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Chen S, Huang M, Zhang L, Huang Q, Wang Y, Liang Y. Inflammatory response signature score model for predicting immunotherapy response and pan-cancer prognosis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:369-383. [PMID: 38226313 PMCID: PMC10788202 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.12.001] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Inflammatory responses influence the outcome of immunotherapy and tumorigenesis by modulating host immunity. However, systematic inflammatory response assessment models for predicting cancer immunotherapy (CIT) responses and survival across human cancers remain unexplored. Here, we investigated an inflammatory response score model to predict CIT responses and patient survival in a pan-cancer analysis. Methods We retrieved 12 CIT response gene expression datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE78220, GSE19423, GSE100797, GSE126044, GSE35640, GSE67501, GSE115821 and GSE168204), Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion database (PRJEB23709, PRJEB25780 and phs000452.v2.p1), European Genome-phenome Archive database (EGAD00001005738), and IMvigor210 cohort. The tumor samples from six cancers types: metastatic urothelial cancer, metastatic melanoma, gastric cancer, primary bladder cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer.We further established a binary classification model to predict CIT responses using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) computational algorithm. Findings The model had high predictive accuracy in both the training and validation cohorts. During sub-group analysis, area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.82, 0.80, 0.71, 0.7, 0.67, and 0.64 were obtained for the non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, metastatic urothelial cancer, primary bladder cancer, metastatic melanoma, and renal cell carcinoma cohorts, respectively. CIT response rates were higher in the high-scoring training cohort subjects (51%) than the low-scoring subjects (27%). The five-year survival rates in the high- and low score groups of the training cohorts were 62% and 21%, respectively, while those of the validation cohorts were 54% and 22%, respectively (P < 0·001 in all cases). Inflammatory response signature score derived from on-treatment tumor specimens are highly predictive of response to CIT in patients with metastatic melanoma. A significant correlation was observed between the inflammatory response scores and tumor purity. Regardless of the tumor purity, patients in the low score group had a significantly poorer prognosis than those in the high score group. Immune cell infiltration analysis indicated that in the high score cohort, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were significantly enriched, particularly effector and natural killer cells. Inflammatory response scores were positively correlated with immune checkpoint genes, suggesting that immune checkpoint inhibitors may have benefited patients with high scores. Analysis of signature scores across different cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that the prognostic performance of inflammatory response scores for survival in patients who have not undergone immunotherapy can be affected by tumor purity. Interleukin 21 (IL21) had the highest weight in the inflammatory response model, suggesting its vital role in the prediction mode. Since the number of metastatic melanoma patients (n = 429) was relatively large among CIT cohorts, we further performed a co-culture experiment using a melanoma cell line and CD8 + T cell populations generated from peripheral blood monocytes. The results showed that IL21 therapy combined with anti-PD1 (programmed cell death 1) antibodies (trepril monoclonal antibodies) significantly enhanced the cytotoxic activity of CD8 + T cells against the melanoma cell line. Conclusion In this study, we developed an inflammatory response gene signature model that predicts patient survival and immunotherapy response in multiple malignancies. We further found that the predictive performance in the non-small cell lung cancer and gastric cancer group had the highest value among the six different malignancy subgroups. When compared with existing signatures, the inflammatory response gene signature scores for on-treatment samples were more robust predictors of the response to CIT in metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuzhao Chen
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College (SUMC), Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mayan Huang
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Limei Zhang
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qianqian Huang
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yang Liang
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Xiao Y, Hu F, Chi Q. Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptome reveal potential molecular mechanisms of lung cancer brain metastasis. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 140:112804. [PMID: 39079345 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung cancer is a highly aggressive and prevalent disease worldwide. By the time it is first diagnosed, distant metastases have usually already occurred. Among them, the prognosis of patients with brain metastasis from lung cancer is very poor. Therefore, it is particularly important to identify the evolutionary status of tumor cells during lung cancer brain metastases and discover the underlying mechanisms of lung cancer brain metastases. METHODS In this study, we analysed three types of data: single-cell RNA sequencing, bulk RNA sequencing, and spatial transcriptome. Firstly, we identified early metastatic epithelial cell clusters (EMEC) using CNV and trajectory analysis in scRNA-seq data. Secondly, we integrated scRNA-seq and spatial transcriptome data with the help of MIA (Multimodal intersection analysis) to explore the biological characteristics of EMEC. Finally, we used bulk RNA-seq data to validate the molecular characteristics of EMEC. RESULT A total of 55,763 single cells were obtained and divided into 9 cell types. In brain metastasis, we found a significantly higher proportion of epithelial cells. In addition, we identified a specific subpopulation of epithelial cells, which was named as "early metastatic epithelial cell clusters (EMEC)". It is enriched in oxidative phosphorylation, coagulation, complement. Moreover, we also found that EMEC underwent cellular communication with other immune cells through ligand-receptor pairs such as MIF-(CD74 + CXCR4) and MIF-(CD74 + CD44). Next, we validated that EMEC were associated with poor clinical prognosis using three independent external datasets. Finally, spatial transcriptome analysis revealed specificity in the spatial distribution of EMEC, which shifted from the peripheral regions to the central regions of the tumour as the depth of tumor invasion progressed. CONCLUSION This study reveals the potential molecular mechanisms of lung cancer brain metastasis from both single-cell and spatial transcriptomic perspectives, providing biological insights and clinical reference value for detecting patients suffering from lung cancer brain metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujuan Xiao
- Department of Statistics, School of Science, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Fuyan Hu
- Department of Statistics, School of Science, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, China.
| | - Qingjia Chi
- Department of Engineering Structure and Mechanics, School of Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.
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3
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Ma Y, Shao G, Xie Y, Yang D, Li K, Tan B, Wang C, Sun P, Cao J. Multiomics Analysis of Interleukin-21 as a Potential Immunologic and Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Immunother 2024; 47:266-274. [PMID: 38832536 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0000000000000526] [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: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is an important antitumor cytokine that contributes to the proliferation and differentiation of CD8 + T cells. It has been proven to enhance the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in various solid tumors. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been clarified. In this research, we aimed to investigate the antitumor effect of IL-21 in HCC and its effect on ICI treatment. Through transcriptome sequencing analysis and immunohistochemistry validation, we found that patients with high IL-21 expression had a better prognosis. HCCs with high expression of IL-21 had higher infiltration of CD8 + T cells, increased expression of immune checkpoints, and an improved response to ICI treatment. In conclusion, IL-21 can enhance the efficacy of ICI treatment and improve the prognosis of patients by promoting the infiltration of CD8 + T cells and the expression of immune checkpoint-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghui Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Boersma B, Poinot H, Pommier A. Stimulating the Antitumor Immune Response Using Immunocytokines: A Preclinical and Clinical Overview. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:974. [PMID: 39204319 PMCID: PMC11357675 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16080974] [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: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are immune modulators which can enhance the immune response and have been proven to be an effective class of immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the clinical use of cytokines in cancer treatment has faced several challenges associated with poor pharmacokinetic properties and the occurrence of adverse effects. Immunocytokines (ICKs) have emerged as a promising approach to overcome the pharmacological limitations observed with cytokines. ICKs are fusion proteins designed to deliver cytokines in the tumor microenvironment by taking advantage of the stability and specificity of immunoglobulin-based scaffolds. Several technological approaches have been developed. This review focuses on ICKs designed with the most impactful cytokines in the cancer field: IL-2, TNFα, IL-10, IL-12, IL-15, IL-21, IFNγ, GM-CSF, and IFNα. An overview of the pharmacological effects of the naked cytokines and ICKs tested for cancer therapy is detailed. A particular emphasis is given on the immunomodulatory effects of ICKs associated with their technological design. In conclusion, this review highlights active ways of development of ICKs. Their already promising results observed in clinical trials are likely to be improved with the advances in targeting technologies such as cytokine/linker engineering and the design of multispecific antibodies with tumor targeting and immunostimulatory functional properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Boersma
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland;
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Hélène Poinot
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland;
- Translational Research Centre in Oncohaematology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aurélien Pommier
- UMR1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, BP 184, F-63005 Clermont-Ferrand, France
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5
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Shi H, Chen S, Chi H. Immunometabolism of CD8 + T cell differentiation in cancer. Trends Cancer 2024; 10:610-626. [PMID: 38693002 PMCID: PMC11342304 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.03.010] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are central mediators of tumor immunity and immunotherapies. Upon tumor antigen recognition, CTLs differentiate from naive/memory-like toward terminally exhausted populations with more limited function against tumors. Such differentiation is regulated by both immune signals, including T cell receptors (TCRs), co-stimulation, and cytokines, and metabolism-associated processes. These immune signals shape the metabolic landscape via signaling, transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, while metabolic processes in turn exert spatiotemporal effects to modulate the strength and duration of immune signaling. Here, we review the bidirectional regulation between immune signals and metabolic processes, including nutrient uptake and intracellular metabolic pathways, in shaping CTL differentiation and exhaustion. We also discuss the mechanisms underlying how specific nutrient sources and metabolite-mediated signaling events orchestrate CTL biology. Understanding how metabolic programs and their interplay with immune signals instruct CTL differentiation and exhaustion is crucial to uncover tumor-immune interactions and design novel immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Shi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sidi Chen
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; System Biology Institute, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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6
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Wu S, Jiang H, Fang Z, Wu Y, Jiao J, Fang W, Wu Y, Lang Y, Chen N, Zhong Z, Chen L, Zheng X, Lu B, Jiang J. Enhanced abscopal anti-tumor response via a triple combination of thermal ablation, IL-21, and PD-1 inhibition therapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:138. [PMID: 38833177 PMCID: PMC11150342 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03718-1] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Despite the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in treating solid tumors, lots of patients remain unresponsive to this therapy. Microwave ablation (MWA) stimulates systemic adaptive immunity against tumor cells by releasing tumor antigens. Additionally, IL-21 has demonstrated importance in stimulating T-cell effector function. The combination of these three therapies-MWA, IL-21, and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)-has yet to be explored in the context of cancer treatment.In this study, we explored the impact of thermal ablation on IL-21R expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Subsequently, we assessed alterations in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and peripheral lymphoid organs. Additionally, we conducted a thorough examination of tumor-infiltrating CD45+ immune cells across various treatment groups using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Moreover, we determined the potential anti-tumor effects of the triple combination involving MWA, IL-21, and anti-PD-1 mAbs.Our findings revealed that MWA upregulated the expression of IL-21R on various immune cells in the untreated tumors. The combination of MWA with IL-21 exhibited a robust abscopal anti-tumor effect, enhancing the effector function of CD8+ T cells and facilitating dendritic cells' maturation and antigen presentation in the untreated tumor. Notably, the observed abscopal anti-tumor effect resulting from the combination is contingent upon T-cell recirculation, indicating the reliance of systemic adaptive immunity for this treatment regimen. Additionally, the combination of MWA, IL-21, and PD-1 mAbs demonstrated profound abscopal anti-tumor efficacy. Our findings provide support for further clinical investigation into a triple combination therapy involving MWA, IL-21, and ICIs for the treatment of metastatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoxian Wu
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongwei Jiang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhang Fang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - You Wu
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Jiao
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weiwei Fang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanyan Lang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ning Chen
- Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co.,Ltd., Shanghai, 201206, China
| | - Ziyang Zhong
- Anwita Biosciences Inc, San Carlos, CA, 94070, USA
| | - Lujun Chen
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao Zheng
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Binfeng Lu
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, 07110, USA
| | - Jingting Jiang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China.
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China.
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Zuo D, Zhu Y, Wang K, Qin Y, Su Y, Lan S, Li Y, Dong S, Liang Y, Feng M. A novel LAG3 neutralizing antibody improves cancer immunotherapy by dual inhibition of MHC-II and FGL1 ligand binding. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116782. [PMID: 38776682 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
LAG3 is an inhibitory immune checkpoint expressed on activated T and NK cells. Blocking the interaction of LAG3 with its ligands MHC-II and FGL1 renders T cells improved cytotoxicity to cancer cells. Current study generated a panel of LAG3 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) through immunization of mice followed by phage display. Some of them bound to the D1-D2 domain of LAG3, which is known for the engagement of its ligands FGL1 and MHC-II. Three outperformers, M208, M226, and M234, showed stronger blocking activity than Relatlimab in the FGL1 binding. Furthermore, M234 showed dual inhibition of FGL1 (IC50 of 20.6 nM) and MHC-II binding (IC50 of 6.2 nM) to LAG3. In vitro functional tests showed that M234 significantly stimulated IFN-γ secretion from activated PBMC cells. In vivo studies in a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts demonstrated that combining M234 IgG with GPC3-targeted bispecific antibodies significantly improved efficacy. In addition, GPC3-targeted CAR-T cells secreting IL-21-M234 scFv fusion protein exhibited enhanced activity in inhibiting tumor growth and greatly increased the survival rate of mice. Taken together, M234 has potential in cancer immunotherapy and warrants further clinical trial.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Protein
- Humans
- Mice
- Antigens, CD/immunology
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/pharmacology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Ligands
- Immunotherapy/methods
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/immunology
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/metabolism
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Liver Neoplasms/immunology
- Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms/therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Protein Binding
- Female
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianbao Zuo
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yuankui Zhu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Ke Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Youjia Qin
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yiyi Su
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Sina Lan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yunyi Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Shuang Dong
- Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China; Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Colorectal Cancer, China; Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Colorectal Cancer, China
| | - Yinming Liang
- Center of Disease Model and Immunology, Hunan Academy of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China.
| | - Mingqian Feng
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Colorectal Cancer, China; College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
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8
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Isvoranu G, Chiritoiu-Butnaru M. Therapeutic potential of interleukin-21 in cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1369743. [PMID: 38638431 PMCID: PMC11024325 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1369743] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is an immunostimulatory cytokine which belongs to the common gamma-chain family of cytokines. It plays an import role in the development, differentiation, proliferation, and activation of immune cells, in particular T and natural killer (NK) cells. Since its discovery in 2000, IL-21 has been shown to regulate both adaptive and immune responses associates with key role in antiviral and antitumor responses. Recent advances indicate IL-21 as a promising target for cancer treatment and encouraging results were obtained in preclinical studies which investigated the potency of IL-21 alone or in combination with other therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitory molecules, oncolytic virotherapy, and adoptive cell transfer. Furthermore, IL-21 showed antitumor effects in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer, with minimal side effects in several clinical trials. In the present review, we will outline the recent progress in IL-21 research, highlighting the potential of IL-21 based therapy as single agent or in combination with other drugs to enhance cancer treatment efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gheorghita Isvoranu
- Department of Animal Husbandry,” Victor Babeș” National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marioara Chiritoiu-Butnaru
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
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9
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Liao Y, Yan J, Beri NR, Giulino-Roth L, Cesarman E, Gewurz BE. Germinal center cytokine driven epigenetic control of Epstein-Barr virus latency gene expression. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011939. [PMID: 38683861 PMCID: PMC11081508 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011939] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persistently infects 95% of adults worldwide and is associated with multiple human lymphomas that express characteristic EBV latency programs used by the virus to navigate the B-cell compartment. Upon primary infection, the EBV latency III program, comprised of six Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigens (EBNA) and two Latent Membrane Protein (LMP) antigens, drives infected B-cells into germinal center (GC). By incompletely understood mechanisms, GC microenvironmental cues trigger the EBV genome to switch to the latency II program, comprised of EBNA1, LMP1 and LMP2A and observed in GC-derived Hodgkin lymphoma. To gain insights into pathways and epigenetic mechanisms that control EBV latency reprogramming as EBV-infected B-cells encounter microenvironmental cues, we characterized GC cytokine effects on EBV latency protein expression and on the EBV epigenome. We confirmed and extended prior studies highlighting GC cytokine effects in support of the latency II transition. The T-follicular helper cytokine interleukin 21 (IL-21), which is a major regulator of GC responses, and to a lesser extent IL-4 and IL-10, hyper-induced LMP1 expression, while repressing EBNA expression. However, follicular dendritic cell cytokines including IL-15 and IL-27 downmodulate EBNA but not LMP1 expression. CRISPR editing highlighted that STAT3 and STAT5 were necessary for cytokine mediated EBNA silencing via epigenetic effects at the EBV genomic C promoter. By contrast, STAT3 was instead necessary for LMP1 promoter epigenetic remodeling, including gain of activating histone chromatin marks and loss of repressive polycomb repressive complex silencing marks. Thus, EBV has evolved to coopt STAT signaling to oppositely regulate the epigenetic status of key viral genomic promoters in response to GC cytokine cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Liao
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Integrated Solutions to Infectious Diseases, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jinjie Yan
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Integrated Solutions to Infectious Diseases, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nina R. Beri
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Integrated Solutions to Infectious Diseases, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lisa Giulino-Roth
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ethel Cesarman
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Benjamin E. Gewurz
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Integrated Solutions to Infectious Diseases, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Program in Virology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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10
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Zhang X, Wang J, Tan Y, Chen C, Tang S, Zhao S, Qin Q, Huang H, Duan S. Nanobodies in cytokine‑mediated immunotherapy and immunoimaging (Review). Int J Mol Med 2024; 53:12. [PMID: 38063273 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2023.5336] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are the main regulators of innate and adaptive immunity, mediating communications between the cells of the immune system and regulating biological functions, including cell motility, differentiation, growth and apoptosis. Cytokines and cytokine receptors have been used in the treatment of tumors and autoimmune diseases, and to intervene in cytokine storms. Indeed, the use of monoclonal antibodies to block cytokine‑receptor interactions, as well as antibody‑cytokine fusion proteins has exhibited immense potential for the treatment of tumors and autoimmune diseases. Compared with these traditional types of antibodies, nanobodies not only maintain a high affinity and specificity, but also have the advantages of high thermal stability, a high capacity for chemical manipulation, low immunogenicity, good tissue permeability, rapid clearance and economic production. Thus, nanobodies have extensive potential for use in the diagnosis and treatment of cytokine‑related diseases. The present review summarizes the application of nanobodies in cytokine‑mediated immunotherapy and immunoimaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Medicine, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China
| | - Ying Tan
- Department of Medicine, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China
| | - Chaoting Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China
| | - Shuang Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China
| | - Shimei Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China
| | - Qiuhong Qin
- Department of Medicine, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China
| | - Hansheng Huang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China
| | - Siliang Duan
- Department of Medicine, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China
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11
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Koh CH, Kim BS, Kang CY, Chung Y, Seo H. IL-17 and IL-21: Their Immunobiology and Therapeutic Potentials. Immune Netw 2024; 24:e2. [PMID: 38455465 PMCID: PMC10917578 DOI: 10.4110/in.2024.24.e2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies over the last 2 decades have identified IL-17 and IL-21 as key cytokines in the modulation of a wide range of immune responses. IL-17 serves as a critical defender against bacterial and fungal pathogens, while maintaining symbiotic relationships with commensal microbiota. However, alterations in its levels can lead to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. IL-21, on the other hand, bridges the adaptive and innate immune responses, and its imbalance is implicated in autoimmune diseases and cancer, highlighting its important role in both health and disease. Delving into the intricacies of these cytokines not only opens new avenues for understanding the immune system, but also promises innovative advances in the development of therapeutic strategies for numerous diseases. In this review, we will discuss an updated view of the immunobiology and therapeutic potential of IL-17 and IL-21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Choong-Hyun Koh
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Byung-Seok Kim
- Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea
| | - Chang-Yuil Kang
- Research & Development Center, Cellid Co., Ltd., Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Yeonseok Chung
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hyungseok Seo
- Laboratory of Cell & Gene Therapy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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12
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Giles JR, Globig AM, Kaech SM, Wherry EJ. CD8 + T cells in the cancer-immunity cycle. Immunity 2023; 56:2231-2253. [PMID: 37820583 PMCID: PMC11237652 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
CD8+ T cells are end effectors of cancer immunity. Most forms of effective cancer immunotherapy involve CD8+ T cell effector function. Here, we review the current understanding of T cell function in cancer, focusing on key CD8+ T cell subtypes and states. We discuss factors that influence CD8+ T cell differentiation and function in cancer through a framework that incorporates the classic three-signal model and a fourth signal-metabolism-and also consider the impact of the tumor microenvironment from a T cell perspective. We argue for the notion of immunotherapies as "pro-drugs" that act to augment or modulate T cells, which ultimately serve as the drug in vivo, and for the importance of overall immune health in cancer treatment and prevention. The progress in understanding T cell function in cancer has and will continue to improve harnessing of the immune system across broader tumor types to benefit more patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine R Giles
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anna-Maria Globig
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Susan M Kaech
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - E John Wherry
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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13
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Hesari M, Attar Z, Soltani-Shirazi S, Keshavarzian O, Taheri R, Tabrizi R, Fouladseresht H. The Therapeutic Values of IL-7/IL-7R and the Recombinant Derivatives in Glioma: A Narrative Review. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2023; 43:319-334. [PMID: 37566474 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2023.0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is essential for maintaining the immune system's defense functions by regulating the development and homeostasis of lymphocytes. Findings have shown the high efficacy of IL-7/IL-7 receptor (IL-7R)-based immunotherapy on various malignancies, with confirmation in both animal models and humans. In recent years, the progression-free survival and overall survival of patients suffering from gliomas significantly increased by introducing C7R-expressing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells and long-acting IL-7 agonists such as NT-I7 (rhIL-7-hyFc, Efineptakin alfa). However, the effect of IL-7-based immunotherapies on the resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapy (when used simultaneously with chemotherapy agents) is still ambiguous and requires further studies. This article first reviews the pathophysiological roles of IL-7/IL-7R in tumors, focusing on gliomas. Subsequently, it discusses the therapeutic values of IL-7/IL-7R and the recombinant derivatives in gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zeinab Attar
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shakiba Soltani-Shirazi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Reza Taheri
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Reza Tabrizi
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Hamed Fouladseresht
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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14
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Wu S, Huang H, Sun R, Gao DS, Ye F, Huang J, Li E, Ni A, Lu KG, Chen K, Jiang J, Morel PA, Zhong Z, Lu B. Synergism Between IL21 and Anti-PD-1 Combination Therapy is Underpinned by the Coordinated Reprogramming of the Immune Cellular Network in the Tumor Microenvironment. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:1460-1472. [PMID: 37546701 PMCID: PMC10402650 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
T cell-stimulating cytokines and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are an ideal combination for increasing response rates of cancer immunotherapy. However, the results of clinical trials have not been satisfying. It is important to understand the mechanism of synergy between these two therapeutic modalities. Here, through integrated analysis of multiple single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets of human tumor-infiltrating immune cells, we demonstrate that IL21 is produced by tumor-associated T follicular helper cells and hyperactivated/exhausted CXCL13+CD4+ T cells in the human tumor microenvironment (TME). In the mouse model, the hyperactivated/exhausted CD4+ T cell-derived IL21 enhances the helper function of CD4+ T cells that boost CD8+ T cell-mediated immune responses during PD-1 blockade immunotherapy. In addition, we demonstrated that IL21's antitumor activity did not require T-cell trafficking. Using scRNA-seq analysis of the whole tumor-infiltrating immune cells, we demonstrated that IL21 treatment in combination with anti-PD-1 blockade synergistically drives tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cells to undergo clonal expansion and differentiate toward the hyperactive/exhausted functional state in the TME. In addition, IL21 treatment and anti-PD-1 blockade synergistically promote dendritic cell (DC) activation and maturation to mature DC as well as monocyte to type 1 macrophage (M1) differentiation in the TME. Furthermore, the combined treatment reprograms the immune cellular network by reshaping cell-cell communication in the TME. Our study establishes unique mechanisms of synergy between IL21 and PD-1-based ICI in the TME through the coordinated promotion of type 1 immune responses. Significance This study reveals how cytokine and checkpoint inhibitor therapy can be combined to increase the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoxian Wu
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, P.R. China
| | - Hao Huang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, P.R. China
| | - Runzi Sun
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David Shihong Gao
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Fan Ye
- Anwita Biosciences Inc, San Carlos, California
| | | | - Ella Li
- Anwita Biosciences Inc, San Carlos, California
| | - Andrew Ni
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kevin GuoKai Lu
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kong Chen
- Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jingting Jiang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, P.R. China
| | - Penelope A. Morel
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Binfeng Lu
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, New Jersey
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15
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Lechner MG, Zhou Z, Hoang AT, Huang N, Ortega J, Scott LN, Chen HC, Patel AY, Yakhshi-Tafti R, Kim K, Hugo W, Famini P, Drakaki A, Ribas A, Angell TE, Su MA. Clonally expanded, thyrotoxic effector CD8 + T cells driven by IL-21 contribute to checkpoint inhibitor thyroiditis. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadg0675. [PMID: 37196065 PMCID: PMC10227862 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg0675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune toxicity occurs in up to 60% of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy for cancer and represents an increasing clinical challenge for expanding the use of these treatments. To date, human immunopathogenic studies of immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) have relied on sampling of circulating peripheral blood cells rather than affected tissues. Here, we directly obtained thyroid specimens from individuals with ICI-thyroiditis, one of the most common IRAEs, and compared immune infiltrates with those from individuals with spontaneous autoimmune Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) or no thyroid disease. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed a dominant, clonally expanded population of thyroid-infiltrating cytotoxic CXCR6+ CD8+ T cells (effector CD8+ T cells) present in ICI-thyroiditis but not HT or healthy controls. Furthermore, we identified a crucial role for interleukin-21 (IL-21), a cytokine secreted by intrathyroidal T follicular (TFH) and T peripheral helper (TPH) cells, as a driver of these thyrotoxic effector CD8+ T cells. In the presence of IL-21, human CD8+ T cells acquired the activated effector phenotype with up-regulation of the cytotoxic molecules interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and granzyme B, increased expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR6, and thyrotoxic capacity. We validated these findings in vivo using a mouse model of IRAEs and further demonstrated that genetic deletion of IL-21 signaling protected ICI-treated mice from thyroid immune infiltration. Together, these studies reveal mechanisms and candidate therapeutic targets for individuals who develop IRAEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa G. Lechner
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Zikang Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Aline T. Hoang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Drexel Medical School; Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Nicole Huang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Jessica Ortega
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Lauren N. Scott
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Ho-Chung Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Anushi Y. Patel
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Rana Yakhshi-Tafti
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Rosalind Franklin Medical School; Chicago, IL 60064
| | - Kristy Kim
- UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Willy Hugo
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Pouyan Famini
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Alexandra Drakaki
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Antoni Ribas
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Trevor E. Angell
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, USC Keck School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Maureen A. Su
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
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16
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Kang Y, Zhang W, Yu Q, Gao L, Quan J, Gu F, Wu Y, Tian Y, Wu Z, Shao S, Zhou H, Duan S, Zhou Y, Zhang L, Gao X, Tian H, Yao W. Self-assembled nanoparticles based on DNA origami and a nitrated T helper cell epitope as a platform for the development of personalized cancer vaccines. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023:10.1007/s00262-023-03446-y. [PMID: 37119260 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03446-y] [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: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Neoantigen vaccines constitute an emerging and promising cancer immunotherapy. However, not all neoantigens have anti-tumor activity, as poor CD4+ epitope recognition can lead to the lack of greatly limit the persistence of the CD8+ T cell response. Therefore, we designed a self-assembled nanoplatform hereinafter referred to as DNA-coupled nitrated T helper cell epitope nanoparticle (DCNP) based on DNA origami containing a nitrated CD4 + T cell epitope, which can facilitate the effective activation of neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Moreover, we embedded the cytidine-phosphate-guanosine oligonucleotide (CpG ODN) motif sequence in the DNA skeleton to function as a built-in adjuvant to activate Toll-like receptor 9. DCNP can markedly improve adjuvant and neoantigen co-delivery to lymphoid organs and promote neoantigen presentation on dendritic cells. Moreover, DCNP induced robust, and long-lived neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses that significantly delayed tumor growth. Further, these effects were largely dependent on the nitrated T cell epitope. Collectively, our findings indicate that DCNP is a promising platform that could improve the development of personalized therapeutic neoantigen vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanliang Kang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Wanli Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Qiumin Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Le Gao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Jiale Quan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Fangling Gu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Yuxin Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Yahong Tian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Zijie Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Shishuai Shao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Hongyou Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Shukang Duan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Yixiang Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of General Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, China.
| | - Xiangdong Gao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Hong Tian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Wenbing Yao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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17
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Vinokurova D, Apetoh L. The Emerging Role of IL-9 in the Anticancer Effects of Anti-PD-1 Therapy. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040670. [PMID: 37189417 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PD-1 blockade rescues failing anticancer immune responses, resulting in durable remissions in some cancer patients. Cytokines such as IFNγ and IL-2 contribute to the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 blockade. IL-9 was identified over the last decade as a cytokine demonstrating a potent ability to harness the anticancer functions of innate and adaptive immune cells in mice. Recent translational investigations suggest that the anticancer activity of IL-9 also extends to some human cancers. Increased T cell-derived IL-9 was proposed to predict the response to anti-PD-1 therapy. Preclinical investigations accordingly revealed that IL-9 could synergize with anti-PD-1 therapy in eliciting anticancer responses. Here, we review the findings suggesting an important contribution of IL-9 in the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy and discuss their clinical relevance. We will also discuss the role of host factors like the microbiota and TGFβ in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the regulation of IL-9 secretion and anti-PD-1 treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Vinokurova
- UMR 1231, Lipides Nutrition Cancer, INSERM, 21000 Dijon, France
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, Université de Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Lionel Apetoh
- Brown Center for Immunotherapy, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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18
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Wu P, Zhang Y, Zhu S, Wang M, Zhou P, Wang G, Li W. Chemotherapeutic-caused liver toxicity hinders nanomedicine development. RSC Adv 2023; 13:7656-7663. [PMID: 36923299 PMCID: PMC10009580 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra08148b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Few nanomedicines are approved for clinical cancer treatment as only about 0.7% (median) of nanoparticles enter solid tumors. Nanomedicine as the second medication is usually used in cancer treatment after chemotherapy, immunotherapy surgery, or radiotherapy treatment. However, it is currently unpredictable whether the priority treatment enhances or reduces the therapeutic effect of nanomedicine. Here, by considering prior chemotherapy (5-FU or cisplatin treatment), immunotherapy (IL-2, IL-6, or IL-21-treatment), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS treatment), we compared the biodistribution of AuNPs in the liver, spleen, kidney, and tumor. We found that the accumulation of AuNPs in the liver and spleen increased in cisplatin pretreatment compared to the PBS treatment, while there was no significant effect on the accumulation of AuNPs in the tumor due to cisplatin-induced significant liver damage while other treatments did not change the biodistribution of AuNPs in the liver, spleen, kidney, and tumor. These results indicated that cisplatin pretreatment is not suitable for subsequent nanomedical cancer therapy. Our work opens a new insight to design low-toxicity chemotherapy to be applied before nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University Nantong 226000 China
| | - Yuhang Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University Nantong 226000 China
| | - Shiyao Zhu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University Nantong 226000 China
| | - Mo Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University Nantong 226000 China
| | - Peng Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University Nantong 226000 China
| | - Guishuan Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University Nantong 226000 China
| | - Wenqing Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University Nantong 226000 China
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19
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Kong Y, Tang L, You Y, Li Q, Zhu X. Analysis of causes for poor persistence of CAR-T cell therapy in vivo. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1063454. [PMID: 36761742 PMCID: PMC9905114 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1063454] [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: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T-cell) therapy has been well researched to date because of its ability to target malignant tumor cells. The most common CAR-T cells are CD19 CAR-T cells, which play a large role in B-cell leukemia treatment. However, most CAR-T cells are associated with relapse after clinical treatment, so the quality and persistence of CAR-T cells need to be improved. With continuous optimization, there have been four generations of CARs and each generation of CARs has better quality and durability than the previous generation. In addition, it is important to increase the proportion of memory cells in CAR-T cells. Studies have shown that an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) can lead to dysfunction of CAR-T cells, resulting in decreased cell proliferation and poor persistence. Thus, overcoming the challenges of immunosuppressive molecules and targeting cytokines in the TME can also improve CAR-T cell persistence. In this paper, we explored how to improve the durability of CAR-T cell therapy by improving the structure of CARs, increasing the proportion of memory CAR-T cells and improving the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Kong
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Tang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong You
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Hematology, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojian Zhu
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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20
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Zhou Y, Quan G, Liu Y, Shi N, Wu Y, Zhang R, Gao X, Luo L. The application of Interleukin-2 family cytokines in tumor immunotherapy research. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1090311. [PMID: 36936961 PMCID: PMC10018032 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1090311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Interleukin-2 Family contains six kinds of cytokines, namely IL-2, IL-15, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-21, all of which share a common γ chain. Many cytokines of the IL-2 family have been reported to be a driving force in immune cells activation. Therefore, researchers have tried various methods to study the anti-tumor effect of cytokines for a long time. However, due to the short half-life, poor stability, easy to lead to inflammatory storms and narrow safety treatment window of cytokines, this field has been tepid. In recent years, with the rapid development of protein engineering technology, some engineered cytokines have a significant effect in tumor immunotherapy, showing an irresistible trend of development. In this review, we will discuss the current researches of the IL-2 family and mainly focus on the application and achievements of engineered cytokines in tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyihua Zhou
- Department of Medical Laboratory, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Guiqi Quan
- Department of Medical Laboratory, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Yujun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yahui Wu
- Department of Medical Laboratory, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Ran Zhang
- Department of Medical Laboratory, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Ran Zhang, ; Xiang Gao, ; Longlong Luo,
| | - Xiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Ran Zhang, ; Xiang Gao, ; Longlong Luo,
| | - Longlong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Ran Zhang, ; Xiang Gao, ; Longlong Luo,
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21
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Hui Z, Zhang J, Ren Y, Li X, Yan C, Yu W, Wang T, Xiao S, Chen Y, Zhang R, Wei F, You J, Ren X. Single-cell profiling of immune cells after neoadjuvant pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:607. [PMID: 35831283 PMCID: PMC9279493 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05057-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with chemotherapy (chemoimmunotherapy) in the neoadjuvant setting have achieved favorable clinical benefits in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the mechanism of clinical responses remain unclear. We provide a rich resource of 186,477 individual immune cells from 48 samples of four treatment-naive and eight neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy treated IIIA NSCLC patients (responders versus non-responders) by single-cell RNA-seq and TCR-seq. We observed the synergistic increase of B cells and CD4+ T cells were associated with a positive therapeutic response of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. B cell IgG subclasses IgG1 and IgG3 played a critical role in anti-tumor immune response in tumor lesions, and this process was driven by increased IL-21 secreted by infiltrated T follicular helper (Tfh) cells after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. Furthermore, we uncovered several critical events for positive clinical outcomes, including the diminished activated TNFRSF4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), increased LAMP3+ dendritic cells (DCs), and the expansion of intratumoral CD4+ T clones and peripheral C3-Cytotoxic CD8+ T clones. A validation cohort of 26 treatment-naive and 30 neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy treated IIIA/ IIIB NSCLC patients verified these findings. In total, our comprehensive study of the single-cell profile of immune cells provides insights into mechanisms underlying anti-PD-1-based therapies and identified potential predictive factors and therapeutic targets for improving the efficiency of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Hui
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060 China
| | - Jiali Zhang
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060 China
| | - Yulin Ren
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060 China
| | - Xiaoling Li
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427International Personalized Cancer Center, Tianjin Cancer Hospital Airport Hospital, Tianjin, 300308 China
| | - Cihui Yan
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060 China
| | - Wenwen Yu
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060 China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of R&D, Hangzhou Repugene Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311100 China
| | - Shanshan Xiao
- Department of R&D, Hangzhou Repugene Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311100 China
| | - Yulong Chen
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060 China
| | - Ran Zhang
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Thoracic Oncology Surgery, Tianjin Cancer Hospital Airport Hospital, Tianjin, 300308 China
| | - Feng Wei
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060 China
| | - Jian You
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060 China
| | - Xiubao Ren
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China ,Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060 China ,grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060 China
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22
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The Role of Inflammatory Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Colorectal Carcinoma—Recent Findings and Review. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071670. [PMID: 35884974 PMCID: PMC9312930 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory process plays a significant role in the development of colon cancer (CRC). Intestinal cytokine networks are critical mediators of tissue homeostasis and inflammation but also impact carcinogenesis at all stages of the disease. Recent studies suggest that inflammation is of greater importance in the serrated pathway than in the adenoma-carcinoma pathway. Interleukins have gained the most attention due to their potential role in CRC pathogenesis and promising results of clinical trials. Malignant transformation is associated with the pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic cytokines. The harmony between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors is crucial to maintaining homeostasis. Immune cells in the tumor microenvironment modulate immune sensitivity and facilitate cancer escape from immune surveillance. Therefore, clarifying the role of underlying cytokine pathways and the effects of their modulation may be an important step to improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.
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23
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Donlon NE, Davern M, O’Connell F, Sheppard A, Heeran A, Bhardwaj A, Butler C, Narayanasamy R, Donohoe C, Phelan JJ, Lynam-Lennon N, Dunne MR, Maher S, O’Sullivan J, Reynolds JV, Lysaght J. Impact of radiotherapy on the immune landscape in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:2302-2319. [PMID: 35800186 PMCID: PMC9185220 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i21.2302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the contemporary era of cancer immunotherapy, an abundance of clinical and translational studies have reported radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapies as a viable option for immunomodulation of many cancer subtypes, with many related clinical trials ongoing. In locally advanced disease, chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical excision of the tumour remain the principal treatment strategy in oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), however, the use of the host immune system to improve anti-tumour immunity is rapidly garnering increased support in the curative setting.
AIM To immunophenotype OAC patients’ immune checkpoint (IC) expression with and without radiation and evaluate the effects of checkpoint blockade on cell viability.
METHODS In the contemporary era of cancer immunotherapy, an abundance of studies have demonstrated that combination RT and IC inhibitors (ICIs) are effective in the immunomodulation of many cancer subtypes, with many related clinical trials ongoing. Although surgical excision and elimination of tumour cells by chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy remains the gold standard approach in OAC, the propagation of anti-tumour immune responses is rapidly garnering increased support in the curative setting. The aim of this body of work was to immunophenotype OAC patients’ IC expression with and without radiation and to establish the impact of checkpoint blockade on cell viability. This study was a hybrid combination of in vitro and ex vivo models. Quantification of serum immune proteins was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Flow cytometry staining was performed to evaluate IC expression for in vitro OAC cell lines and ex vivo OAC biopsies. Cell viability in the presence of radiation with and without IC blockade was assessed by a cell counting kit-8 assay.
RESULTS We identified that conventional dosing and hypofractionated approaches resulted in increased IC expression (PD-1, PD-L1, TIM3, TIGIT) in vitro and ex vivo in OAC. There were two distinct subcohorts with one demonstrating significant upregulation of ICs and the contrary in the other cohort. Increasing IC expression post RT was associated with a more aggressive tumour phenotype and adverse features of tumour biology. The use of anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 immunotherapies in combination with radiation resulted in a significant and synergistic reduction in viability of both radiosensitive and radioresistant OAC cells in vitro. Interleukin-21 (IL-21) and IL-31 significantly increased, with a concomitant reduction in IL-23 as a consequence of 4 Gray radiation. Similarly, radiation induced an anti-angiogenic tumour milieu with reduced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A, basic fibroblast growth factor, Flt-1 and placental growth factor.
CONCLUSION The findings of the current study demonstrate synergistic potential for the use of ICIs and ionising radiation to potentiate established anti-tumour responses in the neoadjuvant setting and is of particular interest in those with advanced disease, adverse features of tumour biology and poor treatment responses to conventional therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noel E Donlon
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Maria Davern
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Fiona O’Connell
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Andrew Sheppard
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Aisling Heeran
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Anshul Bhardwaj
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Christine Butler
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Ravi Narayanasamy
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Claire Donohoe
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - James J Phelan
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Niamh Lynam-Lennon
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Margaret R Dunne
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Stephen Maher
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Jacintha O’Sullivan
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - John V Reynolds
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
| | - Joanne Lysaght
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin D08, Ireland
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24
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Roles for macrophage-polarizing interleukins in cancer immunity and immunotherapy. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:333-353. [PMID: 35587857 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00667-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are the most abundant and one of the most critical cells of tumor immunity. They provide a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity through releasing cytokines into the tumor microenvironment (TME). A number of interleukin (IL) cytokine family members is involved in shaping the final phenotype of macrophages toward either a classically-activated pro-inflammatory M1 state with anti-tumor activity or an alternatively-activated anti-inflammatory M2 state with pro-tumor activity. Shaping TME macrophages toward the M1 phenotype or recovering this phenotypic state may offer a promising therapeutic approach in patients with cancer. Here, we focus on the impact of macrophage-polarizing ILs on immune cells and IL-mediated cellular cross-interactions within the TME. The key aim of this review is to define therapeutic schedules for addressing ILs in cancer immunotherapy based on their multi-directional impacts in such a milieu. Gathering more knowledge on this area is also important for defining adverse effects related to cytokine therapy and addressing them for reinforcing the efficacy of immunotherapy against cancer.
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25
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Wei F, Cheng XX, Xue JZ, Xue SA. Emerging Strategies in TCR-Engineered T Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:850358. [PMID: 35432319 PMCID: PMC9006933 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.850358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy of cancer has made tremendous progress in recent years, as demonstrated by the remarkable clinical responses obtained from adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of patient-derived tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells (CAR-T) and T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells (TCR-T). TCR-T uses specific TCRS optimized for tumor engagement and can recognize epitopes derived from both cell-surface and intracellular targets, including tumor-associated antigens, cancer germline antigens, viral oncoproteins, and tumor-specific neoantigens (neoAgs) that are largely sequestered in the cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor cells. Moreover, as TCRS are naturally developed for sensitive antigen detection, they are able to recognize epitopes at far lower concentrations than required for CAR-T activation. Therefore, TCR-T holds great promise for the treatment of human cancers. In this focused review, we summarize basic, translational, and clinical insights into the challenges and opportunities of TCR-T. We review emerging strategies used in current ACT, point out limitations, and propose possible solutions. We highlight the importance of targeting tumor-specific neoAgs and outline a strategy of combining neoAg vaccines, checkpoint blockade therapy, and adoptive transfer of neoAg-specific TCR-T to produce a truly tumor-specific therapy, which is able to penetrate into solid tumors and resist the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We believe such a combination approach should lead to a significant improvement in cancer immunotherapies, especially for solid tumors, and may provide a general strategy for the eradication of multiple cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wei
- Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Xi'An University, Xi'An, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Cheng
- Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Xi'An University, Xi'An, China
| | - John Zhao Xue
- Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Xi'An University, Xi'An, China
| | - Shao-An Xue
- Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Xi'An University, Xi'An, China
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26
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Di Nitto C, Neri D, Weiss T, Weller M, De Luca R. Design and Characterization of Novel Antibody-Cytokine Fusion Proteins Based on Interleukin-21. Antibodies (Basel) 2022; 11:antib11010019. [PMID: 35323193 PMCID: PMC8944420 DOI: 10.3390/antib11010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-21 (IL21) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in the modulation of both innate and adaptive immunity. IL21 is mainly secreted by natural killer (NK) and activated CD4+ T-cells. The biology of this cytokine can be associated to proinflammatory responses reflecting its potent stimulatory activity of NK and CD8+ T-cells. Here we describe four formats of novel IL21-based antibody–cytokine fusion proteins, targeting the extra domain A (EDA) of fibronectin and explore their potential for cancer treatment. The fusion proteins were designed, expressed, and characterized. F8 in single-chain diabody (scDb) format fused to IL21 at its C-terminus exhibited a promising profile in size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and SDS-PAGE. The lead candidate was further characterized in vitro. A cell-based activity assay on murine cytotoxic T-cells showed that human IL21, compared to murine IL21 partially cross-reacted with the murine receptor. The prototype was able to recognize EDA as demonstrated by immunofluorescence analysis on tumor sections. In an in vivo quantitative biodistribution experiment, F8(scDb)-murine IL21 did not preferentially accumulate at the site of disease after intravenous injection, suggesting that additional protein engineering would be required to improve the tumor-homing properties of IL21-based product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Di Nitto
- Philochem AG, 8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (C.D.N.); (D.N.)
| | - Dario Neri
- Philochem AG, 8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (C.D.N.); (D.N.)
- Philogen SpA, Piazza la Lizza 7, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Tobias Weiss
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (T.W.); (M.W.)
- Clinical Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Weller
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (T.W.); (M.W.)
- Clinical Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roberto De Luca
- Philochem AG, 8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (C.D.N.); (D.N.)
- Correspondence:
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27
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Liu Y, Wang G, Chai D, Dang Y, Zheng J, Li H. iNKT: A new avenue for CAR-based cancer immunotherapy. Transl Oncol 2022; 17:101342. [PMID: 35063813 PMCID: PMC8784340 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell is a T lymphocyte-based immunotherapy, which achieves great successes in treating blood malignancies and provides new hope to cue advanced cancer patients. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a kind of special T lymphocytes characterized by expressing invariant TCR of Vα24Vβ11 to recognize CD1d-presented glycolipid antigens, which bridge innate and adaptive immune responses. iNKT cells themselves show strong anti-tumor effect in tumor models via CD1d-mediated killing of CD1d-positive tumor cells and immunosuppressive TAMs and MDSCs, and are closely related to the prognosis of cancer patients. iNKT cells are not restricted to polymorphic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and can prevent Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD), which makes it to be an ideal CAR vector for allogeneic therapy. Although CAR-iNKT was developed and verified by several different teams and attracts more and more attentions, many obstacles are still needed to be resolved before obtaining CAR-iNKT therapeutics. In this review, we summarized the current status of clinical application of iNKT cells and the latest achievements of CAR-iNKT cells, which provides new insight in CAR-iNKT development and usages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Liu
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China
| | - Gang Wang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China; Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China; Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China
| | - Dafei Chai
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China; Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China; Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Dang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China
| | - Junnian Zheng
- Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China; Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China.
| | - Huizhong Li
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China; Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China; Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China.
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28
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The use of supercytokines, immunocytokines, engager cytokines, and other synthetic cytokines in immunotherapy. Cell Mol Immunol 2022; 19:192-209. [PMID: 35043005 PMCID: PMC8803834 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00786-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokines exert powerful immunomodulatory effects that are critical to physiology and pathology in humans. The application of natural cytokines in clinical studies has not been clearly established, and there are often problems associated with toxicity or lack of efficacy. The key reasons can be attributed to the pleiotropy of cytokine receptors and undesired activation of off-target cells. With a deeper understanding of the structural principles and functional signals of cytokine-receptor interactions, artificial modification of cytokine signaling through protein engineering and synthetic immunology has become an increasingly feasible and powerful approach. Engineered cytokines are designed to selectively target cells. Herein, the theoretical and experimental evidence of cytokine engineering is reviewed, and the "supercytokines" resulting from structural enhancement and the "immunocytokines" generated by antibody fusion are described. Finally, the "engager cytokines" formed by the crosslinking of cytokines and bispecific immune engagers and other synthetic cytokines formed by nonnatural analogs are also discussed.
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29
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Wolfarth AA, Dhar S, Goon JB, Ezeanya UI, Ferrando-Martínez S, Lee BH. Advancements of Common Gamma-Chain Family Cytokines in Cancer Immunotherapy. Immune Netw 2022; 22:e5. [PMID: 35291658 PMCID: PMC8901704 DOI: 10.4110/in.2022.22.e5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Swati Dhar
- NeoImmuneTech, Inc., Rockville, MD 20850, USA
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30
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Cui C, Wang J, Fagerberg E, Chen PM, Connolly KA, Damo M, Cheung JF, Mao T, Askari AS, Chen S, Fitzgerald B, Foster GG, Eisenbarth SC, Zhao H, Craft J, Joshi NS. Neoantigen-driven B cell and CD4 T follicular helper cell collaboration promotes anti-tumor CD8 T cell responses. Cell 2021; 184:6101-6118.e13. [PMID: 34852236 PMCID: PMC8671355 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
CD4 T follicular helper (TFH) cells support B cells, which are critical for germinal center (GC) formation, but the importance of TFH-B cell interactions in cancer is unclear. We found enrichment of TFH cell transcriptional signature correlates with GC B cell signature and with prolonged survival in individuals with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We further developed a murine LUAD model in which tumor cells express B cell- and T cell-recognized neoantigens. Interactions between tumor-specific TFH and GC B cells, as well as interleukin (IL)-21 primarily produced by TFH cells, are necessary for tumor control and effector CD8 T cell function. Development of TFH cells requires B cells and B cell-recognized neoantigens. Thus, tumor neoantigens can regulate the fate of tumor-specific CD4 T cells by facilitating their interactions with tumor-specific B cells, which in turn promote anti-tumor immunity by enhancing CD8 T cell effector functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Cui
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Program of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Eric Fagerberg
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ping-Min Chen
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Kelli A Connolly
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Martina Damo
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Julie F Cheung
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Tianyang Mao
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Adnan S Askari
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Shuting Chen
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Brittany Fitzgerald
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Gena G Foster
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Stephanie C Eisenbarth
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Internal Medicine (Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Lab Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Joseph Craft
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Internal Medicine (Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Nikhil S Joshi
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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Wu S, Sun R, Tan B, Chen B, Zhou W, Gao DS, Zhong J, Huang H, Jiang J, Lu B. The Half-Life-Extended IL21 can Be Combined With Multiple Checkpoint Inhibitors for Tumor Immunotherapy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:779865. [PMID: 34869384 PMCID: PMC8634682 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.779865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the era of immune checkpoint blockade cancer therapy, cytokines have become an attractive immune therapeutics to increase response rates. Interleukin 21 (IL21) as a single agent has been evaluated for cancer treatment with good clinical efficacy. However, the clinical application of IL21 is limited by a short half-life and concern about potential immune suppressive effect on dendritic cells. Here, we examined the antitumor function of a half-life extended IL21 alone and in combination with PD-1 blockade using preclinical mouse tumor models. We also determined the immune mechanisms of combination therapy. We found that combination therapy additively inhibited the growth of mouse tumors by increasing the effector function of type 1 lymphocytes. Combination therapy also increased the fraction of type 1 dendritic cells (DC1s) and M1 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, combination therapy also induced immune regulatory mechanisms, including the checkpoint molecules Tim-3, Lag-3, and CD39, as well as myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC). This study reveals the mechanisms of IL21/PD-1 cooperation and shed light on rational design of novel combination cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoxian Wu
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Runzi Sun
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Bo Tan
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Bendong Chen
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Wenyan Zhou
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - David Shihong Gao
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Joshua Zhong
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Hao Huang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Jingting Jiang
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Binfeng Lu
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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32
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Xue D, Hsu E, Fu YX, Peng H. Next-generation cytokines for cancer immunotherapy. Antib Ther 2021; 4:123-133. [PMID: 34263141 PMCID: PMC8271143 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Most studies focus on the first and second signals of T cell activation. However, the roles of cytokines in immunotherapy are not fully understood, and cytokines have not been widely used in patient care. Clinical application of cytokines is limited due to their short half-life in vivo, severe toxicity at therapeutic doses, and overall lack of efficacy. Several modifications have been engineered to extend their half-life and increase tumor targeting, including polyethylene glycol conjugation, fusion to tumor-targeting antibodies, and alteration of cytokine/cell receptor-binding affinity. These modifications demonstrate an improvement in either increased antitumor efficacy or reduced toxicity. However, these cytokine engineering strategies may still be improved further, as each strategy poses advantages and disadvantages in the delicate balance of targeting tumor cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and peripheral immune cells. This review focuses on selected cytokines, including interferon-α, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-15, IL-21, and IL-12, in both preclinical studies and clinical applications. We review next-generation designs of these cytokines that improve half-life, tumor targeting, and antitumor efficacy. We also present our perspectives on the development of new strategies to potentiate cytokine-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diyuan Xue
- Key laboratory of Infection and Immunity Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Da Tun Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Eric Hsu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Yang-Xin Fu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Hua Peng
- Key laboratory of Infection and Immunity Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Da Tun Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
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Lee J, Lozano-Ruiz B, Yang FM, Fan DD, Shen L, González-Navajas JM. The Multifaceted Role of Th1, Th9, and Th17 Cells in Immune Checkpoint Inhibition Therapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:625667. [PMID: 33777008 PMCID: PMC7994325 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.625667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last decade, immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has become a pillar of cancer therapy. Antibodies targeting CTLA-4 or PD-1/PD-L1 have been approved in several malignancies, with thousands of clinical trials currently underway. While the majority of cancer immunotherapies have traditionally focused on enhancing cytotoxic responses by CD8+ or NK cells, there are clear evidences that CD4+ T cell responses can modulate the immune response against tumors and influence the efficacy of ICI therapy. CD4+ T cells can differentiate into several subsets of helper T cells (Th) or regulatory T cells (Treg), with a wide range of effector and/or regulatory functions. Importantly, different Th subsets may have different and sometimes contrasting roles in the clinical response to ICI therapy, which in addition may vary depending on the organ and tumor niche. In this review, we discuss recent evidence that highlights how ICI therapy impacts Th1, Th9, and Th17 cells and vice versa. These data might be important designing better interventions that unleash the full potential of immune response against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongdae Lee
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Beatriz Lozano-Ruiz
- Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.,Networked Biomedical Research Center for Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fengyuan Mandy Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dengxia Denise Fan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liya Shen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jose M González-Navajas
- Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.,Networked Biomedical Research Center for Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Pharmacology, Pediatrics and Organic Chemistry, University Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain.,Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Healthcare Biotechnology in Elche (IDiBE), University Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
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Chen T, Ding X, Liao Q, Gao N, Chen Y, Zhao C, Zhang X, Xu J. IL-21 arming potentiates the anti-tumor activity of an oncolytic vaccinia virus in monotherapy and combination therapy. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2020-001647. [PMID: 33504576 PMCID: PMC7843316 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Oncolytic viruses (OVs) have shown promise in containing cancer progression in both animal models and clinical trials. How to further improve the efficacy of OVs are intensively explored. Arming OVs with immunoregulatory molecules has emerged as an important means to enhance their oncolytic activities majorly based on the mechanism of reverting the immunosuppressive nature of tumor environment. In this study, we aimed to identify the optimal combination of different OVs and immunomodulatory molecules for solid tumor treatment as well as the underlying mechanism, and subsequently evaluated its potential synergy with other immunotherapies. Methods Panels of oncolytic viruses and cells stably expressing immunoregulatory molecules were separately evaluated for treating solid tumors in mouse model. A tumor-targeted replicating vaccinia virus Tian Tan strain with deletion of TK gene (TTVΔTK) was armed rationally with IL-21 to create rTTVΔTK-IL21 through recombination. CAR-T cells and iNKT cells were generated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The impact of rTTVΔTK-IL21 on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was assessed by flow cytometry, and its therapeutic efficacy as monotherapy or in combination with CAR-T and iNKT therapy was assessed in mouse tumor models. Results IL-21 and TTV was respectively identified as most potent immunomodulatory molecule and oncolytic virus for solid tumor suppression in mouse models. A novel recombinant oncolytic virus that resulted from their combination, namely rTTVΔTK-mIL21, led to significant tumor regression in mice, even for noninjected distant tumor. Mechanistically, rTTV∆TK-mIL21 induced a selective enrichment of immune effector cells over Treg cells and engage a systemic response of therapeutic effect. Moreover, its human form showed a notable synergy with CAR-T or iNKT therapy for tumor treatment when coupled in humanized mice. Conclusion With a strong potency of shaping tumor microenvironment toward favoring TIL activities, rTTVΔTK-IL21 represents a new opportunity worthy of further exploration in clinical settings for solid tumor control, particularly in combinatorial strategies with other immunotherapies. One sentence summary IL21-armed recombinant oncolytic vaccinia virus has potent anti-tumor activities as monotherapy and in combination with other immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyue Chen
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangqing Ding
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qibin Liao
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Gao
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ye Chen
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Zhao
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianqing Xu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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