johansson
- Translational Biomarkers, Infectious Diseases Therapeuic Area, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Nisha Rana
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Sian Llewellyn-Lacey
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - David A Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marcus Panning
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Olaf Groß
- Institute of Neuropathology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Erika L Pearce
- The Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carl M Hermann
- Health Data Science Unit, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Schumann
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Luciana Hannibal
- Department of General Pediatrics, Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolism, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Neumann-Haefelin
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Tobias Boettler
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Percy Knolle
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich Partner Site, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maike Hofmann
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Dirk Wohlleber
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Robert Thimme
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Bertram Bengsch
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, Heidelberg, Germany
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23
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Li L, Zhao M, Kiernan CH, Castro Eiro MD, van Meurs M, Brouwers-Haspels I, Wilmsen MEP, Grashof DGB, van de Werken HJG, Hendriks RW, Mueller YM, Katsikis PD. Ibrutinib directly reduces CD8+T cell exhaustion independent of BTK. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1201415. [PMID: 37771591 PMCID: PMC10523025 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1201415] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cytotoxic CD8+ T cell (CTL) exhaustion is a dysfunctional state of T cells triggered by persistent antigen stimulation, with the characteristics of increased inhibitory receptors, impaired cytokine production and a distinct transcriptional profile. Evidence from immune checkpoint blockade therapy supports that reversing T cell exhaustion is a promising strategy in cancer treatment. Ibrutinib, is a potent inhibitor of BTK, which has been approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Previous studies have reported improved function of T cells in ibrutinib long-term treated patients but the mechanism remains unclear. We investigated whether ibrutinib directly acts on CD8+ T cells and reinvigorates exhausted CTLs. Methods We used an established in vitro CTL exhaustion system to examine whether ibrutinib can directly ameliorate T cell exhaustion. Changes in inhibitory receptors, transcription factors, cytokine production and killing capacity of ibrutinib-treated exhausted CTLs were detected by flow cytometry. RNA-seq was performed to study transcriptional changes in these cells. Btk deficient mice were used to confirm that the effect of ibrutinib was independent of BTK expression. Results We found that ibrutinib reduced exhaustion-related features of CTLs in an in vitro CTL exhaustion system. These changes included decreased inhibitory receptor expression, enhanced cytokine production, and downregulation of the transcription factor TOX with upregulation of TCF1. RNA-seq further confirmed that ibrutinib directly reduced the exhaustion-related transcriptional profile of these cells. Importantly, using btk deficient mice we showed the effect of ibrutinib was independent of BTK expression, and therefore mediated by one of its other targets. Discussion Our study demonstrates that ibrutinib directly ameliorates CTL exhaustion, and provides evidence for its synergistic use with cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Manzhi Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Caoimhe H. Kiernan
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Marjan van Meurs
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Merel E. P. Wilmsen
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dwin G. B. Grashof
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Harmen J. G. van de Werken
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Computational Biology Center, Erasmus Medical Center (MC) Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rudi W. Hendriks
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yvonne M. Mueller
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Peter D. Katsikis
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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24
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Wu JE, Manne S, Ngiow SF, Baxter AE, Huang H, Freilich E, Clark ML, Lee JH, Chen Z, Khan O, Staupe RP, Huang YJ, Shi J, Giles JR, Wherry EJ. In vitro modeling of CD8 + T cell exhaustion enables CRISPR screening to reveal a role for BHLHE40. Sci Immunol 2023; 8:eade3369. [PMID: 37595022 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade3369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Identifying molecular mechanisms of exhausted CD8 T cells (Tex) is a key goal of improving immunotherapy of cancer and other diseases. However, high-throughput interrogation of in vivo Tex can be costly and inefficient. In vitro models of Tex are easily customizable and quickly generate high cellular yield, enabling CRISPR screening and other high-throughput assays. We established an in vitro model of chronic stimulation and benchmarked key phenotypic, functional, transcriptional, and epigenetic features against bona fide in vivo Tex. We leveraged this model of in vitro chronic stimulation in combination with CRISPR screening to identify transcriptional regulators of T cell exhaustion. This approach identified several transcription factors, including BHLHE40. In vitro and in vivo validation defined a role for BHLHE40 in regulating a key differentiation checkpoint between progenitor and intermediate Tex subsets. By developing and benchmarking an in vitro model of Tex, then applying high-throughput CRISPR screening, we demonstrate the utility of mechanistically annotated in vitro models of Tex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Wu
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sasikanth Manne
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shin Foong Ngiow
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amy E Baxter
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hua Huang
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Freilich
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Megan L Clark
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joanna H Lee
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zeyu Chen
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Omar Khan
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ryan P Staupe
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yinghui J Huang
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Junwei Shi
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Josephine R Giles
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - E John Wherry
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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25
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Diupotex M, Zamora-Chimal J, Gajón JA, Bonifaz LC, Becker I. CXCR5 and TIM-3 expressions define distinct exhausted T cell subsets in experimental cutaneous infection with Leishmania mexicana. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1231836. [PMID: 37691941 PMCID: PMC10485697 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1231836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell exhaustion is a key stage in chronic infections since it limits immunopathology, but also hinders the elimination of pathogens. Exhausted T (Tex) cells encompass dynamic subsets, including progenitor cells that sustain long-term immunity through their memory/stem like properties, and terminally-differentiated cells, resembling the so-called Tex cells. The presence of Tex cells in chronic leishmaniasis has been reported in humans and murine models, yet their heterogeneity remains unexplored. Using flow cytometry, we identified Tex cells subtypes based on PD-1, CXCR5 and TIM-3 expressions in draining lymph nodes (dLNs) and lesion sites of C57BL/6 mice infected with L. mexicana at 30-, 60- and 90-days post-infection. We showed that infected mice developed a chronic infection characterized by non-healing lesions with a high parasite load and impaired Th1/Th2 cytokine production. Throughout the infection, PD-1+ cells were observed in dLNs, in addition to an enhanced expression of PD-1 in both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. We demonstrated that CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were subdivided into PD-1+CXCR5+TIM-3- (CXCR5+), PD-1+CXCR5+TIM-3+ (CXCR5+TIM-3+), and PD-1+CXCR5-TIM-3+ (TIM-3+) subsets. CXCR5+ Tex cells were detected in dLNs during the whole course of the infection, whereas TIM-3+ cells were predominantly localized in the infection sites at day 90. CXCR5+TIM-3+ cells only increased at 30 and 60 days of infection in dLNs, whereas no increase was observed in the lesions. Phenotypic analysis revealed that CXCR5+ cells expressed significantly higher levels of CCR7 and lower levels of CX3CR1, PD-1, TIM-3, and CD39 compared to the TIM-3+ subset. CXCR5+TIM-3+ cells expressed the highest levels of all exhaustion-associated markers and of CX3CR1. In agreement with a less exhausted phenotype, the frequency of proliferating Ki-67 and IFN-γ expressing cells was significantly higher in the CXCR5+ subset within both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells compared to their respective TIM-3+ subsets, whereas CD8+CXCR5+TIM-3+ and CD8+TIM-3+ subsets showed an enhanced frequency of degranulating CD107a+ cells. In summary, we identified a novel, less-differentiated CXCR5+ Tex subset in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. mexicana. Targeting these cells through immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 or anti PD-L1 might improve the current treatment for patients with the chronic forms of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Diupotex
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Jaime Zamora-Chimal
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Julián A. Gajón
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunoquímica, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Laura C. Bonifaz
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunoquímica, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Coordinación de Investigación en Salud, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ingeborg Becker
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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26
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Collins SM, Alexander KA, Lundh S, Dimitri AJ, Zhang Z, Good CR, Fraietta JA, Berger SL. TOX2 coordinates with TET2 to positively regulate central memory differentiation in human CAR T cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh2605. [PMID: 37467321 PMCID: PMC10355826 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh2605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is used in treating human hematological malignancies, but its efficacy is limited by T cell exhaustion (TEX). TEX arises at the expense of central memory T cells (TCM), which exhibit robust antitumor efficacy. Reduction of the TET2 gene led to increased TCM differentiation in a patient with leukemia who experienced a complete remission. We show that loss of TET2 led to increased chromatin accessibility at exhaustion regulators TOX and TOX2, plus increased expression of TOX2. Knockdown of TOX increased the percentage of TCM. However, unexpectedly, knockdown of TOX2 decreased TCM percentage and reduced proliferation. Consistently, a TCM gene signature was reduced in the TOX2 knockdown, and TOX2 bound to promoters of numerous TCM genes. Our results thus suggest a role for human TOX2, in contrast to exhaustion regulator TOX, as a potentiator of central memory differentiation of CAR T cells, with plausible utility in CAR T cell cancer therapy via modulated TOX2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sierra M. Collins
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Katherine A. Alexander
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Stefan Lundh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alexander J. Dimitri
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Charly R. Good
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Joseph A. Fraietta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shelley L. Berger
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
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27
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Pichler AC, Carrié N, Cuisinier M, Ghazali S, Voisin A, Axisa PP, Tosolini M, Mazzotti C, Golec DP, Maheo S, do Souto L, Ekren R, Blanquart E, Lemaitre L, Feliu V, Joubert MV, Cannons JL, Guillerey C, Avet-Loiseau H, Watts TH, Salomon BL, Joffre O, Grinberg-Bleyer Y, Schwartzberg PL, Lucca LE, Martinet L. TCR-independent CD137 (4-1BB) signaling promotes CD8 +-exhausted T cell proliferation and terminal differentiation. Immunity 2023; 56:1631-1648.e10. [PMID: 37392737 PMCID: PMC10649891 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
CD137 (4-1BB)-activating receptor represents a promising cancer immunotherapeutic target. Yet, the cellular program driven by CD137 and its role in cancer immune surveillance remain unresolved. Using T cell-specific deletion and agonist antibodies, we found that CD137 modulates tumor infiltration of CD8+-exhausted T (Tex) cells expressing PD1, Lag-3, and Tim-3 inhibitory receptors. T cell-intrinsic, TCR-independent CD137 signaling stimulated the proliferation and the terminal differentiation of Tex precursor cells through a mechanism involving the RelA and cRel canonical NF-κB subunits and Tox-dependent chromatin remodeling. While Tex cell accumulation induced by prophylactic CD137 agonists favored tumor growth, anti-PD1 efficacy was improved with subsequent CD137 stimulation in pre-clinical mouse models. Better understanding of T cell exhaustion has crucial implications for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Our results identify CD137 as a critical regulator of Tex cell expansion and differentiation that holds potential for broad therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea C Pichler
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France; Cell Signaling and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nadège Carrié
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Marine Cuisinier
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France; Institut Universitaire du Cancer, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Samira Ghazali
- Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (Infinity), UPS, INSERM, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Allison Voisin
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Labex DEVweCAN, INSERM, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Pierre-Paul Axisa
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Marie Tosolini
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Céline Mazzotti
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France; Institut Universitaire du Cancer, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Dominic P Golec
- Cell Signaling and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sabrina Maheo
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France; Institut Universitaire du Cancer, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Laura do Souto
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France; Institut Universitaire du Cancer, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Rüçhan Ekren
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Eve Blanquart
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Lea Lemaitre
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Virginie Feliu
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Marie-Véronique Joubert
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France; Institut Universitaire du Cancer, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jennifer L Cannons
- Cell Signaling and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Camille Guillerey
- Cancer Immunotherapies Group, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Hervé Avet-Loiseau
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France; Institut Universitaire du Cancer, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Tania H Watts
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Benoit L Salomon
- Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (Infinity), UPS, INSERM, CNRS, Toulouse, France; Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France
| | - Olivier Joffre
- Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (Infinity), UPS, INSERM, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Yenkel Grinberg-Bleyer
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Labex DEVweCAN, INSERM, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Pamela L Schwartzberg
- Cell Signaling and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Liliana E Lucca
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France.
| | - Ludovic Martinet
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France; Institut Universitaire du Cancer, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
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28
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Anagnostou T, Yang ZZ, Jalali S, Kim HJ, Larson DP, Tang X, Yu Y, Pritchett JC, Bisneto JV, Price-Troska TL, Mondello P, Novak AJ, Ansell SM. Characterization of immune exhaustion and suppression in the tumor microenvironment of splenic marginal zone lymphoma. Leukemia 2023; 37:1485-1498. [PMID: 37117318 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-01911-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
The role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and intratumoral T cells in splenic marginal zone lymphoma (sMZL) is largely unknown. In the present study, we evaluated 36 sMZL spleen specimens by single cell analysis to gain a better understanding of the TME in sMZL. Using mass cytometry (CyTOF), we observed that the TME in sMZL is distinct from that of control non-malignant reactive spleen (rSP). We found that the number of TFH cells varied greatly in sMZL, ICOS+ TFH cells were more abundant in sMZL than rSP, and TFH cells positively correlated with increased numbers of memory B cells. Treg cell analysis revealed that TIGIT+ Treg cells are enriched in sMZL and correlate with suppression of TH17 and TH22 cells. Intratumoral CD8+ T cells were comprised of subsets of short-lived, exhausted and late-stage differentiated cells, thereby functionally impaired. We observed that T-cell exhaustion was present in sMZL and TIM-3 expression on PD-1low cells identified cells with severe immune dysfunction. Gene expression profiling by CITE-seq analysis validated this finding. Taken together, our data suggest that the TME as a whole, and T-cell population specifically, are heterogenous in sMZL and immune exhaustion is one of the major factors impairing T-cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodora Anagnostou
- Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhi-Zhang Yang
- Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Shahrzad Jalali
- Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Hyo Jin Kim
- Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Xinyi Tang
- Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Yue Yu
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Joshua C Pritchett
- Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Patrizia Mondello
- Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Anne J Novak
- Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Stephen M Ansell
- Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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29
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Selli ME, Landmann JH, Terekhova M, Lattin J, Heard A, Hsu YS, Chang TC, Chang J, Warrington J, Ha H, Kingston N, Hogg G, Slade M, Berrien-Elliott MM, Foster M, Kersting-Schadek S, Gruszczynska A, DeNardo D, Fehniger TA, Artyomov M, Singh N. Costimulatory domains direct distinct fates of CAR-driven T-cell dysfunction. Blood 2023; 141:3153-3165. [PMID: 37130030 PMCID: PMC10356580 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023020100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting CD19 have demonstrated impressive activity against relapsed or refractory B-cell cancers yet fail to induce durable remissions for nearly half of all patients treated. Enhancing the efficacy of this therapy requires detailed understanding of the molecular circuitry that restrains CAR-driven antitumor T-cell function. We developed and validated an in vitro model that drives T-cell dysfunction through chronic CAR activation and interrogated how CAR costimulatory domains, central components of CAR structure and function, contribute to T-cell failure. We found that chronic activation of CD28-based CARs results in activation of classical T-cell exhaustion programs and development of dysfunctional cells that bear the hallmarks of exhaustion. In contrast, 41BB-based CARs activate a divergent molecular program and direct differentiation of T cells into a novel cell state. Interrogation using CAR T cells from a patient with progressive lymphoma confirmed the activation of this novel program in a failing clinical product. Furthermore, we demonstrate that 41BB-dependent activation of the transcription factor FOXO3 is directly responsible for impairing CAR T-cell function. These findings identify that costimulatory domains are critical regulators of CAR-driven T-cell failure and that targeted interventions are required to overcome costimulation-dependent dysfunctional programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Emrah Selli
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Jack H. Landmann
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Marina Terekhova
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - John Lattin
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Amanda Heard
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Yu-Sung Hsu
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Tien-Ching Chang
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Jufang Chang
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - John Warrington
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Helen Ha
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Natalie Kingston
- Division of Oncology, Section of Molecular Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Graham Hogg
- Division of Oncology, Section of Molecular Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Michael Slade
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Melissa M. Berrien-Elliott
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Mark Foster
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Samantha Kersting-Schadek
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Agata Gruszczynska
- Division of Oncology, Section of Stem Cell Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - David DeNardo
- Division of Oncology, Section of Molecular Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Todd A. Fehniger
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Maxim Artyomov
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Nathan Singh
- Division of Oncology, Section of Cellular Therapies, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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30
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Sun L, Su Y, Jiao A, Wang X, Zhang B. T cells in health and disease. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:235. [PMID: 37332039 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01471-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 88.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells are crucial for immune functions to maintain health and prevent disease. T cell development occurs in a stepwise process in the thymus and mainly generates CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. Upon antigen stimulation, naïve T cells differentiate into CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic effector and memory cells, mediating direct killing, diverse immune regulatory function, and long-term protection. In response to acute and chronic infections and tumors, T cells adopt distinct differentiation trajectories and develop into a range of heterogeneous populations with various phenotype, differentiation potential, and functionality under precise and elaborate regulations of transcriptional and epigenetic programs. Abnormal T-cell immunity can initiate and promote the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of T cell development, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell classification, and differentiation in physiological settings. We further elaborate the heterogeneity, differentiation, functionality, and regulation network of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in infectious disease, chronic infection and tumor, and autoimmune disease, highlighting the exhausted CD8+ T cell differentiation trajectory, CD4+ T cell helper function, T cell contributions to immunotherapy and autoimmune pathogenesis. We also discuss the development and function of γδ T cells in tissue surveillance, infection, and tumor immunity. Finally, we summarized current T-cell-based immunotherapies in both cancer and autoimmune diseases, with an emphasis on their clinical applications. A better understanding of T cell immunity provides insight into developing novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategies in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Sun
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Yanhong Su
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Anjun Jiao
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Baojun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China.
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31
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Tian W, Qin G, Jia M, Li W, Cai W, Wang H, Zhao Y, Bao X, Wei W, Zhang Y, Shao Q. Hierarchical transcriptional network governing heterogeneous T cell exhaustion and its implications for immune checkpoint blockade. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1198551. [PMID: 37398674 PMCID: PMC10311999 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1198551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The fundamental principle of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is to protect tumor-infiltrating T cells from being exhausted. Despite the remarkable success achieved by ICB treatment, only a small group of patients benefit from it. Characterized by a hypofunctional state with the expression of multiple inhibitory receptors, exhausted T (Tex) cells are a major obstacle in improving ICB. T cell exhaustion is a progressive process which adapts to persistent antigen stimulation in chronic infections and cancers. In this review, we elucidate the heterogeneity of Tex cells and offer new insights into the hierarchical transcriptional regulation of T cell exhaustion. Factors and signaling pathways that induce and promote exhaustion are also summarized. Moreover, we review the epigenetic and metabolic alterations of Tex cells and discuss how PD-1 signaling affects the balance between T cell activation and exhaustion, aiming to provide more therapeutic targets for applications of combinational immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihong Tian
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Life Science Institute, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Gaofeng Qin
- Life Science Institute, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Miaomiao Jia
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology, Jiaxing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wuhao Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weili Cai
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Reproductive Immunity, School of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai’an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yangjing Zhao
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuanwen Bao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University & Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wangzhi Wei
- Life Science Institute, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Life Science Institute, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Qixiang Shao
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Reproductive Immunity, School of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai’an, Jiangsu, China
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32
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Baxter AE, Huang H, Giles JR, Chen Z, Wu JE, Drury S, Dalton K, Park SL, Torres L, Simone BW, Klapholz M, Ngiow SF, Freilich E, Manne S, Alcalde V, Ekshyyan V, Berger SL, Shi J, Jordan MS, Wherry EJ. The SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes BAF and PBAF differentially regulate epigenetic transitions in exhausted CD8 + T cells. Immunity 2023; 56:1320-1340.e10. [PMID: 37315535 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
CD8+ T cell exhaustion (Tex) limits disease control during chronic viral infections and cancer. Here, we investigated the epigenetic factors mediating major chromatin-remodeling events in Tex-cell development. A protein-domain-focused in vivo CRISPR screen identified distinct functions for two versions of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex in Tex-cell differentiation. Depletion of the canonical SWI/SNF form, BAF, impaired initial CD8+ T cell responses in acute and chronic infection. In contrast, disruption of PBAF enhanced Tex-cell proliferation and survival. Mechanistically, PBAF regulated the epigenetic and transcriptional transition from TCF-1+ progenitor Tex cells to more differentiated TCF-1- Tex subsets. Whereas PBAF acted to preserve Tex progenitor biology, BAF was required to generate effector-like Tex cells, suggesting that the balance of these factors coordinates Tex-cell subset differentiation. Targeting PBAF improved tumor control both alone and in combination with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. Thus, PBAF may present a therapeutic target in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Baxter
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hua Huang
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Josephine R Giles
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zeyu Chen
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jennifer E Wu
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sydney Drury
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Katherine Dalton
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Simone L Park
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Leonel Torres
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Brandon W Simone
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Max Klapholz
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shin Foong Ngiow
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Elizabeth Freilich
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sasikanth Manne
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Victor Alcalde
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Viktoriya Ekshyyan
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Junwei Shi
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Martha S Jordan
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - E John Wherry
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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33
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Zhang J, Lei F, Tan H. The development of CD8 T-cell exhaustion heterogeneity and the therapeutic potentials in cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1166128. [PMID: 37275913 PMCID: PMC10232978 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1166128] [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: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cells are essential lymphocytes with cytotoxic properties for antitumor immunotherapy. However, during chronic infection or tumorigenesis, these cells often become dysfunctional with a gradually depleted ability to release cytokines and the exhibition of reduced cytotoxicity, the state referred to as "T-cell exhaustion" (Tex). This unique state was characterized by the increasing expression of inhibitory checkpoint receptors, and interventions targeting immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs) have been considered as a promising strategy to stimulate T-cell killing. Recent investigations have demonstrated that exhausted T cells not only display functional, metabolic, transcriptional, and epigenetic differences but also comprise a heterogeneous group of cells. In this review, we summarize the current findings on dynamic differentiation process during Tex heterogeneity development in cancer and chronic infection. We discuss how the responses to immunotherapy are determined by these distinct subsets and highlight prospective approaches for improving the efficacy of ICB therapy for cancer by leveraging the heterogeneity of T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Zhang
- Department of Basic Research, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feifei Lei
- Lab of Liver Disease, Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Huabing Tan
- Lab of Liver Disease, Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
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34
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Ding JT, Yang KP, Zhou HN, Huang YF, Li H, Zong Z. Landscapes and mechanisms of CD8 + T cell exhaustion in gastrointestinal cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1149622. [PMID: 37180158 PMCID: PMC10166832 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1149622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cells, a cytotoxic T lymphocyte, are a key component of the tumor immune system, but they enter a hyporeactive T cell state in long-term chronic inflammation, and how to rescue this depleted state is a key direction of research. Current studies on CD8+ T cell exhaustion have found that the mechanisms responsible for their heterogeneity and differential kinetics may be closely related to transcription factors and epigenetic regulation, which may serve as biomarkers and potential immunotherapeutic targets to guide treatment. Although the importance of T cell exhaustion in tumor immunotherapy cannot be overstated, studies have pointed out that gastric cancer tissues have a better anti-tumor T cell composition compared to other cancer tissues, which may indicate that gastrointestinal cancers have more promising prospects for the development of precision-targeted immunotherapy. Therefore, the present study will focus on the mechanisms involved in the development of CD8+ T cell exhaustion, and then review the landscapes and mechanisms of T cell exhaustion in gastrointestinal cancer as well as clinical applications, which will provide a clear vision for the development of future immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Tong Ding
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- The Second Clinical Medicine School, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Kang-Ping Yang
- The Second Clinical Medicine School, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hao-Nan Zhou
- Queen Mary School, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Ying-Feng Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhen Zong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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35
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Wu JE, Manne S, Ngiow SF, Baxter AE, Huang H, Freilich E, Clark ML, Lee JH, Chen Z, Khan O, Staupe RP, Huang YJ, Shi J, Giles JR, Wherry EJ. In Vitro Modeling of CD8 T Cell Exhaustion Enables CRISPR Screening to Reveal a Role for BHLHE40. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.17.537229. [PMID: 37131713 PMCID: PMC10153201 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.17.537229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Identifying novel molecular mechanisms of exhausted CD8 T cells (T ex ) is a key goal of improving immunotherapy of cancer and other diseases. However, high-throughput interrogation of in vivo T ex can be costly and inefficient. In vitro models of T ex are easily customizable and quickly generate high cellular yield, offering an opportunity to perform CRISPR screening and other high-throughput assays. We established an in vitro model of chronic stimulation and benchmarked key phenotypic, functional, transcriptional, and epigenetic features against bona fide in vivo T ex . We leveraged this model of in vitro chronic stimulation in combination with pooled CRISPR screening to uncover transcriptional regulators of T cell exhaustion. This approach identified several transcription factors, including BHLHE40. In vitro and in vivo validation defined a role for BHLHE40 in regulating a key differentiation checkpoint between progenitor and intermediate subsets of T ex . By developing and benchmarking an in vitro model of T ex , we demonstrate the utility of mechanistically annotated in vitro models of T ex , in combination with high-throughput approaches, as a discovery pipeline to uncover novel T ex biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E. Wu
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sasikanth Manne
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shin Foong Ngiow
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amy E. Baxter
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hua Huang
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Freilich
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Megan L. Clark
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Joanna H. Lee
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zeyu Chen
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Present Address: Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Omar Khan
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Present Address: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ryan P. Staupe
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Present Address: Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, PA, USA
| | - Yinghui J. Huang
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Junwei Shi
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Josephine R. Giles
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - E. John Wherry
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA, USA
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36
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Pollard J, Hynes G, Yin D, Mandal M, Gounari F, Alegre ML, Chong A. Pregnancy programs epigenetic and transcriptional exhaustion in memory CD8 + T cells. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2196637. [PMID: 37066154 PMCID: PMC10104270 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2196637/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Alloreactive memory T cells, unlike naive T cells, fail to be restrained by transplantation tolerance protocols or regulatory T cells, and therefore represent a critical barrier to long-term graft acceptance. Using female mice sensitized by rejection of fully-mismatched paternal skin allografts, we show that subsequent semi-allogeneic pregnancy successfully reprograms memory fetus/graft-specific CD8+ T cells (TFGS) towards hypofunction in a manner that is mechanistically distinct from naive TFGS. Post-partum memory TFGS were durably hypofunctional, exhibiting enhanced susceptibility to transplantation tolerance induction. Furthermore, multi-omics studies revealed that pregnancy induced extensive phenotypic and transcriptional modifications in memory TFGS reminiscent of T cell exhaustion. Strikingly, at loci transcriptionally modified in both naive and memory TFGS during pregnancy, chromatin remodeling was observed exclusively in memory and not naive TFGS. These data reveal a novel link between T cell memory and hypofunction via exhaustion circuits and pregnancy-mediated epigenetic imprinting. This conceptual advance has immediate clinical relevance to pregnancy and transplantation tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Pollard
- Section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Grace Hynes
- Section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Dengping Yin
- Section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Malay Mandal
- Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Fotini Gounari
- Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix AZ, USA
| | - Maria-Luisa Alegre
- Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Anita Chong
- Section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
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37
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Steele MM, Jaiswal A, Delclaux I, Dryg ID, Murugan D, Femel J, Son S, du Bois H, Hill C, Leachman SA, Chang YH, Coussens LM, Anandasabapathy N, Lund AW. T cell egress via lymphatic vessels is tuned by antigen encounter and limits tumor control. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:664-675. [PMID: 36849745 PMCID: PMC10998279 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01443-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Antigen-specific CD8+ T cell accumulation in tumors is a prerequisite for effective immunotherapy, and yet the mechanisms of lymphocyte transit are not well defined. Here we show that tumor-associated lymphatic vessels control T cell exit from tumors via the chemokine CXCL12, and intratumoral antigen encounter tunes CXCR4 expression by effector CD8+ T cells. Only high-affinity antigen downregulates CXCR4 and upregulates the CXCL12 decoy receptor, ACKR3, thereby reducing CXCL12 sensitivity and promoting T cell retention. A diverse repertoire of functional tumor-specific CD8+ T cells, therefore, exit the tumor, which limits the pool of CD8+ T cells available to exert tumor control. CXCR4 inhibition or loss of lymphatic-specific CXCL12 boosts T cell retention and enhances tumor control. These data indicate that strategies to limit T cell egress might be an approach to boost the quantity and quality of intratumoral T cells and thereby response to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Steele
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology and Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Abhinav Jaiswal
- Department of Dermatology, Microbiology and Immunology, Meyer Cancer Center, Englander Institute of Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ines Delclaux
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ian D Dryg
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dhaarini Murugan
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology and Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Julia Femel
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology and Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sunny Son
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Haley du Bois
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cameron Hill
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sancy A Leachman
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Young H Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Biology Program, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lisa M Coussens
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology and Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Niroshana Anandasabapathy
- Department of Dermatology, Microbiology and Immunology, Meyer Cancer Center, Englander Institute of Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amanda W Lund
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology and Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
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38
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Zhang C, Sheng Q, Zhang X, Xu K, Jin X, Zhou W, Zhang M, Lv D, Yang C, Li Y, Xu J, Li X. Prioritizing exhausted T cell marker genes highlights immune subtypes in pan-cancer. iScience 2023; 26:106484. [PMID: 37091230 PMCID: PMC10119613 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Exhausted T (TEX) cells are main immunotherapy targets in cancer, but it lacks a general identification method to characterize TEX cell in disease. To assess the characterization of TEX cell, we extract signature of TEX cell from large cancer and chronic infection cohorts. Based on single-cell transcriptomes, a systematic T cell exhaustion prediction (TEXP) model is designed to define TEX cell in cancer and chronic infection. We then prioritize 42 marker genes, including HAVCR2, PDCD1, TOX, TIGIT and LAG3, which are associated with T cell exhaustion. TEXP could identify high TEX and low TEX subtypes in pan-cancer of TCGA. The high TEX subtypes are characterized by high immune score, immune cell infiltration, high expression of TEX marker genes and poor prognosis. In summary, TEXP and marker genes provide a resource for understanding the function of TEX cell, with implications for immune prediction and immunotherapy in chronic infection and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlong Zhang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
- College of Information and Computer Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Qi Sheng
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Kang Xu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Xiaoyan Jin
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Weiwei Zhou
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Mengying Zhang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Dezhong Lv
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Changbo Yang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Yongsheng Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 571199, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Juan Xu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Xia Li
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 571199, China
- Corresponding author
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39
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Zhu W, Li Y, Han M, Jiang J. Regulatory Mechanisms and Reversal of CD8+T Cell Exhaustion: A Literature Review. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040541. [PMID: 37106742 PMCID: PMC10135681 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
CD8+T cell exhaustion is a state of T cell dysfunction during chronic infection and tumor progression. Exhausted CD8+T cells are characterized by low effector function, high expression of inhibitory receptors, unique metabolic patterns, and altered transcriptional profiles. Recently, advances in understanding and interfering with the regulatory mechanisms associated with T cell exhaustion in tumor immunotherapy have brought greater attention to the field. Therefore, we emphasize the typical features and related mechanisms of CD8+T cell exhaustion and particularly the potential for its reversal, which has clinical implications for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanwan Zhu
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710000, China
| | - Yiming Li
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710000, China
| | - Mingwei Han
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710000, China
| | - Jianli Jiang
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710000, China
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40
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Swatler J, Lo Tartaro D, Borella R, Brewinska-Olchowik M, Paolini A, Neroni A, Turos-Korgul L, Wiech M, Kozlowska E, Cysewski D, Grabowska-Pyrzewicz W, Wojda U, Basak G, Argüello RJ, Cossarizza A, De Biasi S, Piwocka K. Dysfunctional subsets of CD39+ T cells, distinct from PD-1+, driven by leukemic extracellular vesicles in myeloid leukemias. Haematologica 2023; 108:909-916. [PMID: 36384249 PMCID: PMC9973468 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.281713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julian Swatler
- Laboratory of Cytometry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena
| | - Domenico Lo Tartaro
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena
| | - Rebecca Borella
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena
| | | | - Annamaria Paolini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena
| | - Anita Neroni
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena
| | - Laura Turos-Korgul
- Laboratory of Cytometry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw
| | - Milena Wiech
- Laboratory of Cytometry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw
| | - Ewa Kozlowska
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw
| | - Dominik Cysewski
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Warsaw, Poland; Current address: Clinical Research Centre, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok
| | | | - Urszula Wojda
- Laboratory of Preclinical Testing of Higher Standard, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw
| | - Grzegorz Basak
- Department of Hematology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw,Warsaw
| | - Rafael J Argüello
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille
| | - Andrea Cossarizza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; National Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Bologna
| | - Sara De Biasi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena.
| | - Katarzyna Piwocka
- Laboratory of Cytometry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw.
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41
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Domenjo-Vila E, Casella V, Iwabuchi R, Fossum E, Pedragosa M, Castellví Q, Cebollada Rica P, Kaisho T, Terahara K, Bocharov G, Argilaguet J, Meyerhans A. XCR1+ DCs are critical for T cell-mediated immunotherapy of chronic viral infections. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112123. [PMID: 36795562 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The contribution of cross-presenting XCR1+ dendritic cells (DCs) and SIRPα+ DCs in maintaining T cell function during exhaustion and immunotherapeutic interventions of chronic infections remains poorly characterized. Using the mouse model of chronic LCMV infection, we found that XCR1+ DCs are more resistant to infection and highly activated compared with SIRPα+ DCs. Exploiting XCR1+ DCs via Flt3L-mediated expansion or XCR1-targeted vaccination notably reinvigorates CD8+ T cells and improves virus control. Upon PD-L1 blockade, XCR1+ DCs are not required for the proliferative burst of progenitor exhausted CD8+ T (TPEX) cells but are indispensable to sustain the functionality of exhausted CD8+ T (TEX) cells. Combining anti-PD-L1 therapy with increased frequency of XCR1+ DCs improves functionality of TPEX and TEX subsets, while increase of SIRPα+ DCs dampened their proliferation. Together, this demonstrates that XCR1+ DCs are crucial for the success of checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies through differential activation of exhausted CD8+ T cell subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Domenjo-Vila
- Infection Biology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valentina Casella
- Infection Biology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ryutaro Iwabuchi
- Department of Immunology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Even Fossum
- Department of Immunology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mireia Pedragosa
- Infection Biology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Quim Castellví
- Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Cebollada Rica
- Infection Biology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tsuneyasu Kaisho
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Terahara
- Department of Immunology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gennady Bocharov
- Marchuk Institute of Numerical Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Jordi Argilaguet
- Infection Biology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA-IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Andreas Meyerhans
- Infection Biology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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42
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Wang M, Zhai R, Wang M, Zhu W, Zhang J, Yu M, Zhang W, Ye J, Liu L. Tertiary lymphoid structures in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma improve prognosis by recruiting CD8 + T cells. Mol Oncol 2023. [PMID: 36825382 PMCID: PMC10399718 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are formed in long-term chronic inflammation, promoting the local recruitment of lymphocytes, antigen presentation and regulation of immune response, correlated with a better prognosis for cancer patients. Although studies have been conducted to explore methods that accelerate the establishment of TLSs, related research in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is still lacking. In this study, we analysed data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and performed immunohistochemical staining analyses of 188 patient samples. The results showed that TLSs promoted the infiltration of immune cells. Patients with TLSs with high infiltration of CD8+ cells showed the best prognosis. Since lymphotoxin α (LTα) was significantly increased in tissues with TLSs, we overexpressed LTα in SCC7 cells (a mouse-derived HNSCC cell line) and established tongue-tumour-bearing models. The polychromatic observation of tissue sections showed that T-cell aggregation increased in the LTα cell group, and a grade 1 TLS was formed on the 12th day after inoculating the cells. Moreover, the tumour volume in the LTα group was significantly less than that of the control group, whereas both the number and the proportion of infiltrated CD8+ T cells were increased. The peripheral CD8+ cells in mice were removed, and no difference was observed in tumour size or TLS formation. Remarkably, we found that TLS led to an increase in the antitumour effect by recruiting CD8+ T cells in HNSCC, showing a CD8+ T-cell-dependent antitumour effect. Moreover, LTα overexpression in the tumour promoted the formation of TLSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, China.,Department of Basic Science of Stomatology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China
| | - Rundong Zhai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, China.,Department of Basic Science of Stomatology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China
| | - Mengqi Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, China.,Department of Basic Science of Stomatology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China
| | - Weiwen Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, China.,Department of Basic Science of Stomatology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China
| | - Jiayi Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, China.,Department of Basic Science of Stomatology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China
| | - Miao Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, China.,Department of Periodontology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, China.,Department of Basic Science of Stomatology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China
| | - Jinhai Ye
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, China.,Depatment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China
| | - Laikui Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, China.,Department of Basic Science of Stomatology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China
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43
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Functional T cells are capable of supernumerary cell division and longevity. Nature 2023; 614:762-766. [PMID: 36653453 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05626-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Differentiated somatic mammalian cells putatively exhibit species-specific division limits that impede cancer but may constrain lifespans1-3. To provide immunity, transiently stimulated CD8+ T cells undergo unusually rapid bursts of numerous cell divisions, and then form quiescent long-lived memory cells that remain poised to reproliferate following subsequent immunological challenges. Here we addressed whether T cells are intrinsically constrained by chronological or cell-division limits. We activated mouse T cells in vivo using acute heterologous prime-boost-boost vaccinations4, transferred expanded cells to new mice, and then repeated this process iteratively. Over 10 years (greatly exceeding the mouse lifespan)5 and 51 successive immunizations, T cells remained competent to respond to vaccination. Cells required sufficient rest between stimulation events. Despite demonstrating the potential to expand the starting population at least 1040-fold, cells did not show loss of proliferation control and results were not due to contamination with young cells. Persistent stimulation by chronic infections or cancer can cause T cell proliferative senescence, functional exhaustion and death6. We found that although iterative acute stimulations also induced sustained expression and epigenetic remodelling of common exhaustion markers (including PD1, which is also known as PDCD1, and TOX) in the cells, they could still proliferate, execute antimicrobial functions and form quiescent memory cells. These observations provide a model to better understand memory cell differentiation, exhaustion, cancer and ageing, and show that functionally competent T cells can retain the potential for extraordinary population expansion and longevity well beyond their organismal lifespan.
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Selli ME, Landmann JH, Terekhova M, Lattin J, Heard A, Hsu YS, Chang TC, Chang J, Warrington J, Ha H, Kingston N, Hogg G, Slade M, Berrien-Elliot MM, Foster M, Kersting-Schadek S, Gruszczynska A, DeNardo D, Fehniger TA, Artyomov M, Singh N. Costimulatory domains direct distinct fates of CAR-driven T cell dysfunction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.26.525725. [PMID: 36747791 PMCID: PMC9901009 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.26.525725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered T cells often fail to enact effector functions after infusion into patients. Understanding the biological pathways that lead CAR T cells to failure is of critical importance in the design of more effective therapies. We developed and validated an in vitro model that drives T cell dysfunction through chronic CAR activation and interrogated how CAR costimulatory domains contribute to T cell failure. We found that dysfunctional CD28-based CARs targeting CD19 bear hallmarks of classical T cell exhaustion while dysfunctional 41BB-based CARs are phenotypically, transcriptionally and epigenetically distinct. We confirmed activation of this unique transcriptional program in CAR T cells that failed to control clinical disease. Further, we demonstrate that 41BB-dependent activation of the transcription factor FOXO3 is a significant contributor to this dysfunction and disruption of FOXO3 improves CAR T cell function. These findings identify that chronic activation of 41BB leads to novel state of T cell dysfunction that can be alleviated by genetic modification of FOXO3. Summary Chronic stimulation of CARs containing the 41BB costimulatory domain leads to a novel state of T cell dysfunction that is distinct from T cell exhaustion.
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McClellan BL, Haase S, Nunez FJ, Alghamri MS, Dabaja AA, Lowenstein PR, Castro MG. Impact of epigenetic reprogramming on antitumor immune responses in glioma. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e163450. [PMID: 36647827 PMCID: PMC9843056 DOI: 10.1172/jci163450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic remodeling is a molecular hallmark of gliomas, and it has been identified as a key mediator of glioma progression. Epigenetic dysregulation contributes to gliomagenesis, tumor progression, and responses to immunotherapies, as well as determining clinical features. This epigenetic remodeling includes changes in histone modifications, chromatin structure, and DNA methylation, all of which are driven by mutations in genes such as histone 3 genes (H3C1 and H3F3A), isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2), α-thalassemia/mental retardation, X-linked (ATRX), and additional chromatin remodelers. Although much of the initial research primarily identified how the epigenetic aberrations impacted glioma progression by solely examining the glioma cells, recent studies have aimed at establishing the role of epigenetic alterations in shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which these epigenetic phenomena in glioma remodel the TME and how current therapies targeting epigenetic dysregulation affect the glioma immune response and therapeutic outcomes. Understanding the link between epigenetic remodeling and the glioma TME provides insights into the implementation of epigenetic-targeting therapies to improve the antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon L. McClellan
- Department of Neurosurgery and
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Santiago Haase
- Department of Neurosurgery and
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Felipe J. Nunez
- Department of Neurosurgery and
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Accenture-Argentina, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA), Argentina
| | - Mahmoud S. Alghamri
- Department of Neurosurgery and
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ali A. Dabaja
- Department of Neurosurgery and
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Pedro R. Lowenstein
- Department of Neurosurgery and
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Maria G. Castro
- Department of Neurosurgery and
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Park J, Hsueh PC, Li Z, Ho PC. Microenvironment-driven metabolic adaptations guiding CD8 + T cell anti-tumor immunity. Immunity 2023; 56:32-42. [PMID: 36630916 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The metabolic stress occurring in the tumor microenvironment (TME) hampers T cell anti-tumor immunity by disturbing T cell metabolic and epigenetic programs. Recent studies are making headway toward identifying strategies to unleash T cell activities by targeting T cell metabolism. Furthermore, efforts have been made to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive cell transfer therapies. However, distinct treatment outcomes across different cancers raise the question of whether our understanding of the features of CD8+ T cells within the TME are universal, regardless of their tissue of origin. Here, we review the common and distinct environmental factors affecting CD8+ T cells across tumors. Moreover, we discuss how distinct tissue-specific niches are interpreted by CD8+ T cells based on studies on tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells and how these insights can pave the way for a better understanding of the metabolic regulation of CD8+ T cell differentiation and anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeoh Park
- Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, 1066 Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland.
| | - Pei-Chun Hsueh
- Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, 1066 Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland.
| | - Zhiyu Li
- Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, 1066 Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland; Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P.R. China
| | - Ping-Chih Ho
- Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, 1066 Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland.
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Blake MK, O’Connell P, Aldhamen YA. Fundamentals to therapeutics: Epigenetic modulation of CD8 + T Cell exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1082195. [PMID: 36684449 PMCID: PMC9846628 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1082195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the setting of chronic antigen exposure in the tumor microenvironment (TME), cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTLs) lose their immune surveillance capabilities and ability to clear tumor cells as a result of their differentiation into terminally exhausted CD8+ T cells. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies reinvigorate exhausted CD8+ T cells by targeting specific inhibitory receptors, thus promoting their cytolytic activity towards tumor cells. Despite exciting results with ICB therapies, many patients with solid tumors still fail to respond to such therapies and patients who initially respond can develop resistance. Recently, through new sequencing technologies such as the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq), epigenetics has been appreciated as a contributing factor that enforces T cell differentiation toward exhaustion in the TME. Importantly, specific epigenetic alterations and epigenetic factors have been found to control CD8+ T cell exhaustion phenotypes. In this review, we will explain the background of T cell differentiation and various exhaustion states and discuss how epigenetics play an important role in these processes. Then we will outline specific epigenetic changes and certain epigenetic and transcription factors that are known to contribute to CD8+ T cell exhaustion. We will also discuss the most recent methodologies that are used to study and discover such epigenetic modulations. Finally, we will explain how epigenetic reprogramming is a promising approach that might facilitate the development of novel exhausted T cell-targeting immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yasser A. Aldhamen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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48
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Application of ATAC-seq in tumor-specific T cell exhaustion. Cancer Gene Ther 2023; 30:1-10. [PMID: 35794339 PMCID: PMC9842510 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-022-00495-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Researches show that chronic viral infection and persistent antigen and/or inflammatory signal exposure in cancer causes the functional status of T cells to be altered, mainly by major changes in the epigenetic and metabolic environment, which then leads to T cell exhaustion. The discovery of the immune checkpoint pathway is an important milestone in understanding and reversing T cell exhaustion. Antibodies targeting these pathways have shown superior ability to reverse T cell exhaustion. However, there are still some limitations in immune checkpoint blocking therapy, such as the short-term nature of therapeutic effects and high individual heterogeneity. Assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing(ATAC-seq) is a method used to analyze the accessibility of whole-genome chromatin. It uses hyperactive Tn5 transposase to assess chromatin accessibility. Recently, a growing number of studies have reported that ATAC-seq can be used to characterize the dynamic changes of epigenetics in the process of T cell exhaustion. It has been determined that immune checkpoint blocking can only temporarily restore the function of exhausted T cells because of an irreversible change in the epigenetics of exhausted T cells. In this study, we review the latest developments, which provide a clearer molecular understanding of T cell exhaustion, reveal potential new therapeutic targets for persistent viral infection and cancer, and provide new insights for designing effective immunotherapy for treating cancer and chronic infection.
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49
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Zhu YP, Deng HT, Wang X, Rahat MA, Sun S, Zhang QZ. Cuproptosis-related molecular subtypes direct T cell exhaustion phenotypes and therapeutic strategies for patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1146468. [PMID: 37113755 PMCID: PMC10126426 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1146468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: T cell exhaustion (TEX) heterogeneity leads to unfavorable immunotherapeutic responses in patients with cancer. Classification of TEX molecular phenotypes is pivotal to overcoming TEX and improving immunotherapies in the clinical setting. Cuproptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death associated with tumor progression. However, the relation between cuproptosis-related genes (CuRGs) and the different TEX phenotypes has not been investigated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods: Unsupervised hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm were performed to determine CuRGs-related molecular subtypes and scores for patients with LUAD. The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) landscape in these molecular subtypes and scores was estimated using ESTIMATE and ssGSEA algorithms. Furthermore, TEX characteristics and phenotypes were evaluated in distinct molecular subtypes and scores through GSVA and Spearman correlation analysis. Finally, TIDE scores, immunophenoscore, pRRophetic, GSE78220, and IMvigor210 datasets were employed to appraise the distinguishing capacity of CuRGscore in immunotherapy and pharmacotherapy effectiveness. Results: We identified three CuRGclusters, three geneClusters, and CuRGscore based on 1012 LUAD transcriptional profiles from five datasets. Compared with other molecular subtypes, CuRGcluster B, geneCluster C, and low-CuRGscore group with good prognosis presented fewer TEX characteristics, including immunosuppressive cells infiltration and TEX-associated gene signatures, signal pathways, checkpoint genes, transcription and inflammatory factors. These molecular subtypes were also responsive in distinguishing TEX phenotype in the terminal, GZMK+, and OXPHOS- TEX subtypes, but not the TCF7+ TEX subtype. Notably, copper importer and exporter, SLC31A1 and ATP7B, were remarkably associated with four TEX phenotypes and nine checkpoint genes such as PDCD1, CTLA4, HAVCR2, TIGIT, LAG3, IDO1, SIGLEC7, CD274, PDCD1LG2, indicating that cuproptosis was involved in the development of TEX and immunosuppressive environment in patients with LUAD. Moreover, CuRGscore was significantly related to the TIDE score, immunophenoscore, and terminal TEX score (Spearman R = 0.62, p < 0.001) to effectively predict immunotherapy and drug sensitivity in both training and external validation cohorts. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the extensive effect of cuproptosis on TEX. CuRGs-related molecular subtypes and scores could illuminate the heterogeneity of TEX phenotype as reliable tools in predicting prognosis and directing more effective immunotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic strategies for patients with LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Pan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hui-Ting Deng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Institute of Hepatobiliary Disease, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiuyu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Michal A. Rahat
- Immunotherapy Laboratory, Carmel Medical Center, and the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shupeng Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang-Zhe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Qiang-Zhe Zhang,
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50
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Li H, Miao Y, Zhong L, Feng S, Xu Y, Tang L, Wu C, Zhang X, Gu L, Diao H, Wang H, Wen Z, Yang M. Identification of TREM2-positive tumor-associated macrophages in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: implication for poor prognosis and immunotherapy modulation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1162032. [PMID: 37187751 PMCID: PMC10175681 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1162032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It is now understood that the effectiveness of checkpoint immunotherapy can be impaired by immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Nonetheless, the impact of different TAM subpopulations on the antitumor immune response remains unclear, mainly due to their heterogeneity. Herein, we identified a novel TAM subpopulation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) that might contribute to poor clinical outcomes and immunotherapy modulation. Methods and results We analyzed two single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets (GSE145370 and GSE160269) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to identify a novel TREM2-positive TAM subpopulation characterized by upregulation of TREM2, C1QC, C1QB, C1QA, SPP1, and APOE. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) demonstrated that these genes were significantly overexpressed in ESCC. Multiplex immunofluorescence validated the infiltration of TREM2+ TAMs in ESCC tissues, which correlated with poorer overall survival (OS). The scRNA-seq analysis in dataset GSE120575 indicated significant enrichment of TREM2+ TAMs in melanoma patients (n=48) with poor immunotherapy response, which had an identical gene signature with TREM2+ TAMs from ESCC. Analysis of 29 bulk-RNA melanoma samples from dataset GSE78220 revealed that a gene signature of 40 genes associated with TREM2+ TAMs was upregulated in the transcriptome of melanomas that did not respond to anti-PD1 therapy. Validation in the TCGA ESCC cohort (n=80) showed that a high enrichment score of the TREM2+ TAM was associated with poor prognosis. In addition, 10 ESCC patients treated with anti-PD1 therapy suggested that patients who are not sensitive to immunotherapy have higher density of TREM2+TAMs infiltration. Conclusion Overall, TREM2+ TAM infiltration in ESCC is associated with poor prognosis and may serve as a biomarker for predicting outcomes and immunotherapy modulation in this patient population. modulation; single-cell RNA sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmu Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guanghzou, China
| | - Yu Miao
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Leqi Zhong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guanghzou, China
| | - Songjie Feng
- Max F. Perutz Laboratories, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yue Xu
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guanghzou, China
| | - Chun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guanghzou, China
| | - Xianzhou Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliory and Pancreatic Surgery, Henan Provincial Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ling Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guanghzou, China
| | - Hengyi Diao
- Department of Hepatobiliory and Pancreatic Surgery, Henan Provincial Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Huiyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guanghzou, China
- *Correspondence: Minglei Yang, ; Zhesheng Wen, ; Huiyun Wang,
| | - Zhesheng Wen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guanghzou, China
- *Correspondence: Minglei Yang, ; Zhesheng Wen, ; Huiyun Wang,
| | - Minglei Yang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Minglei Yang, ; Zhesheng Wen, ; Huiyun Wang,
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