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Li Y, Zhang C, Jiang A, Lin A, Liu Z, Cheng X, Wang W, Cheng Q, Zhang J, Wei T, Luo P. Potential anti-tumor effects of regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment: a review. J Transl Med 2024; 22:293. [PMID: 38509593 PMCID: PMC10953261 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05104-y] [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: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing the transcription factor FoxP3 are essential for maintaining immunological balance and are a significant component of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Single-cell RNA sequencing (ScRNA-seq) technology has shown that Tregs exhibit significant plasticity and functional diversity in various tumors within the TME. This results in Tregs playing a dual role in the TME, which is not always centered around supporting tumor progression as typically believed. Abundant data confirms the anti-tumor activities of Tregs and their correlation with enhanced patient prognosis in specific types of malignancies. In this review, we summarize the potential anti-tumor actions of Tregs, including suppressing tumor-promoting inflammatory responses and boosting anti-tumor immunity. In addition, this study outlines the spatial and temporal variations in Tregs function to emphasize that their predictive significance in malignancies may change. It is essential to comprehend the functional diversity and potential anti-tumor effects of Tregs to improve tumor therapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Li
- The Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cangang Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Aimin Jiang
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, China
| | - Anqi Lin
- The Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Pathophysiology, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xiangshu Cheng
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road. Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongiiang, China
| | - Wanting Wang
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Quan Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Jian Zhang
- The Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Ting Wei
- The Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Peng Luo
- The Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Quilbe A, Mustapha R, Duchêne B, Kumar A, Werkmeister E, Leteurtre E, Moralès O, Jonckheere N, Van Seuningen I, Delhem N. A novel anti-galectin-9 immunotherapy limits the early progression of pancreatic neoplastic lesions in transgenic mice. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1267279. [PMID: 38098486 PMCID: PMC10720041 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1267279] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease with an urgent need for therapeutic innovation. Immune checkpoint inhibition has shown promise in a variety of solid tumors, but most clinical trials have failed to demonstrate clinical efficacy in PDAC. This low efficacy is partly explained by a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment, which dampens anti-tumor immunity through the recruitment or induction of immunosuppressive cells, particularly regulatory T cells (Tregs). In this context, our laboratory has developed a novel immunotherapeutic strategy aimed at inhibiting the suppressive activity of Tregs, based on a patented (EP3152234B1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting galectin-9 (LGALS9). Materials and methods CD4+ conventional T cells (TCD4 or Tconv), Treg ratio, and LGALS9 expression were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and cytometry in blood and pancreas of K-rasLSL.G12D/+;Pdx-1-Cre (KC) and K-rasWildType (WT);Pdx1-Cre (WT) mice aged 4-13 months. Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasm (PanIN) progression and grade were quantified using FIJI software and validated by pathologists. The anti-galectin-9 mAb was validated for its use in mice on isolated murine C57BL/6 Treg by immunofluorescence staining and cytometry. Its specificity and functionality were validated in proliferation assays on rLGALS9-immunosuppressed murine Tconv and in suppression assays between murine Treg and Tconv. Finally, 2-month-old KC mice were treated with anti-LGALS9 and compared to WT mice for peripheral and infiltrating TCD4, Treg, and PanIN progression. Results IHC and cytometry revealed a significant increase in LGALS9 expression and Treg levels in the blood and pancreas of KC mice proportional to the stages of precancerous lesions. Although present in WT mice, LGALS9 is expressed at a basal level with low and restricted expression that increases slightly over time, while Treg cells are few in number in their circulation and even absent from the pancreas over time. Using our anti-LGALS9 mAb in mice, it is shown that (i) murine Treg express LGALS9, (ii) the mAb could target and inhibit recombinant murine LGALS9, and (iii) neutralize murine Treg suppressive activity. Finally, the anti-LGALS9 mAb in KC mice reduced (i) LGALS9 expression in pancreatic cancer cells, (ii) the Treg ratio, and (iii) the total surface area and grade of PanIN. Conclusion We demonstrate for the first time that an anti-LGALS9 antibody, by specifically targeting endogenous LGALS9 tumor and exogenous LGALS9 produced by Treg, was able to limit the progression of pancreatic neoplastic lesions in mice, opening up new prospects for its use as an immunotherapeutic tool in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Quilbe
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189 - ONCO-THAI - Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, Lille, France
| | - Rami Mustapha
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189 - ONCO-THAI - Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, Lille, France
- Department of Cancer Studies and Pharmaceutical Sciences New Hunt’s House, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Belinda Duchêne
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 - CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille, France
| | - Abhishek Kumar
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189 - ONCO-THAI - Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, Lille, France
| | - Elisabeth Werkmeister
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41 - UMS 2014 -PLBS, Lille, France
| | - Emmanuelle Leteurtre
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 - CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille, France
| | - Olivier Moralès
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189 - ONCO-THAI - Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, Lille, France
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 - CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille, France
| | - Nicolas Jonckheere
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 - CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille, France
| | - Isabelle Van Seuningen
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 - CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille, France
| | - Nadira Delhem
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189 - ONCO-THAI - Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, Lille, France
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