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Freitas Monteiro M, Papaserafeim M, Andreani M, Réal A, Kouklas A, Reis Galvão D, Seebach JD, Puga Yung GL. NK Cytotoxicity Mediated by NK-92 Cell Lines Expressing Combinations of Two Allelic Variants for FCGR3. Antibodies (Basel) 2024; 13:55. [PMID: 39051331 PMCID: PMC11270249 DOI: 10.3390/antib13030055] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in the surveillance of viral infections and cancer. NK cell antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and direct cytotoxicity are mediated by the recognition of antibody-coated target cells through the Fc gamma receptor IIIA (FcγRIIIa/CD16) and by ligands of activating/inhibitory NK receptors, respectively. Allelic variants of the FCGR3A gene include the high-affinity single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs396991 (V176F), which is associated with the efficacy of monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies, and the SNP rs10127939 (L66H/R). The contribution of FCGR3A SNPs to NK cell effector functions remains controversial; therefore, we generated a panel of eight NK-92 cell lines expressing specific combinations of these SNPs and tested their cytotoxicities. NK-92 cells were stably transfected with plasmids containing different combinations of FCGR3A SNPs. Messenger RNA and FcγRIIIa/CD16 cell surface expressions were detected using new generation sequencing (NGS) and flow cytometry, respectively. All FcγRIIIa/CD16-transfected NK-92 cell lines exhibited robust ADCC against three different target cell lines with minor differences. In addition, enhanced direct NK cytotoxicity against K562 target cells was observed, suggesting a mechanistic role of FcγRIIIa/CD16 in direct NK cytotoxicity. In conclusion, we generated eight FcγRIIIa/CD16-transfected NK-92 cell lines carrying different combinations of two of the most studied FCGR3A SNPs, representing the major genotypes described in the European population. The functional characterization of these cell lines revealed differences in ADCC and direct NK cytotoxicity that may have implications for the design of adoptive cancer immunotherapies using NK cells and tumor antigen-directed mAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jörg D. Seebach
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Allergology, University Hospitals Geneva, Medical Faculty, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gisella L. Puga Yung
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Allergology, University Hospitals Geneva, Medical Faculty, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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2
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Niu X, Yang H, Guo J, Yao L, Wang Y, Yu W, Liu Z, Chen H. Click Chemistry-Mediated Polymannose Surface-Engineering of Natural Killer Cells for Immunotherapy of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2400970. [PMID: 38838184 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400970] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, serve as the frontline defense of the immune system, and are capable of surveilling and eliminating tumor cells. Their significance in tumor immunotherapy has garnered considerable attention in recent years. However, the absence of specific receptor-ligand interactions between NK cells and tumor cells hampers their selectivity, thereby limiting the therapeutic effectiveness of NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy. Herein, this work constructs polymannose-engineered NK (pM-NK) cells via metabolic glycoengineering and copper-free click chemistry. Polymannose containing dibenzocyclooctyne terminal groups (pM-DBCO) is synthesized and covalently modified on the surface of azido-labeled NK cells. Compared to the untreated NK cells, the interactions between pM-NK cells and MDA-MB-231 cells, a breast tumor cell line with overexpression of mannose receptors (MRs), are significantly increased, and lead to significantly enhanced killing efficacy. Consequently, intravenous administration of pM-NK cells will effectively inhibit the tumor growth and will prolong the survival of mice bearing MDA-MB-231 tumors. Thus, this work presents a novel strategy for tumor-targeting NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomeng Niu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - He Yang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Jiangping Guo
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Lihua Yao
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yichen Wang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Wenzhuo Yu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Lab Carbon Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Zhuang Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Lab Carbon Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Hong Chen
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
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3
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Sanz-Ortega L, Leijonhufvud C, Schoutens L, Lambert M, Levy E, Andersson A, Wahlin BE, Carlsten M. Redirecting NK cells to the lymph nodes to augment their lymphoma-targeting capacity. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:108. [PMID: 38769377 PMCID: PMC11106342 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00595-w] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
CAR-NK cells can induce remission in lymphoma patients. We speculate that the full potential of adoptive NK cell immunotherapy against lymphoma is restricted by their poor lymph node (LN) homing capacity. Here, we have utilized a clinically approved transfection method with the aim of redirecting NK cells to LNs. Electroporation of ex vivo expanded NK cells with mRNAs coding for CCR7, CXCR5, and CD62L resulted in increased in vitro migration towards chemokines and mouse LN-derived supernatant. Following infusion into SCID/Beige mice, modified NK cells showed enhanced LN homing. Importantly, lymphoma patient-derived NK cells were equally well expanded and engineered as healthy donor NK cells, highlighting their translational potential. Additionally, the introduction of high-affinity CD16, together with the homing molecules, also augmented their ADCC capacity against autologous lymphoma cells. Hence, genetic engineering can be utilized to enhance NK cell LN homing. The homing concept may synergize with CAR- or monoclonal/bi-/tri-specific antibody-based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sanz-Ortega
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline Leijonhufvud
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lisanne Schoutens
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mélanie Lambert
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Emily Levy
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Agneta Andersson
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn E Wahlin
- Unit of Haematology, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mattias Carlsten
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Center for Cell Therapy and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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4
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Vo MC, Jung SH, Nguyen VT, Tran VDH, Ruzimurodov N, Kim SK, Nguyen XH, Kim M, Song GY, Ahn SY, Ahn JS, Yang DH, Kim HJ, Lee JJ. Exploring cellular immunotherapy platforms in multiple myeloma. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27892. [PMID: 38524535 PMCID: PMC10957441 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27892] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite major advances in therapeutic platforms, most patients with multiple myeloma (MM) eventually relapse and succumb to the disease. Among the novel therapeutic options developed over the past decade, genetically engineered T cells have a great deal of potential. Cellular immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, are rapidly becoming an effective therapeutic modality for MM. Marrow-infiltrating lymphocytes (MILs) derived from the bone marrow of patients with MM are a novel source of T cells for adoptive T-cell therapy, which robustly and specifically target myeloma cells. In this review, we examine the recent innovations in cellular immunotherapies, including the use of dendritic cells, and cellular tools based on MILs, natural killer (NK) cells, and CAR T cells, which hold promise for improving the efficacy and/or reducing the toxicity of treatment in patients with MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manh-Cuong Vo
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Danang, Viet Nam
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Vaxcell-Bio Therapeutics, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hoon Jung
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Van-Tan Nguyen
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Van-Dinh-Huan Tran
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Nodirjon Ruzimurodov
- Institute of Immunology and Human Genomics of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan
| | - Sang Ki Kim
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Department of Laboratory and Companion Animal Science, College of Industrial Science, Kongju National University, Yesan-eup, Yesan-gun, Chungnam, Republic of Korea
- Vaxcell-Bio Therapeutics, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Xuan-Hung Nguyen
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare system, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Mihee Kim
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Ga-Young Song
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo-Yeon Ahn
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Sook Ahn
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Deok-Hwan Yang
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeoung-Joon Kim
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Je-Jung Lee
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Vaxcell-Bio Therapeutics, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
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Gholap AD, Kapare HS, Pagar S, Kamandar P, Bhowmik D, Vishwakarma N, Raikwar S, Garkal A, Mehta TA, Rojekar S, Hatvate N, Mohanto S. Exploring modified chitosan-based gene delivery technologies for therapeutic advancements. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 260:129581. [PMID: 38266848 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129581] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
One of the critical steps in gene therapy is the successful delivery of the genes. Immunogenicity and toxicity are major issues for viral gene delivery systems. Thus, non-viral vectors are explored. A cationic polysaccharide like chitosan could be used as a nonviral gene delivery vector owing to its significant interaction with negatively charged nucleic acid and biomembrane, providing effective cellular uptake. However, the native chitosan has issues of targetability, unpacking ability, and solubility along with poor buffer capability, hence requiring modifications for effective use in gene delivery. Modified chitosan has shown that the "proton sponge effect" involved in buffering the endosomal pH results in osmotic swelling owing to the accumulation of a greater amount of proton and chloride along with water. The major challenges include limited exploration of chitosan as a gene carrier, the availability of high-purity chitosan for toxicity reduction, and its immunogenicity. The genetic drugs are in their infancy phase and require further exploration for effective delivery of nucleic acid molecules as FDA-approved marketed formulations soon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amol D Gholap
- Department of Pharmaceutics, St. John Institute of Pharmacy and Research, Palghar 401404, Maharashtra, India
| | - Harshad S Kapare
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Pune 411018, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sakshi Pagar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai 400019, India
| | - Pallavi Kamandar
- Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Marathwada Campus, Jalna 431203, India
| | - Deblina Bhowmik
- Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Marathwada Campus, Jalna 431203, India
| | - Nikhar Vishwakarma
- Department of Pharmacy, Gyan Ganga Institute of Technology and Sciences, Jabalpur 482003, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sarjana Raikwar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar 470003, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Atul Garkal
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad 382481, Gujrat, India
| | - Tejal A Mehta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad 382481, Gujrat, India
| | - Satish Rojekar
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Navnath Hatvate
- Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Marathwada Campus, Jalna 431203, India.
| | - Sourav Mohanto
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Yenepoya Pharmacy College & Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, Karnataka 575018, India
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6
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Velásquez SY, Baslar GE, Schulte J, Fuderer T, Lindner HA, Coulibaly A. Downregulation of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α in Primary Human Natural Killer Cells Using Small Interfering RNA Delivery with ExPERT ATx by MaxCyte. Curr Protoc 2024; 4:e987. [PMID: 38327104 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.987] [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] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate cytokine-producing and cytolytic effector lymphocytes. Their function is responsive to environmental factors, e.g., hypoxia, a frequent feature of inflamed tissues. Such responses require that the NK cells up-regulate HIF-1α (hypoxia inducible factor-1α), the major mediator of cellular responses to hypoxia that affects cell survival as well as immune responses. Thus, a major approach to the study of NK cell effector function under hypoxic conditions involves the ability to regulate HIF-1α levels in primary human NK cells. One difficulty with this approach, however, is that NK cells are difficult-to-transfect cells and common transfection methods, including electroporation or lipofection, suffer from variable transfection efficiency and cell viability. Moreover, the detection of HIF-1α is technically challenging because of the rapid degradation of the protein under normoxic conditions. Here, using the commercially available ExPERT ATx by MaxCyte, we report a workflow for the reliable delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) for targeting HIF-1α expression in primary human NK cells. We further provide a protocol for the detection of HIF-1α by immunoblot analysis demonstrating its efficient downregulation by siRNA. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Isolation of natural killer cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells Basic Protocol 2: Delivery of non-coding small interfering RNA and HIF-1α targeting siRNA into natural killer cells using ExPERT ATx Basic Protocol 3: Assessing the downregulation of HIF-1α protein using immunoblot analysis Support Protocol 1: Exemplary assessment of transfection efficiency using fluorescently labeled non-targeting siRNA Support Protocol 2: Exemplary assessment of NK cell viability 20 hr post-transfection Support Protocol 3: Exemplary assessment of HIF-1α knockdown using immunoblot analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Y Velásquez
- Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, Mannheim Institute of Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gizem E Baslar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, Mannheim Institute of Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jutta Schulte
- Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, Mannheim Institute of Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Tanja Fuderer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, Mannheim Institute of Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Holger A Lindner
- Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, Mannheim Institute of Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anna Coulibaly
- Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, Mannheim Institute of Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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7
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Vojdani A, Koksoy S, Vojdani E, Engelman M, Benzvi C, Lerner A. Natural Killer Cells and Cytotoxic T Cells: Complementary Partners against Microorganisms and Cancer. Microorganisms 2024; 12:230. [PMID: 38276215 PMCID: PMC10818828 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010230] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T (CD8+) cells are two of the most important types of immune cells in our body, protecting it from deadly invaders. While the NK cell is part of the innate immune system, the CD8+ cell is one of the major components of adaptive immunity. Still, these two very different types of cells share the most important function of destroying pathogen-infected and tumorous cells by releasing cytotoxic granules that promote proteolytic cleavage of harmful cells, leading to apoptosis. In this review, we look not only at NK and CD8+ T cells but also pay particular attention to their different subpopulations, the immune defenders that include the CD56+CD16dim, CD56dimCD16+, CD57+, and CD57+CD16+ NK cells, the NKT, CD57+CD8+, and KIR+CD8+ T cells, and ILCs. We examine all these cells in relation to their role in the protection of the body against different microorganisms and cancer, with an emphasis on their mechanisms and their clinical importance. Overall, close collaboration between NK cells and CD8+ T cells may play an important role in immune function and disease pathogenesis. The knowledge of how these immune cells interact in defending the body against pathogens and cancers may help us find ways to optimize their defensive and healing capabilities with methods that can be clinically applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristo Vojdani
- Immunosciences Laboratory, Inc., Los Angeles, CA 90035, USA
| | - Sadi Koksoy
- Cyrex Laboratories, LLC, Phoenix, AZ 85034, USA; (S.K.); (M.E.)
| | | | - Mark Engelman
- Cyrex Laboratories, LLC, Phoenix, AZ 85034, USA; (S.K.); (M.E.)
| | - Carina Benzvi
- Chaim Sheba Medical Center, The Zabludowicz Research Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel; (C.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Aaron Lerner
- Chaim Sheba Medical Center, The Zabludowicz Research Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel; (C.B.); (A.L.)
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8
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Han J, Zhang B, Zheng S, Jiang Y, Zhang X, Mao K. The Progress and Prospects of Immune Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Cancer. Cell Transplant 2024; 33:9636897241231892. [PMID: 38433349 PMCID: PMC10913519 DOI: 10.1177/09636897241231892] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune cell therapy as a revolutionary treatment modality, significantly transformed cancer care. It is a specialized form of immunotherapy that utilizes living immune cells as therapeutic reagents for the treatment of cancer. Unlike traditional drugs, cell therapies are considered "living drugs," and these products are currently customized and require advanced manufacturing techniques. Although chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies have received tremendous attention in the industry regarding the treatment of hematologic malignancies, their effectiveness in treating solid tumors is often restricted, leading to the emergence of alternative immune cell therapies. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) cell therapy, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy, dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, and DC/CIK cell therapy are designed to use the body's natural defense mechanisms to target and eliminate cancer cells, and usually have fewer side effects or risks. On the other hand, cell therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell, T cell receptor (TCR)-T, chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK), or CAR-macrophages (CAR-M) typically utilize either autologous stem cells, allogeneic or xenogeneic cells, or genetically modified cells, which require higher levels of manipulation and are considered high risk. These high-risk cell therapies typically hold special characteristics in tumor targeting and signal transduction, triggering new anti-tumor immune responses. Recently, significant advances have been achieved in both basic and clinical researches on anti-tumor mechanisms, cell therapy product designs, and technological innovations. With swift technological integration and a high innovation landscape, key future development directions have emerged. To meet the demands of cell therapy technological advancements in treating cancer, we comprehensively and systematically investigate the technological innovation and clinical progress of immune cell therapies in this study. Based on the therapeutic mechanisms and methodological features of immune cell therapies, we analyzed the main technical advantages and clinical transformation risks associated with these therapies. We also analyzed and forecasted the application prospects, providing references for relevant enterprises with the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding their R&D direction selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Han
- Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Bowen Zhang
- Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Senyu Zheng
- Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Natural and Computing Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaopeng Zhang
- Shanghai World Trade Organization Affairs Consultation Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaiyun Mao
- Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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9
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Yi M, Li T, Niu M, Mei Q, Zhao B, Chu Q, Dai Z, Wu K. Exploiting innate immunity for cancer immunotherapy. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:187. [PMID: 38008741 PMCID: PMC10680233 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01885-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment paradigms of various types of cancers. However, most of these immunomodulatory strategies focus on harnessing adaptive immunity, mainly by inhibiting immunosuppressive signaling with immune checkpoint blockade, or enhancing immunostimulatory signaling with bispecific T cell engager and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell. Although these agents have already achieved great success, only a tiny percentage of patients could benefit from immunotherapies. Actually, immunotherapy efficacy is determined by multiple components in the tumor microenvironment beyond adaptive immunity. Cells from the innate arm of the immune system, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and unconventional T cells, also participate in cancer immune evasion and surveillance. Considering that the innate arm is the cornerstone of the antitumor immune response, utilizing innate immunity provides potential therapeutic options for cancer control. Up to now, strategies exploiting innate immunity, such as agonists of stimulator of interferon genes, CAR-macrophage or -natural killer cell therapies, metabolic regulators, and novel immune checkpoint blockade, have exhibited potent antitumor activities in preclinical and clinical studies. Here, we summarize the latest insights into the potential roles of innate cells in antitumor immunity and discuss the advances in innate arm-targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yi
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Breast Surgery, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianye Li
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengke Niu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Mei
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Breast Surgery, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Chu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhijun Dai
- Department of Breast Surgery, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Kongming Wu
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
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10
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Mehra V, Chhetri JB, Ali S, Roddie C. The Emerging Role of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells as Adoptive Cellular Immunotherapeutics. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1419. [PMID: 37998018 PMCID: PMC10669440 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) has transformed the treatment landscape for cancer and infectious disease through the investigational use of chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-Ts), tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and viral-specific T-cells (VSTs). Whilst these represent breakthrough treatments, there are subsets of patients who fail to respond to autologous ACT products. This is frequently due to impaired patient T-cell function or "fitness" as a consequence of prior treatments and age, and can be exacerbated by complex manufacturing protocols. Further, the manufacture of autologous, patient-specific products is time-consuming, expensive and non-standardised. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as an allogeneic alternative to patient-specific products can potentially overcome the issues outlined above. iPSC technology provides an unlimited source of rejuvenated iPSC-derived T-cells (T-iPSCs) or natural killer (NK) cells (NK-iPSCs), and in the context of the growing field of allogeneic ACT, iPSCs have enormous potential as a platform for generating off-the-shelf, standardised, "fit" therapeutics for patients. In this review, we evaluate current and future applications of iPSC technology in the CAR-T/NK, TIL and VST space. We discuss current and next-generation iPSC manufacturing protocols, and report on current iPSC-based adoptive therapy clinical trials to elucidate the potential of this technology as the future of ACT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Claire Roddie
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, Paul O’Gorman Building, London WCIE 6DD, UK
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11
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Rauch-Wirth L, Renner A, Kaygisiz K, Weil T, Zimmermann L, Rodriguez-Alfonso AA, Schütz D, Wiese S, Ständker L, Weil T, Schmiedel D, Münch J. Optimized peptide nanofibrils as efficient transduction enhancers for in vitro and ex vivo gene transfer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1270243. [PMID: 38022685 PMCID: PMC10666768 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1270243] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a groundbreaking immunotherapy for cancer. However, the intricate and costly manufacturing process remains a hurdle. Improving the transduction rate is a potential avenue to cut down costs and boost therapeutic efficiency. Peptide nanofibrils (PNFs) serve as one such class of transduction enhancers. PNFs bind to negatively charged virions, facilitating their active engagement by cellular protrusions, which enhances virion attachment to cells, leading to increased cellular entry and gene transfer rates. While first-generation PNFs had issues with aggregate formation and potential immunogenicity, our study utilized in silico screening to identify short, endogenous, and non-immunogenic peptides capable of enhancing transduction. This led to the discovery of an 8-mer peptide, RM-8, which forms PNFs that effectively boost T cell transduction rates by various retroviral vectors. A subsequent structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis refined RM-8, resulting in the D4 derivative. D4 peptide is stable and assembles into smaller PNFs, avoiding large aggregate formation, and demonstrates superior transduction rates in primary T and NK cells. In essence, D4 PNFs present an economical and straightforward nanotechnological tool, ideal for refining ex vivo gene transfer in CAR-T cell production and potentially other advanced therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Rauch-Wirth
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexander Renner
- Department for Cell and Gene Therapy Development, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kübra Kaygisiz
- Department Synthesis of Macromolecules, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tatjana Weil
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Laura Zimmermann
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Armando A. Rodriguez-Alfonso
- Core Facility Functional Peptidomics, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
- Core Unit of Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Desiree Schütz
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sebastian Wiese
- Core Unit of Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ludger Ständker
- Core Facility Functional Peptidomics, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tanja Weil
- Department Synthesis of Macromolecules, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Dominik Schmiedel
- Department for Cell and Gene Therapy Development, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jan Münch
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
- Core Facility Functional Peptidomics, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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Vu SH, Pham HH, Pham TTP, Le TT, Vo MC, Jung SH, Lee JJ, Nguyen XH. Adoptive NK Cell Therapy - a Beacon of Hope in Multiple Myeloma Treatment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1275076. [PMID: 38023191 PMCID: PMC10656693 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1275076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Major advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) have been achieved by effective new agents such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, or monoclonal antibodies. Despite significant progress, MM remains still incurable and, recently, cellular immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment for relapsed/refractory MM. The emergence of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology has transformed immunotherapy by enhancing the antitumor functions of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, leading to effective control of hematologic malignancies. Recent advancements in gene delivery to NK cells have paved the way for the clinical application of CAR-NK cell therapy. CAR-NK cell therapy strategies have demonstrated safety, tolerability, and substantial efficacy in treating B cell malignancies in various clinical settings. However, their effectiveness in eliminating MM remains to be established. This review explores multiple approaches to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity, persistence, expansion, and manufacturing processes, and highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with CAR-NK cell therapy against MM. By shedding light on these aspects, this review aims to provide valuable insights into the potential of CAR-NK cell therapy as a promising approach for improving the treatment outcomes of MM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Son Hai Vu
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Ha Hong Pham
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thao Thi Phuong Pham
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thanh Thien Le
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Manh-Cuong Vo
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hoon Jung
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Je-Jung Lee
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Xuan-Hung Nguyen
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
- College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam
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13
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Hinnekens C, De Smedt SC, Fraire JC, Braeckmans K. Non-viral engineering of NK cells. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 68:108212. [PMID: 37454745 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108212] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The last decade has witnessed great progress in the field of adoptive cell therapies, with the authorization of Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) in 2017 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a crucial stepstone. Since then, five more CAR-T therapies have been approved for the treatment of hematological malignancies. While this is a great step forward to treating several types of blood cancers, CAR-T cell therapies are still associated with severe side-effects such as Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD), cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. Because of this, there has been continued interest in Natural Killer cells which avoid these side-effects while offering the possibility to generate allogeneic cell therapies. Similar to T-cells, NK cells can be genetically modified to improve their therapeutic efficacy in a variety of ways. In contrast to T cells, viral transduction of NK cells remains inefficient and induces cytotoxic effects. Viral vectors also require a lengthy and expensive product development process and are accompanied by certain risks such as insertional mutagenesis. Therefore, non-viral transfection technologies are avidly being developed aimed at addressing these shortcomings of viral vectors. In this review we will present an overview of the potential of NK cells in cancer immunotherapies and the non-viral transfection technologies that have been explored to engineer them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Hinnekens
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Juan C Fraire
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Kevin Braeckmans
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Hojjatipour T, Sharifzadeh Z, Maali A, Azad M. Chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer cells: a promising sword against insidious tumor cells. Hum Cell 2023; 36:1843-1864. [PMID: 37477869 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00948-w] [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: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of innate immunity, particularly in initial cancer recognition and inhibition of additional tumor growth or metastasis propagation. NK cells recognize transformed cells without prior sensitization via stimulatory receptors and rapidly eradicate them. However, the protective tumor microenvironment facilitates tumor escaping via induction of an exhaustion state in immune cells, including NK cells. Hence, genetic manipulation of NK cells for specific identification of tumor-associated antigens or a more robust response against tumor cells is a promising strategy for NK cells' tumoricidal augmentation. Regarding the remarkable achievement of engineered CAR-T cells in treating hematologic malignancies, there is evolving interest in CAR-NK cell recruitment in cancer immunotherapy. Innate functionality of NK cells, higher safety, superior in vivo maintenance, and the off-the-shelf potential move CAR-NK-based therapy superior to CAR-T cells treatment. In this review, we have comprehensively discussed the recent genetic manipulations of CAR-NK cell manufacturing regarding different domains of CAR constructs and their following delivery systems into diverse sources of NK cells. Then highlight the preclinical and clinical investigations of CAR-NK cells and examine the current challenges and prospects as an optimistic remedy in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Hojjatipour
- Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Students Research Center, School of Allied Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Amirhosein Maali
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciecnes, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Mehdi Azad
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, 3419759811, Iran.
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15
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De Barra C, O'Shea D, Hogan AE. NK cells vs. obesity: A tale of dysfunction & redemption. Clin Immunol 2023; 255:109744. [PMID: 37604354 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109744] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are critical in protecting the body against infection and cancer. NK cells can rapidly respond to these threats by directly targeting the infected or transformed cell using their cytotoxic machinery or by initiating and amplifying the immune response via their production of cytokines. Additionally, NK cells are resident across many tissues including adipose, were their role extends from host protection to tissue homeostasis. Adipose resident NK cells can control macrophage polarization via cytokine production, whilst also regulating stressed adipocyte fate using their cytotoxic machinery. Obesity is strongly associated with increased rates of cancer and a heightened susceptibility to severe infections. This is in part due to significant obesity-related immune dysregulation, including defects in both peripheral and adipose tissue NK cells. In this review, we detail the literature to date on NK cells in the setting of obesity - outlining the consequences, mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor De Barra
- Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ireland
| | - Donal O'Shea
- Obesity Immunology Group, Education and Research Centre, St Vincent's University Hospital, University College, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Andrew E Hogan
- Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ireland; National Children's Research Centre, Dublin 12, Ireland.
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16
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Kitamura T. Tumour-associated macrophages as a potential target to improve natural killer cell-based immunotherapies. Essays Biochem 2023; 67:1003-1014. [PMID: 37313600 PMCID: PMC10539946 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20230002] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of natural killer (NK) cells has been proposed as a novel immunotherapy for malignant tumours resistant to current therapeutic modalities. Several clinical studies have demonstrated that the NK cell-infusion is well tolerated without severe side effects and shows promising results in haematological malignancies. However, patients with malignant solid tumours do not show significant responses to this therapy. Such disappointing results largely arise from the inefficient delivery of infused NK cells and the impairment of their functions in the tumour microenvironment (TME). Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant stromal cells in the TME of most solid tumours, and a high TAM density correlates with poor prognosis of cancer patients. Although our knowledge of the interactions between TAMs and NK cells is limited, many studies have indicated that TAMs suppress NK cell cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Therefore, blockade of TAM functions can be an attractive strategy to improve NK cell-based immunotherapies. On the other hand, macrophages are reported to activate NK cells under certain circumstances. This essay presents our current knowledge about mechanisms by which macrophages regulate NK cell functions and discusses possible therapeutic approaches to block macrophage-mediated NK cell suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanori Kitamura
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
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17
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Chikileva IO, Bruter AV, Persiyantseva NA, Zamkova MA, Vlasenko RY, Dolzhikova YI, Shubina IZ, Donenko FV, Lebedinskaya OV, Sokolova DV, Pokrovsky VS, Fedorova PO, Ustyuzhanina NE, Anisimova NY, Nifantiev NE, Kiselevskiy MV. Anti-Cancer Potential of Transiently Transfected HER2-Specific Human Mixed CAR-T and NK Cell Populations in Experimental Models: Initial Studies on Fucosylated Chondroitin Sulfate Usage for Safer Treatment. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2563. [PMID: 37761005 PMCID: PMC10526813 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092563] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in numerous cancer cell types. Therapeutic antibodies and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) against HER2 were developed to treat human tumors. The major limitation of anti-HER2 CAR-T lymphocyte therapy is attributable to the low HER2 expression in a wide range of normal tissues. Thus, side effects are caused by CAR lymphocyte "on-target off-tumor" reactions. We aimed to develop safer HER2-targeting CAR-based therapy. CAR constructs against HER2 tumor-associated antigen (TAA) for transient expression were delivered into target T and natural killer (NK) cells by an effective and safe non-viral transfection method via nucleofection, excluding the risk of mutations associated with viral transduction. Different in vitro end-point and real-time assays of the CAR lymphocyte antitumor cytotoxicity and in vivo human HER2-positive tumor xenograft mice model proved potent cytotoxic activity of the generated CAR-T-NK cells. Our data suggest transient expression of anti-HER2 CARs in plasmid vectors by human lymphocytes as a safer treatment for HER2-positive human cancers. We also conducted preliminary investigations to elucidate if fucosylated chondroitin sulfate may be used as a possible agent to decrease excessive cytokine production without negative impact on the CAR lymphocyte antitumor effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina O. Chikileva
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (R.Y.V.); (Y.I.D.); (I.Z.S.); (F.V.D.); (D.V.S.); (V.S.P.); (P.O.F.); (N.Y.A.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Alexandra V. Bruter
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Nadezhda A. Persiyantseva
- Research Institute of Carcinogenesis, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (N.A.P.); (M.A.Z.)
| | - Maria A. Zamkova
- Research Institute of Carcinogenesis, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (N.A.P.); (M.A.Z.)
| | - Raimonda Ya. Vlasenko
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (R.Y.V.); (Y.I.D.); (I.Z.S.); (F.V.D.); (D.V.S.); (V.S.P.); (P.O.F.); (N.Y.A.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Yuliya I. Dolzhikova
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (R.Y.V.); (Y.I.D.); (I.Z.S.); (F.V.D.); (D.V.S.); (V.S.P.); (P.O.F.); (N.Y.A.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Irina Zh. Shubina
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (R.Y.V.); (Y.I.D.); (I.Z.S.); (F.V.D.); (D.V.S.); (V.S.P.); (P.O.F.); (N.Y.A.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Fedor V. Donenko
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (R.Y.V.); (Y.I.D.); (I.Z.S.); (F.V.D.); (D.V.S.); (V.S.P.); (P.O.F.); (N.Y.A.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Olga V. Lebedinskaya
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cytology, EA Vagner Perm State Medical University, 614000 Perm, Russia;
| | - Darina V. Sokolova
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (R.Y.V.); (Y.I.D.); (I.Z.S.); (F.V.D.); (D.V.S.); (V.S.P.); (P.O.F.); (N.Y.A.); (M.V.K.)
- Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vadim S. Pokrovsky
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (R.Y.V.); (Y.I.D.); (I.Z.S.); (F.V.D.); (D.V.S.); (V.S.P.); (P.O.F.); (N.Y.A.); (M.V.K.)
- Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Polina O. Fedorova
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (R.Y.V.); (Y.I.D.); (I.Z.S.); (F.V.D.); (D.V.S.); (V.S.P.); (P.O.F.); (N.Y.A.); (M.V.K.)
- Microbiology, Virology and Immunology Department, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
- II Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums, 105064 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Natalia Yu. Anisimova
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (R.Y.V.); (Y.I.D.); (I.Z.S.); (F.V.D.); (D.V.S.); (V.S.P.); (P.O.F.); (N.Y.A.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Nikolay E. Nifantiev
- ND Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Mikhail V. Kiselevskiy
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (R.Y.V.); (Y.I.D.); (I.Z.S.); (F.V.D.); (D.V.S.); (V.S.P.); (P.O.F.); (N.Y.A.); (M.V.K.)
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Chang Y, Jin G, Luo W, Luo Q, Jung J, Hummel SN, Torregrosa-Allen S, Elzey BD, Low PS, Lian XL, Bao X. Engineered human pluripotent stem cell-derived natural killer cells with PD-L1 responsive immunological memory for enhanced immunotherapeutic efficacy. Bioact Mater 2023; 27:168-180. [PMID: 37091063 PMCID: PMC10113709 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered natural killer (NK) cells have shown promise in treating various cancers. However, limited immunological memory and access to sufficient numbers of allogenic donor cells have hindered their broader preclinical and clinical applications. Here, we first assess eight different CAR constructs that use an anti-PD-L1 nanobody and/or universal anti-fluorescein (FITC) single-chain variable fragment (scFv) to enhance antigen-specific proliferation and anti-tumor cytotoxicity of NK-92 cells against heterogenous solid tumors. We next genetically engineer human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) with optimized CARs and differentiate them into functional dual CAR-NK cells. The tumor microenvironment responsive anti-PD-L1 CAR effectively promoted hPSC-NK cell proliferation and cytotoxicity through antigen-dependent activation of phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) and pSTAT5 signaling pathways via an intracellular truncated IL-2 receptor β-chain (ΔIL-2Rβ) and STAT3-binding tyrosine-X-X-glutamine (YXXQ) motif. Anti-tumor activities of PD-L1-induced memory-like hPSC-NK cells were further boosted by administering a FITC-folate bi-specific adapter that bridges between a programmable anti-FITC CAR and folate receptor alpha-expressing breast tumor cells. Collectively, our hPSC CAR-NK engineering platform is modular and could constitute a realistic strategy to manufacture off-the-shelf CAR-NK cells with immunological memory-like phenotype for targeted immunotherapy.
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Zhang Y, Zhou W, Yang J, Yang J, Wang W. Chimeric antigen receptor engineered natural killer cells for cancer therapy. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:70. [PMID: 37563648 PMCID: PMC10413722 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00431-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, a unique component of the innate immune system, are inherent killers of stressed and transformed cells. Based on their potent capacity to kill cancer cells and good tolerance of healthy cells, NK cells have been successfully employed in adoptive cell therapy to treat cancer patients. In recent years, the clinical success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells has proven the vast potential of gene-manipulated immune cells as the main force to fight cancer. Following the lessons learned from mature gene-transfer technologies and advanced strategies in CAR-T therapy, NK cells have been rapidly explored as a promising candidate for CAR-based therapy. An exponentially growing number of studies have employed multiple sources of CAR-NK cells to target a wide range of cancer-related antigens, showing remarkable outcomes and encouraging safety profiles. Clinical trials of CAR-NK cells have also shown their impressive therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of hematological tumors, but CAR-NK cell therapy for solid tumors is still in the initial stages. In this review, we present the favorable profile of NK cells as a potential platform for CAR-based engineering and then summarize the outcomes and strategies of CAR-NK therapies in up-to-date preclinical and clinical investigations. Finally, we evaluate the challenges remaining in CAR-NK therapy and describe existing strategies that can assist us in devising future prospective solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Weilin Zhou
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangping Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinrong Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
- Hematology Research Laboratory, Department of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Khawar MB, Gao G, Rafiq M, Shehzadi A, Afzal A, Abbasi MH, Sheikh N, Afzal N, Ashraf MA, Hamid SE, Shahzaman S, Kawish N, Sun H. Breaking down barriers: The potential of smarter CAR-engineered NK cells against solid tumors. J Cell Biochem 2023; 124:1082-1104. [PMID: 37566723 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30460] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are considered to be the foremost fighters of our innate immune system against foreign invaders and thus tend to promptly latch onto the virus-infected and tumor/cancerous cells, killing them through phagocytosis. At present, the application of genetically engineered Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) receptors ensures a guaranteed optimistic response with NK cells and would not allow the affected cells to dodge or escape unchecked. Hence the specificity and uniqueness of CAR-NK cells over CAR-T therapy make them a better immunotherapeutic choice to reduce the load of trafficking of numerous tumor cells near the healthy cell populations in a more intact way than offered by CAR-T immunotherapy. Our review mainly focuses on the preclinical, clinical, and recent advances in clinical research trials and further strategies to achieve an augmented and efficient cure against solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad B Khawar
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental and, Translational Noncoding RNA Research, Yangzhou, China
- Department of Zoology, Applied Molecular Biology and Biomedicine Lab, University of Narowal, Narowal, Pakistan
| | - Guangzhong Gao
- Department of Physiatry, Haian Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mussarat Rafiq
- Cell & Molecular Biology Lab, Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Anila Shehzadi
- Department of Zoology, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Therapeutics Lab, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ali Afzal
- Department of Zoology, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Therapeutics Lab, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Nadeem Sheikh
- Cell & Molecular Biology Lab, Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Nimra Afzal
- Department of Zoology, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Therapeutics Lab, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Syeda E Hamid
- Department of Zoology, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Therapeutics Lab, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sara Shahzaman
- Department of Zoology, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Therapeutics Lab, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Naseer Kawish
- Cell & Molecular Biology Lab, Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Haibo Sun
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental and, Translational Noncoding RNA Research, Yangzhou, China
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21
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Meng F, Zhang S, Xie J, Zhou Y, Wu Q, Lu B, Zhou S, Zhao X, Li Y. Leveraging CD16 fusion receptors to remodel the immune response for enhancing anti-tumor immunotherapy in iPSC-derived NK cells. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:62. [PMID: 37316891 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01455-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cytotoxicity of NK cells is largely dependent on IgG Fc receptor CD16a, which mediates antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). The high-affinity and non-cleavable CD16 (hnCD16) is developed and demonstrated a multi-tumor killing potential. However, the hnCD16 receptor activates a single CD16 signal and provides limited tumor suppression. How to exploit the properties of hnCD16 and incorporate NK cell-specific activation domains is a promising development direction to further improve the anti-tumor activity of NK cells. METHODS To expand the applications of hnCD16-mediated ADCC for NK cell-based immunotherapy in cancer, we designed the hnCD16 Fusion Receptor (FR) constructs with the ectodomain of hnCD16 fused with NK cell-specific activating domains in the cytoplasm. FR constructs were transduced into CD16-negative NK cell line and human iPSC-derived NK (iNK) cells and effective FR constructs were screened. The up-regulation of immune activation- and cytokine-releasing-related pathways in FR-transduced NK cells was screened and validated by RNA sequencing and multiplex cytokines release assay, respectively. The tumor-killing efficiency was tested in vitro and in vivo via co-culture with tumor cell lines and xenograft mice-bearing human B-cell lymphoma, respectively. RESULTS We screened the most effective combination to kill B cell lymphoma, which was fused with the ectodomain of hnCD16a, NK-specific co-stimulators (2B4 and DAP10) and CD3ζ in cytoplasmic domains. The screened construct showed excellent cytotoxicity effects and sharp multiple cytokines releasing both in the NK cell line and iNK cells. The transcriptomic analysis and validation assays of hnCD16- and hnCD16FR-transduced NK cells showed that hnCD16FR transduction remodeled immune-related transcriptome in NK cells, where significant upregulation of genes related to cytotoxicity, high cytokines releasing, induced tumor cell apoptosis, and ADCC in comparison with hnCD16 transduction were highlighted. In vivo xenograft studies demonstrated that a single low-dose regimen of engineered hnCD16FR iPSC-derived NK cells co-administered with anti-CD20 mAb treatment mediated potent activity and significantly improved survival. CONCLUSION We developed a novel hnCD16FR construct that exhibits more potent cytotoxicity than reported hnCD16, which is a promising approach to treat malignancies with improved ADCC properties. We also offer a rationale for NK activation domains that remodel immune response to enhance CD16 signaling in NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanyi Meng
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Siqi Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Xie
- Peking University Institute of Hematology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, MOE Key Lab of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qingling Wu
- Guangzhou Regenverse Therapeutics Co.,Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Binyan Lu
- Guangzhou Regenverse Therapeutics Co.,Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Shixin Zhou
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiangyu Zhao
- Peking University Institute of Hematology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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22
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Zhao Y, Li H, Guo Q, Hui H. Multiple characteristic alterations and available therapeutic strategies of cellular senescence. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2023; 24:101-114. [PMID: 36751697 PMCID: PMC9936135 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2200178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Given its state of stable proliferative inhibition, cellular senescence is primarily depicted as a critical mechanism by which organisms delay the progression of carcinogenesis. Cells undergoing senescence are often associated with the alteration of a series of specific features and functions, such as metabolic shifts, stemness induction, and microenvironment remodeling. However, recent research has revealed more complexity associated with senescence, including adverse effects on both physiological and pathological processes. How organisms evade these harmful consequences and survive has become an urgent research issue. Several therapeutic strategies targeting senescence, including senolytics, senomorphics, immunotherapy, and function restoration, have achieved initial success in certain scenarios. In this review, we describe in detail the characteristic changes associated with cellular senescence and summarize currently available countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunzi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Qinglong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Hui Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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23
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Maalej KM, Merhi M, Inchakalody VP, Mestiri S, Alam M, Maccalli C, Cherif H, Uddin S, Steinhoff M, Marincola FM, Dermime S. CAR-cell therapy in the era of solid tumor treatment: current challenges and emerging therapeutic advances. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:20. [PMID: 36717905 PMCID: PMC9885707 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01723-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 116.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has emerged as a promising immunotherapeutic approach to fight cancers. This approach consists of genetically engineered immune cells expressing a surface receptor, called CAR, that specifically targets antigens expressed on the surface of tumor cells. In hematological malignancies like leukemias, myeloma, and non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas, adoptive CAR-T cell therapy has shown efficacy in treating chemotherapy refractory patients. However, the value of this therapy remains inconclusive in the context of solid tumors and is restrained by several obstacles including limited tumor trafficking and infiltration, the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, as well as adverse events associated with such therapy. Recently, CAR-Natural Killer (CAR-NK) and CAR-macrophages (CAR-M) were introduced as a complement/alternative to CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors. CAR-NK cells could be a favorable substitute for CAR-T cells since they do not require HLA compatibility and have limited toxicity. Additionally, CAR-NK cells might be generated in large scale from several sources which would suggest them as promising off-the-shelf product. CAR-M immunotherapy with its capabilities of phagocytosis, tumor-antigen presentation, and broad tumor infiltration, is currently being investigated. Here, we discuss the emerging role of CAR-T, CAR-NK, and CAR-M cells in solid tumors. We also highlight the advantages and drawbacks of CAR-NK and CAR-M cells compared to CAR-T cells. Finally, we suggest prospective solutions such as potential combination therapies to enhance the efficacy of CAR-cells immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karama Makni Maalej
- grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XTranslational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box: 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Maysaloun Merhi
- grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XTranslational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box: 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Varghese P. Inchakalody
- grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XTranslational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box: 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sarra Mestiri
- grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XTranslational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box: 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Majid Alam
- grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XTranslational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Dermatology Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar ,grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Cristina Maccalli
- grid.467063.00000 0004 0397 4222Laboratory of Immune and Biological Therapy, Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Honar Cherif
- grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XDepartment of Hematology, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shahab Uddin
- grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XTranslational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Dermatology Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Martin Steinhoff
- grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XTranslational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Dermatology Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar ,grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar ,grid.416973.e0000 0004 0582 4340Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar ,grid.412603.20000 0004 0634 1084College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XDepartment of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Francesco M. Marincola
- grid.418227.a0000 0004 0402 1634Global Head of Research, Kite Pharma, Santa Monica, California USA
| | - Said Dermime
- grid.413548.f0000 0004 0571 546XTranslational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box: 3050, Doha, Qatar ,grid.452146.00000 0004 1789 3191College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
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24
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Du Z, Zhu S, Zhang X, Gong Z, Wang S. Non-Conventional Allogeneic Anti-BCMA Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Based Immune Cell Therapies for Multiple Myeloma Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:567. [PMID: 36765526 PMCID: PMC9913487 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
MM, characterized by the progressive accumulation of clonal plasma cells in bone marrow, remains a severe medical problem globally. Currently, almost all MM patients who have received standard treatments will eventually relapse. Autologous anti-BCMA CAR-T cells are one of the FDA-approved immunotherapy cell-based products for treating adults with relapsed or refractory (r/r) multiple myeloma. However, this type of CAR-T cell product has several limitations, including high costs, long manufacturing times, and possible manufacturing failure, which significantly hinder its wider application for more patients. In this review, we summarized the current development stage of applying other types of immune cells to bring the anti-BCMA CAR-T therapy from autologous to allogeneic. In general, anti-BCMA CAR gene-edited αβ T cells and CAR-Natural Killer (NK) cells are at the forefront, with multiple clinical trials ongoing, while CAR-γδ T cells and CAR-invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells are still in pre-clinical studies. Other immune cells such as macrophages, B cells, and dendritic cells have been mainly developed to target other antigens and have the potential to be used to target BCMA. Nevertheless, additional regulatory requirements might need to be taken into account in developing these non-conventional allogenic anti-BCMA CAR-based cell products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Du
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
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25
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Xiong M, Kong G, Liu Q, Liu L, Yin Y, Liu Y, Yuan H, Zhang XB, Tan W. DNA-Templated Anchoring of Proteins for Programmable Cell Functionalization and Immunological Response. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:183-191. [PMID: 36577045 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c03928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Membrane protein engineering exhibits great potential for cell functionalization. Although genetic strategies are sophisticated for membrane protein engineering, there still exist some issues, including transgene insertional mutagenesis, laborious, complicated procedures, and low tunability. Herein, we report a DNA-templated anchoring of exogenous proteins on living cell membranes to realize programmable functionalization of living cells. Using DNA as a scaffold, the model cell membranes are readily modified with proteins, on which the density and ratio of proteins as well as their interactions can be precisely controlled through predictable DNA hybridization. Then, the natural killer (NK) cells were engineered to gain the ability to eliminate the immune checkpoint signaling at the NK-tumor synapse, which remarkably promoted NK cell activation in immunotherapy. Given the versatile functions of exogenous proteins and flexible designs of programmable DNA, this method has the potential to facilitate membrane-protein-based cell engineering and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyi Xiong
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Gezhi Kong
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Qin Liu
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Yao Yin
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Hui Yuan
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Zhang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
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26
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Jiang J, Huang Y, Zeng Z, Zhao C. Harnessing Engineered Immune Cells and Bacteria as Drug Carriers for Cancer Immunotherapy. ACS NANO 2023; 17:843-884. [PMID: 36598956 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c07607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy continues to be in the spotlight of oncology therapy research in the past few years and has been proven to be a promising option to modulate one's innate and adaptive immune systems for cancer treatment. However, the poor delivery efficiency of immune agents, potential off-target toxicity, and nonimmunogenic tumors significantly limit its effectiveness and extensive application. Recently, emerging biomaterial-based drug carriers, including but not limited to immune cells and bacteria, are expected to be potential candidates to break the dilemma of immunotherapy, with their excellent natures of intrinsic tumor tropism and immunomodulatory activity. More than that, the tiny vesicles and physiological components derived from them have similar functions with their source cells due to the inheritance of various surface signal molecules and proteins. Herein, we presented representative examples about the latest advances of biomaterial-based delivery systems employed in cancer immunotherapy, including immune cells, bacteria, and their derivatives. Simultaneously, opportunities and challenges of immune cells and bacteria-based carriers are discussed to provide reference for their future application in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Jiang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanjuan Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Zishan Zeng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunshun Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
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27
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He B, Mai Q, Pang Y, Deng S, He Y, Xue R, Xu N, Zhou H, Liu X, Xuan L, Li C, Liu Q. Cytokines induced memory-like NK cells engineered to express CD19 CAR exhibit enhanced responses against B cell malignancies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1130442. [PMID: 37207215 PMCID: PMC10191231 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1130442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered NK cells have been used for treating patients with relapsed and/or refractory B cell malignancies and show encouraging outcomes and safety profile. However, the poor persistence of NK cells remains a major challenge for CAR NK cell therapy. Memory-like NK cells (MLNK) induced by IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 have shown enhanced and prolonged responses to tumor re-stimulation, making them an attractive candidate for adoptive cellular immunotherapy. Here, we show efficient and stable gene delivery of CD19 CAR to memory-like NK cells using retroviral vectors with transduction efficiency comparable to those achieved with conventional NK cells. Analysis of surface molecules revealed a distinct phenotypic profile in CAR engineered memory-like NK cells (CAR MLNK), as evidenced by increased expression of CD94 and downregulation of NKp30 as well as KIR2DL1. Compared to conventional CAR NK cells, CAR MLNK cells exhibited significantly increased IFN-γ production and degranulation in response to CD19+ target cells, resulting in enhanced cytotoxic activity against CD19+ leukemia cells and lymphoma cells. Furthermore, memory properties induced by IL-12/-15/-18 improved the in vivo persistence of CAR MLNK cells and significantly suppressed tumor growth in a exnograft mouse model of lymphoma, leading to prolonged survival of CD19+ tumor-bearing mouse. Altogether, our data indicate that CD19 CAR engineered memory-like NK cells exhibited superior persistence and antitumor activity against CD19+ tumors, which might be an attractive approach for treating patient with relapse or refractory B cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailin He
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiusui Mai
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunyi Pang
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shikai Deng
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi He
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongtao Xue
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Na Xu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongsheng Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Xuan
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengyao Li
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qifa Liu, ; Chengyao Li,
| | - Qifa Liu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qifa Liu, ; Chengyao Li,
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION New methods in cancer immunotherapy, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, have shown promising results in destroying malignant cells. However, limitations and side effects of CAR-T cell therapy, such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), neurotoxicity, and cytokine release syndrome, have motivated researchers to investigate safer alternative cells like natural killer (NK) cells. AREA COVERED NK cells can effectively recognize hematologic malignant cells and destroy them. Many clinical and preclinical studies investigate the efficacy of CAR-NK cells in treating lymphoma and other hematologic malignancies. The results of published clinical trials and preclinical studies have shown that CAR-NK cells could be an appropriate choice for treating lymphoma. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of CAR-NK cells, their role in treating B-cell and T-cell lymphoma, and the challenges faced by using them. We also highlight clinical trials using CAR-NK cells for treating lymphoma. EXPERT OPINION CAR-NK cells have shown promising results in cancer therapy, especially B-cell lymphoma, with a much lower risk for GVHD, cytokine release syndrome, and neurotoxicity than CAR-T cells. Further investigations are required to overcome the obstacles of CAR-NK cell therapy, both generally, and in cancers like T-cell lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaghayegh Khanmohammadi
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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29
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CAR-NK as a Rapidly Developed and Efficient Immunotherapeutic Strategy against Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010117. [PMID: 36612114 PMCID: PMC9817948 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cell therapy has been rapidly developing in recent years, ultimately revolutionizing immunotherapeutic strategies and providing significant anti-tumor potency, mainly in treating hematological neoplasms. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and other adverse effects, such as cytokine release syndromes (CRS) and neurotoxicity associated with CAR-T cell infusion, have raised some concerns about the broad application of this therapy. Natural killer (NK) cells have been identified as promising alternative platforms for CAR-based therapies because of their unique features, such as a lack of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matching restriction, superior safety, and better anti-tumor activity when compared with CAR-T cells. The lack of CRS, neurotoxicity, or GVHD, in the case of CAR-NK therapy, in addition to the possibility of using allogeneic NK cells as a CAR platform for "off-the-shelf" therapy, opens new windows for strategic opportunities. This review underlines recent design achievements in CAR constructs and summarizes preclinical studies' results regarding CAR-NK therapies' safety and anti-tumor potency. Additionally, new approaches in CAR-NK technology are briefly described, and currently registered clinical trials are listed.
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30
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Bahmanyar M, Vakil MK, Al-Awsi GRL, Kouhpayeh SA, Mansoori Y, Mansoori B, Moravej A, Mazarzaei A, Ghasemian A. Anticancer traits of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs)-Natural Killer (NK) cells as novel approaches for melanoma treatment. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:1220. [PMID: 36434591 PMCID: PMC9701052 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10320-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Owing to non-responsiveness of a high number of patients to the common melanoma therapies, seeking novel approaches seem as an unmet requirement. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells were initially employed against recurrent or refractory B cell malignancies. However, advanced stages or pretreated patients have insufficient T cells (lymphopenia) amount for collection and clinical application. Additionally, this process is time-consuming and logistically cumbersome. Another limitation of this approach is toxicity and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) progress and neurotoxicity syndrome (NS). Natural killer (NK) cells are a versatile component of the innate immunity and have several advantages over T cells in the application for therapies such as availability, unique biological features, safety profile, cost effectiveness and higher tissue residence. Additionally, CAR NK cells do not develop Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and are independent of host HLA genotype. Notably, the NK cells number and activity is affected in the tumor microenvironment (TME), paving the way for developing novel approaches by enhancing their maturation and functionality. The CAR NK cells short lifespan is a double edge sword declining toxicity and reducing their persistence. Bispecific and Trispecific Killer Cell Engagers (BiKE and Trike, respectively) are emerging and promising immunotherapies for efficient antibody dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC). CAR NK cells have some limitations in terms of expanding and transducing NK cells from donors to achieve clinical response. Clinical trials are in scarcity regarding the CAR NK cell-based cancer therapies. The CAR NK cells short life span following irradiation before infusion limits their efficiency inhibiting their in vivo expansion. The CAR NK cells efficacy enhancement in terms of lifespan TME preparation and stability is a goal for melanoma treatment. Combination therapies using CAR NK cells and chemotherapy can also overcome therapy limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Bahmanyar
- grid.411135.30000 0004 0415 3047Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Mohammad Kazem Vakil
- grid.411135.30000 0004 0415 3047Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | | | - Seyed Amin Kouhpayeh
- grid.411135.30000 0004 0415 3047Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Yaser Mansoori
- grid.411135.30000 0004 0415 3047Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Behnam Mansoori
- grid.411135.30000 0004 0415 3047Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Ali Moravej
- grid.411135.30000 0004 0415 3047Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Abdulbaset Mazarzaei
- grid.512728.b0000 0004 5907 6819Department of Immunology, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran
| | - Abdolmajid Ghasemian
- grid.411135.30000 0004 0415 3047Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
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Ren X, Peng M, Xing P, Wei Y, Galbo PM, Corrigan D, Wang H, Su Y, Dong X, Sun Q, Li Y, Zhang X, Edelmann W, Zheng D, Zang X. Blockade of the immunosuppressive KIR2DL5/PVR pathway elicits potent human NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:e163620. [PMID: 36377656 PMCID: PMC9663162 DOI: 10.1172/jci163620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy targeting the TIGIT/PVR pathway is currently facing challenges. KIR2DL5, a member of the human killer cell, immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) family, has recently been identified as another binding partner for PVR. The biology and therapeutic potential of the KIR2DL5/PVR pathway are largely unknown. Here we report that KIR2DL5 was predominantly expressed on human NK cells with mature phenotype and cytolytic function and that it bound to PVR without competition with the other 3 known PVR receptors. The interaction between KIR2DL5 on NK cells and PVR on target cells induced inhibitory synapse formation, whereas new monoclonal antibodies blocking the KIR2DL5-PVR interaction robustly augmented the NK cytotoxicity against PVR+ human tumors. Mechanistically, both intracellular ITIM and ITSM of KIR2DL5 underwent tyrosine phosphorylation after engagement, which was essential for KIR2DL5-mediated NK suppression by recruiting SHP-1 and/or SHP-2. Subsequently, ITIM/SHP-1/SHP-2 and ITSM/SHP-1 downregulated the downstream Vav1/ERK1/2/p90RSK/NF-κB signaling. KIR2DL5+ immune cells infiltrated in various types of PVR+ human cancers. Markedly, the KIR2DL5 blockade reduced tumor growth and improved overall survival across multiple NK cell-based humanized tumor models. Thus, our results revealed functional mechanisms of KIR2DL5-mediated NK cell immune evasion, demonstrated blockade of the KIR2DL5/PVR axis as a therapy for human cancers, and provided an underlying mechanism for the clinical failure of anti-TIGIT therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxin Ren
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
| | - Mou Peng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
| | - Peng Xing
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
| | - Yao Wei
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
| | - Phillip M. Galbo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | | | - Hao Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
| | - Yingzhen Su
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
| | | | - Qizhe Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
| | - Yixian Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience
| | - Xingxing Zang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
- Department of Oncology
- Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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32
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Wang X, Yang X, Yuan X, Wang W, Wang Y. Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered NK cells: new weapons of cancer immunotherapy with great potential. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:85. [PMID: 36324149 PMCID: PMC9628181 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00341-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T (CAR-T) cells have obtained prominent achievement in the clinical immunotherapy of hematological malignant tumors, leading to a rapid development of cellular immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Scientists are also aware of the prospective advantages of CAR engineering in cellular immunotherapy. Due to various limitations such as the serious side effects of CAR-T therapy, researchers began to investigate other immune cells for CAR modification. Natural killer (NK) cells are critical innate immune cells with the characteristic of non-specifically recognizing target cells and with the potential to become "off-the-shelf" products. In recent years, many preclinical studies on CAR-engineered NK (CAR-NK) cells have shown their remarkable efficacy in cancer therapy and their superiority over autologous CAR-T cells. In this review, we summarize the generation, mechanisms of anti-tumor activity and unique advantages of CAR-NK cells, and then analyze some challenges and recent clinical trials about CAR-NK cells therapy. We believe that CAR-NK therapy is a promising prospect for cancer immunotherapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Xuejiao Yang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Xiang Yuan
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Thoracic Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Wenbo Wang
- grid.24516.340000000123704535Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China
| | - Yueying Wang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
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Momayyezi P, Malmberg KJ, Hammer Q. Small Interfering RNA Delivery Into Primary Human Natural Killer Cells for Functional Gene Analyses. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e613. [PMID: 36440989 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.613] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Studying gene functions in human natural killer (NK) cells is key for advancing the understanding of NK cell biology and holds promise to pave the way for improving NK cell therapies against cancer. However, NK cells are challenging to manipulate, and investigation of gene functions in NK cells is hampered by variable delivery efficiencies and impaired viability upon electroporation, lipofection, or viral transduction. Here, we report a simple workflow for delivery of commercially available small interfering RNA molecules into primary human NK cells to enable functional gene analyses. © 2022 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Enrichment of natural killer cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells Basic Protocol 2: Preparation of small interfering RNA Basic Protocol 3: Delivery of small interfering RNA into natural killer cells Support Protocol 1: Isolation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from buffy coats Support Protocol 2: Thawing and recovery of cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells Support Protocol 3: Evaluation of natural killer cell purity following magnetic enrichment Support Protocol 4: Exemplary assessment of knockdown efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouria Momayyezi
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karl-Johan Malmberg
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Quirin Hammer
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Yusubalieva GM, Dashinimaev EB, Gorchakov AA, Kulemzin SV, Brovkina OA, Kalinkin AA, Vinokurov AG, Shirmanova MV, Taranin AV, Baklaushev VP. Enhanced Natural Killers with CISH and B2M Gene Knockouts Reveal Increased Cytotoxicity in Glioblastoma Primary Cultures. Mol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893322050156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Keshavarz A, Salehi A, Khosravi S, Shariati Y, Nasrabadi N, Kahrizi MS, Maghsoodi S, Mardi A, Azizi R, Jamali S, Fotovat F. Recent findings on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered immune cell therapy in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:482. [PMID: 36153626 PMCID: PMC9509604 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03163-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancements in adoptive cell therapy over the last four decades have revealed various new therapeutic strategies, such as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which are dedicated immune cells that are engineered and administered to eliminate cancer cells. In this context, CAR T-cells have shown significant promise in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, many obstacles limit the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Consequently, CAR-NK and CAR-M cell therapies have recently emerged as novel therapeutic options for addressing the challenges associated with CAR T-cell therapies. Currently, many CAR immune cell trials are underway in various human malignancies around the world to improve antitumor activity and reduce the toxicity of CAR immune cell therapy. This review will describe the comprehensive literature of recent findings on CAR immune cell therapy in a wide range of human malignancies, as well as the challenges that have emerged in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Keshavarz
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Salehi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Islamic Azad University,, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Setareh Khosravi
- Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Yasaman Shariati
- Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Navid Nasrabadi
- Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | | | - Sairan Maghsoodi
- Department of Paramedical, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Mardi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramyar Azizi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Samira Jamali
- Department of Endodontics, College of Stomatology, Stomatological Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Farnoush Fotovat
- Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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Razeghian E, Kameh MC, Shafiee S, Khalafi F, Jafari F, Asghari M, Kazemi K, Ilkhani S, Shariatzadeh S, Haj-Mirzaian A. The role of the natural killer (NK) cell modulation in breast cancer incidence and progress. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:10935-10948. [PMID: 36008609 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07865-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The importance of the immune system on tumor surveillance has been investigated for many years, and its impact on controlling tumor progression has been verified. An important subgroup of the innate immune system is natural killer (NK) cells, whose essential function in modulating tumor behavior and suppressing metastasis and tumor growth has been demonstrated. The first idea of NK cells' crucial biological processes was demonstrated through their potent ability to conduct direct cellular cytotoxicity, even without former sensitization. These properties of NK cells allow them to recognize transformed cells that have attenuated self-ligand and express stress-induced ligands. Furthermore, secretion of various cytokines and chemokines after their activation leads to tumor elimination via either direct cytotoxic effect on malignant cells or activation of the adaptive immune system. In addition, novel immunotherapeutic approaches tend to take advantage of NK cells' ability, leading to antibody-based approaches, the formation of engineered CAR-NK cells, and adoptive cell transfer. However, the restricted functionality of NK cells and the inability to infiltrate tumors are its blind spots in breast cancer patients. In this review, we gathered newly acquired data on the biology and functions of NK cells in breast cancer and proposed ways to employ this knowledge for novel therapeutic approaches in cancers, particularly breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Razeghian
- Human Genetics Division, Medical Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Genetics Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdis Chahar Kameh
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepehr Shafiee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farima Khalafi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fehimeh Jafari
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Radiation Oncology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammadali Asghari
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kiarash Kazemi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saba Ilkhani
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Siavash Shariatzadeh
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Arvin Haj-Mirzaian
- Department of Pharmacology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Nikoo M, Rudiansyah M, Bokov DO, Jainakbaev N, Suksatan W, Ansari MJ, Thangavelu L, Chupradit S, Zamani A, Adili A, Shomali N, Akbari M. Potential of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected immune cells in breast cancer therapies: Recent advances. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:4137-4156. [PMID: 35762299 PMCID: PMC9344815 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite substantial developments in conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and molecular-targeted therapy, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Currently, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected immune cell therapy has emerged as an innovative immunotherapeutic approach to ameliorate survival rates of breast cancer patients by eliciting cytotoxic activity against cognate tumour-associated antigens expressing tumour cells. As a crucial component of adaptive immunity, T cells and NK cells, as the central innate immune cells, are two types of pivotal candidates for CAR engineering in treating solid malignancies. However, the biological distinctions between NK cells- and T cells lead to differences in cancer immunotherapy outcomes. Likewise, optimal breast cancer removal via CAR-redirected immune cells requires detecting safe target antigens, improving CAR structure for ideal immune cell functions, promoting CAR-redirected immune cells filtration to the tumour microenvironment (TME), and increasing the ability of these engineered cells to persist and retain within the immunosuppressive TME. This review provides a concise overview of breast cancer pathogenesis and its hostile TME. We focus on the CAR-T and CAR-NK cells and discuss their significant differences. Finally, we deliver a summary based on recent advancements in the therapeutic capability of CAR-T and CAR-NK cells in treating breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Nikoo
- Department of Immunology, School of MedicineKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Mohammad Rudiansyah
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of MedicineUniversitas Lambung Mangkurat / Ulin HospitalBanjarmasinIndonesia
| | - Dmitry Olegovich Bokov
- Institute of PharmacySechenov First Moscow State Medical UniversityMoscowRussian Federation
- Laboratory of Food ChemistryFederal Research Center of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food SafetyMoscowRussian Federation
| | | | - Wanich Suksatan
- Faculty of Nursing, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical ScienceChulabhorn Royal AcademyBangkokThailand
| | - Mohammad Javed Ansari
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of PharmacyPrince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityAl‐kharjSaudi Arabia
| | - Lakshmi Thangavelu
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical ScienceSaveetha UniversityChennaiIndia
| | - Supat Chupradit
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical SciencesChiang Mai UniversityChiang MaiThailand
| | - Amir Zamani
- Shiraz Transplant Center, Abu Ali Sina HospitalShiraz University of Medical SciencesShirazIran
| | - Ali Adili
- Department of OncologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
- Senior Adult Oncology Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA
| | - Navid Shomali
- Department of ImmunologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | - Morteza Akbari
- Department of ImmunologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
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Focaccetti C, Benvenuto M, Pighi C, Vitelli A, Napolitano F, Cotugno N, Fruci D, Palma P, Rossi P, Bei R, Cifaldi L. DNAM-1-chimeric receptor-engineered NK cells, combined with Nutlin-3a, more effectively fight neuroblastoma cells in vitro: a proof-of-concept study. Front Immunol 2022; 13:886319. [PMID: 35967339 PMCID: PMC9367496 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.886319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of engineered NK cells, one of clinical approaches to fight cancer, is gaining great interest in the last decade. However, the development of new strategies is needed to improve clinical efficacy and safety of NK cell-based immunotherapy. NK cell-mediated recognition and lysis of tumor cells are strictly dependent on the expression of ligands for NK cell-activating receptors NKG2D and DNAM-1 on tumor cells. Of note, the PVR/CD155 and Nectin-2/CD112 ligands for DNAM-1 are expressed primarily on solid tumor cells and poorly expressed in normal tissue cells. Here, we generated human NK cells expressing either the full length DNAM-1 receptor or three different DNAM-1-based chimeric receptor that provide the expression of DNAM-1 fused to a costimulatory molecule such as 2B4 and CD3ζ chain. Upon transfection into primary human NK cells isolated from healthy donors, we evaluated the surface expression of DNAM-1 and, as a functional readout, we assessed the extent of degranulation, cytotoxicity and the production of IFNγ and TNFα in response to human leukemic K562 cell line. In addition, we explored the effect of Nutlin-3a, a MDM2-targeting drug able of restoring p53 functions and known to have an immunomodulatory effect, on the degranulation of DNAM-1-engineered NK cells in response to human neuroblastoma (NB) LA-N-5 and SMS-KCNR cell lines. By comparing NK cells transfected with four different plasmid vectors and through blocking experiments, DNAM-1-CD3ζ-engineered NK cells showed the strongest response. Furthermore, both LA-N-5 and SMS-KCNR cells pretreated with Nutlin-3a were significantly more susceptible to DNAM-1-engineered NK cells than NK cells transfected with the empty vector. Our results provide a proof-of-concept suggesting that the combined use of DNAM-1-chimeric receptor-engineered NK cells and Nutlin-3a may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of solid tumors, such as NB, carrying dysfunctional p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Benvenuto
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Pighi
- Research Unit of Clinical Immunology and Vaccinology, Dipartimento Pediatrico Universitario Ospedaliero (DPUO), Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Nicola Cotugno
- Research Unit of Clinical Immunology and Vaccinology, Dipartimento Pediatrico Universitario Ospedaliero (DPUO), Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Doriana Fruci
- Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology and of Cell and Gene Therapy, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Palma
- Research Unit of Clinical Immunology and Vaccinology, Dipartimento Pediatrico Universitario Ospedaliero (DPUO), Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Rossi
- Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Academic Department of Pediatrics (DPUO), Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Loredana Cifaldi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Academic Department of Pediatrics (DPUO), Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Loredana Cifaldi,
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Rossi F, Fredericks N, Snowden A, Allegrezza MJ, Moreno-Nieves UY. Next Generation Natural Killer Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:886429. [PMID: 35720306 PMCID: PMC9202478 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.886429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, immunotherapy for cancer has become mainstream with several products now authorized for therapeutic use in the clinic and are becoming the standard of care for some malignancies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies have demonstrated substantial efficacy for the treatment of hematological malignancies; however, they are complex and currently expensive to manufacture, and they can generate life-threatening adverse events such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS). The limitations of current CAR-T cells therapies have spurred an interest in alternative immunotherapy approaches with safer risk profiles and with less restrictive manufacturing constraints. Natural killer (NK) cells are a population of immune effector cells with potent anti-viral and anti-tumor activity; they have the capacity to swiftly recognize and kill cancer cells without the need of prior stimulation. Although NK cells are naturally equipped with cytotoxic potential, a growing body of evidence shows the added benefit of engineering them to better target tumor cells, persist longer in the host, and be fitter to resist the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME). NK-cell-based immunotherapies allow for the development of allogeneic off-the-shelf products, which have the potential to be less expensive and readily available for patients in need. In this review, we will focus on the advances in the development of engineering of NK cells for cancer immunotherapy. We will discuss the sourcing of NK cells, the technologies available to engineer NK cells, current clinical trials utilizing engineered NK cells, advances on the engineering of receptors adapted for NK cells, and stealth approaches to avoid recipient immune responses. We will conclude with comments regarding the next generation of NK cell products, i.e., armored NK cells with enhanced functionality, fitness, tumor-infiltration potential, and with the ability to overcome tumor heterogeneity and immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorella Rossi
- Janssen Research and Development, LLC, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Spring House, PA, United States
| | - Nathaniel Fredericks
- Janssen Research and Development, LLC, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Spring House, PA, United States
| | - Andrew Snowden
- Janssen Research and Development, LLC, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Spring House, PA, United States
| | - Michael J Allegrezza
- Janssen Research and Development, LLC, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Spring House, PA, United States
| | - Uriel Y Moreno-Nieves
- Janssen Research and Development, LLC, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Spring House, PA, United States
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40
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Radzevičiūtė E, Malyško-Ptašinskė V, Novickij J, Novickij V, Girkontaitė I. Transfection by Electroporation of Cancer and Primary Cells Using Nanosecond and Microsecond Electric Fields. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:1239. [PMID: 35745814 PMCID: PMC9230780 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061239] [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: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene transfer into primary immune cells as well as into cell lines is essential for scientific and therapeutical applications. One of the methods used for gene transfer is electroporation (EP). EP is a method where a pulsed electric field (PEF) causes a highly transient permeability of the targeted cell membrane. In this work, we present the electrotransfection of CHO-K1, 4T1 cell lines, and primary murine DCs with detectable protein-encoding plasmids in the sub-microsecond range. Microsecond (µs)- and nanosecond (ns)-range pulsed electric field transfection protocols were used. The efficiency of electrotransfection was evaluated using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-encoding plasmids (4.7 kbp; p-EGFP-N1) and plasmids expressing a firefly luciferase and red fluorescent protein (tdTomato) (8.5 kbp; pcDNA3.1(+)/Luc2 = tdT)). It was shown that the used nsPEFs protocol (7 kV/cm × 300 ns × 100, 1 MHz) ensured a better transfection efficiency than µsPEFs (1.2 kV/cm × 100 µs × 8, 1 Hz). Plasmid size and concentration had a strong impact on the cell transfection efficiency too. We also showed that there were no significant differences in transfection efficiency between immature and mature DCs. Finally, the nsPEF protocols were successfully applied for the stable transfection of the CHO-K1 cell line with the linearized pcDNA3.1(+)/Luc2 = tdT plasmid. The results of the study are applicable in gene therapy and DNA vaccination studies for the derivation of optimal electrotransfection conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eivina Radzevičiūtė
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Department of Immunology, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania;
| | - Veronika Malyško-Ptašinskė
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 03227 Vilnius, Lithuania; (V.M.-P.); (J.N.)
| | - Jurij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 03227 Vilnius, Lithuania; (V.M.-P.); (J.N.)
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 03227 Vilnius, Lithuania; (V.M.-P.); (J.N.)
| | - Irutė Girkontaitė
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Department of Immunology, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania;
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41
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Rahnama R, Christodoulou I, Bonifant CL. Gene-Based Natural Killer Cell Therapies for the Treatment of Pediatric Hematologic Malignancies. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2022; 36:745-768. [PMID: 35773048 PMCID: PMC10158845 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric blood cancers are among the most common malignancies that afflict children. Intensive chemotherapy is not curative in many cases, and novel therapies are urgently needed. NK cells hold promise for use as immunotherapeutic effectors due to their favorable safety profile, intrinsic cytotoxic properties, and potential for genetic modification that can enhance specificity and killing potential. NK cells can be engineered to express CARs targeting tumor-specific antigens, to downregulate inhibitory and regulatory signals, to secrete cytokine, and to optimize interaction with small molecule engagers. Understanding NK cell biology is key to designing immunotherapy for clinical translation.
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42
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Demel I, Koristek Z, Motais B, Hajek R, Jelinek T. Natural killer cells: Innate immune system as a part of adaptive immunotherapy in hematological malignancies. Am J Hematol 2022; 97:802-817. [PMID: 35285978 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26529] [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: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are part of a phylogenetically old defense system, which is characterized by its strong cytolytic function against physiologically stressed cells such as tumor cells and virus-infected cells. Their use in the treatment of hematological malignancies may be more advantageous in several ways when compared with the already established T lymphocyte-based immunotherapy. Given the different mechanisms of action, allogeneic NK cell products can be produced in a non-personal based manner without the risk of the formidable graft-versus-host disease. Advanced manufacturing processes are capable of producing NK cells relatively easily in large and clinically sufficient numbers, useable without subsequent manipulations or after genetic modifications, which can solve the lack of specificity and improve clinical efficacy of NK cell products. This review summarizes the basic characteristics of NK cells and provides a quick overview of their sources. Results of clinical trials in hematological malignancies are presented, and strategies on how to improve the clinical outcome of NK cell therapy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Demel
- Department of Hematooncology University Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Koristek
- Department of Hematooncology University Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic
- Faculty of Medicine University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic
| | - Benjamin Motais
- Faculty of Medicine University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic
| | - Roman Hajek
- Department of Hematooncology University Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic
- Faculty of Medicine University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Jelinek
- Department of Hematooncology University Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic
- Faculty of Medicine University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic
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43
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Zhuang X, Long EO. NK Cells Equipped With a Chimeric Antigen Receptor That Overcomes Inhibition by HLA Class I for Adoptive Transfer of CAR-NK Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:840844. [PMID: 35585985 PMCID: PMC9108249 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.840844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Dominant inhibitory receptors for HLA class I (HLA-I) endow NK cells with high intrinsic responsiveness, a process termed licensing or education, but hinder their ability to kill HLA-I+ tumor cells. Cancer immunotherapy with adoptive transfer of NK cells must overcome inhibitory signals by such receptors to promote elimination of HLA-I+ tumor cells. As proof of concept, we show here that a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) can be engineered to overcome inhibition by receptors for HLA-I and to promote lysis of HLA-I+ tumor cells by CAR-NK cells. The design of this NK-tailored CAR (NK-CAR) relied on the potent NK cell activation induced by the synergistic combination of NK receptors CD28H (CD28 homolog, TMIGD2) and 2B4 (CD244, SLAMF4). An NK-CAR consisting of the single-chain fragment variable (scFv) of a CD19 antibody, the CD28H transmembrane domain, and the fusion of CD28H, 2B4, and TCRζ signaling domains was compared to a third-generation T-cell CAR with a CD28-41BB-TCRζ signaling domain. The NK-CAR delivered stronger activation signals to NK cells and induced more robust tumor cell lysis. Furthermore, such CAR-NK cells could overcome inhibition by HLA-E or HLA-C expressed on tumor cells. Therefore, engineering of CAR-NK cells that could override inhibition by HLA-I in patients undergoing cancer immunotherapy is feasible. This approach offers an attractive alternative to more complex strategies, such as genetic editing of inhibitory receptors in CAR-NK cells or treatment of patients with a combination of CAR-NK cells and checkpoint blockade with antibodies to inhibitory receptors. A significant benefit of inhibition-resistant NK-CARs is that NK cell inhibition would be overcome only during contact with targeted tumor cells and that HLA-I on healthy cells would continue to maintain NK cell responsiveness through licensing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric O. Long
- *Correspondence: Eric O. Long, ; Xiaoxuan Zhuang,
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44
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CXCR4 and anti-BCMA CAR co-modified natural killer cells suppress multiple myeloma progression in a xenograft mouse model. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:475-483. [PMID: 34471234 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00365-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The highly restricted expression of B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on plasma cells makes it an ideal target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immune cell therapy against multiple myeloma (MM), a bone marrow cancer. To improve the infiltration of ex vivo expanded human natural killer (NK) cells into the bone marrow, we electroporated these cells with mRNA encoding the chemokine receptor CXCR4. The CXCR4-modified NK cells displayed increased in vitro migration toward the bone marrow niche-expressing chemokine CXCL12/SDF-1α and augmented infiltration into the bone marrow compartments in mice. We further modified the CXCR4-NK cells by electroporation of mRNA encoding a CAR targeting BCMA. After the intravenous injection of the double-modified NK cells into a xenograft mouse model of MM, we observed significantly reduced tumor burden in the femur region of the living mice and the extended survival of the tumor-bearing mice. Collectively, this study provides the experimental evidence that the co-expression of CXCR4 and anti-BCMA CAR on NK cells is a possible effective way to control MM progression.
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45
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Palacios D, Momayyezi P, Huhn O, Ask EH, Dunst J, Malmberg KJ, Hammer Q. An optimized platform for efficient siRNA delivery into human NK cells. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:1190-1193. [PMID: 35416292 PMCID: PMC9541389 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Palacios
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pouria Momayyezi
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oisín Huhn
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eivind Heggernes Ask
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Josefine Dunst
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karl-Johan Malmberg
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Quirin Hammer
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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46
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Tarannum M, Romee R, Shapiro RM. Innovative Strategies to Improve the Clinical Application of NK Cell-Based Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:859177. [PMID: 35401529 PMCID: PMC8990319 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.859177] [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: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer cells constitute a part of the innate immune system that mediates an effective immune response towards virus-infected and malignant cells. In recent years, research has focused on exploring and advancing NK cells as an active immunotherapy platform. Despite major advances, there are several key challenges that need to be addressed for the effective translation of NK cell research to clinical applications. This review highlights some of these challenges and the innovative strategies being developed to overcome them, including in vitro expansion, in vivo persistence, infiltration to the tumor site, and prevention of exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubin Tarannum
- Division of Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rizwan Romee
- Division of Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Roman M Shapiro
- Division of Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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47
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Chikileva I, Shubina I, Burtseva AM, Kirgizov K, Stepanyan N, Varfolomeeva S, Kiselevskiy M. Antiviral Cell Products against COVID-19: Learning Lessons from Previous Research in Anti-Infective Cell-Based Agents. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040868. [PMID: 35453618 PMCID: PMC9027720 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040868] [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: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is a real challenge for the protective immunity. Some people do not respond to vaccination by acquiring an appropriate immunological memory. The risk groups for this particular infection such as the elderly and people with compromised immunity (cancer patients, pregnant women, etc.) have the most serious problems in developing an adequate immune response. Therefore, dendritic cell (DC) vaccines that are loaded ex vivo with SARS-CoV-2 antigens in the optimal conditions are promising for immunization. Lymphocyte effector cells with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR lymphocytes) are currently used mainly as anti-tumor treatment. Before 2020, few studies on the antiviral CAR lymphocytes were reported, but since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 the number of such studies has increased. The basis for CARs against SARS-CoV-2 were several virus-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. We propose a similar, but basically novel and more universal approach. The extracellular domain of the immunoglobulin G receptors will be used as the CAR receptor domain. The specificity of the CAR will be determined by the antibodies, which it has bound. Therefore, such CAR lymphocytes are highly universal and have functional activity against any infectious agents that have protective antibodies binding to a foreign surface antigen on the infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Chikileva
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Irina Shubina
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.); (M.K.)
| | - Anzhelika-Mariia Burtseva
- College of New Materials and Nanotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, 119049 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Kirill Kirgizov
- Research Institute of Children Oncology and Hematology, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (K.K.); (N.S.); (S.V.)
| | - Nara Stepanyan
- Research Institute of Children Oncology and Hematology, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (K.K.); (N.S.); (S.V.)
| | - Svetlana Varfolomeeva
- Research Institute of Children Oncology and Hematology, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (K.K.); (N.S.); (S.V.)
| | - Mikhail Kiselevskiy
- Research Institute of Experimental Therapy and Diagnostics of Tumor, NN Blokhin National Medical Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.); (M.K.)
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48
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The tricks for fighting against cancer using CAR NK cells: A review. Mol Cell Probes 2022; 63:101817. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2022.101817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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49
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Zhang XD, Fu XR, Sun ZC, Zhang L, Li X, Li L, Wu JJ, Wang XH, Nan FF, Chang Y, Yu H, Li ZM, Zhang MZ. [Clinical observation of CD19-TANK cells in the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2022; 43:153-156. [PMID: 35381678 PMCID: PMC8980653 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2022.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- X D Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - X R Fu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Z C Sun
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - L Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - X Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - L Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - J J Wu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - X H Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - F F Nan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Y Chang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - H Yu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Z M Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - M Z Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
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50
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Novel insights in CAR-NK cells beyond CAR-T cell technology; promising advantages. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 106:108587. [PMID: 35149294 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T cell) technology, which has recently showed successful results in the treatment of hematological tumors, has been the focus of attention as one of the most potent approaches in tumor immunotherapy. However, side effects and limitations of this application, such as the risk of graft versus host disease (GvHD), make it challenging to be as accessible as other treatments. Natural killer cells (NK) could be transplanted without alloreactivity, making them as an off-the-shelf product. CAR-NK (chimeric antigen receptor NK cell) therapy can circumvent some serious limitations of CAR-T cell therapy. Application of CAR-NK cells have some considerable advantages over CAR-T cells. These include lack of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neurotoxicity, and GvHD when using allogenic CAR-T cell. These features lessen the risk of tumor antigen loss and disease relapse. Moreover, NK cells which were derived from different sources, can make the CAR therapy more feasible. In this narrative review, we outlined the key features of CAR-NK cells as an alternative to CAR-T cell therapy in cancer immunotherapy and highlighted the main advantages.
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