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Faeq MH, Al-Haideri M, Mohammad TAM, Gharebakhshi F, Marofi F, Tahmasebi S, Modaresahmadi S. CAR-modified immune cells as a rapidly evolving approach in the context of cancer immunotherapies. Med Oncol 2023; 40:155. [PMID: 37083979 PMCID: PMC10119530 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02019-4] [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: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, one of the main challenges clinicians face is malignancies. Through the progression of technology in recent years, tumor nature and tumor microenvironment (TME) can be better understood. Because of immune system involvement in tumorigenesis and immune cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment, clinicians encounter significant challenges in patient treatment and normal function recovery. The tumor microenvironment can stop the development of tumor antigen-specific helper and cytotoxic T cells in the tumor invasion process. Tumors stimulate the production of proinflammatory and immunosuppressive factors and cells that inhibit immune responses. Despite the more successful outcomes, the current cancer therapeutic approaches, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, have not been effective enough for tumor eradication. Hence, developing new treatment strategies such as monoclonal antibodies, adaptive cell therapies, cancer vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, and cytokines helps improve cancer treatment. Among adoptive cell therapies, the interaction between the immune system and malignancies and using molecular biology led to the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. CAR-modified immune cells are one of the modern cancer therapeutic methods with encouraging outcomes in most hematological and solid cancers. The current study aimed to discuss the structure, formation, subtypes, and application of CAR immune cells in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Hikmat Faeq
- Student of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Maysoon Al-Haideri
- Department of Physiotherapy, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Talar Ahmad Merza Mohammad
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Kurdistan Region, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Farshad Gharebakhshi
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faroogh Marofi
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Safa Tahmasebi
- Student Research Committee, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Shadan Modaresahmadi
- Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Texas Tech University Health Siences Center, Abilene, TX, USA
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Crist M, Yaniv B, Palackdharry S, Lehn MA, Medvedovic M, Stone T, Gulati S, Karivedu V, Borchers M, Fuhrman B, Crago A, Curry J, Martinez-Outschoorn U, Takiar V, Wise-Draper TM. Metformin increases natural killer cell functions in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through CXCL1 inhibition. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-005632. [PMID: 36328378 PMCID: PMC9639146 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005632] [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] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metformin slows tumor growth and progression in vitro, and in combination with chemoradiotherapy, resulted in high overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in our phase 1 clinical trial (NCT02325401). Metformin is also postulated to activate an antitumor immune response. Here, we investigate immunologic effects of metformin on natural killer (NK) and natural killer T cells, including results from two phase I open-label studies in patients with HNSCC treated with metformin (NCT02325401, NCT02083692). METHODS Peripheral blood was collected before and after metformin treatment or from newly diagnosed patients with HNSCC. Peripheral immune cell phenotypes were evaluated using flow cytometry, cytokine expression by ELISA and/or IsoLight, and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity was determined with a flow-based NK cell cytotoxicity assay (NKCA). Patient tumor immune infiltration before and after metformin treatment was analyzed with immunofluorescence. NK cells were treated with either vehicle or metformin and analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). NK cells were then treated with inhibitors of significant pathways determined by RNA-seq and analyzed by NKCA, ELISA, and western blot analyses. RESULTS Increased peripheral NK cell activated populations were observed in patients treated with metformin. NK cell tumor infiltration was enhanced in patients with HNSCC treated with metformin preoperatively. Metformin increased antitumorigenic cytokines ex vivo, including significant increases in perforin. Metformin increased HNSCC NK cell cytotoxicity and inhibited the CXCL1 pathway while stimulating the STAT1 pathway within HNSCC NK cells. Exogenous CXCL1 prevented metformin-enhanced NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Metformin-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity was found to be AMP-activated protein kinase independent, but dependent on both mechanistic target of rapamycin and pSTAT1. CONCLUSIONS Our data identifies a new role for metformin-mediated immune antitumorigenic function through NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and downregulation of CXCL1 in HNSCC. These findings will inform future immunomodulating therapies in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKenzie Crist
- Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Benyamin Yaniv
- Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah Palackdharry
- University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Maria A Lehn
- Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA,Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Mario Medvedovic
- Department of Environmental Health; Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Timothy Stone
- Department of Environmental Health; Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Shuchi Gulati
- Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Vidhya Karivedu
- Department of Medical Oncology Head and Neck Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael Borchers
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA,Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Bethany Fuhrman
- University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Audrey Crago
- University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Joseph Curry
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Vinita Takiar
- Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA,Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Trisha M Wise-Draper
- Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Roma S, Carpen L, Raveane A, Bertolini F. The Dual Role of Innate Lymphoid and Natural Killer Cells in Cancer. from Phenotype to Single-Cell Transcriptomics, Functions and Clinical Uses. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205042. [PMID: 34680190 PMCID: PMC8533946 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), a family of innate immune cells including natural killers (NKs), play a multitude of roles in first-line cancer control, in escape from immunity and in cancer progression. In this review, we summarize preclinical and clinical data on ILCs and NK cells concerning their phenotype, function and clinical applications in cellular therapy trials. We also describe how single-cell transcriptome sequencing has been used and forecast how it will be used to better understand ILC and NK involvement in cancer control and progression as well as their therapeutic potential. Abstract The role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), including natural killer (NK) cells, is pivotal in inflammatory modulation and cancer. Natural killer cell activity and count have been demonstrated to be regulated by the expression of activating and inhibitory receptors together with and as a consequence of different stimuli. The great majority of NK cell populations have an anti-tumor activity due to their cytotoxicity, and for this reason have been used for cellular therapies in cancer patients. On the other hand, the recently classified helper ILCs are fundamentally involved in inflammation and they can be either helpful or harmful in cancer development and progression. Tissue niche seems to play an important role in modulating ILC function and conversion, as observed at the transcriptional level. In the past, these cell populations have been classified by the presence of specific cellular receptor markers; more recently, due to the advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), it has been possible to also explore them at the transcriptomic level. In this article we review studies on ILC (and NK cell) classification, function and their involvement in cancer. We also summarize the potential application of NK cells in cancer therapy and give an overview of the most recent studies involving ILCs and NKs at scRNA-seq, focusing on cancer. Finally, we provide a resource for those who wish to start single-cell transcriptomic analysis on the context of these innate lymphoid cell populations.
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Abstract
ABSTRACT Success from checkpoint blockade and adoptive cell therapy has brought a new hope in cancer immunotherapy. Adoptive cell therapy involves the isolation of immune cells, ex vivo activation and/or expansion, and reinfusion into the patients, and their effect can be dramatically increased by the incorporation of chimeric antigen receptors specific to molecules expressed on tumor cells. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells have shown exciting results in the treatment of liquid malignancies; nevertheless, they suffer from limitations including severe adverse effects such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity seen in patients as well as a potential for causing graft-versus-host disease in an allogeneic setting. It is thus imperial to explore innate immune cells including natural killer cells, macrophages, natural killer T cells, and γδ T cells. Here, we provide a broad overview of the major innate immune cells and their potential for adoptive cell therapy and chimeric antigen receptor engineering.
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Yilmaz A, Cui H, Caligiuri MA, Yu J. Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy. J Hematol Oncol 2020; 13:168. [PMID: 33287875 PMCID: PMC7720606 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-020-00998-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of the innate immune system. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) re-direct NK cells toward tumor cells carrying corresponding antigens, creating major opportunities in the fight against cancer. CAR NK cells have the potential for use as universal CAR cells without the need for human leukocyte antigen matching or prior exposure to tumor-associated antigens. Exciting data from recent clinical trials have renewed interest in the field of cancer immunotherapy due to the potential of CAR NK cells in the production of "off-the-shelf" anti-cancer immunotherapeutic products. Here, we provide an up-to-date comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in key areas of CAR NK cell research and identify under-investigated research areas. We summarize improvements in CAR design and structure, advantages and disadvantages of using CAR NK cells as an alternative to CAR T cell therapy, and list sources to obtain NK cells. In addition, we provide a list of tumor-associated antigens targeted by CAR NK cells and detail challenges in expanding and transducing NK cells for CAR production. We additionally discuss barriers to effective treatment and suggest solutions to improve CAR NK cell function, proliferation, persistence, therapeutic effectiveness, and safety in solid and liquid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Yilmaz
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Hanwei Cui
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Michael A Caligiuri
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, KCRB, Bldg. 158, 3rd Floor, Room 3017, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Jianhua Yu
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, KCRB, Bldg. 158, 3rd Floor, Room 3017, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
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Wang Z, Guan W, Wang M, Chen J, Zhang L, Xiao Y, Wang L, Li Y, Yu L. AML1-ETO inhibits acute myeloid leukemia immune escape by CD48. Leuk Lymphoma 2020; 62:937-943. [PMID: 33225787 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2020.1849680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiding Wang
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Guan
- Department of Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mengzhen Wang
- Department of Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jinghong Chen
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Linlin Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Xiao
- Department of Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lixin Wang
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yonghui Li
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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7
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Acute myeloid leukemia immune escape by epigenetic CD48 silencing. Clin Sci (Lond) 2020; 134:261-271. [PMID: 31922199 DOI: 10.1042/cs20191170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant disorder of hemopoietic stem cells. AML can escape immunosurveillance of natural killer (NK) by gene mutation, fusions and epigenetic modification. The mechanism of AML immune evasion is not clearly understood. Here we show that CD48 high expression is a favorable prognosis factor that is down-regulated in AML patients, which can help AML evade from NK cell recognition and killing. Furthermore, we demonstrate that CD48 expression is regulated by methylation and that a hypomethylating agent can increase the CD48 expression, which increases the NK cells killing in vitro. Finally, we show that CD48 high expression can reverse the AML immune evasion and activate NK cells function in vivo. The present study suggests that a combination the hypomethylating agent and NK cell infusion could be a new strategy to cure AML.
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8
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Kumar V. Natural killer cells in sepsis: Underprivileged innate immune cells. Eur J Cell Biol 2019; 98:81-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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Zakiryanova GK, Kustova E, Urazalieva NT, Baimuchametov ET, Nakisbekov NN, Shurin MR. Abnormal Expression of c-Myc Oncogene in NK Cells in Patients with Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E756. [PMID: 30754645 PMCID: PMC6387292 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have received a lot of attention in recent years for the roles they play in immunity and particularly in antitumor immune responses. Although defects in NK cell functions are recognized as important mechanisms for immune evasion of malignant cells, molecular pathways regulating NK cell dysfunction and exhaustion in cancer are largely unknown. Here we tested whether the c-myc proto-oncogene, known to promote cell proliferation, growth, differentiation, and apoptosis by regulating the expression of numerous target genes, may be involved in the mechanism of NK cell abnormalities in patients with lung and gastric cancer. Analysis of c-myc mRNA and protein expression in peripheral blood NK cells, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, cell cycle, and cell longevity revealed a significantly decreased expression of c-myc mRNA and protein and mitotic arrest of NK cells in different phases of cell cycle. In addition, a significant decrease of NK cell death was also detected. These data allow the suggestion that defects of NK cell-mediated tumor surveillance may be associated with disturbed c-myc expression in NK cells in cancer patients. A better understanding of the mechanisms of NK cell dysfunction in cancer will help in the NK cell-mediated therapeutic eradication of primary and metastatic cancer cells and prolong patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena Kustova
- Laboratory of Immunology, Scientific Center of Pediatric and Children Surgery, Almaty 050060, Kazakhstan.
| | - Nataliya T Urazalieva
- Laboratory of Immunology, Scientific Center of Pediatric and Children Surgery, Almaty 050060, Kazakhstan.
| | | | - Narymzhan N Nakisbekov
- Joint Use Center, Atchabarov Scientific Research Institute of Fundamental and Applied Medicine, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan.
| | - Michael R Shurin
- Departments of Pathology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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10
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Zakiryanova GK, Wheeler S, Shurin MR. Oncogenes in immune cells as potential therapeutic targets. Immunotargets Ther 2018; 7:21-28. [PMID: 29692982 PMCID: PMC5903485 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s150586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of deregulated expression of oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes in tumor development has been intensively investigated for decades. However, expression of oncogenes and their potential role in immune cell defects during carcinogenesis and tumor progression have not been thoroughly assessed. The defects in proto-oncogenes have been well documented and evaluated mostly in tumor cells, despite the fact that proto-oncogenes are expressed in all cells, including cells of the immune system. In this review, key studies from immune-mediated diseases that may be associated with oncogene signaling pathways are refocused to provide groundwork for beginning to understand the effects of oncogenes in and on the cancer-related immune system dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulnur K Zakiryanova
- Department Biophysics and Biomedicine, Faculty Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Sarah Wheeler
- Division of Clinical Immunopathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michael R Shurin
- Division of Clinical Immunopathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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