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Tanim K, Holtzhausen A, Thapa A, Huelse JM, Graham DK, Earp HS. MERTK Inhibition as a Targeted Novel Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7660. [PMID: 39062902 PMCID: PMC11277220 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this issue honoring the contributions of Greg Lemke, the Earp and Graham lab teams discuss several threads in the discovery, action, signaling, and translational/clinical potential of MERTK, originally called c-mer, a member of the TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK (TAM) family of receptor tyrosine kinases. The 30-year history of the TAM RTK family began slowly as all three members were orphan RTKs without known ligands and/or functions when discovered by three distinct alternate molecular cloning strategies in the pre-genome sequencing era. The pace of understanding their physiologic and pathophysiologic roles has accelerated over the last decade. The activation of ligands bridging externalized phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) has placed these RTKs in a myriad of processes including neurodevelopment, cancer, and autoimmunity. The field is ripe for further advancement and this article hopefully sets the stage for further understanding and therapeutic intervention. Our review will focus on progress made through the collaborations of the Earp and Graham labs over the past 30 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- K.M. Tanim
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (K.M.T.); (A.T.); (J.M.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Alisha Holtzhausen
- Lineburger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Aashis Thapa
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (K.M.T.); (A.T.); (J.M.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Justus M. Huelse
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (K.M.T.); (A.T.); (J.M.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Douglas K. Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (K.M.T.); (A.T.); (J.M.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - H. Shelton Earp
- Lineburger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Iida M, Crossman BE, Kostecki KL, Glitchev CE, Kranjac CA, Crow MT, Adams JM, Liu P, Ong I, Yang DT, Kang I, Salgia R, Wheeler DL. MerTK Drives Proliferation and Metastatic Potential in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5109. [PMID: 38791148 PMCID: PMC11121248 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by the absence of the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and receptor tyrosine kinase HER2 expression. Due to the limited number of FDA-approved targeted therapies for TNBC, there is an ongoing need to understand the molecular underpinnings of TNBC for the development of novel combinatorial treatment strategies. This study evaluated the role of the MerTK receptor tyrosine kinase on proliferation and invasion/metastatic potential in TNBC. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated MerTK expression in 58% of patient-derived TNBC xenografts. The stable overexpression of MerTK in human TNBC cell lines induced an increase in proliferation rates, robust in vivo tumor growth, heightened migration/invasion potential, and enhanced lung metastases. NanoString nCounter analysis of MerTK-overexpressing SUM102 cells (SUM102-MerTK) revealed upregulation of several signaling pathways, which ultimately drive cell cycle progression, reduce apoptosis, and enhance cell survival. Proteomic profiling indicated increased endoglin (ENG) production in SUM102-MerTK clones, suggesting that MerTK creates a conducive environment for increased proliferative and metastatic activity via elevated ENG expression. To determine ENG's role in increasing proliferation and/or metastatic potential, we knocked out ENG in a SUM102-MerTK clone with CRISPR technology. Although this ENG knockout clone exhibited similar in vivo growth to the parental SUM102-MerTK clone, lung metastasis numbers were significantly decreased ~4-fold, indicating that MerTK enhances invasion and metastasis through ENG. Our data suggest that MerTK regulates a unique proliferative signature in TNBC, promoting robust tumor growth and increased metastatic potential through ENG upregulation. Targeting MerTK and ENG simultaneously may provide a novel therapeutic approach for TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Iida
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (M.I.); (B.E.C.); (K.L.K.); (C.E.G.); (C.A.K.); (M.T.C.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Bridget E. Crossman
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (M.I.); (B.E.C.); (K.L.K.); (C.E.G.); (C.A.K.); (M.T.C.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Kourtney L. Kostecki
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (M.I.); (B.E.C.); (K.L.K.); (C.E.G.); (C.A.K.); (M.T.C.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Christine E. Glitchev
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (M.I.); (B.E.C.); (K.L.K.); (C.E.G.); (C.A.K.); (M.T.C.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Carlene A. Kranjac
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (M.I.); (B.E.C.); (K.L.K.); (C.E.G.); (C.A.K.); (M.T.C.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Madisen T. Crow
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (M.I.); (B.E.C.); (K.L.K.); (C.E.G.); (C.A.K.); (M.T.C.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Jillian M. Adams
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (M.I.); (B.E.C.); (K.L.K.); (C.E.G.); (C.A.K.); (M.T.C.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Peng Liu
- Departments of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA; (P.L.); (I.O.)
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Irene Ong
- Departments of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA; (P.L.); (I.O.)
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - David T. Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - Irene Kang
- Department of Medical Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (I.K.); (R.S.)
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (I.K.); (R.S.)
| | - Deric L. Wheeler
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (M.I.); (B.E.C.); (K.L.K.); (C.E.G.); (C.A.K.); (M.T.C.); (J.M.A.)
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA
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Frumento D, Grossi G, Falesiedi M, Musumeci F, Carbone A, Schenone S. Small Molecule Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) for Glioblastoma Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1398. [PMID: 38338677 PMCID: PMC10855061 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, many small molecules, usually characterized by heterocyclic scaffolds, have been designed and synthesized as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Among them, several compounds have been tested at preclinical and clinical levels to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is the most common and aggressive type of cancer originating in the brain and has an unfavorable prognosis, with a median survival of 15-16 months and a 5-year survival rate of 5%. Despite recent advances in treating GBM, it represents an incurable disease associated with treatment resistance and high recurrence rates. For these reasons, there is an urgent need for the development of new pharmacological agents to fight this malignancy. In this review, we reported the compounds published in the last five years, which showed promising activity in GBM preclinical models acting as TKIs. We grouped the compounds based on the targeted kinase: first, we reported receptor TKIs and then, cytoplasmic and peculiar kinase inhibitors. For each small molecule, we included the chemical structure, and we schematized the interaction with the target for some representative compounds with the aim of elucidating the mechanism of action. Finally, we cited the most relevant clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Francesca Musumeci
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (D.F.); (G.G.); (M.F.); (S.S.)
| | - Anna Carbone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (D.F.); (G.G.); (M.F.); (S.S.)
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Cao M, Wang Z, Lan W, Xiang B, Liao W, Zhou J, Liu X, Wang Y, Zhang S, Lu S, Lang J, Zhao Y. The roles of tissue resident macrophages in health and cancer. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:3. [PMID: 38229178 PMCID: PMC10790434 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00469-0] [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: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
As integral components of the immune microenvironment, tissue resident macrophages (TRMs) represent a self-renewing and long-lived cell population that plays crucial roles in maintaining homeostasis, promoting tissue remodeling after damage, defending against inflammation and even orchestrating cancer progression. However, the exact functions and roles of TRMs in cancer are not yet well understood. TRMs exhibit either pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic effects by engaging in phagocytosis and secreting diverse cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors to modulate the adaptive immune system. The life-span, turnover kinetics and monocyte replenishment of TRMs vary among different organs, adding to the complexity and controversial findings in TRMs studies. Considering the complexity of tissue associated macrophage origin, macrophages targeting strategy of each ontogeny should be carefully evaluated. Consequently, acquiring a comprehensive understanding of TRMs' origin, function, homeostasis, characteristics, and their roles in cancer for each specific organ holds significant research value. In this review, we aim to provide an outline of homeostasis and characteristics of resident macrophages in the lung, liver, brain, skin and intestinal, as well as their roles in modulating primary and metastatic cancer, which may inform and serve the future design of targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minmin Cao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zihao Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Wanying Lan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Guixi Community Health Center of the Chengdu High-Tech Zone, Chengdu, China
| | - Binghua Xiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenjun Liao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaomeng Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yiling Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Shichuan Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Shun Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinyi Lang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
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Lorimer IAJ. Potential roles for efferocytosis in glioblastoma immune evasion. Neurooncol Adv 2024; 6:vdae012. [PMID: 38616895 PMCID: PMC11012614 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdae012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is an aggressive and incurable brain cancer. This cancer establishes both local and systemic immunosuppression that creates a major obstacle to effective immunotherapies. Many studies point to tumor-resident myeloid cells (primarily microglia and macrophages) as key mediators of this immunosuppression. Myeloid cells exhibit a high level of plasticity with respect to their phenotype and are capable of both stimulating and repressing immune responses. How glioblastomas recruit myeloid cells and exploit them to avoid the immune system is an active area of research. Macrophages can acquire an immunosuppressive phenotype as a consequence of exposure to cytokines such as TGFB1 or IL4; in addition, macrophages can acquire an immunosuppressive phenotype as a consequence of the engulfment of apoptotic cells, a process referred to as efferocytosis. There is substantial evidence that glioblastoma cells are able to secrete cytokines and other factors that induce an immunosuppressive phenotype in macrophages and microglia. However, less is known about the contribution of efferocytosis to immunosuppression in glioblastoma. Here I review the literature in this area and discuss the potential of efferocytosis inhibition to improve glioblastoma response to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A J Lorimer
- Cancer Research Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Lecoultre M, Chliate S, Espinoza FI, Tankov S, Dutoit V, Walker PR. Radio-chemotherapy of glioblastoma cells promotes phagocytosis by macrophages in vitro. Radiother Oncol 2024; 190:110049. [PMID: 38072365 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110049] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Immunotherapy is actively explored in glioblastoma (GBM) to improve patient prognosis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are abundant in GBM and harnessing their function for anti-tumor immunity is of interest. They are plastic cells that are influenced by the tumor microenvironment, by radio-chemotherapy and by their own phagocytic activity. Indeed, the engulfment of necrotic cells promotes pro-inflammatory (and anti-tumoral) functions while the engulfment of apoptotic cells promotes anti-inflammatory (and pro-tumoral) functions through efferocytosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS To model the effect of radio-chemotherapy on the GBM microenvironment, we exposed human macrophages to supernatant of treated GBM cells in vitro. Macrophages were derived from human monocytes and GBM cells from patient-resected tumors. GBM cells were exposed to therapeutically relevant doses of irradiation and chemotherapy. Apoptosis and phagocytic activity were assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS The phagocytic activity of macrophages was increased, and it was correlated with the proportion of apoptotic GBM cells producing the supernatant. Whether uptake of apoptotic tumor cells could occur would depend upon the expression of efferocytosis-associated receptors. Indeed, we showed that efferocytosis-associated receptors, such as AXL, were upregulated. CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES We showed that macrophage phagocytic activity increased when exposed to supernatant from GBM cells treated by radio-chemotherapy. However, as efferocytosis-associated receptors were up-regulated, this effect could be deleterious for the anti-GBM immune response. We speculate that by inducing GBM cell apoptosis in parallel to an increase in efferocytosis receptor expression, the impact of radio-chemotherapy on phagocytic activity could promote anti-inflammatory and pro-tumoral TAM functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Lecoultre
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland; Division of General Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Chliate
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland
| | - Felipe I Espinoza
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland
| | - Stoyan Tankov
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland
| | - Valérie Dutoit
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Center of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul R Walker
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland.
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Gao M, Huang J, Yang B, Liu Q, Luo M, Yang B, Li X, Liu X. Identification of efferocytosis-related subtypes in gliomas and elucidating their characteristics and clinical significance. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1295891. [PMID: 38161335 PMCID: PMC10757721 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1295891] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Gliomas, the most prevalent tumors of the central nervous system, are known for their aggressive nature and poor prognosis. The heterogeneity among gliomas leads to varying responses to the same treatments, even among similar glioma types. In our study, we efferocytosis-related subtypes and explored their characteristics in terms of immune landscape, intercellular communication, and metabolic processes, ultimately elucidating their potential clinical implications. Methods and Results: We first identified efferocytosis-related subtypes in Bulk RNA-seq using the NMF algorithm. We then preliminarily demonstrated the correlation of these subtypes with efferocytosis by examining enrichment scores of cell death pathways, macrophage infiltration, and the expression of immune ligands. Our analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data further supported the association of these subtypes with efferocytosis. Through enrichment analysis, we found that efferocytosis-related subtypes differ from other types of gliomas in terms of immune landscape, intercellular communication, and substance metabolism. Moreover, we found that the efferocytosis-related classification is a prognostic factor with robust predictive performance by calculating the AUC values. We also found that efferocytosis-related subtypes, when compared with other gliomas in drug sensitivity, survival, and TIDE scores, show a clear link to the effectiveness of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy in glioma patients. Discussion: We identified efferocytosis-related subtypes in gliomas by analyzing the expression of 137 efferocytosis-associated genes, exploring their characteristics in immune landscape, intercellular communication, metabolic processes, and genomic variations. Moreover, we discovered that the classification of efferocytosis-related subtypes has a strong prognostic predictive power and holds potential significance in guiding clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengge Gao
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Huadu District People’s Hospital of Guangzhou, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinsheng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Huadu District People’s Hospital of Guangzhou, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Huadu District People’s Hospital of Guangzhou, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Miaoqing Luo
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Huadu District People’s Hospital of Guangzhou, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Biying Yang
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Huadu District People’s Hospital of Guangzhou, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xujia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofang Liu
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Huadu District People’s Hospital of Guangzhou, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Ubil E, Zahid KR. Structure and functions of Mer, an innate immune checkpoint. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1244170. [PMID: 37936688 PMCID: PMC10626544 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1244170] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic tool that promotes the elimination of cancerous cells by a patient's own immune system. However, in the clinical setting, the number of cancer patients benefitting from immunotherapy is limited. Identification and targeting of other immune subsets, such as tumor-associated macrophages, and alternative immune checkpoints, like Mer, may further limit tumor progression and therapy resistance. In this review, we highlight the key roles of macrophage Mer signaling in immune suppression. We also summarize the role of pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes in tumor onset and progression and how Mer structure and activation can be targeted therapeutically to alter activation state. Preclinical and clinical studies focusing on Mer kinase inhibition have demonstrated the potential of targeting this innate immune checkpoint, leading to improved anti-tumor responses and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Ubil
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Zhao S, Wang Q, Liu Y, Zhang P, Ji W, Xie J, Cheng C. Interaction, immune infiltration characteristics and prognostic modeling of efferocytosis-related subtypes in glioblastoma. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:248. [PMID: 37853449 PMCID: PMC10583324 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01688-4] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efferocytosis is a biological process in which phagocytes remove apoptotic cells and vesicles from tissues. This process is initiated by the release of inflammatory mediators from apoptotic cells and plays a crucial role in resolving inflammation. The signals associated with efferocytosis have been found to regulate the inflammatory response and the tumor microenvironment (TME), which promotes the immune escape of tumor cells. However, the role of efferocytosis in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is not well understood and requires further investigation. METHODS In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 22 efferocytosis-related genes (ERGs) by searching for studies related to efferocytosis. Using bulk RNA-Seq and single-cell sequencing data, we analyzed the expression and mutational characteristics of these ERGs. By using an unsupervised clustering algorithm, we obtained ERG clusters from 549 GBM patients and evaluated the immune infiltration characteristics of each cluster. We then identified differential genes (DEGs) in the two ERG clusters and classified GBM patients into different gene clusters using univariate cox analysis and unsupervised clustering algorithms. Finally, we utilized the Boruta algorithm to screen for prognostic genes and reduce dimensionality, and the PCA algorithm was applied to create a novel efferocytosis-related scoring system. RESULTS Differential expression of ERGs in glioma cell lines and normal cells was analyzed by rt-PCR. Cell function experiments, on the other hand, validated TIMD4 as a tumor risk factor in GBM. We found that different ERG clusters and gene clusters have distinct prognostic and immune infiltration profiles. The ERG signature we developed provides insight into the tumor microenvironment of GBM. Patients with lower ERG scores have a better survival rate and a higher likelihood of benefiting from immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Our novel efferocytosis-related signature has the potential to be used in clinical practice for risk stratification of GBM patients and for selecting individuals who are likely to respond to immunotherapy. This can help clinicians design appropriate targeted therapies before initiating clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songyun Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yuankun Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Pengpeng Zhang
- Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jiaheng Xie
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Chao Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China.
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Wu Y, Wang C, Yan Y, Hao Y, Liu B, Dong Z, Chen M, Zhu Y, Liu N, Feng L, Liu Z. Efferocytosis Nanoinhibitors to Promote Secondary Necrosis and Potentiate the Immunogenicity of Conventional Cancer Therapies for Improved Therapeutic Benefits. ACS NANO 2023; 17:18089-18102. [PMID: 37669546 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c04884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Efferocytosis of apoptotic cancer cells by tumor-associated macrophages or other phagocytes is reported to promote tumor immunosuppression by preventing them from secondary necrosis, which would lead to the release of intracellular components and thus enhanced immunogenicity. Therefore, current apoptosis-inducing cancer treatments (e.g., chemotherapy and radiotherapy) are less satisfactory in eliciting antitumor immunity. Herein, a nanoparticulate inhibitor of efferocytosis is prepared by encapsulating BMS777607, a hydrophobic inhibitor of receptors in macrophages responsible for phosphatidylserine-dependent efferocytosis, with biocompatible poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and its amphiphilic derivatives. The yielded nano-BMS can inhibit the efferocytosis of apoptotic cancer cells, thus redirecting them to immunogenic secondary necrosis. As a result, intratumorally injected nano-BMS is capable of activating both innate and adaptive antitumor immunity to achieve greatly improved therapeutic responses, when synergized with nonimmunogenic chemotherapy by cisplatin, immunogenic chemotherapy by oxaliplatin, or radiotherapy by external beams. Moreover, we further demonstrate that the inhalation of nano-BMS could significantly promote the efficacy of cisplatin chemotherapy to suppress tumor lung metastases. Therefore, this study highlights a general strategy to potentiate the immunogenicity of different cancer treatments by suppressing efferocytosis-propelled tumor immunosuppression, showing tremendous clinical potential in rescuing existing cancer therapies for more effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumin Wu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunjie Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifan Yan
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Hao
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziliang Dong
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Minming Chen
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujie Zhu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Nanhui Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Liangzhu Feng
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuang Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren' ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
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11
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Zhang L, Jiang Y, Zhang G, Wei S. The diversity and dynamics of tumor-associated macrophages in recurrent glioblastoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1238233. [PMID: 37731483 PMCID: PMC10507272 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1238233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite tremendous efforts to exploit effective therapeutic strategies, most glioblastoma (GBM) inevitably relapse and become resistant to therapies, including radiotherapy and immunotherapy. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of recurrent GBM (rGBM) is highly immunosuppressive, dominated by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). TAMs consist of tissue-resident microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), which are essential for favoring tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, immune suppression, and therapeutic resistance; however, restricted by the absence of potent methods, the heterogeneity and plasticity of TAMs in rGBM remain incompletely investigated. Recent application of single-cell technologies, such as single-cell RNA-sequencing has enabled us to decipher the unforeseen diversity and dynamics of TAMs and to identify new subsets of TAMs which regulate anti-tumor immunity. Here, we first review hallmarks of the TME, progress and challenges of immunotherapy, and the biology of TAMs in the context of rGBM, including their origins, categories, and functions. Next, from a single-cell perspective, we highlight recent findings regarding the distinctions between tissue-resident microglia and MDMs, the identification and characterization of specific TAM subsets, and the dynamic alterations of TAMs during tumor progression and treatment. Last, we briefly discuss the potential of TAM-targeted strategies for combination immunotherapy in rGBM. We anticipate the comprehensive understanding of the diversity and dynamics of TAMs in rGBM will shed light on further improvement of immunotherapeutic efficacy in rGBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Zhang
- Institute of Thoracic Oncology and Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gao Zhang
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shiyou Wei
- Institute of Thoracic Oncology and Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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12
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Guo S, Yao Y, Tang Y, Xin Z, Wu D, Ni C, Huang J, Wei Q, Zhang T. Radiation-induced tumor immune microenvironments and potential targets for combination therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:205. [PMID: 37208386 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01462-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
As one of the four major means of cancer treatment including surgery, radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy, immunotherapy, RT can be applied to various cancers as both a radical cancer treatment and an adjuvant treatment before or after surgery. Although RT is an important modality for cancer treatment, the consequential changes caused by RT in the tumor microenvironment (TME) have not yet been fully elucidated. RT-induced damage to cancer cells leads to different outcomes, such as survival, senescence, or death. During RT, alterations in signaling pathways result in changes in the local immune microenvironment. However, some immune cells are immunosuppressive or transform into immunosuppressive phenotypes under specific conditions, leading to the development of radioresistance. Patients who are radioresistant respond poorly to RT and may experience cancer progression. Given that the emergence of radioresistance is inevitable, new radiosensitization treatments are urgently needed. In this review, we discuss the changes in irradiated cancer cells and immune cells in the TME under different RT regimens and describe existing and potential molecules that could be targeted to improve the therapeutic effects of RT. Overall, this review highlights the possibilities of synergistic therapy by building on existing research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Guo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yihan Yao
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Tang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zengfeng Xin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dang Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Ni
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Qichun Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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13
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Xiao H, Chen X, Shan J, Liu X, Sun Y, Shen J, Chai Y, We G, Yu Y. A spatiotemporal release hydrogel based on an M1-to-M2 immunoenvironment for wound management. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:3994-4004. [PMID: 37165902 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb00463e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous wounds remain a major clinical challenge that urgently requires the development of advanced and functional wound dressings. During the wound healing process, macrophages are well known to exhibit temporal dynamics with a pro-inflammatory phenotype at early stages and a pro-healing phenotype at late stages, thus playing an important role in regulating inflammatory responses and tissue regeneration. Meanwhile, disrupted temporal dynamics of macrophages caused by poor wound local conditions and deficiency of macrophage function always impair the wound-healing progression. Here in this work, we proposed a novel controllable strategy to construct a spatiotemporal dynamical immune-microenvironment for the treatment of cutaneous wounds. To achieve this goal, a concentric decellularized dermal hydrogel was constructed with the combination of type 1 and type 2 macrophage-associated cytokine complexes in the sheath portion and core portion, respectively. The in vitro degradation experiment exhibited a sequential cascade release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and pro-healing cytokines. The enhanced cell biocompatibility and tube formation of HUVECs were confirmed. A full-thickness skin defect model of rats was developed to analyze the effect of the spatiotemporal dynamical bioactive hydrogels on wound healing. Remarkable angiogenesis, rapid wound restoration, moderate extracellular matrix deposition and obvious skin appendage neogenesis were identified at different time points after treatment with the macrophage cytokine-based decellularized hydrogels. Consequently, the concentric decellularized hydrogels with spatiotemporal dynamics of immune cytokines have considerable potential for cell-free therapy for wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Xiao
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Xin Chen
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Jianyang Shan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Xuanzhe Liu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Junjie Shen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yimin Chai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Gen We
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yaling Yu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China.
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14
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Montemurro N, Pahwa B, Tayal A, Shukla A, De Jesus Encarnacion M, Ramirez I, Nurmukhametov R, Chavda V, De Carlo A. Macrophages in Recurrent Glioblastoma as a Prognostic Factor in the Synergistic System of the Tumor Microenvironment. Neurol Int 2023; 15:595-608. [PMID: 37218976 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint15020037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a common and highly malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system in adults. Ever more recent papers are focusing on understanding the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in affecting tumorigenesis and the subsequent prognosis. We assessed the impact of macrophages in the TME on the prognosis in patients with recurrent GBM. A PubMed, MEDLINE and Scopus review was conducted to identify all studies dealing with macrophages in the GBM microenvironment from January 2016 to December 2022. Glioma-associated macrophages (GAMs) act critically in enhancing tumor progression and can alter drug resistance, promoting resistance to radiotherapy and establishing an immunosuppressive environment. M1 macrophages are characterized by increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), IL-27, matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs), CCL2, and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), IGF1, that can lead to the destruction of the tissue. In contrast, M2 is supposed to participate in immunosuppression and tumor progression, which is formed after being exposed to the macrophage M-CSF, IL-10, IL-35 and the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-β). Because there is currently no standard of care in recurrent GBM, novel identified targeted therapies based on the complex signaling and interactions between the glioma stem cells (GSCs) and the TME, especially resident microglia and bone-marrow-derived macrophages, may be helpful in improving the overall survival of these patients in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Montemurro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - Bhavya Pahwa
- University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, New Delhi 110095, India
| | - Anish Tayal
- University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, New Delhi 110095, India
| | - Anushruti Shukla
- University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, New Delhi 110095, India
| | | | - Issael Ramirez
- Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Renat Nurmukhametov
- Department of Spinal Surgery, Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 121359 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vishal Chavda
- Department of Pathology, Stanford of School of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Centre, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Antonella De Carlo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy
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15
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Bravo DD, Shi Y, Sheu A, Liang WC, Lin W, Wu Y, Yan M, Wang J. A Real-Time Image-Based Efferocytosis Assay for the Discovery of Functionally Inhibitory Anti-MerTK Antibodies. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:1166-1176. [PMID: 36881873 PMCID: PMC10067786 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Efferocytosis is a phagocytic process by which apoptotic cells are cleared by professional and nonprofessional phagocytic cells. In tumors, efferocytosis of apoptotic cancer cells by tumor-associated macrophages prevents Ag presentation and suppresses the host immune response against the tumor. Therefore, reactivating the immune response by blockade of tumor-associated macrophage-mediated efferocytosis is an attractive strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Even though several methods have been developed to monitor efferocytosis, an automated and high-throughput quantitative assay should offer highly desirable advantages for drug discovery. In this study, we describe a real-time efferocytosis assay with an imaging system for live-cell analysis. Using this assay, we successfully discovered potent anti-MerTK Abs that block tumor-associated macrophage-mediated efferocytosis in mice. Furthermore, we used primary human and cynomolgus monkey macrophages to identify and characterize anti-MerTK Abs for potential clinical development. By studying the phagocytic activities of different types of macrophages, we demonstrated that our efferocytosis assay is robust for screening and characterization of drug candidates that inhibit unwanted efferocytosis. Moreover, our assay is also applicable to investigating the kinetics and molecular mechanisms of efferocytosis/phagocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D. Bravo
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA
| | - Yongchang Shi
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA
| | - Allison Sheu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Wei-Ching Liang
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA
| | - WeiYu Lin
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA
| | - Minhong Yan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA
| | - Jianyong Wang
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA
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16
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Zhuang WR, Wang Y, Nie W, Lei Y, Liang C, He J, Zuo L, Huang LL, Xie HY. Bacterial outer membrane vesicle based versatile nanosystem boosts the efferocytosis blockade triggered tumor-specific immunity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1675. [PMID: 36966130 PMCID: PMC10039929 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37369-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Efferocytosis inhibition is emerging as an attractive strategy for antitumor immune therapy because of the subsequent leak of abundant immunogenic contents. However, the practical efficacy is seriously impeded by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. Here, we construct a versatile nanosystem that can not only inhibit the efferocytosis but also boost the following antitumor immunity. MerTK inhibitor UNC2025 is loaded into the bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), which are then modified with maleimide (mU@OMVs). The prepared mU@OMVs effectively inhibits the efferocytosis by promoting the uptake while preventing the MerTK phosphorylation of tumor associated macrophages, and then captures the released antigens through forming universal thioether bonds. The obtained in situ vaccine effectively transfers to lymph nodes by virtue of the intrinsic features of OMVs, and then provokes intense immune responses that can efficiently prevent the growth, metastasis and recurrence of tumors in mice, providing a generalizable strategy for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Ru Zhuang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yunfeng Wang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Weidong Nie
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yao Lei
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Chao Liang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jiaqi He
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Liping Zuo
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Li-Li Huang
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Yan Xie
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, P.R. China.
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17
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Safaroghli-Azar A, Emadi F, Lenjisa J, Mekonnen L, Wang S. Kinase inhibitors: Opportunities for small molecule anticancer immunotherapies. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103525. [PMID: 36907320 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103525] [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: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
As the fifth pillar of cancer treatment, immunotherapy has dramatically changed the paradigm of therapeutic strategies by focusing on the host's immune system. In the long road of immunotherapy development, the identification of immune-modulatory effects for kinase inhibitors opened a new chapter in this therapeutic approach. These small molecule inhibitors not only directly eradicate tumors by targeting essential proteins of cell survival and proliferation but can also drive immune responses against malignant cells. This review summarizes the current standings and challenges of kinase inhibitors in immunotherapy, either as a single agent or in a combined modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Safaroghli-Azar
- Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Fatemeh Emadi
- Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Jimma Lenjisa
- Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Laychiluh Mekonnen
- Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Shudong Wang
- Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia.
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18
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Anagnostakis F, Piperi C. Targeting Options of Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAM) Activity in Gliomas. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:457-470. [PMID: 35048810 PMCID: PMC10207914 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220120120203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the most plastic cells of the hematopoietic system, exhibit increased tumor-infiltrating properties and functional heterogeneity depending on tumor type and associated microenvironment. TAMs constitute a major cell type of cancer-related inflammation, commonly enhancing tumor growth. They are profoundly involved in glioma pathogenesis, contributing to many cancer hallmarks such as angiogenesis, survival, metastasis, and immunosuppression. Efficient targeting of TAMs presents a promising approach to tackle glioma progression. Several targeting options involve chemokine signaling axes inhibitors and antibodies, antiangiogenic factors, immunomodulatory molecules, surface immunoglobulins blockers, receptor and transcription factor inhibitors, as well as microRNAs (miRNAs), administered either as standalone or in combination with other conventional therapies. Herein, we provide a critical overview of current therapeutic approaches targeting TAMs in gliomas with the promising outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527Athens, Greece
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19
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Zhao T, Shao J, Liu J, Wang Y, Chen J, He S, Wang G. Glycolytic Genes Predict Immune Status and Prognosis Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 2023:4019091. [PMID: 37101691 PMCID: PMC10125743 DOI: 10.1155/2023/4019091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Background Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a major health problem that endangers human health. The prognosis of radiotherapy or chemotherapy is still unsatisfactory. This study is aimed at investigating the predictive value of glycolysis-related genes (GRGs) on the prognosis of NSCLC patients with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Methods Download the clinical information and RNA data of NSCLC patients receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy from TCGA and geo databases and obtain GRGs from MsigDB. The two clusters were identified by consistent cluster analysis, the potential mechanism was explored by KEGG and GO enrichment analyses, and the immune status was evaluated by estimate, TIMER, and quanTIseq algorithms. Lasso algorithm is used to build the corresponding prognostic risk model. Results Two clusters with different GRG expression were identified. The high-expression subgroup had poor overall survival. The results of KEGG and GO enrichment analyses suggest that the differential genes of the two clusters are mainly reflected in metabolic and immune-related pathways. The risk model constructed with GRGs can effectively predict the prognosis. The nomogram combined with the model and clinical characteristics has good clinical application potential. Conclusion In this study, we found that GRGs are associated with tumor immune status and can assess the prognosis of NSCLC patients receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianye Zhao
- Nantong University Medical College, 226006, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, 226006, China
| | - Jingjing Shao
- Nantong University Medical College, 226006, China
- Cancer Research Center Nantong, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, 226006, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Nantong University Medical College, 226006, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, 226006, China
| | - Yidan Wang
- Nantong University Medical College, 226006, China
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 226006, China
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Oncology, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, 226006, China
| | - Song He
- Nantong University Medical College, 226006, China
- Cancer Research Center Nantong, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, 226006, China
| | - Gaoren Wang
- Nantong University Medical College, 226006, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, 226006, China
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20
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Shen C, Li Z, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Wu Z, Da L, Yang S, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Qie Y, Zhao G, Lin Y, Huang S, Zhou M, Hu H. Identification of a dysregulated CircRNA-associated gene signature for predicting prognosis, immune landscape, and drug candidates in bladder cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1018285. [PMID: 36300085 PMCID: PMC9589509 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1018285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidences have demonstrated that circular RNA (circRNAs) plays a an essential regulatory role in initiation, progression and immunotherapy resistance of various cancers. However, circRNAs have rarely been studied in bladder cancer (BCa). The purpose of this research is to explore new circRNAs and their potential mechanisms in BCa. A novel ceRNA-regulated network, including 87 differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs), 126 DE-miRNAs, and 217 DE-mRNAs was constructed to better understanding the biological processes using Cytoscape 3.7.1 based on our previously high-throughput circRNA sequencing and five GEO datasets. Subsequently, five randomly selected circRNAs (upregulated circ_0001681; downregulated circ_0000643, circ_0001798, circ_0006117 and circ_0067900) in 20 pairs of BCa and paracancerous tissues were confirmed using qRT-PCR. Functional analysis results determined that 772 GO functions and 32 KEGG pathways were enriched in the ceRNA network. Ten genes (PFKFB4, EDNRA, GSN, GAS1, PAPPA, DTL, TGFBI, PRSS8, RGS1 and TCF4) were selected for signature construction among the ceRNA network. The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) expression of these genes were consistent with the above sequencing data. Notably, the model was validated in multiple external datasets (GSE13507, GSE31684, GSE48075, IMvigor210 and GSE32894). The immune-infiltration was evaluated by 7 published algorithms (i.e., TIMER, CIBERSORT, CIBERSORT-ABS, QUANTISEQ, MCPCOUNTER, XCELL and EPIC). Next, Correlations between riskscore or risk groups and clinicopathological data, overall survival, recognized immunoregulatory cells or common chemotherapeutic agents of BCa patients were performed using wilcox rank test, chi-square test, cox regression and spearman’s correlation analysis; and, these results are significant. According to R package “GSVA” and “clusterProfiler”, the most significantly enriched HALLMARK and KEGG pathway was separately the ‘Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition’ and ‘Ecm Receptor Interaction’ in the high- vs. low-risk group. Additionally, the functional experiments in vitro also revealed that the overexpression of has_circ_0067900 significantly impaired the proliferation, migration, and invasion capacities of BCa cells. Collectively, the results of the current study provide a novel landscape of circRNA-associated ceRNA-regulated network in BCa. The ceRNA-associated gene model which was constructed presented a high predictive performance for the prognosis, immunotherapeutic responsiveness, and chemotherapeutic sensitivity of BCa. And, has_circ_0067900 was originally proposed as tumor suppressor for patients with BCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Shen
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yinglang Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhouliang Wu
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - La Da
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shaobo Yang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zejin Wang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yunkai Qie
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Gangjian Zhao
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuda Lin
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shiwang Huang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Mingli Zhou
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hailong Hu
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Hailong Hu,
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21
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Zhao T, Zeng J, Xu Y, Su Z, Chong Y, Ling T, Xu H, Shi H, Zhu M, Mo Q, Huang X, Li Y, Zhang X, Ni H, You Q. Chitinase-3 like-protein-1 promotes glioma progression via the NF-κB signaling pathway and tumor microenvironment reprogramming. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:6989-7008. [PMID: 36276655 PMCID: PMC9576612 DOI: 10.7150/thno.75069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is overexpressed in various types of tumors, especially in glioma, and contributes to tumor progression. However, the definite role of CHI3L1 and involved pathway in glioma progression are not completely understood. Methods: CHI3L1 expression in human gliomas and its association with patient survival was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot, immunohistochemistry, and public databases. Single-cell RNA-seq was used to characterize the landscape of tumor and myeloid cells. Human proteome microarray assay was applied to identify the binding partners of CHI3L1. Protein-protein interactions were analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation and cellular co-localization. The roles of CHI3L1 in glioma proliferation and invasion were investigated in tumor cell lines by gain- and loss- of function, as well as in vivo animal experiments. Results: CHI3L1 was up-regulated in all disease stages of glioma, which was closely related with tumor survival, growth, and invasion. CHI3L1 was primarily expressed in glioma cells, followed by neutrophils. Moreover, glioma cells with high expression of CHI3L1 were significantly enriched in NF-κB pathway. Pseudo-time trajectory analysis revealed a gradual transition from CHI3L1low to CHI3L1high glioma cells, along with the NF-κB pathway gradually reversed from inhibition to activation. Intriguingly, CHI3L1 binds to actinin alpha 4 (ACTN4) and NFKB1, and enhances the NF-κB signaling pathway by promoting the NF-κB subunit nuclear translocation in glioma cells. Further, CHI3L1 were released into the tumor microenvironment (TME) and interacted with CD44 expressed on tumor-associated macrophages to activate AKT pathway, thereby contributing to M2 macrophage polarization. In addition, CHI3L1 positively correlated to the expression of immune checkpoints, such as CD274 (PD-L1) and HAVCR2 (LAG3), which then remodeled the TME to an immunosuppressive phenotype. Conclusion: Our research revealed that CHI3L1 facilitated NF-κB pathway activation within glioma cells and reprogramed the TME, thereby serving as a promising therapeutic target for glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhao
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jianming Zeng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Yujie Xu
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhongping Su
- Department of Biotherapy, Department of Geriatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yulong Chong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao Ling
- Department of Biotherapy, Department of Geriatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haozhe Xu
- Department of Biotherapy, Department of Geriatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Shi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Minggao Zhu
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong, China
| | - Qi Mo
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoying Huang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Road, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Yingchang Li
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong, China.,Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China.,Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoren Zhang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong, China.,Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China.,Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongbin Ni
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiang You
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong, China.,Department of Biotherapy, Department of Geriatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China.,Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China.,Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, China
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22
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Ma Y, Yang J, Ji T, Wen F. Identification of a novel m5C/m6A-related gene signature for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy in lung adenocarcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:990623. [PMID: 36246622 PMCID: PMC9561349 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.990623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is associated with high mortality rates. However, effective methods to guide clinical therapeutic strategies for LUAD are still lacking. The goals of this study were to analyze the relationship between an m5C/m6A-related signature and LUAD and construct a novel model for evaluating prognosis and predicting drug resistance and immunotherapy efficacy. We obtained data from LUAD patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Based on the differentially expressed m5C/m6A-related genes, we identified distinct m5C/m6A-related modification subtypes in LUAD by unsupervised clustering and compared the differences in functions and pathways between different clusters. In addition, a risk model was constructed using multivariate Cox regression analysis based on prognostic m5C/m6A-related genes to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response. We showed the landscape of 36 m5C/m6A regulators in TCGA-LUAD samples and identified 29 differentially expressed m5C/m6A regulators between the normal and LUAD groups. Two m5C/m6A-related subtypes were identified in 29 genes. Compared to cluster 2, cluster 1 had lower m5C/m6A regulator expression, higher OS (overall survival), higher immune activity, and an abundance of infiltrating immune cells. Four m5C/m6A-related gene signatures consisting of HNRNPA2B1, IGF2BP2, NSUN4, and ALYREF were used to construct a prognostic risk model, and the high-risk group had a worse prognosis, higher immune checkpoint expression, and tumor mutational burden (TMB). In patients treated with immunotherapy, samples with high-risk scores had higher expression of immune checkpoint genes and better immunotherapeutic efficacy than those with low-risk scores. We concluded that the m5C/m6A regulator-related risk model could serve as an effective prognostic biomarker and predict the therapeutic sensitivity of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Tiantai Ji
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fengyun Wen
- Department of Radiotherapy, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Fengyun Wen,
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23
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Vollmar BS, Fei M, Liang WC, Bravo DD, Wang J, Yu L, Corr N, Zhang G, McNamara E, Masih S, Chee E, Shin G, Ohri R, Leipold DD, Wu C, Dere E, Wang J, Huang H, Wu Y, Yan M. PEGylation of anti-MerTK Antibody Modulates Ocular Biodistribution. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:1837-1851. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Breanna S. Vollmar
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Mingjian Fei
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Wei-Ching Liang
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Daniel D. Bravo
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Joy Wang
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Lanlan Yu
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Nick Corr
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Gu Zhang
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Erin McNamara
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Shabkhaiz Masih
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Elin Chee
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Gawon Shin
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Rachana Ohri
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Douglas D. Leipold
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Cong Wu
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Edward Dere
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jianyong Wang
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Haochu Huang
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Yan Wu
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Minhong Yan
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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24
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Akalu YT, Mercau ME, Ansems M, Hughes LD, Nevin J, Alberto EJ, Liu XN, He LZ, Alvarado D, Keler T, Kong Y, Philbrick WM, Bosenberg M, Finnemann SC, Iavarone A, Lasorella A, Rothlin CV, Ghosh S. Tissue-specific modifier alleles determine Mertk loss-of-function traits. eLife 2022; 11:80530. [PMID: 35969037 PMCID: PMC9433089 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Knockout (KO) mouse models play critical roles in elucidating biological processes behind disease-associated or disease-resistant traits. As a presumed consequence of gene KO, mice display certain phenotypes. Based on insight into the molecular role of said gene in a biological process, it is inferred that the particular biological process causally underlies the trait. This approach has been crucial towards understanding the basis of pathological and/or advantageous traits associated with Mertk KO mice. Mertk KO mice suffer from severe, early-onset retinal degeneration. MERTK, expressed in retinal pigment epithelia, is a receptor tyrosine kinase with a critical role in phagocytosis of apoptotic cells or cellular debris. Therefore, early-onset, severe retinal degeneration was described to be a direct consequence of failed MERTK-mediated phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments by retinal pigment epithelia. Here, we report that the loss of Mertk alone is not sufficient for retinal degeneration. The widely used Mertk KO mouse carries multiple coincidental changes in its genome that affect the expression of a number of genes, including the Mertk paralog Tyro3. Retinal degeneration manifests only when the function of Tyro3 is concomitantly lost. Furthermore, Mertk KO mice display improved anti-tumor immunity. MERTK is expressed in macrophages. Therefore, enhanced anti-tumor immunity was inferred to result from the failure of macrophages to dispose of cancer cell corpses, resulting in a pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironment. The resistance against two syngeneic mouse tumor models observed in Mertk KO mice is not, however, phenocopied by the loss of Mertk alone. Neither Tyro3 nor macrophage phagocytosis by alternate genetic redundancy accounts for the absence of anti-tumor immunity. Collectively, our results indicate that context-dependent epistasis of independent modifier alleles determines Mertk KO traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yemsratch T Akalu
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Maria E Mercau
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Marleen Ansems
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Lindsey D Hughes
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - James Nevin
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Emily J Alberto
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Xinran N Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Cellular and Molecular Imaging, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Li-Zhen He
- Celldex TherapeuticsNew HavenUnited States
| | | | | | - Yong Kong
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, W. M. Keck Foundation Biotechnology Resource Laboratory, School of Medicine, Yale UniversityNew HavenUnited States
| | - William M Philbrick
- Center on Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale Genome Editing Center, School of Medicine, Yale UniversityNew HavenUnited States
| | - Marcus Bosenberg
- Departments of Dermatology, Pathology and Immunobiology, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Silvia C Finnemann
- Center for Cancer, Genetic Diseases and Gene Regulation, Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham UniversityBronxUnited States
| | - Antonio Iavarone
- Departments of Neurology and Pathology and Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Anna Lasorella
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology and Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Carla V Rothlin
- Departments of Immunobiology and Pharmacology, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Sourav Ghosh
- Departments of Neurology and Pharmacology, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
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25
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HAUS Augmin-Like Complex Subunit 1 Influences Tumour Microenvironment and Prognostic Outcomes in Glioma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:8027686. [PMID: 35865089 PMCID: PMC9296284 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8027686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background. The expression of HAUS Augmin-like complex subunit 1 (HAUS1), a protein-coding gene, is low in normal samples among various cancers with pan-cancer analysis. The depletion of HAUS1 in cells decreases the G2/M cell compartment and induces apoptosis. However, the detailed expression pattern of HAUS1 and its correlation with immune infiltration in glioma (LGG and GBM) (LGG: low-grade glioma; GBM: glioblastoma) remain unknown. Therefore, in this study, we examined the role and prognostic value of HAUS1 in glioma. Methods. Transcriptional expression data of HAUS1 were collected from the CGGA and TCGA databases. The Kaplan–Meier analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyse the clinical significance of HAUS1 in glioma. The STRING database was used to analyse protein-protein interactions (PPI), and the “ClusterProfiler” package was used for functional enrichment analysis to examine the possible biological roles of HAUS1. In addition, the HAUS1 promoter methylation modification was analysed using MEXPRESS, and the association between HAUS1 expression and tumour-infiltrating immune cells was investigated using CIBERSORT. Results. Based on the data retrieved from TCGA (703 samples) and CGGA (1018 samples), an elevated expression of HAUS1 was observed in glioma samples, which was associated with poorer survival of patients, unfavourable clinical characteristics, 1p/19q codeletion status, WHO grade, and IDH mutation status. Furthermore, multivariate and univariate Cox analyses revealed that HAUS1 was an independent predictor of glioma. HAUS1 expression level was associated with several tumour-infiltrating immune cells, such as Th2 cells, macrophages, and activated dendritic cells. The outcomes of ROC curve analysis showed that HAUS1 was good to prognosticate immune infiltrating levels in glioma with a higher area under the curve (AUC) value (AUC = 0.974). Conclusions. HAUS1 was upregulated and served as a biomarker for poor prognosis in patients with glioma. High HAUS1 expression was associated with several tumour-infiltrating immune cells such as Th2 cells, macrophages, and activated dendritic cells, which had high infiltration levels. Therefore, these findings suggest that HAUS1 is a potential biomarker for predicting the prognosis of patients with glioma and plays a pivotal role in immune infiltration in glioma.
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Abstract
Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute a plastic and heterogeneous cell population of the tumour microenvironment (TME) that can account for up to 50% of solid tumours. TAMs heterogeneous are associated with different cancer types and stages, different stimulation of bioactive molecules and different TME, which are crucial drivers of tumour progression, metastasis and resistance to therapy. In this context, understanding the sources and regulatory mechanisms of TAM heterogeneity and searching for novel therapies targeting TAM subpopulations are essential for future studies. In this review, we discuss emerging evidence highlighting the redefinition of TAM heterogeneity from three different directions: origins, phenotypes and functions. We notably focus on the causes and consequences of TAM heterogeneity which have implications for the evolution of therapeutic strategies that targeted the subpopulations of TAMs.
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27
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Wang L, Zhou Y, Wu X, Ma X, Li B, Ding R, Stashko MA, Wu Z, Wang X, Li Z. The Synthesis and Initial Evaluation of MerTK Targeted PET Agents. Molecules 2022; 27:1460. [PMID: 35268561 PMCID: PMC8911752 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27051460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
MerTK (Mer tyrosine kinase), a receptor tyrosine kinase, is ectopically or aberrantly expressed in numerous human hematologic and solid malignancies. Although a variety of MerTK targeting therapies are being developed to enhance outcomes for patients with various cancers, the sensitivity of tumors to MerTK suppression may not be uniform due to the heterogeneity of solid tumors and different tumor stages. In this report, we develop a series of radiolabeled agents as potential MerTK PET (positron emission tomography) agents. In our initial in vivo evaluation, [18F]-MerTK-6 showed prominent uptake rate (4.79 ± 0.24%ID/g) in B16F10 tumor-bearing mice. The tumor to muscle ratio reached 1.86 and 3.09 at 0.5 and 2 h post-injection, respectively. In summary, [18F]-MerTK-6 is a promising PET agent for MerTK imaging and is worth further evaluation in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (L.W.); (X.W.); (X.M.); (Z.L.)
| | - Yubai Zhou
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (Y.Z.); (B.L.); (R.D.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Xuedan Wu
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (L.W.); (X.W.); (X.M.); (Z.L.)
| | - Xinrui Ma
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (L.W.); (X.W.); (X.M.); (Z.L.)
| | - Bing Li
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (Y.Z.); (B.L.); (R.D.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Ransheng Ding
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (Y.Z.); (B.L.); (R.D.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Michael A. Stashko
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (Y.Z.); (B.L.); (R.D.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Zhanhong Wu
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (L.W.); (X.W.); (X.M.); (Z.L.)
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (Y.Z.); (B.L.); (R.D.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Zibo Li
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (L.W.); (X.W.); (X.M.); (Z.L.)
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Potjewyd FM, Annor‐Gyamfi JK, Aubé J, Chu S, Conlon IL, Frankowski KJ, Guduru SKR, Hardy BP, Hopkins MD, Kinoshita C, Kireev DB, Mason ER, Moerk CT, Nwogbo F, Pearce KH, Richardson TI, Rogers DA, Soni DM, Stashko M, Wang X, Wells C, Willson TM, Frye SV, Young JE, Axtman AD. Use of AD Informer Set compounds to explore validity of novel targets in Alzheimer's disease pathology. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA: TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS 2022; 8:e12253. [PMID: 35434254 PMCID: PMC9005681 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Introduction A chemogenomic set of small molecules with annotated activities and implicated roles in Alzheimer's disease (AD) called the AD Informer Set was recently developed and made available to the AD research community: https://treatad.org/data‐tools/ad‐informer‐set/. Methods Small subsets of AD Informer Set compounds were selected for AD‐relevant profiling. Nine compounds targeting proteins expressed by six AD‐implicated genes prioritized for study by Target Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer's Disease (TREAT‐AD) teams were selected for G‐protein coupled receptor (GPCR), amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau, and pharmacokinetic (PK) studies. Four non‐overlapping compounds were analyzed in microglial cytotoxicity and phagocytosis assays. Results The nine compounds targeting CAPN2, EPHX2, MDK, MerTK/FLT3, or SYK proteins were profiled in 46 to 47 primary GPCR binding assays. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)‐derived neurons were treated with the same nine compounds and secretion of Aβ peptides (Aβ40 and Aβ42) as well as levels of phosphophorylated tau (p‐tau, Thr231) and total tau (t‐tau) peptides measured at two concentrations and two timepoints. Finally, CD1 mice were dosed intravenously to determine preliminary PK and/or brain‐specific penetrance values for these compounds. As a final cell‐based study, a non‐overlapping subset of four compounds was selected based on single‐concentration screening for analysis of both cytotoxicity and phagocytosis in murine and human microglia cells. Discussion We have demonstrated the utility of the AD Informer Set in the validation of novel AD hypotheses using biochemical, cellular (primary and immortalized), and in vivo studies. The selectivity for their primary targets versus essential GPCRs in the brain was established for our compounds. Statistical changes in tau, p‐tau, Aβ40, and/or Aβ42 and blood–brain barrier penetrance were observed, solidifying the utility of specific compounds for AD. Single‐concentration phagocytosis results were validated as predictive of dose–response findings. These studies established workflows, validated assays, and illuminated next steps for protein targets and compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances M. Potjewyd
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Structural Genomics Consortium Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Joel K. Annor‐Gyamfi
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Structural Genomics Consortium Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Jeffrey Aubé
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Shaoyou Chu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Ivie L. Conlon
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Kevin J. Frankowski
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Shiva K. R. Guduru
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Brian P. Hardy
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Megan D. Hopkins
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Chizuru Kinoshita
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Dmitri B. Kireev
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Emily R. Mason
- Department of Medicine Division of Clinical Pharmacology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - Charles T. Moerk
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Felix Nwogbo
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Kenneth H. Pearce
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Timothy I. Richardson
- Department of Medicine Division of Clinical Pharmacology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - David A. Rogers
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Disha M. Soni
- Department of Medicine Division of Clinical Pharmacology Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USA
| | - Michael Stashko
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Carrow Wells
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Structural Genomics Consortium Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Timothy M. Willson
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Structural Genomics Consortium Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Stephen V. Frye
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Jessica E. Young
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Alison D. Axtman
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Structural Genomics Consortium Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
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Moradinasab S, Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi A, Ghaffari SH, Bashash D. Targeting macrophage-mediated tumor cell phagocytosis: An overview of phagocytosis checkpoints blockade, nanomedicine intervention, and engineered CAR-macrophage therapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 103:108499. [PMID: 34972068 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has been developing at an unprecedented speed with promising therapeutic outcomes in the wide spectrum of cancers. Up until now, most immunotherapies have focused on adaptive immunity; however, investigating the potential of macrophage phagocytosis and consequent adaptive immune cross-priming has led to a growing interest in exploiting macrophages in cancer therapy. In light of the positive evidence from preclinical studies and early clinical data, targeting macrophage phagocytosis has become a promising therapeutic strategy. Here, we review therapies based on harnessing and amplifying macrophage phagocytosis, such as blocking phagocytosis checkpoints and exploiting nanoparticles as efficient approaches in elevating macrophages-mediated phagocytosis. The present study introduces CAR-macrophage as the state-of-the-art modality serving as the bridge between the innate and adaptive immune system to mount a superior anti-tumor response in the treatment of cancer. We also take a look at the recent reports of therapies based on CAR-engineered macrophages with the hope of providing a future research direction for expanding the application of CAR-macrophage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Moradinasab
- Iranian Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed H Ghaffari
- Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Shariati Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Bashash
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Wong SW, Vivash L, Mudududdla R, Nguyen N, Hermans SJ, Shackleford DM, Field J, Xue L, Aprico A, Hancock NC, Haskali M, Stashko MA, Frye SV, Wang X, Binder MD, Ackermann U, Parker MW, Kilpatrick TJ, Baell JB. Development of [ 18F]MIPS15692, a radiotracer with in vitro proof-of-concept for the imaging of MER tyrosine kinase (MERTK) in neuroinflammatory disease. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 226:113822. [PMID: 34563964 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
MER tyrosine kinase (MERTK) upregulation is associated with M2 polarization of microglia, which plays a vital role in neuroregeneration following damage induced by neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Therefore, a radiotracer specific for MERTK could be of great utility in the clinical management of MS, for the detection and differentiation of neuroregenerative and neurodegenerative processes. This study aimed to develop an [18F] ligand with high affinity and selectivity for MERTK as a potential positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer. MIPS15691 and MIPS15692 were synthesized and kinase assays were utilized to determine potency and selectivity for MERTK. Both compounds were shown to be potent against MERTK, with respective IC50 values of 4.6 nM and 4.0 nM, and were also MERTK-selective. Plasma and brain pharmacokinetics were measured in mice and led to selection of MIPS15692 over MIPS15691. X-ray crystallography was used to visualize how MIPS15692 is recognized by the enzyme. [18F]MIPS15692 was synthesized using an automated iPHASE FlexLab module, with a molar activity (Am) of 49 ± 26 GBq/μmol. The radiochemical purity of [18F]MIPS15692 was >99% and the decay-corrected radiochemical yields (RCYs) were determined as 2.45 ± 0.85%. Brain MERTK protein density was measured by a saturation binding assay in the brain slices of a cuprizone mouse model of MS. High levels of specific binding of [18F]MIPS15692 to MERTK were found, especially in the corpus callosum/hippocampus (CC/HC). The in vivo PET imaging study of [18F]MIPS15692 suggested that its neuroPK is sub-optimal for clinical use. Current efforts are underway to optimize the neuroPK of our next generation PET radiotracers for maximal in vivo utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siu Wai Wong
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Lucy Vivash
- The Central Clinical School and The Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ramesh Mudududdla
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Stefan J Hermans
- ACRF Rational Drug Discovery Centre, St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - David M Shackleford
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Judith Field
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Lian Xue
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Andrea Aprico
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Nancy C Hancock
- ACRF Rational Drug Discovery Centre, St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - Mohammad Haskali
- Centre for Molecular Imaging, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Michael A Stashko
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, United States
| | - Stephen V Frye
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, United States
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, United States
| | - Michele D Binder
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Uwe Ackermann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Michael W Parker
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; ACRF Rational Drug Discovery Centre, St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - Trevor J Kilpatrick
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
| | - Jonathan B Baell
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing, 211816, People's Republic of China; Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
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Zhang ZC, Guo JN, Zhang N, Wang ZQ, Lou G, Cui BB, Yang C. Identification and Validation of Immune-Related Gene for Predicting Prognosis and Therapeutic Response in Ovarian Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:763791. [PMID: 34880862 PMCID: PMC8645858 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.763791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a devastating malignancy with a poor prognosis. The complex tumor immune microenvironment results in only a small number of patients benefiting from immunotherapy. To explore the different factors that lead to immune invasion and determine prognosis and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), we established a prognostic risk scoring model (PRSM) with differential expression of immune-related genes (IRGs) to identify key prognostic IRGs. Patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups according to their immune and stromal scores. We used a bioinformatics method to identify four key IRGs that had differences in expression between the two groups and affected prognosis. We evaluated the sensitivity of treatment from three aspects, namely chemotherapy, targeted inhibitors (TIs), and immunotherapy, to evaluate the value of prediction models and key prognostic IRGs in the clinical treatment of OC. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that these four key IRGs were independent prognostic factors of overall survival in OC patients. In the high-risk group comprising four genes, macrophage M0 cells, macrophage M2 cells, and regulatory T cells, observed to be associated with poor overall survival in our study, were higher. The high-risk group had a high immunophenoscore, indicating a better response to ICIs. Taken together, we constructed a PRSM and identified four key prognostic IRGs for predicting survival and response to ICIs. Finally, the expression of these key genes in OC was evaluated using RT-qPCR. Thus, these genes provide a novel predictive biomarker for immunotherapy and immunomodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Cong Zhang
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Jun-Nan Guo
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Wang
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Ge Lou
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Bin-Bin Cui
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Chang Yang
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
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32
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Andersen BM, Faust Akl C, Wheeler MA, Chiocca EA, Reardon DA, Quintana FJ. Glial and myeloid heterogeneity in the brain tumour microenvironment. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:786-802. [PMID: 34584243 PMCID: PMC8616823 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00397-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Brain cancers carry bleak prognoses, with therapeutic advances helping only a minority of patients over the past decade. The brain tumour microenvironment (TME) is highly immunosuppressive and differs from that of other malignancies as a result of the glial, neural and immune cell populations that constitute it. Until recently, the study of the brain TME was limited by the lack of methods to de-convolute this complex system at the single-cell level. However, novel technical approaches have begun to reveal the immunosuppressive and tumour-promoting properties of distinct glial and myeloid cell populations in the TME, identifying new therapeutic opportunities. Here, we discuss the immune modulatory functions of microglia, monocyte-derived macrophages and astrocytes in brain metastases and glioma, highlighting their disease-associated heterogeneity and drawing from the insights gained by studying these malignancies and other neurological disorders. Lastly, we consider potential approaches for the therapeutic modulation of the brain TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Andersen
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Camilo Faust Akl
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael A Wheeler
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - E Antonio Chiocca
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Reardon
- Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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33
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Yan D, Earp HS, DeRyckere D, Graham DK. Targeting MERTK and AXL in EGFR Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5639. [PMID: 34830794 PMCID: PMC8616094 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
MERTK and AXL are members of the TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases and are abnormally expressed in 69% and 93% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), respectively. Expression of MERTK and/or AXL provides a survival advantage for NSCLC cells and correlates with lymph node metastasis, drug resistance, and disease progression in patients with NSCLC. The TAM receptors on host tumor infiltrating cells also play important roles in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Thus, MERTK and AXL are attractive biologic targets for NSCLC treatment. Here, we will review physiologic and oncologic roles for MERTK and AXL with an emphasis on the potential to target these kinases in NSCLCs with activating EGFR mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Yan
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (D.Y.); (D.D.)
| | - H. Shelton Earp
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Deborah DeRyckere
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (D.Y.); (D.D.)
| | - Douglas K. Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (D.Y.); (D.D.)
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Powell RM, Peeters MJW, Rahbech A, Aehnlich P, Seremet T, thor Straten P. Small Molecule Inhibitors of MERTK and FLT3 Induce Cell Cycle Arrest in Human CD8 + T Cells. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9111294. [PMID: 34835225 PMCID: PMC8617686 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing interest in the development of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases inhibitors (RTKIs) for cancer treatment, as dysregulation of RTK expression can govern oncogenesis. Among the newer generations of RTKIs, many target Mer Tyrosine Kinase (MERTK) and Fms related RTK 3 (FLT3). Next to being overexpressed in many cancers, MERTK and FLT3 have important roles in immune cell development and function. In this study, we address how the new generation and potent RTKIs of MERTK/FLT3 affect human primary CD8+ T cell function. Using ex vivo T cell receptor (TCR)-activated CD8+ T cells, we demonstrate that use of dual MERTK/FLT3 inhibitor UNC2025 restricts CD8+ T proliferation at the G2 phase, at least in part by modulation of mTOR signaling. Cytokine production and activation remain largely unaffected. Finally, we show that activated CD8+ T cells express FLT3 from day two post activation, and FLT3 inhibition with AC220 (quizartinib) or siRNA-mediated knockdown affects cell cycle kinetics. These results signify that caution is needed when using potent RTKIs in the context of antitumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M. Powell
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; (R.M.P.); (M.J.W.P.); (A.R.); (P.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Marlies J. W. Peeters
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; (R.M.P.); (M.J.W.P.); (A.R.); (P.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Anne Rahbech
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; (R.M.P.); (M.J.W.P.); (A.R.); (P.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Pia Aehnlich
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; (R.M.P.); (M.J.W.P.); (A.R.); (P.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Tina Seremet
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; (R.M.P.); (M.J.W.P.); (A.R.); (P.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Per thor Straten
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; (R.M.P.); (M.J.W.P.); (A.R.); (P.A.); (T.S.)
- Inflammation and Cancer Group, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Correspondence:
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Lindsay RS, Whitesell JC, Dew KE, Rodriguez E, Sandor AM, Tracy D, Yannacone SF, Basta BN, Jacobelli J, Friedman RS. MERTK on mononuclear phagocytes regulates T cell antigen recognition at autoimmune and tumor sites. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20200464. [PMID: 34415994 PMCID: PMC8383814 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20200464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding mechanisms of immune regulation is key to developing immunotherapies for autoimmunity and cancer. We examined the role of mononuclear phagocytes during peripheral T cell regulation in type 1 diabetes and melanoma. MERTK expression and activity in mononuclear phagocytes in the pancreatic islets promoted islet T cell regulation, resulting in reduced sensitivity of T cell scanning for cognate antigen in prediabetic islets. MERTK-dependent regulation led to reduced T cell activation and effector function at the disease site in islets and prevented rapid progression of type 1 diabetes. In human islets, MERTK-expressing cells were increased in remaining insulin-containing islets of type 1 diabetic patients, suggesting that MERTK protects islets from autoimmune destruction. MERTK also regulated T cell arrest in melanoma tumors. These data indicate that MERTK signaling in mononuclear phagocytes drives T cell regulation at inflammatory disease sites in peripheral tissues through a mechanism that reduces the sensitivity of scanning for antigen leading to reduced responsiveness to antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin S. Lindsay
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | - Jennifer C. Whitesell
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Aurora, CO
| | - Kristen E. Dew
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | - Erika Rodriguez
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Aurora, CO
| | - Adam M. Sandor
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | - Dayna Tracy
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | - Seth F. Yannacone
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | | | - Jordan Jacobelli
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Aurora, CO
| | - Rachel S. Friedman
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Aurora, CO
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Ye Z, Ai X, Zhao L, Fei F, Wang P, Zhou S. Phenotypic plasticity of myeloid cells in glioblastoma development, progression, and therapeutics. Oncogene 2021; 40:6059-6070. [PMID: 34556813 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02010-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant type of intracranial tumors with poor prognosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that phenotypic alterations of infiltrating myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment are important for GBM progression. Conventional tumor immunotherapy commonly targets T-cells, while innate immunity as a therapeutic target is an emerging field. Targeting infiltrating myeloid cells that induce immune suppression in the TME provides a novel direction to improve the prognosis of patients with GBM. The factors released by tumor cells recruit myeloid cells into tumor bed and reprogram infiltrating myeloid cells into immunostimulatory/immunosuppressive phenotypes. Reciprocally, infiltrating myeloid cells, especially microglia/macrophages, regulate GBM progression and affect therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we revisited biological characteristics and functions of infiltrating myeloid cells and discussed the recent advances in immunotherapies targeting infiltrating myeloid cells in GBM. With an evolving understanding of the complex interactions between infiltrating myeloid cells and tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment, we will expand novel immunotherapeutic regimens targeting infiltrating myeloid cells in GBM treatment and improve the outcomes of GBM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengpanpan Ye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Xiaolin Ai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Linjie Zhao
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Fan Fei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital; School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No.32 West Second Section First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China.
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China.
| | - Shengtao Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China.
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Reis-Sobreiro M, Teixeira da Mota A, Jardim C, Serre K. Bringing Macrophages to the Frontline against Cancer: Current Immunotherapies Targeting Macrophages. Cells 2021; 10:2364. [PMID: 34572013 PMCID: PMC8464913 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are found in all tissues and display outstanding functional diversity. From embryo to birth and throughout adult life, they play critical roles in development, homeostasis, tissue repair, immunity, and, importantly, in the control of cancer growth. In this review, we will briefly detail the multi-functional, protumoral, and antitumoral roles of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Our objective is to focus on the ever-growing therapeutic opportunities, with promising preclinical and clinical results developed in recent years, to modulate the contribution of macrophages in oncologic diseases. While the majority of cancer immunotherapies target T cells, we believe that macrophages have a promising therapeutic potential as tumoricidal effectors and in mobilizing their surroundings towards antitumor immunity to efficiently limit cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Karine Serre
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.R.-S.); (A.T.d.M.); (C.J.)
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38
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Tong N, He Z, Ma Y, Wang Z, Huang Z, Cao H, Xu L, Zou Y, Wang W, Yi C, Yin Z, Wang Q. Tumor Associated Macrophages, as the Dominant Immune Cells, Are an Indispensable Target for Immunologically Cold Tumor-Glioma Therapy? Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:706286. [PMID: 34368156 PMCID: PMC8337013 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.706286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) is the cornerstone of the occurrence, development, invasion and diffusion of the malignant central nerve system (CNS) tumor, glioma. As the largest number of inflammatory cells in glioma TME, tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and their secreted factors are indispensable to the progression of glioma, which is a well-known immunologically “cold” tumor, including the growth of tumor cells, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, cancer immunosuppression and metabolism. TAMs intimately interface with the treatment failure and poor prognosis of glioma patients, and their density increases with increasing glioma grade. Recently, great progress has been made in TAM-targeting for anti-tumor therapy. According to TAMs’ function in tumorigenesis and progression, the major anti-tumor treatment strategies targeting TAMs are to hinder macrophage recruitment in TME, reduce TAMs viability or remodel TAMs phenotype from M2 to M1. Different approaches offer unique and effective anti-tumor effect by regulating the phagocytosis, polarization and pro-tumor behaviors of macrophages in the therapy of glioma. The present review summarizes the significant characteristics and related mechanisms of TAMs and addresses the related research progress on targeting TAMs in glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Tong
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenqiang He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yujie Ma
- Department of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Breast Surgery Department, Nanyang Central Hospital, Nanyang, China
| | - Ziming Huang
- Department of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haihong Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lanyang Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuheng Zou
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanyu Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chenpeng Yi
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhixin Yin
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qirui Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Molecular Biology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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39
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Ma J, Chen CC, Li M. Macrophages/Microglia in the Glioblastoma Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115775. [PMID: 34071306 PMCID: PMC8198046 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex interaction between glioblastoma and its microenvironment has been recognized for decades. Among various immune profiles, the major population is tumor-associated macrophage, with microglia as its localized homolog. The present definition of such myeloid cells is based on a series of cell markers. These good sentinel cells experience significant changes, facilitating glioblastoma development and protecting it from therapeutic treatments. Huge, complicated mechanisms are involved during the overall processes. A lot of effort has been dedicated to crack the mysterious codes in macrophage/microglia recruiting, activating, reprogramming, and functioning. We have made our path. With more and more key factors identified, a lot of new therapeutic methods could be explored to break the ominous loop, to enhance tumor sensitivity to treatments, and to improve the prognosis of glioblastoma patients. However, it might be a synergistic system rather than a series of clear, stepwise events. There are still significant challenges before the light of truth can shine onto the field. Here, we summarize recent advances in this field, reviewing the path we have been on and where we are now.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ming Li
- Correspondence: (C.C.C.); (M.L.)
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40
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Zhou L, Matsushima GK. Tyro3, Axl, Mertk receptor-mediated efferocytosis and immune regulation in the tumor environment. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 361:165-210. [PMID: 34074493 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Three structurally related tyrosine receptor cell surface kinases, Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk (TAM) have been recognized to modulate immune function, tissue homeostasis, cardiovasculature, and cancer. The TAM receptor family appears to operate in adult mammals across multiple cell types, suggesting both widespread and specific regulation of cell functions and immune niches. TAM family members regulate tissue homeostasis by monitoring the presence of phosphatidylserine expressed on stressed or apoptotic cells. The detection of phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells requires intermediary molecules that opsonize the dying cells and tether them to TAM receptors on phagocytes. This complex promotes the engulfment of apoptotic cells, also known as efferocytosis, that leads to the resolution of inflammation and tissue healing. The immune mechanisms dictating these processes appear to fall upon specific family members or may involve a complex of different receptors acting cooperatively to resolve and repair damaged tissues. Here, we focus on the role of TAM receptors in triggering efferocytosis and its consequences in the regulation of immune responses in the context of inflammation and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Zhou
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Glenn K Matsushima
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; UNC Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; UNC Integrative Program for Biological & Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
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41
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Purification, Structural Characterization and Immunomodulatory Effects of Polysaccharides from Amomumvillosum Lour. on RAW 264.7 Macrophages. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26092672. [PMID: 34063301 PMCID: PMC8125432 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amomum Villosum Lour. (A. villosum) is a folk medicine that has been used for more than 1300 years. However, study of the polysaccharides of A. villosum is seriously neglected. The objectives of this study are to explore the structural characteristics of polysaccharides from A. villosum (AVPs) and their effects on immune cells. In this study, the acidic polysaccharides (AVPG-1 and AVPG-2) were isolated from AVPs and purified via anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The structural characteristics of the polysaccharides were characterized by methylation, HPSEC-MALLS-RID, HPLC, FT-IR, SEM, GC-MS and NMR techniques. AVPG-1 with a molecular weight of 514 kDa had the backbone of → 4)-α-d-Glcp-(1 → 3,4)-β-d-Glcp-(1 → 4)-α-d-Glcp-(1 →. AVPG-2 with a higher molecular weight (14800 kDa) comprised a backbone of → 4)-α-d-Glcp-(1 → 3,6)-β-d-Galp-(1 → 4)-α-d-Glcp-(1 →. RAW 264.7 cells were used to investigate the potential effect of AVPG-1 and AVPG-2 on macrophages, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used as a positive control. The results from bioassays showed that AVPG-2 exhibited stronger immunomodulatory activity than AVPG-1. AVPG-2 significantly induced nitric oxide (NO) production as well as the release of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and upregulated phagocytic capacities of RAW 264.7 cells. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that AVPG-2 was able to turn the polarization of macrophages to the M1 direction. These results suggested that AVPs could be explored as potential immunomodulatory agents of the functional foods or complementary medicine.
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Du W, Zhu J, Zeng Y, Liu T, Zhang Y, Cai T, Fu Y, Zhang W, Zhang R, Liu Z, Huang JA. KPNB1-mediated nuclear translocation of PD-L1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation via the Gas6/MerTK signaling pathway. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:1284-1300. [PMID: 33139930 PMCID: PMC8027631 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-020-00651-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to the role of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in facilitating tumour cells escape from immune surveillance, it is considered as a crucial effector in transducing intrinsic signals to promote tumour development. Our previous study has pointed out that PD-L1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell proliferation, but the mechanism remains elusive. Here we first demonstrated that PD-L1 expression levels were positively correlated with p-MerTK levels in patient samples and NSCLC cell lines. In addition, PD-L1 knockdown led to the reduced phosphorylation level of MerTK in vitro. We next showed that PD-L1 regulated NSCLC cell proliferation via Gas6/MerTK signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. To investigate the underlying mechanism, we unexpectedly found that PD-L1 translocated into the nucleus of cancer cells which was facilitated through the binding of Karyopherin β1 (KPNB1). Nuclear PD-L1 (nPD-L1), coupled with transcription factor Sp1, regulated the synthesis of Gas6 mRNA and promoted Gas6 secretion to activate MerTK signaling pathway. Taken together, our results shed light on the novel role of nPD-L1 in NSCLC cell proliferation and reveal a new molecular mechanism underlying nPD-L1-mediated Gas6/MerTK signaling activation. All above findings provide the possible combinational implications for PD-L1 targeted immunotherapy in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Du
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China
| | - Jianjie Zhu
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China ,grid.263761.70000 0001 0198 0694Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zeng
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China ,grid.263761.70000 0001 0198 0694Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China
| | - Ting Liu
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China
| | - Tingting Cai
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China
| | - Yulong Fu
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China
| | - Weijie Zhang
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China
| | - Ruochen Zhang
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China
| | - Zeyi Liu
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China ,grid.263761.70000 0001 0198 0694Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China
| | - Jian-an Huang
- grid.429222.d0000 0004 1798 0228Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China ,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, 215006 Suzhou, China ,grid.263761.70000 0001 0198 0694Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Soochow University, 215006 Suzhou, China
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Hoque M, Wai Wong S, Recasens A, Abbassi R, Nguyen N, Zhang D, Stashko MA, Wang X, Frye S, Day BW, Baell J, Munoz L. MerTK activity is not necessary for the proliferation of glioblastoma stem cells. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 186:114437. [PMID: 33571503 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114437] [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: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
MerTK has been identified as a promising target for therapeutic intervention in glioblastoma. Genetic studies documented a range of oncogenic processes that MerTK targeting could influence, however robust pharmacological validation has been missing. The aim of this study was to assess therapeutic potential of MerTK inhibitors in glioblastoma therapy. Unlike previous studies, our work provides several lines of evidence that MerTK activity is dispensable for glioblastoma growth. We observed heterogeneous responses to MerTK inhibitors that could not be correlated to MerTK inhibition or MerTK expression in cells. The more selective MerTK inhibitors UNC2250 and UNC2580A lack the anti-proliferative potency of less-selective inhibitors exemplified by UNC2025. Functional assays in MerTK-high and MerTK-deficient cells further demonstrate that the anti-cancer efficacy of UNC2025 is MerTK-independent. However, despite its efficacy in vitro, UNC2025 failed to attenuate glioblastoma growth in vivo. Gene expression analysis from cohorts of glioblastoma patients identified that MerTK expression correlates negatively with proliferation and positively with quiescence genes, suggesting that MerTK regulates dormancy rather than proliferation in glioblastoma. In summary, this study demonstrates the importance of orthogonal inhibitors and disease-relevant models in target validation studies and raises a possibility that MerTK inhibitors could be used to target dormant glioblastoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monira Hoque
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Siu Wai Wong
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ariadna Recasens
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ramzi Abbassi
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Dehui Zhang
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Michael A Stashko
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stephen Frye
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Bryan W Day
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Jonathan Baell
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Lenka Munoz
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Zhou Y, Wang Y, Chen H, Xu Y, Luo Y, Deng Y, Zhang J, Shao A. Immuno-oncology: are TAM receptors in glioblastoma friends or foes? Cell Commun Signal 2021; 19:11. [PMID: 33509214 PMCID: PMC7841914 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-020-00694-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk (TAM) receptors are a subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases. TAM receptors have been implicated in mediating efferocytosis, regulation of immune cells, secretion of inflammatory factors, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the tumor microenvironment, thereby serving as a critical player in tumor development and progression. The pro-carcinogenic role of TAM receptors has been widely confirmed, overexpression of TAM receptors is tied to tumor cells growth, metastasis, invasion and treatment resistance. Nonetheless, it is surprising to detect that inhibiting TAM signaling is not all beneficial in the tumor immune microenvironment. The absence of TAM receptors also affects anti-tumor immunity under certain conditions by modulating different immune cells, as the functional diversification of TAM signaling is closely related to tumor immunotherapy. Glioblastoma is the most prevalent and lethal primary brain tumor in adults. Although research regarding the crosstalk between TAM receptors and glioblastoma remains scarce, it appears likely that TAM receptors possess potential anti-tumor effects rather than portraying a total cancer-driving role in the context of glioblastoma. Accordingly, we doubt whether TAM receptors play a double-sided role in glioblastoma, and propose the Janus-faced TAM Hypothesis as a conceptual framework for comprehending the precise underlying mechanisms of TAMs. In this study, we aim to cast a spotlight on the potential multidirectional effects of TAM receptors in glioblastoma and provide a better understanding for TAM receptor-related targeted intervention. Video Abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiang Zhou
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Yali Wang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Hailong Chen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Yanyan Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211126, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Luo
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Changxing Branch), Changxing, Huzhou, 313100, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yongchuan Deng
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Anwen Shao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
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45
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Zhou X, Liu X, Huang L. Macrophage-Mediated Tumor Cell Phagocytosis: Opportunity for Nanomedicine Intervention. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2021; 31:2006220. [PMID: 33692665 PMCID: PMC7939128 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202006220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Macrophages are one of the most abundant non-malignant cells in the tumor microenvironment, playing critical roles in mediating tumor immunity. As important innate immune cells, macrophages possess the potential to engulf tumor cells and present tumor-specific antigens for adaptive antitumor immunity induction, leading to growing interest in targeting macrophage phagocytosis for cancer immunotherapy. Nevertheless, live tumor cells have evolved to evade phagocytosis by macrophages via the extensive expression of anti-phagocytic molecules, such as CD47. In addition, macrophages also rapidly recognize and engulf apoptotic cells (efferocytosis) in the tumor microenvironment, which inhibits inflammatory responses and facilitates immune escape of tumor cells. Thus, intervention of macrophage phagocytosis by blocking anti-phagocytic signals on live tumor cells or inhibiting tumor efferocytosis presents a promising strategy for the development of cancer immunotherapies. Here, the regulation of macrophage-mediated tumor cell phagocytosis is first summarized, followed by an overview of strategies targeting macrophage phagocytosis for the development of antitumor therapies. Given the potential off-target effects associated with the administration of traditional therapeutics (for example, monoclonal antibodies, small molecule inhibitors), we highlight the opportunity for nanomedicine in macrophage phagocytosis intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefei Zhou
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education and Center for Bionanoengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Xiangrui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education and Center for Bionanoengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Leaf Huang
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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46
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Biswas P, Borooah S, Matsui H, Voronchikhina M, Zhou J, Zawaydeh Q, Raghavendra PB, Ferreyra H, Riazuddin SA, Wahlin K, Frazer KA, Ayyagari R. Detection and validation of novel mutations in MERTK in a simplex case of retinal degeneration using WGS and hiPSC-RPEs model. Hum Mutat 2020; 42:189-199. [PMID: 33252167 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) are a group of genetically heterogeneous conditions with a broad phenotypic heterogeneity. Here, we report detection and validation of the underlying cause of progressive retinal degeneration in a nuclear family of European descent with a single affected individual. Whole genome sequencing of the proband and her unaffected sibling identified a novel intron 8 donor splice site variant (c.1296 + 1G>A) and a novel 731 base pair deletion encompassing exon 9 (Chr2:g.112751488_112752218 del) resulting in c.1297_1451del; p.K433_G484fsTer3 in the Mer tyrosine kinase protooncogene (MERTK), which is highly expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The proband carried both variants in the heterozygous state, which segregated with disease in the pedigree. These MERTK variants are predicted to result in the defective splicing of exon 8 and loss of exon 9 respectively. To evaluate the impact of these novel variants, peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the proband and her parents were reprogrammed to humaninduced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines, which were subsequently differentiated to hiPSC-RPE. Analysis of the proband's hiPSC-RPE revealed the absence of both MERTK transcript and its respective protein as well as abnormal phagocytosis when compared with the parental hiPSC-RPE. In summary, whole genome sequencing identified novel compound heterozygous variants in MERTK as the underlying cause of progressive retinal degeneration in a simplex case. Further, analysis using an hiPSC-RPE model established the functional impact of novel MERTK mutations and revealed the potential mechanism underlying pathology in the proband.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Biswas
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,REVA University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Shyamanga Borooah
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Hiroko Matsui
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Marina Voronchikhina
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jason Zhou
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Qais Zawaydeh
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Pongali B Raghavendra
- REVA University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.,School of Regenerative Medicine, Manipal University-MAHE, Bangalore, India
| | - Henry Ferreyra
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - S Amer Riazuddin
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Univesity School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Karl Wahlin
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Kelly A Frazer
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital, Division of Genome Information Sciences, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Radha Ayyagari
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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47
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Wang KH, Ding DC. Dual targeting of TAM receptors Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK: Role in tumors and the tumor immune microenvironment. Tzu Chi Med J 2020; 33:250-256. [PMID: 34386362 PMCID: PMC8323642 DOI: 10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_129_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In both normal and tumor tissues, receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) may be pleiotropically expressed. The RTKs not only regulate ordinary cellular processes, including proliferation, survival, adhesion, and migration, but also have a critical role in the development of many types of cancer. The Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK (TAM) family of RTKs (Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK) plays a pleiotropic role in phagocytosis, inflammation, and normal cellular processes. In this article, we highlight the cellular activities of TAM receptors and discuss their roles in cancer and immune cells. We also discuss cancer therapies that target TAM receptors. Further research is needed to elucidate the function of TAM receptors in immune cells toward the development of new targeted immunotherapies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Hung Wang
- Department of Medical Research, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Dah-Ching Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
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48
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Jin X, Xie H, Liu X, Shen Q, Wang Z, Hao H, Gu Y. RELL1, a novel oncogene, accelerates tumor progression and regulates immune infiltrates in glioma. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 87:106707. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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49
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Huelse J, Fridlyand D, Earp S, DeRyckere D, Graham DK. MERTK in cancer therapy: Targeting the receptor tyrosine kinase in tumor cells and the immune system. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 213:107577. [PMID: 32417270 PMCID: PMC9847360 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase MERTK is aberrantly expressed in numerous human malignancies, and is a novel target in cancer therapeutics. Physiologic roles of MERTK include regulation of tissue homeostasis and repair, innate immune control, and platelet aggregation. However, aberrant expression in a wide range of liquid and solid malignancies promotes neoplasia via growth factor independence, cell cycle progression, proliferation and tumor growth, resistance to apoptosis, and promotion of tumor metastases. Additionally, MERTK signaling contributes to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment via induction of an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile and regulation of the PD-1 axis, as well as regulation of macrophage, myeloid-derived suppressor cell, natural killer cell and T cell functions. Various MERTK-directed therapies are in preclinical development, and clinical trials are underway. In this review we discuss MERTK inhibition as an emerging strategy for cancer therapy, focusing on MERTK expression and function in neoplasia and its role in mediating resistance to cytotoxic and targeted therapies as well as in suppressing anti-tumor immunity. Additionally, we review preclinical and clinical pharmacological strategies to target MERTK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus Huelse
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Diana Fridlyand
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Shelton Earp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Deborah DeRyckere
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Douglas K. Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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50
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Huelse JM, Fridlyand DM, Earp S, DeRyckere D, Graham DK. MERTK in cancer therapy: Targeting the receptor tyrosine kinase in tumor cells and the immune system. Pharmacol Ther 2020. [PMID: 32417270 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107577107577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase MERTK is aberrantly expressed in numerous human malignancies, and is a novel target in cancer therapeutics. Physiologic roles of MERTK include regulation of tissue homeostasis and repair, innate immune control, and platelet aggregation. However, aberrant expression in a wide range of liquid and solid malignancies promotes neoplasia via growth factor independence, cell cycle progression, proliferation and tumor growth, resistance to apoptosis, and promotion of tumor metastases. Additionally, MERTK signaling contributes to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment via induction of an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile and regulation of the PD-1 axis, as well as regulation of macrophage, myeloid-derived suppressor cell, natural killer cell and T cell functions. Various MERTK-directed therapies are in preclinical development, and clinical trials are underway. In this review we discuss MERTK inhibition as an emerging strategy for cancer therapy, focusing on MERTK expression and function in neoplasia and its role in mediating resistance to cytotoxic and targeted therapies as well as in suppressing anti-tumor immunity. Additionally, we review preclinical and clinical pharmacological strategies to target MERTK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus M Huelse
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Diana M Fridlyand
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shelton Earp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Deborah DeRyckere
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Douglas K Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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