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Wurster S, Watowich SS, Kontoyiannis DP. Checkpoint inhibitors as immunotherapy for fungal infections: Promises, challenges, and unanswered questions. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1018202. [PMID: 36389687 PMCID: PMC9640966 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1018202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Opportunistic fungal infections have high mortality in patients with severe immune dysfunction. Growing evidence suggests that the immune environment of invasive fungal infections and cancers share common features of immune cell exhaustion through activation of immune checkpoint pathways. This observation gave rise to several preclinical studies and clinical case reports describing blockade of the Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 and Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 immune checkpoint pathways as an adjunct immune enhancement strategy to treat opportunistic fungal infections. The first part of this review summarizes the emerging evidence for contributions of checkpoint pathways to the immunopathology of fungal sepsis, opportunistic mold infections, and dimorphic fungal infections. We then review the potential merits of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as an antifungal immunotherapy, including the incomplete knowledge of the mechanisms involved in both immuno-protective effects and toxicities. In the second part of this review, we discuss the limitations of the current evidence and the many unknowns about ICIs as an antifungal immune enhancement strategy. Based on these gaps of knowledge and lessons learned from cancer immunology studies, we outline a research agenda to determine a "sweet spot" for ICIs in medical mycology. We specifically discuss the importance of more nuanced animal models, the need to study ICI-based combination therapy, potential ICI resistance, the role of the immune microenvironment, and the impact of ICIs given as part of oncological therapies on the natural immunity to various pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Wurster
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Stephanie S. Watowich
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
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Castelli V, Lombardi A, Palomba E, Bozzi G, Ungaro R, Alagna L, Mangioni D, Muscatello A, Bandera A, Gori A. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in People Living with HIV/AIDS: Facts and Controversies. Cells 2021; 10:2227. [PMID: 34571876 PMCID: PMC8467545 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are reshaping the landscape of cancer treatment, redefining the prognosis of several tumors. They act by restoring the cytotoxic activity of tumor-specific T lymphocytes that are in a condition of immune exhaustion. The same condition has been widely described in chronic HIV infection. In this review, we dissect the role of ICIs in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV). First, we provide an overview of the immunologic scenario. Second, we discuss the possible use of ICIs as adjuvant treatment of HIV to achieve elimination of the viral reservoir. Third, we examine the influence of HIV infection on ICI safety and effectiveness. Finally, we describe how the administration of ICIs impacts opportunistic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Castelli
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy; (V.C.); (E.P.); (G.B.); (R.U.); (L.A.); (D.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Andrea Lombardi
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy; (V.C.); (E.P.); (G.B.); (R.U.); (L.A.); (D.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (A.G.)
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy
| | - Emanuele Palomba
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy; (V.C.); (E.P.); (G.B.); (R.U.); (L.A.); (D.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Giorgio Bozzi
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy; (V.C.); (E.P.); (G.B.); (R.U.); (L.A.); (D.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Riccardo Ungaro
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy; (V.C.); (E.P.); (G.B.); (R.U.); (L.A.); (D.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Laura Alagna
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy; (V.C.); (E.P.); (G.B.); (R.U.); (L.A.); (D.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Davide Mangioni
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy; (V.C.); (E.P.); (G.B.); (R.U.); (L.A.); (D.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Antonio Muscatello
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy; (V.C.); (E.P.); (G.B.); (R.U.); (L.A.); (D.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Alessandra Bandera
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy; (V.C.); (E.P.); (G.B.); (R.U.); (L.A.); (D.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (A.G.)
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy
- Centre for Multidisciplinary Research in Health Science (MACH), University of Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Gori
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy; (V.C.); (E.P.); (G.B.); (R.U.); (L.A.); (D.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (A.G.)
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy
- Centre for Multidisciplinary Research in Health Science (MACH), University of Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy
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