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Cai L, Lai W, Yao D, Gu Y, Liang C, Liu L, Lai J, Yu Z, Zha X, Yu X, Wu X, Chen S, Luo OJ, Li Y, Wang C, Qin P, Huang X, Xu L. High percentage of bone marrow CD8 + tissue-resident-like memory T cells predicts inferior survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. BLOOD SCIENCE 2024; 6:e00194. [PMID: 38854481 PMCID: PMC11161300 DOI: 10.1097/bs9.0000000000000194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells infiltrating solid tumors could influence tumor progression and the response to immune therapies. However, the proportion and prognostic value of TRM cells in the bone marrow (BM) of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are unclear. In this study, we used flow cytometry to assay the phenotype of 49 BM samples from patients newly diagnosed with AML (ND-AML). We found that the BM CD8+ effector memory (TEM) cells highly expressed CD69 (CD8+ TRM-like T cells), and their percentage was significantly increased in patients with ND-AML compared with that in healthy individuals (HI). The high percentage of CD8+ TRM-like subset was associated with poor overall survival in our ND-AML cohort. The Kaplan-Meier Plotter database verified a significantly reduced survival rate among patients with high expression of CD8+ TRM-like T cell characteristic genes (CD8A, CD69, and TOX), especially the M4 and M5 subtypes. Phenotypic analysis revealed that the BM CD8+ TRM-like subpopulation exhibited exhausted T cell characteristics, but its high expression of CD27 and CD28 and low expression of CD57 suggested its high proliferative potential. The single-cell proteogenomic dataset confirmed the existence of TRM-like CD8+ T cells in the BM of patients with AML and verified the high expression of immune checkpoints and costimulatory molecules. In conclusion, we found that the accumulation of BM CD8+ TRM-like cells could be an immune-related survival prediction marker for patients with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letong Cai
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wenpu Lai
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Department of Systems Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Danlin Yao
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yinfeng Gu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Chaofeng Liang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lian Liu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jing Lai
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhi Yu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xianfeng Zha
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xibao Yu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiuli Wu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shaohua Chen
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Oscar Junhong Luo
- Department of Systems Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yangqiu Li
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control (Jinan University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Pengfei Qin
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Hematology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ling Xu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control (Jinan University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Slezak AJ, Chang K, Beckman TN, Refvik KC, Alpar AT, Lauterbach AL, Solanki A, Kwon JW, Gomes S, Mansurov A, Hubbell JA. Cysteine-binding adjuvant enhances survival and promotes immune function in a murine model of acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Adv 2024; 8:1747-1759. [PMID: 38324726 PMCID: PMC10985806 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023012529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Therapeutic vaccination has long been a promising avenue for cancer immunotherapy but is often limited by tumor heterogeneity. The genetic and molecular diversity between patients often results in variation in the antigens present on cancer cell surfaces. As a result, recent research has focused on personalized cancer vaccines. Although promising, this strategy suffers from time-consuming production, high cost, inaccessibility, and targeting of a limited number of tumor antigens. Instead, we explore an antigen-agnostic polymeric in situ cancer vaccination platform for treating blood malignancies, in our model here with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Rather than immunizing against specific antigens or targeting adjuvant to specific cell-surface markers, this platform leverages a characteristic metabolic and enzymatic dysregulation in cancer cells that produces an excess of free cysteine thiols on their surfaces. These thiols increase in abundance after treatment with cytotoxic agents such as cytarabine, the current standard of care in AML. The resulting free thiols can undergo efficient disulfide exchange with pyridyl disulfide (PDS) moieties on our construct and allow for in situ covalent attachment to cancer cell surfaces and debris. PDS-functionalized monomers are incorporated into a statistical copolymer with pendant mannose groups and TLR7 agonists to target covalently linked antigen and adjuvant to antigen-presenting cells in the liver and spleen after IV administration. There, the compound initiates an anticancer immune response, including T-cell activation and antibody generation, ultimately prolonging survival in cancer-bearing mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J. Slezak
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Kevin Chang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Taryn N. Beckman
- Committee on Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Kirsten C. Refvik
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Aaron T. Alpar
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Ani Solanki
- Animal Resource Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Jung Woo Kwon
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Suzana Gomes
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Aslan Mansurov
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Jeffrey A. Hubbell
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Committee on Cancer Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
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Yang F, Cui X, Wang H, Zhang D, Luo S, Li Y, Dai Y, Yang D, Zhang X, Wang L, Zheng G, Zhang X. Iron overload promotes the progression of MLL-AF9 induced acute myeloid leukemia by upregulation of FOS. Cancer Lett 2024; 583:216652. [PMID: 38242196 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216652] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Systemic iron overload is a common clinical challenge leading to significantly serious complications in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which affects both the quality of life and the overall survival of patients. Symptoms can be relieved after iron chelation therapy in clinical practice. However, the roles and mechanisms of iron overload on the initiation and progression of leukemia remain elusive. Here we studied the correlation between iron overload and AML clinical outcome, and further explored the role and pathophysiologic mechanism of iron overload in AML by using two mouse models: an iron overload MLL-AF9-induced AML mouse model and a nude xenograft mouse model. Patients with AML had an increased ferritin level, particularly in the myelomonocytic (M4) or monocytic (M5) subtypes. High level of iron expression correlated with a worsened prognosis in AML patients and a shortened survival time in AML mice. Furthermore, iron overload increased the tumor load in the bone marrow (BM) and extramedullary tissues by promoting the proliferation of leukemia cells through the upregulation of FOS. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into the roles of iron overload in AML. Additionally, this study may provide a potential therapeutic target to improve the outcome of AML patients and a rationale for the prospective evaluation of iron chelation therapy in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Yang
- Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Xiaoxi Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Hao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Dongyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Shulin Luo
- Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Yifei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Yibo Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Dan Yang
- Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Xiuqun Zhang
- Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Lina Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Guoguang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China.
| | - Xuezhong Zhang
- Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China.
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Alqurashi YE. Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) as a promising immune checkpoint in cancer immunotherapy: From biology to the clinic. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 254:155124. [PMID: 38295462 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, there have been notable advancements in the field of cancer immunotherapy, namely in the area of immune checkpoint inhibition. The Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) has garnered attention as a potentially valuable focus of study in this particular field. The present study examines the biological aspects of LAG-3, its clinical consequences, and the potential therapeutic opportunities associated with its modulation. LAG-3, similar to CD4, has a regulatory role in modulating the immune system. The upregulation of this protein inside the neoplastic milieu hampers the immune system's ability to mount an effective response, hence enabling the evasion of cancer cells from immune surveillance. The LAG-3 protein interacts with ligands, inhibiting cytotoxic immune cells such as CD8+ T cells and NK cells. The potential of LAG-3 inhibitors presents intriguing prospects. Integrating these medicines with established treatments like PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA-4 inhibitors can broaden the range of available therapy choices and address resistance issues. The advent of personalized therapy is imminent, as evidenced by the utilization of predictive biomarkers such as LAG-3 expression to inform individualized therapeutic approaches. Additionally, inhibitors of LAG-3 exhibit promise in addressing immunological depletion and resistance by revitalizing T cells and producing durable immune responses. The realization of LAG-3's promise necessitates global collaboration and equal access. Multinational trials are expected to ascertain the efficacy of the intervention in various patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaser E Alqurashi
- Department of Biology, College of Science Al-zulfi, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
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Cai L, Li Y, Tan J, Xu L, Li Y. Targeting LAG-3, TIM-3, and TIGIT for cancer immunotherapy. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:101. [PMID: 37670328 PMCID: PMC10478462 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01499-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In one decade, immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs) has become a new pillar of cancer treatment following surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. However, not all cancer patients benefit from single or combination therapy with anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies. Thus, an increasing number of immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs) have been screened and their effectiveness evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials. Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain-containing-3 (TIM-3), and T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) domain (TIGIT) constitute the second wave of immunotherapy targets that show great promise for use in the treatment of solid tumors and leukemia. To promote the research and clinical application of ICBs directed at these targets, we summarize their discovery, immunotherapy mechanism, preclinical efficiency, and clinical trial results in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letong Cai
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yuchen Li
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jiaxiong Tan
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Ling Xu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control (Jinan University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Yangqiu Li
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control (Jinan University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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