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Munir AZ, Gutierrez A, Qin J, Lichtman AH, Moslehi JJ. Immune-checkpoint inhibitor-mediated myocarditis: CTLA4, PD1 and LAG3 in the heart. Nat Rev Cancer 2024:10.1038/s41568-024-00715-5. [PMID: 38982146 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00715-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized oncology, with nearly 50% of all patients with cancer eligible for treatment with ICIs. However, patients on ICI therapy are at risk for immune-related toxicities that can affect any organ. Inflammation of the heart muscle, known as myocarditis, resulting from ICI targeting cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) and PD1 ligand 1 (PDL1) is an infrequent but potentially fatal complication. ICI-mediated myocarditis (ICI-myocarditis) is a growing clinical entity given the widespread use of ICIs, its increased clinical recognition and growing use of combination ICI treatment, a well-documented risk factor for ICI-myocarditis. In this Review, we approach ICI-myocarditis from a basic and mechanistic perspective, synthesizing the recent data from both preclinical models and patient samples. We posit that mechanistic understanding of the fundamental biology of immune-checkpoint molecules may yield new insights into disease processes, which will enable improvement in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The syndrome of ICI-myocarditis is novel, and our understanding of immune checkpoints in the heart is in its nascency. Yet, investigations into the pathophysiology will inform better patient risk stratification, improved diagnostics and precision-based therapies for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Z Munir
- Section of Cardio-Oncology & Immunology, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alan Gutierrez
- Section of Cardio-Oncology & Immunology, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Juan Qin
- Section of Cardio-Oncology & Immunology, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew H Lichtman
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Javid J Moslehi
- Section of Cardio-Oncology & Immunology, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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2
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Aghakhani A, Pezeshki PS, Rezaei N. The role of extracellular vesicles in immune cell exhaustion and resistance to immunotherapy. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2024:1-20. [PMID: 38795060 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2024.2360209] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound nanoparticles for intercellular communication. Subtypes of EVs, namely exosomes and microvesicles transfer diverse, bioactive cargo to their target cells and eventually interfere with immune responses. Despite being a promising approach, cancer immunotherapy currently faces several challenges including immune resistance. EVs secreted from various sources in the tumor microenvironment provoke immune cell exhaustion and lower the efficacy of immunological treatments, such as CAR T cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors. AREAS COVERED This article goes through the mechanisms of action of various types of EVs in inhibiting immune response and immunotherapies, and provides a comprehensive review of EV-based treatments. EXPERT OPINION By making use of the distinctive features of EVs, natural or modified EVs are innovatively utilized as novel cancer therapeutics. They are occasionally coupled with currently established treatments to overcome their inadequacies. Investigating the properties and interactions of EVs and EV-based treatments is crucial for determining future steps in cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Aghakhani
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- International Hematology/Oncology of Pediatrics Experts (IHOPE), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Parmida Sadat Pezeshki
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- International Hematology/Oncology of Pediatrics Experts (IHOPE), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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3
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Chavanton A, Mialhe F, Abrey J, Baeza Garcia A, Garrido C. LAG-3 : recent developments in combinational therapies in cancer. Cancer Sci 2024. [PMID: 38702996 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16205] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of anticancer immune responses and in particular the action of immune checkpoint inhibitors that overcome T cell inhibition has revolutionized metastatic patients' care. Unfortunately, many patients are resistant to these innovative immunotherapies. Over the last decade, several immune checkpoint inhibitors, currently available in the clinic, have been developed, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 or anti-CTLA-4. More recently, other immune checkpoints have been characterized, among them lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3). LAG-3 has been the subject of numerous therapeutic studies and may be involved in cancer-associated immune resistance phenomena. This review summarizes the latest knowledge on LAG-3 as an immunotherapeutic target, particularly in combination with standard or innovative therapies. Indeed, many studies are looking at combining LAG-3 inhibitors with chemotherapeutic, immunotherapeutic, radiotherapeutic treatments, or adoptive cell therapies to potentiate their antitumor effects and/or to overcome patients' resistance. We will particularly focus on the association therapies that are currently in phase III clinical trials and innovative combinations in preclinical phase. These new discoveries highlight the possibility of developing other types of therapeutic combinations currently unavailable in the clinic, which could broaden the therapeutic spectrum of personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Chavanton
- INSERM, UMR 1231, Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC and « Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer », Dijon, France
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Flavie Mialhe
- INSERM, UMR 1231, Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC and « Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer », Dijon, France
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Jimena Abrey
- INSERM, UMR 1231, Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC and « Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer », Dijon, France
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Alvaro Baeza Garcia
- INSERM, UMR 1231, Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC and « Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer », Dijon, France
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Carmen Garrido
- INSERM, UMR 1231, Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC and « Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer », Dijon, France
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Center for Cancer Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France
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4
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Vivier E, Rebuffet L, Narni-Mancinelli E, Cornen S, Igarashi RY, Fantin VR. Natural killer cell therapies. Nature 2024; 626:727-736. [PMID: 38383621 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06945-1] [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: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system. A key feature of NK cells is their ability to recognize a wide range of cells in distress, particularly tumour cells and cells infected with viruses. They combine both direct effector functions against their cellular targets and participate in the generation, shaping and maintenance of a multicellular immune response. As our understanding has deepened, several therapeutic strategies focused on NK cells have been conceived and are currently in various stages of development, from preclinical investigations to clinical trials. Here we explore in detail the complexity of NK cell biology in humans and highlight the role of these cells in cancer immunity. We also analyse the harnessing of NK cell immunity through immune checkpoint inhibitors, NK cell engagers, and infusions of preactivated or genetically modified, autologous or allogeneic NK cell products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Vivier
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France.
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France.
- APHM, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille-Immunopôle, Marseille, France.
- Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
| | - Lucas Rebuffet
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Emilie Narni-Mancinelli
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Stéphanie Cornen
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
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5
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Moreno-Cubero E, Alrubayyi A, Balint S, Ogbe A, Gill US, Matthews R, Kinloch S, Burns F, Rowland-Jones SL, Borrow P, Schurich A, Dustin M, Peppa D. IL-15 reprogramming compensates for NK cell mitochondrial dysfunction in HIV-1 infection. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e173099. [PMID: 38385747 PMCID: PMC11143930 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.173099] [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: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Dynamic regulation of cellular metabolism is important for maintaining homeostasis and can directly influence immune cell function and differentiation, including NK cell responses. Persistent HIV-1 infection leads to a state of chronic immune activation, NK cell subset redistribution, and progressive NK cell dysregulation. In this study, we examined the metabolic processes that characterize NK cell subsets in HIV-1 infection, including adaptive NK cell subpopulations expressing the activating receptor NKG2C, which expand during chronic infection. These adaptive NK cells exhibit an enhanced metabolic profile in HIV-1- individuals infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). However, the bioenergetic advantage of adaptive CD57+NKG2C+ NK cells is diminished during chronic HIV-1 infection, where NK cells uniformly display reduced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Defective OXPHOS was accompanied by increased mitochondrial depolarization, structural alterations, and increased DRP-1 levels promoting fission, suggesting that mitochondrial defects are restricting the metabolic plasticity of NK cell subsets in HIV-1 infection. The metabolic requirement for the NK cell response to receptor stimulation was alleviated upon IL-15 pretreatment, which enhanced mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activity. IL-15 priming enhanced NK cell functionality to anti-CD16 stimulation in HIV-1 infection, representing an effective strategy for pharmacologically boosting NK cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stefan Balint
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ane Ogbe
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine and
| | - Upkar S. Gill
- Department of Hepatology, Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sabine Kinloch
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Burns
- Institute for Global Health UCL, London, United Kingdom
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Anna Schurich
- School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Dimitra Peppa
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Mortimer Market Centre, Department of HIV, CNWL NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
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6
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Di Ianni M, Liberatore C, Santoro N, Ranalli P, Guardalupi F, Corradi G, Villanova I, Di Francesco B, Lattanzio S, Passeri C, Lanuti P, Accorsi P. Cellular Strategies for Separating GvHD from GvL in Haploidentical Transplantation. Cells 2024; 13:134. [PMID: 38247827 PMCID: PMC10814899 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
GvHD still remains, despite the continuous improvement of transplantation platforms, a fearful complication of transplantation from allogeneic donors. Being able to separate GvHD from GvL represents the greatest challenge in the allogeneic transplant setting. This may be possible through continuous improvement of cell therapy techniques. In this review, current cell therapies are taken into consideration, which are based on the use of TCR alpha/beta depletion, CD45RA depletion, T regulatory cell enrichment, NK-cell-based immunotherapies, and suicide gene therapies in order to prevent GvHD and maximally amplify the GvL effect in the setting of haploidentical transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Di Ianni
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Carmine Liberatore
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
| | - Nicole Santoro
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
| | - Paola Ranalli
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Guardalupi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Giulia Corradi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Ida Villanova
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Barbara Di Francesco
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Stefano Lattanzio
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Cecilia Passeri
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Paola Lanuti
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Patrizia Accorsi
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
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7
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Lupo KB, Torregrosa-Allen S, Elzey BD, Utturkar S, Lanman NA, Cohen-Gadol AA, Slivova V, McIntosh M, Pollok KE, Matosevic S. TIGIT contributes to the regulation of 4-1BB and does not define NK cell dysfunction in glioblastoma. iScience 2023; 26:108353. [PMID: 38053639 PMCID: PMC10694670 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108353] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
TIGIT is a receptor on human natural killer (NK) cells. Here, we report that TIGIT does not spontaneously induce inhibition of NK cells in glioblastoma (GBM), but rather acts as a decoy-like receptor, by usurping binding partners and regulating expression of NK activating ligands and receptors. Our data show that in GBM patients, one of the underpinnings of unresponsiveness to TIGIT blockade is that by targeting TIGIT, NK cells do not lose an inhibitory signal, but gains the potential for new interactions with other, shared, TIGIT ligands. Therefore, TIGIT does not define NK cell dysfunction in GBM. Further, in GBM, TIGIT+ NK cells are hyperfunctional. In addition, we discovered that 4-1BB correlates with TIGIT expression, the agonism of which contributes to TIGIT immunotherapy. Overall, our data suggest that in GBM, TIGIT acts as a regulator of a complex network, and provide new clues about its use as an immunotherapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle B. Lupo
- Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | | | - Bennett D. Elzey
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Sagar Utturkar
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Nadia A. Lanman
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | | | - Veronika Slivova
- Enterprise Clinical Research Operations Biorepository, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - MacKenzie McIntosh
- Histology Research Laboratory, Center for Comparative Translational Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Karen E. Pollok
- In Vivo Therapeutics Core, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Sandro Matosevic
- Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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8
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Dufva O, Gandolfi S, Huuhtanen J, Dashevsky O, Duàn H, Saeed K, Klievink J, Nygren P, Bouhlal J, Lahtela J, Näätänen A, Ghimire BR, Hannunen T, Ellonen P, Lähteenmäki H, Rumm P, Theodoropoulos J, Laajala E, Härkönen J, Pölönen P, Heinäniemi M, Hollmén M, Yamano S, Shirasaki R, Barbie DA, Roth JA, Romee R, Sheffer M, Lähdesmäki H, Lee DA, De Matos Simoes R, Kankainen M, Mitsiades CS, Mustjoki S. Single-cell functional genomics reveals determinants of sensitivity and resistance to natural killer cells in blood cancers. Immunity 2023; 56:2816-2835.e13. [PMID: 38091953 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.11.008] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells can evade natural killer (NK) cell activity, thereby limiting anti-tumor immunity. To reveal genetic determinants of susceptibility to NK cell activity, we examined interacting NK cells and blood cancer cells using single-cell and genome-scale functional genomics screens. Interaction of NK and cancer cells induced distinct activation and type I interferon (IFN) states in both cell types depending on the cancer cell lineage and molecular phenotype, ranging from more sensitive myeloid to less sensitive B-lymphoid cancers. CRISPR screens in cancer cells uncovered genes regulating sensitivity and resistance to NK cell-mediated killing, including adhesion-related glycoproteins, protein fucosylation genes, and transcriptional regulators, in addition to confirming the importance of antigen presentation and death receptor signaling pathways. CRISPR screens with a single-cell transcriptomic readout provided insight into underlying mechanisms, including regulation of IFN-γ signaling in cancer cells and NK cell activation states. Our findings highlight the diversity of mechanisms influencing NK cell susceptibility across different cancers and provide a resource for NK cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olli Dufva
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sara Gandolfi
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jani Huuhtanen
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Olga Dashevsky
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Hanna Duàn
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Khalid Saeed
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jay Klievink
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Petra Nygren
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jonas Bouhlal
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jenni Lahtela
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Näätänen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bishwa R Ghimire
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina Hannunen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pekka Ellonen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Lähteenmäki
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pauliina Rumm
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jason Theodoropoulos
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Essi Laajala
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jouni Härkönen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Petri Pölönen
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Merja Heinäniemi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Maija Hollmén
- Medicity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Shizuka Yamano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ryosuke Shirasaki
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - David A Barbie
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jennifer A Roth
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rizwan Romee
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Michal Sheffer
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Harri Lähdesmäki
- Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Dean A Lee
- Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Ricardo De Matos Simoes
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Matti Kankainen
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Laboratory of Genetics, HUS Diagnostic Center, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusima (HUS), 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Constantine S Mitsiades
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Satu Mustjoki
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
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9
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Bonnevie ED, Dobrzynski E, Steiner D, Hildebrand D, Monslow J, Singh M, Decman V, Krull DL. A machine learning approach toward automating spatial identification of LAG3+/CD3+ cells in ulcerative colitis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21759. [PMID: 38066073 PMCID: PMC10709428 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49163-5] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, automation of digital image analysis has become commonplace in both research and clinical settings. Spurred by recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), tissue sub-compartments and cellular phenotypes within those compartments can be identified with higher throughput and accuracy than ever before. Recently, immune checkpoints have emerged as potential targets for auto-immune diseases. As such, spatial identification of these proteins along with immune cell markers (e.g., CD3+/LAG3+ T-cells) is a crucial step in understanding the potential and/or efficacy of such treatments. Here, we describe a semi-automated imaging and analysis pipeline that identifies CD3+/LAG3+ cells in colorectal tissue sub-compartments. While chromogenic staining has been a clinical mainstay and the resulting brightfield images have been utilized in AI/ML approaches in the past, there are associated drawbacks in phenotyping algorithms that can be overcome by fluorescence imaging. To address these tradeoffs, we developed an analysis pipeline combining the strengths of brightfield and fluorescence images. In this assay, immunofluorescence imaging was conducted to identify phenotypes followed by coverslip removal and hematoxylin and eosin staining of the same section to inform an AI/ML tissue segmentation algorithm. This assay proved to be robust in both tissue segmentation and phenotyping, was compatible with automated workflows, and revealed presence of LAG3+ T-cells in ulcerative colitis biopsies with spatial context preserved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Mohan Singh
- Cellular Biomarkers, GSK, Upper Providence, USA
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10
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Nersesian S, Carter EB, Lee SN, Westhaver LP, Boudreau JE. Killer instincts: natural killer cells as multifactorial cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1269614. [PMID: 38090565 PMCID: PMC10715270 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1269614] [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: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells integrate heterogeneous signals for activation and inhibition using germline-encoded receptors. These receptors are stochastically co-expressed, and their concurrent engagement and signaling can adjust the sensitivity of individual cells to putative targets. Against cancers, which mutate and evolve under therapeutic and immunologic pressure, the diversity for recognition provided by NK cells may be key to comprehensive cancer control. NK cells are already being trialled as adoptive cell therapy and targets for immunotherapeutic agents. However, strategies to leverage their naturally occurring diversity and agility have not yet been developed. In this review, we discuss the receptors and signaling pathways through which signals for activation or inhibition are generated in NK cells, focusing on their roles in cancer and potential as targets for immunotherapies. Finally, we consider the impacts of receptor co-expression and the potential to engage multiple pathways of NK cell reactivity to maximize the scope and strength of antitumor activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nersesian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Emily B. Carter
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Stacey N. Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Jeanette E. Boudreau
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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11
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Motallebnejad P, Kantardjieff A, Cichocki F, Azarin SM, Hu WS. Process engineering of natural killer cell-based immunotherapy. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1314-1326. [PMID: 37142447 PMCID: PMC10523923 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.03.018] [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: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Cell therapy offers the potential for curative treatment of cancers. Although T cells have been the predominantly used cell type, natural killer (NK) cells have attracted great attention owing to their ability to kill cancer cells and because they are naturally suitable for allogeneic applications. Upon stimulation by cytokines or activation by a target cell, NK cells proliferate and expand their population. These cytotoxic NK cells can be cryopreserved and used as an off-the-shelf medicine. The production process for NK cells thus differs from that of autologous cell therapies. We briefly outline key biological features of NK cells, review the manufacturing technologies for protein biologics, and discuss their adaptation for developing robust NK cell biomanufacturing processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedram Motallebnejad
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | - Frank Cichocki
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Samira M Azarin
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Wei-Shou Hu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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12
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Garman B, Jiang C, Daouti S, Kumar S, Mehta P, Jacques MK, Menard L, Manjarrez-Orduno N, Dolfi S, Mukherjee P, Rai SC, Lako A, Koenitzer JD, David JM. Comprehensive immunophenotyping of solid tumor-infiltrating immune cells reveals the expression characteristics of LAG-3 and its ligands. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1151748. [PMID: 37795090 PMCID: PMC10546411 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1151748] [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: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Immune cell expression profiling from patient samples is critical for the successful development of immuno-oncology agents and is useful to understand mechanism-of-action, to identify exploratory biomarkers predictive of response, and to guide treatment selection and combination therapy strategies. LAG-3 is an inhibitory immune checkpoint that can suppress antitumor T-cell responses and targeting LAG-3, in combination with PD-1, is a rational approach to enhance antitumor immunity that has recently demonstrated clinical success. Here, we sought to identify human immune cell subsets that express LAG-3 and its ligands, to characterize the marker expression profile of these subsets, and to investigate the potential relationship between LAG-3 expressing subsets and clinical outcomes to immuno-oncology therapies. Methods Comprehensive high-parameter immunophenotyping was performed using mass and flow cytometry of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from two independent cohorts of samples from patients with various solid tumor types. Profiling of circulating immune cells by single cell RNA-seq was conducted on samples from a clinical trial cohort of melanoma patients treated with immunotherapy. Results LAG-3 was most highly expressed by subsets of tumor-infiltrating CD8 T central memory (TCM) and effector memory (TEM) cells and was frequently co-expressed with PD-1. We determined that these PD-1+ LAG-3+ CD8 memory T cells exhibited a unique marker profile, with greater expression of activation (CD69, HLA-DR), inhibitory (TIM-3, TIGIT, CTLA-4) and stimulatory (4-1BB, ICOS) markers compared to cells that expressed only PD-1 or LAG-3, or that were negative for both checkpoints. In contrast to tumors, LAG-3 expression was more limited in circulating immune cells from healthy donors and solid tumor patients. Additionally, we found abundant expression of the LAG-3 ligands MHC-II and galectin-3 in diverse immune cell types, whereas FGL1 and LSECtin were minimally expressed by immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Lastly, we found an inverse relationship between baseline and on-treatment levels of circulating LAG3 transcript-expressing CD8 memory T cells and response to combination PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockade in a clinical trial cohort of melanoma patients profiled by scRNAseq. Conclusions These results provide insights into the nature of LAG-3- and ligand-expressing immune cells within the TME, and suggest a biological basis for informing mechanistic hypotheses, treatment selection strategies, and combination immunotherapy approaches to support continued development of dual PD-1 and LAG-3 blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Garman
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | - Can Jiang
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | - Sherif Daouti
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | - Sanah Kumar
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | - Priyanka Mehta
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | - Miye K. Jacques
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | - Laurence Menard
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | | | - Sonia Dolfi
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | - Piali Mukherjee
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
- Epigenomics Core Facility, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, NY, United States
| | | | - Ana Lako
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | | | - Justin M. David
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
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13
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Tang J, Xie L, Liu H, Wu L, Li X, Du H, Wang X, Li X, Yang Y. The effect of NK cell therapy on sepsis secondary to lung cancer: A case report. Open Life Sci 2023; 18:20220702. [PMID: 37671093 PMCID: PMC10476478 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0702] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with sepsis face high mortality rates and a bleak prognosis, prompting the need for advanced therapeutic interventions. A male patient diagnosed with moderately low-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma received diverse treatments, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy to inhibit angiogenesis. Subsequently, he developed sepsis after comprehensive treatment, and conventional antibiotic combinations proved ineffective in combating the infection. As an experimental approach, allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell infusion was administered. Following the NK cell infusion, the patient regained consciousness, and laboratory analyses showed reduced infection-related markers, suppressed serum inflammatory cytokines, and elevated anti-tumor cytokines. However, the therapeutic effect only lasted 2-3 days. In vitro investigations demonstrated that the allogeneic NK cell product reduced interleukin-6 levels in the patient's serum. Moreover, subsequent co-cultivation of the NK cell product with the patient's serum resulted in a decrease in the proportion of cytotoxic subpopulations of NK cells and a downregulation of the expression of NK-mediated killing molecules. In conclusion, adoptive transfusion of allogeneic NK cells may improve sepsis symptoms in patients with tumor-related sepsis. In vitro co-culture tests hold promise in providing predictive biomarkers for treatment effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingling Tang
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Lulu Xie
- The Department of Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Honglin Liu
- Cancer Biotherapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Liyun Wu
- Cancer Biotherapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Xiaoyang Li
- Cancer Biotherapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Hang Du
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Xinjun Wang
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, No. 28 Guiyi Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
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14
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Liu R, Zhao E, Yu H, Yuan C, Abbas MN, Cui H. Methylation across the central dogma in health and diseases: new therapeutic strategies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:310. [PMID: 37620312 PMCID: PMC10449936 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01528-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The proper transfer of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein is essential for cell-fate control, development, and health. Methylation of DNA, RNAs, histones, and non-histone proteins is a reversible post-synthesis modification that finetunes gene expression and function in diverse physiological processes. Aberrant methylation caused by genetic mutations or environmental stimuli promotes various diseases and accelerates aging, necessitating the development of therapies to correct the disease-driver methylation imbalance. In this Review, we summarize the operating system of methylation across the central dogma, which includes writers, erasers, readers, and reader-independent outputs. We then discuss how dysregulation of the system contributes to neurological disorders, cancer, and aging. Current small-molecule compounds that target the modifiers show modest success in certain cancers. The methylome-wide action and lack of specificity lead to undesirable biological effects and cytotoxicity, limiting their therapeutic application, especially for diseases with a monogenic cause or different directions of methylation changes. Emerging tools capable of site-specific methylation manipulation hold great promise to solve this dilemma. With the refinement of delivery vehicles, these new tools are well positioned to advance the basic research and clinical translation of the methylation field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Erhu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Huijuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Chaoyu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China.
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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15
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Mac Donald A, Guipouy D, Lemieux W, Harvey M, Bordeleau LJ, Guay D, Roméro H, Li Y, Dion R, Béland K, Haddad E. KLRC1 knockout overcomes HLA-E-mediated inhibition and improves NK cell antitumor activity against solid tumors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1231916. [PMID: 37675109 PMCID: PMC10478211 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1231916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Natural Killer (NK) cells hold the potential to shift cell therapy from a complex autologous option to a universal off-the-shelf one. Although NK cells have demonstrated efficacy and safety in the treatment of leukemia, the limited efficacy of NK cell-based immunotherapies against solid tumors still represents a major hurdle. In the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), inhibitory interactions between cancer and immune cells impair antitumoral immunity. KLRC1 gene encodes the NK cell inhibitory receptor NKG2A, which is a potent NK cell immune checkpoint. NKG2A specifically binds HLA-E, a non-classical HLA class I molecule frequently overexpressed in tumors, leading to the transmission of inhibitory signals that strongly impair NK cell function. Methods To restore NK cell cytotoxicity against HLA-E+ tumors, we have targeted the NKG2A/HLA-E immune checkpoint by using a CRISPR-mediated KLRC1 gene editing. Results KLRC1 knockout resulted in a reduction of 81% of NKG2A+ cell frequency in ex vivo expanded human NK cells post-cell sorting. In vitro, the overexpression of HLA-E by tumor cells significantly inhibited wild-type (WT) NK cell cytotoxicity with p-values ranging from 0.0071 to 0.0473 depending on tumor cell lines. In contrast, KLRC1 KO NK cells exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity when compared to WT NK cells against four different HLA-E+ solid tumor cell lines, with p-values ranging from<0.0001 to 0.0154. Interestingly, a proportion of 43.5% to 60.2% of NKG2A- NK cells within the edited NK cell population was sufficient to reverse at its maximum the HLA-E-mediated inhibition of NK cell cytotoxicity. The expression of the activating receptor NKG2C was increased in KLRC1 KO NK cells and contributed to the improved NK cell cytotoxicity against HLA-E+ tumors. In vivo, the adoptive transfer of human KLRC1 KO NK cells significantly delayed tumor progression and increased survival in a xenogeneic mouse model of HLA-E+ metastatic breast cancer, as compared to WT NK cells (p = 0.0015). Conclusions Our results demonstrate that KLRC1 knockout is an effective strategy to improve NK cell antitumor activity against HLA-E+ tumors and could be applied in the development of NK cell therapy for solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Mac Donald
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Delphine Guipouy
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - William Lemieux
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Hugo Roméro
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Yuanyi Li
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Renaud Dion
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Kathie Béland
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Elie Haddad
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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16
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Schafer CC, Jiang J, Elsamanoudi S, Nousome D, Young DY, Song Y, Sesterhenn IA, Chesnut GT, Tan SH. Immunologic Assessment of Tumors from a Race-matched Military Cohort Identifies Mast Cell Depletion as a Marker of Prostate Cancer Progression. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:1423-1434. [PMID: 37534375 PMCID: PMC10392708 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Elucidating the cellular immune components underlying aggressive prostate cancer, especially among African American (AA) men who are disproportionately affected by this disease compared with Caucasian American (CA) men, will support more inclusive precision medicine treatment strategies. We aimed to evaluate which immune-related genes and cell types are differentially expressed in AA tumors and how immunobiology impacts prostate cancer progression. We purified nucleic acid from tumor biopsies, obtained following radical prostatectomy, from 51 patients (AA = 26, CA = 25). Gene expression was measured using the NanoString platform from which we estimated immune cell abundances and assessed differences between groups based on clinicopathologic data. Product-limit estimates determined associations with biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free and metastasis-free survival. DVL2 and KLRC2 were significantly upregulated in CA tumors and were also associated with worse disease progression. No significant differences in immune cell abundances by race were observed. Highly significant reductions in abundances of mast cells versus tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were found in men with high-grade pathologies and in men who later developed metastases. Low ratios of mast cells versus TILs were associated with worse BCR-free survival and metastasis-free survival. Although estimated immune cell abundances were not different by race, we identified genes involved in metabolism and natural killer cell functions that were differentially expressed between AA and CA tumors. Among the entire cohort, depletion of mast cells within prostatectomy tumors was characteristic of advanced disease and susceptibility to disease progression. Significance Our findings demonstrate that there are immune-related genes and pathways that differ by race. Impaired intratumoral cellular immune composition, especially for TIL-normalized mast cells, may be vital in predicting and contributing to prostate cancer disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara C. Schafer
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jiji Jiang
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sally Elsamanoudi
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Darryl Nousome
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Denise Y. Young
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yingjie Song
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Gregory T. Chesnut
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- Urology Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Shyh-Han Tan
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
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17
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Hoblos R, Kefalakes H. Immunology of hepatitis D virus infection: General concepts and present evidence. Liver Int 2023; 43 Suppl 1:47-59. [PMID: 36074070 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Infection with the hepatitis D virus induces the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis, affecting over 12 million people worldwide. Chronic HDV infection leads to rapid development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in ~70% of patients within 15 years of infection. Recent evidence suggests that an interplay of different components of the immune system are contributing to viral control and may even be implicated in liver disease pathogenesis. This review will describe general concepts of antiviral immune response and elicit the present evidence concerning the interplay of the hepatitis D virus with the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Hoblos
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Helenie Kefalakes
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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18
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Di Matteo S, Munari E, Fiore PF, Santopolo S, Sampaoli C, Pelosi A, Chouaib S, Tumino N, Vacca P, Mariotti FR, Ebert S, Machwirth M, Haas D, Pezzullo M, Pietra G, Grottoli M, Buart S, Mortier E, Maggi E, Moretta L, Caruana I, Azzarone B. The roles of different forms of IL-15 in human melanoma progression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1183668. [PMID: 37334356 PMCID: PMC10272795 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1183668] [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: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Melanoma is a lethal skin cancer, and the risk of developing it is increased by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The production of cytokines such as interleukin-15 (IL-15), induced by the exposure of skin cells to UV rays, could also promote melanoma development. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible role of Interleukin-15/Interleukin-15 Receptor α (IL-15/IL-15Rα) complexes in melanoma development. Methods The expression of IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes by melanoma cells was evaluated both ex vivo and in vitro by tissue microarray, PCR, and flow cytometry. The presence of the soluble complex (sIL-15/IL-15Rα) in the plasma of metastatic melanoma patients was detected using an ELISA assay. Subsequently, we investigated the impact of natural killer (NK) cell activation after rIL-2 starvation followed by exposure to the sIL-15/IL-15Rα complex. Finally, by analyzing public datasets, we studied the correlation between IL-15 and IL-15Rα expressions and melanoma stage, NK and T-cell markers, and overall survival (OS). Results Analysis of a melanoma tissue microarray shows a significant increase in the number of IL-15+ tumor cells from the benign nevi to metastatic melanoma stages. Metastatic melanoma cell lines express a phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-cleavable membrane-bound IL-15 (mbIL-15), whereas cultures from primary melanomas express a PMA-resistant isoform. Further analysis revealed that 26% of metastatic patients present with consistently high plasmatic levels of sIL-15/IL-15Rα. When the recombinant soluble human IL-15/IL-15Rα complex is added to briefly starved rIL-2-expanded NK cells, these cells exhibit strongly reduced proliferation and levels of cytotoxic activity against K-562 and NALM-18 target cells. The analysis of public gene expression datasets revealed that high IL-15 and IL-15Rα intra-tumoral production correlates with the high levels of expression of CD5+ and NKp46+ (T and NK markers) and significantly correlates with a better OS in stages II and III, but not in stage IV. Conclusions Membrane-bound and secreted IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes are continuously present during progression in melanoma. It is notable that, although IL-15/IL-15Rα initially promoted the production of cytotoxic T and NK cells, at stage IV promotion of the development of anergic and dysfunctional cytotoxic NK cells was observed. In a subgroup of melanoma metastatic patients, the continuous secretion of high amounts of the soluble complex could represent a novel NK cell immune escape mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Di Matteo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Piera Filomena Fiore
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Santopolo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Camilla Sampaoli
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Pelosi
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale Unitè Mixte Rechercce (INSERM UMR) 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Faculty De Médecine Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Romana Mariotti
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Stefan Ebert
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Machwirth
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dorothee Haas
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marco Pezzullo
- Core Facility, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DiMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Immunology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Melania Grottoli
- Immunology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stephanie Buart
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale Unitè Mixte Rechercce (INSERM UMR) 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Faculty De Médecine Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Erwan Mortier
- Nantes Université, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Inserm, CRCI2NA, Nantes, France
- LabEx IGO, Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology, Nantes, France
| | - Enrico Maggi
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Bruno Azzarone
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
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19
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Lordo MR, Stiff AR, Oakes CC, Mundy-Bosse BL. Effects of epigenetic therapy on natural killer cell function and development in hematologic malignancy. J Leukoc Biol 2023; 113:518-524. [PMID: 36860165 PMCID: PMC10443672 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic therapy is an emerging field in the treatment of human cancer, including hematologic malignancies. This class of therapeutic agents approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for cancer treatment includes DNA hypomethylating agents, histone deacetylase inhibitors, IDH1/2 inhibitors, EZH2 inhibitors, and numerous preclinical targets/agents. Most studies measuring the biological effects of epigenetic therapy focus their attention on either their direct cytotoxic effects on malignant cells or their effects on modifying tumor cell antigen expression, exposing them to immune surveillance mechanisms. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that epigenetic therapy also has effects on the development and function of the immune system, including natural killer cells, which can alter their response to cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the body of literature studying the effects of different classes of epigenetic therapy on the development and/or function of natural killer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Lordo
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, 460 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, 370 W. 9th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Andrew R. Stiff
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, 460 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Physician Scientist Training Program, The Ohio State University, 370 W. 9th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 460 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Christopher C. Oakes
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, 460 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 460 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Bethany L. Mundy-Bosse
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, 460 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 460 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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20
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Zhong F, Lin Y, Zhao L, Yang C, Ye Y, Shen Z. Reshaping the tumour immune microenvironment in solid tumours via tumour cell and immune cell DNA methylation: from mechanisms to therapeutics. Br J Cancer 2023:10.1038/s41416-023-02292-0. [PMID: 37117649 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02292-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the tumour microenvironment (TME) of solid tumours has attracted more and more attention from researchers, especially those non-tumour components such as immune cells. Infiltration of various immune cells causes tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) heterogeneity, and results in different therapeutic effects. Accumulating evidence showed that DNA methylation plays a crucial role in remodelling TIME and is associated with the response towards immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). During carcinogenesis, DNA methylation profoundly changes, specifically, there is a global loss of DNA methylation and increased DNA methylation at the promoters of suppressor genes. Immune cell differentiation is disturbed, and exclusion of immune cells from the TME occurs at least in part due to DNA methylation reprogramming. Therefore, pharmaceutical interventions targeting DNA methylation are promising. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis) enhance antitumor immunity by inducing transcription of transposable elements and consequent viral mimicry. DNMTis upregulate the expression of tumour antigens, mediate immune cells recruitment and reactivate exhausted immune cells. In preclinical studies, DNMTis have shown synergistic effect when combined with immunotherapies, suggesting new strategies to treat refractory solid tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyun Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yilin Lin
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Changjiang Yang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yingjiang Ye
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhanlong Shen
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China.
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China.
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21
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Hojjatipour T, Maali A, Azad M. Natural killer cell epigenetic reprogramming in tumors and potential for cancer immunotherapy. Epigenomics 2023; 15:249-266. [PMID: 37125432 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are critical members of the innate lymphoid cell population and have a pivotal role in cancer eradication. NK cell maturation, development and function are tightly regulated by epigenetic modifications, which can also be recruited for cancer propagation and immune escape. NK cells have the potential to be activated against tumors through several epigenetic regulators. Given that epigenetic changes are inducible and reversible, focusing on aberrant epigenetic regulations recruited by tumor cells provides a tremendous opportunity for cancer treatment. This review presents a comprehensive picture of NK cell normal epigenetic regulation and cancer-driven epigenetic modifications. From our perspective, a better understanding of epigenetic regulators that can edit and revise NK cells' activity is a promising avenue for NK cell-based therapy in cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Hojjatipour
- Department of Hematology & Blood Transfusion, Students Research Center, School of Allied Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Maali
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Paramedicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Mehdi Azad
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
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22
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Siemaszko J, Marzec-Przyszlak A, Bogunia-Kubik K. Activating NKG2C Receptor: Functional Characteristics and Current Strategies in Clinical Applications. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2023; 71:9. [PMID: 36899273 PMCID: PMC10004456 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-023-00674-z] [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: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
The interest in NK cells and their cytotoxic activity against tumour, infected or transformed cells continuously increases as they become a new efficient and off-the-shelf agents in immunotherapies. Their actions are balanced by a wide set of activating and inhibitory receptors, recognizing their complementary ligands on target cells. One of the most studied receptors is the activating CD94/NKG2C molecule, which is a member of the C-type lectin-like family. This review is intended to summarise latest research findings on the clinical relevance of NKG2C receptor and to examine its contribution to current and potential therapeutic strategies. It outlines functional characteristics and molecular features of CD94/NKG2C, its interactions with HLA-E molecule and presented antigens, pointing out a key role of this receptor in immunosurveillance, especially in the human cytomegalovirus infection. Additionally, the authors attempt to shed some light on receptor's unique interaction with its ligand which is shared with another receptor (CD94/NKG2A) with rather opposite properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagoda Siemaszko
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Marzec-Przyszlak
- Department of Biosensors and Processing of Biomedical Signals, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Zabrze, Poland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
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23
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Berrien-Elliott MM, Jacobs MT, Fehniger TA. Allogeneic natural killer cell therapy. Blood 2023; 141:856-868. [PMID: 36416736 PMCID: PMC10023727 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022016200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest in adoptive cell therapy for treating cancer is exploding owing to early clinical successes of autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T lymphocyte therapy. However, limitations using T cells and autologous cell products are apparent as they (1) take weeks to generate, (2) utilize a 1:1 donor-to-patient model, (3) are expensive, and (4) are prone to heterogeneity and manufacturing failures. CAR T cells are also associated with significant toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, and prolonged cytopenias. To overcome these issues, natural killer (NK) cells are being explored as an alternative cell source for allogeneic cell therapies. NK cells have an inherent ability to recognize cancers, mediate immune functions of killing and communication, and do not induce graft-versus-host disease, cytokine release syndrome, or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. NK cells can be obtained from blood or cord blood or be derived from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, and can be expanded and cryopreserved for off-the-shelf availability. The first wave of point-of-care NK cell therapies led to the current allogeneic NK cell products being investigated in clinical trials with promising preliminary results. Basic advances in NK cell biology and cellular engineering have led to new translational strategies to block inhibition, enhance and broaden target cell recognition, optimize functional persistence, and provide stealth from patients' immunity. This review details NK cell biology, as well as NK cell product manufacturing, engineering, and combination therapies explored in the clinic leading to the next generation of potent, off-the-shelf cellular therapies for blood cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miriam T. Jacobs
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Todd A. Fehniger
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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24
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Ty M, Sun S, Callaway PC, Rek J, Press KD, van der Ploeg K, Nideffer J, Hu Z, Klemm S, Greenleaf W, Donato M, Tukwasibwe S, Arinaitwe E, Nankya F, Musinguzi K, Andrew D, de la Parte L, Mori DM, Lewis SN, Takahashi S, Rodriguez-Barraquer I, Greenhouse B, Blish C, Utz PJ, Khatri P, Dorsey G, Kamya M, Boyle M, Feeney M, Ssewanyana I, Jagannathan P. Malaria-driven expansion of adaptive-like functional CD56-negative NK cells correlates with clinical immunity to malaria. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadd9012. [PMID: 36696483 PMCID: PMC9976268 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.add9012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells likely play an important role in immunity to malaria, but the effect of repeated malaria on NK cell responses remains unclear. Here, we comprehensively profiled the NK cell response in a cohort of 264 Ugandan children. Repeated malaria exposure was associated with expansion of an atypical, CD56neg population of NK cells that differed transcriptionally, epigenetically, and phenotypically from CD56dim NK cells, including decreased expression of PLZF and the Fc receptor γ-chain, increased histone methylation, and increased protein expression of LAG-3, KIR, and LILRB1. CD56neg NK cells were highly functional and displayed greater antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity than CD56dim NK cells. Higher frequencies of CD56neg NK cells were associated with protection against symptomatic malaria and high parasite densities. After marked reductions in malaria transmission, frequencies of these cells rapidly declined, suggesting that continuous exposure to Plasmodium falciparum is required to maintain this modified, adaptive-like NK cell subset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Ty
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Shenghuan Sun
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Perri C Callaway
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John Rek
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Jason Nideffer
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zicheng Hu
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sandy Klemm
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Michele Donato
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation, and Infection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Dean Andrew
- Queensland Institute for Medical Research, Queensland, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Saki Takahashi
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Bryan Greenhouse
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Catherine Blish
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - P J Utz
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Purvesh Khatri
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation, and Infection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Grant Dorsey
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Moses Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Michelle Boyle
- Queensland Institute for Medical Research, Queensland, Australia
| | - Margaret Feeney
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Prasanna Jagannathan
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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25
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López-Botet M, De Maria A, Muntasell A, Della Chiesa M, Vilches C. Adaptive NK cell response to human cytomegalovirus: Facts and open issues. Semin Immunol 2023; 65:101706. [PMID: 36542944 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection exerts broad effects on the immune system. These include the differentiation and persistent expansion of a mature NK cell subset which displays a characteristic phenotypic and functional profile hallmarked by expression of the HLA-E-specific CD94/NKG2C activating receptor. Based on our experience and recent advances in the field, we overview the adaptive features of the NKG2C+ NK cell response, discussing observations and open questions on: (a) the mechanisms and influence of viral and host factors; (b) the existence of other NKG2C- NK cell subsets sharing adaptive features; (c) the development and role of adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells in the response to HCMV in hematopoietic and solid organ transplant patients; (d) their relation with other viral infections, mainly HIV-1; and (e) current perspectives for their use in adoptive immunotherapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel López-Botet
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM). Barcelona, Spain; Department of Medicine and Life Sciences. Univ. Pompeu Fabra. Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Andrea De Maria
- Division of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy; Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Aura Muntasell
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM). Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | | | - Carlos Vilches
- Immunogenetics & Histocompatibility Lab, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro - Segovia de Arana, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
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26
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Hasan MZ, Höltermann C, Petersen B, Schrod A, Mätz-Rensing K, Kaul A, Salinas G, Dressel R, Walter L. Detailed phenotypic and functional characterization of CMV-associated adaptive NK cells in rhesus macaques. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1028788. [PMID: 36518759 PMCID: PMC9742600 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1028788] [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: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research on adaptive NK cells in rhesus macaques suffered from the lack of specific antibodies to differentiate between inhibitory CD94/NKG2A and stimulatory CD94/NKG2C heterodimeric receptors. Recently we reported an expansion of NKG2C receptor-encoding genes in rhesus macaques, but their expression and functional role on primary NK cells remained unknown due to this deficit. Thus, we established monoclonal antibodies 4A8 and 7B1 which show identical specificities and bind to both NKG2C-1 and NKG2C-2 but neither react with NKG2C-3 nor NKG2A on transfected cells. Using a combination of 4A8 and Z199 antibodies in multicolor flow cytometry we detected broad expression (4-73%) of NKG2C-1 and/or NKG2C-2 (NKG2C-1/2) on primary NK cells in rhesus macaques from our breeding colony. Stratifying our data to CMV-positive and CMV-negative animals, we noticed a higher proportion (23-73%) of primary NK cells expressing NKG2C-1/2 in CMV+ as compared to CMV- macaques (4-5%). These NKG2C-1/2-positive NK cells in CMV+ macaques are characterized by lower expression of IL12RB2, ZBTB16, SH2D1B, but not FCER1G, as well as high expression of IFNG, indicating that antibody 4A8 detects CMV-associated adaptive NK cells. Single cell RNA seq data of 4A8-positive NK cells from a rhCMV-positive macaque demonstrated that a high proportion of these adaptive NK cells transcribe in addition to NKG2C-1 and NKG2C-2 also NKG2C-3, but interestingly NKG2A as well. Remarkably, in comparison to NKG2A, NKG2C-1 and in particular NKG2C-2 bind Mamu-E with higher avidity. Primary NK cells exposed to Mamu-E-expressing target cells displayed strong degranulation as well as IFN-gamma expression of 4A8+ adaptive NK cells from rhCMV+ animals. Thus, despite co-expression of inhibitory and stimulatory CD94/NKG2 receptors the higher number of different stimulatory NKG2C receptors and their higher binding avidity to Mamu-E outreach inhibitory signaling via NKG2A. These data demonstrate the evolutionary conservation of the CMV-driven development of NKG2C-positive adaptive NK cells with particular molecular signatures in primates and with changes in gene copy numbers and ligand-binding strength of NKG2C isotypes. Thus, rhesus macaques represent a suitable and valuable nonhuman primate animal model to study the CMV-NKG2C liaison in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zahidul Hasan
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany,PhD program Molecular Biology of Cells, GGNB, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Charlotte Höltermann
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany,PhD program Molecular Biology of Cells, GGNB, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Beatrix Petersen
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annette Schrod
- Animal Husbandry, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Mätz-Rensing
- Pathology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Artur Kaul
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Salinas
- NGS Core Unit for Integrative Genomics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ralf Dressel
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Immunology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lutz Walter
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany,*Correspondence: Lutz Walter,
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Romero-Martín L, Duran-Castells C, Olivella M, Rosás-Umbert M, Ruiz-Riol M, Sanchez J, Hartigan-O Connor D, Mothe B, Olvera À, Brander C. Disruption of the HLA-E/NKG2X axis is associated with uncontrolled HIV infections. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1027855. [PMID: 36466823 PMCID: PMC9716355 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1027855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The contribution of the HLA-E/NKG2X axis in NK-mediated control of HIV infection remains unclear. We have studied the relationship between HLA-E expression and phenotypical as well as functional characteristics of NK cells, in the context of chronic HIV infection and in an in vitro model of acute infection. High viremia in HIV+ individuals was related to increased HLA-E expression, and changes in NK subpopulations, especially a reduction of the CD56bright as well as an increase in adaptive NK subpopulation. Uncontrolled HIV infection was also characterized by a reversion of the NKG2A/NKG2C expression ratio and a loss of positive and negative regulation of NK mediated by HLA-E. This was reflected in a lower cytotoxic, degranulation and cytokine production capacity, especially in CD56bright and adaptive NK. In line with these results, HLA-E expression showed a positive correlation with viral growth inhibition in an in vitro model of acute infection at day 7, which was lost after 14 days of culture. Using HLA-E expressing K562 cells, we determined that only one out of 11 described HIV-derived HLA-E epitopes increased HLA-E surface stability. In spite of that, eight of the 11 epitopes were capable of increasing degranulation and three drove differences in NK-cell mediated cell lysis or cytokine secretion. In conclusion, our results indicate that HLA-E molecules presenting HIV-derived epitopes may sensitize target cells for NK lysis in early HIV infection. However, prolonged exposure to elevated HLA-E expression levels in vivo may lead to NK cell dysfunction and reduced viral control In chronic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Romero-Martín
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Duran-Castells
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Olivella
- University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain
| | - Míriam Rosás-Umbert
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Marta Ruiz-Riol
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Dennis Hartigan-O Connor
- California National Primate Research Center and Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Beatriz Mothe
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain
- Fundació Lluita contra la Sida, Infectious Disease Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Àlex Olvera
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Christian Brander
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
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28
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Immunotherapy targeting inhibitory checkpoints: The role of NK and other innate lymphoid cells. Semin Immunol 2022; 61-64:101660. [PMID: 36370672 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies that target specific ligand-receptor signaling pathways and act as immune checkpoint inhibitors have been designed to remove the brakes in T cells and restore strong and long-term antitumor-immunity. Of note, many of these inhibitory receptors are also expressed by Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs), suggesting that also blockade of inhibitory pathways in innate lymphocytes has a role in the response to the treatment with checkpoint inhibitors. ILCs comprise cytotoxic NK cells and "helper" subsets and are important cellular components in the tumor microenvironment. In addition to killing tumor cells, ILCs release inflammatory cytokines, thus contributing to shape adaptive cell activation in the context of immunotherapy. Therefore, ILCs play both a direct and indirect role in the response to checkpoint blockade. Understanding the impact of ILC-mediated response on the treatment outcome would contribute to enhance immunotherapy efficacy, as still numerous patients resist or relapse.
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Yenyuwadee S, Aliazis K, Wang Q, Christofides A, Shah R, Patsoukis N, Boussiotis VA. Immune cellular components and signaling pathways in the tumor microenvironment. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:187-201. [PMID: 35985559 PMCID: PMC10735089 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
During the past decade there has been a revolution in cancer therapeutics by the emergence of antibody-based and cell-based immunotherapies that modulate immune responses against tumors. These new therapies have extended and improved the therapeutic efficacy of chemo-radiotherapy and have offered treatment options to patients who are no longer responding to these classic anti-cancer treatments. Unfortunately, tumor eradication and long-lasting responses are observed in a small fraction of patients, whereas the majority of patients respond only transiently. These outcomes indicate that the maximum potential of immunotherapy has not been reached due to incomplete knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that guide the development of successful anti-tumor immunity and its failure. In this review, we discuss recent discoveries about the immune cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the role of key signaling mechanisms that compromise the function of immune cells leading to cancer immune escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasitorn Yenyuwadee
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Konstantinos Aliazis
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
| | - Qi Wang
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
| | - Anthos Christofides
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
| | - Rushil Shah
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
| | - Nikolaos Patsoukis
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Vassiliki A Boussiotis
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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30
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Li Y, Basar R, Wang G, Liu E, Moyes JS, Li L, Kerbauy LN, Uprety N, Fathi M, Rezvan A, Banerjee PP, Muniz-Feliciano L, Laskowski TJ, Ensley E, Daher M, Shanley M, Mendt M, Acharya S, Liu B, Biederstädt A, Rafei H, Guo X, Melo Garcia L, Lin P, Ang S, Marin D, Chen K, Bover L, Champlin RE, Varadarajan N, Shpall EJ, Rezvani K. KIR-based inhibitory CARs overcome CAR-NK cell trogocytosis-mediated fratricide and tumor escape. Nat Med 2022; 28:2133-2144. [PMID: 36175679 PMCID: PMC9942695 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-02003-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Trogocytosis is an active process that transfers surface material from targeted to effector cells. Using multiple in vivo tumor models and clinical data, we report that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) activation in natural killer (NK) cells promoted transfer of the CAR cognate antigen from tumor to NK cells, resulting in (1) lower tumor antigen density, thus impairing the ability of CAR-NK cells to engage with their target, and (2) induced self-recognition and continuous CAR-mediated engagement, resulting in fratricide of trogocytic antigen-expressing NK cells (NKTROG+) and NK cell hyporesponsiveness. This phenomenon could be offset by a dual-CAR system incorporating both an activating CAR against the cognate tumor antigen and an NK self-recognizing inhibitory CAR that transferred a 'don't kill me' signal to NK cells upon engagement with their TROG+ siblings. This system prevented trogocytic antigen-mediated fratricide, while sparing activating CAR signaling against the tumor antigen, and resulted in enhanced CAR-NK cell activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rafet Basar
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Guohui Wang
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Enli Liu
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Judy S Moyes
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Li Li
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lucila N Kerbauy
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nadima Uprety
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mohsen Fathi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ali Rezvan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pinaki P Banerjee
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Luis Muniz-Feliciano
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tamara J Laskowski
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Emily Ensley
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - May Daher
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mayra Shanley
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mayela Mendt
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sunil Acharya
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander Biederstädt
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine III: Hematology and Oncology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hind Rafei
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xingliang Guo
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Luciana Melo Garcia
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paul Lin
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sonny Ang
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David Marin
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ken Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Laura Bover
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Richard E Champlin
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Navin Varadarajan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Shpall
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Zhao Y, Zhao J, Zhong M, Zhang Q, Yan F, Feng Y, Guo Y. The expression and methylation of PITX genes is associated with the prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:982241. [PMID: 36204311 PMCID: PMC9530742 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.982241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The PITX gene family, comprising PITX1, PITX2, and PITX3, is critical in organogenesis and has been evolutionary conserved in animals. PITX genes are associated with the advanced progression and poor prognosis of multiple cancers. However, the relationship between the PITX genes and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) has not been reported. Methods: We used data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to analyze the association between PITX mRNA expression and clinicopathological parameters of patients with HNSC. The prognostic value of PITX genes was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier plotter. Multivariate Cox analysis was used to screen out prognosis-associated genes to identify better prognostic indicators. The potential roles of PITX1 and PITX2 in HNSC prognosis were investigated using the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. The correlation between PITX1 and PITX2 expression or methylation and immune cell infiltration was evaluated using the tumor-immune system interaction database (TISIDB). MethSurv was used to identify DNA methylation and its effect on HNSC prognosis. Results:PITX genes expression was correlated with different cancers. PITX1 and PITX2 expression was lower in the patients with HNSC. In HNSC, PITX1 expression was significantly related to the clinical stage, histologic grade, and N stage, while PITX2 expression was only significantly related to the histologic grade. The high expression of PITX3 was significantly related to the histologic grade, T stage, and N stage. Survival analysis revealed that PITX genes had prognostic value in HNSC, which was supported by multivariate Cox analysis. PPI network and enrichment analysis showed that the genes interacting with PITX1 and PITX2 belonged predominantly to signaling pathways associated with DNA binding and transcription. Of the CpG DNA methylation sites in PITX1 and PITX2, 28 and 22 were related to the prognosis of HNSC, respectively. Additionally, PITX1 and PITX2 expression and methylation was associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Conclusion: The PITX genes were differentially expressed in patients with HNSC, highlighting their essential role in DNA methylation and tumor-infiltrating immune cell regulation, as well as overall prognostic value in HNSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqiong Zhao
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengmei Zhong
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fei Yan
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Oral Health Research and Hunan 3D Printing Engineering Research Center of Oral Care and Hunan Clinical Research Center of Oral Major Diseases and Oral Health and Xiangya Stomatological Hospital and Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yunzhi Feng
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yue Guo
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Yue Guo,
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Radandish M, Esmaeil N, Khorvash F, Andalib A. Diagnostic Value of Natural Killer Cells, CD56+ CD16+ Natural Killer Cells, NLRP3, and Lactate Dehydrogenase in Severe/Critical COVID-19: A Prospective Longitudinal Study According to the Severe/Critical COVID-19 Definitions. Viral Immunol 2022; 35:616-628. [PMID: 36099205 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2022.0060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate immunity, as the first line of defense of our immune system, plays a crucial role in defending against SARS-CoV-2 infection and also its immunopathogenesis. We aim to investigate the immune status of natural killer (NK) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, and NLRP3 gene expression in COVID-19 patient blood samples. The immunophenotype of NK cell subsets and NKT cells was detected by flow cytometry and the expression of NLRP3 gene assessed by reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction in 44 COVID-19 patients and 20 healthy individuals. The percentage of most of NK cell subpopulation and NKT cells was significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients. The percentage of CD56dim CD16- NK cell subsets, and NLRP3 gene expression increased. The percentage of total NK cells, CD56+ CD16+ NK cells, and NLRP3 gene expression had acceptable sensitivity and specificity for assisting diagnosis of severe/critical COVID-19. O2 saturation% and lactate dehydrogenase levels showed valuable diagnostic value to identify critical cases. The declined NK and NKT cells in COVID-19 patients and enhanced NLRP3 gene expression were associated with disease severity. Total NK cells, CD56+ CD16+ NK cells, and NLRP3 gene expression might be used as meaningful indicators for assisting diagnosis of severe/critical COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maedeh Radandish
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Nafiseh Esmaeil
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.,Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Farzin Khorvash
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Nosocomial Infections Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Alireza Andalib
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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33
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Harnessing natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy: dispatching the first responders. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:559-577. [PMID: 35314852 PMCID: PMC10019065 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00413-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have crucial roles in the innate immunosurveillance of cancer and viral infections. They are 'first responders' that can spontaneously recognize abnormal cells in the body, rapidly eliminate them through focused cytotoxicity mechanisms and potently produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that recruit and activate other immune cells to initiate an adaptive response. From the initial discovery of the diverse cell surface receptors on NK cells to the characterization of regulatory events that control their function, our understanding of the basic biology of NK cells has improved dramatically in the past three decades. This advanced knowledge has revealed increased mechanistic complexity, which has opened the doors to the development of a plethora of exciting new therapeutics that can effectively manipulate and target NK cell functional responses, particularly in cancer patients. Here, we summarize the basic mechanisms that regulate NK cell biology, review a wide variety of drugs, cytokines and antibodies currently being developed and used to stimulate NK cell responses, and outline evolving NK cell adoptive transfer approaches to treat cancer.
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34
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Zhigarev D, Varshavsky A, MacFarlane AW, Jayaguru P, Barreyro L, Khoreva M, Dulaimi E, Nejati R, Drenberg C, Campbell KS. Lymphocyte Exhaustion in AML Patients and Impacts of HMA/Venetoclax or Intensive Chemotherapy on Their Biology. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143352. [PMID: 35884414 PMCID: PMC9320805 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143352] [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: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are routinely treated with either intensive chemotherapy or DNA hypomethylating agents (HMA) in combination with the Bcl-2 inhibitor, venetoclax. While both treatment regimens are highly cytotoxic to the aggressive AML tumor cells, they are also toxic to immune cells. Therefore, we sought to establish the detrimental impacts of these therapies on lymphocytes and their recovery over time in AML patients. Even prior to treatment initiation, the patients were found to have exhausted lymphocytes in peripheral blood, and additional signs of exhaustion were noted after treatment with HMA/venetoclax. In fact, the lymphocytes were still suppressed for two to three months after the initiation of induction therapy. Furthermore, T cells in a subset of patients subsequently found to be resistant to venetoclax therapy exhibited a higher expression of perforin and CD39 and more pronounced IFN-γ production. Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy that requires rapid treatment with chemotherapies to reduce tumor burden. However, these chemotherapies can compromise lymphocyte function, thereby hindering normal anti-tumor immune responses and likely limiting the efficacy of subsequent immunotherapy. To better understand these negative impacts, we assessed the immunological effects of standard-of-care AML therapies on lymphocyte phenotype and function over time. When compared to healthy donors, untreated AML patients showed evidence of lymphocyte activation and exhaustion and had more prevalent CD57+NKG2C+ adaptive NK cells, which was independent of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) status. HMA/venetoclax treatment resulted in a greater fraction of T cells with effector memory phenotype, inhibited IFN-γ secretion by CD8+ T cells, upregulated perforin expression in NK cells, downregulated PD-1 and 2B4 expression on CD4+ T cells, and stimulated Treg proliferation and CTLA-4 expression. Additionally, we showed increased expression of perforin and CD39 and enhanced IFN-γ production by T cells from pre-treatment blood samples of venetoclax-resistant AML patients. Our results provide insight into the lymphocyte status in previously untreated AML patients and the effects of standard-of-care treatments on their biology and functions. We also found novel pre-treatment characteristics of T cells that could potentially predict venetoclax resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Zhigarev
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (D.Z.); (A.W.M.IV)
- Department of Immunology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow 117997, Russia;
| | - Asya Varshavsky
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA;
| | - Alexander W. MacFarlane
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (D.Z.); (A.W.M.IV)
| | - Prathiba Jayaguru
- Oncology Translational Research, Janssen R&D, Spring House, PA 19477, USA; (P.J.); (L.B.); (C.D.)
| | - Laura Barreyro
- Oncology Translational Research, Janssen R&D, Spring House, PA 19477, USA; (P.J.); (L.B.); (C.D.)
| | - Marina Khoreva
- Department of Immunology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow 117997, Russia;
| | - Essel Dulaimi
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (E.D.); (R.N.)
| | - Reza Nejati
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (E.D.); (R.N.)
| | - Christina Drenberg
- Oncology Translational Research, Janssen R&D, Spring House, PA 19477, USA; (P.J.); (L.B.); (C.D.)
| | - Kerry S. Campbell
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (D.Z.); (A.W.M.IV)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-215-728-7761; Fax: +1-215-727-2412
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35
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Rovito R, Augello M, Ben-Haim A, Bono V, d'Arminio Monforte A, Marchetti G. Hallmarks of Severe COVID-19 Pathogenesis: A Pas de Deux Between Viral and Host Factors. Front Immunol 2022; 13:912336. [PMID: 35757770 PMCID: PMC9231592 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.912336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Two years into Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a comprehensive characterization of the pathogenesis of severe and critical forms of COVID-19 is still missing. While a deep dysregulation of both the magnitude and functionality of innate and adaptive immune responses have been described in severe COVID-19, the mechanisms underlying such dysregulations are still a matter of scientific debate, in turn hampering the identification of new therapies and of subgroups of patients that would most benefit from individual clinical interventions. Here we review the current understanding of viral and host factors that contribute to immune dysregulation associated with COVID-19 severity in the attempt to unfold and broaden the comprehension of COVID-19 pathogenesis and to define correlates of protection to further inform strategies of targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Rovito
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Santi Paolo e Carlo, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Augello
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Santi Paolo e Carlo, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Assaf Ben-Haim
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Santi Paolo e Carlo, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Bono
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Santi Paolo e Carlo, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella d'Arminio Monforte
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Santi Paolo e Carlo, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Marchetti
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Santi Paolo e Carlo, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Han J, Wan M, Ma Z, He P. The TOX subfamily: all-round players in the immune system. Clin Exp Immunol 2022; 208:268-280. [PMID: 35485425 PMCID: PMC9226143 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxac037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymocyte selection-related HMG box protein (TOX) subfamily comprises evolutionarily conserved DNA-binding proteins, and is expressed in certain immune cell subsets and plays key roles in the development of CD4+ T cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, and in CD8+ T-cell exhaustion. Although its roles in CD4+ T and natural killer (NK) cells have been extensively studied, recent findings have demonstrated previously unknown roles for TOX in the development of ILCs, Tfh cells, as well as CD8+ T-cell exhaustion; however, the molecular mechanism underlying TOX regulation of these immune cells remains to be elucidated. In this review, we discuss recent studies on the influence of TOX on the development of various immune cells and CD8+ T-cell exhaustion and the roles of specific TOX family members in the immune system. Moreover, this review suggests candidate regulatory targets for cell therapy and immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Han
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Minjie Wan
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.,Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Zhanchuan Ma
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Ping He
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Myers JA, Schirm D, Bendzick L, Hopps R, Selleck C, Hinderlie P, Felices M, Miller JS. Balanced engagement of activating and inhibitory receptors mitigates human NK cell exhaustion. JCI Insight 2022; 7:150079. [PMID: 35727627 PMCID: PMC9462468 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell exhaustion is caused by chronic exposure to activating stimuli during viral infection, tumorigenesis, and prolonged cytokine treatment. Evidence suggests that exhaustion may play a role in disease progression, however relative to T cell exhaustion, the mechanisms underlying NK cell exhaustion and methods of reversing it are poorly understood. Here, we describe a novel in vitro model of exhaustion that employs plate-bound agonists of the NK cell activating receptors NKp46 and NKG2D to induce canonical exhaustion phenotypes. In this model, prolonged activation results in downregulation of activating receptors, upregulation of checkpoint markers, decreased cytokine production and cytotoxicity in vitro, defects in glycolytic metabolism, and decreased persistence, function, and tumor control in vivo. Furthermore, we discover a beneficial effect of NK cell inhibitory receptor signaling during exhaustion. By simultaneously engaging the inhibitory receptor NKG2A during activation in our model, cytokine production and cytotoxicity defects can be mitigated, suggesting that balancing positive and negative signals integrated by effector NK cells can be beneficial for anti-tumor immunity. Together, these data uncover some of the mechanisms underlying NK cell exhaustion in humans and establish our novel in vitro model as a valuable tool for studying the processes regulating exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Myers
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Dawn Schirm
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Laura Bendzick
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Rachel Hopps
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Carly Selleck
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Peter Hinderlie
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Martin Felices
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
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Rashidi A, La Rosa C, Curtsinger J, Cao Q, Zhou Q, Lingaraju CR, Weisdorf DJ, Cichocki F, Miller JS, Diamond DJ. CMV Triplex Vaccine to Enhance Adaptive NK and T-cell Reconstitution After Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. Transplant Cell Ther 2022; 28:343.e1-343.e4. [PMID: 35272066 PMCID: PMC9198005 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.03.003] [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: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) augments adaptive (CD56dimNKG2C+CD57+) natural killer (NK) and CMV-specific T cells, with potential antitumor effects. Our recent work found an association between higher abundance of adaptive NK cells after auto-HCT and lower risk of relapse in patients with multiple myeloma. Triplex vaccine is a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara expressing immunodominant CMV antigens, which significantly enhanced CMV-specific T-cell immune responses in allo-HCT recipients. We evaluated whether 2 doses of the vaccine after auto-HCT in patients with lymphoma or myeloma improves reconstitution of adaptive NK and CMV-specific T cells. The primary endpoint was the number of adaptive NK cells at day 100 (∼1 month after dose 2) relative to day 28 (before dose 1). We conducted a single-arm phase 2 clinical trial of 20 patients with lymphoma or myeloma undergoing auto-HCT. Two doses of the vaccine were given on days 28 and 56. Adaptive NK cells increased in CMV-seronegative patients (P = .02), a rise that was more substantial than in unvaccinated historical CMV-seronegative cohorts (P = .03 comparing the rise between the 2 cohorts). There was also an increase in both CD4+ and CD8+ CMV-specific T cells in CMV-seronegative patients (P = .01) and CMV-specific CD8+ effector T cells in CMV-seropositive patients (P = .03). Triplex vaccine improved reconstitution of adaptive NK and CMV-specific T cells after auto-HCT in patients with lymphoma and myeloma. Further study is needed to determine the clinical impact of this modulation of immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Rashidi
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Corinna La Rosa
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Julie Curtsinger
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Qing Cao
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Qiao Zhou
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Chetan Raj Lingaraju
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Daniel J. Weisdorf
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Frank Cichocki
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Jeffrey S. Miller
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Don J. Diamond
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
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Wiedemann GM. Localization Matters: Epigenetic Regulation of Natural Killer Cells in Different Tissue Microenvironments. Front Immunol 2022; 13:913054. [PMID: 35707540 PMCID: PMC9191276 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.913054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer cells (NK cells) are cytotoxic innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), which play a key role in the early protection against viral infection and cancer. In addition to mounting rapid effector responses, NK cells possess the capacity to generate long-lived memory cells in response to certain stimuli, thus blurring the lines between innate and adaptive immunity and making NK cells an ideal candidate for tumor immunotherapy. NK cell development, activation and memory formation are regulated by epigenetic alterations driven by a complex interplay of external and internal signals. These epigenetic modifications can convey long-lasting functional and phenotypic changes and critically modify their response to stimulation. Here, we review how NK cell functionality and plasticity are regulated at the epigenetic level in different tissue microenvironments and within tumor microenvironments. An in-depth understanding of the epigenetic modifications underlying NK cell functional diversity in different environments is an essential step in the development of NK cell-based cancer therapies.
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Astorga-Gamaza A, Grau-Expósito J, Burgos J, Navarro J, Curran A, Planas B, Suanzes P, Falcó V, Genescà M, Buzon M. Identification of HIV-reservoir cells with reduced susceptibility to antibody-dependent immune response. eLife 2022; 11:78294. [PMID: 35616530 PMCID: PMC9177146 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV establishes a persistent infection in heterogeneous cell reservoirs, which can be maintained by different mechanisms including cellular proliferation, and represent the main obstacle to curing the infection. The expression of the Fcγ receptor CD32 has been identified as a marker of the active cell reservoirs in people on antiretroviral therapy, but if its expression has any role in conferring advantage for viral persistence is unknown. Here, we report that HIV-infected cells expressing CD32 have reduced susceptibility to natural killer (NK) antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) by a mechanism compatible with the suboptimal binding of HIV-specific antibodies. Infected CD32 cells have increased proliferative capacity in the presence of immune complexes, and are more resistant to strategies directed to potentiate NK function. Remarkably, reactivation of the latent reservoir from antiretroviral-treated people living with HIV increases the pool of infected CD32 cells, which are largely resistant to the ADCC immune mechanism. Thus, we report the existence of reservoir cells that evade part of the NK immune response through the expression of CD32.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joaquín Burgos
- Infectious Disease Department, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
| | - Jordi Navarro
- Infectious Disease Department, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
| | - Adrià Curran
- Infectious Disease Department, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
| | - Bibiana Planas
- Infectious Disease Department, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
| | - Paula Suanzes
- Infectious Disease Department, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
| | - Vicenç Falcó
- Infectious Disease Department, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
| | - Meritxell Genescà
- Infectious Disease Department, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
| | - Maria Buzon
- Infectious Disease Department, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
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NKG2C+ NK Cells for Immunotherapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105857. [PMID: 35628668 PMCID: PMC9148069 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In glioblastoma, non-classical human leucocyte antigen E (HLA-E) and HLA-G are frequently overexpressed. HLA-E loaded with peptides derived from HLA class I and from HLA-G contributes to inhibition of natural killer (NK) cells with expression of the inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A. We investigated whether NK cells expressing the activating CD94/NKG2C receptor counterpart were able to exert anti-glioma effects. NKG2C+ subsets were preferentially expanded by a feeder cell line engineered to express an artificial disulfide-stabilized trimeric HLA-E ligand (HLA-E*spG). NK cells expanded by a feeder cell line, which facilitates outgrowth of conventional NKG2A+, and fresh NK cells, were included for comparison. Expansion via the HLA-E*spG feeder cells selectively increased the fraction of NKG2C+ NK cells, which displayed a higher frequency of KIR2DL2/L3/S2 and CD16 when compared to expanded NKG2A+ NK cells. NKG2C+ NK cells exhibited increased cytotoxicity against K562 and KIR:HLA-matched and -mismatched primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells when compared to NKG2A+ NK cells and corresponding fresh NK cells. Cytotoxic responses of NKG2C+ NK cells were even more pronounced when utilizing target cells engineered with HLA-E*spG. These findings support the notion that NKG2C+ NK cells have potential therapeutic value for treating gliomas.
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Dunai C, Ames E, Ochoa MC, Fernandez-Sendin M, Melero I, Simonetta F, Baker J, Alvarez M. Killers on the loose: Immunotherapeutic strategies to improve NK cell-based therapy for cancer treatment. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 370:65-122. [PMID: 35798507 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that control tumor progression by not only directly killing cancer cells, but also by regulating other immune cells, helping to orchestrate a coordinated anti-tumor response. However, despite the tremendous potential that this cell type has, the clinical results obtained from diverse NK cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies have been, until recent years, rather modest. The intrinsic regulatory mechanisms that are involved in the control of their activation as well as the multiple mechanisms that tumor cells have developed to escape NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity likely account for the unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. The current approaches to improve long-term NK cell function are centered on modulating different molecules involved in both the activation and inhibition of NK cells, and the latest data seems to advocate for combining strategies that target multiple aspects of NK cell regulation. In this review, we summarize the different strategies (such as engineered NK cells, CAR-NK, NK cell immune engagers) that are currently being used to take advantage of this potent and complex immune cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cordelia Dunai
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Erik Ames
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Maria C Ochoa
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Myriam Fernandez-Sendin
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Melero
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain; Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Translational Research Centre in Onco-Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Maite Alvarez
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
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Gao F, Zhou Z, Lin Y, Shu G, Yin G, Zhang T. Biology and Clinical Relevance of HCMV-Associated Adaptive NK Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:830396. [PMID: 35464486 PMCID: PMC9022632 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.830396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are an important component of the innate immune system due to their strong ability to kill virally infected or transformed cells without prior exposure to the antigen (Ag). However, the biology of human NK (hNK) cells has largely remained elusive. Recent advances have characterized several novel hNK subsets. Among them, adaptive NK cells demonstrate an intriguing specialized antibody (Ab)-dependent response and several adaptive immune features. Most adaptive NK cells express a higher level of NKG2C but lack an intracellular signaling adaptor, FcϵRIγ (hereafter abbreviated as FcRγ). The specific expression pattern of these genes, with other signature genes, is the result of a specific epigenetic modification. The expansion of adaptive NK cells in vivo has been documented in various viral infections, while the frequency of adaptive NK cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells correlates with improved prognosis of monoclonal Ab treatment against leukemia. This review summarizes the discovery and signature phenotype of adaptive NK cells. We also discuss the reported association between adaptive NK cells and pathological conditions. Finally, we briefly highlight the application of adaptive NK cells in adoptive cell therapy against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Gao
- Immuno-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhengwei Zhou
- Immuno-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ying Lin
- Immuno-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guang Shu
- Immuno-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Gang Yin
- Immuno-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tianxiang Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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Kennedy PR, Felices M, Miller JS. Challenges to the broad application of allogeneic natural killer cell immunotherapy of cancer. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:165. [PMID: 35414042 PMCID: PMC9006579 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02769-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that recognize malignant cells through a wide array of germline-encoded receptors. Triggering of activating receptors results in cytotoxicity and broad immune system activation. The former is achieved through release of cytotoxic granules and presentation of death receptor ligands, while the latter is mediated by inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor α. Early success with ex vivo activation of NK cells and adoptive transfer suggest they are a safe therapeutic with promising responses in advanced hematologic malignancies. In particular, adoptive NK cell therapies can serve as a 'bridge' to potentially curative allogeneic stem cell transplantation. In addition, strategies are being developed that expand large numbers of cells from limited starting material and mature NK cells from precursors. Together, these make 'off-the-shelf' NK cells possible to treat a wide range of cancers. Research efforts have focused on creating a range of tools that increase targeting of therapeutic NK cells toward cancer-from therapeutic antibodies that drive antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, to chimeric antigen receptors. As these novel therapies start to show promise in clinical trials, the field is rapidly moving toward addressing other challenges that limit NK cell therapeutics and the goal to treat solid tumors. This review describes the state of therapeutic NK cell targeting of tumors; discusses the challenges that need to be addressed before NK cells can be applied as a wide-ranging treatment for cancer; and points to some of the innovations that are being developed to surmount these challenges. Suppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment pose a direct threat to therapeutic NK cells, through presentation of inhibitory ligands and secretion of suppressive cytokines and metabolites. The nutrient- and oxygen-starved conditions under which NK cells must function necessitate an understanding of therapeutic NK cell metabolism that is still emerging. Prior to these challenges, NK cells must find their way into and persist in the tumor itself. Finally, the desirability of a 'single-shot' NK cell treatment and the problems and benefits of a short-lived rejection-prone NK cellular product are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippa R Kennedy
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, MCRB Rm 520, 425 E River Rd Parkway, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Martin Felices
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, MCRB Rm 520, 425 E River Rd Parkway, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Miller
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, MCRB Rm 520, 425 E River Rd Parkway, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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45
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Zhang W, Zhao Z, Li F. Natural killer cell dysfunction in cancer and new strategies to utilize NK cell potential for cancer immunotherapy. Mol Immunol 2022; 144:58-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2022.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Astaneh M, Rezazadeh H, Hossein-Nataj H, Shekarriz R, Zaboli E, Shabani M, Asgarian-Omran H. Tim-3 and PD-1 blocking cannot restore the functional properties of natural killer cells in early clinical stages of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: An in vitro study. J Cancer Res Ther 2022; 18:704-711. [PMID: 35900543 DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_52_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and T-cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) are two major immune checkpoint receptors expressed on immune cells and their expression is related to the exhaustion phenotype. In the present in vitro study, blocking of PD-1 and Tim-3 molecules was performed on isolated natural killer (NK) cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to restore their functional properties. Materials and Methods NK cells fraction was positively isolated from fresh peripheral blood of 18 CLL patients, treated with anti-PD-1 and anti-Tim-3 blocking monoclonal antibodies and co-cultured with K562 target cells to evaluate their apoptosis induction by Annexin V-PI method. Blocked NK cells were also incubated with anti-CD107a antibody to assess their degranulation properties by flow cytometry. The level of secreted tumor node factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) by NK cells was also measured by ELISA. Results Our results showed similar functional properties in terms of degranulation and apoptosis of K562 target cells by isolated NK cells from CLL patients in PD-1/Tim-3 blocked and control groups. It was also shown that blocking of PD-1 and Tim-3 could not improve the production of pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IFN-γ cytokines by isolated NK cells from CLL patients. Conclusion Altogether, our results indicated that pretreatment of NK cells with anti-PD-1 and anti-Tim-3 blocking antibodies in CLL patients at early clinical stages cannot improve their functional properties. Besides many other malignancies, the application of checkpoint inhibitors in CLL needs more investigations and complementary studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojgan Astaneh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Hadiseh Rezazadeh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Hadi Hossein-Nataj
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ramin Shekarriz
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ehsan Zaboli
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahdi Shabani
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Asgarian-Omran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences; Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences; Immunogenetics Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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Abstract
The discovery of immune checkpoints (ICs) and the development of specific blockers to relieve immune effector cells from this inhibiting mechanism has changed the view of anti-cancer therapy. In addition to cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and programmed death 1 (PD1), classical ICs of T lymphocytes and recently described also on a fraction of natural killer (NK) cells, several NK cell receptors, including killer immunoglobulin-like inhibitory receptors (KIRs) and NGK2A, have been recognized as checkpoint members typical of the NK cell population. This offers the opportunity of a dual-checkpoint inhibition approach, targeting classical and non-classical ICs and leading to a synergistic therapeutic effect. In this review, we will overview and discuss this new perspective, focusing on the most relevant candidates for this role among the variety of potential NK ICs. Beside listing and defining classical ICs expressed also by NK cells, or non-classical ICs either on T or on NK cells, we will address their role in NK cell survival, chronic stimulation or functional exhaustion, and the potential relevance of this phenomenon on anti-tumor immune response. Furthermore, NK ICs will be proposed as possible new targets for the development of efficient combined immunotherapy, not forgetting the relevant concerns that may be raised on NK IC blockade. Finally, the impact of epigenetic drugs in such a complex therapeutic picture will be briefly addressed.
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48
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Brauning A, Rae M, Zhu G, Fulton E, Admasu TD, Stolzing A, Sharma A. Aging of the Immune System: Focus on Natural Killer Cells Phenotype and Functions. Cells 2022; 11:cells11061017. [PMID: 35326467 PMCID: PMC8947539 DOI: 10.3390/cells11061017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is the greatest risk factor for nearly all major chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases of aging. Age-related impairment of immune function (immunosenescence) is one important cause of age-related morbidity and mortality, which may extend beyond its role in infectious disease. One aspect of immunosenescence that has received less attention is age-related natural killer (NK) cell dysfunction, characterized by reduced cytokine secretion and decreased target cell cytotoxicity, accompanied by and despite an increase in NK cell numbers with age. Moreover, recent studies have revealed that NK cells are the central actors in the immunosurveillance of senescent cells, whose age-related accumulation is itself a probable contributor to the chronic sterile low-grade inflammation developed with aging (“inflammaging”). NK cell dysfunction is therefore implicated in the increasing burden of infection, malignancy, inflammatory disorders, and senescent cells with age. This review will focus on recent advances and open questions in understanding the interplay between systemic inflammation, senescence burden, and NK cell dysfunction in the context of aging. Understanding the factors driving and enforcing NK cell aging may potentially lead to therapies countering age-related diseases and underlying drivers of the biological aging process itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Brauning
- SENS Research Foundation, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA; (A.B.); (M.R.); (G.Z.); (E.F.); (T.D.A.)
| | - Michael Rae
- SENS Research Foundation, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA; (A.B.); (M.R.); (G.Z.); (E.F.); (T.D.A.)
| | - Gina Zhu
- SENS Research Foundation, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA; (A.B.); (M.R.); (G.Z.); (E.F.); (T.D.A.)
| | - Elena Fulton
- SENS Research Foundation, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA; (A.B.); (M.R.); (G.Z.); (E.F.); (T.D.A.)
| | - Tesfahun Dessale Admasu
- SENS Research Foundation, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA; (A.B.); (M.R.); (G.Z.); (E.F.); (T.D.A.)
| | - Alexandra Stolzing
- SENS Research Foundation, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA; (A.B.); (M.R.); (G.Z.); (E.F.); (T.D.A.)
- Centre for Biological Engineering, Wolfson School of Electrical, Material and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Amit Sharma
- SENS Research Foundation, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA; (A.B.); (M.R.); (G.Z.); (E.F.); (T.D.A.)
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (A.S.)
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49
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Zenhausern R, Day AS, Safavinia B, Han S, Rudy PE, Won YW, Yoon JY. Natural killer cell detection, quantification, and subpopulation identification on paper microfluidic cell chromatography using smartphone-based machine learning classification. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 200:113916. [PMID: 34974261 PMCID: PMC8766938 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are immune cells that defend against viral infections and cancer and are used in cancer immunotherapies. Subpopulations of NK cells include CD56dim and CD56bright which either produce cytokines or cytotoxically kill cells directly. The absolute number and proportion of these cells in peripheral blood are tied to proper immune function. Current methods of cytokine detection and proportion of NK cell subpopulations require fluorescent dyes and highly specialized equipment, e.g., flow cytometry, thus rapid cell quantification and subpopulation analysis are needed in the clinical setting. Here, a smartphone-based device and a two-component paper microfluidic chip were used towards identifying NK cell subpopulation and inflammatory markers. One unit measured flow velocity via smartphone-captured video, determining cytokine (IL-2) and total NK cell concentrations in undiluted buffy coat blood samples. The other, single flow lane unit performs spatial separation of CD56dim and CD56bright and cells over its length using differential binding of anti-CD56 nanoparticles. A smartphone microscope combined with cloud-based machine learning predictive modeling (utilizing a random forest classification algorithm) analyzed both flow data and NK cell subpopulation differentiation. Limits of detection for cytokine and cell concentrations were 98 IU/mL and 68 cells/mL, respectively, and cell subpopulation analysis showed 89% accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Zenhausern
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Alexander S Day
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Babak Safavinia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Seungmin Han
- Department of Surgery, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Paige E Rudy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Young-Wook Won
- Department of Surgery, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Jeong-Yeol Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States.
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50
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Understanding natural killer cell biology from a single cell perspective. Cell Immunol 2022; 373:104497. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2022.104497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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