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Coënon L, Geindreau M, Ghiringhelli F, Villalba M, Bruchard M. Natural Killer cells at the frontline in the fight against cancer. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:614. [PMID: 39179536 PMCID: PMC11343846 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06976-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that play a pivotal role as first line defenders in the anti-tumor response. To prevent tumor development, NK cells are searching for abnormal cells within the body and appear to be key players in immunosurveillance. Upon recognition of abnormal cells, NK cells will become activated to destroy them. In order to fulfill their anti-tumoral function, they rely on the secretion of lytic granules, expression of death receptors and production of cytokines. Additionally, NK cells interact with other cells in the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we will first focus on NK cells' activation and cytotoxicity mechanisms as well as NK cells behavior during serial killing. Lastly, we will review NK cells' crosstalk with the other immune cells present in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïs Coënon
- IRMB, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Mannon Geindreau
- Equipe TIRECs, Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche INSERM CTM-UMR1231, Dijon, France
- University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - François Ghiringhelli
- Equipe TIRECs, Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche INSERM CTM-UMR1231, Dijon, France
- University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- Platform of Transfer in Biological Oncology, Georges-François Leclerc Cancer Center, Dijon, France
| | - Martin Villalba
- IRMB, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Institut du Cancer Avignon-Provence Sainte Catherine, Avignon, France
- IRMB, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, CHU Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Mélanie Bruchard
- Equipe TIRECs, Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche INSERM CTM-UMR1231, Dijon, France.
- University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France.
- Platform of Transfer in Biological Oncology, Georges-François Leclerc Cancer Center, Dijon, France.
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Yang XL, Zeng Z, Wang C, Wang GY, Zhang FQ. Prognostic model incorporating immune checkpoint genes to predict the immunotherapy efficacy for lung adenocarcinoma: a cohort study integrating machine learning algorithms. Immunol Res 2024; 72:851-863. [PMID: 38755433 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-024-09492-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram based on immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) for predicting prognosis and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) efficacy in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. A total of 385 LUAD patients from the TCGA database and 269 LUAD patients in the combined dataset (GSE41272 + GSE50081) were divided into training and validation cohorts, respectively. Three different machine learning algorithms including random forest (RF), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression analysis, and support vector machine (SVM) were employed to select the predictive markers from 82 ICGs to construct the prognostic nomogram. The X-tile software was used to stratify patients into high- and low-risk subgroups based on the nomogram-derived risk scores. Differences in functional enrichment and immune infiltration between the two subgroups were assessed using gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and various algorithms. Additionally, three lung cancer cohorts receiving ICB therapy were utilized to evaluate the ability of the model to predict ICB efficacy in the real world. Five ICGs were identified as predictive markers across all three machine learning algorithms, leading to the construction of a nomogram with strong potential for prognosis prediction in both the training and validation cohorts (all AUC values close to 0.800). The patients were divided into high- (risk score ≥ 185.0) and low-risk subgroups (risk score < 185.0). Compared to the high-risk subgroup, the low-risk subgroup exhibited enrichment in immune activation pathways and increased infiltration of activated immune cells, such as CD8 + T cells and M1 macrophages (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the low-risk subgroup had a greater likelihood of benefiting from ICB therapy and longer progression-free survival (PFS) than did the high-risk subgroup (P < 0.05) in the two cohorts receiving ICB therapy. A nomogram based on ICGs was constructed and validated to aid in predicting prognosis and ICB treatment efficacy in LUAD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Lin Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Zeng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Guang-Yu Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fu-Quan Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Paolini R, Molfetta R. Dysregulation of DNAM-1-Mediated NK Cell Anti-Cancer Responses in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4616. [PMID: 37760586 PMCID: PMC10527063 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
NK cells play a pivotal role in anti-cancer immune responses, thanks to the expression of a wide array of inhibitory and activating receptors that regulate their cytotoxicity against transformed cells while preserving healthy cells from lysis. However, NK cells exhibit severe dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment, mainly due to the reduction of activating receptors and the induction or increased expression of inhibitory checkpoint receptors. An activating receptor that plays a central role in tumor recognition is the DNAM-1 receptor. It recognizes PVR and Nectin2 adhesion molecules, which are frequently overexpressed on the surface of cancerous cells. These ligands are also able to trigger inhibitory signals via immune checkpoint receptors that are upregulated in the tumor microenvironment and can counteract DNAM-1 activation. Among them, TIGIT has recently gained significant attention, since its targeting results in improved anti-tumor immune responses. This review aims to summarize how the recognition of PVR and Nectin2 by paired co-stimulatory/inhibitory receptors regulates NK cell-mediated clearance of transformed cells. Therapeutic approaches with the potential to reverse DNAM-1 dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment will be also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
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Yang YJ, Xu XQ, Zhang YC, Hu PC, Yang WX. Establishment of a prognostic model related to tregs and natural killer cells infiltration in bladder cancer. World J Clin Cases 2023; 11:3444-3456. [PMID: 37383920 PMCID: PMC10294199 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i15.3444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and natural killer (NK) cells play an essential role in the development of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC).
AIM To construct a prognosis-related model to judge the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer, meanwhile, predict the sensitivity of patients to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
METHODS Bladder cancer information data was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and GSE32894. The CIBERSORT was used to calculate the immune score of each sample. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to find genes that will have the same or similar expression patterns. Subsequently, multivariate cox regression and lasso regression was used to further screen prognosis-related genes. The prrophetic package was used to predict phenotype from gene expression data, drug sensitivity of external cell line and predict clinical data.
RESULTS The stage and risk scores are independent prognostic factors in patients with BUC. Mutations in FGFR3 lead to an increase in Tregs percolation and affect the prognosis of the tumor, and additionally, EMP1, TCHH and CNTNAP3B in the model are mainly positively correlated with the expression of immune checkpoints, while CMTM8, SORT1 and IQSEC1 are negatively correlated with immune checkpoints and the high-risk group had higher sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs.
CONCLUSION Prognosis-related models of bladder tumor patients, based on Treg and NK cell percolation in tumor tissue. In addition to judging the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer, it can also predict the sensitivity of patients to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. At the same time, patients were divided into high and low risk groups based on this model, and differences in genetic mutations were found between the high and low risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jie Yang
- Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Shunde), Foshan 528308, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Qing Xu
- The Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300041, China
| | - Yi-Chao Zhang
- The Graduate School, Qinghai University, Xi'ning 810000, Qinghai Province, China
| | - Peng-Cheng Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Wu-Xia Yang
- The Graduate School/Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Medical University/Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300041, China
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Gimeno L, González-Lozano I, Soto-Ramírez MF, Martínez-Sánchez MV, López-Cubillana P, Fuster JL, Martínez-García J, Martínez-Escribano J, Campillo JA, Pons-Fuster E, Ferri B, López-Abad A, Muro M, Minguela A. CD8+ T lymphocytes are sensitive to NKG2A/HLA-E licensing interaction: role in the survival of cancer patients. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1986943. [PMID: 34676148 PMCID: PMC8525952 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1986943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
NK and CD8+ T cells are the main cytolytic effectors involved in innate and adaptive tumor immune surveillance, respectively. Although their educational pathways differ, similarities in their development and function suggest that CD8+ T lymphocytes could be sensitive to NK cell licensing signals, which might influence their antitumor response. To demonstrate this hypothesis, we retrospectively evaluated the impact that NK cell licensing interactions have on the expression of CD226 on CD8+ T lymphocytes and on the survival of patients with different hematopoietic and solid cancers (n = 1,023). Prospectively, we analyzed by multiparametric flow cytometry the anti-CD3/CD28-induced proliferation and immune-receptor expression of purified CD8+ T lymphocytes from healthy donors (n = 17) with different combinations of NK cell licensing ligands. Results show that methionine/threonine (M/T) dimorphism at position -21 of the HLA-B leader peptide, but not other HLA class-I dimorphisms involved in the education of NK cells (HLA-C1/C2 or HLA-Bw4), is associated with greater survival and expression of CD226 in cancer patients, which was proportional to the number of methionines present in their genotype. CD8+ T lymphocytes from healthy donors with -21 M showed higher proliferation rates and lower expression of TIGIT after in vitro stimulation. Therefore, CD8+ T lymphocytes, like NK cells, appear to be sensitive to the -21 M/T dimorphism of HLA-B leader peptide, which results in the modulation of CD226 in vivo and the proliferation and expression of TIGIT after in vitro stimulation, all of which could be related to their immune-surveillance capacity and the survival of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Gimeno
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
- Human Anatomy Department, University of Murcia (Um), Murcia, Spain
| | - Isabel González-Lozano
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - María F. Soto-Ramírez
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - María V. Martínez-Sánchez
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro López-Cubillana
- Urology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - José L. Fuster
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Jerónimo Martínez-García
- Oncology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Jorge Martínez-Escribano
- Dermatology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - José A. Campillo
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Eduardo Pons-Fuster
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Belén Ferri
- Pathology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Alicia López-Abad
- Urology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Muro
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Alfredo Minguela
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
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Martínez-Sánchez MV, Fuster JL, Campillo JA, Galera AM, Bermúdez-Cortés M, Llinares ME, Ramos-Elbal E, Pascual-Gázquez JF, Fita AM, Martínez-Banaclocha H, Galián JA, Gimeno L, Muro M, Minguela A. Expression of NK Cell Receptor Ligands on Leukemic Cells Is Associated with the Outcome of Childhood Acute Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102294. [PMID: 34064810 PMCID: PMC8151902 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Natural killer cells (NK cells) of the innate immune system are suspected of playing an important role in eliminating residual leukemia cells during maintenance chemotherapy given to children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia for about two years. This study analyzes the expression of ligands for the receptors that regulate the function of NK cells on leukemic cells of more than one hundred children with acute lymphoid and myeloid leukemia. Our results show that the loss of expression of some molecules involved in the activation of NK cells is associated with poorer survival. In addition, a genetic combination of molecules that interact to regulate NK cell function seems to be associated with a higher relapse rate during/after chemotherapy and shorter patient survival. Children who carry this genetic combination are refractory to current chemotherapy treatments, and stem cell transplantation does not seem to contribute to their cure either, and therefore, they should be considered as candidates for alternative biological therapies that might offer better results. Abstract Acute leukemia is the most common malignancy in children. Most patients are cured, but refractory/relapsed AML and ALL are the first cause of death from malignancy in children. Maintenance chemotherapy in ALL has improved survival by inducing leukemic cell apoptosis, but immune surveillance effectors such as NK cells might also contribute. The outcome of B-ALL (n = 70), T-ALL (n = 16), and AML (n = 16) pediatric patients was evaluated according to leukemic cell expression of ligands for activating and inhibiting receptors that regulate NK cell functioning. Increased expression of ULBP-1, a ligand for NKG2D, but not that of CD112 or CD155, ligands for DNAM-1, was associated with poorer 5-year event-free survival (5y-EFS, 77.6% vs. 94.9%, p < 0.03). Reduced expression of HLA-C on leukemic cells in patients with the KIR2DL1/HLA-C*04 interaction was associated with a higher rate of relapse (17.6% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.035) and lower 5y-EFS (70.6% vs. 92.6%, p < 0.002). KIR2DL1/HLA-C*04 interaction was an independent predictive factor of events (HR = 4.795, p < 0.005) or death (HR = 6.731, p < 0.005) and might provide additional information to the current risk stratification. Children who carry the KIR2DL1/HLA-C*04 interaction were refractory to current chemotherapy treatments, including allogeneic stem cell transplantation; therefore, they should be considered as candidates for alternative biological therapies that might offer better results.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Victoria Martínez-Sánchez
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
| | - José Luis Fuster
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - José Antonio Campillo
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Ana María Galera
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Mar Bermúdez-Cortés
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - María Esther Llinares
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Eduardo Ramos-Elbal
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Juan Francisco Pascual-Gázquez
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Ana María Fita
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Helios Martínez-Banaclocha
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
| | - José Antonio Galián
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Lourdes Gimeno
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
- Human Anatomy Department, University of Murcia (UM), 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Muro
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Alfredo Minguela
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-968-395-379
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Pazina T, MacFarlane AW, Bernabei L, Dulaimi E, Kotcher R, Yam C, Bezman NA, Robbins MD, Ross EA, Campbell KS, Cohen AD. Alterations of NK Cell Phenotype in the Disease Course of Multiple Myeloma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020226. [PMID: 33435153 PMCID: PMC7827733 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Multiple myeloma (MM) is a deadly cancer localized in the bone marrow, where changes can support progression and therapy resistance. This study examined the expression of numerous biological markers on natural killer (NK) cells in blood and bone marrow of patients with MM. NK cells play key roles in the innate immunosurveillance of MM, so we sought to identify biomarkers on NK cells that may be prognostic for patient outcomes and identify new therapeutic targets in these patients. Biomarker expression was compared on NK cells between MM disease stages and healthy donors, between blood and bone marrow, and associations with disease progression. The study shows that loss of certain biomarkers on NK cells may limit their anti-tumor function in MM patients, that several drug-targetable biomarkers are upregulated on NK cells, and that high expression of the biomarker, SLAMF7, may have prognostic potential to identify patients more likely to show rapid disease progression. Abstract Accumulating evidence demonstrates important roles for natural killer (NK) cells in controlling multiple myeloma (MM). A prospective flow cytometry-based analysis of NK cells in the blood and bone marrow (BM) of MM patient subgroups was performed (smoldering (SMM), newly diagnosed (ND), relapsed/refractory, (RR) and post-stem cell transplantation (pSCT)). Assessments included the biomarker expression and function of NK cells, correlations between the expression of receptors on NK cells with their ligands on myeloma cells, and comparisons between MM patient subgroups and healthy controls. The most striking differences from healthy controls were found in RR and pSCT patients, in which NK cells were less mature and expressed reduced levels of the activating receptors DNAM-1, NKG2D, and CD16. These differences were more pronounced in the BM than in blood, including upregulation of the therapeutic targets TIM3, TIGIT, ICOS, and GITR. Their expression suggests NK cells became exhausted upon chronic encounters with the tumor. A high expression of SLAMF7 on blood NK cells correlated with shorter progression-free survival. This correlation was particularly evident in ND patients, including on mature CD56dim NK cells in the BM. Thus, our NK cell analysis identified possible therapeutic targets in MM and a biomarker with prognostic potential for disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Pazina
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (T.P.); (A.W.M.IV)
- FSBSI “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, Department of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexander W. MacFarlane
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (T.P.); (A.W.M.IV)
| | - Luca Bernabei
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (L.B.); (R.K.); (C.Y.)
| | - Essel Dulaimi
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA;
| | - Rebecca Kotcher
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (L.B.); (R.K.); (C.Y.)
| | - Clinton Yam
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (L.B.); (R.K.); (C.Y.)
| | | | | | - Eric A. Ross
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA;
| | - Kerry S. Campbell
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (T.P.); (A.W.M.IV)
- Correspondence: (K.S.C.); (A.D.C.); Tel.: +1-215-728-7761 (K.S.C.); +1-215-615-5853 (A.D.C.)
| | - Adam D. Cohen
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (L.B.); (R.K.); (C.Y.)
- Correspondence: (K.S.C.); (A.D.C.); Tel.: +1-215-728-7761 (K.S.C.); +1-215-615-5853 (A.D.C.)
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8
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KIR+ CD8+ T Lymphocytes in Cancer Immunosurveillance and Patient Survival: Gene Expression Profiling. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102991. [PMID: 33076479 PMCID: PMC7650600 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are molecules expressed by the most important cells of the immune system for cancer immune vigilance, natural killer (NK) and effector T cells. In this manuscript we study the role that cytotoxic CD8+ T cells expressing KIR receptors could play in cancer immune surveillance. With this objective, frequencies of different KIR+ CD8+ T cell subsets are correlated with the overall survival of patients with melanoma, ovarian and bladder carcinomas. In addition, the gene expression profile of KIR+ CD8+ T cell subsets related to the survival of patients is studied with the aim of discovering new therapeutic targets, so that the outcome of patients with cancer can be improved. Abstract Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are expressed by natural killer (NK) and effector T cells. Although KIR+ T cells accumulate in oncologic patients, their role in cancer immune response remains elusive. This study explored the role of KIR+CD8+ T cells in cancer immunosurveillance by analyzing their frequency at diagnosis in the blood of 249 patients (80 melanomas, 80 bladder cancers, and 89 ovarian cancers), their relationship with overall survival (OS) of patients, and their gene expression profiles. KIR2DL1+ CD8+ T cells expanded in the presence of HLA-C2-ligands in patients who survived, but it did not in patients who died. In contrast, presence of HLA-C1-ligands was associated with dose-dependent expansions of KIR2DL2/S2+ CD8+ T cells and with shorter OS. KIR interactions with their specific ligands profoundly impacted CD8+ T cell expression profiles, involving multiple signaling pathways, effector functions, the secretome, and consequently, the cellular microenvironment, which could impact their cancer immunosurveillance capacities. KIR2DL1/S1+ CD8+ T cells showed a gene expression signature related to efficient tumor immunosurveillance, whereas KIR2DL2/L3/S2+CD8+ T cells showed transcriptomic profiles related to suppressive anti-tumor responses. These results could be the basis for the discovery of new therapeutic targets so that the outcome of patients with cancer can be improved.
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NK Cells in the Treatment of Hematological Malignancies. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8101557. [PMID: 31569769 PMCID: PMC6832953 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have the innate ability to kill cancer cells, however, tumor cells may acquire the capability of evading the immune response, thereby leading to malignancies. Restoring or potentiation of this natural antitumor activity of NK cells has become a relevant therapeutic approach in cancer and, particularly, in hematological cancers. The use of tumor-specific antibodies that promote antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) through the ligation of CD16 receptor on NK cells has become standard for many hematologic malignancies. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is another key therapeutic strategy that harnesses the alloreactivity of NK cells against cancer cells. This strategy may be refined by adoptive transfer of NK cells that may be previously expanded, activated, or redirected (chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells) against cancer cells. The antitumor activity of NK cells can also be boosted by cytokines or immunostimulatory drugs such as lenalidomide or pomalidomide. Finally, targeting immunosubversive mechanisms developed by hematological cancers and, in particular, using antibodies that block NK cell inhibitory receptors and checkpoint proteins are novel promising therapeutic approaches in these malignant diseases.
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