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Rupert PB, Buerger M, Girard EJ, Frutoso M, Parrilla D, Ng K, Gooley T, Groh V, Strong RK. Preclinical characterization of Pan-NKG2D ligand-binding NKG2D receptor decoys. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28583. [PMID: 38586421 PMCID: PMC10998067 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28583] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
NKG2D and its ligands are critical regulators of protective immune responses controlling infections and cancer, defining a crucial immune signaling axis. Current therapeutic efforts targeting this axis almost exclusively aim at enhancing NKG2D-mediated effector functions. However, this axis can drive disease processes when dysregulated, in particular, driving stem-like cancer cell reprogramming and tumorigenesis through receptor/ligand self-stimulation on tumor cells. Despite complexities with its structure and biology, we developed multiple novel engineered proteins that functionally serve as axis-blocking NKG2D "decoys" and report biochemical, structural, in vitro, and in vivo evaluation of their functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter B Rupert
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Matthew Buerger
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Emily J Girard
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Marie Frutoso
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Don Parrilla
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kevin Ng
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Theodore Gooley
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Veronika Groh
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Roland K Strong
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
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2
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Seller A, Tegeler CM, Mauermann J, Schreiber T, Hagelstein I, Liebel K, Koch A, Heitmann JS, Greiner SM, Hayn C, Dannehl D, Engler T, Hartkopf AD, Hahn M, Brucker SY, Salih HR, Märklin M. Soluble NKG2DLs Are Elevated in Breast Cancer Patients and Associate with Disease Outcome. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4126. [PMID: 38612935 PMCID: PMC11012452 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074126] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ligands of the natural killer group 2D (NKG2DL) family are expressed on malignant cells and are usually absent from healthy tissues. Recognition of NKG2DLs such as MICA/B and ULBP1-3 by the activating immunoreceptor NKG2D, expressed by NK and cytotoxic T cells, stimulates anti-tumor immunity in breast cancer. Upregulation of membrane-bound NKG2DLs in breast cancer has been demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. Tumor cells release NKG2DLs via proteolytic cleavage as soluble (s)NKG2DLs, which allows for effective immune escape and is associated with poor prognosis. In this study, we collected serum from 140 breast cancer (BC) and 20 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients at the time of initial diagnosis and 20 healthy volunteers (HVs). Serum levels of sNKG2DLs were quantified through the use of ELISA and correlated with clinical data. The analyzed sNKG2DLs were low to absent in HVs and significantly higher in BC patients. For some of the ligands analyzed, higher sNKG2DLs serum levels were associated with the classification of malignant tumor (TNM) stage and grading. Low sMICA serum levels were associated with significantly longer progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In conclusion, we provide the first insights into sNKG2DLs in BC patients and suggest their potential role in tumor immune escape in breast cancer. Furthermore, our observations suggest that serum sMICA levels may serve as a prognostic parameter in the patients analyzed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Seller
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.S.)
- Department of Women’s Health, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstraße 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Röntgenweg 11, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian M. Tegeler
- Department of Women’s Health, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstraße 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Peptide-Based Immunotherapy, Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jonas Mauermann
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Röntgenweg 11, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tatjana Schreiber
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Röntgenweg 11, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ilona Hagelstein
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Röntgenweg 11, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kai Liebel
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Röntgenweg 11, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - André Koch
- Department of Women’s Health, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstraße 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jonas S. Heitmann
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Röntgenweg 11, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Peptide-Based Immunotherapy, Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sarah M. Greiner
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.S.)
- Department of Women’s Health, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstraße 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Clara Hayn
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Röntgenweg 11, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dominik Dannehl
- Department of Women’s Health, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstraße 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Engler
- Department of Women’s Health, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstraße 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas D. Hartkopf
- Department of Women’s Health, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstraße 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Markus Hahn
- Department of Women’s Health, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstraße 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sara Y. Brucker
- Department of Women’s Health, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstraße 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Helmut R. Salih
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Röntgenweg 11, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Melanie Märklin
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Röntgenweg 11, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Zhao Y, Nicholson L, Wang H, Qian YW, Hawthorne WJ, Jimenez-Vera E, Gloss BS, Lai J, Thomas A, Chew YV, Burns H, Zhang GY, Wang YM, Rogers NM, Zheng G, Yi S, Alexander SI, O’Connell PJ, Hu M. Intragraft memory-like CD127hiCD4+Foxp3+ Tregs maintain transplant tolerance. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e169119. [PMID: 38516885 PMCID: PMC11063946 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.169119] [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: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an essential role in suppressing transplant rejection, but their role within the graft and heterogeneity in tolerance are poorly understood. Here, we compared phenotypic and transcriptomic characteristics of Treg populations within lymphoid organs and grafts in an islet xenotransplant model of tolerance. We showed Tregs were essential for tolerance induction and maintenance. Tregs demonstrated heterogeneity within the graft and lymphoid organs of tolerant mice. A subpopulation of CD127hi Tregs with memory features were found in lymphoid organs, presented in high proportions within long-surviving islet grafts, and had a transcriptomic and phenotypic profile similar to tissue Tregs. Importantly, these memory-like CD127hi Tregs were better able to prevent rejection by effector T cells, after adoptive transfer into secondary Rag-/- hosts, than naive Tregs or unselected Tregs from tolerant mice. Administration of IL-7 to the CD127hi Treg subset was associated with a strong activation of phosphorylation of STAT5. We proposed that memory-like CD127hi Tregs developed within the draining lymph node and underwent further genetic reprogramming within the graft toward a phenotype that had shared characteristics with other tissue or tumor Tregs. These findings suggested that engineering Tregs with these characteristics either in vivo or for adoptive transfer could enhance transplant tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hannah Wang
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research and
| | - Yi Wen Qian
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research and
| | | | | | - Brian S. Gloss
- Scientific Platforms, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joey Lai
- Scientific Platforms, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Yi Vee Chew
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research and
| | | | - Geoff Y. Zhang
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yuan Min Wang
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Natasha M. Rogers
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research and
- Renal and Transplant Medicine Unit, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Shounan Yi
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research and
| | - Stephen I. Alexander
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Min Hu
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research and
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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Yang C, Qian C, Zheng W, Dong G, Zhang S, Wang F, Wei Z, Xu Y, Wang A, Zhao Y, Lu Y. Ginsenoside Rh2 enhances immune surveillance of natural killer (NK) cells via inhibition of ERp5 in breast cancer. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 123:155180. [PMID: 38043385 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One critical component of the immune system that prevents breast cancer cells from forming distant metastasis is natural killer (NK) cells participating in immune responses to tumors. Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) as one of the major active ingredients of ginseng has been employed in treatment of cancers, but the function of GRh2 in modulating the development of breast cancer remains elusive. PURPOSE This study was to dissect the effect of GRh2 against breast cancer and its potential mechanisms associated with NK cells, both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells were used to establish in situ and hematogenous mouse models. MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 were respectively co-cultured with NK92MI cells or primary NK cells in vitro. Anti-tumor efficacy of GRh2 was verified by immunohistochemistry (IHC), Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), high resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning of lungs and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assay, flow cytometry, in vivo depletion of NK cells, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence and cell transfection were performed for investigating the anti-tumor mechanisms of GRh2. Molecular docking, microscale thermophoresis (MST) and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) were employed to determine the binding between endoplasmic reticulum protein 5 (ERp5) and GRh2. RESULTS We demonstrated that GRh2 exerted prominent impacts on retarding the growth and metastasis of breast cancer through boosting the cytotoxic function of NK cells, as validated by the elevated release of perforin, granzyme B and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Mechanistical studies revealed that GRh2 was capable of diminishing the expression of ERp5 and GRh2 directly bound to ERp5 in MDA-MB-231 cells as well as on a recombinant protein level. GRh2 prevented the formation of soluble MICA (sMICA) and upregulated the expression level of MICA in vivo and in vitro. Importantly, the reduced lung metastasis of breast cancer by GRh2 was almost abolished upon the depletion of NK cells. Moreover, GRh2 was able to insert into the binding pocket of ERp5 directly. CONCLUSION We firstly demonstrated that GRh2 played a pivotal role in augmenting NK cell activity by virtue of modulating the NKG2D-MICA signaling axis via directly binding to ERp5, and may be further optimized to a therapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Cheng Qian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Weiwei Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Guanglu Dong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shan Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Feihui Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhonghong Wei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuhua Xu
- Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing 211800, China
| | - Aiyun Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yin Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
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5
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Kim HJ, Jeon S, Lee HJ, Bae J, Ri HS, Hong JM, Paek SI, Kwon SK, Kim JR, Park S, Yun EJ. Effects of sevoflurane on metalloproteinase and natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) ligand expression and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity in breast cancer: an in vitro study. Korean J Anesthesiol 2023; 76:627-639. [PMID: 37435613 PMCID: PMC10718625 DOI: 10.4097/kja.23323] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigated the effects of sevoflurane exposure on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), expression and ablation of natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) ligands (UL16-binding proteins 1-3 and major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related molecules A/B), and natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells. METHODS Three human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-453, and HCC-70) were incubated with 0 (control), 600 (S6), or 1200 μM (S12) sevoflurane for 4 h. The gene expression of NKG2D ligands and their protein expression on cancer cell surfaces were measured using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and flow cytometry, respectively. Protein expression of MMP-1 and -2 and the concentration of soluble NKG2D ligands were analyzed using western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. RESULTS Sevoflurane downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of the NKG2D ligand in a dose-dependent manner in MCF-7, MDA-MB-453, and HCC-70 cells but did not affect the expression of MMP-1 or -2 or the concentration of soluble NKG2D ligands in the MCF-7, MDA-MB-453, and HCC-70 cells. Sevoflurane attenuated NK cell-mediated cancer cell lysis in a dose-dependent manner in MCF-7, MDA-MB-453, and HCC-70 cells (P = 0.040, P = 0.040, and P = 0.040, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that sevoflurane exposure attenuates NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. This could be attributed to a sevoflurane-induced decrease in the transcription of NKG2D ligands rather than sevoflurane-induced changes in MMP expression and their proteolytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyae Jin Kim
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
- Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Soeun Jeon
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Dentistry, Institute for Translational Research in Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hyeon Jeong Lee
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
- Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Jaeho Bae
- Department of Biochemistry, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea
- PNU BK21 Plus Biomedical Science Education Center, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea
| | - Hyun-Su Ri
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jeong-Min Hong
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
- Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Sung In Paek
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Seul Ki Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae-Rin Kim
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Seungbin Park
- Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Eun-Jung Yun
- Department of Biochemistry, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea
- PNU BK21 Plus Biomedical Science Education Center, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea
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6
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Cummins K, Gill S. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2023; 37:1125-1147. [PMID: 37442676 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2023.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Up to 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who undergo chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy have evidence of response, although trials are highly heterogeneous. These responses are rarely deep or durable. CD123, CD33, and CLL-1 have emerged as the most common targets for CAR T cells in AML. CAR T cells against myeloid antigens cause myeloablation as well as cytokine release syndrome, although neurotoxicity is rarely seen. Future efforts should focus on AML-specific antigen discovery or engineering, and on further enhancing the activity of CAR T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Cummins
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Saar Gill
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 8-101 Smilow Center for Translational Research, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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7
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Kaidun P, Holzmayer SJ, Greiner SM, Seller A, Tegeler CM, Hagelstein I, Mauermann J, Engler T, Koch A, Hartkopf AD, Salih HR, Märklin M. Targeting NKG2DL with Bispecific NKG2D-CD16 and NKG2D-CD3 Fusion Proteins on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13156. [PMID: 37685962 PMCID: PMC10487695 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713156] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive subtype of breast cancer with a poor response rate to conventional systemic treatment and high relapse rates. Members of the natural killer group 2D ligand (NKG2DL) family are expressed on cancer cells but are typically absent from healthy tissues; thus, they are promising tumor antigens for novel immunotherapeutic approaches. We developed bispecific fusion proteins (BFPs) consisting of the NKG2D receptor domain targeting multiple NKG2DLs, fused to either anti-CD3 (NKG2D-CD3) or anti-CD16 (NKG2D-CD16) Fab fragments. First, we characterized the expression of the NKG2DLs (MICA, MICB, ULBP1-4) on TNBC cell lines and observed the highest surface expression for MICA and ULBP2. Targeting TNBC cells with NKG2D-CD3/CD16 efficiently activated both NK and T cells, leading to their degranulation and cytokine release and lysis of TNBC cells. Furthermore, PBMCs from TNBC patients currently undergoing chemotherapy showed significantly higher NK and T cell activation and tumor cell lysis when stimulated with NKG2D-CD3/CD16. In conclusions, BFPs activate and direct the NK and T cells of healthy and TNBC patients against TNBC cells, leading to efficient eradication of tumor cells. Therefore, NKG2D-based NK and T cell engagers could be a valuable addition to the treatment options for TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina Kaidun
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (P.K.); (S.J.H.); (S.M.G.); (A.S.); (I.H.); (J.M.); (H.R.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) ‘Image–Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Samuel J. Holzmayer
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (P.K.); (S.J.H.); (S.M.G.); (A.S.); (I.H.); (J.M.); (H.R.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) ‘Image–Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sarah M. Greiner
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (P.K.); (S.J.H.); (S.M.G.); (A.S.); (I.H.); (J.M.); (H.R.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) ‘Image–Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (C.M.T.); (T.E.); (A.K.); (A.D.H.)
| | - Anna Seller
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (P.K.); (S.J.H.); (S.M.G.); (A.S.); (I.H.); (J.M.); (H.R.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) ‘Image–Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (C.M.T.); (T.E.); (A.K.); (A.D.H.)
| | - Christian M. Tegeler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (C.M.T.); (T.E.); (A.K.); (A.D.H.)
| | - Ilona Hagelstein
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (P.K.); (S.J.H.); (S.M.G.); (A.S.); (I.H.); (J.M.); (H.R.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) ‘Image–Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jonas Mauermann
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (P.K.); (S.J.H.); (S.M.G.); (A.S.); (I.H.); (J.M.); (H.R.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) ‘Image–Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Engler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (C.M.T.); (T.E.); (A.K.); (A.D.H.)
| | - André Koch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (C.M.T.); (T.E.); (A.K.); (A.D.H.)
| | - Andreas D. Hartkopf
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (C.M.T.); (T.E.); (A.K.); (A.D.H.)
| | - Helmut R. Salih
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (P.K.); (S.J.H.); (S.M.G.); (A.S.); (I.H.); (J.M.); (H.R.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) ‘Image–Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Melanie Märklin
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (P.K.); (S.J.H.); (S.M.G.); (A.S.); (I.H.); (J.M.); (H.R.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) ‘Image–Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
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8
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Wang T, Li P, Qi Q, Zhang S, Xie Y, Wang J, Liu S, Ma S, Li S, Gong T, Xu H, Xiong M, Li G, You C, Luo Z, Li J, Du L, Wang C. A multiplex blood-based assay targeting DNA methylation in PBMCs enables early detection of breast cancer. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4724. [PMID: 37550304 PMCID: PMC10406825 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40389-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system can monitor tumor development, and DNA methylation is involved in the body's immune response to tumors. In this work, we investigate whether DNA methylation alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) could be used as markers for early detection of breast cancer (BC) from the perspective of tumor immune alterations. We identify four BC-specific methylation markers by combining Infinium 850 K BeadChips, pyrosequencing and targeted bisulfite sequencing. Based on the four methylation markers in PBMCs of BC, we develop an efficient and convenient multiplex methylation-specific quantitative PCR assay for the detection of BC and validate its diagnostic performance in a multicenter cohort. This assay was able to distinguish early-stage BC patients from normal controls, with an AUC of 0.940, sensitivity of 93.2%, and specificity of 90.4%. More importantly, this assay outperformed existing clinical diagnostic methods, especially in the detection of early-stage and minimal tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Peilong Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Qiuchen Qi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Shujun Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Yan Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Shibiao Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Suhong Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Shijun Li
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, P. R. China
| | - Tingting Gong
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, P. R. China
| | - Huiting Xu
- Departmemt of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, 226361, Jiangsu, China; Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, P. R. China
| | - Mengqiu Xiong
- Clinical Laboratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, P. R. China
| | - Guanghua Li
- Department of clinical laboratory, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital/Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510000, P. R. China
| | - Chongge You
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Zhaofan Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, P. R. China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China.
| | - Lutao Du
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovation Technology in Laboratory Medicine, Jinan, 250012, P. R. China.
| | - Chuanxin Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Engineering & Technology Research Center for Tumor Marker Detection, Jinan, 250033, China.
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Clinical Laboratory, Jinan, 250033, China.
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9
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Tan G, Spillane KM, Maher J. The Role and Regulation of the NKG2D/NKG2D Ligand System in Cancer. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1079. [PMID: 37626965 PMCID: PMC10452210 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The family of human NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL) consists of eight stress-induced molecules. Over 80% of human cancers express these ligands on the surface of tumour cells and/or associated stromal elements. In mice, NKG2D deficiency increases susceptibility to some types of cancer, implicating this system in immune surveillance for malignancy. However, NKG2DL can also be shed, released via exosomes and trapped intracellularly, leading to immunosuppressive effects. Moreover, NKG2D can enhance chronic inflammatory processes which themselves can increase cancer risk and progression. Indeed, tumours commonly deploy a range of countermeasures that can neutralise or even corrupt this surveillance system, tipping the balance away from immune control towards tumour progression. Consequently, the prognostic impact of NKG2DL expression in human cancer is variable. In this review, we consider the underlying biology and regulation of the NKG2D/NKG2DL system and its expression and role in a range of cancer types. We also consider the opportunities for pharmacological modulation of NKG2DL expression while cautioning that such interventions need to be carefully calibrated according to the biology of the specific cancer type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Tan
- CAR Mechanics Group, Guy’s Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK;
| | | | - John Maher
- CAR Mechanics Group, Guy’s Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK;
- Department of Immunology, Eastbourne Hospital, Kings Drive, Eastbourne BN21 2UD, UK
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
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10
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Curio S, Lin W, Bromley C, McGovern J, Triulzi C, Jonsson G, Ghislat G, Zelenay S, Guerra N. NKG2D Fine-Tunes the Local Inflammatory Response in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1792. [PMID: 36980678 PMCID: PMC10046042 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061792] [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: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Treating colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major challenge due to the heterogeneous immunological, clinical and pathological landscapes. Immunotherapy has so far only proven effective in a very limited subgroup of CRC patients. To better define the immune landscape, we examined the immune gene expression profile in various subsets of CRC patients and used a mouse model of intestinal tumors to dissect immune functions. We found that the NK cell receptor, natural-killer group 2 member D (NKG2D, encoded by KLRK1) and NKG2D ligand gene expression is elevated in the most immunogenic subset of CRC patients. High level of KLRK1 positively correlated with the mRNA expression of IFNG and associated with a poor survival of CRC patients. We further show that NKG2D deficiency in the Apcmin/+ mouse model of intestinal tumorigenesis led to reduced intratumoral IFNγ production, reduced tumorigenesis and enhanced survival, suggesting that the high levels of IFNγ observed in the tumors of CRC patients may be a consequence of NKG2D engagement. The mechanisms governing the contribution of NKG2D to CRC progression highlighted in this study will fuel discussions about (i) the benefit of targeting NKG2D in CRC patients and (ii) the need to define the predictive value of NKG2D and NKG2D ligand expression across tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Curio
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
- The University of Queensland Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Wanzun Lin
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
| | - Christian Bromley
- Cancer Inflammation and Immunity Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
| | - Jenny McGovern
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
| | - Chiara Triulzi
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
| | - Gustav Jonsson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
| | - Ghita Ghislat
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
| | - Santiago Zelenay
- Cancer Inflammation and Immunity Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
| | - Nadia Guerra
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
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11
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Inhibition of Checkpoint Kinase 1 (CHK1) Upregulates Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 (IRF1) to Promote Apoptosis and Activate Anti-Tumor Immunity via MICA in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030850. [PMID: 36765808 PMCID: PMC9913340 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CHK1 is considered a key cell cycle checkpoint kinase in DNA damage response (DDR) pathway to communicate with several signaling pathways involved in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in numerous cancers. However, the mechanism of CHK1 signaling regulating TME in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. METHODS CHK1 expression in HCC tissue was determined by IHC staining assay. DNA damage and apoptosis in HCC cells induced by cisplatin or CHK1 inhibition were detected by WB and flow cytometry. The interaction of CHK1 and IRF1 was analyzed by single-cell RNA-sequence, WB, and immunoprecipitation assay. The mechanism of IRF1 regulating MICA was investigated by ChIP-qPCR. RESULTS CHK1 expression is upregulated in human HCC tumors compared to the background liver. High CHK1 mRNA level predicts advanced tumor stage and worse prognosis. Cisplatin and CHK1 inhibition augment cellular DNA damage and apoptosis. Overexpressed CHK1 suppresses IRF1 expression through proteolysis. Furthermore, single-cell RNA-sequence analyses confirmed that MICA expression positively correlated with IRF1 in HCC cells. Immunoprecipitation assay showed the binding between CHK1 and IRF1. Cisplatin and CHK1 inhibition upregulate MICA expression through IRF1-mediated transcriptional effects. A novel specific cis-acting IRF response element was identified at -1756 bp in the MICA promoter region that bound IRF1 to induce MICA gene transcription. MICA may increase NK cell and CD8+T cell infiltration in HCC. CONCLUSIONS DNA damage regulates the interaction of CHK1 and IRF1 to activate anti-tumor immunity via the IRF1-MICA pathway in HCC.
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12
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Secchiari F, Nuñez SY, Sierra JM, Ziblat A, Regge MV, Raffo Iraolagoitia XL, Rovegno A, Ameri C, Secin FP, Richards N, Ríos Pita H, Vitagliano G, Rico L, Mieggi M, Frascheri F, Bonanno N, Blas L, Trotta A, Friedrich AD, Fuertes MB, Domaica CI, Zwirner NW. The MICA-NKG2D axis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma bolsters MICA as target in immuno-oncology. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2104991. [PMID: 35936986 PMCID: PMC9354769 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2104991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
NKG2D is a major natural killer (NK) cell-activating receptor that recognizes eight ligands (NKG2DLs), including MICA, and whose engagement triggers NK cell effector functions. As NKG2DLs are upregulated on tumor cells but tumors can subvert the NKG2D-NKG2DL axis, NKG2DLs constitute attractive targets for antibody (Ab)-based immuno-oncology therapies. However, such approaches require a deep characterization of NKG2DLs and NKG2D cell surface expression on primary tumor and immune cells. Here, using a bioinformatic analysis, we observed that MICA is overexpressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and we also detected an association between the NKG2D-MICA axis and a diminished overall survival of RCC patients. Also, by flow cytometry (FC), we observed that MICA was the only NKG2DL over-expressed on clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tumor cells, including cancer stem cells (CSC) that also coexpressed NKG2D. Moreover, tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TIL), but not peripheral blood lymphoid cells (PBL) from ccRCC patients, over-expressed MICA, ULBP3 and ULBP4. In addition, NKG2D was downregulated on peripheral blood NK cells (PBNK) from ccRCC patients but upregulated on tumor-infiltrating NK cells (TINK). These TINK exhibited impaired degranulation that negatively correlated with NKG2D expression, diminished IFN-γ production, upregulation of TIM-3, and an impaired glucose intake upon stimulation with cytokines, indicating that they are dysfunctional, display features of exhaustion and an altered metabolic fitness. We conclude that ccRCC patients exhibit a distorted MICA-NKG2D axis, and MICA emerges as the forefront NKG2DL for the development of targeted therapies in ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Secchiari
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Sol Yanel Nuñez
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Jessica Mariel Sierra
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Andrea Ziblat
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - María Victoria Regge
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Ximena Lucía Raffo Iraolagoitia
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Agustín Rovegno
- Servicio de Urología, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas “Norberto Quirno” (CEMIC)
| | - Carlos Ameri
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Pablo Secin
- Servicio de Urología, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas “Norberto Quirno” (CEMIC)
| | - Nicolás Richards
- Servicio de Urología, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas “Norberto Quirno” (CEMIC)
| | | | | | - Luis Rico
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mauro Mieggi
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Nicolás Bonanno
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro Blas
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Aldana Trotta
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Adrián David Friedrich
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Mercedes Beatriz Fuertes
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Carolina Inés Domaica
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Norberto Walter Zwirner
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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13
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Study of the association between a MICA gene polymorphism and cholangiocarcinoma in Egyptian patients. Clin Exp Hepatol 2022; 8:293-299. [PMID: 36683874 PMCID: PMC9850301 DOI: 10.5114/ceh.2022.122293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction An inflammatory environment is the common pathway for the development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The natural killer group 2D receptor (NKG2D), an activating receptor for NK cells, is a potent immune axis in the antitumor and antimicrobial immune response through its binding to NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs). NKG2DLs are normally absent or poorly expressed in most cells; conversely, they are upregulated in stressed cells. We studied the rs2596542 polymorphism located upstream of the MICA gene, which encodes an NKG2DL, in patients with CCA as a marker for early disease detection and a possible therapeutic target. Material and methods A case-control study was conducted on 40 patients with CCA and 45 healthy individuals (as controls). After routine examination, the rs2596542 polymorphism of the MICA gene was investigated using real-time PCR. Results We found that a TT homozygous genotype was significantly predominant in patients with CCA (p = 0.039), with the T allele being dominantly distributed in CCA (p = 0.007). High levels of CA19-9 were significantly associated with the TT genotype in the patients. However, we did not detect significant differences in rs2596542C/T genotype and allele distribution between patients with CCA with cirrhosis and those without cirrhosis (p > 0.05). Conclusions The MICA rs2596542 polymorphism may affect the susceptibility to CCA, but not its progression. The TT genotype could be used as a potential diagnostic marker for CCA and triggering the MICA pathway could be a promising therapeutic target.
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Kosta A, Mekhloufi A, Lucantonio L, Zingoni A, Soriani A, Cippitelli M, Gismondi A, Fazio F, Petrucci MT, Santoni A, Stabile H, Fionda C. GAS6/TAM signaling pathway controls MICA expression in multiple myeloma cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:942640. [PMID: 35967396 PMCID: PMC9368199 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.942640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
NKG2D ligands play a relevant role in Natural Killer (NK) cell -mediated immune surveillance of multiple myeloma (MM). Different levels of regulation control the expression of these molecules at cell surface. A number of oncogenic proteins and miRNAs act as negative regulators of NKG2D ligand transcription and translation, but the molecular mechanisms sustaining their basal expression in MM cells remain poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the role of the growth arrest specific 6 (GAS6)/TAM signaling pathway in the regulation of NKG2D ligand expression and MM recognition by NK cells. Our data showed that GAS6 as well as MERTK and AXL depletion in MM cells results in MICA downregulation and inhibition of NKG2D-mediated NK cell degranulation. Noteworthy, GAS6 derived from bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) also increases MICA expression at both protein and mRNA level in human MM cell lines and in primary malignant plasma cells. NF-kB activation is required for these regulatory mechanisms since deletion of a site responsive for this transcription factor compromises the induction of mica promoter by BMSCs. Accordingly, knockdown of GAS6 reduces the capability of BMSCs to activate NF-kB pathway as well as to enhance MICA expression in MM cells. Taken together, these results shed light on molecular mechanism underlying NKG2D ligand regulation and identify GAS6 protein as a novel autocrine and paracrine regulator of basal expression of MICA in human MM cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Kosta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Abdelilah Mekhloufi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Lorenzo Lucantonio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zingoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Soriani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Cippitelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Gismondi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Fazio
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational Medicine and Precision, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Petrucci
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational Medicine and Precision, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Helena Stabile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Cinzia Fionda, ; Helena Stabile,
| | - Cinzia Fionda
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Cinzia Fionda, ; Helena Stabile,
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15
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Sajid M, Liu L, Sun C. The Dynamic Role of NK Cells in Liver Cancers: Role in HCC and HBV Associated HCC and Its Therapeutic Implications. Front Immunol 2022; 13:887186. [PMID: 35669776 PMCID: PMC9165341 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.887186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains an important complication of chronic liver disease, especially when cirrhosis occurs. Existing treatment strategies include surgery, loco-regional techniques, and chemotherapy. Natural killer cells are distinctive cytotoxic lymphocytes that play a vital role in fighting tumors and infections. As an important constituent of the innate immune system against cancer, phenotypic and functional deviations of NK cells have been demonstrated in HCC patients who also exhibit perturbation of the NK-activating receptor/ligand axis. The rate of recurrence of tumor-infiltrating and circulating NK cells are positively associated with survival benefits in HCC and have prognostic significance, suggesting that NK cell dysfunction is closely related to HCC progression. NK cells are the first-line effector cells of viral hepatitis and play a significant role by directly clearing virus-infected cells or by activating antigen-specific T cells by producing IFN-γ. In addition, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered NK cells suggest an exclusive opportunity to produce CAR-NKs with several specificities with fewer side effects. In the present review, we comprehensively discuss the innate immune landscape of the liver, particularly NK cells, and the impact of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) on the function of NK cells and the biological function of HCC. Furthermore, the role of NK cells in HCC and HBV-induced HCC has also been comprehensively elaborated. We also elaborate on available NK cell-based immunotherapeutic approaches in HCC treatment and summarize current advancements in the treatment of HCC. This review will facilitate researchers to understand the importance of the innate immune landscape of NK cells and lead to devising innovative immunotherapeutic strategies for the systematic treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sajid
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Heifei, China
- Transplant and Immunology Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Lianxin Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Heifei, China
| | - Cheng Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Heifei, China
- Transplant and Immunology Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
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16
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Uddin MB, Roy KR, Hill RA, Roy SC, Gu X, Li L, Zhang QJ, You Z, Liu YY. p53 missense mutant G242A subverts natural killer cells in sheltering mouse breast cancer cells against immune rejection. Exp Cell Res 2022; 417:113210. [PMID: 35597298 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2022.113210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells acquire immunoediting ability to evade immune surveillance and thus escape eradication. It is widely known that mutant proteins encoded from tumor suppressor TP53 exhibit gain-of-function in cancer cells, thereby promoting progression; however, how mutant p53 contributes to the sheltering of cancer cells from host anticancer immunity remains unclear. Herein, we report that murine p53 missense mutation G242A (corresponding to human G245A) suppresses the activation of host natural killer (NK) cells, thereby enabling breast cancer cells to avoid immune assault. We found that serial injection of EMT6 breast cancer cells that carry wild-type (wt) Trp53, like normal fibroblasts, promoted NK activity in mice, while SVTneg2 cells carrying Trp53 G242A+/+ mutation decreased NK cell numbers and increased CD8+ T lymphocyte numbers in spleen. Innate immunity based on NK cells and CD8 T cells was reduced in p53 mutant-carrying transgenic mice (Trp53 R172H/+, corresponding to human R175H/+). Further, upon co-culture with isolated NK cells, EMT6 cells substantively activated NK cells and proliferation thereof, increasing interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production; however, SVTneg2 cells suppressed NK cell activation. Further mechanistic study elucidated that p53 can modulate expression by cancer cells of Mult-1 and H60a, which are activating and inhibitory ligands for NKG2D receptors of NK cells, respectively, to enhance immune surveillance against cancer. Our findings demonstrate that wt p53 is requisite for NK cell-based immune recognition and elimination of cancerous cells, and perhaps more importantly, that p53 missense mutant presence in cancer cells impairs NK cell-attributable responses, thus veiling cancerous cells from host immunity and enabling cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad B Uddin
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA, USA
| | - Kartik R Roy
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA, USA
| | - Ronald A Hill
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA, USA
| | - Sagor C Roy
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA, USA
| | - Xin Gu
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Li Li
- Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, Tom & Gayle Benson Cancer Center, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Qian-Jin Zhang
- Department of Biology, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Zongbing You
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Yong-Yu Liu
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA, USA.
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17
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Curio S, Edwards SC, Suzuki T, McGovern J, Triulzi C, Yoshida N, Jonsson G, Glauner T, Rami D, Wiesheu R, Kilbey A, Violet Purcell R, Coffelt SB, Guerra N. NKG2D signaling regulates IL-17A-producing γδT cells in mice to promote cancer progression. DISCOVERY IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 1:kyac002. [PMID: 36277678 PMCID: PMC9580227 DOI: 10.1093/discim/kyac002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
γδT cells are unconventional T cells particularly abundant in mucosal tissues that play an important role in tissue surveillance, homeostasis, and cancer. γδT cells recognize stressed cells or cancer cells through the NKG2D receptor to kill these cells and maintain normality. Contrary to the well-established anti-tumor function of these NKG2D-expressing γδT cells, we show here that, in mice, NKG2D regulates a population of pro-tumor γδT cells capable of producing IL-17A. Germline deletion of Klrk1, the gene encoding NKG2D, reduced the frequency of γδT cells in the tumor microenvironment and delayed tumor progression. We further show that blocking NKG2D reduced the capability of γδT cells to produce IL-17A in the pre-metastatic lung and that co-culture of lung T cells with NKG2D ligand-expressing tumor cells specifically increased the frequency of γδT cells. Together, these data support the hypothesis that, in a tumor microenvironment where NKG2D ligands are constitutively expressed, γδT cells accumulate in an NKG2D-dependent manner and drive tumor progression by secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-17A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Curio
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah C Edwards
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Toshiyasu Suzuki
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jenny McGovern
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Chiara Triulzi
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nagisa Yoshida
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Gustav Jonsson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Teresa Glauner
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Damiano Rami
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Robert Wiesheu
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Anna Kilbey
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Seth B Coffelt
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nadia Guerra
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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18
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that are critical to the body's antitumor and antimetastatic defense. As such, novel therapies are being developed to utilize NK cells as part of a next generation of immunotherapies to treat patients with metastatic disease. Therefore, it is essential for us to examine how metastatic cancer cells and NK cells interact with each other throughout the metastatic cascade. In this Review, we highlight the recent body of work that has begun to answer these questions. We explore how the unique biology of cancer cells at each stage of metastasis alters fundamental NK cell biology, including how cancer cells can evade immunosurveillance and co-opt NK cells into cells that promote metastasis. We also discuss the translational potential of this knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac S. Chan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, and
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew J. Ewald
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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19
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Muhammed A, D'Alessio A, Enica A, Talbot T, Fulgenzi CAM, Nteliopoulos G, Goldin RD, Cortellini A, Pinato DJ. Predictive biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2022; 22:253-264. [PMID: 35236211 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2022.2049244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and fourth leading cause of cancer death. While drug discovery to improve disease survival was historically poor, there is now evidence of significant potential for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) in treatment of the disease, and indeed such drug approvals are beginning to emerge. AREAS COVERED HCC typically arises in the context of cirrhosis and chronic liver disease (CLD), and HCC exhibits significant biological heterogeneity, in part reflecting the broad range of aetiologies of CLD. Different classes and combinations of ICPI-based therapy exist, but not all patients will respond and predictive biomarkers are not yet available to guide clinician decision making, unlike some other cancer types. In this review, we discuss the emerging biomarkers for ICPI sensitivity in HCC, including tumour genomic features, perturbation of the gut microbiome and systemic inflammatory markers. EXPERT OPINION Additional profiling studies are required to appreciate existing trends with clinical outcome and to further drive clinical studies in disease stratification by response. This will only be possible within collaborative and international efforts, especially regarding biopsy collection. A close collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians will be the key to shape the next future of HCC biomarker research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonio D'Alessio
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Italy
| | - Andrei Enica
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Thomas Talbot
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Claudia Angela Maria Fulgenzi
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.,Division of Medical Oncology, Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - David J Pinato
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.,Division of Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
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20
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Zhang Y, Chen Z, Jiang A, Gao G. KLRK1 as a prognostic biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma cancer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1976. [PMID: 35132098 PMCID: PMC8821622 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05997-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancy worldwide and causes estimated 1.6 million deaths each year. Cancer immunosurveillance has been found to play an important role in lung cancer and may be related with its prognosis. KLRK1, encoding NKG2D, is a homodimeric lectin-like receptor. However, there has not been one research of KLRK1 as a biomarker in lung cancer. Data including patients` clinical characteristics and RNAseq information of KLRK1 from TCGA were downloaded. A total of 1019 patients with lung cancer were included in this study, among which 407 patients were female and 611 patients were male. Evaluations of mRNA expression, diagnostic value by ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curves and prognostic value by survival curve, Cox model and subgroup analysis were performed. The level of KLRK1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma cancer tissues and normal lung tissues was detected by qRT-PCR. The CCK-8 assay investigated the proliferation rate and the wound healing assay assessed the migratory ability in vitro. The expression of KLRK1 in tumor was lower than that in normal tissue. KLRK1 expression was associated with gender, histologic grade, stage, T classification and vital status. Patients with high KLRK1 expression presented an improved overall survival (P = 0.0036) and relapse free survival (P = 0.0031). KLRK1 was found to have significant prognostic value in lung adenocarcinoma (P = 0.015), stage I/II (P = 0.03), older patients (P = 0.0052), and male (P = 0.0047) by subgroup overall survival analysis, and in lung adenocarcinoma (P = 0.0094), stage I/II (P = 0.0076), older patients (P = 0.0072), and male (P = 0.0033) by subgroup relapse free survival analysis. Lung adenocarcinoma cancer patients with high KLRK1 expression presented an improved overall survival (P = 0.015) and relapse free survival (P = 0.0094). In vitro studies indicated that KLRK1 inhibited tumor cell proliferation and migration. KLRK1 was an independent prognostic factor and high KLRK1 expression indicated a better overall and relapse free survival. KLRK1 may be a prognostic biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Zhang
- Clinical Medical College, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261000, China.,Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, 276000, China
| | - Zeyang Chen
- Clinical Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Aifang Jiang
- Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261000, China.
| | - Guanqi Gao
- Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, 276000, China.
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21
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Effect of Donor NKG2D Polymorphism on Relapse after Haploidentical Transplantation with Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide. Transplant Cell Ther 2021; 28:20.e1-20.e10. [PMID: 34607074 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2021.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity is regulated by the single nucleotide polymorphism rs1049174, and its antitumor effect has been observed in various clinical settings. There are no previously published data on the influence of donor rs1049174 polymorphism on HLA-haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy-haplo). We aimed to investigate the effect of donor NKG2D gene polymorphism on PTCy-haplo recipients. We retrospectively reviewed 91 consecutive PTCy-haplo recipients at our institution, and genotyped rs1049174 of the NKG2D gene in both donors and patients. In the patients who received PTCy without antithymocyte globulin (ATG) as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis, the 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse/progression (RI) of PTCy-haplo from rs1049174 CC donors was lower than that from rs1049174 CG/GG donors (25.0% versus 52.4%; P = .041), and rs1049174 CC donors were associated with a decreased risk of relapse/progression (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.0 to 0.6; P = .007). Furthermore, a beneficial effect of rs1049174 CC donor on OS and RI was observed in non-acute myelogenous leukemia patients. This study demonstrates that receipt of PTCy-haplo from rs1049174 CC donors was associated with a decreased risk of relapse/progression in the patients who underwent PTCy-haplo without ATG. Future large-scale validation studies are needed to test the significance of donor NKG2D polymorphism in the development of a new donor selection algorithm for PTCy-haplo. © 2021 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc.
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22
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Zhu Y, Xie J, Shi J. Rac1/ROCK-driven membrane dynamics promote natural killer cell cytotoxicity via granzyme-induced necroptosis. BMC Biol 2021; 19:140. [PMID: 34325694 PMCID: PMC8323222 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01068-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in cancer immunosurveillance and therapy. However, the target selectivity of NK cell activity is still poorly understood. RESULTS Here, we used live-cell reporters to unravel differential epithelial cancer target killing by primary human NK cells. We found highly variable fractions of killing by distinct NK cell cytotoxic modes that were not determined by NK ligand expression. Rather, epithelial plasma membrane dynamics driven by ROCK-mediated blebs and/or Rac1-mediated lamellipodia promoted necrotic mode in preference to the apoptotic mode of killing. Inhibition of granzyme B and key necroptosis regulators RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL significantly attenuated the necrotic killing, revealing a novel NK cell cytotoxic pathway by granzyme-induced necroptosis that conferred target selectivity. CONCLUSIONS Our results not only elucidate a new NK cell effector mechanism but also suggest that tissue microenvironment and oncogenic signaling pathways that promote membrane dynamics, e.g., Rac1 and Rho/ROCK, could be exploited to enhance proinflammatory NK cell killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanting Zhu
- Center for Quantitative Systems Biology, Department of Physics and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Center for Quantitative Systems Biology, Department of Physics and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jue Shi
- Center for Quantitative Systems Biology, Department of Physics and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
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23
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Dhar P, Basher F, Ji Z, Huang L, Qin S, Wainwright DA, Robinson J, Hagler S, Zhou J, MacKay S, Wu JD. Tumor-derived NKG2D ligand sMIC reprograms NK cells to an inflammatory phenotype through CBM signalosome activation. Commun Biol 2021; 4:905. [PMID: 34294876 PMCID: PMC8298432 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02440-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cell dysfunction is associated with poorer clinical outcome in cancer patients. What regulates NK cell dysfunction in tumor microenvironment is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that the human tumor-derived NKG2D ligand soluble MIC (sMIC) reprograms NK cell to secrete pro-tumorigenic cytokines with diminished cytotoxicity and polyfunctional potential. Antibody clearing sMIC restores NK cell to a normal cytotoxic effector functional state. We discovered that sMIC selectively activates the CBM-signalosome inflammatory pathways in NK cells. Conversely, tumor cell membrane-bound MIC (mMIC) stimulates NK cell cytotoxicity through activating PLC2γ2/SLP-76/Vav1 pathway. Ultimately, antibody targeting sMIC effectuated the in vivo anti-tumor effect of adoptively transferred NK cells. Our findings uncover an unrecognized mechanism that could instruct NK cell to a dysfunctional state in response to cues in the tumor microenvironment. Our findings provide a rationale for co-targeting sMIC to enhance the efficacy of the ongoing NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Dhar
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Fahmin Basher
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Zhe Ji
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lei Huang
- Center for Research Informatics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Si Qin
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Derek A Wainwright
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | - Jing Zhou
- Isoplexis Corporation, Branford, CT, USA
| | | | - Jennifer D Wu
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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24
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Resch T, Hackl H, Esser H, Günther J, Schwelberger H, Ritschl PV, Ebner S, Maglione M, Mellitzer V, Biebl M, Öllinger R, Zoller H, Schneeberger S, Kotsch K. Expression of MICA in Zero Hour Biopsies Predicts Graft Survival After Liver Transplantation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:606146. [PMID: 34354697 PMCID: PMC8329650 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.606146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In search for novel biomarkers to assess graft quality, we investigated whether defined candidate genes are predictive for outcome after liver transplantation (LT). Zero-hour liver biopsies were obtained from 88 livers. Gene expression of selected candidate markers was analyzed and correlated with clinical parameters as well as short and long-term outcomes post LT. Whereas both, the calculated Eurotransplant Donor-Risk-Index and the donor body mass index, had either a poor or no predictive value concerning serum levels indicative for liver function (ALT, AST, GGT, bilirubin) after 6 months, chronological donor age was weakly predictive for serum bilirubin (AUC=0.67). In contrast, the major histcompatibility complex class I related chain A (MICA) mRNA expression demonstrated a high predictive value for serum liver function parameters revealing an inverse correlation (e.g. for ALT: 3 months p=0.0332; 6 months p=0.007, 12 months 0.0256, 24 months p=0.0098, 36 months, p=0.0153) and proved significant also in a multivariate regression model. Importantly, high expression of MICA mRNA revealed to be associated with prolonged graft survival (p=0.024; log rank test) after 10 years of observation, whereas low expression was associated with the occurrence of death in patients with transplant related mortality (p=0.031). Given the observed correlation with short and long-term graft function, we suggest MICA as a biomarker for pre-transplant graft evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Resch
- Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Center of Operative Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hubert Hackl
- Institute of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hannah Esser
- Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Center of Operative Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Julia Günther
- Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Center of Operative Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hubert Schwelberger
- Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Center of Operative Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Susanne Ebner
- Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Center of Operative Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Manuel Maglione
- Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Center of Operative Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Vanessa Mellitzer
- Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Center of Operative Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Matthias Biebl
- Department of Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Öllinger
- Department of Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heinz Zoller
- Department of Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stefan Schneeberger
- Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Center of Operative Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Katja Kotsch
- Department of General- and Visceral Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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25
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NKG2D Natural Killer Cell Receptor-A Short Description and Potential Clinical Applications. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061420. [PMID: 34200375 PMCID: PMC8229527 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are natural cytotoxic, effector cells of the innate immune system. They can recognize transformed or infected cells. NK cells are armed with a set of activating and inhibitory receptors which are able to bind to their ligands on target cells. The right balance between expression and activation of those receptors is fundamental for the proper functionality of NK cells. One of the best known activating receptors is NKG2D, a member of the CD94/NKG2 family. Due to a specific NKG2D binding with its eight different ligands, which are overexpressed in transformed, infected and stressed cells, NK cells are able to recognize and attack their targets. The NKG2D receptor has an enormous significance in various, autoimmune diseases, viral and bacterial infections as well as for transplantation outcomes and complications. This review focuses on the NKG2D receptor, the mechanism of its action, clinical relevance of its gene polymorphisms and a potential application in various clinical settings.
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26
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Cadoux M, Caruso S, Pham S, Gougelet A, Pophillat C, Riou R, Loesch R, Colnot S, Nguyen CT, Calderaro J, Celton-Morizur S, Guerra N, Zucman-Rossi J, Desdouets C, Couty JP. Expression of NKG2D ligands is downregulated by β-catenin signalling and associates with HCC aggressiveness. J Hepatol 2021; 74:1386-1397. [PMID: 33484773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The NKG2D system is a potent immunosurveillance mechanism in cancer, wherein the activating NK cell receptor (NKG2D) on immune cells recognises its cognate ligands on tumour cells. Herein, we evaluated the expression of NKG2D ligands in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in both humans and mice, taking the genomic features of HCC tumours into account. METHODS The expression of NKG2D ligands (MICA, MICB, ULBP1 and ULBP2) was analysed in large human HCC datasets by Fluidigm TaqMan and RNA-seq methods, and in 2 mouse models (mRNA and protein levels) reproducing the features of both major groups of human tumours. RESULTS We provide compelling evidence that expression of the MICA and MICB ligands in human HCC is associated with tumour aggressiveness and poor patient outcome. We also found that the expression of ULBP1 and ULBP2 was associated with poor patient outcome, and was downregulated in CTNNB1-mutated HCCs displaying low levels of inflammation and associated with a better prognosis. We also found an inverse correlation between ULBP1/2 expression levels and the expression of β-catenin target genes in patients with HCC, suggesting a role for β-catenin signalling in inhibiting expression. We showed in HCC mouse models that β-catenin signalling downregulated the expression of Rae-1 NKG2D ligands, orthologs of ULBPs, through TCF4 binding. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that the expression of NKG2D ligands is associated with aggressive liver tumorigenesis and that the downregulation of these ligands by β-catenin signalling may account for the less aggressive phenotype of CTNNB1-mutated HCC tumours. LAY SUMMARY The NKG2D system is a potent immunosurveillance mechanism in cancer. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma development has not been widely investigated. Herein, we should that the expression of NKG2D ligands by tumour cells is associated with a more aggressive tumour subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Cadoux
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Team Proliferation Stress and Liver Physiopathology, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Stefano Caruso
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Functional genomics of solid tumors Team, Labex Immuno-Oncology, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Pham
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Team Proliferation Stress and Liver Physiopathology, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Angélique Gougelet
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Oncogenic functions of β-catenin signalling in the liver team F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Céline Pophillat
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Team Proliferation Stress and Liver Physiopathology, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Rozenn Riou
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Oncogenic functions of β-catenin signalling in the liver team F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Robin Loesch
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Oncogenic functions of β-catenin signalling in the liver team F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Sabine Colnot
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Oncogenic functions of β-catenin signalling in the liver team F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Công Trung Nguyen
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, INSERM U955, Créteil, France
| | - Julien Calderaro
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, INSERM U955, Créteil, France
| | - Séverine Celton-Morizur
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Team Proliferation Stress and Liver Physiopathology, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Nadia Guerra
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Zucman-Rossi
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Functional genomics of solid tumors Team, Labex Immuno-Oncology, Paris, France
| | - Chantal Desdouets
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Team Proliferation Stress and Liver Physiopathology, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Couty
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Team Proliferation Stress and Liver Physiopathology, F-75006 Paris, France.
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27
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Bozward AG, Warricker F, Oo YH, Khakoo SI. Natural Killer Cells and Regulatory T Cells Cross Talk in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Exploring Therapeutic Options for the Next Decade. Front Immunol 2021; 12:643310. [PMID: 33995362 PMCID: PMC8120158 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.643310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite major advances in immunotherapy, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a challenging target. Natural Killer (NK) cells are crucial components of the anti-HCC immune response, which can be manipulated for immunotherapeutic benefit as primary targets, modulators of the tumour microenvironment and in synchronising with tumour antigen specific effector CD8 cells for tumour clearance. Regulatory T cells shape the anti-tumour response from effector T cells via multiple suppressive mechanisms. Future research is needed to address the development of novel NK cell-targeted immunotherapy and on restraining Treg frequency and function in HCC. We have now entered a new era of anti-cancer treatment using checkpoint inhibitor (CPI)-based strategies. Combining GMP-NK cell immunotherapy to enhance the frequency of NK cells with CPI targeting both NK and CD8 T cells to release co-inhibitory receptors and enhance the cells anti-tumour immunity of HCC would be an attractive therapeutic option in the treatment of HCC. These therapeutic approaches should now be complemented by the application of genomic, proteomic and metabolomic approaches to understanding the microenvironment of HCC which, together with deep immune profiling of peripheral blood and HCC tissue before and during treatment, will provide the much-needed personalised medicine approach required to improve clinical outcomes for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber G. Bozward
- Centre for Liver and Gastroenterology Research and National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR BRC) Birmingham, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Rare Diseases, European Reference Network Centre- Rare Liver, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Frazer Warricker
- The School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, The School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ye H. Oo
- Centre for Liver and Gastroenterology Research and National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR BRC) Birmingham, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Rare Diseases, European Reference Network Centre- Rare Liver, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, University Hospital of Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Salim I. Khakoo
- The School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, The School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, University Hospital of Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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28
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Ruan GT, Wang S, Zhu LC, Liao XW, Wang XK, Liao C, Yan L, Xie HL, Gong YZ, Gan JL, Gao F. Investigation and verification of the clinical significance and perspective of natural killer group 2 member D ligands in colon adenocarcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:12565-12586. [PMID: 33909599 PMCID: PMC8148460 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated and verified the diagnostic and prognostic values of natural killer group 2 member D ligand (NKG2DL) genes in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). We downloaded NKG2DLs expression data and corresponding clinical parameters from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and used bioinformatics techniques to investigate the values of NKG2DLs in COAD. Then, we used the GSE40967 cohort to verify the prognostic value of NKG2DLs. Finally, we verified the ULBP2 expression level in tissues, and also investigated the diagnostic and prognostic values of ULBP2 in COAD. The diagnostic receiver operating characteristic curves showed that ULBP1, ULBP2, ULBP3, and RAET1L had high diagnostic values in COAD [Area Under Curve (AUC) > 0.9]. In TCGA cohort, the univariate and multivariate survival analyses suggested that ULBP2 was correlated with the prognosis of COAD recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). In GSE40967 cohort, ULBP2 was associated with CC RFS and OS. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry results showed that ULBP2 was highly expressed in COAD tumor tissues (P < 0.05) and both had diagnostic values (AUC > 0.7). Validated survival analysis showed that the high expression of ULBP2 had a worse prognosis in COAD OS and RFS. Thus, ULBP2 might be an independent diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of COAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Tian Ruan
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Chen Zhu
- Department of Immunology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi-Wen Liao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang-Kun Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Cun Liao
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Yan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Lun Xie
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Zhen Gong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Liang Gan
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
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29
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Weng RR, Lu HH, Lin CT, Fan CC, Lin RS, Huang TC, Lin SY, Huang YJ, Juan YH, Wu YC, Hung ZC, Liu C, Lin XH, Hsieh WC, Chiu TY, Liao JC, Chiu YL, Chen SY, Yu CJ, Tsai HC. Epigenetic modulation of immune synaptic-cytoskeletal networks potentiates γδ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity in lung cancer. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2163. [PMID: 33846331 PMCID: PMC8042060 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22433-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
γδ T cells are a distinct subgroup of T cells that bridge the innate and adaptive immune system and can attack cancer cells in an MHC-unrestricted manner. Trials of adoptive γδ T cell transfer in solid tumors have had limited success. Here, we show that DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis) upregulate surface molecules on cancer cells related to γδ T cell activation using quantitative surface proteomics. DNMTi treatment of human lung cancer potentiates tumor lysis by ex vivo-expanded Vδ1-enriched γδ T cells. Mechanistically, DNMTi enhances immune synapse formation and mediates cytoskeletal reorganization via coordinated alterations of DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility. Genetic depletion of adhesion molecules or pharmacological inhibition of actin polymerization abolishes the potentiating effect of DNMTi. Clinically, the DNMTi-associated cytoskeleton signature stratifies lung cancer patients prognostically. These results support a combinatorial strategy of DNMTis and γδ T cell-based immunotherapy in lung cancer management.
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MESH Headings
- Actin Cytoskeleton/drug effects
- Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism
- Animals
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cytoskeleton/drug effects
- Cytoskeleton/metabolism
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/drug effects
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/genetics
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/antagonists & inhibitors
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/metabolism
- Decitabine/pharmacology
- Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Epigenesis, Genetic/drug effects
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Humans
- Immunological Synapses/drug effects
- Immunological Synapses/genetics
- Isotope Labeling
- Lung Neoplasms/genetics
- Lung Neoplasms/immunology
- Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects
- Lymphocyte Activation/genetics
- Lymphocyte Subsets/drug effects
- Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism
- Male
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Phosphotyrosine/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/metabolism
- Survival Analysis
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism
- Up-Regulation/drug effects
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Rueyhung R Weng
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsuan-Hsuan Lu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ting Lin
- Tai Cheng Stem Cell Therapy Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Pell Biomedical Technology Ltd, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chi Fan
- Graduate Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Rong-Shan Lin
- Tai Cheng Stem Cell Therapy Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Pell Biomedical Technology Ltd, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Chung Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Yung Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jhen Huang
- Graduate Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsiu Juan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chieh Wu
- Graduate Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Zheng-Ci Hung
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Xuan-Hui Lin
- Tai Cheng Stem Cell Therapy Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Pell Biomedical Technology Ltd, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Chen Hsieh
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yuan Chiu
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Chi Liao
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ling Chiu
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Informatics, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Informatics, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Yu Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chong-Jen Yu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsing-Chen Tsai
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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30
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Intratumor Regulatory Noncytotoxic NK Cells in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030614. [PMID: 33802077 PMCID: PMC7999652 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies support the role of natural killer (NK) cells in controlling hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, ambiguity remains about the multiplicity and the role of different NK cell subsets, as a pro-oncogenic function has been suggested. We performed phenotypic and functional characterization of NK cells infiltrating HCC, with the corresponding nontumorous tissue and liver from patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis used as controls. We identified a reduced number of NK cells in tumors with higher frequency of CD56BRIGHTCD16- NK cells associated with higher expression of NKG2A, NKp44, and NKp30 and downregulation of NKG2D. Liver-resident (CXCR6+) NK cells were reduced in the tumors where T-bethiEomeslo expression was predominant. HCCs showed higher expression of CD49a with particular enrichment in CD49a+Eomes+ NK cells, a subset typically represented in the decidua and playing a proangiogenic function. Functional analysis showed reduced TNF-α production along with impaired cytotoxic capacity that was inversely related to CXCR6-, T-bethiEomeslo, and CD49a+Eomes+ NK cells. In conclusion, we identified a subset of NK cells infiltrating HCC, including non-liver-resident cells that coexpressed CD49a and Eomes and showed reduced cytotoxic potential. This NK cell subset likely plays a regulatory role in proangiogenic function.
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31
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Armstrong H, Bording-Jorgensen M, Wine E. The Multifaceted Roles of Diet, Microbes, and Metabolites in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040767. [PMID: 33673140 PMCID: PMC7917909 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many studies performed to date have implicated select microbes and dietary factors in a variety of cancers, yet the complexity of both these diseases and the relationship between these factors has limited the ability to translate findings into therapies and preventative guidelines. Here we begin by discussing recently published studies relating to dietary factors, such as vitamins and chemical compounds used as ingredients, and their contribution to cancer development. We further review recent studies, which display evidence of the microbial-diet interaction in the context of cancer. The field continues to advance our understanding of the development of select cancers and how dietary factors are related to the development, prevention, and treatment of these cancers. Finally, we highlight the science available in the discussion of common misconceptions with regards to cancer and diet. We conclude this review with thoughts on where we believe future research should focus in order to provide the greatest impact towards human health and preventative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Armstrong
- CEGIIR, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2X8, Canada;
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
- Correspondence: (H.A.); (E.W.)
| | - Michael Bording-Jorgensen
- CEGIIR, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2X8, Canada;
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Eytan Wine
- CEGIIR, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2X8, Canada;
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
- Correspondence: (H.A.); (E.W.)
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32
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Gallazzi M, Baci D, Mortara L, Bosi A, Buono G, Naselli A, Guarneri A, Dehò F, Capogrosso P, Albini A, Noonan DM, Bruno A. Prostate Cancer Peripheral Blood NK Cells Show Enhanced CD9, CD49a, CXCR4, CXCL8, MMP-9 Production and Secrete Monocyte-Recruiting and Polarizing Factors. Front Immunol 2021; 11:586126. [PMID: 33569050 PMCID: PMC7868409 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.586126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, effector lymphocytes of the innate immunity, have been shown to be altered in several cancers, both at tissue and peripheral levels. We have shown that in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and colon cancer, tumour associated circulating NK (TA-NK) and tumour infiltrating NK (TI-NK) exhibit pro-angiogenic phenotype/functions. However, there is still a lack of knowledge concerning the phenotype of peripheral blood (PB) NK (pNK) cells in prostate cancer (PCa). Here, we phenotypically and functionally characterized pNK from PCa patients (PCa TA-NKs) and investigated their interactions with endothelial cells and monocytes/macrophages. NK cell subset distribution in PB of PCa patients was investigated, by multicolor flow cytometry, for surface antigens expression. Protein arrays were performed to characterize the secretome on FACS-sorted pNK cells. Conditioned media (CM) from FACS-sorted PCa pTA-NKs were used to determine their ability to induce pro-inflammatory/pro-angiogenic phenotype/functions in endothelial cells, monocytes, and macrophages. CM from three different PCa (PC-3, DU-145, LNCaP) cell lines, were used to assess their effects on human NK cell polarization in vitro, by multicolor flow cytometry. We found that PCa pTA-NKs acquire the CD56brightCD9+CD49a+CXCR4+ phenotype, increased the expression of markers of exhaustion (PD-1, TIM-3) and are impaired in their degranulation capabilities. Similar effects were observed on healthy donor-derived pNK cells, exposed to conditioned media of three different PCa cell lines, together with increased production of pro-inflammatory chemokines/chemokine receptors CXCR4, CXCL8, CXCL12, reduced production of TNFα, IFNγ and Granzyme-B. PCa TA-NKs released factors able to support inflammatory angiogenesis in an in vitro model and increased the expression of CXCL8, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 mRNA in endothelial cells. Secretome analysis revealed the ability of PCa TA-NKs to release pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines involved in monocyte recruitment and M2-like polarization. Finally, CMs from PCa pTA-NKs recruit THP-1 and peripheral blood CD14+ monocyte and polarize THP-1 and peripheral blood CD14+ monocyte-derived macrophage towards M2-like/TAM macrophages. Our results show that PCa pTA-NKs acquire properties related to the pro-inflammatory angiogenesis in endothelial cells, recruit monocytes and polarize macrophage to an M2-like type phenotype. Our data provides a rationale for a potential use of pNK profiling in PCa patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Gallazzi
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Denisa Baci
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Annalisa Bosi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | | | - Angelo Naselli
- Unit of Urology, San Giuseppe Hospital, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Guarneri
- Unit of Urology, San Giuseppe Hospital, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Dehò
- S.C. of Urology, ASST Settelaghi, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Varese, Italy
| | - Paolo Capogrosso
- S.C. of Urology, ASST Settelaghi, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Varese, Italy
| | - Adriana Albini
- Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Angiogenesis, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | - Douglas M Noonan
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.,Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Angiogenesis, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
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33
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He G, Fu S, Li Y, Li T, Mei P, Feng L, Cai L, Cheng Y, Zhou C, Tang Y, Huang W, Liu H, Cen B, Pan M, Gao Y. TCGA and ESTIMATE data mining to identify potential prognostic biomarkers in HCC patients. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:21544-21558. [PMID: 33177245 PMCID: PMC7695391 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive form of cancer characterized by a high recurrence rate following resection. Studies have implicated stromal and immune cells, which form part of the tumor microenvironment, as significant contributors to the poor prognoses of HCC patients. In the present study, we first downloaded gene expression datasets for HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and categorized the patients into low and high stromal or immune score groups. By comparing those groups, we identified differentially expressed genes significantly associated with HCC prognosis. The Gene Ontology database was then used to perform functional enrichment analysis, and the STRING network database was used to construct protein-protein interaction networks. Our results show that most of the differentially expressed genes were involved in immune processes and responses and the plasma membrane. Those results were then validated using another a dataset from a HCC cohort in the Gene Expression Omnibus database and in 10 pairs of HCC tumor tissue and adjacent nontumor tissue. These findings enabled us to identify several tumor microenvironment-related genes that associate with HCC prognosis, and some those appear to have the potential to serve as HCC biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guolin He
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Shunjun Fu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Ting Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Purong Mei
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Lei Feng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Lei Cai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Yuan Cheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Chenjie Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Yujun Tang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Wenbin Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Bohong Cen
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, Guangdong, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingxin Pan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Yi Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
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34
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Jeon S, Kim HK, Kwon JY, Baek SH, Ri HS, Choi HJ, Cho HR, Lee YS, Kim JY, Kim J, Bae J, Lee HJ. Role of Sevoflurane on Natural Killer Group 2, Member D-Mediated Immune Response in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: An In Vitro Study. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e926395. [PMID: 33139690 PMCID: PMC7648410 DOI: 10.12659/msm.926395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sevoflurane on cancer immunosurveillance and metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Material/Methods NCI-H23 cells, a human NSCLC cell line, were incubated with or without sevoflurane at the concentrations of 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μM for 6 h. Cell viability, the expression of natural killer group 2, member D ligands (NKG2D ligands: UL16-binding proteins 1–3 [ULBP1–3] and major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related molecules A/B [MICA/B]), the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and cancer cell migration were measured. Results At 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μM, sevoflurane increased the expression of NKG2D ligands (ULBP2–3 and MICA, ULBP1–3, ULBP1–3, and ULBP1, respectively). Sevoflurane decreased the expression of NKG2D ligands at 200 μM (MICA/B). NK cell-mediated lysis of NCI-H23 cells at 200 μM sevoflurane was significantly reduced compared with the control (P=0.025; target cell: effect cell=1: 10). Sevoflurane increased the expression of MMP-1, -2, and -9 and increased cell migration in NCI-H23 cells at 50, 100, and 200 μM (P=0.001, 0.035, and 0.039, respectively, compared with the control after 18 h of wound formation). Conclusions Sevoflurane could suppress NKG2D-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity and increased expression of MMPs and migration in NCI-H23 cells. Further research is needed to determine the effects of sevoflurane on cancer immunosurveillance and metastasis in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soeun Jeon
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.,Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, South Korea
| | - Hae-Kyu Kim
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, South Korea
| | - Jae-Young Kwon
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, South Korea
| | - Seung-Hoon Baek
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, South Korea
| | - Hyun-Su Ri
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea
| | - Ho Jung Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea.,PNU BK21 Plus Biomedical Science Education Center, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea
| | - Hae-Ryung Cho
- Department of Biochemistry, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea.,PNU BK21 Plus Biomedical Science Education Center, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea
| | - Young Shin Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea.,PNU BK21 Plus Biomedical Science Education Center, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea
| | - Joo-Young Kim
- Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea
| | - Jinsil Kim
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, South Korea
| | - Jaeho Bae
- Department of Biochemistry, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea.,PNU BK21 Plus Biomedical Science Education Center, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea
| | - Hyeon-Jeong Lee
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.,Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, South Korea
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35
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Terrén I, Orrantia A, Vitallé J, Astarloa-Pando G, Zenarruzabeitia O, Borrego F. Modulating NK cell metabolism for cancer immunotherapy. Semin Hematol 2020; 57:213-224. [PMID: 33256914 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes with potent antitumor functions and, therefore, multiple NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies have been developed and are currently being tested. However, there is a necessity to find new means to improve these therapies, and immunometabolism represents an attractive target. NK cell effector functions are intricately linked to their metabolism, and modulating the latter could be the key to release their full potential. In this review, we have summarized how NK cell metabolism is regulated during some processes, such as maturation, viral infection, and cytokine stimulation. Additionally, we provide an overview of how NK cell metabolism is affected by current therapeutic approaches aimed to promote NK cell expansion and/or to increase their effector functions. We have also recapitulated several strategies that could help alleviating the metabolic impairment that characterizes tumor-infiltrating NK cells, and thus increase or restore their effector functions. Furthermore, we have reviewed several therapeutic approaches targeting cancer metabolism that could synergize with NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies, and thus enhance their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñigo Terrén
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Immunopathology Group, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Ane Orrantia
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Immunopathology Group, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Joana Vitallé
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Immunopathology Group, Barakaldo, Spain
| | | | - Olatz Zenarruzabeitia
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Immunopathology Group, Barakaldo, Spain.
| | - Francisco Borrego
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Immunopathology Group, Barakaldo, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
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36
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Møller SH, Mellergaard M, Madsen M, Bermejo AV, Jepsen SD, Hansen MH, Høgh RI, Aldana BI, Desler C, Rasmussen LJ, Sustarsic EG, Gerhart-Hines Z, Daskalaki E, Wheelock CE, Hiron TK, Lin D, O'Callaghan CA, Wandall HH, Andresen L, Skov S. Cytoplasmic Citrate Flux Modulates the Immune Stimulatory NKG2D Ligand MICA in Cancer Cells. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1968. [PMID: 32849657 PMCID: PMC7431954 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune surveillance of cancer cells is facilitated by the Natural Killer Group 2D (NKG2D) receptor expressed by different lymphocyte subsets. It recognizes NKG2D ligands that are rarely expressed on healthy cells, but upregulated by tumorigenesis, presenting a target for immunological clearance. The molecular mechanisms responsible for NKG2D ligand regulation remain complex. Here we report that cancer cell metabolism supports constitutive surface expression of the NKG2D ligand MHC class I chain-related proteins A (MICA). Knockout of the N-glycosylation gene N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (MGAT5) in HEK293 cells induced altered metabolism and continuous high MICA surface expression. MGAT5 knockout cells were used to examine the association of cell metabolism and MICA expression through genetic, pharmacological and metabolic assays. Findings were verified in cancer cell lines. Cells with constitutive high MICA expression showed enhanced spare respiratory capacity and elevated mitochondrial efflux of citrate, determined by extracellular flux analysis and metabolomics. MICA expression was reduced by inhibitors of mitochondrial function, FCCP and etomoxir e.g., and depended on conversion of citrate to acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate by ATP citrate lyase, which was also observed in several cancer cell types. Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) analysis revealed that upregulated MICA transcription was associated with an open chromatin structure at the MICA transcription start site. We identify mitochondria and cytoplasmic citrate as key regulators of constitutive MICA expression and we propose that metabolic reprogramming of certain cancer cells facilitates MICA expression and NKG2D-mediated immune recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie H Møller
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Maiken Mellergaard
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Madsen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Amaia V Bermejo
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Stine D Jepsen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Marie H Hansen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Rikke I Høgh
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Blanca I Aldana
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Claus Desler
- Center for Healthy Aging, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lene Juel Rasmussen
- Center for Healthy Aging, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elahu G Sustarsic
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zachary Gerhart-Hines
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Evangelia Daskalaki
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Craig E Wheelock
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas K Hiron
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Da Lin
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Hans H Wandall
- Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Andresen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Søren Skov
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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37
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Lu C, Guo C, Chen H, Zhang H, Zhi L, Lv T, Li M, Niu Z, Lu P, Zhu W. A novel chimeric PD1-NKG2D-41BB receptor enhances antitumor activity of NK92 cells against human lung cancer H1299 cells by triggering pyroptosis. Mol Immunol 2020; 122:200-206. [PMID: 32388482 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified adoptive natural killer (NK) cells represent a promising immunotherapeutic modality for cancer treatment but face many challenges in solid tumors. One major obstacle is the immune-suppressive effects induced by inhibitory receptors (IR) including PD1. To interfere with PD1 signaling to augment CAR-NK cells' activity against solid tumors, we rationally designed a novel chimeric costimulatory converting receptor (CCCR), comprising mainly the extracellular domain of PD1, transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of NKG2D, and the cytoplasmic domain of 41BB. This NK-tailored CCCR was able to switch the negative PD1 signal to an activating signal and hence reversed the immune suppressive effects of PD1. The CCCR-modified NK92 (CCCR-NK92) cells retained typical characteristics of NK cells and exhibited enhanced antitumor activity against human lung cancer H1299 cells in vitro compared with untransduced NK92 cells. The rapid clearance of H1299 cells was caused by CCCR-NK92 cell-induced extensive pyroptosis. In a lung cancer xenograft model, CCCR-NK92 cells significantly inhibited tumor growth. Our results highlight a promising immunotherapeutic potential of using NK-tailored CCCR engineered NK92 cells to treat human lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengui Lu
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China; Sanquan College of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Changjiang Guo
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Han Chen
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Huiyong Zhang
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Lingtong Zhi
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Tanyu Lv
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Mingfeng Li
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Zhiyuan Niu
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Ping Lu
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China.
| | - Wuling Zhu
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China.
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38
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Pinato DJ, Guerra N, Fessas P, Murphy R, Mineo T, Mauri FA, Mukherjee SK, Thursz M, Wong CN, Sharma R, Rimassa L. Immune-based therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncogene 2020; 39:3620-3637. [PMID: 32157213 PMCID: PMC7190571 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1249-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most frequent cause of cancer-related death. The immune-rich contexture of the HCC microenvironment makes this tumour an appealing target for immune-based therapies. Here, we discuss how the functional characteristics of the liver microenvironment can potentially be harnessed for the treatment of HCC. We will review the evidence supporting a therapeutic role for vaccines, cell-based therapies and immune-checkpoint inhibitors and discuss the potential for patient stratification in an attempt to overcome the series of failures that has characterised drug development in this disease area.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Pinato
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W120HS, UK.
| | - Nadia Guerra
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Petros Fessas
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W120HS, UK
| | - Ravindhi Murphy
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W120HS, UK
| | | | - Francesco A Mauri
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W120HS, UK
| | - Sujit K Mukherjee
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion & Reproduction, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London, UK
| | - Mark Thursz
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion & Reproduction, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London, UK
| | - Ching Ngar Wong
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W120HS, UK
| | - Rohini Sharma
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W120HS, UK
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Medical Oncology and Haematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini, 20090, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
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39
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Prinz D, Klein K, List J, Knab VM, Menzl I, Leidenfrost N, Heller G, Polić B, Putz EM, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Sexl V, Gotthardt D. Loss of NKG2D in murine NK cells leads to increased perforin production upon long-term stimulation with IL-2. Eur J Immunol 2020; 50:880-890. [PMID: 32052406 PMCID: PMC7318224 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
NK cells are innate lymphocytes responsible for lysis of pathogen-infected and transformed cells. One of the major activating receptors required for target cell recognition is the NK group 2D (NKG2D) receptor. Numerous reports show the necessity of NKG2D for effective tumor immune surveillance. Further studies identified NKG2D as a key element allowing tumor immune escape. We here use a mouse model with restricted deletion of NKG2D in mature NKp46+ cells (NKG2DΔNK ). NKG2DΔNK NK cells develop normally, have an unaltered IFN-γ production but kill tumor cell lines expressing NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) less efficiently. However, upon long-term stimulation with IL-2, NKG2D-deficient NK cells show increased levels of the lytic molecule perforin. Thus, our findings demonstrate a dual function of NKG2D for NK cell cytotoxicity; while NKG2D is a crucial trigger for cytotoxicity of tumor cells expressing activating ligands it is also capable to limit perforin production in IL-2 activated NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Prinz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klara Klein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia List
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vanessa M Knab
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingeborg Menzl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicoletta Leidenfrost
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerwin Heller
- Institute of Internal Medicine I, Medical University, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bojan Polić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Eva Maria Putz
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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40
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Piñeiro Fernández J, Luddy KA, Harmon C, O'Farrelly C. Hepatic Tumor Microenvironments and Effects on NK Cell Phenotype and Function. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4131. [PMID: 31450598 PMCID: PMC6747260 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is a complex organ with critical physiological functions including metabolism, glucose storage, and drug detoxification. Its unique immune profile with large numbers of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and significant innate lymphoid population, including natural killer cells, γ δ T cells, MAIT cells, and iNKTcells, suggests an important anti-tumor surveillance role. Despite significant immune surveillance in the liver, in particular large NK cell populations, hepatic cell carcinoma (HCC) is a relatively common outcome of chronic liver infection or inflammation. The liver is also the second most common site of metastatic disease. This discordance suggests immune suppression by the environments of primary and secondary liver cancers. Classic tumor microenvironments (TME) are poorly perfused, leading to accumulation of tumor cell metabolites, diminished O2, and decreased nutrient levels, all of which impact immune cell phenotype and function. Here, we focus on changes in the liver microenvironment associated with tumor presence and how they affect NK function and phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kimberly A Luddy
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland.
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33626, USA.
| | - Cathal Harmon
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02138, USA
| | - Cliona O'Farrelly
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland.
- School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland.
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41
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Cummins KD, Gill S. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia: how close to reality? Haematologica 2019; 104:1302-1308. [PMID: 31221785 PMCID: PMC6601074 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.208751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine D Cummins
- Division of Hematology-Oncology and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Saar Gill
- Division of Hematology-Oncology and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
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42
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Zhao J, Schlößer HA, Wang Z, Qin J, Li J, Popp F, Popp MC, Alakus H, Chon SH, Hansen HP, Neiss WF, Jauch KW, Bruns CJ, Zhao Y. Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Inhibit Natural Killer Cell Function in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11060874. [PMID: 31234517 PMCID: PMC6628179 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies. Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) induce pre-metastatic niche formation to promote metastasis. We isolated EVs from a highly-metastatic pancreatic cancer cell line and patient-derived primary cancer cells by ultracentrifugation. The protein content of EVs was analyzed by mass spectrometry. The effects of PDAC-derived EVs on natural kill (NK) cells were investigated by flow cytometry. The serum EVs' TGF-β1 levels were quantified by ELISA. We found that integrins were enriched in PDAC-derived EVs. The expression of NKG2D, CD107a, TNF-α, and INF-γ in NK cells was significantly downregulated after co-culture with EVs. NK cells also exhibited decreased levels of CD71 and CD98, as well as impaired glucose uptake ability. In addition, NK cell cytotoxicity against pancreatic cancer stem cells was attenuated. Moreover, PDAC-derived EVs induced the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 in NK cells. Serum EVs' TGF-β1 was significantly increased in PDAC patients. Our findings emphasize the immunosuppressive role of PDAC-derived EVs and provide new insights into our understanding of NK cell dysfunction regarding pre-metastatic niche formation in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangang Zhao
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
- Department of General, Visceral und Vascular Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilian-University (LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Hans A Schlößer
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Zhefang Wang
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Jie Qin
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Jiahui Li
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Felix Popp
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Marie Christine Popp
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Hakan Alakus
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Seung-Hun Chon
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Hinrich P Hansen
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Cologne-Bonn, CECAD Center of Excellence on "Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases", Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Wolfram F Neiss
- Department of Anatomy I, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Karl-Walter Jauch
- Department of General, Visceral und Vascular Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilian-University (LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Christiane J Bruns
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of General, Visceral und Tumor Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
- Department of General, Visceral und Vascular Surgery, Otto von Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
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43
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Ravindranath MH, Filippone EJ, Devarajan A, Asgharzadeh S. Enhancing Natural Killer and CD8 + T Cell-Mediated Anticancer Cytotoxicity and Proliferation of CD8 + T Cells with HLA-E Monospecific Monoclonal Antibodies. Monoclon Antib Immunodiagn Immunother 2019; 38:38-59. [PMID: 31009335 PMCID: PMC6634170 DOI: 10.1089/mab.2018.0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic NK/CD8+ T cells interact with MHC-I ligands on tumor cells through either activating or inhibiting receptors. One of the inhibitory receptors is CD94/NKG2A. The NK/CD8+ T cell cytotoxic capability is lost when tumor-associated human leukocyte antigen, HLA-E, binds the CD94/NKG2A receptor, resulting in tumor progression and reduced survival. Failure of cancer patients to respond to natural killer (NK) cell therapies could be due to HLA-E overexpression in tumor tissues. Preventing the inhibitory receptor-ligand interaction by either receptor- or ligand-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is an innovative passive immunotherapeutic strategy for cancer. Since receptors and ligands can be monomeric or homo- or heterodimeric proteins, the efficacy of mAbs may rely on their ability to distinguish monospecific (private) functional epitopes from nonfunctional common (public) epitopes. We developed monospecific anti-HLA-E mAbs (e.g., TFL-033) that recognize only HLA-E-specific epitopes, but not epitopes shared with other HLA class-I loci as occurs with currently available polyreactive anti-HLA-E mAbs. Interestingly the amino acid sequences in the α1 and α2 helices of HLA-E, critical for the recognition of the mAb TFL-033, are strikingly the same sequences recognized by the CD94/NKG2A inhibitory receptors on NK/CD8+ cells. Such monospecific mAbs can block the CD94/NKG2A interaction with HLA-E to restore NK cell and CD8+ anticancer cell cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the HLA-E monospecific mAbs significantly promoted the proliferation of the CD4-/CD8+ T cells. These monospecific mAbs are also invaluable for the specific demonstration of HLA-E on tumor biopsies, potentially indicating those tumors most likely to respond to such therapy. Thus, they can be used to enhance passive immunotherapy once phased preclinical studies and clinical trials are completed. On principle, we postulate that NK cell passive immunotherapy should capitalize on both of these features of monospecific HLA-E mAbs, that is, the specific determination HLA-E expression on a particular tumor and the enhancement of NK cell/CD8+ cytotoxicity if HLA-E positive.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edward J Filippone
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Asokan Devarajan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Shahab Asgharzadeh
- Department of Pediatrics and Pathology, Children's Hospital, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, California
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44
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Gimeno L, Martínez-Banaclocha H, Bernardo MV, Bolarin JM, Marín L, López-Hernández R, López-Alvarez MR, Moya-Quiles MR, Muro M, Frias-Iniesta JF, Martínez-Escribano J, Alvarez-López MR, Minguela A, Campillo JA. NKG2D Polymorphism in Melanoma Patients from Southeastern Spain. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11040438. [PMID: 30925758 PMCID: PMC6521179 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11040438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells are involved in the immune response against melanoma. C-Type lectin-like NK cell receptors are located in the Natural Killer Complex (NKC) region 12p13.2-p12.3 and play a critical role in regulating the activity of NK and CD8+ T cells. An association between polymorphisms in the NKC region, including the NKG2D gene and NKG2A promoter, and the risk of cancer has been previously described. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of polymorphisms in the NKC region with cutaneous melanoma in patients from southeastern Spain. Methods: Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NKG2D gene (NKC3,4,7,9,10,11,12), and one SNP in the NKG2A promoter (NKC17) were genotyped by a TaqMan 5′ Nuclease Assay in 233 melanoma patients and 200 matched healthy controls. Results: A linkage disequilibrium analysis of the SNPs performed in the NKC region revealed two blocks of haplotypes (Hb-1 and Hb-2) with 14 and seven different haplotype subtypes, respectively. The third most frequent haplotype from the block Hb-2—NK3 (CAT haplotype)—was significantly more frequent on melanoma patients than on healthy controls (p = 0.00009, Pc = 0.0006). No further associations were found when NKC SNPs were considered independently. Conclusions: Our results suggest an association between NKG2D polymorphisms and the risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Gimeno
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | | | - M Victoria Bernardo
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, Spain.
| | - José Miguel Bolarin
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Luis Marín
- Immunology Section, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, 02006 Albacete, Spain.
| | - Ruth López-Hernández
- Immunology Section, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
| | - M Rocío López-Alvarez
- Center for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK.
| | - M Rosa Moya-Quiles
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Manuel Muro
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - José Francisco Frias-Iniesta
- Dermatology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Jorge Martínez-Escribano
- Dermatology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - M Rocío Alvarez-López
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Alfredo Minguela
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - José Antonio Campillo
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
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