1
|
Zhao J, Wang Z, Tian Y, Ning J, Ye H. T cell exhaustion and senescence for ovarian cancer immunotherapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2024; 104-105:1-15. [PMID: 39032717 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2024.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is a common gynecological malignancy, and its treatment remains challenging. Although ovarian cancer may respond to immunotherapy because of endogenous immunity at the molecular or T cell level, immunotherapy has so far not had the desired effect. The functional status of preexisting T cells is an indispensable determinant of powerful antitumor immunity and immunotherapy. T cell exhaustion and senescence are two crucial states of T cell dysfunction, which share some overlapping phenotypic and functional features, but each status possesses unique molecular and developmental signatures. It has been widely accepted that exhaustion and senescence of T cells are important strategies for cancer cells to evade immunosurveillance and maintain the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Herein, this review summarizes the phenotypic and functional features of exhaust and senescent T cells, and describes the key drivers of the two T cell dysfunctional states in the tumor microenvironment and their functional roles in ovarian cancer. Furthermore, we present a summary of the molecular machinery and signaling pathways governing T cell exhaustion and senescence. Possible strategies that can prevent and/or reverse T cell dysfunction are also explored. An in-depth understanding of exhausted and senescent T cells will provide novel strategies to enhance immunotherapy of ovarian cancer through redirecting tumor-specific T cells away from a dysfunctional developmental trajectory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Zhao
- Department of Gynecology Surgery 3, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, China
| | - Zhongmiao Wang
- Department of Digestive Diseases 1, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, China
| | - Yingying Tian
- Department of Oncology Radiotherapy 2, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266042, China
| | - Jing Ning
- Department of General Internal Medicine (VIP Ward), Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, China.
| | - Huinan Ye
- Department of Digestive Diseases 1, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Scirgolea C, Sottile R, De Luca M, Susana A, Carnevale S, Puccio S, Ferrari V, Lise V, Contarini G, Scarpa A, Scamardella E, Feno S, Camisaschi C, De Simone G, Basso G, Giuliano D, Mazza EMC, Gattinoni L, Roychoudhuri R, Voulaz E, Di Mitri D, Simonelli M, Losurdo A, Pozzi D, Tsui C, Kallies A, Timo S, Martano G, Barberis E, Manfredi M, Rescigno M, Jaillon S, Lugli E. NaCl enhances CD8 + T cell effector functions in cancer immunotherapy. Nat Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41590-024-01923-9. [PMID: 39198631 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01923-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
CD8+ T cells control tumors but inevitably become dysfunctional in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we show that sodium chloride (NaCl) counteracts T cell dysfunction to promote cancer regression. NaCl supplementation during CD8+ T cell culture induced effector differentiation, IFN-γ production and cytotoxicity while maintaining the gene networks responsible for stem-like plasticity. Accordingly, adoptive transfer of tumor-specific T cells resulted in superior anti-tumor immunity in a humanized mouse model. In mice, a high-salt diet reduced the growth of experimental tumors in a CD8+ T cell-dependent manner by inhibiting terminal differentiation and enhancing the effector potency of CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, NaCl enhanced glutamine consumption, which was critical for transcriptional, epigenetic and functional reprogramming. In humans, CD8+ T cells undergoing antigen recognition in tumors and predicting favorable responses to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy resembled those induced by NaCl. Thus, NaCl metabolism is a regulator of CD8+ T cell effector function, with potential implications for cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Simone Puccio
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Simona Feno
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Luca Gattinoni
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT), Regensburg, Germany
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Center for Immunomedicine in Transplantation and Oncology (CITO), University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rahul Roychoudhuri
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Immunology Programme, Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emanuele Voulaz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Division of Thoracic, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Diletta Di Mitri
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Simonelli
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Davide Pozzi
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlson Tsui
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Axel Kallies
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sara Timo
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Martano
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy (CNR) c/o Humanitas Mirasole S.p.A, Milan, Italy
| | - Elettra Barberis
- Department of Sciences and Technological Innovation, University of Piemonte Orientale, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Marcello Manfredi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Maria Rescigno
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Sebastien Jaillon
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Lugli
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sacristán C, Youngblood BA, Lu P, Bally APR, Xu JX, McGary K, Hewitt SL, Boss JM, Skok JA, Ahmed R, Dustin ML. Chronic viral infection alters PD-1 locus subnuclear localization in cytotoxic CD8 + T cells. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114547. [PMID: 39083377 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
During chronic infection, virus-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) progressively lose their ability to mount effective antiviral responses. This "exhaustion" is coupled to persistent upregulation of inhibitory receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1) (Pdcd1)-key in suppressing antiviral CTL responses. Here, we investigate allelic Pdcd1 subnuclear localization and transcription during acute and chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection in mice. Pdcd1 alleles dissociate from transcriptionally repressive chromatin domains (lamin B) in virus-specific exhausted CTLs but not in naive or effector CTLs. Relative to naive CTLs, nuclear positioning and Pdcd1-lamina dissociation in exhausted CTLs reflect loss of Pdcd1 promoter methylation and greater PD-1 upregulation, although a direct correlation is not observed in effector cells, 8 days post-infection. Genetic deletion of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1) enhances Pdcd1-lamina dissociation in effector CTLs, suggesting that Blimp-1 contributes to maintaining Pdcd1 localization to repressive lamina. Our results identify mechanisms governing Pdcd1 subnuclear localization and the broader role of chromatin dynamics in T cell exhaustion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Sacristán
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ben A Youngblood
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Immunology Department, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Peiyuan Lu
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alexander P R Bally
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jean Xiaojin Xu
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Katelyn McGary
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susannah L Hewitt
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy M Boss
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jane A Skok
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rafi Ahmed
- Emory Vaccine Center and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michael L Dustin
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gubser PM, Wijesinghe S, Heyden L, Gabriel SS, de Souza DP, Hess C, McConville MM, Utzschneider DT, Kallies A. Aerobic glycolysis but not GLS1-dependent glutamine metabolism is critical for anti-tumor immunity and response to checkpoint inhibition. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114632. [PMID: 39159042 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells undergo uncontrolled proliferation driven by enhanced anabolic metabolism including glycolysis and glutaminolysis. Targeting these pathways to inhibit cancer growth is a strategy for cancer treatment. Critically, however, tumor-responsive T cells share metabolic features with cancer cells, making them susceptible to these treatments as well. Here, we assess the impact on anti-tumor T cell immunity and T cell exhaustion by genetic ablation of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and glutaminase1 (GLS1), key enzymes in aerobic glycolysis and glutaminolysis. Loss of LDHA severely impairs expansion of T cells in response to tumors and chronic infection. In contrast, T cells lacking GLS1 can compensate for impaired glutaminolysis by engaging alternative pathways, including upregulation of asparagine synthetase, and thus efficiently respond to tumor challenge and chronic infection as well as immune checkpoint blockade. Targeting GLS1-dependent glutaminolysis, but not aerobic glycolysis, may therefore be a successful strategy in cancer treatment, particularly in combination with immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Gubser
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sharanya Wijesinghe
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Leonie Heyden
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah S Gabriel
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - David P de Souza
- Metabolomics Australia, Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Christoph Hess
- Department of Biomedicine, Immunobiology, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Medicine, CITIID, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Malcolm M McConville
- Metabolomics Australia, Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniel T Utzschneider
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Axel Kallies
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Steiner C, Denlinger N, Huang X, Yang Y. Stem-like CD8 + T cells in cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1426418. [PMID: 39211052 PMCID: PMC11357971 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1426418] [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: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Stem-like CD8+ T cells (TSL) are a subset of immune cells with superior persistence and antitumor immunity. They are TCF1+ PD-1+ and important for the expansion of tumor specific CD8+ T cells in response to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. In acute infections, naïve CD8+ T cells differentiate into effector and memory CD8+ T cells; in cancer and chronic infections, persistent antigen stimulation can lead to T cell exhaustion. Recent studies have highlighted the dichotomy between late dysfunctional (or exhausted) T cells (TLD) that are TCF1- PD-1+ and self-renewing TCF1+ PD-1+ TSL from which they derive. TCF1+ TSL cells are considered to have stem cell-like properties akin to memory T cell populations and can give rise to cytotoxic effector and transitory T cell phenotypes (TTE) which mediate tumor control. In this review, we will discuss recent advances made in research on the formation and expansion of TSL, as well as distinct niches required for their differentiation and maintenance in the setting of cancer. We will also discuss potential strategies to generate these cells, with clinical implications for stemness enhancement in vaccine design, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and adoptive T cell therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xiaopei Huang
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Yiping Yang
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schelker RC, Fioravanti J, Mastrogiovanni F, Baldwin JG, Rana N, Li P, Chen P, Vadász T, Spolski R, Heuser-Loy C, Slavkovic-Lukic D, Noronha P, Damiano G, Raccosta L, Maggioni D, Pullugula S, Lin JX, Oh J, Grandinetti P, Lecce M, Hesse L, Kocks E, Martín-Santos A, Gebhard C, Telford WG, Ji Y, Restifo NP, Russo V, Rehli M, Herr W, Leonard WJ, Gattinoni L. LIM-domain-only 4 (LMO4) enhances CD8 + T-cell stemness and tumor rejection by boosting IL-21-STAT3 signaling. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:199. [PMID: 39117617 PMCID: PMC11310520 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01915-z] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
High frequencies of stem-like memory T cells in infusion products correlate with superior patient outcomes across multiple T cell therapy trials. Herein, we analyzed a published CRISPR activation screening to identify transcriptional regulators that could be harnessed to augment stem-like behavior in CD8+ T cells. Using IFN-γ production as a proxy for CD8+ T cell terminal differentiation, LMO4 emerged among the top hits inhibiting the development of effectors cells. Consistently, we found that Lmo4 was downregulated upon CD8+ T cell activation but maintained under culture conditions facilitating the formation of stem-like T cells. By employing a synthetic biology approach to ectopically express LMO4 in antitumor CD8+ T cells, we enabled selective expansion and enhanced persistence of transduced cells, while limiting their terminal differentiation and senescence. LMO4 overexpression promoted transcriptional programs regulating stemness, increasing the numbers of stem-like CD8+ memory T cells and enhancing their polyfunctionality and recall capacity. When tested in syngeneic and xenograft tumor models, LMO4 overexpression boosted CD8+ T cell antitumor immunity, resulting in enhanced tumor regression. Rather than directly modulating gene transcription, LMO4 bound to JAK1 and potentiated STAT3 signaling in response to IL-21, inducing the expression of target genes (Tcf7, Socs3, Junb, and Zfp36) crucial for memory responses. CRISPR/Cas9-deletion of Stat3 nullified the enhanced memory signature conferred by LMO4, thereby abrogating the therapeutic benefit of LMO4 overexpression. These results establish LMO4 overexpression as an effective strategy to boost CD8+ T cell stemness, providing a new synthetic biology tool to bolster the efficacy of T cell-based immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roland C Schelker
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany.
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Jessica Fioravanti
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Fabio Mastrogiovanni
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jeremy G Baldwin
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nisha Rana
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
- Next Generation Sequencing Core, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Peng Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ping Chen
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Timea Vadász
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rosanne Spolski
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christoph Heuser-Loy
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dragana Slavkovic-Lukic
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Pedro Noronha
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Giuseppe Damiano
- Immuno-Biotherapy of Melanoma and Solid Tumors Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Raccosta
- Immuno-Biotherapy of Melanoma and Solid Tumors Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Maggioni
- Immuno-Biotherapy of Melanoma and Solid Tumors Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Sree Pullugula
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jian-Xin Lin
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jangsuk Oh
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Patrick Grandinetti
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mario Lecce
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Leo Hesse
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Emilia Kocks
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Azucena Martín-Santos
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Gebhard
- Next Generation Sequencing Core, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - William G Telford
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yun Ji
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nicholas P Restifo
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vincenzo Russo
- Immuno-Biotherapy of Melanoma and Solid Tumors Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Michael Rehli
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Next Generation Sequencing Core, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Herr
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, WERA Site, Würzburg-Erlangen-Regensburg-Augsburg, Germany
- Center for Immunomedicine in Transplantation and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Warren J Leonard
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Luca Gattinoni
- Division of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany.
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
- Center for Immunomedicine in Transplantation and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zebley CC, Zehn D, Gottschalk S, Chi H. T cell dysfunction and therapeutic intervention in cancer. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1344-1354. [PMID: 39025962 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01896-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in immunotherapy have affirmed the curative potential of T cell-based approaches for treating relapsed and refractory cancers. However, the therapeutic efficacy is limited in part owing to the ability of cancers to evade immunosurveillance and adapt to immunological pressure. In this Review, we provide a brief overview of cancer-mediated immunosuppressive mechanisms with a specific focus on the repression of the surveillance and effector function of T cells. We discuss CD8+ T cell exhaustion and functional heterogeneity and describe strategies for targeting the molecular checkpoints that restrict T cell differentiation and effector function to bolster immunotherapeutic effects. We also delineate the emerging contributions of the tumor microenvironment to T cell metabolism and conclude by highlighting discovery-based approaches for developing future cellular therapies. Continued exploration of T cell biology and engineering hold great promise for advancing therapeutic interventions for cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin C Zebley
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Dietmar Zehn
- Division of Animal Physiology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan and Center for Infection Prevention (ZIP), Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Schnell A. Stem-like T cells in cancer and autoimmunity. Immunol Rev 2024; 325:9-22. [PMID: 38804499 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Stem-like T cells are characterized by their ability to self-renew, survive long-term, and give rise to a heterogeneous pool of effector and memory T cells. Recent advances in single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and lineage tracing technologies revealed an important role for stem-like T cells in both autoimmunity and cancer. In cancer, stem-like T cells constitute an important arm of the anti-tumor immune response by giving rise to effector T cells that mediate tumor control. In contrast, in autoimmunity stem-like T cells perform an unfavorable role by forming a reservoir of long-lived autoreactive cells that replenish the pathogenic, effector T-cell pool and thereby driving disease pathology. This review provides background on the discovery of stem-like T cells and their function in cancer and autoimmunity. Moreover, the influence of the microbiota and metabolism on the stem-like T-cell pool is summarized. Lastly, the implications of our knowledge about stem-like T cells for clinical treatment strategies for cancer and autoimmunity will be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schnell
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Xiong D, Yu H, Sun ZJ. Unlocking T cell exhaustion: Insights and implications for CAR-T cell therapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:3416-3431. [PMID: 39220881 PMCID: PMC11365448 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy as a form of adoptive cell therapy (ACT) has shown significant promise in cancer treatment, demonstrated by the FDA-approved CAR-T cell therapies targeting CD19 or B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) for hematological malignancies, albeit with moderate outcomes in solid tumors. However, despite these advancements, the efficacy of CAR-T therapy is often compromised by T cell exhaustion, a phenomenon that impedes the persistence and effector function of CAR-T cells, leading to a relapse rate of up to 75% in patients treated with CD19 or CD22 CAR-T cells for hematological malignancies. Strategies to overcome CAR-T exhaustion employ state-of-the-art genomic engineering tools and single-cell sequencing technologies. In this review, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the latest mechanistic insights into T cell exhaustion and their implications for the current efforts to optimize CAR-T cell therapy. These insights, combined with lessons learned from benchmarking CAR-T based products in recent clinical trials, aim to address the challenges posed by T cell exhaustion, potentially setting the stage for the development of tailored next-generation approaches to cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dian Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Haijun Yu
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Hubei Province Cancer Clinical Study Center, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Luo Y, Xia Y, Liu D, Li X, Li H, Liu J, Zhou D, Dong Y, Li X, Qian Y, Xu C, Tao K, Li G, Pan W, Zhong Q, Liu X, Xu S, Wang Z, Liu R, Zhang W, Shan W, Fang T, Wang S, Peng Z, Jin P, Jin N, Shi S, Chen Y, Wang M, Jiao X, Luo M, Gong W, Wang Y, Yao Y, Zhao Y, Huang X, Ji X, He Z, Zhao G, Liu R, Wu M, Chen G, Hong L, Ma D, Fang Y, Liang H, Gao Q. Neoadjuvant PARPi or chemotherapy in ovarian cancer informs targeting effector Treg cells for homologous-recombination-deficient tumors. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00653-6. [PMID: 38971151 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) is prevalent in cancer, sensitizing tumor cells to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition. However, the impact of HRD and related therapies on the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains elusive. Our study generates single-cell gene expression and T cell receptor profiles, along with validatory multimodal datasets from >100 high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) samples, primarily from a phase II clinical trial (NCT04507841). Neoadjuvant monotherapy with the PARP inhibitor (PARPi) niraparib achieves impressive 62.5% and 73.6% response rates per RECIST v.1.1 and GCIG CA125, respectively. We identify effector regulatory T cells (eTregs) as key responders to HRD and neoadjuvant therapies, co-occurring with other tumor-reactive T cells, particularly terminally exhausted CD8+ T cells (Tex). TME-wide interferon signaling correlates with cancer cells upregulating MHC class II and co-inhibitory ligands, potentially driving Treg and Tex fates. Depleting eTregs in HRD mouse models, with or without PARP inhibition, significantly suppresses tumor growth without observable toxicities, underscoring the potential of eTreg-focused therapeutics for HGSOC and other HRD-related tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yikai Luo
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Graduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yu Xia
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Dan Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xiong Li
- Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430014, China
| | - Huayi Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jiahao Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Dongchen Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yu Dong
- Precision Scientific (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100085, China
| | - Xin Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yiyu Qian
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Cheng Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Kangjia Tao
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Guannan Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wen Pan
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Qing Zhong
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xingzhe Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Sen Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430014, China
| | - Ronghua Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wanying Shan
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Tian Fang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Siyuan Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zikun Peng
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ping Jin
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ning Jin
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shennan Shi
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yuxin Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mengjie Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xiaofei Jiao
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mengshi Luo
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wenjian Gong
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ya Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yue Yao
- Precision Scientific (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yi Zhao
- Precision Scientific (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100085, China
| | - Xinlin Huang
- Precision Scientific (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100085, China
| | - Xuwo Ji
- Precision Scientific (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100085, China
| | - Zhaoren He
- BioMap (Beijing) Intelligence Technology Limited, Beijing 100089, China
| | - Guangnian Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Rong Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mingfu Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Gang Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Li Hong
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Ding Ma
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Yong Fang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Han Liang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Graduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Qinglei Gao
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Shi H, Chen S, Chi H. Immunometabolism of CD8 + T cell differentiation in cancer. Trends Cancer 2024; 10:610-626. [PMID: 38693002 PMCID: PMC11342304 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.03.010] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are central mediators of tumor immunity and immunotherapies. Upon tumor antigen recognition, CTLs differentiate from naive/memory-like toward terminally exhausted populations with more limited function against tumors. Such differentiation is regulated by both immune signals, including T cell receptors (TCRs), co-stimulation, and cytokines, and metabolism-associated processes. These immune signals shape the metabolic landscape via signaling, transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, while metabolic processes in turn exert spatiotemporal effects to modulate the strength and duration of immune signaling. Here, we review the bidirectional regulation between immune signals and metabolic processes, including nutrient uptake and intracellular metabolic pathways, in shaping CTL differentiation and exhaustion. We also discuss the mechanisms underlying how specific nutrient sources and metabolite-mediated signaling events orchestrate CTL biology. Understanding how metabolic programs and their interplay with immune signals instruct CTL differentiation and exhaustion is crucial to uncover tumor-immune interactions and design novel immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Shi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sidi Chen
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; System Biology Institute, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Vadakekolathu J, Rutella S. Escape from T-cell-targeting immunotherapies in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 2024; 143:2689-2700. [PMID: 37467496 PMCID: PMC11251208 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023019961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Single-cell and spatial multimodal technologies have propelled discoveries of the solid tumor microenvironment (TME) molecular features and their correlation with clinical response and resistance to immunotherapy. Computational tools are incessantly being developed to characterize tumor-infiltrating immune cells and to model tumor immune escape. These advances have led to substantial research into T-cell hypofunctional states in the TME and their reinvigoration with T-cell-targeting approaches, including checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs). Until recently, we lacked a high-dimensional picture of the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) TME, including compositional and functional differences in immune cells between disease onset and postchemotherapy or posttransplantation relapse, and the dynamic interplay between immune cells and AML blasts at various maturation stages. AML subgroups with heightened interferon gamma (IFN-γ) signaling were shown to derive clinical benefit from CD123×CD3-bispecific dual-affinity retargeting molecules and CPIs, while being less likely to respond to standard-of-care cytotoxic chemotherapy. In this review, we first highlight recent progress into deciphering immune effector states in AML (including T-cell exhaustion and senescence), oncogenic signaling mechanisms that could reduce the susceptibility of AML cells to T-cell-mediated killing, and the dichotomous roles of type I and II IFN in antitumor immunity. In the second part, we discuss how this knowledge could be translated into opportunities to manipulate the AML TME with the aim to overcome resistance to CPIs and other T-cell immunotherapies, building on recent success stories in the solid tumor field, and we provide an outlook for the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jayakumar Vadakekolathu
- John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio Rutella
- John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hao J, Li R, Zhao X, Liu X, Chen X, Xie T, Li X, Yao C, Sun Q, Wei K, Gou M, Chi X, Xu W, Ni L, Dong C. NR4A1 transcriptionally regulates the differentiation of stem-like CD8 + T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114301. [PMID: 38823016 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cells are rendered exhausted in tumor and chronic infection. Among heterogeneous exhausted T cells, a subpopulation of progenitor-like (Tpex) cells have been found important for long-term tumor or pathogen control and are also the main responders in immunotherapy. Using an RFP reporter mouse for the orphan nuclear receptor NR4A1, originally characterized as critical in T cell dysfunction, we discover that the reporter is highly expressed in Tpex cells in tumor and chronic infection. Enforced expression of Nr4a1 promotes Tpex cell accumulation, whereas tumor control is improved after Nr4a1 deletion, associated with increased effector function but decreased long-term maintenance of CD8+ T cells. Integrating chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis, NR4A1 is found to bind and promote the expression of Tpex-related genes, as well as suppress terminal differentiation-associated genes. This study therefore has identified a key role of NR4A1 in Tpex regulation and provides a promising target for immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Hao
- Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine-Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruifeng Li
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhao
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinwei Liu
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Tian Xie
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoli Li
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenjun Yao
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinli Sun
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Wei
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengting Gou
- Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine-Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinxin Chi
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Ni
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Dong
- Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine-Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, China; Westlake University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wang YQ, Chen WJ, Zhou W, Dong KQ, Zuo L, Xu D, Chen JX, Chen WJ, Li WY, Liu ZC, Jiang ZY, Tang YF, Qin YX, Wang LH, Pan XW, Cui XG. Integrated analysis of tertiary lymphoid structures and immune infiltration in ccRCC microenvironment revealed their clinical significances: a multicenter cohort study. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008613. [PMID: 38908856 PMCID: PMC11331356 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008613] [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] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) serve as organized lymphoid aggregates that influence immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. This study aims to investigate the characteristics and clinical significance of TLSs and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). METHODS TLSs and TILs were analyzed comprehensively in 754 ccRCC patients from 6 academic centers and 532 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Integrated analysis was performed based on single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets from 21 ccRCC patients to investigate TLS heterogeneity in ccRCC. Immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence were applied. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to reveal the prognostic significance. RESULTS The study demonstrated the existence of TLSs and TILs heterogeneities in the ccRCC microenvironment. TLSs were identified in 16% of the tumor tissues in 113 patients. High density (>0.6/mm2) and maturation of TLSs predicted good overall survival (OS) (p<0.01) in ccRCC patients. However, high infiltration (>151) of scattered TILs was an independent risk factor of poor ccRCC prognosis (HR=14.818, p<0.001). The presence of TLSs was correlated with improved progression-free survival (p=0.002) and responsiveness to therapy (p<0.001). Interestingly, the combination of age and TLSs abundance had an impact on OS (p<0.001). Higher senescence scores were detected in individuals with immature TLSs (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS The study revealed the contradictory features of intratumoral TLSs and TILs in the ccRCC microenvironment and their impact on clinical prognosis, suggesting that abundant and mature intratumoral TLSs were associated with decreased risks of postoperative ccRCC relapse and death as well as favorable therapeutic response. Distinct spatial distributions of immune infiltration could reflect effective antitumor or protumor immunity in ccRCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Qi Wang
- Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Jin Chen
- Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wang Zhou
- Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke-Qin Dong
- Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Urology, PLA Central Military Command General Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Li Zuo
- Department of Urology, Changzhou No 2 People's Hospital, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Da Xu
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Xin Chen
- Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Jie Chen
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Yan Li
- Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zi-Chang Liu
- Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng-Yu Jiang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yi-Fan Tang
- Department of Urology, Wuxi No 2 People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Xuan Qin
- Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin-Hui Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiu-Wu Pan
- Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Gang Cui
- Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Olifirenko V, Barlev NA. A Review of CAR-T Combination Therapies for Treatment of Gynecological Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6595. [PMID: 38928301 PMCID: PMC11204235 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126595] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
CAR-T cell therapy offers a promising way for prolonged cancer remission, specifically in the case of blood cancers. However, its application in the treatment of solid tumors still faces many limitations. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and strategies associated with CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors, with a focus on gynecological cancer. This study discusses the limitations of CAR-T therapy for solid tumor treatment, such as T cell exhaustion, stromal barrier, and antigen shedding. Additionally, it addresses possible approaches to increase CAR-T efficacy in solid tumors, including combination therapies with checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy, as well as the novel approach of combining CAR-T with oncolytic virotherapy. Given the lack of comprehensive research on CAR-T combination therapies for treating gynecological cancers, this review aims to provide insights into the current landscape of combination therapies for solid tumors and highlight the potential of such an approach in gynecology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolai A. Barlev
- Department of Biomedical Studies, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan;
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ahn T, Bae EA, Seo H. Decoding and overcoming T cell exhaustion: Epigenetic and transcriptional dynamics in CAR-T cells against solid tumors. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1617-1627. [PMID: 38582965 PMCID: PMC11184340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
T cell exhaustion, which is observed in various chronic infections and malignancies, is characterized by elevated expression of multiple inhibitory receptors, impaired effector functions, decreased proliferation, and reduced cytokine production. Notably, while adoptive T cell therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy, have shown promise in treating cancer and other diseases, the efficacy of these therapies is often compromised by T cell exhaustion. It is imperative, therefore, to understand the mechanisms underlying this exhaustion to promote advances in T cell-related therapies. Here, we divided exhausted T cells into three distinct subsets according to their developmental and functional profiles: stem-like progenitor cells, intermediately exhausted cells, and terminally exhausted cells. These subsets are carefully regulated by synergistic mechanisms that involve transcriptional and epigenetic modulators. Key transcription factors, such as TCF1, BACH2, and TOX, are crucial for defining and sustaining exhaustion phenotypes. Concurrently, epigenetic regulators, such as TET2 and DNMT3A, shape the chromatin dynamics that direct T cell fate. The interplay of these molecular drivers has recently been highlighted in CAR-T research, revealing promising therapeutic directions. Thus, a profound understanding of exhausted T cell hierarchies and their molecular complexities may reveal innovative and improved tumor treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taeyoung Ahn
- Laboratory of Cell & Gene Therapy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Ah Bae
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, and College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungseok Seo
- Laboratory of Cell & Gene Therapy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wang Y, Ullah MA, Waltner OG, Bhise SS, Ensbey KS, Schmidt CR, Legg SR, Sekiguchi T, Nelson EL, Kuns RD, Nemychenkov NS, Atilla E, Yeh AC, Takahashi S, Boiko JR, Varelias A, Blazar BR, Koyama M, Minnie SA, Clouston AD, Furlan SN, Zhang P, Hill GR. Calcineurin inhibition rescues alloantigen-specific central memory T cell subsets that promote chronic GVHD. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e170125. [PMID: 38828727 PMCID: PMC11142741 DOI: 10.1172/jci170125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) constitute the backbone of modern acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) prophylaxis regimens but have limited efficacy in the prevention and treatment of chronic GVHD (cGVHD). We investigated the effect of CNIs on immune tolerance after stem cell transplantation with discovery-based single-cell gene expression and T cell receptor (TCR) assays of clonal immunity in tandem with traditional protein-based approaches and preclinical modeling. While cyclosporin and tacrolimus suppressed the clonal expansion of CD8+ T cells during GVHD, alloreactive CD4+ T cell clusters were preferentially expanded. Moreover, CNIs mediated reversible dose-dependent suppression of T cell activation and all stages of donor T cell exhaustion. Critically, CNIs promoted the expansion of both polyclonal and TCR-specific alloreactive central memory CD4+ T cells (TCM) with high self-renewal capacity that mediated cGVHD following drug withdrawal. In contrast to posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy), CSA was ineffective in eliminating IL-17A-secreting alloreactive T cell clones that play an important role in the pathogenesis of cGVHD. Collectively, we have shown that, although CNIs attenuate aGVHD, they paradoxically rescue alloantigen-specific TCM, especially within the CD4+ compartment in lymphoid and GVHD target tissues, thus predisposing patients to cGVHD. These data provide further evidence to caution against CNI-based immune suppression without concurrent approaches that eliminate alloreactive T cell clones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yewei Wang
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Md Ashik Ullah
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Olivia G. Waltner
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Shruti S. Bhise
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kathleen S. Ensbey
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Christine R. Schmidt
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Samuel R.W. Legg
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Tomoko Sekiguchi
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ethan L. Nelson
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rachel D. Kuns
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicole S. Nemychenkov
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Erden Atilla
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Albert C. Yeh
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Shuichiro Takahashi
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Julie R. Boiko
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Antiopi Varelias
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bruce R. Blazar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Motoko Koyama
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Simone A. Minnie
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Scott N. Furlan
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and
| | - Ping Zhang
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Geoffrey R. Hill
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chen ACY, Jaiswal S, Martinez D, Yerinde C, Ji K, Miranda V, Fung ME, Weiss SA, Zschummel M, Taguchi K, Garris CS, Mempel TR, Hacohen N, Sen DR. The aged tumor microenvironment limits T cell control of cancer. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1033-1045. [PMID: 38745085 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01828-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The etiology and effect of age-related immune dysfunction in cancer is not completely understood. Here we show that limited priming of CD8+ T cells in the aged tumor microenvironment (TME) outweighs cell-intrinsic defects in limiting tumor control. Increased tumor growth in aging is associated with reduced CD8+ T cell infiltration and function. Transfer of T cells from young mice does not restore tumor control in aged mice owing to rapid induction of T cell dysfunction. Cell-extrinsic signals in the aged TME drive a tumor-infiltrating age-associated dysfunctional (TTAD) cell state that is functionally, transcriptionally and epigenetically distinct from canonical T cell exhaustion. Altered natural killer cell-dendritic cell-CD8+ T cell cross-talk in aged tumors impairs T cell priming by conventional type 1 dendritic cells and promotes TTAD cell formation. Aged mice are thereby unable to benefit from therapeutic tumor vaccination. Critically, myeloid-targeted therapy to reinvigorate conventional type 1 dendritic cells can improve tumor control and restore CD8+ T cell immunity in aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex C Y Chen
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sneha Jaiswal
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniela Martinez
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cansu Yerinde
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Keely Ji
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Velita Miranda
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Megan E Fung
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah A Weiss
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Zschummel
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kazuhiro Taguchi
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher S Garris
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thorsten R Mempel
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nir Hacohen
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Debattama R Sen
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Lan X, Mi T, Alli S, Guy C, Djekidel MN, Liu X, Boi S, Chowdhury P, He M, Zehn D, Feng Y, Youngblood B. Antitumor progenitor exhausted CD8 + T cells are sustained by TCR engagement. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1046-1058. [PMID: 38816618 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01843-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The durability of an antitumor immune response is mediated in part by the persistence of progenitor exhausted CD8+ T cells (Tpex). Tpex serve as a resource for replenishing effector T cells and preserve their quantity through self-renewal. However, it is unknown how T cell receptor (TCR) engagement affects the self-renewal capacity of Tpex in settings of continued antigen exposure. Here we use a Lewis lung carcinoma model that elicits either optimal or attenuated TCR signaling in CD8+ T cells to show that formation of Tpex in tumor-draining lymph nodes and their intratumoral persistence is dependent on optimal TCR engagement. Notably, attenuated TCR stimulation accelerates the terminal differentiation of optimally primed Tpex. This TCR-reinforced Tpex development and self-renewal is coupled to proximal positioning to dendritic cells and epigenetic imprinting involving increased chromatin accessibility at Egr2 and Tcf1 target loci. Collectively, this study highlights the critical function of TCR engagement in sustaining Tpex during tumor progression.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Mice
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/immunology
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/pathology
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation/immunology
- Dendritic Cells/immunology
- Signal Transduction/immunology
- Mice, Knockout
- Lymphocyte Activation/immunology
- Cell Self Renewal
- Mice, Transgenic
- Early Growth Response Protein 2
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Lan
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Tian Mi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shanta Alli
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Cliff Guy
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Xueyan Liu
- Department of Mathematics, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Shannon Boi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Partha Chowdhury
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Minghong He
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Dietmar Zehn
- Division of Animal Physiology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Yongqiang Feng
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ben Youngblood
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Fang Z, Ding X, Huang H, Jiang H, Jiang J, Zheng X. Revolutionizing tumor immunotherapy: unleashing the power of progenitor exhausted T cells. Cancer Biol Med 2024; 21:j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0105. [PMID: 38825813 PMCID: PMC11208905 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0105] [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: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
In exploring persistent infections and malignancies, a distinctive subgroup of CD8+ T cells, progenitor exhausted CD8+ T (Tpex) cells, has been identified. These Tpex cells are notable for their remarkable self-renewal and rapid proliferation abilities. Recent strides in immunotherapy have demonstrated that Tpex cells expand and differentiate into responsive exhausted CD8+ T cells, thus underscoring their critical role in the immunotherapeutic retort. Clinical examinations have further clarified a robust positive correlation between the proportional abundance of Tpex cells and enhanced clinical prognosis. Tpex cells have found noteworthy applications in the formulation of inventive immunotherapeutic approaches against tumors. This review describes the functions of Tpex cells in the tumor milieu, particularly their potential utility in tumor immunotherapy. Precisely directing Tpex cells may be essential to achieving successful outcomes in immunotherapy against tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Fang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Institute for Cell Therapy of Soochow University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
| | - Xinyi Ding
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Institute for Cell Therapy of Soochow University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
| | - Hao Huang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Institute for Cell Therapy of Soochow University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
| | - Hongwei Jiang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Institute for Cell Therapy of Soochow University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
| | - Jingting Jiang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Institute for Cell Therapy of Soochow University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
| | - Xiao Zheng
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
- Institute for Cell Therapy of Soochow University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Yang K, Lu R, Mei J, Cao K, Zeng T, Hua Y, Huang X, Li W, Yin Y. The war between the immune system and the tumor - using immune biomarkers as tracers. Biomark Res 2024; 12:51. [PMID: 38816871 PMCID: PMC11137916 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00599-5] [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: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, immunotherapy is one of the most promising anti-tumor therapeutic strategy. Specifically, immune-related targets can be used to predict the efficacy and side effects of immunotherapy and monitor the tumor immune response. In the past few decades, increasing numbers of novel immune biomarkers have been found to participate in certain links of the tumor immunity to contribute to the formation of immunosuppression and have entered clinical trials. Here, we systematically reviewed the oncogenesis and progression of cancer in the view of anti-tumor immunity, particularly in terms of tumor antigen expression (related to tumor immunogenicity) and tumor innate immunity to complement the cancer-immune cycle. From the perspective of integrated management of chronic cancer, we also appraised emerging factors affecting tumor immunity (including metabolic, microbial, and exercise-related markers). We finally summarized the clinical studies and applications based on immune biomarkers. Overall, immune biomarkers participate in promoting the development of more precise and individualized immunotherapy by predicting, monitoring, and regulating tumor immune response. Therefore, targeting immune biomarkers may lead to the development of innovative clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Rongrong Lu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Jie Mei
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Kai Cao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Tianyu Zeng
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Yijia Hua
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Huang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China.
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China.
| | - Yongmei Yin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Qiu F, Jiang P, Zhang G, An J, Ruan K, Lyu X, Zhou J, Sheng W. Priming with LSD1 inhibitors promotes the persistence and antitumor effect of adoptively transferred T cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4327. [PMID: 38773088 PMCID: PMC11109160 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48607-4] [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: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The antitumor efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells is limited by their poor persistence, in part due to exhaustion, but the underlying mechanisms and potential interventions remain underexplored. Here, we show that targeting histone demethylase LSD1 by chemical inhibitors reshapes the epigenome of in vitro activated and expanded CD8+ T cells, and potentiates their antitumor efficacy. Upon T cell receptor activation and IL-2 signaling, a timely and transient inhibition of LSD1 suffices to improve the memory phenotype of mouse CD8+ T cells, associated with a better ability to produce multiple cytokines, resist exhaustion, and persist in both antigen-dependent and -independent manners after adoptive transfer. Consequently, OT1 cells primed with LSD1 inhibitors demonstrate an enhanced antitumor effect in OVA-expressing solid tumor models implanted in female mice, both as a standalone treatment and in combination with PD-1 blockade. Moreover, priming with LSD1 inhibitors promotes polyfunctionality of human CD8+ T cells, and increases the persistence and antitumor efficacy of human CD19-CAR T cells in both leukemia and solid tumor models. Thus, pharmacological inhibition of LSD1 could be exploited to improve adoptive T cell therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fengqi Qiu
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Peishan Jiang
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Immunology and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guiheng Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Immunology and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie An
- Institute of Immunology and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kexin Ruan
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaowen Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Jianya Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Wanqiang Sheng
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Immunology and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Doan AE, Mueller KP, Chen AY, Rouin GT, Chen Y, Daniel B, Lattin J, Markovska M, Mozarsky B, Arias-Umana J, Hapke R, Jung IY, Wang A, Xu P, Klysz D, Zuern G, Bashti M, Quinn PJ, Miao Z, Sandor K, Zhang W, Chen GM, Ryu F, Logun M, Hall J, Tan K, Grupp SA, McClory SE, Lareau CA, Fraietta JA, Sotillo E, Satpathy AT, Mackall CL, Weber EW. FOXO1 is a master regulator of memory programming in CAR T cells. Nature 2024; 629:211-218. [PMID: 38600391 PMCID: PMC11062920 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07300-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
A major limitation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies is the poor persistence of these cells in vivo1. The expression of memory-associated genes in CAR T cells is linked to their long-term persistence in patients and clinical efficacy2-6, suggesting that memory programs may underpin durable CAR T cell function. Here we show that the transcription factor FOXO1 is responsible for promoting memory and restraining exhaustion in human CAR T cells. Pharmacological inhibition or gene editing of endogenous FOXO1 diminished the expression of memory-associated genes, promoted an exhaustion-like phenotype and impaired the antitumour activity of CAR T cells. Overexpression of FOXO1 induced a gene-expression program consistent with T cell memory and increased chromatin accessibility at FOXO1-binding motifs. CAR T cells that overexpressed FOXO1 retained their function, memory potential and metabolic fitness in settings of chronic stimulation, and exhibited enhanced persistence and tumour control in vivo. By contrast, overexpression of TCF1 (encoded by TCF7) did not enforce canonical memory programs or enhance the potency of CAR T cells. Notably, FOXO1 activity correlated with positive clinical outcomes of patients treated with CAR T cells or tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, underscoring the clinical relevance of FOXO1 in cancer immunotherapy. Our results show that overexpressing FOXO1 can increase the antitumour activity of human CAR T cells, and highlight memory reprogramming as a broadly applicable approach for optimizing therapeutic T cell states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander E Doan
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katherine P Mueller
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andy Y Chen
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Geoffrey T Rouin
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yingshi Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bence Daniel
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John Lattin
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Martina Markovska
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Brett Mozarsky
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jose Arias-Umana
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert Hapke
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - In-Young Jung
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alice Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peng Xu
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Dorota Klysz
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gabrielle Zuern
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Malek Bashti
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Patrick J Quinn
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zhuang Miao
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katalin Sandor
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wenxi Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gregory M Chen
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Faith Ryu
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Meghan Logun
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Junior Hall
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kai Tan
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephan A Grupp
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Susan E McClory
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Caleb A Lareau
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joseph A Fraietta
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elena Sotillo
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ansuman T Satpathy
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Crystal L Mackall
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Evan W Weber
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Lacher SB, Dörr J, de Almeida GP, Hönninger J, Bayerl F, Hirschberger A, Pedde AM, Meiser P, Ramsauer L, Rudolph TJ, Spranger N, Morotti M, Grimm AJ, Jarosch S, Oner A, Gregor L, Lesch S, Michaelides S, Fertig L, Briukhovetska D, Majed L, Stock S, Busch DH, Buchholz VR, Knolle PA, Zehn D, Dangaj Laniti D, Kobold S, Böttcher JP. PGE 2 limits effector expansion of tumour-infiltrating stem-like CD8 + T cells. Nature 2024; 629:417-425. [PMID: 38658748 PMCID: PMC11078747 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07254-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-specific TCF1+ stem-like CD8+ T cells can drive protective anticancer immunity through expansion and effector cell differentiation1-4; however, this response is dysfunctional in tumours. Current cancer immunotherapies2,5-9 can promote anticancer responses through TCF1+ stem-like CD8+ T cells in some but not all patients. This variation points towards currently ill-defined mechanisms that limit TCF1+CD8+ T cell-mediated anticancer immunity. Here we demonstrate that tumour-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) restricts the proliferative expansion and effector differentiation of TCF1+CD8+ T cells within tumours, which promotes cancer immune escape. PGE2 does not affect the priming of TCF1+CD8+ T cells in draining lymph nodes. PGE2 acts through EP2 and EP4 (EP2/EP4) receptor signalling in CD8+ T cells to limit the intratumoural generation of early and late effector T cell populations that originate from TCF1+ tumour-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes (TILs). Ablation of EP2/EP4 signalling in cancer-specific CD8+ T cells rescues their expansion and effector differentiation within tumours and leads to tumour elimination in multiple mouse cancer models. Mechanistically, suppression of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) signalling pathway underlies the PGE2-mediated inhibition of TCF1+ TIL responses. Altogether, we uncover a key mechanism that restricts the IL-2 responsiveness of TCF1+ TILs and prevents anticancer T cell responses that originate from these cells. This study identifies the PGE2-EP2/EP4 axis as a molecular target to restore IL-2 responsiveness in anticancer TILs to achieve cancer immune control.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/cytology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Dinoprostone/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha/metabolism
- Interleukin-2
- Lymph Nodes/cytology
- Lymph Nodes/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/cytology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Neoplasms/immunology
- Neoplasms/prevention & control
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype/deficiency
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype/metabolism
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype/deficiency
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Stem Cells/cytology
- Stem Cells/immunology
- Stem Cells/metabolism
- Tumor Escape/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian B Lacher
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Janina Dörr
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gustavo P de Almeida
- Division of Animal Physiology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, TUM, Freising, Germany
| | - Julian Hönninger
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, School of Medicine and Health, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Felix Bayerl
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Hirschberger
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Anna-Marie Pedde
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Philippa Meiser
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas Ramsauer
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas J Rudolph
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Nadine Spranger
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Matteo Morotti
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) and UNIL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alizee J Grimm
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) and UNIL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Jarosch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, School of Medicine and Health, TUM, Munich, Germany
- Boehringer Ingelheim, Biberach, Germany
| | - Arman Oner
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Gregor
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Lesch
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanos Michaelides
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Luisa Fertig
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daria Briukhovetska
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lina Majed
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sophia Stock
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine III, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, a partnership between DKFZ and LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk H Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, School of Medicine and Health, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Veit R Buchholz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, School of Medicine and Health, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Percy A Knolle
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Dietmar Zehn
- Division of Animal Physiology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, TUM, Freising, Germany
| | - Denarda Dangaj Laniti
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) and UNIL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, a partnership between DKFZ and LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
- Einheit für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Munich, Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jan P Böttcher
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Barboy O, Bercovich A, Li H, Eyal-Lubling Y, Yalin A, Shapir Itai Y, Abadie K, Zada M, David E, Shlomi-Loubaton S, Katzenelenbogen Y, Jaitin DA, Gur C, Yofe I, Feferman T, Cohen M, Dahan R, Newell EW, Lifshitz A, Tanay A, Amit I. Modeling T cell temporal response to cancer immunotherapy rationalizes development of combinatorial treatment protocols. NATURE CANCER 2024; 5:742-759. [PMID: 38429414 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-024-00734-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Successful immunotherapy relies on triggering complex responses involving T cell dynamics in tumors and the periphery. Characterizing these responses remains challenging using static human single-cell atlases or mouse models. To address this, we developed a framework for in vivo tracking of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells over time and at single-cell resolution. Our tools facilitate the modeling of gene program dynamics in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the tumor-draining lymph node (tdLN). Using this approach, we characterize two modes of anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) activity, decoupling induced differentiation of tumor-specific activated precursor cells from conventional type 1 dendritic cell (cDC1)-dependent proliferation and recruitment to the TME. We demonstrate that combining anti-PD-1 therapy with anti-4-1BB agonist enhances the recruitment and proliferation of activated precursors, resulting in tumor control. These data suggest that effective response to anti-PD-1 therapy is dependent on sufficient influx of activated precursor CD8+ cells to the TME and highlight the importance of understanding system-level dynamics in optimizing immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oren Barboy
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Akhiad Bercovich
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hanjie Li
- Department of Synthetic Immunology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yaniv Eyal-Lubling
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Adam Yalin
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yuval Shapir Itai
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Kathleen Abadie
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mor Zada
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eyal David
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shir Shlomi-Loubaton
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Diego Adhemar Jaitin
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Chamutal Gur
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ido Yofe
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Feferman
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Merav Cohen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Rony Dahan
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Evan W Newell
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aviezer Lifshitz
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Amos Tanay
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Ido Amit
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Chi H, Pepper M, Thomas PG. Principles and therapeutic applications of adaptive immunity. Cell 2024; 187:2052-2078. [PMID: 38670065 PMCID: PMC11177542 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Adaptive immunity provides protection against infectious and malignant diseases. These effects are mediated by lymphocytes that sense and respond with targeted precision to perturbations induced by pathogens and tissue damage. Here, we review key principles underlying adaptive immunity orchestrated by distinct T cell and B cell populations and their extensions to disease therapies. We discuss the intracellular and intercellular processes shaping antigen specificity and recognition in immune activation and lymphocyte functions in mediating effector and memory responses. We also describe how lymphocytes balance protective immunity against autoimmunity and immunopathology, including during immune tolerance, response to chronic antigen stimulation, and adaptation to non-lymphoid tissues in coordinating tissue immunity and homeostasis. Finally, we discuss extracellular signals and cell-intrinsic programs underpinning adaptive immunity and conclude by summarizing key advances in vaccination and engineering adaptive immune responses for therapeutic interventions. A deeper understanding of these principles holds promise for uncovering new means to improve human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Marion Pepper
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Paul G Thomas
- Department of Host-Microbe Interactions and Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ojo OA, Shen H, Ingram JT, Bonner JA, Welner RS, Lacaud G, Zajac AJ, Shi LZ. Gfi1 controls the formation of effector CD8 T cells during chronic infection and cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.18.579535. [PMID: 38659890 PMCID: PMC11042319 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.18.579535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
During chronic infections and tumor progression, CD8 T cells gradually lose their effector functions and become exhausted. These exhausted CD8 T cells are heterogeneous and comprised of different subsets, including self-renewing progenitors that give rise to Ly108 - CX3CR1 + effector-like cells. Generation of these effector-like cells is essential for the control of chronic infections and tumors, albeit limited. However, the precise cues and mechanisms directing the formation and maintenance of exhausted effector-like are incompletely understood. Using genetic mouse models challenged with LCMV Clone 13 or syngeneic tumors, we show that the expression of a transcriptional repressor, growth factor independent 1 (Gfi1) is dynamically regulated in exhausted CD8 T cells, which in turn regulates the formation of exhausted effector-like cells. Gfi1 deletion in T cells dysregulates the chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic programs associated with the differentiation of LCMV Clone 13-specific CD8 T cell exhaustion, preventing the formation of effector-like and terminally exhausted cells while maintaining progenitors and a newly identified Ly108 + CX3CR1 + state. These Ly108 + CX3CR1 + cells have a distinct chromatin profile and may represent an alternative target for therapeutic interventions to combat chronic infections and cancer. In sum, we show that Gfi1 is a critical regulator of the formation of exhausted effector-like cells.
Collapse
|
28
|
Onyshchenko K, Luo R, Rao X, Zhang X, Gaedicke S, Grosu AL, Firat E, Niedermann G. Hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with lenalidomide improves systemic antitumor activity in mouse solid tumor models. Theranostics 2024; 14:2573-2588. [PMID: 38646638 PMCID: PMC11024858 DOI: 10.7150/thno.88864] [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: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Hypofractionated radiotherapy (hRT) can induce a T cell-mediated abscopal effect on non-irradiated tumor lesions, especially in combination with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, clinically, this effect is still rare, and ICB-mediated adverse events are common. Lenalidomide (lena) is an anti-angiogenic and immunomodulatory drug used in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. We here investigated in solid tumor models whether lena can enhance the abscopal effect in double combination with hRT. Methods: In two syngeneic bilateral tumor models (B16-CD133 melanoma and MC38 colon carcinoma), the primary tumor was treated with hRT. Lena was given daily for 3 weeks. Besides tumor size and survival, the dependence of the antitumor effects on CD8+ cells, type-I IFN signaling, and T cell costimulation was determined with depleting or blocking antibodies. Tumor-specific CD8+ T cells were quantified, and their differentiation and effector status were characterized by multicolor flow cytometry using MHC-I tetramers and various antibodies. In addition, dendritic cell (DC)-mediated tumor antigen cross-presentation in vitro and directly ex vivo and the composition of tumor-associated vascular endothelial cells were investigated. Results: In both tumor models, the hRT/lena double combination induced a significant abscopal effect. Control of the non-irradiated secondary tumor and survival were considerably better than with the respective monotherapies. The abscopal effect was strongly dependent on CD8+ cells and associated with an increase in tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in the non-irradiated tumor and its draining lymph nodes. Additionally, we found more tumor-specific T cells with a stem-like (TCF1+ TIM3- PD1+) and a transitory (TCF1- TIM3+ CD101- PD1+) exhausted phenotype and more expressing effector molecules such as GzmB, IFNγ, and TNFα. Moreover, in the non-irradiated tumor, hRT/lena treatment also increased DCs cross-presenting a tumor model antigen. Blocking type-I IFN signaling, which is essential for cross-presentation, completely abrogated the abscopal effect. A gene expression analysis of bone marrow-derived DCs revealed that lena augmented the expression of IFN response genes and genes associated with differentiation, maturation (including CD70, CD83, and CD86), migration to lymph nodes, and T cell activation. Flow cytometry confirmed an increase in CD70+ CD83+ CD86+ DCs in both irradiated and abscopal tumors. Moreover, the hRT/lena-induced abscopal effect was diminished when these costimulatory molecules were blocked simultaneously using antibodies. In line with the enhanced infiltration by DCs and tumor-specific CD8+ T cells, including more stem-like cells, hRT/lena also increased tumor-associated high endothelial cells (TA-HECs) in the non-irradiated tumor. Conclusions: We demonstrate that lena can augment the hRT-induced abscopal effect in mouse solid tumor models in a CD8 T cell- and IFN-I-dependent manner, correlating with enhanced anti-tumor CD8 T cell immunity, DC cross-presentation, and TA-HEC numbers. Our findings may be helpful for the planning of clinical trials in (oligo)metastatic patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kateryna Onyshchenko
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Kyiv, Ukraine
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ren Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xi Rao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xuanwei Zhang
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Simone Gaedicke
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anca-Ligia Grosu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elke Firat
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Niedermann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Li P, Xie Y, Wang J, Bao C, Duan J, Liu Y, Luo Q, Xu J, Ren Y, Jiang M, Li J, Guo H, Zhao H, Wang G, Liang Y, Lu W. Gene engineered exosome reverses T cell exhaustion in cancer immunotherapy. Bioact Mater 2024; 34:466-481. [PMID: 38292412 PMCID: PMC10825617 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.01.008] [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: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer patients by immune checkpoint therapy have achieved long-term remission, with no recurrence of clinical symptoms of cancer for many years. Nevertheless, more than half of cancer patients are not responsive to this therapy due to immune exhaustion. Here, we report a novel gene engineered exosome which is rationally designed by engineering PD1 gene and simultaneously enveloping an immune adjuvant imiquimod (PD1-Imi Exo) for boosting response of cancer immune checkpoint blockage therapy. The results showed that PD1-Imi Exo had a vesicular round shape (approximately 139 nm), revealed a significant targeting and a strong binding effect with both cancer cell and dendritic cell, and demonstrated a remarkable therapeutic efficacy in the melanoma-bearing mice and in the breast cancer-bearing mice. The mechanism was associated with two facts that PD1-Imi Exo blocked the binding of CD8+ T cell with cancer cell, displaying a PD1/PDL1 immune checkpoint blockage effect, and that imiquimod released from PD1-Imi Exo promoted the maturation of immature dendritic cell, exhibiting a reversing effect on the immune exhaustion through activating and restoring function of CD8+ T cell. In conclusion, the gene engineered exosome could be used for reversing T cell exhaustion in cancer immunotherapy. This study also offers a promising new strategy for enhancing PD1/PDL1 therapeutic efficacy, preventing tumor recurrence or metastasis after surgery by rebuilding the patients' immunity, thus consolidating the overall prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peishan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ying Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jinling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Chunjie Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jialun Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yixuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Qian Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jiarui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuxin Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Min Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jianwei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Haitao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Huihui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Guiling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yanqin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Wanliang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Swaminathan S, Mai LT, Meli AP, Carmona-Pérez L, Charpentier T, Lamarre A, King IL, Stäger S. LAG-3- and CXCR5-expressing CD4 T cells display progenitor-like properties during chronic visceral leishmaniasis. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113879. [PMID: 38416647 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of CD4 T cells during chronic infections is vital for limiting pathogen burden and disease recrudescence. Although inhibitory receptor expression by CD4 T cells is commonly associated with immune suppression and exhaustion, such cell-intrinsic mechanisms that control activation are also associated with cell survival. Using a mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), we discovered a subset of lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3)-expressing CD4 T cells that co-express CXCR5. Although LAG3+CXCR5+ CD4 T cells are present in naive mice, they expand during VL. These cells express gene signatures associated with self-renewal capacity, suggesting progenitor-like properties. When transferred into Rag1-/- mice, these LAG3+CXCR5+ CD4 T cells differentiated into multiple effector types upon Leishmania donovani infection. The transcriptional repressor B cell lymphoma-6 was partially required for their maintenance. Altogether, we propose that the LAG3+CXCR5+ CD4 T cell subset could play a role in maintaining CD4 T cell responses during persistent infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharada Swaminathan
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Linh Thuy Mai
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Alexandre P Meli
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill Centre for Microbiome Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Liseth Carmona-Pérez
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Tania Charpentier
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Alain Lamarre
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Irah L King
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill Centre for Microbiome Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Simona Stäger
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Lee M, Im SK, Baek S, Ji M, Kim M, Lee EJ, Ji ST, Ferrando-Martinez S, Wolfarth A, Lee JY, Kim D, Choi D. rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c combination promotes an immune-stimulatory tumor microenvironment that improves antitumor efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008001. [PMID: 38471713 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recombinant human interleukin (rhIL)-7-hyFc (efineptakin alfa; NT-I7) is a potent T-cell amplifier, with two IL-7 molecules fused to IgD/IgG4 elements. rhIL-7-hyFc promotes extensive infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the tumor, concurrently increasing the numbers of intratumoral PD-1+CD8+ T cells. The hIL-2/TCB2 complex (SLC-3010) inhibits tumor growth by preferential activation of CD122 (IL-2Rβ)high CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells, over regulatory T cells (Tregs). We investigated the underlying mechanisms of rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c antitumor activity and the potential synergistic efficacy, specifically focusing on tumor-specific CD8+ cells within the tumor and the tumor-draining lymph nodes (tdLN). METHODS MC38 and CT26 tumor-bearing mice were administered with 10 mg/kg rhIL-7-hyFc intramuscularly and 0.9 mg/kg hIL-2/TCB2c intravenously. Anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody was administered intraperitoneally three times at 3-day intervals at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Tumor volume was measured to assess efficacy. To compare the composition of immune cells between each monotherapy and the combination therapy, we analyzed tumors and tdLNs by flow cytometry. RESULTS Our data demonstrate that the combination of rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c increases efficacy and generates an immune-stimulatory tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME is characterized by an increased infiltration of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells, and a decreased frequency of CD39highTIM-3+ Treg cells. Most importantly, rhIL-7-hyFc increases infiltration of a CD62L+Ly108+ early progenitor population of exhausted CD8+ T cells (TPEX), which may retain long-term proliferation capacity and replenish functional effector CD8+ T cells. hIL-2/TCB2c induces differentiation of CD62L+Ly108+ TPEX rapidly into CD101+ terminally differentiated subsets (terminally exhausted T cell (TEX term)). Our study also demonstrates that rhIL-7-hyFc significantly enhances the proliferation rate of TPEX in the tdLNs, positively correlating with their abundance within the tumor. Moreover, rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c can overcome the limited therapeutic effectiveness of PD-1 blockade, culminating in the complete regression of tumors. CONCLUSIONS rhIL-7-hyFc can expand and maintain the progenitor pool of exhausted CD8+ T cells, whereas hIL-2/TCB2c promotes their differentiation into TEX term. Together, this induces an immune-stimulatory TME that improves the efficacy of checkpoint blockade.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minji Lee
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Sun-Kyoung Im
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Seungtae Baek
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Mankyu Ji
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Miyoung Kim
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Eun Ju Lee
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Seung Taek Ji
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | | | | | | | - Daeun Kim
- Selecxine, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Donghoon Choi
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Kar A, Ghosh P, Gautam A, Chowdhury S, Basak D, Sarkar I, Bhoumik A, Barman S, Chakraborty P, Mukhopadhyay A, Mehrotra S, Ganesan SK, Paul S, Chatterjee S. CD38-RyR2 axis-mediated signaling impedes CD8 + T cell response to anti-PD1 therapy in cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315989121. [PMID: 38451948 PMCID: PMC10945783 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315989121] [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] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
PD1 blockade therapy, harnessing the cytotoxic potential of CD8+ T cells, has yielded clinical success in treating malignancies. However, its efficacy is often limited due to the progressive differentiation of intratumoral CD8+ T cells into a hypofunctional state known as terminal exhaustion. Despite identifying CD8+ T cell subsets associated with immunotherapy resistance, the molecular pathway triggering the resistance remains elusive. Given the clear association of CD38 with CD8+ T cell subsets resistant to anti-PD1 therapy, we investigated its role in inducing resistance. Phenotypic and functional characterization, along with single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of both in vitro chronically stimulated and intratumoral CD8+ T cells, revealed that CD38-expressing CD8+ T cells are terminally exhausted. Exploring the molecular mechanism, we found that CD38 expression was crucial in promoting terminal differentiation of CD8+ T cells by suppressing TCF1 expression, thereby rendering them unresponsive to anti-PD1 therapy. Genetic ablation of CD38 in tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells restored TCF1 levels and improved the responsiveness to anti-PD1 therapy in mice. Mechanistically, CD38 expression on exhausted CD8+ T cells elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels through RyR2 calcium channel activation. This, in turn, promoted chronic AKT activation, leading to TCF1 loss. Knockdown of RyR2 or inhibition of AKT in CD8+ T cells maintained TCF1 levels, induced a sustained anti-tumor response, and enhanced responsiveness to anti-PD1 therapy. Thus, targeting CD38 represents a potential strategy to improve the efficacy of anti-PD1 treatment in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anwesha Kar
- Division of Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder, Translational Research Unit of Excellence, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata700032, West Bengal, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Puspendu Ghosh
- Division of Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder, Translational Research Unit of Excellence, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Anupam Gautam
- Algorithms in Bioinformatics, Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Tübingen, Sand 1472076, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School “From Molecules to Organisms”, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen72076, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Snehanshu Chowdhury
- Division of Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder, Translational Research Unit of Excellence, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata700032, West Bengal, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Debashree Basak
- Division of Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder, Translational Research Unit of Excellence, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata700032, West Bengal, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ishita Sarkar
- Division of Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder, Translational Research Unit of Excellence, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Arpita Bhoumik
- Division of Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder, Translational Research Unit of Excellence, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Shubhrajit Barman
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Division of Structural Biology & Bioinformatics, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Paramita Chakraborty
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South CarolinaSC- 29425
| | - Asima Mukhopadhyay
- Kolkata Gynaecology Oncology Trials and Translational Research Group, Kolkata700156, West Bengal, India
| | - Shikhar Mehrotra
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South CarolinaSC- 29425
| | - Senthil Kumar Ganesan
- Division of Structural Biology & Bioinformatics, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Sandip Paul
- System Biology Informatics Lab, Center for Health Science and Technology, JIS Institute of Advanced Studies and Research, JIS University, Kolkata700091, West Bengal, India
| | - Shilpak Chatterjee
- Division of Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder, Translational Research Unit of Excellence, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata700032, West Bengal, India
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Sun Y, Wang Y, Wang L, Zou M, Peng X. STAT5-mediated transcription of miR-33-5p in Mycoplasma gallisepticum-infected DF-1 cells. Avian Pathol 2024; 53:68-79. [PMID: 37855868 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2023.2272617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS MG-HS regulates the expression of transcription factor STAT5.Transcription factor STAT5 can target miR-33-5p promoter element.MG-influenced STAT5 regulates miR-33-5p and its target gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingfei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lulu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengyun Zou
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuli Peng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Hou B, Hu Y, Zhu Y, Wang X, Li W, Tang J, Jia X, Wang J, Cong Y, Quan M, Yang H, Zheng H, Bao Y, Chen XL, Wang HR, Xu B, Gascoigne NRJ, Fu G. SHP-1 Regulates CD8+ T Cell Effector Function but Plays a Subtle Role with SHP-2 in T Cell Exhaustion Due to a Stage-Specific Nonredundant Functional Relay. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:397-409. [PMID: 38088801 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
SHP-1 (Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1) is a well-known negative regulator of T cells, whereas its close homolog SHP-2 is the long-recognized main signaling mediator of the PD-1 inhibitory pathway. However, recent studies have challenged the requirement of SHP-2 in PD-1 signaling, and follow-up studies further questioned the alternative idea that SHP-1 may replace SHP-2 in its absence. In this study, we systematically investigate the role of SHP-1 alone or jointly with SHP-2 in CD8+ T cells in a series of gene knockout mice. We show that although SHP-1 negatively regulates CD8+ T cell effector function during acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, it is dispensable for CD8+ T cell exhaustion during chronic LCMV infection. Moreover, in contrast to the mortality of PD-1 knockout mice upon chronic LCMV infection, mice double deficient for SHP-1 and SHP-2 in CD8+ T cells survived without immunopathology. Importantly, CD8+ T cells lacking both phosphatases still differentiate into exhausted cells and respond to PD-1 blockade. Finally, we found that SHP-1 and SHP-2 suppressed effector CD8+ T cell expansion at the early and late stages, respectively, during chronic LCMV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yanyan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yuzhen Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiaocui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Wanyun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jian Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xian Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jiayu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yu Cong
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Minxue Quan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hongying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Haiping Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yuzhou Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiao Lei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hong-Rui Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Nicholas R J Gascoigne
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Guo Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xiamen University; Xiamen, China
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Zhang J, Ren Z, Hu Y, Shang S, Wang R, Ma J, Zhang Z, Wu M, Wang F, Yu J, Chen D. High HPK1 +PD-1 +TIM-3 +CD8 + T cells infiltration predicts poor prognosis to immunotherapy in NSCLC patients. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 127:111363. [PMID: 38101218 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
At present the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains limited. The lack of responsiveness in certain patients may be attributed to CD8+ T cell exhaustion within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) has been identified as a mediator of T cell dysfunction, leading to our hypothesis that HPK1 positive exhausted CD8+ T cells could serve as a predictor for ICIs' efficacy in NSCLC patients, and potentially indicate key cellular subset causing ICIs resistance. Here, we retrospectively collected tumor tissue samples from 36 NSCLC patients who underwent first-line immunotherapy. Using multiplex immunohistochemistry, we visualized various PD-1+CD8+ T cell subsets and explore biomarkers for response. The analysis endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), correlating them with levels of cell infiltration or effective density. We found that the proportion of PD-1+CD8+ T cell subsets did not align with predictions for ORR, PFS, and OS. Conversely, a high infiltration of HPK1+PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+ T cells was identified as an independent risk factor for both PFS (P = 0.019) and OS (P = 0.03). These cells were found to express the highest levels of Granzyme B, and the secretion of Granzyme B in CD8+ T cell subsets was related to TCF-1. In conclusion, these data suggest that a high infiltration of HPK1+PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+ T cells correlates with poor clinical outcomes in NSCLC patients receiving immunotherapy. These cells may represent terminally exhausted T cells that fail to respond to ICIs, thereby laying the groundwork for the potential integration of HPK1 inhibitors with immunotherapy to enhance treatment strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingxin Zhang
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ziyuan Ren
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yun Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shijie Shang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China; Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ruiyang Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jiachun Ma
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China; Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zengfu Zhang
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Meng Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China; Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Dawei Chen
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Tokifuji Y, Hayabuchi H, Sasaki T, Hara-Chikuma M, Hirota K, Takahashi H, Amagai M, Yoshimura A, Chikuma S. Targeting abatacept-resistant T-helper-17 cells by aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibition. iScience 2024; 27:108646. [PMID: 38226171 PMCID: PMC10788227 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
IL-17-producing helper T (Th17) cells are long-lived and serve as central effector cells in chronic autoimmune diseases. The underlying mechanisms of Th17 persistence remain unclear. We demonstrated that abatacept, a CD28 antagonist, effectively prevented the development of skin disease in a Th17-dependent experimental autoimmune dermatitis model. Abatacept selectively inhibited the emergence of IL-7R-negative effector-phenotype T cells while allowing the survival and proliferation of IL-7R+ memory-phenotype cells. The surviving IL-7R+ Th17 cells expressed genes associated with alcohol/aldehyde detoxification and showed potential to transdifferentiate into IL-7R-negative effector cells. Inhibiting aldehyde dehydrogenase reduced IL-7R+ Th17 cells in vivo, independently of CD28, and exhibited additive effects when combined with abatacept. Our findings suggest that CD28 blockade prevents inflammation without eliminating persistent memory cells. These remaining memory cells can be targeted by other drugs, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors, to limit their survival, thereby facilitating the treatment of chronic autoimmune diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukiko Tokifuji
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, East Lecture Hall 4F, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hodaka Hayabuchi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, East Lecture Hall 4F, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takashi Sasaki
- Center for Supercentenarian Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Mariko Hara-Chikuma
- Department of Pharmacology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Keiji Hirota
- Laboratory of Integrative Biological Science, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hayato Takahashi
- Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masayuki Amagai
- Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, East Lecture Hall 4F, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Chikuma
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, East Lecture Hall 4F, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Feng H, Zhao Z, Zhao X, Bai X, Fu W, Zheng L, Kang B, Wang X, Zhang Z, Dong C. A novel memory-like Tfh cell subset is precursor to effector Tfh cells in recall immune responses. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20221927. [PMID: 38047912 PMCID: PMC10695277 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, essential for germinal center reactions, are not identical, with different phenotypes reported. Whether, when, and how they generate memory cells is still poorly understood. Here, through single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of CXCR5+Bcl6+ Tfh cells generated under different conditions, we discovered, in addition to PD-1hi effector Tfh cells, a CD62L+PD1low subpopulation. CD62L-expressing Tfh cells developed independently from PD-1+ cells and not in direct contact with B cells. More importantly, CD62L+ Tfh cells expressed memory- and stemness-associated genes, and with better superior long-term survival, they readily generated PD-1hi cells in the recall response. Finally, KLF2 and IL7R, also highly expressed by CD62L+ Tfh cells, were required to regulate their development. Our work thus demonstrates a novel Tfh memory-like cell subpopulation, which may benefit our understanding of immune responses and diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Han Feng
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zixuan Zhao
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhao
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Bai
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Fu
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Liangtao Zheng
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Boxi Kang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohu Wang
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zemin Zhang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Dong
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Westlake University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Lemma RB, Fuglerud BM, Frampton J, Gabrielsen OS. MYB: A Key Transcription Factor in the Hematopoietic System Subject to Many Levels of Control. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1459:3-29. [PMID: 39017837 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62731-6_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
MYB is a master regulator and pioneer factor highly expressed in hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) where it contributes to the reprogramming processes operating during hematopoietic development. MYB plays a complex role being involved in several lineages of the hematopoietic system. At the molecular level, the MYB gene is subject to intricate regulation at many levels through several enhancer and promoter elements, through transcriptional elongation control, as well as post-transcriptional regulation. The protein is modulated by post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as SUMOylation restricting the expression of its downstream targets. Together with a range of interaction partners, cooperating transcription factors (TFs) and epigenetic regulators, MYB orchestrates a fine-tuned symphony of genes expressed during various stages of haematopoiesis. At the same time, the complex MYB system is vulnerable, being a target for unbalanced control and cancer development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roza Berhanu Lemma
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Jon Frampton
- Department of Cancer & Genomic Sciences, College of Medicine & Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Casucci M, Bonini C, Ruggiero E. Epigenetic checkpoints regulate the fate and function of CAR-T cells. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:4-6. [PMID: 38168961 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01708-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Casucci
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonini
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Eliana Ruggiero
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Xiong D, Zhang L, Sun ZJ. Targeting the epigenome to reinvigorate T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Mil Med Res 2023; 10:59. [PMID: 38044445 PMCID: PMC10694991 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-023-00496-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy using immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the field of cancer treatment; however, ICI efficacy is constrained by progressive dysfunction of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which is termed T cell exhaustion. This process is driven by diverse extrinsic factors across heterogeneous tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Simultaneously, tumorigenesis entails robust reshaping of the epigenetic landscape, potentially instigating T cell exhaustion. In this review, we summarize the epigenetic mechanisms governing tumor microenvironmental cues leading to T cell exhaustion, and discuss therapeutic potential of targeting epigenetic regulators for immunotherapies. Finally, we outline conceptual and technical advances in developing potential treatment paradigms involving immunostimulatory agents and epigenetic therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dian Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, School and and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Luo M, Gong W, Zhang Y, Li H, Ma D, Wu K, Gao Q, Fang Y. New insights into the stemness of adoptively transferred T cells by γc family cytokines. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:347. [PMID: 38049832 PMCID: PMC10694921 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01354-3] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell-based adoptive cell therapy (ACT) has exhibited excellent antitumoral efficacy exemplified by the clinical breakthrough of chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CAR-T) in hematologic malignancies. It relies on the pool of functional T cells to retain the developmental potential to serially kill targeted cells. However, failure in the continuous supply and persistence of functional T cells has been recognized as a critical barrier to sustainable responses. Conferring stemness on infused T cells, yielding stem cell-like memory T cells (TSCM) characterized by constant self-renewal and multilineage differentiation similar to pluripotent stem cells, is indeed necessary and promising for enhancing T cell function and sustaining antitumor immunity. Therefore, it is crucial to identify TSCM cell induction regulators and acquire more TSCM cells as resource cells during production and after infusion to improve antitumoral efficacy. Recently, four common cytokine receptor γ chain (γc) family cytokines, encompassing interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-7, IL-15, and IL-21, have been widely used in the development of long-lived adoptively transferred TSCM in vitro. However, challenges, including their non-specific toxicities and off-target effects, have led to substantial efforts for the development of engineered versions to unleash their full potential in the induction and maintenance of T cell stemness in ACT. In this review, we summarize the roles of the four γc family cytokines in the orchestration of adoptively transferred T cell stemness, introduce their engineered versions that modulate TSCM cell formation and demonstrate the potential of their various combinations. Video Abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengshi Luo
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenjian Gong
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuewen Zhang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huayi Li
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ding Ma
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kongming Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinglei Gao
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yong Fang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Schenkel JM, Pauken KE. Localization, tissue biology and T cell state - implications for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Immunol 2023; 23:807-823. [PMID: 37253877 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00884-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Tissue localization is a critical determinant of T cell immunity. CD8+ T cells are contact-dependent killers, which requires them to physically be within the tissue of interest to kill peptide-MHC class I-bearing target cells. Following their migration and extravasation into tissues, T cells receive many extrinsic cues from the local microenvironment, and these signals shape T cell differentiation, fate and function. Because major organ systems are variable in their functions and compositions, they apply disparate pressures on T cells to adapt to the local microenvironment. Additional complexity arises in the context of malignant lesions (either primary or metastatic), and this has made understanding the factors that dictate T cell function and longevity in tumours challenging. Moreover, T cell differentiation state influences how cues from the microenvironment are interpreted by tissue-infiltrating T cells, highlighting the importance of T cell state in the context of tissue biology. Here, we review the intertwined nature of T cell differentiation state, location, survival and function, and explain how dysfunctional T cell populations can adopt features of tissue-resident memory T cells to persist in tumours. Finally, we discuss how these factors have shaped responses to cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Schenkel
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Kristen E Pauken
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Zhou P, Shi H, Huang H, Sun X, Yuan S, Chapman NM, Connelly JP, Lim SA, Saravia J, Kc A, Pruett-Miller SM, Chi H. Single-cell CRISPR screens in vivo map T cell fate regulomes in cancer. Nature 2023; 624:154-163. [PMID: 37968405 PMCID: PMC10700132 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06733-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) orchestrate antitumour immunity and exhibit inherent heterogeneity1,2, with precursor exhausted T (Tpex) cells but not terminally exhausted T (Tex) cells capable of responding to existing immunotherapies3-7. The gene regulatory network that underlies CTL differentiation and whether Tex cell responses can be functionally reinvigorated are incompletely understood. Here we systematically mapped causal gene regulatory networks using single-cell CRISPR screens in vivo and discovered checkpoints for CTL differentiation. First, the exit from quiescence of Tpex cells initiated successive differentiation into intermediate Tex cells. This process is differentially regulated by IKAROS and ETS1, the deficiencies of which dampened and increased mTORC1-associated metabolic activities, respectively. IKAROS-deficient cells accumulated as a metabolically quiescent Tpex cell population with limited differentiation potential following immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Conversely, targeting ETS1 improved antitumour immunity and ICB efficacy by boosting differentiation of Tpex to intermediate Tex cells and metabolic rewiring. Mechanistically, TCF-1 and BATF are the targets for IKAROS and ETS1, respectively. Second, the RBPJ-IRF1 axis promoted differentiation of intermediate Tex to terminal Tex cells. Accordingly, targeting RBPJ enhanced functional and epigenetic reprogramming of Tex cells towards the proliferative state and improved therapeutic effects and ICB efficacy. Collectively, our study reveals that promoting the exit from quiescence of Tpex cells and enriching the proliferative Tex cell state act as key modalities for antitumour effects and provides a systemic framework to integrate cell fate regulomes and reprogrammable functional determinants for cancer immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Zhou
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hao Shi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongling Huang
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xiang Sun
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sujing Yuan
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Nicole M Chapman
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jon P Connelly
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Seon Ah Lim
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jordy Saravia
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Anil Kc
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shondra M Pruett-Miller
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Naito T, Noji R, Kugimoto T, Kuroshima T, Tomioka H, Fujiwara S, Suenaga M, Harada H, Kano Y. The Efficacy of Immunotherapy and Clinical Utility of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Head and Neck. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:2111. [PMID: 38138214 PMCID: PMC10745089 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59122111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck is generally slow-growing but has a high potential for local recurrence and metastasis to distant organs. There is currently no standard pharmacological treatment for recurrent/metastatic (R/M) ACC, and there are cases in which immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are administered for ACC according to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the efficacy of ICIs for ACC remains unclear, and the predictive biomarkers need to be elucidated. Materials and Methods: The Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics (C-CAT) database enabled the retrospective but nationwide analysis of 263 cases of ACC of the head and neck. Then, we examined and reported four cases of ACC that received ICIs and comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in our institution. Results: The C-CAT database revealed that 59 cases out of 263 received ICIs, and the best response was 8% of objective response rate (ORR) and 53% of disease control rate (DCR) (complete response, CR 3%, partial response, PR 5%, stable disease, SD 44%, progressive disease, PD 19%, not evaluated, NE 29%). The tumor mutational burden (TMB) in ACC was lower overall compared to HNSCC and could not be useful in predicting the efficacy of ICIs. Some cases with MYB structural variants showed the response to ICIs in the C-CAT database. A patient with MYB fusion/rearrangement variants in our institution showed long-term stable disease. Conclusions: ICI therapy is a potential treatment option, and the MYB structural variant might be a candidate for predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy in patients with R/M ACC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Naito
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology, Division of Health Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Rika Noji
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology, Division of Health Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Takuma Kugimoto
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology, Division of Health Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kuroshima
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology, Division of Health Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Tomioka
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology, Division of Health Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Shun Fujiwara
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Mitsukuni Suenaga
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Harada
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology, Division of Health Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Yoshihito Kano
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Liu Z, Zhang Y, Ma N, Yang Y, Ma Y, Wang F, Wang Y, Wei J, Chen H, Tartarone A, Velotta JB, Dayyani F, Gabriel E, Wakefield CJ, Kidane B, Carbonelli C, Long L, Liu Z, Su J, Li Z. Progenitor-like exhausted SPRY1 +CD8 + T cells potentiate responsiveness to neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:1852-1870.e9. [PMID: 37832554 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) demonstrates promise in operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but lacks available efficacy biomarkers. Here, we perform single-cell RNA-sequencing of tumors from patients with ESCC undergoing neoadjuvant ICB, revealing a subset of exhausted CD8+ T cells expressing SPRY1 (CD8+ Tex-SPRY1) that displays a progenitor exhausted T cell (Tpex) phenotype and correlates with complete response to ICB. We validate CD8+ Tex-SPRY1 cells as an ICB-specific predictor of improved response and survival using independent ICB-/non-ICB cohorts and demonstrate that expression of SPRY1 in CD8+ T cells enforces Tpex phenotype and enhances ICB efficacy. Additionally, CD8+ Tex-SPRY1 cells contribute to proinflammatory phenotype of macrophages and functional state of B cells, which thereby promotes antitumor immunity by enhancing CD8+ T cell effector functions. Overall, our findings unravel progenitor-like CD8+ Tex-SPRY1 cells' role in effective responses to ICB for ESCC and inform mechanistic biomarkers for future individualized immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yaru Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China; Oujiang Laboratory, Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325101, China
| | - Ning Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yunlong Ma
- School of Biomedical Engineering, School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Feng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jinzhi Wei
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Hongyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Alfredo Tartarone
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Onco-Hematology, IRCCS-CROB, Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture (PZ) 85028, Italy
| | - Jeffrey B Velotta
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA 94611, USA
| | - Farshid Dayyani
- Chao Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| | - Emmanuel Gabriel
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Connor J Wakefield
- Department of Internal Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA
| | - Biniam Kidane
- Section of Thoracic Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Cristiano Carbonelli
- Pneumology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo 71013, Italy
| | - Lingyun Long
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Zhihua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
| | - Jianzhong Su
- School of Biomedical Engineering, School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China; Oujiang Laboratory, Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325101, China.
| | - Zhigang Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Shanghai 200030, China.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Doan A, Mueller KP, Chen A, Rouin GT, Daniel B, Lattin J, Chen Y, Mozarsky B, Markovska M, Arias-Umana J, Hapke R, Jung I, Xu P, Klysz D, Bashti M, Quinn PJ, Sandor K, Zhang W, Hall J, Lareau C, Grupp SA, Fraietta JA, Sotillo E, Satpathy AT, Mackall CL, Weber EW. FOXO1 is a master regulator of CAR T memory programming. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2802998. [PMID: 37986944 PMCID: PMC10659532 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2802998/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Poor CAR T persistence limits CAR T cell therapies for B cell malignancies and solid tumors1,2. The expression of memory-associated genes such as TCF7 (protein name TCF1) is linked to response and long-term persistence in patients3-7, thereby implicating memory programs in therapeutic efficacy. Here, we demonstrate that the pioneer transcription factor, FOXO1, is responsible for promoting memory programs and restraining exhaustion in human CAR T cells. Pharmacologic inhibition or gene editing of endogenous FOXO1 in human CAR T cells diminished the expression of memory-associated genes, promoted an exhaustion-like phenotype, and impaired antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. FOXO1 overexpression induced a gene expression program consistent with T cell memory and increased chromatin accessibility at FOXO1 binding motifs. FOXO1-overexpressing cells retained function, memory potential, and metabolic fitness during settings of chronic stimulation and exhibited enhanced persistence and antitumor activity in vivo. In contrast, TCF1 overexpression failed to enforce canonical memory programs or enhance CAR T cell potency. Importantly, endogenous FOXO1 activity correlated with CAR T and TIL responses in patients, underscoring its clinical relevance in cancer immunotherapy. Our results demonstrate that memory reprogramming through FOXO1 can enhance the persistence and potency of human CAR T cells and highlights the utility of pioneer factors, which bind condensed chromatin and induce local epigenetic remodeling, for optimizing therapeutic T cell states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Doan
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Katherine P Mueller
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Andy Chen
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Geoffrey T Rouin
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bence Daniel
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - John Lattin
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yingshi Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Brett Mozarsky
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Martina Markovska
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jose Arias-Umana
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert Hapke
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Inyoung Jung
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Peng Xu
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dorota Klysz
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Malek Bashti
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Patrick J Quinn
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Katalin Sandor
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Wenxi Zhang
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Junior Hall
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Caleb Lareau
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94129 USA
| | - Stephan A Grupp
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Joseph A Fraietta
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Elena Sotillo
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ansuman T Satpathy
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94129 USA
| | - Crystal L Mackall
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94129 USA
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Evan W Weber
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94129 USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abstract
T cells can acquire a broad spectrum of differentiation states following activation. At the extreme ends of this continuum are short-lived cells equipped with effector machinery and more quiescent, long-lived cells with heightened proliferative potential and stem cell-like developmental plasticity. The latter encompass stem-like exhausted T cells and memory T cells, both of which have recently emerged as key determinants of cancer immunity and response to immunotherapy. Here, we discuss key similarities and differences in the regulation and function of stem-like exhausted CD8+ T cells and memory CD8+ T cells, and consider their context-specific contributions to protective immunity in diverse outcomes of cancer, including tumour escape, long-term control and eradication. Finally, we emphasize how recent advances in the understanding of the molecular regulation of stem-like exhausted T cells and memory T cells are being explored for clinical benefit in cancer immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibition, adoptive cell therapy and vaccination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Gebhardt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Simone L Park
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ian A Parish
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Alexandre YO, Mueller SN. Splenic stromal niches in homeostasis and immunity. Nat Rev Immunol 2023; 23:705-719. [PMID: 36973361 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00857-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The spleen is a gatekeeper of systemic immunity where immune responses against blood-borne pathogens are initiated and sustained. Non-haematopoietic stromal cells construct microanatomical niches in the spleen that make diverse contributions to physiological spleen functions and regulate the homeostasis of immune cells. Additional signals from spleen autonomic nerves also modify immune responses. Recent insight into the diversity of the splenic fibroblastic stromal cells has revised our understanding of how these cells help to orchestrate splenic responses to infection and contribute to immune responses. In this Review, we examine our current understanding of how stromal niches and neuroimmune circuits direct the immunological functions of the spleen, with a focus on T cell immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yannick O Alexandre
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Scott N Mueller
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Wu H, Zhao X, Hochrein SM, Eckstein M, Gubert GF, Knöpper K, Mansilla AM, Öner A, Doucet-Ladevèze R, Schmitz W, Ghesquière B, Theurich S, Dudek J, Gasteiger G, Zernecke A, Kobold S, Kastenmüller W, Vaeth M. Mitochondrial dysfunction promotes the transition of precursor to terminally exhausted T cells through HIF-1α-mediated glycolytic reprogramming. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6858. [PMID: 37891230 PMCID: PMC10611730 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42634-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell exhaustion is a hallmark of cancer and persistent infections, marked by inhibitory receptor upregulation, diminished cytokine secretion, and impaired cytolytic activity. Terminally exhausted T cells are steadily replenished by a precursor population (Tpex), but the metabolic principles governing Tpex maintenance and the regulatory circuits that control their exhaustion remain incompletely understood. Using a combination of gene-deficient mice, single-cell transcriptomics, and metabolomic analyses, we show that mitochondrial insufficiency is a cell-intrinsic trigger that initiates the functional exhaustion of T cells. At the molecular level, we find that mitochondrial dysfunction causes redox stress, which inhibits the proteasomal degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and promotes the transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming of Tpex cells into terminally exhausted T cells. Our findings also bear clinical significance, as metabolic engineering of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is a promising strategy to enhance the stemness and functionality of Tpex cells for cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wu
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Xiufeng Zhao
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sophia M Hochrein
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Miriam Eckstein
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gabriela F Gubert
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Konrad Knöpper
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ana Maria Mansilla
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Arman Öner
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) Munich, University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Remi Doucet-Ladevèze
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Werner Schmitz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Bart Ghesquière
- Laboratory of Applied Mass Spectrometry, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium and Metabolomics Core Facility Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sebastian Theurich
- Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) Munich, University Hospital, Department of Medicine III, Munich, Germany and LMU Gene Center, Cancer and Immunometabolism Research Group, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, a partnership between the DKFZ Heidelberg and the University Hospital of the LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Dudek
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Georg Gasteiger
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alma Zernecke
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) Munich, University Hospital, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, a partnership between the DKFZ Heidelberg and the University Hospital of the LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kastenmüller
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Vaeth
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Giles JR, Globig AM, Kaech SM, Wherry EJ. CD8 + T cells in the cancer-immunity cycle. Immunity 2023; 56:2231-2253. [PMID: 37820583 PMCID: PMC11237652 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
CD8+ T cells are end effectors of cancer immunity. Most forms of effective cancer immunotherapy involve CD8+ T cell effector function. Here, we review the current understanding of T cell function in cancer, focusing on key CD8+ T cell subtypes and states. We discuss factors that influence CD8+ T cell differentiation and function in cancer through a framework that incorporates the classic three-signal model and a fourth signal-metabolism-and also consider the impact of the tumor microenvironment from a T cell perspective. We argue for the notion of immunotherapies as "pro-drugs" that act to augment or modulate T cells, which ultimately serve as the drug in vivo, and for the importance of overall immune health in cancer treatment and prevention. The progress in understanding T cell function in cancer has and will continue to improve harnessing of the immune system across broader tumor types to benefit more patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josephine R Giles
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anna-Maria Globig
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Susan M Kaech
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - E John Wherry
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|