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Nelius E, Fan Z, Sobecki M, Krzywinska E, Nagarajan S, Ferapontova I, Gotthardt D, Takeda N, Sexl V, Stockmann C. The transcription factor HIF-1α in NKp46+ ILCs limits chronic intestinal inflammation and fibrosis. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202402593. [PMID: 38876796 PMCID: PMC11178940 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are critical for intestinal adaptation to microenvironmental challenges, and the gut mucosa is characterized by low oxygen. Adaptation to low oxygen is mediated by hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs), and the HIF-1α subunit shapes an ILC phenotype upon acute colitis that contributes to intestinal damage. However, the impact of HIF signaling in NKp46+ ILCs in the context of repetitive mucosal damage and chronic inflammation, as it typically occurs during inflammatory bowel disease, is unknown. In chronic colitis, mice lacking the HIF-1α isoform in NKp46+ ILCs show a decrease in NKp46+ ILC1s but a concomitant rise in neutrophils and Ly6Chigh macrophages. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing suggests enhanced interaction of mesenchymal cells with other cell compartments in the colon of HIF-1α KO mice and a loss of mucus-producing enterocytes and intestinal stem cells. This was, furthermore, associated with increased bone morphogenetic pathway-integrin signaling, expansion of fibroblast subsets, and intestinal fibrosis. In summary, this suggests that HIF-1α-mediated ILC1 activation, although detrimental upon acute colitis, protects against excessive inflammation and fibrosis during chronic intestinal damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Nelius
- https://ror.org/02crff812 Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zheng Fan
- https://ror.org/02crff812 Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michal Sobecki
- https://ror.org/02crff812 Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ewelina Krzywinska
- https://ror.org/02crff812 Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Shunmugam Nagarajan
- https://ror.org/02crff812 Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Irina Ferapontova
- https://ror.org/02crff812 Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norihiko Takeda
- Division of Cardiology and Metabolism, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | | | - Christian Stockmann
- https://ror.org/02crff812 Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Kidney Center, Zurich, Switzerland
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2
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Klein K, Kollmann S, Hiesinger A, List J, Kendler J, Klampfl T, Rhandawa M, Trifinopoulos J, Maurer B, Grausenburger R, Betram CA, Moriggl R, Rülicke T, Mullighan CG, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Walter W, Hoermann G, Sexl V, Gotthardt D. A lineage-specific STAT5BN642H mouse model to study NK-cell leukemia. Blood 2024; 143:2474-2489. [PMID: 38498036 PMCID: PMC11208297 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023022655] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Patients with T- and natural killer (NK)-cell neoplasms frequently have somatic STAT5B gain-of-function mutations. The most frequent STAT5B mutation is STAT5BN642H, which is known to drive murine T-cell leukemia, although its role in NK-cell malignancies is unclear. Introduction of the STAT5BN642H mutation into human NK-cell lines enhances their potential to induce leukemia in mice. We have generated a mouse model that enables tissue-specific expression of STAT5BN642H and have selectively expressed the mutated STAT5B in hematopoietic cells (N642Hvav/+) or exclusively in NK cells (N642HNK/NK). All N642Hvav/+ mice rapidly develop an aggressive T/NKT-cell leukemia, whereas N642HNK/NK mice display an indolent NK-large granular lymphocytic leukemia (NK-LGLL) that progresses to an aggressive leukemia with age. Samples from patients with NK-cell leukemia have a distinctive transcriptional signature driven by mutant STAT5B, which overlaps with that of murine leukemic N642HNK/NK NK cells. To our knowledge, we have generated the first reliable STAT5BN642H-driven preclinical mouse model that displays an indolent NK-LGLL progressing to aggressive NK-cell leukemia. This novel in vivo tool will enable us to explore the transition from an indolent to an aggressive disease and will thus permit the study of prevention and treatment options for NK-cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Klein
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sebastian Kollmann
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Angela Hiesinger
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia List
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonatan Kendler
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thorsten Klampfl
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mehak Rhandawa
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jana Trifinopoulos
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Maurer
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Grausenburger
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christof A. Betram
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Moriggl
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Animal Breeding and Genetics, Unit for Functional Cancer Genomics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Rülicke
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Charles G. Mullighan
- Department of Pathology, Hematological Malignancies Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Division Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | | | | | - Veronika Sexl
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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3
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Chen S, Li Z, Feng J, Quan Y, He J, Hao J, Dong Z. Dual Activity of Type III PI3K Kinase Vps34 is Critical for NK Cell Development and Senescence. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2309315. [PMID: 38544346 PMCID: PMC11151045 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Vps34 is the unique member of the class III phosphoinositide 3-kinase family that performs both vesicular transport and autophagy. Its role in natural killer (NK) cells remains uncertain. In this study, a model without Vps34 (Vps34fl/fl/CD122Cre/+) is generated, deleting Vps34 during and after NK-cell commitment. These mice exhibit a nearly 90% decrease in NK cell count and impaired differentiation. A mechanistic study reveals that the absence of Vps34 disrupts the transport of IL-15 receptor subunit alpha CD122 to the cell membrane, resulting in reduced responsiveness of NK cells to IL-15. In mice lacking Vps34 at the terminal stage of NK-cell development (Vps34fl/fl/Ncr1Cre/+), NK cells gradually diminish during aging. This phenotype is associated with autophagy deficiency and the stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, terminally differentiated NK cells lacking Vps34 display an accelerated senescence phenotype, while the application of antioxidants effectively reverses the senescence caused by Vps34 deletion by neutralizing ROS. In summary, this study unveils the dual and unique activity of Vps34 in NK cells. Vps34-mediated vesicular transport is crucial for CD122 membrane trafficking during NK cell commitment, whereas Vps34-mediated autophagy can delay NK cell senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Chen
- Department of AllergyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and Institute of Clinical ImmunologyAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
- Innovative Institute of Tumor Immunity and Medicine (ITIM)Hefei230032China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and ImmunotherapyHefei230032China
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui ProvinceAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Zehua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologySchool of Medicine and Institute for ImmunologyTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Jin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologySchool of Medicine and Institute for ImmunologyTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Yuhe Quan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologySchool of Medicine and Institute for ImmunologyTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Junming He
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologySchool of Medicine and Institute for ImmunologyTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Jiqing Hao
- Department of AllergyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and Institute of Clinical ImmunologyAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Zhongjun Dong
- Department of AllergyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and Institute of Clinical ImmunologyAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
- Innovative Institute of Tumor Immunity and Medicine (ITIM)Hefei230032China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and ImmunotherapyHefei230032China
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui ProvinceAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologySchool of Medicine and Institute for ImmunologyTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
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4
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Hermans L, O’Sullivan TE. No time to die: Epigenetic regulation of natural killer cell survival. Immunol Rev 2024; 323:61-79. [PMID: 38426615 PMCID: PMC11102341 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13314] [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] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
NK cells are short-lived innate lymphocytes that can mediate antigen-independent responses to infection and cancer. However, studies from the past two decades have shown that NK cells can acquire transcriptional and epigenetic modifications during inflammation that result in increased survival and lifespan. These findings blur the lines between the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, and suggest that the homeostatic mechanisms that govern the persistence of innate immune cells are malleable. Indeed, recent studies have shown that NK cells undergo continuous and strictly regulated adaptations controlling their survival during development, tissue residency, and following inflammation. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the critical factors regulating NK cell survival throughout their lifespan, with a specific emphasis on the epigenetic modifications that regulate the survival of NK cells in various contexts. A precise understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern NK cell survival will be important to enhance therapies for cancer and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leen Hermans
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Timothy E. O’Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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5
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Zannikou M, Fish EN, Platanias LC. Signaling by Type I Interferons in Immune Cells: Disease Consequences. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1600. [PMID: 38672681 PMCID: PMC11049350 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081600] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This review addresses interferon (IFN) signaling in immune cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) and examines how this affects cancer progression. The data reveal that IFNs exert dual roles in cancers, dependent on the TME, exhibiting both anti-tumor activity and promoting cancer progression. We discuss the abnormal IFN signaling induced by cancerous cells that alters immune responses to permit their survival and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markella Zannikou
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Eleanor N. Fish
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, 67 College Street, Toronto, ON M5G 2M1, Canada;
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Leonidas C. Platanias
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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6
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Karmakar S, Mishra A, Pal P, Lal G. Effector and cytolytic function of natural killer cells in anticancer immunity. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:235-252. [PMID: 37818891 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad126] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptive immune cells play an important role in mounting antigen-specific antitumor immunity. The contribution of innate immune cells such as monocytes, macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, and gamma-delta T cells is well studied in cancer immunology. NK cells are innate lymphoid cells that show effector and regulatory function in a contact-dependent and contact-independent manner. The cytotoxic function of NK cells plays an important role in killing the infected and transformed host cells and controlling infection and tumor growth. However, several studies have also ascribed the role of NK cells in inducing pathophysiology in autoimmune diseases, promoting immune tolerance in the uterus, and antitumor function in the tumor microenvironment. We discuss the fundamentals of NK cell biology, its distribution in different organs, cellular and molecular interactions, and its cytotoxic and noncytotoxic functions in cancer biology. We also highlight the use of NK cell-based adoptive cellular therapy in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surojit Karmakar
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
| | - Amrita Mishra
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
| | - Pradipta Pal
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
| | - Girdhari Lal
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
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7
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Su C, Kent CL, Pierpoint M, Floyd W, Luo L, Wiliams NT, Ma Y, Peng B, Lazarides AL, Subramanian A, Himes JE, Perez VM, Hernansaiz-Ballesteros RD, Roche KE, Modliszewski JL, Selitsky SR, Mari Shinohara, Wisdom AJ, Moding EJ, Mowery YM, Kirsch DG. Enhancing radiotherapy response via intratumoral injection of the TLR9 agonist CpG to stimulate CD8 T cells in an autochthonous mouse model of sarcoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.03.573968. [PMID: 38260522 PMCID: PMC10802286 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.03.573968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Radiation therapy is frequently used to treat cancers including soft tissue sarcomas. Prior studies established that the toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG) enhances the response to radiation therapy (RT) in transplanted tumors, but the mechanism(s) remain unclear. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 and the chemical carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) to generate autochthonous soft tissue sarcomas with high tumor mutation burden. Treatment with a single fraction of 20 Gy RT and two doses of CpG significantly enhanced tumor response, which was abrogated by genetic or immunodepletion of CD8+ T cells. To characterize the immune response to RT + CpG, we performed bulk RNA-seq, single-cell RNA-seq, and mass cytometry. Sarcomas treated with 20 Gy and CpG demonstrated increased CD8 T cells expressing markers associated with activation and proliferation, such as Granzyme B, Ki-67, and interferon-γ. CpG + RT also upregulated antigen presentation pathways on myeloid cells. Furthermore, in sarcomas treated with CpG + RT, TCR clonality analysis suggests an increase in clonal T-cell dominance. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that RT + CpG significantly delays tumor growth in a CD8 T cell-dependent manner. These results provide a strong rationale for clinical trials evaluating CpG or other TLR9 agonists with RT in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Su
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Collin L. Kent
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Matthew Pierpoint
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Lixia Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nerissa T. Wiliams
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yan Ma
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brian Peng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Ajay Subramanian
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan E. Himes
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mari Shinohara
- Department of Immunology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Amy J. Wisdom
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Everett J. Moding
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yvonne M. Mowery
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David G. Kirsch
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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8
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Brabec T, Schwarzer M, Kováčová K, Dobešová M, Schierová D, Březina J, Pacáková I, Šrůtková D, Ben-Nun O, Goldfarb Y, Šplíchalová I, Kolář M, Abramson J, Filipp D, Dobeš J. Segmented filamentous bacteria-induced epithelial MHCII regulates cognate CD4+ IELs and epithelial turnover. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230194. [PMID: 37902602 PMCID: PMC10615894 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal epithelial cells have the capacity to upregulate MHCII molecules in response to certain epithelial-adhesive microbes, such as segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB). However, the mechanism regulating MHCII expression as well as the impact of epithelial MHCII-mediated antigen presentation on T cell responses targeting those microbes remains elusive. Here, we identify the cellular network that regulates MHCII expression on the intestinal epithelium in response to SFB. Since MHCII on the intestinal epithelium is dispensable for SFB-induced Th17 response, we explored other CD4+ T cell-based responses induced by SFB. We found that SFB drive the conversion of cognate CD4+ T cells to granzyme+ CD8α+ intraepithelial lymphocytes. These cells accumulate in small intestinal intraepithelial space in response to SFB. Yet, their accumulation is abrogated by the ablation of MHCII on the intestinal epithelium. Finally, we show that this mechanism is indispensable for the SFB-driven increase in the turnover of epithelial cells in the ileum. This study identifies a previously uncharacterized immune response to SFB, which is dependent on the epithelial MHCII function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Brabec
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Schwarzer
- Laboratory of Gnotobiology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Nový Hrádek, Czech Republic
| | - Katarína Kováčová
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Dobešová
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dagmar Schierová
- Laboratory of Anaerobic Microbiology, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Březina
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Iva Pacáková
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dagmar Šrůtková
- Laboratory of Gnotobiology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Nový Hrádek, Czech Republic
| | - Osher Ben-Nun
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yael Goldfarb
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Iva Šplíchalová
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Kolář
- Laboratory of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Abramson
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Dominik Filipp
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Dobeš
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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9
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Schober R, Brandus B, Laeremans T, Iserentant G, Rolin C, Dessilly G, Zimmer J, Moutschen M, Aerts JL, Dervillez X, Seguin-Devaux C. Multimeric immunotherapeutic complexes activating natural killer cells towards HIV-1 cure. J Transl Med 2023; 21:791. [PMID: 37936122 PMCID: PMC10631209 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04669-4] [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: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has dramatically extended the life expectancy of people living with HIV-1 and improved their quality of life. There is nevertheless no cure for HIV-1 infection since HIV-1 persists in viral reservoirs of latently infected CD4+ T cells. cART does not eradicate HIV-1 reservoirs or restore cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cells which are dramatically reduced by HIV-1 infection, and express the checkpoint inhibitors NKG2A or KIR2DL upregulated after HIV-1 infection. Cytotoxic NK cells expressing the homing receptor CXCR5 were recently described as key subsets controlling viral replication. METHODS We designed and evaluated the potency of "Natural killer activating Multimeric immunotherapeutic compleXes", called as NaMiX, combining multimers of the IL-15/IL-15Rα complex with an anti-NKG2A or an anti-KIR single-chain fragment variable (scFv) to kill HIV-1 infected CD4+ T cells. The oligomerization domain of the C4 binding protein was used to associate the IL-15/IL-15Rα complex to the scFv of each checkpoint inhibitor as well as to multimerize each entity into a heptamer (α form) or a dimer (β form). Each α or β form was compared in different in vitro models using one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey's tests before evaluation in humanized NSG tg-huIL-15 mice having functional NK cells. RESULTS All NaMiX significantly enhanced the cytolytic activity of NK and CD8+ T cells against Raji tumour cells and HIV-1+ ACH-2 cells by increasing degranulation, release of granzyme B, perforin and IFN-γ. Targeting NKG2A had a stronger effect than targeting KIR2DL due to higher expression of NKG2A on NK cells. In viral inhibition assays, NaMiX initially increased viral replication of CD4+ T cells which was subsequently inhibited by cytotoxic NK cells. Importantly, anti-NKG2A NaMiX enhanced activation, cytotoxicity, IFN-γ production and CXCR5 expression of NK cells from HIV-1 positive individuals. In humanized NSG tg-huIL-15 mice, we confirmed enhanced activation, degranulation, cytotoxicity of NK cells, and killing of HIV-1 infected cells from mice injected with the anti-NKG2A.α NaMiX, as compared to control mice, as well as decreased total HIV-1 DNA in the lung. CONCLUSIONS NK cell-mediated killing of HIV-1 infected cells by NaMiX represents a promising approach to support HIV-1 cure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaëla Schober
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29, Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Bianca Brandus
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29, Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Thessa Laeremans
- Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy (NAVI) Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gilles Iserentant
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29, Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Camille Rolin
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29, Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Géraldine Dessilly
- AIDS Reference Laboratory, Catholic University of Louvain, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Jacques Zimmer
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29, Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Michel Moutschen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Liège, CHU de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Joeri L Aerts
- Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy (NAVI) Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Xavier Dervillez
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29, Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Carole Seguin-Devaux
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29, Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
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10
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Abe S, Asahi T, Hara T, Cui G, Shimba A, Tani-Ichi S, Yamada K, Miyazaki K, Miyachi H, Kitano S, Nakamura N, Kikuta J, Vandenbon A, Miyazaki M, Yamada R, Ohteki T, Ishii M, Sexl V, Nagasawa T, Ikuta K. Hematopoietic cell-derived IL-15 supports NK cell development in scattered and clustered localization within the bone marrow. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113127. [PMID: 37729919 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells critical for protective immune responses against infection and cancer. Although NK cells differentiate in the bone marrow (BM) in an interleukin-15 (IL-15)-dependent manner, the cellular source of IL-15 remains elusive. Using NK cell reporter mice, we show that NK cells are localized in the BM in scattered and clustered manners. NK cell clusters overlap with monocyte and dendritic cell accumulations, whereas scattered NK cells require CXCR4 signaling. Using cell-specific IL-15-deficient mice, we show that hematopoietic cells, but not stromal cells, support NK cell development in the BM through IL-15. In particular, IL-15 produced by monocytes and dendritic cells appears to contribute to NK cell development. These results demonstrate that hematopoietic cells are the IL-15 niche for NK cell development in the BM and that BM NK cells are present in scattered and clustered compartments by different mechanisms, suggesting their distinct functions in the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Abe
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Takuma Asahi
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Takahiro Hara
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Guangwei Cui
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Akihiro Shimba
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Shizue Tani-Ichi
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kohei Yamada
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Kazuko Miyazaki
- Laboratory of Immunology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Miyachi
- Reproductive Engineering Team, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Satsuki Kitano
- Reproductive Engineering Team, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Naotoshi Nakamura
- Interdisciplinary Biology Laboratory (iBLab), Division of Natural Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Junichi Kikuta
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Alexis Vandenbon
- Laboratory of Tissue Homeostasis, Department of Biosystems Science, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Masaki Miyazaki
- Laboratory of Immunology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Ryo Yamada
- Statistical Genetics, Center for Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ohteki
- Department of Biodefense Research, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Masaru Ishii
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department for Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Takashi Nagasawa
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Immunology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences and Graduate School of Medicine, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Koichi Ikuta
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
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11
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Galaras A, Verykokakis M. UT(se)X differences during immune responses. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:738-740. [PMID: 36997671 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01481-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Galaras
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Mihalis Verykokakis
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece.
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12
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The X-linked epigenetic regulator UTX controls NK cell-intrinsic sex differences. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:780-791. [PMID: 36928413 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01463-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Viral infection outcomes are sex biased, with males generally more susceptible than females. Paradoxically, the numbers of antiviral natural killer (NK) cells are increased in males. We demonstrate that while numbers of NK cells are increased in male mice, they display decreased effector function compared to females in mice and humans. These differences were not solely dependent on gonadal hormones, because they persisted in gonadectomized mice. Kdm6a (which encodes the protein UTX), an epigenetic regulator that escapes X inactivation, was lower in male NK cells, while NK cell-intrinsic UTX deficiency in female mice increased NK cell numbers and reduced effector responses. Furthermore, mice with NK cell-intrinsic UTX deficiency showed increased lethality to mouse cytomegalovirus. Integrative multi-omics analysis revealed a critical role for UTX in regulating chromatin accessibility and gene expression critical for NK cell homeostasis and effector function. Collectively, these data implicate UTX as a critical molecular determinant of sex differences in NK cells.
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13
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Asahi T, Abe S, Tajika Y, Rodewald HR, Sexl V, Takeshima H, Ikuta K. Retinoic acid receptor activity is required for the maintenance of type 1 innate lymphoid cells. Int Immunol 2023; 35:147-155. [PMID: 36480702 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxac057] [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: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Group 1 innate lymphoid cells (G1-ILCs) are innate immune effectors critical for the response to intracellular pathogens and tumors. G1-ILCs comprise circulating natural killer (NK) cells and tissue-resident type 1 ILCs (ILC1s). ILC1s mainly reside in barrier tissues and provide the initial sources of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) to prime the protecting responses against infections, which are followed by the response of recruited NK cells. Despite such distribution differences, whether local environmental factors influence the behavior of NK cells and ILC1s is unclear. Here, we show that the signaling of retinoic acid (RA), active metabolites of vitamin A, is essential for the maintenance of ILC1s in the periphery. Mice expressing RARα403, a truncated form of retinoic acid receptor α (RARα) that exerts dominant negative activity, in a lymphoid cell- or G1-ILC-specific manner showed remarkable reductions of peripheral ILC1s while NK cells were unaffected. Lymphoid cell-specific inhibition of RAR activity resulted in the reduction of PD-1+ ILC progenitors (ILCPs), but not of common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs), suggesting the impaired commitment and differentiation of ILC1s. Transcriptome analysis revealed that RARα403-expressing ILC1s exhibited impaired proliferative states and declined expression of effector molecules. Thus, our findings demonstrate that cell-intrinsic RA signaling is required for the homeostasis and the functionality of ILC1s, which may present RA as critical environmental cue targeting local type 1 immunity against infection and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Asahi
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Shinya Abe
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yuya Tajika
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.,Department of Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Hans-Reimer Rodewald
- Division of Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hiroshi Takeshima
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Koichi Ikuta
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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14
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Bourayou E, Golub R. Inflammatory-driven NK cell maturation and its impact on pathology. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1061959. [PMID: 36569860 PMCID: PMC9780665 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1061959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells are innate lymphocytes involved in a large variety of contexts and are crucial in the immunity to intracellular pathogens as well as cancer due to their ability to kill infected or malignant cells. Thus, they harbor a strong potential for clinical and therapeutic use. NK cells do not require antigen exposure to get activated; their functional response is rather based on a balance between inhibitory/activating signals and on the diversity of germline-encoded receptors they express. In order to reach optimal functional status, NK cells go through a step-wise development in the bone marrow before their egress, and dissemination into peripheral organs via the circulation. In this review, we summarize bone marrow NK cell developmental stages and list key factors involved in their differentiation before presenting newly discovered and emerging factors that regulate NK cell central and peripheral maturation. Lastly, we focus on the impact inflammatory contexts themselves can have on NK cell development and functional maturation.
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15
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Yu H, Jacquelot N, Belz GT. Metabolic features of innate lymphoid cells. J Exp Med 2022; 219:213615. [PMID: 36301303 PMCID: PMC9617479 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate and adaptive immune cells are found in distinct tissue niches where they orchestrate immune responses. This requires intrinsic and temporal metabolic adaptability to coordinately activate the immune response cascade. Dysregulation of this program is a key feature of immunosuppression. Direct or indirect metabolic immune cell reprogramming may offer new approaches to modulate immune cells behavior for therapy to overcome dysregulation. In this review, we explored how metabolism regulates lymphocytes beyond the classical T cell subsets. We focus on the innate lymphoid cell (ILC) family, highlighting the distinct metabolic characteristics of these cells, the impact of environmental factors, and the receptors that could alter immune cell functions through manipulation of metabolic pathways to potentially prevent or treat various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyang Yu
- The University of Queensland, Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicolas Jacquelot
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gabrielle T Belz
- The University of Queensland, Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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16
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Yoon Kim D, Kwon Lee J. Type 1 and 2 diabetes are associated with reduced natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Cell Immunol 2022; 379:104578. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2022.104578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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17
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Wu J, He B, Miao M, Han X, Dai H, Dou H, Li Y, Zhang X, Wang G. Enhancing Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cancer Immunotherapy by the Biological Macromolecule Nocardia rubra Cell-Wall Skeleton. Pathol Oncol Res 2022; 28:1610555. [PMID: 36110249 PMCID: PMC9468226 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2022.1610555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The biological macromolecule Nocardia rubra cell-wall skeleton (Nr-CWS) has well-established immune-stimulating and anti-tumor activities. However, the role of Nr-CWS on natural killer (NK) cells remains unclear. Here, we explore the function and related mechanisms of Nr-CWS on NK cells. Using a tumor-bearing model, we show that Nr-CWS has slightly effect on solid tumor. In addition, using a tumor metastasis model, we show that Nr-CWS suppresses the lung metastasis induced by B16F10 melanoma cells in mice, which indicates that Nr-CWS may up-regulate the function of NK cells. Further investigation demonstrated that Nr-CWS can increase the expression of TRAIL and FasL on spleen NK cells from Nr-CWS treated B16F10 tumor metastasis mice. The spleen index and serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 in B16F10 tumor metastasis mice treated with Nr-CWS were significantly increased. In vitro, the studies using purified or sorted NK cells revealed that Nr-CWS increases the expression of CD69, TRAIL, and FasL, decreases the expression of CD27, and enhances NK cell cytotoxicity. The intracellular expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, perforin (prf), granzyme-B (GrzB), and secreted TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 of the cultured NK cells were significantly increased after treatment with Nr-CWS. Overall, the findings indicate that Nr-CWS could suppress the lung metastasis induced by B16F10 melanoma cells, which may be exerted through its effect on NK cells by promoting NK cell terminal differentiation (CD27lowCD11bhigh), and up-regulating the production of cytokines and cytotoxic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Baojun He
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Miao Miao
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Xibin Han
- Laboratory Animal Center, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Hongyan Dai
- Department of Outpatient PICC, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Heng Dou
- Greatest Biopharma Limited Company, Benxi, China
| | - Yanqiu Li
- Greatest Biopharma Limited Company, Benxi, China
| | - Xiaoqing Zhang
- Teaching Center for Basic Medical Experiment, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoqing Zhang, ; Guangchuan Wang,
| | - Guangchuan Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoqing Zhang, ; Guangchuan Wang,
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18
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The unique role of innate lymphoid cells in cancer and the hepatic microenvironment. Cell Mol Immunol 2022; 19:1012-1029. [PMID: 35962192 PMCID: PMC9424527 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-022-00901-1] [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: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease, and despite incredible progress over the last decade, it remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Liver cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver metastases are distinct from other cancers in that they typically emerge as a consequence of long-term low-grade inflammation. Understanding the mechanisms that underpin inflammation-driven tissue remodeling of the hepatic immune environment is likely to provide new insights into much needed treatments for this devastating disease. Group 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), which include natural killer (NK) cells and ILC1s, are particularly enriched in the liver and thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of liver diseases, including cancer. NK cells are an attractive, but underexplored, therapeutic target in hepatic disease due to their role in immunosurveillance and their ability to recognize and eliminate malignant cells. ILC1s are closely related to and share many phenotypic features with NK cells but are less well studied. Thus, their utility in immunotherapeutic approaches is not yet well understood. Here, we review our current understanding of ILCs in cancer with a particular focus on liver and liver-related diseases.
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19
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Macedo AB, Levinger C, Nguyen BN, Richard J, Gupta M, Cruz CRY, Finzi A, Chiappinelli KB, Crandall KA, Bosque A. The HIV Latency Reversal Agent HODHBt Enhances NK Cell Effector and Memory-Like Functions by Increasing Interleukin-15-Mediated STAT Activation. J Virol 2022; 96:e0037222. [PMID: 35867565 PMCID: PMC9364794 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00372-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Elimination of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoirs is a critical endpoint to eradicate HIV. One therapeutic intervention against latent HIV is "shock and kill." This strategy is based on the transcriptional activation of latent HIV with a latency-reversing agent (LRA) with the consequent killing of the reactivated cell by either the cytopathic effect of HIV or the immune system. We have previously found that the small molecule 3-hydroxy-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3H)-one (HODHBt) acts as an LRA by increasing signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) factor activation mediated by interleukin-15 (IL-15) in cells isolated from aviremic participants. The IL-15 superagonist N-803 is currently under clinical investigation to eliminate latent reservoirs. IL-15 and N-803 share similar mechanisms of action by promoting the activation of STATs and have shown some promise in preclinical models directed toward HIV eradication. In this work, we evaluated the ability of HODHBt to enhance IL-15 signaling in natural killer (NK) cells and the biological consequences associated with increased STAT activation in NK cell effector and memory-like functions. We showed that HODHBt increased IL-15-mediated STAT phosphorylation in NK cells, resulting in increases in the secretion of CXCL-10 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and the expression of cytotoxic proteins, including granzyme B, granzyme A, perforin, granulysin, FASL, and TRAIL. This increased cytotoxic profile results in increased cytotoxicity against HIV-infected cells and different tumor cell lines. HODHBt also improved the generation of cytokine-induced memory-like NK cells. Overall, our data demonstrate that enhancing the magnitude of IL-15 signaling with HODHBt favors NK cell cytotoxicity and memory-like generation, and thus, targeting this pathway could be further explored for HIV cure interventions. IMPORTANCE Several clinical trials targeting the HIV latent reservoir with LRAs have been completed. In spite of a lack of clinical benefit, they have been crucial to elucidate hurdles that "shock and kill" strategies have to overcome to promote an effective reduction of the latent reservoir to lead to a cure. These hurdles include low reactivation potential mediated by LRAs, the negative influence of some LRAs on the activity of natural killer and effector CD8 T cells, an increased resistance to apoptosis of latently infected cells, and an exhausted immune system due to chronic inflammation. To that end, finding therapeutic strategies that can overcome some of these challenges could improve the outcome of shock and kill strategies aimed at HIV eradication. Here, we show that the LRA HODHBt also improves IL-15-mediated NK cell effector and memory-like functions. As such, pharmacological enhancement of IL-15-mediated STAT activation can open new therapeutic avenues toward an HIV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda B. Macedo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Callie Levinger
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Bryan N. Nguyen
- Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jonathan Richard
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mamta Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- GW Cancer Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Conrad Russell Y. Cruz
- GW Cancer Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andrés Finzi
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Katherine B. Chiappinelli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- GW Cancer Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Keith A. Crandall
- Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alberto Bosque
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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20
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Kaur G, Porter CBM, Ashenberg O, Lee J, Riesenfeld SJ, Hofree M, Aggelakopoulou M, Subramanian A, Kuttikkatte SB, Attfield KE, Desel CAE, Davies JL, Evans HG, Avraham-Davidi I, Nguyen LT, Dionne DA, Neumann AE, Jensen LT, Barber TR, Soilleux E, Carrington M, McVean G, Rozenblatt-Rosen O, Regev A, Fugger L. Mouse fetal growth restriction through parental and fetal immune gene variation and intercellular communications cascade. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4398. [PMID: 35906236 PMCID: PMC9338297 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32171-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 5-10% of pregnancies, and can have serious consequences for both mother and child. Prevention and treatment are limited because FGR pathogenesis is poorly understood. Genetic studies implicate KIR and HLA genes in FGR, however, linkage disequilibrium, genetic influence from both parents, and challenges with investigating human pregnancies make the risk alleles and their functional effects difficult to map. Here, we demonstrate that the interaction between the maternal KIR2DL1, expressed on uterine natural killer (NK) cells, and the paternally inherited HLA-C*0501, expressed on fetal trophoblast cells, leads to FGR in a humanized mouse model. We show that the KIR2DL1 and C*0501 interaction leads to pathogenic uterine arterial remodeling and modulation of uterine NK cell function. This initial effect cascades to altered transcriptional expression and intercellular communication at the maternal-fetal interface. These findings provide mechanistic insight into specific FGR risk alleles, and provide avenues of prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurman Kaur
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Caroline B M Porter
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Orr Ashenberg
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jack Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Samantha J Riesenfeld
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Matan Hofree
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Maria Aggelakopoulou
- Oxford Centre for Neuroinflammation, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Subita Balaram Kuttikkatte
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kathrine E Attfield
- Oxford Centre for Neuroinflammation, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christiane A E Desel
- Oxford Centre for Neuroinflammation, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- University Department of Neurology, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jessica L Davies
- Oxford Centre for Neuroinflammation, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hayley G Evans
- Oxford Centre for Neuroinflammation, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Inbal Avraham-Davidi
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lan T Nguyen
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Danielle A Dionne
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Lise Torp Jensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Thomas R Barber
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Elizabeth Soilleux
- Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Rd, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
| | - Mary Carrington
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gil McVean
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Orit Rozenblatt-Rosen
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aviv Regev
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
- Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Lars Fugger
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Oxford Centre for Neuroinflammation, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
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21
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Witalisz-Siepracka A, Klein K, Zdársky B, Stoiber D. The Multifaceted Role of STAT3 in NK-Cell Tumor Surveillance. Front Immunol 2022; 13:947568. [PMID: 35865518 PMCID: PMC9294167 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.947568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a member of the Janus kinase (JAK)-STAT pathway, which is one of the key pathways contributing to cancer. STAT3 regulates transcription downstream of many cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10. In cancer, STAT3 is mainly described as a tumor promoter driving tumor cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis and aberrant activation of STAT3 is associated with poor prognosis. STAT3 is also an important driver of immune evasion. Among many other immunosuppressive mechanisms, STAT3 aids tumor cells to escape natural killer (NK) cell-mediated immune surveillance. NK cells are innate lymphocytes, which can directly kill malignant cells but also regulate adaptive immune responses and contribute to the composition of the tumor microenvironment. The inborn ability to lyse transformed cells renders NK cells an attractive tool for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we provide an overview of the role of STAT3 in the dynamic interplay between NK cells and tumor cells. On the one hand, we summarize the current knowledge on how tumor cell-intrinsic STAT3 drives the evasion from NK cells. On the other hand, we describe the multiple functions of STAT3 in regulating NK-cell cytotoxicity, cytokine production and their anti-tumor responses in vivo. In light of the ongoing research on STAT3 inhibitors, we also discuss how targeting STAT3 would affect the two arms of STAT3-dependent regulation of NK cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Understanding the complexity of this interplay in the tumor microenvironment is crucial for future implementation of NK cell-based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Klara Klein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Zdársky
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Dagmar Stoiber
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
- *Correspondence: Dagmar Stoiber,
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22
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Shemesh A, Pickering H, Roybal KT, Lanier LL. Differential IL-12 signaling induces human natural killer cell activating receptor-mediated ligand-specific expansion. J Exp Med 2022; 219:213307. [PMID: 35758909 PMCID: PMC9240274 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20212434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-12 is an essential cytokine involved in the generation of memory or memory-like NK cells. Mouse cytomegalovirus infection triggers NK receptor-induced, ligand-specific IL-12-dependent NK cell expansion, yet specific IL-12 stimulation ex vivo leading to NK cell proliferation and expansion is not established. Here, we show that IL-12 alone can sustain human primary NK cell survival without providing IL-2 or IL-15 but was insufficient to promote human NK cell proliferation. IL-12 signaling analysis revealed STAT5 phosphorylation and weak mTOR activation, which was enhanced by activating NK receptor upregulation and crosslinking leading to STAT5-dependent, rapamycin-sensitive, or TGFβ-sensitive NK cell IL-12-dependent expansion, independently of IL-12 receptor upregulation. Prolonged IL-2 culture did not impair IL-12-dependent ligand-specific NK cell expansion. These findings demonstrate that activating NK receptor stimulation promotes differential IL-12 signaling, leading to human NK cell expansion, and suggest adopting strategies to provide IL-12 signaling in vivo for ligand-specific IL-2-primed NK cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avishai Shemesh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA
| | - Harry Pickering
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Kole T. Roybal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA,Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA,Gladstone University of California, San Francisco Institute for Genetic Immunology, San Francisco, CA,University of California, San Francisco Cell Design Institute, San Francisco, CA
| | - Lewis L. Lanier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA,Correspondence to Lewis L. Lanier:
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23
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The RNA helicase DHX15 is a critical regulator of natural killer-cell homeostasis and functions. Cell Mol Immunol 2022; 19:687-701. [PMID: 35322175 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-022-00852-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The RNA helicase DHX15 is widely expressed in immune cells and traditionally thought to be an RNA splicing factor or a viral RNA sensor. However, the role of DHX15 in NK-cell activities has not been studied thus far. Here, we generated Dhx15-floxed mice and found that conditional deletion of Dhx15 in NK cells (Ncr1CreDhx15fl/fl mice) resulted in a marked reduction in NK cells in the periphery and that the remaining Dhx15-deleted NK cells failed to acquire a mature phenotype. As a result, Dhx15-deleted NK cells exhibited profound defects in their cytolytic functions. We also found that deletion of Dhx15 in NK cells abrogated their responsiveness to IL-15, which was associated with inhibition of IL-2/IL-15Rβ (CD122) expression and IL-15R signaling. The defects in Dhx15-deleted NK cells were rescued by ectopic expression of a constitutively active form of STAT5. Mechanistically, DHX15 did not affect CD122 mRNA splicing and stability in NK cells but instead facilitated the surface expression of CD122, likely through interaction with its 3'UTR, which was dependent on the ATPase domain of DHX15 rather than its splicing domain. Collectively, our data identify a key role for DHX15 in regulating NK-cell activities and provide novel mechanistic insights into how DHX15 regulates the IL-15 signaling pathway in NK cells.
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24
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Krzywinska E, Sobecki M, Nagarajan S, Zacharjasz J, Tambuwala MM, Pelletier A, Cummins E, Gotthardt D, Fandrey J, Kerdiles YM, Peyssonnaux C, Taylor CT, Sexl V, Stockmann C. The transcription factor HIF-1α mediates plasticity of NKp46+ innate lymphoid cells in the gut. J Exp Med 2022; 219:212964. [PMID: 35024767 PMCID: PMC8763886 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20210909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) show remarkable phenotypic diversity, yet microenvironmental factors that drive this plasticity are incompletely understood. The balance between NKp46+, IL-22-producing, group 3 ILCs (ILC3s) and interferon (IFN)-γ-producing group 1 ILCs (ILC1s) contributes to gut homeostasis. The gut mucosa is characterized by physiological hypoxia, and adaptation to low oxygen is mediated by hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs). However, the impact of HIFs on ILC phenotype and gut homeostasis is not well understood. Mice lacking the HIF-1α isoform in NKp46+ ILCs show a decrease in IFN-γ-expressing, T-bet+, NKp46+ ILC1s and a concomitant increase in IL-22-expressing, RORγt+, NKp46+ ILC3s in the gut mucosa. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed HIF-1α as a driver of ILC phenotypes, where HIF-1α promotes the ILC1 phenotype by direct up-regulation of T-bet. Loss of HIF-1α in NKp46+ cells prevents ILC3-to-ILC1 conversion, increases the expression of IL-22-inducible genes, and confers protection against intestinal damage. Taken together, our results suggest that HIF-1α shapes the ILC phenotype in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michal Sobecki
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | | | - Eoin Cummins
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Conway Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Joachim Fandrey
- Institut für Physiologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yann M Kerdiles
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université UM2, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1104, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR7280, Marseille, France
| | - Carole Peyssonnaux
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France.,Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Cormac T Taylor
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Conway Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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25
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Bi J, Cheng C, Zheng C, Huang C, Zheng X, Wan X, Chen YH, Tian Z, Sun H. TIPE2 is a checkpoint of natural killer cell maturation and antitumor immunity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabi6515. [PMID: 34524845 PMCID: PMC8443187 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi6515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The maturation process of NK cells determines their functionality during which IL-15 plays a critical role. However, very few checkpoints specifically targeting this process have been discovered. Here, we report that TIPE2 expression gradually increased during NK cell ontogenesis correlating to their maturation stages in both mice and humans. NK-specific TIPE2 deficiency increased mature NK cells in mice, and these TIPE2-deficient NK cells exhibited enhanced activation, cytotoxicity, and IFN-γ production upon stimulation and enhanced response to IL-15 for maturation. Moreover, TIPE2 suppressed IL-15–triggered mTOR activity in both human and murine NK cells. Consequently, blocking mTOR constrained the effect of TIPE2 deficiency on NK cell maturation in response to IL-15. Last, NK-specific TIPE2-deficient mice were resistant to tumor growth in vivo. Our results uncover a potent checkpoint in NK cell maturation and antitumor immunity in both mice and humans, suggesting a promising approach of targeting TIPE2 for NK cell–based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Bi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Corresponding author. (J.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Chen Cheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chaoyue Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chen Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiaohu Zheng
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Xiaochun Wan
- Center for Protein and Cell-based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Youhai H. Chen
- Center for Cancer Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhigang Tian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- Research Unit of NK Cell Study, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100864, China
| | - Haoyu Sun
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- Corresponding author. (J.B.); (H.S.)
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26
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Littwitz-Salomon E, Moreira D, Frost JN, Choi C, Liou KT, Ahern DK, O'Shaughnessy S, Wagner B, Biron CA, Drakesmith H, Dittmer U, Finlay DK. Metabolic requirements of NK cells during the acute response against retroviral infection. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5376. [PMID: 34508086 PMCID: PMC8433386 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25715-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are important early responders against viral infections. Changes in metabolism are crucial to fuel NK cell responses, and altered metabolism is linked to NK cell dysfunction in obesity and cancer. However, very little is known about the metabolic requirements of NK cells during acute retroviral infection and their importance for antiviral immunity. Here, using the Friend retrovirus mouse model, we show that following infection NK cells increase nutrient uptake, including amino acids and iron, and reprogram their metabolic machinery by increasing glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism. Specific deletion of the amino acid transporter Slc7a5 has only discrete effects on NK cells, but iron deficiency profoundly impaires NK cell antiviral functions, leading to increased viral loads. Our study thus shows the requirement of nutrients and metabolism for the antiviral activity of NK cells, and has important implications for viral infections associated with altered iron levels such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Metabolic alterations control the fate and function of immune cells in response to infections, but the function of NK cell metabolism in the context of acute viral infections is unclear. Here the authors show that acute NK cell responses to Friend retrovirus involve increased glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism and require amino acid transport as well as iron sufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Littwitz-Salomon
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin, 2, Ireland.
| | - Diana Moreira
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin, 2, Ireland
| | - Joe N Frost
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Chloe Choi
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin, 2, Ireland
| | - Kevin T Liou
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Box G-B, 171 Meeting Street, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - David K Ahern
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon O'Shaughnessy
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin, 2, Ireland
| | - Bernd Wagner
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christine A Biron
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Box G-B, 171 Meeting Street, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Hal Drakesmith
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - David K Finlay
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin, 2, Ireland. .,School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin, 2, Ireland.
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27
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Natural Killer Cells and Type 1 Innate Lymphoid Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22169044. [PMID: 34445750 PMCID: PMC8396475 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells and type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1) are specific innate lymphoid cell subsets that are key for the detection and elimination of pathogens and cancer cells. In liver, while they share a number of characteristics, they differ in many features. These include their developmental pathways, tissue distribution, phenotype and functions. NK cells and ILC1 contribute to organ homeostasis through the production of key cytokines and chemokines and the elimination of potential harmful bacteria and viruses. In addition, they are equipped with a wide range of receptors, allowing them to detect “stressed cells’ such as cancer cells. Our understanding of the role of innate lymphoid cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is growing owing to the development of mouse models, the progress in immunotherapeutic treatment and the recent use of scRNA sequencing analyses. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of NK cells and ILC1 in hepatocellular carcinoma and discuss future strategies to take advantage of these innate immune cells in anti-tumor immunity. Immunotherapies hold great promise in HCC, and a better understanding of the role and function of NK cells and ILC1 in liver cancer could pave the way for new NK cell and/or ILC1-targeted treatment.
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28
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NK cells in hypoxic skin mediate a trade-off between wound healing and antibacterial defence. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4700. [PMID: 34349124 PMCID: PMC8338923 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25065-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During skin injury, immune response and repair mechanisms have to be coordinated for rapid skin regeneration and the prevention of microbial infections. Natural Killer (NK) cells infiltrate hypoxic skin lesions and Hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) mediate adaptation to low oxygen. We demonstrate that mice lacking the Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α isoform in NK cells show impaired release of the cytokines Interferon (IFN)-γ and Granulocyte Macrophage - Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) as part of a blunted immune response. This accelerates skin angiogenesis and wound healing. Despite rapid wound closure, bactericidal activity and the ability to restrict systemic bacterial infection are impaired. Conversely, forced activation of the HIF pathway supports cytokine release and NK cell-mediated antibacterial defence including direct killing of bacteria by NK cells despite delayed wound closure. Our results identify, HIF-1α in NK cells as a nexus that balances antimicrobial defence versus global repair in the skin.
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29
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Khalil M, Wang D, Hashemi E, Terhune SS, Malarkannan S. Implications of a 'Third Signal' in NK Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10081955. [PMID: 34440725 PMCID: PMC8393955 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate and adaptive immune systems are evolutionarily divergent. Primary signaling in T and B cells depends on somatically rearranged clonotypic receptors. In contrast, NK cells use germline-encoded non-clonotypic receptors such as NCRs, NKG2D, and Ly49H. Proliferation and effector functions of T and B cells are dictated by unique peptide epitopes presented on MHC or soluble humoral antigens. However, in NK cells, the primary signals are mediated by self or viral proteins. Secondary signaling mediated by various cytokines is involved in metabolic reprogramming, proliferation, terminal maturation, or memory formation in both innate and adaptive lymphocytes. The family of common gamma (γc) cytokine receptors, including IL-2Rα/β/γ, IL-7Rα/γ, IL-15Rα/β/γ, and IL-21Rα/γ are the prime examples of these secondary signals. A distinct set of cytokine receptors mediate a ‘third’ set of signaling. These include IL-12Rβ1/β2, IL-18Rα/β, IL-23R, IL-27R (WSX-1/gp130), IL-35R (IL-12Rβ2/gp130), and IL-39R (IL-23Rα/gp130) that can prime, activate, and mediate effector functions in lymphocytes. The existence of the ‘third’ signal is known in both innate and adaptive lymphocytes. However, the necessity, context, and functional relevance of this ‘third signal’ in NK cells are elusive. Here, we define the current paradigm of the ‘third’ signal in NK cells and enumerate its clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Khalil
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (M.K.); (D.W.); (E.H.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Dandan Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (M.K.); (D.W.); (E.H.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Elaheh Hashemi
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (M.K.); (D.W.); (E.H.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Scott S. Terhune
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Correspondence: (S.S.T.); (S.M.)
| | - Subramaniam Malarkannan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (M.K.); (D.W.); (E.H.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Correspondence: (S.S.T.); (S.M.)
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30
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Angiogenic Properties of NK Cells in Cancer and Other Angiogenesis-Dependent Diseases. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071621. [PMID: 34209508 PMCID: PMC8303392 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of many serious diseases, including cancer, is closely related to disturbances in the angiogenesis process. Angiogenesis is essential for the progression of tumor growth and metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has immunosuppressive properties, which contribute to tumor expansion and angiogenesis. Similarly, the uterine microenvironment (UME) exerts a tolerogenic (immunosuppressive) and proangiogenic effect on its cells, promoting implantation and development of the embryo and placenta. In the TME and UME natural killer (NK) cells, which otherwise are capable of killing target cells autonomously, enter a state of reduced cytotoxicity or anergy. Both TME and UME are rich with factors (e.g., TGF-β, glycodelin, hypoxia), which support a conversion of NK cells to the low/non-cytotoxic, proangiogenic CD56brightCD16low phenotype. It is plausible that the phenomenon of acquiring proangiogenic and low cytotoxic features by NK cells is not only limited to cancer but is a common feature of different angiogenesis-dependent diseases (ADDs). In this review, we will discuss the role of NK cells in angiogenesis disturbances associated with cancer and other selected ADDs. Expanding the knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for angiogenesis and its disorders contributes to a better understanding of ADDs and may have therapeutic implications.
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31
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Klein K, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Gotthardt D, Agerer B, Locker F, Grausenburger R, Knab VM, Bergthaler A, Sexl V. T Cell-Intrinsic CDK6 Is Dispensable for Anti-Viral and Anti-Tumor Responses In Vivo. Front Immunol 2021; 12:650977. [PMID: 34248938 PMCID: PMC8264666 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.650977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) regulates the transition through the G1-phase of the cell cycle, but also acts as a transcriptional regulator. As such CDK6 regulates cell survival or cytokine secretion together with STATs, AP-1 or NF-κB. In the hematopoietic system, CDK6 regulates T cell development and promotes leukemia and lymphoma. CDK4/6 kinase inhibitors are FDA approved for treatment of breast cancer patients and have been reported to enhance T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. The involvement of CDK6 in T cell functions remains enigmatic. We here investigated the role of CDK6 in CD8+ T cells, using previously generated CDK6 knockout (Cdk6-/-) and kinase-dead mutant CDK6 (Cdk6K43M) knock-in mice. RNA-seq analysis indicated a role of CDK6 in T cell metabolism and interferon (IFN) signaling. To investigate whether these CDK6 functions are T cell-intrinsic, we generated a T cell-specific CDK6 knockout mouse model (Cdk6fl/fl CD4-Cre). T cell-intrinsic loss of CDK6 enhanced mitochondrial respiration in CD8+ T cells, but did not impact on cytotoxicity and production of the effector cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α by CD8+ T cells in vitro. Loss of CDK6 in peripheral T cells did not affect tumor surveillance of MC38 tumors in vivo. Similarly, while we observed an impaired induction of early responses to type I IFN in CDK6-deficient CD8+ T cells, we failed to observe any differences in the response to LCMV infection upon T cell-intrinsic loss of CDK6 in vivo. This apparent contradiction might at least partially be explained by the reduced expression of Socs1, a negative regulator of IFN signaling, in CDK6-deficient CD8+ T cells. Therefore, our data are in line with a dual role of CDK6 in IFN signaling; while CDK6 promotes early IFN responses, it is also involved in the induction of a negative feedback loop. These data assign CDK6 a role in the fine-tuning of cytokine responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Klein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt Agerer
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Felix Locker
- Institute of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Grausenburger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vanessa Maria Knab
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Bergthaler
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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32
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Piersma SJ, Brizić I. Natural killer cell effector functions in antiviral defense. FEBS J 2021; 289:3982-3999. [PMID: 34125493 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells involved in the control of tumors and viral infections. They provide protection by producing cytokines and by directly lysing target cells. Both effector mechanisms have been identified to contribute to viral control, depending on the context of infection. Activation of NK cells depends on the integration of signals received by cytokine receptors and activation and inhibitory receptors recognizing ligands expressed by virus-infected cells. While the control of viral infections by NK cells is well established, the signals perceived by NK cells and how these signals integrate to mediate optimal viral control have been focus of ongoing research. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on NK cell activation and integration of signals that lead to interferon gamma production and cytotoxicity in viral infections. We review NK cell interactions with viruses, with particular focus on murine cytomegalovirus studies, which helped elucidate crucial aspects of antiviral NK cell immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sytse J Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ilija Brizić
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
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33
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Mah-Som AY, Keppel MP, Tobin JM, Kolicheski A, Saucier N, Sexl V, French AR, Wagner JA, Fehniger TA, Cooper MA. Reliance on Cox10 and oxidative metabolism for antigen-specific NK cell expansion. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109209. [PMID: 34077722 PMCID: PMC8229496 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell effector functions are dependent on metabolic regulation of cellular function; however, less is known about in vivo metabolic pathways required for NK cell antiviral function. Mice with an inducible NK-specific deletion of Cox10, which encodes a component of electron transport chain complex IV, were generated to investigate the role of oxidative phosphorylation in NK cells during murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection. Ncr1-Cox10Δ/Δ mice had normal numbers of NK cells but impaired expansion of antigen-specific Ly49H+ NK cells and impaired NK cell memory formation. Proliferation in vitro and homeostatic expansion were intact, indicating a specific metabolic requirement for antigen-driven proliferation. Cox10-deficient NK cells upregulated glycolysis, associated with increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation, although this was insufficient to protect the host. These data demonstrate that oxidative metabolism is required for NK cell antiviral responses in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise Y Mah-Som
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Molly P Keppel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joshua M Tobin
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ana Kolicheski
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nermina Saucier
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anthony R French
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Julia A Wagner
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Todd A Fehniger
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Megan A Cooper
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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34
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Xia M, Wang B, Wang Z, Zhang X, Wang X. Epigenetic Regulation of NK Cell-Mediated Antitumor Immunity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:672328. [PMID: 34017344 PMCID: PMC8129532 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.672328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are critical innate lymphocytes that can directly kill target cells without prior immunization. NK cell activation is controlled by the balance of multiple germline-encoded activating and inhibitory receptors. NK cells are a heterogeneous and plastic population displaying a broad spectrum of functional states (resting, activating, memory, repressed, and exhausted). In this review, we present an overview of the epigenetic regulation of NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity, including DNA methylation, histone modification, transcription factor changes, and microRNA expression. NK cell-based immunotherapy has been recognized as a promising strategy to treat cancer. Since epigenetic alterations are reversible and druggable, these studies will help identify new ways to enhance NK cell-mediated antitumor cytotoxicity by targeting intrinsic epigenetic regulators alone or in combination with other strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaoran Xia
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Oncology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bingbing Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Oncology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Oncology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xulong Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Oncology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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35
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Stage-Specific Requirement for Eomes in Mature NK Cell Homeostasis and Cytotoxicity. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107720. [PMID: 32492428 PMCID: PMC7265846 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) that mediate antiviral and antitumor responses and require the transcriptional regulator Eomesodermin (Eomes) for early development. However, the role of Eomes and its molecular program in mature NK cell biology is unclear. To address this, we develop a tamoxifen-inducible, type-1-ILC-specific (Ncr1-targeted) cre mouse and combine this with Eomes-floxed mice. Eomes deletion after normal NK cell ontogeny results in a rapid loss of NK cells (but not ILC1s), with a particularly profound effect on penultimately mature stage III NK cells. Mechanisms responsible for stage III reduction include increased apoptosis and impaired maturation from stage II precursors. Induced Eomes deletion also decreases NK cell cytotoxicity and abrogates in vivo rejection of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-class-I-deficient cells. However, other NK cell functional responses, and stage IV NK cells, are largely preserved. These data indicate that mature NK cells have distinct Eomes-dependent and -independent stages.
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36
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Vicioso Y, Wong DP, Roy NK, Das N, Zhang K, Ramakrishnan P, Parameswaran R. NF-κB c-Rel Is Dispensable for the Development but Is Required for the Cytotoxic Function of NK Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 12:652786. [PMID: 33995369 PMCID: PMC8116710 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.652786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes critical to the innate immune system. We found that germline deficiency of NF-κB c-Rel results in a marked decrease in cytotoxic function of NK cells, both in vitro and in vivo, with no significant differences in the stages of NK cell development. We found that c-Rel binds to the promoters of perforin and granzyme B, two key proteins required for NK cytotoxicity, and controls their expression. We generated a NK cell specific c-Rel conditional knockout to study NK cell intrinsic role of c- Rel and found that both global and conditional c-Rel deficiency leads to decreased perforin and granzyme B expression and thereby cytotoxic function. We also confirmed the role of c-Rel in perforin and granzyme B expression in human NK cells. c-Rel reconstitution rescued perforin and granzyme B expressions in c-Rel deficient NK cells and restored their cytotoxic function. Our results show a previously unknown role of c-Rel in transcriptional regulation of perforin and granzyme B expressions and control of NK cell cytotoxic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yorleny Vicioso
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Derek P. Wong
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Nand K. Roy
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Nayanika Das
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Keman Zhang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Parameswaran Ramakrishnan
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Reshmi Parameswaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
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37
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Jimenez MT, Michieletto MF, Henao-Mejia J. A new perspective on mesenchymal-immune interactions in adipose tissue. Trends Immunol 2021; 42:375-388. [PMID: 33849777 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian immune system has crucial homeostatic functions in different adipose depots. However, white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation is a hallmark of obesity and can contribute to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recently, mesenchymal cells were identified as highly heterogenous populations displaying specialized immune functions in immune cell migration, activation, survival, and overall lymphoid tissue organization in several tissues. How they regulate the inflammatory milieu within different adipose depots remains unknown. Using recently published single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) data sets, we analyze cytokine and chemokine expression of mouse WAT mesenchymal cell subpopulations to highlight potential immunological heterogeneity and specialization, hypothesizing on their immunological functions. This new perspective on immune-mesenchymal cell interactions in adipose tissue may promote studies that heighten our understanding of immune cell processes within WAT during health and obesity. We hope that these studies redefine our knowledge of the roles of mesenchymal cells in regulating adipose tissue inflammation and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica T Jimenez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michaël F Michieletto
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jorge Henao-Mejia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Division of Protective Immunity, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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38
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Wang X, Zhao XY. Transcription Factors Associated With IL-15 Cytokine Signaling During NK Cell Development. Front Immunol 2021; 12:610789. [PMID: 33815365 PMCID: PMC8013977 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.610789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes primarily involved in innate immunity and possess important functional properties in anti-viral and anti-tumor responses; thus, these cells have broad potential for clinical utilization. NK cells originate from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) through the following two independent and continuous processes: early commitment from HSCs to IL-15-responsive NK cell progenitors (NKPs) and subsequent differentiation into mature NK cells in response to IL-15. IL-15 is the most important cytokine for NK cell development, is produced by both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells, and functions through a distinct delivery process termed transpresentation. Upon being transpresented to NK cells, IL-15 contributes to NK cell development via the activation of several downstream signaling pathways, including the Ras-MEK-MAPK, JAK-STAT5, and PI3K-ATK-mTOR pathways. Nonetheless, the exact role of IL-15 in NK cell development has not been discussed in a consecutive and comprehensive manner. Here, we review current knowledge about the indispensable role of IL-15 in NK cell development and address which cells produce IL-15 to support NK cell development and when IL-15 exerts its function during multiple developmental stages. Specifically, we highlight how IL-15 supports NK cell development by elucidating the distinct transpresentation of IL-15 to NK cells and revealing the downstream target of IL-15 signaling during NK cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Zhao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing, China.,Beijing Engineering Laboratory for Cellular Therapy, Beijing, China
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39
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Fujimoto M, Kamiyama M, Fuse K, Ryuno H, Odawara T, Furukawa N, Yoshimatsu Y, Watabe T, Prchal-Murphy M, Sexl V, Tahara H, Hayakawa Y, Sato T, Takeda K, Naguro I, Ichijo H. ASK1 suppresses NK cell-mediated intravascular tumor cell clearance in lung metastasis. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:1633-1643. [PMID: 33565179 PMCID: PMC8019214 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor metastasis is the leading cause of death worldwide and involves an extremely complex process composed of multiple steps. Our previous study demonstrated that apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) deficiency in mice attenuates tumor metastasis in an experimental lung metastasis model. However, the steps of tumor metastasis regulated by ASK1 remain unclear. Here, we showed that ASK1 deficiency in mice promotes natural killer (NK) cell‐mediated intravascular tumor cell clearance in the initial hours of metastasis. In response to tumor inoculation, ASK1 deficiency upregulated immune response‐related genes, including interferon‐gamma (IFNγ). We also revealed that NK cells are required for these anti‐metastatic phenotypes. ASK1 deficiency augmented cytokine production chemoattractive to NK cells possibly through induction of the ligand for NKG2D, a key activating receptor of NK cells, leading to further recruitment of NK cells into the lung. These results indicate that ASK1 negatively regulates NK cell‐dependent anti‐tumor immunity and that ASK1‐targeted therapy can provide a new tool for cancer immunotherapy to overcome tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Fujimoto
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miki Kamiyama
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kosuke Fuse
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ryuno
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeru Odawara
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Natsuki Furukawa
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Yoshimatsu
- Division of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Watabe
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michaela Prchal-Murphy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Hideaki Tahara
- Department of Cancer Drug Discovery and Development, Research Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan.,Project Division of Cancer Biomolecular Therapy, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Hayakawa
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Takehiro Sato
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohsuke Takeda
- Division of Cell Regulation, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Isao Naguro
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidenori Ichijo
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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40
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Montazersaheb S, Fathi E, Farahzadi R. Cytokines and signaling pathways involved in differentiation potential of hematopoietic stem cells towards natural killer cells. Tissue Cell 2021; 70:101501. [PMID: 33578272 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
NK cells are innate immune cells derived from common lymphoid progenitor and are developed primarily in the bone marrow. These cells respond to stress signals, inflammatory cytokines, and cancerous cells through the secretion of active immune mediators. Previous studies revealed that NK cells can be used as an essential cell in the defense against cancers. According to the literature, a set of cytokines and factors play a crucial role during differentiation of NK cells. In other words, developmental events of NK cells are regulated through multiple critical cytokines, including interleukins (ILs), kit ligand, fms-like tyrosine kinase three ligand, transforming growth factor-β, and typical γ chain family of cytokines. Among previously investigated ILs, IL-2, IL-3, IL-7, and IL-15 are the most important. In addition to ILs, transcription factors and MicroRNAs are involved in NK cell development. In this review study, after presenting a brief description of developmental stages and production of the NK cells, the factors and signaling pathways involved in differentiation of NK cells were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soheila Montazersaheb
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ezzatollah Fathi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Raheleh Farahzadi
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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41
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Li K, Wu Y, Li Y, Yu Q, Tian Z, Wei H, Qu K. Landscape and Dynamics of the Transcriptional Regulatory Network During Natural Killer Cell Differentiation. GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2020; 18:501-515. [PMID: 33385611 PMCID: PMC8377244 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are essential in controlling cancer and infection. However, little is known about the dynamics of the transcriptional regulatory machinery during NK cell differentiation. In this study, we applied the assay of transposase accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) technique in a home-developed in vitro NK cell differentiation system. Analysis of ATAC-seq data illustrated two distinct transcription factor (TF) clusters that dynamically regulate NK cell differentiation. Moreover, two TFs from the second cluster, FOS-like 2 (FOSL2) and early growth response 2 (EGR2), were identified as novel essential TFs that control NK cell maturation and function. Knocking down either of these two TFs significantly impacted NK cell differentiation. Finally, we constructed a genome-wide transcriptional regulatory network that provides a better understanding of the regulatory dynamics during NK cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Young Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Qiaoni Yu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Zhigang Tian
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Sciences, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Haiming Wei
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Sciences, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
| | - Kun Qu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Sciences, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; School of Data Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
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42
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Divergent Role for STAT5 in the Adaptive Responses of Natural Killer Cells. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108498. [PMID: 33326784 PMCID: PMC7773031 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes with the capacity to elicit adaptive features, including clonal expansion and immunological memory. Because signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) is essential for NK cell development, the roles of this transcription factor and its upstream cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-15 during infection have not been carefully investigated. In this study, we investigate how STAT5 regulates transcription during viral infection. We demonstrate that STAT5 is induced in NK cells by IL-12 and STAT4 early after infection and that partial STAT5 deficiency results in a defective capacity of NK cells to generate long-lived memory cells. Furthermore, we find a functional dichotomy of IL-2 and IL-15 signaling outputs during viral infection, whereby both cytokines drive clonal expansion, but only IL-15 is required for memory NK cell survival. We thus highlight a role for STAT5 signaling in promoting an optimal anti-viral NK cell response. Wiedemann et al. demonstrate that Stat5a and Stat5b are induced by IL-12 and STAT4 signaling in NK cells following MCMV infection. They further provide evidence that the cytokines IL-2 and IL-15 upstream of STAT5 differentially promote the early and late stages of the adaptive NK cell response to MCMV infection.
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43
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Domagala J, Lachota M, Klopotowska M, Graczyk-Jarzynka A, Domagala A, Zhylko A, Soroczynska K, Winiarska M. The Tumor Microenvironment-A Metabolic Obstacle to NK Cells' Activity. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123542. [PMID: 33260925 PMCID: PMC7761432 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
NK cells have unique capabilities of recognition and destruction of tumor cells, without the requirement for prior immunization of the host. Maintaining tolerance to healthy cells makes them an attractive therapeutic tool for almost all types of cancer. Unfortunately, metabolic changes associated with malignant transformation and tumor progression lead to immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment, which in turn limits the efficacy of various immunotherapies. In this review, we provide a brief description of the metabolic changes characteristic for the tumor microenvironment. Both tumor and tumor-associated cells produce and secrete factors that directly or indirectly prevent NK cell cytotoxicity. Here, we depict the molecular mechanisms responsible for the inhibition of immune effector cells by metabolic factors. Finally, we summarize the strategies to enhance NK cell function for the treatment of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Domagala
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (J.D.); (A.G.-J.); (A.Z.); (K.S.)
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mieszko Lachota
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland; (M.L.); (M.K.)
| | - Marta Klopotowska
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland; (M.L.); (M.K.)
| | - Agnieszka Graczyk-Jarzynka
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (J.D.); (A.G.-J.); (A.Z.); (K.S.)
| | - Antoni Domagala
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, 25-317 Kielce, Poland;
- Department of Urology, Holy Cross Cancer Center, 25-734 Kielce, Poland
| | - Andriy Zhylko
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (J.D.); (A.G.-J.); (A.Z.); (K.S.)
| | - Karolina Soroczynska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (J.D.); (A.G.-J.); (A.Z.); (K.S.)
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Winiarska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (J.D.); (A.G.-J.); (A.Z.); (K.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-225-992-199
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44
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Yang C, Malarkannan S. Transcriptional Regulation of NK Cell Development by mTOR Complexes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:566090. [PMID: 33240877 PMCID: PMC7683515 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.566090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanistic target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is essential for multiple cellular processes. The unique roles of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) or mTOR2 in regulating immune functions are emerging. NK cells are the major lymphocyte subset of innate immunity, and their development and effector functions require metabolic reprogramming. Recent studies demonstrate that in NK cells, conditionally disrupting the formation of mTORC1 or mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) alters their development significantly. Transcriptomic profiling of NK cells at the single-cell level demonstrates that mTORC1 was critical for the early developmental progression, while mTORC2 regulated the terminal maturation. In this review, we summarize the essential roles of mTOR complexes in NK development and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Subramaniam Malarkannan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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45
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Apraiz A, Benedicto A, Marquez J, Agüera-Lorente A, Asumendi A, Olaso E, Arteta B. Innate Lymphoid Cells in the Malignant Melanoma Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113177. [PMID: 33138017 PMCID: PMC7692065 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are the innate counterparts of adaptive immune cells. Emerging data indicate that they are also key players in the progression of multiple tumors. In this review we briefly describe ILCs’ functions in the skin, lungs and liver. Next, we analyze the role of ILCs in primary cutaneous melanoma and in its most frequent and deadly metastases, those in liver and lung. We focus on their dual anti– and pro-tumoral functions, depending on the cross-interactions among them and with the surrounding stromal cells that form the tumor microenvironment (TME) in each organ. Next, we detail the role of extracellular vesicles secreted to the TME by ILCs and melanoma on both cell populations. We conclude that the identification of markers and tools to allow the modulation of individual ILC subsets, in addition to the development of standardized protocols, is essential for addressing the therapeutic modulation of ILCs. Abstract The role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in cancer progression has been uncovered in recent years. ILCs are classified as Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 ILCs, which are characterized by the transcription factors necessary for their development and the cytokines and chemokines they produce. ILCs are a highly heterogeneous cell population, showing both anti– and protumoral properties and capable of adapting their phenotypes and functions depending on the signals they receive from their surrounding environment. ILCs are considered the innate counterparts of the adaptive immune cells during physiological and pathological processes, including cancer, and as such, ILC subsets reflect different types of T cells. In cancer, each ILC subset plays a crucial role, not only in innate immunity but also as regulators of the tumor microenvironment. ILCs’ interplay with other immune and stromal cells in the metastatic microenvironment further dictates and influences this dichotomy, further strengthening the seed-and-soil theory and supporting the formation of more suitable and organ-specific metastatic environments. Here, we review the present knowledge on the different ILC subsets, focusing on their interplay with components of the tumor environment during the development of primary melanoma as well as on metastatic progression to organs, such as the liver or lung.
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Rapid Enhancer Remodeling and Transcription Factor Repurposing Enable High Magnitude Gene Induction upon Acute Activation of NK Cells. Immunity 2020; 53:745-758.e4. [PMID: 33010223 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Innate immune responses rely on rapid and precise gene regulation mediated by accessibility of regulatory regions to transcription factors (TFs). In natural killer (NK) cells and other innate lymphoid cells, competent enhancers are primed during lineage acquisition, and formation of de novo enhancers characterizes the acquisition of innate memory in activated NK cells and macrophages. Here, we investigated how primed and de novo enhancers coordinate to facilitate high-magnitude gene induction during acute activation. Epigenomic and transcriptomic analyses of regions near highly induced genes (HIGs) in NK cells both in vitro and in a model of Toxoplasma gondii infection revealed de novo chromatin accessibility and enhancer remodeling controlled by signal-regulated TFs STATs. Acute NK cell activation redeployed the lineage-determining TF T-bet to de novo enhancers, independent of DNA-sequence-specific motif recognition. Thus, acute stimulation reshapes enhancer function through the combinatorial usage and repurposing of both lineage-determining and signal-regulated TFs to ensure an effective response.
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes specialized in immune surveillance against tumors and infections. To reach their optimal functional status, NK cells must undergo a process of maturation from immature to mature NK cells. Genetically modified mice, as well as in vivo and in vitro NK cell differentiation assays, have begun to reveal the landscape of the regulatory network involved in NK cell maturation, in which a balance of cytokine signaling pathways leads to an optimal coordination of transcription factor activity. An increased understanding of NK cell maturation will greatly promote the development and application of NK cell-based clinical therapy. Thus, in this review, we summarize the dynamics of NK cell maturation, describe recently identified factors involved in the regulation of the NK cell maturation process, including cytokines and transcription factors, and discuss the importance of NK cell maturation in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Bi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xuefu Wang
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Inflammatory and Immunity Disease, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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48
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Stokic-Trtica V, Diefenbach A, Klose CSN. NK Cell Development in Times of Innate Lymphoid Cell Diversity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:813. [PMID: 32733432 PMCID: PMC7360798 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
After being described in the 1970s as cytotoxic cells that do not require MHC-dependent pre-activation, natural killer (NK) cells remained the sole member of innate lymphocytes for decades until lymphoid tissue-inducer cells in the 1990s and helper-like innate lymphoid lineages from 2008 onward completed the picture of innate lymphoid cell (ILC) diversity. Since some of the ILC members, such as ILC1s and CCR6- ILC3s, share specific markers previously used to identify NK cells, these findings provoked the question of how to delineate the development of NK cell and helper-like ILCs and how to properly identify and genetically interfere with NK cells. The description of eomesodermin (EOMES) as a lineage-specifying transcription factor of NK cells provided a candidate that may serve as a selective marker for the genetic targeting and identification of NK cells. Unlike helper-like ILCs, NK cell activation is, to a large degree, regulated by the engagement of activating and inhibitory surface receptors. NK cell research has revealed some elegant mechanisms of immunosurveillance, coined "missing-self" and "induced-self" recognition, thus complementing "non-self recognition", which is predominantly utilized by adaptive lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Notably, the balance of activating and inhibitory signals perceived by surface receptors can be therapeutically harnessed for anti-tumor immunity mediated by NK cells. This review aims to summarize the similarities and the differences in development, function, localization, and phenotype of NK cells and helper-like ILCs, with the purpose to highlight the unique feature of NK cell development and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislava Stokic-Trtica
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Max-Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Diefenbach
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.,Mucosal and Developmental Immunology, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph S N Klose
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Transcriptional Regulation of Natural Killer Cell Development and Functions. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061591. [PMID: 32560225 PMCID: PMC7352776 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are the major lymphocyte subset of the innate immune system. Their ability to mediate anti-tumor cytotoxicity and produce cytokines is well-established. However, the molecular mechanisms associated with the development of human or murine NK cells are not fully understood. Knowledge is being gained about the environmental cues, the receptors that sense the cues, signaling pathways, and the transcriptional programs responsible for the development of NK cells. Specifically, a complex network of transcription factors (TFs) following microenvironmental stimuli coordinate the development and maturation of NK cells. Multiple TFs are involved in the development of NK cells in a stage-specific manner. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the understandings of TFs involved in the regulation of NK cell development, maturation, and effector function, in the aspects of their mechanisms, potential targets, and functions.
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Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Tumor-Infiltrating NK Cells Reveals that Inhibition of Transcription Factor HIF-1α Unleashes NK Cell Activity. Immunity 2020; 52:1075-1087.e8. [PMID: 32445619 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Enhancing immune cell functions in tumors remains a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy. Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors, and cells adapt by upregulating the transcription factor HIF-1α. Here, we defined the transcriptional landscape of mouse tumor-infiltrating natural killer (NK) cells by using single-cell RNA sequencing. Conditional deletion of Hif1a in NK cells resulted in reduced tumor growth, elevated expression of activation markers, effector molecules, and an enriched NF-κB pathway in tumor-infiltrating NK cells. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) from myeloid cells was required for NF-κB activation and the enhanced anti-tumor activity of Hif1a-/- NK cells. Extended culture with an HIF-1α inhibitor increased human NK cell responses. Low HIF1A expression was associated with high expression of IFNG in human tumor-infiltrating NK cells, and an enriched NK-IL18-IFNG signature in solid tumors correlated with increased overall patient survival. Thus, inhibition of HIF-1α unleashes NK cell anti-tumor activity and could be exploited for cancer therapy.
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