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Zhang C, Sun N, Fei Q, Peng L, Wei C, Liu X, Miao S, Chai M, Wang F, Wang D, Hong J, Huang S, Zhang S, Qiu H. MEN1 deficiency stabilizes PD-L1 and promotes tumor immune evasion of lung cancer. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:2515-2527. [PMID: 38685894 PMCID: PMC11309931 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 1 gene (MEN1), which is known to be a tumor suppressor gene in lung tissues, encodes a 610 amino acid protein menin. Previous research has proven that MEN1 deficiency promotes the malignant progression of lung cancer. However, the biological role of this gene in the immune microenvironment of lung cancer remains unclear. In this study, we found that programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is upregulated in lung-specific KrasG12D mutation-induced lung adenocarcinoma in mice, after Men1 deficiency. Simultaneously, CD8+ and CD3+ T cells are depleted, and their cytotoxic effects are suppressed. In vitro, PD-L1 is inhibited by the overexpression of menin. Mechanistically, we found that MEN1 inactivation promotes the deubiquitinating activity of COP9 signalosome subunit 5 (CSN5) and subsequently increases the level of PD-L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuncun Zhang
- School of NursingAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Ningning Sun
- School of NursingAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Qingze Fei
- School of NursingAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Linlin Peng
- School of NursingAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Chengyu Wei
- School of NursingAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Xiangyu Liu
- School of NursingAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Sainan Miao
- School of NursingAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Mengqi Chai
- School of NursingAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of PathologyZhejiang HospitalHangzhouChina
| | - Di Wang
- School of NursingAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | | | - Shenghai Huang
- Department of Microbiology, The Institute of Clinical Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Shihao Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University; Key Laboratory of Anti‐Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of EducationAnhui Collaborative Innovation Centre of Anti‐Inflammatory and Immune MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Huan Qiu
- School of NursingAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
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2
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Wu J, Song L, Lu M, Gao Q, Xu S, Zhou P, Ma T. The multifaceted functions of DNA-PKcs: implications for the therapy of human diseases. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e613. [PMID: 38898995 PMCID: PMC11185949 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), catalytic subunit, also known as DNA-PKcs, is complexed with the heterodimer Ku70/Ku80 to form DNA-PK holoenzyme, which is well recognized as initiator in the nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) repair after double strand break (DSB). During NHEJ, DNA-PKcs is essential for both DNA end processing and end joining. Besides its classical function in DSB repair, DNA-PKcs also shows multifaceted functions in various biological activities such as class switch recombination (CSR) and variable (V) diversity (D) joining (J) recombination in B/T lymphocytes development, innate immunity through cGAS-STING pathway, transcription, alternative splicing, and so on, which are dependent on its function in NHEJ or not. Moreover, DNA-PKcs deficiency has been proven to be related with human diseases such as neurological pathogenesis, cancer, immunological disorder, and so on through different mechanisms. Therefore, it is imperative to summarize the latest findings about DNA-PKcs and diseases for better targeting DNA-PKcs, which have shown efficacy in cancer treatment in preclinical models. Here, we discuss the multifaceted roles of DNA-PKcs in human diseases, meanwhile, we discuss the progresses of DNA-PKcs inhibitors and their potential in clinical trials. The most updated review about DNA-PKcs will hopefully provide insights and ideas to understand DNA-PKcs associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghong Wu
- Cancer Research CenterBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Liwei Song
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Mingjun Lu
- Cancer Research CenterBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Qing Gao
- Cancer Research CenterBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Shaofa Xu
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Ping‐Kun Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Teng Ma
- Cancer Research CenterBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
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Zhu X, Zhang W, Yu Z, Yang X, Li L, Chen C, Djumanazarov T, Piquemal D, Yusupbekov AA, Zheng Y. Synergistic action of gemcitabine and celecoxib in promoting the antitumor efficacy of anti-programmed death-1 monoclonal antibody by triggering immunogenic cell death. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:3031-3045. [PMID: 38988937 PMCID: PMC11231791 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-24-698] [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: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Emerging evidence suggests that immunogenic chemotherapy not only kills tumor cells but also improves the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD), leading to sustained anti-tumor effects. The lack of ICD inducers explored in lung cancer necessitates investigation into new inducers for this context, therefore, this study aims to explore whether the gemcitabine (GEM) and celecoxib can activate the immunogenic chemotherapy progress in lung cancer tissue. Methods We assessed five chemotherapeutic agents for their ability to trigger ICD using ex vivo and in vivo experiments, including western blotting (WB), flow cytometry, and tumor preventive vaccine assays. Additionally, we evaluated the synergistic effects of GEM, celecoxib, and anti-programmed death 1 monoclonal antibody (aPD-1) in tumor-bearing mice to understand how GEM activates antitumor immunity and enhances immunochemotherapy. Results GEM was identified as an effective ICD inducer, showing high expression of calreticulin (CRT) and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). Co-culture with GEM-treated cells [Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and CMT-64] enhanced dendritic cell (DC) activity, evidenced by maturation markers and increased phagocytic capacity. Moreover, celecoxib was found to enhance ICD by reducing indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) expression and increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The combination therapy [GEM, celecoxib, and aPD-1 (GCP)] exhibited potent and sustained antitumor activity in immunocompetent mice, with enhanced recruitment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Conclusions These findings support the potential use of GCP therapy as a treatment option for lung cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongjie Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenkai Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongjian Yu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xia Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Laiqing Li
- Guangzhou Youdi Bio-Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Cuicui Chen
- Guangzhou Youdi Bio-Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Temirbek Djumanazarov
- Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Oncology and Radiology (National Cancer Center of Uzbekistan), Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | | | - Abrorjon A. Yusupbekov
- Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Oncology and Radiology (National Cancer Center of Uzbekistan), Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Yanfang Zheng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Li J, Xu X, Xu K, Zhou X, Wu K, Yao Y, Liu Z, Chen C, Wang L, Sun Z, Jiao D, Han X. N6-methyladenosine-modified circSLCO1B3 promotes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression via regulating HOXC8 and PD-L1. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:119. [PMID: 38641828 PMCID: PMC11031933 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03006-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Refractoriness to surgical resection and chemotherapy makes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) a fatal cancer of the digestive system with high mortality and poor prognosis. Important function invests circRNAs with tremendous potential in biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, it is still unknown how circRNAs contribute to the evolution of ICC. METHODS CircRNAs in paired ICC and adjacent tissues were screened by circRNAs sequencing. To explore the impact of circRNAs on ICC development, experiments involving gain and loss of function were conducted. Various experimental techniques, including quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), western blotting, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), luciferase reporter assays, RNA pull-down, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), ubiquitination assays and so on were employed to identify the molecular regulatory role of circRNAs. RESULTS Herein, we reported a new circRNA, which originates from exon 9 to exon 15 of the SLCO1B3 gene (named circSLCO1B3), orchestrated ICC progression by promoting tumor proliferation, metastasis and immune evasion. We found that the circSLCO1B3 gene was highly overexpressed in ICC tissues and related to lymphatic metastasis, tumor sizes, and tumor differentiation. Mechanically, circSLCO1B3 not only promoted ICC proliferation and metastasis via miR-502-5p/HOXC8/SMAD3 axis, but also eradicated anti-tumor immunity via suppressing ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of PD-L1 by E3 ubiquitin ligase SPOP. We further found that methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) mediated the m6A methylation of circSLCO1B3 and stabilizes its expression. Our findings indicate that circSLCO1B3 is a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target in ICC patients. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, m6A-modified circSLCO1B3 was correlated with poor prognosis in ICC and promoted ICC progression not only by enhancing proliferation and metastasis via potentiating HOXC8 expression, but also by inducing immune evasion via antagonizing PD-L1 degradation. These results suggest that circSLCO1B3 is a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for ICC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Xiaohong Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Kaihao Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Xueliang Zhou
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Kunpeng Wu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Yuan Yao
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Zhenqiang Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Dechao Jiao
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Xinwei Han
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
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Hu A, Sun L, Lin H, Liao Y, Yang H, Mao Y. Harnessing innate immune pathways for therapeutic advancement in cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:68. [PMID: 38523155 PMCID: PMC10961329 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01765-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The innate immune pathway is receiving increasing attention in cancer therapy. This pathway is ubiquitous across various cell types, not only in innate immune cells but also in adaptive immune cells, tumor cells, and stromal cells. Agonists targeting the innate immune pathway have shown profound changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and improved tumor prognosis in preclinical studies. However, to date, the clinical success of drugs targeting the innate immune pathway remains limited. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that activation of the innate immune pathway can paradoxically promote tumor progression. The uncertainty surrounding the therapeutic effectiveness of targeted drugs for the innate immune pathway is a critical issue that needs immediate investigation. In this review, we observe that the role of the innate immune pathway demonstrates heterogeneity, linked to the tumor development stage, pathway status, and specific cell types. We propose that within the TME, the innate immune pathway exhibits multidimensional diversity. This diversity is fundamentally rooted in cellular heterogeneity and is manifested as a variety of signaling networks. The pro-tumor effect of innate immune pathway activation essentially reflects the suppression of classical pathways and the activation of potential pro-tumor alternative pathways. Refining our understanding of the tumor's innate immune pathway network and employing appropriate targeting strategies can enhance our ability to harness the anti-tumor potential of the innate immune pathway and ultimately bridge the gap from preclinical to clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankang Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Hao Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yuheng Liao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), and Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine (Ministry of Education), and Molecular and Cell Biology Lab, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
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6
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Zhang J, Yu S, Peng Q, Wang P, Fang L. Emerging mechanisms and implications of cGAS-STING signaling in cancer immunotherapy strategies. Cancer Biol Med 2024; 21:j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0440. [PMID: 38172538 PMCID: PMC10875285 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The intricate interplay between the human immune system and cancer development underscores the central role of immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Within this landscape, the innate immune system, a critical sentinel protecting against tumor incursion, is a key player. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway has been found to be a linchpin of innate immunity: activation of this signaling pathway orchestrates the production of type I interferon (IFN-α/β), thus fostering the maturation, differentiation, and mobilization of immune effectors in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, STING activation facilitates the release and presentation of tumor antigens, and therefore is an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy. Current strategies to activate the STING pathway, including use of pharmacological agonists, have made substantial advancements, particularly when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. These approaches have shown promise in preclinical and clinical settings, by enhancing patient survival rates. This review describes the evolving understanding of the cGAS-STING pathway's involvement in tumor biology and therapy. Moreover, this review explores classical and non-classical STING agonists, providing insights into their mechanisms of action and potential for optimizing immunotherapy strategies. Despite challenges and complexities, the cGAS-STING pathway, a promising avenue for enhancing cancer treatment efficacy, has the potential to revolutionize patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Zhang
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Sihui Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiao Peng
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Lan Fang
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
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7
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Reghu G, Vemula PK, Bhat SG, Narayanan S. Harnessing the innate immune system by revolutionizing macrophage-mediated cancer immunotherapy. J Biosci 2024; 49:63. [PMID: 38864238 PMCID: PMC11286319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a promising and safer alternative to conventional cancer therapies. It involves adaptive T-cell therapy, cancer vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) based therapies. However, most of these modalities encounter restrictions in solid tumours owing to a dense, highly hypoxic and immune-suppressive microenvironment as well as the heterogeneity of tumour antigens. The elevated intra-tumoural pressure and mutational rates within fastgrowing solid tumours present challenges in efficient drug targeting and delivery. The tumour microenvironment is a dynamic niche infiltrated by a variety of immune cells, most of which are macrophages. Since they form a part of the innate immune system, targeting macrophages has become a plausible immunotherapeutic approach. In this review, we discuss several versatile approaches (both at pre-clinical and clinical stages) such as the direct killing of tumour-associated macrophages, reprogramming pro-tumour macrophages to anti-tumour phenotypes, inhibition of macrophage recruitment into the tumour microenvironment, novel CAR macrophages, and genetically engineered macrophages that have been devised thus far. These strategies comprise a strong and adaptable macrophage-toolkit in the ongoing fight against cancer and by understanding their significance, we may unlock the full potential of these immune cells in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayatri Reghu
- Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682 022, India
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8
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Nguyen LD, Wei Z, Silva MC, Barberán-Soler S, Zhang J, Rabinovsky R, Muratore CR, Stricker JMS, Hortman C, Young-Pearse TL, Haggarty SJ, Krichevsky AM. Small molecule regulators of microRNAs identified by high-throughput screen coupled with high-throughput sequencing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7575. [PMID: 37989753 PMCID: PMC10663445 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43293-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate fundamental biological processes by silencing mRNA targets and are dysregulated in many diseases. Therefore, miRNA replacement or inhibition can be harnessed as potential therapeutics. However, existing strategies for miRNA modulation using oligonucleotides and gene therapies are challenging, especially for neurological diseases, and none have yet gained clinical approval. We explore a different approach by screening a biodiverse library of small molecule compounds for their ability to modulate hundreds of miRNAs in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. We demonstrate the utility of the screen by identifying cardiac glycosides as potent inducers of miR-132, a key neuroprotective miRNA downregulated in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. Coordinately, cardiac glycosides downregulate known miR-132 targets, including Tau, and protect rodent and human neurons against various toxic insults. More generally, our dataset of 1370 drug-like compounds and their effects on the miRNome provides a valuable resource for further miRNA-based drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien D Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Zhiyun Wei
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - M Catarina Silva
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | | | - Jiarui Zhang
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Rosalia Rabinovsky
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Christina R Muratore
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jonathan M S Stricker
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | - Tracy L Young-Pearse
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Stephen J Haggarty
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Anna M Krichevsky
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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