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Dunai C, Ames E, Ochoa MC, Fernandez-Sendin M, Melero I, Simonetta F, Baker J, Alvarez M. Killers on the loose: Immunotherapeutic strategies to improve NK cell-based therapy for cancer treatment. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 370:65-122. [PMID: 35798507 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that control tumor progression by not only directly killing cancer cells, but also by regulating other immune cells, helping to orchestrate a coordinated anti-tumor response. However, despite the tremendous potential that this cell type has, the clinical results obtained from diverse NK cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies have been, until recent years, rather modest. The intrinsic regulatory mechanisms that are involved in the control of their activation as well as the multiple mechanisms that tumor cells have developed to escape NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity likely account for the unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. The current approaches to improve long-term NK cell function are centered on modulating different molecules involved in both the activation and inhibition of NK cells, and the latest data seems to advocate for combining strategies that target multiple aspects of NK cell regulation. In this review, we summarize the different strategies (such as engineered NK cells, CAR-NK, NK cell immune engagers) that are currently being used to take advantage of this potent and complex immune cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cordelia Dunai
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Erik Ames
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Maria C Ochoa
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Myriam Fernandez-Sendin
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Melero
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain; Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Translational Research Centre in Onco-Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Maite Alvarez
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
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2
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Zhang J, An L, Zhou X, Shi R, Wang H. Analysis of tumor mutation burden combined with immune infiltrates in endometrial cancer. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:551. [PMID: 33987249 PMCID: PMC8105813 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-6049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is widely regarded as a predictor of response to immunotherapy. Few researchers have focused on the activity and prognosis of TMB in endometrial cancer (EC) and immune cells. Our study aimed to identify the prognostic role of TMB in EC. METHODS We downloaded transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test was conducted to assess the difference in overall survival (OS) between the high and low TMB groups. The "CIBERSORT" scripts were performed to evaluate the immune compositions of EC patients. Cox regression analysis and survival analysis were used to verify the prognostic value prognosis of TMB. RESULTS We obtained the single nucleotide mutation data for 529 EC patients. A missense mutation was the most common mutation type. TMB was associated with survival outcome, tumor grades, and pathological types. We identified 10 hub TMB-related signature and found that elevated T-cell subsets infiltrating density in the high TMB group revealed improved survival outcomes. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, T cells gamma delta and T cells regulatory were prognostic immune cells in EC samples. Moreover, many top gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) results, including amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, nucleotide excision repair, or p53 signaling pathway, were enriched significantly with TMB level as phenotype. CONCLUSIONS TMB is an important prognostic factor for EC, and TMB-related genes may be potential therapeutic targets for EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lanfen An
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xing Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Rui Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongbo Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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3
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Alvarez M, Pierini A, Simonetta F, Baker J, Maas-Bauer K, Hirai T, Negrin RS. Infusion of Host-Derived Unlicensed NK Cells Improves Donor Engraftment in Non-Myeloablative Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. Front Immunol 2021; 11:614250. [PMID: 33488624 PMCID: PMC7817981 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.614250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is an efficacious and frequently the only treatment option for some hematological malignances. However, it often faces severe morbidities and/or mortalities due to graft versus host disease, and the severity of the conditioning regiment needed, that result in toxicity-related issues poorly tolerable for some patients. These shortcomings have led to the development of less aggressive alternatives like non-myeloablative (NMAC) or reduced-intensity conditioning regiments (RIC). However, these approaches tend to have an increase of cancer relapse and limited persistence of donor-specific chimerism. Thus, strategies that lead towards an accelerated and more durable donor engraftment are still needed. Here, we took advantage of the ability of host-derived unlicensed NK (UnLicNK) cells to favor donor cell engraftment during myeloablative allo-HCT, and evaluated if the adoptive transfer of this cell type can improve donor chimerism in NAMC settings. Indeed, the infusion of these cells significantly increased mixed chimerism in a sublethal allo-HCT mouse model, resulting in a more sustainable donor cell engraftment when compared to the administration of licensed NK cells or HCT controls. We observed an overall increase in the total number and proportion of donor B, NK and myeloid cells after UnLicNK cell infusion. Additionally, the extension and durability of donor chimerism was similar to the one obtained after the tolerogenic Tregs infusion. These results serve as the needed bases for the implementation of the adoptive transfer of UnLicNK cells to upgrade NMAC protocols and enhance allogeneic engraftment during HCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Alvarez
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States.,Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy Department, Center for Applied Medical research (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Pierini
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Kristina Maas-Bauer
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Toshihito Hirai
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Robert S Negrin
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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4
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Oras A, Quirant‐Sanchez B, Popadic D, Thunberg S, Winqvist O, Heck S, Cwikowski M, Riemann D, Seliger B, Martinez Caceres E, Uibo R, Giese T. Comprehensive flow cytometric reference intervals of leukocyte subsets from six study centers across Europe. Clin Exp Immunol 2020; 202:363-378. [PMID: 32654132 PMCID: PMC7670136 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A group of European FOCIS Centers of Excellence adapted panels of the Human Immunophenotyping Consortium (HIPC) for whole blood analysis. Using four core panels [T/regulatory T cell/B/natural killer (T/Treg /B/NK) and myeloid cells] the main leukocyte populations were analyzed in a clinical-diagnostic setting in a harmonized manner across different platforms. As a first step, the consortium presents here the absolute and relative frequencies of the leukocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood of more than 300 healthy volunteers across six different European centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Oras
- Department of ImmunologyInstitute of Biomedicine and Translational MedicineUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - B. Quirant‐Sanchez
- Immunology DivisionLCMNGermans Trias i Pujol University Hospital and Research InstituteBarcelonaSpain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and ImmunologyUniversitat Autonoma BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Center of Excellence
| | - D. Popadic
- Institute of Microbiology and ImmunologySchool of MedicineUniversity of BelgradeBelgradeSerbia
| | - S. Thunberg
- Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Center of Excellence
- Unit of Immunology and AllergyKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - O. Winqvist
- Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Center of Excellence
- Unit of Immunology and AllergyKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - S. Heck
- Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Center of Excellence
- NIHR GSTT/KCL Comprehensive Biomedical Research CentreGuy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - M. Cwikowski
- Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Center of Excellence
- Institute of Medical ImmunologyMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐WittenbergHalle/SaaleGermany
| | - D. Riemann
- Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Center of Excellence
- Institute of Medical ImmunologyMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐WittenbergHalle/SaaleGermany
| | - B. Seliger
- Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Center of Excellence
- Institute of Medical ImmunologyMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐WittenbergHalle/SaaleGermany
| | - E. Martinez Caceres
- Immunology DivisionLCMNGermans Trias i Pujol University Hospital and Research InstituteBarcelonaSpain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and ImmunologyUniversitat Autonoma BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Center of Excellence
| | - R. Uibo
- Department of ImmunologyInstitute of Biomedicine and Translational MedicineUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - T. Giese
- Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Center of Excellence
- Institute of ImmunologyHeidelberg University HospitalGerman Center for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner siteHeidelbergGermany
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5
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Alvarez M, Dunai C, Khuat LT, Aguilar EG, Barao I, Murphy WJ. IL-2 and Anti-TGF-β Promote NK Cell Reconstitution and Anti-tumor Effects after Syngeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113189. [PMID: 33138229 PMCID: PMC7692743 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) causes early immune deficiency and susceptibility to both opportunistic infections and cancer relapse. In this study, using a mouse model where donor cells can be tracked over time, we have observed that the combination of IL-2 (a cytokine which activates the immune system) combined with the blockade of TGF-β (a cytokine which suppresses the immune system) increased immune recovery and resulted in greater anti-tumor efficacy. The combination of IL-2 and anti-TGF-β accelerated NK cell and myeloid cell reconstitution after HSCT. Abstract The failure of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been associated with a profound immunodeficiency that follows shortly after treatment, which renders patients susceptible to opportunistic infections and/or cancer relapse. Thus, given the additional immunosuppressive pathways involved in immune evasion in cancer, strategies that induce a faster reconstitution of key immune effector cells are needed. Natural killer (NK) cells mediate potent anti-tumor effector functions and are the first immune cells to repopulate after HSCT. TGF-β is a potent immunosuppressive cytokine that can impede both the development and function of immune cells. Here, we evaluated the use of an immunotherapeutic regimen that combines low dose of IL-2, an NK cell stimulatory signal, with TGF-β neutralization, in order to accelerate NK cell reconstitution following congenic HSCT in mice by providing stimulatory signals yet also abrogating inhibitory ones. This therapy led to a marked expansion of NK cells and accelerated NK cell maturation. Following HSCT, mature NK cells from the treated recipients displayed an activated phenotype and enhanced anti-tumor responses both in vitro and in vivo. No overt toxicities or adverse effects were observed in the treated recipients. However, these stimulatory effects on NK cell recovery were predicated upon continuous treatment as cessation of treatment led to return to baseline levels and to no improvement of overall immune recovery when assessed at later time-points, indicating strict regulatory control of the NK cell compartment. Overall, this study still demonstrates that therapies that combine positive and negative signals can be plausible strategies to accelerate NK cell reconstitution following HSCT and augment anti-tumor efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Alvarez
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (M.A.); (C.D.); (L.T.K.); (E.G.A.); (I.B.)
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy Department, Center for Applied Medical research (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cordelia Dunai
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (M.A.); (C.D.); (L.T.K.); (E.G.A.); (I.B.)
| | - Lam T. Khuat
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (M.A.); (C.D.); (L.T.K.); (E.G.A.); (I.B.)
| | - Ethan G. Aguilar
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (M.A.); (C.D.); (L.T.K.); (E.G.A.); (I.B.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Isabel Barao
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (M.A.); (C.D.); (L.T.K.); (E.G.A.); (I.B.)
| | - William J. Murphy
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (M.A.); (C.D.); (L.T.K.); (E.G.A.); (I.B.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- Correspondence:
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6
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Makanga DR, Guillaume T, Willem C, Legrand N, Gagne K, Cesbron A, Gendzekhadze K, Peterlin P, Garnier A, Le Bourgeois A, Béné MC, Chevallier P, Retière C. Posttransplant Cyclophosphamide and Antithymocyte Globulin versus Posttransplant Cyclophosphamide as Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis for Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Haploidentical Transplants: Comparison of T Cell and NK Effector Reconstitution. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:1441-1448. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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7
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Wang JL, Han MZ. [The pathogenesis of poor graft function after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2020; 40:792-795. [PMID: 31648490 PMCID: PMC7342449 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2019.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J L Wang
- Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, CAMS & PUMC, Tianjin 300020, China
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8
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Alvarez M, Simonetta F, Baker J, Morrison AR, Wenokur AS, Pierini A, Berraondo P, Negrin RS. Indirect Impact of PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade on a Murine Model of NK Cell Exhaustion. Front Immunol 2020; 11:7. [PMID: 32117218 PMCID: PMC7026672 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The induction of exhaustion on effector immune cells is an important limiting factor for cancer immunotherapy efficacy as these cells undergo a hierarchical loss of proliferation and cytolytic activity due to chronic stimulation. Targeting PD-1 has shown unprecedented clinical benefits for many cancers, which have been attributed to the prevention of immune suppression and exhaustion with enhanced anti-tumor responses. In this study, we sought to evaluate the role of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in murine natural killer (NK) cell activation, function, and exhaustion. In an in vivo IL-2-dependent exhaustion mouse model, neutralization of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway improved NK cell activation after chronic stimulation when compared to control-treated mice. These cells displayed higher proliferative capabilities and enhanced granzyme B production. However, the blockade of these molecules during long-term in vitro IL-2 stimulation did not alter the progression of NK cell exhaustion (NCE), suggesting an indirect involvement of PD-1/PD-L1 on NCE. Given the expansion of CD8 T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) observed upon acute and chronic stimulation with IL-2, either of these two populations could influence NK cell homeostasis after PD-L1/PD-1 therapy. Importantly, CD8 T cell activation and functional phenotype were indeed enhanced by PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, particularly with anti-PD-1 treatment that resulted in the highest upregulation of CD25 during chronic stimulation and granted an advantage for IL-2 over NK cells. These results indicate a competition for resources between NK and CD8 T cells that arguably delays the onset of NCE rather than improving its activation during chronic stimulation. Supporting this notion, the depletion of CD8 T cells reversed the benefits of PD-1 therapy on chronically stimulated NK cells. These data suggest a bystander effect of anti-PD1 on NK cells, resulting from the global competition that exists between NK and CD8 T cells for IL-2 as a key regulator of these cells' activation. Thus, achieving an equilibrium between these immune cells might be important to accomplish long-term efficacy during anti-PD-1/IL-2 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Alvarez
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States.,Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Alyssa R Morrison
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Arielle S Wenokur
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Antonio Pierini
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Pedro Berraondo
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Robert S Negrin
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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9
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Mancusi A, Piccinelli S, Velardi A, Pierini A. CD4 +FOXP3 + Regulatory T Cell Therapies in HLA Haploidentical Hematopoietic Transplantation. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2901. [PMID: 31921162 PMCID: PMC6927932 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Since their discovery CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) represented a promising tool to induce tolerance in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Preclinical models proved that adoptive transfer of Tregs or the use of compounds that can favor their function in vivo are effective for prevention and treatment of graft-vs.-host disease (GvHD). Following these findings, Treg-based therapies have been employed in clinical trials. Adoptive immunotherapy with Tregs effectively prevents GvHD induced by alloreactive T cells in the setting of one HLA haplotype mismatched hematopoietic transplantation. The absence of post transplant pharmacologic immunosuppression unleashes T-cell mediated graft-vs.-tumor (GvT) effect, which results in an unprecedented, almost complete control of leukemia relapse in this setting. In the present review, we will report preclinical studies and clinical trials that demonstrate Treg ability to promote donor engraftment, protect from GvHD and improve GvT effect. We will also discuss new strategies to further enhance in vivo efficacy of Treg-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Mancusi
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology and Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sara Piccinelli
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology and Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Velardi
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology and Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Antonio Pierini
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology and Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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10
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Alvarez M, Ochoa MC, Minute L, Melero I, Berraondo P. Rapid isolation and enrichment of mouse NK cells for experimental purposes. Methods Enzymol 2019; 631:257-275. [PMID: 31948551 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have shown to play a critical, but as yet poorly defined, role in the process by which the immune system controls tumor progression. Indeed, NK cell-based immunotherapy, particularly NK cell adoptive transfer therapy, has become a very attractive cancer weapon against multiple types of cancers such as metastatic and hematological cancers. Unfortunately, the implementation of these therapies has been challenged by the existence of immunosuppression mechanisms that have prevented NK cell functionality. Additionally, the development of protocols to obtain purified and functional NK cells has faced some difficulties due to the limitations in the numbers of cells that can be obtained and the development of an exhaustion phenotype with impaired proliferative and functional capabilities during lengthy ex vivo NK cell expansion protocols. Thus, the development of new strategies to obtain a rapid expansion of highly functional NK cells without the appearance of exhaustion is still much needed. This is particularly true in the case of mouse NK cells, a surrogate commonly used to evaluate NK cell biology and human NK cell-based immunotherapeutic alternatives. Here, we describe a feasible and rapid protocol to produce strongly activated mouse NK cells in vivo taking advantage of the hydrodynamic delivery of a plasmid that contains interleukin-15, a cytokine known to cause NK cell expansion and activation, fused with the binding domain of the IL-15Rα ("sushi" domain) and apolipoprotein A-I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Alvarez
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria C Ochoa
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain; Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Luna Minute
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Melero
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain; Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
| | - Pedro Berraondo
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
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11
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Sun YQ, Chang YJ, Huang XJ. Update on current research into haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Expert Rev Hematol 2018; 11:273-284. [PMID: 29493370 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2018.1447379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Haploidentical stem cell transplantation (Haplo-SCT) is currently a suitable alternative worldwide for patients with hematological diseases, who lack human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched siblings or unrelated donors. Areas covered: This review summarizes the advancements in Haplo-SCT in recent years, primarily focusing on the global trends of haploidentical allograft, the comparison of outcomes between Haplo-SCT and other transplantation modalities, strategies for improving clinical outcomes, including donor selection, hematopoietic reconstitution promotion, and graft-versus-host disease, and relapse prevention/management, as well as the expanded indications of Haplo-SCT, such as severe aplastic anemia, myeloma and lymphoma. Expert commentary: Haploidentical allografts, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-based protocol and a post-transplant cyclophosphamide-based protocol, have been the mainstream strategy for Haplo-SCT. However, there are many unanswered questions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Qian Sun
- a Peking University People's Hospital , Peking University Institute of Hematology , Beijing , China.,b Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Hematological Diseases , Beijing , P.R. China
| | - Ying-Jun Chang
- a Peking University People's Hospital , Peking University Institute of Hematology , Beijing , China.,b Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Hematological Diseases , Beijing , P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- a Peking University People's Hospital , Peking University Institute of Hematology , Beijing , China.,b Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Hematological Diseases , Beijing , P.R. China.,c Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences , Beijing , China
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Foxp3 + regulatory T cells maintain the bone marrow microenvironment for B cell lymphopoiesis. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15068. [PMID: 28485401 PMCID: PMC5436085 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) modulate the immune system and maintain self-tolerance, but whether they affect haematopoiesis or haematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-mediated reconstitution after transplantation is unclear. Here we show that B-cell lymphopoiesis is impaired in Treg-depleted mice, yet this reduced B-cell lymphopoiesis is rescued by adoptive transfer of affected HSCs or bone marrow cells into Treg-competent recipients. B-cell reconstitution is abrogated in both syngeneic and allogeneic transplantation using Treg-depleted mice as recipients. Treg cells can control physiological IL-7 production that is indispensable for normal B-cell lymphopoiesis and is mainly sustained by a subpopulation of ICAM1+ perivascular stromal cells. Our study demonstrates that Treg cells are important for B-cell differentiation from HSCs by maintaining immunological homoeostasis in the bone marrow microenvironment, both in physiological conditions and after bone marrow transplantation. Treg cells suppress peripheral immune responses, but their function in haematopoiesis is unclear. Here the authors show they modulate the bone marrow microenvironment to sustain haematopoietic stem cell-driven generation of mature B cells.
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Korczak-Kowalska G, Stelmaszczyk-Emmel A, Bocian K, Kiernozek E, Drela N, Domagała-Kulawik J. Expanding Diversity and Common Goal of Regulatory T and B Cells. II: In Allergy, Malignancy, and Transplantation. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2017; 65:523-535. [PMID: 28470464 PMCID: PMC5688211 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-017-0471-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Regulation of immune response was found to play an important role in the course of many diseases such as autoimmune diseases, allergy, malignancy, organ transplantation. The studies on immune regulation focus on the role of regulatory cells (Tregs, Bregs, regulatory myeloid cells) in these disorders. The number and function of Tregs may serve as a marker of disease activity. As in allergy, the depletion of Tregs is observed and the results of allergen-specific immunotherapy could be measured by an increase in the population of IL-10+ regulatory cells. On the basis of the knowledge of anti-cancer immune response regulation, new directions in therapy of tumors are introduced. As the proportion of regulatory cells is increased in the course of neoplasm, the therapeutic action is directed at their inhibition. The depletion of Tregs may be also achieved by an anti-check-point blockade, anti-CD25 agents, and inhibition of regulatory cell recruitment to the tumor site by affecting chemokine pathways. However, the possible favorable role of Tregs in cancer development is considered and the plasticity of immune regulation should be taken into account. The new promising direction of the treatment based on regulatory cells is the prevention of transplant rejection. A different way of production and implementation of classic Tregs as well as other cell types such as double-negative cells, Bregs, CD4+ Tr1 cells are tested in ongoing trials. On the basis of the results of current studies, we could show in this review the significance of therapies based on regulatory cells in different disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grażyna Korczak-Kowalska
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Stelmaszczyk-Emmel
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics and Clinical Immunology of Developmental Age, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bocian
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewelina Kiernozek
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nadzieja Drela
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Ghimire S, Weber D, Mavin E, Wang XN, Dickinson AM, Holler E. Pathophysiology of GvHD and Other HSCT-Related Major Complications. Front Immunol 2017; 8:79. [PMID: 28373870 PMCID: PMC5357769 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
For over 60 years, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been the major curative therapy for several hematological and genetic disorders, but its efficacy is limited by the secondary disease called graft versus host disease (GvHD). Huge advances have been made in successful transplantation in order to improve patient quality of life, and yet, complete success is hard to achieve. This review assimilates recent updates on pathophysiology of GvHD, prophylaxis and treatment of GvHD-related complications, and advances in the potential treatment of GvHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakhila Ghimire
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Medical Centre , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Daniela Weber
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Medical Centre , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Emily Mavin
- Hematological Sciences, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University , Newcastle , UK
| | - Xiao Nong Wang
- Hematological Sciences, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University , Newcastle , UK
| | - Anne Mary Dickinson
- Hematological Sciences, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University , Newcastle , UK
| | - Ernst Holler
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Medical Centre , Regensburg , Germany
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Increased Foxp3 +Helios + Regulatory T Cells and Decreased Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease after Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation in Patients Receiving Sirolimus and RGI-2001, an Activator of Invariant Natural Killer T Cells. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2017; 23:625-634. [PMID: 28104514 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2017.01.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells play a central role in immune tolerance and prevention of aberrant immune responses. Several studies have suggested that the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can be ameliorated by increasing Tregs. We have developed an approach of in vivo expansion of Tregs with RGI-2001, a novel liposomal formulation of a synthetic derivative of alpha-galactosylceramide, a naturally occurring ligand that binds to CD1 and activates and expands invariant natural killer cells. In preclinical studies, a single intravenous infusion of RGI-2001 expanded Treg and could ameliorate GVHD in a mouse model of allogeneic HCT. To explore the role of RGI-2001 in clinical HCT, we initiated a phase 2A clinical trial (n = 29), testing 2 different doses of RGI-2001 administered as a single infusion on day 0 of allogeneic HCT. RGI-2001 was well tolerated and without infusion reactions or cytokine release syndrome. A subset of patients (8 of 29, 28%) responded to RGI-2001 by inducing a markedly increased number of cells with a Treg phenotype. The Treg had a high Ki-67 index and were almost exclusively Helios+ and Foxp3+, indicating that their accumulation was due to expansion of natural Treg. Notably, the incidence of grade 2 to 4 GVHD in the 8 patients who responded to RGI-2001 was 12.5%, compared with 52.4% in the 21 patients who did not respond. No grade 3 or 4 GVHD was observed in the responder group, compared with a 9.5% incidence among nonresponders. Immunosuppression with sirolimus was also associated with a low incidence of GVHD, suggesting that RGI-2001 may have synergized with sirolimus to promote Treg expansion.
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Realizing the Potential for Recipient Immune Cells in Adoptive Immune Therapy. EBioMedicine 2016; 10:11-2. [PMID: 27397512 PMCID: PMC5006657 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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