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Ikhlef L, Ratti N, Durand S, Formento R, Daverat H, Boutaud M, Guillou C, Dmytruk N, Gachard N, Cosette P, Jauberteau MO, Gallet PF. Extracellular vesicles from type-2 macrophages increase the survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells ex vivo. Cancer Gene Ther 2024:10.1038/s41417-024-00802-7. [PMID: 38918490 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00802-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The resistance of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) B-cells to cell death is mainly attributed to interactions within their microenvironment, where they interact with various types of cells. Within this microenvironment, CLL-B-cells produce and bind cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles (EVs). In the present study, EVs purified from nurse-like cells and M2-polarized THP1 cell (M2-THP1) cultures were added to CLL-B-cells cultures. EVs were rapidly internalized by B-cells, leading to a decrease in apoptosis (P = 0.0162 and 0.0469, respectively) and an increased proliferation (P = 0.0335 and 0.0109). Additionally, they induced an increase in the resistance of CLL-B-cells to Ibrutinib, the Bruton kinase inhibitor in vitro (P = 0.0344). A transcriptomic analysis showed an increase in the expression of anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2 (P = 0.0286) but not MCL-1 and an increase in the expression of proliferation-inducing gene APRIL (P = 0.0286) following treatment with EVs. Meanwhile, an analysis of apoptotic protein markers revealed increased amounts of IGFBP-2 (P = 0.0338), CD40 (P = 0.0338), p53 (P = 0.0219) and BCL-2 (P = 0.0338). Finally, exploration of EVs protein content by mass spectrometry revealed they carry various proteins involved in known oncogenic pathways and the RNAseq analysis of CLL-B-cells treated or not with NLCs EVs show various differentially expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Ikhlef
- University of Limoges, UMR INSERM 1308, CAPTuR, Limoges, France
| | - Nina Ratti
- University of Limoges, UMR INSERM 1308, CAPTuR, Limoges, France
| | | | - Rémy Formento
- University of Limoges, UMR INSERM 1308, CAPTuR, Limoges, France
| | - Héloïse Daverat
- University of Limoges, UMR INSERM 1308, CAPTuR, Limoges, France
| | - Marie Boutaud
- University of Limoges, UMR INSERM 1308, CAPTuR, Limoges, France
| | - Clément Guillou
- PISSARO Proteomics Platform, Mont-Saint-Aignan Campus, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Natalya Dmytruk
- Department of Clinical Hematology, University Hospital of Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Nathalie Gachard
- Hematology laboratory, UMR CNRS7276/ INSERM 1262, University Hospital of Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Pascal Cosette
- Polymers, Biopolymers, Surface Laboratory, UMR 6270 CNRS, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
- HeRacLeS-PISSARO, INSERM US 51, CNRS UAR 2026, Normandie University, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Marie-Odile Jauberteau
- University of Limoges, UMR INSERM 1308, CAPTuR, Limoges, France
- Immunology laboratory, University Hospital of Limoges, Limoges, France
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Jestrabek H, Kohlhas V, Hallek M, Nguyen PH. Impact of leukemia-associated macrophages on the progression and therapy response of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Res 2024; 143:107531. [PMID: 38851084 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2024.107531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
The treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has advanced remarkably over the past decade. The advent and approval of the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib and BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, as well as monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies rituximab and obinutuzumab, have resulted in deep remissions and substantially improved survival outcomes for patients. However, CLL remains a complex disease with many patients still experiencing relapse and unsatisfactory treatment responses. CLL cells are highly dependent on their pro-leukemic tumor microenvironment (TME), which comprises different cellular and soluble factors. A large body of evidence suggests that CLL-associated macrophages shaped by leukemic cells play a pivotal role in maintaining CLL cell survival. In this review, we summarize the pro-survival interactions between CLL cells and macrophages, as well as the impact of the current first-line treatment agents, including ibrutinib, venetoclax, and CD20 antibodies on leukemia-associated macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Jestrabek
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne 50931, Germany; Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Viktoria Kohlhas
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Michael Hallek
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne 50931, Germany; Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Phuong-Hien Nguyen
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne 50931, Germany.
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3
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Borogovac A, Siddiqi T. Advancing CAR T-cell therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia: exploring resistance mechanisms and the innovative strategies to overcome them. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2024; 7:18. [PMID: 38835348 PMCID: PMC11149098 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2023.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has ushered in substantial advancements in the management of various B-cell malignancies. However, its integration into chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment has been challenging, attributed largely to the development of very effective chemo-free alternatives. Additionally, CAR T-cell responses in CLL have not been as high as in other B-cell lymphomas or leukemias. However, a critical void exists in therapeutic options for patients with high-risk diseases who are resistant to the current CLL therapies, underscoring the urgency for adoptive immunotherapies in these patients. The diminished CAR T-cell efficacy within CLL can be traced to factors such as compromised T-cell fitness due to persistent antigenic stimulation inherent to CLL. Resistance mechanisms encompass tumor-related factors like antigen escape, CAR T-cell-intrinsic factors like T-cell exhaustion, and a suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). New strategies to combat CAR T-cell resistance include the concurrent administration of therapies that augment CAR T-cell endurance and function, as well as the engineering of novel CAR T-cells targeting different antigens. Moreover, the concept of "armored" CAR T-cells, armed with transgenic modulators to modify both CAR T-cell function and the tumor milieu, is gaining traction. Beyond this, the development of readily available, allogeneic CAR T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells presents a promising countermeasure to innate T-cell defects in CLL patients. In this review, we explore the role of CAR T-cell therapy in CLL, the intricate tapestry of resistance mechanisms, and the pioneering methods studied to overcome resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azra Borogovac
- City of Hope, Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
| | - Tanya Siddiqi
- City of Hope, Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
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Floerchinger A, Seiffert M. Lessons learned from the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL. Semin Hematol 2024:S0037-1963(24)00060-X. [PMID: 38839457 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2024.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The Eµ-TCL1 mouse model has been used for over 20 years to study the pathobiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and for preclinical testing of novel therapies. A CLL-like disease develops with increasing age in these mice due to a B cell specific overexpression of human TCL1. The reliability of this model to mirror human CLL is controversially discussed, as none of the known driver mutations identified in patients are found in Eµ-TCL1 mice. It has to be acknowledged that this mouse model was key to develop targeted therapies that aim at inhibiting the constitutive B cell receptor (BCR) signaling, a main driver of CLL. Inhibitors of BCR signaling became standard-of-care for a large proportion of patients with CLL as they are highly effective. The Eµ-TCL1 model further advanced our understanding of CLL biology owed to studies that crossed this mouse line with various transgenic mouse models and demonstrated the relevance of CLL-cell intrinsic and -extrinsic drivers of disease. These studies were instrumental in showing the relevance of the tumor microenvironment in the lymphoid tissues for disease progression and immune escape in CLL. It became clear that CLL cells shape and rely on stromal and immune cells, and that immune suppressive mechanisms and T cell exhaustion contribute to CLL progression. Based on this knowledge, new immunotherapy strategies were clinically tested for CLL, but so far with disappointing results. As some of these therapies were effective in the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model, the question arose concerning the translatability of preclinical studies in these mice. The aim of this review is to summarize lessons we have learnt over the last decades by studying CLL-like disease in the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model. The article focuses on pitfalls and limitations of the model, as well as the gained knowledge and potential of using this model for the development of novel treatment strategies to achieve the goal of curing patients with CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Floerchinger
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences of the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martina Seiffert
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Li K, Nie H, Jin R, Wu X. Mesenchymal stem cells-macrophages crosstalk and myeloid malignancy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1397005. [PMID: 38779660 PMCID: PMC11109455 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1397005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
As major components of the tumor microenvironment, both mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and macrophages can be remodelled and exhibit different phenotypes and functions during tumor initiation and progression. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a crucial role in the growth, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance of hematological malignancies, and are associated with poor prognosis. Consequently, TAMs have emerged as promising therapeutic targets. Notably, MSCs exert a profound influence on modulating immune cell functions such as macrophages and granulocytes, thereby playing a crucial role in shaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment surrounding tumors. However, in hematological malignancies, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between MSCs and macrophages have not been clearly elucidated. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of TAMs in various common hematological malignancies, and discuss the latest advances in understanding the interaction between MSCs and macrophages in disease progression. Additionally, potential therapeutic approaches targeting this relationship are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongyan Nie
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Runming Jin
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Sciaccotta R, Gangemi S, Penna G, Giordano L, Pioggia G, Allegra A. Potential New Therapies "ROS-Based" in CLL: An Innovative Paradigm in the Induction of Tumor Cell Apoptosis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:475. [PMID: 38671922 PMCID: PMC11047475 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13040475] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, in spite of recent advancements, is still an incurable disease; the majority of patients eventually acquire resistance to treatment through relapses. In all subtypes of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the disruption of normal B-cell homeostasis is thought to be mostly caused by the absence of apoptosis. Consequently, apoptosis induction is crucial to the management of this illness. Damaged biological components can accumulate as a result of the oxidation of intracellular lipids, proteins, and DNA by reactive oxygen species. It is possible that cancer cells are more susceptible to apoptosis because of their increased production of reactive oxygen species. An excess of reactive oxygen species can lead to oxidative stress, which can harm biological elements like DNA and trigger apoptotic pathways that cause planned cell death. In order to upset the balance of oxidative stress in cells, recent therapeutic treatments in chronic lymphocytic leukemia have focused on either producing reactive oxygen species or inhibiting it. Examples include targets created in the field of nanomedicine, natural extracts and nutraceuticals, tailored therapy using biomarkers, and metabolic targets. Current developments in the complex connection between apoptosis, particularly ferroptosis and its involvement in epigenomics and alterations, have created a new paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Sciaccotta
- Hematology Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (R.S.); (G.P.); (L.G.)
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Giuseppa Penna
- Hematology Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (R.S.); (G.P.); (L.G.)
| | - Laura Giordano
- Hematology Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (R.S.); (G.P.); (L.G.)
| | - Giovanni Pioggia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 98164 Messina, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Allegra
- Hematology Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (R.S.); (G.P.); (L.G.)
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7
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Borogovac A, Siddiqi T. Transforming CLL management with immunotherapy: Investigating the potential of CAR T-cells and bispecific antibodies. Semin Hematol 2024; 61:119-130. [PMID: 38290860 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2024.01.001] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies or T-cell engagers, have revolutionized the treatment landscape for various B-cell malignancies, including B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia and many non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Despite their significant impact on these malignancies, their application in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) management is still largely under investigation. Although the initial success of CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy was observed in 3 multiply relapsed CLL patients, with 2 of them surviving over 10 years without relapse, recent CAR T-cell therapy trials in CLL have shown reduced response rates compared to their efficacy in other B-cell malignancies. One of the challenges with using immunotherapy in CLL is the compromised T-cell fitness from persistent CLL-related antigenic stimulation, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). These challenges underscore a critical gap in therapeutic options for CLL patients intolerant or resistant to current therapies, emphasizing the imperative role of effective immunotherapy. Encouragingly, innovative strategies are emerging to overcome these challenges. These include integrating synergistic agents like ibrutinib to enhance CAR T-cell function and persistence and engineering newer CAR T-cell constructs targeting diverse antigens or employing dual-targeting approaches. Bispecific antibodies are an exciting "off-the-shelf" prospect for these patients, with their investigation in CLL currently entering the realm of clinical trials. Additionally, the development of allogeneic CAR T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells from healthy donors presents a promising solution to address the diminished T-cell fitness observed in CLL patients. This comprehensive review delves into the latest insights regarding the role of immunotherapy in CLL, the complex landscape of resistance mechanisms, and a spectrum of innovative approaches to surmount therapeutic challenges.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Antibodies, Bispecific/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Bispecific/immunology
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Immunotherapy/methods
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Azra Borogovac
- City of Hope, Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, Irvine, CA.
| | - Tanya Siddiqi
- City of Hope, Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, Irvine, CA
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Vom Stein AF, Hallek M, Nguyen PH. Role of the tumor microenvironment in CLL pathogenesis. Semin Hematol 2023:S0037-1963(23)00098-7. [PMID: 38220499 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2023.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells extensively interact with and depend on their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME encompasses a heterogeneous array of cell types, soluble signals, and extracellular vesicles, which contribute significantly to CLL pathogenesis. CLL cells and the TME cooperatively generate a chronic inflammatory milieu, which reciprocally reprograms the TME and activates a signaling network within CLL cells, promoting their survival and proliferation. Additionally, the inflammatory milieu exerts chemotactic effects, attracting CLL cells and other immune cells to the lymphoid tissues. The intricate CLL-TME interactions also facilitate immune evasion and compromise leukemic cell surveillance. We also review recent advances that have shed light on additional aspects that are substantially influenced by the CLL-TME interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander F Vom Stein
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne; CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Hallek
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne; CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne, Germany
| | - Phuong-Hien Nguyen
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne; CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Cologne, Germany.
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Merchand-Reyes G, Santhanam R, Valencia-Pena ML, Kumar K, Mo X, Belay T, Woyach JA, Mundy-Bosse B, Tridandapani S, Butchar JP. Active Hexose-Correlated Compound Shows Direct and Indirect Effects against Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Nutrients 2023; 15:5138. [PMID: 38140397 PMCID: PMC10747249 DOI: 10.3390/nu15245138] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease characterized by the accumulation of mature CD19+CD5+CD23+ B cells in the bloodstream and in lymphoid organs. It usually affects people over 70 years of age, which limits the options for treatments. The disease is typically well-managed, but to date is still incurable. Hence, the need for novel therapeutic strategies remains. Nurse-like cells (NLCs) are major components of the microenvironment for CLL, supporting tumor cell survival, proliferation, and even drug resistance. They are of myeloid lineage, guided toward differentiating into their tumor-supportive role by the CLL cells themselves. As such, they are analogous to tumor-associated macrophages and represent a major therapeutic target. Previously, it was found that a mushroom extract, Active Hexose-Correlated Compound (AHCC), promoted the death of acute myeloid leukemia cells while preserving normal monocytes. Given these findings, it was asked whether AHCC might have a similar effect on the abnormally differentiated myeloid-lineage NLCs in CLL. CLL-patient PBMCs were treated with AHCC, and it was found that AHCC treatment showed a direct toxic effect against isolated CLL cells. In addition, it significantly reduced the number of tumor-supportive NLCs and altered their phenotype. The effects of AHCC were then tested in the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL and the MllPTD/WT Flt3ITD/WT model of AML. Results showed that AHCC not only reduced tumor load and increased survival in the CLL and AML models, but it also enhanced antitumor antibody treatment in the CLL model. These results suggest that AHCC has direct and indirect effects against CLL and that it may be of benefit when combined with existing treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Merchand-Reyes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
| | - Ramasamy Santhanam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
| | - Maria L. Valencia-Pena
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
| | - Krishan Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
| | - Xiaokui Mo
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Tesfaye Belay
- Department of Applied Sciences and Mathematics, Bluefield State University, Bluefield, WV 24701, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Woyach
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Bethany Mundy-Bosse
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Susheela Tridandapani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jonathan P. Butchar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (G.M.-R.)
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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10
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Cerreto M, Foà R, Natoni A. The Role of the Microenvironment and Cell Adhesion Molecules in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5160. [PMID: 37958334 PMCID: PMC10647257 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell malignancy whose progression largely depends on the lymph node and bone marrow microenvironment. Indeed, CLL cells actively proliferate in specific regions of these anatomical compartments, known as proliferation centers, while being quiescent in the blood stream. Hence, CLL cell adhesion and migration into these protective niches are critical for CLL pathophysiology. CLL cells are lodged in their microenvironment through a series of molecular interactions that are mediated by cellular adhesion molecules and their counter receptors. The importance of these adhesion molecules in the clinic is demonstrated by the correlation between the expression levels of some of them, in particular CD49d, and the prognostic likelihood. Furthermore, novel therapeutic agents, such as ibrutinib, impair the functions of these adhesion molecules, leading to an egress of CLL cells from the lymph nodes and bone marrow into the circulation together with an inhibition of homing into these survival niches, thereby preventing disease progression. Several adhesion molecules have been shown to participate in CLL adhesion and migration. Their importance also stems from the observation that they are involved in promoting, directly or indirectly, survival signals that sustain CLL proliferation and limit the efficacy of standard and novel chemotherapeutic drugs, a process known as cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance. In this respect, many studies have elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance, which have highlighted different signaling pathways that may represent potential therapeutic targets. Here, we review the role of the microenvironment and the adhesion molecules that have been shown to be important in CLL and their impact on transendothelial migration and cell-mediated drug resistance. We also discuss how novel therapeutic compounds modulate the function of this important class of molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alessandro Natoni
- Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, 00100 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (R.F.)
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11
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Giannoni P, Marini C, Cutrona G, Sambuceti GM, Fais F, de Totero D. Unraveling the Bone Tissue Microenvironment in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5058. [PMID: 37894425 PMCID: PMC10605026 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15205058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent leukemia in Western countries. Although characterized by the progressive expansion and accumulation of leukemic B cells in peripheral blood, CLL cells develop in protective niches mainly located within lymph nodes and bone marrow. Multiple interactions between CLL and microenvironmental cells may favor the expansion of a B cell clone, further driving immune cells toward an immunosuppressive phenotype. Here, we summarize the current understanding of bone tissue alterations in CLL patients, further addressing and suggesting how the multiple interactions between CLL cells and osteoblasts/osteoclasts can be involved in these processes. Recent findings proposing the disruption of the endosteal niche by the expansion of a leukemic B cell clone appear to be a novel field of research to be deeply investigated and potentially relevant to provide new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Giannoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Biology Section, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy;
| | - Cecilia Marini
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy; (C.M.); (G.M.S.)
- CNR Institute of Bioimages and Molecular Physiology, 20054 Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanna Cutrona
- Molecular Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy; (G.C.); (F.F.)
| | - Gian Mario Sambuceti
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy; (C.M.); (G.M.S.)
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Franco Fais
- Molecular Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy; (G.C.); (F.F.)
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Anatomy Section, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Daniela de Totero
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
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12
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Parvin S, Aryal A, Yin S, Fell GG, Davids MS, Wu CJ, Letai A. Targeting conditioned media dependencies and FLT-3 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood Adv 2023; 7:5877-5889. [PMID: 37428863 PMCID: PMC10558618 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022008207] [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: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of the stromal microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) pathogenesis and drug resistance is well established. Despite recent advances in CLL therapy, identifying novel ways to disrupt interactions between CLL and its microenvironment may identify new combination partners for the drugs currently in use. To understand the role of microenvironmental factors on primary CLL cells, we took advantage of an observation that conditioned media (CM) collected from stroma was protective of CLL cells from spontaneous cell death ex vivo. The cytokine in the CM-dependent cells that most supports CLL survival in short-term ex vivo culture was CCL2. Pretreatment of CLL cells with anti-CCL2 antibody enhanced venetoclax-mediated killing. Surprisingly, we found a group of CLL samples (9/23 cases) that are less likely to undergo cell death in the absence of CM support. Functional studies revealed that CM-independent (CMI) CLL cells are less sensitive to apoptosis than conventional stroma-dependent CLL. In addition, a majority of the CMI CLL samples (80%) harbored unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable (IGHV) region. Bulk-RNA sequence analysis revealed upregulation of the focal adhesion and RAS signaling pathways in this group, along with expression of fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and CD135. Treatment with FLT3 inhibitors caused a significant reduction in cell viability among CMI samples. In summary, we were able to discriminate and target 2 biologically distinct subgroups of CLL based on CM dependence with distinct microenvironmental vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Parvin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Aditi Aryal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Shanye Yin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Geoffrey G. Fell
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Matthew S. Davids
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Catherine J. Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Anthony Letai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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13
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Van Morckhoven D, Dubois N, Bron D, Meuleman N, Lagneaux L, Stamatopoulos B. Extracellular vesicles in hematological malignancies: EV-dence for reshaping the tumoral microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1265969. [PMID: 37822925 PMCID: PMC10562589 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1265969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Following their discovery at the end of the 20th century, extracellular vesicles (EVs) ranging from 50-1,000 nm have proven to be paramount in the progression of many cancers, including hematological malignancies. EVs are a heterogeneous group of cell-derived membranous structures that include small EVs (commonly called exosomes) and large EVs (microparticles). They have been demonstrated to participate in multiple physiological and pathological processes by allowing exchange of biological material (including among others proteins, DNA and RNA) between cells. They are therefore a crucial way of intercellular communication. In this context, malignant cells can release these extracellular vesicles that can influence their microenvironment, induce the formation of a tumorigenic niche, and prepare and establish distant niches facilitating metastasis by significantly impacting the phenotypes of surrounding cells and turning them toward supportive roles. In addition, EVs are also able to manipulate the immune response and to establish an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This in turn allows for ideal conditions for heightened chemoresistance and increased disease burden. Here, we review the latest findings and reports studying the effects and therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles in various hematological malignancies. The study of extracellular vesicles remains in its infancy; however, rapid advances in the analysis of these vesicles in the context of disease allow us to envision prospects to improve the detection and treatment of hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Van Morckhoven
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nathan Dubois
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dominique Bron
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Departement of Hematology, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Meuleman
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Departement of Hematology, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Lagneaux
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Basile Stamatopoulos
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
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14
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Slama Y, Ah-Pine F, Khettab M, Arcambal A, Begue M, Dutheil F, Gasque P. The Dual Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cancer Pathophysiology: Pro-Tumorigenic Effects versus Therapeutic Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13511. [PMID: 37686315 PMCID: PMC10488262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713511] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells involved in numerous physiological events, including organogenesis, the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, regeneration, or tissue repair. MSCs are increasingly recognized as playing a major, dual, and complex role in cancer pathophysiology through their ability to limit or promote tumor progression. Indeed, these cells are known to interact with the tumor microenvironment, modulate the behavior of tumor cells, influence their functions, and promote distant metastasis formation through the secretion of mediators, the regulation of cell-cell interactions, and the modulation of the immune response. This dynamic network can lead to the establishment of immunoprivileged tissue niches or the formation of new tumors through the proliferation/differentiation of MSCs into cancer-associated fibroblasts as well as cancer stem cells. However, MSCs exhibit also therapeutic effects including anti-tumor, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, or anti-oxidative effects. The therapeutic interest in MSCs is currently growing, mainly due to their ability to selectively migrate and penetrate tumor sites, which would make them relevant as vectors for advanced therapies. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview of the double-edged sword implications of MSCs in tumor processes. The therapeutic potential of MSCs will be reviewed in melanoma and lung cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef Slama
- Unité de Recherche Études Pharmaco-Immunologiques (EPI), Université de La Réunion, CHU de La Réunion, Allée des Topazes, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France; (F.A.-P.); (M.K.); (P.G.)
- Service de Radiothérapie, Clinique Sainte-Clotilde, Groupe Clinifutur, 127 Route de Bois de Nèfles, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France; (M.B.); (F.D.)
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Santé (LIRS), RunResearch, Clinique Sainte-Clotilde, 127 Route de Bois de Nèfles, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France;
| | - Franck Ah-Pine
- Unité de Recherche Études Pharmaco-Immunologiques (EPI), Université de La Réunion, CHU de La Réunion, Allée des Topazes, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France; (F.A.-P.); (M.K.); (P.G.)
- Service d’Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, CHU de La Réunion sites SUD—Saint-Pierre, Avenue François Mitterrand, 97448 Saint-Pierre Cedex, La Réunion, France
| | - Mohamed Khettab
- Unité de Recherche Études Pharmaco-Immunologiques (EPI), Université de La Réunion, CHU de La Réunion, Allée des Topazes, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France; (F.A.-P.); (M.K.); (P.G.)
- Service d’Oncologie Médicale, CHU de La Réunion sites SUD—Saint-Pierre, Avenue François Mitterrand, 97448 Saint-Pierre Cedex, La Réunion, France
| | - Angelique Arcambal
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Santé (LIRS), RunResearch, Clinique Sainte-Clotilde, 127 Route de Bois de Nèfles, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France;
| | - Mickael Begue
- Service de Radiothérapie, Clinique Sainte-Clotilde, Groupe Clinifutur, 127 Route de Bois de Nèfles, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France; (M.B.); (F.D.)
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Santé (LIRS), RunResearch, Clinique Sainte-Clotilde, 127 Route de Bois de Nèfles, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France;
| | - Fabien Dutheil
- Service de Radiothérapie, Clinique Sainte-Clotilde, Groupe Clinifutur, 127 Route de Bois de Nèfles, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France; (M.B.); (F.D.)
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Santé (LIRS), RunResearch, Clinique Sainte-Clotilde, 127 Route de Bois de Nèfles, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France;
| | - Philippe Gasque
- Unité de Recherche Études Pharmaco-Immunologiques (EPI), Université de La Réunion, CHU de La Réunion, Allée des Topazes, 97400 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France; (F.A.-P.); (M.K.); (P.G.)
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15
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Verstraete N, Marku M, Domagala M, Arduin H, Bordenave J, Fournié JJ, Ysebaert L, Poupot M, Pancaldi V. An agent-based model of monocyte differentiation into tumour-associated macrophages in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. iScience 2023; 26:106897. [PMID: 37332613 PMCID: PMC10275988 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Monocyte-derived macrophages help maintain tissue homeostasis and defend the organism against pathogens. In tumors, recent studies have uncovered complex macrophage populations, including tumor-associated macrophages, which support tumorigenesis through cancer hallmarks such as immunosuppression, angiogenesis, or matrix remodeling. In the case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, these macrophages are known as nurse-like cells (NLCs) and they protect leukemic cells from spontaneous apoptosis, contributing to their chemoresistance. We propose an agent-based model of monocyte differentiation into NLCs upon contact with leukemic B cells in vitro. We performed patient-specific model optimization using cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients. Using our model, we were able to reproduce the temporal survival dynamics of cancer cells in a patient-specific manner and to identify patient groups related to distinct macrophage phenotypes. Our results show a potentially important role of phagocytosis in the polarization process of NLCs and in promoting cancer cells' enhanced survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Verstraete
- CRCT, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Malvina Marku
- CRCT, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Marcin Domagala
- CRCT, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Hélène Arduin
- CRCT, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Julie Bordenave
- CRCT, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Jacques Fournié
- CRCT, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Loïc Ysebaert
- Service d’Hématologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, 31330 Toulouse, France
| | - Mary Poupot
- CRCT, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Vera Pancaldi
- CRCT, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Carrer de Jordi Girona, 29, 31, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
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16
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Oder B, Chatzidimitriou A, Langerak AW, Rosenquist R, Österholm C. Recent revelations and future directions using single-cell technologies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1143811. [PMID: 37091144 PMCID: PMC10117666 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1143811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous disease with varying outcomes. In the last decade, the application of next-generation sequencing technologies has allowed extensive mapping of disease-specific genomic, epigenomic, immunogenetic, and transcriptomic signatures linked to CLL pathogenesis. These technologies have improved our understanding of the impact of tumor heterogeneity and evolution on disease outcome, although they have mostly been performed on bulk preparations of nucleic acids. As a further development, new technologies have emerged in recent years that allow high-resolution mapping at the single-cell level. These include single-cell RNA sequencing for assessment of the transcriptome, both of leukemic and non-malignant cells in the tumor microenvironment; immunogenetic profiling of B and T cell receptor rearrangements; single-cell sequencing methods for investigation of methylation and chromatin accessibility across the genome; and targeted single-cell DNA sequencing for analysis of copy-number alterations and single nucleotide variants. In addition, concomitant profiling of cellular subpopulations, based on protein expression, can also be obtained by various antibody-based approaches. In this review, we discuss different single-cell sequencing technologies and how they have been applied so far to study CLL onset and progression, also in response to treatment. This latter aspect is particularly relevant considering that we are moving away from chemoimmunotherapy to targeted therapies, with a potentially distinct impact on clonal dynamics. We also discuss new possibilities, such as integrative multi-omics analysis, as well as inherent limitations of the different single-cell technologies, from sample preparation to data interpretation using available bioinformatic pipelines. Finally, we discuss future directions in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaž Oder
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anastasia Chatzidimitriou
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anton W. Langerak
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Richard Rosenquist
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Österholm
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Cecilia Österholm,
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O’Donnell A, Pepper C, Mitchell S, Pepper A. NF-kB and the CLL microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1169397. [PMID: 37064123 PMCID: PMC10098180 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1169397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most prevalent type of leukemia in the western world. Despite the positive clinical effects of new targeted therapies, CLL still remains an incurable and refractory disease and resistance to treatments are commonly encountered. The Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) transcription factor has been implicated in the pathology of CLL, with high levels of NF-κB associated with disease progression and drug resistance. This aberrant NF-κB activation can be caused by genetic mutations in the tumor cells and microenvironmental factors, which promote NF-κB signaling. Activation can be induced via two distinct pathways, the canonical and non-canonical pathway, which result in tumor cell proliferation, survival and drug resistance. Therefore, understanding how the CLL microenvironment drives NF-κB activation is important for deciphering how CLL cells evade treatment and may aid the development of novel targeting therapeutics. The CLL microenvironment is comprised of various cells, including nurse like cells, mesenchymal stromal cells, follicular dendritic cells and CD4+ T cells. By activating different receptors, including the B cell receptor and CD40, these cells cause overactivity of the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways. Within this review, we will explore the different components of the CLL microenvironment that drive the NF-κB pathway, investigating how this knowledge is being translated in the development of new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice O’Donnell
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
- Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Pepper
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Mitchell
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Pepper
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
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18
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Jin B, Guo Z, Chen Z, Chen H, Li S, Deng Y, Jin L, Liu Y, Zhang Y, He N. Aptamers in cancer therapy: problems and new breakthroughs. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:1609-1627. [PMID: 36744587 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb02579e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers, a class of oligonucleotides that can bind with molecular targets with high affinity and specificity, have been widely applied in research fields including biosensing, imaging, diagnosing, and therapy of diseases. However, compared with the rapid development in the research fields, the clinical application of aptamers is progressing at a much slower speed, especially in the therapy of cancer. Obstructions including nuclease degradation, renal clearance, a complex selection process, and potential side effects have inhibited the clinical transformation of aptamer-conjugated drugs. To overcome these problems, taking certain measures to improve the biocompatibility and stability of aptamer-conjugated drugs in vivo is necessary. In this review, the obstructions mentioned above are thoroughly discussed and the methods to overcome these problems are introduced in detail. Furthermore, landmark research works and the most recent studies on aptamer-conjugated drugs for cancer therapy are also listed as examples, and the future directions of research for aptamer clinical transformation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baijiang Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Zhukang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Zhu Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Song Li
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Yan Deng
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Lian Jin
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Yuanying Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Nongyue He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, Hunan, China
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Gargiulo E, Ribeiro EFO, Niemann CU. SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions | Infections in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients: Risks and Management. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA, MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2023; 23:322-332. [PMID: 36868914 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Although chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a malignancy characterized by accumulation of tumor cells in the blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes and secondary lymphoid tissues, the hallmark of the disease and the major cause of death for patients with CLL is actually immune dysfunction and associated infections. Despite improvement in treatment based on combination chemoimmunotherapy and targeted treatment with BTK and BCL-2 inhibitors leading to longer overall survival for patients with CLL, the mortality due to infections have not improved over the last 4 decades. Thus, infections are now the main cause of death for patients with CLL, posing threats to the patient whether during the premalignant state of monoclonal B lymphocytosis (MBL), during the watch & wait phase for treatment naïve patients, or upon treatment in terms of chemoimmunotherapy or targeted treatment. To test whether the natural history of immune dysfunction and infections in CLL can be changed, we have developed the machine learning based algorithm CLL-TIM.org to identify these patients. The CLL-TIM algorithm is currently being used for selection of patients for the clinical trial PreVent-ACaLL (NCT03868722), testing whether short-term treatment with the BTK inhibitor acalabrutinib and the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax can improve immune function and decrease the risk of infections for this high-risk patient population. We here review the background for and management of infectious risks in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Gargiulo
- Tumor-Stroma Interactions, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; PERSIMUNE, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Carsten U Niemann
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center of Oncology and Hematology, Hospital Santa Lúcia Sul, Brasilia, Brazil; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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20
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Haselager MV, Thijssen R, Bax D, Both D, De Boer F, Mackay S, Dubois J, Mellink C, Kater AP, Eldering E. JAK-STAT signalling shapes the NF-κB response in CLL towards venetoclax sensitivity or resistance via Bcl-XL. Mol Oncol 2022. [PMID: 36550750 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13364] [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: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Preventing or overcoming resistance to the Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax is an emerging unmet clinical need in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The upregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 members through signalling pathways within the tumor microenvironment appears as a major factor leading to resistance to venetoclax. Previously, we reported that T cells can drive resistance through CD40 and non-canonical NF-κB activation and subsequent Bcl-XL induction. Moreover, the T cell-derived cytokines IL-21 and IL-4 differentially affect Bcl-XL expression and sensitivity to venetoclax via unknown mechanisms. Here, we mechanistically dissected how Bcl-XL is regulated in the context of JAK-STAT signalling in primary CLL. First, we demonstrated a clear antagonistic role of IL-21/STAT3 signalling in the NF-κB-mediated expression of Bcl-XL, whereas IL-4/STAT6 further promoted the expression of Bcl-XL. In comparison, Bfl-1, another NF-κB target, was not differentially affected by either cytokine. Second, STAT3 and STAT6 affected Bcl-XL transcription by binding to its promoter without disrupting the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB. Third, in situ proximity ligation assays (isPLAs) indicated crosstalk between JAK-STAT signalling and NF-κB, in which STAT3 inhibited canonical NF-κB by accelerating nuclear export, and STAT6 promoted non-canonical NF-κB. Finally, NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK) inhibition interrupted the NF-κB/STAT crosstalk and resensitized CLL cells to venetoclax. In conclusion, we uncovered distinct crosstalk mechanisms that shape the NF-κB response in CLL towards venetoclax sensitivity or resistance via Bcl-XL, thereby revealing new potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco V Haselager
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, The Netherlands.,Cancer Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rachel Thijssen
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Danique Bax
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, The Netherlands.,Cancer Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Demi Both
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, The Netherlands.,Cancer Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Simon Mackay
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Julie Dubois
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens Mellink
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arnon P Kater
- Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, The Netherlands.,Cancer Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eric Eldering
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, The Netherlands.,Cancer Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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21
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Giannoni P, Marini C, Cutrona G, Todoerti K, Neri A, Ibatici A, Sambuceti G, Pigozzi S, Mora M, Ferrarini M, Fais F, de Totero D. A High Percentage of CD16+ Monocytes Correlates with the Extent of Bone Erosion in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients: The Impact of Leukemic B Cells in Monocyte Differentiation and Osteoclast Maturation. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235979. [PMID: 36497460 PMCID: PMC9740193 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant skeletal alterations are present in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) patients; bone erosion, particularly evident in the long bone shaft, appeared increased in the progressive disease stage. Moreover, the partial colonization of the bone with reactive bone marrow we documented via PET-FDG imaging suggests that neoplastic cell overgrowth contributes to bone derangement. Indeed, cytokines released by leukemic B cells impair osteoblast differentiation and enhance osteoclast formation in vitro. CD16, Fcγ-RIIIa, has been previously indicated as a marker of osteoclast precursors. We demonstrate, here, that the percentage of circulating monocytes, CD16+, is significantly higher in CLL patients than in normal controls and directly correlated with the extent of bone erosion. When we assessed if healthy monocytes, treated with a CLL-conditioned medium, modulated RANK, RANKL and CD16, we observed that all these molecules were up-regulated and CD16 to a greater extent. Altogether, these findings suggest that leukemic cells facilitate osteoclast differentiation. Interestingly, the evidence that monocytes, polarized toward the M2 phenotype, were characterized by high CD16 expression and showed a striking propensity to differentiate toward osteoclasts may provide further explanations for the enhanced levels of bone erosion detected, in agreement with the high number of immunosuppressive-M2 cells present in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Giannoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Biology Section, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Cecilia Marini
- CNR Institute of Bioimages and Molecular Physiology, 20054 Milano, Italy
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Giovanna Cutrona
- Molecular Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Katia Todoerti
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori G. Venezian, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Antonino Neri
- Scientific Directorate, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Adalberto Ibatici
- Hematology Unit and Bone Marrow Transplantation, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Gianmario Sambuceti
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Simona Pigozzi
- Department of Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Marco Mora
- Pathology Anatomy Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Manlio Ferrarini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Anatomy Section, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Franco Fais
- Molecular Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Anatomy Section, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Daniela de Totero
- Molecular Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Correspondence:
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22
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Magalhães-Gama F, Alves-Hanna FS, Araújo ND, Barros MS, Silva FS, Catão CLS, Moraes JS, Freitas IC, Tarragô AM, Malheiro A, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Costa AG. The Yin-Yang of myeloid cells in the leukemic microenvironment: Immunological role and clinical implications. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1071188. [PMID: 36532078 PMCID: PMC9751477 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1071188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The leukemic microenvironment has a high diversity of immune cells that are phenotypically and functionally distinct. However, our understanding of the biology, immunology, and clinical implications underlying these cells remains poorly investigated. Among the resident immune cells that can infiltrate the leukemic microenvironment are myeloid cells, which correspond to a heterogeneous cell group of the innate immune system. They encompass populations of neutrophils, macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). These cells can be abundant in different tissues and, in the leukemic microenvironment, are associated with the clinical outcome of the patient, acting dichotomously to contribute to leukemic progression or stimulate antitumor immune responses. In this review, we detail the current evidence and the many mechanisms that indicate that the activation of different myeloid cell populations may contribute to immunosuppression, survival, or metastatic dissemination, as well as in immunosurveillance and stimulation of specific cytotoxic responses. Furthermore, we broadly discuss the interactions of tumor-associated neutrophils and macrophages (TANs and TAMs, respectively) and MDSCs in the leukemic microenvironment. Finally, we provide new perspectives on the potential of myeloid cell subpopulations as predictive biomarkers of therapeutical response, as well as potential targets in the chemoimmunotherapy of leukemias due to their dual Yin-Yang roles in leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio Magalhães-Gama
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores de Diagnóstico e Monitoração, Instituto René Rachou – FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Fabíola Silva Alves-Hanna
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Nilberto Dias Araújo
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Mateus Souza Barros
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Flavio Souza Silva
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Claudio Lucas Santos Catão
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Hematologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Júlia Santos Moraes
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Izabela Cabral Freitas
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Andréa Monteiro Tarragô
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Hematologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Adriana Malheiro
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Hematologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Andréa Teixeira-Carvalho
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores de Diagnóstico e Monitoração, Instituto René Rachou – FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Allyson Guimarães Costa
- Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Hematologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA), Manaus, Brazil
- Escola de Enfermagem de Manaus, UFAM, Manaus, Brazil
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23
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Macrophage- and BCR-derived but not TLR-derived signals support the growth of CLL and Richter syndrome murine models in vivo. Blood 2022; 140:2335-2347. [PMID: 36084319 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022016272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A large amount of circumstantial evidence has accumulated suggesting that Toll-like receptor (TLR) signals are involved in driving chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell proliferation, but direct in vivo evidence for this is still lacking. We have now further addressed this possibility by pharmacologically inhibiting or genetically inactivating the TLR pathway in murine CLL and human Richter syndrome (RS) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cells. Surprisingly, we show that pharmacologic inhibition of TLR signaling by treatment with an IRAK1/4 inhibitor delays the growth of the transplanted malignant cells in recipient mice, but genetic inactivation of the same pathway by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of IRAK4 or its proximal adaptor MyD88 has no effect. We further show that treatment with the IRAK1/4 inhibitor results in depletion of macrophages and demonstrate that these cells can support the survival and enhance the proliferation of both murine Eμ-TCL1 leukemia and human RS cells. We also show that genetic disruption of the B-cell receptor (BCR) by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the immunoglobulin M constant region gene inhibits the growth of human RS-PDX cells in vivo, consistent with our previous finding with murine Eμ-TCL1 leukemia cells. Finally, we show that genetic disruption of IRAK4 does not result in negative selection of human CLL cell lines xenografted in immunodeficient mice. The obtained data suggest that TLR signals are unlikely to represent a major driver of CLL/RS cell proliferation and provide further evidence that signals from macrophages and the BCR promote the growth and survival of CLL and RS cells in vivo.
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24
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Yano M, Byrd JC, Muthusamy N. Natural Killer Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Functional Impairment and Therapeutic Potential. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235787. [PMID: 36497266 PMCID: PMC9739887 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy approaches have advanced rapidly in recent years. While the greatest therapeutic advances so far have been achieved with T cell therapies such as immune checkpoint blockade and CAR-T, recent advances in NK cell therapy have highlighted the therapeutic potential of these cells. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most prevalent form of leukemia in Western countries, is a very immunosuppressive disease but still shows significant potential as a target of immunotherapy, including NK-based therapies. In addition to their antileukemia potential, NK cells are important immune effectors in the response to infections, which represent a major clinical concern for CLL patients. Here, we review the interactions between NK cells and CLL, describing functional changes and mechanisms of CLL-induced NK suppression, interactions with current therapeutic options, and the potential for therapeutic benefit using NK cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Yano
- Medical Science Training Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - John C. Byrd
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Correspondence: (J.C.B.); (N.M.)
| | - Natarajan Muthusamy
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Correspondence: (J.C.B.); (N.M.)
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25
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Old and New Facts and Speculations on the Role of the B Cell Receptor in the Origin of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214249. [PMID: 36430731 PMCID: PMC9693457 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The engagement of the B cell receptor (BcR) on the surface of leukemic cells represents a key event in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) since it can lead to the maintenance and expansion of the neoplastic clone. This notion was initially suggested by observations of the CLL BcR repertoire and of correlations existing between certain BcR features and the clinical outcomes of single patients. Based on these observations, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which block BcR signaling, have been introduced in therapy with the aim of inhibiting CLL cell clonal expansion and of controlling the disease. Indeed, the impressive results obtained with these compounds provided further proof of the role of BcR in CLL. In this article, the key steps that led to the determination of the role of BcR are reviewed, including the features of the CLL cell repertoire and the fine mechanisms causing BcR engagement and cell signaling. Furthermore, we discuss the biological effects of the engagement, which can lead to cell survival/proliferation or apoptosis depending on certain intrinsic cell characteristics and on signals that the micro-environment can deliver to the leukemic cells. In addition, consideration is given to alternative mechanisms promoting cell proliferation in the absence of BcR signaling, which can explain in part the incomplete effectiveness of TKI therapies. The role of the BcR in determining clonal evolution and disease progression is also described. Finally, we discuss possible models to explain the selection of a special BcR set during leukemogenesis. The BcR may deliver activation signals to the cells, which lead to their uncontrolled growth, with the possible collaboration of other still-undefined events which are capable of deregulating the normal physiological response of B cells to BcR-delivered stimuli.
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26
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Oumeslakht L, Aziz AI, Bensussan A, Ben Mkaddem S. CD160 receptor in CLL: Current state and future avenues. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1028013. [PMID: 36420268 PMCID: PMC9676924 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1028013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
CD160 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell surface glycoprotein expressed on cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cells and T-cell subsets. It plays a crucial role in the activation of NK-cell cytotoxicity and cytokine production. It also modulates the immune system and is involved in some pathologies, such as cancer. CD160 is abnormally expressed in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) but not expressed in normal B lymphocytes. Its expression in CLL enhances tumor cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. CD160 is also a potential prognostic marker for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in CLL, which is important for the clinical management of CLL, the prevention of disease relapse, and the achievement of complete remission. In this review, we present an overview of CD160 and its involvement in the pathophysiology of CLL. We also discuss its use as a prognostic marker for the assessment of MRD in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loubna Oumeslakht
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben-Guerir, Morocco
| | - Abdel-ilah Aziz
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben-Guerir, Morocco
| | - Armand Bensussan
- INSERM U976, Université de Paris, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France
- Institut Jean Godinot, Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer, Reims, France
| | - Sanae Ben Mkaddem
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben-Guerir, Morocco
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27
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Merchand-Reyes G, Santhanam R, Robledo-Avila FH, Weigel C, Ruiz-Rosado JDD, Mo X, Partida-Sánchez S, Woyach JA, Oakes CC, Tridandapani S, Butchar JP. Disruption of Nurse-like Cell Differentiation as a Therapeutic Strategy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1212-1223. [PMID: 35995507 PMCID: PMC9492647 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia, but, despite advances in treatment, many patients still experience relapse. CLL cells depend on interactions with supportive cells, and nurse-like cells (NLCs) are the major such cell type. However, little is known about how NLCs develop. Here, we performed DNA methylation analysis of CLL patient-derived NLCs using the 850K Illumina array, comparing CD14+ cells at day 1 (monocytes) versus day 14 (NLCs). We found a strong loss of methylation in AP-1 transcription factor binding sites, which may be driven by MAPK signaling. Testing of individual MAPK pathways (MEK, p38, and JNK) revealed a strong dependence on MEK/ERK for NLC development, because treatment of patient samples with the MEK inhibitor trametinib dramatically reduced NLC development in vitro. Using the adoptive transfer Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL, we found that MEK inhibition slowed CLL progression, leading to lower WBC counts and to significantly longer survival time. There were also lower numbers of mouse macrophages, particularly within the M2-like population. In summary, NLC development depends on MEK signaling, and inhibition of MEK leads to increased survival time in vivo. Hence, targeting the MEK/ERK pathway may be an effective treatment strategy for CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ramasamy Santhanam
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Christoph Weigel
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Xiaokui Mo
- Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Jennifer A Woyach
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | - Christopher C Oakes
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Jonathan P Butchar
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH;
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28
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Collins MA, Jung IY, Zhao Z, Apodaca K, Kong W, Lundh S, Fraietta JA, Kater AP, Sun C, Wiestner A, Melenhorst JJ. Enhanced Costimulatory Signaling Improves CAR T-cell Effector Responses in CLL. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:1089-1103. [PMID: 36922932 PMCID: PMC10010331 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
CD19-redirected chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown remarkable activity against B-cell cancers. While second-generation CARs induce complete remission in >80% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, similar monotherapy induces long-term remissions in only 26% of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This disparity is attributed to cell-intrinsic effector defects in autologous CLL-derived T cells. However, the mechanisms by which leukemic cells impact CAR T-cell potency are poorly understood. Herein we describe an in vitro assay that recapitulates endogenous CLL-mediated T-cell defects in healthy donor CAR T cells. Contact with CLL cells insufficiently activates, but does not irreversibly impair, CAR T-cell function. This state is rescuable by strong antigenic stimulation or IL2, and is not driven by immune suppression. Rather, this activation defect is attributable to low levels of costimulatory molecules on CLL cells, and exogenous costimulation enhanced CAR T-cell activation. We next assessed the stimulatory phenotype of CLL cells derived from different niches within the same patient. Lymph node (LN)-derived CLL cells had a strong costimulatory phenotype and promoted better CAR T-cell degranulation and cytokine production than matched peripheral blood CLL cells. Finally, in vitro CD40L-activated CLL cells acquired a costimulatory phenotype similar to the LN-derived tumor and stimulated improved CAR T-cell proliferation, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity. Together, these data identify insufficient activation as a driver of poor CAR T-cell responses in CLL. The costimulatory phenotype of CLL cells drives differential CAR T-cell responses, and can be augmented by improving costimulatory signaling. Significance CLL cells insufficiently activate CAR T cells, driven by low levels of costimulatory molecules on the tumor. LN-derived CLL cells are more costimulatory and mediate enhanced CAR T-cell killing. This costimulatory phenotype can be modeled via CD40 L activation, and the activated tumor promotes stronger CAR T-cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKensie A. Collins
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - In-Young Jung
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ziran Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kimberly Apodaca
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Weimin Kong
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Stefan Lundh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Joseph A. Fraietta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Arnon P. Kater
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Hematology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlabds
| | - Clare Sun
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Adrian Wiestner
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - J. Joseph Melenhorst
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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29
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Chen Z, Simon-Molas H, Cretenet G, Valle-Argos B, Smith LD, Forconi F, Schomakers BV, van Weeghel M, Bryant DJ, van Bruggen JA, Peters FS, Rathmell JC, van der Windt GJ, Kater AP, Packham G, Eldering E. Characterization of metabolic alterations of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the lymph node microenvironment. Blood 2022; 140:630-643. [PMID: 35486832 PMCID: PMC10118070 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021013990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered metabolism is a hallmark of both cell division and cancer. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells circulate between peripheral blood (PB) and lymph nodes (LNs), where they receive proliferative and prosurvival signals from surrounding cells. However, insight into the metabolism of LN CLL and how this may relate to therapeutic response is lacking. To obtain insight into CLL LN metabolism, we applied a 2-tiered strategy. First, we sampled PB from 8 patients at baseline and after 3-month ibrutinib (IBR) treatment, which forces egress of CLL cells from LNs. Second, we applied in vitro B-cell receptor (BCR) or CD40 stimulation to mimic the LN microenvironment and performed metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. The combined analyses indicated prominent changes in purine, glucose, and glutamate metabolism occurring in the LNs. CD40 signaling mostly regulated amino acid metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and energy production. BCR signaling preferably engaged glucose and glycerol metabolism and several biosynthesis routes. Pathway analyses demonstrated opposite effects of in vitro stimulation vs IBR treatment. In agreement, the metabolic regulator MYC and its target genes were induced after BCR/CD40 stimulation and suppressed by IBR. Next, 13C fluxomics performed on CD40/BCR-stimulated cells confirmed a strong contribution of glutamine as fuel for the TCA cycle, whereas glucose was mainly converted into lactate and ribose-5-phosphate. Finally, inhibition of glutamine import with V9302 attenuated CD40/BCR-induced resistance to venetoclax. Together, these data provide insight into crucial metabolic changes driven by the CLL LN microenvironment. The prominent use of amino acids as fuel for the TCA cycle suggests new therapeutic vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghao Chen
- Experimental Immunology
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helga Simon-Molas
- Experimental Immunology
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gaspard Cretenet
- Experimental Immunology
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Beatriz Valle-Argos
- Curve Therapeutics, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Cancer Research UK Centre, Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Lindsay D. Smith
- Cancer Research UK Centre, Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Ploughshare Innovations Limited, Porton Science Park, Porton Down, UK
| | - Francesco Forconi
- Department of Haematology, Southampton University Hospital Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Bauke V. Schomakers
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases
- Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michel van Weeghel
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases
- Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dean J. Bryant
- Cancer Research UK Centre, Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Jaco A.C. van Bruggen
- Experimental Immunology
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fleur S. Peters
- Experimental Immunology
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C. Rathmell
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | | | - Arnon P. Kater
- Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Graham Packham
- Cancer Research UK Centre, Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Eric Eldering
- Experimental Immunology
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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30
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Collard JP, McKenna MK, Noothi SK, Alhakeem SS, Rivas JR, Rangnekar VM, Muthusamy N, Bondada S. Role of the splenic microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia development in Eµ-TCL1 transgenic mice. Leuk Lymphoma 2022; 63:1810-1822. [DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2022.2045596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James P. Collard
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Mary K. McKenna
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sunil K. Noothi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sara S. Alhakeem
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jacqueline R. Rivas
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Vivek M. Rangnekar
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Natarajan Muthusamy
- Division of Hematology, James Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Subbarao Bondada
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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31
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Todorovic Z, Todorovic D, Markovic V, Ladjevac N, Zdravkovic N, Djurdjevic P, Arsenijevic N, Milovanovic M, Arsenijevic A, Milovanovic J. CAR T Cell Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Successes and Shortcomings. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:3647-3657. [PMID: 35621683 PMCID: PMC9139644 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29050293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapy achieved remarkable success in B-cell leukemia and lymphoma which led to its incorporation in treatment protocols for these diseases. CAR T cell therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients showed less success compared to other malignant tumors. In this review, we discuss the published results regarding CAR T cell therapy of CLL, possible mechanisms of failures and expected developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeljko Todorovic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (Z.T.); (N.Z.); (P.D.)
| | - Dusan Todorovic
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia;
| | - Vladimir Markovic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (V.M.); (N.L.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Nevena Ladjevac
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (V.M.); (N.L.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Natasa Zdravkovic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (Z.T.); (N.Z.); (P.D.)
| | - Predrag Djurdjevic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (Z.T.); (N.Z.); (P.D.)
| | - Nebojsa Arsenijevic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (V.M.); (N.L.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Marija Milovanovic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (V.M.); (N.L.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Aleksandar Arsenijevic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (V.M.); (N.L.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (J.M.)
| | - Jelena Milovanovic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (V.M.); (N.L.); (N.A.); (M.M.)
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (J.M.)
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32
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Vaca AM, Ioannou N, Sivina M, Vlachonikola E, Clise-Dwyer K, Kim E, Li D, Ma Q, Ferrajoli A, Estrov Z, Wierda WG, Patten PEM, Ramsay AG, Burger JA. Activation and expansion of T-follicular helper cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia nurselike cell co-cultures. Leukemia 2022; 36:1324-1335. [PMID: 35149845 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01519-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells and T-cell subsets in the lymph node microenvironment are thought to play a central role in disease biology. To study these interactions in a model of the CLL lymph node microenvironment, we characterized T-cell subsets in CLL nurselike cell (NLC) co-cultures. We focused on T-follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which are characterized by CXCR5 expression and localization to B-cell follicles. In co-cultures from 28 different CLL patients, we detected an expansion of Tfh cells based on PD-1, BCL6, and ICOS expression, with increased IL-21 and downmodulated CD40L surface expression. Regulatory T cells (Treg), which promote immune tolerance, also expanded in NLC co-cultures. T-cell receptor (TR) gene repertoire analyses confirmed the clonal expansion of CD4+ T cells, with an enrichment of TR clonotypes commonly expanded also in primary CLL samples. Multicolor confocal microscopy revealed that Tfh, but not Treg co-localize with proliferating CLL cells in CLL lymph node sections. Collectively, these data provide new insight into the cellular and molecular cross-talk between CLL and T-cell subsets, resulting in clonal expansion of T-helper cells and interaction of Tfh cells with proliferating CLL cells which may open new avenues for therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M Vaca
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nikolaos Ioannou
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mariela Sivina
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elisavet Vlachonikola
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Karen Clise-Dwyer
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Hematopoietic Biology & Malignancy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ekaterina Kim
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Hematopoietic Biology & Malignancy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Qing Ma
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Hematopoietic Biology & Malignancy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alessandra Ferrajoli
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zeev Estrov
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William G Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Piers E M Patten
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alan G Ramsay
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jan A Burger
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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33
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Condoluci A, Rossi D. Biology and Treatment of Richter Transformation. Front Oncol 2022; 12:829983. [PMID: 35392219 PMCID: PMC8980468 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.829983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Richter transformation (RT), defined as the development of an aggressive lymphoma on a background of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), represents a clinical unmet need because of its dismal prognosis. An increasing body of knowledge in the field of RT is arising from the recent development of preclinical models depicting the biology underlying this aggressive disease. Consistently, new therapeutic strategies based on a genetic rationale are exploring actionable pathogenic pathways to improve the outcome of patients in this setting. In this review, we summarize the current understandings on RT biology and the available treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adalgisa Condoluci
- Division of Hematology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Davide Rossi
- Division of Hematology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
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34
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Guo Y, Pei H, Lu B, Zhang D, Zhao Y, Wu F, Sun H, Huang J, Li P, Yi C, Zhu C, Pan Y, Wu S, Chen C, Xu X, Chen Y. Aberrantly expressed Wnt5a in nurse-like cells drives resistance to Venetoclax in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cell Death Dis 2022; 8:82. [PMID: 35210425 PMCID: PMC8873424 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-00884-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of neoplastic B lymphocytes with high levels of Wnt5a in the plasma. Currently, the cell source of Wnt5a remains controversial. The receptor of Wnt5a is ROR1, whose expression is associated with disease progression and resistance to venetoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor approved for the treatment of CLL. In this study, we found that the levels of Wnt5a in the plasma of CLL patients were positively correlated with absolute monocyte counts, but not lymphocyte counts. We cultured monocyte-derived nurse-like cells (NLCs) from patients with CLL, and detected Wnt5a expressed in NLCs. Flow cytometry and transwell assays showed that the antibody neutralizing Wnt5a inhibited the enhanced survival and migration in CLL cells co-cultured with NLCs. Furthermore, we performed a drug screening with CLL cells cultured with or without NLCs with a library containing 133 FDA-approved oncology drugs by using high-throughput flow cytometry. We observed a significant resistance to venetoclax in CLL cells co-cultured with NLCs. Immunoblot revealed the activation of NF-κB with enhanced expression of MCL-1 and BCL-XL in CLL cells co-cultured with NLCs. Neutralizing Wnt5a or blocking NF-κB pathway significantly decreased the expression of MCL-1 and BCL-XL, which leads to enhanced sensitivity to venetoclax in CLL cells co-cultured with NLCs. In conclusion, our data showed that NLCs could be one of the sources of Wnt5a detected in patients with CLL, and Wnt5a-induced NF-κB activation in the CLL microenvironment results in resistance to venetoclax in CLL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Guo
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Hanzhong Pei
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Bo Lu
- Department of Hematology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Dengyang Zhang
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuming Zhao
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Fuqun Wu
- Clinical laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Honghua Sun
- Clinical laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Junbin Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Peng Li
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Chenju Yi
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Chengming Zhu
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Yihang Pan
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Shunjie Wu
- Department of Hematology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Chun Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China.
| | - Xiaojun Xu
- Department of Hematology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yun Chen
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China.
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35
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Can I, Cox MJ, Siegler EL, Sakemura R, Kenderian SS. Challenges of CAR T-cell Therapy in CLL: Lessons Learned. Exp Hematol 2022; 108:1-7. [PMID: 35150777 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Development of chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) cell therapy has led to unprecedented success against B cell leukemia and lymphoma and resulted in FDA-approved treatment protocols. Despite the initial clinical response in B cell-related malignancies, high relapse rates suggest that much work is needed to uncover mechanisms of resistance. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the durable activity of CAR T-cells is limited, and CART cell success is lower than in other malignancies. T cells from these patients are vulnerable to a state of dysfunction due to stresses including chronic infection, rapid cell cycle upon antigen recognition, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and cancer-related treatments. T cells are also introduced to additional stresses when cultured ex vivo during the CART manufacturing process. All these factors contribute to the limited regenerative capacity of T cells, which can lead to CART treatment failure. In this short report, we will review the challenges of CAR T-cell therapy in patients with CLL and discuss potential strategies to overcome these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Can
- T Cell Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN
| | - Michelle J Cox
- T Cell Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Minnesota Graduate School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Elizabeth L Siegler
- T Cell Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Reona Sakemura
- T Cell Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Saad S Kenderian
- T Cell Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN; Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Molecular Medicine, Rochester, MN.
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36
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Forconi F, Lanham SA, Chiodin G. Biological and Clinical Insight from Analysis of the Tumor B-Cell Receptor Structure and Function in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:663. [PMID: 35158929 PMCID: PMC8833472 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The B-cell receptor (BCR) is essential to the behavior of the majority of normal and neoplastic mature B cells. The identification in 1999 of the two major CLL subsets expressing unmutated immunoglobulin (Ig) variable region genes (U-IGHV, U-CLL) of pre-germinal center origin and poor prognosis, and mutated IGHV (M-CLL) of post-germinal center origin and good prognosis, ignited intensive investigations on structure and function of the tumor BCR. These investigations have provided fundamental insight into CLL biology and eventually the mechanistic rationale for the development of successful therapies targeting BCR signaling. U-CLL and M-CLL are characterized by variable low surface IgM (sIgM) expression and signaling capacity. Variability of sIgM can in part be explained by chronic engagement with (auto)antigen at tissue sites. However, other environmental elements, genetic changes, and epigenetic signatures also contribute to the sIgM variability. The variable levels have consequences on the behavior of CLL, which is in a state of anergy with an indolent clinical course when sIgM expression is low, or pushed towards proliferation and a more aggressive clinical course when sIgM expression is high. Efficacy of therapies that target BTK may also be affected by the variable sIgM levels and signaling and, in part, explain the development of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Forconi
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (S.A.L.); (G.C.)
- Department of Haematology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Stuart A. Lanham
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (S.A.L.); (G.C.)
| | - Giorgia Chiodin
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (S.A.L.); (G.C.)
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37
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Dumontet E, Mancini SJC, Tarte K. Bone Marrow Lymphoid Niche Adaptation to Mature B Cell Neoplasms. Front Immunol 2021; 12:784691. [PMID: 34956214 PMCID: PMC8694563 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.784691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) evolution and treatment are complicated by a high prevalence of relapses primarily due to the ability of malignant B cells to interact with tumor-supportive lymph node (LN) and bone marrow (BM) microenvironments. In particular, progressive alterations of BM stromal cells sustain the survival, proliferation, and drug resistance of tumor B cells during diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The current review describes how the crosstalk between BM stromal cells and lymphoma tumor cells triggers the establishment of the tumor supportive niche. DLBCL, FL, and CLL display distinct patterns of BM involvement, but in each case tumor-infiltrating stromal cells, corresponding to cancer-associated fibroblasts, exhibit specific phenotypic and functional features promoting the recruitment, adhesion, and survival of tumor cells. Tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles have been recently proposed as playing a central role in triggering initial induction of tumor-supportive niches, notably within the BM. Finally, the disruption of the BM stroma reprogramming emerges as a promising therapeutic option in B-cell lymphomas. Targeting the crosstalk between BM stromal cells and malignant B cells, either through the inhibition of stroma-derived B-cell growth factors or through the mobilization of clonal B cells outside their supportive BM niche, should in particular be further evaluated as a way to avoid relapses by abrogating resistance niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwan Dumontet
- Univ Rennes, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Établissement Français du Sang (EFS) Bretagne, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) U1236, Rennes, France.,CHU Rennes, Pôle de Biologie, Rennes, France
| | - Stéphane J C Mancini
- Univ Rennes, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Établissement Français du Sang (EFS) Bretagne, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) U1236, Rennes, France
| | - Karin Tarte
- Univ Rennes, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Établissement Français du Sang (EFS) Bretagne, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) U1236, Rennes, France.,CHU Rennes, Pôle de Biologie, Rennes, France
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38
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Domagala M, Ysebaert L, Ligat L, Lopez F, Fournié JJ, Laurent C, Poupot M. IL-10 Rescues CLL Survival through Repolarization of Inflammatory Nurse-like Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010016. [PMID: 35008174 PMCID: PMC8750769 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In in vitro co-cultures of CLL cells and nurse-like cells (NLC), protection against apoptosis is only provided by M2-like NLC, and not M1-like NLC. In this study, we propose that fine-tuning of NLC polarization (and therefore survival of leukemic cells) is dictated by a balance between IL-10 and TNF. Abstract Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are also called nurse-like cells (NLC), and confer survival signals through the release of soluble factors and cellular contacts. While in most patient samples the presence of NLC in co-cultures guarantees high viability of leukemic cells in vitro, in some cases this protective effect is absent. These macrophages are characterized by an “M1-like phenotype”. We show here that their reprogramming towards an M2-like phenotype (tumor-supportive) with IL-10 leads to an increase in leukemic cell survival. Inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF, are also able to depolarize M2-type protective NLC (decreasing CLL cell viability), an effect which is countered by IL-10 or blocking antibodies. Interestingly, both IL-10 and TNF are implied in the pathophysiology of CLL and their elevated level is associated with bad prognosis. We propose that the molecular balance between these two cytokines in CLL niches plays an important role in the maintenance of the protective phenotype of NLCs, and therefore in the survival of CLL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Domagala
- Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Inserm UMR1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; (M.D.); (L.Y.); (L.L.); (F.L.); (J.-J.F.); (C.L.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, 31400 Toulouse, France
- ERL 5294 CNRS, 31037 Toulouse, France
| | - Loïc Ysebaert
- Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Inserm UMR1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; (M.D.); (L.Y.); (L.L.); (F.L.); (J.-J.F.); (C.L.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, 31400 Toulouse, France
- ERL 5294 CNRS, 31037 Toulouse, France
- IUCT-O, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Laetitia Ligat
- Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Inserm UMR1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; (M.D.); (L.Y.); (L.L.); (F.L.); (J.-J.F.); (C.L.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, 31400 Toulouse, France
- ERL 5294 CNRS, 31037 Toulouse, France
| | - Frederic Lopez
- Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Inserm UMR1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; (M.D.); (L.Y.); (L.L.); (F.L.); (J.-J.F.); (C.L.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, 31400 Toulouse, France
- ERL 5294 CNRS, 31037 Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Jacques Fournié
- Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Inserm UMR1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; (M.D.); (L.Y.); (L.L.); (F.L.); (J.-J.F.); (C.L.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, 31400 Toulouse, France
- ERL 5294 CNRS, 31037 Toulouse, France
| | - Camille Laurent
- Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Inserm UMR1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; (M.D.); (L.Y.); (L.L.); (F.L.); (J.-J.F.); (C.L.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, 31400 Toulouse, France
- ERL 5294 CNRS, 31037 Toulouse, France
- IUCT-O, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Mary Poupot
- Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Inserm UMR1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; (M.D.); (L.Y.); (L.L.); (F.L.); (J.-J.F.); (C.L.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, 31400 Toulouse, France
- ERL 5294 CNRS, 31037 Toulouse, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-582741662
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Spaner DE. O-GlcNAcylation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Other Blood Cancers. Front Immunol 2021; 12:772304. [PMID: 34868034 PMCID: PMC8639227 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.772304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, aberrant O-GlcNAcylation has emerged as a new hallmark of cancer. O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification that results when the amino-sugar β-D-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is made in the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) and covalently attached to serine and threonine residues in intracellular proteins by the glycosyltransferase O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). O-GlcNAc moieties reflect the metabolic state of a cell and are removed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). O-GlcNAcylation affects signaling pathways and protein expression by cross-talk with kinases and proteasomes and changes gene expression by altering protein interactions, localization, and complex formation. The HBP and O-GlcNAcylation are also recognized to mediate survival of cells in harsh conditions. Consequently, O-GlcNAcylation can affect many of the cellular processes that are relevant for cancer and is generally thought to promote tumor growth, disease progression, and immune escape. However, recent studies suggest a more nuanced view with O-GlcNAcylation acting as a tumor promoter or suppressor depending on the stage of disease or the genetic abnormalities, proliferative status, and state of the p53 axis in the cancer cell. Clinically relevant HBP and OGA inhibitors are already available and OGT inhibitors are in development to modulate O-GlcNAcylation as a potentially novel cancer treatment. Here recent studies that implicate O-GlcNAcylation in oncogenic properties of blood cancers are reviewed, focusing on chronic lymphocytic leukemia and effects on signal transduction and stress resistance in the cancer microenvironment. Therapeutic strategies for targeting the HBP and O-GlcNAcylation are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Spaner
- Biology Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Oncology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Xuan X, Tian C, Zhao M, Sun Y, Huang C. Mesenchymal stem cells in cancer progression and anticancer therapeutic resistance. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:595. [PMID: 34736460 PMCID: PMC8570012 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02300-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that the tumor microenvironment appears to play an increasingly important role in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Several types of cells within the tumor stroma had distinct impacts on cancer progression, either promoting or inhibiting cancer cell growth. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a distinct type of cells that is linked to tumor development. MSCs are recognized for homing to tumor locations and promoting or inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis. Moreover, emerging studies suggests that MSCs are also involved in therapeutic resistance. In this review, we analyzed the existing researches and elaborate on the functions of MSCs in cancer progression and anticancer therapeutic resistance, demonstrating that MSCs may be a viable cancer therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuyun Xuan
- Department of Dermatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Chunxia Tian
- Department of Cardiology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of TCM, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Mengjie Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Yanhong Sun
- Department of Dermatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Changzheng Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China.
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Emerging Bone Marrow Microenvironment-Driven Mechanisms of Drug Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Tangle or Chance? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215319. [PMID: 34771483 PMCID: PMC8582363 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite high rates of remission obtained with conventional chemotherapy, the persistence of leukemic cells after treatments, eventually exiting in disease relapse, remains the main challenge in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Increasing evidence indicates that, besides AML cell mutations, stromal and immune cells, as leukemic microenvironment components, may protect AML cells from therapies. Here, we will recapitulate emerging bone marrow (BM) microenvironment-dependent mechanisms of therapy resistance. The understanding of these processes will help find new drug combinations and conceive novel and more effective treatments. Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been considered for a long time exclusively driven by critical mutations in hematopoietic stem cells. Recently, the contribution of further players, such as stromal and immune bone marrow (BM) microenvironment components, to AML onset and progression has been pointed out. In particular, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) steadily remodel the leukemic niche, not only favoring leukemic cell growth and development but also tuning their responsiveness to treatments. The list of mechanisms driven by MSCs to promote a leukemia drug-resistant phenotype has progressively expanded. Moreover, the relative proportion and the activation status of immune cells in the BM leukemic microenvironment may vary by influencing their reactivity against leukemic cells. In that, the capacity of the stroma to re-program immune cells, thus promoting and/or hampering therapeutic efficacy, is emerging as a crucial aspect in AML biology, adding an extra layer of complexity. Current treatments for AML have mainly focused on eradicating leukemia cells, with little consideration for the leukemia-damaged BM niche. Increasing evidence on the contribution of stromal and immune cells in response to therapy underscores the need to hold the mutual interplay, which takes place in the BM. A careful dissection of these interactions will help provide novel applications for drugs already under experimentation and open a wide array of opportunities for new drug discovery.
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Lewis R, Maurer HC, Singh N, Gonzalez-Menendez I, Wirth M, Schick M, Zhang L, Isaakidis K, Scherger AK, Schulze V, Lu J, Zenz T, Steiger K, Rad R, Quintanilla-Martinez L, Espeli M, Balabanian K, Keller U, Habringer S. CXCR4 hyperactivation cooperates with TCL1 in CLL development and aggressiveness. Leukemia 2021; 35:2895-2905. [PMID: 34363012 PMCID: PMC8478649 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01376-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant CXCR4 activity has been implicated in lymphoma pathogenesis, disease progression, and resistance to therapies. Using a mouse model with a gain-of-function CXCR4 mutation (CXCR4C1013G) that hyperactivates CXCR4 signaling, we identified CXCR4 as a crucial activator of multiple key oncogenic pathways. CXCR4 hyperactivation resulted in an expansion of transitional B1 lymphocytes, which represent the precursors of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Indeed, CXCR4 hyperactivation led to a significant acceleration of disease onset and a more aggressive phenotype in the murine Eµ-TCL1 CLL model. Hyperactivated CXCR4 signaling cooperated with TCL1 to cause a distinct oncogenic transcriptional program in B cells, characterized by PLK1/FOXM1-associated pathways. In accordance, Eµ-TCL1;CXCR4C1013G B cells enriched a transcriptional signature from patients with Richter's syndrome, an aggressive transformation of CLL. Notably, MYC activation in aggressive lymphoma was associated with increased CXCR4 expression. In line with this finding, additional hyperactive CXCR4 signaling in the Eµ-Myc mouse, a model of aggressive B-cell cancer, did not impact survival. In summary, we here identify CXCR4 hyperactivation as a co-driver of an aggressive lymphoma phenotype.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics
- Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism
- Disease Progression
- Female
- Forkhead Box Protein M1/genetics
- Forkhead Box Protein M1/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mutation
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/physiology
- Receptors, CXCR4/genetics
- Receptors, CXCR4/metabolism
- Polo-Like Kinase 1
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Lewis
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - H Carlo Maurer
- Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikita Singh
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Irene Gonzalez-Menendez
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Wirth
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus Schick
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Le Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Konstandina Isaakidis
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Veronika Schulze
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Junyan Lu
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Zenz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Universitätsspital and Universität Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katja Steiger
- Institute of Pathology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- TranslaTUM, Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Leticia Quintanilla-Martinez
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marion Espeli
- Université de Paris, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, EMiLy, INSERM U1160, Paris, France
- CNRS, GDR3697 "Microenvironment of Tumor Niches", Micronit, France
- OPALE Carnot Institute, The Organization for Partnerships in Leukemia, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | - Karl Balabanian
- Université de Paris, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, EMiLy, INSERM U1160, Paris, France
- CNRS, GDR3697 "Microenvironment of Tumor Niches", Micronit, France
- OPALE Carnot Institute, The Organization for Partnerships in Leukemia, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | - Ulrich Keller
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Stefan Habringer
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
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Stevenson FK, Forconi F, Kipps TJ. Exploring the pathways to chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 2021; 138:827-835. [PMID: 34075408 PMCID: PMC8432043 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), increasing knowledge of the biology of the tumor cells has led to transformative improvements in our capacity to assess and treat patients. The dependence of tumor cells on surface immunoglobulin receptor signaling, survival pathways, and accessory cells within the microenvironment has led to a successful double-barreled attack with designer drugs. Studies have revealed that CLL should be classified based on the mutational status of the expressed IGHV sequences into 2 diseases, either unmutated (U) or mutated (M) CLL, each with a distinctive cellular origin, biology, epigenetics/genetics, and clinical behavior. The origin of U-CLL lies among the natural antibody repertoire, and dominance of IGHV1-69 reveals a superantigenic driver. In both U-CLL and M-CLL, a calibrated stimulation of tumor cells by self-antigens apparently generates a dynamic reiterative cycle as cells, protected from apoptosis, transit between blood and tissue sites. But there are differences in outcome, with the balance between proliferation and anergy favoring anergy in M-CLL. Responses are modulated by an array of microenvironmental interactions. Availability of T-cell help is a likely determinant of cell fate, the dependency on which varies between U-CLL and M-CLL, reflecting the different cells of origin, and affecting clinical behavior. Despite such advances, cell-escape strategies, Richter transformation, and immunosuppression remain as challenges, which only may be met by continued research into the biology of CLL.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Mutation
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/immunology
- Signal Transduction/genetics
- Signal Transduction/immunology
- Tumor Microenvironment/genetics
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Freda K Stevenson
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK Southampton Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Forconi
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK Southampton Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Haematology Department, Cancer Care Directorate, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom; and
| | - Thomas J Kipps
- Center for Novel Therapeutics, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
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Li X, Liu Z, Zhou W, Liu X, Cao W. Downregulation of CCL22 and mutated NOTCH1 in tongue and mouth floor squamous cell carcinoma results in decreased Th2 cell recruitment and expression, predicting poor clinical outcome. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:922. [PMID: 34391381 PMCID: PMC8364714 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08671-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Tongue and mouth floor squamous cell carcinoma (T/MF SCC) exhibits a high rate of local recurrence and cervical lymph node metastasis. The effect of the tumor microenvironment on T/MF SCC remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS Transcriptome and somatic mutation data of patients with T/MF SCC were obtained from HNSC projects of the Cancer Genome Atlas. Immune infiltration quantification in early- (clinical stage I-II) and advanced-stage (clinical stage III-IV) T/MF SCC was performed using single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and MCPcounter. Differentially expressed gene data were filtered, and their function was assessed through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis and Cox regression model were conducted to evaluate the survival of patients with the CCL22 signature. Maftools was used to present the overview of somatic mutations. RESULTS In T/MF SCC, T helper (Th)2 cell counts were significantly increased in patients with early-stage disease compared to those with advanced-stage disease. Expression of the Th2 cell-related chemokine, CCL22, was downregulated in patients with advanced-stage T/MF SCC. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses revealed that CCL22 was a good prognostic factor in T/MF SCC. A nomogram based on the expression of CCL22 was constructed to serve as a prognostic indicator for T/MF SCC. NOTCH1 mutations were found at a higher rate in patients with advanced-stage T/MF SCC than in those with early-stage T/MF SCC, resulting in the inhibition of the activation of the NOTCH1-Th2 cell differentiation pathway. The expression levels of CCL22, GATA-3, and IL4 were higher in patients with early-stage T/MF SCC than in those with advanced-stage T/MF SCC. CONCLUSION In T/MF SCC, high expression of CCL22 may promote the recruitment of Th2 cells and help predict a better survival. Mutations in NOTCH1 inhibit the differentiation of Th2 cells, facilitating tumor progression through a decrease in Th2 cell recruitment and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejie Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheqi Liu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial & Head and Neck, Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- National Center for stomatology, National Clinical Research Center For Oral diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenkai Zhou
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial & Head and Neck, Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- National Center for stomatology, National Clinical Research Center For Oral diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofang Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial & Head and Neck, Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
- National Center for stomatology, National Clinical Research Center For Oral diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
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BCR activated CLL B cells use both CR3 (CD11b/CD18) and CR4 (CD11c/CD18) for adhesion while CR4 has a dominant role in migration towards SDF-1. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254853. [PMID: 34283878 PMCID: PMC8291664 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common leukaemia in the western world. In previous studies, various proportion of patients was found to carry CD11b+ or CD11c+ B cells whose presence was an unfavourable prognostic factor. The exact mechanism however, how these receptors contribute to the pathogenesis of CLL has not been revealed so far. Here we analysed the role of CD11b and CD11c on B cells of CLL patients in the adhesion to fibrinogen and in the migration towards stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and studied the role of CR4 in the adherence of the CD11c+ B cell line BJAB. We observed that both CR3 and CR4 mediate adhesion of the malignant B cells. Moreover, we found, that CR4 was strongly involved in the migration of the leukemic cells towards the chemoattractant SDF-1. Our data suggest that CR3 and CR4 are not only passive markers on CLL B cells, but they might contribute to the progression of the disease. Since the role of SDF-1 is prominent in the migration of CLL cells into the bone marrow where their survival is supported, our findings help to understand how the presence of CD11c on leukemic B cells can worsen the prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
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46
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Cencini E, Fabbri A, Sicuranza A, Gozzetti A, Bocchia M. The Role of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Hematologic Malignancies. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13143597. [PMID: 34298810 PMCID: PMC8304632 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) represent a leading component of the tumor microenvironment in hematologic malignancies. TAM could display antitumor activity or, conversely, could contribute to tumor growth and survival, depending on their polarization. TAM are polarized towards form M1, with a pro-inflammatory phenotype and an antineoplastic activity, or M2, with an alternately activated phenotype, associated with a poor outcome in patients presenting with leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma. The molecular mechanisms of TAM in different types of hematologic malignancies are different due to the peculiar microenvironment of each disease. TAM could contribute to tumor progression, reduced apoptosis and angiogenesis; a different TAM polarization could explain a reduced treatment response in patients with a similar disease subtype. The aim of our review is to better define the role of TAM in patients with leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma. Finally, we would like to focus on TAM as a possible target for antineoplastic therapy. Abstract The tumor microenvironment includes dendritic cells, T-cytotoxic, T-helper, reactive B-lymphoid cells and macrophages; these reactive cells could interplay with malignant cells and promote tumor growth and survival. Among its cellular components, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) represent a component of the innate immune system and play an important role, especially in hematologic malignancies. Depending on the stimuli that trigger their activation, TAM are polarized towards form M1, contributing to antitumor responses, or M2, associated with tumor progression. Many studies demonstrated a correlation between TAM, disease progression and the patient’s outcome in lymphoproliferative neoplasms, such as Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), even if with conflicting results. A critical hurdle to overcome is surely represented by the heterogeneity in the choice of the optimal markers and methods used for TAM analysis (gene-expression profile vs. immunohistochemistry, CD163vs. CD68vs. CD163/CD68 double-positive cells). TAM have been recently linked to the development and progression of multiple myeloma and leukemia, with a critical role in the homing of malignant cells, drug resistance, immune suppression and angiogenesis. As such, this review will summarize the role of TAM in different hematologic malignancies, focusing on the complex interplay between TAM and tumor cells, the prognostic value of TAM and the possible TAM-targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Abstract
In contrast to solid cancers, which often require genetic modifications and complex cellular reprogramming for effective metastatic dissemination, leukaemic cells uniquely possess the innate ability for migration and invasion. Dedifferentiated, malignant leukocytes retain the benign leukocytes' capacity for cell motility and survival in the circulation, while acquiring the potential for rapid and uncontrolled cell division. For these reasons, leukaemias, although not traditionally considered as metastatic diseases, are in fact models of highly efficient metastatic spread. Accordingly, they are often aggressive and challenging diseases to treat. In this Perspective, we discuss the key molecular processes that facilitate metastasis in a variety of leukaemic subtypes, the clinical significance of leukaemic invasion into specific tissues and the current pipeline of treatments targeting leukaemia metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Whiteley
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Trevor T Price
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gaia Cantelli
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Dorothy A Sipkins
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Mining the Microenvironment for Therapeutic Targets in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 27:306-313. [PMID: 34398557 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The leukemia cells of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are highly fastidious, requiring stimulation by soluble factors and interactions with accessory cells within the supportive niches of lymphoid tissue that comprise the leukemia microenvironment. The advent of therapies that can disrupt some of the stimulatory signaling afforded by the microenvironment has ushered in a new era of targeted therapy, which has dramatically improved clinical outcome and patient survival. Future advances are required for patients who develop intolerance or resistance to current targeted therapies. These may be found by investigating novel drugs that can inhibit identified targets, such as the pathways involved in B-cell receptor signaling, or by developing agents that inhibit additional targets of the leukemia microenvironment. This review describes some of the molecules involved in promoting the growth and/or survival of CLL cells and discusses targeting strategies that may become tomorrow's therapy for patients with CLL.
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49
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Erdei A, Kovács KG, Nagy-Baló Z, Lukácsi S, Mácsik-Valent B, Kurucz I, Bajtay Z. New aspects in the regulation of human B cell functions by complement receptors CR1, CR2, CR3 and CR4. Immunol Lett 2021; 237:42-57. [PMID: 34186155 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2021.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The involvement of complement in the regulation of antibody responses has been known for long. By now several additional B cell functions - including cytokine production and antigen presentation - have also been shown to be regulated by complement proteins. Most of these important activities are mediated by receptors interacting with activation fragments of the central component of the complement system C3, such as C3b, iC3b and C3d, which are covalently attached to antigens and immune complexes. This review summarizes the role of complement receptors interacting with these ligands, namely CR1 (CD35), CR2 (CD21), CR3 (CD11b/CD18) and CR4 (CD11c/CD18) expressed by B cells in health and disease. Although we focus on human B lymphocytes, we also aim to call the attention to important differences between human and mouse systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Erdei
- Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Kristóf G Kovács
- Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsa Nagy-Baló
- MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilvia Lukácsi
- MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - István Kurucz
- MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsa Bajtay
- Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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Montresor A, Toffali L, Fumagalli L, Constantin G, Rigo A, Ferrarini I, Vinante F, Laudanna C. Activation of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor Type γ Suppresses Mechanisms of Adhesion and Survival in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:671-684. [PMID: 34162728 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The regulatory role of protein tyrosine kinases in β1- and β2-integrin activation and in the survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells is well established. In contrast, the involvement of protein tyrosine phosphatases in CLL biology was less investigated. We show that selective activation of the protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type γ (PTPRG) strongly suppresses integrin activation and survival in leukemic B cells isolated from patients with CLL. Activation of PTPRG specifically inhibits CXCR4- as well as BCR-induced triggering of LFA-1 and VLA-4 integrins and mediated rapid adhesion. Triggering of LFA-1 affinity is also prevented by PTPRG activity. Analysis of signaling mechanisms shows that activation of PTPRG blocks chemokine-induced triggering of JAK2 and Bruton's tyrosine kinase protein tyrosine kinases and of the small GTP-binding protein RhoA. Furthermore, activated PTPRG triggers rapid and robust caspase-3/7-mediated apoptosis in CLL cells in a manner quantitatively comparable to the Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib. However, in contrast to ibrutinib, PTPRG-triggered apoptosis is insensitive to prosurvival signals generated by CXCR4 and BCR signaling. Importantly, PTPRG activation does not trigger apoptosis in healthy B lymphocytes. The data show that activated PTPRG inhibits, at once, the signaling pathways controlling adhesion and survival of CLL cells, thus emerging as a negative regulator of CLL pathogenesis. These findings suggest that pharmacological potentiation of PTPRG tyrosine-phosphatase enzymatic activity could represent a novel approach to CLL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Montresor
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, Laboratory of Cell Trafficking and Signal Transduction, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lara Toffali
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, Laboratory of Cell Trafficking and Signal Transduction, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Laura Fumagalli
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, Laboratory of Cell Trafficking and Signal Transduction, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gabriela Constantin
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; and
| | - Antonella Rigo
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Cancer Research and Cell Biology Laboratory, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Isacco Ferrarini
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Cancer Research and Cell Biology Laboratory, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Vinante
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Cancer Research and Cell Biology Laboratory, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Carlo Laudanna
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, Laboratory of Cell Trafficking and Signal Transduction, University of Verona, Verona, Italy;
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