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Vorri SC, Holl NJ, Leeming M, Apostolova P, Marple A, Ravich JW, Canbaz A, Rahnama R, Choe J, Modi A, Fearnow AD, Walsh STR, Pearce EL, Varadhan R, Bonifant CL. Activation of Cell-Intrinsic Signaling in CAR-T Cells via a Chimeric IL7R Domain. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:2359-2373. [PMID: 39186002 PMCID: PMC11382189 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-24-0286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells can effectively treat leukemias, but sustained antitumor responses can be hindered by a lack of CAR T-cell persistence. Cytotoxic effector T cells are short-lived, and establishment of CAR-T cells with memory to ensure immune surveillance is important. Memory T cells depend on cytokine support, with IL7 activation of the IL7 receptor (IL7R) being critical. However, IL7R surface expression is negatively regulated by exposure to IL7. We aimed to support CAR T-cell persistence by equipping CAR-T cells with a sustained IL7Rα signal. We engineered T cells to constitutively secrete IL7 or to express an anti-acute myeloid leukemia-targeted IL7Rα-chimeric cytokine receptor (CCR) and characterized the phenotype of these cell types. Canonical downstream signaling was activated in CCR-T cells with IL7R activation. When coexpressed with a cytotoxic CAR, functionality of both the CCR and CAR was maintained. We designed hybrid CAR-CCR and noted membrane proximity of the intracellular domains as vital for signaling. These data show cell-intrinsic cytokine support with canonical signaling, and functionality can be provided via expression of an IL7Rα domain whether independently expressed or incorporated into a cytotoxic CAR for use in anticancer therapy. SIGNIFICANCE To improve the phenotype of tumor-directed T-cell therapy, we show that provision of cell-intrinsic IL7R-mediated signaling is preferable to activation of cells with exogenous IL7. We engineer this signaling via independent receptor engineering and incorporation into a CAR and validate maintained antigen-specific cytotoxic activity.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Interleukin-7/metabolism
- Interleukin-7/genetics
- Receptors, Interleukin-7/metabolism
- Receptors, Interleukin-7/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit
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Affiliation(s)
- Stamatia C Vorri
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Natalie J Holl
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Michael Leeming
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Petya Apostolova
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Division of Hematology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Marple
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jonas W Ravich
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ata Canbaz
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ruyan Rahnama
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jun Choe
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Arjun Modi
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Adam D Fearnow
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Scott T R Walsh
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Erika L Pearce
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ravi Varadhan
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Challice L Bonifant
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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2
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Zhao J, Zhang Y, Wang JY, Wei B, Liu YG. Expression pattern of serum interleukin-7 in elderly septic patients and its prognostic value for predicting short-term mortality. Cytokine 2024; 180:156664. [PMID: 38795605 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2024.156664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The identification of novel prognostic biomarkers in elderly septic patients are essential for the improvement of mortality in sepsis in the context of precision medicine. The purpose of this study was to explore the expression pattern and prognostic value of serum interleukin-7 (IL-7) in predicting 28-day mortality in elderly patients with sepsis. METHODS Patients were retrospectively enrolled according to the sepsis-3.0 diagnostic criteria and divided into the survival group and non-survival group based on the clinical outcome at the 28-day interval. The baseline characteristic data, samples for the laboratory tests, and the SOFA, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), as well as Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores, were recorded within 24 h after admission to the emergency department. Serum levels of IL-7 and TNF-α of the patients were quantified by the Luminex assay. Spearman correlation analysis, logistic regressive analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were performed, respectively. RESULTS Totally, 220 elderly patients with sepsis were enrolled, 151 of whom died in a 28-day period. Albumin (ALB), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), systolic pressure (SBP), and platelet (PLT) were found to be significantly higher in the survival group (p < 0.05). IL-7 was shown to be correlated with TNF-α in the non-survival group (p = 0.030) but not in the survival group (p = 0.194). No correlation was shown between IL-7 and other factors (p > 0.05). IL-7 and TNF-α were found to be independent risk factors associated with the 28-day mortality (OR = 1.215, 1.420). Combination of IL-7, SOFA and ALB can make an AUROC of 0.874 with the specificity of 90.77 %. Combination of IL-7 and TNF-α can make an AUROC of 0.901 with the sensitivity of 90.41 % while the combination of IL-7, TNF-α, and ALB can make an AUROC of 0.898 with the sensitivity of 94.52 %. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of monitoring the serum level of IL-7 and TNF-α in elderly septic patients as well as evaluating the combinations with other routine risk factors which can be potentially used for the identification of elderly septic patients with higher risk of mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhao
- Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Emergency Medicine Clinical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation, Clinical Center for Medicine in Acute Infection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China
| | - Jun-Yu Wang
- Emergency Medicine Clinical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation, Clinical Center for Medicine in Acute Infection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China
| | - Bing Wei
- Emergency Medicine Clinical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation, Clinical Center for Medicine in Acute Infection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China.
| | - Yu-Geng Liu
- Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China; Emergency Medicine Clinical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation, Clinical Center for Medicine in Acute Infection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China.
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3
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Guzik TJ, Nosalski R, Maffia P, Drummond GR. Immune and inflammatory mechanisms in hypertension. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024; 21:396-416. [PMID: 38172242 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00964-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Hypertension is a global health problem, with >1.3 billion individuals with high blood pressure worldwide. In this Review, we present an inflammatory paradigm for hypertension, emphasizing the crucial roles of immune cells, cytokines and chemokines in disease initiation and progression. T cells, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, B cells and natural killer cells are all implicated in hypertension. Neoantigens, the NLRP3 inflammasome and increased sympathetic outflow, as well as cytokines (including IL-6, IL-7, IL-15, IL-18 and IL-21) and a high-salt environment, can contribute to immune activation in hypertension. The activated immune cells migrate to target organs such as arteries (especially the perivascular fat and adventitia), kidneys, the heart and the brain, where they release effector cytokines that elevate blood pressure and cause vascular remodelling, renal damage, cardiac hypertrophy, cognitive impairment and dementia. IL-17 secreted by CD4+ T helper 17 cells and γδ T cells, and interferon-γ and tumour necrosis factor secreted by immunosenescent CD8+ T cells, exert crucial effector roles in hypertension, whereas IL-10 and regulatory T cells are protective. Effector mediators impair nitric oxide bioavailability, leading to endothelial dysfunction and increased vascular contractility. Inflammatory effector mediators also alter renal sodium and water balance and promote renal fibrosis. These mechanisms link hypertension with obesity, autoimmunity, periodontitis and COVID-19. A comprehensive understanding of the immune and inflammatory mechanisms of hypertension is crucial for safely and effectively translating the findings to clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz J Guzik
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Department of Medicine and Omicron Medical Genomics Laboratory, Jagiellonian University, Collegium Medicum, Kraków, Poland.
- Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Non-Communicable Diseases & Multimorbidity, African Research Universities Alliance ARUA & The Guild, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Ryszard Nosalski
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Pasquale Maffia
- Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Non-Communicable Diseases & Multimorbidity, African Research Universities Alliance ARUA & The Guild, Glasgow, UK
- School of Infection & Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Grant R Drummond
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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4
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Eum HH, Jeong D, Kim N, Jo A, Na M, Kang H, Hong Y, Kong JS, Jeong GH, Yoo SA, Lee HO. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals myeloid and T cell co-stimulation mediated by IL-7 anti-cancer immunotherapy. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1388-1401. [PMID: 38424167 PMCID: PMC11014989 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02617-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors unleash inhibitory signals on T cells conferred by tumors and surrounding stromal cells. Despite the clinical efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors, the lack of target expression and persistence of immunosuppressive cells limit the pervasive effectiveness of the therapy. These limitations may be overcome by alternative approaches that co-stimulate T cells and the immune microenvironment. METHODS We analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing data from multiple human cancers and a mouse tumor transplant model to discover the pleiotropic expression of the Interleukin 7 (IL-7) receptor on T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. RESULTS Our experiment on the mouse model demonstrated that recombinant IL-7 therapy induces tumor regression, expansion of effector CD8 T cells, and pro-inflammatory activation of macrophages. Moreover, spatial transcriptomic data support immunostimulatory interactions between macrophages and T cells. CONCLUSION These results indicate that IL-7 therapy induces anti-tumor immunity by activating T cells and pro-inflammatory myeloid cells, which may have diverse therapeutic applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Hyeon Eum
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Dasom Jeong
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Nayoung Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Areum Jo
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Minsu Na
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Huiram Kang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Yourae Hong
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jin-Sun Kong
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
- Center for Integrative Rheumatoid Transcriptomics and Dynamics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi Heon Jeong
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
- Center for Integrative Rheumatoid Transcriptomics and Dynamics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ah Yoo
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
- Center for Integrative Rheumatoid Transcriptomics and Dynamics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Ock Lee
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Tilsed CM, Sadiq BA, Papp TE, Areesawangkit P, Kimura K, Noguera-Ortega E, Scholler J, Cerda N, Aghajanian H, Bot A, Mui B, Tam Y, Weissman D, June CH, Albelda SM, Parhiz H. IL7 increases targeted lipid nanoparticle-mediated mRNA expression in T cells in vitro and in vivo by enhancing T cell protein translation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2319856121. [PMID: 38513098 PMCID: PMC10990120 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319856121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of lipid nanoparticles (LNP) to encapsulate and deliver mRNA has become an important therapeutic advance. In addition to vaccines, LNP-mRNA can be used in many other applications. For example, targeting the LNP with anti-CD5 antibodies (CD5/tLNP) can allow for efficient delivery of mRNA payloads to T cells to express protein. As the percentage of protein expressing T cells induced by an intravenous injection of CD5/tLNP is relatively low (4-20%), our goal was to find ways to increase mRNA-induced translation efficiency. We showed that T cell activation using an anti-CD3 antibody improved protein expression after CD5/tLNP transfection in vitro but not in vivo. T cell health and activation can be increased with cytokines, therefore, using mCherry mRNA as a reporter, we found that culturing either mouse or human T cells with the cytokine IL7 significantly improved protein expression of delivered mRNA in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vitro. By pre-treating mice with systemic IL7 followed by tLNP administration, we observed significantly increased mCherry protein expression by T cells in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis of mouse T cells treated with IL7 in vitro revealed enhanced genomic pathways associated with protein translation. Improved translational ability was demonstrated by showing increased levels of protein expression after electroporation with mCherry mRNA in T cells cultured in the presence of IL7, but not with IL2 or IL15. These data show that IL7 selectively increases protein translation in T cells, and this property can be used to improve expression of tLNP-delivered mRNA in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M. Tilsed
- Center for Cellular Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | | | - Tyler E. Papp
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Phurin Areesawangkit
- Center for Cellular Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok10700, Thailand
| | - Kenji Kimura
- Center for Cellular Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Estela Noguera-Ortega
- Center for Cellular Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - John Scholler
- Center for Cellular Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Nicholas Cerda
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Adrian Bot
- Capstan Therapeutics, San Diego, CA92121
| | - Barbara Mui
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ying Tam
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Drew Weissman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Carl H. June
- Center for Cellular Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Steven M. Albelda
- Center for Cellular Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Hamideh Parhiz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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Li X, Wu M, Lu J, Yu J, Chen D. Interleukin-21 as an adjuvant in cancer immunotherapy: Current advances and future directions. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189084. [PMID: 38354828 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, it's well-recognized that a considerable proportion of patients fail to benefit from immunotherapy, and to improve immunotherapy response is clinically urgent. Insufficient immune infiltration and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME) are main contributors to immunotherapy resistance. Thus sustaining functional self-renewal capacity for immune cells and subverting immune-suppressive signals are potential strategies for boosting the efficacy of immunotherapy. Interleukin-21 (IL-21), a crucial cytokine, which could enhance cytotoxic function of immune cells and reduces immunosuppressive cells enrichment in TME, shows promising orientations as an immunoadjuvant in tumor immunotherapy. This review focuses on IL-21 in cancer treatment, including function and mechanisms of IL-21, preclinical and clinical studies, and future directions for IL-21-assisted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyang Li
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Meng Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Dawei Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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7
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Dinges SS, Amini K, Notarangelo LD, Delmonte OM. Primary and secondary defects of the thymus. Immunol Rev 2024; 322:178-211. [PMID: 38228406 PMCID: PMC10950553 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13306] [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] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The thymus is the primary site of T-cell development, enabling generation, and selection of a diverse repertoire of T cells that recognize non-self, whilst remaining tolerant to self- antigens. Severe congenital disorders of thymic development (athymia) can be fatal if left untreated due to infections, and thymic tissue implantation is the only cure. While newborn screening for severe combined immune deficiency has allowed improved detection at birth of congenital athymia, thymic disorders acquired later in life are still underrecognized and assessing the quality of thymic function in such conditions remains a challenge. The thymus is sensitive to injury elicited from a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors, and its self-renewal capacity decreases with age. Secondary and age-related forms of thymic dysfunction may lead to an increased risk of infections, malignancy, and autoimmunity. Promising results have been obtained in preclinical models and clinical trials upon administration of soluble factors promoting thymic regeneration, but to date no therapy is approved for clinical use. In this review we provide a background on thymus development, function, and age-related involution. We discuss disease mechanisms, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for primary and secondary thymic defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah S. Dinges
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kayla Amini
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Luigi D. Notarangelo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ottavia M. Delmonte
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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8
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Kagoya Y. Cytokine signaling in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. Int Immunol 2024; 36:49-56. [PMID: 37591521 PMCID: PMC10872714 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxad033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy using chimeric antigen-receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells can induce robust antitumor responses against hematologic malignancies. However, its efficacy is not durable in the majority of the patients, warranting further improvement of T-cell functions. Cytokine signaling is one of the key cascades regulating T-cell survival and effector functions. In addition to cytokines that use the common γ chain as a receptor subunit, multiple cytokines regulate T-cell functions directly or indirectly. Modulating cytokine signaling in CAR-T cells by genetic engineering is one promising strategy to augment their therapeutic efficacy. These strategies include ectopic expression of cytokines, cytokine receptors, and synthetic molecules that mimic endogenous cytokine signaling. Alternatively, autocrine IL-2 signaling can be augmented through reprogramming of CAR-T cell properties through transcriptional and epigenetic modification. On the other hand, cytokine production by CAR-T cells triggers systemic inflammatory responses, which mainly manifest as adverse events such as cytokine-release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. In addition to inhibiting direct inflammatory mediators such as IL-6 and IL-1 released from activated macrophages, suppression of T-cell-derived cytokines associated with the priming of macrophages can be accomplished through genetic modification of CAR-T cells. In this review, I will outline recently developed synthetic biology approaches to exploit cytokine signaling to enhance CAR-T cell functions. I will also discuss therapeutic target molecules to prevent or alleviate CAR-T cell-related toxicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kagoya
- Division of Tumor Immunology, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
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9
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Park JH, Lee SW, Choi D, Lee C, Sung YC. Harnessing the Power of IL-7 to Boost T Cell Immunity in Experimental and Clinical Immunotherapies. Immune Netw 2024; 24:e9. [PMID: 38455462 PMCID: PMC10917577 DOI: 10.4110/in.2024.24.e9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The cytokine IL-7 plays critical and nonredundant roles in T cell immunity so that the abundance and availability of IL-7 act as key regulatory mechanisms in T cell immunity. Importantly, IL-7 is not produced by T cells themselves but primarily by non-lymphoid lineage stromal cells and epithelial cells that are limited in their numbers. Thus, T cells depend on cell extrinsic IL-7, and the amount of in vivo IL-7 is considered a major factor in maximizing and maintaining the number of T cells in peripheral tissues. Moreover, IL-7 provides metabolic cues and promotes the survival of both naïve and memory T cells. Thus, IL-7 is also essential for the functional fitness of T cells. In this regard, there has been an extensive effort trying to increase the protein abundance of IL-7 in vivo, with the aim to augment T cell immunity and harness T cell functions in anti-tumor responses. Such approaches started under experimental animal models, but they recently culminated into clinical studies, with striking effects in re-establishing T cell immunity in immunocompromised patients, as well as boosting anti-tumor effects. Depending on the design, glycosylation, and the structure of recombinantly engineered IL-7 proteins and their mimetics, recombinant IL-7 molecules have shown dramatic differences in their stability, efficacy, cellular effects, and overall immune functions. The current review is aimed to summarize the past and present efforts in the field that led to clinical trials, and to highlight the therapeutical significance of IL-7 biology as a master regulator of T cell immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Hyun Park
- Experimental Immunology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Seung-Woo Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Korea
| | - Donghoon Choi
- Research Institute of NeoImmune Tech., Co, Ltd., Bio Open Innovation Center, Pohang 37666, Korea
| | - Changhyung Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Korea
| | - Young Chul Sung
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Korea
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10
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Joslyn LR, Huang W, Miles D, Hosseini I, Ramanujan S. "Digital twins elucidate critical role of T scm in clinical persistence of TCR-engineered cell therapy". NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2024; 10:11. [PMID: 38278838 PMCID: PMC10817974 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-024-00335-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite recent progress in adoptive T cell therapy for cancer, understanding and predicting the kinetics of infused T cells remains a challenge. Multiple factors can impact the distribution, expansion, and decay or persistence of infused T cells in patients. We have developed a novel quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model of TCR-transgenic T cell therapy in patients with solid tumors to describe the kinetics of endogenous T cells and multiple memory subsets of engineered T cells after infusion. These T cells undergo lymphodepletion, proliferation, trafficking, differentiation, and apoptosis in blood, lymph nodes, tumor site, and other peripheral tissues. Using the model, we generated patient-matched digital twins that recapitulate the circulating T cell kinetics reported from a clinical trial of TCR-engineered T cells targeting E7 in patients with metastatic HPV-associated epithelial cancers. Analyses of key parameters influencing cell kinetics and differences among digital twins identify stem cell-like memory T cells (Tscm) cells as an important determinant of both expansion and persistence and suggest that Tscm-related differences contribute significantly to the observed variability in cellular kinetics among patients. We simulated in silico clinical trials using digital twins and predict that Tscm enrichment in the infused product improves persistence of the engineered T cells and could enable administration of a lower dose. Finally, we verified the broader relevance of the QSP model, the digital twins, and findings on the importance of Tscm enrichment by predicting kinetics for two patients with pancreatic cancer treated with KRAS G12D targeting T cell therapy. This work offers insight into the key role of Tscm biology on T cell kinetics and provides a quantitative framework to evaluate cellular kinetics for future efforts in the development and clinical application of TCR-engineered T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Weize Huang
- Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dale Miles
- Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
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11
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Ghanbar MI, Suresh K. Pulmonary toxicity of immune checkpoint immunotherapy. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e170503. [PMID: 38226621 PMCID: PMC10786690 DOI: 10.1172/jci170503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality on a global scale. Lung cancer, specifically non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), is a prominent contributor to this burden. The management of NSCLC has advanced substantially in recent years, with immunotherapeutic agents, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), leading to improved patient outcomes. Although generally well tolerated, the administration of ICIs can result in unique side effects known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The occurrence of irAEs involving the lungs, specifically checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP), can have a profound effect on both future therapy options and overall survival. Despite CIP being one of the more common serious irAEs, limited treatment options are currently available, in part due to a lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in its development. In this Review, we aim to provide an overview of the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of CIP, followed by an examination of the emerging literature on the pathobiology of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karthik Suresh
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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12
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Li Y, Wang Y, Chen B, Guo J, Zhang D. Changes in Early T-Cell Subsets and Their Impact on Prognosis in Patients with Sepsis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study. Int J Clin Pract 2023; 2023:1688385. [PMID: 38170088 PMCID: PMC10761232 DOI: 10.1155/2023/1688385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To analyze the early changes in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+T-cell subset counts in patients with sepsis and their correlation with prognosis to provide a feasible basis for clinical immunomodulation in sepsis. Methods This is a single-center retrospective study. The study enrolled sepsis patients (meeting SEPSIS 3.0 definition) who were admitted to the Department of Intensive Care Unit at the First Hospital of Jilin University from July 5th, 2018 to December 5th, 2019 and were aged 18 years or above. In addition, these patients underwent cellular immune testing (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocyte counts, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio) within 24 hours of ICU admission. Patient's clinical data including age, gender, infection site, APACHE II score, SOFA score, length of ICU stay, mechanical ventilation time, ICU mortality, 28-day mortality, and 3-year survival status were collected. The prognostic indicators and survival of the decreased and nondecreased groups of different subsets of T lymphocyte counts and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were compared. Results A total of 206 patients were enrolled, with 76.7% having a decrease in CD3+ T lymphocyte count, 76.7% having a decrease in CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and 63.6% having a decrease in CD8+ T lymphocyte count. Furthermore, 21.8% had a lower CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Analysis showed that the CD3+ T lymphocyte count decreased group had a longer length of ICU stay [11 d (4, 21) vs. 7 d (4, 17), P=0.03], increased percentage of mechanical ventilation (67.5% vs. 51.0%, P=0.04), and extended mechanical ventilation time [144 h (48, 360) vs. 96 h (48, 144), P=0.04] compared to the nondecreased group. The 28-day mortality was higher in the decreased group of CD4+/CD8+ ratio compared to the nondecreased group (33.3% vs. 25.5%, P=0.29); however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Logistic regression analysis revealed no significant correlation between the decrease in CD4+/CD8+ ratio and 28-day mortality (P=0.11). The 3-year follow-up revealed that the CD4+/CD8+ decreased group had a lower survival rate than the nondecreased group (33.3% vs. 53.4%, P=0.01). Conclusions In the early stage of sepsis, most patients showed a decrease in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+T-cell subsets, as well as in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. The decrease in CD3+ and CD4+/CD8+ was related to some poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Youquan Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianxing Guo
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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13
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Kang S, Mansurov A, Kurtanich T, Chun HR, Slezak AJ, Volpatti LR, Chang K, Wang T, Alpar AT, Refvik KC, Hansen OI, Borjas GJ, Shim HN, Hultgren KT, Gomes S, Solanki A, Ishihara J, Swartz MA, Hubbell JA. Engineered IL-7 synergizes with IL-12 immunotherapy to prevent T cell exhaustion and promote memory without exacerbating toxicity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh9879. [PMID: 38019919 PMCID: PMC10686557 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh9879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy is moving toward combination regimens with agents of complementary mechanisms of action to achieve more frequent and robust efficacy. However, compared with single-agent therapies, combination immunotherapies are associated with increased overall toxicity because the very same mechanisms also work in concert to enhance systemic inflammation and promote off-tumor toxicity. Therefore, rational design of combination regimens that achieve improved antitumor control without exacerbated toxicity is a main objective in combination immunotherapy. Here, we show that the combination of engineered, tumor matrix-binding interleukin-7 (IL-7) and IL-12 achieves remarkable anticancer effects by activating complementary pathways without inducing any additive immunotoxicity. Mechanistically, engineered IL-12 provided effector properties to T cells, while IL-7 prevented their exhaustion and boosted memory formation as assessed by tumor rechallenge experiments. The dual combination also rendered checkpoint inhibitor (CPI)-resistant genetically engineered melanoma model responsive to CPI. Thus, our approach provides a framework of evaluation of rationally designed combinations in immuno-oncology and yields a promising therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seounghun Kang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aslan Mansurov
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Trevin Kurtanich
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hye Rin Chun
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anna J. Slezak
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lisa R. Volpatti
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kevin Chang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Thomas Wang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aaron T. Alpar
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kirsten C. Refvik
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - O. Isabella Hansen
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Gustavo J. Borjas
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ha-Na Shim
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kevin T. Hultgren
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Suzana Gomes
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ani Solanki
- Animal Resource Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jun Ishihara
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Melody A. Swartz
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Committee on Cancer Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jeffrey A. Hubbell
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Committee on Cancer Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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14
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Min H, Valente LA, Xu L, O'Neil SM, Begg LR, Kurtzberg J, Filiano AJ. Improving thymus implantation for congenital athymia with interleukin-7. Clin Transl Immunology 2023; 12:e1475. [PMID: 38020730 PMCID: PMC10665642 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Thymus implantation is a recently FDA-approved therapy for congenital athymia. Patients receiving thymus implantation develop a functional but incomplete T cell compartment. Our objective was to develop a mouse model to study clinical thymus implantation in congenital athymia and to optimise implantation procedures to maximise T cell education and expansion of naïve T cells. Methods Using Foxn1 nu athymic mice as recipients, we tested MHC-matched and -mismatched donor thymi that were implanted as fresh tissue or cultured to remove donor T cells. We first implanted thymus under the kidney capsule and then optimised intramuscular implantation. Using competitive adoptive transfer assays, we investigated whether the failure of newly developed T cells to expand into a complete T cell compartment was because of intrinsic deficits or whether there were deficits in engaging MHC molecules in the periphery. Finally, we tested whether recombinant IL-7 would promote the expansion of host naïve T cells educated by the implanted thymus. Results We determined that thymus implants in Foxn1 nu athymic mice mimic many aspects of clinical thymus implants in patients with congenital athymia. When we implanted cultured, MHC-mismatched donor thymus into Foxn1 nu athymic mice, mice developed a limited T cell compartment with notably underdeveloped naïve populations and overrepresented memory-like T cells. Newly generated T cells were predominantly educated by MHC molecules expressed by the donor thymus, thus potentially undergoing another round of selection once in the peripheral circulation. Using competitive adoptive transfer assays, we compared expansion rates of T cells educated on donor thymus versus T cells educated during typical thymopoiesis in MHC-matched and -mismatched environments. Once in the circulation, regardless of the MHC haplotypes, T cells educated on a donor thymus underwent abnormal expansion with initially more robust proliferation coupled with greater cell death, resembling IL-7 independent spontaneous expansion. Treating implanted mice with recombinant interleukin (IL-7) promoted homeostatic expansion that improved T cell development, expanded the T cell receptor repertoire, and normalised the naïve T cell compartment. Conclusion We conclude that implanting cultured thymus into the muscle of Foxn1 nu athymic mice is an appropriate system to study thymus implantation for congenital athymia and immunodeficiencies. T cells are educated by the donor thymus, yet naïve T cells have deficits in expansion. IL-7 greatly improves T cell development after thymus implantation and may offer a novel strategy to improve outcomes of clinical thymus implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjung Min
- Marcus Center for Cellular CuresDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| | - Laura A Valente
- Marcus Center for Cellular CuresDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
- Department of PathologyDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| | - Li Xu
- Marcus Center for Cellular CuresDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| | - Shane M O'Neil
- Marcus Center for Cellular CuresDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| | - Lauren R Begg
- Marcus Center for Cellular CuresDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| | - Joanne Kurtzberg
- Marcus Center for Cellular CuresDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
- Department of PediatricsDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| | - Anthony J Filiano
- Marcus Center for Cellular CuresDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
- Department of PathologyDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
- Department of NeurosurgeryDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
- Department of ImmunologyDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
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15
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Dower WJ, Park AI, Bakker AV, Cwirla SE, Pongtornpipat P, Williams BM, Joshi P, Baxter BA, Needels MC, Barrett RW. A mechanistically novel peptide agonist of the IL-7 receptor that addresses limitations of IL-7 cytokine therapy. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286834. [PMID: 37874823 PMCID: PMC10597491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin (IL)-7 is broadly active on T-cell populations, and modified versions have been clinically evaluated for a variety of therapeutic applications, including cancer, lymphopenia, and infectious diseases; and found to be relatively well-tolerated and biologically active. Here we describe novel IL-7R agonists that are unrelated in structure to IL-7, bind to the receptor subunits differently from IL-7, but closely emulate IL-7 biology. The small size, low structural complexity, and the natural amino acid composition of the pharmacologically active peptide MDK1472 allows facile incorporation into protein structures, such as the IgG2-Fc fusion MDK-703. This molecule possesses properties potentially better suited to therapeutic applications than native IL-7 or its derivatives. We compared these compounds with IL-7 for immune cell selectivity, induction of IL-7R signaling, receptor-mediated internalization, proliferation, and generation of immune cell phenotypes in human and non-human primate (NHP) peripheral blood cells in vitro; and found them to be similar in biological activity to IL-7. In cynomolgus macaques, MDK-703 exhibits a circulating half-life of 46 hr and produces sustained T-cell expansion characteristic of IL-7 treatment. In the huCD34+-engrafted NSG mouse model of the human immune system, MDK-703 induces an immune cell profile very similar to that generated by IL-7-derived compounds; including the pronounced expansion of memory T-cells, particularly the population of stem-like memory T-cells (Tscm) which may be important for anti-tumor activities reported with IL-7 treatment. Clinical administration of IL-7 and modified variants has been reported to induce anti-drug antibodies (ADAs), including IL-7 neutralizing antibodies. The novel peptide agonist reported here scores very low in predicted immunogenicity, and because the peptide lacks sequence similarity with IL-7, the problematic immunogenic neutralization of endogenous cytokine should not occur. The properties we report here implicate MDK-703 as a candidate for clinical evaluation in oncology, anti-viral and other infectious disease, vaccine enhancement, and treatment of lymphopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J. Dower
- Medikine, Inc., Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | | | - Alice V. Bakker
- Medikine, Inc., Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | - Steven E. Cwirla
- Medikine, Inc., Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | | | - Blake M. Williams
- Medikine, Inc., Menlo Park, California, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Center for Quantitative Bioinformatics and Quantitative Biology, Colleges of Engineering and Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Prarthana Joshi
- Medikine, Inc., Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | - Bryan A. Baxter
- Medikine, Inc., Menlo Park, California, United States of America
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16
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Gunst JD, Goonetilleke N, Rasmussen TA, Søgaard OS. Immunomodulation with IL-7 and IL-15 in HIV-1 infection. J Virus Erad 2023; 9:100347. [PMID: 37767312 PMCID: PMC10520363 DOI: 10.1016/j.jve.2023.100347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunomodulating agents are substances that modify the host immune responses in diseases such as infections, autoimmune conditions and cancers. Immunomodulators can be divided into two main groups: 1) immunostimulators that activate the immune system such as cytokines, toll-like receptor agonists and immune checkpoint blockers; and 2) immunosuppressors that dampen an overactive immune system such as corticosteroids and cytokine-blocking antibodies. In this review, we have focussed on the two primarily T and natural killer (NK) cell homeostatic cytokines: interleukin-7 (IL-7) and -15 (IL-15). These cytokines are immunostimulators which act on immune cells independently of the presence or absence of antigen. In vivo studies have shown that IL-7 administration enhances proliferation of circulating T cells whereas IL-15 agonists enhance the proliferation and function of NK and CD8+ T cells. Both IL-7 and IL-15 therapies have been tested as single interventions in HIV-1 cure-related clinical trials. In this review, we explore whether IL-7 and IL-15 could be part of the therapeutic approaches towards HIV-1 remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper D. Gunst
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nilu Goonetilleke
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Thomas A. Rasmussen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ole S. Søgaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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17
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Hesari M, Attar Z, Soltani-Shirazi S, Keshavarzian O, Taheri R, Tabrizi R, Fouladseresht H. The Therapeutic Values of IL-7/IL-7R and the Recombinant Derivatives in Glioma: A Narrative Review. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2023; 43:319-334. [PMID: 37566474 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2023.0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is essential for maintaining the immune system's defense functions by regulating the development and homeostasis of lymphocytes. Findings have shown the high efficacy of IL-7/IL-7 receptor (IL-7R)-based immunotherapy on various malignancies, with confirmation in both animal models and humans. In recent years, the progression-free survival and overall survival of patients suffering from gliomas significantly increased by introducing C7R-expressing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells and long-acting IL-7 agonists such as NT-I7 (rhIL-7-hyFc, Efineptakin alfa). However, the effect of IL-7-based immunotherapies on the resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapy (when used simultaneously with chemotherapy agents) is still ambiguous and requires further studies. This article first reviews the pathophysiological roles of IL-7/IL-7R in tumors, focusing on gliomas. Subsequently, it discusses the therapeutic values of IL-7/IL-7R and the recombinant derivatives in gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zeinab Attar
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shakiba Soltani-Shirazi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Reza Taheri
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Reza Tabrizi
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Hamed Fouladseresht
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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18
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Marques A, Torre C, Pinto R, Sepodes B, Rocha J. Treatment Advances in Sepsis and Septic Shock: Modulating Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms. J Clin Med 2023; 12:2892. [PMID: 37109229 PMCID: PMC10142733 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12082892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is currently defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, and it affects over 25 million people every year. Even more severe, septic shock is a subset of sepsis defined by persistent hypotension, and hospital mortality rates are higher than 40%. Although early sepsis mortality has greatly improved in the past few years, sepsis patients who survive the hyperinflammation and subsequent organ damage often die from long-term complications, such as secondary infection, and despite decades of clinical trials targeting this stage of the disease, currently, no sepsis-specific therapies exist. As new pathophysiological mechanisms have been uncovered, immunostimulatory therapy has emerged as a promising path forward. Highly investigated treatment strategies include cytokines and growth factors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and even cellular therapies. There is much to be learned from related illnesses, and immunotherapy trials in oncology, as well as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, have greatly informed sepsis research. Although the journey ahead is a long one, the stratification of patients according to their immune status and the employment of combination therapies represent a hopeful way forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Marques
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.M.); (C.T.); (R.P.); (B.S.)
| | - Carla Torre
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.M.); (C.T.); (R.P.); (B.S.)
| | - Rui Pinto
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.M.); (C.T.); (R.P.); (B.S.)
- Joaquim Chaves Saúde, Joaquim Chaves Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Miraflores, 1495-069 Algés, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sepodes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.M.); (C.T.); (R.P.); (B.S.)
| | - João Rocha
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.M.); (C.T.); (R.P.); (B.S.)
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19
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Daix T, Mathonnet A, Brakenridge S, Dequin PF, Mira JP, Berbille F, Morre M, Jeannet R, Blood T, Unsinger J, Blood J, Walton A, Moldawer LL, Hotchkiss R, François B. Intravenously administered interleukin-7 to reverse lymphopenia in patients with septic shock: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intensive Care 2023; 13:17. [PMID: 36906875 PMCID: PMC10008152 DOI: 10.1186/s13613-023-01109-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Profound lymphopenia is an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcomes in sepsis. Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is essential for lymphocyte proliferation and survival. A previous phase II study showed that CYT107, a glycosylated recombinant human IL-7, administered intramuscularly reversed sepsis-induced lymphopenia and improved lymphocyte function. Thepresent study evaluated intravenous administration of CYT107. This prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was designed to enroll 40 sepsis patients, randomized 3:1 to CYT107 (10 µg/kg) or placebo, for up to 90 days. RESULTS Twenty-one patients were enrolled (fifteen CYT107 group, six placebo group) at eight French and two US sites. The study was halted early because three of fifteen patients receiving intravenous CYT107 developed fever and respiratory distress approximately 5-8 h after drug administration. Intravenous administration of CYT107 resulted in a two-threefold increase in absolute lymphocyte counts (including in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (all p < 0.05)) compared to placebo. This increase was similar to that seen with intramuscular administration of CYT107, was maintained throughout follow-up, reversed severe lymphopenia and was associated with increase in organ support free days (OSFD). However, intravenous CYT107 produced an approximately 100-fold increase in CYT107 blood concentration compared with intramuscular CYT107. No cytokine storm and no formation of antibodies to CYT107 were observed. CONCLUSION Intravenous CYT107 reversed sepsis-induced lymphopenia. However, compared to intramuscular CYT107 administration, it was associated with transient respiratory distress without long-term sequelae. Because of equivalent positive laboratory and clinical responses, more favorable pharmacokinetics, and better patient tolerability, intramuscular administration of CYT107 is preferable. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03821038. Registered 29 January 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03821038?term=NCT03821038&draw=2&rank=1 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Daix
- Réanimation Polyvalente, INSERM CIC 1435 and UMR 1092, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France
| | | | - Scott Brakenridge
- Department of Surgery, Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Department of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Pierre-François Dequin
- Médecine Intensive Réanimation, INSERM U1100 Centre d'Étude des Pathologies Respiratoires and INSERM CIC 1415, CHRU Tours and Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Jean-Paul Mira
- Réanimation Médicale, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire de Paris Centre, Hôpital Cochin, and Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Robin Jeannet
- INSERM CIC 1435 and UMR CNRS 7276, INSERM 1262, CHU Limoges and Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Teresa Blood
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jacqueline Unsinger
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jane Blood
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrew Walton
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lyle L Moldawer
- Department of Surgery, Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Richard Hotchkiss
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Bruno François
- Réanimation Polyvalente, INSERM CIC 1435 and UMR 1092, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France.
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20
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Pandit H, Valentin A, Angel M, Deleage C, Bergamaschi C, Bear J, Sowder R, Felber BK, Pavlakis GN. Step-dose IL-7 treatment promotes systemic expansion of T cells and alters immune cell landscape in blood and lymph nodes. iScience 2023; 26:105929. [PMID: 36685042 PMCID: PMC9852696 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We employed a dose-escalation regimen in rhesus macaques to deliver glycosylated IL-7, a cytokine critical for development and maintenance of T lymphocytes. IL-7 increased proliferation and survival of T cells and triggered several chemokines and cytokines. Induction of CXCL13 in lymph nodes (LNs) led to a remarkable increase of B cells in the LNs, proliferation of germinal center follicular T helper cells and elevated IL-21 levels suggesting an increase in follicle activity. Transcriptomics analysis showed induction of IRF-7 and Flt3L, which was linked to increased frequency of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) on IL-7 treatment. These pDCs expressed higher levels of CCR7, homed to LNs, and were associated with upregulation of type-1 interferon gene signature and increased production of IFN-α2a on TLR stimulation. Superior effects and dose-sparing advantage was observed by the step-dose regimen. Thus, IL-7 treatment leads to systemic effects involving both lymphoid and myeloid compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hrishikesh Pandit
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Antonio Valentin
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Matthew Angel
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Center for Cancer Research Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Claire Deleage
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Cristina Bergamaschi
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jenifer Bear
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Raymond Sowder
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Barbara K. Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - George N. Pavlakis
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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21
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Tabolacci C, De Vita D, Facchiano A, Bozzuto G, Beninati S, Failla CM, Di Martile M, Lintas C, Mischiati C, Stringaro A, Del Bufalo D, Facchiano F. Phytochemicals as Immunomodulatory Agents in Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2657. [PMID: 36768978 PMCID: PMC9916941 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is an immunogenic highly heterogenic tumor characterized by poor outcomes when it is diagnosed late. Therefore, immunotherapy in combination with other anti-proliferative approaches is among the most effective weapons to control its growth and metastatic dissemination. Recently, a large amount of published reports indicate the interest of researchers and clinicians about plant secondary metabolites as potentially useful therapeutic tools due to their lower presence of side effects coupled with their high potency and efficacy. Published evidence was reported in most cases through in vitro studies but also, with a growing body of evidence, through in vivo investigations. Our aim was, therefore, to review the published studies focused on the most interesting phytochemicals whose immunomodulatory activities and/or mechanisms of actions were demonstrated and applied to melanoma models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Tabolacci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela De Vita
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Bozzuto
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Beninati
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marta Di Martile
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Lintas
- Research Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Operative Research Unit of Medical Genetics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Mischiati
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Annarita Stringaro
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Facchiano
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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22
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Deckers J, Anbergen T, Hokke AM, de Dreu A, Schrijver DP, de Bruin K, Toner YC, Beldman TJ, Spangler JB, de Greef TFA, Grisoni F, van der Meel R, Joosten LAB, Merkx M, Netea MG, Mulder WJM. Engineering cytokine therapeutics. NATURE REVIEWS BIOENGINEERING 2023; 1:286-303. [PMID: 37064653 PMCID: PMC9933837 DOI: 10.1038/s44222-023-00030-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines have pivotal roles in immunity, making them attractive as therapeutics for a variety of immune-related disorders. However, the widespread clinical use of cytokines has been limited by their short blood half-lives and severe side effects caused by low specificity and unfavourable biodistribution. Innovations in bioengineering have aided in advancing our knowledge of cytokine biology and yielded new technologies for cytokine engineering. In this Review, we discuss how the development of bioanalytical methods, such as sequencing and high-resolution imaging combined with genetic techniques, have facilitated a better understanding of cytokine biology. We then present an overview of therapeutics arising from cytokine re-engineering, targeting and delivery, mRNA therapeutics and cell therapy. We also highlight the application of these strategies to adjust the immunological imbalance in different immune-mediated disorders, including cancer, infection and autoimmune diseases. Finally, we look ahead to the hurdles that must be overcome before cytokine therapeutics can live up to their full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Deckers
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Tom Anbergen
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Ayla M. Hokke
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Anne de Dreu
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - David P. Schrijver
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Koen de Bruin
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Yohana C. Toner
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Thijs J. Beldman
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jamie B. Spangler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Tom F. A. de Greef
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Centre for Living Technologies, Alliance Eindhoven University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht (EWUU), Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Francesca Grisoni
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Centre for Living Technologies, Alliance Eindhoven University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht (EWUU), Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Roy van der Meel
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Present Address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Leo A. B. Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Maarten Merkx
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Present Address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Mihai G. Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department for Genomics and Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Willem J. M. Mulder
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Present Address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
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23
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Swan SL, Mehta N, Ilich E, Shen SH, Wilkinson DS, Anderson AR, Segura T, Sanchez-Perez L, Sampson JH, Bellamkonda RV. IL7 and IL7 Flt3L co-expressing CAR T cells improve therapeutic efficacy in mouse EGFRvIII heterogeneous glioblastoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1085547. [PMID: 36817432 PMCID: PMC9936235 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1085547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in glioblastoma faces many challenges including insufficient CAR T cell abundance and antigen-negative tumor cells evading targeting. Unfortunately, preclinical studies evaluating CAR T cells in glioblastoma focus on tumor models that express a single antigen, use immunocompromised animals, and/or pre-treat with lymphodepleting agents. While lymphodepletion enhances CAR T cell efficacy, it diminishes the endogenous immune system that has the potential for tumor eradication. Here, we engineered CAR T cells to express IL7 and/or Flt3L in 50% EGFRvIII-positive and -negative orthotopic tumors pre-conditioned with non-lymphodepleting irradiation. IL7 and IL7 Flt3L CAR T cells increased intratumoral CAR T cell abundance seven days after treatment. IL7 co-expression with Flt3L modestly increased conventional dendritic cells as well as the CD103+XCR1+ population known to have migratory and antigen cross-presenting capabilities. Treatment with IL7 or IL7 Flt3L CAR T cells improved overall survival to 67% and 50%, respectively, compared to 9% survival with conventional or Flt3L CAR T cells. We concluded that CAR T cells modified to express IL7 enhanced CAR T cell abundance and improved overall survival in EGFRvIII heterogeneous tumors pre-conditioned with non-lymphodepleting irradiation. Potentially IL7 or IL7 Flt3L CAR T cells can provide new opportunities to combine CAR T cells with other immunotherapies for the treatment of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheridan L Swan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Nalini Mehta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ekaterina Ilich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Steven H Shen
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.,The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.,Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Daniel S Wilkinson
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Alexa R Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Tatiana Segura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.,Clinical Science Departments of Neurology and Dermatology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Luis Sanchez-Perez
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.,The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - John H Sampson
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.,The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.,Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ravi V Bellamkonda
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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24
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Hino C, Xu Y, Xiao J, Baylink DJ, Reeves ME, Cao H. The potential role of the thymus in immunotherapies for acute myeloid leukemia. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1102517. [PMID: 36814919 PMCID: PMC9940763 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1102517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors which shape T-lymphocyte immunity is critical for the development and application of future immunotherapeutic strategies in treating hematological malignancies. The thymus, a specialized central lymphoid organ, plays important roles in generating a diverse T lymphocyte repertoire during the infantile and juvenile stages of humans. However, age-associated thymic involution and diseases or treatment associated injury result in a decline in its continuous role in the maintenance of T cell-mediated anti-tumor/virus immunity. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy that mainly affects older adults, and the disease's progression is known to consist of an impaired immune surveillance including a reduction in naïve T cell output, a restriction in T cell receptor repertoire, and an increase in frequencies of regulatory T cells. As one of the most successful immunotherapies thus far developed for malignancy, T-cell-based adoptive cell therapies could be essential for the development of a durable effective treatment to eliminate residue leukemic cells (blasts) and prevent AML relapse. Thus, a detailed cellular and molecular landscape of how the adult thymus functions within the context of the AML microenvironment will provide new insights into both the immune-related pathogenesis and the regeneration of a functional immune system against leukemia in AML patients. Herein, we review the available evidence supporting the potential correlation between thymic dysfunction and T-lymphocyte impairment with the ontogeny of AML (II-VI). We then discuss how the thymus could impact current and future therapeutic approaches in AML (VII). Finally, we review various strategies to rejuvenate thymic function to improve the precision and efficacy of cancer immunotherapy (VIII).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Hino
- Department of Internal Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Yi Xu
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Loma Linda University Cancer Center, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey Xiao
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - David J Baylink
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Mark E Reeves
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Loma Linda University Cancer Center, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Huynh Cao
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Loma Linda University Cancer Center, Loma Linda, CA, United States
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25
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de Kermenguy F, Meziani L, Mondini M, Clémenson C, Morel D, Deutsch E, Robert C. Radio-induced lymphopenia in the era of anti-cancer immunotherapy. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
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26
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Kudling TV, Clubb JH, Quixabeira DC, Santos JM, Havunen R, Kononov A, Heiniö C, Cervera-Carrascon V, Pakola S, Basnet S, Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela S, Arias V, Gladwyn-Ng I, Aro K, Bäck L, Räsänen J, Ilonen I, Borenius K, Räsänen M, Hemminki O, Rannikko A, Kanerva A, Tapper J, Hemminki A. Local delivery of interleukin 7 with an oncolytic adenovirus activates tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and causes tumor regression. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2096572. [PMID: 35845722 PMCID: PMC9278414 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2096572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokines have proven to be effective for cancer therapy, however whilst low-dose monotherapy with cytokines provides limited therapeutic benefit, high-dose treatment can lead to a number of adverse events. Interleukin 7 has shown promising results in clinical trials, but anti-cancer effect was limited, in part due to a low concentration of the cytokine within the tumor. We hypothesized that arming an oncolytic adenovirus with Interleukin 7, enabling high expression localized to the tumor microenvironment, would overcome systemic delivery issues and improve therapeutic efficacy. We evaluated the effects of Ad5/3-E2F-d24-hIL7 (TILT-517) on tumor growth, immune cell activation and cytokine profiles in the tumor microenvironment using three clinically relevant animal models and ex vivo tumor cultures. Our data showed that local treatment of tumor bearing animals with Ad5/3- E2F-d24-hIL7 significantly decreased cancer growth and increased frequency of tumor-infiltrating cells. Ad5/3-E2F-d24-hIL7 promoted notable upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and concomitant activation and migration of CD4+ and CD8 + T cells. Interleukin 7 expression within the tumor was positively correlated with increased number of cytotoxic CD4+ cells and IFNg-producing CD4+ and CD8+ cells. These findings offer an approach to overcome the current limitations of conventional IL7 therapy and could therefore be translated to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana V. Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - James H.A. Clubb
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne C.A. Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao M. Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alexander Kononov
- Systems Oncology Group, Cancer research UK, Manchester University, Manchester, UK
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Santeri Pakola
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saru Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Arias
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Katri Aro
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki Head and Neck Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Leif Bäck
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki Head and Neck Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Räsänen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilkka Ilonen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kristian Borenius
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Räsänen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otto Hemminki
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antti Rannikko
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Tapper
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
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27
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IL-7: Comprehensive review. Cytokine 2022; 160:156049. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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28
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Groha S, Alaiwi SA, Xu W, Naranbhai V, Nassar AH, Bakouny Z, El Zarif T, Saliby RM, Wan G, Rajeh A, Adib E, Nuzzo PV, Schmidt AL, Labaki C, Ricciuti B, Alessi JV, Braun DA, Shukla SA, Keenan TE, Van Allen E, Awad MM, Manos M, Rahma O, Zubiri L, Villani AC, Fairfax B, Hammer C, Khan Z, Reynolds K, Semenov Y, Schrag D, Kehl KL, Freedman ML, Choueiri TK, Gusev A. Germline variants associated with toxicity to immune checkpoint blockade. Nat Med 2022; 28:2584-2591. [PMID: 36526723 PMCID: PMC10958775 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-02094-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have yielded remarkable responses but often lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Although germline causes for irAEs have been hypothesized, no individual variant associated with developing irAEs has been identified. We carried out a genome-wide association study of 1,751 patients on ICIs across 12 cancer types. We investigated two irAE phenotypes: (1) high-grade (3-5) and (2) all-grade events. We identified 3 genome-wide significant associations (P < 5 × 10-8) in the discovery cohort associated with all-grade irAEs: rs16906115 near IL7 (combined P = 3.6 × 10-11; hazard ratio (HR) = 2.1); rs75824728 near IL22RA1 (combined P = 3.5 × 10-8; HR = 1.8); and rs113861051 on 4p15 (combined P = 1.2 × 10-8, HR = 2.0); rs16906115 was replicated in 3 independent studies. The association near IL7 colocalized with the gain of a new cryptic exon for IL7, a critical regulator of lymphocyte homeostasis. Patients carrying the IL7 germline variant exhibited significantly increased lymphocyte stability after ICI initiation, which was itself predictive of downstream irAEs and improved survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Groha
- Division of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Abou Alaiwi
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wenxin Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vivek Naranbhai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amin H Nassar
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ziad Bakouny
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Talal El Zarif
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Renee Maria Saliby
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guihong Wan
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ahmad Rajeh
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elio Adib
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pier V Nuzzo
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, School of Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrew L Schmidt
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chris Labaki
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Biagio Ricciuti
- Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joao Victor Alessi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, School of Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - David A Braun
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Center of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sachet A Shukla
- Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Translational Immunogenomics Lab, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tanya E Keenan
- Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eliezer Van Allen
- Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark M Awad
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, School of Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Michael Manos
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Osama Rahma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Alexandra-Chloe Villani
- Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Zia Khan
- Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kerry Reynolds
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Bartlett, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yevgeniy Semenov
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deborah Schrag
- Division of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth L Kehl
- Division of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew L Freedman
- Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Toni K Choueiri
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander Gusev
- Division of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Singh B, Kumar Rai A. Loss of immune regulation in aged T-cells: A metabolic review to show lack of ability to control responses within the self. Hum Immunol 2022; 83:808-817. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2022.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Wang C, Kong L, Kim S, Lee S, Oh S, Jo S, Jang I, Kim TD. The Role of IL-7 and IL-7R in Cancer Pathophysiology and Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810412. [PMID: 36142322 PMCID: PMC9499417 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a multipotent cytokine that maintains the homeostasis of the immune system. IL-7 plays a vital role in T-cell development, proliferation, and differentiation, as well as in B cell maturation through the activation of the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R). IL-7 is closely associated with tumor development and has been used in cancer clinical research and therapy. In this review, we first summarize the roles of IL-7 and IL-7Rα and their downstream signaling pathways in immunity and cancer. Furthermore, we summarize and discuss the recent advances in the use of IL-7 and IL-7Rα as cancer immunotherapy tools and highlight their potential for therapeutic applications. This review will help in the development of cancer immunotherapy regimens based on IL-7 and IL-7Rα, and will also advance their exploitation as more effective and safe immunotherapy tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunli Wang
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Lingzu Kong
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Seokmin Kim
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Sunyoung Lee
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Sechan Oh
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Seona Jo
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Inhwan Jang
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Tae-Don Kim
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
- Correspondence:
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Tompa M, Kraboth Z, Galik B, Kajtar B, Gyenesei A, Kalman B. Epigenetic Suppression of the IL-7 Pathway in Progressive Glioblastoma. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092174. [PMID: 36140275 PMCID: PMC9496096 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Immune evasion in glioblastoma (GBM) shields cancer cells from cytotoxic immune response. Methods: We investigated CpG methylation in promoters, genes, and pathways in 22 pairs of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sequential (FFPE) GBM using restricted resolution bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) and bioinformatic analyses. Results: Gene ontology revealed hypermethylation in elements of the innate and adaptive immune system when recurrent GBM samples (GBMrec) were compared to control (CG) and primary GBM samples (GBMprim). Higher methylation levels of the IL-7 signaling pathway and response to IL-7 were found in GBMrec suggesting a progressive blockade of the IL-7 driven T cell response in sequential GBM. Analyses of the Cancer Genome Atlas array-based data confirmed hypermethylation of the IL-7 pathway in recurrent compared with primary GBM. We also quantified DNA CpG methylation in promoter and gene regions of the IL-7 ligand and IL-7 α-receptor subunit in individual samples of a large RRBS-based sequential cohort of GBM in a Viennese database and found significantly higher methylation levels in the IL-7 receptor α-subunit in GBMrec compared with GBMprim. Conclusions: This study revealed the progressive suppression of the IL-7 receptor-mediated pathway as a means of immune evasion by GBM and thereby highlighted it as a new treatment target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marton Tompa
- Szentagothai Research Center, University of Pecs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Kraboth
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Pecs, School of Medicine, Clinical Center, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Department of Pathology, University of Pecs, School of Medicine, Clinical Center, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Bence Galik
- Szentagothai Research Center, University of Pecs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Bela Kajtar
- Szentagothai Research Center, University of Pecs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Department of Pathology, University of Pecs, School of Medicine, Clinical Center, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Attila Gyenesei
- Szentagothai Research Center, University of Pecs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Bernadette Kalman
- Szentagothai Research Center, University of Pecs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Pecs, School of Medicine, Clinical Center, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +36-72-501-500 (ext. 29205)
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Switzer B, Puzanov I, Skitzki JJ, Hamad L, Ernstoff MS. Managing Metastatic Melanoma in 2022: A Clinical Review. JCO Oncol Pract 2022; 18:335-351. [PMID: 35133862 PMCID: PMC9810138 DOI: 10.1200/op.21.00686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma remains the most lethal of the primary cutaneous neoplasms, and although the incidence of primary melanoma continues to rise, the mortality from metastatic disease remains unchanged, in part through advances in treatment. Major developments in immunomodulatory and targeted therapies have provided robust improvements in response and survival trends that have transformed the clinical management of patients with metastatic melanoma. Additional advances in immunologic and cancer cell biology have contributed to further optimization in (1) risk stratification, (2) prognostication, (3) treatment, (4) toxicity management, and (5) surveillance approaches for patients with an advanced melanoma diagnosis. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the historical and future advances regarding the translational and clinical implications of advanced melanoma and share multidisciplinary recommendations to aid clinicians in the navigation of current treatment approaches for a variety of patient cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Switzer
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
| | - Igor Puzanov
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
| | - Joseph J. Skitzki
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
| | - Lamya Hamad
- Department of Pharmacy, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
| | - Marc S. Ernstoff
- ImmunoOncology Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD,Marc S. Ernstoff, MD, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 20850; e-mail:
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Holder PG, Lim SA, Huang CS, Sharma P, Dagdas YS, Bulutoglu B, Sockolosky JT. Engineering interferons and interleukins for cancer immunotherapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 182:114112. [PMID: 35085624 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines are a class of potent immunoregulatory proteins that are secreted in response to various stimuli and act locally to regulate many aspects of human physiology and disease. Cytokines play important roles in cancer initiation, progression, and elimination, and thus, there is a long clinical history associated with the use of recombinant cytokines to treat cancer. However, the use of cytokines as therapeutics has been limited by cytokine pleiotropy, complex biology, poor drug-like properties, and severe dose-limiting toxicities. Nevertheless, cytokines are crucial mediators of innate and adaptive antitumor immunity and have the potential to enhance immunotherapeutic approaches to treat cancer. Development of immune checkpoint inhibitors and combination immunotherapies has reinvigorated interest in cytokines as therapeutics, and a variety of engineering approaches are emerging to improve the safety and effectiveness of cytokine immunotherapy. In this review we highlight recent advances in cytokine biology and engineering for cancer immunotherapy.
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34
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Harnessing Antitumor CD4 + T Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14010260. [PMID: 35008422 PMCID: PMC8750687 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Diverse evidence revealed that CD4+ T cells play an important role in antitumor immunity by promoting or suppressing cytotoxic T cell responses. This review outlines the role of CD4+ T subsets within the tumor microenvironment and summarizes the latest progress regarding their potentials in cancer immunotherapy and methods for improving outcomes in cancer strategies by modulating CD4+ T responses. Abstract Over the past decades, CD4+ T cells have been considered as a supporting actor in the fields of cancer immunotherapy. Until recently, accumulating evidence has demonstrated the critical role of CD4+ T cells during antitumor immunity. CD4+ T cells can either suppress or promote the antitumor cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses, either in secondary lymphoid organs or in the tumor. In this review, we provide an overview of the multifaceted role of different CD4+ T cell subsets in cancer immune response and their contribution during cancer therapies. Specifically, we focus on the latest progress regarding the impact of CD4+ T cell modulation on immunotherapies and other cancer therapies and discuss the prospect for harnessing CD4+ T cells to control tumor progression and prevent recurrence in patients.
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Duah M, Li L, Shen J, Lan Q, Pan B, Xu K. Thymus Degeneration and Regeneration. Front Immunol 2021; 12:706244. [PMID: 34539637 PMCID: PMC8442952 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.706244] [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: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system’s ability to resist the invasion of foreign pathogens and the tolerance to self-antigens are primarily centered on the efficient functions of the various subsets of T lymphocytes. As the primary organ of thymopoiesis, the thymus performs a crucial role in generating a self-tolerant but diverse repertoire of T cell receptors and peripheral T cell pool, with the capacity to recognize a wide variety of antigens and for the surveillance of malignancies. However, cells in the thymus are fragile and sensitive to changes in the external environment and acute insults such as infections, chemo- and radiation-therapy, resulting in thymic injury and degeneration. Though the thymus has the capacity to self-regenerate, it is often insufficient to reconstitute an intact thymic function. Thymic dysfunction leads to an increased risk of opportunistic infections, tumor relapse, autoimmunity, and adverse clinical outcome. Thus, exploiting the mechanism of thymic regeneration would provide new therapeutic options for these settings. This review summarizes the thymus’s development, factors causing thymic injury, and the strategies for improving thymus regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell Duah
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lingling Li
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jingyi Shen
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Qiu Lan
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Bin Pan
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Kailin Xu
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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36
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Borgoni S, Kudryashova KS, Burka K, de Magalhães JP. Targeting immune dysfunction in aging. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 70:101410. [PMID: 34280555 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Human aging is a multifactorial phenomenon that affects numerous organ systems and cellular processes, with the immune system being one of the most dysregulated. Immunosenescence, the gradual deterioration of the immune system, and inflammaging, a chronic inflammatory state that persists in the elderly, are among the plethora of immune changes that occur during aging. Almost all populations of immune cells change with age in terms of numbers and/or activity. These alterations are in general highly detrimental, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infections, reduced healing abilities, and altered homeostasis that promote the emergence of age-associated diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and other diseases associated with inflammation. Thanks to recent developments, several strategies have been proposed to target central immunological processes or specific immune subpopulations affected by aging. These therapeutic approaches could soon be applied in the clinic to slow down or even reverse specific age-induced immune changes in order to rejuvenate the immune system and prevent or reduce the impact of various diseases. Due to its systemic nature and interconnection with all the other systems in the body, the immune system is an attractive target for aging intervention because relatively targeted modifications to a small set of cells have the potential to improve the health of multiple organ systems. Therefore, anti-aging immune targeting therapies could represent a potent approach for improving healthspan. Here, we review aging changes in the major components of the immune system, we summarize the current immune-targeting therapeutic approaches in the context of aging and discuss the future directions in the field of immune rejuvenation.
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37
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Lee JY, Lee K, Koh B. Identification of new IL-7Rα small-molecule agonists: a multi-computational approach. SAR AND QSAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 32:719-729. [PMID: 34431428 DOI: 10.1080/1062936x.2021.1969684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin 7 (IL-7) is an essential cytokine that acts as a potent growth factor of T-cells and supports the growth of B-cell precursors. IL-7 binds to a heterodimeric receptor consisting of an IL-7 receptor alpha (IL-7Rα) and the common gamma chain receptor (γc) which is shared with IL-2, IL-4, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21. The discovery of small-molecule agonists of cytokines would be of great pharmaceutical interest with the increasing scientific rationale. In this study, a series of molecular modelling methods, including field-based pharmacophore virtual screening, protein-protein docking and molecular dynamics simulations, led to the identification of two compounds (i.e. 1 and 2) of different classes that exhibit enhanced agonistic effects by activating the IL-7 signalling cascade. One of these compounds was selected as a hit and represents the first small-molecule agonist of IL-7Rα with single-digit micromolar activity. Moreover, the prediction model of the active compound to the IL-7Rα/γc interaction complex provides insight into the binding of a small-molecule agonist to its receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- J-Y Lee
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - K Lee
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - B Koh
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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38
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Vandooren J, Pereira RVS, Ugarte-Berzal E, Rybakin V, Noppen S, Stas MR, Bernaerts E, Ganseman E, Metzemaekers M, Schols D, Proost P, Opdenakker G. Internal Disulfide Bonding and Glycosylation of Interleukin-7 Protect Against Proteolytic Inactivation by Neutrophil Metalloproteinases and Serine Proteases. Front Immunol 2021; 12:701739. [PMID: 34276694 PMCID: PMC8278288 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.701739] [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: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin 7 (IL-7) is a cell growth factor with a central role in normal T cell development, survival and differentiation. The lack of IL-7–IL-7 receptor(R)-mediated signaling compromises lymphoid development, whereas increased signaling activity contributes to the development of chronic inflammation, cancer and autoimmunity. Gain-of-function alterations of the IL-7R and the signaling through Janus kinases (JAKs) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) are enriched in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and autocrine production of IL-7 by T-ALL cells is involved in the phenotypes of leukemic initiation and oncogenic spreading. Several IL-7-associated pathologies are also characterized by increased presence of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), due to neutrophil degranulation and its regulated production by other cell types. Since proteases secreted by neutrophils are known to modulate the activity of many cytokines, we investigated the interactions between IL-7, MMP-9 and several other neutrophil-derived proteases. We demonstrated that MMP-9 efficiently cleaved human IL-7 in the exposed loop between the α-helices C and D and that this process is delayed by IL-7 N-linked glycosylation. Functionally, the proteolytic cleavage of IL-7 did not influence IL-7Rα binding and internalization nor the direct pro-proliferative effects of IL-7 on a T-ALL cell line (HPB-ALL) or in primary CD8+ human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A comparable effect was observed for the neutrophil serine proteases neutrophil elastase, proteinase 3 and combinations of neutrophil proteases. Hence, glycosylation and disulfide bonding as two posttranslational modifications influence IL-7 bioavailability in the human species: glycosylation protects against proteolysis, whereas internal cysteine bridging under physiological redox state keeps the IL-7 conformations as active proteoforms. Finally, we showed that mouse IL-7 does not contain the protease-sensitive loop and, consequently, was not cleaved by MMP-9. With the latter finding we discovered differences in IL-7 biology between the human and mouse species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Vandooren
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rafaela Vaz Sousa Pereira
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Estefania Ugarte-Berzal
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vasily Rybakin
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sam Noppen
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Melissa R Stas
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eline Bernaerts
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eva Ganseman
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mieke Metzemaekers
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Schols
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ghislain Opdenakker
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
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Abdelbaky SB, Ibrahim MT, Samy H, Mohamed M, Mohamed H, Mustafa M, Abdelaziz MM, Forrest ML, Khalil IA. Cancer immunotherapy from biology to nanomedicine. J Control Release 2021; 336:410-432. [PMID: 34171445 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
With the significant drawbacks of conventional cancer chemotherapeutics, cancer immunotherapy has demonstrated the ability to eradicate cancer cells and circumvent multidrug resistance (MDR) with fewer side effects than traditional cytotoxic therapies. Various immunotherapeutic agents have been investigated for that purpose including checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, monoclonal antibodies and cancer vaccines. All these agents aid immune cells to recognize and engage tumor cells by acting on tumor-specific pathways, antigens or cellular targets. However, immunotherapeutics are still associated with some concerns such as off-target side effects and poor pharmacokinetics. Nanomedicine may resolve some limitations of current immunotherapeutics such as localizing delivery, controlling release and enhancing the pharmacokinetic profile. Herein, we discuss recent advances of immunotherapeutic agents with respect to their development and biological mechanisms of action, along with the advantages that nanomedicine strategies lend to immunotherapeutics by possibly improving therapeutic outcomes and minimizing side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma B Abdelbaky
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City, 6th of October City, Giza 12578, Egypt; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States of America
| | - Mayar Tarek Ibrahim
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City, 6th of October City, Giza 12578, Egypt; Department of Chemistry, Center for Scientific Computation, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275, United States of America
| | - Hebatallah Samy
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City, 6th of October City, Giza 12578, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Menatalla Mohamed
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City, 6th of October City, Giza 12578, Egypt; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - Hebatallah Mohamed
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City, 6th of October City, Giza 12578, Egypt; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - Mahmoud Mustafa
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City, 6th of October City, Giza 12578, Egypt
| | - Moustafa M Abdelaziz
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - M Laird Forrest
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA.
| | - Islam A Khalil
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy and Drug Manufacturing, Misr University of Science and Technology (MUST), 6th of October, Giza 12582, Egypt.
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Hanson ED, Bates LC, Harrell EP, Bartlett DB, Lee JT, Wagoner CW, Alzer MS, Amatuli DJ, Jensen BC, Deal AM, Muss HB, Nyrop KA, Battaglini CL. Exercise training partially rescues impaired mucosal associated invariant t-cell mobilization in breast cancer survivors compared to healthy older women. Exp Gerontol 2021; 152:111454. [PMID: 34146655 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Exercise may attenuate immunosenescence with aging that appears to be accelerated following breast cancer treatment, although limited data on specific cell types exists and acute and chronic exercise have been investigated independently in older adults. PURPOSE To determine the mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cell response to acute exercise before (PRE) and after (POST) 16 weeks of exercise training in breast cancer survivors (BCS) and healthy older women (CON). METHODS Age-matched BCS and CON performed 45 min of intermittent cycling at 60% peak power output wattage. Blood samples were obtained at rest, immediately (0 h) and 1 h after exercise to determine MAIT cell counts, frequency, and intracellular cytokine expression. RESULTS At PRE, MAIT cell counts were greater in CON (137%) than BCS at 0 h (46%, p < 0.001), with increased MAIT cell frequency in CON but not BCS. TNFα+ and IFNγ+ MAIT cell counts increased at 0 h by ~120% in CON (p < 0.001), while BCS counts and frequencies were unchanged. Similar deficits were observed in CD3+ and CD3+ CD8+ cells. At POST, exercise-induced mobilization and egress of MAIT cell counts and frequency showed trends towards improvement in BCS that approached levels in CON. Independent of group, TNFα frequency trended to improve (p = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS MAIT mobilization in older BCS following acute exercise was attenuated; however, exercise training may partially rescue these initial deficits, including greater sensitivity to mitogenic stimulation. Using acute exercise before and after interventions provides a unique approach to identify age- and cancer-related immuno-dysfunction that is less apparent at rest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik D Hanson
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Human Movement Science Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America.
| | - Lauren C Bates
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Human Movement Science Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth P Harrell
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - David B Bartlett
- Division of Medical Oncology, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jordan T Lee
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Human Movement Science Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Chad W Wagoner
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Human Movement Science Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Mohamdod S Alzer
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Dean J Amatuli
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Brian C Jensen
- Division of Cardiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Allison M Deal
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Hyman B Muss
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Department of Hematology Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Kirsten A Nyrop
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Department of Hematology Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Claudio L Battaglini
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Human Movement Science Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
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Kielsen K, Oostenbrink LVE, von Asmuth EGJ, Jansen-Hoogendijk AM, van Ostaijen-Ten Dam MM, Ifversen M, Heilmann C, Schilham MW, van Halteren AGS, Bredius RGM, Lankester AC, Jol-van der Zijde CM, van Tol MJD, Müller K. IL-7 and IL-15 Levels Reflect the Degree of T Cell Depletion during Lymphopenia and Are Associated with an Expansion of Effector Memory T Cells after Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:2828-2838. [PMID: 34108260 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Differentially and functionally distinct T cell subsets are involved in the development of complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but little is known about factors regulating their recovery after HSCT. In this study, we investigated associations between immune-regulating cytokines, T cell differentiation, and clinical outcomes. We included 80 children undergoing allogeneic HSCT for acute leukemia using bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells grafted from a matched sibling or unrelated donor. Cytokines (IL-7, IL-15, IL-18, SCF, IL-6, IL-2, and TNF-α) and active anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) levels were longitudinally measured along with extended T cell phenotyping. The cytokine profiles showed a temporary rise in IL-7 and IL-15 during lymphopenia, which was strongly dependent on exposure to active ATG. High levels of IL-7 and IL-15 from graft infusion to day +30 were predictive of slower T cell recovery during the first 2 mo post-HSCT; however, because of a major expansion of memory T cell stages, only naive T cells remained decreased after 3 mo (p < 0.05). No differential effect was seen on polarization of CD4+ T cells into Th1, Th2, or Th17 cells or regulatory T cells. Low levels of IL-7 and IL-15 at day +14 were associated with acute graft-versus-host disease grades II-IV in ATG-treated patients (p = 0.0004 and p = 0.0002, respectively). Children with IL-7 levels comparable to healthy controls at day +14 post-HSCT were less likely to develop EBV reactivation posttransplant. These findings suggest that quantification of IL-7 and IL-15 may be useful as biomarkers in assessing the overall T cell depletion and suggest a potential for predicting complications after HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine Kielsen
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Primary Immune Deficiency, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; .,Institute for Inflammation Research, Department of Rheumatology and Spine Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; and
| | - Lisa V E Oostenbrink
- Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Erik G J von Asmuth
- Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Anja M Jansen-Hoogendijk
- Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Monique M van Ostaijen-Ten Dam
- Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marianne Ifversen
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Primary Immune Deficiency, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carsten Heilmann
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Primary Immune Deficiency, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marco W Schilham
- Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Astrid G S van Halteren
- Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Robbert G M Bredius
- Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Arjan C Lankester
- Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Cornelia M Jol-van der Zijde
- Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten J D van Tol
- Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Klaus Müller
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Primary Immune Deficiency, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Institute for Inflammation Research, Department of Rheumatology and Spine Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; and
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42
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Zhou MJ, Huang HH, Song JW, Tu B, Fan X, Li J, Jin JH, Cao WJ, Hu W, Yang T, Zhou CB, Yuan JH, Fan J, Zhang JY, Jiao YM, Xu RN, Zhen C, Shi M, Zhang C, Wang FS. Compromised long-lived memory CD8 + T cells are associated with reduced IL-7 responsiveness in HIV-infected immunological nonresponders. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:2027-2039. [PMID: 33974710 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Immune deficiency is one of the hallmarks of HIV infection and a major cause of adverse outcomes in people living with HIV (PLWH). Long-lived memory CD8+ T cells (LLMCs) are essential executors of long-term protective immunity; however, the generation and maintenance of LLMCs during chronic HIV infection are not well understood. In the present study, we analyzed circulating LLMCs in healthy controls (HCs) and PLWH with different disease statuses, including treatment naïve patients (TNs), complete responders (CRs), and immunological nonresponders (INRs). We found that both TNs and INRs showed severely compromised LLMCs compared with HCs and CRs, respectively. The decrease of LLMCs in TNs correlated positively with the reduction of their precursors, namely memory precursor effector T cells (MPECs), which might be associated with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines. Strikingly, INRs showed an accumulation of MPECs, which exhibited diminished responsiveness to interleukin 7 (IL-7), thereby indicating abrogated differentiation into LLMCs. Moreover, in vitro studies showed that treatment with dexamethasone could improve the IL7-phosphorylated (p)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT5) response by upregulating the expression of the interleukin 7 receptor (IL-7Rα) on MPECs in INRs. These findings provide insights that will encourage the development of novel therapeutics to improve immune function in PLWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Ju Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Huang Huang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Wen Song
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Tu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Fan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
- 302 Clinical Medical School, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie-Hua Jin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Jing Cao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
- Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Chun-Bao Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Hong Yuan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Fan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ji-Yuan Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Mei Jiao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ruo-Nan Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Zhen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Shi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Fu-Sheng Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
- 302 Clinical Medical School, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
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Darden DB, Kelly LS, Fenner BP, Moldawer LL, Mohr AM, Efron PA. Dysregulated Immunity and Immunotherapy after Sepsis. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10081742. [PMID: 33920518 PMCID: PMC8073536 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10081742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Implementation of protocolized surveillance, diagnosis, and management of septic patients, and of surgical sepsis patients in particular, is shown to result in significantly increased numbers of patients surviving their initial hospitalization. Currently, most surgical sepsis patients will rapidly recover from sepsis; however, many patients will not rapidly recover, but instead will go on to develop chronic critical illness (CCI) and experience dismal long-term outcomes. The elderly and comorbid patient is highly susceptible to death or CCI after sepsis. Here, we review aspects of the Persistent Inflammation, Immunosuppression, and Catabolism Syndrome (PICS) endotype to explain the underlying pathobiology of a dysregulated immune system in sepsis survivors who develop CCI; then, we explore targets for immunomodulatory therapy.
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Effect of Interleukin-7 on Radiation-Induced Lymphopenia and Its Antitumor Effects in a Mouse Model. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 109:1559-1569. [PMID: 33321193 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Local ionizing radiation (IR) can lead to systemic lymphocyte depletion, which is associated with poor survival outcomes in patients with cancer. Interleukin-7 (IL-7) plays an important role in lymphocyte homeostasis; however, its role in alleviating radiation-induced lymphopenia remains unclear. Hence, we established a radiation-induced lymphopenia animal model and evaluated the effect of exogenous IL-7 administration. METHODS C3H/HeN mice underwent x-ray irradiation of 30 Gy in 10 fractions at the right hind limbs. Next, 10 mg/kg of IL-7 was injected subcutaneously, and the lymphocyte count in blood was measured. Murine hepatocellular carcinoma (HCa-1) cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the right thighs of tumor model mice, which underwent the same treatment. RESULTS In the naïve mouse model, the decreased CD45+ cell count after irradiation gradually recovered to the initial level over 3 weeks in the IR group, whereas it markedly increased to 373% of the initial level in 1 week in the IR+IL-7 group. Similar trends were observed for the CD3+, CD8+, CD4+, regulatory T cells, and CD19+ B cell counts. Similar findings were observed in the tumor mouse model. CD8+ and CD4+ T cell infiltration in tumor specimens was higher in the IL-7 and IR+IL-7 groups than in the nontreated and IR groups. Tumor growth was significantly more suppressed in the IR+IL-7 group than in the IR group. The median survival time was significantly longer in the IR+IL-7 group (not reached) than in the IR (56 days; P = .0382), IL-7 (36 days; P = .0004), or nontreated groups (36 days; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS Administration of exogenous IL-7 after IR not only restored lymphocyte counts but also enhanced the antitumor effect. Exogenous IL-7 can be beneficial in overcoming radiation-induced lymphopenia and in enhancing the treatment outcome in combination with radiation therapy, which needs validation through future clinical studies.
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45
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Borgers JSW, Haanen JBAG. Cellular Therapy and Cytokine Treatments for Melanoma. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2021; 35:129-144. [PMID: 33759770 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2020.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of patients with advanced stage melanoma. Recombinant cytokines were the first tested and approved treatments; however, due to disappointing response rates and severe toxicities, their use has significantly decreased. More recently, adoptive cell transfer therapies have shown to be a promising new treatment strategy able to induce complete and durable remissions in patients with melanoma progressive on first-line treatment. This review provides an overview of the cellular therapies (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, T-cell receptor T cells, chimeric antigen receptor T cells) and cytokine treatments (interleukin-2 [IL-2], IL-15, IL-7, IL-10, IL-21, interferon alpha, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S W Borgers
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands
| | - John B A G Haanen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands.
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Do KT, Manuszak C, Thrash E, Giobbie-Hurder A, Hu J, Kelland S, Powers A, de Jonge A, Shapiro GI, Severgnini M. Immune modulating activity of the CHK1 inhibitor prexasertib and anti-PD-L1 antibody LY3300054 in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer and other solid tumors. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 70:2991-3000. [PMID: 33745032 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-02910-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) has dual roles in both the DNA damage response and in the innate immune response to genotoxic stress. The combination of CHK1 inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade has the potential to enhance anti-tumoral T-cell activation. METHODS This was an open-label phase 1 study evaluating the CHK1 inhibitor prexasertib and the anti-PD-L1 antibody LY3300054. After a lead-in of LY3300054 (Arm A), prexasertib (Arm B) or the combination (Arm C), both agents were administered intravenously at their respective recommended phase 2 doses (RP2Ds) on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Flow cytometry of peripheral blood was performed before and during treatment to analyze effects on immune cell populations, with a focus on T cell subsets and activation. Plasma cytokines and chemokines were analyzed using the Luminex platform. RESULTS Among seventeen patients enrolled, the combination was tolerable at the monotherapy RP2Ds, 105 mg/m2 prexasertib and 700 mg LY3300054. Dose-limiting toxicities included one episode each of febrile neutropenia (Arm C) and grade 4 neutropenia lasting > 5 days (Arm B). One patient had immune-related AST/ALT elevation after 12 cycles. Three patients with CCNE1-amplified, high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) achieved partial response (PR), 2 lasting > 12 months; a fourth such patient maintained stable disease > 12 months. Analysis of peripheral blood demonstrated evidence of CD8 + T-cell activation in response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS Prexasertib in combination with PD-L1 blockade was tolerable and demonstrated preliminary activity in CCNE1-amplified HGSOC with evidence of cytotoxic T-cell activation in patient blood samples. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03495323. Registered April 12, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khanh T Do
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue-DA2010, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Claire Manuszak
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Emily Thrash
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Anita Giobbie-Hurder
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Jiani Hu
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Sarah Kelland
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue-DA2010, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Allison Powers
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue-DA2010, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Adrienne de Jonge
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue-DA2010, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Geoffrey I Shapiro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue-DA2010, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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Extensive longitudinal immune profiling reveals sustained innate immune activation in COVID-19 patients with unfavorable outcome. Eur Cytokine Netw 2021; 31:154-167. [PMID: 33648924 PMCID: PMC7937051 DOI: 10.1684/ecn.2020.0456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 differs substantially between individuals, ranging from mild to severe or even fatal. Heterogeneity in the immune response against SARS-COV-2 likely contributes to this. Therefore, we explored the temporal dynamics of key cellular and soluble mediators of innate and adaptive immune activation in relation to COVID-19 severity and progression. Forty-four patients with a PCR-proven diagnosis of COVID-19 were included. Extensive cellular (leukocytes and T-lymphocyte subsets) and serological immune profiling (cytokines, soluble cell surface molecules, and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies) was performed at hospital admission and every 3–4 days during hospitalization. Measurements and disease outcome were compared between patients with an unfavorable (IC admission and/or death) and favorable (all others) outcome. Patients with an unfavorable outcome had higher leukocyte numbers at baseline, mostly due to increased neutrophils, whereas lymphocyte and monocyte numbers were reduced. CRP, IL-6, CCL2, CXCL10, and GM-CSF levels were higher at baseline in the unfavorable group, whereas IL-7 levels were lower. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were more frequently absent in the unfavorable group. Longitudinal analysis revealed delayed kinetics of activated CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte subsets in the unfavorable group. Furthermore, whereas CRP, IL-6, CXCL10, and GM-CSF declined in the favorable group, these cytokines declined with delayed kinetics, remained increased, or even increased further in the unfavorable group. Our data indicate a state of increased innate immune activation in COVID19-patients with an unfavorable outcome at hospital admission, which remained over time, as compared with patients with a favorable outcome.
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Harms RZ, Ostlund KR, Cabrera M, Edwards E, Smith VB, Smith LM, Sarvetnick N. Frequencies of CD8 and DN MAIT Cells Among Children Diagnosed With Type 1 Diabetes Are Similar to Age-Matched Controls. Front Immunol 2021; 12:604157. [PMID: 33708202 PMCID: PMC7940386 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.604157] [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: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have been implicated in various forms of autoimmunity, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). Here, we tested the hypothesis that CD8 and double negative (DN) MAIT cell frequencies were altered among diagnosed T1D subjects compared to controls. To do this, we analyzed cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from age-matched T1D and control children using flow cytometry. We observed that CD8 and DN MAIT cell frequencies were similarly abundant between the two groups. We tested for associations between MAIT cell frequency and T1D-associated parameters, which could reveal a pathogenic role for MAIT cells in the absence of changes in frequency. We found no significant associations between CD8 and DN MAIT cell frequency and levels of islet cell autoantibodies (ICA), glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) autoantibodies, zinc transporter 8 (ZNT8) autoantibodies, and insulinoma antigen 2 (IA-2) autoantibodies. Furthermore, CD8 and DN MAIT cell frequencies were not significantly associated with time since diagnosis, c-peptide levels, HbA1c, and BMI. As we have examined this cohort for multiple soluble factors previously, we tested for associations between relevant factors and MAIT cell frequency. These could help to explain the broad range of MAIT frequencies we observed and/or indicate disease-associated processes. Although we found nothing disease-specific, we observed that levels of IL-7, IL-18, 25 (OH) vitamin D, and the ratio of vitamin D binding protein to 25 (OH) vitamin D were all associated with MAIT cell frequency. Finally, previous cytomegalovirus infection was associated with reduced CD8 and DN MAIT cells. From this evaluation, we found no connections between CD8 and DN MAIT cells and children with T1D. However, we did observe several intrinsic and extrinsic factors that could influence peripheral MAIT cell abundance among all children. These factors may be worth consideration in future experimental design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Z Harms
- Department of Surgery-Transplant, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Katie R Ostlund
- Department of Surgery-Transplant, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Monina Cabrera
- Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Nebraska Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Children's Pediatric Endocrinology, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Earline Edwards
- Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Nebraska Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Children's Pediatric Endocrinology, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Victoria B Smith
- Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Lynette M Smith
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Nora Sarvetnick
- Department of Surgery-Transplant, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Mary and Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
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Granadier D, Iovino L, Kinsella S, Dudakov JA. Dynamics of thymus function and T cell receptor repertoire breadth in health and disease. Semin Immunopathol 2021; 43:119-134. [PMID: 33608819 PMCID: PMC7894242 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-021-00840-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
T cell recognition of unknown antigens relies on the tremendous diversity of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire; generation of which can only occur in the thymus. TCR repertoire breadth is thus critical for not only coordinating the adaptive response against pathogens but also for mounting a response against malignancies. However, thymic function is exquisitely sensitive to negative stimuli, which can come in the form of acute insult, such as that caused by stress, infection, or common cancer therapies; or chronic damage such as the progressive decline in thymic function with age. Whether it be prolonged T cell deficiency after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) or constriction in the breadth of the peripheral TCR repertoire with age; these insults result in poor adaptive immune responses. In this review, we will discuss the importance of thymic function for generation of the TCR repertoire and how acute and chronic thymic damage influences immune health. We will also discuss methods that are used to measure thymic function in patients and strategies that have been developed to boost thymic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Granadier
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lorenzo Iovino
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sinéad Kinsella
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jarrod A Dudakov
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Manjili MH, Payne KK. Cancer immunotherapy: Re-programming cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Oncoimmunology 2021; 1:201-204. [PMID: 22720242 PMCID: PMC3377002 DOI: 10.4161/onci.1.2.18113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancers utilize multiple mechanisms to overcome immune responses. Emerging evidence suggest that immunotherapy of cancer should focus on inducing and re-programming cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems rather than focusing solely on T cells. Recently, we have shown that such a multifaceted approach can improve immunotherapy of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud H Manjili
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center; Richmond, VA USA
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