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Lorig-Roach N, Harpell NM, DuBois RM. Structural basis for the activity and specificity of the immune checkpoint inhibitor lirilumab. Sci Rep 2024; 14:742. [PMID: 38185735 PMCID: PMC10772121 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50262-6] [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: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The clinical success of immune checkpoint inhibitors has underscored the key role of the immune system in controlling cancer. Current FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitors target the regulatory receptor pathways of cytotoxic T-cells to enhance their anticancer responses. Despite an abundance of evidence that natural killer (NK) cells can also mediate potent anticancer activities, there are no FDA-approved inhibitors targeting NK cell specific checkpoint pathways. Lirilumab, the most clinically advanced NK cell checkpoint inhibitor, targets inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), however it has yet to conclusively demonstrate clinical efficacy. Here we describe the crystal structure of lirilumab in complex with the inhibitory KIR2DL3, revealing the precise epitope of lirilumab and the molecular mechanisms underlying KIR checkpoint blockade. Notably, the epitope includes several key amino acids that vary across the human population, and binding studies demonstrate the importance of these amino acids for lirilumab binding. These studies reveal how KIR variations in patients could influence the clinical efficacy of lirilumab and reveal general concepts for the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Lorig-Roach
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Nina M Harpell
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca M DuBois
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
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2
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Kruk L, Braun A, Cosset E, Gudermann T, Mammadova-Bach E. Galectin functions in cancer-associated inflammation and thrombosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1052959. [PMID: 36873388 PMCID: PMC9981828 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1052959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Galectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that regulate many cellular functions including proliferation, adhesion, migration, and phagocytosis. Increasing experimental and clinical evidence indicates that galectins influence many steps of cancer development by inducing the recruitment of immune cells to the inflammatory sites and modulating the effector function of neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. Recent studies described that different isoforms of galectins can induce platelet adhesion, aggregation, and granule release through the interaction with platelet-specific glycoproteins and integrins. Patients with cancer and/or deep-venous thrombosis have increased levels of galectins in the vasculature, suggesting that these proteins could be important contributors to cancer-associated inflammation and thrombosis. In this review, we summarize the pathological role of galectins in inflammatory and thrombotic events, influencing tumor progression and metastasis. We also discuss the potential of anti-cancer therapies targeting galectins in the pathological context of cancer-associated inflammation and thrombosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linus Kruk
- Walther-Straub-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine IV, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Attila Braun
- Walther-Straub-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Erika Cosset
- CRCL, UMR INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Thomas Gudermann
- Walther-Straub-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Elmina Mammadova-Bach
- Walther-Straub-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine IV, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Hospital, Munich, Germany
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3
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Seyfoori A, Barough MS, Amereh M, Jush BK, Lum JJ, Akbari M. Bioengineered tissue models for the development of dynamic immuno-associated tumor models and high-throughput immunotherapy cytotoxicity assays. Drug Discov Today 2020; 26:455-473. [PMID: 33253917 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy is rapidly developing, with numerous therapies approved over the past decade and more therapies expected to gain approval in the future. However, immunotherapy of solid tumors has been less successful because immunosuppressive barriers limit immune cell trafficking and function against cancer cells. Interactions between suppressive immune cells, cytokines, and inhibitory factors are central to cancer immunotherapy approaches. In this review, we discuss recent advances in utilizing microfluidic platforms for understanding cancer-suppressive immune system interactions. Dendritic cell (DC)-mediated tumor models, infiltrated lymphocyte-mediated tumor models [e.g., natural killer (NK) cells, T cells, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and macrophages], monocyte-mediated tumor models, and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) tumor models are among the various bioengineered immune cell-cancer cell interactions that we reviewed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Seyfoori
- Laboratory for Innovations in Micro Engineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | | | - Meitham Amereh
- Laboratory for Innovations in Micro Engineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Bardia Khun Jush
- Laboratory for Innovations in Micro Engineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Julian J Lum
- Trev and Joyce Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC V8R 6V5, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Mohsen Akbari
- Laboratory for Innovations in Micro Engineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; Center for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; Center for Advanced Materials and Related Technologies (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
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4
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Segerberg F, Lundtoft C, Reid S, Hjorton K, Leonard D, Nordmark G, Carlsten M, Hagberg N. Autoantibodies to Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Induce Natural Killer Cell Hyporesponsiveness. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2164. [PMID: 31572377 PMCID: PMC6749077 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity toward self-cells is restrained by the inhibitory HLA class I-binding receptors CD94/NKG2A and the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). CD94/NKG2A and KIRs are also essential for NK cell education, which is a dynamic functional maturation process where a constitutive binding of inhibitory receptors to cognate HLA class I molecules is required for NK cells to maintain their full cytotoxic capacity. Previously, we described autoantibodies to CD94/NKG2A in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study we analyzed sera from 191 patients with SLE, 119 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), 48 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and 100 healthy donors (HD) for autoantibodies to eight different KIRs. Anti-KIR autoantibodies were identified in sera from 23.0% of patients with SLE, 10.9% of patients with pSS, 12.5% of patients with SSc, and 3.0% of HD. IgG from anti-KIR-positive SLE patients reduced the degranulation and cytotoxicity of NK cells toward K562 tumor cells. The presence of anti-KIR-autoantibodies reacting with >3 KIRs was associated with an increased disease activity (p < 0.0001), elevated serum levels of IFN-α (p < 0.0001), nephritis (p = 0.001), and the presence of anti-Sm (p = 0.007), and anti-RNP (p = 0.003) autoantibodies in serum. Together these findings suggest that anti-KIR autoantibodies may contribute to the reduced function of NK cells in SLE patients, and that a defective NK cell function may be a risk factor for the development of lupus nephritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Segerberg
- Department of Medicine, Center for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Lundtoft
- Rheumatology and Science for Life Laboratories, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sarah Reid
- Rheumatology and Science for Life Laboratories, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Hjorton
- Rheumatology and Science for Life Laboratories, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dag Leonard
- Rheumatology and Science for Life Laboratories, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gunnel Nordmark
- Rheumatology and Science for Life Laboratories, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mattias Carlsten
- Department of Medicine, Center for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Niklas Hagberg
- Rheumatology and Science for Life Laboratories, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Smith WM, Purvis IJ, Bomstad CN, Labak CM, Velpula KK, Tsung AJ, Regan JN, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R, Asuthkar S. Therapeutic targeting of immune checkpoints with small molecule inhibitors. Am J Transl Res 2019; 11:529-541. [PMID: 30899360 PMCID: PMC6413273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoints are known to contribute to tumor progression by enhancing cancer's ability to evade the immune system and metastasize. Immunotherapies, including monoclonal antibodies, have been developed to target specific immunosuppressive molecules on the membranes of cancer cells and have proven revolutionary in the field of oncology. Recently, small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) have gained increased attention in cancer research with potential applications in immunotherapy. SMIs have desirable benefits over large-molecule inhibitors, such as monoclonal antibodies, including greater cell permeability, organ specificity, longer half-lives, cheaper production costs, and the possibility for oral administration. This paper will review the mechanisms by which noteworthy and novel immune checkpoints contribute to tumor progression, and how they may be targeted by SMIs and epigenetic modifiers to offer possible adjuvants to established therapeutic regimens. SMIs target immune checkpoints in several ways, such as blocking signaling between tumorigenic factors, building immune tolerance, and direct inhibition via epigenetic repression of immune inhibitory molecules. Further investigation into combination therapies utilizing SMIs and conventional cancer therapies will uncover new treatment options that may provide better patient outcomes across a range of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wade M Smith
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Ian J Purvis
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Colin N Bomstad
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Collin M Labak
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Kiran K Velpula
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Andrew J Tsung
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
- Department of Illinois Neurological Institute, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Jenna N Regan
- Department of Health Sciences Education, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | | | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of MedicineAurora, CO
| | - Swapna Asuthkar
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
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Morgan MA, Schambach A. Engineering CAR-T Cells for Improved Function Against Solid Tumors. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2493. [PMID: 30420856 PMCID: PMC6217729 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic engineering T cells to create clinically applied chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has led to improved patient outcomes for some forms of hematopoietic malignancies. While this has inspired the biomedical community to develop similar strategies to treat solid tumor patients, challenges such as the immunosuppressive character of the tumor microenvironment, CAR-T cell persistence and trafficking to the tumor seem to limit CAR-T cell efficacy in solid cancers. This review provides an overview of mechanisms that tumors exploit to evade eradication by CAR-T cells as well as emerging approaches that incorporate genetic engineering technologies to improve CAR-T cell activity against solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Morgan
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Cluster of Excellence, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Cluster of Excellence, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Division of Hematology/Oncology Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Native Human Monoclonal Antibodies with Potent Cross-Lineage Neutralization of Influenza B Viruses. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:AAC.02269-17. [PMID: 29507069 PMCID: PMC5923107 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02269-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Although antibodies that effectively neutralize a broad set of influenza viruses exist in the human antibody repertoire, they are rare. We used a single-cell screening technology to identify rare monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that recognized a broad set of influenza B viruses (IBV). The screen yielded 23 MAbs with diverse germ line origins that recognized hemagglutinins (HAs) derived from influenza strains of both the Yamagata and Victoria lineages of IBV. Of the 23 MAbs, 3 exhibited low expression in a transient-transfection system, 4 were neutralizers that bound to the HA head region, 11 were stalk-binding nonneutralizers, and 5 were stalk-binding neutralizers, with 4 of these 5 having unique antibody sequences. Of these four unique stalk-binding neutralizing MAbs, all were broadly reactive and neutralizing against a panel of multiple strains spanning both IBV lineages as well as highly effective in treating lethal IBV infections in mice at both 24 and 72 h postinfection. The MAbs in this group were thermostable and bound different epitopes in the highly conserved HA stalk region. These characteristics suggest that these MAbs are suitable for consideration as candidates for clinical studies to address their effectiveness in the treatment of IBV-infected patients.
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