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Jasinski-Bergner S, Eckstein M, Taubert H, Wach S, Fiebig C, Strick R, Hartmann A, Seliger B. The Human Leukocyte Antigen G as an Immune Escape Mechanism and Novel Therapeutic Target in Urological Tumors. Front Immunol 2022; 13:811200. [PMID: 35185904 PMCID: PMC8855320 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.811200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The non-classical human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is a potent regulatory protein involved in the induction of immunological tolerance. This is based on the binding of membrane-bound as well as soluble HLA-G to inhibitory receptors expressed on various immune effector cells, in particular NK cells and T cells, leading to their attenuated functions. Despite its restricted expression on immune-privileged tissues under physiological conditions, HLA-G expression has been frequently detected in solid and hematopoietic malignancies including urological cancers, such as renal cell and urothelial bladder carcinoma and has been associated with progression of urological cancers and poor outcome of patients: HLA-G expression protects tumor cells from anti-tumor immunity upon interaction with its inhibitory receptors by modulating both the phenotype and function of immune cells leading to immune evasion. This review will discuss the expression, regulation, functional and clinical relevance of HLA-G expression in urological tumors as well as its use as a putative biomarker and/or potential therapeutic target for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma as well as urothelial bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Jasinski-Bergner
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Markus Eckstein
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-Europäische Metropolregion Nürnberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Helge Taubert
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-Europäische Metropolregion Nürnberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sven Wach
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-Europäische Metropolregion Nürnberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Fiebig
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-Europäische Metropolregion Nürnberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Reiner Strick
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-Europäische Metropolregion Nürnberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany.,Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich Alexander University (FAU), Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arndt Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-Europäische Metropolregion Nürnberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.,Main Department of GMP Cell and Gene Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
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2
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Neuchel C, Fürst D, Tsamadou C, Schrezenmeier H, Mytilineos J. Extended loci histocompatibility matching in HSCT-Going beyond classical HLA. Int J Immunogenet 2021; 48:299-316. [PMID: 34109752 DOI: 10.1111/iji.12545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Unrelated haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has evolved from an experimental protocol to a potentially curative first-line treatment in a variety of haematologic malignancies. The continuous refinement of treatment protocols and supportive care paired with ongoing achievements in the technological field of histocompatibility testing enabled this transformation. Without a doubt, HLA matching is still the foremost criterion for donor selection in unrelated HSCT. However, HSCT-related treatment complications still occur frequently, often resulting in patients suffering severely or even dying as a consequence of such complications. Current literature indicates that other immune system modulating factors may play a role in the setting of HSCT. In this review, we discuss the current clinical evidence of a possible influence of nonclassical HLA antigens HLA-E, HLA-F, and HLA-G as well as the HLA-like molecules MICA and MICB, in HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Neuchel
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Baden Wuerttemberg-Hessen, and University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniel Fürst
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Baden Wuerttemberg-Hessen, and University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Chrysanthi Tsamadou
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Baden Wuerttemberg-Hessen, and University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Hubert Schrezenmeier
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Baden Wuerttemberg-Hessen, and University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Joannis Mytilineos
- ZKRD - Zentrales Knochenmarkspender-Register für Deutschland, German National Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Ulm, Germany
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3
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Crossland RE, Perutelli F, Bogunia-Kubik K, Mooney N, Milutin Gašperov N, Pučić-Baković M, Greinix H, Weber D, Holler E, Pulanić D, Wolff D, Dickinson AM, Inngjerdingen M, Grce M. Potential Novel Biomarkers in Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease. Front Immunol 2020; 11:602547. [PMID: 33424849 PMCID: PMC7786047 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.602547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prognostic, diagnostic or predictive biomarkers are urgently needed for assessment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD), a major risk for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The main goal of this review generated within the COST Action EUROGRAFT "Integrated European Network on Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease" was to identify potential novel biomarkers for cGvHD besides the widely accepted molecular and cellular biomarkers. Thus, the focus was on cellular biomarkers, alloantibodies, glycomics, endothelial derived particles, extracellular vesicles, microbiome, epigenetic and neurologic changes in cGvHD patients. Both host-reactive antibodies in general, and particularly alloantibodies have been associated with cGvHD and require further consideration. Glycans attached to IgG modulate its activity and represent a promising predictive and/or stratification biomarker for cGVHD. Furthermore, epigenetic changes such as microRNAs and DNA methylation represent potential biomarkers for monitoring cGvHD patients and novel targets for developing new treatment approaches. Finally, the microbiome likely affects the pathophysiology of cGvHD; bacterial strains as well as microbial metabolites could display potential biomarkers for dysbiosis and risk for the development of cGvHD. In summary, although there are no validated biomarkers currently available for clinical use to better inform on the diagnosis, prognosis or prediction of outcome for cGvHD, many novel sources of potential markers have shown promise and warrant further investigation using well characterized, multi-center patient cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E. Crossland
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Perutelli
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Nuala Mooney
- INSERM U976, Human Immunology, Pathophysiology and Immunotherapies, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Hildegard Greinix
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Daniela Weber
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ernst Holler
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dražen Pulanić
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Medical School, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Daniel Wolff
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Anne M. Dickinson
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Marit Inngjerdingen
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Magdalena Grce
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
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4
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Bogunia-Kubik K, Łacina P. Non-KIR NK cell receptors: Role in transplantation of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cells. Int J Immunogenet 2020; 48:157-171. [PMID: 33352617 DOI: 10.1111/iji.12523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are of major significance in patients after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). They are the first subset of lymphocytes to appear in peripheral blood after transplantation and play an important role in the immune responses against cancer and viral infections. The function of NK cells is controlled by various surface receptors, of which type I integral proteins with immunoglobulin-like domains (killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors, KIRs) have been the most extensively studied. The present review focuses on less studied NK cell receptors, such as type II integral proteins with lectin-like domains (CD94/NKG2, NKG2D), natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), immunoglobulin-like transcripts (ILTs) and their ligands. Their potential role in patients with haematological disorders subjected to HSC transplant procedure in the context of post-transplant complications such as viral reactivation and acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) will be presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Łacina
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
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5
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Amodio G, Gregori S. HLA-G Genotype/Expression/Disease Association Studies: Success, Hurdles, and Perspectives. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1178. [PMID: 32733439 PMCID: PMC7360675 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The non-classical HLA-G is a well-known immune-modulatory molecule. In physiological condition, HLA-G surface expression is restricted to the maternal–fetal interface and to immune-privileged adult tissues, whereas soluble forms of HLA-G are detectable in various body fluids. HLA-G can be de novo expressed in pathological conditions including tumors, chronic infections, or after allogeneic transplantation. HLA-G exerts positive effects modulating innate and adaptive immune responses and promoting tolerance, or detrimental effects inducing immune escape mechanisms. HLA-G locus, in contrast to classical HLA class I gene, is highly polymorphic in the non-coding 3′ untranslated region (UTR) and in the 5′ upstream regulatory region (5′ URR). Variability in these regions influences HLA-G expression by modifying mRNA stability or allowing posttranscriptional regulation in the case of 3′ UTR or by sensing the microenvironment and responding to specific stimuli in the case of HLA-G promoter regions (5′ URR). The influence of genetic variations on the expression of HLA-G makes it an attractive biomarker to monitor disease predisposition and progression, or response to therapy. Here, we summarize the current knowledge, efforts, and obstacles to generate a general consensus on the correlation between HLA-G genetic variability, protein expression, and disease predisposition. Moreover, we discuss perspectives for future investigation on HLA-G genotype/expression in association with disease predisposition and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Amodio
- Mechanisms of Peripheral Tolerance Unit, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Gregori
- Mechanisms of Peripheral Tolerance Unit, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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El-Kenawi A, Hänggi K, Ruffell B. The Immune Microenvironment and Cancer Metastasis. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:a037424. [PMID: 31501262 PMCID: PMC7117953 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a037424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic interplay between neoplastic cells and the immune microenvironment regulates every step of the metastatic process. Immune cells contribute to invasion by secreting a cornucopia of inflammatory factors that promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and remodeling of the stroma. Cancer cells then intravasate to the circulatory system assisted by macrophages and use several pathways to avoid recognition by cytotoxtic lymphocytes and phagocytes. Circulating tumor cells that manage to adhere to the vasculature and encounter premetastic niches are able to use the associated myeloid cells to extravasate into ectopic organs and establish a dormant microscopic colony. If successful at avoiding repetitive immune attack, dormant cells can subsequently grow into overt, clinically detectable metastatic lesions, which ultimately account to most cancer-related deaths. Understanding how disseminated tumor cells evade and corrupt the immune system during the final stages of metastasis will be pivotal in developing new therapeutic modalities that combat metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa El-Kenawi
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
| | - Kay Hänggi
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
| | - Brian Ruffell
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
- Department of Breast Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
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