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Lopresti L, Tatangelo V, Baldari CT, Patrussi L. Rewiring the T cell-suppressive cytokine landscape of the tumor microenvironment: a new frontier for precision anti-cancer therapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1418527. [PMID: 39281678 PMCID: PMC11392891 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1418527] [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: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024] Open
Abstract
T lymphocytes that infiltrate the tumor microenvironment (TME) often fail to function as effective anti-cancer agents. Within the TME, cell-to-cell inhibitory interactions play significant roles in dampening their anti-tumor activities. Recent studies have revealed that soluble factors released in the TME by immune and non-immune cells, as well as by tumor cells themselves, contribute to the exacerbation of T cell exhaustion. Our understanding of the cytokine landscape of the TME, their interrelationships, and their impact on cancer development is still at its early stages. In this review, we aim to shed light on Interleukin (IL) -6, IL-9, and IL-10, a small group of JAK/STAT signaling-dependent cytokines harboring T cell-suppressive effects in the TME and summarize their mechanisms of action. Additionally, we will explore how advancements in scientific research can help us overcoming the obstacles posed by cytokines that suppress T cells in tumors, with the ultimate objective of stimulating further investigations for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to counteract their tumor-promoting activities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Laura Patrussi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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2
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Duminuco A, Romano A, Ferrarini I, Santuccio G, Chiarenza A, Figuera A, Caruso LA, Motta G, Palumbo GA, Mogno C, Moioli A, Di Raimondo F, Visco C. Monocyte-to-platelets ratio (MPR) at diagnosis is associated with inferior progression-free survival in patients with mantle cell lymphoma: a multi-center real-life survey. Ann Hematol 2024; 103:3043-3052. [PMID: 38630129 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-05752-6] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) pathogenesis is strongly related to the role of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in which MCL cells proliferate. TIME cells can produce growth signals influencing MCL cells' survival and exert an antitumoral immune response suppression. The activity of TIME cells might be mirrored by some ratios of peripheral blood cell subpopulations, such as the monocyte-to-platelet ratio (MPR). We reviewed the clinical features of 165 consecutive MCL patients newly diagnosed and not eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (both for age or comorbidities) who accessed two Italian Centers between 2006 and 2020. MPR was calculated using data obtained from the complete blood cell count at diagnosis before any cytotoxic treatment and correlated with PFS. Univariate analysis showed that MPR ≥ 3 was associated with inferior PFS (p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis confirmed that MPR ≥ 3, LDH > 2.5 ULN, and bone marrow involvement were significant independent variables in predicting PFS. For these reasons, MPR ≥ 3 seems the most promising prognostic factor in patients with MCL, and it could be considered a variable in new predictive models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Duminuco
- Hematology with BMT Unit, A.O.U. "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Catania, Italy.
- Hematology with BMT Unit - A.O.U. Policlinico "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Via Santa Sofia, 78, Catania, 95123, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Romano
- Hematology with BMT Unit, A.O.U. "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Catania, Italy
- Dipartimento di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, CHIRMED, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Isacco Ferrarini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Chirurgiche e Tecnologie Avanzate "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Annalisa Chiarenza
- Hematology with BMT Unit, A.O.U. "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Catania, Italy
| | - Amalia Figuera
- Hematology with BMT Unit, A.O.U. "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Catania, Italy
| | | | - Giovanna Motta
- Hematology with BMT Unit, A.O.U. "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Alberto Palumbo
- Hematology with BMT Unit, A.O.U. "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Catania, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Chirurgiche e Tecnologie Avanzate "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Carlo Mogno
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, Section of Hematology, AOUI VR, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessia Moioli
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, Section of Hematology, AOUI VR, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesco Di Raimondo
- Hematology with BMT Unit, A.O.U. "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Catania, Italy
- Dipartimento di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, CHIRMED, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Carlo Visco
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, Section of Hematology, AOUI VR, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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3
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Hushmandi K, Saadat SH, Mirilavasani S, Daneshi S, Aref AR, Nabavi N, Raesi R, Taheriazam A, Hashemi M. The multifaceted role of SOX2 in breast and lung cancer dynamics. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 260:155386. [PMID: 38861919 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Breast and lung cancers are leading causes of death among patients, with their global mortality and morbidity rates increasing. Conventional treatments often prove inadequate due to resistance development. The alteration of molecular interactions may accelerate cancer progression and treatment resistance. SOX2, known for its abnormal expression in various human cancers, can either accelerate or impede cancer progression. This review focuses on examining the role of SOX2 in breast and lung cancer development. An imbalance in SOX2 expression can promote the growth and dissemination of these cancers. SOX2 can also block programmed cell death, affecting autophagy and other cell death mechanisms. It plays a significant role in cancer metastasis, mainly by regulating the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, an imbalanced SOX2 expression can cause resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy in these cancers. Genetic and epigenetic factors may affect SOX2 levels. Pharmacologically targeting SOX2 could improve the effectiveness of breast and lung cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiavash Hushmandi
- Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Clinical Sciences Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
| | - Seyed Hassan Saadat
- Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Clinical Sciences Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Seyedalireza Mirilavasani
- Campus Venlo, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Salman Daneshi
- Department of Public Health,School of Health,Jiroft University of Medical Sciences,Jiroft, the Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Department of Translational Sciences, Xsphera Biosciences Inc. Boston, MA, USA; Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Noushin Nabavi
- Department of Urologic Sciences and Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6H3Z6 Canada
| | - Rasoul Raesi
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.; Department of Nursing, Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat Jam, Iran
| | - Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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4
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Bhattacharyya P, Christopherson RI, Skarratt KK, Fuller SJ. Method for B Cell Receptor Enrichment in Malignant B Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2341. [PMID: 39001403 PMCID: PMC11240526 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132341] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
B cells are central to the adaptive immune response and provide long-lasting immunity after infection. B cell activation is mediated by the surface membrane-bound B cell receptor (BCR) following recognition of a specific antigen. The BCR has been challenging to analyse using mass spectrometry (MS) due to the difficulty of isolating and enriching this membrane-bound protein complex. There are approximately 120,000 BCRs on the B cell surface; however, depending on the B cell activation state, there may be hundreds-of-millions to billions of proteins in a B cell. Consequently, advanced proteomic techniques such as MS workflows that use purified proteins to yield structural and protein-interaction information have not been published for the BCR complex. This paper describes a method for enriching the BCR complex that is MS-compatible. The method involves a Protein G pull down on agarose beads using an intermediary antibody to each of the BCR complex subcomponents (CD79a, CD79b, and membrane immunoglobulin). The enrichment process is shown to pull down the entire BCR complex and has the advantage of being readily compatible with further proteomic study including MS analysis. Using intermediary antibodies has the potential to enrich all isotypes of the BCR, unlike previous methods described in the literature that use protein G-coated beads to directly pull down the membrane IgG (mIgG) but cannot be used for other mIg isotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja Bhattacharyya
- Sydney Medical School Nepean, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW 2750, Australia; (P.B.); (K.K.S.)
- Blacktown Hospital, Blacktown Rd., Blacktown, NSW 2148, Australia
| | | | - Kristen K. Skarratt
- Sydney Medical School Nepean, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW 2750, Australia; (P.B.); (K.K.S.)
- Nepean Hospital, Derby Str., Kingswood, NSW 2747, Australia
| | - Stephen J. Fuller
- Sydney Medical School Nepean, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW 2750, Australia; (P.B.); (K.K.S.)
- Nepean Hospital, Derby Str., Kingswood, NSW 2747, Australia
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5
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Boncompagni G, Tatangelo V, Lopresti L, Ulivieri C, Capitani N, Tangredi C, Finetti F, Marotta G, Frezzato F, Visentin A, Ciofini S, Gozzetti A, Bocchia M, Calzada-Fraile D, Martin Cofreces NB, Trentin L, Patrussi L, Baldari CT. Leukemic cell-secreted interleukin-9 suppresses cytotoxic T cell-mediated killing in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:144. [PMID: 38360867 PMCID: PMC10869739 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06528-6] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), contributing to disease progression and chemoresistance. Leukemic cells shape the TME into a pro-survival and immunosuppressive niche through contact-dependent and contact-independent interactions with the cellular components of the TME. Immune synapse (IS) formation is defective in CLL. Here we asked whether soluble factors released by CLL cells contribute to their protection from cytotoxic T cell (CTL)-mediated killing by interfering with this process. We found that healthy CTLs cultured in media conditioned by leukemic cells from CLL patients or Eμ-TCL1 mice upregulate the exhaustion marker PD-1 and become unable to form functional ISs and kill target cells. These defects were more pronounced when media were conditioned by leukemic cells lacking p66Shc, a proapoptotic adapter whose deficiency has been implicated in disease aggressiveness both in CLL and in the Eμ-TCL1 mouse model. Multiplex ELISA assays showed that leukemic cells from Eμ-TCL1 mice secrete abnormally elevated amounts of CCL22, CCL24, IL-9 and IL-10, which are further upregulated in the absence of p66Shc. Among these, IL-9 and IL-10 were also overexpressed in leukemic cells from CLL patients, where they inversely correlated with residual p66Shc. Using neutralizing antibodies or the recombinant cytokines we show that IL-9, but not IL-10, mediates both the enhancement in PD-1 expression and the suppression of effector functions in healthy CTLs. Our results demonstrate that IL-9 secreted by leukemic cells negatively modulates the anti-tumor immune abilities of CTLs, highlighting a new suppressive mechanism and a novel potential therapeutical target in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nagaja Capitani
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Marotta
- Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit, University Hospital, Siena, Italy
| | - Federica Frezzato
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, Padua University School of Medicine, Padua, Italy
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Visentin
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, Padua University School of Medicine, Padua, Italy
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Sara Ciofini
- Department of Medical Science, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gozzetti
- Department of Medical Science, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Monica Bocchia
- Department of Medical Science, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Diego Calzada-Fraile
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Instituto de investigación Sanitaria La Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noa B Martin Cofreces
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Instituto de investigación Sanitaria La Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Livio Trentin
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, Padua University School of Medicine, Padua, Italy
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Patrussi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
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6
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Lopresti L, Capitani N, Tatangelo V, Tangredi C, Boncompagni G, Frezzato F, Visentin A, Marotta G, Ciofini S, Gozzetti A, Bocchia M, Trentin L, Baldari CT, Patrussi L. p66Shc deficiency in CLL cells enhances PD-L1 expression and suppresses immune synapse formation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1297116. [PMID: 38389706 PMCID: PMC10883382 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1297116] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Escape from immunosurveillance is a hallmark of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. In the protective niche of lymphoid organs, leukemic cells suppress the ability of T lymphocytes to form the immune synapse (IS), thereby hampering T-cell mediated anti-tumoral activities. By binding its cognate receptor PD-1 at the surface of T lymphocytes, the inhibitory ligand PD-L1, which is overexpressed in CLL cells, mediates the T-cell suppressive activities of CLL cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying PD-L1 overexpression in CLL cells remains unknown. We have previously reported a defective expression of the pro-apoptotic and pro-oxidant adaptor p66Shc in CLL cells, which is causally related to an impairment in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and to the activation of the ROS-sensitive transcription factor NF-κB. The fact that PD-L1 expression is regulated by NF-κB suggests a mechanistic relationship between p66Shc deficiency and PD-L1 overexpression in CLL cells. Methods: 62 treatment-naive CLL patients and 43 healthy donors were included in this study. PD-L1 and p66Shc expression was quantified in B cells by flow cytometry and qRT-PCR. IS architecture and local signaling was assessed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. CD8+ cell killing activity was assessed by flow cytometry. Results: Here we show that residual p66Shc expression in leukemic cells isolated both from CLL patients and from the CLL mouse model Eμ-TCL1 inversely correlated with PD-L1 expression. We also show that the PD-L1 increase prevented leukemic cells from forming ISs with T lymphocytes. Reconstitution of p66Shc, but not of a ROS-defective mutant, in both CLL cells and the CLL-derived cell line MEC-1, enhanced intracellular ROS and decreased PD-L1 expression. Similar results were obtained following treatment of CLL cells with H2O2 as exogenous source of ROS, that normalized PD-L1 expression and recovered IS formation. Discussion: Our data provide direct evidence that the p66Shc-deficiency-related ROS depletion in CLL cells concurs to enhance PD-L1 expression and provides a mechanistic basis for the suppression of T cell-mediated anti-tumoral functions in the immunosuppressive lymphoid niche.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nagaja Capitani
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Federica Frezzato
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Visentin
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Marotta
- Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit, University Hospital, Siena, Italy
| | - Sara Ciofini
- Department of Medical Science, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gozzetti
- Department of Medical Science, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Monica Bocchia
- Department of Medical Science, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Livio Trentin
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Laura Patrussi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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7
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Poveda-Garavito N, Combita AL. Contribution of the TIME in BCP-ALL: the basis for novel approaches therapeutics. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1325255. [PMID: 38299154 PMCID: PMC10827891 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1325255] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The bone marrow (BM) niche is a microenvironment where both immune and non-immune cells functionally interact with hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and more differentiated progenitors, contributing to the regulation of hematopoiesis. It is regulated by various signaling molecules such as cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules in its microenvironment. However, despite the strict regulation of BM signals to maintain their steady state, accumulating evidence in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) indicates that leukemic cells can disrupt the physiological hematopoietic niche in the BM, creating a new leukemia-supportive microenvironment. This environment favors immunological evasion mechanisms and the interaction of these cells with the development and progression of BCP-ALL. With a growing understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in the development and progression of BCP-ALL, current strategies focused on "re-editing" TIME to promote antitumor immunity have been developed. In this review, we summarize how TIME cells are disrupted by the presence of leukemic cells, evading immunosurveillance mechanisms in the BCP-ALL model. We also explore the crosstalk between TIME and leukemic cells that leads to treatment resistance, along with the most promising immuno-therapy strategies. Understanding and further research into the role of the BM microenvironment in leukemia progression and relapse are crucial for developing more effective treatments and reducing patient mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaly Poveda-Garavito
- Grupo de Investigación en Biología del Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Grupo de Investigación Traslacional en Oncología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alba Lucía Combita
- Grupo de Investigación en Biología del Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Grupo de Investigación Traslacional en Oncología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
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Malik N, Hay J, Almuhanna HNB, Dunn KM, Lees J, Cassels J, Li J, Nakagawa R, Sansom OJ, Michie AM. mTORC1-selective activation of translation elongation promotes disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia 2023; 37:2414-2425. [PMID: 37775560 PMCID: PMC10681897 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-02043-3] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Targeted deletion of Raptor, a component of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), reveals an essential role for mTORC1 in initiation/maintenance of leukemia in a CLL model, resulting from a failure for haemopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) to commit to the B cell lineage. Induction of Raptor-deficiency in NSG mice transplanted with Mx1-Raptor CLL progenitor cells (PKCα-KR-transduced HSPCs) after disease establishment revealed a reduction in CLL-like disease load and a significant increase in survival in the mice. Interestingly in an aggressive CLL-like disease model, rapamycin treatment reduced disease burden more effectively than AZD2014 (dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor), indicating a skew towards mTORC1 sensitivity with more aggressive disease. Rapamycin, but not ibrutinib, efficiently targeted the eEF2/eEF2K translation elongation regulatory axis, downstream of mTORC1, resulting in eEF2 inactivation through induction of eEF2T56 phosphorylation. mTOR inhibitor treatment of primary patient CLL cells halted proliferation, at least in part through modulation of eEF2K/eEF2 phosphorylation and expression, reduced protein synthesis and inhibited expression of MCL1, Cyclin A and Cyclin D2. Our studies highlight the importance of translation elongation as a driver of disease progression and identify inactivation of eEF2 activity as a novel therapeutic target for blocking CLL progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Malik
- University of Glasgow; Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jodie Hay
- University of Glasgow; Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Hassan N B Almuhanna
- University of Glasgow; Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Karen M Dunn
- University of Glasgow; Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jamie Lees
- University of Glasgow; Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jennifer Cassels
- University of Glasgow; Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jiatian Li
- University of Glasgow; Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Rinako Nakagawa
- Immunity and Cancer Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Owen J Sansom
- University of Glasgow; Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute; Garscube Estate, Glasgow, UK
| | - Alison M Michie
- University of Glasgow; Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
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9
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Bojarska-Junak A, Kowalska W, Chocholska S, Szymańska A, Tomczak W, Zarobkiewicz MK, Roliński J. Prognostic Potential of Galectin-9 mRNA Expression in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5370. [PMID: 38001630 PMCID: PMC10670166 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Galectin-9 (Gal-9), very poorly characterized in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), was chosen in our study to examine its potential role as a CLL biomarker. The relation of Gal-9 expression in malignant B-cells and other routinely measured CLL markers, as well as its clinical relevance are poorly understood. Gal-9 mRNA expression was quantified with RT-qPCR in purified CD19+ B-cells of 100 CLL patients and analyzed in the context of existing clinical data. Our results revealed the upregulation of Gal-9 mRNA in CLL cells. High Gal-9 mRNA expression was closely associated with unfavorable prognostic markers. In addition, Gal-9 expression in leukemic cells was significantly elevated in CLL patients who did not respond to the first-line therapy compared to those who did respond. This suggests its potential predictive value. Importantly, Gal-9 was an independent predictor for the time to treatment parameters. Thus, we can suggest an adverse role of Gal-9 expression in CLL. Interestingly, it is possible that Gal-9 expression is induced in B-cells by EBV infection, so we determined the patients' EBV status. Our suggestion is that EBV coinfection could worsen prognosis in CLL, partly due to Gal-9 expression upregulation caused by EBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Bojarska-Junak
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (W.K.); (A.S.); (M.K.Z.); (J.R.)
| | - Wioleta Kowalska
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (W.K.); (A.S.); (M.K.Z.); (J.R.)
| | - Sylwia Chocholska
- Department of Haematooncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Medical University of Lublin, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (S.C.); (W.T.)
| | - Agata Szymańska
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (W.K.); (A.S.); (M.K.Z.); (J.R.)
| | - Waldemar Tomczak
- Department of Haematooncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Medical University of Lublin, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (S.C.); (W.T.)
| | - Michał Konrad Zarobkiewicz
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (W.K.); (A.S.); (M.K.Z.); (J.R.)
| | - Jacek Roliński
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (W.K.); (A.S.); (M.K.Z.); (J.R.)
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10
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Shibamiya A, Miyamoto-Nagai Y, Koide S, Oshima M, Rizq O, Aoyama K, Nakajima-Takagi Y, Kato R, Kayamori K, Isshiki Y, Oshima-Hasegawa N, Muto T, Tsukamoto S, Takeda Y, Koyama-Nasu R, Chiba T, Honda H, Yokote K, Iwama A, Sakaida E, Mimura N. The pathogenetic significance of exhausted T cells in a mouse model of mature B cell neoplasms. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:2635-2648. [PMID: 37069353 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03447-x] [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: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunctional anti-tumor immunity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of mature B cell neoplasms, such as multiple myeloma and B cell lymphoma; however, the impact of exhausted T cells on disease development remains unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the features and pathogenetic significance of exhausted T cells using a mouse model of de novo mature B cell neoplasms, which is likely to show immune escape similar to human patients. The results revealed a significant increase in PD-1+ Tim-3- and PD-1+ Tim-3+ T cells in sick mice. Furthermore, PD-1+ Tim-3+ T cells exhibited direct cytotoxicity with a short lifespan, showing transcriptional similarities to terminally exhausted T cells. On the other hand, PD-1+ Tim-3- T cells not only exhibited immunological responsiveness but also retained stem-like transcriptional features, suggesting that they play a role in the long-term maintenance of anti-tumor immunity. In PD-1+ Tim-3- and PD-1+ Tim-3+ T cells, the transcription factors Tox and Nr4a2, which reportedly contribute to the progression of T cell exhaustion, were up-regulated in vivo. These transcription factors were down-regulated by IMiDs in our in vitro T cell exhaustion analyses. The prevention of excessive T cell exhaustion may maintain effective anti-tumor immunity to cure mature B cell neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asuka Shibamiya
- Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology, and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | | | - Shuhei Koide
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motohiko Oshima
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ola Rizq
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Aoyama
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yaeko Nakajima-Takagi
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rei Kato
- Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kensuke Kayamori
- Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yusuke Isshiki
- Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Nagisa Oshima-Hasegawa
- Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8677, Japan
| | - Tomoya Muto
- Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | | | - Yusuke Takeda
- Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryo Koyama-Nasu
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Experimental-Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tetsuhiro Chiba
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Honda
- Field of Human Disease Models, Major in Advanced Life Sciences and Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koutaro Yokote
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology, and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Atsushi Iwama
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Emiko Sakaida
- Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology, and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8677, Japan
| | - Naoya Mimura
- Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8677, Japan.
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11
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Wu X, Thisdelle J, Hou S, Fajardo-Despaigne JE, Gibson SB, Johnston JB, Dawe DE, Banerji V, Marshall AJ. Elevated expression of interleukin 16 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is associated with disease burden and abnormal immune microenvironment. Leuk Res 2023; 131:107315. [PMID: 37263073 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2023.107315] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is a novel biomarker that has been implicated in many cancers as well as inflammatory diseases. In this study, we examined plasma levels of 30 cytokines and chemokines in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL) patients, and examined their association with disease stage, CLL biomarkers and T cell subsets. Interleukin 16 (IL-16) was identified as a relatively uncharacterized cytokine significantly elevated in CLL patients compared to healthy controls and MBL patients. Plasma levels of IL-16 were significantly elevated by Rai stage 0, increased by Rai stage 3-4, correlated strongly with lymphocyte count and were decreased after Ibrutinib treatment. CLL cells expressed IL-16 mRNA and spontaneously secreted IL-16 in vitro. CLL cells express IL-16 mRNA at significantly higher levels in lymphoid tissues than blood, and we observed that IL-16 release was increased in co-cultures of CLL and autologous CD4 + T cells. Elevated plasma IL-16 levels were associated with abnormalities in the immune microenvironment including multiple inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and expansion of type 1 follicular helper T cells. Taken together, our results identify IL-16 as a novel biomarker in CLL with potential functional roles in cellular interactions between CLL cells and T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Wu
- Department of Immunology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Jordan Thisdelle
- Department of Immunology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Sen Hou
- Department of Immunology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | - Spencer B Gibson
- Department of Immunology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - James B Johnston
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - David E Dawe
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Versha Banerji
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Aaron J Marshall
- Department of Immunology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Internal Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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12
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Le Saos-Patrinos C, Loizon S, Zouine A, Turpin D, Dilhuydy MS, Blanco P, Sisirak V, Forcade E, Duluc D. Elevated levels of circulatory follicular T helper cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia contribute to B cell expansion. J Leukoc Biol 2023; 113:305-314. [PMID: 36807447 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad006] [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: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by an expansion of mature B cells in the bone marrow, peripheral lymphoid organs, and blood. CD4 T helper (Th) lymphocytes significantly contribute to the physiopathology of CLL, but the subset(s) of Th cell involved in CLL pathogenesis is (are) still under debate. In this study, we performed flow cytometry analysis of the circulatory T cells of untreated CLL patients and observed an increase in follicular helper T cells (Tfh), which is a subset of T cells specialized in B cell help. Elevated numbers of Tfh cells correlated with disease severity as measured by the Binet staging system. Tfh from CLL patients were activated and skewed toward a Th1 profile as evidenced by their PD-1+IL-21+IFNγ+ phenotype and their CXCR3+CCR6- chemokine receptor profile. Tfh efficiently enhanced B-CLL survival and proliferation through IL-21 but independently of IFNγ. Finally, we observed an inverse correlation between the Tfh1 and IgA and IgG serum levels in patients, suggesting a role for this Tfh subset in the immune dysfunction associated with CLL. Altogether, our data highlight an impairment in circulatory Tfh subsets in CLL patients and their critical role in CLL physiopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Séverine Loizon
- Immunoconcept, CNRS UMR 5164, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Leo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Atika Zouine
- TBM Core, UB Facsility, CNRS UMS 3427, Inserm US 005, 146 rue Leo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Delphine Turpin
- Immunoconcept, CNRS UMR 5164, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Leo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Marie-Sarah Dilhuydy
- Service d'Hématologie Clinique et Thérapie Cellulaire, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Hôpital Haut Lévêque, Av de Magellan, 33600 Pessac, Bordeaux, France
| | - Patrick Blanco
- Immunoconcept, CNRS UMR 5164, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Leo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France.,Service d'immunologie et immunogénétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Place Amélie Raba-Léon, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Vanja Sisirak
- Immunoconcept, CNRS UMR 5164, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Leo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Edouard Forcade
- Immunoconcept, CNRS UMR 5164, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Leo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France.,Service d'Hématologie Clinique et Thérapie Cellulaire, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Hôpital Haut Lévêque, Av de Magellan, 33600 Pessac, Bordeaux, France
| | - Dorothée Duluc
- Immunoconcept, CNRS UMR 5164, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Leo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
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13
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de Oliveira TD, vom Stein A, Rebollido-Rios R, Lobastova L, Lettau M, Janssen O, Wagle P, Nguyen PH, Hallek M, Hansen HP. Stromal cells support the survival of human primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells through Lyn-driven extracellular vesicles. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 9:1059028. [PMID: 36714146 PMCID: PMC9880074 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1059028] [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: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the tumor cells receive survival support from stromal cells through direct cell contact, soluble factors and extracellular vesicles (EVs). The protein tyrosine kinase Lyn is aberrantly expressed in the malignant and stromal cells in CLL tissue. We studied the role of Lyn in the EV-based communication and tumor support. Methods We compared the Lyn-dependent EV release, uptake and functionality using Lyn-proficient (wild-type) and -deficient stromal cells and primary CLL cells. Results Lyn-proficient cells caused a significantly higher EV release and EV uptake as compared to Lyn-deficient cells and also conferred stronger support of primary CLL cells. Proteomic comparison of the EVs from Lyn-proficient and -deficient stromal cells revealed 70 significantly differentially expressed proteins. Gene ontology studies categorized many of which to organization of the extracellular matrix, such as collagen, fibronectin, fibrillin, Lysyl oxidase like 2, integrins and endosialin (CD248). In terms of function, a knockdown of CD248 in Lyn+ HS-5 cells resulted in a diminished B-CLL cell feeding capacity compared to wildtype or scrambled control cells. CD248 is a marker of certain tumors and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) and crosslinks fibronectin and collagen in a membrane-associated context. Conclusion Our data provide preclinical evidence that the tyrosine kinase Lyn crucially influences the EV-based communication between stromal and primary B-CLL cells by raising EV release and altering the concentration of functional molecules of the extracellular matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Dolzany de Oliveira
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander vom Stein
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Rocio Rebollido-Rios
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Liudmila Lobastova
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marcus Lettau
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany,Department of Hematology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Ottmar Janssen
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Prerana Wagle
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Proteomics Facility, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Phuong-Hien Nguyen
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Hallek
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hinrich P. Hansen
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,*Correspondence: Hinrich P. Hansen,
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14
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Chaintreuil P, Kerreneur E, Bourgoin M, Savy C, Favreau C, Robert G, Jacquel A, Auberger P. The generation, activation, and polarization of monocyte-derived macrophages in human malignancies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1178337. [PMID: 37143666 PMCID: PMC10151765 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1178337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are immune cells that originate from embryogenesis or from the differentiation of monocytes. They can adopt numerous phenotypes depending on their origin, tissue distribution and in response to different stimuli and tissue environment. Thus, in vivo, macrophages are endowed with a continuum of phenotypes that are rarely strictly pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory and exhibit a broad expression profile that sweeps over the whole polarization spectrum. Schematically, three main macrophage subpopulations coexist in human tissues: naïve macrophages also called M0, pro-inflammatory macrophages referred as M1 macrophages, and anti-inflammatory macrophages also known as M2 macrophages. Naïve macrophages display phagocytic functions, recognize pathogenic agents, and rapidly undergo polarization towards pro or anti-inflammatory macrophages to acquire their full panel of functions. Pro-inflammatory macrophages are widely involved in inflammatory response, during which they exert anti-microbial and anti-tumoral functions. By contrast, anti-inflammatory macrophages are implicated in the resolution of inflammation, the phagocytosis of cell debris and tissue reparation following injuries. Macrophages also play important deleterious or beneficial roles in the initiation and progression of different pathophysiological settings including solid and hematopoietic cancers. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the generation, activation and polarization of macrophages is a prerequisite for the development of new therapeutic strategies to modulate macrophages functions in pathological situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Chaintreuil
- Université Côte d’Azur, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Nice, France
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), Nice, France
| | - Emeline Kerreneur
- Université Côte d’Azur, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Nice, France
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), Nice, France
| | - Maxence Bourgoin
- Université Côte d’Azur, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Nice, France
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), Nice, France
| | - Coline Savy
- Université Côte d’Azur, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Nice, France
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), Nice, France
| | - Cécile Favreau
- Université Côte d’Azur, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Nice, France
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), Nice, France
| | - Guillaume Robert
- Université Côte d’Azur, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Nice, France
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), Nice, France
| | - Arnaud Jacquel
- Université Côte d’Azur, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Nice, France
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), Nice, France
- *Correspondence: Arnaud Jacquel, ; Patrick Auberger,
| | - Patrick Auberger
- Université Côte d’Azur, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Nice, France
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), Nice, France
- *Correspondence: Arnaud Jacquel, ; Patrick Auberger,
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15
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Braham MV, van Binnendijk RS, Buisman AMM, Mebius RE, de Wit J, van Els CA. A synthetic human 3D in vitro lymphoid model enhancing B-cell survival and functional differentiation. iScience 2022; 26:105741. [PMID: 36590159 PMCID: PMC9794978 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate B-cell differentiation and maturation occurring in the germinal center (GC) using in vitro culture systems, key factors and interactions of the GC reaction need to be accurately simulated. This study aims at improving in vitro GC simulation using 3D culture techniques. Human B-cells were incorporated into PEG-4MAL hydrogels, to create a synthetic extracellular matrix, supported by CD40L cells, human tonsil-derived lymphoid stromal cells, and cytokines. The differentiation and antibody production of CD19+B-cells was best supported in a 5.0%-PEG-4MAL, 2.0 mM-RGD-peptide composition. The 3D culture significantly increased plasmablast and plasma cell numbers as well as antibody production, with less B-cell death compared to 2D cultures. Class switching of naive CD19+IgD+B-cells toward IgG+ and IgA+B-cells was observed. The formation of large B-cell clusters indicates the formation of GC-like structures. In conclusion, a well-characterized and controllable hydrogel-based human 3D lymphoid model is presented that supports enhanced B-cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and antibody production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike V.J. Braham
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Rob S. van Binnendijk
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie M. Buisman
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Reina E. Mebius
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jelle de Wit
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands,Corresponding author
| | - Cécile A.C.M. van Els
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands,Corresponding author
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16
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Cassioli C, Patrussi L, Valitutti S, Baldari CT. Learning from TCR Signaling and Immunological Synapse Assembly to Build New Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:14255. [PMID: 36430728 PMCID: PMC9694822 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy is a revolutionary pillar in cancer treatment. Clinical experience has shown remarkable successes in the treatment of certain hematological malignancies but only limited efficacy against B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other cancer types, especially solid tumors. A wide range of engineering strategies have been employed to overcome the limitations of CAR T cell therapy. However, it has become increasingly clear that CARs have unique, unexpected features; hence, a deep understanding of how CARs signal and trigger the formation of a non-conventional immunological synapse (IS), the signaling platform required for T cell activation and execution of effector functions, would lead a shift from empirical testing to the rational design of new CAR constructs. Here, we review current knowledge of CARs, focusing on their structure, signaling and role in CAR T cell IS assembly. We, moreover, discuss the molecular features accounting for poor responses in CLL patients treated with anti-CD19 CAR T cells and propose CLL as a paradigm for diseases connected to IS dysfunctions that could significantly benefit from the development of novel CARs to generate a productive anti-tumor response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cassioli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Patrussi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Salvatore Valitutti
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1037, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Toulouse (CRCT), Université de Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, 31037 Toulouse, France
- Department of Pathology, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Oncopole de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France
| | - Cosima T. Baldari
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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17
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Oumeslakht L, Aziz AI, Bensussan A, Ben Mkaddem S. CD160 receptor in CLL: Current state and future avenues. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1028013. [PMID: 36420268 PMCID: PMC9676924 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1028013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
CD160 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell surface glycoprotein expressed on cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cells and T-cell subsets. It plays a crucial role in the activation of NK-cell cytotoxicity and cytokine production. It also modulates the immune system and is involved in some pathologies, such as cancer. CD160 is abnormally expressed in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) but not expressed in normal B lymphocytes. Its expression in CLL enhances tumor cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. CD160 is also a potential prognostic marker for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in CLL, which is important for the clinical management of CLL, the prevention of disease relapse, and the achievement of complete remission. In this review, we present an overview of CD160 and its involvement in the pathophysiology of CLL. We also discuss its use as a prognostic marker for the assessment of MRD in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loubna Oumeslakht
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben-Guerir, Morocco
| | - Abdel-ilah Aziz
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben-Guerir, Morocco
| | - Armand Bensussan
- INSERM U976, Université de Paris, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France
- Institut Jean Godinot, Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer, Reims, France
| | - Sanae Ben Mkaddem
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben-Guerir, Morocco
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18
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Bennett R, Thompson E, Tam C. SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions | Mechanisms of Resistance to BCL2 Inhibitor Therapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Potential Future Therapeutic Directions. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA, MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2022; 22:795-804. [PMID: 35970756 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2022.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) constitutively overexpresses B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) with consequent dysregulation of intrinsic apoptosis leading to abnormal cellular survival. Therapeutic use of BCL2 inhibitors (BCL2i, eg, venetoclax) in CLL, as both continuous monotherapy or in fixed duration combination, has translated scientific rationale into clinical benefit with significant rates of complete responses, including those without detectable minimal residual disease. Unlike with chemotherapy, response rates to venetoclax do not appear to be influenced by pre-existing chromosomal abnormalities or somatic mutations present, although the duration of response observed remains shorter for those with traditional higher risk genetic aberrations. This review seeks to describe both the disease factors that influence primary venetoclax sensitivity/resistance and those resistance mechanisms that may be acquired secondary to BCL2i therapy in CLL. Baseline venetoclax-sensitivity or -resistance is influenced by the expression of BCL2 relative to other BCL2 family member proteins, microenvironmental factors including nodal T-cell stimulation, and tumoral heterogeneity. With selection pressure applied by continuous venetoclax exposure, secondary resistance mechanisms develop in oligoclonal fashion. Those mechanisms described include acquisition of BCL2 variants, dynamic aberrations of alternative BCL2 family proteins, and mutations affecting both BAX and other BH3 proteins. In view of the resistance described, this review also proposes future applications of BCL2i therapy in CLL and potential means by which BCL2i-resistance may be abrogated.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism
- bcl-2-Associated X Protein/pharmacology
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory Bennett
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Ella Thompson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Constantine Tam
- Alfred Health and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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19
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Karami Fath M, Azami J, Jaafari N, Akbari Oryani M, Jafari N, Karim poor A, Azargoonjahromi A, Nabi-Afjadi M, Payandeh Z, Zalpoor H, Shanehbandi D. Exosome application in treatment and diagnosis of B-cell disorders: leukemias, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis rheumatoid. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2022; 27:74. [PMID: 36064322 PMCID: PMC9446857 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-022-00377-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosomes, known as a type of extracellular vesicles (EVs), are lipid particles comprising heterogeneous contents such as nucleic acids, proteins, and DNA. These bi-layered particles are naturally released into the extracellular periphery by a variety of cells such as neoplastic cells. Given that exosomes have unique properties, they can be used as vectors and carriers of biological and medicinal particles like drugs for delivering to the desired areas. The proteins and RNAs being encompassed by the circulating exosomes in B-cell malignancies are deemed as the promising sources for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic agents. Exosomes can also provide a "snapshot" view of the tumor and metastatic landscape at any particular time. Further, clinical research has shown that exosomes are produced by immune cells such as dendritic cells can stimulate the immune system, so these exosomes can be used in antitumor vaccines. Despite the great potential of exosomes in the fields of diagnostic and treatment, further studies are in need for these purposes to reach a convergence notion. This review highlights the applications of exosomes in multiple immune-related diseases, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis rheumatoid, as well as explaining sundry aspects of exosome therapy and the function of exosomes in diagnosing diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Karami Fath
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jalil Azami
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Niloofar Jaafari
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Akbari Oryani
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Nafiseh Jafari
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Mohsen Nabi-Afjadi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Payandeh
- Department Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division Medical Inflammation Research, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Immunology Research center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Zalpoor
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Dariush Shanehbandi
- Department Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division Medical Inflammation Research, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Immunology Research center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
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20
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Belloni D, Ferrarini M, Ferrero E, Guzzeloni V, Barbaglio F, Ghia P, Scielzo C. Protocol for generation of 3D bone marrow surrogate microenvironments in a rotary cell culture system. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101601. [PMID: 35990738 PMCID: PMC9382330 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In this protocol, we describe how to generate 3D culture surrogates of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM) bone marrow microenvironments. We detail the use of culturing scaffolds populated with BM stromal cells and tumor cells in the RCCS™ bioreactor. This 3D culture can efficiently recapitulate tumor-stroma crosstalk and allows the testing of drugs such as ibrutinib and bortezomib. Moreover, this protocol can be used for the generation of other and more complex tumor microenvironments. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Belloni et al. (2018) and Barbaglio et al. (2021). Step-by-step generation of a 3D bone marrow microenvironment for CLL and MM Set up of a dynamic 3D culture in an RCCS™ bioreactor Integrative analysis of the 3D scaffolds in response to drug treatment
Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.
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21
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De Falco F, Rompietti C, Sorcini D, Esposito A, Scialdone A, Baldoni S, Del Papa B, Adamo FM, Silva Barcelos EC, Dorillo E, Stella A, Di Ianni M, Screpanti I, Sportoletti P, Rosati E. GSK3β is a critical, druggable component of the network regulating the active NOTCH1 protein and cell viability in CLL. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:755. [PMID: 36050315 PMCID: PMC9436923 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05178-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
NOTCH1 alterations have been associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but the molecular mechanisms underlying NOTCH1 activation in CLL cells are not completely understood. Here, we show that GSK3β downregulates the constitutive levels of the active NOTCH1 intracellular domain (N1-ICD) in CLL cells. Indeed, GSK3β silencing by small interfering RNA increases N1-ICD levels, whereas expression of an active GSK3β mutant reduces them. Additionally, the GSK3β inhibitor SB216763 enhances N1-ICD stability at a concentration at which it also increases CLL cell viability. We also show that N1-ICD is physically associated with GSK3β in CLL cells. SB216763 reduces GSK3β/N1-ICD interactions and the levels of ubiquitinated N1-ICD, indicating a reduction in N1-ICD proteasomal degradation when GSK3β is less active. We then modulated the activity of two upstream regulators of GSK3β and examined the impact on N1-ICD levels and CLL cell viability. Specifically, we inhibited AKT that is a negative regulator of GSK3β and is constitutively active in CLL cells. Furthermore, we activated the protein phosphatase 2 A (PP2A) that is a positive regulator of GSK3β, and has an impaired activity in CLL. Results show that either AKT inhibition or PP2A activation reduce N1-ICD expression and CLL cell viability in vitro, through mechanisms mediated by GSK3β activity. Notably, for PP2A activation, we used the highly specific activator DT-061, that also reduces leukemic burden in peripheral blood, spleen and bone marrow in the Eµ-TCL1 adoptive transfer model of CLL, with a concomitant decrease in N1-ICD expression. Overall, we identify in GSK3β a key component of the network regulating N1-ICD stability in CLL, and in AKT and PP2A new druggable targets for disrupting NOTCH1 signaling with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filomena De Falco
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Rompietti
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Daniele Sorcini
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Angela Esposito
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Annarita Scialdone
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Baldoni
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy ,grid.412451.70000 0001 2181 4941Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Beatrice Del Papa
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Maria Adamo
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Estevão Carlos Silva Barcelos
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Erica Dorillo
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Arianna Stella
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Mauro Di Ianni
- grid.412451.70000 0001 2181 4941Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy ,grid.461844.bDepartment of Oncology and Hematology, Ospedale Civile “Santo Spirito”, ASL Pescara, Pescara, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Sportoletti
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Hematology, Centro di Ricerca Emato-Oncologica (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Emanuela Rosati
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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22
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Liu Y, Song Y, Yin Q. Effects of ibrutinib on T-cell immunity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Front Immunol 2022; 13:962552. [PMID: 36059445 PMCID: PMC9437578 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.962552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a highly heterogeneous B-cell malignancy, is characterized by tumor microenvironment disorder and T-cell immune dysfunction, which play a major role in the proliferation and survival of CLL cells. Ibrutinib is the first irreversible inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK). In addition to targeting B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling to kill tumor cells, increasing evidence has suggested that ibrutinib regulates the tumor microenvironment and T-cell immunity in a direct and indirect manner. For example, ibrutinib not only reverses the tumor microenvironment by blocking cytokine networks and toll-like receptor signaling but also regulates T cells in number, subset distribution, T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and immune function by inhibiting interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) and reducing the expression of inhibitory receptors, and so on. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for the effects of ibrutinib on the tumor microenvironment and cellular immunity of patients with CLL, particularly for the behavior and function of T cells, explore its potential mechanisms, and provide a basis for the clinical benefits of long-term ibrutinib treatment and combined therapy based on T-cell-based immunotherapies.
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23
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Collard JP, McKenna MK, Noothi SK, Alhakeem SS, Rivas JR, Rangnekar VM, Muthusamy N, Bondada S. Role of the splenic microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia development in Eµ-TCL1 transgenic mice. Leuk Lymphoma 2022; 63:1810-1822. [DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2022.2045596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James P. Collard
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Mary K. McKenna
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sunil K. Noothi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sara S. Alhakeem
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jacqueline R. Rivas
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Vivek M. Rangnekar
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Natarajan Muthusamy
- Division of Hematology, James Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Subbarao Bondada
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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Raderer M, Kiesewetter B, Mayerhoefer ME. Positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) vs. gastroscopy: Can it improve detection of extranodal marginal zone lymphomas of the stomach following H. pylori treatment? Expert Rev Hematol 2022; 15:565-571. [PMID: 35695746 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2022.2089110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The stomach is the most common site of origin for extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma). Antibiotic eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the standard first-line treatment, with response assessment being performed by histological evaluation of multiple gastric biopsies. AREAS COVERED The objective of this review is to provide an update on results obtained using noninvasive methods, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT), and most recently, PET/MRI for the assessment of disease extent and response to treatment in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma. EXPERT OPINION While CT is the officially recommended imaging technique, few studies in small cohorts have suggested that diffusion-weighted MRI shows higher sensitivity, also relative to 18 F-FDG PET/CT, for both gastric and nongastric MALT lymphomas. A recent prospective study using PET/MRI with the novel CXCR4-targeting radiotracer 68 Ga-Pentixafor suggested that, for patients with gastric MALT lymphoma after H. pylori eradication, this imaging technique may provide excellent accuracy (97%) for assessment of residual or recurrent disease. Although recent studies on CXCR4-targeting PET and to some extent also diffusion-weighted MRI are promising, there is insufficient evidence to suggest a change in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Raderer
- Department of Medicine I, Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Kiesewetter
- Department of Medicine I, Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marius E Mayerhoefer
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Therapy, Division of General and Pediatric, Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided, Vienna, Austria
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25
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Chen R, Chen Y, Xiong P, Zheleva D, Blake D, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Plunkett W. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor fadraciclib (CYC065) depletes anti-apoptotic protein and synergizes with venetoclax in primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Leukemia 2022; 36:1596-1608. [PMID: 35383271 PMCID: PMC9162916 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01553-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Fadraciclib (CYC065) is a second-generation aminopurine CDK2/9 inhibitor with increased potency and selectivity toward CDK2 and CDK9 compared to seliciclib (R-roscovitine). In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a disease that depends on the over-expression of anti-apoptotic proteins for its survival, inhibition of CDK9 by fadraciclib reduced phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II and blocked transcription in vitro; these actions depleted the intrinsically short-lived anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 and induced apoptosis. While the simulated bone marrow and lymph node microenvironments induced Mcl-1 expression and protected CLL cells from apoptosis, these conditions did not prolong the turnover rate of Mcl-1, and fadraciclib efficiently abrogated the protective effect. Further, fadraciclib was synergistic with the Bcl-2 antagonist venetoclax, inducing more profound CLL cell death, especially in samples with 17p deletion. While fadraciclib, venetoclax, and the combination each had distinct kinetics of cell death induction, their activities were reversible, as no additional cell death was induced upon removal of the drugs. The best combination effects were achieved when both drugs were maintained together. Altogether, this study provides a rationale for the clinical development of fadraciclib in CLL, either alone or in combination with a Bcl-2 antagonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Chen
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuling Chen
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ping Xiong
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Michael J Keating
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William G Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William Plunkett
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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26
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Rusyn L, Reinartz S, Nikiforov A, Mikhael N, Vom Stein A, Kohlhas V, Bloehdorn J, Stilgenbauer S, Lohneis P, Buettner R, Robrecht S, Fischer K, Pallasch C, Hallek M, Nguyen PH, Seeger-Nukpezah T. The scaffold protein NEDD9 is necessary for leukemia-cell migration and disease progression in a mouse model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia 2022; 36:1794-1805. [PMID: 35523865 PMCID: PMC9252910 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01586-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The scaffold protein NEDD9 is frequently upregulated and hyperphosphorylated in cancers, and is associated with poor clinical outcome. NEDD9 promotes B-cell adhesion, migration and chemotaxis, pivotal processes for malignant development. We show that global or B-cell-specific deletion of Nedd9 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) mouse models delayed CLL development, markedly reduced disease burden and resulted in significant survival benefit. NEDD9 was required for efficient CLL cell homing, chemotaxis, migration and adhesion. In CLL patients, peripheral NEDD9 expression was associated with adhesion and migration signatures as well as leukocyte count. Additionally, CLL lymph nodes frequently expressed high NEDD9 levels, with a subset of patients showing NEDD9 expression enriched in the CLL proliferation centers. Blocking activity of prominent NEDD9 effectors, including AURKA and HDAC6, effectively reduced CLL cell migration and chemotaxis. Collectively, our study provides evidence for a functional role of NEDD9 in CLL pathogenesis that involves intrinsic defects in adhesion, migration and homing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Rusyn
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sebastian Reinartz
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anastasia Nikiforov
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nelly Mikhael
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Vom Stein
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Viktoria Kohlhas
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | | | - Philipp Lohneis
- Hämatopathologie Lübeck, Reference Centre for Lymphnode Pathology and Haematopathology, Luebeck, Germany
| | | | - Sandra Robrecht
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kirsten Fischer
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christian Pallasch
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Hallek
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Phuong-Hien Nguyen
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. .,CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Tamina Seeger-Nukpezah
- Faculty of Medicine and Cologne University Hospital, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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27
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Severin F, Urbani A, Varanita T, Bachmann M, Azzolini M, Martini V, Pizzi M, Tos APD, Frezzato F, Mattarei A, Ghia P, Bertilaccio MTS, Gulbins E, Paradisi C, Zoratti M, Semenzato GC, Leanza L, Trentin L, Szabò I. Pharmacological modulation of Kv1.3 potassium channel selectively triggers pathological B lymphocyte apoptosis in vivo in a genetic CLL model. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:64. [PMID: 35172855 PMCID: PMC8848658 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02249-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ion channels are emerging as promising oncological targets. The potassium channels Kv1.3 and IKCa are highly expressed in the plasma membrane and mitochondria of human chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, compared to healthy lymphocytes. In vitro, inhibition of mitoKv1.3 by PAPTP was shown to kill ex vivo primary human CLL cells, while targeting IKCa with TRAM-34 decreased CLL cell proliferation. METHODS Here we evaluated the effect of the above drugs in CLL cells from ibrutinib-resistant patients and in combination with Venetoclax, two drugs used in the clinical practice. The effects of the drugs were tested also in the Eμ-TCL1 genetic CLL murine model, characterized by a lympho-proliferative disease reminiscent of aggressive human CLL. Eμ-TCL1 mice showing overt disease state were treated with intraperitoneal injections of non-toxic 5 nmol/g PAPTP or 10 nmol/g TRAM-34 once a day and the number and percentage of pathological B cells (CD19+CD5+) in different, pathologically relevant body districts were determined. RESULTS We show that Kv1.3 expression correlates with sensitivity of the human and mouse neoplastic cells to PAPTP. Primary CLL cells from ibrutinib-resistant patients could be killed with PAPTP and this drug enhanced the effect of Venetoclax, by acting on mitoKv1.3 of the inner mitochondrial membrane and triggering rapid mitochondrial changes and cytochrome c release. In vivo, after 2 week- therapy of Eμ-TCL1 mice harboring distinct CLL clones, leukemia burden was reduced by more than 85%: the number and percentage of CLL B cells fall in the spleen and peritoneal cavity and in the peripheral blood, without signs of toxicity. Notably, CLL infiltration into liver and spleen and splenomegaly were also drastically reduced upon PAPTP treatment. In contrast, TRAM-34 did not exert any beneficial effect when administered in vivo to Eμ-TCL1 mice at non-toxic concentration. CONCLUSION Altogether, by comparing vehicle versus compound effect in different Eμ-TCL1 animals bearing unique clones similarly to CLL patients, we conclude that PAPTP significantly reduced leukemia burden in CLL-relevant districts, even in animals with advanced stage of the disease. Our results thus identify PAPTP as a very promising drug for CLL treatment, even for the chemoresistant forms of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Severin
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy and Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | | | - Michele Azzolini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Veronica Martini
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy and Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Pizzi
- Department of Medicine, Pathology Branch, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Angelo Paolo Dei Tos
- Department of Medicine, Pathology Branch, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Federica Frezzato
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy and Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Mattarei
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Ghia
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele and IRCC Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Erich Gulbins
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Mario Zoratti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.,CNR Institute of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Gianpietro Carlo Semenzato
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy and Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padua, Italy
| | - Luigi Leanza
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| | - Livio Trentin
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy and Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padua, Italy.
| | - Ildiko Szabò
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. .,CNR Institute of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
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Druggable Molecular Pathways in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12020283. [PMID: 35207569 PMCID: PMC8875960 DOI: 10.3390/life12020283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common type of leukemia in adults, is characterized by a high degree of clinical heterogeneity that is influenced by the disease’s molecular complexity. The genes most frequently affected in CLL cluster into specific biological pathways, including B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, apoptosis, NF-κB, and NOTCH1 signaling. BCR signaling and the apoptosis pathway have been exploited to design targeted medicines for CLL therapy. Consistently, molecules that selectively inhibit specific BCR components, namely Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) as well as inhibitors of BCL2, have revolutionized the therapeutic management of CLL patients. Several BTK inhibitors and PI3K inhibitors with different modes of action are currently used or are in development in advanced stage clinical trials. Moreover, the restoration of apoptosis by the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax offers meaningful clinical activity with a fixed-duration scheme. Inhibitors of the BCR and of BCL2 are able to overcome the chemorefractoriness associated with high-risk genetic features, including TP53 disruption. Other signaling cascades involved in CLL pathogenesis, in particular NOTCH signaling and NF-kB signaling, already provide biomarkers for a precision medicine approach to CLL and may represent potential druggable targets for the future. The aim of the present review is to discuss the druggable pathways of CLL and to provide the biological background of the high efficacy of targeted biological drugs in CLL.
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29
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Zarobkiewicz MK, Bojarska-Junak AA. The Mysterious Actor-γδ T Lymphocytes in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL). Cells 2022; 11:cells11040661. [PMID: 35203309 PMCID: PMC8870520 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common leukaemia among adults. It is the clonal expansion of B cells expressing CD19 and CD5. Despite significant progress in treatment, CLL is still incurable. γδ T cells comprise an important subset of the cytotoxic T cells. Although γδ T cells in CLL are dysfunctional, they still can possibly be used for immunotherapy. The current paper reviews our understanding of γδ T lymphocytes in CLL.
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30
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Melén CM, Merrien M, Wasik AM, Panagiotidis G, Beck O, Sonnevi K, Junlén HR, Christensson B, Sander B, Wahlin BE. Clinical effects of a single dose of cannabinoids to patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 2022; 63:1387-1397. [PMID: 35037561 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2021.2020776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This phase II clinical trial investigates a one-time oromucosal dose of tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol (THC/CBD) in 23 patients with indolent leukemic B cell lymphomas. Primary endpoint was a significant reduction in leukemic B cells. Grade 1 - 2 adverse events were seen in 91% of the patients; most common were dry mouth (78%), vertigo (70%), and somnolence (43%). After THC/CBD a significant reduction in leukemic B cells (median, 11%) occurred within two hours (p = .014), and remained for 6 h without induction of apoptosis or proliferation. Normal B cells and T cells were also reduced. CXCR4 expression increased on leukemic cells and T cells. All effects were gone by 24 h. Our results show that a single dose of THC/CBD affects a wide variety of leukocytes and only transiently reduce malignant cells in blood. Based on this study, THC/CBD shows no therapeutic potential for indolent B cell lymphomas (EudraCT trial no. 2014-005553-39).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Melén
- Department of Medicine at Huddinge, Division of Hematology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Medical Unit Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magali Merrien
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Agata M Wasik
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Georgios Panagiotidis
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olof Beck
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristina Sonnevi
- Department of Medicine at Huddinge, Division of Hematology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Medical Unit Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henna-Riikka Junlén
- Department of Medicine at Huddinge, Division of Hematology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Medical Unit Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Birger Christensson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Pathology and Cytology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Birgitta Sander
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Pathology and Cytology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn Engelbrekt Wahlin
- Department of Medicine at Huddinge, Division of Hematology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Medical Unit Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Interleukin (IL)-9 Supports the Tumor-Promoting Environment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246301. [PMID: 34944921 PMCID: PMC8699356 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Interleukin 9 (IL-9), a soluble factor secreted by immune cells, has been found in several tumor niches where, depending on the specific tumor type, it either promotes or counteracts tumor development. Recently, IL-9 has been implicated in the development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, although the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. Here, we summarize the current knowledge concerning the roles of IL-9 in disease, with a focus on its implication in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Abstract Interleukin (IL)-9 is a soluble factor secreted by immune cells into the microenvironment. Originally identified as a mediator of allergic responses, IL-9 has been detected in recent years in several tumor niches. In solid tumors, it mainly promotes anti-tumor immune responses, while in hematologic malignancies, it sustains the growth and survival of neoplastic cells. IL-9 has been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its contribution to this complex neoplasia are still unclear. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of IL-9 in the tumor microenvironment, with a focus on its role in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
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32
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CXCL13 in Cancer and Other Diseases: Biological Functions, Clinical Significance, and Therapeutic Opportunities. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121282. [PMID: 34947813 PMCID: PMC8708574 DOI: 10.3390/life11121282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of cancer is a multistep and complex process involving interactions between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). C-X-C chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) and its receptor, CXCR5, make crucial contributions to this process by triggering intracellular signaling cascades in malignant cells and modulating the sophisticated TME in an autocrine or paracrine fashion. The CXCL13/CXCR5 axis has a dominant role in B cell recruitment and tertiary lymphoid structure formation, which activate immune responses against some tumors. In most cancer types, the CXCL13/CXCR5 axis mediates pro-neoplastic immune reactions by recruiting suppressive immune cells into tumor tissues. Tobacco smoke and haze (smohaze) and the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene induce the secretion of CXCL13 by lung epithelial cells, which contributes to environmental lung carcinogenesis. Interestingly, the knockout of CXCL13 inhibits benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung cancer and azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced colorectal cancer in mice. Thus, a better understanding of the context-dependent functions of the CXCL13/CXCR5 axis in tumor tissue and the TME is required to design an efficient immune-based therapy. In this review, we summarize the molecular events and TME alterations caused by CXCL13/CXCR5 and briefly discuss the potentials of agents targeting this axis in different malignant tumors.
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33
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Arenas V, Castaño JL, Domínguez-García JJ, Yáñez L, Pipaón C. A Different View for an Old Disease: NEDDylation and Other Ubiquitin-Like Post-Translational Modifications in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Front Oncol 2021; 11:729550. [PMID: 34631557 PMCID: PMC8495217 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.729550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the enormous amount of molecular data obtained over the years, the molecular etiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is still largely unknown. All that information has enabled the development of new therapeutic approaches that have improved life expectancy of the patients but are still not curative. We must increase our knowledge of the molecular alterations responsible for the characteristics common to all CLL patients. One of such characteristics is the poor correlation between mRNA and protein expression, that suggests a role of post-translational mechanisms in CLL physiopathology. Drugs targeting these processes have indeed demonstrated an effect either alone or in combination with other aimed at specific pathways. A recent article unveiled an increment in ubiquitin-like modifications in CLL, with many protein members of relevant pathways affected. Interestingly, the inhibition of the NEDD8-activating protein NAE reverted a substantial number of those modifications. The present review gets the scarce data published about the role of NEDDylation in CLL together and establishes connections to what is known from other neoplasias, thus providing a new perspective to the underlying mechanisms in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Arenas
- Laboratorio de Hematología Molecular, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla-Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Castaño
- Laboratorio de Hematología Molecular, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla-Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Juan José Domínguez-García
- Laboratorio de Hematología Molecular, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla-Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Lucrecia Yáñez
- Laboratorio de Hematología Molecular, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla-Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Carlos Pipaón
- Laboratorio de Hematología Molecular, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla-Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
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34
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Xia C, Sadeghi L, Strååt K, Merrien M, Wright AP, Sander B, Xu D, Österborg A, Björkholm M, Claesson HE. Intrinsic 5-lipoxygenase activity regulates migration and adherence of mantle cell lymphoma cells. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2021; 156:106575. [PMID: 34116165 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2021.106575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Human B-lymphocytes express 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and 5-LOX activating protein (FLAP) and can convert arachidonic acid to leukotriene B4. Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells contain similar amounts of 5-LOX as human neutrophils but the function and mechanism of activation of 5-LOX in MCL cells, and in normal B-lymphocytes, are unclear. Here we show that the intrinsic 5-LOX pathway in the MCL cell line JeKo-1 has an essential role in migration and adherence of the cells, which are important pathophysiological characteristics of B-cell lymphoma. Incubation of JeKo-1 with the FLAP inhibitor GSK2190915 or the 5-LOX inhibitor zileuton, at a concentration below 1 μM, prior to stimulation with the chemotactic agent CXCL12, led to a significant reduction of migration. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated deletion of ALOX5 gene in JeKo-1 cells also led to a significantly decreased migration of the cells. Furthermore, 5-LOX and FLAP inhibitors markedly decreased the adherence of JeKo-1 cells to stromal cells. In comparison, these drugs had a similar effect on adherence of JeKo-1 cells as the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib, which has a proven anti-tumour effect. These results indicate that inhibition of 5-LOX may be a novel treatment for MCL and certain other B-cell lymphomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanyou Xia
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital and Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laia Sadeghi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Klas Strååt
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital and Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magali Merrien
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anthony P Wright
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Birgitta Sander
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dawei Xu
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital and Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Österborg
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital and Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnus Björkholm
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital and Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hans-Erik Claesson
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital and Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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35
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Manukyan G, Mikulkova Z, Turcsanyi P, Savara J, Trajerová M, Kubova Z, Papajik T, Kriegova E. Towards a Better Characterisation of Leukemic Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia: Cell-Size Heterogeneity Reflects Their Activation Status and Migratory Abilities. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194922. [PMID: 34638404 PMCID: PMC8508598 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous chronic disease characterised by the clonal expansion of mature CD19+CD23+CD5+ B-cells in blood, bone marrow and lymphoid tissue. Despite the CLL tumour cell population showing considerable heterogeneity in cell size, the functional characteristics of leukemic cells that differ in size have not been explored. The results of our study demonstrate that differences in CLL cell size reflect their activation state, polarisation and migratory capacity, with large CLL cells being more activated, polarised and motile than the small CLL cells present in the CLL cell pool. Our data provide evidence of the importance of cell-size heterogeneity within the CLL cell pool and the dynamics of cell-size changes for disease pathogenesis. Abstract Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a genetically, morphologically and phenotypically heterogeneous chronic disease with clinical variability between patients. Whether the significant heterogeneity of cell size within the CLL population contributes to the heterogeneous features of this disease has not been investigated. The present study aimed to characterise the phenotypic and functional properties of two subpopulations of typical CLL cells that differ in cell size: small (s-CLL) and large (l-CLL) CLL cells delineated by forward scatter cytometry. The s-CLL cells were characterised by the CD5lowCXCR4hi phenotype, while the l-CLL cells were characterised by the CD5hiCXCR4dim phenotype and indicated a higher expression of CXCR3, CD20, CD38 and HLA-DR. The l-CLL cells displayed higher migration activity towards CXCL12, a tendency towards a higher proliferation rate and an increased capacity to produce IgM in the presence of CpG compared with s-CLL cells. When stimulated with CpG and CXCL12, l-CLL cells were characterised by a higher polarisation phenotype and motility than s-CLL cells. Our study revealed that the differences in CLL cell size reflected their activation status, polarisation and migratory abilities. Our data provide evidence of the importance of cell-size heterogeneity within a CLL pool and the dynamics of cell-size changes for disease pathogenesis, thus deserving further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayane Manukyan
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (G.M.); (Z.M.); (J.S.); (M.T.)
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan 0014, Armenia
| | - Zuzana Mikulkova
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (G.M.); (Z.M.); (J.S.); (M.T.)
| | - Peter Turcsanyi
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (P.T.); (Z.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Jakub Savara
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (G.M.); (Z.M.); (J.S.); (M.T.)
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Trajerová
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (G.M.); (Z.M.); (J.S.); (M.T.)
| | - Zuzana Kubova
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (P.T.); (Z.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Tomas Papajik
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (P.T.); (Z.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Eva Kriegova
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (G.M.); (Z.M.); (J.S.); (M.T.)
- Correspondence:
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Barbaglio F, Belloni D, Scarfò L, Sbrana FV, Ponzoni M, Bongiovanni L, Pavesi L, Zambroni D, Stamatopoulos K, Caiolfa VR, Ferrero E, Ghia P, Scielzo C. Three-dimensional co-culture model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia bone marrow microenvironment predicts patient-specific response to mobilizing agents. Haematologica 2021; 106:2334-2344. [PMID: 32732361 PMCID: PMC8409046 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2020.248112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) cells disseminate into supportive tissue microenvironments. To investigate the mechanisms involved in leukemic cell tissue retention we developed a 3D bone marrow (BM) microenvironment that recreates CLL - BM-stromal cells interactions inside a scaffold within a bioreactor. Our system allows the parallel analysis of CLL cells retained inside the scaffold and those released in the presence/absence of pharmacological agents, mimicking tissue and circulating cell compartments, respectively. CLL cells can be retained within the scaffold only in the presence of microenvironmental elements, which through direct contact down-regulate the expression of HS1 cytoskeletal protein in CLL cells. Consist with this, the expression of HS1 was lower in CLL cells obtained from patients' BM versus CLL cells circulating in the PB. Moreover, we demonstrate that CLL cells with inactive-HS1, impaired cytoskeletal activity and a more aggressive phenotype are more likely retained within the scaffold despite the presence of Ibrutinib, whose mobilizing effect is mainly exerted on those with active-HS1, ensuing dynamic cytoskeletal activity. This differential effect would not otherwise be assessable in a traditional 2D system and may underlie a distinctive resistance of single CLL clones. Notably, CLL cells mobilized in the peripheral blood of patients during Ibrutinib therapy exhibited activated HS1, underscoring that our model reliably mirrors the in vivo situation. The 3D model described herein is suitable to reproduce and identify critical CLL-BM interactions, opening the way to pathophysiological studies and the evaluation of novel targeted therapies in an individualized manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Barbaglio
- IIRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Division of Experimental Oncology, Milan Italy
| | - Daniela Belloni
- IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Division of Experimental Oncology, Milan Italy
| | - Lydia Scarfò
- IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Division of Experimental Oncology, Milan Italy
| | | | | | | | - Luca Pavesi
- IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Division of Experimental Oncology, Milan Italy
| | - Desiree Zambroni
- IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Centre for Experimental Imaging, Milan Italy
| | - Kostas Stamatopoulos
- Hematology Department and HCT Unit, G. Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Valeria R Caiolfa
- IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Centre for Experimental Imaging, Milan Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ferrero
- IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Division of Experimental Oncology, Milan Italy
| | - Paolo Ghia
- IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Division of Experimental Oncology, Milan Italy
| | - Cristina Scielzo
- IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Division of Experimental Oncology, Milan Italy
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Ioannou N, Jain K, Ramsay AG. Immunomodulatory Drugs for the Treatment of B Cell Malignancies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8572. [PMID: 34445275 PMCID: PMC8395307 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is involved in disease progression and drug resistance in B cell malignancies, by supporting tumor growth and facilitating the ability of malignant cells to avoid immune recognition. Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) such as lenalidomide have some direct anti-tumor activity, but critically also target various cellular compartments of the TME including T cells, NK cells, and stromal cells, which interfere with pro-tumor signaling while activating anti-tumor immune responses. Lenalidomide has delivered favorable clinical outcomes as a single-agent, and in combination therapy leads to durable responses in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and several non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) including follicular lymphoma (FL), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Recently, avadomide, a next generation cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD), has shown potent anti-tumor and TME immunomodulatory effects, as well as promising clinical efficacy in DLBCL. This review describes how the pleiotropic effects of IMiDs and CELMoDs could make them excellent candidates for combination therapy in the immuno-oncology era-a concept supported by preclinical data, as well as the recent approval of lenalidomide in combination with rituximab for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) FL.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/antagonists & inhibitors
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/immunology
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Humans
- Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Lymphoma, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Lymphoma, B-Cell/immunology
- Neoplasm Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Neoplasm Proteins/immunology
- Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan G. Ramsay
- Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK; (N.I.); (K.J.)
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Vereertbrugghen A, Colado A, Gargiulo E, Bezares RF, Fernández Grecco H, Cordini G, Custidiano MDR, François JH, Berchem G, Borge M, Paggetti J, Moussay E, Gamberale R, Giordano M, Morande PE. In Vitro Sensitivity to Venetoclax and Microenvironment Protection in Hairy Cell Leukemia. Front Oncol 2021; 11:598319. [PMID: 34381700 PMCID: PMC8350736 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.598319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Current standard treatment of patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL), a chronic B-cell neoplasia of low incidence that affects the elderly, is based on the administration of purine analogs such as cladribine. This chemotherapy approach shows satisfactory responses, but the disease relapses, often repeatedly. Venetoclax (ABT-199) is a Bcl-2 inhibitor currently approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adult patients ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Given that HCL cells express Bcl-2, our aim was to evaluate venetoclax as a potential therapy for HCL. We found that clinically relevant concentrations of venetoclax (0.1 and 1 µM) induced primary HCL cell apoptosis in vitro as measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V staining. As microenvironment induces resistance to venetoclax in CLL, we also evaluated its effect in HCL by testing the following stimuli: activated T lymphocytes, stromal cells, TLR-9 agonist CpG, and TLR-2 agonist PAM3. We found decreased levels of venetoclax-induced cytotoxicity in HCL cells exposed for 48 h to any of these stimuli, suggesting that leukemic B cells from HCL patients are sensitive to venetoclax, but this sensitivity can be overcome by signals from the microenvironment. We propose that the combination of venetoclax with drugs that target the microenvironment might improve its efficacy in HCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Vereertbrugghen
- Instituto de Medicina Experimental (IMEX)-CONICET-Academia Nacional de Medicina (ANM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana Colado
- Instituto de Medicina Experimental (IMEX)-CONICET-Academia Nacional de Medicina (ANM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ernesto Gargiulo
- Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | | | | | - Gregorio Cordini
- Instituto de Medicina Experimental (IMEX)-CONICET-Academia Nacional de Medicina (ANM), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Jean-Hugues François
- Laboratory of Hematology, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Guy Berchem
- Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.,Department of Hemato-Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Mercedes Borge
- Instituto de Medicina Experimental (IMEX)-CONICET-Academia Nacional de Medicina (ANM), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jerome Paggetti
- Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Etienne Moussay
- Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Romina Gamberale
- Instituto de Medicina Experimental (IMEX)-CONICET-Academia Nacional de Medicina (ANM), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mirta Giordano
- Instituto de Medicina Experimental (IMEX)-CONICET-Academia Nacional de Medicina (ANM), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Elías Morande
- Instituto de Medicina Experimental (IMEX)-CONICET-Academia Nacional de Medicina (ANM), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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39
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Sampietro M, Zamai M, Díaz Torres A, Labrador Cantarero V, Barbaglio F, Scarfò L, Scielzo C, Caiolfa VR. 3D-STED Super-Resolution Microscopy Reveals Distinct Nanoscale Organization of the Hematopoietic Cell-Specific Lyn Substrate-1 (HS1) in Normal and Leukemic B Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:655773. [PMID: 34277604 PMCID: PMC8278786 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.655773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
HS1, the hematopoietic homolog of cortactin, acts as a versatile actin-binding protein in leucocytes. After phosphorylation, it is involved in GTPase and integrin activation, and in BCR, TCR, and CXCR4 downstream signaling. In normal and leukemic B cells, HS1 is a central cytoskeletal interactor and its phosphorylation and expression are prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. We here introduce for the first time a super-resolution imaging study based on single-cell 3D-STED microscopy optimized for revealing and comparing the nanoscale distribution of endogenous HS1 in healthy B and CLL primary cells. Our study reveals that the endogenous HS1 forms heterogeneous nanoclusters, similar to those of YFP-HS1 overexpressed in the leukemic MEC1 cell line. HS1 nanoclusters in healthy and leukemic B cells form bulky assemblies at the basal sides, suggesting the recruitment of HS1 for cell adhesion. This observation agrees with a phasor-FLIM-FRET and STED colocalization analyses of the endogenous MEC1-HS1, indicating an increased interaction with Vimentin at the cell adhesion sites. In CLL cells isolated from patients with poor prognosis, we observed a larger accumulation of HS1 at the basal region and a higher density of HS1 nanoclusters in the central regions of the cells if compared to good-prognosis CLL and healthy B cells, suggesting a different role for the protein in the cell types analyzed. Our 3D-STED approach lays the ground for revealing tiny differences of HS1 distribution, its functionally active forms, and colocalization with protein partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Sampietro
- Malignant B Cells Biology and 3D Modeling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.,Nanomedicine Center NANOMIB, School of Medicine and Surgery, Università di Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Microscopy and Dynamic Imaging, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Moreno Zamai
- Unit of Microscopy and Dynamic Imaging, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonsa Díaz Torres
- Unit of Microscopy and Dynamic Imaging, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Veronica Labrador Cantarero
- Unit of Microscopy and Dynamic Imaging, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Federica Barbaglio
- Malignant B Cells Biology and 3D Modeling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Lydia Scarfò
- B-Cell Neoplasia Unit and Strategic Research Program on CLL, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.,School of Medicine, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Scielzo
- Malignant B Cells Biology and 3D Modeling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria R Caiolfa
- Unit of Microscopy and Dynamic Imaging, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain.,Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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40
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Vlachonikola E, Stamatopoulos K, Chatzidimitriou A. T Cell Defects and Immunotherapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3255. [PMID: 34209724 PMCID: PMC8268526 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past few years, independent studies have highlighted the relevance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in cancer, revealing a great variety of TME-related predictive markers, as well as identifying novel therapeutic targets in the TME. Cancer immunotherapy targets different components of the immune system and the TME at large in order to reinforce effector mechanisms or relieve inhibitory and suppressive signaling. Currently, it constitutes a clinically validated treatment for many cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), an incurable malignancy of mature B lymphocytes with great dependency on microenvironmental signals. Although immunotherapy represents a promising therapeutic option with encouraging results in CLL, the dysfunctional T cell compartment remains a major obstacle in such approaches. In the scope of this review, we outline the current immunotherapeutic treatment options in CLL in the light of recent immunogenetic and functional evidence of T cell impairment. We also highlight possible approaches for overcoming T cell defects and invigorating potent anti-tumor immune responses that would enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisavet Vlachonikola
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Applied Biosciences, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.V.); (K.S.)
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kostas Stamatopoulos
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Applied Biosciences, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.V.); (K.S.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anastasia Chatzidimitriou
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Applied Biosciences, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.V.); (K.S.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
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41
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Montresor A, Toffali L, Fumagalli L, Constantin G, Rigo A, Ferrarini I, Vinante F, Laudanna C. Activation of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor Type γ Suppresses Mechanisms of Adhesion and Survival in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:671-684. [PMID: 34162728 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The regulatory role of protein tyrosine kinases in β1- and β2-integrin activation and in the survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells is well established. In contrast, the involvement of protein tyrosine phosphatases in CLL biology was less investigated. We show that selective activation of the protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type γ (PTPRG) strongly suppresses integrin activation and survival in leukemic B cells isolated from patients with CLL. Activation of PTPRG specifically inhibits CXCR4- as well as BCR-induced triggering of LFA-1 and VLA-4 integrins and mediated rapid adhesion. Triggering of LFA-1 affinity is also prevented by PTPRG activity. Analysis of signaling mechanisms shows that activation of PTPRG blocks chemokine-induced triggering of JAK2 and Bruton's tyrosine kinase protein tyrosine kinases and of the small GTP-binding protein RhoA. Furthermore, activated PTPRG triggers rapid and robust caspase-3/7-mediated apoptosis in CLL cells in a manner quantitatively comparable to the Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib. However, in contrast to ibrutinib, PTPRG-triggered apoptosis is insensitive to prosurvival signals generated by CXCR4 and BCR signaling. Importantly, PTPRG activation does not trigger apoptosis in healthy B lymphocytes. The data show that activated PTPRG inhibits, at once, the signaling pathways controlling adhesion and survival of CLL cells, thus emerging as a negative regulator of CLL pathogenesis. These findings suggest that pharmacological potentiation of PTPRG tyrosine-phosphatase enzymatic activity could represent a novel approach to CLL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Montresor
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, Laboratory of Cell Trafficking and Signal Transduction, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lara Toffali
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, Laboratory of Cell Trafficking and Signal Transduction, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Laura Fumagalli
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, Laboratory of Cell Trafficking and Signal Transduction, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gabriela Constantin
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; and
| | - Antonella Rigo
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Cancer Research and Cell Biology Laboratory, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Isacco Ferrarini
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Cancer Research and Cell Biology Laboratory, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Vinante
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Cancer Research and Cell Biology Laboratory, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Carlo Laudanna
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, Laboratory of Cell Trafficking and Signal Transduction, University of Verona, Verona, Italy;
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42
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Xu T, Chai J, Wang K, Jia Q, Liu Y, Wang Y, Xu J, Yu K, Zhao D, Ma J, Fan L, Yan Q, Guo S, Chen G, Chen Q, Xiao H, Liu F, Qi C, Liang R, Li M, Wang Z. Tumor Immune Microenvironment Components and Checkpoint Molecules in Anaplastic Variant of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:638154. [PMID: 34221962 PMCID: PMC8242181 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.638154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Anaplastic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(A-DLBCL) is a rare morphological subtype characterized by the presence of polygonal, bizarre-shaped tumor cells. Our previous research found that A-DLBCL displays many genetic alterations and biological features that differ greatly from those of ordinary DLBCL. However, the status of tumor immune microenvironment components and checkpoint molecules in A-DLBCL remains unclear. Methods Thirty A-DLBCL patients were enrolled to study tumor immune microenvironment components and checkpoint molecules and their associations with clinicopathological features and prognosis. Results Patients with A-DLBCL presented higher expression of PD-L1 (40% vs 10%, P=0.004) than patients with ordinary DLBCL. FISH analysis showed that extra copies of PD-L1 were more frequent in A-DLBCL cases than in ordinary DLBCL cases (23.3% vs 4.0%, P=0.001). The numbers of PD-1+ TILs (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes) and CD8+T cells were significantly lower in A-DLBCL versus ordinary DLBCL. In contrast, the numbers of GATA3+ Th2 cells, FOXP3+ Tregs and CD33+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were significantly higher in A-DLBCL than in ordinary DLBCL. The associations between clinicopathological features and tumor immune microenvironment cell frequency were analyzed in A-DLBCL patients. Briefly, the number of PD-1+ TILs was lower and the number of CD33+ MDSCs was higher in patients with mutated TP53 compared to those with wild-type TP53. The number of FOXP3+ Tregs was much lower in patients with a noncomplete response (CR) to chemotherapy than in those with a complete response. The number of CD8+ T cells showed a decreasing trend in patients with high International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores and in those with concurrent MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 abnormalities. Univariate survival analysis showed that patients with PD-L1+, mPD-L1+(PD-L1+ nonmalignant stromal cells) or mPD-L1+ status had a significantly poorer overall survival (OS) than those with PD-L1- status. An increase in the number of CD3+ T cells, FOXP3+ Treg cells and T-bet+ Th1 cells was significantly associated with prolonged OS in patients with A-DLBCL. Conclusion Our study suggests that A-DLBCL displays a distinct pattern of tumor immune microenvironment components and checkpoint molecules that distinguish it from ordinary DLBCL. The analysis of tumor immune microenvironment components and checkpoint molecules could help in predicting the prognosis of A-DLBCL patients and determining therapeutic strategies targeting the tumor immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jia Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kaijing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qingge Jia
- Xi'an International Medical Center, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yixiong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yingmei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Junpeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kangjie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Danhui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Linni Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qingguo Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shuangping Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiongrong Chen
- Department of Pathology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Hualiang Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Chubo Qi
- Department of Pathology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Rong Liang
- Department of Hematology, People's Liberation Army Centre for Hematologic Disorders, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Mingyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
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43
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Ecker V, Stumpf M, Brandmeier L, Neumayer T, Pfeuffer L, Engleitner T, Ringshausen I, Nelson N, Jücker M, Wanninger S, Zenz T, Wendtner C, Manske K, Steiger K, Rad R, Müschen M, Ruland J, Buchner M. Targeted PI3K/AKT-hyperactivation induces cell death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3526. [PMID: 34112805 PMCID: PMC8192787 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23752-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Current therapeutic approaches for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) focus on the suppression of oncogenic kinase signaling. Here, we test the hypothesis that targeted hyperactivation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate/AKT (PI3K/AKT)-signaling pathway may be leveraged to trigger CLL cell death. Though counterintuitive, our data show that genetic hyperactivation of PI3K/AKT-signaling or blocking the activity of the inhibitory phosphatase SH2-containing-inositol-5'-phosphatase-1 (SHIP1) induces acute cell death in CLL cells. Our mechanistic studies reveal that increased AKT activity upon inhibition of SHIP1 leads to increased mitochondrial respiration and causes excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in cell death in CLL with immunogenic features. Our results demonstrate that CLL cells critically depend on mechanisms to fine-tune PI3K/AKT activity, allowing sustained proliferation and survival but avoid ROS-induced cell death and suggest transient SHIP1-inhibition as an unexpectedly promising concept for CLL therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Death/drug effects
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Disease Progression
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/enzymology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Mitochondria/drug effects
- Mitochondria/metabolism
- Oxidative Phosphorylation
- Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism
- Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-Trisphosphate 5-Phosphatases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-Trisphosphate 5-Phosphatases/genetics
- Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-Trisphosphate 5-Phosphatases/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering
- RNA-Seq
- Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Signal Transduction/genetics
- Transplantation, Homologous
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Ecker
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TranslaTUM - Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martina Stumpf
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TranslaTUM - Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Brandmeier
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TranslaTUM - Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tanja Neumayer
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TranslaTUM - Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Pfeuffer
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TranslaTUM - Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Engleitner
- TranslaTUM - Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ingo Ringshausen
- Wellcome/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nina Nelson
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Jücker
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Wanninger
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thorsten Zenz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Clemens Wendtner
- Munich Clinic Schwabing, Academic Teaching Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Katrin Manske
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Katja Steiger
- Institute of Pathology, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- TranslaTUM - Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Müschen
- Center of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jürgen Ruland
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TranslaTUM - Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maike Buchner
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- TranslaTUM - Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
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44
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Kriston C, Hernádfői M, Plander M, Márk Á, Takács F, Czeti Á, Szalóki G, Szabó O, Matolcsy A, Barna G. Lenalidomide abrogates the survival effect of bone marrow stromal cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Hematol Oncol 2021; 39:513-520. [PMID: 34013974 DOI: 10.1002/hon.2888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) the microenvironment plays an important role, as it produces survival signals and mediates drug resistance. Lenalidomide, which has immunomodulatory effect, can enhance the activation of T-, NK-cells and endothelial cells, however there are no data available whether it can modulate bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). In our study, we investigated the effects of lenalidomide on BMSCs and CLL cells. CLL cells were cultured alone or with BMSCs and were treated with lenalidomide. Apoptosis, immunophenotype, and cytokine secretion of BMSCs and CLL cells were determined by flow cytometry. Lenalidomide slightly increased the apoptosis of CLL cells and abrogated the anti-apoptotic effect of BMSCs on CLL cells. Lenalidomide treatment decreased the expression of antigens on CLL cells, which mediate the interactions with the microenvironment. Interestingly, lenalidomide enhanced the expression of IRF4 and the co-stimulatory molecule CD86. The secretion of several cytokines was not changed significantly by lenalidomide. CD49d-negative CLL cases were more sensitive to lenalidomide treatment. Our results suggest that lenalidomide has a limited effect on BMSCs, but it renders CLL cells more immunogenic and unresponsive to survival signals provided by BMSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csilla Kriston
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Márk Hernádfői
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Márk Plander
- Department of Hematology, Markusovszky University Teaching Hospital, Szombathely, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Márk
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Takács
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Czeti
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Szalóki
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Szabó
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Matolcsy
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Barna
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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45
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Alhallak K, de la Puente P, Jeske A, Sun J, Muz B, Rettig MP, Sahin I, Weisberg EL, Griffin JD, Reagan JL, DiPersio JF, Azab AK. 3D tissue engineered plasma cultures support leukemic proliferation and induces drug resistance. Leuk Lymphoma 2021; 62:2457-2465. [PMID: 33993837 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1919657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are hematological malignancies that remain incurable despite novel treatments. In order to improve current treatments and clinical efficacy, there remains a need for more complex in vitro models that mimic the intricate human leukemic microenvironment. This study aimed to use 3D tissue engineered plasma cultures (3DTEPC) derived from CML, AML and CLL patients to promote proliferation of leukemic cells for use as a drug screening tool for treatment. 3DTEPC supported the growth of primary CML, AML and CLL cells and also induced significantly more drug resistance in CML, AML and CLL cell lines compared to 2D. The 3DTEPC created a more physiologically relevant environment for leukemia cell proliferation, provided a reliable model for growing leukemia patient samples, and serves as a relevant tool for drug screening and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinan Alhallak
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Pilar de la Puente
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Amanda Jeske
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jennifer Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Barbara Muz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael P Rettig
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ilyas Sahin
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ellen L Weisberg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James D Griffin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John L Reagan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - John F DiPersio
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Abdel Kareem Azab
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
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46
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Novel mouse model resistant to irreversible BTK inhibitors: a tool identifying new therapeutic targets and side effects. Blood Adv 2021; 4:2439-2450. [PMID: 32492159 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological inhibitors of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) have revolutionized treatment of B-lymphocyte malignancies and show great promise for dampening autoimmunity. The predominant BTK inhibitors tether irreversibly by covalently binding to cysteine 481 in the BTK catalytic domain. Substitution of cysteine 481 for serine (C481S) is the most common mechanism for acquired drug resistance. We generated a novel C481S knock-in mouse model and, using a battery of tests, no overt B-lymphocyte phenotype was found. B lymphocytes from C481S animals were resistant to irreversible, but sensitive to reversible, BTK inhibitors. In contrast, irreversible inhibitors equally impaired T-lymphocyte activation in mice, mimicking the effect of treatment in patients. This demonstrates that T-lymphocyte blockage is independent of BTK. We suggest that the C481S knock-in mouse can serve as a useful tool for the study of BTK-independent effects of irreversible inhibitors, allowing for the identification of novel therapeutic targets and pinpointing potential side effects.
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47
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Arruga F, Serra S, Vitale N, Guerra G, Papait A, Baffour Gyau B, Tito F, Efremov D, Vaisitti T, Deaglio S. Targeting of the A2A adenosine receptor counteracts immunosuppression in vivo in a mouse model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica 2021; 106:1343-1353. [PMID: 32299906 PMCID: PMC8094100 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.242016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor immunosuppression is a major cause for treatment failure and disease relapse, both in solid tumors and leukemia. Local hypoxia is among the conditions that cause immunosuppression, acting at least in part through the upregulation of extracellular adenosine levels, which potently suppress T cell responses and skew macrophages towards an M2 phenotype. Hence, there is intense investigation to identify drugs that target this axis. By using the TCL1 adoptive transfer CLL mouse model, we show that adenosine production and signaling are upregulated in the hypoxic lymphoid niches, where intense colonization of leukemic cells occurs. This leads to a progressive remodeling of the immune system towards tolerance, with expansion of T regulatory cells (Tregs), loss of CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity and differentiation of murine macrophages towards the patrolling (M2-like) subset. In vivo administration of SCH58261, an inhibitor the A2A adenosine receptor, re-awakens T cell responses, while limiting Tregs expansion, and re-polarizes monocytes towards the inflammatory (M1-like) phenotype. These results show for the first time the in vivo contribution of adenosine signaling to immune tolerance in CLL, and the translational implication of drugs interrupting this pathway. Although the effects of SCH58261 on leukemic cells are limited, interfering with adenosine signaling may represent an appealing strategy for combination-based therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Arruga
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Serra
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Vitale
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giulia Guerra
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Papait
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Benjamin Baffour Gyau
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Tito
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Tiziana Vaisitti
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Deaglio
- Lab of Cancer Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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48
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Svozilová H, Plichta Z, Proks V, Studená R, Baloun J, Doubek M, Pospíšilová Š, Horák D. RGDS-Modified Superporous Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate)-Based Scaffolds as 3D In Vitro Leukemia Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052376. [PMID: 33673496 PMCID: PMC7956824 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Superporous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-2-aminoethyl methacrylate) (P(HEMA-AEMA)) hydrogel scaffolds are designed for in vitro 3D culturing of leukemic B cells. Hydrogel porosity, which influences cell functions and growth, is introduced by adding ammonium oxalate needle-like crystals in the polymerization mixture. To improve cell vitality, cell-adhesive Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) peptide is immobilized on the N-(γ-maleimidobutyryloxy)succinimide-activated P(HEMA-AEMA) hydrogels via reaction of SH with maleimide groups. This modification is especially suitable for the survival of primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells (B-CLLs) in 3D cell culture. No other tested stimuli (interleukin-4, CD40 ligand, or shaking) can further improve B-CLL survival or metabolic activity. Both unmodified and RGDS-modified P(HEMA-AEMA) scaffolds serve as a long-term (70 days) 3D culture platforms for HS-5 and M2-10B4 bone marrow stromal cell lines and MEC-1 and HG-3 B-CLL cell lines, although the adherent cells retain their physiological morphologies, preferably on RGDS-modified hydrogels. Moreover, the porosity of hydrogels allows direct cell lysis, followed by efficient DNA isolation from the 3D-cultured cells. P(HEMA-AEMA)-RGDS thus serves as a suitable 3D in vitro leukemia model that enables molecular and metabolic assays and allows imaging of cell morphology, interactions, and migration by confocal microscopy. Such applications can prospectively assist in testing of drugs to treat this frequently recurring or refractory cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Svozilová
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (H.S.); (R.S.); (J.B.); (M.D.); (Š.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine—Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Jihlavská 20, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Plichta
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic; (Z.P.); (V.P.)
| | - Vladimír Proks
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic; (Z.P.); (V.P.)
| | - Radana Studená
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (H.S.); (R.S.); (J.B.); (M.D.); (Š.P.)
| | - Jiří Baloun
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (H.S.); (R.S.); (J.B.); (M.D.); (Š.P.)
| | - Michael Doubek
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (H.S.); (R.S.); (J.B.); (M.D.); (Š.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine—Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Jihlavská 20, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Pospíšilová
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (H.S.); (R.S.); (J.B.); (M.D.); (Š.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine—Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Jihlavská 20, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Horák
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic; (Z.P.); (V.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-296-809-260
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49
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Fiorcari S, Maffei R, Atene CG, Potenza L, Luppi M, Marasca R. Nurse-Like Cells and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia B Cells: A Mutualistic Crosstalk inside Tissue Microenvironments. Cells 2021; 10:217. [PMID: 33499012 PMCID: PMC7911538 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia in Western countries and is an example of hematological disease where cooperation between genetic defects and tumor microenvironmental interaction is involved in pathogenesis. CLL is a disease that is considered as "addicted to the host"; indeed, the crosstalk between leukemic cells and the tumor microenvironment is essential for leukemic clone maintenance supporting CLL cells' survival, proliferation, and protection from drug-induced apoptosis. CLL cells are not innocent bystanders but actively model and manipulate the surrounding microenvironment to their own advantage. Besides the different players involved in this crosstalk, nurse-like cells (NLC) resemble features related to leukemia-associated macrophages with an important function in preserving CLL cell survival and supporting an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role played by NLC in creating a nurturing and permissive milieu for CLL cells, illustrating the therapeutic possibilities in order to specifically target and re-educate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Fiorcari
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Rossana Maffei
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Claudio Giacinto Atene
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Leonardo Potenza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Mario Luppi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Roberto Marasca
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
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50
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Vlachonikola E, Stamatopoulos K, Chatzidimitriou A. T Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Two-Edged Sword. Front Immunol 2021; 11:612244. [PMID: 33552073 PMCID: PMC7857025 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.612244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a malignancy of mature, antigen-experienced B lymphocytes. Despite great progress recently achieved in the management of CLL, the disease remains incurable, underscoring the need for further investigation into the underlying pathophysiology. Microenvironmental crosstalk has an established role in CLL pathogenesis and progression. Indeed, the malignant CLL cells are strongly dependent on interactions with other immune and non-immune cell populations that shape a highly orchestrated network, the tumor microenvironment (TME). The composition of the TME, as well as the bidirectional interactions between the malignant clone and the microenvironmental elements have been linked to disease heterogeneity. Mounting evidence implicates T cells present in the TME in the natural history of the CLL as well as in the establishment of certain CLL hallmarks e.g. tumor evasion and immune suppression. CLL is characterized by restrictions in the T cell receptor gene repertoire, T cell oligoclonal expansions, as well as shared T cell receptor clonotypes amongst patients, strongly alluding to selection by restricted antigenic elements of as yet undisclosed identity. Further, the T cells in CLL exhibit a distinctive phenotype with features of “exhaustion” likely as a result of chronic antigenic stimulation. This might be relevant to the fact that, despite increased numbers of oligoclonal T cells in the periphery, these cells are incapable of mounting effective anti-tumor immune responses, a feature perhaps also linked with the elevated numbers of T regulatory subpopulations. Alterations of T cell gene expression profile are associated with defects in both the cytoskeleton and immune synapse formation, and are generally induced by direct contact with the malignant clone. That said, these abnormalities appear to be reversible, which is why therapies targeting the T cell compartment represent a reasonable therapeutic option in CLL. Indeed, novel strategies, including CAR T cell immunotherapy, immune checkpoint blockade and immunomodulation, have come to the spotlight in an attempt to restore the functionality of T cells and enhance targeted cytotoxic activity against the malignant clone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisavet Vlachonikola
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Applied Biosciences, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kostas Stamatopoulos
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Applied Biosciences, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anastasia Chatzidimitriou
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Applied Biosciences, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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