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Lee A, Lim J, Lim JS. Emerging roles of MITF as a crucial regulator of immunity. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:311-318. [PMID: 38351314 PMCID: PMC10907664 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01175-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factor (bHLH-Zip), has been identified as a melanocyte-specific transcription factor and plays a critical role in melanocyte survival, differentiation, function, proliferation and pigmentation. Although numerous studies have explained the roles of MITF in melanocytes and in melanoma development, the function of MITF in the hematopoietic or immune system-beyond its function in melanin-producing cells-is not yet fully understood. However, there is convincing and increasing evidence suggesting that MITF may play multiple important roles in immune-related cells. Therefore, this review is focused on recent advances in elucidating novel functions of MITF in cancer progression and immune responses to cancer. In particular, we highlight the role of MITF as a central modulator in the regulation of immune responses, as elucidated in recent studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aram Lee
- Department of Biological Science and the Cellular Heterogeneity Research Center, Research Institute of Women's Health, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyun Lim
- Department of Biological Science and the Cellular Heterogeneity Research Center, Research Institute of Women's Health, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Seok Lim
- Department of Biological Science and the Cellular Heterogeneity Research Center, Research Institute of Women's Health, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Shen K, Xia W, Wang K, Li J, Xu W, Liu H, Yang K, Zhu J, Wang J, Xi Q, Shi T, Li R. ITGBL1 promotes anoikis resistance and metastasis in human gastric cancer via the AKT/FBLN2 axis. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18113. [PMID: 38332530 PMCID: PMC10853594 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The resistance to anoikis plays a critical role in the metastatic progression of various types of malignancies, including gastric cancer (GC). Nevertheless, the precise mechanism behind anoikis resistance is not fully understood. Here, our primary focus was to examine the function and underlying molecular mechanism of Integrin beta-like 1 (ITGBL1) in the modulation of anoikis resistance and metastasis in GC. The findings of our investigation have demonstrated that the overexpression of ITGBL1 significantly augmented the resistance of GC cells to anoikis and promoted their metastatic potential, while knockdown of ITGBL1 had a suppressive effect on both cellular processes in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we proved that ITGBL1 has a role in enhancing the resistance of GC cells to anoikis and promoting metastasis through the AKT/Fibulin-2 (FBLN2) axis. The inhibition of AKT/FBLN2 signalling was able to reverse the impact of ITGBL1 on the resistance of GC cells to anoikis and their metastatic capability. Moreover, the expression levels of ITGBL1 were found to be significantly elevated in the cancerous tissues of patients diagnosed with GC, and there was a strong correlation observed between high expression levels of ITGBL1 and worse prognosis among individuals diagnosed with GC. Significantly, it was revealed that within our cohort of GC patients, individuals exhibiting elevated ITGBL1 expression and diminished FBLN2 expression experienced the worst prognosis. In conclusion, the findings of our study indicate that ITGBL1 may serve as a possible modulator of resistance to anoikis and the metastatic process in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanger Shen
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical ImmunologySoochow UniversitySuzhouChina
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Wei Xia
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Kun Wang
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Juntao Li
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Haoran Liu
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Kexi Yang
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Jinghan Zhu
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical ImmunologySoochow UniversitySuzhouChina
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Jiayu Wang
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Qinhua Xi
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Tongguo Shi
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Rui Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical ImmunologySoochow UniversitySuzhouChina
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
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3
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Lehmann J, Caduff N, Krzywińska E, Stierli S, Salas-Bastos A, Loos B, Levesque MP, Dummer R, Stockmann C, Münz C, Diener J, Sommer L. Escape from NK cell tumor surveillance by NGFR-induced lipid remodeling in melanoma. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadc8825. [PMID: 36638181 PMCID: PMC9839334 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adc8825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic disease is a major cause of death for patients with melanoma. Melanoma cells can become metastatic not only due to cell-intrinsic plasticity but also due to cancer-induced protumorigenic remodeling of the immune microenvironment. Here, we report that innate immune surveillance by natural killer (NK) cells is bypassed by human melanoma cells expressing the stem cell marker NGFR. Using in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic assays, we show that NGFR protects melanoma cells from NK cell-mediated killing and, furthermore, boosts metastasis formation in a mouse model with adoptively transferred human NK cells. Mechanistically, NGFR leads to down-regulation of NK cell activating ligands and simultaneous up-regulation of the fatty acid stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase (SCD) in melanoma cells. Notably, pharmacological and small interfering RNA-mediated inhibition of SCD reverted NGFR-induced NK cell evasion in vitro and in vivo. Hence, NGFR orchestrates immune control antagonizing pathways to protect melanoma cells from NK cell clearance, which ultimately favors metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Lehmann
- University of Zurich, Institute of Anatomy, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Caduff
- University of Zurich, Institute of Experimental Immunology, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ewelina Krzywińska
- University of Zurich, Institute of Anatomy, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Salome Stierli
- University of Zurich, Institute of Anatomy, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Salas-Bastos
- University of Zurich, Institute of Anatomy, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Loos
- University of Zurich, Institute of Anatomy, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mitchell P. Levesque
- University of Zurich Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Gloriastrasse 31, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Reinhard Dummer
- University of Zurich Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Gloriastrasse 31, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Stockmann
- University of Zurich, Institute of Anatomy, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Münz
- University of Zurich, Institute of Experimental Immunology, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Diener
- University of Zurich, Institute of Anatomy, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Sommer
- University of Zurich, Institute of Anatomy, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
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4
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Polverino F, Mirra D, Yang CX, Esposito R, Spaziano G, Rojas-Quintero J, Sgambato M, Piegari E, Cozzolino A, Cione E, Gallelli L, Capuozzo A, Santoriello C, Berrino L, de- Torres JP, Hackett TL, Polverino M, D’Agostino B. Similar programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression profile in patients with mild COPD and lung cancer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22402. [PMID: 36575294 PMCID: PMC9792927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26650-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) is crucial in regulating the immunological tolerance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Alveolar macrophage (AM)-derived PD-L1 binds to its receptor, PD-1, on surveilling lymphocytes, leading to lymphocyte exhaustion. Increased PD-L1 expression is associated with cigarette smoke (CS)-exposure. However, the PD-L1 role in CS-associated lung diseases associated with NSCLC, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is still unclear. In two different cohorts of ever smokers with COPD or NSCLC, and ever and never smoker controls, we evaluated PD-L1 expression: (1) via cutting-edge digital spatial proteomic and transcriptomic profiling (Geomx) of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lung tissue sections (n = 19); and (2) via triple immunofluorescence staining of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) AMs (n = 83). PD-L1 mRNA expression was also quantified in BAL AMs exposed to CS extract. PD-L1 expression was increased in the bronchiolar wall, parenchyma, and vascular wall from mild-moderate (GOLD 1-2) COPD patients compared to severe-very severe (GOLD 3-4) COPD patients and controls. Within all the COPD patients, PD-L1 protein expression was associated with upregulation of genes involved in tumor progression and downregulation of oncosuppressive genes, and strongly directly correlated with the FEV1% predicted, indicating higher PD-L1 expression in the milder vs. more severe COPD stages. In bronchioles, PD-L1 levels were strongly directly correlated with the number of functionally active AMs. In BAL, we confirmed that AMs from patients with both GOLD 1-2 COPD and NSCLC had the highest and similar, PD-L1 expression levels versus all the other groups, independently from active cigarette smoking. Intriguingly, AMs from patients with more severe COPD had reduced AM PD-L1 expression compared to patients with mild COPD. Acute CS extract stimulation increased PD-L1 mRNA expression only in never-and not in ever-smoker AMs. Lungs from patients with mild COPD and NSCLC are characterized by a similar strong PD-L1 expression signature in bronchioles and functionally active AMs compared to patients with severe COPD and controls. Active smoking does not affect PD-L1 levels. These observations represent a new resource in understanding the innate immune mechanisms underlying the link between COPD and lung cancer onset and progression and pave the way to future studies focused on the mechanisms by which CS promotes tumorigenesis and COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Polverino
- grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XPulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - D. Mirra
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - C. X. Yang
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - R. Esposito
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - G. Spaziano
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - J. Rojas-Quintero
- grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XPulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - M. Sgambato
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - E. Piegari
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - A. Cozzolino
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - E. Cione
- grid.7778.f0000 0004 1937 0319University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - L. Gallelli
- grid.411489.10000 0001 2168 2547University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | | | - L. Berrino
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - J. P. de- Torres
- grid.410356.50000 0004 1936 8331Queen’s University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - T. L. Hackett
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - B. D’Agostino
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
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Tudor DV, Florea A, Cenariu M, Olteanu DE, Farcaș M, Hopârtean A, Clichici SV, Filip GA. Low Doses of Celecoxib Might Promote Phenotype Switching in Cutaneous Melanoma Treated with Dabrafenib-Preliminary Study. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11154560. [PMID: 35956175 PMCID: PMC9369555 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cutaneous melanoma is a heterogeneous tumor with a rapidly switching molecular and cellular phenotype. The invasive phenotype switching characterized by MITFlow/AXLhigh predicts early resistance to multiple targeted drugs in melanoma. Celecoxib proved to be a valuable adjuvant in cutaneous melanoma in preclinical studies. Our in vitro study evaluated for the first time whether celecoxib could prevent phenotype switching in two human melanoma cell lines treated with dabrafenib. Methods: All in vitro experiments were carried out on BRAF-V600E-positive A375 and SK-MEL-28 human melanoma cell lines, and subjected to a celecoxib and dabrafenib drug combination for 72 h. Melanoma cells were already in the MITFlow/AXLhigh end of the spectrum. Of main interest was the evaluation of the key proteins expressed in phenotype switching (TGF-β, MITF, AXL, YAP, TAZ), as well as cell death mechanisms correlated with oxidative stress production. Results: Celecoxib significantly enhanced the apoptotic effect of dabrafenib in each melanoma cell line compared to the dabrafenib group (p < 0.0001). Even though celecoxib promoted low MITF expression, this was correlated with high receptor tyrosine kinase AXL levels in A375 and SK-MEL-28 cell lines (p < 0.0001), a positive marker for the phenotype switch to an invasive state. Conclusion: This preliminary study highlighted that celecoxib might promote MITFlow/AXLhigh expression in cutaneous melanoma treated with dabrafenib, facilitating phenotype switching in vitro. Our results need further confirmation, as this finding could represent an important limitation of celecoxib as an antineoplastic drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Valentina Tudor
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Adrian Florea
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mihai Cenariu
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Reproductive Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Diana Elena Olteanu
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Marius Farcaș
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andreea Hopârtean
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Simona Valeria Clichici
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gabriela Adriana Filip
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Wang Z, Fu L, Zhang J, Ge Y, Guo C, Wang R, Deng M, Wang Q, Wang Z. A comprehensive analysis of potential gastric cancer prognostic biomarker ITGBL1 associated with immune infiltration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Biomed Eng Online 2022; 21:30. [PMID: 35596183 PMCID: PMC9123716 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-022-00998-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Integrin, beta-like 1 (ITGBL1) is involved in a variety of human malignancies. However, the information on the involvement of ITGBL1 in gastric carcinoma (GC) is limited. Hence, this study aimed further to explore the functions and mechanisms of ITGBL1 in GC. Methods First, multiple bioinformatics databases, including Oncomine, Tumor Immune Estimation Resource, UALCAN, and Kaplan–Meier Plotter, were used to predict the expression level and prognostic value of ITGBL1, as well as its association with immune infiltration and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in GC. Quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis were used to detect the expression of ITGBL1 in both GC tissues and cells. Then, targeted silencing of ITGBL1 in GC cells was further used to examine the biological functions of ITGBL1. Results These databases revealed that ITGBL1 was overexpressed and affected the overall survival in GC. Besides, the expression of ITGBL1 positively correlated with immune-infiltrating cells and EMT-related markers. Subsequently, molecular biology experiments verified these predictions. In GC tissues and cells, ITGBL1 was notably overexpressed. Loss-of-function studies showed that the knockdown of ITGBL1 significantly suppressed migration and invasion but promoted apoptosis in MGC803 GC cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of ITGBL1 resulted in remarkably increased protein expression levels of cadherin 1, while the expression of Vimentin, Snail, and transforming growth factor-β1 was downregulated, indicating the initiation and progression of GC caused by ITGBL1 partly via inducing EMT. Conclusions To sum up, the findings indicated that ITGBL1 acted as a valuable oncogenic factor in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Liu Fu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200060, People's Republic of China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanli Ge
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Deng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, People's Republic of China
| | - Qizhi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhirong Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China.
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Benboubker V, Boivin F, Dalle S, Caramel J. Cancer Cell Phenotype Plasticity as a Driver of Immune Escape in Melanoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:873116. [PMID: 35432344 PMCID: PMC9012258 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.873116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies blocking negative immune checkpoints are now approved for the treatment of a growing number of cancers. However, even in metastatic melanoma, where sustained responses are observed, a significant number of patients still do not respond or display resistance. Increasing evidence indicates that non-genetic cancer cell-intrinsic alterations play a key role in resistance to therapies and immune evasion. Cancer cell plasticity, mainly associated with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in carcinoma, relies on transcriptional, epigenetic or translational reprogramming. In melanoma, an EMT-like dedifferentiation process is characterized by the acquisition of invasive or neural crest stem cell-like features. Herein, we discuss recent findings on the specific roles of phenotypic reprogramming of melanoma cells in driving immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapies. The mechanisms by which dedifferentiated melanoma cells escape T cell lysis, mediate T cell exclusion or remodel the immune microenvironment will be detailed. The expanded knowledge on tumor cell plasticity in melanoma should contribute to the development of novel therapeutic combination strategies to further improve outcomes in this deadly metastatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Benboubker
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM, CNRS, Centre Léon Bérard, "Cancer cell Plasticity in Melanoma" team, Lyon, France
| | - Félix Boivin
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM, CNRS, Centre Léon Bérard, "Cancer cell Plasticity in Melanoma" team, Lyon, France
| | - Stéphane Dalle
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM, CNRS, Centre Léon Bérard, "Cancer cell Plasticity in Melanoma" team, Lyon, France.,Dermatology Unit, Hospices Civils de Lyon, CH Lyon Sud, Pierre Bénite Cedex, France
| | - Julie Caramel
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM, CNRS, Centre Léon Bérard, "Cancer cell Plasticity in Melanoma" team, Lyon, France
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8
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Pisibon C, Ouertani A, Bertolotto C, Ballotti R, Cheli Y. Immune Checkpoints in Cancers: From Signaling to the Clinic. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13184573. [PMID: 34572799 PMCID: PMC8468441 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system is known to help fight cancers. Ten years ago, the first immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting CTLA4 was approved by the FDA to treat patients with metastatic melanoma. Since then, immune checkpoint therapies have revolutionized the field of oncology and the treatment of cancer patients. Numerous immune checkpoint inhibitors have been developed and tested, alone or in combination with other treatments, in melanoma and other cancers, with overall clear benefits to patient outcomes. However, many patients fail to respond or develop resistance to these treatments. It is therefore essential to decipher the mechanisms of action of immune checkpoints and to understand how immune cells are affected by signaling to be able to understand and overcome resistance. In this review, we discuss the signaling and effects of each immune checkpoint on different immune cells and their biological and clinical relevance. Restoring the functionality of T cells and their coordination with other immune cells is necessary to overcome resistance and help design new clinical immunotherapy strategies. In this respect, NK cells have recently been implicated in the resistance to anti-PD1 evoked by a protein secreted by melanoma, ITGBL1. The complexity of this network will have to be considered to improve the efficiency of future immunotherapies and may lead to the discovery of new immune checkpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Pisibon
- Université Côte d’Azur, 06103 Nice, France; (C.P.); (A.O.); (C.B.); (R.B.)
- INSERM, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Biology and Pathologies of Melanocytes, Team1, 06200 Nice, France
| | - Amira Ouertani
- Université Côte d’Azur, 06103 Nice, France; (C.P.); (A.O.); (C.B.); (R.B.)
- INSERM, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Biology and Pathologies of Melanocytes, Team1, 06200 Nice, France
| | - Corine Bertolotto
- Université Côte d’Azur, 06103 Nice, France; (C.P.); (A.O.); (C.B.); (R.B.)
- INSERM, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Biology and Pathologies of Melanocytes, Team1, 06200 Nice, France
| | - Robert Ballotti
- Université Côte d’Azur, 06103 Nice, France; (C.P.); (A.O.); (C.B.); (R.B.)
- INSERM, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Biology and Pathologies of Melanocytes, Team1, 06200 Nice, France
| | - Yann Cheli
- Université Côte d’Azur, 06103 Nice, France; (C.P.); (A.O.); (C.B.); (R.B.)
- INSERM, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Biology and Pathologies of Melanocytes, Team1, 06200 Nice, France
- Correspondence:
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9
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Kreß JKC, Jessen C, Marquardt A, Hufnagel A, Meierjohann S. NRF2 Enables EGFR Signaling in Melanoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22083803. [PMID: 33916908 PMCID: PMC8067606 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are rarely mutated in cutaneous melanoma, but the expression and activation of several RTK family members are associated with a proinvasive phenotype and therapy resistance. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a member of the RTK family and is only expressed in a subgroup of melanomas with poor prognosis. The insight into regulators of EGFR expression and activation is important for the understanding of the development of this malignant melanoma phenotype. Here, we describe that the transcription factor NRF2, the master regulator of the oxidative and electrophilic stress response, mediates the expression and activation of EGFR in melanoma by elevating the levels of EGFR as well as its ligands EGF and TGFα. ChIP sequencing data show that NRF2 directly binds to the promoter of EGF, which contains a canonical antioxidant response element. Accordingly, EGF is induced by oxidative stress and is also increased in lung adenocarcinoma and head and neck carcinoma with mutationally activated NRF2. In contrast, regulation of EGFR and TGFA occurs by an indirect mechanism, which is enabled by the ability of NRF2 to block the activity of the melanocytic lineage factor MITF in melanoma. MITF effectively suppresses EGFR and TGFA expression and therefore serves as link between NRF2 and EGFR. As EGFR was previously described to stimulate NRF2 activity, the mutual activation of NRF2 and EGFR pathways was investigated. The presence of NRF2 was necessary for full EGFR pathway activation, as NRF2-knockout cells showed reduced AKT activation in response to EGF stimulation compared to controls. Conversely, EGF led to the nuclear localization and activation of NRF2, thereby demonstrating that NRF2 and EGFR are connected in a positive feedback loop in melanoma. In summary, our data show that the EGFR-positive melanoma phenotype is strongly supported by NRF2, thus revealing a novel maintenance mechanism for this clinically challenging melanoma subpopulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christina Jessen
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (J.K.); (C.J.); (A.M.); (A.H.)
| | - André Marquardt
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (J.K.); (C.J.); (A.M.); (A.H.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anita Hufnagel
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (J.K.); (C.J.); (A.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Svenja Meierjohann
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (J.K.); (C.J.); (A.M.); (A.H.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
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10
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Cheli Y, Tulic MK, El Hachem N, Nottet N, Jacquel A, Gesson M, Strub T, Bille K, Picard-Gauci A, Montaudié H, Beranger GE, Passeron T, Close P, Bertolotto C, Ballotti R. Correction to: ITGBL1 is a new immunomodulator that favors development of melanoma tumors by inhibiting natural killer cells cytotoxicity. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:21. [PMID: 33504341 PMCID: PMC7839296 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01319-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yann Cheli
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM U1065, Team1 Biology and pathologies of melanocytes. Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, 06000, Nice, France.
| | - Meri K Tulic
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM, U1065, Team12 Study of the melanocytic differentiation applied to vitiligo and melanoma, 06000, Nice, France
| | - Najla El Hachem
- Laboratory of Cancer Signaling, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Nottet
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM U1065, Team1 Biology and pathologies of melanocytes. Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, 06000, Nice, France
| | - Arnaud Jacquel
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM, U1065, Team2 Cell death, differentiation and cancer, 06000, Nice, France
| | - Maeva Gesson
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM, U1065, Imaging platform, 06000, Nice, France
| | - Thomas Strub
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM U1065, Team1 Biology and pathologies of melanocytes. Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, 06000, Nice, France
| | - Karine Bille
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM U1065, Team1 Biology and pathologies of melanocytes. Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, 06000, Nice, France
| | | | | | - Guillaume E Beranger
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM U1065, Team1 Biology and pathologies of melanocytes. Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, 06000, Nice, France.,Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM, U1065, Team12 Study of the melanocytic differentiation applied to vitiligo and melanoma, 06000, Nice, France
| | - Thierry Passeron
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM, U1065, Team12 Study of the melanocytic differentiation applied to vitiligo and melanoma, 06000, Nice, France.,CHU NICE, Département de Dermatologie, 06000, Nice, France
| | - Pierre Close
- Laboratory of Cancer Signaling, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Corine Bertolotto
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM U1065, Team1 Biology and pathologies of melanocytes. Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, 06000, Nice, France
| | - Robert Ballotti
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, INSERM U1065, Team1 Biology and pathologies of melanocytes. Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, 06000, Nice, France
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