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De Sanctis JB, Garmendia JV, Duchová H, Valentini V, Puskasu A, Kubíčková A, Hajdúch M. Lck Function and Modulation: Immune Cytotoxic Response and Tumor Treatment More Than a Simple Event. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2630. [PMID: 39123358 PMCID: PMC11311849 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16152630] [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: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lck, a member of the Src kinase family, is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase involved in immune cell activation, antigen recognition, tumor growth, and cytotoxic response. The enzyme has usually been linked to T lymphocyte activation upon antigen recognition. Lck activation is central to CD4, CD8, and NK activation. However, recently, it has become clearer that activating the enzyme in CD8 cells can be independent of antigen presentation and enhance the cytotoxic response. The role of Lck in NK cytotoxic function has been controversial in a similar fashion as the role of the enzyme in CAR T cells. Inhibiting tyrosine kinases has been a highly successful approach to treating hematologic malignancies. The inhibitors may be useful in treating other tumor types, and they may be useful to prevent cell exhaustion. New, more selective inhibitors have been documented, and they have shown interesting activities not only in tumor growth but in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, asthma, and graft vs. host disease. Drug repurposing and bioinformatics can aid in solving several unsolved issues about the role of Lck in cancer. In summary, the role of Lck in immune response and tumor growth is not a simple event and requires more research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Bautista De Sanctis
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.G.); (V.V.); (A.K.); (M.H.)
- Czech Advanced Technologies and Research Institute (CATRIN), 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jenny Valentina Garmendia
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.G.); (V.V.); (A.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Hana Duchová
- Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (H.D.); (A.P.)
| | - Viktor Valentini
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.G.); (V.V.); (A.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Alex Puskasu
- Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (H.D.); (A.P.)
| | - Agáta Kubíčková
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.G.); (V.V.); (A.K.); (M.H.)
- Czech Advanced Technologies and Research Institute (CATRIN), 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marián Hajdúch
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.G.); (V.V.); (A.K.); (M.H.)
- Czech Advanced Technologies and Research Institute (CATRIN), 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital Olomouc, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Li Y, Huang M, Wang M, Wang Y, Deng P, Li C, Huang J, Chen H, Wei Z, Ouyang Q, Zhao J, Lu Y, Su S. Tumor cells impair immunological synapse formation via central nervous system-enriched metabolite. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:985-1002.e18. [PMID: 38821061 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.05.006] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Tumors employ various strategies to evade immune surveillance. Central nervous system (CNS) has multiple features to restrain immune response. Whether tumors and CNS share similar programs of immunosuppression is elusive. Here, we analyze multi-omics data of tumors from HER2+ breast cancer patients receiving trastuzumab and anti-PD-L1 antibody and find that CNS-enriched N-acetyltransferase 8-like (NAT8L) and its metabolite N-acetylaspartate (NAA) are overexpressed in resistant tumors. In CNS, NAA is released during brain inflammation. NAT8L attenuates brain inflammation and impairs anti-tumor immunity by inhibiting cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells via NAA. NAA disrupts the formation of immunological synapse by promoting PCAF-induced acetylation of lamin A-K542, which inhibits the integration between lamin A and SUN2 and impairs polarization of lytic granules. We uncover that tumor cells mimic the anti-inflammatory mechanism of CNS to evade anti-tumor immunity and NAT8L is a potential target to enhance efficacy of anti-cancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Min Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Minger Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yi Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Peng Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Chunni Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Jingying Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Zhihao Wei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Qian Ouyang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Jinghua Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Yiwen Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
| | - Shicheng Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Biotherapy Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
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Cerdán-Vélez D, Tress ML. The T2T-CHM13 reference assembly uncovers essential WASH1 and GPRIN2 paralogues. BIOINFORMATICS ADVANCES 2024; 4:vbae029. [PMID: 38464973 PMCID: PMC10924726 DOI: 10.1093/bioadv/vbae029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Summary The recently published T2T-CHM13 reference assembly completed the annotation of the final 8% of the human genome. It introduced 1956 genes, close to 100 of which are predicted to be coding because they have a protein coding parent gene. Here, we confirm the coding status and functional relevance of two of these genes, paralogues of WASHC1 and GPRIN2. We find that LOC124908094, one of four novel subtelomeric WASH1 genes uncovered in the new assembly, produces the WASH1 protein that forms part of the vital actin-regulatory WASH complex. Its coding status is supported by abundant proteomics, conservation, and cDNA evidence. It was previously assumed that gene WASHC1 produced the functional WASH1 protein, but new evidence shows that WASHC1 is a human-derived duplication and likely to be one of 12 WASH1 pseudogenes in the human gene set. We also find that the T2T-CHM13 assembly has added a functionally important copy of GPRIN2 to the human gene set. We demonstrate that uniquely mapping peptides from proteomics databases support the novel LOC124900631 rather than the GRCh38 assembly GPRIN2 gene. These new additions to the set of human coding genes underlines the importance of the new T2T-CHM13 assembly. Availability and implementation None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Cerdán-Vélez
- Bioinformatics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Michael Liam Tress
- Bioinformatics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
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Yang YC, Zhu Y, Sun SJ, Zhao CJ, Bai Y, Wang J, Ma LT. ROS regulation in gliomas: implications for treatment strategies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1259797. [PMID: 38130720 PMCID: PMC10733468 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1259797] [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: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are one of the most common primary malignant tumours of the central nervous system (CNS), of which glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most common and destructive type. The glioma tumour microenvironment (TME) has unique characteristics, such as hypoxia, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tumour neovascularization. Therefore, the traditional treatment effect is limited. As cellular oxidative metabolites, ROS not only promote the occurrence and development of gliomas but also affect immune cells in the immune microenvironment. In contrast, either too high or too low ROS levels are detrimental to the survival of glioma cells, which indicates the threshold of ROS. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of ROS production and scavenging, the threshold of ROS, and the role of ROS in the glioma TME can provide new methods and strategies for glioma treatment. Current methods to increase ROS include photodynamic therapy (PDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), and chemodynamic therapy (CDT), etc., and methods to eliminate ROS include the ingestion of antioxidants. Increasing/scavenging ROS is potentially applicable treatment, and further studies will help to provide more effective strategies for glioma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chen Yang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi’an, China
| | - Yu Zhu
- College of Health, Dongguan Polytechnic, Dongguan, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Si-Jia Sun
- Department of Postgraduate Work, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Can-Jun Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi’an, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Free Radical and Medicine, Xi’an, China
| | - Li-Tian Ma
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment in Shaanxi Province, Xi’an, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi’an, China
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Zhao Z, Ding Y, Tran LJ, Chai G, Lin L. Innovative breakthroughs facilitated by single-cell multi-omics: manipulating natural killer cell functionality correlates with a novel subcategory of melanoma cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1196892. [PMID: 37435067 PMCID: PMC10332463 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1196892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Melanoma is typically regarded as the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Although surgical removal of in situ lesions can be used to effectively treat metastatic disease, this condition is still difficult to cure. Melanoma cells are removed in great part due to the action of natural killer (NK) and T cells on the immune system. Still, not much is known about how the activity of NK cell-related pathways changes in melanoma tissue. Thus, we performed a single-cell multi-omics analysis on human melanoma cells in this study to explore the modulation of NK cell activity. Materials and methods Cells in which mitochondrial genes comprised > 20% of the total number of expressed genes were removed. Gene ontology (GO), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), gene set variation analysis (GSVA), and AUCcell analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in melanoma subtypes were performed. The CellChat package was used to predict cell-cell contact between NK cell and melanoma cell subtypes. Monocle program analyzed the pseudotime trajectories of melanoma cells. In addition, CytoTRACE was used to determine the recommended time order of melanoma cells. InferCNV was utilized to calculate the CNV level of melanoma cell subtypes. Python package pySCENIC was used to assess the enrichment of transcription factors and the activity of regulons in melanoma cell subtypes. Furthermore, the cell function experiment was used to confirm the function of TBX21 in both A375 and WM-115 melanoma cell lines. Results Following batch effect correction, 26,161 cells were separated into 28 clusters and designated as melanoma cells, neural cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, NK cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, plasma cells, monocytes and macrophages, and dendritic cells. A total of 10137 melanoma cells were further grouped into seven subtypes, i.e., C0 Melanoma BIRC7, C1 Melanoma CDH19, C2 Melanoma EDNRB, C3 Melanoma BIRC5, C4 Melanoma CORO1A, C5 Melanoma MAGEA4, and C6 Melanoma GJB2. The results of AUCell, GSEA, and GSVA suggested that C4 Melanoma CORO1A may be more sensitive to NK and T cells through positive regulation of NK and T cell-mediated immunity, while other subtypes of melanoma may be more resistant to NK cells. This suggests that the intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) of melanoma-induced activity and the difference in NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity may have caused NK cell defects. Transcription factor enrichment analysis indicated that TBX21 was the most important TF in C4 Melanoma CORO1A and was also associated with M1 modules. In vitro experiments further showed that TBX21 knockdown dramatically decreases melanoma cells' proliferation, invasion, and migration. Conclusion The differences in NK and T cell-mediated immunity and cytotoxicity between C4 Melanoma CORO1A and other melanoma cell subtypes may offer a new perspective on the ITH of melanoma-induced metastatic activity. In addition, the protective factors of skin melanoma, STAT1, IRF1, and FLI1, may modulate melanoma cell responses to NK or T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Zhao
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yantao Ding
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Dermatology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- China Key Laboratory of Dermatology, Ministry of Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lisa Jia Tran
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gang Chai
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Lin
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Cerdán-Vélez D, Tress ML. Lost in the WASH. The functional human WASH complex 1 gene is on chromosome 20. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.14.544951. [PMID: 37398104 PMCID: PMC10312774 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.14.544951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The WASH1 gene produces a protein that forms part of the developmentally important WASH complex. The WASH complex activates the Arp2/3 complex to initiate branched actin networks at the surface of endosomes. As a curiosity, the human reference gene set includes nine WASH1 genes. How many of these are pseudogenes and how many are bona fide coding genes is not clear. Eight of the nine WASH1 genes reside in rearrangement and duplication-prone subtelomeric regions. Many of these subtelomeric regions had gaps in the GRCh38 human genome assembly, but the recently published T2T-CHM13 assembly from the Telomere to Telomere (T2T) Consortium has filled in the gaps. As a result, the T2T Consortium has added four new WASH1 paralogues in previously unannotated subtelomeric regions. Here we show that one of these four novel WASH1 genes, LOC124908094, is the gene most likely to produce the functional WASH1 protein. We also demonstrate that the other twelve WASH1 genes derived from a single WASH8P pseudogene on chromosome 12. These 12 genes include WASHC1, the gene currently annotated as the functional WASH1 gene. We propose LOC124908094 should be annotated as a coding gene and all functional information relating to the WASHC1 gene on chromosome 9 should be transferred to LOC124908094. The remaining WASH1 genes, including WASHC1. should be annotated as pseudogenes. This work confirms that the T2T assembly has added at least one functionally relevant coding gene to the human reference set. It remains to be seen whether other important coding genes are missing from the GRCh38 reference assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael L Tress
- Bioinformatics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO)
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Kramer DA, Piper HK, Chen B. WASP family proteins: Molecular mechanisms and implications in human disease. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151244. [PMID: 35667337 PMCID: PMC9357188 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family play a central role in regulating actin cytoskeletal dynamics in a wide range of cellular processes. Genetic mutations or misregulation of these proteins are tightly associated with many diseases. The WASP-family proteins act by transmitting various upstream signals to their conserved WH2-Central-Acidic (WCA) peptide sequence at the C-terminus, which in turn binds to the Arp2/3 complex to stimulate the formation of branched actin networks at membranes. Despite this common feature, the regulatory mechanisms and cellular functions of distinct WASP-family proteins are very different. Here, we summarize and clarify our current understanding of WASP-family proteins and how disruption of their functions is related to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Kramer
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, 2437 Pammel Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Hannah K Piper
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, 2437 Pammel Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Baoyu Chen
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, 2437 Pammel Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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Sun J, Zhong X, Fu X, Miller H, Lee P, Yu B, Liu C. The Actin Regulators Involved in the Function and Related Diseases of Lymphocytes. Front Immunol 2022; 13:799309. [PMID: 35371070 PMCID: PMC8965893 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.799309] [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: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Actin is an important cytoskeletal protein involved in signal transduction, cell structure and motility. Actin regulators include actin-monomer-binding proteins, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) family of proteins, nucleation proteins, actin filament polymerases and severing proteins. This group of proteins regulate the dynamic changes in actin assembly/disassembly, thus playing an important role in cell motility, intracellular transport, cell division and other basic cellular activities. Lymphocytes are important components of the human immune system, consisting of T-lymphocytes (T cells), B-lymphocytes (B cells) and natural killer cells (NK cells). Lymphocytes are indispensable for both innate and adaptive immunity and cannot function normally without various actin regulators. In this review, we first briefly introduce the structure and fundamental functions of a variety of well-known and newly discovered actin regulators, then we highlight the role of actin regulators in T cell, B cell and NK cell, and finally provide a landscape of various diseases associated with them. This review provides new directions in exploring actin regulators and promotes more precise and effective treatments for related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxuan Sun
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingyu Zhong
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Fu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Heather Miller
- Cytek Biosciences, R&D Clinical Reagents, Fremont, CA, United States
| | - Pamela Lee
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bing Yu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chaohong Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Chakrabarti R, Lee M, Higgs HN. Multiple roles for actin in secretory and endocytic pathways. Curr Biol 2021; 31:R603-R618. [PMID: 34033793 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Actin filaments play multiple roles in the secretory pathway and in endosome dynamics in mammals, including maintenance of Golgi structure, release of membrane cargo from the trans-Golgi network (TGN), endocytosis, and endosomal sorting dynamics. In addition, TGN carrier transport and endocytosis both occur by multiple mechanisms in mammals. Actin likely plays a role in at least four mammalian endocytic pathways, five pathways for membrane release from the TGN, and three processes involving endosomes. Also, the mammalian Golgi structure is highly dynamic, and actin is likely important for these dynamics. One challenge for many of these processes is the need to deal with other membrane-associated structures, such as the cortical actin network at the plasma membrane or the matrix that surrounds the Golgi. Arp2/3 complex is a major actin assembly factor in most of the processes mentioned, but roles for formins and tandem WH2-motif-containing assembly factors are being elucidated and are anticipated to grow with further study. The specific role for actin has not been defined for most of these processes, but is likely to involve the generation of force for membrane dynamics, either by actin polymerization itself or by myosin motor activity. Defining these processes mechanistically is necessary for understanding membrane dynamics in general, as well as pathways that utilize these processes, such as autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajarshi Chakrabarti
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Miriam Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Henry N Higgs
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
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Fokin AI, Gautreau AM. Assembly and Activity of the WASH Molecular Machine: Distinctive Features at the Crossroads of the Actin and Microtubule Cytoskeletons. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:658865. [PMID: 33869225 PMCID: PMC8047104 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.658865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The Arp2/3 complex generates branched actin networks at different locations of the cell. The WASH and WAVE Nucleation Promoting Factors (NPFs) activate the Arp2/3 complex at the surface of endosomes or at the cell cortex, respectively. In this review, we will discuss how these two NPFs are controlled within distinct, yet related, multiprotein complexes. These complexes are not spontaneously assembled around WASH and WAVE, but require cellular assembly factors. The centrosome, which nucleates microtubules and branched actin, appears to be a privileged site for WASH complex assembly. The actin and microtubule cytoskeletons are both responsible for endosome shape and membrane remodeling. Motors, such as dynein, pull endosomes and extend membrane tubules along microtubule tracks, whereas branched actin pushes onto the endosomal membrane. It was recently uncovered that WASH assembles a super complex with dynactin, the major dynein activator, where the Capping Protein (CP) is exchanged from dynactin to the WASH complex. This CP swap initiates the first actin filament that primes the autocatalytic nucleation of branched actin at the surface of endosomes. Possible coordination between pushing and pulling forces in the remodeling of endosomal membranes is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem I. Fokin
- Laboratoire de Biologie Structurale de la Cellule, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, IP Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Alexis M. Gautreau
- Laboratoire de Biologie Structurale de la Cellule, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, IP Paris, Palaiseau, France
- School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
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Ben-Shmuel A, Sabag B, Biber G, Barda-Saad M. The Role of the Cytoskeleton in Regulating the Natural Killer Cell Immune Response in Health and Disease: From Signaling Dynamics to Function. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:609532. [PMID: 33598461 PMCID: PMC7882700 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.609532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells, which play key roles in elimination of virally infected and malignant cells. The balance between activating and inhibitory signals derived from NK surface receptors govern the NK cell immune response. The cytoskeleton facilitates most NK cell effector functions, such as motility, infiltration, conjugation with target cells, immunological synapse assembly, and cytotoxicity. Though many studies have characterized signaling pathways that promote actin reorganization in immune cells, it is not completely clear how particular cytoskeletal architectures at the immunological synapse promote effector functions, and how cytoskeletal dynamics impact downstream signaling pathways and activation. Moreover, pioneering studies employing advanced imaging techniques have only begun to uncover the architectural complexity dictating the NK cell activation threshold; it is becoming clear that a distinct organization of the cytoskeleton and signaling receptors at the NK immunological synapse plays a decisive role in activation and tolerance. Here, we review the roles of the actin cytoskeleton in NK cells. We focus on how actin dynamics impact cytolytic granule secretion, NK cell motility, and NK cell infiltration through tissues into inflammatory sites. We will also describe the additional cytoskeletal components, non-muscle Myosin II and microtubules that play pivotal roles in NK cell activity. Furthermore, special emphasis will be placed on the role of the cytoskeleton in assembly of immunological synapses, and how mutations or downregulation of cytoskeletal accessory proteins impact NK cell function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviad Ben-Shmuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Batel Sabag
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Guy Biber
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Mira Barda-Saad
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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12
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Single-cell profiling reveals the trajectories of natural killer cell differentiation in bone marrow and a stress signature induced by acute myeloid leukemia. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 18:1290-1304. [PMID: 33239726 PMCID: PMC8093261 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-00574-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate cytotoxic lymphoid cells (ILCs) involved in the killing of infected and tumor cells. Among human and mouse NK cells from the spleen and blood, we previously identified by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) two similar major subsets, NK1 and NK2. Using the same technology, we report here the identification, by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq), of three NK cell subpopulations in human bone marrow. Pseudotime analysis identified a subset of resident CD56bright NK cells, NK0 cells, as the precursor of both circulating CD56dim NK1-like NK cells and CD56bright NK2-like NK cells in human bone marrow and spleen under physiological conditions. Transcriptomic profiles of bone marrow NK cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) exhibited stress-induced repression of NK cell effector functions, highlighting the profound impact of this disease on NK cell heterogeneity. Bone marrow NK cells from AML patients exhibited reduced levels of CD160, but the CD160high group had a significantly higher survival rate.
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13
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Verboon JM, Nakamura M, Davidson KA, Decker JR, Nandakumar V, Parkhurst SM. Drosophila Wash and the Wash regulatory complex function in nuclear envelope budding. J Cell Sci 2020; 133:jcs243576. [PMID: 32503943 PMCID: PMC7358131 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.243576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear envelope (NE) budding is a recently described phenomenon wherein large macromolecular complexes are packaged inside the nucleus and extruded through the nuclear membranes. Although a general outline of the cellular events occurring during NE budding is now in place, little is yet known about the molecular machinery and mechanisms underlying the physical aspects of NE bud formation. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we identify Wash, its regulatory complex (SHRC), capping protein and Arp2/3 as new molecular components involved in the physical aspects of NE bud formation in a Drosophila model system. Interestingly, Wash affects NE budding in two ways: indirectly through general nuclear lamina disruption via an SHRC-independent interaction with Lamin B leading to inefficient NE bud formation, and directly by blocking NE bud formation along with its SHRC, capping protein and Arp2/3. In addition to NE budding emerging as an important cellular process, it shares many similarities with herpesvirus nuclear egress mechanisms, suggesting new avenues for exploration in both normal and disease biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Verboon
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Mitsutoshi Nakamura
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Kerri A Davidson
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Jacob R Decker
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Vivek Nandakumar
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Susan M Parkhurst
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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Metovic J, Annaratone L, Linari A, Osella-Abate S, Musuraca C, Veneziano F, Vignale C, Bertero L, Cassoni P, Ratto N, Comandone A, Grignani G, Piana R, Papotti M. Prognostic role of PD-L1 and immune-related gene expression profiles in giant cell tumors of bone. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:1905-1916. [PMID: 32377818 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02594-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a locally aggressive and rarely metastatic tumor, with a relatively unpredictable clinical course. A retrospective series of 46 GCTB and a control group of 24 aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) were selected with the aim of investigating the PD-L1 expression levels and immune-related gene expression profile, in correlation with clinicopathological features. PD-L1 and Ki67 were immunohistochemically tested in each case. Furthermore, comprehensive molecular analyses were carried out using NanoString technology and nCounter PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel, and the gene expression results were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics. PD-L1 expression was observed in 13/46 (28.3%) GCTB (and in 1/24, 4.2%, control ABC, only) and associated with a shorter disease free interval according to univariate analysis. Moreover, in PD-L1-positive lesions, three genes (CD27, CD6 and IL10) were significantly upregulated (p < 0.01), while two were downregulated (LCK and TLR8, showing borderline significance, p = 0.06). Interestingly, these genes can be related to maturation and immune tolerance of bone tissue microenvironment, suggesting a more immature/anergic phenotype of giant cell tumors. Our findings suggest that PD-L1 immunoreactivity may help to select GCTB patients with a higher risk of recurrence who could potentially benefit from immune checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasna Metovic
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Annaratone
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Pathology Division, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Chiara Vignale
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Luca Bertero
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Cassoni
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Nicola Ratto
- Division of Orthopedics, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Comandone
- Division of Medical Oncology, Humanitas Gradenigo Hospital, Turin, Italy
- ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Raimondo Piana
- Division of Orthopedics, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Mauro Papotti
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
- Anatomia Patologica, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, University of Turin, Via Santena 7, 10126, Turin, Italy.
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15
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Miyata-Takata T, Chuang SS, Takata K, Toji T, Maeda Y, Sato Y, Yoshino T. Expression of T-cell receptor signalling pathway components in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma. Histopathology 2018; 73:1030-1038. [PMID: 30102799 DOI: 10.1111/his.13728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Although the neoplastic cells of extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) usually do not express T-cell antigens, the T-cell receptor (TCR) gene might be rearranged and TCR protein expressed. The aim is to elucidate the expression of the downstream TCR pathway components and their importance in ENKTL. METHODS AND RESULTS We used formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 91 ENKTL samples to immunohistochemically characterise the expression of TCR pathway components. The following proteins were variably expressed: ZAP70 (94%; 83/88), GRAP2/GADS (68%; 60/88), DOK2 (42%; 38/90), LCK (35%; 31/88), and ITK (10%; 9/90). When these tumours were classified as being of T lineage (16%), NK lineage (45%), or indeterminate lineage (38%), the GRAP2/GADS expression rate was higher in T lineage tumours (versus NK, P = 0.0073; versus indeterminate, P = 0.00082). GRAP2/GADS-positive NK lineage tumours more frequently expressed DOK2 (P = 0.0073), and were more often confined to the nasal areas (P = 0.014). Furthermore, when these tumours were immunophenotypically classified into a T signature (42%) or NK signature (58%), the expression rates of GRAP2/GADS and ITK were higher in T signature tumours (P = 0.00074 and P = 0.067, respectively), whereas that of LCK was higher in NK-signature tumours (P = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS Although some ENTKL cases were polyclonal for TCR rearrangement and others lacked TCR expression, we speculate that the TCR pathway might be functioning in ENKTLs. A T signature versus a NK signature might be better for delineating the physiology of ENKTL than cellular lineage. Furthermore, ITK may represent a potential therapeutic target for patients with ITK-expressing tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Miyata-Takata
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | | | - Katsuyoshi Takata
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Lymphoid Cancer Research, British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Tomohiro Toji
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Maeda
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Sato
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Tadashi Yoshino
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
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16
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Viral and Nonviral Engineering of Natural Killer Cells as Emerging Adoptive Cancer Immunotherapies. J Immunol Res 2018; 2018:4054815. [PMID: 30306093 PMCID: PMC6166361 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4054815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are powerful immune effectors whose antitumor activity is regulated through a sophisticated network of activating and inhibitory receptors. As effectors of cancer immunotherapy, NK cells are attractive as they do not attack healthy self-tissues nor do they induce T cell-driven inflammatory cytokine storm, enabling their use as allogeneic adoptive cellular therapies. Clinical responses to adoptive NK-based immunotherapy have been thwarted, however, by the profound immunosuppression induced by the tumor microenvironment, particularly severe in the context of solid tumors. In addition, the short postinfusion persistence of NK cells in vivo has limited their clinical efficacy. Enhancing the antitumor immunity of NK cells through genetic engineering has been fueled by the promise that impaired cytotoxic functionality can be restored or augmented with the use of synthetic genetic approaches. Alongside expressing chimeric antigen receptors to overcome immune escape by cancer cells, enhance their recognition, and mediate their killing, NK cells have been genetically modified to enhance their persistence in vivo by the expression of cytokines such as IL-15, avoid functional and metabolic tumor microenvironment suppression, or improve their homing ability, enabling enhanced targeting of solid tumors. However, NK cells are notoriously adverse to endogenous gene uptake, resulting in low gene uptake and transgene expression with many vector systems. Though viral vectors have achieved the highest gene transfer efficiencies with NK cells, nonviral vectors and gene transfer approaches—electroporation, lipofection, nanoparticles, and trogocytosis—are emerging. And while the use of NK cell lines has achieved improved gene transfer efficiencies particularly with viral vectors, challenges with primary NK cells remain. Here, we discuss the genetic engineering of NK cells as they relate to NK immunobiology within the context of cancer immunotherapy, highlighting the most recent breakthroughs in viral vectors and nonviral approaches aimed at genetic reprogramming of NK cells for improved adoptive immunotherapy of cancer, and, finally, address their clinical status.
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Jewett A, Kos J, Fong Y, Ko MW, Safaei T, Perišić Nanut M, Kaur K. NK cells shape pancreatic and oral tumor microenvironments; role in inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis. Semin Cancer Biol 2018; 53:178-188. [PMID: 30081230 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We have recently shown that natural killer (NK) cells select and differentiate cancer stem cells (CSCs)/undifferentiated tumors via secreted and membrane bound IFN-gamma (IFN-γ) and TNF-alpha (TNF-α), preventing tumor growth and inducing remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. Since many conventional therapeutic strategies, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy remain fairly unsuccessful in treating CSCs/poorly differentiated tumors, there has been an increasing interest in NK cell-targeted immunotherapy for the treatment of aggressive tumors. In our recent studies, we used humanized-BLT (hu-BLT) mouse model with transplanted human bone marrow, liver and thymus to demonstrate the efficacy of adoptive transfer of ex vivo expanded, super-charged NK cells in selection and differentiation of stem-like tumors within the context of a fully reconstituted human immune system. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that CSCs differentiated with split-anergized NK cells prior to implantation in hu-BLT mice were not able to grow or metastasize. However, when NK cell-mediated tumor differentiation was blocked by the addition of antibodies to IFN-γ and TNF-α, tumors grew and metastasized. In this review, we present current advances in NK cell expansion and therapeutic delivery, and discuss the utility of allogeneic super-charged NK cells in treatment of cancer patients. In addition, NK suppression occurs not only at the stage of overt cancer, but also at the pre-neoplastic stage. Therefore, due to the indispensable role of NK cells in targeting CSCs/undifferentiated tumors and their role in differentiation of the tumors, NK cells should be placed high in the armamentarium of tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahid Jewett
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA; The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA School of Dentistry and Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Janko Kos
- Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Yuman Fong
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA; Center of Gene Therapy, Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Meng-Wei Ko
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tahmineh Safaei
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Kawaljit Kaur
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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18
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Huang L, Lian J, Chen X, Qin G, Zheng Y, Zhang Y. WASH overexpression enhances cancer stem cell properties and correlates with poor prognosis of esophageal carcinoma. Cancer Sci 2017; 108:2358-2365. [PMID: 28914471 PMCID: PMC5715296 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that cytoskeleton remodeling is involved in cancer progression. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family represents a key regulator of actin cytoskeleton remodeling. However, the underlying mechanism of the WASP family in cancer progression remains elusive. Here, we studied the role of WASP and SCAR Homolog (WASH), a recently identified WASP family member, in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Using three human ESCC cell lines, we found that WASH expression was significantly elevated in cancer stem-like cells enriched by sphere formation assay. WASH knockdown decreased the sphere-forming capacity of esophageal cancer cells whereas WASH over-expression exhibited the opposite effect. Mechanistically, we identified interleukin-8 (IL-8) as a key downstream target of WASH. IL-8 knockdown completely attenuated tumor sphere formation induced by WASH overexpression. WASH knockdown also delayed the growth of human ESCC xenografts in BALB/c nude mice. Importantly, high WASH levels were associated with poor clinical prognosis in a total of 145 human ESCC tissues. Collectively, our results suggest an essential role of the WASH/IL-8 pathway in human ESCC by maintaining the stemness of cancer cells. Hence, targeting this pathway might represent a promising strategy to control human esophageal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Huang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jingyao Lian
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinfeng Chen
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guohui Qin
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yujia Zheng
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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LncBRM initiates YAP1 signalling activation to drive self-renewal of liver cancer stem cells. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13608. [PMID: 27905400 PMCID: PMC5146280 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) may contribute to the high rate of recurrence and heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the biology of hepatic CSCs remains largely undefined. Through analysis of transcriptome microarray data, we identify a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) called lncBRM, which is highly expressed in liver CSCs and HCC tumours. LncBRM is required for the self-renewal maintenance of liver CSCs and tumour initiation. In liver CSCs, lncBRM associates with BRM to initiate the BRG1/BRM switch and the BRG1-embedded BAF complex triggers activation of YAP1 signalling. Moreover, expression levels of lncBRM together with YAP1 signalling targets are positively correlated with tumour severity of HCC patients. Therefore, lncBRM and YAP1 signalling may serve as biomarkers for diagnosis and potential drug targets for HCC. Liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) may contribute to the high rate of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, the authors show that the long coding RNA, LcnBRM, regulates the self-renewal of liver CSCs and tumour initiation through binding to BAF complex thereby activating YAP1.
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