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Cheon J, Song M, Kwon S. Alginate-gelatine hydrogel microspheres protect NK cell proliferation and cytotoxicity under hypoxic conditions. J Microencapsul 2024; 41:375-389. [PMID: 38945166 DOI: 10.1080/02652048.2024.2362170] [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: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to encapsulate natural killer (NK) cells in a hydrogel to sustain their function within the hypoxic tumour microenvironments. METHODS An alginate-gelatine hydrogel was generated via electrospray technology. Hydrogel biocompatibility was assessed through cell counting kit-8 and Live/Dead assays to ascertain cell. Moreover, we analysed lactate dehydrogenase assays to evaluate the cytotoxicity against tumours and utilised RT-qPCR to analyse cytokine gene level. RESULTS Alginate and gelatine formed hydrogels with diameters ranging from 489.2 ± 23.0 μm, and the encapsulation efficiency was 34.07 ± 1.76%. Encapsulated NK cells exhibited robust proliferation and tumour-killing capabilities under normoxia and hypoxia. Furthermore, encapsulation provided a protective shield against cell viability under hypoxia. Importantly, tumour-killing cytotoxicity through cytokines upregulation such as granzyme B and interferon-gamma was preserved under hypoxia. CONCLUSION The encapsulation of NK cells not only safeguards their viability but also reinforces anticancer capacity, countering the inhibition of activation induced by hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyoung Cheon
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, Korea
- Industry-Academia Interactive R&E Center for Bioprocess Innovation, Inha University, Incheon, Korea
| | - Myeongkwan Song
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, Korea
- Industry-Academia Interactive R&E Center for Bioprocess Innovation, Inha University, Incheon, Korea
| | - Soonjo Kwon
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, Korea
- Industry-Academia Interactive R&E Center for Bioprocess Innovation, Inha University, Incheon, Korea
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2
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Zhang Y, Guo F, Wang Y. Hypoxic tumor microenvironment: Destroyer of natural killer cell function. Chin J Cancer Res 2024; 36:138-150. [PMID: 38751439 PMCID: PMC11090795 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2024.02.04] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, immunotherapy has made remarkable progress in treating certain tumors and hematological malignancies. However, the efficacy of natural killer (NK) cells, which are an important subset of innate lymphocytes used in anticancer immunotherapy, remains limited. Hypoxia, a critical characteristic of the tumor microenvironment (TME), is involved in tumor development and resistance to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Moreover, hypoxia contributes to the impairment of NK cell function and may be a significant factor that limits their therapeutic effects. Targeted hypoxia therapy has emerged as a promising research area for enhancing the efficacy of NK cell therapy. Therefore, understanding how the hypoxic TME influences NK cell function is crucial for improving antitumor treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfei Zhang
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Feifei Guo
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Yufeng Wang
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
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3
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Luo J, Wang H, Chen J, Wei X, Feng J, Zhang Y, Zhou Y. The Application of Drugs and Nano-Therapies Targeting Immune Cells in Hypoxic Inflammation. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:3441-3459. [PMID: 38617798 PMCID: PMC11015843 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s456533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune cells are pivotal in the dynamic interplay between hypoxia and inflammation. During hypoxic conditions, HIF-1α, a crucial transcription factor, facilitates the adaptation of immune cells to the hypoxic micro-environment. This adaptation includes regulating immune cell metabolism, significantly impacting inflammation development. Strategies for anti-inflammatory and hypoxic relief have been proposed, aiming to disrupt the hypoxia-inflammation nexus. Research extensively focuses on anti-inflammatory agents and materials that target immune cells. These primarily mitigate hypoxic inflammation by encouraging M2-macrophage polarization, restraining neutrophil proliferation and infiltration, and maintaining Treg/TH17 balance. Additionally, oxygen-releasing nano-materials play a significant role. By alleviating hypoxia and clearing reactive oxygen species (ROS), these nano-materials indirectly influence immune cell functions. This paper delves into the response of immune cells under hypoxic conditions and the resultant effects on inflammation. It provides a comprehensive overview of various therapies targeting specific immune cells for anti-inflammatory purposes and explores nano-materials that either carry or generate oxygen to alleviate anoxic micro-environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Luo
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oral Implantology, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hanchi Wang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oral Implantology, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingxia Chen
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oral Implantology, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuyan Wei
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oral Implantology, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oral Implantology, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yidi Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oral Implantology, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanmin Zhou
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oral Implantology, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China
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4
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Shang J, Hu S, Wang X. Targeting natural killer cells: from basic biology to clinical application in hematologic malignancies. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:21. [PMID: 38396050 PMCID: PMC10885621 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00481-y] [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: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell belongs to innate lymphoid cell family that contributes to host immunosurveillance and defense without pre-immunization. Emerging studies have sought to understand the underlying mechanism behind NK cell dysfunction in tumor environments, and provide numerous novel therapeutic targets for tumor treatment. Strategies to enhance functional activities of NK cell have exhibited promising efficacy and favorable tolerance in clinical treatment of tumor patients, such as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), chimeric antigen receptor NK (CAR-NK) cell, and bi/trispecific killer cell engager (BiKE/TriKE). Immunotherapy targeting NK cell provides remarkable advantages compared to T cell therapy, including a decreased rate of graft versus-host disease (GvHD) and neurotoxicity. Nevertheless, advanced details on how to support the maintenance and function of NK cell to obtain better response rate and longer duration still remain to be elucidated. This review systematically summarizes the profound role of NK cells in tumor development, highlights up-to-date advances and current challenges of therapy targeting NK cell in the clinical treatment of hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjuan Shang
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Shunfeng Hu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, China.
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5
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Wang W, Liu Y, He Z, Li L, Liu S, Jiang M, Zhao B, Deng M, Wang W, Mi X, Sun Z, Ge X. Breakthrough of solid tumor treatment: CAR-NK immunotherapy. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:40. [PMID: 38245520 PMCID: PMC10799930 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01815-9] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
As the latest and most anticipated method of tumor immunotherapy, CAR-NK therapy has received increasing attention in recent years, and its safety and high efficiency have irreplaceable advantages over CAR-T. Current research focuses on the application of CAR-NK in hematological tumors, while there are fewer studies on solid tumor. This article reviews the process of constructing CAR-NK, the effects of hypoxia and metabolic factors, NK cell surface receptors, cytokines, and exosomes on the efficacy of CAR-NK in solid tumor, and the role of CAR-NK in various solid tumor. The mechanism of action and the research status of the potential of CAR-NK in the treatment of solid tumor in clinical practice, and put forward the advantages, limitations and future problems of CAR-NK in the treatment of solid tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenkang Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhen He
- Department of Internal Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lifeng Li
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Senbo Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mingqiang Jiang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bing Zhao
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Meng Deng
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wendong Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xuefang Mi
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhenqiang Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Xin Ge
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
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6
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Peng C, Ye H, Yi Z. GAPDH: unveiling its impact as a key hypoxia-related player in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumor progression, prognosis, and therapeutic potential. Am J Cancer Res 2023; 13:5846-5867. [PMID: 38187058 PMCID: PMC10767337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), characterized by hypoxia patterns, ranks as the sixth most prevalent malignant tumor worldwide. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) plays a role in oncogenesis under hypoxic conditions in various cancers. However, its precise function in HNSCC, especially under varied hypoxic conditions, including at high altitudes, remains unclear. Elevated GAPDH mRNA and protein levels in HNSCC relative to normal tissues have been demonstrated through data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), GSE29330, and the Human Protein Atlas (P<0.05). This elevation was further confirmed through in vitro experiments utilizing two HNSCC cell lines and a normal oral mucosal epithelial cell line. Additionally, data from TCGA and GSE41613 reveal a correlation between elevated GAPDH expression and diminished overall and progression-free survival in patients (P<0.05). Subsequent analysis identifies GAPDH as an independent risk factor for HNSCC (P<0.05). Using the ESTIMATE and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithms, high GAPDH expression was found to be associated with reduced immune scores and diminished anti-tumor cell infiltration, such as CD8+ T cells, in TCGA and GSE41613 datasets (P<0.05). Analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data from GSE139324 suggests that elevated GAPDH expression hinders communication between plasmacytoid dendritic cells and mast cells (P<0.05). Furthermore, in the TCGA and GSE41613 datasets, GAPDH's biological function is closely tied to hypoxia through Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) analyses. Moreover, its expression is linked to one cuproptosis-related gene, five N6-methyladenosine-related genes, six immune checkpoint genes, and pivotal pathways such as MYC and E2F (P<0.05). GAPDH showed excellent predictive value in estimating the efficacy of immunotherapy and 11 anti-tumor drugs (e.g., cisplatin) (P<0.05), using TIDE and pRRophetic algorithms on the TCGA and GSE41613 datasets. Under 1% O2 in vitro, HNSCC cells show elevated GAPDH expression, leading to decreased apoptosis and increased migration, clonogenicity, invasiveness, and resistance to cisplatin (P<0.05). At 5% O2, these effects persisted, albeit less pronouncedly. Inhibiting GAPDH reversed these effects under all oxygen concentrations (P<0.05). Overall, our findings reveal GAPDH as a key hypoxia-related player influencing tumor progression, prognosis, and therapeutic potential in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Peng
- Department of Otolaryngology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Huiping Ye
- Department of Otolaryngology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Zhuguang Yi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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7
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Abou Khouzam R, Janji B, Thiery J, Zaarour RF, Chamseddine AN, Mayr H, Savagner P, Kieda C, Gad S, Buart S, Lehn JM, Limani P, Chouaib S. Hypoxia as a potential inducer of immune tolerance, tumor plasticity and a driver of tumor mutational burden: Impact on cancer immunotherapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 97:104-123. [PMID: 38029865 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.11.008] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
In cancer patients, immune cells are often functionally compromised due to the immunosuppressive features of the tumor microenvironment (TME) which contribute to the failures in cancer therapies. Clinical and experimental evidence indicates that developing tumors adapt to the immunological environment and create a local microenvironment that impairs immune function by inducing immune tolerance and invasion. In this context, microenvironmental hypoxia, which is an established hallmark of solid tumors, significantly contributes to tumor aggressiveness and therapy resistance through the induction of tumor plasticity/heterogeneity and, more importantly, through the differentiation and expansion of immune-suppressive stromal cells. We and others have provided evidence indicating that hypoxia also drives genomic instability in cancer cells and interferes with DNA damage response and repair suggesting that hypoxia could be a potential driver of tumor mutational burden. Here, we reviewed the current knowledge on how hypoxic stress in the TME impacts tumor angiogenesis, heterogeneity, plasticity, and immune resistance, with a special interest in tumor immunogenicity and hypoxia targeting. An integrated understanding of the complexity of the effect of hypoxia on the immune and microenvironmental components could lead to the identification of better adapted and more effective combinational strategies in cancer immunotherapy. Clearly, the discovery and validation of therapeutic targets derived from the hypoxic tumor microenvironment is of major importance and the identification of critical hypoxia-associated pathways could generate targets that are undeniably attractive for combined cancer immunotherapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raefa Abou Khouzam
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman 4184, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Bassam Janji
- Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Tumor Immunotherapy and Microenvironment (TIME) Group, 6A, rue Nicolas-Ernest Barblé, L-1210 Luxembourg city, Luxembourg.
| | - Jerome Thiery
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France.
| | - Rania Faouzi Zaarour
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman 4184, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Ali N Chamseddine
- Gastroenterology Department, Cochin University Hospital, Université de Paris, APHP, Paris, France; Ambroise Paré - Hartmann Private Hospital Group, Oncology Unit, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.
| | - Hemma Mayr
- Swiss Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Center, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Surgery & Transplantation, University and University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Pierre Savagner
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France.
| | - Claudine Kieda
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine-National Research Institute, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland; Centre for Molecular Biophysics, UPR 4301 CNRS, 45071 Orleans, France; Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-004 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Sophie Gad
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (EPHE), Paris Sciences Lettres University (PSL), 75014 Paris, France; UMR CNRS 9019, Genome Integrity and Cancers, Gustave Roussy, Paris-Saclay University, 94800 Villejuif, France.
| | - Stéphanie Buart
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France.
| | - Jean-Marie Lehn
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), Université de Strasbourg, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Perparim Limani
- Swiss Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Center, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Surgery & Transplantation, University and University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman 4184, United Arab Emirates; INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France.
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8
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Borde S, Matosevic S. Metabolic adaptation of NK cell activity and behavior in tumors: challenges and therapeutic opportunities. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:832-848. [PMID: 37770314 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.08.009] [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: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
The adaptation of natural killer (NK) cells to conditions in the microenvironment of tumors is deeply affected by their metabolic activity, itself a result of nutrient availability and the metabolism of the cancer cells themselves. Elevated rates of glycolysis and lipid metabolism in cancers not only lead to the accumulation of immunosuppressive byproducts but also contribute to an environment of elevated concentrations of extracellular metabolites. This results in altered NK cell bioenergetics through changes in transcriptional and translational profiles, ultimately affecting their pharmacology and impairing NK cell responses. However, understanding the metabolic processes that drive alterations in immunological signaling on NK cells remains both difficult and vastly underexplored. We discuss the varied and complex drivers of NK cell metabolism in homeostasis and the tumor microenvironment (TME), challenges associated with their targetability, and unexplored therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shambhavi Borde
- Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Sandro Matosevic
- Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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9
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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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10
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Guo F, Zhang Y, Bai L, Cui J. Natural killer cell therapy targeting cancer stem cells: Old wine in a new bottle. Cancer Lett 2023; 570:216328. [PMID: 37499742 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
A small proportion of cancer cells that have stem cell-like properties are known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). They can be used to identify malignant tumor phenotypes and patients with poor prognosis. Targeting these cells has been shown to improve the effectiveness of cancer therapies. Owing to the nature of CSCs, they are resistant to conventional treatment methods such as radio- and chemotherapy. Therefore, more effective anti-CSC therapies are required. Immunotherapy, including natural killer (NK) and T cell therapy, has demonstrated the ability to eliminate CSCs. NK cells have demonstrated superior anti-CSC capabilities compared to T cells in recognizing low levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression. However, CSC escape also occurs during NK cell therapy. It is important to determine CSC-specific immune evasion mechanisms and find out potential solutions to optimize NK cell function. Therefore, this review discusses promising strategies that can improve the efficiency of NK cell therapy in treating CSCs, and aims to provide a reference for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Guo
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Ling Bai
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jiuwei Cui
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
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11
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Feng YB, Chen L, Chen FX, Yang Y, Chen GH, Zhou ZH, Xu CF. Immunopotentiation effects of apigenin on NK cell proliferation and killing pancreatic cancer cells. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2023; 37:3946320231161174. [PMID: 36848930 PMCID: PMC9974612 DOI: 10.1177/03946320231161174] [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] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Apigenin is a kind of flavonoid with many beneficial biological effects. It not only has direct cytotoxicity to tumor cells, but also can boost the antitumor effect of immune cells by modulating immune system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the proliferation of NK cells treated with apigenin and its cytotoxicity to pancreatic cancer cells in vitro, and explore its potential molecular mechanism. In this study, the effect of apigenin on NK cell proliferation and killing pancreatic cancer cells were measured by CCK-8 assay. Perforin, granzyme B (Gran B), CD107a, and NKG2D expressions of NK cells induced with apigenin were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax and protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p-ERK, and p-JNK in NK cells were evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blotting analysis, respectively. The results showed that appropriate concentration of apigenin could significantly promote the proliferation of NK cells in vitro and enhance the killing activity of NK cells against pancreatic cancer cells. The expressions of surface antigen NKG2D and intracellular antigen perforin and Gran B of NK cells were upregulated after treating with apigenin. Bcl-2 mRNA expression was increased, while Bax mRNA expression was decreased. Similarly, the expression of Bcl-2, p-JNK, and p-ERK protein was upregulated, and the expression of Bax protein was downregulated. The molecular mechanism of the immunopotentiation effects of apigenin may be that it up-regulates Bcl-2 and down-regulates Bax expression at the gene and protein levels to facilitate NK cell proliferation, and up-regulates the expression of perforin, Gran B, and NKG2D through the activation of JNK and ERK pathways to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Bo Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Jiangsu, China,Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Gaochun Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Central Laboratory, the 71st Group Army Hospital of PLA Army, The Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fu-Xing Chen
- Department of Central Laboratory, the 71st Group Army Hospital of PLA Army, The Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, the 71st Group Army Hospital of PLA Army, The Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guo-Hua Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Gaochun Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhong-Hai Zhou
- Department of Central Laboratory, the 71st Group Army Hospital of PLA Army, The Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China,Zhong-Hai Zhou, Department of Central Laboratory, the 71st Group Army Hospital of PLA Army, The Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, 236 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China.
| | - Chun-Fang Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Jiangsu, China,Chun-Fang Xu, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi street, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.
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12
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Tong L, Jiménez-Cortegana C, Tay AH, Wickström S, Galluzzi L, Lundqvist A. NK cells and solid tumors: therapeutic potential and persisting obstacles. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:206. [PMID: 36319998 PMCID: PMC9623927 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01672-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, which are innate lymphocytes endowed with potent cytotoxic activity, have recently attracted attention as potential anticancer therapeutics. While NK cells mediate encouraging responses in patients with leukemia, the therapeutic effects of NK cell infusion in patients with solid tumors are limited. Preclinical and clinical data suggest that the efficacy of NK cell infusion against solid malignancies is hampered by several factors including inadequate tumor infiltration and persistence/activation in the tumor microenvironment (TME). A number of metabolic features of the TME including hypoxia as well as elevated levels of adenosine, reactive oxygen species, and prostaglandins negatively affect NK cell activity. Moreover, cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and regulatory T cells actively suppress NK cell-dependent anticancer immunity. Here, we review the metabolic and cellular barriers that inhibit NK cells in solid neoplasms as we discuss potential strategies to circumvent such obstacles towards superior therapeutic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Tong
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carlos Jiménez-Cortegana
- grid.5386.8000000041936877XDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY USA ,grid.9224.d0000 0001 2168 1229Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Apple H.M. Tay
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden ,grid.59025.3b0000 0001 2224 0361Department of Biological Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stina Wickström
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- grid.5386.8000000041936877XDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY USA ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XSandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY USA ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XCaryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Andreas Lundqvist
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Cheng W, Xiao X, Liao Y, Cao Q, Wang C, Li X, Jia Y. Conducive target range of breast cancer: Hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:978276. [PMID: 36226050 PMCID: PMC9550190 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.978276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a kind of malignant tumor disease that poses a serious threat to human health. Its biological characteristics of rapid proliferation and delayed angiogenesis, lead to intratumoral hypoxia as a common finding in breast cancer. HIF as a transcription factor, mediate a series of reactions in the hypoxic microenvironment, including metabolic reprogramming, tumor angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation and metastasis and other important physiological and pathological processes, as well as gene instability under hypoxia. In addition, in the immune microenvironment of hypoxia, both innate and acquired immunity of tumor cells undergo subtle changes to support tumor and inhibit immune activity. Thus, the elucidation of tumor microenvironment hypoxia provides a promising target for the resistance and limited efficacy of current breast cancer therapies. We also summarize the hypoxic mechanisms of breast cancer treatment related drug resistance, as well as the current status and prospects of latest related drugs targeted HIF inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Cheng
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Xian Xiao
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang Liao
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Qingqing Cao
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Chaoran Wang
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaojiang Li
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaojiang Li, ; Yingjie Jia,
| | - Yingjie Jia
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaojiang Li, ; Yingjie Jia,
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14
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Functional crosstalk and regulation of natural killer cells in tumor microenvironment: Significance and potential therapeutic strategies. Genes Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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15
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Lei Y, Zhao H, Wu Y, Huang L, Nie W, Liu H, Wu G, Pang DW, Xie HY. Phytochemical natural killer cells reprogram tumor microenvironment for potent immunotherapy of solid tumors. Biomaterials 2022; 287:121635. [PMID: 35921728 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121635] [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: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer cells (NKs) hold great promise in cancer treatment, but their application in solid tumors remains a great challenge because current solutions hardly can overcome various difficulties that faced. Herein, we endow NKs with the phytochemical feature for effective immunotherapy of solid tumors. NKs are decorated with natural thylakoid (Tk) membranes through an efficient and convenient membrane fusion strategy. Tk engineering effectively activates NKs, because the antioxidase on Tk induce glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibition, and subsequently increase the expression of activating receptor and cytotoxic effector molecules in NKs. After systemic administration, the phytochemical NKs (PC-NKs) can target tumor tissues, and then profoundly reprogram tumor microenvironment (TME) with the help of catalase on Tk, resulting in significantly enhanced direct killing of PC-NKs and immune activated TME. Therefore, potent therapeutic effects with few abnormalities are achieved, providing a novel idea for the development of highly efficient NKs for solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Lei
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Helin Zhao
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Yuzhu Wu
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Lili Huang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Weidong Nie
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Houli Liu
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Guanghao Wu
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Dai-Wen Pang
- College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, PR China
| | - Hai-Yan Xie
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, PR China.
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16
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Witalisz-Siepracka A, Klein K, Zdársky B, Stoiber D. The Multifaceted Role of STAT3 in NK-Cell Tumor Surveillance. Front Immunol 2022; 13:947568. [PMID: 35865518 PMCID: PMC9294167 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.947568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a member of the Janus kinase (JAK)-STAT pathway, which is one of the key pathways contributing to cancer. STAT3 regulates transcription downstream of many cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10. In cancer, STAT3 is mainly described as a tumor promoter driving tumor cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis and aberrant activation of STAT3 is associated with poor prognosis. STAT3 is also an important driver of immune evasion. Among many other immunosuppressive mechanisms, STAT3 aids tumor cells to escape natural killer (NK) cell-mediated immune surveillance. NK cells are innate lymphocytes, which can directly kill malignant cells but also regulate adaptive immune responses and contribute to the composition of the tumor microenvironment. The inborn ability to lyse transformed cells renders NK cells an attractive tool for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we provide an overview of the role of STAT3 in the dynamic interplay between NK cells and tumor cells. On the one hand, we summarize the current knowledge on how tumor cell-intrinsic STAT3 drives the evasion from NK cells. On the other hand, we describe the multiple functions of STAT3 in regulating NK-cell cytotoxicity, cytokine production and their anti-tumor responses in vivo. In light of the ongoing research on STAT3 inhibitors, we also discuss how targeting STAT3 would affect the two arms of STAT3-dependent regulation of NK cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Understanding the complexity of this interplay in the tumor microenvironment is crucial for future implementation of NK cell-based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Klara Klein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Zdársky
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Dagmar Stoiber
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
- *Correspondence: Dagmar Stoiber,
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17
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Papak I, Chruściel E, Dziubek K, Kurkowiak M, Urban-Wójciuk Z, Marjański T, Rzyman W, Marek-Trzonkowska N. What Inhibits Natural Killers’ Performance in Tumour. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137030. [PMID: 35806034 PMCID: PMC9266640 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer cells are innate lymphocytes with the ability to lyse tumour cells depending on the balance of their activating and inhibiting receptors. Growing numbers of clinical trials show promising results of NK cell-based immunotherapies. Unlike T cells, NK cells can lyse tumour cells independent of antigen presentation, based simply on their activation and inhibition receptors. Various strategies to improve NK cell-based therapies are being developed, all with one goal: to shift the balance to activation. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of ways NK cells can lyse tumour cells and all the inhibitory signals stopping their cytotoxic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Papak
- International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, University of Gdansk, Ul. Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland; (I.P.); (E.C.); (K.D.); (M.K.); (Z.U.-W.)
| | - Elżbieta Chruściel
- International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, University of Gdansk, Ul. Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland; (I.P.); (E.C.); (K.D.); (M.K.); (Z.U.-W.)
| | - Katarzyna Dziubek
- International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, University of Gdansk, Ul. Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland; (I.P.); (E.C.); (K.D.); (M.K.); (Z.U.-W.)
| | - Małgorzata Kurkowiak
- International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, University of Gdansk, Ul. Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland; (I.P.); (E.C.); (K.D.); (M.K.); (Z.U.-W.)
| | - Zuzanna Urban-Wójciuk
- International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, University of Gdansk, Ul. Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland; (I.P.); (E.C.); (K.D.); (M.K.); (Z.U.-W.)
| | - Tomasz Marjański
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland; (T.M.); (W.R.)
| | - Witold Rzyman
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland; (T.M.); (W.R.)
| | - Natalia Marek-Trzonkowska
- International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, University of Gdansk, Ul. Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland; (I.P.); (E.C.); (K.D.); (M.K.); (Z.U.-W.)
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Cellular Therapies, Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
- Correspondence:
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18
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Garcés-Lázaro I, Kotzur R, Cerwenka A, Mandelboim O. NK Cells Under Hypoxia: The Two Faces of Vascularization in Tumor and Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:924775. [PMID: 35769460 PMCID: PMC9234265 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.924775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental conditions greatly shape the phenotype and function of immune cells. Specifically, hypoxic conditions that exist within tissues and organs have been reported to affect both the adaptive and the innate immune system. Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the innate immune system. They are among the first immune cells responding to infections and are involved in tumor surveillance. NK cells produce cytokines that shape other innate and adaptive immune cells, and they produce cytolytic molecules leading to target cell killing. Therefore, they are not only involved in steady state tissue homeostasis, but also in pathogen and tumor clearance. Hence, understanding the role of NK cells in pathological and physiological immune biology is an emerging field. To date, it remains incompletely understood how the tissue microenvironment shapes NK cell phenotype and function. In particular, the impact of low oxygen concentrations in tissues on NK cell reactivity has not been systematically dissected. Here, we present a comprehensive review focusing on two highly compelling hypoxic tissue environments, the tumor microenvironment (pathological) and the decidua (physiological) and compare their impact on NK cell reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Garcés-Lázaro
- Department of Immunobiochemistry, Mannheim Institute of Innate Immunosciences (MI3), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rebecca Kotzur
- The Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Adelheid Cerwenka
- Department of Immunobiochemistry, Mannheim Institute of Innate Immunosciences (MI3), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- *Correspondence: Adelheid Cerwenka, ; Ofer Mandelboim,
| | - Ofer Mandelboim
- The Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
- *Correspondence: Adelheid Cerwenka, ; Ofer Mandelboim,
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19
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Wu Q, You L, Nepovimova E, Heger Z, Wu W, Kuca K, Adam V. Hypoxia-inducible factors: master regulators of hypoxic tumor immune escape. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:77. [PMID: 35659268 PMCID: PMC9166526 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01292-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, a common feature of the tumor microenvironment in various types of cancers, weakens cytotoxic T cell function and causes recruitment of regulatory T cells, thereby reducing tumoral immunogenicity. Studies have demonstrated that hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) 1 and 2 alpha (HIF1A and HIF2A) are involved in tumor immune escape. Under hypoxia, activation of HIF1A induces a series of signaling events, including through programmed death receptor-1/programmed death ligand-1. Moreover, hypoxia triggers shedding of complex class I chain-associated molecules through nitric oxide signaling impairment to disrupt immune surveillance by natural killer cells. The HIF-1-galactose-3-O-sulfotransferase 1-sulfatide axis enhances tumor immune escape via increased tumor cell-platelet binding. HIF2A upregulates stem cell factor expression to recruit tumor-infiltrating mast cells and increase levels of cytokines interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β, resulting in an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Additionally, HIF1A upregulates expression of tumor-associated long noncoding RNAs and suppresses immune cell function, enabling tumor immune escape. Overall, elucidating the underlying mechanisms by which HIFs promote evasion of tumor immune surveillance will allow for targeting HIF in tumor treatment. This review discusses the current knowledge of how hypoxia and HIFs facilitate tumor immune escape, with evidence to date implicating HIF1A as a molecular target in such immune escape. This review provides further insight into the mechanism of tumor immune escape, and strategies for tumor immunotherapy are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Wu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, 50003, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Li You
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China
| | - Eugenie Nepovimova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, 50003, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Heger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, 613 00, Czech Republic.,Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic
| | - Wenda Wu
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China. .,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, 50003, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
| | - Kamil Kuca
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, 50003, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
| | - Vojtech Adam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, 613 00, Czech Republic. .,Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic.
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20
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Jones AB, Rocco A, Lamb LS, Friedman GK, Hjelmeland AB. Regulation of NKG2D Stress Ligands and Its Relevance in Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2339. [PMID: 35565467 PMCID: PMC9105350 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Under cellular distress, multiple facets of normal homeostatic signaling are altered or disrupted. In the context of the immune landscape, external and internal stressors normally promote the expression of natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) ligands that allow for the targeted recognition and killing of cells by NKG2D receptor-bearing effector populations. The presence or absence of NKG2D ligands can heavily influence disease progression and impact the accessibility of immunotherapy options. In cancer, tumor cells are known to have distinct regulatory mechanisms for NKG2D ligands that are directly associated with tumor progression and maintenance. Therefore, understanding the regulation of NKG2D ligands in cancer will allow for targeted therapeutic endeavors aimed at exploiting the stress response pathway. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of regulatory mechanisms controlling the induction and repression of NKG2D ligands in cancer. Additionally, we highlight current therapeutic endeavors targeting NKG2D ligand expression and offer our perspective on considerations to further enhance the field of NKG2D ligand biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber B. Jones
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
| | - Abbey Rocco
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.R.); (G.K.F.)
| | | | - Gregory K. Friedman
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.R.); (G.K.F.)
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
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21
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Hypoxia as a Modulator of Inflammation and Immune Response in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092291. [PMID: 35565420 PMCID: PMC9099524 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A clear association between hypoxia and cancer has heretofore been established; however, it has not been completely developed. In this sense, the understanding of the tumoral microenvironment is critical to dissect the complexity of cancer, including the reduction in oxygen distribution inside the tumoral mass, defined as tumoral hypoxia. Moreover, hypoxia not only influences the tumoral cells but also the surrounding cells, including those related to the inflammatory processes. In this review, we analyze the participation of HIF, NF-κB, and STAT signaling pathways as the main components that interconnect hypoxia and immune response and how they modulate tumoral growth. In addition, we closely examine the participation of the immune cells and how they are affected by hypoxia, the effects of the progression of cancer, and some innovative applications that take advantage of this knowledge, to suggest potential therapies. Therefore, we contribute to the understanding of the complexity of cancer to propose innovative therapeutic strategies in the future.
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22
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Abou Khouzam R, Zaarour RF, Brodaczewska K, Azakir B, Venkatesh GH, Thiery J, Terry S, Chouaib S. The Effect of Hypoxia and Hypoxia-Associated Pathways in the Regulation of Antitumor Response: Friends or Foes? Front Immunol 2022; 13:828875. [PMID: 35211123 PMCID: PMC8861358 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.828875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is an environmental stressor that is instigated by low oxygen availability. It fuels the progression of solid tumors by driving tumor plasticity, heterogeneity, stemness and genomic instability. Hypoxia metabolically reprograms the tumor microenvironment (TME), adding insult to injury to the acidic, nutrient deprived and poorly vascularized conditions that act to dampen immune cell function. Through its impact on key cancer hallmarks and by creating a physical barrier conducive to tumor survival, hypoxia modulates tumor cell escape from the mounted immune response. The tumor cell-immune cell crosstalk in the context of a hypoxic TME tips the balance towards a cold and immunosuppressed microenvironment that is resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Nonetheless, evidence is emerging that could make hypoxia an asset for improving response to ICI. Tackling the tumor immune contexture has taken on an in silico, digitalized approach with an increasing number of studies applying bioinformatics to deconvolute the cellular and non-cellular elements of the TME. Such approaches have additionally been combined with signature-based proxies of hypoxia to further dissect the turbulent hypoxia-immune relationship. In this review we will be highlighting the mechanisms by which hypoxia impacts immune cell functions and how that could translate to predicting response to immunotherapy in an era of machine learning and computational biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raefa Abou Khouzam
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rania Faouzi Zaarour
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Klaudia Brodaczewska
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bilal Azakir
- Faculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Goutham Hassan Venkatesh
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jerome Thiery
- INSERM U1186, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Stéphane Terry
- INSERM U1186, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.,Research Department, Inovarion, Paris, France
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.,INSERM U1186, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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23
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Park JH, Lee HK. Current Understanding of Hypoxia in Glioblastoma Multiforme and Its Response to Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051176. [PMID: 35267480 PMCID: PMC8909860 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive tumor type in the central nervous system. Hypoxia, defined as a lack of sufficient oxygen in tissues, is the most detrimental factor for the survival of GBM patients, promoting drug resistance, and invasion and inhibition of immune responses. Traditionally, tumor hypoxia has been studied from a narrow viewpoint, excluding the immune system and focusing primarily on the effect of hypoxia on blood vessels and tumor cells. More recently, however, evidence highlighting the important role of immunosurveillance has been uncovered for multiple tumors, including GBM. Thus, connecting the knowledge gained from traditional hypoxia studies with findings from recent immunological studies is urgently needed to better understand the role of hypoxia in cancer. Abstract Hypoxia is a hallmark of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive cancer of the central nervous system, and is associated with multiple aspects of tumor pathogenesis. For example, hypoxia induces resistance to conventional cancer therapies and inhibits antitumor immune responses. Thus, targeting hypoxia is an attractive strategy for GBM therapy. However, traditional studies on hypoxia have largely excluded the immune system. Recently, the critical role of the immune system in the defense against multiple tumors has become apparent, leading to the development of effective immunotherapies targeting numerous cancer types. Critically, however, GBM is classified as a “cold tumor” due to poor immune responses. Thus, to improve GBM responsiveness against immunotherapies, an improved understanding of both immune function in GBM and the role of hypoxia in mediating immune responses within the GBM microenvironment is needed. In this review, we discuss the role of hypoxia in GBM from a clinical, pathological, and immunological perspective.
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Market M, Tennakoon G, Auer RC. Postoperative Natural Killer Cell Dysfunction: The Prime Suspect in the Case of Metastasis Following Curative Cancer Surgery. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111378. [PMID: 34768810 PMCID: PMC8583911 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Surgical resection is the foundation for the curative treatment of solid tumors. However, metastatic recurrence due to the difficulty in eradicating micrometastases remain a feared outcome. Paradoxically, despite the beneficial effects of surgical removal of the primary tumor, the physiological stress resulting from surgical trauma serves to promote cancer recurrence and metastasis. The postoperative environment suppresses critical anti-tumor immune effector cells, including Natural Killer (NK) cells. The literature suggests that NK cells are critical mediators in the formation of metastases immediately following surgery. The following review will highlight the mechanisms that promote the formation of micrometastases by directly or indirectly inducing NK cell suppression following surgery. These include tissue hypoxia, neuroendocrine activation, hypercoagulation, the pro-inflammatory phase, and the anti-inflammatory phase. Perioperative therapeutic strategies designed to prevent or reverse NK cell dysfunction will also be examined for their potential to improve cancer outcomes by preventing surgery-induced metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Market
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 8M5, Canada; (M.M.); (G.T.)
- The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1G 4E3, Canada
| | - Gayashan Tennakoon
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 8M5, Canada; (M.M.); (G.T.)
| | - Rebecca C. Auer
- The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1G 4E3, Canada
- Department of General Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-613-722-7000
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Salminen A, Kaarniranta K, Kauppinen A. Hypoxia/ischemia impairs CD33 (Siglec-3)/TREM2 signaling: Potential role in Alzheimer's pathogenesis. Neurochem Int 2021; 150:105186. [PMID: 34530055 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent genetic and molecular studies have indicated that the innate immune system, especially microglia, have a crucial role in the accumulation of β-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In particular, the CD33 receptor, also called Siglec-3, inhibits the TREM2 receptor-induced phagocytic activity of microglia. CD33 receptors recognize the α2,3 and α2,6-linked sialic groups in tissue glycocalyx, especially sialylated gangliosides in human brain. The CD33 receptor triggers cell-type specific responses, e.g., in microglia, CD33 inhibits phagocytosis, whereas in natural killer cells, it inhibits the cytotoxic activity of the NKG2D receptor. Nonetheless, the regulation of the activity of CD33 receptor needs to be clarified. For example, it seems that hypoxia/ischemia, a potential cause of AD pathology, increases the expression of CD33 and its downstream target SHP-1, a tyrosine phosphatase which suppresses the phagocytosis driven by TREM2. Moreover, hypoxia/ischemia increases the deposition of sialylated gangliosides, e.g., GM1, GM2, GM3, and GD1, which are ligands for inhibitory CD33/Siglec-3 receptors. In addition, β-amyloid peptides bind to the sialylated gangliosides in raft-like clusters and subsequently these gangliosides act as seeds for the formation of β-amyloid plaques in AD pathology. It is known that senile plaques contain sialylated GM1, GM2, and GM3 gangliosides, i.e., the same species induced by hypoxia/ischemia treatment. Sialylated gangliosides in plaques might stimulate the CD33/Siglec-3 receptors of microglia and thus impede TREM2-driven phagocytosis. We propose that hypoxia/ischemia, e.g., via the accumulation of sialylated gangliosides, prevents the phagocytosis of β-amyloid deposits by inhibiting CD33/TREM2 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antero Salminen
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, FI-70029, KYS, Finland
| | - Anu Kauppinen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
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Liu D, Luo H, Qiao C. SHP-1/STAT3 Interaction Is Related to Luteolin-Induced Myocardial Ischemia Protection. Inflammation 2021; 45:88-99. [PMID: 34460026 PMCID: PMC8403691 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-021-01530-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Prevention and management of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a key step in coronary heart disease surgery. Luteolin is a falconoid compound that has an antioxidant effect, but its mechanism in I/R injury in vivo and in vitro is still under explored. This study attempted to reveal the role of luteolin (Lut) in I/R through mediation of the Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1)/Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. To establish I/R rat models, the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was ligated for 30 min and re-perfused for 1 h in Lut-pretreated or nude rats. Comparisons between infarct area, cardiac dysfunction, and myocardial cell death and inflammatory reaction were performed in I/R-induced rats. Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) cell models were established by stimulating H9c2 cells with 95% nitrogen and 5% carbon dioxide. Simultaneously, H/R-related cell death and inflammatory reactions were investigated following Lut treatment. The target protein of Lut was identified using western blotting. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were also measured in serum or Lut-pretreated cell culture medium. The results revealed that compared with the I/R group, Lut treatment could significantly decrease myocardial infarction (MI) area, increase left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and decrease cell death and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum. Decreased apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines were also observed in H/R cells after Lut treatment. Lut treatment downregulated SHP-1 expression and subsequently upregulated STAT3 phosphorylation in both I/R rat heart tissue and H9c2 cells. The findings of the current study suggest that Lut can protect the heart and reduce MI area, cell apoptosis rate, and inflammatory level in I/R models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghai Liu
- Cardiovascular Surgery II, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Hong Luo
- Cardiovascular Surgery II, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Chenhui Qiao
- Cardiovascular Surgery II, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China. .,Cardiovascular Surgery II, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan, 450052, Zhengzhou, China.
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27
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Zhang L, Kuca K, You L, Zhao Y, Musilek K, Nepovimova E, Wu Q, Wu W, Adam V. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling in tumor immune evasion. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 230:107969. [PMID: 34450232 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The underlying mechanism of tumor immune evasion is a highly concerning subject for researchers. Increasing evidences reveal that the over-activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a crucial molecular hub in malignant tumors. STAT3 controls autophagy molecules that impair CTL-mediated tumor cell lysis, inhibiting natural killer cells and inducing apoptosis in T lymphocytes to create an immunosuppressive environment. STAT3 signaling regulates the expression of immune factors and recruits immunosuppressive cells to establish a tolerant tumor microenvironment (TME). STAT3 signaling regulates the expression of immune factors and recruits immunosuppressive cells to create an immunosuppressive environment. All this aid tumor cells in escaping from immune surveillance. In this review, we outlined the STAT3-mediated mechanisms involved in tumor immune evasion and their potential regulatory functions in the TME. We discussed the impact of STAT3 signaling on PD-L1, HIF-1α, exosome, lncRNA, and autophagy in the promotion of tumor immune evasion and highlighted the recent research on STAT3 signaling and tumor immune evasion that may assist in developing effective STAT3-targeted drugs for advancing immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luying Zhang
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Kamil Kuca
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Králové 500 03, Czech Republic
| | - Li You
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Yingying Zhao
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Kamil Musilek
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Králové 500 03, Czech Republic
| | - Eugenie Nepovimova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Králové 500 03, Czech Republic
| | - Qinghua Wu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Králové 500 03, Czech Republic.
| | - Wenda Wu
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Králové 500 03, Czech Republic.
| | - Vojtech Adam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno 613 00, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic.
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Cox A, Cevik H, Feldman HA, Canaday LM, Lakes N, Waggoner SN. Targeting natural killer cells to enhance vaccine responses. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:789-801. [PMID: 34311992 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination serves as a cornerstone of global health. Successful prevention of infection or disease by vaccines is achieved through elicitation of pathogen-specific antibodies and long-lived memory T cells. However, several microbial threats to human health have proven refractory to past vaccine efforts. These shortcomings have been attributed to either inefficient triggering of memory T and B cell responses or to the unfulfilled need to stimulate non-conventional forms of immunological memory. Natural killer (NK) cells have recently emerged as both key regulators of vaccine-elicited T and B cell responses and as memory cells that contribute to pathogen control. We discuss potential methods to modulate these functions of NK cells to enhance vaccine success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Cox
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Hilal Cevik
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - H Alex Feldman
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Laura M Canaday
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Nora Lakes
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Stephen N Waggoner
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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29
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Choi C, Finlay DK. Optimising NK cell metabolism to increase the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:320. [PMID: 34090499 PMCID: PMC8180160 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02377-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has ushered in an exciting new era for cancer treatment. The recent discovery and success of immune checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell adoptive cell transfer has raised interest in using other immune cells, including Natural Killer (NK) cells, which might overcome some limitations with CAR T cell therapy. In this review article, we discuss the evidence that cellular metabolism is crucial for NK cell effector function. Additionally, potential strategies to optimise the metabolism of therapeutic NK cells for improved function within the metabolically adverse tumour microenvironment will be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Choi
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - David K Finlay
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology and School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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30
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Li BL, Zhao DY, Du PL, Wang XT, Yang Q, Cai YR. Luteolin alleviates ulcerative colitis through SHP-1/STAT3 pathway. Inflamm Res 2021; 70:705-717. [PMID: 34014331 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-021-01468-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have demonstrated that Luteolin has a positive effect on epithelial barrier integrity by promoting the function of tight protein, however, little is known about the underline mechanism of Luteolin. In this study, we constructed Caco-2 cell monolayer to explore the effects and the regulation mechanism of Luteolin in intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. METHODS Caco-2 cells were co-treated with TNF-α, Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and Luteolin for 24 h. Overexpression or knockdown of SHP-1 was applied to study the effects of protein phosphoserine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) on epithelial barrier integrity. Cell viability was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Barrier function was detected by trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and FITC-dextran assay. The expression levels of SHP-1, phosphorylation signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), STAT3 and tight junction proteins were measured by qRT-PCR or western blot. In vivo model of ulcerative colitis was established to detect the function of Luteolin in ulcerative colitis. RESULTS We clarified that Luteolin protected intestinal epithelial barrier function of Caco-2 monolayers by increasing the resistance values and tight junction (TJ) protein expression. The expression of OCLN, CLDN1, and ZO1 was increased by Luteolin, while the expression of CLDN2 was decreased. Furthermore, Luteolin significantly alleviated the symptom of ulcerative colitis in DSS-induced mice. The in vitro cell model proved that overexpression of SHP-1 promotes the epithelial barrier function and knockdown of SHP-1 or STAT3 activation destroyed the protective effects of Luteolin on the expression of TJ proteins. CONCLUSION We found that the treatment of Luteolin promoted epithelial barrier function and Luteolin might preserve intestinal epithelial barrier function through suppression of STAT3 signaling pathway by SHP-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Lin Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hebei Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 389, Zhongshan East Road, Chang an District, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan-Yang Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hebei Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 389, Zhongshan East Road, Chang an District, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng-Li Du
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hebei Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 389, Zhongshan East Road, Chang an District, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Tian Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hebei Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 389, Zhongshan East Road, Chang an District, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hebei Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 389, Zhongshan East Road, Chang an District, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yan-Ru Cai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hebei Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 389, Zhongshan East Road, Chang an District, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
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Gurney M, O’Dwyer M. Realizing Innate Potential: CAR-NK Cell Therapies for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1568. [PMID: 33805422 PMCID: PMC8036691 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Next-generation cellular immunotherapies seek to improve the safety and efficacy of approved CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell products or apply their principles across a growing list of targets and diseases. Supported by promising early clinical experiences, CAR modified natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapies represent a complementary and potentially off-the-shelf, allogeneic solution. While acute myeloid leukemia (AML) represents an intuitive disease in which to investigate CAR based immunotherapies, key biological differences to B-cell malignancies have complicated progress to date. As CAR-T cell trials treating AML are growing in number, several CAR-NK cell approaches are also in development. In this review we explore why CAR-NK cell therapies may be particularly suited to the treatment of AML. First, we examine the established role NK cells play in AML biology and the existing anti-leukemic activity of NK cell adoptive transfer. Next, we appraise potential AML target antigens and consider common and unique challenges posed relative to treating B-cell malignancies. We summarize the current landscape of CAR-NK development in AML, and potential targets to augment CAR-NK cell therapies pharmacologically and through genetic engineering. Finally, we consider the broader landscape of competing immunotherapeutic approaches to AML treatment. In doing so we evaluate the innate potential, status and remaining barriers for CAR-NK based AML immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Gurney
- Apoptosis Research Center, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - Michael O’Dwyer
- Apoptosis Research Center, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
- ONK Therapeutics Ltd., H91 V6KV Galway, Ireland
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Corrigendum to "Hypoxia Impairs NK Cell Cytotoxicity through SHP-1-Mediated Attenuation of STAT3 and ERK Signaling Pathways". J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:3625084. [PMID: 33728351 PMCID: PMC7936882 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3625084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Dizaji Asl K, Velaei K, Rafat A, Tayefi Nasrabadi H, Movassaghpour AA, Mahdavi M, Nozad Charoudeh H. The role of KIR positive NK cells in diseases and its importance in clinical intervention. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 92:107361. [PMID: 33429335 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are essential for the elimination of the transformed and cancerous cells. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) which expressed by T and NK cells, are key regulator of NK cell function. The KIR and their ligands, MHC class I (HLA-A, B and C) molecules, are highly polymorphic and their related genes are located on 19 q13.4 and 6 q21.3 chromosomes, respectively. It is clear that particular interaction between the KIRs and their related ligands can influence on the prevalence, progression and outcome of several diseases, like complications of pregnancy, viral infection, autoimmune diseases, and hematological malignancies. The mechanisms of immune signaling in particular NK cells involvement in causing pathological conditions are not completely understood yet. Therefore, better understanding of the molecular mechanism of KIR-MHC class I interaction could facilitate the treatment strategy of diseases. The present review focused on the main characteristics and functional details of various KIR and their combination with related ligands in diseases and also highlights ongoing efforts to manipulate the key checkpoints in NK cell-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Dizaji Asl
- Stem Cell Research Centre, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Kobra Velaei
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Rafat
- Stem Cell Research Centre, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamid Tayefi Nasrabadi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Movassaghpour
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Majid Mahdavi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
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