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Hu Y, Lou X, Zhang K, Pan L, Bai Y, Wang L, Wang M, Yan Y, Wan J, Yao X, Duan X, Ni C, Qin Z. Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 promotes endothelial cell-mediated suppression of CD8+ T cells through tuning glycolysis in chemoresistance of breast cancer. J Transl Med 2024; 22:672. [PMID: 39033271 PMCID: PMC11265105 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05472-5] [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: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cells play a pivotal role in chemotherapy-triggered anti-tumor effects. Emerging evidence underscores the link between impaired anti-tumor immune responses and resistance to paclitaxel therapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Tumor-related endothelial cells (ECs) have potential immunoregulatory activity. However, how ECs regulate T cell activity during TNBC chemotherapy remains poorly understood. METHODS Single-cell analysis of ECs in patients with TNBC receiving paclitaxel therapy was performed using an accessible single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset to identify key EC subtypes and their immune characteristics. An integrated analysis of a tumor-bearing mouse model, immunofluorescence, and a spatial transcriptome dataset revealed the spatial relationship between ECs, especially Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) 2+ ECs, and CD8+ T cells. RNA sequencing, CD8+ T cell proliferation assays, flow cytometry, and bioinformatic analyses were performed to explore the immunosuppressive function of TNFR2 in ECs. The downstream metabolic mechanism of TNFR2 was further investigated using RNA sequencing, cellular glycolysis assays, and western blotting. RESULTS In this study, we identified an immunoregulatory EC subtype, characterized by enhanced TNFR2 expression in non-responders. By a mouse model of TNBC, we revealed a dynamic reduction in the proportion of the CD8+ T cell-contacting tumor vessels that could co-localize spatially with CD8+ T cells during chemotherapy and an increased expression of TNFR2 by ECs. TNFR2 suppresses glycolytic activity in ECs by activating NF-κB signaling in vitro. Tuning endothelial glycolysis enhances programmed death-ligand (PD-L) 1-dependent inhibitory capacity, thereby inducing CD8+ T cell suppression. In addition, TNFR2+ ECs showed a greater spatial affinity for exhausted CD8+ T cells than for non-exhausted CD8+ T cells. TNFR2 blockade restores impaired anti-tumor immunity in vivo, leading to the loss of PD-L1 expression by ECs and enhancement of CD8+ T cell infiltration into the tumors. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal the suppression of CD8+ T cells by ECs in chemoresistance and indicate the critical role of TNFR2 in driving the immunosuppressive capacity of ECs via tuning glycolysis. Targeting endothelial TNFR2 may serve as a potent strategy for treating TNBC with paclitaxel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Hu
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Xiaohan Lou
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Kaili Zhang
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Longze Pan
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- Department of Medicine, Luohe Medical College, Luohe, 462000, China
| | - Yueyue Bai
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- Shangqiu Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Shangqiu, 476000, China
| | - Linlin Wang
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Ming Wang
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Jiajia Wan
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Xiaohan Yao
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Xixi Duan
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Chen Ni
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Zhihai Qin
- Henan China-Germany International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Disease, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
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Wan Z, Zhang S, Zhong AX, Xu L, Coughlin MF, Pavlou G, Shelton SE, Nguyen HT, Hirose S, Kim S, Floryan MA, Barbie DA, Hodi FS, Kamm RD. Transmural Flow Upregulates PD-L1 Expression in Microvascular Networks. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400921. [PMID: 38696611 PMCID: PMC11234398 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400921] [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: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Endothelial programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is higher in tumors than in normal tissues. Also, tumoral vasculatures tend to be leakier than normal vessels leading to a higher trans-endothelial or transmural fluid flow. However, it is not clear whether such elevated transmural flow can control endothelial PD-L1 expression. Here, a new microfluidic device is developed to investigate the relationship between transmural flow and PD-L1 expression in microvascular networks (MVNs). After treating the MVNs with transmural flow for 24 h, the expression of PD-L1 in endothelial cells is upregulated. Additionally, CD8 T cell activation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) is suppressed when cultured in the MVNs pre-conditioned with transmural flow. Moreover, transmural flow is able to further increase PD-L1 expression in the vessels formed in the tumor microenvironment. Finally, by utilizing blocking antibodies and knock-out assays, it is found that transmural flow-driven PD-L1 upregulation is controlled by integrin αVβ3. Overall, this study provides a new biophysical explanation for high PD-L1 expression in tumoral vasculatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengpeng Wan
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Shun Zhang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Amy X Zhong
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Liling Xu
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Mark F Coughlin
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Georgios Pavlou
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sarah E Shelton
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Huu Tuan Nguyen
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Satomi Hirose
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Seunggyu Kim
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Marie A Floryan
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - David A Barbie
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - F Stephen Hodi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Roger D Kamm
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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Wu LY, Park SH, Jakobsson H, Shackleton M, Möller A. Immune Regulation and Immune Therapy in Melanoma: Review with Emphasis on CD155 Signalling. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1950. [PMID: 38893071 PMCID: PMC11171058 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16111950] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is commonly diagnosed in a younger population than most other solid malignancies and, in Australia and most of the world, is the leading cause of skin-cancer-related death. Melanoma is a cancer type with high immunogenicity; thus, immunotherapies are used as first-line treatment for advanced melanoma patients. Although immunotherapies are working well, not all the patients are benefitting from them. A lack of a comprehensive understanding of immune regulation in the melanoma tumour microenvironment is a major challenge of patient stratification. Overexpression of CD155 has been reported as a key factor in melanoma immune regulation for the development of therapy resistance. A more thorough understanding of the actions of current immunotherapy strategies, their effects on immune cell subsets, and the roles that CD155 plays are essential for a rational design of novel targets of anti-cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we comprehensively discuss current anti-melanoma immunotherapy strategies and the immune response contribution of different cell lineages, including tumour endothelial cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, cytotoxic T cells, cancer-associated fibroblast, and nature killer cells. Finally, we explore the impact of CD155 and its receptors DNAM-1, TIGIT, and CD96 on immune cells, especially in the context of the melanoma tumour microenvironment and anti-cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ying Wu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia;
- JC STEM Lab, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China;
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Su-Ho Park
- JC STEM Lab, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China;
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Haakan Jakobsson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia;
| | - Mark Shackleton
- Department of Medical Oncology, Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia;
- School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Andreas Möller
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia;
- JC STEM Lab, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China;
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Teisseire M, Giuliano S, Pagès G. Combination of Anti-Angiogenics and Immunotherapies in Renal Cell Carcinoma Show Their Limits: Targeting Fibrosis to Break through the Glass Ceiling? Biomedicines 2024; 12:385. [PMID: 38397987 PMCID: PMC10886484 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020385] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This review explores treating metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) through current therapeutic modalities-anti-angiogenic therapies and immunotherapies. While these approaches represent the forefront, their limitations and variable patient responses highlight the need to comprehend underlying resistance mechanisms. We specifically investigate the role of fibrosis, prevalent in chronic kidney disease, influencing tumour growth and treatment resistance. Our focus extends to unravelling the intricate interplay between fibrosis, immunotherapy resistance, and the tumour microenvironment for effective therapy development. The analysis centres on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), revealing its multifaceted role in ccRCC-promoting fibrosis, angiogenesis, and cancer progression. We discuss the potential of targeting CTGF to address the problem of fibrosis in ccRCC. Emphasising the crucial relationship between fibrosis and the immune system in ccRCC, we propose that targeting CTGF holds promise for overcoming obstacles to cancer treatment. However, we recognise that an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms and potential limitations is imperative and, therefore, advocate for further research. This is an essential prerequisite for the successful integration of CTGF-targeted therapies into the clinical landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandy Giuliano
- University Cote d’Azur (UCA), Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice, CNRS UMR 7284; INSERM U1081, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, 06189 Nice, France;
| | - Gilles Pagès
- University Cote d’Azur (UCA), Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice, CNRS UMR 7284; INSERM U1081, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, 06189 Nice, France;
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5
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Chong X, Li Y, Lu J, Feng X, Li Y, Zhang X. Tracking circulating PD-L1-positive cells to monitor the outcome of patients with gastric cancer receiving anti-HER2 plus anti-PD-1 therapy. Hum Cell 2024; 37:258-270. [PMID: 37889437 PMCID: PMC10764514 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00990-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Dual blockade of HER2 and PD-1/PD-L1 is the most promising regimen for HER2-positive patients with gastric cancer (GC); PD-L1 combined positive score, rather than HER2 status, indicates potential benefit. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) derived from the tumor microenvironment provide platforms for the dynamic evaluation of PD-L1 expression. Whether PD-L1 positive CTCs/CECs (PD-L1+CTCs/CECs) can serve as biomarkers for evaluating the efficacy of combination therapy remains unknown. Therefore, this study investigated PD-L1 expression and heterogeneous karyotypic features of CTCs/CECs and their involvement in the clinical response to treatment in 72 patients with advanced GC by applying a pre-established surface molecule-independent subtraction enrichment (SE)-iFISH strategy. In the captured PD-L1 positive cells, there were 42.80% and 57.20% of CTCs and CECs, respectively. PD-L1+ CTCs were pre-therapeutically detected in 0% (0/11) of HER2-negative patients and 14.75% (9/61) of HER2-positive patients. The presence of baseline PD-L1+CTCs was relevant to inferior prognosis (mPFS: 14.40 months vs 5.00 months, P = 0.065); post-treatment PD-L1+ CECs were associated with longer irPFS (immunotherapeutic-related PFS) (mPFS: 15.57 months vs 6.73 months, P = 0.053). Further dynamic karyotype-based profiling of PD-L1+ CTCs/CECs indicated that multiploidy and triploidy were the dominant subtypes of baseline PD-L1+ CTCs, and that triploidy was specifically associated with therapeutic resistance. Intratherapeutically detected multiploid PD-L1+ CECs demonstrated a superior clinical response; triploidy and tetraploidy contributed to acquired resistance. The karyotypic features of PD-L1+CTCs/CECs should be dynamically profiled in patients with GC treated with anti-HER2 plus anti-PD-1 therapy. Triploid-PD-L1+ CTCs and multiploid-PD-L1+ CECs are potential indicators of therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Chong
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Fu-Cheng Road 52, Hai-Dian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yanyan Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Fu-Cheng Road 52, Hai-Dian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Jialin Lu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Fu-Cheng Road 52, Hai-Dian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xujiao Feng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Fu-Cheng Road 52, Hai-Dian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yilin Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Fu-Cheng Road 52, Hai-Dian District, Beijing, 100142, China.
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Fu-Cheng Road 52, Hai-Dian District, Beijing, 100142, China.
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6
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Fang J, Lu Y, Zheng J, Jiang X, Shen H, Shang X, Lu Y, Fu P. Exploring the crosstalk between endothelial cells, immune cells, and immune checkpoints in the tumor microenvironment: new insights and therapeutic implications. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:586. [PMID: 37666809 PMCID: PMC10477350 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06119-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a highly intricate milieu, comprising a multitude of components, including immune cells and stromal cells, that exert a profound influence on tumor initiation and progression. Within the TME, angiogenesis is predominantly orchestrated by endothelial cells (ECs), which foster the proliferation and metastasis of malignant cells. The interplay between tumor and immune cells with ECs is complex and can either bolster or hinder the immune system. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the intricate crosstalk between ECs and immune cells is essential to advance the development of immunotherapeutic interventions. Despite recent progress, the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern the interplay between ECs and immune cells remain elusive. Nevertheless, the immunomodulatory function of ECs has emerged as a pivotal determinant of the immune response. In light of this, the study of the relationship between ECs and immune checkpoints has garnered considerable attention in the field of immunotherapy. By targeting specific molecular pathways and signaling molecules associated with ECs in the TME, novel immunotherapeutic strategies may be devised to enhance the efficacy of current treatments. In this vein, we sought to elucidate the relationship between ECs, immune cells, and immune checkpoints in the TME, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets and charting new avenues for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwen Fang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310003, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yue Lu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, 313000, Huzhou, China
| | - Jingyan Zheng
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Lishui People's Hospital, The Six Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 323000, Lishui, China
| | - Xiaocong Jiang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310003, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haixing Shen
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310003, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Cixi People's Hospital, 315300, Cixi, China
| | - Xi Shang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang University, 318000, Taizhou, China
| | - Yuexin Lu
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310003, Hangzhou, China
| | - Peifen Fu
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310003, Hangzhou, China.
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Zhuo X, Huang C, Su L, Liang F, Xie W, Xu Q, Han P, Huang X, Wong PP. Identification of a distinct tumor endothelial cell-related gene expression signature associated with patient prognosis and immunotherapy response in multiple cancers. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:9635-9655. [PMID: 37227522 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04848-2] [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: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor endothelial cells (TECs) play a significant role in regulating the tumor microenvironment, drug response, and immune cell activities in various cancers. However, the association between TEC gene expression signature and patient prognosis or therapeutic response remains poorly understood. METHODS We analyzed transcriptomics data of normal and tumor endothelial cells obtained from the GEO database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with TECs. We then compared these DEGs with those commonly found across five different tumor types from the TCGA database to determine their prognostic relevance. Using these genes, we constructed a prognostic risk model integrated with clinical features to develop a nomogram model, which we validated through biological experiments. RESULTS We identified 12 TEC-related prognostic genes across multiple tumor types, of which five genes were sufficient to construct a prognostic risk model with an AUC of 0.682. The risk scores effectively predicted patient prognosis and immunotherapeutic response. Our newly developed nomogram model provided more accurate prognostic estimates of cancer patients than the TNM staging method (AUC = 0.735) and was validated using external patient cohorts. Finally, RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses indicated that the expression of these 5 TEC-related prognostic genes was up-regulated in both patient-derived tumors and cancer cell lines, while depletion of the hub genes reduced cancer cell growth, migration and invasion, and enhanced their sensitivity to gemcitabine or cytarabine. CONCLUSIONS Our study discovered the first TEC-related gene expression signature that can be used to construct a prognostic risk model for guiding treatment options in multiple cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianhua Zhuo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Liangping Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Faya Liang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Wenqian Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Qiuping Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Ping Han
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Xiaoming Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| | - Ping-Pui Wong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
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Han J, Dong L, Wu M, Ma F. Dynamic polarization of tumor-associated macrophages and their interaction with intratumoral T cells in an inflamed tumor microenvironment: from mechanistic insights to therapeutic opportunities. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1160340. [PMID: 37251409 PMCID: PMC10219223 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1160340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has brought a paradigm shift in the treatment of tumors in recent decades. However, a significant proportion of patients remain unresponsive, largely due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play crucial roles in shaping the TME by exhibiting dual identities as both mediators and responders of inflammation. TAMs closely interact with intratumoral T cells, regulating their infiltration, activation, expansion, effector function, and exhaustion through multiple secretory and surface factors. Nevertheless, the heterogeneous and plastic nature of TAMs renders the targeting of any of these factors alone inadequate and poses significant challenges for mechanistic studies and clinical translation of corresponding therapies. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the mechanisms by which TAMs dynamically polarize to influence intratumoral T cells, with a focus on their interaction with other TME cells and metabolic competition. For each mechanism, we also discuss relevant therapeutic opportunities, including non-specific and targeted approaches in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and cellular therapies. Our ultimate goal is to develop macrophage-centered therapies that can fine-tune tumor inflammation and empower immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashu Han
- 4+4 Medical Doctor Program, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing, China
| | - Luochu Dong
- 4+4 Medical Doctor Program, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing, China
| | - Mengwei Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (CAMS), Beijing, China
| | - Fei Ma
- Center for National Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Configuring Therapeutic Aspects of Immune Checkpoints in Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020543. [PMID: 36672492 PMCID: PMC9856297 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoints are unique components of the body's defense mechanism that safeguard the body from immune responses that are potent enough to harm healthy body cells. When proteins present on the surface of T cells recognize and bind to the proteins present on other tumor cells, immune checkpoints are triggered. These proteins are called immunological checkpoints. The T cells receive an on/off signal when the checkpoints interact with companion proteins. This might avert the host's immune system from eliminating cancer cells. The standard care plan for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been revolutionized with the use of drugs targeting immune checkpoints, in particular programmed cell death protein 1. These drugs are now extended for their potential to manage SCLC. However, it is acknowledged that these drugs have specific immune related adverse effects. Herein, we discuss the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with NSCLC and SCLC, their outcomes, and future perspectives.
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10
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Tichet M, Wullschleger S, Chryplewicz A, Fournier N, Marcone R, Kauzlaric A, Homicsko K, Deak LC, Umaña P, Klein C, Hanahan D. Bispecific PD1-IL2v and anti-PD-L1 break tumor immunity resistance by enhancing stem-like tumor-reactive CD8 + T cells and reprogramming macrophages. Immunity 2023; 56:162-179.e6. [PMID: 36630914 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapies have shown remarkable, albeit tumor-selective, therapeutic benefits in the clinic. Most patients respond transiently at best, highlighting the importance of understanding mechanisms underlying resistance. Herein, we evaluated the effects of the engineered immunocytokine PD1-IL2v in a mouse model of de novo pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer that is resistant to checkpoint and other immunotherapies. PD1-IL2v utilizes anti-PD-1 as a targeting moiety fused to an immuno-stimulatory IL-2 cytokine variant (IL2v) to precisely deliver IL2v to PD-1+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. PD1-IL2v elicited substantial infiltration by stem-like CD8+ T cells, resulting in tumor regression and enhanced survival in mice. Combining anti-PD-L1 with PD1-IL2v sustained the response phase, improving therapeutic efficacy both by reprogramming immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages and enhancing T cell receptor (TCR) immune repertoire diversity. These data provide a rationale for clinical trials to evaluate the combination therapy of PD1-IL2v and anti-PD-L1, particularly in immunotherapy-resistant tumors infiltrated with PD-1+ stem-like T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Tichet
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Translational Cancer Research Center, Rue du Bugnon 25A, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Wullschleger
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Agnieszka Chryplewicz
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Translational Cancer Research Center, Rue du Bugnon 25A, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Fournier
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rachel Marcone
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Annamaria Kauzlaric
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Krisztian Homicsko
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Translational Cancer Research Center, Rue du Bugnon 25A, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Oncology, CHUV, 46 Rue Bugnon, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Center for Personalized Oncology, CHUV, 46 Rue Bugnon, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Pablo Umaña
- Roche-Innovation Center Zurich, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | - Douglas Hanahan
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Translational Cancer Research Center, Rue du Bugnon 25A, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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11
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Mun JY, Leem SH, Lee JH, Kim HS. Dual Relationship Between Stromal Cells and Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:864739. [PMID: 35464435 PMCID: PMC9019709 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.864739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and is comprised of different components, including tumor cells, stromal cells, and immune cells. Among them, the relationship between each mediator involved in the construction of the TME can be understood by focusing on the secreting or expressing factors from each cells. Therefore, understanding the various interactions between each cellular component of the TME is necessary for precise therapeutic approaches. In carcinoma, stromal cells are well known to influence extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and tumor progression through multiple mediators. Immune cells respond to tumor cells by causing cytotoxicity or inflammatory responses. However, they are involved in tumor escape through immunoregulatory mechanisms. In general, anti-cancer therapy has mainly been focused on cancer cells themselves or the interactions between cancer cells and specific cell components. However, cancer cells directly or indirectly influence other TME partners, and members such as stromal cells and immune cells also participate in TME organization through their mutual communication. In this review, we summarized the relationship between stromal cells and immune cells in the TME and discussed the positive and negative relationships from the point of view of tumor development for use in research applications and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Yeon Mun
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Natural Science, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Sun-Hee Leem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Natural Science, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea.,Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Jun Ho Lee
- College of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University, Jeonju, South Korea
| | - Hyuk Soon Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Natural Science, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea.,Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea
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12
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Petit PF, Bombart R, Desimpel PH, Naulaerts S, Thouvenel L, Collet JF, Van den Eynde BJ, Zhu J. T-cell mediated targeted delivery of anti-PD-L1 nanobody overcomes poor antibody penetration and improves PD-L1 blocking at the tumor site. Cancer Immunol Res 2022; 10:713-727. [PMID: 35439300 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-21-0801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies blocking immune checkpoints such as PD-L1 have yielded strong clinical benefits in many cancer types. Still, the current limitations are the lack of clinical response in a majority of patients and the development of immune-related adverse events in some. As an alternative to PD-L1-specific antibody injection, we have developed an approach based on the engineering of tumor-targeting T cells to deliver intratumorally an anti-PD-L1 nanobody. In the MC38-OVA model, our strategy enhanced tumor control as compared to injection of PD-L1-specific antibody combined with adoptive transfer of tumor-targeting T cells. As a possible explanation for this, we demonstrated that PD-L1-specific antibody massively occupied PD-L1 in the periphery but failed to penetrate to PD-L1-expressing cells at the tumor site. In sharp contrast, locally delivered anti-PD-L1 nanobody improved PD-L1 blocking at the tumor site while avoiding systemic exposure. Our approach appears promising to overcome the limitations of immunotherapy based on PD-L1-specific antibody treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raphaele Bombart
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Stefan Naulaerts
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurie Thouvenel
- de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Benoit J Van den Eynde
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jingjing Zhu
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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13
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IL-3 signalling in the tumour microenvironment shapes the immune response via tumour endothelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles. Pharmacol Res 2022; 179:106206. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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14
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Sakano Y, Noda T, Kobayashi S, Sasaki K, Iwagami Y, Yamada D, Tomimaru Y, Akita H, Gotoh K, Takahashi H, Asaoka T, Tanemura M, Wada H, Doki Y, Eguchi H. Tumor endothelial cell-induced CD8(+) T-cell exhaustion via GPNMB in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:1625-1638. [PMID: 35289033 PMCID: PMC9128167 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor endothelial cells (TECs) promote tumor angiogenesis and regulate cytotoxic T cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, the roles of TECs for tumor‐infiltrating T‐cell in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate how TECs influenced tumor growth and immune responses of HCC focusing on CD8+ T‐cell infiltration and exhaustion. First, TECs were isolated from subcutaneous HCC tumors with murine HCC cell lines (BNL‐T) with magnetic selection of CD31+ cells, and normal endothelial cells (NECs) were isolated from normal liver. Second, immunocompetent mice were injected with BNL‐T alone, BNL‐T + NECs, or BNL‐T + TECs for tumor formation, and the functions and exhaustion of tumor‐infiltrating CD8+ T cells were evaluated. The mice injected with BNL‐T + TEC showed rapid tumorigenesis and a decrease in the number of infiltrating CD8+ T cells. In addition, the percentage of CD8+ T‐cell exhaustion was significantly higher in tumors from the administration of BNL‐T + TEC. Third, the next‐generation sequencing on TECs was performed to identify mRNAs that might be a novel treatment target. The molecule of glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) was identified and the functions of GPNMB was analyzed by silencing of GPNMB expression using small interfering RNAs. The silencing of GPNMB expression in TECs induced the suppression of tumor growth and T‐cell exhaustion. In conclusion, TECs induced tumor‐infiltrating T‐cell exhaustion via GPNMB expression and GPNMB might be a novel therapeutic target in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Sakano
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takehiro Noda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shogo Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuki Sasaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Iwagami
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisaku Yamada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshito Tomimaru
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Akita
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kunihito Gotoh
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidenori Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tadafumi Asaoka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Surgery, Osaka Police Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahiro Tanemura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Surgery, Rinku General Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hisashi Wada
- Department of Clinical Research in Tumor Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University
| | - Yuichiro Doki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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15
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Ayoub NM, Jaradat SK, Al-Shami KM, Alkhalifa AE. Targeting Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives of Novel Anti-Angiogenic Approaches. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:838133. [PMID: 35281942 PMCID: PMC8913593 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.838133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a vital process for the growth and dissemination of solid cancers. Numerous molecular pathways are known to drive angiogenic switch in cancer cells promoting the growth of new blood vessels and increased incidence of distant metastasis. Several angiogenesis inhibitors are clinically available for the treatment of different types of advanced solid cancers. These inhibitors mostly belong to monoclonal antibodies or small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting the classical vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors. Nevertheless, breast cancer is one example of solid tumors that had constantly failed to respond to angiogenesis inhibitors in terms of improved survival outcomes of patients. Accordingly, it is of paramount importance to assess the molecular mechanisms driving angiogenic signaling in breast cancer to explore suitable drug targets that can be further investigated in preclinical and clinical settings. This review summarizes the current evidence for the effect of clinically available anti-angiogenic drugs in breast cancer treatment. Further, major mechanisms associated with intrinsic or acquired resistance to anti-VEGF therapy are discussed. The review also describes evidence from preclinical and clinical studies on targeting novel non-VEGF angiogenic pathways in breast cancer and several approaches to the normalization of tumor vasculature by targeting pericytes, utilization of microRNAs and extracellular tumor-associate vesicles, using immunotherapeutic drugs, and nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehad M. Ayoub
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Irbid, Jordan
- *Correspondence: Nehad M. Ayoub,
| | - Sara K. Jaradat
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Irbid, Jordan
| | - Kamal M. Al-Shami
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Amer E. Alkhalifa
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Irbid, Jordan
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16
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Zhang X, Wang S, Nie RC, Qu C, Chen J, Yang Y, Cai M. Immune Microenvironment Characteristics of Urachal Carcinoma and Its Implications for Prognosis and Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030615. [PMID: 35158883 PMCID: PMC8833550 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Urachal carcinoma (UrC) is an exceedingly rare tumor and lacks effective treatment. Herein, we characterized an immune microenvironment characteristic of UrC in detail and identified its implications for prognosis and immunotherapy. In total, 37 resections of UrC were stained for CD20, CD3, CD4, CD8, FOXP3, CD68, HLA-DR, CD163, PD1, and PD-L1, as well as mismatch repair protein including MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, and PMS2 by immunohistochemistry. Intratumoral and peritumoral immune cell densities or the proportion of PD1 and PD-L1 expression alongside MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, and PMS2 status were manually evaluated using the whole slide. UrC patients with the number of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) per slide tended to be higher in tumors with dMMR (p = 0.1919), and tumors with higher number of TLS tended to have longer OS (p = 0.0940) and DFS (p = 0.0700). High densities of CD3+ T, CD8+ T, and CD68+ cells were significantly associated with worse OS and DFS (both p<0.05). Increased intratumoral (p = 0.0111) and peritumoral (p = 0.0485) CD8+ T cell densities were significantly associated with PD-L1 expression or increasing proportion of PD-L1 expression on immune cells. Similarly, increased intratumoral (p = 0.0008) and peritumoral (p = 0.063) CD8+ T cell densities were significantly associated with increasing proportion of PD1 expression on immune cells. Tumors with PD-L1 positive expression on immune cells had a significantly increased proportion of PD1 expression (p = 0.0121). High peritumoral CD8+ T cell density (>73.7/mm2) was significantly associated with worse OS (p = 0.0120) and DFS (p = 0.00095). The number of TLS seems to be considered not only as histopathological characteristics in predicting MMR status of UrC, but also as a prognostic or therapeutic biomarker, and we also provide some important suggestions for targeting PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint in UrC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinke Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (X.Z.); (S.W.); (R.-C.N.); (C.Q.); (J.C.)
| | - Suijing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (X.Z.); (S.W.); (R.-C.N.); (C.Q.); (J.C.)
| | - Run-Cong Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (X.Z.); (S.W.); (R.-C.N.); (C.Q.); (J.C.)
| | - Chunhua Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (X.Z.); (S.W.); (R.-C.N.); (C.Q.); (J.C.)
| | - Jierong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (X.Z.); (S.W.); (R.-C.N.); (C.Q.); (J.C.)
| | - Yuanzhong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (X.Z.); (S.W.); (R.-C.N.); (C.Q.); (J.C.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (M.C.); Tel.: +86-20-8734-2274 (M.C.)
| | - Muyan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (X.Z.); (S.W.); (R.-C.N.); (C.Q.); (J.C.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (M.C.); Tel.: +86-20-8734-2274 (M.C.)
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17
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Chilosi M, Poletti V, Ravaglia C, Rossi G, Dubini A, Piciucchi S, Pedica F, Bronte V, Pizzolo G, Martignoni G, Doglioni C. The pathogenic role of epithelial and endothelial cells in early-phase COVID-19 pneumonia: victims and partners in crime. Mod Pathol 2021; 34:1444-1455. [PMID: 33883694 PMCID: PMC8058579 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00808-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Current understanding of the complex pathogenesis of COVID-19 interstitial pneumonia pathogenesis in the light of biopsies carried out in early/moderate phase and histology data obtained at postmortem analysis is discussed. In autopsies the most observed pattern is diffuse alveolar damage with alveolar-epithelial type-II cell hyperplasia, hyaline membranes, and frequent thromboembolic disease. However, these observations cannot explain some clinical, radiological and physiopathological features observed in SARS-CoV-2 interstitial pneumonia, including the occurrence of vascular enlargement on CT and preserved lung compliance in subjects even presenting with or developing respiratory failure. Histological investigation on early-phase pneumonia on perioperative samples and lung biopsies revealed peculiar morphological and morpho-phenotypical changes including hyper-expression of phosphorylated STAT3 and immune checkpoint molecules (PD-L1 and IDO) in alveolar-epithelial and endothelial cells. These features might explain in part these discrepancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Chilosi
- Department of Pathology, Pederzoli Hospital, Peschiera del Garda, Italy.
| | - Venerino Poletti
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark,Department of Diseases of the Thorax, G.B. Morgagni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
| | - Claudia Ravaglia
- Department of Diseases of the Thorax, G.B. Morgagni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
| | - Giulio Rossi
- Department of Pathology, Ravenna Hospital, Ravenna, Italy
| | | | - Sara Piciucchi
- Department of Radiology, G.B. Morgagni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
| | - Federica Pedica
- Department of Pathology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Bronte
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Pizzolo
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Guido Martignoni
- Department of Pathology, Pederzoli Hospital, Peschiera del Garda, Italy,Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Claudio Doglioni
- Department of Pathology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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18
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Liu J, Hong H, Shi J, Xie Y, Lu Z, Liu Z, Zhou Z, Bian Z, Huang Z, Wu Z. Dinitrophenol-mediated modulation of an anti-PD-L1 VHH for Fc-dependent effector functions and prolonged serum half-life. Eur J Pharm Sci 2021; 165:105941. [PMID: 34256102 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.105941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Single-domain antibodies, VHHs or nanobodies, represent a promising set of alternatives to conventional therapeutic antibodies, gaining substantial attention in the field of cancer immunotherapy. However, inherent drawbacks of nanobodies such as fast clearance from blood circulation and lack of immune effector functions often led to unsatisfactory therapeutic efficacy. We previously reported that dinitrophenyl modification of an anti-EGFR VHH conferred Fc-dependent immune effector functions and elongated serum half-life on it through recruiting of hapten antibodies, resulting in improved immunotherapy efficacy in vivo. In the present work, we further tested the versatility of this approach in the case of an anti-PD-L1 blockade VHH (KN035). Site-specific dinitrophenyl conjugation did not impair the binding capacity of KN035 portion to PD-L1, but indirectly restored its immune effector functions, manifested by the observed antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis and complement-dependent cytotoxicity against PD-L1 positive tumor cells. Significant delay of blood clearance of dinitrophenylated KN035 was evidenced by the prolonged half-life of ca. 22 h. This approach, using small hapten molecule conjugation, loaded additional antibody-mediated tumor killing mechanisms to PD-L1 blockade VHH and therefore improved efficacy is anticipated in the future in vivo therapeutic studies. Thus, our results underscore the power of this versatile approach for achieving desirable properties of VHH-based or similar therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry & Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Haofei Hong
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry & Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jie Shi
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry & Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Yuntian Xie
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry & Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhongkai Lu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry & Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhicheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry & Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhifang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry & Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zehua Bian
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Zhaohui Huang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Zhimeng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry & Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
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19
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Yuan W, Xu C, Li B, Xia H, Pan Y, Zhong W, Xu L, Chen R, Wang B. Contributions of Costimulatory Molecule CD137 in Endothelial Cells. J Am Heart Assoc 2021; 10:e020721. [PMID: 34027676 PMCID: PMC8483511 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.120.020721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
CD137 (4-1BB, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 9) is a surface glycoprotein of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family that can be induced on a variety of immunocytes and nonimmune cells, including endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. The importance of CD137 in immune response has been well recognized; however, the precise biological effects and underlying mechanisms of CD137 in endothelial cells are unclear. A single layer of cells called the endothelium constitutes the innermost layer of blood vessels including larger arteries, veins, the capillaries, and the lymphatic vessels. It not only acts as an important functional interface, but also participates in local inflammatory response. This review covers recent findings to illuminate the role of CD137 in endothelial cells in different pathophysiologic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yuan
- Department of Cardiology Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang China
| | - Chong Xu
- Department of Cardiology Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Cardiology Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang China
| | - Hao Xia
- Department of Cardiology Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang China
| | - Yingjie Pan
- Department of Cardiology Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang China
| | - Wei Zhong
- Department of Cardiology Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang China
| | - Liangjie Xu
- Department of Cardiology Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang China
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Cardiology Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Geriatrics Union Hospital Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
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20
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Liang Y, Li L, Chen Y, Xiao J, Wei D. PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoints: Tumor vs atherosclerotic progression. Clin Chim Acta 2021; 519:70-75. [PMID: 33872608 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become one of the most attraction cancer therapy strategies. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway plays key roles in immune responses and autoimmunity by regulating T cell activity. Overactivation of this pathway dampens T cell and immune function, which allows tumor cells immune escape. Antibody or inhibitors of PD-1/PD-L1 immune targets have been implicated in clinic anti-cancer therapy and gain great clinic outcoming for their high efficiency. However, recent studies showed that the PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy in some tumor patients was found to accelerate T cell-driven inflammatory and the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. This article reviews the research progression of PD-1/PD-L1 in tumors and atherosclerosis, and the possible mechanisms of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy increasing the risk of atherosclerotic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamin Liang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Arteriosclerotic Disease, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Lu Li
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Arteriosclerotic Disease, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Yanmei Chen
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Arteriosclerotic Disease, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Jinyan Xiao
- YueYang Maternal-Child Medicine Health Hospital Hunan Province Innovative Training Base for Medical Postgraduates, University of China South China and Yueyang Women & Children's Medical Center, Yueyang, Hunan 414000, China.
| | - Dangheng Wei
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Arteriosclerotic Disease, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
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21
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Abou Khouzam R, Brodaczewska K, Filipiak A, Zeinelabdin NA, Buart S, Szczylik C, Kieda C, Chouaib S. Tumor Hypoxia Regulates Immune Escape/Invasion: Influence on Angiogenesis and Potential Impact of Hypoxic Biomarkers on Cancer Therapies. Front Immunol 2021; 11:613114. [PMID: 33552076 PMCID: PMC7854546 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.613114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The environmental and metabolic pressures in the tumor microenvironment (TME) play a key role in molding tumor development by impacting the stromal and immune cell fractions, TME composition and activation. Hypoxia triggers a cascade of events that promote tumor growth, enhance resistance to the anti-tumor immune response and instigate tumor angiogenesis. During growth, the developing angiogenesis is pathological and gives rise to a haphazardly shaped and leaky tumor vasculature with abnormal properties. Accordingly, aberrantly vascularized TME induces immunosuppression and maintains a continuous hypoxic state. Normalizing the tumor vasculature to restore its vascular integrity, should hence enhance tumor perfusion, relieving hypoxia, and reshaping anti-tumor immunity. Emerging vascular normalization strategies have a great potential in achieving a stable normalization, resulting in mature and functional blood vessels that alleviate tumor hypoxia. Biomarkers enabling the detection and monitoring of tumor hypoxia could be highly advantageous in aiding the translation of novel normalization strategies to clinical application, alone, or in combination with other treatment modalities, such as immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raefa Abou Khouzam
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Klaudia Brodaczewska
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Filipiak
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.,Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nagwa Ahmed Zeinelabdin
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Stephanie Buart
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Faulty. De médecine Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Cezary Szczylik
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Department of Oncology, European Health Centre, Otwock, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Claudine Kieda
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.,Centre for Molecular Biophysics, UPR CNRS 4301, Orléans, France
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.,INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Faulty. De médecine Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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22
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Wei Z, Feng M, Wu Z, Shen S, Zhu D. Bcl9 Depletion Modulates Endothelial Cell in Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer Tumor. Front Oncol 2021; 10:603702. [PMID: 33552975 PMCID: PMC7856347 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.603702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor endothelial cells are an important part of the tumor microenvironment, and angiogenesis inhibitory therapy has shown potential in tumor treatment. However, which subtypes of tumor endothelial cells are distributed in tumors, what are the differences between tumor endothelial cells and normal endothelial cells, and what is the mechanism of angiogenesis inhibitory therapy at the histological level, are all need to be resolved urgently. Using single-cell mRNA sequencing, we analyzed 12 CT26 colon cancer samples from mice, and found that knockdown of the downstream factor BCL9 in the Wnt signaling pathway or inhibitor-mediated functional inhibition can modulate tumor endothelial cells at a relatively primitive stage, inhibiting their differentiation into further extracellular matrix construction and angiogenesis functions. Furthermore, we propose a BCL9-endo-Score based on the differential expression of cells related to different states of BCL9 functions. Using published data sets with normal endothelial cells, we found that this score can characterize endothelial cells at different stages of differentiation. Finally, in the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pan-cancer database, we found that BCL9-endo-Score can well predict the prognosis of diseases including colon cancer, kidney cancer and breast cancer, and identified the markers of these tumor subtypes, provide a basis for the prognosis prediction of patients with such types of tumor. Our data also contributed knowledge for tumor precision treatment with angiogenesis inhibitory therapy by targeting the Wnt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei Feng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongen Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuru Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Pharmacology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of ImmunoTherapeutics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute, Nantong, China
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23
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Delicate Role of PD-L1/PD-1 Axis in Blood Vessel Inflammatory Diseases: Current Insight and Future Significance. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218159. [PMID: 33142805 PMCID: PMC7663405 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint molecules are the antigen-independent generator of secondary signals that aid in maintaining the homeostasis of the immune system. The programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)/PD-1 axis is one among the most extensively studied immune-inhibitory checkpoint molecules, which delivers a negative signal for T cell activation by binding to the PD-1 receptor. The general attributes of PD-L1's immune-suppressive qualities and novel mechanisms on the barrier functions of vascular endothelium to regulate blood vessel-related inflammatory diseases are concisely reviewed. Though targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis has received immense recognition-the Nobel Prize in clinical oncology was awarded in the year 2018 for this discovery-the use of therapeutic modulating strategies for the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway in chronic inflammatory blood vessel diseases is still limited to experimental models. However, studies using clinical specimens that support the role of PD-1 and PD-L1 in patients with underlying atherosclerosis are also detailed. Of note, delicate balances in the expression levels of PD-L1 that are needed to preserve T cell immunity and to curtail acute as well as chronic infections in underlying blood vessel diseases are discussed. A significant link exists between altered lipid and glucose metabolism in different cells and the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 molecules, and its possible implications on vascular inflammation are justified. This review summarizes the most recent insights concerning the role of the PD-L1/PD-1 axis in vascular inflammation and, in addition, provides an overview exploring the novel therapeutic approaches and challenges of manipulating these immune checkpoint proteins, PD-1 and PD-L1, for suppressing blood vessel inflammation.
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