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Narayanan S, Baburajan AP, Muhammad M, Joseph A, Vemula PK, Bhat SG. Demonstrating the immunostimulatory and cytokine-augmentation effects of bacterial ghosts on natural killer cells and Caenorhabditis Elegans. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:959-970. [PMID: 38059432 PMCID: PMC7615764 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28619] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The potential of bacteria-based immunotherapy lies in its ability to inherently enhance immune responses. However, the "liveness" of bacteria poses risks of bacterial escape, nonspecific immuno-stimulation, and ethical concerns, limiting their acceptability in immunotherapy. In this scenario, nonliving empty bacterial-cell envelopes, named bacterial ghosts (BGs), have emerged as immuno-stimulants with the potential to side-step the limitations of live bacterial therapies. This study demonstrates the capability of BGs in modulating the functionality of NK-92 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), as well as perform as cytokine-therapy adjuvants. BGs were obtained through a pH-driven culture method, and were validated for their structural and chemical integrity via electron microscopy and spectroscopy. In NK-92 cells, BGs have shown significant immuno-stimulation by boosting the gene-expression of perforin, granzyme-B, Fas-L, and interferon-gamma by factors of 3.5-, 1.5-, 12.5-, and 8.6-folds, respectively. Combined BG and IL-12 treatment yielded a notable 10.2-fold increase in interferon-gamma protein expression in 24 h. The BGs also significantly influenced the innate immune response in C. elegans through the upregulation of lysozyme genes viz., ilys-3 (8.8-fold) and lys-2 (3.1-fold). Our investigation into the impact of BGs on natural killer cells and C. elegans highlights its potential as a valid alternative approach for new-age immunotherapy and cytokine augmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreeja Narayanan
- Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | | | - Mumtaz Muhammad
- Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Andrea Joseph
- Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Praveen Kumar Vemula
- Chemical Biology Approaches for Stem Cells and Therapeutics, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Sarita Ganapathy Bhat
- Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India
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Wu Y, Yuan L, Lu Q, Xu H, He X. Distinctive profiles of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and association with intensity of infiltration in colorectal cancer. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:3876-3882. [PMID: 29456737 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.7771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating immune cells are heterogeneous and consist of characteristic compartments, including T helper (Th)1 and regulatory T (Treg) cells that exhibit distinctive biological functions. The present study investigated the profile of infiltrating immune cells from surgically removed tumor tissues from patients with colorectal cancer. The characteristic transcription factors of Th1 and Th2 cells, Treg cells, Th17 cells and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells were analyzed. The results demonstrated that a marked increased number of Treg cells presented in tumor infiltrates when compared with non-tumor adjacent tissues. An increased number of Th1 and Tfh cells existed in tumor infiltrates compared with non-tumorous adjacent tissues, while the infiltration of Th17 and Th2 cells was similar between tumor and non-tumor adjacent tissues. Furthermore, there were an increased number of Treg cells in tumors with low infiltration compared with those with high infiltration. The expression of CXC motif chemokine (CXC) receptor 3, CXC ligand (CXCL)L9 and CXCL10 was significantly increased on infiltrating T cells in tumors with high infiltration as compared with those with low infiltration. Macrophages exhibited a dominant M2 phenotype in tumor infiltrates of colorectal cancer, whereas a balanced M1 and M2 phenotype presented in macrophages from the peripheral blood. In vitro stimulation of macrophages isolated from tumor tissue of colorectal cancer with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and lipopolysaccharide did not drive to an inflammatory phenotype. The results provide insights into the pattern of immune cell infiltration in Chinese patients with colorectal cancer. It may be beneficial that patients with colorectal cancer are screened for the defined profile along with the expression of CXCL9 and CXCL10 in order to achieve better efficacy in clinical applications of immune-based therapy, including anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yugang Wu
- Department of Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University/The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
| | - Lei Yuan
- Department of Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University/The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
| | - Qicheng Lu
- Department of Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University/The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
| | - Haiyan Xu
- Department of Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University/The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaozhou He
- Department of Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University/The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
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El-Hussein A, Lam SSK, Raker J, Chen WR, Hamblin MR. N-dihydrogalactochitosan as a potent immune activator for dendritic cells. J Biomed Mater Res A 2017; 105:963-972. [PMID: 28028922 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become one of the fastest growing areas of cancer research. A promising in situ autologous cancer vaccine (inCVAX) uses a novel immune activator, N-dihydrogalactochitosan (GC), that possesses the ability to stimulate dendritic cells (DC). inCVAX is a combination treatment procedure involving treatment of the tumor with a thermal near-infrared laser to liberate whole cell tumor antigens, followed by injection of GC (a glucosamine polymer with galactose attached to the amino groups) into the treated tumor thereby inducing a systemic antitumor immune response. Regression of both the treated tumor and distant untreated metastases has been observed in both nonclinical and clinical settings following inCVAX. We studied the stimulatory action of GC on relatively immature DCs (DC2.4 cell line) in vitro. GC at 1 mg/mL was a potent stimulator for DC with limited toxicity, giving increased expression of major histocompatibility complex class 2, CD80, and CD11c. Confocal imaging also revealed qualitatively increased uptake of antigen (Texas red-labeled ovalbumin) by DCs after the introduction of GC. To visualize cellular uptake, GC was conjugated with FITC-fluorophore revealing its cellular internalization after 8 hours. In some cases GC was more effective than the toxic TLR4 agonist, lipopolysaccharide. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 963-972, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed El-Hussein
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.,Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.,The National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Samuel S K Lam
- Immunophotonics, Inc, 4320 Forest Park Ave, Suite #303, St. Louis, Missouri 63108
| | - Joseph Raker
- Immunophotonics, Inc, 4320 Forest Park Ave, Suite #303, St. Louis, Missouri 63108
| | - Wei R Chen
- University of Central Oklahoma, 100 N University Dr, Edmond, Oklahoma 73034
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.,Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.,Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
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Felgner S, Kocijancic D, Frahm M, Weiss S. Bacteria in Cancer Therapy: Renaissance of an Old Concept. Int J Microbiol 2016; 2016:8451728. [PMID: 27051423 PMCID: PMC4802035 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8451728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The rising incidence of cancer cases worldwide generates an urgent need of novel treatment options. Applying bacteria may represent a valuable therapeutic variant that is intensively investigated nowadays. Interestingly, the idea to apply bacteria wittingly or unwittingly dates back to ancient times and was revived in the 19th century mainly by the pioneer William Coley. This review summarizes and compares the results of the past 150 years in bacteria mediated tumor therapy from preclinical to clinical studies. Lessons we have learned from the past provide a solid foundation on which to base future efforts. In this regard, several perspectives are discussed by which bacteria in addition to their intrinsic antitumor effect can be used as vector systems that shuttle therapeutic compounds into the tumor. Strategic solutions like these provide a sound and more apt exploitation of bacteria that may overcome limitations of conventional therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Felgner
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dino Kocijancic
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Frahm
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Siegfried Weiss
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Smith YE, Vellanki SH, Hopkins AM. Dynamic interplay between adhesion surfaces in carcinomas: Cell-cell and cell-matrix crosstalk. World J Biol Chem 2016; 7:64-77. [PMID: 26981196 PMCID: PMC4768125 DOI: 10.4331/wjbc.v7.i1.64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Revised: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-cell and cell-matrix signaling and communication between adhesion sites involve mechanisms which are required for cellular functions during normal development and homeostasis; however these cellular functions and mechanisms are often deregulated in cancer. Aberrant signaling at cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion sites often involves downstream mediators including Rho GTPases and tyrosine kinases. This review discusses these molecules as putative mediators of cellular crosstalk between cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion sites, in addition to their attractiveness as therapeutic targets in cancer. Interestingly, inter-junctional crosstalk mechanisms are frequently typified by the way in which bacterial and viral pathogens opportunistically infect or intoxicate mammalian cells. This review therefore also discusses the concept of learning from pathogen-host interaction studies to better understand coordinated communication between cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion sites, in addition to highlighting the potential therapeutic usefulness of exploiting pathogens or their products to tap into inter-junctional crosstalk. Taken together, we feel that increased knowledge around mechanisms of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion site crosstalk and consequently a greater understanding of their therapeutic targeting offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the emerging molecular revolution in cancer biology.
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Feng Y, Martin P. Imaging innate immune responses at tumour initiation: new insights from fish and flies. Nat Rev Cancer 2015; 15:556-62. [PMID: 26289312 DOI: 10.1038/nrc3979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent imaging studies in genetically tractable and translucent zebrafish and Drosophila melanogaster models have opened a window on the earliest stages of tumorigenesis, when pre-neoplastic cells first arise in tissues before they progress into full-blown cancers. Innate immune cells often find these cells soon after they develop, but this efficient surveillance is not always good for the host because although immune cells have phagocytic capacity, they can also nurture the growing clones of pre-neoplastic cells. We describe these newly observed early interactions between immune cells and cancer cells and speculate on their potential clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Feng
- Medical Research Council Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Paul Martin
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol; and the School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
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Combinations of TLR ligands: a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. Clin Dev Immunol 2013; 2013:271246. [PMID: 24371445 PMCID: PMC3859257 DOI: 10.1155/2013/271246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Revised: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a family of pattern recognition receptors recognizing molecules expressed by pathogens, are typically expressed by immune cells. However, several recent studies revealed functional TLR expression also on tumor cells. Their expression is a two-sided coin for tumor cells. Not only tumor-promoting effects of TLR ligands are described but also direct oncopathic and immunostimulatory effects. To clarify TLRs' role in colorectal cancer (CRC), we tested the impact of the TLR ligands LPS, Poly I:C, R848, and Taxol on primary human CRC cell lines (HROC40, HROC60, and HROC69) in vitro and in vivo (CT26). Taxol, not only a potent tumor-apoptosis-inducing, but also TLR4-activating chemotherapeutic compound, inhibited growth and viability of all cell lines, whereas the remaining TLR ligands had only marginal effects (R848 > LPS > Poly I:C). Combinations of the substances here did not improve the results, whereas antitumoral effects were dramatically boosted when human lymphocytes were added. Here, combining the TLR ligands often diminished antitumoral effects. In vivo, best tumor growth control was achieved by the combination of Taxol and R848. However, when combined with LPS, Taxol accelerated tumor growth. These data generally prove the potential of TLR ligands to control tumor growth and activate immune cells, but they also demonstrate the importance of choosing the right combinations.
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Vacchelli E, Eggermont A, Sautès-Fridman C, Galon J, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial Watch: Toll-like receptor agonists for cancer therapy. Oncoimmunology 2013; 2:e25238. [PMID: 24083080 PMCID: PMC3782517 DOI: 10.4161/onci.25238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 05/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have long been known for their ability to initiate innate immune responses upon exposure to conserved microbial components such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and double-stranded RNA. More recently, this family of pattern recognition receptors has been attributed a critical role in the elicitation of anticancer immune responses, raising interest in the development of immunochemotherapeutic regimens based on natural or synthetic TLR agonists. In spite of such an intense wave of preclinical and clinical investigation, only three TLR agonists are currently licensed by FDA for use in cancer patients: bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that operates as a mixed TLR2/TLR4 agonist; monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), a derivative of Salmonella minnesota that functions as a potent agonist of TLR4; and imiquimod, a synthetic imidazoquinoline that activates TLR7. One year ago, in the August and September issues of OncoImmunology, we described the main biological features of TLRs and discussed the progress of clinical studies evaluating the safety and therapeutic potential of TLR agonists in cancer patients. Here, we summarize the latest developments in this exciting area of research, focusing on preclinical studies that have been published during the last 13 mo and clinical trials launched in the same period to investigate the antineoplastic activity of TLR agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Vacchelli
- Institut Gustave Roussy; Villejuif, France ; Université Paris-Sud/Paris XI; Le Kremlin-Bicêtre; Paris, France ; INSERM, U848; Villejuif, France
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