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Olbromski M, Mrozowska M, Piotrowska A, Smolarz B, Romanowicz H. The VISTA/VSIG3/PSGL-1 axis: crosstalk between immune effector cells and cancer cells in invasive ductal breast carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:136. [PMID: 38833004 PMCID: PMC11150347 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03701-w] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
A checkpoint protein called the V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is important for controlling immune responses. Immune cells that interact with VISTA have molecules, or receptors, known as VISTA receptors. Immune system activity can be modified by the interaction between VISTA and its receptors. Since targeting VISTA or its receptors may be beneficial in certain conditions, VISTA has been studied in relation to immunotherapy for cancer and autoimmune illnesses. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression levels and interactions between VISTA and its receptors, VSIG3 and PSGL-1, in breast cancer tissues. IHC analysis revealed higher levels of proteins within the VISTA/VSIG3/PSGL-1 axis in cancer tissues than in the reference samples (mastopathies). VISTA was found in breast cancer cells and intratumoral immune cells, with membranous and cytoplasmic staining patterns. VISTA was also linked with pathological grade and VSIG3 and PSGL-1 levels. Furthermore, we discovered that the knockdown of one axis member boosted the expression of the other partners. This highlights the significance of VISTA/VSIG3/PSGL-1 in tumor stroma and microenvironment remodeling. Our findings indicate the importance of the VISTA/VSIG3/PSGL-1 axis in the molecular biology of cancer cells and the immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Olbromski
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 6a, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Monika Mrozowska
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 6a, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Piotrowska
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 6a, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Beata Smolarz
- Department of Pathology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute, 93-338, Lodz, Poland
| | - Hanna Romanowicz
- Department of Pathology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute, 93-338, Lodz, Poland
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2
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Tinca AC, Szoke AR, Lazar BA, Szász EA, Tomuț AN, Sabău AH, Cocuz IG, Cotoi TC, Niculescu R, Chiorean DM, Ungureanu IA, Turdean SG, Cotoi OS. H-VISTA Immunohistochemistry Score Is Associated with Advanced Stages in Cutaneous and Ocular Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4335. [PMID: 38673920 PMCID: PMC11049914 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084335] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma represents a public health issue. One of the biggest goals of current research is to develop new therapeutic options for patients affected by this aggressive tumor. We conducted a retrospective study including 105 patients diagnosed with cutaneous and ocular melanoma, with stages varying from pT1a to pT4b and pT4e, respectively, and we performed immunohistochemistry reactions with the new potential prognostic marker, VISTA (V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation). We quantified the expression by applying the H-score adapted for VISTA and divided the patients, based on the median value, into groups that presented high, low, and negative expression. Therefore, we obtained 65 cases with positive expression for cutaneous melanoma and 8 cases with positive expression for ocular melanoma. Forty-one cases presented high expression in cutaneous melanoma and three cases presented high expression in ocular melanoma. In cutaneous melanoma, analytic statistics showed that VISTA expression was associated with a high Breslow index, high mitotic count, high Ki67 expression, and advanced clinicopathological stage. The majority of ocular melanoma cases demonstrating a positive reaction were classified as stage pT3, whereas earlier stages showed a negative reaction. Our findings underscore a significant correlation between VISTA expression and key prognostic factors in melanoma. Looking ahead, the prospect of future randomized studies holds promise in corroborating the clinical relevance of our findings. By further elucidating the intricate relationship between VISTA expression and melanoma progression, new treatment strategies could be found, improving patient outcomes in this challenging neoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Cătălina Tinca
- Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.C.T.); (A.H.S.); (R.N.); (D.M.C.)
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Andreea Raluca Szoke
- Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.C.T.); (A.H.S.); (R.N.); (D.M.C.)
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Bianca Andreea Lazar
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
| | - Emőke Andrea Szász
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.N.T.); (I.A.U.)
| | - Alexandru Nicușor Tomuț
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.N.T.); (I.A.U.)
| | - Adrian Horațiu Sabău
- Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.C.T.); (A.H.S.); (R.N.); (D.M.C.)
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Iuliu-Gabriel Cocuz
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Titiana-Cornelia Cotoi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania;
| | - Raluca Niculescu
- Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.C.T.); (A.H.S.); (R.N.); (D.M.C.)
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Diana Maria Chiorean
- Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.C.T.); (A.H.S.); (R.N.); (D.M.C.)
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
| | - Ioana Ancuța Ungureanu
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.N.T.); (I.A.U.)
| | - Sabin Gligore Turdean
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.N.T.); (I.A.U.)
| | - Ovidiu Simion Cotoi
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
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Thisted T, Smith FD, Mukherjee A, Kleschenko Y, Feng F, Jiang ZG, Eitas T, Malhotra K, Biesova Z, Onumajuru A, Finley F, Cifuentes A, Zhang G, Martin GH, Takeuchi Y, Thiam K, Schreiber RD, van der Horst EH. VISTA checkpoint inhibition by pH-selective antibody SNS-101 with optimized safety and pharmacokinetic profiles enhances PD-1 response. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2917. [PMID: 38575562 PMCID: PMC10995192 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47256-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
VISTA, an inhibitory myeloid-T-cell checkpoint, holds promise as a target for cancer immunotherapy. However, its effective targeting has been impeded by issues such as rapid clearance and cytokine release syndrome observed with previous VISTA antibodies. Here we demonstrate that SNS-101, a newly developed pH-selective VISTA antibody, addresses these challenges. Structural and biochemical analyses confirmed the pH-selectivity and unique epitope targeted by SNS-101. These properties confer favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles on SNS-101. In syngeneic tumor models utilizing human VISTA knock-in mice, SNS-101 shows in vivo efficacy when combined with a PD-1 inhibitor, modulates cytokine and chemokine signaling, and alters the tumor microenvironment. In summary, SNS-101, currently in Phase I clinical trials, emerges as a promising therapeutic biologic for a wide range of patients whose cancer is refractory to current immunotherapy regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Thisted
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - F Donelson Smith
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Yuliya Kleschenko
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Feng Feng
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Zhi-Gang Jiang
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Timothy Eitas
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Kanam Malhotra
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Zuzana Biesova
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Adejumoke Onumajuru
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Faith Finley
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Anokhi Cifuentes
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Guolin Zhang
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | | | - Yoshiko Takeuchi
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington Univ. School of Medicine, Mailstop 8118, 425 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Kader Thiam
- genOway, Technopark Gerland, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Robert D Schreiber
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington Univ. School of Medicine, Mailstop 8118, 425 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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Jlassi A, Rejaibi R, Manai M, Sahraoui G, Guerfali FZ, Charfi L, Mezlini A, Manai M, Mrad K, Doghri R. VISTA/CTLA4/PD1 coexpression on tumor cells confers a favorable immune microenvironment and better prognosis in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1352053. [PMID: 38634058 PMCID: PMC11022690 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1352053] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Immunotherapy by blocking immune checkpoints programmed death/ligand (PD1/PDL1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4(CTLA4) has emerged as new therapeutic targets in cancer. However, their efficacy has been limited due to resistance. A new- checkpoint V-domain Ig-containing suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) has appeared, but the use of its inhibition effect in combination with antibodies targeting PDL1/PD1and CTLA4 has not been reported in ovarian cancer. Methods In this study, we investigated the expressions of VISTA, CTLA4, and PDL1 using immunohistochemistry (IHC)on 135 Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE)tissue samples of High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSOC). VISTA, CTLA4, PDL1, PD1, CD8, CD4, and FOXP3 mRNA extracted from 429 patients with ovarian cancer in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was included as a validation cohort. Correlations between these checkpoints, tumor-infiltrating- lymphocytes (TILs), and survival were analyzed. Results and discussion CTLA4 was detectable in 87.3% of samples, VISTA in 64.7%, PD1 in 56.7%, and PDL1 in 48.1%. PDL1 was the only tested protein associated with an advanced stage (p=0.05). VISTA was associated with PDL1, PD1, and CTLA4 expressions (p=0.005, p=0.001, p=0.008, respectively), consistent with mRNA level analysis from the TCGA database. Univariate analyses showed only VISTA expression (p=0.04) correlated with overall survival (OS). Multivariate analyses showed that VISTA expression (p=0.01) and the coexpression of VISTA+/CTLA4+/PD1+ (p=0.05) were associated with better OS independently of the clinicopathological features. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the coexpression of the VISTA+/CTLA4+/PDL1+ and VISTA+/CTLA4+/PD1+ checkpoints on tumor cells (TCs)were associated with OS (p=0.02 and p<0.001; respectively). VISTA+/CTLA4+/PD1+ in TCs and CD4+/CD8+TILswere associated with better 2-yer OS. This correlation may refer to the role of VISTA as a receptor in the TCs and not in the immune cells. Thus, targeting combination therapy blocking VISTA, CTLA4, and PD1 could be a novel and attractive strategy for HGSOC treatment, considering the ambivalent role of VISTA in the HGSOC tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Jlassi
- Research Laboratory of Precision Medicine/Personalized Medicine and Oncology Investigation Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
- Department of Biology, Mycology, Pathologies and Biomarkers Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Rim Rejaibi
- Department of Biology, Mycology, Pathologies and Biomarkers Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Maroua Manai
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University of Tunis, El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Ghada Sahraoui
- Research Laboratory of Precision Medicine/Personalized Medicine and Oncology Investigation Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
- Department of Pathology, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Fatma Zahra Guerfali
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University of Tunis, El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Lamia Charfi
- Research Laboratory of Precision Medicine/Personalized Medicine and Oncology Investigation Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
- Department of Pathology, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amel Mezlini
- Medical Oncology Department, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Manai
- Department of Biology, Mycology, Pathologies and Biomarkers Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Karima Mrad
- Research Laboratory of Precision Medicine/Personalized Medicine and Oncology Investigation Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
- Department of Pathology, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Raoudha Doghri
- Research Laboratory of Precision Medicine/Personalized Medicine and Oncology Investigation Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
- Department of Pathology, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
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5
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Shirley CA, Chhabra G, Amiri D, Chang H, Ahmad N. Immune escape and metastasis mechanisms in melanoma: breaking down the dichotomy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1336023. [PMID: 38426087 PMCID: PMC10902921 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1336023] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most lethal neoplasms of the skin. Despite the revolutionary introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors, metastatic spread, and recurrence remain critical problems in resistant cases. Melanoma employs a multitude of mechanisms to subvert the immune system and successfully metastasize to distant organs. Concerningly, recent research also shows that tumor cells can disseminate early during melanoma progression and enter dormant states, eventually leading to metastases at a future time. Immune escape and metastasis have previously been viewed as separate phenomena; however, accumulating evidence is breaking down this dichotomy. Recent research into the progressive mechanisms of melanoma provides evidence that dedifferentiation similar to classical epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), genes involved in neural crest stem cell maintenance, and hypoxia/acidosis, are important factors simultaneously involved in immune escape and metastasis. The likeness between EMT and early dissemination, and differences, also become apparent in these contexts. Detailed knowledge of the mechanisms behind "dual drivers" simultaneously promoting metastatically inclined and immunosuppressive environments can yield novel strategies effective in disabling multiple facets of melanoma progression. Furthermore, understanding progression through these drivers may provide insight towards novel treatments capable of preventing recurrence arising from dormant dissemination or improving immunotherapy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl A Shirley
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Gagan Chhabra
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Deeba Amiri
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Hao Chang
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Nihal Ahmad
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
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Burke KP, Chaudhri A, Freeman GJ, Sharpe AH. The B7:CD28 family and friends: Unraveling coinhibitory interactions. Immunity 2024; 57:223-244. [PMID: 38354702 PMCID: PMC10889489 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Immune responses must be tightly regulated to ensure both optimal protective immunity and tolerance. Costimulatory pathways within the B7:CD28 family provide essential signals for optimal T cell activation and clonal expansion. They provide crucial inhibitory signals that maintain immune homeostasis, control resolution of inflammation, regulate host defense, and promote tolerance to prevent autoimmunity. Tumors and chronic pathogens can exploit these pathways to evade eradication by the immune system. Advances in understanding B7:CD28 pathways have ushered in a new era of immunotherapy with effective drugs to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and transplant rejection. Here, we discuss current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the coinhibitory functions of CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1:B7-1 and PD-L2:RGMb interactions and less studied B7 family members, including HHLA2, VISTA, BTNL2, and BTN3A1, as well as their overlapping and unique roles in regulating immune responses, and the therapeutic potential of these insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly P Burke
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Apoorvi Chaudhri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gordon J Freeman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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7
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Cao Y, Yu K, Zhang Z, Gu Y, Gu Y, Li W, Zhang W, Shen Z, Xu J, Qin J. Blockade of V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation reprograms tumour-associated macrophages and improves efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor in gastric cancer. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1578. [PMID: 38356419 PMCID: PMC10867598 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1578] [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: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS In gastric cancer, the response rate of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor is far from satisfactory, indicating additional nonredundant pathways might hamper antitumour immunity. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) has been reported in several malignancies as a novel immune-checkpoint. Nevertheless, the role of VISTA in gastric cancer still remains obscure. Our purpose is to explore the clinical significance and potential mechanism of VISTA in affecting gastric cancer patients' survival and immunotherapeutic responsiveness. METHODS Our study recruited eight independent cohorts with a total of 1403 gastric cancer patients. Immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunofluorescence, flow cytometry or intracellular flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, magnetic-activated cell sorting, smart-seq2, in vitro cell co-culture and ex vivo tumour inhibition assays were applied to investigate the clinical significance and potential mechanism of VISTA in gastric cancer. RESULTS VISTA was predominantly expressed on tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), and indicated poor clinical outcomes and inferior immunotherapeutic responsiveness. VISTA+ TAMs showed a mixed phenotype. Co-culture of TAMs and CD8+ T cells indicated that VISTA+ TAMs attenuated effective function of CD8+ T cells. Blockade of VISTA reprogrammed TAMs to a proinflammatory phenotype, reactivated CD8+ T cells and promoted apoptosis of tumour cells. Moreover, blockade of VISTA could also enhance the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor, suggesting that blockade of VISTA might synergise with PD-1 inhibitor in gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS Our data revealed that VISTA was an immune-checkpoint associated with immunotherapeutic resistance. Blockade of VISTA reprogrammed TAMs, promoted T-cell-mediated antitumour immunity, and enhanced efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor, which might have implications in the treatment of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Cao
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Kuan Yu
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zihao Zhang
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yun Gu
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yichao Gu
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wandi Li
- Department of ImmunologySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Weijuan Zhang
- Department of ImmunologySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zhenbin Shen
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jiejie Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jing Qin
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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8
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Rezagholizadeh F, Tajik F, Talebi M, Taha SR, Shariat Zadeh M, Farhangnia P, Hosseini HS, Nazari A, Mollazadeh Ghomi S, Kamrani Mousavi SM, Haeri Moghaddam N, Khorramdelazad H, Joghataei MT, Safari E. Unraveling the potential of CD8, CD68, and VISTA as diagnostic and prognostic markers in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1283364. [PMID: 38357542 PMCID: PMC10865497 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1283364] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pancreatic cancer is a truculent disease with limited treatment options and a grim prognosis. Immunotherapy has shown promise in treating various types of cancer, but its effectiveness in pancreatic cancer has been lacking. As a result, it is crucial to identify markers associated with immunological pathways in order to improve the treatment outcomes for this deadly cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic significance of three markers, CD8, CD68, and VISTA, in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common subtype of pancreatic cancer. Methods We analyzed gene expression data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database using bioinformatics tools. We also utilized the STRING online tool and Funrich software to study the protein-protein interactions and transcription factors associated with CD8, CD68, and VISTA. In addition, tissue microarray (TMA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining were performed on 228 samples of PDAC tissue and 10 samples of normal pancreatic tissue to assess the expression levels of the markers. We then correlated these expression levels with the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients and evaluated their survival rates. Results The analysis of the GEO data revealed slightly elevated levels of VISTA in PDAC samples compared to normal tissues. However, there was a significant increase in CD68 expression and a notable reduction in CD8A expression in pancreatic cancer. Further investigation identified potential protein-protein interactions and transcription factors associated with these markers. The IHC staining of PDAC tissue samples showed an increased expression of VISTA, CD68, and CD8A in pancreatic cancer tissues. Moreover, we found correlations between the expression levels of these markers and certain clinicopathological features of the patients. Additionally, the survival analysis revealed that high expression of CD8 was associated with better disease-specific survival and progression-free survival in PDAC patients. Conclusion These findings highlight the potential of CD8, CD68, and VISTA as diagnostic and prognostic indicators in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Rezagholizadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tajik
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Talebi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Human and Animal Cell Bank, Iranian Biological Resource Center (IBRC), Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Reza Taha
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Pooya Farhangnia
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Board for Transplantation and Cell-Based Therapeutics (ImmunoTACT), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamideh Sadat Hosseini
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aram Nazari
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shabnam Mollazadeh Ghomi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Board for Transplantation and Cell-Based Therapeutics (ImmunoTACT), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyede Mahtab Kamrani Mousavi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloofar Haeri Moghaddam
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Khorramdelazad
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Joghataei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Safari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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9
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Vesely MD, Kidacki M, Gaule P, Gupta S, Chan NNN, Han X, Yeung JT, Chen L. Immune Inhibitory Molecule PD-1 Homolog (VISTA) Colocalizes with CD11b Myeloid Cells in Melanoma and Is Associated with Poor Outcomes. J Invest Dermatol 2024; 144:106-115.e4. [PMID: 37562584 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.07.008] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Tumors evade immunity through the overexpression of immune inhibitory molecules in the tumor microenvironment such as PD-L1/B7-H1. An immune inhibitory molecule named PD-1 homolog (also known as V-domain Ig-containing suppressor of T cell activation [VISTA]) functions to control both T cells and myeloid cells. Current clinical trials using anti-VISTA-blocking agents for treatment of cancer are ongoing. We sought to determine the extent of VISTA expression in primary cutaneous melanomas (n = 190), identify the critical cell types expressing VISTA, and correlate its expression with PD-L1 expression using multiplexed quantitative immunofluorescence. Within the tumor subcompartments, VISTA is most highly expressed on CD11b myeloid cells, and PD-L1 is most highly expressed on CD68 myeloid cells in our melanoma cohort. There is little correlation between VISTA and PD-L1 expression intensity, suggesting that individual tumors have distinct immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. High levels of VISTA expression on CD11b myeloid cells but not PD-L1 expression were associated with greater melanoma recurrence and greater all-cause mortality. Our findings suggest that cell-specific VISTA expression may be a negative prognostic biomarker for melanoma and a future potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Vesely
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
| | - Michal Kidacki
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Patricia Gaule
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Swati Gupta
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nay Nwe Nyein Chan
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Xue Han
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA; Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jacky T Yeung
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lieping Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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10
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Bertin B, Zugman M, Schvartsman G. The Current Treatment Landscape of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma and Future Directions. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5808. [PMID: 38136353 PMCID: PMC10741667 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma is expected to increase globally. New treatment options for this malignancy are eagerly awaited to improve the survival and quality of life of patients. The present article highlights the results of recent advances in this field, analyzing data from several relevant trials. The heterogeneous tumor microenvironment and biology, together with the low mutational burden, pose a challenge for treating such tumors. So far, no single biomarker has been soundly correlated with targeted therapy development; thus, combination strategies are often required to improve outcomes. Locally applied vaccines, the expansion of genetically engineered immune cell populations such as T cells, the blockage of immune checkpoints that inhibit anti-tumorigenic responses and chemoimmunotherapy are among the most promising options expected to change the mesothelioma treatment landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Bertin
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05651-901, Brazil;
| | - Miguel Zugman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05651-901, Brazil;
| | - Gustavo Schvartsman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05651-901, Brazil;
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11
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Wang B, Ou Z, Zhong W, Huang L, Liao W, Sheng Y, Guo Z, Chen J, Yang W, Chen K, Huang X, Yang T, Lin T, Huang J. Effective Antitumor Immunity Can Be Triggered by Targeting VISTA in Combination with a TLR3-Specific Adjuvant. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:1656-1670. [PMID: 37847894 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment is often associated with accumulation of intratumoral inhibitory macrophages. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) is a nonredundant immune checkpoint that can induce both T-cell and myeloid-cell immunosuppression. In this study, we found that high levels of VISTA+ immune cells were associated with advanced stage bladder cancer and predicted poor survival in patients. A combination of high infiltration of VISTA+ immune cells and PD-L1+ immune cells or PD-1+ T cells predicted the worst survival. Flow cytometry and multiplex immunofluorescence analyses confirmed that VISTA expression was higher in macrophages than in T cells or neutrophils, and only VISTA+CD163+ macrophage density predicted poor prognosis in patients with bladder cancer. Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are known to trigger the innate immune response in macrophages. We found that the VISTA-specific mAb 13F3 augmented the ability of a TLR3-specific adjuvant to induce macrophage activation in vitro. In the MB49 syngeneic mouse model of bladder cancer, treatment with 13F3 curbed tumor growth and prolonged survival when combined with a TLR3-specific adjuvant. The combination treatment reduced the intratumoral frequency of CD206+ anti-inflammatory macrophages and levels of the immunosuppressive molecule TGFβ1, but it upregulated expression of immunostimulatory molecules (Ifna, Ifnb, and Trail) and increased the CD8+ T cell/regulatory T-cell ratio. These findings indicate that elevated VISTA expression in immune cells, particularly macrophages, is associated with an unfavorable prognosis in patients with bladder cancer and suggest that targeting VISTA in combination with a TLR3-specific adjuvant has translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Ziwei Ou
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Wenlong Zhong
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Lin Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Wenjian Liao
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yiyu Sheng
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Zhixing Guo
- Department of Ultrasound, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Junyu Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Wenjuan Yang
- Department of Hematology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Ke Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaodong Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Tenghao Yang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Tianxin Lin
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jian Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
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12
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Feng H, Chen W, Zhang C. Identification of lactylation gene CALML5 and its correlated lncRNAs in cutaneous melanoma by machine learning. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35999. [PMID: 38013352 PMCID: PMC10681499 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As a product of glycolysis, lactate contributes to cancer proliferation, immunosuppression, and metastasis via histone lactylation. However, the relationship between cutaneous melanoma (CM) and lactylation-associated genes and lncRNAs has remained unclear. In this study, 4 mechanism learning algorithms and integrated bioinformatic analyses were employed to identify the core lactylation-associated genes and lncRNAs. Subsequently, 2 risk signatures based on the hub lactylation-associated genes and lncRNAs were constructed for CM patients. As a result, CALML5 was identified as a core lactylation-associated gene in CM, and its expression was found to be associated with patients survival and immune infiltration, suggesting its relevance as a potential therapeutic target. Additionally, this study provided clarification on hub CALML5-associated lncRNAs in CM, offering insights into their roles in the disease. Meanwhile, 2 identified risk signatures were both strongly linked to the prognosis and cancer growth of CM, underscoring their potential as valuable prognostic indicators. Furthermore, mechanistic analyses suggested a significant association between the risk signature and the immune microenvironment in CM, highlighting potential immune-related implications in disease progression. In conclusion, we propose that lactylation-associated genes and lncRNAs hold promise as potential targets in CM. Moreover, our findings revealed a significant correlation between lactylation and the immune microenvironment, providing crucial insights for guiding individualized treatment strategies in CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailiang Feng
- Department of Stomatology, Linping Campus, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Stomatology, Linping Campus, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Linping Campus, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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13
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Bangayan NJ, Wang L, Burton Sojo G, Noguchi M, Cheng D, Ta L, Gunn D, Mao Z, Liu S, Yin Q, Riedinger M, Li K, Wu AM, Stoyanova T, Witte ON. Dual-inhibitory domain iCARs improve the efficiency of the AND-NOT gate CAR T strategy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2312374120. [PMID: 37963244 PMCID: PMC10666036 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312374120] [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: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cell therapy has shown clinical success in treating hematological malignancies, but its treatment of solid tumors has been limited. One major challenge is on-target, off-tumor toxicity, where CAR T cells also damage normal tissues that express the targeted antigen. To reduce this detrimental side-effect, Boolean-logic gates like AND-NOT gates have utilized an inhibitory CAR (iCAR) to specifically curb CAR T cell activity at selected nonmalignant tissue sites. However, the strategy seems inefficient, requiring high levels of iCAR and its target antigen for inhibition. Using a TROP2-targeting iCAR with a single PD1 inhibitory domain to inhibit a CEACAM5-targeting CAR (CEACAR), we observed that the inefficiency was due to a kinetic delay in iCAR inhibition of cytotoxicity. To improve iCAR efficiency, we modified three features of the iCAR-the avidity, the affinity, and the intracellular signaling domains. Increasing the avidity but not the affinity of the iCAR led to significant reductions in the delay. iCARs containing twelve different inhibitory signaling domains were screened for improved inhibition, and three domains (BTLA, LAIR-1, and SIGLEC-9) each suppressed CAR T function but did not enhance inhibitory kinetics. When inhibitory domains of LAIR-1 or SIGLEC-9 were combined with PD-1 into a single dual-inhibitory domain iCAR (DiCARs) and tested with the CEACAR, inhibition efficiency improved as evidenced by a significant reduction in the inhibitory delay. These data indicate that a delicate balance between CAR and iCAR signaling strength and kinetics must be achieved to regulate AND-NOT gate CAR T cell selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathanael J. Bangayan
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Giselle Burton Sojo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Miyako Noguchi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Donghui Cheng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Lisa Ta
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Donny Gunn
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Zhiyuan Mao
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Shiqin Liu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Qingqing Yin
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Mireille Riedinger
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Keyu Li
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Anna M. Wu
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA91010
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA91010
| | - Tanya Stoyanova
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Urology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Owen N. Witte
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
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14
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Roy D, Gilmour C, Patnaik S, Wang LL. Combinatorial blockade for cancer immunotherapy: targeting emerging immune checkpoint receptors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1264327. [PMID: 37928556 PMCID: PMC10620683 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1264327] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The differentiation, survival, and effector function of tumor-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T cells lie at the center of antitumor immunity. Due to the lack of proper costimulation and the abundant immunosuppressive mechanisms, tumor-specific T cells show a lack of persistence and exhausted and dysfunctional phenotypes. Multiple coinhibitory receptors, such as PD-1, CTLA-4, VISTA, TIGIT, TIM-3, and LAG-3, contribute to dysfunctional CTLs and failed antitumor immunity. These coinhibitory receptors are collectively called immune checkpoint receptors (ICRs). Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting these ICRs have become the cornerstone for cancer immunotherapy as they have established new clinical paradigms for an expanding range of previously untreatable cancers. Given the nonredundant yet convergent molecular pathways mediated by various ICRs, combinatorial immunotherapies are being tested to bring synergistic benefits to patients. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of several emerging ICRs, including VISTA, TIGIT, TIM-3, and LAG-3, and the preclinical and clinical data supporting combinatorial strategies to improve existing ICI therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dia Roy
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Cassandra Gilmour
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Sachin Patnaik
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Li Lily Wang
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
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15
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Duval KEA, Tavakkoli AD, Kheirollah A, Soderholm HE, Demidenko E, Lines JL, Croteau W, Zhang SC, Wagner RJ, Aulwes E, Noelle RJ, Hoopes PJ. Enhancement of Radiation Therapy through Blockade of the Immune Checkpoint, V-domain Ig Suppressor of T Cell Activation (VISTA), in Melanoma and Adenocarcinoma Murine Models. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13742. [PMID: 37762046 PMCID: PMC10530750 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813742] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Radiation therapy (RT) has recently demonstrated promise at stimulating an enhanced immune response. The recent success of immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors, CART cells, and other immune modulators, affords new opportunities for combination with radiation. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether and to what extent blockade of VISTA, an immune checkpoint, can potentiate the tumor control ability of radiation therapy. Our study is novel in that it is the first comparison of two VISTA-blocking methods (antibody inhibition and genetic knockout) in combination with RT. VISTA was blocked either through genetic knockout (KO) or an inhibitory antibody and combined with RT in two syngeneic murine flank tumor models (B16 and MC38). Selected mRNA, immune cell infiltration, and tumor growth delay were used to assess the biological effects. When combined with a single 15Gy radiation dose, VISTA blockade via genetic knockout in the B16 model and via anti-VISTA antibodies in the MC38 model significantly improved survival compared to RT alone by an average of 5.5 days and 6.3 days, respectively (p < 0.05). The gene expression data suggest that the mechanism behind the enhanced tumor control is primarily a result of increased apoptosis and immune-mediated cytotoxicity. VISTA blockade significantly enhances the anti-tumor effect of a single dose of 15Gy radiation through increased expression and stimulation of cell-mediated apoptosis pathways. These results suggest that VISTA is a biologically relevant immune promoter that has the potential to enhance the efficacy of a large single radiation dose in a synergic manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla E. A. Duval
- Department of Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (K.E.A.D.); (A.D.T.); (A.K.); (H.E.S.); (S.C.Z.); (E.A.)
| | - Armin D. Tavakkoli
- Department of Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (K.E.A.D.); (A.D.T.); (A.K.); (H.E.S.); (S.C.Z.); (E.A.)
| | - Alireza Kheirollah
- Department of Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (K.E.A.D.); (A.D.T.); (A.K.); (H.E.S.); (S.C.Z.); (E.A.)
| | - Haille E. Soderholm
- Department of Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (K.E.A.D.); (A.D.T.); (A.K.); (H.E.S.); (S.C.Z.); (E.A.)
| | - Eugene Demidenko
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA;
| | - Janet L. Lines
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (J.L.L.); (R.J.N.)
| | - Walburga Croteau
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (J.L.L.); (R.J.N.)
| | - Samuel C. Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (K.E.A.D.); (A.D.T.); (A.K.); (H.E.S.); (S.C.Z.); (E.A.)
| | - Robert J. Wagner
- Department of Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (K.E.A.D.); (A.D.T.); (A.K.); (H.E.S.); (S.C.Z.); (E.A.)
| | - Ethan Aulwes
- Department of Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (K.E.A.D.); (A.D.T.); (A.K.); (H.E.S.); (S.C.Z.); (E.A.)
| | - Randolph J. Noelle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (J.L.L.); (R.J.N.)
| | - P. Jack Hoopes
- Department of Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (K.E.A.D.); (A.D.T.); (A.K.); (H.E.S.); (S.C.Z.); (E.A.)
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16
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Liu N, Yan M, Tao Q, Wu J, Chen J, Chen X, Peng C. Inhibition of TCA cycle improves the anti-PD-1 immunotherapy efficacy in melanoma cells via ATF3-mediated PD-L1 expression and glycolysis. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e007146. [PMID: 37678921 PMCID: PMC10496672 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007146] [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] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND anti-Programmed Death-1 (anti-PD-1) immunotherapy has shown promising manifestation in improving the survival rate of patients with advanced melanoma, with its efficacy closely linked to Programmed cell death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. However, low clinical efficacy and drug resistance remain major challenges. Although the metabolic alterations from tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to glycolysis is a hallmark in cancer cells, accumulating evidence demonstrating TCA cycle plays critical roles in both tumorigenesis and treatment. METHODS The plasma levels of metabolites in patients with melanoma were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The effect of pyruvate dehydrogenase subunit 1 (PDHA1) and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH) on immunotherapy was performed by B16F10 tumor-bearing mice. Flow cytometry analyzed the immune microenvironment. RNA sequencing analyzed the global transcriptome alterations in CPI613-treated melanoma cells. The regulation of PD-L1 and glycolysis by PDHA1/OGDH-ATF3 signaling were confirmed by Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blotting, dual-luciferase reporter gene, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-quantitative PCR and Seahorse assay. The relationship between PDHA1/OGDH-ATF3-glycolysis and the efficacy of melanoma anti-PD-1 immunotherapy was verified in the clinical database and single-cell RNA-seq (ScRNA-Seq). RESULTS In our study, the results showed that significant alterations in metabolites associated with glycolysis and the TCA cycle in plasma of patients with melanoma through NMR technique, and then, PDHA1 and OGDH, key enzymes for regulation TCA cycle, were remarkable raised in melanoma and negatively related to anti-PD-1 efficacy through clinical database analysis as well as ScRNA-Seq. Inhibition of PDHA1 and OGDH by either shRNA or pharmacological inhibitor by CPI613 dramatically attenuated melanoma progression as well as improved the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-1 against melanoma. Most importantly, suppression of TCA cycle remarkably raises PD-L1 expression and glycolysis flux through AMPK-CREB-ATF3 signaling. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results demonstrated the role of TCA cycle in immune checkpoint blockade and provided a novel combination strategy for anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Mingjie Yan
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qian Tao
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Cong Peng
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Kamali AN, Bautista JM, Eisenhut M, Hamedifar H. Immune checkpoints and cancer immunotherapies: insights into newly potential receptors and ligands. Ther Adv Vaccines Immunother 2023; 11:25151355231192043. [PMID: 37662491 PMCID: PMC10469281 DOI: 10.1177/25151355231192043] [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: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint markers and immune checkpoint inhibitors have been increasingly identified and developed as potential immunotherapeutic targets in various human cancers. Despite valuable efforts to discover novel immune checkpoints and their ligands, the precise roles of their therapeutic functions, as well as the broad identification of their counterpart receptors, remain to be addressed. In this context, it has been suggested that various putative checkpoint receptors can be induced upon activation. In the tumor microenvironment, T cells, as crucial immune response against malignant diseases as well as other immune central effector cells, such as natural killer cells, are regulated via co-stimulatory or co-inhibitory signals from immune or tumor cells. Studies have shown that exposure of T cells to tumor antigens upregulates the expression of inhibitory checkpoint receptors, leading to T-cell dysfunction or exhaustion. Although targeting immune checkpoint regulators has shown relative clinical efficacy in some tumor types, most trials in the field of cancer immunotherapies have revealed unsatisfactory results due to de novo or adaptive resistance in cancer patients. To overcome these obstacles, combinational therapies with newly discovered inhibitory molecules or combined blockage of several checkpoints provide a rationale for further research. Moreover, precise identification of their receptors counterparts at crucial checkpoints is likely to promise effective therapies. In this review, we examine the prospects for the application of newly emerging checkpoints, such as T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3, lymphocyte activation gene-3, T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA), new B7 family proteins, and B- and T-cell lymphocyte attenuator, in association with immunotherapy of malignancies. In addition, their clinical and biological significance is discussed, including their expression in various human cancers, along with their roles in T-cell-mediated immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali N. Kamali
- CinnaGen Medical Biotechnology Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Simin Dasht Industrial Area, Karaj, Iran
- CinnaGen Research and Production Co., Alborz 3165933155, Iran
| | - José M. Bautista
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael Eisenhut
- Department of Pediatrics, Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Luton, UK
| | - Haleh Hamedifar
- CinnaGen Medical Biotechnology Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
- CinnaGen Research and Production Co., Alborz, Iran
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18
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Issam Salah NEI, Marnissi F, Lakhdar A, Karkouri M, ElBelhadji M, Badou A. The immune checkpoint VISTA is associated with prognosis in patients with malignant uveal melanoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1225140. [PMID: 37662962 PMCID: PMC10471992 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1225140] [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: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare yet deadly tumor. It is known for its high metastatic potential, which makes it one of the most aggressive and lethal cancers. Recently, immune checkpoints such as Programmed cell Death protein-1 (PD1) and Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte-Associated significantly increasing patient survival in multiple human cancers, especially cutaneous melanoma. However, patients with UMs were excluded from these studies because of their molecular characteristics, which tend to be widely different from those of cutaneous melanoma. This study aimed to analyze the expression of V domain Ig Suppressor T-cell Activation (VISTA), a novel immune checkpoint, to evaluate its prognosis significance and its correlation with PD1 and CTLA-4. Methods Evaluation of VISTA, CTLA-4, and PD1 expression was performed through TCGA database analysis and immunohistochemistry using two independent cohorts with primary malignant UM. Results and discussion Our results showed that VISTA expression was associated with tumor aggressiveness, T cell exhaustion, and the shortest median overall survival among patients. Surprisingly, PD1 protein expression was negative in all patients, whereas CTLA-4 expression was high in patients with advanced stages. Our findings suggest that VISTA may be a prognostic marker and an attractive treatment strategy for immunotherapy in patients with UM. Exploring its expression profile may predict response to immunotherapy and may lead to the improvement of precision therapy in malignant uveal melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour el Imane Issam Salah
- Laboratory of Research on Neurologic, Neurosensorial Diseases and Handicap, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
- Immuno-Genetics and Human Pathology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Farida Marnissi
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, University Hospital Center (CHU) Ibn Rochd and Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Abdelhakim Lakhdar
- Laboratory of Research on Neurologic, Neurosensorial Diseases and Handicap, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mehdi Karkouri
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, University Hospital Center (CHU) Ibn Rochd and Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mohamed ElBelhadji
- Department of Adults Ophthalmology, 20 August Hospital 1953, CHU Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Abdallah Badou
- Immuno-Genetics and Human Pathology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
- Mohammed VI Center for Research & Innovation, Rabat, Morocco, Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health, Casablanca, Morocco
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19
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Yadav R, Hakobyan N, Wang JC. Role of Next Generation Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) Therapy in Philadelphia Negative Classic Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN): Review of the Literature. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12502. [PMID: 37569880 PMCID: PMC10420159 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512502] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), which include essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and myelofibrosis (MF), are enduring and well-known conditions. These disorders are characterized by the abnormal growth of one or more hematopoietic cell lineages in the body's stem cells, leading to the enlargement of organs and the manifestation of constitutional symptoms. Numerous studies have provided evidence indicating that the pathogenesis of these diseases involves the dysregulation of the immune system and the presence of chronic inflammation, both of which are significant factors. Lately, the treatment of cancer including hematological malignancy has progressed on the agents aiming for the immune system, cytokine environment, immunotherapy agents, and targeted immune therapy. Immune checkpoints are the molecules that regulate T cell function in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The first line of primary immune checkpoints are programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (ICIT) exerts its anti-tumor actions by blocking the inhibitory pathways in T cells and has reformed cancer treatment. Despite the impressive clinical success of ICIT, tumor internal resistance poses a challenge for oncologists leading to a low response rate in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. A Phase II trial on nivolumab for patients with post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis, primary myelofibrosis, or post-polycythemia myelofibrosis was performed (Identifier: NCT02421354). This trial tested the efficacy of a PD-1 blockade agent, namely nivolumab, but was terminated prematurely due to adverse events and lack of efficacy. A multicenter, Phase II, single-arm open-label study was conducted including pembrolizumab in patients with primary thrombocythemia, post-essential thrombocythemia or post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis that were ineligible for or were previously treated with ruxolitinib. This study showed that pembrolizumab treatment did not have many adverse events, but there were no pertinent clinical responses hence it was terminated after the first stage was completed. To avail the benefits from immunotherapy, the paradigm has shifted to new immune checkpoints in the TME such as lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3), T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), V-domain immunoglobulin-containing suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), and human endogenous retrovirus-H long terminal repeat-associating protein 2 (HHLA2) forming the basis of next-generation ICIT. The primary aim of this article is to underscore and elucidate the significance of next-generation ICIT in the context of MPN. Specifically, we aim to explore the potential of monoclonal antibodies as targeted immunotherapy and the development of vaccines targeting specific MPN epitopes, with the intent of augmenting tumor-related immune responses. It is anticipated that these therapeutic modalities rooted in immunotherapy will not only expand but also enhance the existing treatment regimens for patients afflicted with MPN. Preliminary studies from our laboratory showed over-expressed MDSC and over-expressed VISTA in MDSC, and in progenitor and immune cells directing the need for more clinical trials using next-generation ICI in the treatment of MPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Yadav
- Department of Internal Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11212, USA; (R.Y.); (N.H.)
| | - Narek Hakobyan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11212, USA; (R.Y.); (N.H.)
| | - Jen-Chin Wang
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11212, USA
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20
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Mukherjee AG, Wanjari UR, Gopalakrishnan AV, Bradu P, Biswas A, Ganesan R, Renu K, Dey A, Vellingiri B, El Allali A, Alsamman AM, Zayed H, George Priya Doss C. Evolving strategies and application of proteins and peptide therapeutics in cancer treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 163:114832. [PMID: 37150032 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Several proteins and peptides have therapeutic potential and can be used for cancer therapy. By binding to cell surface receptors and other indicators uniquely linked with or overexpressed on tumors compared to healthy tissue, protein biologics enhance the active targeting of cancer cells, as opposed to the passive targeting of cells by conventional small-molecule chemotherapeutics. This study focuses on peptide medications that exist to slow or stop tumor growth and the spread of cancer, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of peptides in cancer treatment. As an alternative to standard chemotherapy, peptides that selectively kill cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue are developing. A mountain of clinical evidence supports the efficacy of peptide-based cancer vaccines. Since a single treatment technique may not be sufficient to produce favourable results in the fight against cancer, combination therapy is emerging as an effective option to generate synergistic benefits. One example of this new area is the use of anticancer peptides in combination with nonpeptidic cytotoxic drugs or the combination of immunotherapy with conventional therapies like radiation and chemotherapy. This review focuses on the different natural and synthetic peptides obtained and researched. Discoveries, manufacture, and modifications of peptide drugs, as well as their contemporary applications, are summarized in this review. We also discuss the benefits and difficulties of potential advances in therapeutic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Goutam Mukherjee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India
| | - Uddesh Ramesh Wanjari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India.
| | - Pragya Bradu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India
| | - Antara Biswas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India
| | - Raja Ganesan
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, South Korea
| | - Kaviyarasi Renu
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077 Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073, India
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine/Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab (CUPB), Bathinda 151401, Punjab, India
| | - Achraf El Allali
- African Genome Center, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco.
| | - Alsamman M Alsamman
- Department of Genome Mapping, Molecular Genetics, and Genome Mapping Laboratory, Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
| | - Hatem Zayed
- Department of Biomedical Sciences College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - C George Priya Doss
- Department of Integrative Biology, School of BioSciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
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Rocco D, Della Gravara L, Battiloro C, Palazzolo G, Gridelli C. Recently approved and emerging monoclonal antibody immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2023; 23:261-268. [PMID: 36803090 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2023.2183116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION CTLA-4/PD-1/PD-L1- directed immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are one of the standard therapies for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, some new classes of monoclonal antibodies are emerging as promising therapies for advanced NSCLC. AREAS COVERED Therefore, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the recently approved as well as emerging monoclonal antibody immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. EXPERT OPINION Further and larger studies will be needed to explore the promising emerging data on new ICIs. Future phase III trials could allow us to properly assess the role of each immune checkpoints in the wider context of the tumor microenvironment and thus the best new ICIs to use, the best approach and the most effective subset of patients to select.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Rocco
- Department of Pulmonary Oncology, AORN dei Colli Monaldi, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Della Gravara
- Department of Precision Medicine, Università degli studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Ciro Battiloro
- Department of Pulmonary Oncology, AORN dei Colli Monaldi, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Cesare Gridelli
- Division of Medical Oncology, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino, Italy
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22
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Liu N, Zhang J, Yan M, Chen L, Wu J, Tao Q, Yan B, Chen X, Peng C. Supplementation with α-ketoglutarate improved the efficacy of anti-PD1 melanoma treatment through epigenetic modulation of PD-L1. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:170. [PMID: 36854755 PMCID: PMC9974984 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05692-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Patients with advanced melanoma have shown an improved outlook after anti-PD1 therapy, but the low response rate restricts clinical benefit; therefore, enhancing anti-PD1 therapeutic efficacy remains a major challenge. Here, our findings showed a significantly increased abundance of α-KG in healthy controls, anti-PD1-sensitive melanoma-bearing mice, and anti-PD1-sensitive melanoma patients; moreover, supplementation with α-KG enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD1 immunotherapy and increased PD-L1 expression in melanoma tumors via STAT1/3. We also found that supplementation with α-KG significantly increased the activity of the methylcytosine dioxygenases TET2/3, which led to an increased 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) level in the PD-L1 promoter. As a consequence, STAT1/3 binding to the PD-L1 promoter was stabilized to upregulate PD-L1 expression. Importantly, single-cell sequencing of preclinical samples and analysis of clinical data revealed that TET2/3-STAT1/3-CD274 signaling was associated with sensitivity to anti-PD1 treatment in melanoma. Taken together, our results provide novel insight into α-KG's function in anti-PD1 treatment of melanoma and suggest supplementation with α-KG as a novel promising strategy to improve the efficacy of anti-PD1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Furong Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jianglin Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, 2nd Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Changsha, China
| | - Mingjie Yan
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lihui Chen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Furong Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qian Tao
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Furong Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bei Yan
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Furong Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Furong Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Cong Peng
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Furong Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Human Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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VISTA H-Score Is Significantly Associated with a 5-Year DFS Rate in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12041619. [PMID: 36836154 PMCID: PMC9967884 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12041619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer in the world. Despite its prevalence, it is often recognized in advanced stages (III or IV) when it has already spread to local lymph nodes. In this study, we investigate the V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) as a potential prognostic factor in OSCC. Tissue samples were collected from 71 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients to determine protein expression levels (using immunochemistry and the semi-quantitative H-score method). Moreover, RT-qPCR was additionally performed in 35 patients. Clinical factors in our cohort study had no impact on VISTA expression. However, VISTA expression is largely correlated with Il-33 levels in tumor cells and lymphocytes and with PD-L1 in tumor cells. The impact of VISTA expression on overall survival (OS) is rather limited, but in the case of a 5-year survival rate, a significant association has been proven. VISTA seems to be a rather weak clinicopathological marker but needs further evaluation in the context of survival. In addition, the potential of VISTA combination with Il-33 or PD-L1 should be further investigated in OSCC.
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Rezouki I, Zohair B, Ssi SA, Karkouri M, Razzouki I, Elkarroumi M, Badou A. High VISTA expression is linked to a potent epithelial-mesenchymal transition and is positively correlated with PD1 in breast cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1154631. [PMID: 37152039 PMCID: PMC10157209 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1154631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common type of tumor in women worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly anti-PDL1, have shown promise as a therapeutic approach for managing this disease. However, this type of immunotherapy still fails to work for some patients, leading researchers to explore alternative immune checkpoint targets. The Ig suppressor of T cell activation domain V (VISTA) has emerged as a novel immune checkpoint that delivers inhibitory signals to T cells and has demonstrated encouraging results in various cancers. Our study investigated the association of VISTA expression with clinicopathological parameters in breast cancer patients, its involvement in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT) process, and its correlation with PD1 expression. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that VISTA was associated with lobular and metaplastic histological type, tumor size, lymph node status, ER and PR negative status, and the TNBC molecular subtype. Furthermore, VISTA expression was strongly associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Immunohistochemistry analysis corroborated the transcriptomic results, indicating that VISTA was expressed in most immune cells (94%) and was significantly expressed in breast cancer tumor cells compared to matched adjacent tissues. Our study also showed for the first time that VISTA overexpression in breast cancer cells could be associated with the EMT process. Additionally, we identified a positive correlation between VISTA and PD-1 expression. Together, these results highlight the immunosuppressive effect of VISTA in breast cancer patients and suggest that bi-specific targeting of VISTA and PD-1 in combination therapy could be beneficial for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibtissam Rezouki
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Human Pathologies, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Basma Zohair
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Human Pathologies, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Saadia Ait Ssi
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Human Pathologies, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mehdi Karkouri
- Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, University Hospital Center (CHU) Ibn Rochd, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ibtissam Razzouki
- Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, University Hospital Center (CHU) Ibn Rochd, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Elkarroumi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Center (CHU) Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Abdallah Badou
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Human Pathologies, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
- Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation, Rabat, Morocco, and Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health, Casablanca, Morocco
- *Correspondence: Abdallah Badou, ; ;
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25
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Zhang Q, Geng M, Li K, Gao H, Jiao X, Ai K, Wei X, Yang J. TGF-β1 suppresses the T-cell response in teleost fish by initiating Smad3- and Foxp3-mediated transcriptional networks. J Biol Chem 2022; 299:102843. [PMID: 36581209 PMCID: PMC9860442 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102843] [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: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) can suppress the activation, proliferation, and function of many T-cell subsets, protecting organisms from inflammatory and autoimmune disease caused by an overexuberant immune response. However, whether and how TGF-β1 regulates T-cell immunity in early vertebrates remain unknown. Here, using a Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) model, we investigated suppression of the T-cell response by TGF-β1 in teleost species. Tilapia encodes an evolutionarily conserved TGF-β1, the expression of which in lymphocytes is significantly induced during the immune response following Edwardsiella piscicida infection. Once activated, tilapia T cells increase TGF-β1 production, which in turn suppresses proinflammatory cytokine expression and inhibits T-cell activation. Notably, we found administration of TGF-β1 cripples the proliferation of tilapia T cells, reduces the potential capacity of Th1/2 differentiation, and impairs the cytotoxic function, rendering the fish more vulnerable to bacterial infection. Mechanistically, TGF-β1 initiates the TGF-βR/Smad signaling pathway and triggers the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Smad2/3. Smad3 subsequently interacts with several transcriptional partners to repress transcription of cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ but promote transcription of immune checkpoint regulator CTLA4 and transcription factor Foxp3. Furthermore, TGF-β1/Smad signaling further utilizes Foxp3 to achieve the cascade regulation of these T-cell genes. Taken together, our findings reveal a detailed mechanism by which TGF-β1 suppresses the T cell-based immunity in Nile tilapia and support the notion that TGF-β1 had already been employed to inhibit the T-cell response early in vertebrate evolution, thus providing novel insights into the evolution of the adaptive immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haiyou Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinying Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kete Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiumei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jialong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
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26
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Catalano M, Shabani S, Venturini J, Ottanelli C, Voltolini L, Roviello G. Lung Cancer Immunotherapy: Beyond Common Immune Checkpoints Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:6145. [PMID: 36551630 PMCID: PMC9777293 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is an ever-expanding field in lung cancer treatment research. Over the past two decades, there has been significant progress in identifying immunotherapy targets and creating specific therapeutic agents, leading to a major paradigm shift in lung cancer treatment. However, despite the great success achieved with programmed death protein 1/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) monoclonal antibodies and with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 plus anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), only a minority of lung cancer patients respond to treatment, and of these many subsequently experience disease progression. In addition, immune-related adverse events sometimes can be life-threatening, especially when anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 are used in combination. All of this prompted researchers to identify novel immune checkpoints targets to overcome these limitations. Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), T cell immunoglobulin (Ig) and Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-Based Inhibitory Motif (ITIM) domain (TIGIT), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) are promising molecules now under investigation. This review aims to outline the current role of immunotherapy in lung cancer and to examine efficacy and future applications of the new immune regulating molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Catalano
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Sonia Shabani
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Jacopo Venturini
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Carlotta Ottanelli
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Voltolini
- Thoraco-Pulmonary Surgery Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Giandomenico Roviello
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
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27
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Mortezaee K, Majidpoor J, Najafi S. VISTA immune regulatory effects in bypassing cancer immunotherapy: Updated. Life Sci 2022; 310:121083. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Joseph J, Rahmani B, Cole Y, Puttagunta N, Lin E, Khan ZK, Jain P. Can Soluble Immune Checkpoint Molecules on Exosomes Mediate Inflammation? J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2022; 17:381-397. [PMID: 34697721 PMCID: PMC10128092 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-021-10018-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoints (ICPs) are major co-signaling pathways that trigger effector functions in immune cells, with isoforms that are either membrane bound, engaging in direct cell to cell activation locally, or soluble, acting at distant sites by circulating freely or potentially via extracellular vesicles (EVs). Exosomes are small EVs secreted by a variety of cells carrying various proteins and nucleic acids. They are distributed extensively through biological fluids and have major impacts on infectious diseases, cancer, and neuroinflammation. Similarly, ICPs play key roles in a variety of disease conditions and have been extensively utilized as a prognostic tool for various cancers. Herein, we explored if the association between exosomes and ICPs could be a significant contributor of inflammation, particularly in the setting of cancer, neuroinflammation and viral infections, wherein the up regulation in both exosomal proteins and ICPs correlate with immunosuppressive effects. The detailed literature review of existing data highlights the significance and complexity of these two important pathways in mediating cancer and potentiating neuroinflammation via modulating overall immune response. Cells increasingly secret exosomes in response to intracellular signals from invading pathogens or cancerous transformations. These exosomes can carry a variety of cargo including proteins, nucleic acids, cytokines, and receptors/ligands that have functional consequences on recipient cells. Illustration generated using BioRender software.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Joseph
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Benjamin Rahmani
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Yonesha Cole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Neha Puttagunta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Edward Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Zafar K Khan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Pooja Jain
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA. .,Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA.
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29
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Pagliuca S, Gurnari C, Zhang K, Kewan T, Bahaj W, Mori M, Nautiyal I, Rubio MT, Ferraro F, Maciejewski JP, Wang L, Visconte V. Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis of VISTA in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Insights into Its Prognostic Value. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314885. [PMID: 36499220 PMCID: PMC9735915 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) has been recognized as a critical negative regulator of antitumor immune response and is gaining growing interest as a potential pharmacological target in immunotherapy. This molecule is highly expressed in hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid compartment, and it has been found upmodulated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, VISTA-associated immune features are relatively unexplored in myeloid malignancies. Herein, we aimed to explore whether this immune checkpoint regulator could play a role in the generation of an immune escape environment in AML patients. We characterized VISTA mRNA expression levels in leukemia cell lines and in large publicly available cohorts of specimens from bone marrow of healthy individuals and AML patients at diagnosis by deploying bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing. We also defined the correlations with leukemia-associated burden using results of whole-exome sequencing of AML samples at disease onset. We showed that VISTA expression linearly increased across the myeloid differentiation tree in normal hematopoiesis. Accordingly, its transcript was highly enriched in AML cell lines as well as in AML patients at diagnosis presenting with myelomonocytic and monocytic differentiation. A strong correlation was seen with NPM1 mutations regardless of the presence of FLT3 lesions. Furthermore, VISTA expression levels at baseline correlated with disease recurrence in patients with normal karyotype and NPM1 mutations, a subgroup traditionally considered as favorable according to current diagnostic schemes. Indeed, when compared to patients with long-term remission (>5 years after standard chemotherapy regimens), cases relapsing within 2 years from diagnosis had increased VISTA expression in both leukemia and T cells. Our results suggest a rationale for developing VISTA-targeted therapeutic strategies to treat molecularly defined subgroups of AML patients to prevent disease recurrence and treatment resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Pagliuca
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Service d’hématologie, Hôpital Brabois, CHRU Nancy and CNRS UMR 7365 IMoPa, Biopôle de l’Université de Lorraine, 54500 Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France
| | - Carmelo Gurnari
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Keman Zhang
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Tariq Kewan
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Waled Bahaj
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Minako Mori
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ishani Nautiyal
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Marie Thérèse Rubio
- Service d’hématologie, Hôpital Brabois, CHRU Nancy and CNRS UMR 7365 IMoPa, Biopôle de l’Université de Lorraine, 54500 Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France
| | - Francesca Ferraro
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jaroslaw P. Maciejewski
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Valeria Visconte
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Correspondence:
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30
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Anticancer natural products targeting immune checkpoint protein network. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:1008-1032. [PMID: 34838956 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Normal cells express surface proteins that bind to immune checkpoint proteins on immune cells to turn them off, whereby the immune system does not attack normal healthy cells. Cancer cells can also utilize this same protective mechanism by expressing surface proteins that can interact with checkpoint proteins on immune cells to overcome the immune surveillance. Immunotherapy is making the best use of the body's own immune system to reinforce anti-tumor responses. The most generally used immunotherapy is the control of immune checkpoints including the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated molecule 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell deathreceptor 1 (PD-1), or programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1). In spite of the clinical effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors, the overall response rate still remains low. Therefore, there have been considerable efforts in searching for alternative immune checkpoint proteins that may work as new therapeutic targets for treatment of cancer. Recent studies have identified several additional novel immune checkpoint targets, including lymphocyte activation gene-3, T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3, T cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif domain, V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation, B7 homolog 3 protein, B and T cell lymphocyte attenuator, and inducible T cell COStimulator. Natural compounds, especially those present in medicinal or dietary plants, have been investigated for their anti-tumor effects in various in vitro and in vivo models. Some phytochemicals exert anti-tumor activities based on immunoregulatioby blocking interaction between proteins involved in immune checkpoint signal transduction or regulating their expression/activity. Recently, synergistic anti-cancer effects of diverse phytochemicals with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 or anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody drugs have been continuously reported. Considering an increasing attention to noteworthy therapeutic effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the cancer therapy, this review focuses on regulatory effects of selected phytochemicals on immune checkpoint protein network and their combinational effectiveness with immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting tumor cells.
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Zhang M, Zhang J, Liu N, Wang B, Zhou Y, Yang J. VISTA is associated with immune infiltration and predicts favorable prognosis in TNBC. Front Oncol 2022; 12:961374. [PMID: 36158663 PMCID: PMC9493462 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.961374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background V-domain Ig-containing suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), a critical immune checkpoint protein, can regulate the immune system. Nevertheless, little information is available on the expression level of VISTA and its clinical significance as well. The immunological and prognostic role of VISTA in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) still remains unclear. Methods The clinical significance and expression of VISTA in TNBC were examined using RNA sequencing and clinical data. Cancer single-cell state atlas (CancerSEA), gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA), single sample GSEA, ESTIMATE algorithm, immunohistochemistry (IHC) were utilized to assess the functions of VISTA. Results VISTA was down-regulated and closely associated with good prognosis in TNBC. The expression of VISTA was higher in Immunity-H group and immunomodulatory (IM) subtype. The level of VISTA expression in TNBC gradually increased with the degree of stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) infiltration. In addition, the high expression of VISTA was strongly linked to higher proportion of CD8 (+) T cell and M1 macrophages. Conclusion VISTA was remarkably correlated with a favorable prognosis and high immune infiltration in patients with TNBC.
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Shilts J, Severin Y, Galaway F, Müller-Sienerth N, Chong ZS, Pritchard S, Teichmann S, Vento-Tormo R, Snijder B, Wright GJ. A physical wiring diagram for the human immune system. Nature 2022; 608:397-404. [PMID: 35922511 PMCID: PMC9365698 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05028-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The human immune system is composed of a distributed network of cells circulating throughout the body, which must dynamically form physical associations and communicate using interactions between their cell-surface proteomes1. Despite their therapeutic potential2, our map of these surface interactions remains incomplete3,4. Here, using a high-throughput surface receptor screening method, we systematically mapped the direct protein interactions across a recombinant library that encompasses most of the surface proteins that are detectable on human leukocytes. We independently validated and determined the biophysical parameters of each novel interaction, resulting in a high-confidence and quantitative view of the receptor wiring that connects human immune cells. By integrating our interactome with expression data, we identified trends in the dynamics of immune interactions and constructed a reductionist mathematical model that predicts cellular connectivity from basic principles. We also developed an interactive multi-tissue single-cell atlas that infers immune interactions throughout the body, revealing potential functional contexts for new interactions and hubs in multicellular networks. Finally, we combined targeted protein stimulation of human leukocytes with multiplex high-content microscopy to link our receptor interactions to functional roles, in terms of both modulating immune responses and maintaining normal patterns of intercellular associations. Together, our work provides a systematic perspective on the intercellular wiring of the human immune system that extends from systems-level principles of immune cell connectivity down to mechanistic characterization of individual receptors, which could offer opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Systematic measurements of the interactions between proteins found on the surfaces of human leukocytes provides a global view of the way that immune cells are dynamically connected by receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod Shilts
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Yannik Severin
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francis Galaway
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Zheng-Shan Chong
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sophie Pritchard
- Cellular Genetics Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah Teichmann
- Cellular Genetics Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Roser Vento-Tormo
- Cellular Genetics Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Berend Snijder
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gavin J Wright
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK. .,Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK.
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Tang XY, Xiong YL, Shi XG, Zhao YB, Shi AP, Zheng KF, Liu YJ, Jiang T, Ma N, Zhao JB. IGSF11 and VISTA: a pair of promising immune checkpoints in tumor immunotherapy. Biomark Res 2022; 10:49. [PMID: 35831836 PMCID: PMC9277907 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00394-0] [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: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become the major treatment for tumors in clinical practice, but some intractable problems such as the low response rate and high rates of immune-related adverse events still hinder the progress of tumor immunotherapy. Hence, it is essential to explore additional immunotherapy treatment targets. In this review, we focus on the structure, expression and expression-related mechanisms, interactions, biological functions and the progress in preclinical/clinical research of IGSF11 and VISTA in tumors. We cover the progress in recent research with this pair of immune checkpoints in tumor immune regulation, proliferation, immune resistance and predictive prognosis. Both IGSF11 and VISTA are highly expressed in tumors and are modulated by various factors. They co-participate in the functional regulation of immune cells and the inhibition of cytokine production. Besides, in the downregulation of IGSF11 and VISTA, both inhibit the growth of some tumors. Preclinical and clinical trials all emphasize the predictive role of IGSF11 and VISTA in the prognosis of tumors, and that the predictive role of the same gene varies from tumor to tumor. At present, further research is proving the enormous potential of IGSF11 and VISTA in tumors, and especially the role of VISTA in tumor immune resistance. This may prove to be a breakthrough to solve the current clinical immune resistance, and most importantly, since research has focused on VISTA but less on IGSF11, IGSF11 may be the next candidate for tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Yang Tang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yan-Lu Xiong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xian-Gui Shi
- College of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ya-Bo Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, Shaanxi, China
| | - An-Ping Shi
- Department of Radiology & Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Lab of Shaanxi Province, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University (Air Force Medical University), 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kai-Fu Zheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yu-Jian Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Nan Ma
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, 710038, Xi'an, China.
| | - Jin-Bo Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, Shaanxi, China.
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Lin YS, Hsieh SJ, Tsai KC, Cheng MH, Yang TW, Lin TY, Chang FL, Chiang CW, Chen WC, Huang HT, Lee YC. Blockade effect of avian-derived anti-VISTA antibodies on immunosuppressive responses. ALL LIFE 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/26895293.2022.2063951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Shih Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Ju Hsieh
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Keng-Chang Tsai
- National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hui Cheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lo-Hsu Medical Foundation, Lotung Poh-Ai Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan
| | - Tz-Wen Yang
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsai-Yu Lin
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Ling Chang
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Wei Chiang
- Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wang-Chuan Chen
- The School of Chinese Medicine for Post Baccalaureate, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-Te Huang
- Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ching Lee
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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35
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The expression pattern of VISTA in the PBMCs of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients: A single-cell RNA sequencing-based study. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 148:112725. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Gray CC, Biron-Girard B, Wakeley ME, Chung CS, Chen Y, Quiles-Ramirez Y, Tolbert JD, Ayala A. Negative Immune Checkpoint Protein, VISTA, Regulates the CD4 + T reg Population During Sepsis Progression to Promote Acute Sepsis Recovery and Survival. Front Immunol 2022; 13:861670. [PMID: 35401514 PMCID: PMC8988198 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.861670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a systemic immune response to infection that is responsible for ~35% of in-hospital deaths and over 24 billion dollars in annual treatment costs. Strategic targeting of non-redundant negative immune checkpoint protein pathways can cater therapeutics to the individual septic patient and improve prognosis. B7-CD28 superfamily member V-domain Immunoglobulin Suppressor of T cell Activation (VISTA) is an ideal candidate for strategic targeting in sepsis. We hypothesized that immune checkpoint regulator, VISTA, controls T-regulatory cells (Treg), in response to septic challenge, thus playing a protective role/reducing septic morbidity/mortality. Further, we investigated if changes in morbidity/mortality are due to a Treg-mediated effect during the acute response to septic challenge. To test this, we used the cecal ligation and puncture model as a proxy for polymicrobial sepsis and assessed the phenotype of CD4+ Tregs in VISTA-gene deficient (VISTA-/-) and wild-type mice. We also measured changes in survival, soluble indices of tissue injury, and circulating cytokines in the VISTA-/- and wild-type mice. We found that in wild-type mice, CD4+ Tregs exhibit a significant upregulation of VISTA which correlates with higher Treg abundance in the spleen and small intestine following septic insult. However, VISTA-/- mice have reduced Treg abundance in these compartments met with a higher expression of Foxp3, CTLA4, and CD25 compared to wild-type mice. VISTA-/- mice also have a significant survival deficit, higher levels of soluble indicators of liver injury (i.e., ALT, AST, bilirubin), and increased circulating proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-6, IL-10, TNFα, IL-17F, IL-23, and MCP-1) following septic challenge. To elucidate the role of Tregs in VISTA-/- sepsis mortality, we adoptively transferred VISTA-expressing Tregs into VISTA-/- mice. This adoptive transfer rescued VISTA-/- survival to wild-type levels. Taken together, we propose a protective Treg-mediated role for VISTA by which inflammation-induced tissue injury is suppressed and improves survival in early-stage murine sepsis. Thus, enhancing VISTA expression or adoptively transferring VISTA+ Tregs in early-stage sepsis may provide a novel therapeutic approach to ameliorate inflammation-induced death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chyna C. Gray
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Bethany Biron-Girard
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Michelle E. Wakeley
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Chun-Shiang Chung
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Yaping Chen
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Yael Quiles-Ramirez
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Jessica D. Tolbert
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Alfred Ayala
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
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37
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Cantini L, Laniado I, Murthy V, Sterman D, Aerts JGJV. Immunotherapy for mesothelioma: Moving beyond single immune check point inhibition. Lung Cancer 2022; 165:91-101. [PMID: 35114509 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2022.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive neoplasm with low survival rates. Platinum-based chemotherapy has represented the cornerstone of treatment for over a decade, prompting the investigation of new therapeutic strategies both in the early stage of the disease and in the advanced setting. The advent of immune check-point inhibitors (ICIs) has recently revamped the enthusiasm for using immunotherapy also in MPM. However, results from first clinical trials using single immune check-point inhibition have been conflicting, and this may be mainly attributed to the lack of specific biomarkers as well as to intra- and inter- patient heterogeneity. The phase III Checkmate743 firstly demonstrated the superiority of an ICI combination (nivolumab plus ipilimumab) over chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of unresectable MPM, leading to FDA approval of this regimen and showing that moving beyond single immune check point inhibition might be a successful strategy to overcome resistance in the majority of MPM patients. In this review, we describe the emerging immunotherapy strategies for the treatment of MPM. We also discuss how refining the approach in pre-clinical studies towards a more holistic perspective (which takes into account not only genetic but also pathophysiological vulnerabilities) and strengthening multi-institutional collaboration in clinical trials is finally helping the clinical development of immunotherapy in MPM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Cantini
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Clinical Oncology, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, AOU Ospedali Riuniti Ancona, Italy
| | - Isaac Laniado
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, New York University (NYU), School of Medicine/NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Vivek Murthy
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, New York University (NYU), School of Medicine/NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Daniel Sterman
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, New York University (NYU), School of Medicine/NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Joachim G J V Aerts
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Schlichtner S, Yasinska IM, Ruggiero S, Berger SM, Aliu N, Prunk M, Kos J, Meyer NH, Gibbs BF, Fasler-Kan E, Sumbayev VV. Expression of the Immune Checkpoint Protein VISTA Is Differentially Regulated by the TGF-β1 - Smad3 Signaling Pathway in Rapidly Proliferating Human Cells and T Lymphocytes. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:790995. [PMID: 35223897 PMCID: PMC8866318 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.790995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint proteins play crucial roles in human embryonic development but are also used by cancer cells to escape immune surveillance. These proteins and biochemical pathways associated with them form a complex machinery capable of blocking the ability of cytotoxic immune lymphoid cells to attack cancer cells and, ultimately, to fully suppress anti-tumor immunity. One of the more recently discovered immune checkpoint proteins is V-domain Ig-containing suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), which plays a crucial role in anti-cancer immune evasion pathways. The biochemical mechanisms underlying regulation of VISTA expression remain unknown. Here, we report for the first time that VISTA expression is controlled by the transforming growth factor beta type 1 (TGF-β)-Smad3 signaling pathway. However, in T lymphocytes, we found that VISTA expression was differentially regulated by TGF-β depending on their immune profile. Taken together, our results demonstrate the differential biochemical control of VISTA expression in human T cells and various types of rapidly proliferating cells, including cancer cells, fetal cells and keratinocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Schlichtner
- Medway School of Pharmacy, Universities of Kent and Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom
| | - Inna M Yasinska
- Medway School of Pharmacy, Universities of Kent and Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom
| | - Sabrina Ruggiero
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital, Inselspital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Steffen M Berger
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital, Inselspital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nijas Aliu
- Department of Human Genetics, Inselspital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mateja Prunk
- Department of Biotechnology, JoŽef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janko Kos
- Department of Biotechnology, JoŽef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - N Helge Meyer
- Division of Experimental Allergology and Immunodermatology, Department of Human Medicine, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.,Division of General and Visceral Surgery, Department of Human Medicine, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard F Gibbs
- Division of Experimental Allergology and Immunodermatology, Department of Human Medicine, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Elizaveta Fasler-Kan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital, Inselspital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vadim V Sumbayev
- Medway School of Pharmacy, Universities of Kent and Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom
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Targeting immune checkpoints in gynecologic cancer: updates & perspectives for pathologists. Mod Pathol 2022; 35:142-151. [PMID: 34493822 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00882-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy is increasingly used in the treatment of gynecologic cancers, and most often targets the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Pathologists should be familiar with the biomarkers required to determine candidacy for these treatments based on existing FDA approvals, including mismatch repair protein immunohistochemistry, microsatellite instability testing, tumor mutation burden testing, and PD-L1 immunohistochemistry. This review summarizes the rationale behind these treatments and their associated biomarkers and delivers guidance on how to utilize and readout these tests. It also introduces additional biomarkers which may provide information regarding immunotherapeutic vulnerability in the future such as neoantigen load; POLE mutation status; and immunohistochemical expression of immunosuppressive checkpoints like LAG-3, TIM-3, TIGIT, and VISTA; immune-activating checkpoints such as CD27, CD40, CD134, and CD137; enzymes such as IDO-1 and adenosine-related compounds; and MHC class I.
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40
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VISTA, PDL-L1, and BRAF-A Review of New and Old Markers in the Prognosis of Melanoma. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2022; 58:medicina58010074. [PMID: 35056382 PMCID: PMC8778318 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is currently known as one of the most aggressive malignant tumors. The prognostic factors and particularities of this neoplasm are a persistent hot topic in the medical field. This review has multiple purposes. First, we aim to summarize the known data regarding the histological and immunohistochemical appearance of this versatile tumor and to look further into the analysis of several widely used prognostic markers, such as B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase BRAF. The second purpose is to analyze the data on the new prognostic markers, V-domain Immunoglobulin Suppressor of T cell Activation (VISTA) and Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). VISTA is a novel target that is considered to be highly important in determining the invasive potential and treatment response of a melanoma, and there are currently only a limited number of studies describing its role. PD-L1 is a marker with whose importance has been revealed in multiple types of malignancies, but its exact role regarding melanoma remains under investigation. In conclusion, the gathered data highlights the importance of correlations between these markers toward providing patients with a better outcome.
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41
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Immune suppressive checkpoint interactions in the tumour microenvironment of primary liver cancers. Br J Cancer 2022; 126:10-23. [PMID: 34400801 PMCID: PMC8727557 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01453-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers, and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The therapeutic options for the main types of primary liver cancer-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA)-are very limited. HCC and CCA are immunogenic cancers, but effective immune-mediated tumour control is prevented by their immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. Despite the critical involvement of key co-inhibitory immune checkpoint interactions in immunosuppression in liver cancer, only a minority of patients with HCC respond to monotherapy using approved checkpoint inhibitor antibodies. To develop effective (combinatorial) therapeutic immune checkpoint strategies for liver cancer, in-depth knowledge of the different mechanisms that contribute to intratumoral immunosuppression is needed. Here, we review the co-inhibitory pathways that are known to suppress intratumoral T cells in HCC and CCA. We provide a detailed description of insights from preclinical studies in cellular crosstalk within the tumour microenvironment that results in interactions between co-inhibitory receptors on different T-cell subsets and their ligands on other cell types, including tumour cells. We suggest alternative immune checkpoints as promising targets, and draw attention to the possibility of combined targeting of co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory pathways to abrogate immunosuppression.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cancer cells evade immune surveillance partly due to the immunosuppressive features of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Currently approved immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of lung cancer are aimed to inhibit immune checkpoints, such as programmed death protein-1 (PD-1), PD ligand-1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4. Despite these, researchers are currently racing to create the optimal cancer immunotherapy treatments. RECENT FINDINGS Novel immunotherapeutic drugs mainly act on activated immune cells and exert their therapeutic effects by enhancing antitumor responses. In this article, we review new therapies for the treatment of lung cancer that enhance T cell priming, remove coinhibitory signals, supply costimulatory signals and condition the TME. SUMMARY As more immunotherapeutic targets are in studies, designing multimodal strategies to provide greater efficacy with lower toxicity will be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Peng
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
| | - Zibing Wang
- Department of Immunotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Justin Stebbing
- Division of Cancer, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Zhentao Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital and Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, China
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43
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Chen Y, Feng R, He B, Wang J, Xian N, Huang G, Zhang Q. PD-1H Expression Associated With CD68 Macrophage Marker Confers an Immune-Activated Microenvironment and Favorable Overall Survival in Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:777370. [PMID: 34950702 PMCID: PMC8688962 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.777370] [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: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common type of esophageal carcinoma (EC) in China. Although the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab has been approved to treat patients with EC, its therapeutic efficacy is limited. Thus, additional immunotherapeutic targets for EC treatment are needed. Programmed Death-1 Homolog (PD-1H) is a negative checkpoint regulator that inhibits antitumor immune responses. Here, PD-1H expression in 114 patients with ESCC was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Next, 12 randomly selected tumor tissue sections were used to assess the colocalization of PD-1H protein and multiple immune markers by multiplex immunohistochemistry. Our results demonstrated that PD-1H was expressed at high frequency in ESCC tumor tissues (85.1%). PD-1H protein was predominantly expressed in CD68+ tumor-associated macrophages and expressed at low levels in CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in ESCC tumor tissues. Furthermore, based on ESCC data in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the gene expression levels of PD-1H were positively associated with the infiltration levels of immune-activated cells especially CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. In contrast, the gene expression levels of PD-1H were negatively correlated with myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Importantly, PD-1H expression in tumor sites was significantly correlated with favorable overall survival in patients with ESCC. Collectively, our findings first provided direct information on the PD-1H expression pattern and distribution in ESCC, and positive correlation of PD-1H expression with overall survival suggested PD-1H expression levels could be a significant prognostic indicator for patients with ESCC. Future studies need to explore the immunoregulatory of PD-1H in the tumor microenvironment of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuangui Chen
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Rui Feng
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bailin He
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Na Xian
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Gangxiong Huang
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiuyu Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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Immune Regulatory Processes of the Tumor Microenvironment under Malignant Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413311. [PMID: 34948104 PMCID: PMC8706102 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a critical regulator of tumor growth, progression, and metastasis. Since immune cells represent a large fraction of the TME, they play a key role in mediating pro- and anti-tumor immune responses. Immune escape, which suppresses anti-tumor immunity, enables tumor cells to maintain their proliferation and growth. Numerous mechanisms, which have been intensively studied in recent years, are involved in this process and based on these findings, novel immunotherapies have been successfully developed. Here, we review the composition of the TME and the mechanisms by which immune evasive processes are regulated. In detail, we describe membrane-bound and soluble factors, their regulation, and their impact on immune cell activation in the TME. Furthermore, we give an overview of the tumor/antigen presentation and how it is influenced under malignant conditions. Finally, we summarize novel TME-targeting agents, which are already in clinical trials for different tumor entities.
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45
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Alanazi FE, As Sobeai HM, Alhazzani K, Al-Dhfyan A, Alshammari MA, Alotaibi M, Al-hosaini K, Korashy HM, Alhoshani A. Metformin attenuates V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway in Melanoma: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies. Saudi Pharm J 2021; 30:138-149. [PMID: 35528855 PMCID: PMC9072704 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2021.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with a high rate of metastasis to other organs. Recent studies specified the overexpression of V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) in melanoma. Metformin shows anti-tumor activities in several cancer types. However, the mechanism is unclear. This study aims to investigate the inhibitory effect of metformin on VISTA via AHR in melanoma cells (CHL-1, B16) and animal models. VISTA and AHR levels were assessed by qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence microscope, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry. Here, metformin significantly decreased VISTA and AHR levels in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, metformin inhibited all AHR-regulated genes. VISTA levels were dramatically inhibited by AHR modulations using shRNA and αNF, confirming the central role of AHR in VISTA. Finally, melanoma cells were xenografted in C57BL/6 and nude mice. Metformin significantly reduced the tumor volume and growth rate. Likewise, VISTA and AHR-regulated protein levels were suppressed in both models. These findings demonstrate for the first time that VISTA is suppressed by metformin and identified a new regulatory mechanism through AHR. The data suggest that metformin could be a new potential therapeutic strategy to treat melanoma patients combined with targeted immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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46
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Katabathula R, Joseph P, Singh S, Zhao S, Kumar B, Gaule P, Pan Q, Old M, Tuck DP, Varadan V. Multi-scale Pan-cancer Integrative Analyses Identify the STAT3-VSIR Axis as a key Immunosuppressive Mechanism in Head and Neck Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 28:984-992. [PMID: 34785584 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-1978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE VSIR is a novel immune checkpoint protein whose expression on tumor cells across cancers remains largely uncharacterized. Here we purposed to decode the pan-cancer biologic and clinical significance of VSIR over-expression in the tumor compartment. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We performed multi-omics integrative analyses of 9735 tumor samples to identify cancers with non-leukocytic expression of VSIR (VSIR-High), followed by association with overall survival and immune cell infiltration levels. Orthogonal assessments of VSIR protein expression and lymphocytic infiltration were performed using Quantitative immunofluorescence. RESULTS Integrative modeling identified a subset of cancer types as being enriched for VSIR-High tumors. VSIR-High tumors were associated with significantly poorer overall survival in immunogenic Ovarian Serous Adenocarcinoma (SA) and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). QIF assessments in an independent validation cohort confirmed over-expression of VSIR as being associated with poorer overall survival within immunogenic Oral Cavity SCC. VSIR over-expression was associated with lower CD4 Helper T-cell infiltration in both Ovarian SA and Oral Cavity SCC, but did not impact CD8 T-cell infiltration. VSIR over-expressing tumors in both cancer types exhibited significantly higher STAT3 signaling activity. Pharmacologic inhibition of STAT3 signaling resulted in dose-dependent reduction of VSIR expression in Ovarian SA & Oral Cavity SCC cells. CONCLUSIONS The STAT3-VSIR axis is a potentially significant immuno-modulatory mechanism in oral cavity and ovarian cancers, whose activation is associated with poorer survival and an immune microenvironment marked by decreased CD4 helper T-cell activity. The role of VSIR as a tumor-intrinsic modulator of resistance to immunotherapy warrants further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peronne Joseph
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Case Western Reserve University
| | - Salendra Singh
- General Medical Sciences - Oncology, Case Western Reserve University
| | | | - Bhavna Kumar
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University
| | | | - Quintin Pan
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center
| | - Matthew Old
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University
| | - David P Tuck
- VA Boston Healthcare System; Boston University School of Medicine
| | - Vinay Varadan
- General Medical Sciences - Oncology, Case Western Reserve University
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Li TT, Jiang JW, Qie CX, Xuan CX, Hu XL, Liu WM, Chen WT, Liu J. Identification of active small-molecule modulators targeting the novel immune checkpoint VISTA. BMC Immunol 2021; 22:55. [PMID: 34380434 PMCID: PMC8359099 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-021-00446-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer immunotherapy has gained increasing popularity as a novel approach to treat cancer. A member of the B7 family, V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) is a novel immune checkpoint that regulates a broad spectrum of immune responses. VISTA is an acidic pH-selective ligand for P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1(PSGL-1). CA-170, a first-in-class small-molecule dual antagonist of VISTA/PD-L1, was collaboratively developed by Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited and Curis, Inc. It is currently in Phase I clinical trial. Results In this study, we develop homology modeling for the VISTA 3D structure and subsequent virtual screening for VISTA small-molecule hit ligands. Visualization of the binding postures of docked ligands with the VISTA protein indicates that some small molecular compounds target VISTA. The ability of antagonist to disrupt immune checkpoint VISTA pathways was investigated though functional studies in vitro. Conclusions Affinity active molecule for VISTA was obtained through virtual screening, and the antagonist compound activity to VISTA was assayed in cellular level. We reported a small molecule with high VISTA affinity as antagonist, providing ideas for development VISTA-targeted small molecule compound in cancer immunotherapy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12865-021-00446-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Li
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jing-Wei Jiang
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Chen-Xin Qie
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Chun-Xiao Xuan
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xin-Lei Hu
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Wan-Mei Liu
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Wen-Ting Chen
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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48
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Mattox AK, Roelands J, Saal TM, Cheng Y, Rinchai D, Hendrickx W, Young GD, Diefenbach TJ, Berger AE, Westra WH, Bishop JA, Faquin WC, Marincola FM, Pittet MJ, Bedognetti D, Pai SI. Myeloid Cells Are Enriched in Tonsillar Crypts, Providing Insight into the Host Tropism of Human Papillomavirus. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2021; 191:1774-1786. [PMID: 34303699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Viruses are the second leading cause of cancer worldwide, and human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancers are increasing in incidence in the United States. HPV preferentially infects the crypts of the tonsils rather than the surface epithelium. The present study sought to characterize the unique microenvironment within the crypts to better understand the host tropism of HPV to a lymphoid-rich organ. Laser-capture microdissection of distinct anatomic areas (crypts, surface epithelium, and germinal centers) of the tonsil, coupled with transcriptional analysis and multiparameter immunofluorescence staining, was performed and demonstrated that the tonsillar crypts are enriched with myeloid populations that co-express multiple canonical and noncanonical immune checkpoints, including PD-L1, CTLA-4, HAVCR2 (TIM-3), ADORA2A, IDO1, BTLA, LGALS3, CDH1, CEACAM1, PVR, and C10orf54 (VISTA). The resident monocytes may foster a permissive microenvironment that facilitates HPV infection and persistence. Furthermore, the myeloid populations within HPV-associated tonsil cancers co-express the same immune checkpoints, providing insight into potential novel immunotherapeutic targets for HPV-associated head and neck cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin K Mattox
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jessica Roelands
- Cancer Program, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar; Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Talia M Saal
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yang Cheng
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Darawan Rinchai
- Cancer Program, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Geoffrey D Young
- Miami Cancer Institute and Department of Surgery, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | | | - Alan E Berger
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - William H Westra
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
| | - Justin A Bishop
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - William C Faquin
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Mikael J Pittet
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Sara I Pai
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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49
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Tagliamento M, Bironzo P, Novello S. New emerging targets in cancer immunotherapy: the role of VISTA. ESMO Open 2021; 4:e000683. [PMID: 32554470 PMCID: PMC7305420 DOI: 10.1136/esmoopen-2020-000683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune surveillance system is complex and regulated by different actors. Programmed death protein-ligand 1 (PD-L1), the only approved biomarker in clinical practice, has proven to be imperfect in selecting patients to immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment. Therefore, new biomarkers, and new therapeutic targets, are needed to maximise the efficacy of immunotherapy. V-domain Ig Suppressor of T-cell Activation (VISTA) is a programmed death protein-1 (PD-1) homolog expressed on T cells and on antigen-presenting cells, which regulates processes of activation and repression of the immune system with not yet completely clarified mechanisms. Its blockage has demonstrated in vitro and in vivo antitumour activity. The clinical research of VISTA antagonists is ongoing. Particularly, CA-170, an orally delivered dual inhibitor of VISTA and PD-L1, has shown to have clinical efficacy in phase I and II clinical trials in different advanced solid tumour types. Further data are needed to define whether this drug class can become a new therapeutic option for patients with VISTA expressing cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Tagliamento
- Department of Medical Oncology, Medical Oncology 2, University of Genova & IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
| | - Paolo Bironzo
- Oncology Department, Thoracic Oncology, University of Turin & San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano (Turin), Italy
| | - Silvia Novello
- Oncology Department, Thoracic Oncology, University of Turin & San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano (Turin), Italy
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50
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Sancho-Araiz A, Mangas-Sanjuan V, Trocóniz IF. The Role of Mathematical Models in Immuno-Oncology: Challenges and Future Perspectives. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13071016. [PMID: 34371708 PMCID: PMC8309057 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13071016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immuno-oncology (IO) focuses on the ability of the immune system to detect and eliminate cancer cells. Since the approval of the first immune checkpoint inhibitor, immunotherapies have become a major player in oncology treatment and, in 2021, represented the highest number of approved drugs in the field. In spite of this, there is still a fraction of patients that do not respond to these therapies and develop resistance mechanisms. In this sense, mathematical models offer an opportunity to identify predictive biomarkers, optimal dosing schedules and rational combinations to maximize clinical response. This work aims to outline the main therapeutic targets in IO and to provide a description of the different mathematical approaches (top-down, middle-out, and bottom-up) integrating the cancer immunity cycle with immunotherapeutic agents in clinical scenarios. Among the different strategies, middle-out models, which combine both theoretical and evidence-based description of tumor growth and immunological cell-type dynamics, represent an optimal framework to evaluate new IO strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymara Sancho-Araiz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31009 Pamplona, Spain; (A.S.-A.); (I.F.T.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31009 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Victor Mangas-Sanjuan
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, University of Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Interuniversity Research Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technological Development, 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-96354-3351
| | - Iñaki F. Trocóniz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31009 Pamplona, Spain; (A.S.-A.); (I.F.T.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31009 Pamplona, Spain
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