1
|
Hetemäki I, Arstila TP, Kekäläinen E. Helios-Illuminating the way for lymphocyte self-control. Immunology 2024. [PMID: 39354708 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13866] [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: 08/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor Helios, encoded by the IKZF2 gene, has an important role in regulatory T cells by stabilizing their suppressive phenotype. While Helios is prominently expressed in regulatory T cells, its expression extends beyond to include effector T cells, follicular regulatory T cells, B cells, and innate-like lymphocyte populations. Recent characterizations of patients with inborn error of immunity due to damaging IKZF2 variants coupled with translational research on lymphocytes from healthy individuals, have increased our understanding on Helios' multifaceted role in controlling the human adaptive immune system. A less studied role for Helios beyond the stabilizing of regulatory T cells has emerged in directing effector T cell maturation. In the absence of functional Helios, effector T cells acquire more inflammatory phenotype and are prone to senescence. Loss of Helios expression disrupts the regulation of the germinal centre reaction, often resulting in either hypogammaglobulinemia or B cell autoimmunity. This review summarizes findings from studies in both mice and men offering a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the transcription factor Helios on the adaptive immune system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iivo Hetemäki
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - T Petteri Arstila
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eliisa Kekäläinen
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhou Z, Xu J, Liu S, Lv Y, Zhang R, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Weng S, Xu H, Ba Y, Zuo A, Han X, Liu Z. Infiltrating treg reprogramming in the tumor immune microenvironment and its optimization for immunotherapy. Biomark Res 2024; 12:97. [PMID: 39227959 PMCID: PMC11373505 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00630-9] [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: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has shown promising anti-tumor effects across various tumors, yet it encounters challenges from the inhibitory tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Infiltrating regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important contributors to immunosuppressive TIME, limiting tumor immunosurveillance and blocking effective anti-tumor immune responses. Although depletion or inhibition of systemic Tregs enhances the anti-tumor immunity, autoimmune sequelae have diminished expectations for the approach. Herein, we summarize emerging strategies, specifically targeting tumor-infiltrating (TI)-Tregs, that elevate the capacity of organisms to resist tumors by reprogramming their phenotype. The regulatory mechanisms of Treg reprogramming are also discussed as well as how this knowledge could be utilized to develop novel and effective cancer immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaokai Zhou
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Jiaxin Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Shutong Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Yingying Lv
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Ruiqi Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Xing Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Yuyuan Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Siyuan Weng
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Yuhao Ba
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Anning Zuo
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Xinwei Han
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li P, Hu X, Fan Z, Sun S, Ran Q, Wei T, Wei P, Jiang Q, Yan J, Yang N, Jia C, Yang T, Mao Y, Cai X, Xu T, Zhao Z, Qian X, Qin W, Zhuang X, Fan F, Xiao J, Zheng Z, Li S. Novel potent molecular glue degraders against broad range of hematological cancer cell lines via multiple neosubstrates degradation. J Hematol Oncol 2024; 17:77. [PMID: 39218923 PMCID: PMC11367868 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01592-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: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Targeted protein degradation of neosubstrates plays a crucial role in hematological cancer treatment involving immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) therapy. Nevertheless, the persistence of inevitable drug resistance and hematological toxicities represents a significant obstacle to their clinical effectiveness. METHODS Phenotypic profiling of a small molecule compounds library in multiple hematological cancer cell lines was conducted to screen for hit degraders. Molecular dynamic-based rational design and cell-based functional assays were conducted to develop more potent degraders. Multiple myeloma (MM) tumor xenograft models were employed to investigate the antitumor efficacy of the degraders as single or combined agents with standard of care agents. Unbiased proteomics was employed to identify multiple therapeutically relevant neosubstrates targeted by the degraders. MM patient-derived cell lines (PDCs) and a panel of solid cancer cell lines were utilized to investigate the effects of candidate degrader on different stage of MM cells and solid malignancies. Unbiased proteomics of IMiDs-resistant MM cells, cell-based functional assays and RT-PCR analysis of clinical MM specimens were utilized to explore the role of BRD9 associated with IMiDs resistance and MM progression. RESULTS We identified a novel cereblon (CRBN)-dependent lead degrader with phthalazinone scaffold, MGD-4, which induced the degradation of Ikaros proteins. We further developed a novel potent candidate, MGD-28, significantly inhibited the growth of hematological cancer cells and induced the degradation of IKZF1/2/3 and CK1α with nanomolar potency via a Cullin-CRBN dependent pathway. Oral administration of MGD-4 and MGD-28 effectively inhibited MM tumor growth and exhibited significant synergistic effects with standard of care agents. MGD-28 exhibited preferentially profound cytotoxicity towards MM PDCs at different disease stages and broad antiproliferative activity in multiple solid malignancies. BRD9 modulated IMiDs resistance, and the expression of BRD9 was significant positively correlated with IKZF1/2/3 and CK1α in MM specimens at different stages. We also observed pronounced synergetic efficacy between the BRD9 inhibitor and MGD-28 for MM treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our findings present a strategy for the multi-targeted degradation of Ikaros proteins and CK1α against hematological cancers, which may be expanded to additional targets and indications. This strategy may enhance efficacy treatment against multiple hematological cancers and solid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pengyun Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Xiaotong Hu
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Zhiya Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Shiyang Sun
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Qijie Ran
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital of Central Theater Command, Wuhan, 430012, China
| | - Ting Wei
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Pengli Wei
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Qiyu Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Jian Yan
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Ning Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Changkai Jia
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Tingting Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yaqiu Mao
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Xu Cai
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Tingting Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhao
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Xiaohong Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Weijie Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Xiaomei Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Feng Fan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China.
| | - Junhai Xiao
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Zhibing Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Song Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of National Security Specially Needed Medicines, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li M. IKZF2 Degradation: It's Time to Take into Account it When Designing Cereblon-Based PROTACs. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400365. [PMID: 38802326 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400365] [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: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) has become a very important means of protein degradation and a new way of disease treatment. In particular, PROTACs constructed with ligands for E3 ligase cereblon account for more than 90 % of the PROTACs currently in clinical research. Notably, CRBN ligands themselves are a class of molecular glue compounds capable of degrading neo-substrate proteins. Compared to the target proteins degradation, the degradation of neo-substrates, especially IKZF2, has not received enough attention. Therefore, this review summarizes the currently published IKZF2 degraders derived from articles and patents, which are conducive to the design of PROTACs with desired IKZF2 degradation from the perspective of medicinal chemistry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minglei Li
- Chemical Biology Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Institute of Materia Medical, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Institute of Materia Medical, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery System, Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drugs of National Health Commission (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Key Lab for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Song X, Chen R, Li J, Zhu Y, Jiao J, Liu H, Chen Z, Geng J. Fragile Treg cells: Traitors in immune homeostasis? Pharmacol Res 2024; 206:107297. [PMID: 38977207 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells play a key role in maintaining immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis. However, in some disease microenvironments, Treg cells exhibit fragility, which manifests as preserved FoxP3 expression accompanied by inflammation and loss of immunosuppression. Fragile Treg cells are formatively, phenotypically and functionally diverse in various diseases, further complicating the role of Treg cells in the immunotherapeutic response and offering novel targets for disease treatment by modulating specific Treg subsets. In this review, we summarize findings on fragile Treg cells to provide a framework for characterizing the formation and role of fragile Treg cells in different diseases, and we discuss how this information may guide the development of more specific Treg-targeted immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiyu Song
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China.
| | - Ruo Chen
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China.
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Student Brigade of Basic Medicine School, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China.
| | - Yumeng Zhu
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China.
| | - Jianhua Jiao
- Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China.
| | - Hongjiao Liu
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China.
| | - Zhinan Chen
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China.
| | - Jiejie Geng
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China; State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Imianowski CJ, Kuo P, Whiteside SK, von Linde T, Wesolowski AJ, Conti AG, Evans AC, Baird T, Morris BI, Fletcher NE, Yang J, Poon E, Lakins MA, Yamamoto M, Brewis N, Morrow M, Roychoudhuri R. IFNγ Production by Functionally Reprogrammed Tregs Promotes Antitumor Efficacy of OX40/CD137 Bispecific Agonist Therapy. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:2045-2057. [PMID: 38995700 PMCID: PMC11317917 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Treg) are highly enriched within many tumors and suppress immune responses to cancer. There is intense interest in reprogramming Tregs to contribute to antitumor immunity. OX40 and CD137 are expressed highly on Tregs, activated and memory T cells, and NK cells. In this study, using a novel bispecific antibody targeting mouse OX40 and CD137 (FS120m), we show that OX40/CD137 bispecific agonism induces potent antitumor immunity partially dependent upon IFNγ production by functionally reprogrammed Tregs. Treatment of tumor-bearing animals with OX40/CD137 bispecific agonists reprograms Tregs into both fragile Foxp3+ IFNγ+ Tregs with decreased suppressive function and lineage-instable Foxp3- IFNγ+ ex-Tregs. Treg fragility is partially driven by IFNγ signaling, whereas Treg instability is associated with reduced IL2 responsiveness upon treatment with OX40/CD137 bispecific agonists. Importantly, conditional deletion of Ifng in Foxp3+ Tregs and their progeny partially reverses the antitumor efficacy of OX40/CD137 bispecific agonist therapy, revealing that reprogramming of Tregs into IFNγ-producing cells contributes to the anti-tumor efficacy of OX40/CD137 bispecific agonists. These findings provide insights into mechanisms by which bispecific agonist therapies targeting costimulatory receptors highly expressed by Tregs potentiate antitumor immunity in mouse models. SIGNIFICANCE The bispecific antibody FS120, an immunotherapy currently being tested in the clinic, partially functions by inducing anti-tumor activity of Tregs, which results in tumor rejection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula Kuo
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
- Immunology Programme, Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
| | - Sarah K. Whiteside
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Teresa von Linde
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Alberto G. Conti
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Alexander C. Evans
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Tarrion Baird
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Benjamin I. Morris
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Nicole E. Fletcher
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
- Immunology Programme, Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
| | - Edmund Poon
- F-Star Therapeutics, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
| | - Matthew A. Lakins
- F-Star Therapeutics, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
| | - Masahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Neil Brewis
- F-Star Therapeutics, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
| | - Michelle Morrow
- F-Star Therapeutics, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
- invoX Pharma, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Rahul Roychoudhuri
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Saroha HS, Bhat S, Das L, Dutta P, Holick MF, Sachdeva N, Marwaha RK. Calcifediol boosts efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine by upregulating genes promoting memory T cell responses. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:114. [PMID: 38902265 PMCID: PMC11190216 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00909-w] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (COVISHIELD) vaccine has emerged as a pivotal tool in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In our previous study eligible subjects were supplemented with calcifediol, a direct precursor to the biologically active form of vitamin D, calcitriol with an objective to enhance the immunogenicity of the COVISHIELD vaccine. Herein we investigated the effects of calcifediol supplementation on gene expression profiles in individuals who received the COVISHIELD vaccine. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from vaccinated individuals with and without calcifediol supplementation at baseline, 3rd and 6th month, and the gene expression profiles were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. The results revealed distinct patterns of gene expression associated with calcifediol supplementation, suggesting potential molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of calcifediol in improving the efficacy of COVISHIELD vaccine via augmentation of T cell activation, proliferation and T cell memory responses. Additionally, there was upregulation of NOD like receptor, JAK/STAT and TGF beta signaling pathways. Calcifediol supplementation in vaccinated individuals also downregulated the pathways related to the Coronavirus disease. Taken together, our findings provide valuable insights into the interplay between vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling and vaccine-induced immune responses and offer another approach in improving vaccination induced antiviral responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Himanshu Singh Saroha
- Department of Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Swati Bhat
- Department of Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Liza Das
- Department of Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Pinaki Dutta
- Department of Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Michael F Holick
- Department of Section on Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Weight Management, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Naresh Sachdeva
- Department of Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Raman Kumar Marwaha
- Department of Endocrinology, International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) and Society for Endocrine Health Care of Elderly, Adolescents and Children (SEHEAC), New Delhi, India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhong H, Zhou S, Yin S, Qiu Y, Liu B, Yu H. Tumor microenvironment as niche constructed by cancer stem cells: Breaking the ecosystem to combat cancer. J Adv Res 2024:S2090-1232(24)00251-0. [PMID: 38866179 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.06.014] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a distinct subpopulation of cancer cells with the capacity to constantly self-renew and differentiate, and they are the main driver in the progression of cancer resistance and relapse. The tumor microenvironment (TME) constructed by CSCs is the "soil" adapted to tumor growth, helping CSCs evade immune killing, enhance their chemical resistance, and promote cancer progression. AIM OF REVIEW We aim to elaborate the tight connection between CSCs and immunosuppressive components of the TME. We attempt to summarize and provide a therapeutic strategy to eradicate CSCs based on the destruction of the tumor ecological niche. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW This review is focused on three main key concepts. First, we highlight that CSCs recruit and transform normal cells to construct the TME, which further provides ecological niche support for CSCs. Second, we describe the main characteristics of the immunosuppressive components of the TME, targeting strategies and summarize the progress of corresponding drugs in clinical trials. Third, we explore the multilevel insights of the TME to serve as an ecological niche for CSCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Shiyue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuangshuang Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuling Qiu
- School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China.
| | - Haiyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Smith H, Arbe-Barnes E, Shah EA, Sivakumar S. Manipulating regulatory T cells: is it the key to unlocking effective immunotherapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma? Front Immunol 2024; 15:1406250. [PMID: 38873607 PMCID: PMC11170104 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1406250] [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: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The five-year survival rates for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have scarcely improved over the last half-century. It is inherently resistant to FDA-approved immunotherapies, which have transformed the outlook for patients with other advanced solid tumours. Accumulating evidence relates this resistance to its hallmark immunosuppressive milieu, which instils progressive dysfunction among tumour-infiltrating effector T cells. This milieu is established at the inception of neoplasia by immunosuppressive cellular populations, including regulatory T cells (Tregs), which accumulate in parallel with the progression to malignant PDAC. Thus, the therapeutic manipulation of Tregs has captured significant scientific and commercial attention, bolstered by the discovery that an abundance of tumour-infiltrating Tregs correlates with a poor prognosis in PDAC patients. Herein, we propose a mechanism for the resistance of PDAC to anti-PD-1 and CTLA-4 immunotherapies and re-assess the rationale for pursuing Treg-targeted therapies in light of recent studies that profiled the immune landscape of patient-derived tumour samples. We evaluate strategies that are emerging to limit Treg-mediated immunosuppression for the treatment of PDAC, and signpost early-stage trials that provide preliminary evidence of clinical activity. In this context, we find a compelling argument for investment in the ongoing development of Treg-targeted immunotherapies for PDAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henry Smith
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Edward Arbe-Barnes
- Institute of Immunology and Transplantation, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Enas Abu Shah
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Shivan Sivakumar
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Medical School, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Birmingham Cancer Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cochrane RW, Robino RA, Granger B, Allen E, Vaena S, Romeo MJ, de Cubas AA, Berto S, Ferreira LM. High affinity chimeric antigen receptor signaling induces an inflammatory program in human regulatory T cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.31.587467. [PMID: 38617240 PMCID: PMC11014479 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.31.587467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are promising cellular therapies to induce immune tolerance in organ transplantation and autoimmune disease. The success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for cancer has sparked interest in using CARs to generate antigen-specific Tregs. Here, we compared CAR with endogenous T cell receptor (TCR)/CD28 activation in human Tregs. Strikingly, CAR Tregs displayed increased cytotoxicity and diminished suppression of antigen-presenting cells and effector T (Teff) cells compared with TCR/CD28 activated Tregs. RNA sequencing revealed that CAR Tregs activate Teff cell gene programs. Indeed, CAR Tregs secreted high levels of inflammatory cytokines, with a subset of FOXP3+ CAR Tregs uniquely acquiring CD40L surface expression and producing IFNγ. Interestingly, decreasing CAR antigen affinity reduced Teff cell gene expression and inflammatory cytokine production by CAR Tregs. Our findings showcase the impact of engineered receptor activation on Treg biology and support tailoring CAR constructs to Tregs for maximal therapeutic efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Russell W. Cochrane
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Rob A. Robino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Bryan Granger
- Bioinformatics Core, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Eva Allen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Silvia Vaena
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Martin J. Romeo
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Aguirre A. de Cubas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Stefano Berto
- Bioinformatics Core, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Leonardo M.R. Ferreira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lee S, Song SG, Kim G, Kim S, Yoo HJ, Koh J, Kim YJ, Tian J, Cho E, Choi YS, Chang S, Shin HM, Jung KC, Kim JH, Kim TM, Jeon YK, Kim HY, Shong M, Kim JH, Chung DH. CRIF1 deficiency induces FOXP3 LOW inflammatory non-suppressive regulatory T cells, thereby promoting antitumor immunity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj9600. [PMID: 38536932 PMCID: PMC10971410 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj9600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Recently identified human FOXP3lowCD45RA- inflammatory non-suppressive (INS) cells produce proinflammatory cytokines, exhibit reduced suppressiveness, and promote antitumor immunity unlike conventional regulatory T cells (Tregs). In spite of their implication in tumors, the mechanism for generation of FOXP3lowCD45RA- INS cells in vivo is unclear. We showed that the FOXP3lowCD45RA- cells in human tumors demonstrate attenuated expression of CRIF1, a vital mitochondrial regulator. Mice with CRIF1 deficiency in Tregs bore Foxp3lowINS-Tregs with mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic reprograming. The enhanced glutaminolysis activated α-ketoglutarate-mTORC1 axis, which promoted proinflammatory cytokine expression by inducing EOMES and SATB1 expression. Moreover, chromatin openness of the regulatory regions of the Ifng and Il4 genes was increased, which facilitated EOMES/SATB1 binding. The increased α-ketoglutarate-derived 2-hydroxyglutarate down-regulated Foxp3 expression by methylating the Foxp3 gene regulatory regions. Furthermore, CRIF1 deficiency-induced Foxp3lowINS-Tregs suppressed tumor growth in an IFN-γ-dependent manner. Thus, CRIF1 deficiency-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction results in the induction of Foxp3lowINS-Tregs including FOXP3lowCD45RA- cells that promote antitumor immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sangsin Lee
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation in Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung Geun Song
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Gwanghun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Wide River Institute of Immunology, Seoul National University, Hongcheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sehui Kim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun Jung Yoo
- Laboratory of Immunology and Vaccine Innovation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaemoon Koh
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ye-Ji Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jingwen Tian
- Department of Medical Science, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Eunji Cho
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Youn Soo Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sunghoe Chang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun Mu Shin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Wide River Institute of Immunology, Seoul National University, Hongcheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Cheon Jung
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Kim
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center (AMC), Ulsan University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae Min Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yoon Kyung Jeon
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Young Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Minho Shong
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ji Hyung Kim
- Laboratory of Immunology and Vaccine Innovation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Doo Hyun Chung
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation in Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Liu J, Zhang B, Zhang G, Shang D. Reprogramming of regulatory T cells in inflammatory tumor microenvironment: can it become immunotherapy turning point? Front Immunol 2024; 15:1345838. [PMID: 38449875 PMCID: PMC10915070 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1345838] [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: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and identifying widely used immunosuppressants with minimal side effects are two major challenges currently hampering cancer immunotherapy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are present in almost all cancer tissues and play an important role in preserving autoimmune tolerance and tissue homeostasis. The tumor inflammatory microenvironment causes the reprogramming of Tregs, resulting in the conversion of Tregs to immunosuppressive phenotypes. This process ultimately facilitates tumor immune escape or tumor progression. However, current systemic Treg depletion therapies may lead to severe autoimmune toxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanism of Treg reprogramming and develop immunotherapies that selectively target Tregs within tumors. This article provides a comprehensive review of the potential mechanisms involved in Treg cell reprogramming and explores the application of Treg cell immunotherapy. The interference with reprogramming pathways has shown promise in reducing the number of tumor-associated Tregs or impairing their function during immunotherapy, thereby improving anti-tumor immune responses. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that drive Treg cell reprogramming could reveal new molecular targets for future treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Biao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Guolin Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Dong Shang
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mortezaee K. Selective targeting or reprogramming of intra-tumoral Tregs. Med Oncol 2024; 41:71. [PMID: 38341821 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-024-02300-0] [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: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical immunosuppressive cells that are frequently present in the tumor microenvironment of solid cancers and enable progression of tumors toward metastasis. The cells expand in response to tumor-associated antigens and are actively involved in bypassing immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors through integrating numerous environmental signals. A point here is that Tregs are clonally distinct in peripheral blood from tumor area. Currently, an effective and novel task in cancer immunotherapy is to selectively destabilize or deplete intra-tumoral Tregs in order to avoid systemic inflammatory events. Helios is a transcription factor expressed selectively by Tregs and promotes their stabilization, and Trps1 is a master regulator of intra-tumoral Tregs. Anti-CCR8 and the IL-2Rβγ agonist Bempegaldesleukin selectively target intra-tumoral Treg population, with the former approved to not elicit autoimmunity. Disarming Treg-related immunosuppression in tumors through diverting their reprogramming or promoting naïve T cell differentiation into cells with effector immune activating profile is another promising area of research in cancer immunotherapy. Blimp-1 inhibitors and glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein agonists are example approaches that can be used for diverting Treg differentiation into Th1-like CD4+ T cells, thereby powering immunogenicity against cancer. Finally, selective target of intra-tumoral Tregs and their reprogramming into effector T cells is applicable using low-dose chemotherapy, and high-salt and high-tryptophan diet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keywan Mortezaee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Attias M, Piccirillo CA. The impact of Foxp3 + regulatory T-cells on CD8 + T-cell dysfunction in tumour microenvironments and responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38325330 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16313] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been a breakthrough in cancer therapy, inducing durable remissions in responding patients. However, they are associated with variable outcomes, spanning from disease hyperprogression to complete responses with the onset of immune-related adverse events. The consequences of checkpoint inhibition on Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg ) cells remain unclear but could provide key insights into these variable outcomes. In this review, we first cover the mechanisms that underlie the development of hot and cold tumour microenvironments, which determine the efficacy of immunotherapy. We then outline how differences in tumour-intrinsic immunogenicity, T-cell trafficking, local metabolic environments and inhibitory checkpoint signalling differentially impair CD8+ T-cell function in tumour microenvironments, all the while promoting Treg -cell suppressive activity. Finally, we focus on the mechanisms that enable the induction of polyfunctional CD8+ T-cells upon checkpoint blockade and discuss the role of ICI-induced Treg -cell reactivation in acquired resistance to treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikhaël Attias
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ciriaco A Piccirillo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhang Z, Guo J, Jia R. Treg plasticity and human diseases. Inflamm Res 2023; 72:2181-2197. [PMID: 37878023 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-023-01808-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As a subset of CD4+ T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) with the characteristic expression of transcription factor FOXP3 play a key role in maintaining self-tolerance and regulating immune responses. However, in some inflammatory circumstances, Tregs can express cytokines of other T help (Th) cells by internal reprogramming, which is called Treg plasticity. These reprogrammed Tregs with impaired suppressive ability contribute to the progression of diseases by secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, in the tumor microenvironment (TME), such changes in phenotype rarely occur in Tregs, on the contrary, Tregs usually display a stronger suppressive function and inhibit anti-tumor immunity. It is important to understand the mechanisms of Treg plasticity in inflammatory diseases and cancers. OBJECTIVES In this review, we summarize the characteristics of different Th-like Tregs and discuss the potential mechanisms of these changes in phenotype. Furthermore, we summarize the Treg plasticity in human diseases and discuss the effects of these changes in phenotype on disease progression, as well as the potential application of drugs or reagents that regulate Treg plasticity in human diseases. CONCLUSIONS Treg plasticity is associated with inflammatory diseases and cancers. Regulating Treg plasticity is a promising direction for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhang
- 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, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jihua Guo
- 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, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Department of Endodontics, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Rong Jia
- 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, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Zhao Y, Zhao M, Li M, Ma X, Zheng M, Nie Y, Zhu Y, Ren J, Hasimu A, Yuan Z, Li Q, Bahabayi A, Zhang Z, Zeng X, Liu C. Alterations in Helios+ T cell subsets in peripheral blood of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma patients: Implications for early diagnosis. Immunobiology 2023; 228:152749. [PMID: 37778128 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2023.152749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the changes and significance of circulating Helios-associated T cell subsets in patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). METHODS Blood samples were collected from 35 healthy controls and 34 patients with early-stage LUAD. Flow cytometry was used to analyze various CD4+ T cell subsets, including regulatory T(Treg) cells, follicular regulatory T(Tfr) cells, follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, and conventional T (con-T) cells. Correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the association of Helios-related subsets with clinical indicators. The ROC curve was used to explore the potential clinical value of Helios+ T cell subsets in the screening of patients with early LUAD. Fifteen of these patients were tracked after lung cancer resection and changes in Helios+ T cell subsets before and after treatment were analyzed. RESULTS The percentage and absolute number of Tregs were up-regulated in LUAD patients while Tfh and con-T cells expressing Helios were down-regulated. Absolute counts of Tfr and con-T cells and Helios expression in Tfr and Treg decreased significantly after resection. Helios+ Tfh and con-T were negatively correlated with certain tumor markers. Areas under the curve (AUCs) of percentages and absolute counts of Helios+ Tfh, Treg, Tfr and con-T cells to distinguish early LUAD from healthy individuals were 0.7277, 0.5697, 0.5718, 0.7210 (percentages), 0.7336, 0.7378, 0.5908 and 0.7445(absolute numbers), respectively. CONCLUSION Helios+ T cell subsets in peripheral blood of early-stage LUAD patients has changed significantly, which may be related to the pathogenesis of LUAD and could help for early diagnosis of LUAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiancan Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mohan Zheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yuying Nie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yaoyi Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxin Ren
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ainizati Hasimu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zihang Yuan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ayibaota Bahabayi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhonghui Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xingyue Zeng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Gao X, Tang Y, Kong L, Fan Y, Wang C, Wang R. Treg cell: Critical role of regulatory T-cells in depression. Pharmacol Res 2023; 195:106893. [PMID: 37611836 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Depression is a highly prevalent disorder of the central nervous system. The neuropsychiatric symptoms of clinical depression are persistent and include fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, altered sleep patterns, hyperalgesia, melancholia, anxiety, and impaired social behaviours. Mounting evidences suggest that neuroinflammation triggers dysregulated cellular immunity and increases susceptibility to psychiatric diseases. Neuroimmune responses have transformed the clinical approach to depression because of their roles in its pathophysiology and their therapeutic potential. In particular, activated regulatory T (Treg) cells play an increasingly evident role in the inflammatory immune response. In this review, we summarized the available data and discussed in depth the fundamental roles of Tregs in the pathogenesis of depression, as well as the clinical therapeutic potential of Tregs. We aimed to provide recent information regarding the potential of Tregs as immune-modulating biologics for the treatment and prevention of long-term neuropsychiatric symptoms of depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Gao
- Department of Geriatrics, Qingdao Mental Health Center, 26600 Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yuru Tang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 26600 Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lingli Kong
- Department of Geriatrics, Qingdao Mental Health Center, 26600 Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yong Fan
- Department of Geriatrics, Qingdao Mental Health Center, 26600 Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Chunxia Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Qingdao Mental Health Center, 26600 Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Pain Management, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), 26600 Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Di Pilato M, Gao Y, Sun Y, Fu A, Grass C, Seeholzer T, Feederle R, Mazo I, Kazer SW, Litchfield K, von Andrian UH, Mempel TR, Jenkins RW, Krappmann D, Keller P. Translational Studies Using the MALT1 Inhibitor ( S)-Mepazine to Induce Treg Fragility and Potentiate Immune Checkpoint Therapy in Cancer. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOTHERAPY AND PRECISION ONCOLOGY 2023; 6:61-73. [PMID: 37214210 PMCID: PMC10195017 DOI: 10.36401/jipo-22-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis but also protect tumors from immune-mediated growth control or rejection and pose a significant barrier to effective immunotherapy. Inhibition of MALT1 paracaspase activity can selectively reprogram immune-suppressive Tregs in the tumor microenvironment to adopt a proinflammatory fragile state, which offers an opportunity to impede tumor growth and enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy (ICT). Methods We performed preclinical studies with the orally available allosteric MALT1 inhibitor (S)-mepazine as a single-agent and in combination with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) ICT to investigate its pharmacokinetic properties and antitumor effects in several murine tumor models as well as patient-derived organotypic tumor spheroids (PDOTS). Results (S)-mepazine demonstrated significant antitumor effects and was synergistic with anti-PD-1 therapy in vivo and ex vivo but did not affect circulating Treg frequencies in healthy rats at effective doses. Pharmacokinetic profiling revealed favorable drug accumulation in tumors to concentrations that effectively blocked MALT1 activity, potentially explaining preferential effects on tumor-infiltrating over systemic Tregs. Conclusions The MALT1 inhibitor (S)-mepazine showed single-agent anticancer activity and presents a promising opportunity for combination with PD-1 pathway-targeted ICT. Activity in syngeneic tumor models and human PDOTS was likely mediated by induction of tumor-associated Treg fragility. This translational study supports ongoing clinical investigations (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04859777) of MPT-0118, (S)-mepazine succinate, in patients with advanced or metastatic treatment-refractory solid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Di Pilato
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yun Gao
- Monopteros Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yi Sun
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amina Fu
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carina Grass
- Research Unit Signaling and Translation - Signaling and Immunity, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Helmholtz Munich–German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Seeholzer
- Research Unit Signaling and Translation - Signaling and Immunity, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Helmholtz Munich–German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Regina Feederle
- Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Zentrum München–German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Irina Mazo
- Monopteros Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel W. Kazer
- Monopteros Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Litchfield
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Thorsten R. Mempel
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Russell W. Jenkins
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Krappmann
- Research Unit Signaling and Translation - Signaling and Immunity, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Helmholtz Munich–German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Park SM, Miyamoto DK, Han GYQ, Chan M, Curnutt NM, Tran NL, Velleca A, Kim JH, Schurer A, Chang K, Xu W, Kharas MG, Woo CM. Dual IKZF2 and CK1α degrader targets acute myeloid leukemia cells. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:726-739.e11. [PMID: 36898380 PMCID: PMC10466730 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.02.010] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy for which several epigenetic regulators have been identified as therapeutic targets. Here we report the development of cereblon-dependent degraders of IKZF2 and casein kinase 1α (CK1α), termed DEG-35 and DEG-77. We utilized a structure-guided approach to develop DEG-35 as a nanomolar degrader of IKZF2, a hematopoietic-specific transcription factor that contributes to myeloid leukemogenesis. DEG-35 possesses additional substrate specificity for the therapeutically relevant target CK1α, which was identified through unbiased proteomics and a PRISM screen assay. Degradation of IKZF2 and CK1α blocks cell growth and induces myeloid differentiation in AML cells through CK1α-p53- and IKZF2-dependent pathways. Target degradation by DEG-35 or a more soluble analog, DEG-77, delays leukemia progression in murine and human AML mouse models. Overall, we provide a strategy for multitargeted degradation of IKZF2 and CK1α to enhance efficacy against AML that may be expanded to additional targets and indications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Mi Park
- Molecular Pharmacology Program and Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - David K Miyamoto
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Grace Y Q Han
- Molecular Pharmacology Program and Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mandy Chan
- Molecular Pharmacology Program and Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicole M Curnutt
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nathan L Tran
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anthony Velleca
- Molecular Pharmacology Program and Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jun Hyun Kim
- Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexandra Schurer
- Molecular Pharmacology Program and Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathryn Chang
- Molecular Pharmacology Program and Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wenqing Xu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael G Kharas
- Molecular Pharmacology Program and Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Christina M Woo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bonazzi S, d'Hennezel E, Beckwith REJ, Xu L, Fazal A, Magracheva A, Ramesh R, Cernijenko A, Antonakos B, Bhang HEC, Caro RG, Cobb JS, Ornelas E, Ma X, Wartchow CA, Clifton MC, Forseth RR, Fortnam BH, Lu H, Csibi A, Tullai J, Carbonneau S, Thomsen NM, Larrow J, Chie-Leon B, Hainzl D, Gu Y, Lu D, Meyer MJ, Alexander D, Kinyamu-Akunda J, Sabatos-Peyton CA, Dales NA, Zécri FJ, Jain RK, Shulok J, Wang YK, Briner K, Porter JA, Tallarico JA, Engelman JA, Dranoff G, Bradner JE, Visser M, Solomon JM. Discovery and characterization of a selective IKZF2 glue degrader for cancer immunotherapy. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:235-247.e12. [PMID: 36863346 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Malignant tumors can evade destruction by the immune system by attracting immune-suppressive regulatory T cells (Treg) cells. The IKZF2 (Helios) transcription factor plays a crucial role in maintaining function and stability of Treg cells, and IKZF2 deficiency reduces tumor growth in mice. Here we report the discovery of NVP-DKY709, a selective molecular glue degrader of IKZF2 that spares IKZF1/3. We describe the recruitment-guided medicinal chemistry campaign leading to NVP-DKY709 that redirected the degradation selectivity of cereblon (CRBN) binders from IKZF1 toward IKZF2. Selectivity of NVP-DKY709 for IKZF2 was rationalized by analyzing the DDB1:CRBN:NVP-DKY709:IKZF2(ZF2 or ZF2-3) ternary complex X-ray structures. Exposure to NVP-DKY709 reduced the suppressive activity of human Treg cells and rescued cytokine production in exhausted T-effector cells. In vivo, treatment with NVP-DKY709 delayed tumor growth in mice with a humanized immune system and enhanced immunization responses in cynomolgus monkeys. NVP-DKY709 is being investigated in the clinic as an immune-enhancing agent for cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Bonazzi
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Eva d'Hennezel
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | | | - Lei Xu
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aleem Fazal
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anna Magracheva
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Radha Ramesh
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Hyo-Eun C Bhang
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Jennifer S Cobb
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Xiaolei Ma
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Ry R Forseth
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | | | - Hongbo Lu
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alfredo Csibi
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer Tullai
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seth Carbonneau
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Noel M Thomsen
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jay Larrow
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Dominik Hainzl
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yi Gu
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Darlene Lu
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthew J Meyer
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dylan Alexander
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Natalie A Dales
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Rishi K Jain
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Janine Shulok
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Y Karen Wang
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Karin Briner
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Glenn Dranoff
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - James E Bradner
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael Visser
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Wang ES, Gray NS. Shining light on reprogramming Tregs for cancer therapy. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:231-233. [PMID: 36931248 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.02.009] [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: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Bonazzi et al. demonstrate that pharmacologically degrading the transcription factor Helios (IKZF2) results in destabilization of regulatory T cells, which normally restrain anti-tumor immunity. These results highlight how molecular glue degraders can selectively target previously undruggable proteins with potential applications in the clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric S Wang
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
RBP-RNA interactions in the control of autoimmunity and autoinflammation. Cell Res 2023; 33:97-115. [PMID: 36599968 PMCID: PMC9892603 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-022-00752-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmunity and autoinflammation arise from aberrant immunological and inflammatory responses toward self-components, contributing to various autoimmune diseases and autoinflammatory diseases. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are essential for immune cell development and function, mainly via exerting post-transcriptional regulation of RNA metabolism and function. Functional dysregulation of RBPs and abnormities in RNA metabolism are closely associated with multiple autoimmune or autoinflammatory disorders. Distinct RBPs play critical roles in aberrant autoreactive inflammatory responses via orchestrating a complex regulatory network consisting of DNAs, RNAs and proteins within immune cells. In-depth characterizations of RBP-RNA interactomes during autoimmunity and autoinflammation will lead to a better understanding of autoimmune pathogenesis and facilitate the development of effective therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize and discuss the functions of RBP-RNA interactions in controlling aberrant autoimmune inflammation and their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
Inflammation is a biological process that dynamically alters the surrounding microenvironment, including participating immune cells. As a well-protected organ surrounded by specialized barriers and with immune privilege properties, the central nervous system (CNS) tightly regulates immune responses. Yet in neuroinflammatory conditions, pathogenic immunity can disrupt CNS structure and function. T cells in particular play a key role in promoting and restricting neuroinflammatory responses, while the inflamed CNS microenvironment can influence and reshape T cell function and identity. Still, the contraction of aberrant T cell responses within the CNS is not well understood. Using autoimmunity as a model, here we address the contribution of CD4 T helper (Th) cell subsets in promoting neuropathology and disease. To address the mechanisms antagonizing neuroinflammation, we focus on the control of the immune response by regulatory T cells (Tregs) and describe the counteracting processes that preserve their identity under inflammatory challenges. Finally, given the influence of the local microenvironment on immune regulation, we address how CNS-intrinsic signals reshape T cell function to mitigate abnormal immune T cell responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nail Benallegue
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, F-44000, Nantes, France
| | - Hania Kebir
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Jorge I. Alvarez
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Yan S, Kotschenreuther K, Deng S, Kofler DM. Regulatory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis: functions, development, regulation, and therapeutic potential. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:533. [PMID: 36173485 PMCID: PMC9522664 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04563-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that mainly affects the joints but also leads to systemic inflammation. Auto-reactivity and dysregulation of self-tolerance are thought to play a vital role in disease onset. In the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, disturbed immunosuppressive properties of regulatory T cells contribute to the dysregulation of immune homeostasis. In RA patients, the functions of Treg cells and their frequency are reduced. Therefore, focusing on the re-establishment of self-tolerance by increasing Treg cell frequencies and preventing a loss of function is a promising strategy for the treatment of RA. This approach could be especially beneficial for those patients who do not respond well to current therapies. In this review, we summarize and discuss the current knowledge about the function, differentiation and regulation of Treg cells in RA patients and in animal models of autoimmune arthritis. In addition, we highlight the therapeutic potential as well as the challenges of Treg cell targeting treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuaifeng Yan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpenerstr. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Konstantin Kotschenreuther
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpenerstr. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Shuya Deng
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - David M Kofler
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpenerstr. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Integrated Oncology, Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Verano AL, You I, Donovan KA, Mageed N, Yue H, Nowak RP, Fischer ES, Wang ES, Gray NS. Redirecting the Neo-Substrate Specificity of Cereblon-Targeting PROTACs to Helios. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2404-2410. [PMID: 36007246 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs), such as thalidomide and its analogues, are some of the most commonly utilized E3 ligase ligands for the development of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). While the canonical neo-substrates of IMiDs (i.e., Ikaros and Aiolos) are often considered to be unwanted targets of PROTACs, maintaining the degradation of these neo-substrates also provides the opportunity to synergistically degrade multiple proteins with a single compound. Here, we report the development of ALV-07-082-03, a CDK4/CDK6/Helios triple degrader that consists of palbociclib, an FDA-approved CDK4/6 inhibitor, conjugated to DKY709, a novel IMiD-based Helios degrader. Pharmacological codegradation of CDK4/6 and Helios resulted in potent suppression of downstream signaling and proliferation in cancer cells, as well as enhanced derepression of IL-2 secretion. Thus, not only do we demonstrate the possibility of rationally redirecting the neo-substrate specificity of PROTACs by incorporating alternative molecular glue molecules as E3 ligase ligands but our findings also suggest that cotargeting CDK4/6 and Helios may have synergistic effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa L Verano
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Inchul You
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, CHEM-H and SCI, Stanford Medical School, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Katherine A Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Nada Mageed
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Hong Yue
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Radosław P Nowak
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Eric S Wang
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, CHEM-H and SCI, Stanford Medical School, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ju B, Zhu L, Wang J, Zheng J, Hao Z, Luo J, Zhang J, Hu N, An Q, Feng X, Huo Y, He L. The proportion and phenotypic changes of CD4 +CD25 -Foxp3 + T cells in patients with untreated rheumatoid arthritis. BMC Immunol 2022; 23:41. [PMID: 36064312 PMCID: PMC9446710 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-022-00517-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cell-mediated immunosuppression is an essential mechanism of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, little is known regarding the specific role of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ Treg cells in RA. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of circulating CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ Treg cells and their role in RA. METHODS Sixty-one untreated RA patients and 40 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this study. The proportion of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs; the levels of CTLA4, GITR, Helios, and ICOS; and the production of IL-17A, IFN-γ, and IL-10 were assessed by flow cytometry. The correlation of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs with the clinical indicators was conducted by Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS The proportion of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells was elevated in RA and positively correlated with disease activity. CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells expressed less Helios and produced more IFN-γ than conventional Tregs in RA. Additionally, the proportion of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells was positively correlated with DAS28 score, IgG titer, and anti-CCP titer. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells in RA exhibit several different functional properties from conventional Tregs and are correlated with RA disease activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bomiao Ju
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Li Zhu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jian Zheng
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhiming Hao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Nan Hu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qi An
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiuyuan Feng
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yongwei Huo
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lan He
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Shi W, Ding W, Zhao Z, Wang R, Wang F, Tang Y, Zhu J, Su C, Zhao X, Liu L. Peroxidase is a novel potential marker in glioblastoma through bioinformatics method and experimental validation. Front Genet 2022; 13:990344. [PMID: 36118855 PMCID: PMC9471987 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.990344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Peroxidase (PXDN), a specific extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated protein, has been determined as a tumor indicator and therapeutic target in various tumors. However, the effects of PXDN in prognostic performance and clinical implications in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains unknown. Here, we assessed PXDN expression pattern and its performance on prognosis among GBM cases from TCGA and CGGA databases. PXDN was up-regulated within GBM samples in comparison with normal control. High PXDN expression was a dismal prognostic indicator in GBM. Single cell RNA analysis was conducted to detect the cell localization of PXDN. We also set up a PPI network to explore the interacting protein associated with PXDN, including TSKU, COL4A1 and COL5A1. Consistently, functional enrichment analysis revealed that several cancer hallmarks were enriched in the GBM cases with high PXDN expression, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), fatty acid metabolism, glycolysis, hypoxia, inflammatory response, and Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. Next, this study analyzed the association of PXDN expression and immunocyte infiltration. PXDN expression was in direct proportion to the infiltrating degrees of NK cells resting, T cells regulatory, M0 macrophage, monocytes and eosinophils. The roles of PXDN on immunity were further estimated by PXDN-associated immunomodulators. In addition, four prognosis-related lncRNAs co-expressed with PXDN were identified. Finally, we observed that PXDN depletion inhibits GBM cell proliferation and migration by in vitro experiments. Our data suggested that PXDN has the potential to be a powerful prognostic biomarker, which might offer a basis for developing therapeutic targets for GBM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Shi
- Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wenjie Ding
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Zixuan Zhao
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Fengxu Wang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yanfen Tang
- Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jinfeng Zhu
- Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Chengcheng Su
- Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhao
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, China
- *Correspondence: Lei Liu, , Xinyuan Zhao,
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
- *Correspondence: Lei Liu, , Xinyuan Zhao,
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Itahashi K, Irie T, Nishikawa H. Regulatory T-cell development in the tumor microenvironment. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:1216-1227. [PMID: 35879813 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are required for maintaining self-tolerance and preventing the development of autoimmune diseases. However, Treg cells are abundant in tumors and suppress antitumor immunity, contributing to tumor development and growth. Thus, the selective deletion of tumor-infiltrating Treg cells is important for successful Treg cell-targeted therapies, providing effective antitumor immunity without inducing deleterious autoimmune disorders. Advancements in sequencing technologies have exposed the diversity and heterogeneity of human Treg cells during activation and differentiation, further emphasizing the importance of understanding tumor-infiltrating Treg cells for the development of Treg cell-targeted therapies. This review provides an overview of the classification and function of Treg cells and summarizes recent knowledge on the activation and differentiation of Treg cells in the tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kota Itahashi
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuma Irie
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Nishikawa
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Lin F, Hu X, Zhang Y, Ye S, Gu Y, Yan B, Wang L, Jiang Y. Upregulated TIGIT+ and Helios+ regulatory T cell levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of NSCLC patients. Mol Immunol 2022; 147:40-49. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
|
30
|
Orozco G, Gupta M, Gedaly R, Marti F. Untangling the Knots of Regulatory T Cell Therapy in Solid Organ Transplantation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:883855. [PMID: 35720387 PMCID: PMC9198594 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.883855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous preclinical studies have provided solid evidence supporting adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to induce organ tolerance. As a result, there are 7 currently active Treg cell-based clinical trials in solid organ transplantation worldwide, all of which are early phase I or phase I/II trials. Although the results of these trials are optimistic and support both safety and feasibility, many experimental and clinical unanswered questions are slowing the progression of this new therapeutic alternative. In this review, we bring to the forefront the major challenges that Treg cell transplant investigators are currently facing, including the phenotypic and functional diversity of Treg cells, lineage stability, non-standardized ex vivo Treg cell manufacturing process, adequacy of administration route, inability of monitoring and tracking infused cells, and lack of biomarkers or validated surrogate endpoints of efficacy in clinical trials. With this plethora of interrogation marks, we are at a challenging and exciting crossroad where properly addressing these questions will determine the successful implementation of Treg cell-based immunotherapy in clinical transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Orozco
- Department of Surgery - Transplant Division, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Meera Gupta
- Department of Surgery - Transplant Division, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Alliance Research Initiative [Treg cells to Induce Liver Tolerance (TILT) Alliance], University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Roberto Gedaly
- Department of Surgery - Transplant Division, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Alliance Research Initiative [Treg cells to Induce Liver Tolerance (TILT) Alliance], University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States.,Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Francesc Marti
- Department of Surgery - Transplant Division, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Alliance Research Initiative [Treg cells to Induce Liver Tolerance (TILT) Alliance], University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States.,Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Domostegui A, Nieto-Barrado L, Perez-Lopez C, Mayor-Ruiz C. Chasing molecular glue degraders: screening approaches. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:5498-5517. [PMID: 35723413 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00197g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) govern all biological processes. Some small molecules modulate PPIs through induced protein proximity. In particular, molecular glue degraders are monovalent compounds that orchestrate interactions between a target protein and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, prompting the proteasomal degradation of the former. This and other pharmacological strategies of targeted protein degradation (e.g. proteolysis-targeting chimeras - PROTACs) overcome some limitations of traditional occupancy-based therapeutics. Here, we provide an overview of the "molecular glue" concept, with a special focus on natural and synthetic inducers of proximity to E3s. We then briefly highlight the serendipitous discoveries of some clinical and preclinical molecular glue degraders, and discuss the first examples of intentional discoveries. Specifically, we outline the different screening strategies reported in this rapidly evolving arena and our thoughts on future perspectives. By mastering the ability to influence PPIs, molecular glue degraders can induce the degradation of unligandable proteins, thus providing an exciting path forward to broaden the targetable proteome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Domostegui
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Luis Nieto-Barrado
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Carles Perez-Lopez
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Cristina Mayor-Ruiz
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Wight AE, Sido JM, Degryse S, Ao L, Nakagawa H, Qiu(Vivian) Y, Shen X, Oseghali O, Kim HJ, Cantor H. Antibody-mediated blockade of the IL23 receptor destabilizes intratumoral regulatory T cells and enhances immunotherapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2200757119. [PMID: 35482921 PMCID: PMC9170135 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2200757119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Treg) can impede antitumor immunity and currently represent a major obstacle to effective cancer immunotherapy. Targeting tumor-infiltrating regulatory Treg while sparing systemic Treg represents an optimal approach to this problem. Here, we provide evidence that the interleukin 23 receptor (IL23R) expressed by tumor-infiltrating Treg promotes suppressive activity. Disruption of the IL23R results in increased responsiveness of destabilized Treg to the IL12 cytokine, the production of γ-interferon, and the recruitment of CD8 T cells that inhibit tumor growth. Since the Treg destabilization pathway that is initiated by IL23R blockade is distinct and independent from the destabilization pathway coupled to glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR) activation, we examined the impact of the coordinate induction of the two destabilization pathways on antitumor immune responses. Combined GITR and IL23R antibody treatment of mice inoculated with MC38 tumors resulted in robust and synergistic antitumor responses. These findings indicate that the delineation of independent Treg destabilization pathways may allow improved approaches to the development of combination immunotherapy for cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E. Wight
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Jessica M. Sido
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Sandrine Degryse
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Lin Ao
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Hidetoshi Nakagawa
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Yiguo Qiu(Vivian)
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Xianli Shen
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Oba Oseghali
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Hye-Jung Kim
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Harvey Cantor
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Matavele Chissumba R, Magul C, Macamo R, Monteiro V, Enosse M, Macicame I, Cumbane V, Bhatt N, Viegas E, Imbach M, Eller LA, Polyak CS, Kestens L. Helios expressing regulatory T cells are correlated with decreased IL-2 producing CD8 T cells and antibody diversity in Mozambican individuals living chronically with HIV-1. BMC Immunol 2022; 23:12. [PMID: 35287587 PMCID: PMC8922818 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-022-00487-3] [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: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) causes impairment of T and B cell responses, which begins during the acute phase of infection and is not completely restored by antiretroviral treatment. Regulatory T cell (Tregs) can improve overall disease outcome by controlling chronic inflammation but may also suppress beneficial HIV-1 specific immune responses. We aimed to analyze the profile of Tregs and their correlation with the status of T cells activation, the expression of IL-2 and IFNγ and the profile of HIV-1 specific antibodies response in Mozambican people living chronically with HIV-1 (PLWH-C). Results In PLWH-C, the proportion of total Tregs was positively correlated with the proportion of IL-2+CD4 T cells (r = 0.647; p = 0.032) and IL-2+IFNγ+CD8 T cells (r = 0.551; p = 0.014), while the proportions of Helios+Tregs correlated inversely with levels of IL-2+CD8 T cells (r = − 0.541; p = 0.017). Overall, PLWH-C, with (82%) or without virologic suppression (64%), were seronegative for at least HIV-1 p31, gp160 or p24, and the breadth of antibody responses was positively correlated with proportions of CD38+HLA-DR+CD8 T cells (r = 0.620; p = 0.012), viral load (r = 0.452; p = 0.040) and inversely with absolute CD4 T cells count (r = − 0.481; p = 0.027). Analysis of all individuals living HIV-1 showed that the breadth of HIV-1 antibody responses was inversely correlated with the proportion of Helios+Tregs (r = − 0.45; p = 0.02). Conclusion Among Mozambican people living with HIV-1, seronegativity to some HIV-1 proteins is common, particularly in virologically suppressed individuals. Furthermore, lower diversity of HIV-specific antibodies is correlated to lower immune activation, lower viral replication and higher CD4 counts, in PLWH-C. Elevation in the proportion of Helios+Tregs is related to a reduction of CD8 T expressing intracellular IL-2, in PLWH-C, but may contribute to impairment of B cell function. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12865-022-00487-3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Matavele Chissumba
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Distrito de Marracuene, Estrada Nacional N°1, Marracuene, Província de Maputo, Mozambique. .,Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Cacildo Magul
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Distrito de Marracuene, Estrada Nacional N°1, Marracuene, Província de Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Rosa Macamo
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Distrito de Marracuene, Estrada Nacional N°1, Marracuene, Província de Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Vânia Monteiro
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Distrito de Marracuene, Estrada Nacional N°1, Marracuene, Província de Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Maria Enosse
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Distrito de Marracuene, Estrada Nacional N°1, Marracuene, Província de Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Ivalda Macicame
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Distrito de Marracuene, Estrada Nacional N°1, Marracuene, Província de Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Victória Cumbane
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Distrito de Marracuene, Estrada Nacional N°1, Marracuene, Província de Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Nilesh Bhatt
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Distrito de Marracuene, Estrada Nacional N°1, Marracuene, Província de Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Edna Viegas
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Distrito de Marracuene, Estrada Nacional N°1, Marracuene, Província de Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Michelle Imbach
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Leigh Anne Eller
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christina S Polyak
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Luc Kestens
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Hu Y, Chen Y, Chen Z, Zhang X, Guo C, Yu Z, Xu P, Sun L, Zhou X, Gong Y, Yu Q, Shi Y. Dysregulated Peripheral Invariant Natural Killer T Cells in Plaque Psoriasis Patients. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:799560. [PMID: 35186952 PMCID: PMC8850372 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.799560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Psoriasis is a common immune-mediated skin disease that involves T-cell-mediated immunity. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a unique lymphocyte subpopulation that share properties and express surface markers of both NK cells and T cells. Previous reports indicate that iNKT cells regulate the development of various inflammatory diseases. IL-17 is a key cytokine in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and a key therapeutic target. Secukinumab is a fully human IgG1κ antibody that targets IL-17A, thereby antagonizing the biological effects of IL-17. Objective: To explore the expression of iNKT cells in psoriasis patients and the effect of secukinumab on them. Methods: We examined the frequencies of iNKT cells, Tregs, naïve and memory CD4+and CD8+T cells in the PBMCs as well as their cytokine production in a cohort of 40 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and 40 gender- and age-matched healthy controls. We further collected peripheral blood of another 15 moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients who were treated with secukinumab and evaluated the proportion of iNKT cells in the PBMCs at baseline and week 12. Results: The frequencies of conventional CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and Tregs in the PBMCs were comparable between psoriasis patients and healthy controls, but the frequencies of Th17 cells, Tc1 cells and Tc17 cells were increased in psoriasis patients. The frequency of peripheral iNKT cells and CD69+iNKT cells was significantly decreased in psoriasis patients. Both iNKT2 cells and iNKT17 cells were increased in psoriasis patients, but the ratio of iNKT2 cells vs iNKT17 cells was significantly reduced in psoriasis patients. After receiving secukinumab, the proportion of iNKT cells in the PBMCs of patients was increased, while the proportion of iNKT17 cells was decreased. Conclusion: Dysregulated iNKT cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and secukinumab may play a regulatory role on iNKT cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Hu
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Youdong Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zeyu Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xilin Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - ChunYuan Guo
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - ZengYang Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Gong
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Qian Yu, ; Yuling Shi,
| | - Yuling Shi
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Psoriasis, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Qian Yu, ; Yuling Shi,
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Mao R, Hussein MS, He Y. Chimeric antigen receptor engineered T cells and their application in the immunotherapy of solid tumours. Expert Rev Mol Med 2022; 24:e7. [PMID: 35086597 PMCID: PMC9617572 DOI: 10.1017/erm.2021.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we reviewed the current literature studies and our understanding of the parameters that affect the chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T's) activation, effector function, in vivo persistence, and antitumour effects. These factors include T cell subsets and their differentiation stages, the components of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) design, the expression promoters and delivery vectors, and the CAR-T production process. The CAR signalling and CAR-T activation were also studied in comparison to TCR. The last section of the review gave special consideration of CAR design for solid tumours, focusing on strategies to improve CAR-T tumour infiltration and survival in the hostile tumour microenvironment. With several hundred clinical trials undergoing worldwide, the pace of CAR-T immunotherapy moves from bench to bedside is unprecedented. We hope that the article will provide readers a clear and comprehensive view of this rapidly evolving field and will help scientists and physician to design effective CAR-Ts immunotherapy for solid tumours.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Mao
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta, USA
| | | | - Yukai He
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta, USA
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Semmrich M, Marchand JB, Fend L, Rehn M, Remy C, Holmkvist P, Silvestre N, Svensson C, Kleinpeter P, Deforges J, Junghus F, Cleary KL, Bodén M, Mårtensson L, Foloppe J, Teige I, Quéméneur E, Frendéus B. Vectorized Treg-depleting αCTLA-4 elicits antigen cross-presentation and CD8+ T cell immunity to reject ‘cold’ tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003488. [PMID: 35058324 PMCID: PMC8783833 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundImmune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is a clinically proven concept to treat cancer. Still, a majority of patients with cancer including those with poorly immune infiltrated ‘cold’ tumors are resistant to currently available ICB therapies. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is one of few clinically validated targets for ICB, but toxicities linked to efficacy in approved αCTLA-4 regimens have restricted their use and precluded full therapeutic dosing. At a mechanistic level, accumulating preclinical and clinical data indicate dual mechanisms for αCTLA-4; ICB and regulatory T cell (Treg) depletion are both thought to contribute efficacy and toxicity in available, systemic, αCTLA-4 regimens. Accordingly, strategies to deliver highly effective, yet safe αCTLA-4 therapies have been lacking. Here we assess and identify spatially restricted exposure to a novel strongly Treg-depleting, checkpoint-blocking, vectorized αCTLA-4, as a highly efficacious and potentially safe strategy to target CTLA-4.MethodsA novel human IgG1 CTLA-4 antibody (4-E03) was identified using function-first screening for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and targets associated with superior Treg-depleting activity. A tumor-selective oncolytic vaccinia vector was then engineered to encode this novel, strongly Treg-depleting, checkpoint-blocking, αCTLA-4 antibody or a matching surrogate antibody, and Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (VVGM-αCTLA-4).ResultsThe identified 4-E03 antibody showed significantly stronger Treg depletion, but equipotent checkpoint blockade, compared with clinically validated αCTLA-4 ipilimumab against CTLA-4-expressing Treg cells in a humanized mouse model in vivo. Intratumoral administration of VVGM-αCTLA-4 achieved tumor-restricted CTLA-4 receptor saturation and Treg depletion, which elicited antigen cross-presentation and stronger systemic expansion of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells and antitumor immunity compared with systemic αCTLA-4 antibody therapy. Efficacy correlated with FcγR-mediated intratumoral Treg depletion. Remarkably, in a clinically relevant mouse model resistant to systemic ICB, intratumoral VVGM-αCTLA-4 synergized with αPD-1 to reject cold tumors.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate in vivo proof of concept for spatial restriction of Treg depletion-optimized immune checkpoint blocking, vectorized αCTLA-4 as a highly effective and safe strategy to target CTLA-4. A clinical trial evaluating intratumoral VVGM-αhCTLA-4 (BT-001) alone and in combination with αPD-1 in metastatic or advanced solid tumors has commenced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monika Semmrich
- Department of Research, BioInvent International AB, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Laetitia Fend
- Department of Research, Transgene SA, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Matilda Rehn
- Department of Research, BioInvent International AB, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christelle Remy
- Department of Research, Transgene SA, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Petra Holmkvist
- Department of Research, BioInvent International AB, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Carolin Svensson
- Department of Research, BioInvent International AB, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Jules Deforges
- Department of Research, Transgene SA, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Fred Junghus
- Department of Research, BioInvent International AB, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kirstie L Cleary
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Mimoza Bodén
- Department of Research, BioInvent International AB, Lund, Sweden
| | - Linda Mårtensson
- Department of Research, BioInvent International AB, Lund, Sweden
| | - Johann Foloppe
- Department of Research, Transgene SA, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Ingrid Teige
- Department of Research, BioInvent International AB, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eric Quéméneur
- Department of Research, Transgene SA, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Björn Frendéus
- Department of Research, BioInvent International AB, Lund, Sweden
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Anisman H, Kusnecov AW. Immunotherapies and their moderation. Cancer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-91904-3.00006-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
38
|
Liu J, Wang X, Deng Y, Yu X, Wang H, Li Z. Research Progress on the Role of Regulatory T Cell in Tumor Microenvironment in the Treatment of Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:766248. [PMID: 34868991 PMCID: PMC8636122 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.766248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex ecosystem comprised of cancer cells, stromal cells, and immune cells. Analysis of the composition of TME is essential to assess the prognosis of patients with breast cancer (BC) and the efficacy of different regimes. Treg plays a crucial role in the microenvironment of breast cancer subtypes, and its function contributes to the development and progression of BC by suppressing anti-tumor immunity directly or indirectly through multiple mechanisms. In addition, conventional treatments, such as anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and neo-therapies, such as immune-checkpoint blockades, have a significant impact on the absence of Tregs in BC TME, thus gaining additional anti-tumor effect to some extent. Strikingly, Treg in BC TME revealed the predicted efficacy of some therapeutic strategies. All these results suggest that we can manipulate the abundance of Treg to achieve the ultimate effect of both conventional and novel treatments. In this review, we discuss new insights into the characteristics of Treg in BC TME, the impact of different regiments on Treg, and the possibilities of Treg as a predictive marker of efficacy for certain treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianyu Liu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Xueying Wang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Yuhan Deng
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Xin Yu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Hongbin Wang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Zhigao Li
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Ou K, Hamo D, Schulze A, Roemhild A, Kaiser D, Gasparoni G, Salhab A, Zarrinrad G, Amini L, Schlickeiser S, Streitz M, Walter J, Volk HD, Schmueck-Henneresse M, Reinke P, Polansky JK. Strong Expansion of Human Regulatory T Cells for Adoptive Cell Therapy Results in Epigenetic Changes Which May Impact Their Survival and Function. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:751590. [PMID: 34869339 PMCID: PMC8639223 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.751590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Treg) is a promising new therapeutic option to treat detrimental inflammatory conditions after transplantation and during autoimmune disease. To reach sufficient cell yield for treatment, ex vivo isolated autologous or allogenic Tregs need to be expanded extensively in vitro during manufacturing of the Treg product. However, repetitive cycles of restimulation and prolonged culture have been shown to impact T cell phenotypes, functionality and fitness. It is therefore critical to scrutinize the molecular changes which occur during T cell product generation, and reexamine current manufacturing practices. We performed genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of cells throughout the manufacturing process of a polyclonal Treg product that has proven safety and hints of therapeutic efficacy in kidney transplant patients. We found progressive DNA methylation changes over the duration of culture, which were donor-independent and reproducible between manufacturing runs. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in the final products were significantly enriched at promoters and enhancers of genes implicated in T cell activation. Additionally, significant hypomethylation did also occur in promoters of genes implicated in functional exhaustion in conventional T cells, some of which, however, have been reported to strengthen immunosuppressive effector function in Tregs. At the same time, a set of reported Treg-specific demethylated regions increased methylation levels with culture, indicating a possible destabilization of Treg identity during manufacturing, which was independent of the purity of the starting material. Together, our results indicate that the repetitive TCR-mediated stimulation lead to epigenetic changes that might impact functionality of Treg products in multiple ways, by possibly shifting to an effector Treg phenotype with enhanced functional activity or by risking destabilization of Treg identity and impaired TCR activation. Our analyses also illustrate the value of epigenetic profiling for the evaluation of T cell product manufacturing pipelines, which might open new avenues for the improvement of current adoptive Treg therapies with relevance for conventional effector T cell products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristy Ou
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dania Hamo
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Schulze
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andy Roemhild
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Kaiser
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gilles Gasparoni
- Department of Genetics and Epigenetics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Abdulrahman Salhab
- Department of Genetics and Epigenetics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Ghazaleh Zarrinrad
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leila Amini
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Schlickeiser
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mathias Streitz
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörn Walter
- Department of Genetics and Epigenetics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Hans-Dieter Volk
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Schmueck-Henneresse
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Reinke
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia K Polansky
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Rheumatism Research Centre (DRFZ) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Hetemäki I, Kaustio M, Kinnunen M, Heikkilä N, Keskitalo S, Nowlan K, Miettinen S, Sarkkinen J, Glumoff V, Andersson N, Kettunen K, Vanhanen R, Nurmi K, Eklund KK, Dunkel J, Mäyränpää MI, Schlums H, Arstila TP, Kisand K, Bryceson YT, Peterson P, Otava U, Syrjänen J, Saarela J, Varjosalo M, Kekäläinen E. Loss-of-function mutation in IKZF2 leads to immunodeficiency with dysregulated germinal center reactions and reduction of MAIT cells. Sci Immunol 2021; 6:eabe3454. [PMID: 34826260 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abe3454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iivo Hetemäki
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Meri Kaustio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matias Kinnunen
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nelli Heikkilä
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Salla Keskitalo
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirsten Nowlan
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Simo Miettinen
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joona Sarkkinen
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Virpi Glumoff
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Noora Andersson
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kaisa Kettunen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Clinical Genetics and HUSLAB Laboratory of Genetics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Reetta Vanhanen
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katariina Nurmi
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kari K Eklund
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Rheumatology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Orton Orthopaedic Hospital of the Orton Foundation, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johannes Dunkel
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko I Mäyränpää
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heinrich Schlums
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - T Petteri Arstila
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kai Kisand
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Yenan T Bryceson
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ulla Otava
- Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jaana Syrjänen
- Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Janna Saarela
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Clinical Genetics and HUSLAB Laboratory of Genetics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Markku Varjosalo
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eliisa Kekäläinen
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Dixon ML, Luo L, Ghosh S, Grimes JM, Leavenworth JD, Leavenworth JW. Remodeling of the tumor microenvironment via disrupting Blimp1 + effector Treg activity augments response to anti-PD-1 blockade. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:150. [PMID: 34798898 PMCID: PMC8605582 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01450-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulation of Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in the tumor often represents an important mechanism for cancer immune evasion and a critical barrier to anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy. Many tumor-infiltrating Treg cells display an activated phenotype and express the transcription factor Blimp1. However, the specific impact of these Blimp1+ Treg cells and their follicular regulatory T (TFR) cell subset on tumor and the underlying mechanisms of action are not yet well-explored. METHODS Various transplantable tumor models were established in immunocompetent wild-type mice and mice with a Foxp3-specific ablation of Blimp1. Tumor specimens from patients with metastatic melanoma and TCGA datasets were analyzed to support the potential role of Treg and TFR cells in tumor immunity. In vitro culture assays and in vivo adoptive transfer assays were used to understand how Treg, TFR cells and antibody responses influence tumor control. RNA sequencing and NanoString analysis were performed to reveal the transcriptome of tumor-infiltrating Treg cells and tumor cells, respectively. Finally, the therapeutic effects of anti-PD-1 treatment combined with the disruption of Blimp1+ Treg activity were evaluated. RESULTS Blimp1+ Treg and TFR cells were enriched in the tumors, and higher tumoral TFR signatures indicated increased risk of melanoma metastasis. Deletion of Blimp1 in Treg cells resulted in impaired suppressive activity and a reprogramming into effector T-cells, which were largely restricted to the tumor-infiltrating Treg population. This destabilization combined with increased anti-tumor effector cellular responses, follicular helper T-cell expansion, enhanced tumoral IgE deposition and activation of macrophages secondary to dysregulated TFR cells, remodeled the tumor microenvironment and delayed tumor growth. The increased tumor immunogenicity with MHC upregulation improved response to anti-PD-1 blockade. Mechanistically, Blimp1 enforced intratumoral Treg cells with a unique transcriptional program dependent on Eomesodermin (Eomes) expression; deletion of Eomes in Blimp1-deficient Treg cells restored tumor growth and attenuated anti-tumor immunity. CONCLUSIONS These findings revealed Blimp1 as a new critical regulator of tumor-infiltrating Treg cells and a potential target for modulating Treg activity to treat cancer. Our study has also revealed two FCERIA-containing immune signatures as promising diagnostic or prognostic markers for melanoma patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Dixon
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1600 6th Avenue South, CHB 118A, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.,Graduate Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Lin Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1600 6th Avenue South, CHB 118A, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.,School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Sadashib Ghosh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1600 6th Avenue South, CHB 118A, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.,The O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Grimes
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1600 6th Avenue South, CHB 118A, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.,Graduate Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Jonathan D Leavenworth
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Jianmei W Leavenworth
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1600 6th Avenue South, CHB 118A, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA. .,The O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA. .,Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Haftmann C, Zwicky P, Ingelfinger F, Mair F, Floess S, Riedel R, Durek P, Spalinger MR, Friebel E, Leung BP, Lutz M, Puertas N, Amorim A, Schärli S, Becher B, Kisielow J, Waisman A, Mashreghi MF, Huehn J, Becher B. Protection against autoimmunity is driven by thymic epithelial cell-mediated regulation of T reg development. Sci Immunol 2021; 6:eabf3111. [PMID: 34797691 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abf3111] [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: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) are key antigen-presenting cells mediating T cell tolerance to prevent harmful autoimmunity. mTECs both negatively select self-reactive T cells and promote the development of thymic regulatory T cells (tTregs) that mediate peripheral tolerance. The relative importance of these two mechanisms of thymic education to prevent autoimmunity is unclear. We generated a mouse model to specifically target the development and function of mTECs by conditional ablation of the NF-κB–inducing kinase (NIK) in the TEC compartment. In contrast to germline-deficient NIK−/− mice, Foxn1CreNIKfl/fl mice rapidly developed fatal T cell–dependent multiorgan autoimmunity shortly after birth. Thymic transplantation and adoptive transfer experiments demonstrated that autoimmunity arises specifically from the emergence of dysfunctional tTregs. Thus, Treg function, rather than negative selection, enforces the protection of peripheral tissues from autoimmune attack.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Haftmann
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pascale Zwicky
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Florian Ingelfinger
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Florian Mair
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Division of Vaccine and Infectious Disease, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stefan Floess
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Experimental Immunology, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - René Riedel
- Therapeutic Gene Regulation, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pawel Durek
- Therapeutic Gene Regulation, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marianne R Spalinger
- Universitätsspital, Klinik für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ekaterina Friebel
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Brian P Leung
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mirjam Lutz
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Puertas
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ana Amorim
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Schärli
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Benedict Becher
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Kisielow
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ari Waisman
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mir-Farzin Mashreghi
- Therapeutic Gene Regulation, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jochen Huehn
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Experimental Immunology, Braunschweig, Germany
- Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Burkhard Becher
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Ba H, Jiang R, Zhang M, Yin B, Wang J, Li Z, Li B, Zhou X. Suppression of Transmembrane Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Processing by a Specific Antibody Protects Against Colitis-Associated Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:687874. [PMID: 34675913 PMCID: PMC8524043 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.687874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Soluble tumor necrosis factor-α (sTNF-α) plays an important role in colitis-associated cancer (CAC); however, little is known about transmembrane TNF-α (tmTNF-α). Here, we observed an increase in sTNF-α mainly in colitis tissues from an azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced CAC mouse model whereas tmTNF-α levels were chiefly increased on epithelial cells at the tumor stage. The ratio of intracolonic tmTNF-α/sTNF-α was negatively correlated with the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, and NO) and M1 macrophages but positively correlated with the infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, regulatory T cells, and the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect of tmTNF-α. This effect of tmTNF-α was confirmed again by the induction of resistance to LPS in colonic epithelial cell lines NCM460 and HCoEpiC through the addition of exogenous tmTNF-α or transfection of the tmTNF-α leading sequence that lacks the extracellular segment but retains the intracellular domain of tmTNF-α. A tmTNF-α antibody was used to block tmTNF-α shedding after the first or second round of inflammation induction by DSS drinking to shift the time window of tmTNF-α expression ahead to the inflammation stage. Antibody treatment significantly alleviated inflammation and suppressed subsequent adenoma formation, accompanied by increased apoptosis. An antitumor effect was also observed when the antibody was administered at the malignant phase of CAC. Our results reveal tmTNF-α as a novel molecular marker for malignant transformation in CAC and provide a new insight into blocking the pathological process by targeting tmTNF-α processing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongping Ba
- Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Rui Jiang
- Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingjiao Yin
- Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhuoya Li
- Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Baihua Li
- Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoxi Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Yu W, Ji N, Gu C, Yao J, Ding M, Zhou D, Huang M, Zhang M. IRF4 is Correlated with the Conversion to a Th17-Like Phenotype in Regulatory T Cells from the Malignant Pleural Effusion. Int J Gen Med 2021; 14:6009-6019. [PMID: 34588805 PMCID: PMC8476179 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s330389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background RORγt+Foxp3+ (Th17-like) Tregs are a plastic Treg subset implicated in immune-related diseases; however, the mechanism of Treg phenotypic transformation in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) has not been elucidated. Methods The percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Helios+ and RORγt+Foxp3+ Tregs from peripheral blood and pleural effusion mononuclear cells were measured. The level of interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) mRNA expression was detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The effects of IRF4 on the induction of Tregs from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were evaluated in vitro. Correlation assays between IRF4 expression and the frequency of RORγt+Foxp3+ Tregs were performed. Results The frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Helios+ Tregs and CD4+RORγt+ Th17 cells was both increased in the MPE of NSCLC patients. The group of double-positive Foxp3+RORγt+ Treg phenotype were identified in the pleural effusion. A significant increase in the frequency of Foxp3+RORγt+ Tregs was found in MPE compared with the non-malignant pleural effusion (NPE). Compared to NPE, the relative level of IRF4 expression was increased in the MPE. IRF4 expression was positively associated with the frequency of Foxp3+RORγt+ Tregs in the PE. In vitro, the level of Helios mRNA and protein expression was reduced in induced Tregs following IRF4 over-expression. Additionally, the level of RORγt protein expression was substantially increased. However, ectopic Helios expression in induced Tregs reversed the effects induced by enhanced IRF4 expression. Conclusion IRF4 may serve as a potential molecule that promotes the conversion of regulatory T cells from MPE to a Th17-like phenotype by modulating Helios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, 225300, People's Republic of China
| | - Ningfei Ji
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengjing Gu
- Department of Pharmacy, Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, 225300, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Yao
- Department of Oncology, Huaian Hospital of Huaian City, Huaian, Jiangsu, 223200, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingdong Ding
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, 225300, People's Republic of China
| | - Daming Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, 225300, People's Republic of China
| | - Mao Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingshun Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, People's Republic of China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Pham MN, Khoryati L, Jamison BL, Hayes E, Sullivan JM, Campbell DJ, Gavin MA. In Vivo Expansion of Antigen-Specific Regulatory T Cells through Staggered Fc.IL-2 Mutein Dosing and Antigen-Specific Immunotherapy. Immunohorizons 2021; 5:782-791. [PMID: 34583939 PMCID: PMC11034776 DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2100051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In mice, Ag administration in the absence of adjuvant typically elicits tolerogenic immune responses through the deletion or inactivation of conventional CD4 T cells and the formation or expansion of regulatory CD4 T cells (Treg). Although these "Ag-specific immunotherapy" (ASI) approaches are currently under clinical development to treat autoinflammatory conditions, efficacy and safety may be variable and unpredictable because of the diverse activation states of immune cells in subjects with autoimmune and allergic diseases. To reliably induce Ag-specific tolerance in patients, novel methods to control T cell responses during ASI are needed, and strategies that permanently increase Treg frequencies among Ag-specific CD4 T cells may provide long-lasting immunosuppression between treatments. In this study, we present an approach to durably increase the frequency of Ag-specific Treg in mice by administering ASI when Treg numbers are transiently increased with individual doses of a half-life-extended Treg-selective IL-2 mutein. Repeated weekly cycles of IL-2 mutein doses (day 0) followed by ASI (day 3) resulted in a 3- to 5-fold enrichment in Treg among Ag-responsive CD4 T cells. Expanded Ag-specific Treg persisted for more than 3 wk following treatment cessation, as well as through an inflammatory T cell response to an Ag-expressing virus. Combining Treg enrichment with ASI has the potential to durably treat autoimmune disease or allergy by increasing the Treg/conventional CD4 T cell ratio among autoantigen- or allergen-specific T cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minh N Pham
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA; and
| | | | | | - Erika Hayes
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA; and
| | | | | | - Marc A Gavin
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA; and
- Omeros Corp., Seattle, WA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Lam AJ, Uday P, Gillies JK, Levings MK. Helios is a marker, not a driver, of human Treg stability. Eur J Immunol 2021; 52:75-84. [PMID: 34561855 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Treg therapy holds promise as a potentially curative approach to establish immune tolerance in transplantation and autoimmune disease. An outstanding question is whether therapeutic Tregs have the potential to transdifferentiate into effector T-cells and, thus, exacerbate rather than suppress immune responses. In mice, the transcription factor Helios is thought to promote Treg lineage stability in a range of inflammatory contexts. In humans, the role of Helios in Tregs is less clear, in part, due to the inability to enrich and study subsets of Helios-positive versus Helios-negative Tregs. Using an in vitro expansion system, we found that loss of high Helios expression and emergence of an intermediate Helios (Heliosmid )-expressing population correlated with Treg destabilization. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to genetically ablate Helios expression in human naive or memory Tregs and found that Helios-KO and unedited Tregs were equivalent in their suppressive function and stability in inflammation. Thus, high Helios expression is a marker, but not a driver, of human Treg stability in vitro. These data highlight the importance of monitoring Helios expression in therapeutic Treg manufacturing and provide new insight into the biological function of this transcription factor in human T-cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Avery J Lam
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Prakruti Uday
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jana K Gillies
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Megan K Levings
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada.,School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Hatzioannou A, Boumpas A, Papadopoulou M, Papafragkos I, Varveri A, Alissafi T, Verginis P. Regulatory T Cells in Autoimmunity and Cancer: A Duplicitous Lifestyle. Front Immunol 2021; 12:731947. [PMID: 34539668 PMCID: PMC8446642 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.731947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells, possess a strategic role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, and their function has been closely linked to development of diverse pathologies including autoimmunity and cancer. Comprehensive studies in various disease contexts revealed an increased plasticity as a characteristic of Treg cells. Although Treg cell plasticity comes in various flavors, the major categories enclose the loss of Foxp3 expression, which is the master regulator of Treg cell lineage, giving rise to “ex-Treg” cells and the “fragile” Treg cells in which FOXP3 expression is retained but accompanied by the engagement of an inflammatory program and attenuation of the suppressive activity. Treg cell plasticity possess a tremendous therapeutic potential either by inducing Treg cell de-stabilization to promote anti-tumor immunity, or re-enforcing Treg cell stability to attenuate chronic inflammation. Herein, we review the literature on the Treg cell plasticity with lessons learned in autoimmunity and cancer and discuss challenges and open questions with potential therapeutic implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini Hatzioannou
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Athina Boumpas
- Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Miranta Papadopoulou
- Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Iosif Papafragkos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece.,Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Tolerance, Division of Basic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Athina Varveri
- Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Themis Alissafi
- Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panayotis Verginis
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece.,Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Tolerance, Division of Basic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Pompura SL, Wagner A, Kitz A, LaPerche J, Yosef N, Dominguez-Villar M, Hafler DA. Oleic acid restores suppressive defects in tissue-resident FOXP3 Tregs from patients with multiple sclerosis. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:138519. [PMID: 33170805 DOI: 10.1172/jci138519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
FOXP3+ Tregs rely on fatty acid β-oxidation-driven (FAO-driven) oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for differentiation and function. Recent data demonstrate a role for Tregs in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, with tissue-resident Tregs possessing tissue-specific transcriptomes. However, specific signals that establish tissue-resident Treg programs remain largely unknown. Tregs metabolically rely on FAO, and considering the lipid-rich environments of tissues, we hypothesized that environmental lipids drive Treg homeostasis. First, using human adipose tissue to model tissue residency, we identified oleic acid as the most prevalent free fatty acid. Mechanistically, oleic acid amplified Treg FAO-driven OXPHOS metabolism, creating a positive feedback mechanism that increased the expression of FOXP3 and phosphorylation of STAT5, which enhanced Treg-suppressive function. Comparing the transcriptomic program induced by oleic acid with proinflammatory arachidonic acid, we found that Tregs sorted from peripheral blood and adipose tissue of healthy donors transcriptomically resembled the Tregs treated in vitro with oleic acid, whereas Tregs from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) more closely resembled an arachidonic acid transcriptomic profile. Finally, we found that oleic acid concentrations were reduced in patients with MS and that exposure of MS Tregs to oleic acid restored defects in their suppressive function. These data demonstrate the importance of fatty acids in regulating tissue inflammatory signals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saige L Pompura
- Departments of Neurology and Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Allon Wagner
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and the Center for Computational Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Alexandra Kitz
- Departments of Neurology and Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jacob LaPerche
- Departments of Neurology and Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nir Yosef
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and the Center for Computational Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.,Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Margarita Dominguez-Villar
- Departments of Neurology and Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Hafler
- Departments of Neurology and Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
DiToro D, Basu R. Emerging Complexity in CD4 +T Lineage Programming and Its Implications in Colorectal Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:694833. [PMID: 34489941 PMCID: PMC8417887 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.694833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal immune system has the difficult task of protecting a large environmentally exposed single layer of epithelium from pathogens without allowing inappropriate inflammatory responses. Unmitigated inflammation drives multiple pathologies, including the development of colorectal cancer. CD4+T cells mediate both the suppression and promotion of intestinal inflammation. They comprise an array of phenotypically and functionally distinct subsets tailored to a specific inflammatory context. This diversity of form and function is relevant to a broad array of pathologic and physiologic processes. The heterogeneity underlying both effector and regulatory T helper cell responses to colorectal cancer, and its impact on disease progression, is reviewed herein. Importantly, T cell responses are dynamic; they exhibit both quantitative and qualitative changes as the inflammatory context shifts. Recent evidence outlines the role of CD4+T cells in colorectal cancer responses and suggests possible mechanisms driving qualitative alterations in anti-cancer immune responses. The heterogeneity of T cells in colorectal cancer, as well as the manner and mechanism by which they change, offer an abundance of opportunities for more specific, and likely effective, interventional strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel DiToro
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Ragon Institute of MGH MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Rajatava Basu
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Hippen KL, Furlan SN, Roychoudhuri R, Wang E, Zhang Y, Osborn MJ, Merkel SC, Hani S, MacMillan ML, Cichocki F, Miller JS, Wagner JE, Restifo NP, Kean LS, Blazar BR. Multiply restimulated human thymic regulatory T cells express distinct signature regulatory T-cell transcription factors without evidence of exhaustion. Cytotherapy 2021; 23:704-714. [PMID: 33893050 PMCID: PMC9275118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.02.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Adoptive transfer of suppressive CD4+CD25+ thymic regulatory T cells (tTregs) can control auto- and alloimmune responses but typically requires in vitro expansion to reach the target cell number for efficacy. Although the adoptive transfer of expanded tTregs purified from umbilical cord blood ameliorates graft-versus-host disease in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for lymphohematopoietic malignancy, individual Treg products of 100 × 106 cells/kg are manufactured over an extended 19-day time period using a process that yields variable products and is both laborious and costly. These limitations could be overcome with the availability of 'off the shelf' Treg. RESULTS Previously, the authors reported a repetitive restimulation expansion protocol that maintains Treg phenotype (CD4+25++127-Foxp3+), potentially providing hundreds to thousands of patient infusions. However, repetitive stimulation of effector T cells induces a well-defined program of exhaustion that leads to reduced T-cell survival and function. Unexpectedly, the authors found that multiply stimulated human tTregs do not develop an exhaustion signature and instead maintain their Treg gene expression pattern. The authors also found that tTregs expanded with one or two rounds of stimulation and tTregs expanded with three or five rounds of stimulation preferentially express distinct subsets of a group of five transcription factors that lock in Treg Foxp3expression, Treg stability and suppressor function. Multiply restimulated Tregs also had increased transcripts characteristic of T follicular regulatory cells, a Treg subset. DISCUSSION These data demonstrate that repetitively expanded human tTregs have a Treg-locking transcription factor with stable FoxP3 and without the classical T-cell exhaustion gene expression profile-desirable properties that support the possibility of off-the-shelf Treg therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keli L Hippen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
| | - Scott N Furlan
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rahul Roychoudhuri
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signaling and Development, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ena Wang
- Translational Oncology, Allogene Therapeutics, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Yigang Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mark J Osborn
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sarah C Merkel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sophia Hani
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Margaret L MacMillan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Frank Cichocki
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Miller
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - John E Wagner
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nicholas P Restifo
- Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Leslie S Kean
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bruce R Blazar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
| |
Collapse
|