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Kim J, Choi JY, Min H, Hwang KW. Exploring the Potential of Glycolytic Modulation in Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells for Immunotherapy and Disease Management. Immune Netw 2024; 24:e26. [PMID: 38974210 PMCID: PMC11224668 DOI: 10.4110/in.2024.24.e26] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in various technologies have shed light on the critical role of metabolism in immune cells, paving the way for innovative disease treatment strategies through immunometabolism modulation. This review emphasizes the glucose metabolism of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), an emerging pivotal immunosuppressive factor especially within the tumor microenvironment. MDSCs, an immature and heterogeneous myeloid cell population, act as a double-edged sword by exacerbating tumors or mitigating inflammatory diseases through their immune-suppressive functions. Numerous recent studies have centered on glycolysis of MDSC, investigating the regulation of altered glycolytic pathways to manage diseases. However, the specific changes in MDSC glycolysis and their exact functions continue to be areas of ongoing discussion yet. In this paper, we review a range of current findings, including the latest research on the alteration of glycolysis in MDSCs, the consequential functional alterations in these cells, and the outcomes of attempts to modulate MDSC functions by regulating glycolysis. Ultimately, we will provide insights into whether these research efforts could be translated into clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jisu Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
| | - Jee Yeon Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
| | - Hyeyoung Min
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
| | - Kwang Woo Hwang
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
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2
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Bu Y, Liu Q, Shang Y, Zhao Z, Sun H, Chen F, Ma Q, Song J, Cui L, Sun E, Luo Y, Shu L, Jing H, Tan X. Ganoderma lucidum spores-derived particulate β-glucan treatment improves antitumor response by regulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells in triple-negative breast cancer. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 270:131949. [PMID: 38749890 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131949] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Granular β-1,3-glucan extracted from the wall of Ganoderma lucidum spores, named GPG, is a bioregulator. In this study, we investigated the structural, thermal, and other physical properties of GPG. We determined whether GPG ameliorated immunosuppression caused by Gemcitabine (GEM) chemotherapy. Triple-negative breast cancer mice with GPG combined with GEM treatment had reduced tumor burdens. In addition, GEM treatment alone altered the tumor microenvironment(TME), including a reduction in antitumor T cells and a rise in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, combined GPG treatment reversed the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by GEM. GPG inhibited bone marrow (BM)-derived MDSC differentiation and reversed MDSC expansion induced by conditioned medium (CM) in GEM-treated E0771 cells through a Dectin-1 pathway. In addition, GPG downgraded PD-L1 and IDO1 expression on MDSC while boosting MHC-II, CD86, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that GPG could alleviate the adverse effects induced by GEM chemotherapy by regulating TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Bu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - Qian Liu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - Yongjie Shang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - Zhenzhen Zhao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - Haonan Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - Feifei Chen
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - Qian Ma
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - Jie Song
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - Li Cui
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - E Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - Yi Luo
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Luan Shu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China
| | - Haibo Jing
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Xiaobin Tan
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, PR China.
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3
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Nie SC, Jing YH, Lu L, Ren SS, Ji G, Xu HC. Mechanisms of myeloid-derived suppressor cell-mediated immunosuppression in colorectal cancer and related therapies. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:1690-1704. [PMID: 38764816 PMCID: PMC11099432 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i5.1690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe immunosuppression is a hallmark of colorectal cancer (CRC). Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), one of the most abundant components of the tumor stroma, play an important role in the invasion, metastasis, and immune escape of CRC. MDSCs create an immunosuppressive microenvironment by inhibiting the proliferation and activation of immunoreactive cells, including T and natural killer cells, as well as by inducing the proliferation of immunosuppressive cells, such as regulatory T cells and tumor-associated macrophages, which, in turn, promote the growth of cancer cells. Thus, MDSCs are key contributors to the emergence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment in CRC and play an important role in the breakdown of antitumor immunity. In this narrative review, we explore the mechanisms through which MDSCs contribute to the immunosuppressive microenvironment, the current therapeutic approaches and technologies targeting MDSCs, and the therapeutic potential of modulating MDSCs in CRC treatment. This study provides ideas and methods to enhance survival rates in patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Chang Nie
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yan-Hua Jing
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Disease and Syndrome Biology of Inflammatory Cancer Transformation, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Si-Si Ren
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Guang Ji
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Disease and Syndrome Biology of Inflammatory Cancer Transformation, Shanghai 200032, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integration and Innovation of Classic Formula and Modern Chinese Medicine (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Han-Chen Xu
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Disease and Syndrome Biology of Inflammatory Cancer Transformation, Shanghai 200032, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integration and Innovation of Classic Formula and Modern Chinese Medicine (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Shanghai 200032, China
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4
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Kundu M, Butti R, Panda VK, Malhotra D, Das S, Mitra T, Kapse P, Gosavi SW, Kundu GC. Modulation of the tumor microenvironment and mechanism of immunotherapy-based drug resistance in breast cancer. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:92. [PMID: 38715072 PMCID: PMC11075356 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-01990-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer, the most frequent female malignancy, is often curable when detected at an early stage. The treatment of metastatic breast cancer is more challenging and may be unresponsive to conventional therapy. Immunotherapy is crucial for treating metastatic breast cancer, but its resistance is a major limitation. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is vital in modulating the immunotherapy response. Various tumor microenvironmental components, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), are involved in TME modulation to cause immunotherapy resistance. This review highlights the role of stromal cells in modulating the breast tumor microenvironment, including the involvement of CAF-TAM interaction, alteration of tumor metabolism leading to immunotherapy failure, and other latest strategies, including high throughput genomic screening, single-cell and spatial omics techniques for identifying tumor immune genes regulating immunotherapy response. This review emphasizes the therapeutic approach to overcome breast cancer immune resistance through CAF reprogramming, modulation of TAM polarization, tumor metabolism, and genomic alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moumita Kundu
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Brainware University, West Bengal, 700125, India
| | - Ramesh Butti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
| | - Venketesh K Panda
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India
| | - Diksha Malhotra
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India
| | - Sumit Das
- National Centre for Cell Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University Campus, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Tandrima Mitra
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India
| | - Prachi Kapse
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Suresh W Gosavi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Gopal C Kundu
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India.
- Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India.
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5
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Guo Z, Yu J, Chen Z, Chen S, Wang L. Immunological Mechanisms behind Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Blockade: Intratumoral Reinvigoration or Systemic Induction? Biomedicines 2024; 12:764. [PMID: 38672120 PMCID: PMC11048152 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040764] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has been widely used to treat many types of cancer. It is well established that PD-L1 expressing cancer cells could directly inhibit the cytotoxicity of PD-1+ T cells via PD-L1-PD-1 interaction. However, histological quantification of intratumoral PD-L1 expression provides limited predictive value and PD-L1 negative patients could still benefit from ICB treatment. Therefore, the current major clinical challenges are low objective response rate and unclear immunological mechanisms behind responding vs. non-responding patients. Here, we review recent studies highlighting the importance of longitudinal pre- and post-ICB treatment on patients with various types of solid tumor to elucidate the mechanisms behind ICB treatment. On one hand, ICB induces changes in the tumor microenvironment by reinvigorating intratumoral PD-1+ exhausted T cells ("releasing the brakes"). On the other hand, ICB can also affect systemic antitumor immunity in the tumor-draining lymph node to induce priming/activation of cancer specific T cells, which is evident by T cell clonal expansion/replacement in peripheral blood. These studies reveal that ICB treatment not only acts on the tumor microenvironment ("battlefield") but also acts on immune organs ("training camp") of patients with solid tumors. A deeper understanding of the immunological mechanisms behind ICB treatment will pave the way for further improvements in clinical response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Lei Wang
- International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518054, China; (Z.G.); (J.Y.); (Z.C.); (S.C.)
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6
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Tzetzo SL, Kramer ED, Mohammadpour H, Kim M, Rosario SR, Yu H, Dolan MR, Oturkar CC, Morreale BG, Bogner PN, Stablewski AB, Benavides FJ, Brackett CM, Ebos JM, Das GM, Opyrchal M, Nemeth MJ, Evans SS, Abrams SI. Downregulation of IRF8 in alveolar macrophages by G-CSF promotes metastatic tumor progression. iScience 2024; 27:109187. [PMID: 38420590 PMCID: PMC10901102 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109187] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) are abundant immune cells within pre-metastatic sites, yet their functional contributions to metastasis remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that alveolar macrophages (AMs), the main TRMs of the lung, are susceptible to downregulation of the immune stimulatory transcription factor IRF8, impairing anti-metastatic activity in models of metastatic breast cancer. G-CSF is a key tumor-associated factor (TAF) that acts upon AMs to reduce IRF8 levels and facilitate metastasis. Translational relevance of IRF8 downregulation was observed among macrophage precursors in breast cancer and a CD68hiIRF8loG-CSFhi gene signature suggests poorer prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a G-CSF-expressing subtype. Our data highlight the underappreciated, pro-metastatic roles of AMs in response to G-CSF and identify the contribution of IRF8-deficient AMs to metastatic burden. AMs are an attractive target of local neoadjuvant G-CSF blockade to recover anti-metastatic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L. Tzetzo
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Elliot D. Kramer
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Hemn Mohammadpour
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Minhyung Kim
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Spencer R. Rosario
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Han Yu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Melissa R. Dolan
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Chetan C. Oturkar
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Brian G. Morreale
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Paul N. Bogner
- Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Aimee B. Stablewski
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Fernando J. Benavides
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Craig M. Brackett
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - John M.L. Ebos
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Genomics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Gokul M. Das
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Mateusz Opyrchal
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Michael J. Nemeth
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Sharon S. Evans
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Scott I. Abrams
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
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7
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Wang F, Fu K, Wang Y, Pan C, Wang X, Liu Z, Yang C, Zheng Y, Li X, Lu Y, To KKW, Xia C, Zhang J, Shi Z, Hu Z, Huang M, Fu L. Small-molecule agents for cancer immunotherapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:905-952. [PMID: 38486980 PMCID: PMC10935485 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, exemplified by the remarkable clinical benefits of the immune checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is revolutionizing cancer therapy. They induce long-term tumor regression and overall survival benefit in many types of cancer. With the advances in our knowledge about the tumor immune microenvironment, remarkable progress has been made in the development of small-molecule drugs for immunotherapy. Small molecules targeting PRR-associated pathways, immune checkpoints, oncogenic signaling, metabolic pathways, cytokine/chemokine signaling, and immune-related kinases have been extensively investigated. Monotherapy of small-molecule immunotherapeutic drugs and their combinations with other antitumor modalities are under active clinical investigations to overcome immune tolerance and circumvent immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance. Here, we review the latest development of small-molecule agents for cancer immunotherapy by targeting defined pathways and highlighting their progress in recent clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Kai Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yujue Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Can Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xueping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zeyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Chuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Ying Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Kenneth Kin Wah To
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Chenglai Xia
- Affiliated Foshan Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Jianye Zhang
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Zhi Shi
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zeping Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Min Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Liwu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
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8
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Sung PJ, Selvam M, Riedel SS, Xie HM, Bryant K, Manning B, Wertheim GB, Kulej K, Pham L, Bowman RL, Peresie J, Nemeth MJ, Levine RL, Garcia BA, Meyer SE, Sidoli S, Bernt KM, Carroll M. FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibition modulates PRC2 and promotes differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2024; 38:291-301. [PMID: 38182819 PMCID: PMC11141246 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-02131-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Internal tandem duplication mutations in fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3-ITD) are recurrent in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and increase the risk of relapse. Clinical responses to FLT3 inhibitors (FLT3i) include myeloid differentiation of the FLT3-ITD clone in nearly half of patients through an unknown mechanism. We identified enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a component of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), as a mediator of this effect using a proteomic-based screen. FLT3i downregulated EZH2 protein expression and PRC2 activity on H3K27me3. FLT3-ITD and loss-of-function mutations in EZH2 are mutually exclusive in human AML. We demonstrated that FLT3i increase myeloid maturation with reduced stem/progenitor cell populations in murine Flt3-ITD AML. Combining EZH1/2 inhibitors with FLT3i increased terminal maturation of leukemic cells and reduced leukemic burden. Our data suggest that reduced EZH2 activity following FLT3 inhibition promotes myeloid differentiation of FLT3-ITD leukemic cells, providing a mechanistic explanation for the clinical observations. These results demonstrate that in addition to its known cell survival and proliferation signaling, FLT3-ITD has a second, previously undefined function to maintain a myeloid stem/progenitor cell state through modulation of PRC2 activity. Our findings support exploring EZH1/2 inhibitors as therapy for FLT3-ITD AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela J Sung
- Department of Medicine - Leukemia, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Murugan Selvam
- Department of Medicine - Leukemia, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Simone S Riedel
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hongbo M Xie
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katie Bryant
- Department of Medicine - Leukemia, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Bryan Manning
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gerald B Wertheim
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katarzyna Kulej
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lucie Pham
- Department of Medicine - Leukemia, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Robert L Bowman
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer Peresie
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Nemeth
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Ross L Levine
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sara E Meyer
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Simone Sidoli
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathrin M Bernt
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Martin Carroll
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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9
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Wang L, Katipally RR, Liang HL, Yang K, Pitroda SP, He C, Weichselbaum RR. RNA m 6A methylation and MDSCs: Roles and therapeutic implications for radiotherapy. MED 2023; 4:863-874. [PMID: 38070481 PMCID: PMC10751059 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that local tumor radiotherapy reshapes the repertoire of circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and leads to their infiltration into the tumor microenvironment, which poses a major obstacle for radiotherapy efficacy. Recent findings have identified RNA m6A modification at the nexus of both anti-tumor immunity and radiation response. Here, we examine the mechanisms by which this RNA modification modulates the immune milieu of the radiation-remodeled tumor microenvironment. We discuss potential therapeutic interventions targeting m6A machinery to improve radiotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Wang
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| | - Rohan R Katipally
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Hua Laura Liang
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Kaiting Yang
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Sean P Pitroda
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Chuan He
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ralph R Weichselbaum
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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10
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Ajith A, Mamouni K, Horuzsko DD, Musa A, Dzutsev AK, Fang JR, Chadli A, Zhu X, Lebedyeva I, Trinchieri G, Horuzsko A. Targeting TREM1 augments antitumor T cell immunity by inhibiting myeloid-derived suppressor cells and restraining anti-PD-1 resistance. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e167951. [PMID: 37651197 PMCID: PMC10617775 DOI: 10.1172/jci167951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 1 (TREM1) plays a critical role in development of chronic inflammatory disorders and the inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) associated with most solid tumors. We examined whether loss of TREM1 signaling can abrogate the immunosuppressive TME and enhance cancer immunity. To investigate the therapeutic potential of TREM1 in cancer, we used mice deficient in Trem1 and developed a novel small molecule TREM1 inhibitor, VJDT. We demonstrated that genetic or pharmacological TREM1 silencing significantly delayed tumor growth in murine melanoma (B16F10) and fibrosarcoma (MCA205) models. Single-cell RNA-Seq combined with functional assays during TREM1 deficiency revealed decreased immunosuppressive capacity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) accompanied by expansion in cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and increased PD-1 expression. Furthermore, TREM1 inhibition enhanced the antitumorigenic effect of anti-PD-1 treatment, in part, by limiting MDSC frequency and abrogating T cell exhaustion. In patient-derived melanoma xenograft tumors, treatment with VJDT downregulated key oncogenic signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, migration, and survival. Our work highlights the role of TREM1 in cancer progression, both intrinsically expressed in cancer cells and extrinsically in the TME. Thus, targeting TREM1 to modify an immunosuppressive TME and improve efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy represents what we believe to be a promising therapeutic approach to cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwin Ajith
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kenza Mamouni
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Daniel D. Horuzsko
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Abu Musa
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amiran K. Dzutsev
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer R. Fang
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ahmed Chadli
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Xingguo Zhu
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Iryna Lebedyeva
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Giorgio Trinchieri
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anatolij Horuzsko
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
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11
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Tamai Y, Fujiwara N, Tanaka T, Mizuno S, Nakagawa H. Combination Therapy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors with Locoregional Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5072. [PMID: 37894439 PMCID: PMC10605879 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15205072] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is estimated to be the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, and its overall prognosis is dismal because most cases are diagnosed at a late stage and are unamenable to curative treatment. The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has dramatically improved the therapeutic efficacy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma; however, their response rates remain unsatisfactory, partly because >50% of HCC exhibit an ICI-nonresponsive tumor microenvironment characterized by a paucity of cytotoxic T cells (immune-cold), as well as difficulty in their infiltration into tumor sites (immune excluded). To overcome this limitation, combination therapies with locoregional therapies, including ablation, transarterial embolization, and radiotherapy, which are usually used for early stage HCCs, have been actively explored to enhance ICI efficacy by promoting the release of tumor-associated antigens and cytokines, and eventually accelerating the so-called cancer-immunity cycle. Various combination therapies have been investigated in early- to late-phase clinical trials, and some have shown promising results. This comprehensive article provides an overview of the immune landscape for HCC to understand ICI efficacy and its limitations and, subsequently, reviews the status of combinatorial therapies of ICIs with locoregional therapy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Tamai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (Y.T.); (T.T.); (H.N.)
| | - Naoto Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (Y.T.); (T.T.); (H.N.)
| | - Takamitsu Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (Y.T.); (T.T.); (H.N.)
| | - Shugo Mizuno
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan;
| | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (Y.T.); (T.T.); (H.N.)
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12
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Liu T, Rosek A, Gonzalez De Los Santos F, Phan SH. Detection of myeloid-derived suppressor cells by flow cytometry. Methods Cell Biol 2023; 184:1-15. [PMID: 38555150 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Recently discovered heterogeneous myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are some of the most discussed immunosuppressive cells in contemporary immunology, especially in the tumor microenvironment, and are defined primarily by their T cell immunosuppressive function. The importance of these cells extend to other chronic pathological conditions as well, including chronic infection, inflammation, and tissue remodeling. In many of these conditions, their accumulation/expansion correlates with disease progression, poor prognosis, and reduced survival, which highlights the potential of how these cells may be used in a clinical setting as both prognostic factor and therapeutic target. In healthy individuals, these cells are usually not present in the circulation. Therefore, monitoring this cell population is of potential clinical significance, and utility in basic research. However, these cells have a complex phenotype without one single marker of sufficient specificity for their identification. Flow cytometry is a powerful tool allowing multi-parameter analysis of heterogeneous cell populations, which makes it ideally suitable for the complex phenotypic analysis essential for identification and enumeration of circulating MDSCs. This approach has the potential to provide a novel clinically useful tool for assessment of prognosis and treatment outcomes. The protocol in this chapter describes a flow cytometric analysis to identify and quantify MDSCs from human or mouse whole blood leukocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as well as a single cell suspension from solid tissue, by using multicolor fluorescence-conjugated antibodies against their surface markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianju Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
| | - Alyssa Rosek
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Sem H Phan
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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13
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Ren R, Xiong C, Ma R, Wang Y, Yue T, Yu J, Shao B. The recent progress of myeloid-derived suppressor cell and its targeted therapies in cancers. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e323. [PMID: 37547175 PMCID: PMC10397484 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are an immature group of myeloid-derived cells generated from myeloid cell precursors in the bone marrow. MDSCs appear almost exclusively in pathological conditions, such as tumor progression and various inflammatory diseases. The leading function of MDSCs is their immunosuppressive ability, which plays a crucial role in tumor progression and metastasis through their immunosuppressive effects. Since MDSCs have specific molecular features, and only a tiny amount exists in physiological conditions, MDSC-targeted therapy has become a promising research direction for tumor treatment with minimal side effects. In this review, we briefly introduce the classification, generation and maturation process, and features of MDSCs, and detail their functions under various circumstances. The present review specifically demonstrates the environmental specificity of MDSCs, highlighting the differences between MDSCs from cancer and healthy individuals, as well as tumor-infiltrating MDSCs and circulating MDSCs. Then, we further describe recent advances in MDSC-targeted therapies. The existing and potential targeted drugs are divided into three categories, monoclonal antibodies, small-molecular inhibitors, and peptides. Their targeting mechanisms and characteristics have been summarized respectively. We believe that a comprehensive in-depth understanding of MDSC-targeted therapy could provide more possibilities for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesDepartment of OrthodonticsWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Chenyi Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Runyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Yixuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Tianyang Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Jiayun Yu
- Department of RadiotherapyCancer Center and State Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Bin Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- State Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
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14
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Chaib M, Tanveer UA, Makowski L. Myeloid cells in the era of cancer immunotherapy: Top 3 unanswered questions. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 244:108370. [PMID: 36871784 PMCID: PMC10798582 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Myeloid cells are increasingly being recognized as central players orchestrating or suppressing antitumor immune responses. With the advent of high-resolution analytical methods such as single-cell technologies, we now appreciate the heterogeneity and complexity of the myeloid compartment in the context of cancer. Because of their highly plastic nature, targeting myeloid cells has shown promising results either as a monotherapy or in combination with immunotherapy in preclinical models and cancer patients. However, the complexity of myeloid cell cellular crosstalk and molecular networks contributes to our poor understanding of the different myeloid cell subsets in tumorigenesis, which makes targeting myeloid cells challenging. Here, we summarize varied myeloid cell subsets and their contribution to tumor progression with a main focus on mononuclear phagocytes. The top three unanswered questions challenging the field of myeloid cells and cancer in the era of cancer immunotherapy are addressed. Through these questions, we discuss how myeloid cell origin and identity influence their function and disease outcomes. Different therapeutic strategies used to target myeloid cells in cancer are also addressed. Finally, the durability of myeloid cell targeting is interrogated by examining the complexity of resultant compensatory cellular and molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Chaib
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Ubaid A Tanveer
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, USA; Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Liza Makowski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, USA; Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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15
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Zhao Y, Du J, Shen X. Targeting myeloid-derived suppressor cells in tumor immunotherapy: Current, future and beyond. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1157537. [PMID: 37006306 PMCID: PMC10063857 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1157537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are one of the major negative regulators in tumor microenvironment (TME) due to their potent immunosuppressive capacity. MDSCs are the products of myeloid progenitor abnormal differentiation in bone marrow, which inhibits the immune response mediated by T cells, natural killer cells and dendritic cells; promotes the generation of regulatory T cells and tumor-associated macrophages; drives the immune escape; and finally leads to tumor progression and metastasis. In this review, we highlight key features of MDSCs biology in TME that are being explored as potential targets for tumor immunotherapy. We discuss the therapies and approaches that aim to reprogram TME from immunosuppressive to immunostimulatory circumstance, which prevents MDSC immunosuppression activity; promotes MDSC differentiation; and impacts MDSC recruitment and abundance in tumor site. We also summarize current advances in the identification of rational combinatorial strategies to improve clinical efficacy and outcomes of cancer patients, via deeply understanding and pursuing the mechanisms and characterization of MDSCs generation and suppression in TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Junfeng Du
- Department of General Surgery, The 7th Medical Center, Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Junfeng Du, ; Xiaofei Shen,
| | - Xiaofei Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Junfeng Du, ; Xiaofei Shen,
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