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Xia X, Yang Z, Lu Q, Liu Z, Wang L, Du J, Li Y, Yang DH, Wu S. Reshaping the tumor immune microenvironment to improve CAR-T cell-based cancer immunotherapy. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:175. [PMID: 39187850 PMCID: PMC11346058 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02079-8] [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: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In many hematologic malignancies, the adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has demonstrated notable success; nevertheless, further improvements are necessary to optimize treatment efficacy. Current CAR-T therapies are particularly discouraging for solid tumor treatment. The immunosuppressive microenvironment of tumors affects CAR-T cells, limiting the treatment's effectiveness and safety. Therefore, enhancing CAR-T cell infiltration capacity and resolving the immunosuppressive responses within the tumor microenvironment could boost the anti-tumor effect. Specific strategies include structurally altering CAR-T cells combined with targeted therapy, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Overall, monitoring the tumor microenvironment and the status of CAR-T cells is beneficial in further investigating the viability of such strategies and advancing CAR-T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Xia
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Zongxin Yang
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Qisi Lu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
- Foresea Life Insurance Guangzhou General Hospital, Guangzhou, 511300, China
| | - Zhenyun Liu
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Jinwen Du
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Yuhua Li
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China.
| | - Dong-Hua Yang
- New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mineola, NY, 11501, USA.
| | - Shaojie Wu
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China.
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Mohammad Taheri M, Javan F, Poudineh M, Athari SS. Beyond CAR-T: The rise of CAR-NK cell therapy in asthma immunotherapy. J Transl Med 2024; 22:736. [PMID: 39103889 PMCID: PMC11302387 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05534-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Asthma poses a major public health burden. While existing asthma drugs manage symptoms for many, some patients remain resistant. The lack of a cure, especially for severe asthma, compels exploration of novel therapies. Cancer immunotherapy successes with CAR-T cells suggest its potential for asthma treatment. Researchers are exploring various approaches for allergic diseases including membrane-bound IgE, IL-5, PD-L2, and CTLA-4 for asthma, and Dectin-1 for fungal asthma. NK cells offer several advantages over T cells for CAR-based immunotherapy. They offer key benefits: (1) HLA compatibility, meaning they can be used in a wider range of patients without the need for matching tissue types. (2) Minimal side effects (CRS and GVHD) due to their limited persistence and cytokine profile. (3) Scalability for "off-the-shelf" production from various sources. Several strategies have been introduced that highlight the superiority and challenges of CAR-NK cell therapy for asthma treatment including IL-10, IFN-γ, ADCC, perforin-granzyme, FASL, KIR, NCRs (NKP46), DAP, DNAM-1, TGF-β, TNF-α, CCL, NKG2A, TF, and EGFR. Furthermore, we advocate for incorporating AI for CAR design optimization and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology for precise gene manipulation to generate highly effective CAR constructs. This review will delve into the evolution and production of CAR designs, explore pre-clinical and clinical studies of CAR-based therapies in asthma, analyze strategies to optimize CAR-NK cell function, conduct a comparative analysis of CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapy with their respective challenges, and finally present established novel CAR designs with promising potential for asthma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fatemeh Javan
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Mohadeseh Poudineh
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Seyed Shamseddin Athari
- Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, Zanjan School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, 12th Street, Shahrake Karmandan, Zanjan, 45139-561111, Iran.
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Gu M, Carvalho EJ, Read KA, Nardo DP, Riley JL. Rab5 Overcomes CAR T Cell Dysfunction Induced by Tumor-Mediated CAR Capture. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.26.605334. [PMID: 39211164 PMCID: PMC11361039 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.26.605334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Continuous interaction between chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell (CART) and tumors often result in CART dysfunction and tumor escape. We observed that tumors can take up CAR molecules, leaving CARTs without surface-expressed CARs and thus unable to kill tumors after prolonged exposure. Overexpression of Rab5 resulted in augmented clathrin-independent endocytosis, preventing loss of surface-expressed CARs, and enhanced CART activity. Interestingly, we observed membrane protrusions on the CART cell surface which disappeared after multiple tumor challenges. Rab5 maintained these protrusions after repeated tumor engagements and their presence correlated with effective tumor clearance, suggesting a link between endocytosis, membrane protrusions, and cytolytic activity. In vivo , Rab5-expressing CARTs demonstrated improved activity and were able to clear an otherwise refractory mesothelin-expressing solid cancer in humanized mice by maintaining CAR surface expression within the tumor. Thus, pairing Rab5 with CAR expression could improve the clinical efficacy of CART therapy. Highlights "CAR-jacking" occurs when surface CAR is internalized by target tumor cells.Rab5 overexpression prevents "CAR-jacking" and enhances CART function.Rab5 promotes CAR endocytic recycling and maintains membrane protrusions.Rab5-expressing CARTs exhibit enhanced therapeutic efficacy against solid tumors.
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Qiu Y, Xiao Q, Wang Y, Cao Y, Wang J, Wan Z, Chen X, Liu W, Ma L, Xu C. Mechanical force determines chimeric antigen receptor microclustering and signaling. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1016-1032. [PMID: 38327049 PMCID: PMC11163199 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.02.006] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are activated to trigger the lytic machinery after antigen engagement, and this has been successfully applied clinically as therapy. The mechanism by which antigen binding leads to the initiation of CAR signaling remains poorly understood. Here, we used a set of short double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) tethers with mechanical forces ranging from ∼12 to ∼51 pN to manipulate the mechanical force of antigen tether and decouple the microclustering and signaling events. Our results revealed that antigen-binding-induced CAR microclustering and signaling are mechanical force dependent. Additionally, the mechanical force delivered to the antigen tether by the CAR for microclustering is generated by autonomous cell contractility. Mechanistically, the mechanical-force-induced strong adhesion and CAR diffusion confinement led to CAR microclustering. Moreover, cytotoxicity may have a lower mechanical force threshold than cytokine generation. Collectively, these results support a model of mechanical-force-induced CAR microclustering for signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Qiu
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qingyue Xiao
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yucai Wang
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yichen Cao
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Zhengpeng Wan
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xiangjun Chen
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Wanli Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Li Ma
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Chenguang Xu
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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Zhang X, Gao Y, Tang K, Li Z, Halberstam AA, Zhou L, Perry RJ. Thiazolidinedione enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in murine melanoma. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2024; 326:E341-E350. [PMID: 38294697 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00346.2023] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Several clinical studies observed a surprising beneficial effect of obesity on enhancing immunotherapy responsiveness in patients with melanoma, highlighting an as-yet insufficiently understood relationship between metabolism and immunogenicity. Here, we demonstrate that the thiazolidinedione (TZD) rosiglitazone, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes by sequestering fatty acids in metabolically inert subcutaneous adipose tissue, improved sensitivity to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) treatment in YUMMER1.7 tumor-bearing mice, an initially immunotherapy-sensitive murine melanoma model. We observed a transition from high to intermediate PD-1 expression in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Moreover, TZD inhibited PD-1 expression in mouse and human T cells treated in vitro. In addition to its direct impact on immune cells, TZD also decreased circulating insulin concentrations, while insulin induced T cell exhaustion in culture. In TZD-treated mice, we observed higher fatty acid concentrations in the tumor microenvironment, with fatty acids protecting against exhaustion in culture. Together, these data are consistent with an indirect mechanism of TZD inhibiting T cell exhaustion. Finally, we analyzed imaging data from patients with melanoma before and after anti-PD-1 treatment, confirming the beneficial effect of increased subcutaneous fat on anti-PD-1 responsiveness in patients. We also found that the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), the canonical activator of lipid uptake and adipogenesis activated by TZD, correlated with overall survival time. Taken together, these data identify a new adjuvant to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in YUMMER1.7 melanoma mice, and discover a new metabolism-based prognostic marker in human melanoma.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Zhang et al. demonstrate that the diabetes drug rosiglitazone improves the efficacy of immunotherapy in mouse melanoma. This effect is both direct and indirect: TZD directly reduces PD-1 expression in CD8+ T cells (i.e., reduces exhaustion), and indirectly reduces exhaustion by lowering insulin levels and increasing local fat. Finally, they demonstrate that hallmarks of TZD action (such as PPARγ expression and subcutaneous fat content) correlate with improved immunotherapy efficacy in humans with melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zhang
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Yuan Gao
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Keyun Tang
- Department of Dermatology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Zongyu Li
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Alexandra A Halberstam
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Liqun Zhou
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Rachel J Perry
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
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Liu H, Huang K, Zhang H, Liu X, Jiang H, Wang X. Photo-Driven In Situ Solidification of Whole Cells through Inhibition of Trogocytosis for Immunotherapy. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2024; 7:0318. [PMID: 38384327 PMCID: PMC10879965 DOI: 10.34133/research.0318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Achieving antitumor immunotherapy based on hybridization of multiple types of inactivated cells has attracted a lot of attention. However, the hybridized cells of disordered structure could result in the shedding of antigens and their transfer to immune cells, which suppresses tumor immunity through trogocytosis. Here, we report a strategy for in situ solidification of tumor whole cell by biomineralization for sustained stimulation of antitumor immunity. The near-infrared light was used to accelerate the breaking of Au=P bonds in auranofin, and the exposed Au atoms biomineralize at the secondary structure (β-corner) of the protein to form Au nanocrystals with in situ protein coronas in tumor cells. Au nanocrystals are anchored to the tumor cells through protein coronas, which fixes the morphology and antigens of whole tumor cells, rendering them physiologically inactive. Interestingly, this solidified tumor cell prevents immune cells from undergoing trogocytosis, which inhibits proximal and distal tumor growth. Thus, this study presents the strategy of solidified cells and its potential application in tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Xiaohui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering,
Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering,
Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
| | - Xuemei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering,
Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
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Park S, Kim J, Shin JH. Intercellular Transfer of Immune Regulatory Molecules Via Trogocytosis. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 73:131-146. [PMID: 39242377 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62036-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Trogocytosis, an active cellular process involving the transfer of plasma membrane and attached cytosol during cell-to-cell contact, has been observed prominently in CD4 T cells interacting with antigen-presenting cells carrying antigen-loaded major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Despite the inherent absence of MHC class II molecules in CD4 T cells, they actively acquire these molecules from encountered antigen-presenting cells, leading to the formation of antigen-loaded MHC class II molecules-dressed CD4 T cells. Subsequently, these dressed CD4 T cells engage in antigen presentation to other CD4 T cells, revealing a dynamic mechanism of immune communication. The transferred membrane proteins through trogocytosis retain their surface localization, thereby altering cellular functions. Concurrently, the donor cells experience a loss of membrane proteins, resulting in functional changes due to the altered membrane properties. This chapter provides a focused exploration into trogocytosis-mediated transfer of immune regulatory molecules and its consequential impact on diverse immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyeon Park
- The interdisciplinary graduate program in integrative biology, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Jeonghyun Kim
- The interdisciplinary graduate program in integrative biology, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Jae Hun Shin
- The interdisciplinary graduate program in integrative biology, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea.
- Integrative Science and Engineering Division, Underwood International College, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea.
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