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Su NW, Dai SH, Hsu K, Chang KM, Ko CC, Kao CW, Chang YF, Chen CG. PD-L1-positive circulating endothelial progenitor cells associated with immune response to PD-1 blockade in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:3. [PMID: 38175307 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03595-0] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
A number of the inhibitors against programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) have been approved to treat recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC). The interaction between PD-1 and its ligand (PD-L1) serves as an immune checkpoint that governs cytotoxic immune effectors against tumors. Numerous clinical trials of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have so far been discordant about having sufficient PD-L1 expression in the tumor as a prerequisite for a successful anti-PD-1 treatment. On the other hand, vascular endothelial cells modulate immune activities through PD-L1 expression, and thus it is possible that the expressions of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CPCs) could affect antitumor immunity as well as neoangiogenesis. Here we investigated the potential involvement of PD-L1+ CECs and PD-L1+ CPCs in PD-1 blockade treatments for HNSCC patients. We measured CD8+ T cells, CECs, and CPCs in the peripheral blood of the HNSCC patients treated by anti-PD-1 therapies. We found that their PD-L1+ CPC expression before anti-PD1 therapies was strongly correlated with treatment responses and overall survival. Moreover, if the first infusion of PD-1 inhibitors reduced ≥ 50% PD-L1+ CPCs, a significantly better outcome could be predicted. In these patients as well as in an animal model of oral cancer, Pd-l1+ CPC expression was associated with limited CD8+ T-cell infiltration into the tumors, and anti-PD-1 treatments also targeted Pd-l1+ CPCs and increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Our results highlight PD-L1+ CPC as a potential regulator in the anti-PD-1 treatments for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nai-Wen Su
- Department of Hematology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, 10449, Taiwan
- MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, New Taipei, 25245, Taiwan
| | - Shuen-Han Dai
- Department of Pathology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, 10449, Taiwan
| | - Kate Hsu
- MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, New Taipei, 25245, Taiwan
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, 25245, Taiwan
- The Immunogenetics Laboratory, Department of Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, 25160, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Ming Chang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu, 35071, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chuan Ko
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, 25160, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Wei Kao
- Department of Hematology, GCRC Laboratory, Mackay Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, 25160, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fang Chang
- Department of Hematology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, 10449, Taiwan
- Department of Hematology, GCRC Laboratory, Mackay Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, 25160, Taiwan
| | - Caleb G Chen
- Department of Hematology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, 10449, Taiwan.
- MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, New Taipei, 25245, Taiwan.
- Department of Hematology, GCRC Laboratory, Mackay Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, 25160, Taiwan.
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan.
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Peelen DM, Hoogduijn MJ, Hesselink DA, Baan CC. Advanced in vitro Research Models to Study the Role of Endothelial Cells in Solid Organ Transplantation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:607953. [PMID: 33664744 PMCID: PMC7921837 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.607953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelium plays a key role in acute and chronic rejection of solid organ transplants. During both processes the endothelium is damaged often with major consequences for organ function. Also, endothelial cells (EC) have antigen-presenting properties and can in this manner initiate and enhance alloreactive immune responses. For decades, knowledge about these roles of EC have been obtained by studying both in vitro and in vivo models. These experimental models poorly imitate the immune response in patients and might explain why the discovery and development of agents that control EC responses is hampered. In recent years, various innovative human 3D in vitro models mimicking in vivo organ structure and function have been developed. These models will extend the knowledge about the diverse roles of EC in allograft rejection and will hopefully lead to discoveries of new targets that are involved in the interactions between the donor organ EC and the recipient's immune system. Moreover, these models can be used to gain a better insight in the mode of action of the currently prescribed immunosuppression and will enhance the development of novel therapeutics aiming to reduce allograft rejection and prolong graft survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne M Peelen
- Rotterdam Transplant Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Martin J Hoogduijn
- Rotterdam Transplant Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dennis A Hesselink
- Rotterdam Transplant Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carla C Baan
- Rotterdam Transplant Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Lim WC, Olding M, Healy E, Millar TM. Human Endothelial Cells Modulate CD4 + T Cell Populations and Enhance Regulatory T Cell Suppressive Capacity. Front Immunol 2018; 9:565. [PMID: 29628925 PMCID: PMC5876242 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) line the luminal surface of blood vessels and have an active role in the recruitment of leukocytes, including immune cell activation. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are immune suppressor cells that maintain peripheral tolerance and must interact with the endothelium as they traffic into tissue. We hypothesized that human ECs could modulate Tregs and their suppressor function. Cocultures of CD4+ T cells with human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) or dermal microvascular ECs (HDMECs) were conducted and analyzed for activation and proliferation after 72 and 120 h using flow cytometry. In monocyte-depleted cultures, human ECs were found to support CD4+ T cell proliferation in the presence of external mitogens phytohemagglutinin or anti-CD3/28 antibodies (aCD3/28). Activation was shown by CD25 expression in these cells that also transiently expressed the Treg transcription factor FOXP3. HUVECs supported the specific concurrent proliferation of both effector T cells and Tregs when cocultured with aCD3/28. Purified Tregs were also functionally activated by prior coculture with EC to suppress effector T (Teff) cell proliferation. Both direct coculture and indirect coculture of EC and Treg showed activation of the Treg suppressive phenotype. However, whereas HUVEC showed enhancement of suppression by both mechanisms, HDMEC only supported Treg suppressive activity via the contact-independent mechanism. In the contact-independent cultures, the soluble mediators IL-6, GM-CSF, or G-CSF released from ECs following interferon-γ activation were not responsible for the enhanced Treg suppressor function. Following direct coculture, Treg expression of inhibitory receptors PD-1 and OX40 was elevated while activated EC expressed the counter ligands programmed death ligand (PD-L)1 and PD-L2. Therefore, human ECs have a role in supporting T cell proliferation and increasing Treg suppressor function. This ability of EC to enhance Treg function could offer novel targets to boost Treg activity during inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Chean Lim
- Dermatopharmacology, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Olding
- Dermatopharmacology, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Eugene Healy
- Dermatopharmacology, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.,Dermatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy M Millar
- Dermatopharmacology, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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