1
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Wang J, Han X, Hao Y, Chen S, Pang B, Zou L, Han X, Wang W, Liu L, Shen M, Jin A. Cbl-b inhibition promotes less differentiated phenotypes of T cells with enhanced cytokine production. Cell Immunol 2024; 403-404:104863. [PMID: 39186873 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2024.104863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
For adoptive therapy with T cell receptor engineered T (TCR-T) cells, the quantity and quality of the final cell product directly affect their anti-tumor efficacy. The post-transfer efficacy window of TCR-T cells is keen to optimizing attempts during the manufacturing process. Cbl-b is a E3 ubiquitin ligase previously shown with critical negative impact in T cell functions. This study investigated whether strategic inclusion of a commercially available small inhibitor targeting Cbl-b (Cbl-b-IN-1) prior to T cell activation could enhance the quality of the final TCR-T cell product. Examination with both PBMCs and TCR-T cells revealed that Cbl-b-IN-1 treatment promoted TCR expression efficiency, T cell proliferation potential and, specifically, cell survival capability post antigenic stimulation. Cbl-b-IN-1 exposure facilitated T cells in maintaining less differentiated states with enhanced cytokine production. Further, we found that Cbl-b-IN-1 effectively augmented the activation of TCR signaling, shown by increased phosphorylation levels of Zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP70) and phospholipase c-γ1 (PLCγ1). In conclusion, our results evidence that the inclusion of Cbl-b inhibitor immediately prior to TCR-T cell activation may enhance their proliferation, survival, and function potentials, presenting an applicable optimization strategy for immunotherapy with adoptive cell transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfan Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Regulation and Immune Intervention, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - XiaoJian Han
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Regulation and Immune Intervention, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Yanan Hao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Regulation and Immune Intervention, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Siyin Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Regulation and Immune Intervention, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Bo Pang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Regulation and Immune Intervention, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Lin Zou
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Regulation and Immune Intervention, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Xiaxia Han
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Regulation and Immune Intervention, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Wang Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Regulation and Immune Intervention, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Meiying Shen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Regulation and Immune Intervention, Chongqing 400010, China; Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.
| | - Aishun Jin
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Regulation and Immune Intervention, Chongqing 400010, China.
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2
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Quinn TR, Giblin KA, Thomson C, Boerth JA, Bommakanti G, Braybrooke E, Chan C, Chinn AJ, Code E, Cui C, Fan Y, Grimster NP, Kohara K, Lamb ML, Ma L, Mfuh AM, Robb GR, Robbins KJ, Schimpl M, Tang H, Ware J, Wrigley GL, Xue L, Zhang Y, Zhu H, Hughes SJ. Accelerated Discovery of Carbamate Cbl-b Inhibitors Using Generative AI Models and Structure-Based Drug Design. J Med Chem 2024; 67:14210-14233. [PMID: 39132828 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01034] [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: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Casitas B-lymphoma proto-oncogene-b (Cbl-b) is a RING finger E3 ligase that has an important role in effector T cell function, acting as a negative regulator of T cell, natural killer (NK) cell, and B cell activation. A discovery effort toward Cbl-b inhibitors was pursued in which a generative AI design engine, REINVENT, was combined with a medicinal chemistry structure-based design to discover novel inhibitors of Cbl-b. Key to the success of this effort was the evolution of the "Design" phase of the Design-Make-Test-Analyze cycle to involve iterative rounds of an in silico structure-based drug design, strongly guided by physics-based affinity prediction and machine learning DMPK predictive models, prior to selection for synthesis. This led to the accelerated discovery of a potent series of carbamate Cbl-b inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor R Quinn
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Kathryn A Giblin
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Clare Thomson
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Jeffrey A Boerth
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Gayathri Bommakanti
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Erin Braybrooke
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Christina Chan
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Alex J Chinn
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Erin Code
- Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Caifeng Cui
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Yukai Fan
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Neil P Grimster
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Keishi Kohara
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Michelle L Lamb
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Lina Ma
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Adelphe M Mfuh
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Graeme R Robb
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Kevin J Robbins
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Marianne Schimpl
- Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Haoran Tang
- Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Jamie Ware
- Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Gail L Wrigley
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Lin Xue
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Huimin Zhu
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Samantha J Hughes
- Early TDE Discovery, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
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3
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Liao HX, Mao X, Wang L, Wang N, Ocansey DKW, Wang B, Mao F. The role of mesenchymal stem cells in attenuating inflammatory bowel disease through ubiquitination. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1423069. [PMID: 39185411 PMCID: PMC11341407 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1423069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a condition of the digestive tract and one of the autoimmune diseases, is becoming a disease of significant global public health concern and substantial clinical burden. Various signaling pathways have been documented to modulate IBD, but the exact activation and regulatory mechanisms have not been fully clarified; thus, a need for constant exploration of the molecules and pathways that play key roles in the development of IBD. In recent years, several protein post-translational modification pathways, such as ubiquitination, phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, and glycolysis, have been implicated in IBD. An aberrant ubiquitination in IBD is often associated with dysregulated immune responses and inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in regulating ubiquitination modifications through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, a cellular machinery responsible for protein degradation. Specifically, MSCs have been shown to influence the ubiquitination of key signaling molecules involved in inflammatory pathways. This paper reviews the recent research progress in MSC-regulated ubiquitination in IBD, highlighting their therapeutic potential in treating IBD and offering a promising avenue for developing targeted interventions to modulate the immune system and alleviate inflammatory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Xi Liao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine of Jiangsu Province, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lianyungang Clinical College, Jiangsu University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaojun Mao
- The People’s Hospital of Danyang, Affiliated Danyang Hospital of Nantong University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lan Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Danyang Blood Station, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Naijian Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lianyungang Clinical College, Jiangsu University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dickson Kofi Wiredu Ocansey
- Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine of Jiangsu Province, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine of Jiangsu Province, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fei Mao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine of Jiangsu Province, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lianyungang Clinical College, Jiangsu University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
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4
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Ren J, Lv L, Tao X, Zhai X, Chen X, Yu H, Zhao X, Kong X, Yu Z, Dong D, Liu J. The role of CBL family ubiquitin ligases in cancer progression and therapeutic strategies. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1432545. [PMID: 39130630 PMCID: PMC11310040 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1432545] [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: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The CBL (Casitas B-lineage lymphoma) family, as a class of ubiquitin ligases, can regulate signal transduction and activate receptor tyrosine kinases through various tyrosine kinase-dependent pathways. There are three members of the family: c-CBL, CBL-b, and CBL-c. Numerous studies have demonstrated the important role of CBL in various cellular pathways, particularly those involved in the occurrence and progression of cancer, hematopoietic development, and regulation of T cell receptors. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to comprehensively summarize the function and regulatory role of CBL family proteins in different human tumors, as well as the progress of drug research targeting CBL family, so as to provide a broader clinical measurement strategy for the treatment of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- School of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Linlin Lv
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xufeng Tao
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaohan Zhai
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xuyang Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- School of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xinya Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- School of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xin Kong
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- School of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Zhan Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Deshi Dong
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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5
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Lotze MT, Olejniczak SH, Skokos D. CD28 co-stimulation: novel insights and applications in cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41577-024-01061-1. [PMID: 39054343 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-01061-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Substantial progress in understanding T cell signalling, particularly with respect to T cell co-receptors such as the co-stimulatory receptor CD28, has been made in recent years. This knowledge has been instrumental in the development of innovative immunotherapies for patients with cancer, including immune checkpoint blockade antibodies, adoptive cell therapies, tumour-targeted immunostimulatory antibodies, and immunostimulatory small-molecule drugs that regulate T cell activation. Following the failed clinical trial of a CD28 superagonist antibody in 2006, targeted CD28 agonism has re-emerged as a technologically viable and clinically promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. In this Review, we explore recent insights into the molecular functions and regulation of CD28. We describe how CD28 is central to the success of current cancer immunotherapies and examine how new questions arising from studies of CD28 as a clinical target have enhanced our understanding of its biological role and may guide the development of future therapeutic strategies in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Lotze
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Scott H Olejniczak
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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6
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De Sanctis JB, Garmendia JV, Duchová H, Valentini V, Puskasu A, Kubíčková A, Hajdúch M. Lck Function and Modulation: Immune Cytotoxic Response and Tumor Treatment More Than a Simple Event. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2630. [PMID: 39123358 PMCID: PMC11311849 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16152630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lck, a member of the Src kinase family, is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase involved in immune cell activation, antigen recognition, tumor growth, and cytotoxic response. The enzyme has usually been linked to T lymphocyte activation upon antigen recognition. Lck activation is central to CD4, CD8, and NK activation. However, recently, it has become clearer that activating the enzyme in CD8 cells can be independent of antigen presentation and enhance the cytotoxic response. The role of Lck in NK cytotoxic function has been controversial in a similar fashion as the role of the enzyme in CAR T cells. Inhibiting tyrosine kinases has been a highly successful approach to treating hematologic malignancies. The inhibitors may be useful in treating other tumor types, and they may be useful to prevent cell exhaustion. New, more selective inhibitors have been documented, and they have shown interesting activities not only in tumor growth but in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, asthma, and graft vs. host disease. Drug repurposing and bioinformatics can aid in solving several unsolved issues about the role of Lck in cancer. In summary, the role of Lck in immune response and tumor growth is not a simple event and requires more research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Bautista De Sanctis
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.G.); (V.V.); (A.K.); (M.H.)
- Czech Advanced Technologies and Research Institute (CATRIN), 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jenny Valentina Garmendia
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.G.); (V.V.); (A.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Hana Duchová
- Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (H.D.); (A.P.)
| | - Viktor Valentini
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.G.); (V.V.); (A.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Alex Puskasu
- Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (H.D.); (A.P.)
| | - Agáta Kubíčková
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.G.); (V.V.); (A.K.); (M.H.)
- Czech Advanced Technologies and Research Institute (CATRIN), 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marián Hajdúch
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.G.); (V.V.); (A.K.); (M.H.)
- Czech Advanced Technologies and Research Institute (CATRIN), 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital Olomouc, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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7
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Setsu G, Goto M, Ito K, Taira T, Miyamoto M, Watanabe T, Higuchi S. Pharmacological inhibition of HPK1 synergizes with PD-L1 blockade to provoke antitumor immunity against tumors with low antigenicity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 715:149995. [PMID: 38685185 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149995] [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: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly transformed the landscape of cancer therapy. Nevertheless, while these inhibitors are highly effective for certain patient groups, many do not benefit due to primary or acquired resistance. Specifically, these treatments often lack sufficient therapeutic efficacy against cancers with low antigenicity. Thus, the development of an effective strategy to overcome cancers with low antigenicity is imperative for advancing next-generation cancer immunotherapy. Here, we show that small molecule inhibitor of hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) combined with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade can enhance T-cell response to tumor with low antigenicity. We found that treatment of OT-1 splenocytes with HPK1 inhibitor enhanced the activation of signaling molecules downstream of T-cell receptor provoked by low-affinity-antigen stimulation. Using an in vivo OT-1 T-cell transfer model, we demonstrated that combining the HPK1 inhibitor with the anti-PD-L1 antibody significantly suppressed the growth of tumors expressing low-affinity altered peptide ligand of chicken ovalbumin, while anti-PD-L1 antibody monotherapy was ineffective. Our findings offer crucial insights into the potential for overcoming tumors with low antigenicity by combining conventional immune checkpoint inhibitors with HPK1 inhibitor.
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8
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van der Burg SH, Lotze MT. Perspectives from the leadership of Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009661. [PMID: 38901880 PMCID: PMC11191768 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael T Lotze
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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9
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Miao Y, Wang S, Zhang J, Liu H, Zhang C, Jin S, Bai D. Strategic advancement of E3 ubiquitin ligase in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Med Oncol 2024; 41:178. [PMID: 38888684 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-024-02411-8] [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: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a significant global health challenge due to its high incidence, poor prognosis, and limited treatment options. As a pivotal regulator of protein stability, E3 ubiquitin ligase plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and development. This review provides an overview of the latest research on the involvement of E3 ubiquitin ligase in hepatocellular carcinoma and elucidates its significance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation, invasion, and evasion from immune surveillance. Special attention is given to the functions of RING, HECT, and RBR E3 ubiquitin ligases and their association with hepatocellular carcinoma progression. By dissecting the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks governed by E3 ubiquitin ligase, several potential therapeutic strategies are proposed: including the development of specific inhibitors targeting E3 ligases; augmentation of their tumor suppressor activity through drug or gene therapy; utilization of E3 ubiquitin ligase to modulate immune checkpoint proteins for improved efficacy of immunotherapy; combination strategies integrating traditional therapies with E3 ubiquitin ligase inhibitors; as well as biomarker development based on E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Furthermore, this review discusses the prospect of overcoming drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment through these novel approaches. Overall, this review establishes a theoretical foundation and offers fresh insights into harnessing the potential of E3 ubiquitin ligase for treating hepatocellular carcinoma while highlighting future research directions that pave the way for clinical translation studies and new drug discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Miao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shunyi Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiahao Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Shengjie Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Dousheng Bai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
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10
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McEwen DP, Ray P, Nancarrow DJ, Wang Z, Kasturirangan S, Abdullah S, Balan A, Hoskeri R, Thomas D, Lawrence TS, Beer DG, Lagisetty KH, Ray D. ISG15/GRAIL1/CD3 axis influences survival of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e179315. [PMID: 38781019 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.179315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppression is a common feature of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and has been linked to poor overall survival (OS). We hypothesized that upstream factors might negatively influence CD3 levels and T cell activity, thus promoting immunosuppression and worse survival. We used clinical data and patient samples of those who progressed from Barrett's to dysplasia to EAC, investigated gene (RNA-Seq) and protein (tissue microarray) expression, and performed cell biology studies to delineate a pathway impacting CD3 protein stability that might influence EAC outcome. We showed that the loss of both CD3-ε expression and CD3+ T cell number correlated with worse OS in EAC. The gene related to anergy in lymphocytes isoform 1 (GRAIL1), which is the prominent isoform in EACs, degraded (ε, γ, δ) CD3s and inactivated T cells. In contrast, isoform 2 (GRAIL2), which is reduced in EACs, stabilized CD3s. Further, GRAIL1-mediated CD3 degradation was facilitated by interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), a ubiquitin-like protein. Consequently, the overexpression of a ligase-dead GRAIL1, ISG15 knockdown, or the overexpression of a conjugation-defective ISG15-leucine-arginine-glycine-glycine mutant could increase CD3 levels. Together, we identified an ISG15/GRAIL1/mutant p53 amplification loop negatively influencing CD3 levels and T cell activity, thus promoting immunosuppression in EAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Dafydd Thomas
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - David G Beer
- Department of Surgery, Section of Thoracic Surgery
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11
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Augustin RC, Cai WL, Luke JJ, Bao R. Facts and Hopes in Using Omics to Advance Combined Immunotherapy Strategies. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:1724-1732. [PMID: 38236069 PMCID: PMC11062841 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-2241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The field of oncology has been transformed by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and other immune-based agents; however, many patients do not receive a durable benefit. While biomarker assessments from pivotal ICI trials have uncovered certain mechanisms of resistance, results thus far have only scraped the surface. Mechanisms of resistance are as complex as the tumor microenvironment (TME) itself, and the development of effective therapeutic strategies will only be possible by building accurate models of the tumor-immune interface. With advancement of multi-omic technologies, high-resolution characterization of the TME is now possible. In addition to sequencing of bulk tumor, single-cell transcriptomic, proteomic, and epigenomic data as well as T-cell receptor profiling can now be simultaneously measured and compared between responders and nonresponders to ICI. Spatial sequencing and imaging platforms have further expanded the dimensionality of existing technologies. Rapid advancements in computation and data sharing strategies enable development of biologically interpretable machine learning models to integrate data from high-resolution, multi-omic platforms. These models catalyze the identification of resistance mechanisms and predictors of benefit in ICI-treated patients, providing scientific foundation for novel clinical trials. Moving forward, we propose a framework by which in silico screening, functional validation, and clinical trial biomarker assessment can be used for the advancement of combined immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C. Augustin
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Medical Oncology, Rochester, MN
| | - Wesley L. Cai
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Jason J. Luke
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Riyue Bao
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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12
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Hu X, Li E, Zhou Y, You Q, Jiang Z. Casitas b cell lymphoma‑B (Cbl-b): A new therapeutic avenue for small-molecule immunotherapy. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 102:117677. [PMID: 38457911 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized the area of cancer treatment. Although most immunotherapies now are antibodies targeting membrane checkpoint molecules, there is an increasing demand for small-molecule drugs that address intracellular pathways. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Casitas B cell lymphoma‑b (Cbl-b) has been regarded as a promising intracellular immunotherapy target. Cbl-b regulates the downstream proteins of multiple membrane receptors and co-receptors, restricting the activation of the innate and adaptive immune system. Recently, Cbl-b inhibitors have been reported with promising effects on immune surveillance activation and anti-tumor efficacy. Several molecules have entered phase Ⅰ clinical trials. In this review, the biological rationale of Cbl-b as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy and the latest research progress of Cbl-b are summarized, with special emphasis on the allosteric small-molecule inhibitors of Cbl-b.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuqi Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Erdong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yangguo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qidong You
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Zhengyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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13
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Zhou L, Yang J, Zhang K, Wang T, Jiang S, Zhang X. Rising Star in Immunotherapy: Development and Therapeutic Potential of Small-Molecule Inhibitors Targeting Casitas B Cell Lymphoma-b (Cbl-b). J Med Chem 2024; 67:816-837. [PMID: 38181380 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01361] [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: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Casitas B cell lymphoma-b (Cbl-b) is a vital negative regulator of TCR and BCR signaling pathways, playing a significant role in setting an appropriate threshold for the activation of T cells and controlling the tolerance of peripheral T cells via a variety of mechanisms. Overexpression of Cbl-b leads to immune hyporesponsiveness of T cells. Conversely, the deficiency of Cbl-b in T cells results in markedly increased production of IL-2, even in the lack of CD28 costimulation in vitro. And Cbl-b-/- mice spontaneously reject multifarious cancers. Therefore, Cbl-b may be associated with immune-mediated diseases, and blocking Cbl-b could be considered as a new antitumor immunotherapy strategy. In this review, the possible regulatory mechanisms and biological potential of Cbl-b for antitumor immunotherapy are summarized. Besides, the potential roles of Cbl-b in immune-mediated diseases are comprehensively discussed, with emphasis on Cbl-b immune-oncology agents in the preclinical stage and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Zhou
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jiamei Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Kuojun Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Sheng Jiang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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14
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Bao H, Peng Z, Cheng X, Jian C, Li X, Shi Y, Zhu W, Hu Y, Jiang M, Song J, Fang F, Chen J, Shu X. GABA induced by sleep deprivation promotes the proliferation and migration of colon tumors through miR-223-3p endogenous pathway and exosome pathway. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:344. [PMID: 38105184 PMCID: PMC10726571 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02921-9] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research has indicated that long-term sleep deprivation can lead to immune dysfunction and participate in the occurance and progression of tumors. However, the relationship between sleep deprivation and colon cancer remains unclear. This study explored the specific mechanism through which sleep deprivation promotes the proliferation and migration of colon cancer, with a focus on the neurotransmitter GABA. METHODS Chronic sleep deprivation mice model were used to investigate the effect of sleep disorder on tumors. We detected neurotransmitter levels in the peripheral blood of mice using ELISA. CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay were performed to investigate the effect of GABA on colon cancer cells, while immunofluorescence showed the distribution of macrophages in lung metastatic tissues. We isolated exosomes from a GABA-induced culture medium to explore the effects of GABA-induced colon cancer cells on macrophages. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments, luciferase report analysis, immunohistochemistry, and cytokine detection were performed to reveal the crosstalk between colon cancer cells and macrophages. RESULTS Sleep deprivation promote peripheral blood GABA level and colon cancer cell proliferation and migration. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that GABA-induced colon cancer metastasis is associated with enhanced recruitment of macrophages in the lungs. The co-culture results showed that GABA intensified M2 polarization of macrophage induced by colon cancer cells. This effect is due to the activation of the macrophage MAPK pathway by tumor-derived exosomal miR-223-3p. Furthermore, M2-like macrophages promote tumor proliferation and migration by secreting IL-17. We also identified an endogenous miR-223-3p downregulation of the E3 ligase CBLB, which enhances the stability of cMYC protein and augments colon cancer cells proliferation and migration ability. Notably, cMYC acts as a transcription factor and can also regulate the expression of miR-223-3p. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that sleep deprivation can promote the expression of miR-223-3p in colon cancer cells through GABA, leading to downregulation of the E3 ligase CBLB and inhibition of cMYC ubiquitination. Simultaneously, extracellular miR-223-3p promotes M2-like macrophage polarization, which leads to the secretion of IL-17, further enhancing the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Bao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China
| | - Zuojie Peng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China
| | - Xukai Cheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China
| | - Chenxing Jian
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Putian University, Putian, 351100, Fujian, China
| | - Xianguo Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongping Shi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenzhong Zhu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Hu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China
| | - Mi Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Song
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China
| | - Feifei Fang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinhuang Chen
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xiaogang Shu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, , Jiefang Road No,1277, Hubei, 430022, Wuhan, China.
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15
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Kimani SW, Perveen S, Szewezyk M, Zeng H, Dong A, Li F, Ghiabi P, Li Y, Chau I, Arrowsmith CH, Barsyte-Lovejoy D, Santhakumar V, Vedadi M, Halabelian L. The co-crystal structure of Cbl-b and a small-molecule inhibitor reveals the mechanism of Cbl-b inhibition. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1272. [PMID: 38104184 PMCID: PMC10725504 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05655-8] [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: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Cbl-b is a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase that is expressed in several immune cell lineages, where it negatively regulates the activity of immune cells. Cbl-b has specifically been identified as an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy due to its role in promoting an immunosuppressive tumor environment. A Cbl-b inhibitor, Nx-1607, is currently in phase I clinical trials for advanced solid tumor malignancies. Using a suite of biophysical and cellular assays, we confirm potent binding of C7683 (an analogue of Nx-1607) to the full-length Cbl-b and its N-terminal fragment containing the TKBD-LHR-RING domains. To further elucidate its mechanism of inhibition, we determined the co-crystal structure of Cbl-b with C7683, revealing the compound's interaction with both the TKBD and LHR, but not the RING domain. Here, we provide structural insights into a novel mechanism of Cbl-b inhibition by a small-molecule inhibitor that locks the protein in an inactive conformation by acting as an intramolecular glue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serah W Kimani
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sumera Perveen
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Magdalena Szewezyk
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hong Zeng
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aiping Dong
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Fengling Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pegah Ghiabi
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yanjun Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Irene Chau
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cheryl H Arrowsmith
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Masoud Vedadi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Levon Halabelian
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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16
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Setsu G, Goto M, Ito K, Taira T, Miyamoto M, Watanabe T, Taniguchi T, Umezaki Y, Nakazawa Y, Uesugi S, Mori K, Horiuchi T, Obuchi W, Minami M, Shimada T, Wada C, Yoshida T, Higuchi S. Highly potent, orally active novel small-molecule HPK1 inhibitor DS21150768 induces anti-tumor responses in multiple syngeneic tumor mouse models. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 961:176184. [PMID: 37944847 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176184] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Augmenting T-cell activity is a promising approach to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy treatment. Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) is predominantly expressed in immune cells and negatively regulates T-cell receptor signaling. It is reported that inhibition of the kinase function of HPK1 results in tumor growth suppression by enhancing cancer immunity. Thus, developing HPK1 inhibitors has attracted considerable attention as a future cancer immunotherapy approach. However, despite recent progress in HPK1 biology and pharmacology, various challenges still remain, such as developing HPK1 inhibitors with favorable pharmacological profiles and identifying tumor characteristics that can be applied to define susceptibility to HPK1 inhibition. Here, we present the identification and pharmacological evaluation of DS21150768, a potent small-molecule HPK1 inhibitor with a novel chemical scaffold. DS21150768 shows remarkable inhibition of HPK1 kinase activity, and in vitro studies demonstrated its potent activity to enhance T-cell function. DS21150768 is orally bioavailable and shows sustained plasma exposure, which leads to enhanced cytokine responses in vivo. We conducted a comparison of the anti-tumor efficacy of DS21150768 alone or in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody in 12 different mouse cancer cell models, and observed that the treatments suppressed tumor growth in multiple models. Furthermore, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis demonstrated significant enrichment of immune-related gene signatures in the tumor models responsive to DS21150768 treatment. Our results provide a path forward for the future development of HPK1 inhibitors and fundamental insights into biomarkers of HPK1-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genzui Setsu
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 140-8710, Japan.
| | - Megumi Goto
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 140-8710, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ito
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 140-8710, Japan
| | - Tomoe Taira
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 140-8710, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Yuma Umezaki
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 140-8710, Japan
| | | | | | - Kazuki Mori
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 140-8710, Japan
| | | | | | - Masako Minami
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 134-8630, Japan
| | | | - Chisa Wada
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 134-8630, Japan
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17
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Giordano Attianese GMP, Ash S, Irving M. Coengineering specificity, safety, and function into T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:166-198. [PMID: 37548063 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive T-cell transfer (ACT) therapies, including of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and T cells gene-modified to express either a T cell receptor (TCR) or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), have demonstrated clinical efficacy for a proportion of patients and cancer-types. The field of ACT has been driven forward by the clinical success of CD19-CAR therapy against various advanced B-cell malignancies, including curative responses for some leukemia patients. However, relapse remains problematic, in particular for lymphoma. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, relative limited efficacy has been demonstrated for ACT of non-hematological solid tumors. Indeed, in addition to pre-infusion challenges including lymphocyte collection and manufacturing, ACT failure can be attributed to several biological processes post-transfer including, (i) inefficient tumor trafficking, infiltration, expansion and retention, (ii) chronic antigen exposure coupled with insufficient costimulation resulting in T-cell exhaustion, (iii) a range of barriers in the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediated by both tumor cells and suppressive immune infiltrate, (iv) tumor antigen heterogeneity and loss, or down-regulation of antigen presentation machinery, (v) gain of tumor intrinsic mechanisms of resistance such as to apoptosis, and (vi) various forms of toxicity and other adverse events in patients. Affinity-optimized TCRs can improve T-cell function and innovative CAR designs as well as gene-modification strategies can be used to coengineer specificity, safety, and function into T cells. Coengineering strategies can be designed not only to directly support the transferred T cells, but also to block suppressive barriers in the TME and harness endogenous innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we review a selection of the remarkable T-cell coengineering strategies, including of tools, receptors, and gene-cargo, that have been developed in recent years to augment tumor control by ACT, more and more of which are advancing to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Maria Paola Giordano Attianese
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Ash
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melita Irving
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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18
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Schlicher L, Green LG, Romagnani A, Renner F. Small molecule inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy and associated biomarkers - the current status. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1297175. [PMID: 38022587 PMCID: PMC10644399 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1297175] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the success of cancer immunotherapy using large molecules against immune checkpoint inhibitors, the concept of using small molecules to interfere with intracellular negative regulators of anti-tumor immune responses has emerged in recent years. The main targets for small molecule drugs currently include enzymes of negative feedback loops in signaling pathways of immune cells and proteins that promote immunosuppressive signals within the tumor microenvironment. In the adaptive immune system, negative regulators of T cell receptor signaling (MAP4K1, DGKα/ζ, CBL-B, PTPN2, PTPN22, SHP1), co-receptor signaling (CBL-B) and cytokine signaling (PTPN2) have been preclinically validated as promising targets and initial clinical trials with small molecule inhibitors are underway. To enhance innate anti-tumor immune responses, inhibitory immunomodulation of cGAS/STING has been in the focus, and inhibitors of ENPP1 and TREX1 have reached the clinic. In addition, immunosuppressive signals via adenosine can be counteracted by CD39 and CD73 inhibition, while suppression via intratumoral immunosuppressive prostaglandin E can be targeted by EP2/EP4 antagonists. Here, we present the status of the most promising small molecule drug candidates for cancer immunotherapy, all residing relatively early in development, and the potential of relevant biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Schlicher
- Cancer Cell Targeted Therapy, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luke G. Green
- Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Romagnani
- Cancer Cell Targeted Therapy, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Florian Renner
- Cancer Cell Targeted Therapy, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
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19
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Ostini A, Mourtada-Maarabouni M. Investigation into the Role of Long-Non-Coding RNA MIAT in Leukemia. Noncoding RNA 2023; 9:47. [PMID: 37624039 PMCID: PMC10459085 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna9040047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Myocardial Infarction Associated Transcript (MIAT) is a nuclear long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) with four different splicing variants. MIAT dysregulation is associated with carcinogenesis, mainly acting as an oncogene regulating cellular growth, invasion, and metastasis. The aim of the current study is to investigate the role of MIAT in the regulation of T and chronic myeloid leukemic cell survival. To this end, MIAT was silenced using MIAT-specific siRNAs in leukemic cell lines, and functional assays were performed thereafter. This investigation also aims to investigate the effects of MIAT silencing on the expression of core genes involved in cancer. Functional studies and gene expression determination confirm that MIAT knockdown not only affects short- and long-term survival and the apoptosis of leukemic cells but also plays a pivotal role in the alteration of key genes involved in cancer, including c-MYC and HIF-1A. Our observations suggest that MIAT could act as an oncogene and it has the potential to be used not only as a reliable biomarker for leukemia, but also be employed for prognostic and therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mirna Mourtada-Maarabouni
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 5BG, UK;
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20
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You H, Dong M. Identification of Immuno-Inflammation-Related Biomarkers for Acute Myocardial Infarction Based on Bioinformatics. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:3283-3302. [PMID: 37576155 PMCID: PMC10417757 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s421196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Previous studies have confirmed that inflammation and immunity are involved in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, only few related genes are identified as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of AMI. Patients and Methods GSE48060 and GSE60993 datasets were retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus. The differentially expressed immuno-inflammation-related genes (DEIIRGs) were obtained from GSE48060, and the biomarkers for AMI were screened and validated using the "Neuralnet" package and GSE60993 dataset. Further, the biomarker-based nomogram was constructed, and miRNAs, transcription factors (TFs), and potential drugs targeting the biomarkers were explored. Furthermore, immune infiltration analysis was analyzed in AMI. Finally, the biomarkers were verified by assessing their mRNA levels using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Results First, eight biomarkers were screened via bioinformatics, and the artificial neural network model indicated a higher prediction accuracy for AMI even in the validation dataset. Nomogram had accurate forecasting ability for AMI as well. The TFs GTF2I, PHOX2B, RUNX1, and FOS targeting hsa-miR-1297 could regulate the expressions of ADM and CBLB, and RORA could effectively interact with melatonin and citalopram. RT-qPCR results for ADM, PI3, MMP9, NRG1 and CBLB were consistent with those of bioinformatic analysis. Conclusion In conclusion, eight key immuno-inflammation-related genes, namely, SH2D1B, ADM, PI3, MMP9, NRG1, CBLB, RORA, and FASLG, may serve as the potential biomarkers for AMI, in which the downregulation of CBLB and upregulation of ADM, PI3, and NRG1 in AMI was detected for the first time, providing a new strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of AMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjun You
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710068, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengya Dong
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710068, People’s Republic of China
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21
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Wang M, Zhang Z, Li Z, Zhu Y, Xu C. E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases in bladder cancer tumorigenesis and implications for immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1226057. [PMID: 37497216 PMCID: PMC10366618 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1226057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
With the rapidly increasing incidence of bladder cancer in China and worldwide, great efforts have been made to understand the detailed mechanism of bladder cancer tumorigenesis. Recently, the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy has changed the treatment strategy for bladder cancer, especially for advanced bladder cancer, and has improved the survival of patients. The ubiquitin-proteasome system, which affects many biological processes, plays an important role in bladder cancer. Several E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases target immune checkpoints, either directly or indirectly. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases in bladder cancer tumorigenesis and further highlight the implications for bladder cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoyu Wang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhensheng Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhizhou Li
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yasheng Zhu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuanliang Xu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
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22
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Zhang L, Cao L, Li S, Wang L, Song Y, Huang Y, Xu Z, He J, Wang M, Li K. Biologically Interpretable Deep Learning To Predict Response to Immunotherapy In Advanced Melanoma Using Mutations and Copy Number Variations. J Immunother 2023; 46:221-231. [PMID: 37220017 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0000000000000475] [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: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Only 30-40% of advanced melanoma patients respond effectively to immunotherapy in clinical practice, so it is necessary to accurately identify the response of patients to immunotherapy pre-clinically. Here, we develop KP-NET, a deep learning model that is sparse on KEGG pathways, and combine it with transfer- learning to accurately predict the response of advanced melanomas to immunotherapy using KEGG pathway-level information enriched from gene mutation and copy number variation data. The KP-NET demonstrates best performance with AUROC of 0.886 on testing set and 0.803 on an unseen evaluation set when predicting responders (CR/PR/SD with PFS ≥6 mo) versus non-responders (PD/SD with PFS <6 mo) in anti-CTLA-4 treated melanoma patients. The model also achieves an AUROC of 0.917 and 0.833 in predicting CR/PR versus PD, respectively. Meanwhile, the AUROC is 0.913 when predicting responders versus non-responders in anti-PD-1/PD-L1 melanomas. Moreover, the KP-NET reveals some genes and pathways associated with response to anti-CTLA-4 treatment, such as genes PIK3CA, AOX1 and CBLB, and ErbB signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway, et al. In conclusion, the KP-NET can accurately predict the response of melanomas to immunotherapy and screen related biomarkers pre-clinically, which can contribute to precision medicine of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuchao Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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23
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Zheng C, Chen J, Wu Y, Wang X, Lin Y, Shu L, Liu W, Wang P. Elucidating the role of ubiquitination and deubiquitination in osteoarthritis progression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1217466. [PMID: 37359559 PMCID: PMC10288844 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1217466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is non-inflammatory degenerative joint arthritis, which exacerbates disability in elder persons. The molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis are elusive. Ubiquitination, one type of post-translational modifications, has been demonstrated to accelerate or ameliorate the development and progression of osteoarthritis via targeting specific proteins for ubiquitination and determining protein stability and localization. Ubiquitination process can be reversed by a class of deubiquitinases via deubiquitination. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the multifaceted role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. We also describe the molecular insight of deubiquitinases into osteoarthritis processes. Moreover, we highlight the multiple compounds that target E3 ubiquitin ligases or deubiquitinases to influence osteoarthritis progression. We discuss the challenge and future perspectives via modulation of E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases expression for enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy in osteoarthritis patients. We conclude that modulating ubiquitination and deubiquitination could alleviate the osteoarthritis pathogenesis to achieve the better treatment outcomes in osteoarthritis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxiao Zheng
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiayi Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Yurui Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaochao Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongan Lin
- South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lilu Shu
- Department of Medicine, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenjun Liu
- Department of Medicine, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peter Wang
- Department of Medicine, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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