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Soh LJ, Lee SY, Roebuck MM, Wong PF. Unravelling the interplay between ER stress, UPR and the cGAS-STING pathway: Implications for osteoarthritis pathogenesis and treatment strategy. Life Sci 2024; 357:123112. [PMID: 39378929 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.123112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 09/20/2024] [Accepted: 10/03/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating chronic degenerative disease affecting the whole joint organ leading to pain and disability. Cellular stress and injuries trigger inflammation and the onset of pathophysiological changes ensue after irreparable damage and inability to resolve inflammation, impeding the completion of the healing process. Extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation leads to dysregulated joint tissue metabolism. The reparative effort induces the proliferation of hypertrophic chondrocytes and matrix protein synthesis. Aberrant protein synthesis leads to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and chondrocyte apoptosis with consequent cartilage matrix loss. These events in a vicious cycle perpetuate inflammation, hindering the restoration of normal tissue homeostasis. Recent evidence suggests that inflammatory responses and chondrocyte apoptosis could be caused by the activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signalling axis in response to DNA damage. It has been reported that there is a crosstalk between ER stress and cGAS-STING signalling in cellular senescence and other diseases. Based on recent evidence, this review discusses the role of ER stress, Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) and cGAS-STING pathway in mediating inflammatory responses in OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Jen Soh
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Siam-Yee Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Margaret M Roebuck
- Department of Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course & Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 9TA, UK
| | - Pooi-Fong Wong
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia.
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2
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He M, Jiang H, Li S, Xue M, Wang H, Zheng C, Tong J. The crosstalk between DNA-damage responses and innate immunity. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 140:112768. [PMID: 39088918 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112768] [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: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
DNA damage is typically caused during cell growth by DNA replication stress or exposure to endogenous or external toxins. The accumulation of damaged DNA causes genomic instability, which is the root cause of many serious disorders. Multiple cellular organisms utilize sophisticated signaling pathways against DNA damage, collectively known as DNA damage response (DDR) networks. Innate immune responses are activated following cellular abnormalities, including DNA damage. Interestingly, recent studies have indicated that there is an intimate relationship between the DDR network and innate immune responses. Diverse kinds of cytosolic DNA sensors, such as cGAS and STING, recognize damaged DNA and induce signals related to innate immune responses, which link defective DDR to innate immunity. Moreover, DDR components operate in immune signaling pathways to induce IFNs and/or a cascade of inflammatory cytokines via direct interactions with innate immune modulators. Consistently, defective DDR factors exacerbate the innate immune imbalance, resulting in severe diseases, including autoimmune disorders and tumorigenesis. Here, the latest progress in understanding crosstalk between the DDR network and innate immune responses is reviewed. Notably, the dual function of innate immune modulators in the DDR network may provide novel insights into understanding and developing targeted immunotherapies for DNA damage-related diseases, even carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei He
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Hua Jiang
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Shun Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Mengzhou Xue
- Department of Cerebrovascular Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Huiqing Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Chunfu Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Jie Tong
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
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3
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Pulliam T, Jani S, Goff PH, Bhakuni R, Tabachnick-Cherny S, Smythe K, Seaton BW, Tachiki L, Kulikauskas R, Church C, Koelle DM, Nghiem P, Bhatia S. Intratumoral STING agonist reverses immune evasion in PD-(L)1-refractory Merkel cell carcinoma: mechanistic insights from detailed biomarker analyses. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009803. [PMID: 39401968 PMCID: PMC11474899 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 10/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibodies blocking programmed death (PD)-1 or its ligand (PD-L1) have revolutionized cancer care, but many patients do not experience durable benefits. Novel treatments to stimulate antitumor immunity are needed in the PD-(L)1 refractory setting. The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) protein, an innate sensor of cytoplasmic DNA, is a promising target with several agonists in development. However, response rates in most recent clinical trials have been low and mechanisms of response remain unclear. We report detailed biomarker analyses in a patient with anti-PD-L1 refractory, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV)-positive, metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) who was treated with an intratumoral (IT) STING agonist (ADU-S100) plus intravenous anti-PD-1 antibody (spartalizumab) and experienced a durable objective response with regression of both injected and non-injected lesions. METHODS We analyzed pretreatment and post-treatment tumor and peripheral blood samples from our patient with single-cell RNA sequencing, 30-parameter flow cytometry, T cell receptor sequencing, and multiplexed immunohistochemistry. We analyzed cancer-specific CD8 T cells using human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-I tetramers loaded with MCPyV peptides. We also analyzed STING expression and signaling in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of 88 additional MCC tumor specimens and in MCC cell lines. RESULTS We observed high levels of MCPyV-specific T cells (12% of T cells) in our patient's tumor at baseline. These cancer-specific CD8 T cells exhibited characteristics of exhaustion including high TOX and low TCF1 proteins. Following treatment with STING-agonist plus anti-PD-1, IT CD8 T cells expanded threefold. We also observed evidence of likely improved antigen presentation in the MCC TME (greater than fourfold increase of HLA-I-positive cancer cells). STING expression was not detected in any cancer cells within our patient's tumor or in 88 other MCC tumors, however high STING expression was observed in immune and stromal cells within all 89 MCC tumors. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that STING agonists may be able to work indirectly in MCC via signaling through immune and stromal cells in the TME, and may not necessarily need STING expression in the cancer cells. This approach may be particularly effective in tumors that are already infiltrated by inflammatory cells in the TME but are evading immune detection via HLA-I downregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Pulliam
- Department of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Saumya Jani
- Department of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Peter H Goff
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rashmi Bhakuni
- Department of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Shira Tabachnick-Cherny
- Department of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Lisa Tachiki
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rima Kulikauskas
- Department of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Candice Church
- Department of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David M Koelle
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Paul Nghiem
- Department of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Shailender Bhatia
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
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4
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Wang B, Yu W, Jiang H, Meng X, Tang D, Liu D. Clinical applications of STING agonists in cancer immunotherapy: current progress and future prospects. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1485546. [PMID: 39421752 PMCID: PMC11483357 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1485546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes) pathway is pivotal in activating innate immunity, making it a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. STING agonists have shown potential in enhancing immune responses, particularly in tumors resistant to traditional therapies. This scholarly review examines the diverse categories of STING agonists, encompassing CDN analogues, non-CDN chemotypes, CDN-infused exosomes, engineered bacterial vectors, and hybrid structures of small molecules-nucleic acids. We highlight their mechanisms, clinical trial progress, and therapeutic outcomes. While these agents offer significant promise, challenges such as toxicity, tumor heterogeneity, and delivery methods remain obstacles to their broader clinical use. Ongoing research and innovation are essential to overcoming these hurdles. STING agonists could play a transformative role in cancer treatment, particularly for patients with hard-to-treat malignancies, by harnessing the body's immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- The Afffliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wanpeng Yu
- The Afffliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hongfei Jiang
- The Afffliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Medical Education Department, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital (Jinwan Central Hospital of Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Xiangwei Meng
- Department of Drug Clinical Trials, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Dongmei Tang
- The Afffliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Department of Anesthesia, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Medical Education Department, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital (Jinwan Central Hospital of Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
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5
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Ma D, Xie A, Lv J, Min X, Zhang X, Zhou Q, Gao D, Wang E, Gao L, Cheng L, Liu S. Engineered extracellular vesicles enable high-efficient delivery of intracellular therapeutic proteins. Protein Cell 2024; 15:724-743. [PMID: 38518087 PMCID: PMC11443452 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing an intracellular delivery system is of key importance in the expansion of protein-based therapeutics acting on cytosolic or nuclear targets. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been exploited as next-generation delivery modalities due to their natural role in intercellular communication and biocompatibility. However, fusion of protein of interest to a scaffold represents a widely used strategy for cargo enrichment in EVs, which could compromise the stability and functionality of cargo. Herein, we report intracellular delivery via EV-based approach (IDEA) that efficiently packages and delivers native proteins both in vitro and in vivo without the use of a scaffold. As a proof-of-concept, we applied the IDEA to deliver cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), an innate immune sensor. The results showed that cGAS-carrying EVs activated interferon signaling and elicited enhanced antitumor immunity in multiple syngeneic tumor models. Combining cGAS EVs with immune checkpoint inhibition further synergistically boosted antitumor efficacy in vivo. Mechanistically, scRNA-seq demonstrated that cGAS EVs mediated significant remodeling of intratumoral microenvironment, revealing a pivotal role of infiltrating neutrophils in the antitumor immune milieu. Collectively, IDEA, as a universal and facile strategy, can be applied to expand and advance the development of protein-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding Ma
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
- Blood and Cell Therapy Institute, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and Applications, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - An Xie
- Blood and Cell Therapy Institute, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and Applications, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jiahui Lv
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Xiaolin Min
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Xinye Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Daxing Gao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Enyu Wang
- Blood and Cell Therapy Institute, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and Applications, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Blood and Cell Therapy Institute, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and Applications, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Linzhao Cheng
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
- Blood and Cell Therapy Institute, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and Applications, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Senquan Liu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
- Blood and Cell Therapy Institute, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and Applications, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
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6
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Cui L, Xu X, Fan H, Wan X, Chen Q, Zhang J, Tao C, Du Z, Wang Y, Zhang J, Zeng J, Zhang Y, Zhang C, Li L, Bu Y, Lei Y. Reuterin promotes pyroptosis in hepatocellular cancer cells through mtDNA-mediated STING activation and caspase 8 expression. Cancer Lett 2024; 601:217183. [PMID: 39153728 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer with poor prognosis. The available drugs for advanced HCC are limited and substantial therapeutic advances including new drugs and new combination therapies are still in urgent need. In this study, we found that the major metabolite of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), reuterin showed great anti-HCC potential and could help in sorafenib treatment. Reuterin treatment impaired mitophagy and caused the aberrant clustering of mitochondrial nucleoids to block mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and mitochondrial fission, which could promote mtDNA leakage and subsequent STING activation in HCC cells. STING could activate pyroptosis and necroptosis, while reuterin treatment also induced caspase 8 expression to inhibit necroptosis through cleaving RIPK3 in HCC cells. Thus, pyroptosis was the main death form in reuterin-treated HCC cells and STING suppression remarkably rescued the growth inhibitory effect of reuterin and concurrently knockdown caspase 8 synergized to restrain the induction of pyroptosis. In conclusion, our study explains the detailed molecular mechanisms of the antitumor effect of reuterin and reveals its potential to perform as a combinational drug for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xiaohui Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Hui Fan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xinyan Wan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Junhui Zhang
- Department of Geriatric Oncology and Department of Palliative Care, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Chuntao Tao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Zheng Du
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Yitao Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jun Zeng
- College of Life Sciences and Animal Biology Key Laboratory of Chongqing Education Commission of China, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Chundong Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Longhao Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Youquan Bu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
| | - Yunlong Lei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, 610212, China.
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7
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Poston TB, Girardi J, Kim M, Zwarycz P, Polson AG, Yount K, Hanlan C, Salas IJ, Lammert SM, Arroyo D, Bruno T, Wu M, Rozzelle J, Fairman J, Esser-Kahn A, Darville T. Intranasal immunization with CPAF combined with cyclic-di-AMP induces a memory CD4 T cell response and reduces bacterial burden following intravaginal infection with Chlamydia muridarum. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.20.614154. [PMID: 39386616 PMCID: PMC11463518 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.20.614154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection globally, and a vaccine is urgently needed to stop transmission and disease. Chlamydial Protease Activity Factor (CPAF) is an immunoprevalent and immunodominant antigen for CD4 T cells and B cells, which makes it a strong vaccine candidate. Due to the tolerogenic nature of the female genital tract (FGT) and its lack of secondary lymphoid tissue, effective induction of protective cell-mediated immunity will likely require potent and safe mucosal adjuvants. To address this need, we produced CPAF in a cell-free protein synthesis platform and adjuvanted it with the TLR9-agonist CpG1826, STING (stimulator of interferon genes) agonist cyclic-di-AMP (CDA), and/or the squalene oil-in-water nanoemulsion, AddaS03. We determined that intranasal immunization with CPAF plus CDA was well tolerated in female mice, induced CD4 T cells that produced IL-17A or IFNγ, significantly reduced bacterial shedding, and shortened the duration of infection in mice intravaginally challenged with Chlamydia muridarum . These data demonstrate the potential for CDA as a mucosal adjuvant for vaccines against Chlamydia genital tract infection.
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8
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Heimberger AB. 2024 Lasker Award Recipient Zhijian Chen elucidates how DNA stimulates immunity. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e186104. [PMID: 39295301 PMCID: PMC11446599 DOI: 10.1172/jci186104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2024] Open
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9
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Aybar-Torres AA, Saldarriaga LA, Pham AT, Emtiazjoo AM, Sharma AK, Bryant AJ, Jin L. The common Sting1 HAQ, AQ alleles rescue CD4 T cellpenia, restore T-regs, and prevent SAVI (N153S) inflammatory disease in mice. eLife 2024; 13:RP96790. [PMID: 39291958 PMCID: PMC11410371 DOI: 10.7554/elife.96790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The significance of STING1 gene in tissue inflammation and cancer immunotherapy has been increasingly recognized. Intriguingly, common human STING1 alleles R71H-G230A-R293Q (HAQ) and G230A-R293Q (AQ) are carried by ~60% of East Asians and ~40% of Africans, respectively. Here, we examine the modulatory effects of HAQ, AQ alleles on STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI), an autosomal dominant, fatal inflammatory disease caused by gain-of-function human STING1 mutations. CD4 T cellpenia is evident in SAVI patients and mouse models. Using Sting1 knock-in mice expressing common human STING1 alleles HAQ, AQ, and Q293, we found that HAQ, AQ, and Q293 splenocytes resist STING1-mediated cell death ex vivo, establishing a critical role of STING1 residue 293 in cell death. The HAQ/SAVI(N153S) and AQ/SAVI(N153S) mice did not have CD4 T cellpenia. The HAQ/SAVI(N153S), AQ/SAVI(N153S) mice have more (~10-fold, ~20-fold, respectively) T-regs than WT/SAVI(N153S) mice. Remarkably, while they have comparable TBK1, IRF3, and NFκB activation as the WT/SAVI, the AQ/SAVI mice have no tissue inflammation, regular body weight, and normal lifespan. We propose that STING1 activation promotes tissue inflammation by depleting T-regs cells in vivo. Billions of modern humans have the dominant HAQ, AQ alleles. STING1 research and STING1-targeting immunotherapy should consider STING1 heterogeneity in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra a Aybar-Torres
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Lennon A Saldarriaga
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Ann T Pham
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Amir M Emtiazjoo
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Ashish K Sharma
- Division of Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Andrew j Bryant
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Lei Jin
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
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10
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Goswami A, Goyal S, Khurana P, Singh K, Deb B, Kulkarni A. Small molecule innate immune modulators in cancer therapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1395655. [PMID: 39318624 PMCID: PMC11419979 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1395655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has proved to be a breakthrough in cancer treatment. So far, a bulk of the approved/late-stage cancer immunotherapy are antibody-based. Although these antibody-based drugs have demonstrated great promise, a majority of them are limited due to their access to extracellular targets, lack of oral bioavailability, tumor microenvironment penetration, induction of antibody dependent cytotoxicity etc. In recent times, there has been an increased research focus on the development of small molecule immunomodulators since they have the potential to overcome the aforementioned limitations posed by antibodies. Furthermore, while most biologics based therapeutics that are in clinical use are limited to modulating the adaptive immune system, very few clinically approved therapeutic modalities exist that modulate the innate immune system. The innate immune system, which is the body's first line of defense, has the ability to turn cold tumors hot and synergize strongly with existing adaptive immune modulators. In preclinical studies, small molecule innate immune modulators have demonstrated synergistic efficacy as combination modalities with current standard-of-care immune checkpoint antibodies. In this review, we highlight the recent advances made by small molecule innate immunomodulators in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Barnali Deb
- Aten Porus Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, India
| | - Aditya Kulkarni
- Aten Porus Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, India
- Avammune Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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11
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Chattopadhyay S, Hazra R, Mallick A, Gayen S, Roy S. Small-molecule in cancer immunotherapy: Revolutionizing cancer treatment with transformative, game-changing breakthroughs. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189170. [PMID: 39127244 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189170] [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: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer management, with antibody-based treatments leading the charge due to their superior pharmacodynamics, including enhanced effectiveness and specificity. However, these therapies are hampered by limitations such as prolonged half-lives, poor tissue and tumor penetration, and minimal oral bioavailability. Additionally, their immunogenic nature can cause adverse effects. Consequently, the focus is shifting towards small-molecule-based immunotherapies, which potentially overcome these drawbacks. Emerging as a promising alternative, small molecules offer the benefits of therapeutic antibodies and immunomodulators, often yielding synergistic effects when combined. Recent advancements in small-molecule cancer immunotherapy are notable, featuring inhibitors, agonists, and degraders that act as immunomodulators. This article delves into the current landscape of small-molecule immunotherapy in cancer treatment, highlighting novel agents targeting key pathways such as Toll-like receptors (TLR), PD-1/PD-L1, chemokine receptors, and stimulators of interferon genes (STING). The review emphasizes newly discovered molecular entities and their modulatory roles in tumorigenesis, many of which have progressed to clinical trials, that aims to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the evolving frontier in cancer treatment, driven by small-molecule immunomodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumyadeep Chattopadhyay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Rudradeep Hazra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Arijit Mallick
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Sakuntala Gayen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Souvik Roy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India.
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12
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Yu L, Liu P. cGAS/STING signalling pathway in senescence and oncogenesis. Semin Cancer Biol 2024; 106-107:87-102. [PMID: 39222763 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2024.08.007] [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: 08/09/2024] [Revised: 08/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The cGAS/STING signaling pathway is a crucial component of the innate immune system, playing significant roles in sensing cytosolic DNA, regulating cellular senescence, and contributing to oncogenesis. Recent advances have shed new lights into the molecular mechanisms governing pathway activation in multiple pathophysiological settings, the indispensable roles of cGAS/STING signaling in cellular senescence, and its context-dependent roles in cancer development and suppression. This review summarizes current knowledge related to the biology of cGAS/STING signaling pathway and its participations into senescence and oncogenesis. We further explore the clinical implications and therapeutic potential for cGAS/STING targeted therapies, and faced challenges in the field. With a focus on molecular mechanisms and emerging pharmacological targets, this review underscores the importance of future studies to harness the therapeutic potential of the cGAS/STING pathway in treating senescence-related disorders and cancer. Advanced understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of cGAS/STING signaling, along with the associated deregulations in diseases, combined with the development of new classes of cGAS/STING modulators, hold great promises for creating novel and effective therapeutic strategies. These advancements could address current treatment challenges and unlock the full potential of cGAS/STING in treating senescence-related disorders and oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Yu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Pengda Liu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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13
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Hernandez-Franco JF, Jan IM, Elzey BD, HogenEsch H. Intradermal vaccination with a phytoglycogen nanoparticle and STING agonist induces cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated antitumor immunity. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:149. [PMID: 39152131 PMCID: PMC11329758 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00943-8] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A critical aspect of cancer vaccine development is the formulation with effective adjuvants. This study evaluated whether combining a cationic plant-derived nanoparticle adjuvant (Nano-11) with the clinically tested STING agonist ADU-S100 (MIW815) could stimulate anticancer immunity by intradermal vaccination. Nano-11 combined with ADU-S100 (NanoST) synergistically activated antigen-presenting cells, facilitating protein antigen cross-presentation in vitro and in vivo. Intradermal vaccination using ovalbumin (OVA) as a tumor antigen and combined with Nano-11 or NanoST prevented the development of murine B16-OVA melanoma and E.G7-OVA lymphoma tumors. The antitumor immunity was abolished by CD8+ T cell depletion but not by CD4+ T cell depletion. Therapeutic vaccination with NanoST increased mouse survival by inhibiting B16-OVA tumor growth, and this effect was further enhanced by PD-1 checkpoint blockade. Our study provides a strong rationale for developing NanoST as an adjuvant for intradermal vaccination and next-generation preventative and therapeutic cancer vaccines by STING-targeted activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Hernandez-Franco
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 725 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| | - Imran M Jan
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 725 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1225 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Bennett D Elzey
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 725 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Harm HogenEsch
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 725 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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14
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Zhang WY, Zheng XL, Coghi PS, Chen JH, Dong BJ, Fan XX. Revolutionizing adjuvant development: harnessing AI for next-generation cancer vaccines. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1438030. [PMID: 39206192 PMCID: PMC11349682 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1438030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of vaccines has been widely recognized and has led to increased research and development efforts. Vaccines also play a crucial role in cancer treatment by activating the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. However, enhancing the efficacy of cancer vaccines remains a challenge. Adjuvants, which enhance the immune response to antigens and improve vaccine effectiveness, have faced limitations in recent years, resulting in few novel adjuvants being identified. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in drug development has provided a foundation for adjuvant screening and application, leading to a diversification of adjuvants. This article reviews the significant role of tumor vaccines in basic research and clinical treatment and explores the use of AI technology to screen novel adjuvants from databases. The findings of this review offer valuable insights for the development of new adjuvants for next-generation vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Ying Zhang
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, Macao SAR, China
| | - Xiao-Li Zheng
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, Macao SAR, China
| | - Paolo Saul Coghi
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, Macao SAR, China
| | - Jun-Hui Chen
- Intervention and Cell Therapy Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bing-Jun Dong
- Gynecology Department, Zhuhai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xing-Xing Fan
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, Macao SAR, China
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15
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Qian L, Zhang Z, Zhang R, Zheng X, Xiao B, Zhang X, Wu Y, Chen Y, Zhang X, Zhou P, Fu Q, Kang T, Gao Y. Activated STING-containing R-EVs from iPSC-derived MSCs promote antitumor immunity. Cancer Lett 2024; 597:217081. [PMID: 38909776 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217081] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
We recently revealed that activated STING is secreted into RAB22A-induced extracellular vesicles (R-EVs) and promotes antitumor immunity in cancer cells. Whether mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived R-EVs containing activated STING can be used as a novel antitumor immunotherapy remains unclear, as MSC-derived EVs are promising cell-free therapeutics due to their superior biocompatibility and safety, as well as low immunogenicity. Here, we report that induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived MSCs can generate R-EVs with a size and mechanism of formation that are similar to those of R-EVs produced from cancer cells. Furthermore, these MSC-derived R-EVs containing activated STING induced IFNβ expression in recipient THP-1 monocytes and antitumor immunity in mice. Our findings reveal that the use of MSC-derived R-EVs containing activated STING is a promising cell-free strategy for antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxia Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China; School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhonghan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruhua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Xueping Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Beibei Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuanzhong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Departments of Endodontics, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510000, Guangdong, China
| | - Xingding Zhang
- School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Penghui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Qingling Fu
- Otorhinolaryngology Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
| | - Tiebang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China.
| | - Ying Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China.
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16
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Fang K, Zhang H, Kong Q, Ma Y, Xiong T, Qin T, Li S, Zhu X. Recent Progress in Photothermal, Photodynamic and Sonodynamic Cancer Therapy: Through the cGAS-STING Pathway to Efficacy-Enhancing Strategies. Molecules 2024; 29:3704. [PMID: 39125107 PMCID: PMC11314065 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29153704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Photothermal, photodynamic and sonodynamic cancer therapies offer opportunities for precise tumor ablation and reduce side effects. The cyclic guanylate adenylate synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway has been considered a potential target to stimulate the immune system in patients and achieve a sustained immune response. Combining photothermal, photodynamic and sonodynamic therapies with cGAS-STING agonists represents a newly developed cancer treatment demonstrating noticeable innovation in its impact on the immune system. Recent reviews have concentrated on diverse materials and their function in cancer therapy. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanism of photothermal, photodynamic and sonodynamic cancer therapies and the connected role of cGAS-STING agonists in treating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelan Fang
- Guizhou Provincial College-Based Key Lab for Tumor Prevention and Treatment with Distinctive Medicines, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Huiling Zhang
- Guizhou Provincial College-Based Key Lab for Tumor Prevention and Treatment with Distinctive Medicines, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacy, Shizhen College of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550000, China
| | - Qinghong Kong
- Guizhou Provincial College-Based Key Lab for Tumor Prevention and Treatment with Distinctive Medicines, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Yunli Ma
- Guizhou Provincial College-Based Key Lab for Tumor Prevention and Treatment with Distinctive Medicines, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Tianchan Xiong
- Guizhou Provincial College-Based Key Lab for Tumor Prevention and Treatment with Distinctive Medicines, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Tengyao Qin
- Guizhou Provincial College-Based Key Lab for Tumor Prevention and Treatment with Distinctive Medicines, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Sanhua Li
- Guizhou Provincial College-Based Key Lab for Tumor Prevention and Treatment with Distinctive Medicines, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Xinting Zhu
- Guizhou Provincial College-Based Key Lab for Tumor Prevention and Treatment with Distinctive Medicines, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
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17
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Feng Q, Xu X, Zhang S. cGAS-STING pathway in systemic lupus erythematosus: biological implications and therapeutic opportunities. Immunol Res 2024:10.1007/s12026-024-09525-1. [PMID: 39096420 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-024-09525-1] [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: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway has been identified as a significant modulator of inflammation in various clinical contexts, including infection, cellular stress, and tissue injury. The extensive participation of the cGAS-STING pathway can be attributed to its ability to detect and control the cellular reaction to DNAs originating from both microorganisms and hosts. These DNAs are well recognized as molecules linked with potential risks. At physiological levels, the STING signaling system exhibits protective effects. However, prolonged stimulation of this pathway contributes to autoimmune disorder pathogenesis. The present paper provides an overview of the activation mechanism of the cGAS-STING signaling pathways and their associated significant functions, as well as therapeutic interventions in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The primary objective is to enhance our comprehension of SLE and facilitate more effective diagnosis and treatment strategies for this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun Feng
- College of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130017, China
| | - Xiaolin Xu
- Cardiology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Shoulin Zhang
- Nephropathy Department, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130021, China.
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18
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Yi M, Li T, Niu M, Zhang H, Wu Y, Wu K, Dai Z. Targeting cytokine and chemokine signaling pathways for cancer therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:176. [PMID: 39034318 PMCID: PMC11275440 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01868-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are critical in regulating immune responses and cellular behavior, playing dual roles in both normal physiology and the pathology of diseases such as cancer. These molecules, including interleukins, interferons, tumor necrosis factors, chemokines, and growth factors like TGF-β, VEGF, and EGF, can promote or inhibit tumor growth, influence the tumor microenvironment, and impact the efficacy of cancer treatments. Recent advances in targeting these pathways have shown promising therapeutic potential, offering new strategies to modulate the immune system, inhibit tumor progression, and overcome resistance to conventional therapies. In this review, we summarized the current understanding and therapeutic implications of targeting cytokine and chemokine signaling pathways in cancer. By exploring the roles of these molecules in tumor biology and the immune response, we highlighted the development of novel therapeutic agents aimed at modulating these pathways to combat cancer. The review elaborated on the dual nature of cytokines as both promoters and suppressors of tumorigenesis, depending on the context, and discussed the challenges and opportunities this presents for therapeutic intervention. We also examined the latest advancements in targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, receptor inhibitors, fusion proteins, engineered cytokine variants, and their impact on tumor growth, metastasis, and the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, we evaluated the potential of combining these targeted therapies with other treatment modalities to overcome resistance and improve patient outcomes. Besides, we also focused on the ongoing research and clinical trials that are pivotal in advancing our understanding and application of cytokine- and chemokine-targeted therapies for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yi
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianye Li
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengke Niu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoxiang Zhang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuze Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Kongming Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhijun Dai
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China.
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19
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Malli Cetinbas N, Monnell T, Soomer-James J, Shaw P, Lancaster K, Catcott KC, Dolan M, Mosher R, Routhier C, Chin CN, Toader D, Duvall J, Bukhalid R, Lowinger TB, Damelin M. Tumor cell-directed STING agonist antibody-drug conjugates induce type III interferons and anti-tumor innate immune responses. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5842. [PMID: 38992037 PMCID: PMC11239908 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49932-4] [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: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Activating interferon responses with STING agonists (STINGa) is a current cancer immunotherapy strategy, and therapeutic modalities that enable tumor-targeted delivery via systemic administration could be beneficial. Here we demonstrate that tumor cell-directed STING agonist antibody-drug-conjugates (STINGa ADCs) activate STING in tumor cells and myeloid cells and induce anti-tumor innate immune responses in in vitro, in vivo (in female mice), and ex vivo tumor models. We show that the tumor cell-directed STINGa ADCs are internalized into myeloid cells by Fcγ-receptor-I in a tumor antigen-dependent manner. Systemic administration of STINGa ADCs in mice leads to STING activation in tumors, with increased anti-tumor activity and reduced serum cytokine elevations compared to a free STING agonist. Furthermore, STINGa ADCs induce type III interferons, which contribute to the anti-tumor activity by upregulating type I interferon and other key chemokines/cytokines. These findings reveal an important role for type III interferons in the anti-tumor activity elicited by STING agonism and provide rationale for the clinical development of tumor cell-directed STINGa ADCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Pamela Shaw
- Mersana Therapeutics Inc. Cambridge MA, Cambridge, USA
| | | | | | - Melissa Dolan
- Mersana Therapeutics Inc. Cambridge MA, Cambridge, USA
| | | | | | - Chen-Ni Chin
- Mersana Therapeutics Inc. Cambridge MA, Cambridge, USA
| | - Dorin Toader
- Mersana Therapeutics Inc. Cambridge MA, Cambridge, USA
| | - Jeremy Duvall
- Mersana Therapeutics Inc. Cambridge MA, Cambridge, USA
| | | | | | - Marc Damelin
- Mersana Therapeutics Inc. Cambridge MA, Cambridge, USA.
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20
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Luo S, Li S, Liu C, Yu D, Sun L, Zhang S, Zhao N, Zhang M, Nie J, Zhao Y, Li C, Zhang Y, Zhang Q, Meng H, Li X, Shi J, Zheng T. Stage-specificity of STING activation in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma determines the efficacy of its agonism. Cancer Lett 2024; 594:216992. [PMID: 38797231 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216992] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is an aggressive cancer with an extremely poor prognosis, and new treatment options are needed. Recently, immunotherapy has emerged as an efficient treatment against malignant tumors, but less effective in iCCA. Activation of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling could reignite immunologically inert tumors, but the expression and role of STING in iCCA remains to be determined. Here, we show STING is expressed in iCCA, and patients with high expression of STING in early-stage iCCA have a longer overall survival than those have low expression. Increased immune cell infiltration in early-stage iCCA corresponds to elevated STING expression. In mice iCCA models, treatment with the STING agonist MSA-2 show stage-specific inhibitory effects on tumors, with beneficial effects in early-stage tumors but not with advanced-stage cancer. This discrepancy was associated with greater programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in advanced-stage tumors. Combination therapy targeting PD-L1 and MSA-2 strikingly reduced tumor burden in such tumors compared to either monotherapy. Cumulatively, these data demonstrate that STING agonism monotherapy improves the immune landscape of the tumor microenvironment in early-stage iCCA, while combination therapy ameliorates advanced-stage iCCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Luo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Shun Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Caiqi Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Dongyu Yu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Linlin Sun
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Shuyuan Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Na Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Jianhua Nie
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Ying Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Chunyue Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Hongxue Meng
- Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China
| | - Xiaobo Li
- Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China.
| | - Jiaqi Shi
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China; Department of Phase 1 Trials Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China.
| | - Tongsen Zheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China; Department of Phase 1 Trials Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, PR China.
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21
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Tian M, Zhang S, Tan F. The cGAS/STING Pathway-A New Potential Biotherapeutic Target for Gastric Cancer? J Pers Med 2024; 14:736. [PMID: 39063990 PMCID: PMC11277918 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14070736] [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: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer ranks among the top five deadliest tumors worldwide, both in terms of prevalence and mortality rates. Despite mainstream treatments, the efficacy in treating gastric cancer remains suboptimal, underscoring the urgency for novel therapeutic approaches. The elucidation of tumor immunosuppressive microenvironments has shifted focus towards cancer biotherapeutics, which leverage the patient's immune system or biologics to target tumor cells. Biotherapy has emerged as a promising alternative for tumors resistant to traditional chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. Central to this paradigm is the cGAS-STING pathway, a pivotal component of the innate immune system. This pathway recognizes aberrant DNA, such as that from viral infections or tumor cells, and triggers an immune response, thereby reshaping the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment into an immune-stimulating milieu. In the context of gastric cancer, harnessing the cGAS-STING pathway holds significant potential for biotherapeutic interventions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research on cGAS-STING in gastric cancer, including insights from clinical trials involving STING agonists. Furthermore, it assesses the prospects of targeting the cGAS-STING pathway as a novel biotherapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxiang Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410017, China; (M.T.); (F.T.)
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410017, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410017, China; (M.T.); (F.T.)
| | - Fengbo Tan
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410017, China; (M.T.); (F.T.)
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410017, China
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22
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Yeboah SK, Zigli A, Sintim HO. 2',4'-LNA-Functionalized 5'-S-Phosphorothioester CDNs as STING Agonists. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400321. [PMID: 38720428 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) have garnered popularity over the last decade as immunotherapeutic agents, which activate the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway to trigger an immune response. Many analogs of 2'3'-cGAMP, c-di-GMP, and c-di-AMP have been developed and shown as effective cancer vaccines and immunomodulators for the induction of both the adaptive and innate immune systems. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of these CDNs is limited by their chemical and enzymatic instability. We recently introduced 5'-endo-phosphorothoiate 2'3'-cGAMP analogs as potent STING agonist with improved resistance to cleavage by clinically relevant phosphodiesterases. We herein report the synthesis of locked nucleic acid-functionalized (LNA) endo-S-CDNs and evaluate their ability to activate STING in THP1 monocytes. Interestingly, some of our synthesized LNA 3'3'-endo-S-CDNs can moderately activate hSTING REF haplotype (R232H), which exhibit diminished response to both 2'3'-cGAMP and ADU-S100. Also, we show that one of our most potent endo-S-CDNs has remarkable chemical (oxidants I2 and H2O2) and phosphodiesterase stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simpa K Yeboah
- Department of Chemistry, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907-2084
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 720 Clinic Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Abdulai Zigli
- Department of Chemistry, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907-2084
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 720 Clinic Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Herman O Sintim
- Department of Chemistry, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907-2084
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 720 Clinic Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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23
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Lanng KRB, Lauridsen EL, Jakobsen MR. The balance of STING signaling orchestrates immunity in cancer. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1144-1157. [PMID: 38918609 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01872-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, it has become clear that the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is critical for a variety of immune responses. This endoplasmic reticulum-anchored adaptor protein has regulatory functions in host immunity across a spectrum of conditions, including infectious diseases, autoimmunity, neurobiology and cancer. In this Review, we outline the central importance of STING in immunological processes driven by expression of type I and III interferons, as well as inflammatory cytokines, and we look at therapeutic options for targeting STING. We also examine evidence that challenges the prevailing notion that STING activation is predominantly beneficial in combating cancer. Further exploration is imperative to discern whether STING activation in the tumor microenvironment confers true benefits or has detrimental effects. Research in this field is at a crossroads, as a clearer understanding of the nuanced functions of STING activation in cancer is required for the development of next-generation therapies.
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24
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Aybar-Torres A, Saldarriaga LA, Pham AT, Emtiazjoo AM, Sharma AK, Bryant AJ, Jin L. The common TMEM173 HAQ, AQ alleles rescue CD4 T cellpenia, restore T-regs, and prevent SAVI (N153S) inflammatory disease in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.05.561109. [PMID: 37886547 PMCID: PMC10602033 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.05.561109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The significance of STING (encoded by the TMEM173 gene) in tissue inflammation and cancer immunotherapy has been increasingly recognized. Intriguingly, common human TMEM173 alleles R71H-G230A-R293Q (HAQ) and G230A-R293Q (AQ) are carried by ~60% of East Asians and ~40% of Africans, respectively. Here, we examine the modulatory effects of HAQ, AQ alleles on STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI), an autosomal dominant, fatal inflammatory disease caused by gain-of-function human STING mutations. CD4 T cellpenia is evident in SAVI patients and mouse models. Using STING knock-in mice expressing common human TMEM173 alleles HAQ, AQ, and Q293, we found that HAQ, AQ, and Q293 splenocytes resist STING-mediated cell death ex vivo, establishing a critical role of STING residue 293 in cell death. The HAQ/SAVI(N153S) and AQ/SAVI(N153S) mice did not have CD4 T cellpenia. The HAQ/SAVI(N153S), AQ/SAVI(N153S) mice have more (~10-fold, ~20-fold, respectively) T-regs than WT/SAVI(N153S) mice. Remarkably, while they have comparable TBK1, IRF3, and NFκB activation as the WT/SAVI, the AQ/SAVI mice have no tissue inflammation, regular body weight, and normal lifespan. We propose that STING activation promotes tissue inflammation by depleting T-regs cells in vivo. Billions of modern humans have the dominant HAQ, AQ alleles. STING research and STING-targeting immunotherapy should consider TMEM173 heterogeneity in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Aybar-Torres
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| | - Lennon A Saldarriaga
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| | - Ann T. Pham
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| | - Amir M. Emtiazjoo
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| | - Ashish K Sharma
- Division of Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| | - Andrew J. Bryant
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| | - Lei Jin
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
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25
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Fang J, Wang X, Meng L, Zhang J, Zhuang R, Li Y, Zhang X, Guo Z. Preclinical Evaluation of 131I/ 18F-Labeled Covalent Small-Molecule Inhibitors for STING Status Imaging. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:1783-1794. [PMID: 38898942 PMCID: PMC11184601 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00398] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a vital protein to the immune surveillance of the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we develop novel inhibitor-based radioligands and evaluate their feasibility for noninvasive visualization of STING expression in tumor-bearing mice. Analogous compounds to STING inhibitors C170 and C176 were synthesized and labeled with 131I and 18F to attain [131I]I-NFIP and [18F]F-NFEP, respectively. The radiosynthesis was achieved with high radiochemical purity (>95%) and molar activity (28.56-48.89 GBq/μmol). The affinity and specificity of tracers were assessed through cell uptake and docking experiments, demonstrating that [131I]I-NFIP exhibited high specificity for STING, with a cell-based IC50 value of 7.56 nM. Small-animal PET/SPECT imaging and biodistribution studies in tumor-bearing mice models were performed to verify the tracers' pharmacokinetics and tumor-targeting capabilities (n = 3/group). SPECT imaging demonstrated that [131I]I-NFIP rapidly accumulated in the Panc02 tumor quickly at 30 min post-injection, with a tumor-to-muscle (T/M) ratio of 2.03 ± 0.30. This ratio significantly decreased in the blocking group (1.10 ± 0.14, **P < 0.01, n = 3). Furthermore, tumor uptake and the T/M ratio of [131I]I-NFIP were positively associated with STING expression. In summary, [131I]I-NFIP is the first STING-specific inhibitor-based radioligand offering the potential for visualizing STING status in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyang Fang
- State
Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular
Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,
School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang’An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth
Military Medical University, Xi’an 71003, China
| | - Lingxin Meng
- State
Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular
Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,
School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang’An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jingru Zhang
- State
Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular
Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,
School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang’An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Rongqiang Zhuang
- State
Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular
Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,
School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang’An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yesen Li
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine and Minnan PET Center, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
| | - Xianzhong Zhang
- Theranostics
and Translational Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine,
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union
Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and
Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Zhide Guo
- State
Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular
Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,
School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang’An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
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26
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Delgado JF, Pritchard WF, Varble N, Lopez-Silva TL, Arrichiello A, Mikhail AS, Morhard R, Ray T, Havakuk MM, Nguyen A, Borde T, Owen JW, Schneider JP, Karanian JW, Wood BJ. X-ray imageable, drug-loaded hydrogel that forms at body temperature for image-guided, needle-based locoregional drug delivery. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13352. [PMID: 38858467 PMCID: PMC11164888 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64189-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Direct intratumoral injections of anti-cancer therapeutics may improve therapeutic efficacy and mitigate adverse effects compared to intravenous injections. Some challenges of intratumoral injections are that the liquid drug formulation may not remain localized and have unpredictable volumetric distribution. Thus, drug delivery varies widely, highly-dependent upon technique. An X-ray imageable poloxamer 407 (POL)-based drug delivery gel was developed and characterized, enabling real-time feedback. Utilizing three needle devices, POL or a control iodinated contrast solution were injected into an ex vivo bovine liver. The 3D distribution was assessed with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The 3D distribution of POL gels demonstrated localized spherical morphologies regardless of the injection rate. In addition, the gel 3D conformal distribution could be intentionally altered, depending on the injection technique. When doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into the POL and injected, DOX distribution on optical imaging matched iodine distribution on CBCT suggesting spatial alignment of DOX and iodine localization in tissue. The controllability and localized deposition of this formulation may ultimately reduce the dependence on operator technique, reduce systemic side effects, and facilitate reproducibility across treatments, through more predictable standardized delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose F Delgado
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - William F Pritchard
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nicole Varble
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Philips Healthcare, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tania L Lopez-Silva
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Antonio Arrichiello
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
- UOS of Interventional Radiology, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Ospedale Maggiore di Lodi, Largo Donatori del Sangue, Lodi, Italy
| | - Andrew S Mikhail
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robert Morhard
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Trisha Ray
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michal M Havakuk
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Interventional Radiology Department, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Alex Nguyen
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Computer Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tabea Borde
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Joshua W Owen
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Joel P Schneider
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - John W Karanian
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bradford J Wood
- National Institutes of Health, Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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27
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Meng Y, Huang J, Ding J, Zhou H, Li Y, Zhou W. Mn-phenolic networks as synergistic carrier for STING agonists in tumor immunotherapy. Mater Today Bio 2024; 26:101018. [PMID: 38516172 PMCID: PMC10952078 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The cGAS-STING pathway holds tremendous potential as a regulator of immune responses, offering a means to reshape the tumor microenvironment and enhance tumor immunotherapy. Despite the emergence of STING agonists, their clinical viability is hampered by stability and delivery challenges, as well as variations in STING expression within tumors. In this study, we present Mn-phenolic networks as a novel carrier for ADU-S100, a hydrophilic STING agonist, aimed at bolstering immunotherapy. These nanoparticles, termed TMA NMs, are synthesized through the coordination of tannic acid and manganese ions, with surface modification involving bovine serum albumin to enhance their colloidal stability. TMA NMs exhibit pH/GSH-responsive disintegration properties, enabling precise drug release. This effectively addresses drug stability issues and facilitates efficient intracellular drug delivery. Importantly, TMA NMs synergistically enhance the effects of ADU-S100 through the concurrent release of Mn2+, which serves as a sensitizer of the STING pathway, resulting in significant STING pathway activation. Upon systemic administration, these nanoparticles efficiently accumulate within tumors. The activation of STING pathways not only induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells but also orchestrates systemic remodeling of the immunosuppressive microenvironment. This includes the promotion of cytokine release, dendritic cell maturation, and T cell infiltration, leading to pronounced suppression of tumor growth. Combining with the excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, this Mn-based nanocarrier represents a promising strategy for enhancing tumor immunotherapy through the cGAS-STING pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingcai Meng
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Jiaxin Huang
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Jinsong Ding
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Haiyan Zhou
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, China
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha 410004, Hunan, China
| | - Wenhu Zhou
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
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28
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Li XJY, Qu JR, Zhang YH, Liu RP. The dual function of cGAS-STING signaling axis in liver diseases. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:1115-1129. [PMID: 38233527 PMCID: PMC11130165 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-023-01220-5] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous liver diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, have been increasingly prevalent, posing significant threats to global health. In recent decades, there has been increasing evidence linking the dysregulation of cyclic-GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon gene (STING)-related immune signaling to liver disorders. Both hyperactivation and deletion of STING can disrupt the immune microenvironment dysfunction, exacerbating liver disorders. Consequently, there has been a surge in research investigating medical agents or mediators targeting cGAS-STING signaling. Interestingly, therapeutic manipulation of the cGAS-STING pathway has yielded inconsistent and even contradictory effects on different liver diseases due to the distinct physiological characteristics of intrahepatic cells that express and respond to STING. In this review, we comprehensively summarize recent advancements in understanding the dual roles of the STING pathway, highlighting that the benefits of targeting STING signaling depend on the specific types of target cells and stages of liver injury. Additionally, we offer a novel perspective on the suitability of STING agonists and antagonists for clinical assessment. In conclusion, STING signaling remains a highly promising therapeutic target, and the development of STING pathway modulators holds great potential for the treatment of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jiao-Yang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Jiao-Rong Qu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yin-Hao Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Run-Ping Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Beijing, 100029, China.
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29
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Wang J, Meng F, Yeo Y. Delivery of STING agonists for cancer immunotherapy. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 87:103105. [PMID: 38461748 PMCID: PMC11162310 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Agonists of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)-Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) pathway, a critical mediator of innate immune response to foreign invaders with DNA, have gained significant interest in cancer immunotherapy. STING agonists are envisioned as a way of complementing the antitumor activity of the patient's immune system and immune checkpoint blockade therapy. However, their clinical development has been challenging due to the poor pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties. This review discusses drug delivery efforts to circumvent the challenges, their accomplishment, and unmet needs based on the last five years of literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Wang
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Fanfei Meng
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 3 Solomont Way, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | - Yoon Yeo
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research, 201 South University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, 206 S Martin Jischke Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
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30
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Ednacot EMQ, Nabhani A, Dinh DM, Morehouse BR. Pharmacological potential of cyclic nucleotide signaling in immunity. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 258:108653. [PMID: 38679204 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Cyclic nucleotides are important signaling molecules that play many critical physiological roles including controlling cell fate and development, regulation of metabolic processes, and responding to changes in the environment. Cyclic nucleotides are also pivotal regulators in immune signaling, orchestrating intricate processes that maintain homeostasis and defend against pathogenic threats. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the pharmacological potential of cyclic nucleotide signaling pathways within the realm of immunity. Beginning with an overview of the fundamental roles of cAMP and cGMP as ubiquitous second messengers, this review delves into the complexities of their involvement in immune responses. Special attention is given to the challenges associated with modulating these signaling pathways for therapeutic purposes, emphasizing the necessity for achieving cell-type specificity to avert unintended consequences. A major focus of the review is on the recent paradigm-shifting discoveries regarding specialized cyclic nucleotide signals in the innate immune system, notably the cGAS-STING pathway. The significance of cyclic dinucleotides, exemplified by 2'3'-cGAMP, in controlling immune responses against pathogens and cancer, is explored. The evolutionarily conserved nature of cyclic dinucleotides as antiviral agents, spanning across diverse organisms, underscores their potential as targets for innovative immunotherapies. Findings from the last several years have revealed a striking diversity of novel bacterial cyclic nucleotide second messengers which are involved in antiviral responses. Knowledge of the existence and precise identity of these molecules coupled with accurate descriptions of their associated immune defense pathways will be essential to the future development of novel antibacterial therapeutic strategies. The insights presented herein may help researchers navigate the evolving landscape of immunopharmacology as it pertains to cyclic nucleotides and point toward new avenues or lines of thinking about development of therapeutics against the pathways they regulate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirene Marie Q Ednacot
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Ali Nabhani
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - David M Dinh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Benjamin R Morehouse
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Center for Virus Research, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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31
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Štěpánová S, Břehová P, Kašička V. The separation of cyclic diadenosine diphosphorothioate and the diastereomers of its difluorinated derivative and the estimation of the binding constants and ionic mobilities of their complexes with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin by affinity capillary electrophoresis. Electrophoresis 2024; 45:1000-1009. [PMID: 38195812 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202300191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
The incorporation of phosphorothioate linkages has recently been extensively employed in therapeutic oligonucleotides. For their separation and quality control, new high-efficient and high-sensitive analytical methods are needed. In this work, a new affinity capillary electrophoresis method has been developed and applied for the separation of a potential anticancer drug, 2',3'-cyclic diadenosine diphosphorothioate (Rp, Rp) (ADU-S100), and three recently newly synthesized diastereomers of its difluorinated derivative, 3',3'-cyclic di(2'-fluoro, 2'-deoxyadenosine phosphorothioate). The separation was performed in the various background electrolytes (BGEs) within a pH range 5-9 using several native and derivatized cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral additives of the BGE. Relatively good separations were obtained with β-, γ-, and 2-hydroxypropyl-γ-CDs in some of the BGEs tested. However, the best separation was achieved using the 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD chiral selector at 43.5 mM average concentration in the BGE composed of 40 mM Tris, 40 mM tricine, pH 8.1. Under these conditions, all the previous four cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) were baseline separated within 4 min. Additionally, the average apparent binding constants and the average actual ionic mobilities of the complexes of all four CDNs with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD in the above BGE were determined. The formed complexes were found to be relatively weak, with the average apparent binding constants in the range of 12.2-94.1 L mol-1 and with the actual ionic mobilities spanning the interval (-7.8 to -12.7) × 10-9 m2 V-1 s-1. The developed method can be applied for the separation, analysis, and characterization of the above and similar CDNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sille Štěpánová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Petra Břehová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Václav Kašička
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
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32
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Turley JL, Ward RW, Huete-Carrasco J, Muñoz-Wolf N, Roche K, Jin L, Bowie A, Andersson M, Lavelle EC. Intratumoral delivery of the chitin-derived C100 adjuvant promotes robust STING, IFNAR, and CD8 + T cell-dependent anti-tumor immunity. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101560. [PMID: 38729159 PMCID: PMC11148802 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101560] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) is a promising target for adjuvants utilized in in situ cancer vaccination approaches. However, key barriers remain for clinical translation, including low cellular uptake and accessibility, STING variability necessitating personalized STING agonists, and interferon (IFN)-independent signals that can promote tumor growth. Here, we identify C100, a highly deacetylated chitin-derived polymer (HDCP), as an attractive alternative to conventional STING agonists. C100 promotes potent anti-tumor immune responses, outperforming less deacetylated HDCPs, with therapeutic efficacy dependent on STING and IFN alpha/beta receptor (IFNAR) signaling and CD8+ T cell mediators. Additionally, C100 injection synergizes with systemic checkpoint blockade targeting PD-1. Mechanistically, C100 triggers mitochondrial stress and DNA damage to exclusively activate the IFN arm of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway and elicit sustained IFNAR signaling. Altogether, these results reveal an effective STING- and IFNAR-dependent adjuvant for in situ cancer vaccines with a defined mechanism and distinct properties that overcome common limitations of existing STING therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna L Turley
- Adjuvant Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Ross W Ward
- Adjuvant Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jorge Huete-Carrasco
- Adjuvant Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Natalia Muñoz-Wolf
- Adjuvant Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Kate Roche
- Adjuvant Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Lei Jin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Andrew Bowie
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute (TBSI), Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mats Andersson
- Division Bioscience and Materials, RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden), Forskargatan 18, 151 36 Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Ed C Lavelle
- Adjuvant Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin 2, Ireland; Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN) & Advanced Materials Bio-Engineering Research Centre (AMBER), Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin 2, Ireland.
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33
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Huang M, Cha Z, Liu R, Lin M, Gafoor NA, Kong T, Ge F, Chen W. Enhancing immunotherapy outcomes by targeted remodeling of the tumor microenvironment via combined cGAS-STING pathway strategies. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1399926. [PMID: 38817608 PMCID: PMC11137211 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1399926] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a groundbreaking advance in the treatment of malignancies such as melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer, showcasing substantial therapeutic benefits. Nonetheless, the efficacy of ICIs is limited to a small subset of patients, primarily benefiting those with "hot" tumors characterized by significant immune infiltration. The challenge of converting "cold" tumors, which exhibit minimal immune activity, into "hot" tumors to enhance their responsiveness to ICIs is a critical and complex area of current research. Central to this endeavor is the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, a pivotal nexus between innate and adaptive immunity. This pathway's activation promotes the production of type I interferon (IFN) and the recruitment of CD8+ T cells, thereby transforming the tumor microenvironment (TME) from "cold" to "hot". This review comprehensively explores the cGAS-STING pathway's role in reconditioning the TME, detailing the underlying mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity and highlighting the contributions of various immune cells to tumor immunity. Furthermore, we delve into the latest clinical research on STING agonists and their potential in combination therapies, targeting this pathway. The discussion concludes with an examination of the challenges facing the advancement of promising STING agonists in clinical trials and the pressing issues within the cGAS-STING signaling pathway research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingqing Huang
- Third Department of Breast Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Zhuocen Cha
- Third Department of Breast Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, Kunming, China
- Guizhou Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guizhou, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Mengping Lin
- Third Department of Breast Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Naif Abdul Gafoor
- International Education School of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Tong Kong
- Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Fei Ge
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Wenlin Chen
- Third Department of Breast Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, Kunming, China
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34
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Diepstraten ST, Yuan Y, La Marca JE, Young S, Chang C, Whelan L, Ross AM, Fischer KC, Pomilio G, Morris R, Georgiou A, Litalien V, Brown FC, Roberts AW, Strasser A, Wei AH, Kelly GL. Putting the STING back into BH3-mimetic drugs for TP53-mutant blood cancers. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:850-868.e9. [PMID: 38670091 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
TP53-mutant blood cancers remain a clinical challenge. BH3-mimetic drugs inhibit BCL-2 pro-survival proteins, inducing cancer cell apoptosis. Despite acting downstream of p53, functional p53 is required for maximal cancer cell killing by BH3-mimetics through an unknown mechanism. Here, we report p53 is activated following BH3-mimetic induced mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, leading to BH3-only protein induction and thereby potentiating the pro-apoptotic signal. TP53-deficient lymphomas lack this feedforward loop, providing opportunities for survival and disease relapse after BH3-mimetic treatment. The therapeutic barrier imposed by defects in TP53 can be overcome by direct activation of the cGAS/STING pathway, which promotes apoptosis of blood cancer cells through p53-independent BH3-only protein upregulation. Combining clinically relevant STING agonists with BH3-mimetic drugs efficiently kills TRP53/TP53-mutant mouse B lymphoma, human NK/T lymphoma, and acute myeloid leukemia cells. This represents a promising therapy regime that can be fast-tracked to tackle TP53-mutant blood cancers in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah T Diepstraten
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
| | - Yin Yuan
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3050, Australia
| | - John E La Marca
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Genome Engineering and Cancer Modelling Program, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia; School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Savannah Young
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Catherine Chang
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Lauren Whelan
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Aisling M Ross
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; School of Medicine, Bernal Institute, Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre & Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Karla C Fischer
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Giovanna Pomilio
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Rhiannon Morris
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Angela Georgiou
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Veronique Litalien
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Fiona C Brown
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Andrew W Roberts
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3050, Australia
| | - Andreas Strasser
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Andrew H Wei
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3050, Australia
| | - Gemma L Kelly
- Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
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35
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Sibal PA, Matsumura S, Ichinose T, Bustos‐Villalobos I, Morimoto D, Eissa IR, Abdelmoneim M, Aboalela MAM, Mukoyama N, Tanaka M, Naoe Y, Kasuya H. STING activator 2'3'-cGAMP enhanced HSV-1-based oncolytic viral therapy. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:1259-1277. [PMID: 38400597 PMCID: PMC11076993 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) can selectively replicate in tumor cells and remodel the microenvironment of immunologically cold tumors, making them a promising strategy to evoke antitumor immunity. Similarly, agonists of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-interferon (IFN) pathway, the main cellular antiviral system, provide antitumor benefits by inducing the activation of dendritic cells (DC). Considering how the activation of the STING-IFN pathway could potentially inhibit OV replication, the use of STING agonists alongside OV therapy remains largely unexplored. Here, we explored the antitumor efficacy of combining an HSV-1-based OV, C-REV, with a membrane-impermeable STING agonist, 2'3'-GAMP. Our results demonstrated that tumor cells harbor a largely defective STING-IFN pathway, thereby preventing significant antiviral IFN induction regardless of the permeability of the STING agonist. In vivo, the combination therapy induced more proliferative KLRG1-high PD1-low CD8+ T-cells and activated CD103+ DC in the tumor site and increased tumor-specific CD44+ CD8+ T-cells in the lymph node. Overall, the combination therapy of C-REV with 2'3'-cGAMP elicited antitumor immune memory responses and significantly enhanced systemic antitumor immunity in both treated and non-treated distal tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Angela Sibal
- Cancer Immune Therapy Research Center, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
- Department of Surgery II, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
| | - Shigeru Matsumura
- Cancer Immune Therapy Research Center, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
| | - Toru Ichinose
- Cancer Immune Therapy Research Center, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
| | | | - Daishi Morimoto
- Department of Surgery II, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
| | - Ibrahim R. Eissa
- Cancer Immune Therapy Research Center, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
- Department of Surgery II, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
- Faculty of ScienceTanta UniversityEgypt
| | - Mohamed Abdelmoneim
- Cancer Immune Therapy Research Center, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
- Department of Surgery II, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineZagazig UniversityEgypt
| | - Mona Alhussein Mostafa Aboalela
- Cancer Immune Therapy Research Center, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
- Department of Surgery II, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of MedicineZagazig UniversityEgypt
| | - Nobuaki Mukoyama
- Department of Otolaryngology Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
| | | | - Yoshinori Naoe
- Cancer Immune Therapy Research Center, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
| | - Hideki Kasuya
- Cancer Immune Therapy Research Center, Graduate School of MedicineNagoya UniversityJapan
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36
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Ma XY, Chen MM, Meng LH. Second messenger 2'3'-cyclic GMP-AMP (2'3'-cGAMP): the cell autonomous and non-autonomous roles in cancer progression. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:890-899. [PMID: 38177693 PMCID: PMC11053103 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-023-01210-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytosolic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) is frequently accumulated in cancer cells due to chromosomal instability or exogenous stimulation. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) acts as a cytosolic DNA sensor, which is activated upon binding to dsDNA to synthesize the crucial second messenger 2'3'-cyclic GMP-AMP (2'3'-cGAMP) that in turn triggers stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling. The canonical role of cGAS-cGAMP-STING pathway is essential for innate immunity and viral defense. Recent emerging evidence indicates that 2'3'-cGAMP plays an important role in cancer progression via cell autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms. Beyond its role as an intracellular messenger to activate STING signaling in tumor cells, 2'3'-cGAMP also serves as an immunotransmitter produced by cancer cells to modulate the functions of non-tumor cells especially immune cells in the tumor microenvironment by activating STING signaling. In this review, we summarize the synthesis, transmission, and degradation of 2'3'-cGAMP as well as the dual functions of 2'3'-cGAMP in a STING-dependent manner. Additionally, we discuss the potential therapeutic strategies that harness the cGAMP-mediated antitumor response for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yu Ma
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Man-Man Chen
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ling-Hua Meng
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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37
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Fu C, Tong W, Yu L, Miao Y, Wei Q, Yu Z, Chen B, Wei M. When will the immune-stimulating antibody conjugates (ISACs) be transferred from bench to bedside? Pharmacol Res 2024; 203:107160. [PMID: 38547937 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
Immunostimulatory antibody conjugates (ISACs) as a promising new generation of targeted therapeutic antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), that not only activate innate immunity but also stimulate adaptive immunity, providing a dual therapeutic effect to eliminate tumor cells. However, several ISACs are still in the early stages of clinical development or have already failed. Therefore, it is crucial to design ISACs more effectively to overcome their limitations, including high toxicity, strong immunogenicity, long development time, and poor pharmacokinetics. This review aims to summarize the composition and function of ISACs, incorporating current design considerations and ongoing clinical trials. Additionally, the review delves into the current issues with ISACs and potential solutions, such as adjusting the drug-antibody ratio (DAR) to improve the bioavailability of ISACs. By leveraging the affinity and bioavailability-enhancing properties of bispecific antibodies, the utility between antibodies and immunostimulatory agents can be balanced. Commonly used immunostimulatory agents may induce systemic immune reactions, and BTK (Bruton's tyrosine kinase) inhibitors can regulate immunogenicity. Finally, the concept of grafting ADC's therapeutic principles is simple, but the combination of payload, linker, and targeted functional molecules is not a simple permutation and combination problem. The development of conjugate drugs faces more complex pharmacological and toxicological issues. Standing on the shoulders of ADC, the development and application scenarios of ISAC are endowed with broader space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Fu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China
| | - Weiwei Tong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China
| | - Lifeng Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China
| | - Yuxi Miao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China
| | - Qian Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China
| | - Zhaojin Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China.
| | - Bo Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No. 155, Nanjing North Street, Shenyang 110122, PR China.
| | - Minjie Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, PR China.
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38
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Sun X, Huang X, Park KS, Zhou X, Kennedy AA, Pretto CD, Wu Q, Wan Z, Xu Y, Gong W, Sexton JZ, Tai AW, Lei YL, Moon JJ. Self-Assembled STING-Activating Coordination Nanoparticles for Cancer Immunotherapy and Vaccine Applications. ACS NANO 2024; 18:10439-10453. [PMID: 38567994 PMCID: PMC11031738 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The cGAS-STING pathway plays a crucial role in innate immune activation against cancer and infections, and STING agonists based on cyclic dinucleotides (CDN) have garnered attention for their potential use in cancer immunotherapy and vaccines. However, the limited drug-like properties of CDN necessitate an efficient delivery system to the immune system. To address these challenges, we developed an immunostimulatory delivery system for STING agonists. Here, we have examined aqueous coordination interactions between CDN and metal ions and report that CDN mixed with Zn2+ and Mn2+ formed distinctive crystal structures. Further pharmaceutical engineering led to the development of a functional coordination nanoparticle, termed the Zinc-Mn-CDN Particle (ZMCP), produced by a simple aqueous one-pot synthesis. Local or systemic administration of ZMCP exerted robust antitumor efficacy in mice. Importantly, recombinant protein antigens from SARS-CoV-2 can be simply loaded during the aqueous one-pot synthesis. The resulting ZMCP antigens elicited strong cellular and humoral immune responses that neutralized SARS-CoV-2, highlighting ZMCP as a self-adjuvant vaccine platform against COVID-19 and other infectious pathogens. Overall, this work establishes a paradigm for developing translational coordination nanomedicine based on drug-metal ion coordination and broadens the applicability of coordination medicine for the delivery of proteins and other biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Xuehui Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Kyung Soo Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Xingwu Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Andrew A Kennedy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Carla D Pretto
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Qi Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Ziye Wan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Yao Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Wang Gong
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
| | - Jonathan Z Sexton
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Andrew W Tai
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Yu Leo Lei
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Otolaryngology─Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Translational Pathology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - James J Moon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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Schmid M, Fischer P, Engl M, Widder J, Kerschbaum-Gruber S, Slade D. The interplay between autophagy and cGAS-STING signaling and its implications for cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1356369. [PMID: 38660307 PMCID: PMC11039819 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1356369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is an intracellular process that targets various cargos for degradation, including members of the cGAS-STING signaling cascade. cGAS-STING senses cytosolic double-stranded DNA and triggers an innate immune response through type I interferons. Emerging evidence suggests that autophagy plays a crucial role in regulating and fine-tuning cGAS-STING signaling. Reciprocally, cGAS-STING pathway members can actively induce canonical as well as various non-canonical forms of autophagy, establishing a regulatory network of feedback mechanisms that alter both the cGAS-STING and the autophagic pathway. The crosstalk between autophagy and the cGAS-STING pathway impacts a wide variety of cellular processes such as protection against pathogenic infections as well as signaling in neurodegenerative disease, autoinflammatory disease and cancer. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms involved in autophagy and cGAS-STING signaling, with a specific focus on the interactions between the two pathways and their importance for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Schmid
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- MedAustron Ion Therapy Center, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Fischer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- MedAustron Ion Therapy Center, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Magdalena Engl
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Biocenter PhD Program, a Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Joachim Widder
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sylvia Kerschbaum-Gruber
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- MedAustron Ion Therapy Center, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
| | - Dea Slade
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- MedAustron Ion Therapy Center, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
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40
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Li Q, Wu P, Du Q, Hanif U, Hu H, Li K. cGAS-STING, an important signaling pathway in diseases and their therapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e511. [PMID: 38525112 PMCID: PMC10960729 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Since cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway was discovered in 2013, great progress has been made to elucidate the origin, function, and regulating mechanism of cGAS-STING signaling pathway in the past decade. Meanwhile, the triggering and transduction mechanisms have been continuously illuminated. cGAS-STING plays a key role in human diseases, particularly DNA-triggered inflammatory diseases, making it a potentially effective therapeutic target for inflammation-related diseases. Here, we aim to summarize the ancient origin of the cGAS-STING defense mechanism, as well as the triggers, transduction, and regulating mechanisms of the cGAS-STING. We will also focus on the important roles of cGAS-STING signal under pathological conditions, such as infections, cancers, autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, and visceral inflammations, and review the progress in drug development targeting cGAS-STING signaling pathway. The main directions and potential obstacles in the regulating mechanism research and therapeutic drug development of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway for inflammatory diseases and cancers will be discussed. These research advancements expand our understanding of cGAS-STING, provide a theoretical basis for further exploration of the roles of cGAS-STING in diseases, and open up new strategies for targeting cGAS-STING as a promising therapeutic intervention in multiple diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijie Li
- Sichuan province Medical and Engineering Interdisciplinary Research Center of Nursing & Materials/Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceWest China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of NursingSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ping Wu
- Department of Occupational DiseasesThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College (China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital)ChengduSichuanChina
| | - Qiujing Du
- Sichuan province Medical and Engineering Interdisciplinary Research Center of Nursing & Materials/Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceWest China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of NursingSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ullah Hanif
- Sichuan province Medical and Engineering Interdisciplinary Research Center of Nursing & Materials/Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceWest China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of NursingSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Hongbo Hu
- Center for Immunology and HematologyState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ka Li
- Sichuan province Medical and Engineering Interdisciplinary Research Center of Nursing & Materials/Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceWest China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of NursingSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
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41
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Štěpánová S, Andris E, Gutten O, Buděšínský M, Dejmek M, Břehová P, Rulíšek L, Kašička V. Acidity constants and protonation sites of cyclic dinucleotides determined by capillary electrophoresis, quantum chemical calculations, and NMR spectroscopy. Electrophoresis 2024; 45:687-705. [PMID: 38059733 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202300232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are important second messengers in bacteria and eukaryotes. Detailed characterization of their physicochemical properties is a prerequisite for understanding their biological functions. Herein, we examine acid-base and electromigration properties of selected CDNs employing capillary electrophoresis (CE), density functional theory (DFT), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to provide benchmark pKa values, as well as to unambiguously determine the protonation sites. Acidity constants (pKa) of the NH+ moieties of adenine and guanine bases and actual and limiting ionic mobilities of CDNs were determined by nonlinear regression analysis of the pH dependence of their effective electrophoretic mobilities measured by CE in aqueous background electrolytes in a wide pH range (0.98-11.48), at constant temperature (25°C), and constant ionic strength (25 mM). The thermodynamic pKa values were found to be in the range 3.31-4.56 for adenine and 2.28-3.61 for guanine bases, whereas the pKa of enol group of guanine base was in the range 10.21-10.40. Except for systematic shifts of ∼2 pKa, the pKa values calculated by the DFT-D3//COSMO-RS composite protocol that included large-scale conformational sampling and "cross-morphing" were in a relatively good agreement with the pKas determined by CE and predict N1 atom of adenine and N7 atom of guanine as the protonation sites. The protonation of the N1 atom of adenine and N7 atom of guanine in acidic background electrolytes (BGEs) and the dissociation of the enol group of guanine in alkaline BGEs was confirmed also by NMR spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sille Štěpánová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Erik Andris
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Gutten
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Miloš Buděšínský
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Dejmek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Břehová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lubomír Rulíšek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Kašička
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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42
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Fang J, Zhang J, Meng L, Li H, Xia D, Wang Y, Chen H, Liao Z, Zhuang R, Li Y, Zhang X, Guo Z. 18F-Labeled Amidobenzimidazole Analogue for Visualizing STING Expression in Tumor. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:1942-1951. [PMID: 38447198 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c01201] [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] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is pivotal in mediating STING-dependent type I interferon production, which is crucial for enhancing tumor rejection. Visualizing STING within the tumor microenvironment is valuable for STING-related treatments, yet the availability of suitable STING imaging probes is limited. In this study, we developed [18F]AlF-ABI, a novel 18F-labeled agent featuring an amidobenzimidazole core structure, for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of STING in B16F10 and CT26 tumors. [18F]AlF-ABI was synthesized with a decay-corrected radiochemical yield of 38.0 ± 7.9% and radiochemical purity exceeding 97%. The probe exhibited a nanomolar STING binding affinity (KD = 35.6 nM). Upon administration, [18F]AlF-ABI rapidly accumulated at tumor sites, demonstrating significantly higher uptake in B16F10 tumors compared to CT26 tumors, consistent with STING immunofluorescence patterns. Specificity was further validated through in vitro cell experiments and in vivo blocking PET imaging. These findings suggest that [18F]AlF-ABI holds promise as an effective agent for visualizing STING in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyang Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang'An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jingru Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang'An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Lingxin Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang'An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Huifeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang'An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Dongsheng Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang'An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yaoxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang'An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang'An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Zhenhuan Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang'An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Rongqiang Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang'An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yesen Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & Minnan PET Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
| | - Xianzhong Zhang
- Theranostics and Translational Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Zhide Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 4221-116 Xiang'An South Rd, Xiamen 361102, China
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43
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Ke Y, Xin K, Tao Y, Li L, Chen A, Shao J, Zhu J, Zhang D, Cen L, Chu Y, Yu L, Liu B, Liu Q. A Thermosensitive Bi-Adjuvant Hydrogel Triggers Epitope Spreading to Promote the Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Frameshift Neoantigens. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306889. [PMID: 38308098 PMCID: PMC11005695 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-specific frameshift mutations encoding peptides (FSPs) are highly immunogenic neoantigens for personalized cancer immunotherapy, while their clinical efficacy is limited by immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and self-tolerance. Here, a thermosensitive hydrogel (FSP-RZ-BPH) delivering dual adjuvants R848 (TLR7/8 agonist) + Zn2+ (cGAS-STING agonist) is designed to promote the efficacy of FSPs on murine forestomach cancer (MFC). After peritumoral injection, FSP-RZ-BPH behaves as pH-responsive sustained drug release at sites near the tumor to effectively transform the immunosuppressive TME into an inflammatory type. FSP-RZ-BPH orchestrates innate and adaptive immunity to activate dendritic cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes and increase the number of FSPs-reactive effector memory T cells (TEM) in tumor by 2.9 folds. More importantly, these TEM also exhibit memory responses to nonvaccinated neoantigens on MFC. This epitope spreading effect contributes to reduce self-tolerance to maintain long-lasting anti-tumor immunity. In MFC suppressive model, FSP-RZ-BPH achieves 84.8% tumor inhibition rate and prolongs the survival of tumor-bearing mice with 57.1% complete response rate. As a preventive tumor vaccine, FSP-RZ-BPH can also significantly delay tumor growth. Overall, the work identifies frameshift MFC neoantigens for the first time and demonstrates the thermosensitive bi-adjuvant hydrogel as an effective strategy to boost bystander anti-tumor responses of frameshift neoantigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaohua Ke
- The Comprehensive Cancer CentreNanjing Drum Tower HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Medical SchoolNanjing University321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Kai Xin
- Department of OncologyNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Yaping Tao
- The Comprehensive Cancer CentreNanjing Drum Tower HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Medical SchoolNanjing University321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of OncologyNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Aoxing Chen
- Department of OncologyNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Jingyi Shao
- Department of OncologyNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Junmeng Zhu
- The Comprehensive Cancer CentreNanjing Drum Tower HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Medical SchoolNanjing University321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Dinghu Zhang
- Zhejiang Cancer HospitalHangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM)Chinese Academy of SciencesHangzhou310022China
| | - Lanqi Cen
- The Comprehensive Cancer CentreNanjing Drum Tower HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Medical SchoolNanjing University321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Yanhong Chu
- The Comprehensive Cancer CentreNanjing Drum Tower HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Medical SchoolNanjing University321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Lixia Yu
- The Comprehensive Cancer CentreNanjing Drum Tower HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Medical SchoolNanjing University321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Baorui Liu
- The Comprehensive Cancer CentreNanjing Drum Tower HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Medical SchoolNanjing University321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
- Department of OncologyNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
| | - Qin Liu
- The Comprehensive Cancer CentreNanjing Drum Tower HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Medical SchoolNanjing University321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
- Department of OncologyNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine321 Zhongshan RoadNanjing210008China
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Nguyen DC, Song K, Jokonya S, Yazdani O, Sellers DL, Wang Y, Zakaria ABM, Pun SH, Stayton PS. Mannosylated STING Agonist Drugamers for Dendritic Cell-Mediated Cancer Immunotherapy. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:666-675. [PMID: 38559305 PMCID: PMC10979423 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c01310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) pathway is a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. Despite recent advances, therapies targeting the STING pathway are often limited by routes of administration, suboptimal STING activation, or off-target toxicity. Here, we report a dendritic cell (DC)-targeted polymeric prodrug platform (polySTING) that is designed to optimize intracellular delivery of a diamidobenzimidazole (diABZI) small-molecule STING agonist while minimizing off-target toxicity after parenteral administration. PolySTING incorporates mannose targeting ligands as a comonomer, which facilitates its uptake in CD206+/mannose receptor+ professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The STING agonist is conjugated through a cathepsin B-cleavable valine-alanine (VA) linker for selective intracellular drug release after receptor-mediated endocytosis. When administered intravenously in tumor-bearing mice, polySTING selectively targeted CD206+/mannose receptor+ APCs in the TME, resulting in increased cross-presenting CD8+ DCs, infiltrating CD8+ T cells in the TME as well as maturation across multiple DC subtypes in the tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN). Systemic administration of polySTING slowed tumor growth in a B16-F10 murine melanoma model as well as a 4T1 murine breast cancer model with an acceptable safety profile. Thus, we demonstrate that polySTING delivers STING agonists to professional APCs after systemic administration, generating efficacious DC-driven antitumor immunity with minimal side effects. This new polymeric prodrug platform may offer new opportunities for combining efficient targeted STING agonist delivery with other selective tumor therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinh Chuong Nguyen
- Molecular
Engineering & Sciences Institute, University
of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Kefan Song
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Simbarashe Jokonya
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Omeed Yazdani
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Drew L. Sellers
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Yonghui Wang
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - ABM Zakaria
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Suzie H. Pun
- Molecular
Engineering & Sciences Institute, University
of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Patrick S. Stayton
- Molecular
Engineering & Sciences Institute, University
of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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45
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Hu A, Sun L, Lin H, Liao Y, Yang H, Mao Y. Harnessing innate immune pathways for therapeutic advancement in cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:68. [PMID: 38523155 PMCID: PMC10961329 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01765-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The innate immune pathway is receiving increasing attention in cancer therapy. This pathway is ubiquitous across various cell types, not only in innate immune cells but also in adaptive immune cells, tumor cells, and stromal cells. Agonists targeting the innate immune pathway have shown profound changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and improved tumor prognosis in preclinical studies. However, to date, the clinical success of drugs targeting the innate immune pathway remains limited. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that activation of the innate immune pathway can paradoxically promote tumor progression. The uncertainty surrounding the therapeutic effectiveness of targeted drugs for the innate immune pathway is a critical issue that needs immediate investigation. In this review, we observe that the role of the innate immune pathway demonstrates heterogeneity, linked to the tumor development stage, pathway status, and specific cell types. We propose that within the TME, the innate immune pathway exhibits multidimensional diversity. This diversity is fundamentally rooted in cellular heterogeneity and is manifested as a variety of signaling networks. The pro-tumor effect of innate immune pathway activation essentially reflects the suppression of classical pathways and the activation of potential pro-tumor alternative pathways. Refining our understanding of the tumor's innate immune pathway network and employing appropriate targeting strategies can enhance our ability to harness the anti-tumor potential of the innate immune pathway and ultimately bridge the gap from preclinical to clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankang Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Hao Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yuheng Liao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), and Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine (Ministry of Education), and Molecular and Cell Biology Lab, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
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46
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Li G, Zhao X, Zheng Z, Zhang H, Wu Y, Shen Y, Chen Q. cGAS-STING pathway mediates activation of dendritic cell sensing of immunogenic tumors. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:149. [PMID: 38512518 PMCID: PMC10957617 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05191-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Type I interferons (IFN-I) play pivotal roles in tumor therapy for three decades, underscoring the critical importance of maintaining the integrity of the IFN-1 signaling pathway in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. However, the specific mechanism by which IFN-I contributes to these therapies, particularly in terms of activating dendritic cells (DCs), remains unclear. Based on recent studies, aberrant DNA in the cytoplasm activates the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)- stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway, which in turn produces IFN-I, which is essential for antiviral and anticancer immunity. Notably, STING can also enhance anticancer immunity by promoting autophagy, inflammation, and glycolysis in an IFN-I-independent manner. These research advancements contribute to our comprehension of the distinctions between IFN-I drugs and STING agonists in the context of oncology therapy and shed light on the challenges involved in developing STING agonist drugs. Thus, we aimed to summarize the novel mechanisms underlying cGAS-STING-IFN-I signal activation in DC-mediated antigen presentation and its role in the cancer immune cycle in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guohao Li
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiangqian Zhao
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zuda Zheng
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hucheng Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yundi Wu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yangkun Shen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Qi Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China.
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47
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Sun Y, Chen M, Han Y, Li W, Ma X, Shi Z, Zhou Y, Xu L, Yu L, Wang Y, Yu J, Diao X, Meng L, Xu S. Discovery of Pyrido[2,3- d]pyrimidin-7-one Derivatives as Highly Potent and Efficacious Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase/Phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) Inhibitors for Cancer Treatment. J Med Chem 2024; 67:3986-4006. [PMID: 38387074 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) is an extracellular enzyme responsible for hydrolyzing cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP), the endogenous agonist for the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway. Inhibition of ENPP1 can trigger STING and promote antitumor immunity, offering an attractive therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. Despite progress in the discovery of ENPP1 inhibitors, the diversity in chemical structures and the efficacy of the agents are far from desirable, emphasizing the demand for novel inhibitors. Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of ENPP1 inhibitors based on the pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one scaffold. Optimization efforts led to compound 31 with significant potency in both ENPP1 inhibition and STING pathway stimulation in vitro. Notably, 31 demonstrated in vivo efficacy in a syngeneic 4T1 mouse triple negative breast cancer model. These findings provide a promising lead compound with a novel scaffold for further drug development in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoliang Sun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Manman Chen
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuyan Han
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Weiqiang Li
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zihan Shi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lan Xu
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lei Yu
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yuxiang Wang
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jinghua Yu
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xingxing Diao
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Linghua Meng
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shilin Xu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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48
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Delgado JF, Pritchard WF, Varble N, Lopez-Silva TL, Arrichiello A, Mikhail AS, Morhard R, Ray T, Havakuk MM, Nguyen A, Borde T, Owen JW, Schneider JP, Karanian JW, Wood BJ. X-ray imageable, drug-loaded hydrogel that forms at body temperature for image-guided, needle- based locoregional drug delivery. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4003679. [PMID: 38496436 PMCID: PMC10942574 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4003679/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Liver cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Direct intratumoral injections of anti-cancer therapeutics may improve therapeutic efficacy and mitigate adverse effects compared to intravenous injections. Some challenges of intratumoral injections are that the liquid drug formulation may not remain localized and have unpredictable volumetric distribution. Thus, drug delivery varies widely, highly-dependent upon technique. An x-ray imageable poloxamer 407 (POL)-based drug delivery gel was developed and characterized, enabling real-time feedback. Utilizing three needle devices, POL or a control iodinated contrast solution were injected into an ex vivo bovine liver. The 3D distribution was assessed with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The 3D distribution of POL gels demonstrated localized spherical morphologies regardless of the injection rate. In addition, the gel 3D conformal distribution could be intentionally altered, depending on the injection technique. When doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into the POL and injected, DOX distribution on optical imaging matched iodine distribution on CBCT suggesting spatial alignment of DOX and iodine localization in tissue. The controllability and localized deposition of this formulation may ultimately reduce the dependence on operator technique, reduce systemic side effects, and facilitate reproducibility across treatments, through more predictable standardized delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose F Delgado
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | - William F Pritchard
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | | | - Tania L Lopez-Silva
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Antonio Arrichiello
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | - Andrew S Mikhail
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | - Robert Morhard
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | - Trisha Ray
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | - Michal M Havakuk
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | - Alex Nguyen
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | - Tabea Borde
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | - Joshua W Owen
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | - Joel P Schneider
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - John W Karanian
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
| | - Bradford J Wood
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health
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49
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Wang F, Fu K, Wang Y, Pan C, Wang X, Liu Z, Yang C, Zheng Y, Li X, Lu Y, To KKW, Xia C, Zhang J, Shi Z, Hu Z, Huang M, Fu L. Small-molecule agents for cancer immunotherapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:905-952. [PMID: 38486980 PMCID: PMC10935485 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, exemplified by the remarkable clinical benefits of the immune checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is revolutionizing cancer therapy. They induce long-term tumor regression and overall survival benefit in many types of cancer. With the advances in our knowledge about the tumor immune microenvironment, remarkable progress has been made in the development of small-molecule drugs for immunotherapy. Small molecules targeting PRR-associated pathways, immune checkpoints, oncogenic signaling, metabolic pathways, cytokine/chemokine signaling, and immune-related kinases have been extensively investigated. Monotherapy of small-molecule immunotherapeutic drugs and their combinations with other antitumor modalities are under active clinical investigations to overcome immune tolerance and circumvent immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance. Here, we review the latest development of small-molecule agents for cancer immunotherapy by targeting defined pathways and highlighting their progress in recent clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Kai Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yujue Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Can Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xueping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zeyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Chuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Ying Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Kenneth Kin Wah To
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Chenglai Xia
- Affiliated Foshan Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Jianye Zhang
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Zhi Shi
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zeping Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Min Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Liwu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
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50
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Silveira Prudente A, Hoon Lee S, Roh J, Luckemeyer DD, Cohen CF, Pertin M, Park CK, Suter MR, Decosterd I, Zhang JM, Ji RR, Berta T. Microglial STING activation alleviates nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain in male but not female mice. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 117:51-65. [PMID: 38190983 PMCID: PMC11034751 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia, resident immune cells in the central nervous system, play a role in neuroinflammation and the development of neuropathic pain. We found that the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is predominantly expressed in spinal microglia and upregulated after peripheral nerve injury. However, mechanical allodynia, as a marker of neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve injury, did not require microglial STING expression. In contrast, STING activation by specific agonists (ADU-S100, 35 nmol) significantly alleviated neuropathic pain in male mice, but not female mice. STING activation in female mice leads to increase in proinflammatory cytokines that may counteract the analgesic effect of ADU-S100. Microglial STING expression and type I interferon-ß (IFN-ß) signaling were required for the analgesic effects of STING agonists in male mice. Mechanistically, downstream activation of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and the production of IFN-ß, may partly account for the analgesic effect observed. These findings suggest that STING activation in spinal microglia could be a potential therapeutic intervention for neuropathic pain, particularly in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Silveira Prudente
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sang Hoon Lee
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jueun Roh
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Physiology, Gachon Pain Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Debora D Luckemeyer
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Cinder F Cohen
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Marie Pertin
- Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Chul-Kyu Park
- Department of Physiology, Gachon Pain Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Marc R Suter
- Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Decosterd
- Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jun-Ming Zhang
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Ru-Rong Ji
- Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Departments of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Temugin Berta
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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