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Mao M, Chen W, Ye D. Research progress on the structure, function, and use of angiogenin in malignant tumours. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30654. [PMID: 38756602 PMCID: PMC11096933 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30654] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Angiogenin (ANG) is a specialised secreted ribonuclease, also known as RNase5, that is widely expressed in vertebrates. ANG dysregulation is closely associated with the development of breast, nasopharyngeal, and lung cancers. In recent years, studies have found that ANG not only induces neovascularisation by activating endothelial cells, but also plays a regulatory role in the plasticity of cancer cells. Cellular plasticity plays pivotal roles in cancer initiation, progression, migration, therapeutic resistance, and relapse. Therefore, it is a promising biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognostic evaluation, and therapy. This review summarises the current knowledge regarding the roles and clinical applications of ANG in cancer development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingwen Mao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ningbo No.6 Hospital Affiliated Medical School of Ningbo University, 315040, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, 315040, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weina Chen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Yinzhou Integrated TCM & Western Medicine Hospital, 315040, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dong Ye
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, 315040, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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2
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Xu Y, Miller CP, Tykodi SS, Akilesh S, Warren EH. Signaling crosstalk between tumor endothelial cells and immune cells in the microenvironment of solid tumors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1387198. [PMID: 38726320 PMCID: PMC11079179 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1387198] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated endothelial cells (TECs) are crucial mediators of immune surveillance and immune escape in the tumor microenvironment (TME). TECs driven by angiogenic growth factors form an abnormal vasculature which deploys molecular machinery to selectively promote the function and recruitment of immunosuppressive cells while simultaneously blocking the entry and function of anti-tumor immune cells. TECs also utilize a similar set of signaling regulators to promote the metastasis of tumor cells. Meanwhile, the tumor-infiltrating immune cells further induce the TEC anergy by secreting pro-angiogenic factors and prevents further immune cell penetration into the TME. Understanding the complex interactions between TECs and immune cells will be needed to successfully treat cancer patients with combined therapy to achieve vasculature normalization while augmenting antitumor immunity. In this review, we will discuss what is known about the signaling crosstalk between TECs and tumor-infiltrating immune cells to reveal insights and strategies for therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuexin Xu
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Chris P. Miller
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Scott S. Tykodi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shreeram Akilesh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Kidney Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Edus H. Warren
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Xie Y, Jiang H. The exploration of mitochondrial-related features helps to reveal the prognosis and immunotherapy methods of colorectal cancer. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2024; 7:e1914. [PMID: 37903487 PMCID: PMC10809275 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1914] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer cell survival, proliferation, and metabolism are all intertwined with mitochondria. However, a complete description of how the features of mitochondria relate to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immunological landscape of colorectal cancer (CRC) has yet to be made. We performed subgroup analysis on CRC patient data obtained from the databases using non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering. Construct a prognostic model using the mitochondrial-related gene (MRG) risk score, and then compare it to other models for accuracy. Comprehensive analyses of the risk score, in conjunction with the TME and immune landscape, were performed, and the relationship between the model and different types of cell death, radiation and chemotherapy, and drug resistance was investigated. Results from immunohistochemistry and single-cell sequencing were utilized to verify the model genes, and a drug sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate possible therapeutic medicines. The pan-cancer analysis is utilized to further investigate the role of genes in a wider range of malignancies. METHODS AND RESULTS We found that CRC patients based on MRG were divided into two groups with significant differences in survival outcomes and TME between groups. The predictive power of the risk score was further shown by building a prognostic model and testing it extensively in both internal and external cohorts. Multiple immune therapeutic responses and the expression of immunological checkpoints demonstrate that the risk score is connected to immunotherapy success. The correlation analysis of the risk score provide more ideas and guidance for prognostic models in clinical treatment. CONCLUSION The TME, immune cell infiltration, and responsiveness to immunotherapy in CRC were all thoroughly evaluated on the basis of MRG features. The comparative validation of multiple queues and models combined with clinical data ensures the effectiveness and clinical practicality of MRG features. Our studies help clinicians create individualized treatment programs for individuals with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun‐hui Xie
- Center of Gastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of General Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of ChengduAffiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong UniversityChengduChina
| | - Hui‐zhong Jiang
- College of GraduateGuizhou University of Traditional Chinese MedicineGuiyangChina
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Guo J, Huang M, Deng S, Wang H, Wang Z, Yan B. Highly expressed RPLP2 inhibits ferroptosis to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression and predicts poor prognosis. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:278. [PMID: 37980521 PMCID: PMC10656893 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03140-0] [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: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RPLP2, an integral part of ribosomal stalk, plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of various cancers. However, its specific effect on HCC remains elusive. METHODS TCGA, GTEx, HCCDB, HPA, UALCAN, MethSurv, TISIDB, K-M plotter, FerrDb, RNAactDrug, STRING, Cytoscape and R studio were conducted for bioinformatics analysis. RPLP2 expression level in HCC was verified by IHC and western blot. IHC was used to demonstrate the immune cell infiltration. Functional experiments including CCK8, transwell and colony formation assays, and nude mice xenograft model were performed for in vitro and in vivo validation. Western blot, IHC, CCK8 assay and detection of GSH and lipid ROS were adopted to determine the effect of RPLP2 on the ferroptosis of HCC cells. RESULTS Here, we demonstrate that elevated level of RPLP2 is strongly associated with advanced clinicopathologic features, and predicts poor prognosis of HCC patients. Additionally, DNA methylation level of RPLP2 decreases in HCC, and significantly correlates with patients outcome. Moreover, high RPLP2 expression level is linked closely to the unfavorable immune infiltration. Most importantly, RPLP2 positively associates with ferroptosis suppressor GPX4, and inhibition of RPLP2 could lead to the acceleration of ferroptosis to suppress tumor progression of HCC. Last, drug sensitivity analysis predicts many drugs that potentially target RPLP2. CONCLUSION Together, our study reveals previous unrecognized role of RPLP2 in HCC, and provides new regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis, indicating RPLP2 may be a novel therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Guo
- Department of Hematology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Meiyuan Huang
- Department of Pathology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Shuang Deng
- Department of Pathology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- Academy of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan, China
| | - Zuli Wang
- Center for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Bokang Yan
- Department of Pathology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, 412007, Hunan, China.
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Sun B, Ji WD, Wang WC, Chen L, Ma JY, Tang EJ, Lin MB, Zhang XF. Circulating tumor cells participate in the formation of microvascular invasion and impact on clinical outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Genet 2023; 14:1265866. [PMID: 38028589 PMCID: PMC10652898 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1265866] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide. Although the treatment strategies have been improved in recent years, the long-term prognosis of HCC is far from satisfactory mainly due to high postoperative recurrence and metastasis rate. Vascular tumor thrombus, including microvascular invasion (MVI) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), affects the outcome of hepatectomy and liver transplantation. If vascular invasion could be found preoperatively, especially the risk of MVI, more reasonable surgical selection will be chosen to reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence and metastasis. However, there is a lack of reliable prediction methods, and the formation mechanism of MVI/PVTT is still unclear. At present, there is no study to explore the possibility of tumor thrombus formation from a single circulating tumor cell (CTC) of HCC, nor any related study to describe the possible leading role and molecular mechanism of HCC CTCs as an important component of MVI/PVTT. In this study, we review the current understanding of MVI and possible mechanisms, discuss the function of CTCs in the formation of MVI and interaction with immune cells in the circulation. In conclusion, we discuss implications for potential therapeutic targets and the prospect of clinical treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Sun
- Center for Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Dan Ji
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital and National Center for Liver Cancer, Navy Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Chao Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun-Yong Ma
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Er-Jiang Tang
- Center for Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mou-Bin Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Zhang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Wang J, Shan A, Shi F, Zheng Q. Molecular and clinical characterization of ANG expression in gliomas and its association with tumor-related immune response. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1044402. [PMID: 37928479 PMCID: PMC10621067 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1044402] [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: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Angiogenin (ANG) has been widely reported as a crucial molecular regulator in multiple malignancies. However, its role in gliomagenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the molecular and clinical characterization of ANG expression at transcriptome level and the association with glioma-related immune response. Methods A total of 301 glioma samples with mRNA microarray data (CGGA301) was obtained from the official website of CGGA project for yielding preliminary results, followed by validation in two independent RNAseq datasets, including TCGA with 697 samples and CGGA325 with 325 patients. Moreover, CGGA single-cell RNAseq (scRNAseq) data were analyzed to identify differential and dynamic ANG expression in different cells. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate ANG protein expression across different WHO grades in a tissue microarray (TMA). Figure generation and statistical analysis were conducted using R software. Results ANG expression was associated with clinical features, malignant phenotypes, and genomic alterations. Based on significantly correlated genes of ANG, subsequent gene ontology (GO) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) concordantly pointed to the significant association of ANG in immune-related biological processes. Moreover, ANG showed robust correlations with canonical immune checkpoint molecules, including PD1 signaling, CTLA4, TIM3, and B7H3. Gene sets variation analysis (GSVA) found that ANG was particularly associated with activities of macrophages and antigen presentation cells (APCs) in both LGG and GBM across different datasets. Furthermore, the higher-ANG milieu seemed to recruit monocyte-macrophage lineage and dendritic cells into the glioma microenvironment. According to scRNAseq analysis, ANG was mainly expressed by neoplastic cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and was correlated with the initiation and progression of tumor cells and the polarization of TAMs. Finally, Kaplan-Meier plots demonstrated that higher expression of ANG was significantly correlated with shorter survival in gliomas. Cox regression analysis further confirmed ANG as an independent predictor of prognosis for gliomas of all three datasets. Conclusion ANG is significantly correlated with a range of malignant and aggressive characteristics in gliomas and reveals considerable prognostic value for glioma patients. ANG seems to be primarily associated with immune activities of macrophages and APCs in gliomas. Furthermore, ANG is mainly expressed in neoplastic cells and TAMs and is involved in the initiation and progression of neoplastic cells as well as macrophage polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Aijun Shan
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fei Shi
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qijun Zheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
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Chen Q, Wu J, Li X, Ye Z, Yang H, Mu L. Amphibian-Derived Natural Anticancer Peptides and Proteins: Mechanism of Action, Application Strategies, and Prospects. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13985. [PMID: 37762285 PMCID: PMC10530844 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813985] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the major diseases that seriously threaten human life. Traditional anticancer therapies have achieved remarkable efficacy but have also some unavoidable side effects. Therefore, more and more research focuses on highly effective and less-toxic anticancer substances of natural origin. Amphibian skin is rich in active substances such as biogenic amines, alkaloids, alcohols, esters, peptides, and proteins, which play a role in various aspects such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anticancer functions, and are one of the critical sources of anticancer substances. Currently, a range of natural anticancer substances are known from various amphibians. This paper aims to review the physicochemical properties, anticancer mechanisms, and potential applications of these peptides and proteins to advance the identification and therapeutic use of natural anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hailong Yang
- Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Lixian Mu
- Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
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Liao Z, Li M, Wen G, Wang K, Yao D, Chen E, Liang Y, Xing T, Su K, Liang C, Che Z, Ning Q, Tang J, Yan W, Li Y, Huang L. Comprehensive analysis of angiogenesis pattern and related immune landscape for individual treatment in osteosarcoma. NPJ Precis Oncol 2023; 7:62. [PMID: 37386055 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-023-00415-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Postoperative recurrence and metastasis are the main reasons for the poor prognosis of osteosarcoma (OS). Currently, an ideal predictor for not only prognosis but also drug sensitivity and immunotherapy responses in OS patients is urgently needed. Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in tumour progression, which suggests its immense potential for predicting prognosis and responses to immunotherapy for OS. Angiogenesis patterns in OS were explored in depth in this study to construct a prognostic model called ANGscore and clarify the underlying mechanism involved in the immune microenvironment. The efficacy and robustness of the model were validated in multiple datasets, including bulk RNA-seq datasets (TARGET-OS, GSE21257), a single-cell RNA-seq dataset (GSE152048) and immunotherapy-related datasets (GSE91061, GSE173839). OS patients with a high ANGscore had a worse prognosis, accompanied by the immune desert phenotype. Pseudotime and cellular communication analyses in scRNA-seq data revealed that as the ANGscore increased, the malignant degree of cells increased, and IFN-γ signalling was involved in tumour progression and regulation of the tumour immune microenvironment. Furthermore, the ANGscore was associated with immune cell infiltration and the response rate to immunotherapy. OS patients with high ANGscore might be resistant to uprosertib, and be sensitive to VE821, AZD6738 and BMS.345541. In conclusion, we established a novel ANGscore system by comprehensively analysing the expression pattern of angiogenesis genes, which can accurately differentiate the prognosis and immune characteristics of OS populations. Additionally, the ANGscore can be used for patient stratification during immunotherapy, and guide individualized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuangyao Liao
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guoming Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dengbo Yao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Enming Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuwei Liang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tong Xing
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kaihui Su
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Changchun Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhen Che
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qing Ning
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Tang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenbin Yan
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuxi Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Lin Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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Cheng S, Li J, Xu M, Bao Q, Wu J, Sun P, Han B. TMEM147 Correlates with Immune Infiltration and Serve as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2023; 2023:4413049. [PMID: 37305689 PMCID: PMC10257544 DOI: 10.1155/2023/4413049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies and is associated with high mortality. Transmembrane protein 147 (TMEM147) is a seven-transmembrane protein that may mediate immune regulation. However, the relevance of TMEM147 to immune regulation in HCC and the prognosis of HCC patients are unclear. Methods We analyzed TMEM147 expression in HCC by using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analysis of tumor tissues and cell lines were used to verify TMEM147 expression in HCC. The influence of TMEM147 on HCC prognosis was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox regression analysis, and a prognostic nomogram. The functions of the TMEM147-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). In addition, we examined the associations between TMEM147 expression and immune infiltration using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and immunofluorescence staining of HCC tissues. Results Our results showed that the expression of TMEM147 was significantly higher in human HCC tissues than in adjacent normal liver tissues, with similar findings in human HCC cell lines. High TMEM147 expression was correlated with T stage, pathological stage, histological grade, race, alpha-fetoprotein level, and vascular invasion in HCC. Moreover, we revealed that high TMEM147 expression was associated with shorter survival times and that TMEM147 could be a risk factor for overall survival, along with T stage, M stage, pathological stage, and tumor status. Mechanistic studies revealed that high TMEM147 expression was linked to the B lymphocyte, antigen response, IL6 signaling pathway, cell cycle, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) signaling pathway, and myelocytomatosis oncogene (MYC) targets. Correspondingly, TMEM147 expression was positively associated with the infiltration of immune cells, including Th2 cells, follicular helper T cells, macrophages, and NK CD56 bright cells in HCC. Conclusions TMEM147 might be a biomarker for poor prognosis and is related to immune cell infiltration in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Jutang Li
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Qun Bao
- Department of General Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Jiaoxiang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Peng Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Bo Han
- Department of General Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
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Barone L, Palano MT, Gallazzi M, Cucchiara M, Rossi F, Borgese M, Raspanti M, Zecca PA, Mortara L, Papait R, Bernardini G, Valdatta L, Bruno A, Gornati R. Adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived soluble factors, produced under hypoxic condition, efficiently support in vivo angiogenesis. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:174. [PMID: 37221171 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01464-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue regeneration or healing both require efficient vascularization within a tissue-damaged area. Based on this concept, a remarkable number of strategies, aimed at developing new tools to support re-vascularization of damaged tissue have emerged. Among the strategies proposed, the use of pro-angiogenic soluble factors, as a cell-free tool, appears as a promising approach, able to overcome the issues concerning the direct use of cells for regenerative medicine therapy. Here, we compared the effectiveness of adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs), use as cell suspension, ASC protein extract or ASC-conditioned-medium (i.e., soluble factors), combined with collagenic scaffold, in supporting in vivo angiogenesis. We also tested the capability of hypoxia in increasing the efficiency of ASC to promote angiogenesis, via soluble factors, both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo studies were performed using the Integra® Flowable Wound Matrix, and the Ultimatrix in sponge assay. Flow cytometry was used to characterize the scaffold- and sponge-infiltrating cells. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate the expression of pro-angiogenic factors by stimulating Human Umbilical-Vein Endothelial Cells with ASC-conditioned media, obtained in hypoxic and normoxic conditions. We found that, in vivo, ACS-conditioned media can support angiogenesis similar to ASCs and ASC protein extract. Also, we observed that hypoxia increases the pro-angiogenic activities of ASC-conditioned media, compared to normoxia, by generating a secretome enriched in pro-angiogenic soluble factors, with bFGF, Adiponectine, ENA78, GRO, GRO-a, and ICAM1-3, as most regulated factors. Finally, ASC-conditioned media, produced in hypoxic condition, induce the expression of pro-angiogenic molecules in HUVECs. Our results provide evidence that ASC-conditioned-medium can be proposed as a cell-free preparation able to support angiogenesis, thus providing a relevant tool to overcome the issues and restrictions associated with the use of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Barone
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Palano
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, 20138, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Gallazzi
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, 20138, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Cucchiara
- Immunology and General Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Federica Rossi
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Marina Borgese
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Mario Raspanti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Piero Antonio Zecca
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Immunology and General Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Roberto Papait
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bernardini
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Luigi Valdatta
- Unit of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Antonino Bruno
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, 20138, Milan, Italy.
- Immunology and General Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy.
| | - Rosalba Gornati
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy.
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11
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Ebeling S, Kowalczyk A, Perez-Vazquez D, Mattiola I. Regulation of tumor angiogenesis by the crosstalk between innate immunity and endothelial cells. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1171794. [PMID: 37234993 PMCID: PMC10206118 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1171794] [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: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells and immune cells are major regulators of cancer progression and prognosis. Endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis are required for providing nutrients and oxygen to the nascent tumor and infiltration of immune cells to the tumor is dependent on endothelial cell activation. Myeloid cells and innate lymphocytes have an important role in shaping the tumor microenvironment by crosstalking with cancer cells and structural cells, including endothelial cells. Innate immune cells can modulate the activation and functions of tumor endothelial cells, and, in turn, endothelial cell expression of adhesion molecules can affect immune cell extravasation. However, the mechanisms underlying this bidirectional crosstalk are not fully understood. In this review, we will provide an overview of the current knowledge on the pathways regulating the crosstalk between innate immune cells and endothelial cells during tumor progression and discuss their potential contribution to the development of novel anti-tumor therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Ebeling
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology (I-MIDI), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Laboratory of Mucosal and Developmental Immunology, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), an Institute of the Leibniz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anita Kowalczyk
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology (I-MIDI), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Laboratory of Mucosal and Developmental Immunology, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), an Institute of the Leibniz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Diego Perez-Vazquez
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology (I-MIDI), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Laboratory of Mucosal and Developmental Immunology, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), an Institute of the Leibniz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Irene Mattiola
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology (I-MIDI), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Laboratory of Mucosal and Developmental Immunology, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), an Institute of the Leibniz Association, Berlin, Germany
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12
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Wu T, Zhang X, Liu X, Cai X, Shen T, Pan D, Liang R, Ding R, Hu R, Dong J, Li F, Li J, Xie L, Wang C, Geng S, Yang Z, Xing L, Li Y. Single-cell sequencing reveals the immune microenvironment landscape related to anti-PD-1 resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer with high microsatellite instability. BMC Med 2023; 21:161. [PMID: 37106440 PMCID: PMC10142806 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02866-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective response rate of microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with first-line anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) monotherapy is only 40-45%. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) enables unbiased analysis of the full variety of cells comprising the tumor microenvironment. Thus, we used scRNA-seq to assess differences among microenvironment components between therapy-resistant and therapy-sensitive groups in MSI-H/mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) mCRC. Resistance-related cell types and genes identified by this analysis were subsequently verified in clinical samples and mouse models to further reveal the molecular mechanism of anti-PD-1 resistance in MSI-H or dMMR mCRC. METHODS The response of primary and metastatic lesions to first-line anti-PD-1 monotherapy was evaluated by radiology. Cells from primary lesions of patients with MSI-H/dMMR mCRC were analyzed using scRNA-seq. To identify the marker genes in each cluster, distinct cell clusters were identified and subjected to subcluster analysis. Then, a protein‒protein interaction network was constructed to identify key genes. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were applied to verify key genes and cell marker molecules in clinical samples. Immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR, and western blotting were performed to examine the expression of IL-1β and MMP9. Moreover, quantitative analysis and sorting of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and CD8+ T cells were performed using flow cytometry. RESULTS Tumor responses in 23 patients with MSI-H/dMMR mCRC were evaluated by radiology. The objective response rate was 43.48%, and the disease control rate was 69.57%. ScRNA-seq analysis showed that, compared with the treatment-resistant group, the treatment-sensitive group accumulated more CD8+ T cells. Experiments with both clinical samples and mice indicated that infiltration of IL-1β-driven MDSCs and inactivation of CD8+ T cells contribute to anti-PD-1 resistance in MSI-H/dMMR CRC. CONCLUSIONS CD8+ T cells and IL-1β were identified as the cell type and gene, respectively, with the highest correlation with anti-PD-1 resistance. Infiltration of IL-1β-driven MDSCs was a significant factor in anti-PD-1 resistance in CRC. IL-1β antagonists are expected to be developed as a new treatment for anti-PD-1 inhibitor resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Xinxing Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Xinyi Cai
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Tao Shen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Dingguo Pan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Rui Liang
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rong Ding
- Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Ruixi Hu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Jianhua Dong
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Furong Li
- Department of Gastroenteroscopy, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Jinsha Li
- Department of Gastroenteroscopy, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Lin Xie
- Department of Oncology, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Chunlong Wang
- Department of Radiology, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Shilei Geng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Zhaoyu Yang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Lu Xing
- Department of Dermatology, Kunming Children's Hospital, Kunming, China.
| | - YunFeng Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519, Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650118, China.
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Juras PK, Racioppi L, Mukherjee D, Artham S, Gao X, D’Agostino LA, Chang CY, McDonnell DP. Increased CaMKK2 Expression Is an Adaptive Response That Maintains the Fitness of Tumor-Infiltrating Natural Killer Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:109-122. [PMID: 36301267 PMCID: PMC9812906 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0391] [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: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2) is a key regulator of energy homeostasis in several cell types. Expression of this enzyme in tumor cells promotes proliferation and migration, and expression in tumor-associated immune cells facilitates M2 macrophage polarization and the development of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Thus, there has been interest in developing CaMKK2 inhibitors as potential anticancer therapeutics. One impediment to clinical development of these agents is that the roles of CaMKK2 in other cellular compartments within the tumor immune microenvironment remain to be established. We report herein that CaMKK2 is expressed at low basal levels in natural killer (NK) cells but is upregulated in tumor-infiltrating NK cells where it suppresses apoptosis and promotes proliferation. NK cell-intrinsic deletion of CaMKK2 increased metastatic progression in several murine models, establishing a critical role for this enzyme in NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity. Ablation of the CaMKK2 protein, but not inhibition of its kinase activity, resulted in decreased NK-cell survival. These results indicate an important scaffolding function for CaMKK2 in NK cells and suggest that competitive CaMKK2 inhibitors and ligand-directed degraders (LDD) are likely to have distinct therapeutic utilities. Finally, we determined that intracellular lactic acid is a key driver of CaMKK2 expression, suggesting that upregulated expression of this enzyme is an adaptive mechanism by which tumor-infiltrating NK cells mitigate the deleterious effects of a lactic acid-rich tumor microenvironment. The findings of this study should inform strategies to manipulate the CaMKK2-signaling axis as a therapeutic approach in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick K. Juras
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Luigi Racioppi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematological Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA,Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, 80131, Italy
| | - Debarati Mukherjee
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sandeep Artham
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Xia Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Laura Akullian D’Agostino
- Small Molecule Drug Discovery, Bristol Myers Squibb, 200 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
| | - Ching-Yi Chang
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Donald P. McDonnell
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Zalpoor H, Aziziyan F, Liaghat M, Bakhtiyari M, Akbari A, Nabi-Afjadi M, Forghaniesfidvajani R, Rezaei N. The roles of metabolic profiles and intracellular signaling pathways of tumor microenvironment cells in angiogenesis of solid tumors. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:186. [PMID: 36419156 PMCID: PMC9684800 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-022-00951-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate and adaptive immune cells patrol and survey throughout the human body and sometimes reside in the tumor microenvironment (TME) with a variety of cell types and nutrients that may differ from those in which they developed. The metabolic pathways and metabolites of immune cells are rooted in cell physiology, and not only provide nutrients and energy for cell growth and survival but also influencing cell differentiation and effector functions. Nowadays, there is a growing awareness that metabolic processes occurring in cancer cells can affect immune cell function and lead to tumor immune evasion and angiogenesis. In order to safely treat cancer patients and prevent immune checkpoint blockade-induced toxicities and autoimmunity, we suggest using anti-angiogenic drugs solely or combined with Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) to boost the safety and effectiveness of cancer therapy. As a consequence, there is significant and escalating attention to discovering techniques that target metabolism as a new method of cancer therapy. In this review, a summary of immune-metabolic processes and their potential role in the stimulation of intracellular signaling in TME cells that lead to tumor angiogenesis, and therapeutic applications is provided. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Zalpoor
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ,grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Aziziyan
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,grid.412266.50000 0001 1781 3962Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Liaghat
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun Branch, Kazerun, Iran
| | - Maryam Bakhtiyari
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,grid.412606.70000 0004 0405 433XDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Abdullatif Akbari
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ,grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Nabi-Afjadi
- grid.412266.50000 0001 1781 3962Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Razieh Forghaniesfidvajani
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Dr. Gharib St, Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran, Iran ,grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Xiao J, Zhang T, Gao F, Zhou Z, Shu G, Zou Y, Yin G. Natural Killer Cells: A Promising Kit in the Adoptive Cell Therapy Toolbox. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225657. [PMID: 36428748 PMCID: PMC9688567 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As an important component of the innate immune system, natural killer (NK) cells have gained increasing attention in adoptive cell therapy for their safety and efficacious tumor-killing effect. Unlike T cells which rely on the interaction between TCRs and specific peptide-MHC complexes, NK cells are more prone to be served as "off-the-shelf" cell therapy products due to their rapid recognition and killing of tumor cells without MHC restriction. In recent years, constantly emerging sources of therapeutic NK cells have provided flexible options for cancer immunotherapy. Advanced genetic engineering techniques, especially chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modification, have yielded exciting effectiveness in enhancing NK cell specificity and cytotoxicity, improving in vivo persistence, and overcoming immunosuppressive factors derived from tumors. In this review, we highlight current advances in NK-based adoptive cell therapy, including alternative sources of NK cells for adoptive infusion, various CAR modifications that confer different targeting specificity to NK cells, multiple genetic engineering strategies to enhance NK cell function, as well as the latest clinical research on adoptive NK cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiani Xiao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Tianxiang Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Zhengwei Zhou
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Guang Shu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Yizhou Zou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (G.Y.)
| | - Gang Yin
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (G.Y.)
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16
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Tumino N, Fiore PF, Pelosi A, Moretta L, Vacca P. Myeloid derived suppressor cells in tumor microenvironment: Interaction with innate lymphoid cells. Semin Immunol 2022; 61-64:101668. [PMID: 36370673 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Human myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) represent a stage of immature myeloid cells and two main subsets can be identified: monocytic and polymorphonuclear. MDSC contribute to the establishment of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The presence and the activity of MDSC in patients with different tumors correlate with poor prognosis. As previously reported, MDSC promote tumor growth and use different mechanisms to suppress the immune cell-mediated anti-tumor activity. Immunosuppression mechanisms used by MDSC are broad and depend on their differentiation stage and on the pathological context. It is known that some effector cells of the immune system can play an important role in the control of tumor progression and metastatic spread. In particular, innate lymphoid cells (ILC) contribute to control tumor growth representing a potential, versatile and, immunotherapeutic tool. Despite promising results obtained by using new cellular immunotherapeutic approaches, a relevant proportion of patients do not benefit from these therapies. Novel strategies have been investigated to overcome the detrimental effect exerted by the immunosuppressive component of TME (i.e. MDSC). In this review, we summarized the characteristics and the interactions occurring between MDSC and ILC in different tumors discussing how a deeper knowledge on MDSC biology could represent an important target for tumor immunotherapy capable of decreasing immunosuppression and enhancing anti-tumor activity exerted by immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tumino
- Innate lymphoid cells Unit, Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Andrea Pelosi
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Innate lymphoid cells Unit, Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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17
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chen L, Huang Y, Dong B, Gu Y, Li Y, Cang W, Sun P, Xiang Y. Low Level FLT3LG is a Novel Poor Prognostic Biomarker for Cervical Cancer with Immune Infiltration. J Inflamm Res 2022; 15:5889-5904. [PMID: 36274829 PMCID: PMC9579815 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s384908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) ligand (FLT3LG), a growth factor, binds to FLT3 on dendritic cell (DCs) to enhance their differentiation and expansion. It has shown great potential as an immunotherapy target for cancers. However, the expression and function of FLT3LG in cervical cancer remain largely unknown. Materials and Methods In this study, we obtained the expression of FLT3LG, the clinical prognosis in cervical cancer, via multiple databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the TISIDB database, and Tumor Immune Estimate Resource (TIMER). The results were further investigated using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) cytology specimens in 489 patients. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier Cox regression and prognostic nomogram analyses were used to assess FLT3LG's clinical significance in cervical cancer patients. All calculations used the R package. Results As a result, FLT3LG expression decreased in cervical cancer compared with standard samples. And the low expression of FLT3LG was associated with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis indicated that FLT3LG might serve as a valuable diagnostic biomarker for cervical cancer. Additionally, it indicated that the FLT3LG had the highest odds ratio (OR=10.519; (7.371-27.071)) for detecting CIN 2+. In addition, our result also demonstrated that expression of FLT3LG was closely related to immune cells, immune inhibitors, immunostimulators, receptors, and chemokines in CESC. Conclusion Research on FLT3LG provided insight into its critical function. Hence, the low expression of FLT3LG may be a valuable biomarker in CESC patients linked with immune infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China,National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuxuan Huang
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Gynecology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China,Fujian Key Laboratory of Women and Children’s Critical Diseases Research, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Binhua Dong
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Gynecology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China,Fujian Key Laboratory of Women and Children’s Critical Diseases Research, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Gu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China,National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ye Li
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Gynecology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China,Fujian Key Laboratory of Women and Children’s Critical Diseases Research, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Cang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China,National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pengming Sun
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Gynecology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China,Fujian Key Laboratory of Women and Children’s Critical Diseases Research, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China,Pengming Sun, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Child Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 18 Daoshan Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-591-87558732; +86-591-97279671, Fax +86-591-87551247, Email
| | - Yang Xiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China,National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Yang Xiang, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuai Fu Yuan Wang Fu Jing, Dong Cheng District, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-1065296068, Fax +86-1065296218, Email
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Nicolini A, Ferrari P, Carpi A. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Other Immune Therapies in Breast Cancer: A New Paradigm for Prolonged Adjuvant Immunotherapy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102511. [PMID: 36289773 PMCID: PMC9599105 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women worldwide. Advances in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the last decade have progressively decreased the cancer mortality rate, and in recent years, immunotherapy has emerged as a relevant tool against cancer. HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are considered more immunogenic and suitable for this kind of treatment due to the higher rate of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. In TNBC, genetic aberrations further favor immunogenicity due to more neo-antigens in cancer cells. Methods: This review summarizes the principal ongoing conventional and investigational immunotherapies in breast cancer. Particularly, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and their use alone or combined with DNA damage repair inhibitors (DDRis) are described. Then, the issue on immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies against HER-2 family receptors is updated. Other investigational immunotherapies include a new schedule based on the interferon beta-interleukin-2 sequence that was given in ER+ metastatic breast cancer patients concomitant with anti-estrogen therapy, which surprisingly showed promising results. Results: Based on the scientific literature and our own findings, the current evaluation of tumor immunogenicity and the conventional model of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) are questioned. Conclusions: A novel strategy based on additional prolonged adjuvant immunotherapy combined with hormone therapy or alternated with CT is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Nicolini
- Department of Oncology, Transplantations and New Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Paola Ferrari
- Unit of Oncology, Department of Medical and Oncological Area, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Pisana, 56125 Pisa, Italy
| | - Angelo Carpi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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19
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Functional crosstalk and regulation of natural killer cells in tumor microenvironment: Significance and potential therapeutic strategies. Genes Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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20
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Baci D, Cekani E, Imperatori A, Ribatti D, Mortara L. Host-Related Factors as Targetable Drivers of Immunotherapy Response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients. Front Immunol 2022; 13:914890. [PMID: 35874749 PMCID: PMC9298844 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.914890] [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: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite some significant therapeutic breakthroughs leading to immunotherapy, a high percentage of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) do not respond to treatment on relapse, thus experiencing poor prognosis and survival. The unsatisfying results could be related to the features of the tumor immune microenvironment and the dynamic interactions between a tumor and immune infiltrate. Host-tumor interactions strongly influence the course of disease and response to therapies. Thus, targeting host-associated factors by restoring their physiologic functions altered by the presence of a tumor represents a new therapeutic approach to control tumor development and progression. In NSCLC, the immunogenic tumor balance is shifted negatively toward immunosuppression due to the release of inhibitory factors as well as the presence of immunosuppressive cells. Among these cells, there are myeloid-derived suppressor cells, regulatory T cells that can generate a tumor-permissive milieu by reprogramming the cells of the hosts such as tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated neutrophils, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, and mast cells that acquire tumor-supporting phenotypes and functions. This review highlights the current knowledge of the involvement of host-related factors, including innate and adaptive immunity in orchestrating the tumor cell fate and the primary resistance mechanisms to immunotherapy in NSCLC. Finally, we discuss combinational therapeutic strategies targeting different aspects of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) to prime the host response. Further research dissecting the characteristics and dynamic interactions within the interface host-tumor is necessary to improve a patient fitness immune response and provide answers regarding the immunotherapy efficacy, with the aim to develop more successful treatments for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denisa Baci
- Molecular Cardiology Laboratory, IRCCS-Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.,Immunology and General Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Elona Cekani
- Medical Oncology Clinic, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Imperatori
- Center for Thoracic Surgery, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Domenico Ribatti
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Immunology and General Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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21
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Witalisz-Siepracka A, Klein K, Zdársky B, Stoiber D. The Multifaceted Role of STAT3 in NK-Cell Tumor Surveillance. Front Immunol 2022; 13:947568. [PMID: 35865518 PMCID: PMC9294167 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.947568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a member of the Janus kinase (JAK)-STAT pathway, which is one of the key pathways contributing to cancer. STAT3 regulates transcription downstream of many cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10. In cancer, STAT3 is mainly described as a tumor promoter driving tumor cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis and aberrant activation of STAT3 is associated with poor prognosis. STAT3 is also an important driver of immune evasion. Among many other immunosuppressive mechanisms, STAT3 aids tumor cells to escape natural killer (NK) cell-mediated immune surveillance. NK cells are innate lymphocytes, which can directly kill malignant cells but also regulate adaptive immune responses and contribute to the composition of the tumor microenvironment. The inborn ability to lyse transformed cells renders NK cells an attractive tool for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we provide an overview of the role of STAT3 in the dynamic interplay between NK cells and tumor cells. On the one hand, we summarize the current knowledge on how tumor cell-intrinsic STAT3 drives the evasion from NK cells. On the other hand, we describe the multiple functions of STAT3 in regulating NK-cell cytotoxicity, cytokine production and their anti-tumor responses in vivo. In light of the ongoing research on STAT3 inhibitors, we also discuss how targeting STAT3 would affect the two arms of STAT3-dependent regulation of NK cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Understanding the complexity of this interplay in the tumor microenvironment is crucial for future implementation of NK cell-based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Klara Klein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Zdársky
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Dagmar Stoiber
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
- *Correspondence: Dagmar Stoiber,
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22
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He T, Zhang Y, Li X, Liu C, Zhu G, Yin X, Zhang Z, Zhao K, Wang Z, Zhao P, Wang K. Collective analysis of the expression and prognosis for LEM-domain proteins in prostate cancer. World J Surg Oncol 2022; 20:174. [PMID: 35650630 PMCID: PMC9161513 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-022-02640-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian LEM-domain proteins (LEMs) are encoded by seven genes, including LAP2, EMD, LEMD1, LEMD2, LEMD3, ANKLE1, and ANKLE2. Though some LEMs were involved in various tumor progression, the expression and prognostic values of LEMs in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) have yet to be analyzed. METHODS Herein, we investigated the expression, survival data, and immune infiltration levels of LEMs in PRAD patients from ATCG, TIMER, LinkedOmics, and TISIDB databases. We also further validated the mRNA and protein expression levels of ANKLE1, EMD, and LEMD2 in human prostate tumor specimens by qPCR, WB, and IHC. RESULTS We found that all LEM expressions, except for that of LAP2, were markedly altered in PRAD compared to the normal samples. Among all LEMs, only the expressions of ANKLE1, EMD, and LEMD2 were correlated with advanced tumor stage and survival prognosis in PRAD. Consistent with the predicted computational results, the mRNA and protein expression levels of these genes were markedly increased in the PRAD group. We then found that ANKLE1, EMD, and LEMD2 expressions were markedly correlated with immune cell infiltration levels. High ANKLE1, EMD, and LEMD2 expressions predicted a worse prognosis in PRAD based on immune cells. DNA methylation or/and copy number variations may contribute to the abnormal upregulation of ANKLE1, EMD, and LEMD2 in PRAD. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, this study implied that ANKLE1, EMD, and LEMD2 were promising prognosis predictors and potential immunotherapy targets for PRAD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianzhen He
- Institute of Special Environmental Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China.
| | - Yulian Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xueyu Li
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Caihong Liu
- Western Administrative Office Center, Qingdao West Coast New District Health Bureau, No. 166 Shuangzhu Road, Huangdao District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Guanqun Zhu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xinbao Yin
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zongliang Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zhenlin Wang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- Faculty of Sport Science and Coaching, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900, Tanjong Malim, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia.
- Athletics Department, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, 215316, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Ke Wang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China.
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23
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Corvino D, Kumar A, Bald T. Plasticity of NK cells in Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:888313. [PMID: 35619715 PMCID: PMC9127295 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.888313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial to various facets of human immunity and function through direct cytotoxicity or via orchestration of the broader immune response. NK cells exist across a wide range of functional and phenotypic identities. Murine and human studies have revealed that NK cells possess substantial plasticity and can alter their function and phenotype in response to external signals. NK cells also play a critical role in tumor immunity and form the basis for many emerging immunotherapeutic approaches. NK cells can directly target and lyse malignant cells with their inherent cytotoxic capabilities. In addition to direct targeting of malignant cells, certain subsets of NK cells can mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) which is integral to some forms of immune checkpoint-blockade immunotherapy. Another important feature of various NK cell subsets is to co-ordinate anti-tumor immune responses by recruiting adaptive and innate leukocytes. However, given the diverse range of NK cell identities it is unsurprising that both pro-tumoral and anti-tumoral NK cell subsets have been described. Here, NK cell subsets have been shown to promote angiogenesis, drive inflammation and immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment. To date, the signals that drive tumor-infiltrating NK cells towards the acquisition of a pro- or anti-tumoral function are poorly understood. The notion of tumor microenvironment-driven NK cell plasticity has substantial implications for the development of NK-based immunotherapeutics. This review will highlight the current knowledge of NK cell plasticity pertaining to the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, this review will pose critical and relevant questions that need to be addressed by the field in coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon Corvino
- Tumor-Immunobiology, Institute for Experimental Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ananthi Kumar
- Tumor-Immunobiology, Institute for Experimental Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tobias Bald
- Tumor-Immunobiology, Institute for Experimental Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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24
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Gemelli M, Noonan DM, Carlini V, Pelosi G, Barberis M, Ricotta R, Albini A. Overcoming Resistance to Checkpoint Inhibitors: Natural Killer Cells in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:886440. [PMID: 35712510 PMCID: PMC9194506 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.886440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatments over the last 10 years, with even increasing indications in many neoplasms. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is considered highly immunogenic, and ICIs have found a wide set of applications in this area, in both early and advanced lines of treatment, significantly changing the prognosis of these patients. Unfortunately, not all patients can benefit from the treatment, and resistance to ICIs can develop at any time. In addition to T lymphocytes, which are the major target, a variety of other cells present in the tumor microenvironment (TME) act in a complex cross-talk between tumor, stromal, and immune cells. An imbalance between activating and inhibitory signals can shift TME from an “anti-” to a “pro-tumorigenic” phenotype and vice versa. Natural killer cells (NKs) are able to recognize cancer cells, based on MHC I (self and non-self) and independently from antigen presentation. They represent an important link between innate and adaptive immune responses. Little data are available about the role of pro-inflammatory NKs in NSCLC and how they can influence the response to ICIs. NKs express several ligands of the checkpoint family, such as PD-1, TIGIT, TIM-3, LAG3, CD96, IL1R8, and NKG2A. We and others have shown that TME can also shape NKs, converting them into a pro-tumoral, pro-angiogenic “nurturing” phenotype through “decidualization.” The features of these NKs include expression of CD56, CD9, CD49a, and CXCR3; low CD16; and poor cytotoxicity. During ICI therapy, tumor-infiltrating or associated NKs can respond to the inhibitors or counteract the effect by acting as pro-inflammatory. There is a growing interest in NKs as a promising therapeutic target, as a basis for adoptive therapy and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK technology. In this review, we analyzed current evidence on NK function in NSCLC, focusing on their possible influence in response to ICI treatment and resistance development, addressing their prognostic and predictive roles and the rationale for exploiting NKs as a tool to overcome resistance in NSCLC, and envisaging a way to repolarize decidual NK (dNK)-like cells in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gemelli
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Douglas M. Noonan
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica Science and Technology Park, Milan, Italy
- Immunology and General Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Valentina Carlini
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica Science and Technology Park, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pelosi
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica Science and Technology Park, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Barberis
- Department of Pathology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO) Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Ricotta
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Adriana Albini, ; Riccardo Ricotta,
| | - Adriana Albini
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO) Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Adriana Albini, ; Riccardo Ricotta,
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25
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Krstic J, Deutsch A, Fuchs J, Gauster M, Gorsek Sparovec T, Hiden U, Krappinger JC, Moser G, Pansy K, Szmyra M, Gold D, Feichtinger J, Huppertz B. (Dis)similarities between the Decidual and Tumor Microenvironment. Biomedicines 2022; 10:1065. [PMID: 35625802 PMCID: PMC9138511 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Placenta-specific trophoblast and tumor cells exhibit many common characteristics. Trophoblast cells invade maternal tissues while being tolerated by the maternal immune system. Similarly, tumor cells can invade surrounding tissues and escape the immune system. Importantly, both trophoblast and tumor cells are supported by an abetting microenvironment, which influences invasion, angiogenesis, and immune tolerance/evasion, among others. However, in contrast to tumor cells, the metabolic, proliferative, migrative, and invasive states of trophoblast cells are under tight regulatory control. In this review, we provide an overview of similarities and dissimilarities in regulatory processes that drive trophoblast and tumor cell fate, particularly focusing on the role of the abetting microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Krstic
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria; (J.K.); (J.F.); (M.G.); (J.C.K.); (G.M.); (B.H.)
| | - Alexander Deutsch
- Division of Hematology, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 24, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.D.); (K.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Julia Fuchs
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria; (J.K.); (J.F.); (M.G.); (J.C.K.); (G.M.); (B.H.)
- Division of Biophysics, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Martin Gauster
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria; (J.K.); (J.F.); (M.G.); (J.C.K.); (G.M.); (B.H.)
| | - Tina Gorsek Sparovec
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, Austria; (T.G.S.); (U.H.); (D.G.)
| | - Ursula Hiden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, Austria; (T.G.S.); (U.H.); (D.G.)
| | - Julian Christopher Krappinger
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria; (J.K.); (J.F.); (M.G.); (J.C.K.); (G.M.); (B.H.)
| | - Gerit Moser
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria; (J.K.); (J.F.); (M.G.); (J.C.K.); (G.M.); (B.H.)
| | - Katrin Pansy
- Division of Hematology, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 24, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.D.); (K.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Marta Szmyra
- Division of Hematology, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 24, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.D.); (K.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Daniela Gold
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, Austria; (T.G.S.); (U.H.); (D.G.)
| | - Julia Feichtinger
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria; (J.K.); (J.F.); (M.G.); (J.C.K.); (G.M.); (B.H.)
| | - Berthold Huppertz
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria; (J.K.); (J.F.); (M.G.); (J.C.K.); (G.M.); (B.H.)
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26
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Hong XC, Liang QL, Chen M, Yang HX, Huang J, Yi SL, Wang ZW, Liang HY, Zhang DY, Huang ZY. PRL-3 and MMP9 Expression and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Circulating Tumor Cells From Patients With Colorectal Cancer: Potential Value in Clinical Practice. Front Oncol 2022; 12:878639. [PMID: 35574414 PMCID: PMC9104807 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.878639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the clinical correlation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) with PRL-3 and MMP9 expression in the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials and Methods Between January 2016 and December 2018, the EMT phenotype-based subsets of CTCs and the expression levels of PRL-3 and MMP9 in CTCs were identified, and their clinical values in 172 patients were evaluated. The CTCs were isolated, classified, and counted using the CanPatrol™ CTC filtration system. The CTC subsets (epithelial cells, mesenchymal cells and biphenotypic cells), as well as PRL-3 and MMP9 expression, were detected by RNA in situ hybridization. Results CTCs were detected in 93.0% (160/172) of the included patients with CRC. Positive PRL-3 and MMP9 expression in CTC and M-CTC was found in 75.0% (102/136) and 80.8% (97/120) of the patients, respectively. The proportion of patients with positive PRL-3 and MMP9 expression in M-CTC was significantly associated with distant metastasis (p<0.05). The patients with ≥6 CTCs tended to show poorer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates (p=0.016, 0.02, respectively), and the patients with ≥3 M-CTC also showed poor PFS (p=0.0013). Additionally, the patients with positive PRL-3 and MMP9 expression in CTCs had significantly poorer PFS (p=0.0024) and OS (p=0.095) than the patients with negative PRL-3 and MMP9 expression. Multivariate Cox analysis uncovered that positive PRL-3 and MMP9 expression in CTCs may be an independent prognostic factor for worse PFS. Conclusion EMT phenotypes and CTC numbers can be used as prognostic indicators for metastasis and survival in patients with CRC, and the combination of PRL-3 and MMP9 expression in CTCs is a promising clinical marker for patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Cui Hong
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Qi-Lian Liang
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Qi-Lian Liang,
| | - Man Chen
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Hai-Xia Yang
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Si-Lin Yi
- Pathology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Zhen-Wei Wang
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Hai-Yan Liang
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Ding-Yue Zhang
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Zeng-Yi Huang
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
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27
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Value Research of NLR, PLR, and RDW in Prognostic Assessment of Patients with Colorectal Cancer. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING 2022; 2022:7971415. [PMID: 35469225 PMCID: PMC9034903 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7971415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to investigate the relevance of the study with the neutrophil count and lymphocyte count ratio (NLR), platelet count and lymphocyte count ratio (PLR), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in the prognostic evaluation of colorectal cancer patients. Methods 143 patients with colorectal cancer from January 2016 to January 2019 were selected by our hospital, and then, other 143 cases of physical examiners as normal groups were selecting to proceed colonoscopic biopsy to diagnose 106 cases of precancerous diseases related to colorectal cancer. Among them were the inflammatory bowel group (n = 56) and the colorectal polyp group (n = 50). Analysis of the survival impact factors of patients with carcinoma of the rectum, preoperative NLR, ROW, PLR, and prognostic relationship, and comparison of NLR, PLR, and RDW diagnostic rate and expression were performed. Results Tissue type, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, NLR, RDW, and PLR had a predictive influence on patients with colorectal cancer (P0.05). There was no link between gender, age, aetiology, pathological type, and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (P > 0.05). Multiple variables in patients with colorectal cancer are affected by tissue categorization (poor differentiation), TNM stages (III, IV), lymph node metastases, NLR, ROW, and PLR (P0.05). When compared to solo NLR, Row, and PLR diagnostics, the combination diagnosis and malignancy rates were greater, and the differences were statistically significant (P0.05). Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were greater when compared to single NLR, ROW, and PLR. When compared to the normal control group, NLR, ROW, and PLR have greater levels, and the differences are statistically significant (P0.05). The patient survival declines more slowly as PLR, NLR, and the severity of the condition rises. Conclusion NLR, ROW, and PLR combined diagnosis has high accuracy in colorectal cancer diagnosis, and the prognosis of patients with NLR, ROW, and PLR levels has a tight association; so, clinically, the above signs should be identified, and the optimal treatment time is grasped.
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Russo E, Laffranchi M, Tomaipitinca L, Del Prete A, Santoni A, Sozzani S, Bernardini G. NK Cell Anti-Tumor Surveillance in a Myeloid Cell-Shaped Environment. Front Immunol 2022; 12:787116. [PMID: 34975880 PMCID: PMC8718597 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.787116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells are innate lymphoid cells endowed with cytotoxic capacity that play key roles in the immune surveillance of tumors. Increasing evidence indicates that NK cell anti-tumor response is shaped by bidirectional interactions with myeloid cell subsets such as dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. DC-NK cell crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment (TME) strongly impacts on the overall NK cell anti-tumor response as DCs can affect NK cell survival and optimal activation while, in turn, NK cells can stimulate DCs survival, maturation and tumor infiltration through the release of soluble factors. Similarly, macrophages can either shape NK cell differentiation and function by expressing activating receptor ligands and/or cytokines, or they can contribute to the establishment of an immune-suppressive microenvironment through the expression and secretion of molecules that ultimately lead to NK cell inhibition. Consequently, the exploitation of NK cell interaction with DCs or macrophages in the tumor context may result in an improvement of efficacy of immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Russo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Laffranchi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Tomaipitinca
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Del Prete
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rozzano, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Neuromed, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Silvano Sozzani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Neuromed, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bernardini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Palano MT, Cucchiara M, Gallazzi M, Riccio F, Mortara L, Gensini GF, Spinetti G, Ambrosio G, Bruno A. When a Friend Becomes Your Enemy: Natural Killer Cells in Atherosclerosis and Atherosclerosis-Associated Risk Factors. Front Immunol 2022; 12:798155. [PMID: 35095876 PMCID: PMC8793801 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.798155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis (ATS), the change in structure and function of arteries with associated lesion formation and altered blood flow, is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, the number one killer worldwide. Beyond dyslipidemia, chronic inflammation, together with aberrant phenotype and function of cells of both the innate and adaptive immune system, are now recognized as relevant contributors to atherosclerosis onset and progression. While the role of macrophages and T cells in atherosclerosis has been addressed in several studies, Natural Killer cells (NKs) represent a poorly explored immune cell type, that deserves attention, due to NKs’ emerging contribution to vascular homeostasis. Furthermore, the possibility to re-polarize the immune system has emerged as a relevant tool to design new therapies, with some succesfull exmples in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Thus, a deeper knowledge of NK cell pathophysiology in the context of atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis-associated risk factors could help developing new preventive and treatment strategies, and decipher the complex scenario/history from “the risk factors for atherosclerosis” Here, we review the current knowledge about NK cell phenotype and activities in atherosclerosis and selected atherosclerosis risk factors, namely type-2 diabetes and obesity, and discuss the related NK-cell oriented environmental signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Palano
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | - Martina Cucchiara
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Matteo Gallazzi
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Federica Riccio
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiopathology-Regenerative Medicine, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Gian Franco Gensini
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | - Gaia Spinetti
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiopathology-Regenerative Medicine, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Antonino Bruno
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
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Palano MT, Gallazzi M, Cucchiara M, Dehò F, Capogrosso P, Bruno A, Mortara L. The tumor innate immune microenvironment in prostate cancer: an overview of soluble factors and cellular effectors. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2022; 3:694-718. [PMID: 36338516 PMCID: PMC9630328 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2022.00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) accounts as the most common non-cutaneous disease affecting males, and as the first cancer, for incidence, in male. With the introduction of the concept of immunoscore, PCa has been classified as a cold tumor, thus driving the attention in the development of strategies aimed at blocking the infiltration/activation of immunosuppressive cells, while favoring the infiltration/activation of anti-tumor immune cells. Even if immunotherapy has revolutionized the approaches to cancer therapy, there is still a window failure, due to the immune cell plasticity within PCa, that can acquire pro-tumor features, subsequent to the tumor microenvironment (TME) capability to polarize them. This review discussed selected relevant soluble factors [transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, IL-23] and cellular components of the innate immunity, as drivers of tumor progression, immunosuppression, and angiogenesis within the PCa-TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Palano
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Gallazzi
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Martina Cucchiara
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Federico Dehò
- Unit of Urology, ASST-Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Paolo Capogrosso
- Unit of Urology, ASST-Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Antonino Bruno
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy,Correspondence: Antonino Bruno,
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy,Lorenzo Mortara, . Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
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Zhong F, Lin Y, Jing X, Ye Y, Wang S, Shen Z. Innate tumor killers in colorectal cancer. Cancer Lett 2021; 527:115-126. [PMID: 34952144 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Standard treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) improves the prognosis of CRC patients, but it is still intractable to control the progression of metastatic CRC. Immune microenvironment and immunotherapies of CRC have received extensive attention in recent years, but present immunotherapies of CRC have mainly focused on T cells and therapeutic response is only observed in a small proportion of patients. Innate immune cells are the first-line of defense in the development of malignancies. Natural killer (NK) cells, NKT cells and γδT cells are three types of innate cells of lymphoid origin and show cytotoxicity against various tumor cells including CRC. Besides, in the development of CRC, they can also be inhibited or express regulatory type, promoting tumor progression. Researches about anti-tumorigenic and pro-tumorigenic mechanisms of these cells are ongoing and regulation of these cells is also being unearthed. Meanwhile, immunotherapies using these cells more or less have shown efficacy in animal models and some of them are under exploration in clinical trials. This review provides an overview of intrinsic properties of NK cell, NKT cell and γδT cell, and summarizes current related promising treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyun Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China; Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China.
| | - Yilin Lin
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China; Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China.
| | - Xiangxiang Jing
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China; Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China.
| | - Yingjiang Ye
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China; Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China.
| | - Shan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China; Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China.
| | - Zhanlong Shen
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China; Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, PR China.
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Neutrophil and Natural Killer Cell Interactions in Cancers: Dangerous Liaisons Instructing Immunosuppression and Angiogenesis. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9121488. [PMID: 34960234 PMCID: PMC8709224 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9121488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) has largely been reported to cooperate on tumor onset and progression, as a consequence of the phenotype/functional plasticity and adaptation capabilities of tumor-infiltrating and tumor-associated immune cells. Immune cells within the tumor micro (tissue-local) and macro (peripheral blood) environment closely interact by cell-to-cell contact and/or via soluble factors, also generating a tumor-permissive soil. These dangerous liaisons have been investigated for pillars of tumor immunology, such as tumor associated macrophages and T cell subsets. Here, we reviewed and discussed the contribution of selected innate immunity effector cells, namely neutrophils and natural killer cells, as "soloists" or by their "dangerous liaisons", in favoring tumor progression by dissecting the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved.
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Chang WA, Tsai MJ, Hung JY, Wu KL, Tsai YM, Huang YC, Chang CY, Tsai PH, Hsu YL. miR-150-5p-Containing Extracellular Vesicles Are a New Immunoregulator That Favor the Progression of Lung Cancer in Hypoxic Microenvironments by Altering the Phenotype of NK Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246252. [PMID: 34944871 PMCID: PMC8699319 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NKs) cells are cytotoxic effector cells, which can modulate tumor metastasis according to their function; however, the role of NK cells in lung cancer has not been extensively investigated. In this study, we determined the functional profiles of NK cells in a hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) of lung cancer. We revealed CD226 downregulation and functional repression of NK cells after hypoxic lung cancer priming and we then investigated their interaction with extracellular vesicles (EVs) and miR-150-5p. We also found that NK cells from lung cancer patients had lower expression of CD226 on their surface and exhibited a pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic and tumorigenesis phenotype by expressing VEGF, CXCL1, CXCL8, S100A8 and MMPs. Moreover, inhibition of miR-150 improved tumor surveillance by reversing CD226 expression and subsequently reinstating cytotoxic NK cell activity in an animal model. Our study introduces a new scenario for the pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic activities of NK cells in the hypoxic TME in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-An Chang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (W.-A.C.); (M.-J.T.); (J.-Y.H.); (K.-L.W.); (Y.-M.T.)
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan;
| | - Ming-Ju Tsai
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (W.-A.C.); (M.-J.T.); (J.-Y.H.); (K.-L.W.); (Y.-M.T.)
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan;
| | - Jen-Yu Hung
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (W.-A.C.); (M.-J.T.); (J.-Y.H.); (K.-L.W.); (Y.-M.T.)
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 801, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Li Wu
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (W.-A.C.); (M.-J.T.); (J.-Y.H.); (K.-L.W.); (Y.-M.T.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 801, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (Y.-C.H.); (P.-H.T.)
| | - Ying-Ming Tsai
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (W.-A.C.); (M.-J.T.); (J.-Y.H.); (K.-L.W.); (Y.-M.T.)
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan;
| | - Yung-Chi Huang
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (Y.-C.H.); (P.-H.T.)
| | - Chao-Yuan Chang
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (Y.-C.H.); (P.-H.T.)
- Department of Anatomy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Hsun Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (Y.-C.H.); (P.-H.T.)
| | - Ya-Ling Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (Y.-C.H.); (P.-H.T.)
- Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-7-312-1101 (ext. 2136-26)
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Vuletić A, Mirjačić Martinović K, Tišma Miletić N, Zoidakis J, Castellvi-Bel S, Čavić M. Cross-Talk Between Tumor Cells Undergoing Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition and Natural Killer Cells in Tumor Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:750022. [PMID: 34858978 PMCID: PMC8631470 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.750022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells undergoing epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) reciprocally influence each other. Immune cells, by supplying TME with bioactive molecules including cytokines, chemokines, enzymes, metabolites, and by physical interactions with tumor cells via their receptors, represent an important factor that affects EMT. Chronical inflammation in TME favorizes tumor growth and invasiveness and stimulates synthesis of EMT promoting transcription factors. Natural killer (NK) cells, owing to their unique ability to exert cytotoxic function independent of major histocompatibility (MHC)-mediated antigen presentation, play a significant role in the control of metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Although, the cross-talk between immune cells and tumor cells in general favors the induction of EMT and inhibition of antitumor immune responses, there are some changes in the immunogenicity of tumor cells during EMT of CRC cells that increase their susceptibility to NK cell cytotoxic lysis. However, suppressive TME downmodulates the expression of activating NK cell receptors, decreases the expression of activating and increases the expression of inhibitory NK cell ligands on tumor cells, and impairs NK cell metabolism that altogether negatively affects the overall NK cell function. Furthermore, process of EMT is often associated with increased expression of programmed cell death ligand (PD-L) and expression of immune checkpoint molecules PD-1, TIGIT, and TIM3 on functionally exhausted NK cells in TME in CRC. In this review we discuss modalities of cross-talk between tumor cells and NK cells, with regard of EMT-driven changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Vuletić
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Nevena Tišma Miletić
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jerome Zoidakis
- Department of Biotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sergi Castellvi-Bel
- Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Clínic, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Institut d'Investigacions Biomčdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Milena Čavić
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
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Ghoneum A, Almousa S, Warren B, Abdulfattah AY, Shu J, Abouelfadl H, Gonzalez D, Livingston C, Said N. Exploring the clinical value of tumor microenvironment in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 77:83-98. [PMID: 33476723 PMCID: PMC8286277 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Platinum resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer (OvCa) is rising at an alarming rate, with recurrence of chemo-resistant high grade serous OvCa (HGSC) in roughly 75 % of all patients. Additionally, HGSC has an abysmal five-year survival rate, standing at 39 % and 17 % for FIGO stages III and IV, respectively. Herein we review the crucial cellular interactions between HGSC cells and the cellular and non-cellular components of the unique peritoneal tumor microenvironment (TME). We highlight the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM), ascitic fluid as well as the mesothelial cells, tumor associated macrophages, neutrophils, adipocytes and fibroblasts in platinum-resistance. Moreover, we underscore the importance of other immune-cell players in conferring resistance, including natural killer cells, myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) and T-regulatory cells. We show the clinical relevance of the key platinum-resistant markers and their correlation with the major pathways perturbed in OvCa. In parallel, we discuss the effect of immunotherapies in re-sensitizing platinum-resistant patients to platinum-based drugs. Through detailed analysis of platinum-resistance in HGSC, we hope to advance the development of more effective therapy options for this aggressive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alia Ghoneum
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Sameh Almousa
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Bailey Warren
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Ammar Yasser Abdulfattah
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA; Alexandria University School of Medicine, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Junjun Shu
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA; The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Hebatullah Abouelfadl
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA; Department of Genetics, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki, Egypt
| | - Daniela Gonzalez
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Christopher Livingston
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Neveen Said
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA; Departments of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
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The Immune Landscape of Breast Cancer: Strategies for Overcoming Immunotherapy Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13236012. [PMID: 34885122 PMCID: PMC8657247 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Immunotherapy is a rapidly advancing field in breast cancer treatment, however, it encounters many obstacles that leave open gateways for breast cancer cells to resist novel immunotherapies. It is believed that the tumor microenvironment consisting of cancer, stromal, and immune cells as well as a plethora of tumor-promoting soluble factors, is responsible for the failure of therapeutic strategies in cancer, including breast tumors. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of key barriers to effective immunotherapy, focusing the research efforts on harnessing the power of the immune system, and thus, developing new strategies to overcome the resistance may contribute significantly to increase breast cancer patient survival. In this review, we discuss the latest reports regarding the strategies rendering the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment more sensitive to immunotherapy in breast cancers, HER2-positive and triple-negative types of breast cancer, which are attractive from an immunotherapeutic point of view. Abstract Breast cancer (BC) has traditionally been considered to be not inherently immunogenic and insufficiently represented by immune cell infiltrates. Therefore, for a long time, it was thought that the immunotherapies targeting this type of cancer and its microenvironment were not justified and would not bring benefits for breast cancer patients. Nevertheless, to date, a considerable number of reports have indicated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as a prognostic and clinically relevant biomarker in breast cancer. A high TILs expression has been demonstrated in primary tumors, of both, HER2-positive BC and triple-negative (TNBC), of patients before treatment, as well as after treatment with adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Another milestone was reached in advanced TNBC immunotherapy with the help of the immune checkpoint inhibitors directed against the PD-L1 molecule. Although those findings, together with the recent developments in chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies, show immense promise for significant advancements in breast cancer treatments, there are still various obstacles to the optimal activity of immunotherapeutics in BC treatment. Of these, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment constitutes a key barrier that greatly hinders the success of immunotherapies in the most aggressive types of breast cancer, HER2-positive and TNBC. Therefore, the improvement of the current and the demand for the development of new immunotherapeutic strategies is strongly warranted.
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Costa AC, Santos JMO, Gil da Costa RM, Medeiros R. Impact of immune cells on the hallmarks of cancer: A literature review. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2021; 168:103541. [PMID: 34801696 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) are critical players in the tumor microenvironment, modulating cancer cell functions. TIICs are highly heterogenic and plastic and may either suppress cancers or provide support for tumor growth. A wide range of studies have shed light on how tumor-associated macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, mast cells, natural killer cells and lymphocytes contribute for the establishment of several hallmarks of cancer and became the basis for successful immunotherapies. Many of those TIICs play pivotal roles in several hallmarks of cancer. This review contributes to elucidate the multifaceted roles of immune cells in cancer development, highlighting molecular components that constitute promising therapeutic targets. Additional studies are needed to clarify the relation between TIICs and hallmarks such as enabling replicative immortality, evading growth suppressors, sustaining proliferative signaling, resisting cell death and genome instability and mutation, to further explore their therapeutic potential and improve the outcomes of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra C Costa
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-319, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Joana M O Santos
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-319, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Rui M Gil da Costa
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal; Postgraduate Programme in Adult Health (PPGSAD), Department of Morphology, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), and UFMA University Hospital (HUUFMA), 65080-805, São Luís, Brazil.
| | - Rui Medeiros
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-319, Porto, Portugal; Virology Service, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072, Porto, Portugal; CEBIMED, Faculty of Health Sciences of the Fernando Pessoa University, 4249-004, Porto, Portugal; Research Department of the Portuguese League Against Cancer-Regional Nucleus of the North (Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro-Núcleo Regional do Norte), 4200-177, Porto, Portugal.
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De Lerma Barbaro A, Palano MT, Cucchiara M, Gallazzi M, Mortara L, Bruno A. Metabolic Rewiring in the Tumor Microenvironment to Support Immunotherapy: A Focus on Neutrophils, Polymorphonuclear Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Natural Killer Cells. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9101178. [PMID: 34696286 PMCID: PMC8539473 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukocytes often undergo rapid changes in cell phenotype, for example, from a resting to an activated state, which places significant metabolic demands on the cell. These rapid changes in metabolic demand need to be tightly regulated to support immune cell effector functions during the initiation and downregulation of an immune response. Prospects for implementing cancer immunotherapy also rest on the idea of optimizing the metabolic profile of immune cell effectors. Here, we examine this issue by focusing on neutrophils and NK cells as cells of increasing interest in cancer immunology and tumor immunometabolism, because they can be targeted or, in the case of NK, used as effectors in immunotherapy. In addition, neutrophils and NK cells have been shown to functionally interact. In the case of neutrophils, we also extended our interest to polymorphonuclear MDSC (PMN-MDSCs), since the granulocytic subset of MDSCs share many phenotypes and are functionally similar to pro-tumor neutrophils. Finally, we reviewed relevant strategies to target tumor metabolism, focusing on neutrophils and NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea De Lerma Barbaro
- Laboratory of Comparative Physiopathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.D.L.B.); (A.B.)
| | - Maria Teresa Palano
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20100 Milan, Italy; (M.T.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Martina Cucchiara
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20100 Milan, Italy; (M.T.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Matteo Gallazzi
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy; (M.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy; (M.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Antonino Bruno
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20100 Milan, Italy; (M.T.P.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence: (A.D.L.B.); (A.B.)
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TIMP1 and TIMP2 Downregulate TGFβ Induced Decidual-like Phenotype in Natural Killer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194955. [PMID: 34638439 PMCID: PMC8507839 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer patients are characterized by NK cells with altered surface markers, such as CD56 brightness, CD9, CD49a (pro-angiogenic) and PD-1, and TIM-3 (exhaustion), that favor immune escape. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) is a major tumor-derived cytokine that favors cancer growth and supports pro-angiogenic activities in NK cells by inducing pro-angiogenic molecules. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 play a crucial role in extracellular matrix (ECM) regulation, wound healing, pregnancy and cancer, and there is increasing evidence that they are immune-modulatory. We found that recombinant TIMP-1 and -2 can partially contrast the induction of pro-tumor/pro-angiogenic decidual-like polarization of NK cells by TGFβ. Abstract Natural Killer (NK) cells have been found to be anergic, exhausted and pro-angiogenic in cancers. NK cell from healthy donors, exposed to TGFβ, acquire the CD56brightCD9+CD49a+ decidual-like-phenotype, together with decreased levels of NKG2D activation marker, increased levels of TIM-3 exhaustion marker, similar to cancer-associated NK cells. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases (TIMPs) exert dual roles in cancer. The role of TIMPs in modulating immune cells is a very novel concept, and the present is the first report studying their ability to contrast TGFβ action on NK cells. Here, we investigated the effects of TIMP1 and TIMP2 recombinant proteins in hindering decidual-like markers in NK cells, generated by polarizing cytolytic NK cells with TGFβ. The effects of TIMP1 or TIMP2 on NK cell surface antigens were determined by multicolor flow cytometry. We found that TIMP1 and TIMP2 were effective in interfering with TGFβ induced NK cell polarization towards a decidual-like-phenotype. TIMP1 and TIMP2 counteracted the effect of TGFβ in increasing the percentage of CD56bright, CD16−, CD9+ and CD49a+, and restoring normal levels for TIMP 1 and 2 also inhibited decrease levels of the activation marker NKG2D induced by TGFβ and decreased the TGFβ upregulated exhaustion marker TIM-3. NK cell degranulation capabilities against K562 cells were also decreased by TGFβ and not by TIMP1 or TIMP2. TIMP1 treatment could partially restore degranulation marker CD107a expression. Treatment with recombinant TIMP-1 or TIMP-2 showed a trend, although not statistically significant, to decrease CD49a+ and TIM-3+ expression and increase NKG2D in peripheral blood NK cells exposed to conditioned media from colon cancer cell lines. Our results suggest a potential role of TIMPs in controlling the tumor-associated cytokine TGFβ-induced NK cell polarization. Given the heterogeneity of released factors within the TME, it is clear that TGFβ stimulation represents a model to prove TIMP’s new properties, but it cannot be envisaged as a soloist NK cell polarizing agent. Therefore, further studies from the scientific community will help defining TIMPs immunomodulatory activities of NK cells in cancer, and their possible future diagnostic–therapeutic roles.
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Höbaus C, Pesau G, Zierfuss B, Koppensteiner R, Schernthaner GH. Angiogenin-A Proposed Biomarker for Cardiovascular Disease-Is Not Associated With Long-Term Survival in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease. Angiology 2021; 72:855-860. [PMID: 33779308 PMCID: PMC8436295 DOI: 10.1177/00033197211004393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated angiogenin as a prospective biomarker in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients with and without claudication symptoms. A pilot study suggested an elevation of angiogenin in critical limb ischemia. However, in PAD patients, the predictive value of angiogenin has not yet been evaluated. For this purpose, 342 patients with PAD (age: 69 ± 10 years, 34.5% women) were followed-up for 7 years in a cross-sectional study. Angiogenin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were analyzed by Cox regression. Angiogenin levels were higher in men (P = .001) and were associated with patient waist-to-hip ratio (P < .001), fasting triglycerides (P = .011), and inversely with estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = .009). However, angiogenin showed no association with age, characteristics of diabetes, markers of lipid metabolism, or C-reactive protein. Angiogenin did not correlate with markers of angiogenesis such as vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, or tie-2. Furthermore, angiogenin was not associated with PAD Fontaine stages or with patient ankle-brachial index in addition to all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.09 [95% CI: 0.89-1.34]) or cardiovascular morality (HR = 1.05 [0.82-1.35]). These results suggest that angiogenin does not provide further information regarding outcome prediction in patients with PAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemens Höbaus
- Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerfried Pesau
- Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Zierfuss
- Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Renate Koppensteiner
- Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerit-Holger Schernthaner
- Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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41
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Gonzalez VD, Huang YW, Delgado-Gonzalez A, Chen SY, Donoso K, Sachs K, Gentles AJ, Allard GM, Kolahi KS, Howitt BE, Porpiglia E, Fantl WJ. High-grade serous ovarian tumor cells modulate NK cell function to create an immune-tolerant microenvironment. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109632. [PMID: 34469729 PMCID: PMC8546503 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is unresponsive to immune checkpoint blockade despite significant frequencies of exhausted T cells. Here we apply mass cytometry and uncover decidual-like natural killer (dl-NK) cell subpopulations (CD56+CD9+CXCR3+KIR+CD3-CD16-) in newly diagnosed HGSC samples that correlate with both tumor and transitioning epithelial-mesenchymal cell abundance. We show different combinatorial expression patterns of ligands for activating and inhibitory NK receptors within three HGSC tumor compartments: epithelial (E), transitioning epithelial-mesenchymal (EV), and mesenchymal (vimentin expressing [V]), with a more inhibitory ligand phenotype in V cells. In cocultures, NK-92 natural killer cells acquire CD9 from HGSC tumor cells by trogocytosis, resulting in reduced anti-tumor cytokine production and cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity in these cocultures is restored with a CD9-blocking antibody or CD9 CRISPR knockout, thereby identifying mechanisms of immune suppression in HGSC. CD9 is widely expressed in HGSC tumors and so represents an important new therapeutic target with immediate relevance for NK immunotherapy.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Carboplatin/pharmacology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Coculture Techniques
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Female
- Humans
- Immune Tolerance/drug effects
- Killer Cells, Natural/drug effects
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/drug effects
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/immunology
- Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/pathology
- Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Ovarian Neoplasms/immunology
- Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism
- Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology
- Phenotype
- Receptors, Natural Killer Cell/metabolism
- Tetraspanin 29/metabolism
- Trogocytosis
- Tumor Escape/drug effects
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica D Gonzalez
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ying-Wen Huang
- Department of Urology Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Shih-Yu Chen
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kenyi Donoso
- Department of Urology Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Karen Sachs
- Next Generation Analytics, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA
| | - Andrew J Gentles
- Department of Medicine (Quantitative Sciences Unit, Biomedical Informatics) Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Grace M Allard
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kevin S Kolahi
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Brooke E Howitt
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ermelinda Porpiglia
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Wendy J Fantl
- Department of Urology Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Etxebeste-Mitxeltorena M, Del Rincón-Loza I, Martín-Antonio B. Tumor Secretome to Adoptive Cellular Immunotherapy: Reduce Me Before I Make You My Partner. Front Immunol 2021; 12:717850. [PMID: 34447383 PMCID: PMC8382692 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.717850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cellular immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells are common immune cell sources administered to treat cancer patients. In detail, whereas CAR-T cells induce outstanding responses in a subset of hematological malignancies, responses are much more deficient in solid tumors. Moreover, NK cells have not shown remarkable results up to date. In general, immune cells present high plasticity to change their activity and phenotype depending on the stimuli they receive from molecules secreted in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Consequently, immune cells will also secrete molecules that will shape the activities of other neighboring immune and tumor cells. Specifically, NK cells can polarize to activities as diverse as angiogenic ones instead of their killer activity. In addition, tumor cell phagocytosis by macrophages, which is required to remove dying tumor cells after the attack of NK cells or CAR-T cells, can be avoided in the TME. In addition, chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments can induce senescence in tumor cells modifying their secretome to a known as “senescence-associated secretory phenotype” (SASP) that will also impact the immune response. Whereas the SASP initially attracts immune cells to eliminate senescent tumor cells, at high numbers of senescent cells, the SASP becomes detrimental, impacting negatively in the immune response. Last, CAR-T cells are an attractive option to overcome these events. Here, we review how molecules secreted in the TME by either tumor cells or even by immune cells impact the anti-tumor activity of surrounding immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikel Etxebeste-Mitxeltorena
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Diaz, UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Del Rincón-Loza
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Diaz, UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Martín-Antonio
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Diaz, UAM, Madrid, Spain
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Ietto G, Mortara L, Dalla Gasperina D, Iovino D, Azzi L, Baj A, Ageno W, Genoni AP, Acquati F, Gallazzi M, Spina G, Coco G, Pierin F, Noonan D, Vigezzi A, Monti E, Iori V, Masci F, Franchi C, Di Saverio S, Carcano G. Study of immune-mediated mechanisms in patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2: phenotypic and functional analysis of monocytes, NK and T cells in the blood of subjects affected by COVID 19. JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 11:e29892. [PMID: 34854818 PMCID: PMC8793914 DOI: 10.2196/29892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The novel coronavirus has a high mortality rate (over 1% for patients older than 50 years). This can only be partially ascribed to other comorbidities. A possible explanation is a factor that assures a prompt response to SARS-CoV-2 in younger people, independent from the novelty of the virus itself. A factor is believed to stimulate the immune system and provide immunity against more antigens. The only external stimulation received by healthy people is vaccination (eg, the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis [DTP] vaccine). One hypothesis is that vaccination helps develop specific immunity but generates sprouting immunity against antigens in transit. The underlying immunological phenomena are the “bystander effect” and “trained immunity.” The developed immunity gives protection for years until it naturally fades out. After the fifth decade of life, the immune system is almost incompetent when a viral infection occurs, and thus, at this stage, the novel coronavirus can enter the body and cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. Objective The initial aim is to demonstrate that blood monocytes and natural killer cells show overpowering hyperactivity, while CD4+ and CD8+ T cells experience impediments to their defensive functions in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. The secondary objectives are to correlate clinical data and vaccination history with laboratory immune patterns in order to identify protective factors. Subsequently, we are also interested in characterizing the phenotypes and state of the degree of activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, including monocytes, natural killer cells, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, in healthy subjects vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. Methods Data will be collected using the following 3 approaches: (1) an experimental analysis to study the innate immune response and to identify genetic profiles; (2) an epidemiological analysis to identify the patients’ vaccination history; and (3) a clinical analysis to detect the immunological profile. Results The protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee on April 16, 2020, and the study started on April 27, 2020. As of February 2021, enrollment has been completed. Immunological analysis is ongoing, and we expect to complete this analysis by December 2022. Conclusions We will recognize different populations of patients, each one with a specific immunological pattern in terms of cytokines, soluble factor serum levels, and immune cell activity. Anamnestic data, such as preceding vaccinations and comorbidities, biochemical findings like lymphocyte immunophenotyping, and pre-existing persistent cytomegalovirus infection, allow depicting the risk profile of severe COVID-19. Proof of the roles of these immunological phenomena in the development of COVID-19 can be the basis for the implementation of therapeutic immunomodulatory treatments. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04375176; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04375176 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/29892
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Ietto
- General Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, University of Insubria, V. Guicciardini, 9, Varese, IT
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, IT
| | | | - Domenico Iovino
- General Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, University of Insubria, V. Guicciardini, 9, Varese, IT
| | - Lorenzo Azzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, IT
| | - Andreina Baj
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, IT
| | - Walter Ageno
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, IT
| | - Angelo Paolo Genoni
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, IT
| | - Francesco Acquati
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, IT
| | - Matteo Gallazzi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, IT
| | - Giorgia Spina
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, IT
| | - Grace Coco
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, IT
| | - Federica Pierin
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, IT
| | - Douglas Noonan
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, IT.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Multi Medica, Milan, Italy, Milan, IT
| | - Andrea Vigezzi
- General Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, University of Insubria, V. Guicciardini, 9, Varese, IT
| | - Elisa Monti
- General Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, University of Insubria, V. Guicciardini, 9, Varese, IT
| | - Valentina Iori
- General Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, University of Insubria, V. Guicciardini, 9, Varese, IT
| | - Federica Masci
- General Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, University of Insubria, V. Guicciardini, 9, Varese, IT
| | - Caterina Franchi
- General Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, University of Insubria, V. Guicciardini, 9, Varese, IT
| | | | - Giulio Carcano
- General Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, University of Insubria, V. Guicciardini, 9, Varese, IT
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Mahgoub S, Abosalem H, Emara M, Kotb N, Maged A, Soror S. Restoring NK cells functionality via cytokine activation enhances cetuximab-mediated NK-cell ADCC: A promising therapeutic tool for HCC patients. Mol Immunol 2021; 137:221-227. [PMID: 34284214 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are considered the first line of defense against viral infections and tumors. Several factors affect NK cytotoxic activity rendering it dysfunctional and thereby impeding the ability to scavenge abnormal cells as a part of immune escaping mechanisms induced by different types of cancers. NK cells play a crucial role augmenting the activity of various types of anticancer mAb since dysfunctional NK cells are the main reason for the low response to these therapies. To this light, we examined the phenotypic characters of the circulating NK cells isolated from HCC patients compared to healthy controls. Then, dysfunctional NK cells, from HCC patients, were reactivated with cytokines cocktail and their cytotoxic activity with the anti-EGFR mAb "cetuximab" was investigated. This showed a downregulation of patients NK cells activating receptors (NKP30, NKP46, NKG2D and CD16) as well as CD56 and up-regulation of NKG2A inhibitory receptor. We also reported an increase in aberrant CD56- NK cells subset in peripheral blood of HCC patients compared to healthy controls. Thus, confirming the dysfunctionality of peripheral NK cells isolated from HCC patients. Cytokines re-activation of those NK cells lead to upregulation of NK activating receptors and downregulation of inhibitory receptor. Moreover, the percentage of aberrant CD56- NK cells subset was reduced. Here, we proved that advanced HCC patients have an increased percentage of more immature and noncytotoxic NK cell subsets in their peripheral blood, which might account for the low cytotoxicity noticed in those patients. A significant improvement in the cytotoxicity against HCC was noticed upon using reactivated NK cells combined with cetuximab. Therefore, this study highlights the potential recruitment of NK immune cells along with cetuximab to enhance cytotoxicity against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahenda Mahgoub
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein-Helwan, Cairo, 11795, Egypt.
| | - Hadeer Abosalem
- Deputy of Technical Manager, Biotechnology Unit, Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), Giza, 12654, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed Emara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein-Helwan, Cairo, 11795, Egypt.
| | - Nahla Kotb
- Manager of Blood Derivative Unit, Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), Giza, 12654, Egypt.
| | - A Maged
- National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute (NHTMRI), 11441, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Sameh Soror
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein-Helwan, Cairo, 11795, Egypt.
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45
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Angiogenic Properties of NK Cells in Cancer and Other Angiogenesis-Dependent Diseases. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071621. [PMID: 34209508 PMCID: PMC8303392 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of many serious diseases, including cancer, is closely related to disturbances in the angiogenesis process. Angiogenesis is essential for the progression of tumor growth and metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has immunosuppressive properties, which contribute to tumor expansion and angiogenesis. Similarly, the uterine microenvironment (UME) exerts a tolerogenic (immunosuppressive) and proangiogenic effect on its cells, promoting implantation and development of the embryo and placenta. In the TME and UME natural killer (NK) cells, which otherwise are capable of killing target cells autonomously, enter a state of reduced cytotoxicity or anergy. Both TME and UME are rich with factors (e.g., TGF-β, glycodelin, hypoxia), which support a conversion of NK cells to the low/non-cytotoxic, proangiogenic CD56brightCD16low phenotype. It is plausible that the phenomenon of acquiring proangiogenic and low cytotoxic features by NK cells is not only limited to cancer but is a common feature of different angiogenesis-dependent diseases (ADDs). In this review, we will discuss the role of NK cells in angiogenesis disturbances associated with cancer and other selected ADDs. Expanding the knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for angiogenesis and its disorders contributes to a better understanding of ADDs and may have therapeutic implications.
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Chung KPS, Leung RWH, Lee TKW. Hampering Stromal Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment as a Therapeutic Strategy to Destem Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3191. [PMID: 34202411 PMCID: PMC8268361 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor bulk play crucial roles in tumor initiation, recurrence and therapeutic resistance. In addition to intrinsic regulation, a growing body of evidence suggests that the phenotypes of CSCs are also regulated extrinsically by stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we discuss the current knowledge of the interplay between stromal cells and cancer cells with a special focus on how stromal cells drive the stemness of cancer cells and immune evasive mechanisms of CSCs. Knowledge gained from the interaction between CSCs and stromal cells will provide a mechanistic basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Po Sin Chung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (K.P.S.C.); (R.W.H.L.)
| | - Rainbow Wing Hei Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (K.P.S.C.); (R.W.H.L.)
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (K.P.S.C.); (R.W.H.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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Barzaman K, Samadi M, Moradi-Kalbolandi S, Majidzadeh-A K, Salehi M, Jalili N, Jazayeri MH, Khorammi S, Darvishi B, Siavashi V, Shekarabi M, Farahmand L. Development of a recombinant anti-VEGFR2-EPCAM bispecific antibody to improve antiangiogenic efficiency. Exp Cell Res 2021; 405:112685. [PMID: 34090863 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Tumor progression and metastasis, especially in invasive cancers (such as triple-negative breast cancer [TNBC]), depend on angiogenesis, in which vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF)/vascular epithelial growth factor receptor [1] has a decisive role, followed by the metastatic spread of cancer cells. Although some studies have shown that anti-VEGFR2/VEGF monoclonal antibodies demonstrated favorable results in the clinic, this approach is not efficient, and further investigations are needed to improve the quality of cancer treatment. Besides, the increased expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in various cancers, for instance, invasive breast cancer, contributes to angiogenesis, facilitating the migration of tumor cells to other parts of the body. Thus, the main goal of our study was to target either VEGFR2 or EpCAM as pivotal players in the progression of angiogenesis in breast cancer. Regarding cancer therapy, the production of bispecific antibodies is easier and more cost-effective compared to monoclonal antibodies, targeting more than one antigen or receptor; for this reason, we produced a recombinant antibody to target cells expressing EpCAM and VEGFR2 via a bispecific antibody to decrease the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. Following the cloning and expression of our desired anti-VEGFR2/EPCAM sequence in E. coli, the accuracy of the expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis, and its binding activities to VEGFR2 and EPCAM on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines were respectively indicated by flow cytometry. Then, its anti-proliferative potential was indicated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and apoptosis assay to evaluate inhibitory effects of the antibody on tumor cells. Subsequently, the data indicated that migration, invasion, and angiogenesis were inhibited in breast cancer cell lines via the bispecific antibody. Furthermore, cytokine analysis indicated that the bispecific antibody could moderate interleukin 8 (IL-8) and IL-6 as key mediators in angiogenesis progression in breast cancer. Thus, our bispecific antibody could be considered as a promising candidate tool to decrease angiogenesis in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Barzaman
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mitra Samadi
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shima Moradi-Kalbolandi
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Keivan Majidzadeh-A
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Malihe Salehi
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Neda Jalili
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mir Hadi Jazayeri
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Khorammi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behrad Darvishi
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Siavashi
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Shekarabi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Leila Farahmand
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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Abosalema H, Mahgoub S, Emara M, Kotb N, Soror S. Interrupted crosstalk between natural killer cells and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor: a possible role in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment failure. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2021; 21:601-607. [PMID: 34011259 DOI: 10.2174/1568009621666210519105203] [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: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed for the first time at late stages; this leads to a very poor prognosis. It is challenging to discover strategies for treatment at these advanced stages. Recently, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting specific cellular signaling pathways in HCC have been developed. Unfortunately, they still have a low survival rate, and some of them failed clinically to produce effective responses even if they showed very good results against HCC in preclinical studies. This review focuses on and discusses the possible causes for the failure of mAbs, precisely anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mAb and the crosstalk between this mAb and patients' NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadeer Abosalema
- Deputy of Technical Mmanager, Biotechnology Unit, Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), Giza, 12654, Egypt
| | - Shahenda Mahgoub
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein-Helwan, Helwan, Cairo,11795, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Emara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein-Helwan, Helwan, Cairo,11795, Egypt
| | - Nahla Kotb
- Manager of Blood Derivative Unite, Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), 12654, Egypt
| | - Sameh Soror
- Department of Biochemistry and molecular biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein-Helwan, Helwan, Cairo,11795, Egypt
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Zalfa C, Paust S. Natural Killer Cell Interactions With Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment and Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:633205. [PMID: 34025641 PMCID: PMC8133367 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.633205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and heterogeneous environment composed of cancer cells, tumor stroma, a mixture of tissue-resident and infiltrating immune cells, secreted factors, and extracellular matrix proteins. Natural killer (NK) cells play a vital role in fighting tumors, but chronic stimulation and immunosuppression in the TME lead to NK cell exhaustion and limited antitumor functions. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous group of myeloid cells with potent immunosuppressive activity that gradually accumulate in tumor tissues. MDSCs interact with innate and adaptive immune cells and play a crucial role in negatively regulating the immune response to tumors. This review discusses MDSC-mediated NK cell regulation within the TME, focusing on critical cellular and molecular interactions. We review current strategies that target MDSC-mediated immunosuppression to enhance NK cell cytotoxic antitumor activity. We also speculate on how NK cell-based antitumor immunotherapy could be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silke Paust
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
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NK cell and ILC heterogeneity in colorectal cancer. New perspectives from high dimensional data. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 80:100967. [PMID: 33941383 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.100967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and tissue-resident natural killer (NK) cells ensure immunity at environmental interfaces and help maintain barrier integrity of the intestinal tract. This wide range of innate lymphocytes is able to provide fast and potent inflammatory responses that, when deregulated, have been associated with pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). While the presence of tumor-infiltrating NK cells is generally associated with a favorable outcome in CRC patients, emerging evidence reveals distinct roles for ILCs in regulating CRC pathogenesis and progression. Advances in next generation sequencing technology, and in particular of single-cell RNA-seq approaches, along with multidimensional flow cytometry analysis, have helped to deconvolute the complexity and heterogeneity of the ILC system both in homeostatic and pathological contexts. In this review, we discuss the protective and detrimental roles of NK cells and ILCs in the pathogenesis of CRC, focusing on the phenotypic and transcriptional modifications these cells undergo during CRC development and progression.
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