1
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Zhao C, Guo S, Ge S. Epigenetic regulation of cGAS and STING expression in cancer. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 138:112556. [PMID: 38936059 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112556] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Although cancer immunotherapy has become a successful therapeutic strategy in a certain range of solid cancer and hematological malignancies, this efficacy of immunotherapy is impeded by limited success rates due to an immunologically "cold" state. The cGAS-STING signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved system which can find cytoplasmic DNA to regulate the innate immune and adaptive immune response. Beyond the host defense and autoimmune disorders, recent advances have now expanded the roles of cGAS-STING that is precise activated and tight regulated to improve anticancer immunity. Mounting evidence now has shown the crucial role of epigenetic regulation in mediating the expression of key genes associated with the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. In this review, we highlight the structure and cellular localization of cGAS and STING as well as intracellular cascade reaction of cGAS-STING signal transduction. We further summarize recent findings of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that control the expression of cGAS and STING in cancer. The review aims to offer theoretical basis and reference for targeting the epigenetic mechanisms that control cGAS and STING gene expression to promote the development of more effective combination therapeutic regimens to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in clinical practice and cancer clinical and cancer research workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanxiang Zhao
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Reproductive Immunity, School of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai'an, China.
| | - Shuwei Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
| | - Shiyao Ge
- Reproductive Sciences Institute, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
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2
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Yang Z, Chu B, Tu Y, Li L, Chen D, Huang S, Huang W, Fan W, Li Q, Zhang C, Yuan Z, Huang J, Leung ELH, Jiang Y. Dual inhibitors of DNMT and HDAC remodels the immune microenvironment of colorectal cancer and enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy. Pharmacol Res 2024; 206:107271. [PMID: 38906202 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the second most prevalent and deadly cancer worldwide. The emergence of immune checkpoint therapy has provided a revolutionary strategy for the treatment of solid tumors. However, less than 5% of colorectal cancer patients respond to immune checkpoint therapy. Thus, it is of great scientific significance to develop "potentiators" for immune checkpoint therapy. In this study, we found that knocking down different DNMT and HDAC isoforms could increase the expression of IFNs in colorectal cancer cells, which can enhance the effectiveness of immune checkpoint therapy. Therefore, the combined inhibition of DNMT and HDAC cloud synergistically enhance the effect of immunotherapy. We found that dual DNMT and HDAC inhibitors C02S could inhibit tumor growth in immunocompetent mice but not in immunocompromised nude mice, which indicates that C02S exerts its antitumor effects through the immune system. Mechanistically, C02S could increase the expression of ERVs, which generated the intracellular levels of dsRNA in tumor cells, and then promotes the expression of IFNs through the RIG-I/MDA5-MAVS signaling pathway. Moreover, C02S increased the immune infiltration of DCs and T cells in microenvironment, and enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy in MC38 and CT26 mice model. These results confirmed that C02S can activate IFNs through the RIG-I/MDA5-MAVS signaling pathway, remodel the tumor immune microenvironment and enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy, which provides new evidence and solutions for the development of "potentiator" for colorectal cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanbo Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bizhu Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Yao Tu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lulu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Dawei Chen
- Shenzhen Kivita Innovative Drug Discovery Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Shouhui Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wenjun Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Weiwen Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qinyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Cunlong Zhang
- Shenzhen Kivita Innovative Drug Discovery Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Zigao Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jumin Huang
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences; MOE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, 999078, Macao Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Elaine Lai-Han Leung
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences; MOE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, 999078, Macao Special Administrative Region of China.
| | - Yuyang Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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3
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Zhou Z, Huang S, Fan F, Xu Y, Moore C, Li S, Han C. The multiple faces of cGAS-STING in antitumor immunity: prospects and challenges. MEDICAL REVIEW (2021) 2024; 4:173-191. [PMID: 38919400 PMCID: PMC11195429 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2023-0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
As a key sensor of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) detects cytosolic dsDNA and initiates the synthesis of 2'3' cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) that activates the stimulator of interferon genes (STING). This finally promotes the production of type I interferons (IFN-I) that is crucial for bridging innate and adaptive immunity. Recent evidence show that several antitumor therapies, including radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapies, activate the cGAS-STING pathway to provoke the antitumor immunity. In the last decade, the development of STING agonists has been a major focus in both basic research and the pharmaceutical industry. However, up to now, none of STING agonists have been approved for clinical use. Considering the broad expression of STING in whole body and the direct lethal effect of STING agonists on immune cells in the draining lymph node (dLN), research on the optimal way to activate STING in tumor microenvironment (TME) appears to be a promising direction. Moreover, besides enhancing IFN-I signaling, the cGAS-STING pathway also plays roles in senescence, autophagy, apoptosis, mitotic arrest, and DNA repair, contributing to tumor development and metastasis. In this review, we summarize the recent advances on cGAS-STING pathway's response to antitumor therapies and the strategies involving this pathway for tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheqi Zhou
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Sanling Huang
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fangying Fan
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Casey Moore
- Departments of Immunology, Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Sirui Li
- Department of Genetics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Chuanhui Han
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
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4
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Delaunay T, Son S, Park S, Kaur B, Ahn J, Barber GN. Exogenous non-coding dsDNA-dependent trans-activation of phagocytes augments anti-tumor immunity. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101528. [PMID: 38677283 PMCID: PMC11148645 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-dependent signaling is requisite for effective anti-microbial and anti-tumor activity. STING signaling is commonly defective in cancer cells, which enables tumor cells to evade the immunosurveillance system. We evaluate here whether intrinsic STING signaling in such tumor cells could be reconstituted by creating recombinant herpes simplex viruses (rHSVs) that express components of the STING signaling pathway. We observe that rHSVs expressing STING and/or cGAS replicate inefficiently yet retain in vivo anti-tumor activity, independent of oncolytic activity requisite on the trans-activation of extrinsic STING signaling in phagocytes by engulfed microbial dsDNA species. Accordingly, the in vivo effects of virotherapy could be simulated by nanoparticles incorporating non-coding dsDNA species, which comparably elicit the trans-activation of phagocytes and augment the efficacy of established cancer treatments including checkpoint inhibition and radiation therapy. Our results help elucidate mechanisms of virotherapeutic anti-tumor activity as well as provide alternate strategies to treat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiphaine Delaunay
- Department of Cell Biology, Sylvester Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Sehee Son
- Department of Cell Biology, Sylvester Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Seongji Park
- Department of Cell Biology, Sylvester Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Balveen Kaur
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Jeonghyun Ahn
- Department of Cell Biology, Sylvester Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Glen N Barber
- Department of Cell Biology, Sylvester Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
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5
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Miranda A, Pattnaik S, Hamilton PT, Fuss MA, Kalaria S, Laumont CM, Smazynski J, Mesa M, Banville A, Jiang X, Jenkins R, Cañadas I, Nelson BH. N-MYC impairs innate immune signaling in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj5428. [PMID: 38748789 PMCID: PMC11095474 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj5428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) is a challenging disease, especially for patients with immunologically "cold" tumors devoid of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). We found that HGSC exhibits among the highest levels of MYCN expression and transcriptional signature across human cancers, which is strongly linked to diminished features of antitumor immunity. N-MYC repressed basal and induced IFN type I signaling in HGSC cell lines, leading to decreased chemokine expression and T cell chemoattraction. N-MYC inhibited the induction of IFN type I by suppressing tumor cell-intrinsic STING signaling via reduced STING oligomerization, and by blunting RIG-I-like receptor signaling through inhibition of MAVS aggregation and localization in the mitochondria. Single-cell RNA sequencing of human clinical HGSC samples revealed a strong negative association between cancer cell-intrinsic MYCN transcriptional program and type I IFN signaling. Thus, N-MYC inhibits tumor cell-intrinsic innate immune signaling in HGSC, making it a compelling target for immunotherapy of cold tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Miranda
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC V8R 6V5, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Swetansu Pattnaik
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre and Cancer Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 370 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Phineas T. Hamilton
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC V8R 6V5, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | | | - Shreena Kalaria
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC V8R 6V5, Canada
| | - Céline M. Laumont
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC V8R 6V5, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | | | - Monica Mesa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 3E6, Canada
| | - Allyson Banville
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC V8R 6V5, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Xinpei Jiang
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Russell Jenkins
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Israel Cañadas
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Brad H. Nelson
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC V8R 6V5, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 3E6, Canada
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6
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Tani T, Mathsyaraja H, Campisi M, Li ZH, Haratani K, Fahey CG, Ota K, Mahadevan NR, Shi Y, Saito S, Mizuno K, Thai TC, Sasaki N, Homme M, Yusuf CFB, Kashishian A, Panchal J, Wang M, Wolf BJ, Barbie TU, Paweletz CP, Gokhale PC, Liu D, Uppaluri R, Kitajima S, Cain J, Barbie DA. TREX1 Inactivation Unleashes Cancer Cell STING-Interferon Signaling and Promotes Antitumor Immunity. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:752-765. [PMID: 38227896 PMCID: PMC11062818 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
A substantial fraction of cancers evade immune detection by silencing Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING)-Interferon (IFN) signaling. Therapeutic reactivation of this program via STING agonists, epigenetic, or DNA-damaging therapies can restore antitumor immunity in multiple preclinical models. Here we show that adaptive induction of three prime exonuclease 1 (TREX1) restrains STING-dependent nucleic acid sensing in cancer cells via its catalytic function in degrading cytosolic DNA. Cancer cell TREX1 expression is coordinately induced with STING by autocrine IFN and downstream STAT1, preventing signal amplification. TREX1 inactivation in cancer cells thus unleashes STING-IFN signaling, recruiting T and natural killer (NK) cells, sensitizing to NK cell-derived IFNγ, and cooperating with programmed cell death protein 1 blockade in multiple mouse tumor models to enhance immunogenicity. Targeting TREX1 may represent a complementary strategy to induce cytosolic DNA and amplify cancer cell STING-IFN signaling as a means to sensitize tumors to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and/or cell therapies. SIGNIFICANCE STING-IFN signaling in cancer cells promotes tumor cell immunogenicity. Inactivation of the DNA exonuclease TREX1, which is adaptively upregulated to limit pathway activation in cancer cells, recruits immune effector cells and primes NK cell-mediated killing. Targeting TREX1 has substantial therapeutic potential to amplify cancer cell immunogenicity and overcome ICB resistance. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 695.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Tani
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Contributed equally
| | | | - Marco Campisi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ze-Hua Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Koji Haratani
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caroline G. Fahey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Keiichi Ota
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Navin R. Mahadevan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yingxiao Shi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shin Saito
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kei Mizuno
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tran C. Thai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nobunari Sasaki
- Department of Cell Biology, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mizuki Homme
- Department of Cell Biology, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Choudhury Fabliha B. Yusuf
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Min Wang
- Gilead Sciences, Foster City, CA, USA
| | | | - Thanh U. Barbie
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cloud P. Paweletz
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Prafulla C Gokhale
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shunsuke Kitajima
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - David A. Barbie
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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Wang F, Zhao D, Xu WY, Liu Y, Sun H, Lu S, Ji Y, Jiang J, Chen Y, He Q, Gong C, Liu R, Su Z, Dong Y, Yan Z, Liu L. Blood leukocytes as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for thyroid nodules: a prospective cohort study. BMC Med 2024; 22:147. [PMID: 38561764 PMCID: PMC10986011 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03368-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyroid nodule (TN) patients in China are subject to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The implementation of existing technologies such as thyroid ultrasonography has indeed contributed to the improved diagnostic accuracy of TNs. However, a significant issue persists, where many patients undergo unnecessary biopsies, and patients with malignant thyroid nodules (MTNs) are advised to undergo surgery therapy. METHODS This study included a total of 293 patients diagnosed with TNs. Differential methylation haplotype blocks (MHBs) in blood leukocytes between MTNs and benign thyroid nodules (BTNs) were detected using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). Subsequently, an artificial intelligence blood leukocyte DNA methylation (BLDM) model was designed to optimize the management and treatment of patients with TNs for more effective outcomes. RESULTS The DNA methylation profiles of peripheral blood leukocytes exhibited distinctions between MTNs and BTNs. The BLDM model we developed for diagnosing TNs achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.858 in the validation cohort and 0.863 in the independent test cohort. Its specificity reached 90.91% and 88.68% in the validation and independent test cohorts, respectively, outperforming the specificity of ultrasonography (43.64% in the validation cohort and 47.17% in the independent test cohort), albeit with a slightly lower sensitivity (83.33% in the validation cohort and 82.86% in the independent test cohort) compared to ultrasonography (97.62% in the validation cohort and 100.00% in the independent test cohort). The BLDM model could correctly identify 89.83% patients whose nodules were suspected malignant by ultrasonography but finally histological benign. In micronodules, the model displayed higher specificity (93.33% in the validation cohort and 92.00% in the independent test cohort) and accuracy (88.24% in the validation cohort and 87.50% in the independent test cohort) for diagnosing TNs. This performance surpassed the specificity and accuracy observed with ultrasonography. A TN diagnostic and treatment framework that prioritizes patients is provided, with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy performed only on patients with indications of MTNs in both BLDM and ultrasonography results, thus avoiding unnecessary biopsies. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to demonstrate the potential of non-invasive blood leukocytes in diagnosing TNs, thereby making TN diagnosis and treatment more efficient in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feihang Wang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Danyang Zhao
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wang-Yang Xu
- Singlera Genomics (Shanghai) Ltd., Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yiying Liu
- Singlera Genomics (Shanghai) Ltd., Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Huiyi Sun
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shanshan Lu
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yuan Ji
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jingjing Jiang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qiye He
- Singlera Genomics (Shanghai) Ltd., Shanghai, 201203, China
| | | | - Rui Liu
- Singlera Genomics (Shanghai) Ltd., Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhixi Su
- Singlera Genomics (Shanghai) Ltd., Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Yi Dong
- Department of Ultrasound, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Zhiping Yan
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Lingxiao Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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8
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Li Q, Wu P, Du Q, Hanif U, Hu H, Li K. cGAS-STING, an important signaling pathway in diseases and their therapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e511. [PMID: 38525112 PMCID: PMC10960729 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Since cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway was discovered in 2013, great progress has been made to elucidate the origin, function, and regulating mechanism of cGAS-STING signaling pathway in the past decade. Meanwhile, the triggering and transduction mechanisms have been continuously illuminated. cGAS-STING plays a key role in human diseases, particularly DNA-triggered inflammatory diseases, making it a potentially effective therapeutic target for inflammation-related diseases. Here, we aim to summarize the ancient origin of the cGAS-STING defense mechanism, as well as the triggers, transduction, and regulating mechanisms of the cGAS-STING. We will also focus on the important roles of cGAS-STING signal under pathological conditions, such as infections, cancers, autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, and visceral inflammations, and review the progress in drug development targeting cGAS-STING signaling pathway. The main directions and potential obstacles in the regulating mechanism research and therapeutic drug development of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway for inflammatory diseases and cancers will be discussed. These research advancements expand our understanding of cGAS-STING, provide a theoretical basis for further exploration of the roles of cGAS-STING in diseases, and open up new strategies for targeting cGAS-STING as a promising therapeutic intervention in multiple diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijie Li
- Sichuan province Medical and Engineering Interdisciplinary Research Center of Nursing & Materials/Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceWest China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of NursingSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ping Wu
- Department of Occupational DiseasesThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College (China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital)ChengduSichuanChina
| | - Qiujing Du
- Sichuan province Medical and Engineering Interdisciplinary Research Center of Nursing & Materials/Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceWest China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of NursingSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ullah Hanif
- Sichuan province Medical and Engineering Interdisciplinary Research Center of Nursing & Materials/Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceWest China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of NursingSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Hongbo Hu
- Center for Immunology and HematologyState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ka Li
- Sichuan province Medical and Engineering Interdisciplinary Research Center of Nursing & Materials/Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceWest China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of NursingSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
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9
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Haugh AM, Daud AI. Current Role and Status for Intratumoral Injection Therapies in Metastatic Melanoma. Cancer J 2024; 30:108-112. [PMID: 38527264 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000709] [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: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Intratumoral therapies represent a unique avenue for drug development in melanoma as patients often have accessible lesions that are particularly amenable to these approaches. In addition, a majority of intratumoral therapies have focused on stimulating antitumor immune responses, making them a particularly attractive option for use in melanoma. In this review, we describe applications for talimogene laherparepvec, a US Food and Drug Administration-approved intratumoral therapy in melanoma, as well as several classes of intratumoral therapies in development including novel oncolytic viruses, mRNA-based intratumoral injections, and cytokines and other signaling molecules.
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Wang L, Yu Z, Zhang J, Guo J. Nanoformulations of chemotherapeutic activators of the cGAS-STING pathway in tumor chemoimmunotherapy. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103892. [PMID: 38272174 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Chemotherapeutic drugs to activate the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway have been exploited for tumor chemoimmunotherapy. The clinical translation of chemotherapeutic cGAS-STING activators is hindered by the lack of safe, efficient, and specific delivery strategies. Nanodrug delivery systems (NDDS) designed for reducing toxic effects and improving transport effectiveness potentiate in vivo delivery of chemotherapeutic cGAS-STING activators. cGAS-STING monotherapy often encounters tumor resistance without providing satisfactory therapeutic benefit; therefore combination therapy is desirable. This review describes NDDS strategies for surmounting delivery obstacles of chemotherapeutic cGAS-STING activators and highlights combinatorial regimens, which utilize therapeutics that work by different mechanisms, for optimal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingzhi Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Zhuo Yu
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jihong Zhang
- Hematology Laboratory, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110022, China.
| | - Jianfeng Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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Moshnikova A, DuPont M, Iraca M, Klumpp C, Visca H, Allababidi D, Pelzer P, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Targeted intracellular delivery of dimeric STINGa by two pHLIP peptides for treatment of solid tumors. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1346756. [PMID: 38495104 PMCID: PMC10940318 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1346756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: We have developed a delivery approach that uses two pHLIP peptides that collaborate in the targeted intracellular delivery of a single payload, dimeric STINGa (dMSA). Methods: dMSA was conjugated with two pHLIP peptides via S-S cleavable self-immolating linkers to form 2pHLIP-dMSA. Results: Biophysical studies were carried out to confirm pH-triggered interactions of the 2pHLIP-dMSA with membrane lipid bilayers. The kinetics of linker self-immolation and dMSA release, the pharmacokinetics, the binding to plasma proteins, the stability of the agent in plasma, the targeting and resulting cytokine activation in tumors, and the biodistribution of the construct was investigated. This is the first study demonstrating that combining the energy of the membrane-associated folding of two pHLIPs can be utilized to enhance the targeted intracellular delivery of large therapeutic cargo payloads. Discussion: Linking two pHLIPs to the cargo extends blood half-life, and targeted delivery of dimeric STINGa induces tumor eradication and the development of robust anti-cancer immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Marissa Iraca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Craig Klumpp
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Dana Allababidi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Phoebe Pelzer
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry Department, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
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Li C, Liang G, Yan K, Wang Y. NRF2 mutation enhances the immune escape of hepatocellular carcinoma by reducing STING activation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 698:149536. [PMID: 38271834 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149536] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a transcription factor usually hyperactivated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, about 14 % of HCC patients carry mutation in NRF2 or Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), a NRF2 inhibitor, both of which lead to constitutive activation of NRF2. It has been widely reported that NRF2 plays important roles in the proliferation, differentiation and metastasis of tumor cells. But as an important gene involved in antioxidation and anti-inflammation, little studies have focused on its role in tumor immune escape. Here we found that NRF2 gain-of-function mutation leads to reduced expression of STING and decreased infiltration of peripheral immune cells through which way it helps the tumor cells to evade from immune surveillance. This phenomenon can be reversed by STING overexpression. Our study also revealed that NRF2 mutation greatly reduced the effect of STING activating based immunotherapy. It is important to simultaneously inhibit the activity of NRF2 when using STING agonist for the treatment of HCC patients carrying NRF2 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Li
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710068, China
| | - Gang Liang
- Department of General Surgery, NO.215 Hospital of Shaanxi Nuclear Industry, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712000, China
| | - Ke Yan
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710068, China
| | - Yongheng Wang
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710068, China.
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13
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Gao H, Zhang X, Ren M, Jiang A, Liu N, Wang J, Zheng X, Liang X, Ruan Z, Tian T, Fu X, Yao Y. Platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy upregulates STING/IFN pathway expression and promotes TILs infiltration in NSCLC. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1346225. [PMID: 38425343 PMCID: PMC10902162 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1346225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives To evaluate the effects of platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) on the STING/IFN pathway and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as clinicopathological factors affecting patient survival. Materials and methods A total of 68 patients aged 34-77 years with NSCLC who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical treatment from March 2012 to February 2019 were reviewed, and the clinical pathological data and paired tissue specimens before and after NACT were collected. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to detect the protein levels of STING, PD-L1 and IFN-β, and the infiltration density of CD3+ TILs and CD8+TILs. The correlation between the expression of STING, PD-L1, IFN-β and the infiltration density of CD3+ TILs and CD8+ TILs as well as the clinicopathological characteristics before and after NACT was analyzed. The relationship between the related indexes, clinicopathological features and prognosis was also discussed. Results NACT increased the expression of STING, IFN-β and PD-L1 in tumor cells, and the infiltration of CD3+ and CD8+ TILs. In addition, ypTNM stage, ypN stage, changes in CD3+ TILs and in PD-L1 were associated with DFS (disease-free survival). CD3+ TILs changes and ypN stage were associated with OS (overall survival). Notably, ypN stage and CD3+ TILs changes were independent prognostic factors for DFS and OS. Conclusion NACT stimulates STING/IFN-β pathway, promotes infiltration of CD3+ and CD8+ TILs, triggers innate and adaptive immunity, and also upregulates PD-L1, which complemented the rationale for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in combination with immunotherapy. In addition, DFS was longer in patients with ypTNM I, ypN0-1, and elevated CD3+TILs after NACT. Patients with ypN0 and elevated CD3+ TILs after NACT had better OS benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Gao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoni Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medical, Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Mengdi Ren
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Aimin Jiang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Zheng
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xuan Liang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhiping Ruan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tao Tian
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiao Fu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yu Yao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
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Pinjusic K, Ambrosini G, Lourenco J, Fournier N, Iseli C, Guex N, Egorova O, Nassiri S, Constam DB. Inhibition of anti-tumor immunity by melanoma cell-derived Activin-A depends on STING. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1335207. [PMID: 38304252 PMCID: PMC10830842 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1335207] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family member activin A (hereafter Activin-A) is overexpressed in many cancer types, often correlating with cancer-associated cachexia and poor prognosis. Activin-A secretion by melanoma cells indirectly impedes CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity and promotes resistance to immunotherapies, even though Activin-A can be proinflammatory in other contexts. To identify underlying mechanisms, we here analyzed the effect of Activin-A on syngeneic grafts of Braf mutant YUMM3.3 mouse melanoma cells and on their microenvironment using single-cell RNA sequencing. We found that the Activin-A-induced immune evasion was accompanied by a proinflammatory interferon signature across multiple cell types, and that the associated increase in tumor growth depended at least in part on pernicious STING activity within the melanoma cells. Besides corroborating a role for proinflammatory signals in facilitating immune evasion, our results suggest that STING holds considerable potential as a therapeutic target to mitigate tumor-promoting Activin-A signaling at least in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Pinjusic
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), SV ISREC, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giovanna Ambrosini
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Joao Lourenco
- Translational Data Science Facility, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Fournier
- Translational Data Science Facility, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Iseli
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Guex
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olga Egorova
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), SV ISREC, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sina Nassiri
- Translational Data Science Facility, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel B Constam
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), SV ISREC, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Low JT, Brown MC, Reitman ZJ, Bernstock JD, Markert JM, Friedman GK, Waitkus MS, Bowie ML, Ashley DM. Understanding and therapeutically exploiting cGAS/STING signaling in glioblastoma. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e163452. [PMID: 38226619 PMCID: PMC10786687 DOI: 10.1172/jci163452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery that cGAS/STING recognizes endogenous DNA released from dying cancer cells and induces type I interferon and antitumor T cell responses, efforts to understand and therapeutically target the STING pathway in cancer have ensued. Relative to other cancer types, the glioma immune microenvironment harbors few infiltrating T cells, but abundant tumor-associated myeloid cells, possibly explaining disappointing responses to immune checkpoint blockade therapies in cohorts of patients with glioblastoma. Notably, unlike most extracranial tumors, STING expression is absent in the malignant compartment of gliomas, likely due to methylation of the STING promoter. Nonetheless, several preclinical studies suggest that inducing cGAS/STING signaling in the glioma immune microenvironment could be therapeutically beneficial, and cGAS/STING signaling has been shown to mediate inflammatory and antitumor effects of other modalities either in use or being developed for glioblastoma therapy, including radiation, tumor-treating fields, and oncolytic virotherapy. In this Review, we discuss cGAS/STING signaling in gliomas, its implications for glioma immunobiology, compartment-specific roles for STING signaling in influencing immune surveillance, and efforts to target STING signaling - either directly or indirectly - for antiglioma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zachary J. Reitman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joshua D. Bernstock
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James M. Markert
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Gregory K. Friedman
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Monti M, Ferrari G, Grosso V, Missale F, Bugatti M, Cancila V, Zini S, Segala A, La Via L, Consoli F, Orlandi M, Valerio A, Tripodo C, Rossato M, Vermi W. Impaired activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells via toll-like receptor 7/9 and STING is mediated by melanoma-derived immunosuppressive cytokines and metabolic drift. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1227648. [PMID: 38239354 PMCID: PMC10795195 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1227648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) infiltrate a large set of human cancers. Interferon alpha (IFN-α) produced by pDCs induces growth arrest and apoptosis in tumor cells and modulates innate and adaptive immune cells involved in anti-cancer immunity. Moreover, effector molecules exert tumor cell killing. However, the activation state and clinical relevance of pDCs infiltration in cancer is still largely controversial. In Primary Cutaneous Melanoma (PCM), pDCs density decreases over disease progression and collapses in metastatic melanoma (MM). Moreover, the residual circulating pDC compartment is defective in IFN-α production. Methods The activation of tumor-associated pDCs was evaluated by in silico and microscopic analysis. The expression of human myxovirus resistant protein 1 (MxA), as surrogate of IFN-α production, and proximity ligation assay (PLA) to test dsDNA-cGAS activation were performed on human melanoma biopsies. Moreover, IFN-α and CXCL10 production by in vitro stimulated (i.e. with R848, CpG-A, ADU-S100) pDCs exposed to melanoma cell lines supernatants (SN-mel) was tested by intracellular flow cytometry and ELISA. We also performed a bulk RNA-sequencing on SN-mel-exposed pDCs, resting or stimulated with R848. Glycolytic rate assay was performed on SN-mel-exposed pDCs using the Seahorse XFe24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. Results Based on a set of microscopic, functional and in silico analyses, we demonstrated that the melanoma milieu directly impairs IFN-α and CXCL10 production by pDCs via TLR-7/9 and cGAS-STING signaling pathways. Melanoma-derived immunosuppressive cytokines and a metabolic drift represent relevant mechanisms enforcing pDC-mediated melanoma escape. Discussion These findings propose a new window of intervention for novel immunotherapy approaches to amplify the antitumor innate immune response in cutaneous melanoma (CM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Monti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgia Ferrari
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Grosso
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesco Missale
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Head & Neck Oncology & Surgery Otorhinolaryngology, Nederlands Kanker Instituut, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mattia Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valeria Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Stefania Zini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Agnese Segala
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luca La Via
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Consoli
- Oncology Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Matteo Orlandi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessandra Valerio
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- IFOM ETS, the AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Marzia Rossato
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - William Vermi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
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Zhang J, Yu S, Peng Q, Wang P, Fang L. Emerging mechanisms and implications of cGAS-STING signaling in cancer immunotherapy strategies. Cancer Biol Med 2024; 21:j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0440. [PMID: 38172538 PMCID: PMC10875285 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The intricate interplay between the human immune system and cancer development underscores the central role of immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Within this landscape, the innate immune system, a critical sentinel protecting against tumor incursion, is a key player. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway has been found to be a linchpin of innate immunity: activation of this signaling pathway orchestrates the production of type I interferon (IFN-α/β), thus fostering the maturation, differentiation, and mobilization of immune effectors in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, STING activation facilitates the release and presentation of tumor antigens, and therefore is an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy. Current strategies to activate the STING pathway, including use of pharmacological agonists, have made substantial advancements, particularly when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. These approaches have shown promise in preclinical and clinical settings, by enhancing patient survival rates. This review describes the evolving understanding of the cGAS-STING pathway's involvement in tumor biology and therapy. Moreover, this review explores classical and non-classical STING agonists, providing insights into their mechanisms of action and potential for optimizing immunotherapy strategies. Despite challenges and complexities, the cGAS-STING pathway, a promising avenue for enhancing cancer treatment efficacy, has the potential to revolutionize patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Zhang
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Sihui Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiao Peng
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Lan Fang
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
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Cossu C, Di Lorenzo A, Fiorilla I, Todesco AM, Audrito V, Conti L. The Role of the Toll-like Receptor 2 and the cGAS-STING Pathways in Breast Cancer: Friends or Foes? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:456. [PMID: 38203626 PMCID: PMC10778705 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer stands as a primary malignancy among women, ranking second in global cancer-related deaths. Despite treatment advancements, many patients progress to metastatic stages, posing a significant therapeutic challenge. Current therapies primarily target cancer cells, overlooking their intricate interactions with the tumor microenvironment (TME) that fuel progression and treatment resistance. Dysregulated innate immunity in breast cancer triggers chronic inflammation, fostering cancer development and therapy resistance. Innate immune pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) have emerged as crucial regulators of the immune response as well as of several immune-mediated or cancer cell-intrinsic mechanisms that either inhibit or promote tumor progression. In particular, several studies showed that the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathways play a central role in breast cancer progression. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the role of TLR2 and STING in breast cancer, and we explore the potential to target these PRRs for drug development. This information will significantly impact the scientific discussion on the use of PRR agonists or inhibitors in cancer therapy, opening up new and promising avenues for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cossu
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences–Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, University of Turin, Piazza Nizza 44, 10126 Turin, Italy; (C.C.); (A.D.L.)
| | - Antonino Di Lorenzo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences–Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, University of Turin, Piazza Nizza 44, 10126 Turin, Italy; (C.C.); (A.D.L.)
| | - Irene Fiorilla
- Department of Science and Technological Innovation (DISIT), University of Eastern Piedmont, 15121 Alessandria, Italy; (I.F.); (A.M.T.); (V.A.)
| | - Alberto Maria Todesco
- Department of Science and Technological Innovation (DISIT), University of Eastern Piedmont, 15121 Alessandria, Italy; (I.F.); (A.M.T.); (V.A.)
| | - Valentina Audrito
- Department of Science and Technological Innovation (DISIT), University of Eastern Piedmont, 15121 Alessandria, Italy; (I.F.); (A.M.T.); (V.A.)
| | - Laura Conti
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences–Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, University of Turin, Piazza Nizza 44, 10126 Turin, Italy; (C.C.); (A.D.L.)
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Chan FF, Yuen VWH, Shen J, Chin DWC, Law CT, Wong BPY, Chan CYK, Cheu JWS, Ng IOL, Wong CCL, Wong CM. Inhibition of CAF-1 histone chaperone complex triggers cytosolic DNA and dsRNA sensing pathways and induces intrinsic immunity of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00670. [PMID: 38051950 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1) is a replication-dependent epigenetic regulator that controls cell cycle progression and chromatin dynamics. In this study, we aim to investigate the immunomodulatory role and therapeutic potential of the CAF-1 complex in HCC. APPROACH AND RESULTS CAF-1 complex knockout cell lines were established using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The effects of CAF-1 in HCC were studied in HCC cell lines, nude mice, and immunocompetent mice. RNA-sequencing, ChIP-Seq, and assay for transposase accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-Seq) were used to explore the changes in the epigenome and transcriptome. CAF-1 complex was significantly upregulated in human and mouse HCCs and was associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Knockout of CAF-1 remarkably suppressed HCC growth in both in vitro and in vivo models. Mechanistically, depletion of CAF-1 induced replicative stress and chromatin instability, which eventually led to cytoplasmic DNA leakage as micronuclei. Also, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses revealed a massive H3.3 histone variant replacement upon CAF-1 knockout. Enrichment of euchromatic H3.3 increased chromatin accessibility and activated the expression of endogenous retrovirus elements, a phenomenon known as viral mimicry. However, cytosolic micronuclei and endogenous retroviruses are recognized as ectopic elements by the stimulator of interferon genes and dsRNA viral sensing pathways, respectively. As a result, the knockout of CAF-1 activated inflammatory response and antitumor immune surveillance and thereby significantly enhanced the anticancer effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors in HCC. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that CAF-1 is essential for HCC development; targeting CAF-1 may awaken the anticancer immune response and may work cooperatively with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- For-Fan Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vincent Wai-Hin Yuen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jialing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Don Wai-Ching Chin
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bowie Po-Yee Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jacinth Wing-Sum Cheu
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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20
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Xiong D, Zhang L, Sun ZJ. Targeting the epigenome to reinvigorate T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Mil Med Res 2023; 10:59. [PMID: 38044445 PMCID: PMC10694991 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-023-00496-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy using immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the field of cancer treatment; however, ICI efficacy is constrained by progressive dysfunction of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which is termed T cell exhaustion. This process is driven by diverse extrinsic factors across heterogeneous tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Simultaneously, tumorigenesis entails robust reshaping of the epigenetic landscape, potentially instigating T cell exhaustion. In this review, we summarize the epigenetic mechanisms governing tumor microenvironmental cues leading to T cell exhaustion, and discuss therapeutic potential of targeting epigenetic regulators for immunotherapies. Finally, we outline conceptual and technical advances in developing potential treatment paradigms involving immunostimulatory agents and epigenetic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, School and and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
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21
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Korneenko TV, Pestov NB, Nevzorov IA, Daks AA, Trachuk KN, Solopova ON, Barlev NA. At the Crossroads of the cGAS-cGAMP-STING Pathway and the DNA Damage Response: Implications for Cancer Progression and Treatment. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1675. [PMID: 38139802 PMCID: PMC10747911 DOI: 10.3390/ph16121675] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary conserved DNA-sensing cGAS-STING innate immunity pathway represents one of the most important cytosolic DNA-sensing systems that is activated in response to viral invasion and/or damage to the integrity of the nuclear envelope. The key outcome of this pathway is the production of interferon, which subsequently stimulates the transcription of hundreds of genes. In oncology, the situation is complex because this pathway may serve either anti- or pro-oncogenic roles, depending on context. The prevailing understanding is that when the innate immune response is activated by sensing cytosolic DNA, such as DNA released from ruptured micronuclei, it results in the production of interferon, which attracts cytotoxic cells to destroy tumors. However, in tumor cells that have adjusted to significant chromosomal instability, particularly in relapsed, treatment-resistant cancers, the cGAS-STING pathway often supports cancer progression, fostering the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we review this intricate pathway in terms of its association with cancer progression, giving special attention to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and gliomas. As the development of new cGAS-STING-modulating small molecules and immunotherapies such as oncolytic viruses involves serious challenges, we highlight several recent fundamental discoveries, such as the proton-channeling function of STING. These discoveries may serve as guiding lights for potential pharmacological advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana V. Korneenko
- Group of Cross-Linking Enzymes, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Nikolay B. Pestov
- Group of Cross-Linking Enzymes, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow 119121, Russia
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products, Moscow 108819, Russia
| | - Ivan A. Nevzorov
- Institute of Cytology, Tikhoretsky ave 4, St-Petersburg 194064, Russia
| | - Alexandra A. Daks
- Institute of Cytology, Tikhoretsky ave 4, St-Petersburg 194064, Russia
| | - Kirill N. Trachuk
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products, Moscow 108819, Russia
| | - Olga N. Solopova
- Research Institute of Experimental Diagnostics and Tumor Therapy, Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow 115478, Russia
| | - Nickolai A. Barlev
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow 119121, Russia
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products, Moscow 108819, Russia
- Institute of Cytology, Tikhoretsky ave 4, St-Petersburg 194064, Russia
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
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22
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Liang B, Zhang EH, Ye Z, Storts H, Jin W, Zheng X, Hylton H, Zaleski O, Xing X, Miles W, Wang JJ. SIX4 Controls Anti-PD-1 Efficacy by Regulating STING Expression. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:2412-2419. [PMID: 37888903 PMCID: PMC10680432 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The cGAS/STING cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway plays a significant role in antitumor immunity. Expression of STING is tightly regulated and commonly reduced or defective in many types of cancer. We have identified SIX4 as a significant regulator of STING expression in colon cancer cells. We showed that knockout of SIX4 decreased STING expression at the mRNA and protein levels while ectopic expression of SIX4 increased STING expression. Depletion of SIX4 led to attenuated STING activation and downstream signaling. Reexpression of SIX4 or ectopic expression of STING in SIX4 knockout cells reversed the effect. Ectopic expression of SIX4 enhanced DMXAA and cGAMP-induced STING activation and downstream signaling. Importantly, decrease of SIX4 expression substantially decreased tumor infiltration of CD8+ T cells and reduced the efficacy of PD-1 antibodies to diminish tumor growth in immune competent mice in vivo. Finally, analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas colon cancer dataset indicated that tumors with high SIX4 expression were significantly enriched in the Inflammatory Response pathway. SIX4 expression also correlated with expression of multiple IFN-stimulated genes, inflammatory cytokines, and CD8A. Taken together, our results implicate that SIX4 is a principal regulator of STING expression in colon cancer cells, providing an additional mechanism and genetic marker to predict effective immune checkpoint blockade therapy responses. SIGNIFICANCE Our studies demonstrate that SIX4 is an important regulator of STING expression, providing a genetic marker or a therapeutic target to predict or enhance immune checkpoint blockade therapy responses in colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beiyuan Liang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Evan H. Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Zhen Ye
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Hayden Storts
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Wei Jin
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Xinru Zheng
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Hannah Hylton
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Olivia Zaleski
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Xuanxuan Xing
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Wayne Miles
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jing J. Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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23
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Zhao K, Huang J, Zhao Y, Wang S, Xu J, Yin K. Targeting STING in cancer: Challenges and emerging opportunities. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188983. [PMID: 37717857 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway is a key pathway through which the host regulates immune responses by recognizing cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA of abnormal origin, and it plays an important role in tumor growth as well as metastasis, with relevant molecular details constantly being explored and updated. The significant immunomodulatory effects make STING an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy, and STING agonists have been receiving great attention for their development and clinical translation. Despite exciting results in preclinical work, the application of STING agonists to cancer therapy remains challenging due to their poor pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties, as well as toxic side effects they produce. Here, we summarize the dichotomous role of cGAS-STING in cancer and discuss the limitations of cancer immunotherapy based on STING activation as well as feasible strategies to overcome them to achieve tumor regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China; Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Jiaojiao Huang
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Shengjun Wang
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Affiliated People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
| | - Juan Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou, China.
| | - Kai Yin
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
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24
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Taffoni C, Laguette N. [Towards a novel approach to stimulate anti-tumoral immunity in glioblastoma]. Med Sci (Paris) 2023; 39:813-815. [PMID: 38018919 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2023149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Clara Taffoni
- Institut de génétique moléculaire de Montpellier, université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Nadine Laguette
- Institut de génétique moléculaire de Montpellier, université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
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25
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Meibers HE, Warrick KA, VonHandorf A, Vallez CN, Kawarizadeh K, Saha I, Donmez O, Jain VG, Kottyan LC, Weirauch MT, Pasare C. Effector memory T cells induce innate inflammation by triggering DNA damage and a non-canonical STING pathway in dendritic cells. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113180. [PMID: 37794597 PMCID: PMC10654673 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113180] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognate interaction between CD4+ effector memory T (TEM) cells and dendritic cells (DCs) induces innate inflammatory cytokine production, resulting in detrimental autoimmune pathology and cytokine storms. While TEM cells use tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily ligands to activate DCs, whether TEM cells prompt other DC-intrinsic changes that influence the innate inflammatory response has never been investigated. We report the surprising discovery that TEM cells trigger double-strand DNA breaks via mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in interacting DCs. Initiation of the DNA damage response in DCs induces activation of a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP)-AMP synthase (cGAS)-independent, non-canonical stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6)-nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling axis. Consequently, STING-deficient DCs display reduced NF-κB activation and subsequent defects in transcriptional induction and functional production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 following their interaction with TEM cells. The discovery of TEM cell-induced innate inflammation through DNA damage and a non-canonical STING-NF-κB pathway presents this pathway as a potential target to alleviate T cell-driven inflammation in autoimmunity and cytokine storms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Meibers
- Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Kathrynne A Warrick
- Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Andrew VonHandorf
- Center for Autoimmune Genetics and Etiology and Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Charles N Vallez
- Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Kiana Kawarizadeh
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Irene Saha
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Omer Donmez
- Center for Autoimmune Genetics and Etiology and Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Viral G Jain
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Leah C Kottyan
- Center for Autoimmune Genetics and Etiology and Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genetics and Etiology and Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Chandrashekhar Pasare
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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26
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Yang J, Yang M, Wang Y, Sun J, Liu Y, Zhang L, Guo B. STING in tumors: a focus on non-innate immune pathways. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1278461. [PMID: 37965570 PMCID: PMC10642211 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1278461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and downstream stimulator of interferon genes (STING) are involved in mediating innate immunity by promoting the release of interferon and other inflammatory factors. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) with a double-stranded structure has greater efficiency and sensitivity in being detected by DNA sensors and thus has an important role in the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway. Many previous findings suggest that the cGAS-STING pathway-mediated innate immune regulation is the most important aspect affecting tumor survival, not only in its anti-tumor role but also in shaping the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) through a variety of pathways. However, recent studies have shown that STING regulation of non-immune pathways is equally profound and also involved in tumor cell progression. In this paper, we will focus on the non-innate immune system pathways, in which the cGAS-STING pathway also plays an important role in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Yang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Biomedical Science, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Biomedical Science, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yingtong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Biomedical Science, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jicheng Sun
- Department of Plastic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yiran Liu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Biomedical Science, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Baofeng Guo
- Department of Plastic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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27
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Wang X, Lin M, Zhu L, Ye Z. GAS-STING: a classical DNA recognition pathways to tumor therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1200245. [PMID: 37920470 PMCID: PMC10618366 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1200245] [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: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclic GMP-AMP synthetase (cGAS), recognized as the primary DNA sensor within cells, possesses the capability to identify foreign DNA molecules along with free DNA fragments. This identification process facilitates the production of type I IFNs through the activator of the interferon gene (STING) which induces the phosphorylation of downstream transcription factors. This action characterizes the most archetypal biological functionality of the cGAS-STING pathway. When treated with anti-tumor agents, cells experience DNA damage that triggers activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, culminating in the expression of type I IFNs and associated downstream interferon-stimulated genes. cGAS-STING is one of the important innate immune pathways,the role of type I IFNs in the articulation between innate immunity and T-cell antitumour immunity.type I IFNs promote the recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells (including NK cells) at the tumor site.Type I IFNs also can promote the activation and maturation of dendritic cel(DC), improve the antigen presentation of CD4+T lymphocytes, and enhance the cross-presentation of CD8+T lymphocytes to upregulating anti-tumor responses. This review discussed the cGAS-STING signaling and its mechanism and biological function in traditional tumor therapy and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinrui Wang
- National Health Commission (NHC), Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Meijia Lin
- National Health Commission (NHC), Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Liping Zhu
- National Health Commission (NHC), Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Zhoujie Ye
- National Health Commission (NHC), Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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28
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Xiao B, Xu H, Xu X, Pan Y, Shi X, Yuan P, Slater NKH, Sun W, Tang J, Shen Y, Gao J. Multifunctional Nanoassembly for MRI-Trackable Dendritic Cell Dependent and Independent Photoimmunotherapy. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:9133-9142. [PMID: 37767907 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has emerged as a triumph in the treatment of malignant cancers. Nevertheless, current immunotherapeutics are insufficient in addressing tumors characterized by tumor cells' inadequate antigenicity and the tumor microenvironment's low immunogenicity (TME). Herein, we developed a novel multifunctional nanoassembly termed FMMC through the self-assembly of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO-1) inhibitor 1-methyl-tryptophan prodrug (FM), Ce6, and ionic manganese (Mn2+) via noncovalent interactions. The laser-ignited FMMC treatment could induce effective immunogenic cell death and activate the STING/MHC-I signaling pathway, thus deeply sculpting the tumor-intrinsic antigenicity to achieve dendritic cell (DC)-dependent and -independent T cell responses against tumors. Meanwhile, by inhibiting IDO-1, FMMC could lead to immunosuppressive TME reversion to an immunoactivated one. FMMC-based phototherapy led to the up-regulation of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), enhancing the sensitivity of tumors to anti-PD-1 therapy. Furthermore, the incorporation of Mn2+ into FMMC resulted in an augmented longitudinal relaxivity and enhanced the MRI for monitoring the growth of primary tumors and lung metastases. Collectively, the superior reprogramming performance of immunosuppressive tumor cells and TME, combined with excellent anticancer efficacy and MRI capability, made FMMC a promising immune nanosculptor for cancer theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xiaodan Xu
- Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009 China
| | | | | | - Pengcheng Yuan
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou 311215, China
| | | | - Wenjing Sun
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou 311215, China
| | - Jianbin Tang
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou 311215, China
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29
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Kang Z, Fu P, Ma H, Li T, Lu K, Liu J, Ginjala V, Romanienko P, Feng Z, Guan M, Ganesan S, Xia B. Distinct functions of EHMT1 and EHMT2 in cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.03.560719. [PMID: 37873068 PMCID: PMC10592889 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.03.560719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
EHTM1 (GLP) and EHMT2 (G9a) are closely related protein lysine methyltransferases often thought to function together as a heterodimer to methylate histone H3 and non-histone substrates in diverse cellular processes including transcriptional regulation, genome methylation, and DNA repair. Here we show that EHMT1/2 inhibitors cause ATM-mediated slowdown of replication fork progression, accumulation of single-stranded replication gaps, emergence of cytosolic DNA, and increased expression of STING. EHMT1/2 inhibition strongly potentiates the efficacy of alkylating chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in mouse models of tripe negative breast cancer. The effects on DNA replication and alkylating agent sensitivity are largely caused by the loss of EHMT1-mediated methylation of LIG1, whereas the elevated STING expression and remarkable response to immunotherapy appear mainly elicited by the loss of EHMT2 activity. Depletion of UHRF1, a protein known to be associated with EHMT1/2 and LIG1, also induces STING expression, and depletion of either EHMT2 or UHRF1 leads to demethylation of specific CpG sites in the STING1 promoter, suggestive of a distinct EHMT2-UHRF1 axis that regulates DNA methylation and gene transcription. These results highlight distinct functions of the two EHMT paralogs and provide enlightening paradigms and corresponding molecular basis for combination therapies involving alkylating agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihua Kang
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Pan Fu
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Li
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Kevin Lu
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Juan Liu
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Vasudeva Ginjala
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | | | - Zhaohui Feng
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Ming Guan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shridar Ganesan
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Bing Xia
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Lead contact
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Sasaki N, Homme M, Kitajima S. Targeting the loss of cGAS/STING signaling in cancer. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:3806-3815. [PMID: 37475576 PMCID: PMC10551601 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The cGAS/STING pathway provides a key host defense mechanism by detecting the accumulation of cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and mediating innate and adaptive immune signaling. In addition to detecting pathogen-derived dsDNA, cGAS senses intrinsic dsDNA, such as those associated with defective cell cycle progression and mitophagy that has leaked from the nucleus or mitochondria, and subsequently evokes host immunity to eliminate pathogenic cells. In cancer cells, dysregulation of DNA repair and cell cycle caused at the DNA replication checkpoint and spindle assembly checkpoint results in aberrant cytoplasmic dsDNA accumulation, stimulating anti-tumor immunity. Therefore, the suppression of cGAS/STING signaling is beneficial for survival and frequently observed in cancer cells as a way to evade detection by the immune system, and is likely to be related to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) resistance. Indeed, the mechanisms of ICB resistance overlap with those acquired in cancers during immunoediting to evade immune surveillance. This review highlights the current understanding of cGAS/STING suppression in cancer cells and discusses how to establish effective strategies to regenerate effective anti-tumor immunity through reactivation of the cGAS/STING pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobunari Sasaki
- Department of Cell BiologyCancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer ResearchTokyoJapan
| | - Mizuki Homme
- Department of Cell BiologyCancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer ResearchTokyoJapan
| | - Shunsuke Kitajima
- Department of Cell BiologyCancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer ResearchTokyoJapan
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Sun Q, Wang H, Liu H. Identification of long non-coding RNA MSTRG.5748.1 and MSTRG.7894.1 from Megalobrama amblycephala and their potential roles in innate immunity. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 140:108949. [PMID: 37453493 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Megalobrama amblycephala is one of the most economically important freshwater fish in China, and the bacterial septicemia caused by Aeromonas hydrophila is a serious threat to the breeding industry of M. amblycephala. Unfortunately, the characterization of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in response to A. hydrophila infection has not been performed in M. amblycephala. To better understand the biological significance of lncRNA in the immune system, we identified two lncRNA, named MSTRG.5748.1 and MSTRG.7894.1, as playing critical roles in the antibacterial response of M. amblycephala. After separating the nucleus and cytoplasm of the hepatocytes from M. amblycephala, cellular localization of MSTRG.5748.1 and MSTRG.7894.1 was performed to predict their functions. The results showed that MSTRG.5748.1 was mainly expressed in the nucleus, suggesting that its functions are mostly to regulate the expression of downstream genes through epistasis and transcription. MSTRG.7894.1 existed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, which indicated that it has many regulatory modes. qPCR analysis showed that MSTRG.5748.1 and MSTRG.7894.1 were expressed in the immune-related organs of M. amblycephala, and significantly changed in the liver after A. hydrophila infection. RNA-seq analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in antigen processing and presentation via MHC class I, RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling pathway, and IFN-related pathway, and a large number of pathway-related genes were significantly regulated after lncRNA overexpression in muscle cell of M. amblycephala. Overexpression of MSTRG.5748.1 and MSTRG.7894.1 significantly inhibited the expression of STING and IFN, significantly upregulated muscle cell viability, and promoted cell proliferation by targeting STING and IFN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhui Sun
- College of Fisheries, Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair / Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education / Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Huanling Wang
- College of Fisheries, Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair / Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education / Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Hong Liu
- College of Fisheries, Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair / Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education / Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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Ghukasyan R, Liang K, Chau K, Li L, Chan C, Abt ER, Le T, Park JY, Wu N, Premji A, Damoiseaux R, Luu T, Labora A, Rashid K, Link JM, Radu CG, Donahue TR. MEK Inhibition Sensitizes Pancreatic Cancer to STING Agonism by Tumor Cell-intrinsic Amplification of Type I IFN Signaling. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3130-3141. [PMID: 37195712 PMCID: PMC10865884 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-3322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists are currently in development for treatment of solid tumors, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Response rates to STING agonists alone have been promising yet modest, and combination therapies will likely be required to elicit their full potency. We sought to identify combination therapies and mechanisms that augment the tumor cell-intrinsic effect of therapeutically relevant STING agonists apart from their known effects on tumor immunity. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We screened 430 kinase inhibitors to identify synergistic effectors of tumor cell death with diABZI, an intravenously administered and systemically available STING agonist. We deciphered the mechanisms of synergy with STING agonism that cause tumor cell death in vitro and tumor regression in vivo. RESULTS We found that MEK inhibitors caused the greatest synergy with diABZI and that this effect was most pronounced in cells with high STING expression. MEK inhibition enhanced the ability of STING agonism to induce type I IFN-dependent cell death in vitro and tumor regression in vivo. We parsed NFκB-dependent and NFκB-independent mechanisms that mediate STING-driven type I IFN production and show that MEK signaling inhibits this effect by suppressing NFκB activation. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the cytotoxic effects of STING agonism on PDAC cells that are independent of tumor immunity and that these therapeutic benefits of STING agonism can be synergistically enhanced by MEK inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razmik Ghukasyan
- Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Keke Liang
- Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of General Surgery/Pancreatic and Thyroid Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Kevin Chau
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Luyi Li
- Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Charlotte Chan
- Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Evan R. Abt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Thuc Le
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Joon Y. Park
- Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Nanping Wu
- Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Alykhan Premji
- Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Robert Damoiseaux
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Tony Luu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Amanda Labora
- Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Khalid Rashid
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jason M. Link
- Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Caius G. Radu
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Timothy R. Donahue
- Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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33
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Jin X, Wang W, Zhao X, Jiang W, Shao Q, Chen Z, Huang C. The battle between the innate immune cGAS-STING signaling pathway and human herpesvirus infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1235590. [PMID: 37600809 PMCID: PMC10433641 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1235590] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of human herpesvirus (HHVs) is gradually increasing and has affected a wide range of population. HHVs can result in serious consequences such as tumors, neonatal malformations, sexually transmitted diseases, as well as pose an immense threat to the human health. The cGAS-STING pathway is one of the innate immune pattern-recognition receptors discovered recently. This article discusses the role of the cGAS-STING pathway in human diseases, especially in human herpesvirus infections, as well as highlights how these viruses act on this pathway to evade the host immunity. Moreover, the author provides a comprehensive overview of modulators of the cGAS-STING pathway. By focusing on the small molecule compounds based on the cGAS-STING pathway, novel targets and concepts have been proposed for the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines, while also providing a reference for the investigation of disease models related to the cGAS-STING pathway. HHV is a double-stranded DNA virus that can trigger the activation of intracellular DNA sensor cGAS, after which the host cells initiate a cascade of reactions that culminate in the secretion of type I interferon to restrict the viral replication. Meanwhile, the viral protein can interact with various molecules in the cGAS-STING pathway. Viruses can evade immune surveillance and maintain their replication by inhibiting the enzyme activity of cGAS and reducing the phosphorylation levels of STING, TBK1 and IRF3 and suppressing the interferon gene activation. Activators and inhibitors of the cGAS-STING pathway have yielded numerous promising research findings in vitro and in vivo pertaining to cGAS/STING-related disease models. However, there remains a dearth of small molecule modulators that have been successfully translated into clinical applications, which serves as a hurdle to be overcome in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximing Jin
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenjia Wang
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinwei Zhao
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenhua Jiang
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qingqing Shao
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Cong Huang
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Zhang L, Jiang C, Zhong Y, Sun K, Jing H, Song J, Xie J, Zhou Y, Tian M, Zhang C, Sun X, Wang S, Cheng X, Zhang Y, Wei W, Li X, Fu B, Feng P, Wu B, Shu HB, Zhang J. STING is a cell-intrinsic metabolic checkpoint restricting aerobic glycolysis by targeting HK2. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1208-1222. [PMID: 37443289 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01185-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Evasion of antitumour immunity is a hallmark of cancer. STING, a putative innate immune signalling adaptor, has a pivotal role in mounting antitumour immunity by coordinating innate sensing and adaptive immune surveillance in myeloid cells. STING is markedly silenced in various human malignancies and acts as a cell-intrinsic tumour suppressor. How STING exerts intrinsic antitumour activity remains unclear. Here, we report that STING restricts aerobic glycolysis independent of its innate immune function. Mechanistically, STING targets hexokinase II (HK2) to block its hexokinase activity. As such, STING inhibits HK2 to restrict tumour aerobic glycolysis and promote antitumour immunity in vivo. In human colorectal carcinoma samples, lactate, which can be used as a surrogate for aerobic glycolysis, is negatively correlated with STING expression level and antitumour immunity. Taken together, this study reveals that STING functions as a cell-intrinsic metabolic checkpoint that restricts aerobic glycolysis to promote antitumour immunity. These findings have important implications for the development of STING-based therapeutic modalities to improve antitumour immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liting Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Congqing Jiang
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunhong Zhong
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kongliang Sun
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiru Jing
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiayu Song
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Xie
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yaru Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mao Tian
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chuchu Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaona Sun
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaowei Wang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi Cheng
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuelan Zhang
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bishi Fu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Pinghui Feng
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bing Wu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong-Bing Shu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Wuhan Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China.
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Alshebremi M, Tomchuck SL, Myers JT, Kingsley DT, Eid S, Abiff M, Bonner M, Saab ST, Choi SH, Huang AYC. Functional tumor cell-intrinsic STING, not host STING, drives local and systemic antitumor immunity and therapy efficacy following cryoablation. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006608. [PMID: 37553183 PMCID: PMC10414127 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-006608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite its potential utility in delivering direct tumor killing and in situ whole-cell tumor vaccination, tumor cryoablation produces highly variable and unpredictable clinical response, limiting its clinical utility. The mechanism(s) driving cryoablation-induced local antitumor immunity and the associated abscopal effect is not well understood. METHODS The aim of this study was to identify and explore a mechanism of action by which cryoablation enhances the therapeutic efficacy in metastatic tumor models. We used the subcutaneous mouse model of the rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell lines RMS 76-9STINGwt or RMS 76-9STING-/-, along with other murine tumor models, in C57BL/6 or STING-/- (TMEM173-/- ) mice to evaluate local tumor changes, lung metastasis, abscopal effect on distant tumors, and immune cell dynamics in the tumor microenvironment (TME). RESULTS The results show that cryoablation efficacy is dependent on both adaptive immunity and the STING signaling pathway. Contrary to current literature dictating an essential role of host-derived STING activation as a driver of antitumor immunity in vivo, we show that local tumor control, lung metastasis, and the abscopal effect on distant tumor are all critically dependent on a functioning tumor cell-intrinsic STING signaling pathway, which induces inflammatory chemokine and cytokine responses in the cryoablated TME. This reliance extends beyond cryoablation to include intratumoral STING agonist therapy. Additionally, surveys of gene expression databases and tissue microarrays of clinical tumor samples revealed a wide spectrum of expressions among STING-related signaling components. CONCLUSIONS Tumor cell-intrinsic STING pathway is a critical component underlying the effectiveness of cryoablation and suggests that expression of STING-related signaling components may serve as a potential therapy response biomarker. Our data also highlight an urgent need to further characterize tumor cell-intrinsic STING pathways and the associated downstream inflammatory response evoked by cryoablation and other STING-dependent therapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Alshebremi
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suzanne L Tomchuck
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jay T Myers
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Daniel T Kingsley
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Saada Eid
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Muta Abiff
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Melissa Bonner
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Shahrazad T Saab
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sung Hee Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Alex Yee-Chen Huang
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Center for Pediatric Immunotherapy, Angie Fowler AYA Cancer Institute, UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Zhang S, Regan K, Najera J, Grinstaff MW, Datta M, Nia HT. The peritumor microenvironment: physics and immunity. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:609-623. [PMID: 37156677 PMCID: PMC10523902 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer initiation and progression drastically alter the microenvironment at the interface between healthy and malignant tissue. This site, termed the peritumor, bears unique physical and immune attributes that together further promote tumor progression through interconnected mechanical signaling and immune activity. In this review, we describe the distinct physical features of the peritumoral microenvironment and link their relationship to immune responses. The peritumor is a region rich in biomarkers and therapeutic targets and thus is a key focus for future cancer research as well as clinical outlooks, particularly to understand and overcome novel mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathryn Regan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julian Najera
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Mark W Grinstaff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Meenal Datta
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
| | - Hadi T Nia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
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37
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Taffoni C, Schüssler M, Vila IK, Laguette N. Harnessing the cooperation between DNA-PK and cGAS in cancer therapies: The cooperation between DNA-PK and cGAS shapes tumour immunogenicity. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2300045. [PMID: 37147791 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway is central for the initiation of anti-tumoural immune responses. Enormous effort has been made to optimise the design and administration of STING agonists to stimulate tumour immunogenicity. However, in certain contexts the cGAS-STING axis fuels tumourigenesis. Here, we review recent findings on the regulation of cGAS expression and activity. We particularly focus our attention on the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) complex, that recently emerged as an activator of inflammatory responses in tumour cells. We propose that stratification analyses on cGAS and DNA-PK expression/activation status should be carried out to predict treatment efficacy. We herein also provide insights into non-canonical functions borne by cGAS and cGAMP, highlighting how they may influence tumourigenesis. All these parameters should be taken into consideration concertedly to choose strategies aiming to effectively boost tumour immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Taffoni
- IGMM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
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38
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Dunker W, Zaver SA, Pineda JMB, Howard CJ, Bradley RK, Woodward JJ. The proto-oncogene SRC phosphorylates cGAS to inhibit an antitumor immune response. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e167270. [PMID: 37166992 PMCID: PMC10371251 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.167270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a DNA sensor and responsible for inducing an antitumor immune response. Recent studies reveal that cGAS is frequently inhibited in cancer, and therapeutic targets to promote antitumor cGAS function remain elusive. SRC is a proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase and is expressed at elevated levels in numerous cancers. Here, we demonstrate that SRC expression in primary and metastatic bladder cancer negatively correlates with innate immune gene expression and immune cell infiltration. We determine that SRC restricts cGAS signaling in human cell lines through SRC small molecule inhibitors, depletion, and overexpression. cGAS and SRC interact in cells and in vitro, while SRC directly inhibits cGAS enzymatic activity and DNA binding in a kinase-dependent manner. SRC phosphorylates cGAS, and inhibition of cGAS Y248 phosphorylation partially reduces SRC inhibition. Collectively, our study demonstrates that cGAS antitumor signaling is hindered by the proto-oncogene SRC and describes how cancer-associated proteins can regulate the innate immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shivam A. Zaver
- Department of Microbiology and
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jose Mario Bello Pineda
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Public Health Sciences and Basic Sciences Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Robert K. Bradley
- Public Health Sciences and Basic Sciences Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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39
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Kang K, Wu Y, Yao Z, Lu Y. Tackling the current dilemma of immunotherapy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: A promising strategy of combining with radiotherapy. Cancer Lett 2023; 565:216239. [PMID: 37211066 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Progress in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has been modest over the past decades until the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have redefined the standard first-line treatment for extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). However, despite the positive results of several clinical trials, the limited survival benefit achieved suggests that the priming and sustaining of immunotherapeutic efficacy are poor and further investigation is urgently needed. In this review, we aim to summarize the potential mechanisms underlying the limited efficacy of immunotherapy and intrinsic resistance in ES-SCLC, including impaired antigen presentation and limited T cell infiltration. Moreover, to tackle the current dilemma, given the synergistic effects of radiotherapy on immunotherapy, especially the unique advantages of low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT), such as less immunosuppression and lower radiation toxicity, we propose radiotherapy as a booster to enhance the immunotherapeutic efficacy by overcoming the poor priming effect. Recent clinical trials, including ours, have also focused on adding radiotherapy, including LDRT, to first-line treatment of ES-SCLC. Additionally, we also suggest combination strategies to sustain the immunostimulatory effect of radiotherapy, as well as the cancer-immunity cycle, and further improve survival outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Kang
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yijun Wu
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhuoran Yao
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - You Lu
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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40
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Zhu Z, Johnson RL, Zhang Z, Herring LE, Jiang G, Damania B, James LI, Liu P. Development of VHL-recruiting STING PROTACs that suppress innate immunity. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:149. [PMID: 37183204 PMCID: PMC11072333 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04796-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
STING acts as a cytosolic nucleotide sensor to trigger host defense upon viral or bacterial infection. While STING hyperactivation can exert anti-tumor effects by increasing T cell filtrates, in other contexts hyperactivation of STING can contribute to autoimmune and neuroinflammatory diseases. Several STING targeting agonists and a smaller subset of antagonists have been developed, yet STING targeted degraders, or PROTACs, remain largely underexplored. Here, we report a series of STING-agonist derived PROTACs that promote STING degradation in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells. We show that our STING PROTACs activate STING and target activated/phospho-STING for degradation. Locking STING on the endoplasmic reticulum via site-directed mutagenesis disables STING translocation to the proteasome and resultingly blocks STING degradation. We also demonstrate that PROTAC treatment blocks downstream innate immune signaling events and attenuates the anti-viral response. Interestingly, we find that VHL acts as a bona fide E3 ligase for STING in RCC; thus, VHL-recruiting STING PROTACs further promote VHL-dependent STING degradation. Our study reveals the design and biological assessment of VHL-recruiting agonist-derived STING PROTACs, as well as demonstrates an example of hijacking a physiological E3 ligase to enhance target protein degradation via distinct mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichuan Zhu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Rebecca L Johnson
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Zhigang Zhang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Laura E Herring
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Guochun Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- UNC HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Blossom Damania
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- University of North Carolina Center for AIDS Research, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Lindsey I James
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Pengda Liu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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41
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Huang C, Li W, Ren X, Tang M, Zhang K, Zhuo F, Dou X, Yu B. The Crucial Roles and Research Advances of cGAS-STING Pathway in Cutaneous Disorders. Inflammation 2023:10.1007/s10753-023-01812-7. [PMID: 37083899 PMCID: PMC10119538 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-023-01812-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
The cGAS-STING signaling pathway senses the presence of cytosolic DNA, induces strong type I interferon responses, and enhances inflammatory cytokine production, placing it as an important axis in infection, autoimmunity, and tumor immunity. Recent studies have shown that the abnormalities and/or dysfunctions of cGAS-STING signaling are closely related to the pathogenesis of skin diseases and/or cancers. Additionally, a variety of new therapeutics targeting the cGAS-STING signaling are in development for the treatment of skin disorders. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of cGAS-STING-mediated cutaneous disorders have not been fully elucidated. In this review, we will summarize the regulatory roles and mechanisms of cGAS-STING signaling in skin disorders and recent progresses of cGAS-STING-related drugs as well as their potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Wenting Li
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Xuanyao Ren
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Mindan Tang
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Kaoyuan Zhang
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Fan Zhuo
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Xia Dou
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China.
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42
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Withers SS, Moeller CE, Quick CN, Liu CC, Baham SM, Looper JS, Subramanian R, Kousoulas KG. Effect of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling on radiation-induced chemokine expression in human osteosarcoma cells. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284645. [PMID: 37079538 PMCID: PMC10118169 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cell-intrinsic mechanisms affecting radiation immunomodulation could be exploited to optimize systemic effects of localized radiation. Radiation-induced DNA damage is sensed by cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), which ultimately activates stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING). Resultant expression of soluble mediators such as CCL5 and CXCL10 can facilitate recruitment of dendritic cells and immune effector cells into the tumor. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the baseline expression levels of cGAS and STING in OSA cells and evaluate the dependence of OSA cells on STING signaling for eliciting radiation-induced expression of CCL5 and CXCL10. cGAS and STING expression, and CCL5/CXCL10 expression in control cells, STING-agonist treated cells, and cells treated with 5 Gy ionizing radiation were assessed utilizing RTqPCR, Western blot, and ELISA. U2OS and SAOS-2 OSA cells were deficient in STING relative to human osteoblasts (hObs), while SAOS-2-LM6 and MG63 OSA cells expressed equivalent amounts of STING compared to hObs. A dependence on baseline or induced STING expression was observed for STING-agonist, and radiation-induced, expression of CCL5 and CXCL10. This finding was confirmed by performing siRNA knockdown of STING in MG63 cells. These results show that STING signaling is necessary for radiation-induced expression of CCL5 and CXCL10 in OSA cells. Additional studies are necessary to determine whether STING expression in OSA cells in vivo alters immune cell infiltrates after radiation exposure. These data may also have implications for other potentially STING-dependent characteristics such as resistance to oncolytic virus cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sita S. Withers
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Cambri E. Moeller
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Cally N. Quick
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Chin-Chi Liu
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Shelby M. Baham
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jayme S. Looper
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Ramesh Subramanian
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Konstantin G. Kousoulas
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
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43
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Liu S, Sun Q, Ren X. Novel strategies for cancer immunotherapy: counter-immunoediting therapy. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:38. [PMID: 37055849 PMCID: PMC10099030 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01430-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The advent of immunotherapy has made an indelible mark on the field of cancer therapy, especially the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors in clinical practice. Although immunotherapy has proven its efficacy and safety in some tumors, many patients still have innate or acquired resistance to immunotherapy. The emergence of this phenomenon is closely related to the highly heterogeneous immune microenvironment formed by tumor cells after undergoing cancer immunoediting. The process of cancer immunoediting refers to the cooperative interaction between tumor cells and the immune system that involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape. During these phases, conflicting interactions between the immune system and tumor cells result in the formation of a complex immune microenvironment, which contributes to the acquisition of different levels of immunotherapy resistance in tumor cells. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of different phases of cancer immunoediting and the corresponding therapeutic tools, and we propose normalized therapeutic strategies based on immunophenotyping. The process of cancer immunoediting is retrograded through targeted interventions in different phases of cancer immunoediting, making immunotherapy in the context of precision therapy the most promising therapy to cure cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaochuan Liu
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Qian Sun
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China.
| | - Xiubao Ren
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China.
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44
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Song Y, Zhang L, Wang Y, Han M, Wang Z, Wang N, Shao B, Li R, Cao K, Song M, Du Y, Yan F. A Bimetallic Metal-Organic-Framework-Based Biomimetic Nanoplatform Enhances Anti-Leukemia Immunity via Synchronizing DNA Demethylation and RNA Hypermethylation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2210895. [PMID: 36757878 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202210895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic-alterations-mediated antigenicity reducing in leukemic blasts (LBs) is one of the critical mechanisms of immune escape and resistance to T-cell-based immunotherapy. Herein, a bimetallic metal-organic framework (MOF)-based biomimetic nanoplatform (termed as AFMMB) that consists of a DNA hypomethylating agent, a leukemia stem cell (LSC) membrane, and pro-autophagic peptide is fabricated. These AFMMB particles selectively target not only LBs but also LSCs due to the homing effect and immune compatibility of the LSC membrane, and induce autophagy by binding to the Golgi-apparatus-associated protein. The autophagy-triggered dissolution of AFMMB releases active components, resulting in the restoration of the stimulator of interferon genes pathway by inhibiting DNA methylation, upregulation of major histocompatibility complex class-I molecules, and induction of RNA-methylation-mediated decay of programmed cell death protein ligand transcripts. These dual epigenetic changes eventually enhance T-cell-mediated immune response due to increased antigenicity of leukemic cells. AFMMB also can suppress growth and metastases of solid tumor, which was suggestive of a pan-cancer effect. These findings demonstrate that AFMMB may serve as a promising new nanoplatform for dual epigenetic therapy against cancer and warrants clinical validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Song
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Lingxiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yiqiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Mingda Han
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Zhihua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Ning Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Bingru Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Runan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Kunxia Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Meiyu Song
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yangyang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Fei Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
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45
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Falahat R, Berglund A, Perez-Villarroel P, Putney RM, Hamaidi I, Kim S, Pilon-Thomas S, Barber GN, Mulé JJ. Epigenetic state determines the in vivo efficacy of STING agonist therapy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1573. [PMID: 36949064 PMCID: PMC10033671 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37217-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
While STING-activating agents have shown limited efficacy in early-phase clinical trials, multiple lines of evidence suggest the importance of tumor cell-intrinsic STING function in mediating antitumor immune responses. Although STING signaling is impaired in human melanoma, its restoration through epigenetic reprogramming can augment its antigenicity and T cell recognition. In this study, we show that reversal of methylation silencing of STING in murine melanoma cell lines using a clinically available DNA methylation inhibitor can improve agonist-induced STING activation and type-I IFN induction, which, in tumor-bearing mice, can induce tumor regression through a CD8+ T cell-dependent immune response. These findings not only provide mechanistic insight into how STING signaling dysfunction in tumor cells can contribute to impaired responses to STING agonist therapy, but also suggest that pharmacological restoration of STING signaling through epigenetic reprogramming might improve the therapeutic efficacy of STING agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Falahat
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Anders Berglund
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | | | - Ryan M Putney
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Imene Hamaidi
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Sungjune Kim
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- Radiation Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Shari Pilon-Thomas
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- Cutaneous Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Glen N Barber
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - James J Mulé
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
- Radiation Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
- Cutaneous Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
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Killarney ST, Washart R, Soderquist RS, Hoj JP, Lebhar J, Lin KH, Wood KC. Executioner caspases restrict mitochondrial RNA-driven Type I IFN induction during chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1399. [PMID: 36918588 PMCID: PMC10015073 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37146-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
During apoptosis, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) enables certain mitochondrial matrix macromolecules to escape into the cytosol. However, the fate of mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) during apoptosis is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that MOMP results in the cytoplasmic release of mtRNA and that executioner caspases-3 and -7 (casp3/7) prevent cytoplasmic mtRNA from triggering inflammatory signaling. In the setting of genetic or pharmacological casp3/7 inhibition, apoptotic insults result in mtRNA activation of the MDA5/MAVS/IRF3 pathway to drive Type I interferon (IFN) signaling. This pathway is sufficient to activate tumor-intrinsic Type I IFN signaling in immunologically cold cancer models that lack an intact cGAS/STING signaling pathway, promote CD8+ T-cell-dependent anti-tumor immunity, and overcome anti-PD1 refractoriness in vivo. Thus, a key function of casp3/7 is to inhibit inflammation caused by the cytoplasmic release of mtRNA, and pharmacological modulation of this pathway increases the immunogenicity of chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane T Killarney
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Rachel Washart
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ryan S Soderquist
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jacob P Hoj
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jamie Lebhar
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kevin H Lin
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kris C Wood
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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cGAS-STING signalling in cancer: striking a balance with chromosomal instability. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:539-555. [PMID: 36876871 DOI: 10.1042/bst20220838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Chromosomal instability (CIN) is a hallmark of cancer that drives tumour evolution. It is now recognised that CIN in cancer leads to the constitutive production of misplaced DNA in the form of micronuclei and chromatin bridges. These structures are detected by the nucleic acid sensor cGAS, leading to the production of the second messenger 2'3'-cGAMP and activation of the critical hub of innate immune signalling STING. Activation of this immune pathway should instigate the influx and activation of immune cells, resulting in the eradication of cancer cells. That this does not universally occur in the context of CIN remains an unanswered paradox in cancer. Instead, CIN-high cancers are notably adept at immune evasion and are highly metastatic with typically poor outcomes. In this review, we discuss the diverse facets of the cGAS-STING signalling pathway, including emerging roles in homeostatic processes and their intersection with genome stability regulation, its role as a driver of chronic pro-tumour inflammation, and crosstalk with the tumour microenvironment, which may collectively underlie its apparent maintenance in cancers. A better understanding of the mechanisms whereby this immune surveillance pathway is commandeered by chromosomally unstable cancers is critical to the identification of new vulnerabilities for therapeutic exploitation.
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Chen F, Li T, Zhang H, Saeed M, Liu X, Huang L, Wang X, Gao J, Hou B, Lai Y, Ding C, Xu Z, Xie Z, Luo M, Yu H. Acid-Ionizable Iron Nanoadjuvant Augments STING Activation for Personalized Vaccination Immunotherapy of Cancer. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2209910. [PMID: 36576344 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202209910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The critical challenge for cancer vaccine-induced T-cell immunity is the sustained activation of antigen cross-presentation in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) with innate immune stimulation. In this study, it is first discovered that the clinically used magnetic contrast agents, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), markedly augment the type-I interferon (IFN-I) production profile of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist MSA-2 and achieve a 16-fold dosage-sparing effect in the human STING haplotype. Acid-ionizable copolymers are coassembled with IONPs and MSA-2 into iron nanoadjuvants to concentrate STING activation in the draining lymph nodes. The top candidate iron nanoadjuvant (PEIM) efficiently delivers the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) to CD169+ APCs and facilitates antigen cross-presentation to elicit a 55-fold greater frequency of antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response than soluble antigen. PEIM@OVA nanovaccine immunization induces potent and durable antitumor immunity to prevent tumor lung metastasis and eliminate established tumors. Moreover, PEIM nanoadjuvant is applicable to deliver autologous tumor antigen and synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade therapy for prevention of postoperative tumor recurrence and distant metastasis in B16-OVA melanoma and MC38 colorectal tumor models. The acid-ionizable iron nanoadjuvant offers a generalizable and readily translatable strategy to augment STING cascade activation and antigen cross-presentation for personalized cancer vaccination immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangmin Chen
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Tianliang Li
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
| | - Madiha Saeed
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoying Liu
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
| | - Lujia Huang
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Xiyuan Wang
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
| | - Jing Gao
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
| | - Bo Hou
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
| | - Yi Lai
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
| | - Chunyong Ding
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200241, P. R. China
| | - Zhiai Xu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P. R. China
| | - Zuoquan Xie
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
| | - Min Luo
- Institute of Biomedical Science and Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Haijun Yu
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
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Abstract
The discovery of cGAMP in 2012 filled an important gap in our understanding of innate immune signaling. It has been known for over a century that DNA can induce immune responses, but the underlying mechanism was not clear. With the identification of STING as a key player in interferon induction, the DNA detector that activates STING was the last missing link in TBK1-IRF3 signaling. Somewhat unexpectedly, it turns out that nature relays the DNA danger signal through a small molecule. cGAMP is a cyclic dinucleotide produced from cyclodimerization of ATP and GTP upon detection of cytosolic DNA by cGAS, a previously uncharacterized protein, to promote the assembly of the STING signalosome. This article covers a personal account of the discovery of cGAMP, a short history of the relevant nucleotide chemistry, and a summary of the latest development in this field of research in chemistry. It is the author's hope that, with a historic perspective, the readers can better appreciate the synergy between chemistry and biology in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuo Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9038, USA
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Galectin-9 Facilitates Epstein-Barr Virus Latent Infection and Lymphomagenesis in Human B Cells. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0493222. [PMID: 36622166 PMCID: PMC9927364 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04932-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune regulator galectin-9 (Gal-9) is commonly involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, but with various impacts depending on the cell type. Here, we revealed that Gal-9 expression was persistently increased in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected primary B cells from the stage of early infection to the stage of mature lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). This sustained upregulation paralleled that of gene sets related to cell proliferation, such as oxidative phosphorylation, cell cycle activation, and DNA replication. Knocking down or blocking Gal-9 expression obstructed the establishment of latent infection and outgrowth of EBV-infected B cells, while exogenous Gal-9 protein promoted EBV acute and latent infection and outgrowth of EBV-infected B cells at the early infection stage. Mechanically, stimulator of interferon gene (STING) activation or signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibition impeded the outgrowth of EBV-infected B cells and promotion of Gal-9-induced lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) transformation. Accordingly, Gal-9 expression was upregulated by forced EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) expression in 293T cells in vitro. Clinical data showed that Gal-9 expression in B-cell lymphomas (BCLs) correlated positively with EBNA1 and disease stage. Targeting Gal-9 slowed LCL tumor growth and metastasis in xenografted immunodeficient mice. These findings highlight an oncogenic role of Gal-9 in EBV-associated BCLs, indicating that Gal-9 boosts the transformation of EBV-infected B cells. IMPORTANCE The cross talk between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the host cell transcriptome assumes important roles in the oncogenesis of EBV-associated malignancies. Here, we first observed that endogenous Gal-9 expression was persistently increased along with an overturned V-type change in antivirus signaling during the immortalization of EBV-transformed B cells. Upregulation of Gal-9 promoted the outgrowth and latent infection of EBV-infected B cells, which was linked to B-cell-origin tumors by suppressing STING signaling and subsequently promoting STAT3 phosphorylation. EBV nuclear antigen EBNA1 induced Gal-9 expression and formed a positive feedback loop with Gal-9 in EBV-infected B cells. Tumor Gal-9 levels were positively correlated with disease stage and EBNA1 expression in patients with B-cell lymphomas (BCLs). Targeting Gal-9 slowed the growth and metastases of LCL tumors in immunodeficient mice. Altogether, our findings indicate that Gal-9 is involved in the lymphomagenesis of EBV-positive BCLs through cross talk with EBNA1 and STING signals.
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