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Tan G, Spillane KM, Maher J. The Role and Regulation of the NKG2D/NKG2D Ligand System in Cancer. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1079. [PMID: 37626965 PMCID: PMC10452210 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The family of human NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL) consists of eight stress-induced molecules. Over 80% of human cancers express these ligands on the surface of tumour cells and/or associated stromal elements. In mice, NKG2D deficiency increases susceptibility to some types of cancer, implicating this system in immune surveillance for malignancy. However, NKG2DL can also be shed, released via exosomes and trapped intracellularly, leading to immunosuppressive effects. Moreover, NKG2D can enhance chronic inflammatory processes which themselves can increase cancer risk and progression. Indeed, tumours commonly deploy a range of countermeasures that can neutralise or even corrupt this surveillance system, tipping the balance away from immune control towards tumour progression. Consequently, the prognostic impact of NKG2DL expression in human cancer is variable. In this review, we consider the underlying biology and regulation of the NKG2D/NKG2DL system and its expression and role in a range of cancer types. We also consider the opportunities for pharmacological modulation of NKG2DL expression while cautioning that such interventions need to be carefully calibrated according to the biology of the specific cancer type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Tan
- CAR Mechanics Group, Guy’s Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK;
| | | | - John Maher
- CAR Mechanics Group, Guy’s Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK;
- Department of Immunology, Eastbourne Hospital, Kings Drive, Eastbourne BN21 2UD, UK
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
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2
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Warner K, Ghaedi M, Chung DC, Jacquelot N, Ohashi PS. Innate lymphoid cells in early tumor development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:948358. [PMID: 36032129 PMCID: PMC9411809 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.948358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate and adaptive immune cells monitor, recognize, and eliminate transformed cells. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are innate counterparts of T cells that play a key role in many facets of the immune response and have a profound impact on disease states, including cancer. ILCs regulate immune responses by responding and integrating a wide range of signals within the local microenvironment. As primarily tissue-resident cells, ILCs are ideally suited to sense malignant transformation and initiate anti-tumor immunity. However, as ILCs have been associated with anti-tumor and pro-tumor activities in established tumors, they could potentially have dual functions during carcinogenesis by promoting or suppressing the malignant outgrowth of premalignant lesions. Here we discuss emerging evidence that shows that ILCs can impact early tumor development by regulating immune responses against transformed cells, as well as the environmental cues that potentially induce ILC activation in premalignant lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Warner
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maryam Ghaedi
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Douglas C. Chung
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicolas Jacquelot
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pamela S. Ohashi
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Lee GH, An HJ, Kim TH, Kim G, Park KS, Park H, Lee TH, Kwon AY. Clinical Impact of Natural Killer Group 2D Receptor Expression and That of Its Ligand in Ovarian Carcinomas: A Retrospective Study. Yonsei Med J 2021; 62:288-297. [PMID: 33779082 PMCID: PMC8007423 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2021.62.4.288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells with antitumor activity. NKG2D is the most important activating receptor expressed on the NK cell surface; this receptor binds to the ligands MICA/B and ULBPs to activate NK cells. The current study aimed to evaluate the expression of NKG2D by NK cells, and to the evaluate expression of its ligands in ovarian carcinomas; it also examined the clinical relevance of NK receptor/ligand expression by analyzing the relationship between expression, clinicopathological parameters, and prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archival ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC, n=79) tissue samples were used for tissue microarray analysis. The expressions of NK cell markers (CD56 and NKG2D) and NKG2D ligands (MICA/B, ULBP1, ULBP3, and ULBP2/5/6) in carcinoma tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining, and the association between these results and clinical prognostic parameters was analyzed statistically. RESULTS ULBP1 was highly expressed in 51 cases (64.6%), and ULBP2/5/6 was highly expressed in 56 cases (70.9%) of HGSC. High expression of ULBP1 and ULBP2/5/6 was significantly associated with lower recurrence of HGSC, whereas high expression of ULBP3 was significantly associated with higher recurrence. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that high expression of ULBP1 was associated with increased overall survival and a decreased hazard ratio (0.150, p=0.044), suggesting that it is an independent predictor of better survival. CONCLUSION High expression of ULBP1 predicts a better prognosis for HGSC, suggesting that ULBP1 expression could be a novel prognostic indicator in this subset of carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gee Hoon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Hee Jung An
- Institute for Clinical Research, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Tae Hoen Kim
- Institute for Clinical Research, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Gwangil Kim
- Institute for Clinical Research, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Kyung Soon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Hyun Park
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Tae Ho Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Ah Young Kwon
- Institute for Clinical Research, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
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Mo Z, Lu H, Mo S, Fu X, Chang S, Yue J. Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation enhances natural killer-mediated antitumor immunity against liver cancer. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:7014-7020. [PMID: 29725428 PMCID: PMC5920230 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
For patients with liver cancer who are not sufficiently fit for surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective and low risk treatment modality; however, the mechanism underlying this procedure is not fully understood. In the present study, a series of experiments were conducted, which demonstrated that RFA therapy stimulates innate antitumor immunity via directly enhancing natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, thus achieving a favorable outcome for patients with liver tumors. It was determined that the percentage of NK cells within the peripheral blood of the rabbits in the RFA treatment groups were significantly higher, compared with the control groups. The levels of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α in NK cells were also significantly upregulated following thermal coagulation induced via RFA. In addition, RFA enhanced the NK cell receptor, NK group 2D (NKG2D), expression and NK cell antitumor cytotoxicity in hepatic cancer cells. The results indicated that the RFA treatment could effectively eliminate liver tumors via enhancing NK-mediated antitumor activity and NKG2D expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zelai Mo
- Department of Ultrasound, The Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hainan, Haikou, Hainan 570206, P.R. China
| | - Hailan Lu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, Hainan 570311, P.R. China
| | - Shaowei Mo
- Department of Science and Education, The Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, Hainan 570311, P.R. China
| | - Xiangmin Fu
- Department of Medical Records, The Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, Hainan 570311, P.R. China
| | - Shunwu Chang
- Department of General Surgery, The Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, Hainan 570311, P.R. China
| | - Jie Yue
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, Hainan 570311, P.R. China
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Hai H, Tamori A, Thuy LTT, Yoshida K, Hagihara A, Kawamura E, Uchida-Kobayashi S, Morikawa H, Enomoto M, Murakami Y, Kawada N. Polymorphisms in MICA, but not in DEPDC5, HCP5 or PNPLA3, are associated with chronic hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11912. [PMID: 28928439 PMCID: PMC5605683 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10363-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the MICA rs2596542 and DEPDC5 rs1012068 variants in Japanese individuals as well as the HCP5 rs2244546 and PNPLA3 rs738409 variants in European individuals have been found associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study determined which single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is the most predictive for developing hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC in a Japanese cohort. Of the 4 SNPs analysed, only the MICA genotypes were significantly associated with development of HCC (p = 0.0185). The major (MA), hetero (HE), and minor (MI) genotypes occurred in 40%, 41%, and 19% of HCC patients and in 43%, 47%, and 10% of non-HCC patients, respectively. Interestingly, the MICA genotype was significantly correlated with MICA mRNA and soluble protein levels. In patients older than 70 years, the MI genotype was significantly associated with HCC development. In addition, the MI genotype was related to HCC development when the platelet count range was 10-15 × 104/μL, corresponding with the fibrosis stage; but not when the range was less than 10, indicating advanced fibrosis; or greater than 15 × 104/μL, as mild fibrosis. Thus, polymorphisms in MICA, but not in DEPDC5, HCP5 or PNPLA3, are associated with HCC development in Japanese patients with chronic HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Hai
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akihiro Tamori
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Le Thi Thanh Thuy
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kanako Yoshida
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Atsushi Hagihara
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Etsushi Kawamura
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Hiroyasu Morikawa
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaru Enomoto
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Murakami
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Norifumi Kawada
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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MICB gene diversity and balancing selection on its promoter region in Yao population in southern China. Hum Immunol 2016; 77:1187-1193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2016.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Osterburg AR, Nelson RL, Yaniv BZ, Foot R, Donica WR, Nashu MA, Liu H, Wikenheiser-Brokamp KA, Moss J, Gupta N, McCormack FX, Borchers MT. NK cell activating receptor ligand expression in lymphangioleiomyomatosis is associated with lung function decline. JCI Insight 2016; 1:e87270. [PMID: 27734028 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.87270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare lung disease of women that leads to progressive cyst formation and accelerated loss of pulmonary function. Neoplastic smooth muscle cells from an unknown source metastasize to the lung and drive destructive remodeling. Given the role of NK cells in immune surveillance, we postulated that NK cell activating receptors and their cognate ligands are involved in LAM pathogenesis. We found that ligands for the NKG2D activating receptor UL-16 binding protein 2 (ULBP2) and ULBP3 are localized in cystic LAM lesions and pulmonary nodules. We found elevated soluble serum ULBP2 (mean = 575 pg/ml ± 142) in 50 of 100 subjects and ULBP3 in 30 of 100 (mean = 8,300 pg/ml ± 1,515) subjects. LAM patients had fewer circulating NKG2D+ NK cells and decreased NKG2D surface expression. Lung function decline was associated with soluble NKG2D ligand (sNKG2DL) detection. The greatest rate of decline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1, -124 ± 30 ml/year) in the 48 months after enrollment (NHLBI LAM Registry) occurred in patients expressing both ULBP2 and ULBP3, whereas patients with undetectable sNKG2DL levels had the lowest rate of FEV1 decline (-32.7 ± 10 ml/year). These data suggest a role for NK cells, sNKG2DL, and the innate immune system in LAM pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Osterburg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Rebecca L Nelson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Benyamin Z Yaniv
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Rachel Foot
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Walter Rf Donica
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Madison A Nashu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Kathryn A Wikenheiser-Brokamp
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Division of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Perinatal Institute, Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Joel Moss
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Nishant Gupta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Francis X McCormack
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael T Borchers
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Chen J, Xu H, Zhu XX. Abnormal expression levels of sMICA and NKG2D are correlated with poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2015; 12:11-8. [PMID: 26730197 PMCID: PMC4694694 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s96869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Soluble major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A molecules (sMICA) and natural-killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) not only correlate with tumorigenesis and progression, but also with tumor invasion and metastasis. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to investigate the correlation and prognostic significance of the differential expression of sMICA and NKG2D in pancreatic carcinoma and paracarcinoma tissues from 70 patients with pancreatic carcinomas. The results showed that sMICA expression was significantly (P<0.05) higher in tumor tissues (67.1%) than that in adjacent nontumor tissues (31.4%), whereas NKG2D expression was significantly (P<0.001) lower in tumor tissues (32.9%) than that in adjacent nontumor tissues (60.0%). Spearman’s rank correlation test showed a negative correlation between the expression of sMICA and that of NKG2D (r=−0.676, P<0.001). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that a high sMICA expression was significantly correlated with decreased disease-free survival (DFS) (P<0.001) and overall survival (OS) (P<0.001), while a high NKG2D expression was significantly associated with increased DFS (P=0.001) and OS (P=0.001) of the patients. Multivariate analysis showed that a high sMICA expression was an independent predictive factor for poor DFS (P<0.001) and OS (P=0.012); but low NKG2D expression was not an independent prognostic factor for poor DFS (P=0.238) and OS (P=0.574). In conclusion, our findings suggest that the expression levels of sMICA and NKG2D are abnormal and negatively correlated with one another in pancreatic carcinoma tissues; they may be considered as valuable biomarkers for the prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiong Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Xing Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, People's Republic of China
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