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Watanabe CM, Suzuki CI, Dos Santos AM, Aloia TPA, Lee G, Wald D, Okamoto OK, de Azevedo JTC, de Godoy JAP, Santos FPS, Weinlich R, Kerbauy LN, Kutner JM, Paiva RDMA, Hamerschlak N. An Extended Flow Cytometry Evaluation of ex Vivo Expanded NK Cells Using K562.Clone1, a Feeder Cell Line Manufactured in Brazil. Transplant Cell Ther 2024:S2666-6367(24)00531-1. [PMID: 38986739 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2024.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in the immune system's response against cancer. However, the challenge of obtaining the required quantity of NK cells for effective therapeutic response necessitates the development of strategies for their ex vivo expansion. This study aimed to develop a novel feeder cell line, K562.Clone1, capable of promoting the ex vivo expansion of NK cells while preserving their cytotoxic potential. he K562 leukemic cell line was transduced with mbIL-21 and 4-1BBL proteins to generate K562.Clone1 cells. NK cells were then co-cultured with these feeder cells, and their expansion rate was monitored over 14 days. The cytotoxic potential of the expanded NK cells was evaluated against acute myeloid leukemia blasts and tumor cell lines of leukemia and glial origin. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the significance of the results. The K562.Clone1 co-cultured with peripheral NK showed a significant increase in cell count, with an approximate 94-fold expansion over 14 days. Expanded NK cells demonstrated cytotoxicity against the tested tumor cell lines, indicating preservation of their cytotoxic characteristics. Additionally, the CD56, CD16, inhibitory KIRs, and activation receptors were conserved and present in a well-balanced manner. The study successfully developed a feeder cell line, K562.Clone1, that effectively promotes the expansion of NK cells ex vivo while maintaining their cytotoxic potential. This development could significantly contribute to the advancement of NK cell therapy, especially in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Grace Lee
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - David Wald
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Oswaldo Keith Okamoto
- Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julia T Cottas de Azevedo
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Aparecida Preto de Godoy
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabio P S Santos
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Oncology and Hematology Center, Familia Dayan-Daycoval, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Weinlich
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucila N Kerbauy
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Oncology and Hematology Center, Familia Dayan-Daycoval, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jose Mauro Kutner
- Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Oncology and Hematology Center, Familia Dayan-Daycoval, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raquel de Melo Alves Paiva
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Nelson Hamerschlak
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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2
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Weaver GC, Schneider CL, Becerra-Artiles A, Clayton KL, Hudson AW, Stern LJ. The HHV-6B U20 glycoprotein binds ULBP1, masking it from recognition by NKG2D and interfering with natural killer cell activation. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1363156. [PMID: 38953028 PMCID: PMC11215065 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1363156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Human Herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) impedes host immune responses by downregulating class I MHC molecules (MHC-I), hindering antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells. Downregulation of MHC-I disengages inhibitory receptors on natural killer (NK) cells, resulting in activation and killing of the target cell if NK cell activating receptors such as NKG2D have engaged stress ligands upregulated on the target cells. Previous work has shown that HHV-6B downregulates three MHC-like stress ligands MICB, ULBP1, and ULBP3, which are recognized by NKG2D. The U20 glycoprotein of the related virus HHV-6A has been implicated in the downregulation of ULBP1, but the precise mechanism remains undetermined. Methods We set out to investigate the role of HHV-6B U20 in modulating NK cell activity. We used HHV-6B U20 expressed as a recombinant protein or transduced into target cells, as well as HHV-6B infection, to investigate binding interactions with NK cell ligands and receptors and to assess effects on NK cell activation. Small-angle X-ray scattering was used to align molecular models derived from machine-learning approaches. Results We demonstrate that U20 binds directly to ULBP1 with sub-micromolar affinity. Transduction of U20 decreases NKG2D binding to ULBP1 at the cell surface but does not decrease ULBP1 protein levels, either at the cell surface or in toto. HHV-6B infection and soluble U20 have the same effect. Transduction of U20 blocks NK cell activation in response to cell-surface ULBP1. Structural modeling of the U20 - ULBP1 complex indicates some similarities to the m152-RAE1γ complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant C. Weaver
- Immunology and Microbiology Graduate Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Pathology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Christine L. Schneider
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | | | - Kiera L. Clayton
- Immunology and Microbiology Graduate Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Pathology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Amy W. Hudson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Lawrence J. Stern
- Immunology and Microbiology Graduate Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Pathology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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3
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Covino DA, Desimio MG, Giovinazzo A, de Oliveira BSP, Merolle M, Marazziti D, Pellegrini M, Doria M. Absence of ATM leads to altered NK cell function in mice. Clin Immunol 2024; 263:110233. [PMID: 38697554 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110233] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare disorder caused by genetic defects of A-T mutated (ATM) kinase, a key regulator of stress response, and characterized by neurodegeneration, immunodeficiency, and high incidence of cancer. Here we investigated NK cells in a mouse model of A-T (Atm-/-) showing that they are strongly impaired at killing tumor cells due to a block of early signaling events. On the other hand, in Atm-/- littermates with thymic lymphoma NK cell cytotoxicity is enhanced as compared with ATM-proficient mice, possibly via tumor-produced TNF-α. Results also suggest that expansion of exhausted NKG2D+ NK cells in Atm-/- mice is driven by low-level expression of stress-inducible NKG2D ligands, whereas development of thymoma expressing the high-affinity MULT1 ligand is associated with NKG2D down-regulation on NK cells. These results expand our understanding of immunodeficiency in A-T and encourage exploring NK cell biology in A-T patients in the attempt to identify cancer predictive biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Angela Covino
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Desimio
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Giovinazzo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, IBBC-CNR, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Matilde Merolle
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, IBBC-CNR, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Marazziti
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, IBBC-CNR, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Pellegrini
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, IBBC-CNR, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy
| | - Margherita Doria
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
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4
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Guo C, Dong M, Wang X, Yu J, Jin X, Cheng S, Cui F, Qian Y, Bao Q, Zhi L, Niu Z, Li M, Zhu W. A novel MICA/B-targeted chimeric antigen receptor augments the cytotoxicity of NK cells against tumor cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 710:149918. [PMID: 38598902 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149918] [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: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified immune cells have emerged as a promising approach for cancer treatment, but single-target CAR therapy in solid tumors is limited by immune escape caused by tumor antigen heterogeneity and shedding. Natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) is an activating receptor expressed in human NK cells, and its ligands, such as MICA and MICB (MICA/B), are widely expressed in malignant cells and typically absent from healthy tissue. NKG2D plays an important role in anti-tumor immunity, recognizing tumor cells and initiating an anti-tumor response. Therefore, NKG2D-based CAR is a promising CAR candidate. Nevertheless, the shedding of MICA/B hinders the therapeutic efficacy of NKG2D-CARs. Here, we designed a novel CAR by engineering an anti-MICA/B shedding antibody 1D5 into the CAR construct. The engineered NK cells exhibited significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against various MICA/B-expressing tumor cells and were not inhibited by NKG2D antibody or NKG2D-Fc fusion protein, indicating no interference with NKG2D-MICA/B binding. Therefore, the developed 1D5-CAR could be combined with NKG2D-CAR to further improve the obstacles caused by MICA/B shedding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjiang Guo
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China.
| | - Meng Dong
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Jie Yu
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Xinru Jin
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Shizhuang Cheng
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Feiyan Cui
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Yifan Qian
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Qianqian Bao
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Lingtong Zhi
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Zhiyuan Niu
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Mingfeng Li
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Wuling Zhu
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Innovation for Synthetic Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China.
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5
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Vela-Ojeda J, Olivas-Bejarano AC, Montiel-Cervantes LA, Rosales-Cruz E, Garcia-Gutierrez S, Lezama-Palacios RA, Reyes-Maldonado E. Soluble MIC-A, IPI, and response to treatment strongly predict survival in patients with germinal center diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Eur J Haematol 2024. [PMID: 38742655 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.14230] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most frequent lymphoma. MIC-A and MIC-B are the natural ligands for NKG2D, a receptor expressed in NK cells. MIC-A soluble isoforms (sMICA) have been described in different malignancies. OBJECTIVES To analyze lymphocyte subsets and sMIC-A in germinal center DLBCL. MATERIALS AND METHODS sMICA, sMICB, and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD8+, NK, NKT, γδ T cells, and dendritic cells) were analyzed in 59 patients and 60 healthy donors. RESULTS Patients had decreased numbers of type 1 and type 2 dendritic cells, NK, iNKT, CD4 T, and CD8 T cells, and higher levels of sMIC-A. The 2-year PFS for high IPI scores and high sMIC-A was 24% and 28%, respectively. The 2-year OS for high IPI scores and high sMIC-A was 42% and 33%. The 2-year PFS and OS for patients not achieving response to treatment were 0% and 10%, respectively. The MICPI score (one point each for high IPI score and high sMIC-A) showed that those patients summing two points had worse PSF and OS. CONCLUSIONS Patients with DLBCL have decreased numbers of peripheral lymphocyte subsets and high levels of sMIC-A. The addition of sMIC-A to IPI could improve its prognostic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Vela-Ojeda
- Departamento de Morfología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ana Cristina Olivas-Bejarano
- Departamento de Morfología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Laura Arcelia Montiel-Cervantes
- Departamento de Morfología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Hematología, Unidad de Investigación de Medicina Traslacional en Enfermedades Hemato Oncológicas, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Erika Rosales-Cruz
- Departamento de Morfología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Socrates Garcia-Gutierrez
- Departamento de Patología, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Seris y Zaachila S/N Colonia La Raza, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ruth Angelica Lezama-Palacios
- Departamento de Morfología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elba Reyes-Maldonado
- Departamento de Morfología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
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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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7
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Núñez SY, Trotta A, Regge MV, Amarilla MS, Secchiari F, Sierra JM, Santilli MC, Gantov M, Rovegno A, Richards N, Ameri C, Ríos Pita H, Rico L, Mieggi M, Vitagliano G, Blas L, Friedrich AD, Domaica CI, Fuertes MB, Zwirner NW. Tumor-associated macrophages impair NK cell IFN-γ production and contribute to tumor progression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Eur J Immunol 2024:e2350878. [PMID: 38581345 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350878] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are abundant in several tumor types and usually correlate with poor prognosis. Previously, we demonstrated that anti-inflammatory macrophages (M2) inhibit NK cell effector functions. Here, we explored the impact of TAM on NK cells in the context of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that an exhausted NK cell signature strongly correlated with an M2 signature. Analysis of TAM from human ccRCC samples confirmed that they exhibited an M2-skewed phenotype and inhibited IFN-γ production by NK cells. Moreover, human M0 macrophages cultured with conditioned media from ccRCC cell lines generated macrophages with an M2-skewed phenotype (TAM-like), which alike TAM, displayed suppressive activity on NK cells. Moreover, TAM depletion in the mouse Renca ccRCC model resulted in delayed tumor growth and reduced volume, accompanied by an increased frequency of IFN-γ-producing tumor-infiltrating NK cells that displayed heightened expression of T-bet and NKG2D and reduced expression of the exhaustion-associated co-inhibitory molecules PD-1 and TIM-3. Therefore, in ccRCC, the tumor microenvironment polarizes TAM toward an immunosuppressive profile that promotes tumor-infiltrating NK cell dysfunction, contributing to tumor progression. In addition, immunotherapy strategies targeting TAM may result in NK cell reinvigoration, thereby counteracting tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sol Yanel Núñez
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Aldana Trotta
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Regge
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Sofía Amarilla
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florencia Secchiari
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jessica Mariel Sierra
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Cecilia Santilli
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Gantov
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Rovegno
- Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno" (CEMIC), Servicio de Urología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nicolás Richards
- Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno" (CEMIC), Servicio de Urología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos Ameri
- Hospital Alemán, Servicio de Urología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Luis Rico
- Hospital Alemán, Servicio de Urología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mauro Mieggi
- Hospital Alemán, Servicio de Urología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Leandro Blas
- Hospital Alemán, Servicio de Urología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adrián David Friedrich
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Inés Domaica
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mercedes Beatriz Fuertes
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Norberto Walter Zwirner
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Fundación IBYME, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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8
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Shobab L, Zheng H, Jensen K, Mendonca-Torres MC, McCoy M, Hoperia V, Rosen J, Wartofsky L, Burman K, Vasko V. Sex-Specific Expression of Histone Lysine Demethylases (KDMs) in Thyroid Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1260. [PMID: 38610938 PMCID: PMC11010840 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of thyroid cancer in women is 3-4-fold higher than in men. To characterize sex-specific molecular alterations in thyroid cancer, we examined the expression of sex-biased genes in normal thyroids and thyroid tumors. METHODS Ingenuity pathways analysis was used to define sex-biased gene networks using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Confirmatory studies were performed through the analysis of histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) expression by real-time PCR and immunostaining. RESULTS In normal thyroids, 44 sex-biased genes were comparatively upregulated in male and 28 in female patients. The expressions of 37/72 (51%) sex-biased genes were affected in cancer tissues compared with normal thyroids. Gene network analyses revealed sex-specific patterns in the expressions of KDM5C, KDM5D, and KDM6A. In confirmatory studies, KDM5D mRNA and protein were detected only in males, whereas KDM5C and KDM6A were detected in samples from male and female patients. Nuclear staining with anti-KDMs was found in normal thyroids, but a loss of nuclear expression with a concomitant gain of cytoplasmic staining was observed in cancer tissues. CONCLUSIONS Normal thyroids have a sex-specific molecular signature, and the development of thyroid cancer is associated with a differential expression of sex-biased genes. The sex-specific expression of KDMs, coupled with cancer-related alterations in their intracellular localization, may contribute to mechanisms underlying sex differences in thyroid tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Shobab
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Hui Zheng
- Department of Surgery, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (H.Z.)
| | - Kirk Jensen
- Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (K.J.); (V.V.)
| | - Maria Cecilia Mendonca-Torres
- Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (K.J.); (V.V.)
| | - Matthew McCoy
- Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Victoria Hoperia
- Institute of Biology and Medicine, Kyiv National University, 02000 Kyiv, Ukraine;
| | - Jennifer Rosen
- Department of Surgery, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (H.Z.)
| | - Leonard Wartofsky
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Kenneth Burman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Vasyl Vasko
- Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (K.J.); (V.V.)
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9
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Lai Z, Li M, Yang X, Xian Z. Knockdown of the UL-16 binding protein 1 promotes osteoblast differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells by activating the SMAD2/3 pathway. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2024; 25:213. [PMID: 38481217 PMCID: PMC10936096 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07341-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteoporosis is caused by the imbalance of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The regulatory mechanisms of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in pathogenesis of osteoporosis are of significant and needed to be further investigated. GSE100609 dataset downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to identified DEGs in osteoporosis patients. KEGG analysis was conducted to demonstrate signaling pathways related to enriched genes. Osteoporosis patients and the human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were obtained for in vivo and in vitro resaerch. Lentivirus construction and viral infection was used to knockdown genes. mRNA expression and protein expression were detected via qRT-PCR and western blot assay separately. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity detection, alizarin Red S (ARS) staining, and expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), osteocalcin (OCN) and Osterix were evaluated to determine osteoblast differentiation capacity. UL-16 binding protein 1 (ULBP1) gene was upregulated in osteoporosis and downregulated in differentiated hMSCs. Knockdown of ULBP1 increased ALP activity, mineralization ability evaluated by ARS staining, expression of BMP2, OCN and Osterix in differentiated hMSCs. Furthermore, rescue experiment demonstrated that suppressed ULBP1 boosted osteoblast differentiation by activating TNF-β signaling pathway. Knockdown of ULBP1 gene could promoted osteoblast differentiation by activating TNF-β signaling pathway in differentiated hMSCs. ULBP1 may be a the Achilles' heel of osteoporosis, and suppression of ULBP1 could be a promising treatment for osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Lai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Huadu District People's Hospital of Guangzhou, 48 Xinhua Road, Xinhua Street, Huadu District, Guangzhou, 510800, Guangdong, China.
| | - Mingming Li
- Shiling Town Health Center, 19 Qiling Street, Huadu District, Guangzhou, 510800, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Huadu District People's Hospital of Guangzhou, 48 Xinhua Road, Xinhua Street, Huadu District, Guangzhou, 510800, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenjie Xian
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Huadu District People's Hospital of Guangzhou, 48 Xinhua Road, Xinhua Street, Huadu District, Guangzhou, 510800, Guangdong, China
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10
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Wang YH, Hagiwara S, Kazama H, Iizuka Y, Tanaka N, Tanaka J. Elotuzumab Enhances CD16-Independent NK Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity against Myeloma Cells by Upregulating Several NK Cell-Enhancing Genes. J Immunol Res 2024; 2024:1429879. [PMID: 38444839 PMCID: PMC10914431 DOI: 10.1155/2024/1429879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is an intractable hematological malignancy caused by abnormalities in plasma cells. Combination therapy using antibodies and natural killer (NK) effectors, which are innate immune cells with safe and potent antitumor activity, is a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy and can enhance antitumor effects. Elotuzumab (Elo) is an immune-stimulatory antibody that targets the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family 7 (SLAMF7) expressed on the surface of MM and NK cells. We confirmed that Elo strongly promoted NK cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against SLAMF7-positive MM cells in a CD16-dependent NK cell line, and also activated expanded NK cells derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors and patients with MM in the present study. However, the antitumor effects and genes involved in the direct promotion of NK cell-mediated activation using Elo in CD16-independent NK cells are not clearly known. In this study, we demonstrated that Elo pretreatment significantly enhanced CD16-independent NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in both SLAMF7-positive MM.1S and SLAMF7-negative K562, U266, and RPMI 8226 tumor cells. Upon direct simulation of CD16-independent NK cells with Elo, increased levels of CD107a degranulation and IFN-γ secretion were observed along with the upregulation of granzyme B, TNF-α, and IL-1α gene expression. The enhanced NK cell function could also be attributed to the increased expression of the transcription factors T-BET and EOMES. Furthermore, the augmentation of the antitumor effects of CD16-independent NK cells upon pretreatment with Elo enhanced the expression of CRTAM, TNFRSF9, EAT-2, and FOXP3 genes and reduced the expression of HSPA6. Our results suggest that Elo directly promotes the cytotoxic function of CD16-independent NK cells against target cells, which is associated with the upregulation of the expression of several NK cell-enhancing genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Hua Wang
- Department of Hematology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1, Kawada-Cho, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | - Shotaro Hagiwara
- Department of Hematology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1, Kawada-Cho, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kazama
- Department of Hematology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1, Kawada-Cho, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
- Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Adachi Medical Center, 4-33-1, Kohoku, Adachi-Ku, Tokyo 123-8558, Japan
| | - Yuki Iizuka
- Department of Hematology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1, Kawada-Cho, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | - Norina Tanaka
- Department of Hematology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1, Kawada-Cho, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | - Junji Tanaka
- Department of Hematology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1, Kawada-Cho, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
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11
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Liguori GL. Challenges and Promise for Glioblastoma Treatment through Extracellular Vesicle Inquiry. Cells 2024; 13:336. [PMID: 38391949 PMCID: PMC10886570 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GB) is a rare but extremely aggressive brain tumor that significantly impacts patient outcomes, affecting both duration and quality of life. The protocol established by Stupp and colleagues in 2005, based on radiotherapy and chemotherapy with Temozolomide, following maximum safe surgical resection remains the gold standard for GB treatment; however, it is evident nowadays that the extreme intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity, as well as the invasiveness and tendency to recur, of GB are not compatible with a routine and unfortunately ineffective treatment. This review article summarizes the main challenges in the search for new valuable therapies for GB and focuses on the impact that extracellular vesicle (EV) research and exploitation may have in the field. EVs are natural particles delimited by a lipidic bilayer and filled with functional cellular content that are released and uptaken by cells as key means of cell communication. Furthermore, EVs are stable in body fluids and well tolerated by the immune system, and are able to cross physiological, interspecies, and interkingdom barriers and to target specific cells, releasing inherent or externally loaded functionally active molecules. Therefore, EVs have the potential to be ideal allies in the fight against GB and to improve the prognosis for GB patients. The present work describes the main preclinical results obtained so far on the use of EVs for GB treatment, focusing on both the EV sources and molecular cargo used in the various functional studies, primarily in vivo. Finally, a SWOT analysis is performed, highlighting the main advantages and pitfalls of developing EV-based GB therapeutic strategies. The analysis also suggests the main directions to explore to realize the possibility of exploiting EVs for the treatment of GB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna L Liguori
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics (IGB) "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, 80131 Naples, Italy
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12
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Anthofer M, Windisch M, Haller R, Ehmann S, Wrighton S, Miller M, Schernthanner L, Kufferath I, Schauer S, Jelušić B, Kienesberger S, Zechner EL, Posselt G, Vales-Gomez M, Reyburn HT, Gorkiewicz G. Immune evasion by proteolytic shedding of natural killer group 2, member D ligands in Helicobacter pylori infection. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1282680. [PMID: 38318189 PMCID: PMC10839011 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1282680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) uses various strategies that attenuate mucosal immunity to ensure its persistence in the stomach. We recently found evidence that H. pylori might modulate the natural killer group 2, member 2 (NKG2D) system. The NKG2D receptor and its ligands are a major activation system of natural killer and cytotoxic T cells, which are important for mucosal immunity and tumor immunosurveillance. The NKG2D system allows recognition and elimination of infected and transformed cells, however viruses and cancers often subvert its activation. Here we aimed to identify a potential evasion of the NKG2D system in H. pylori infection. Methods We analyzed expression of NKG2D system genes in gastric tissues of H. pylori gastritis and gastric cancer patients, and performed cell-culture based infection experiments using H. pylori isogenic mutants and epithelial and NK cell lines. Results In biopsies of H. pylori gastritis patients, NKG2D receptor expression was reduced while NKG2D ligands accumulated in the lamina propria, suggesting NKG2D evasion. In vitro, H. pylori induced the transcription and proteolytic shedding of NKG2D ligands in stomach epithelial cells, and these effects were associated with specific H. pylori virulence factors. The H. pylori-driven release of soluble NKG2D ligands reduced the immunogenic visibility of infected cells and attenuated the cytotoxic activity of effector immune cells, specifically the anti-tumor activity of NK cells. Conclusion H. pylori manipulates the NKG2D system. This so far unrecognized strategy of immune evasion by H. pylori could potentially facilitate chronic bacterial persistence and might also promote stomach cancer development by allowing transformed cells to escape immune recognition and grow unimpeded to overt malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margit Anthofer
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Markus Windisch
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Rosa Haller
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sandra Ehmann
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Michael Miller
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Iris Kufferath
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Silvia Schauer
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Barbara Jelušić
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sabine Kienesberger
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation, BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Ellen L. Zechner
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation, BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Gernot Posselt
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Mar Vales-Gomez
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Spanish National Centre for Biotechnology, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hugh T. Reyburn
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Spanish National Centre for Biotechnology, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gregor Gorkiewicz
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation, BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
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13
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Serritella AV, Saenz-Lopez Larrocha P, Dhar P, Liu S, Medd MM, Jia S, Cao Q, Wu JD. The Human Soluble NKG2D Ligand Differentially Impacts Tumorigenicity and Progression in Temporal and Model-Dependent Modes. Biomedicines 2024; 12:196. [PMID: 38255301 PMCID: PMC10812945 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010196] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
NKG2D is an activating receptor expressed by all human NK cells and CD8 T cells. Harnessing the NKG2D/NKG2D ligand axis has emerged as a viable avenue for cancer immunotherapy. However, there is a long-standing controversy over whether soluble NKG2D ligands are immunosuppressive or immunostimulatory, originating from conflicting data generated from different scopes of pre-clinical investigations. Using multiple pre-clinical tumor models, we demonstrated that the impact of the most characterized human solid tumor-associated soluble NKG2D ligand, the soluble MHC I chain-related molecule (sMIC), on tumorigenesis depended on the tumor model being studied and whether the tumor cells possessed stemness-like properties. We demonstrated that the potential of tumor formation or establishment depended upon tumor cell stem-like properties irrespective of tumor cells secreting the soluble NKG2D ligand sMIC. Specifically, tumor formation was delayed or failed if sMIC-expressing tumor cells expressed low stem-cell markers; tumor formation was rapid if sMIC-expressing tumor cells expressed high stem-like cell markers. However, once tumors were formed, overexpression of sMIC unequivocally suppressed tumoral NK and CD8 T cell immunity and facilitated tumor growth. Our study distinguished the differential impacts of soluble NKG2D ligands in tumor formation and tumor progression, cleared the outstanding controversy over soluble NKG2D ligands in modulating tumor immunity, and re-enforced the viability of targeting soluble NKG2D ligands for cancer immunotherapy for established tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony V. Serritella
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA;
| | - Pablo Saenz-Lopez Larrocha
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (P.S.-L.L.); (P.D.); (S.L.); (M.M.M.); (S.J.); (Q.C.)
| | - Payal Dhar
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (P.S.-L.L.); (P.D.); (S.L.); (M.M.M.); (S.J.); (Q.C.)
| | - Sizhe Liu
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (P.S.-L.L.); (P.D.); (S.L.); (M.M.M.); (S.J.); (Q.C.)
| | - Milan M. Medd
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (P.S.-L.L.); (P.D.); (S.L.); (M.M.M.); (S.J.); (Q.C.)
| | - Shengxian Jia
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (P.S.-L.L.); (P.D.); (S.L.); (M.M.M.); (S.J.); (Q.C.)
| | - Qi Cao
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (P.S.-L.L.); (P.D.); (S.L.); (M.M.M.); (S.J.); (Q.C.)
| | - Jennifer D. Wu
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (P.S.-L.L.); (P.D.); (S.L.); (M.M.M.); (S.J.); (Q.C.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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14
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Yin JY, Zhou Y, Ding XM, Gong RZ, Zhou Y, Hu HY, Liu Y, Lv XB, Zhang B. UCA1 Inhibits NKG2D-mediated Cytotoxicity of NK Cells to Breast Cancer. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2024; 24:204-219. [PMID: 37076962 DOI: 10.2174/1568009623666230418134253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer cells play important roles in tumor immune surveillance, and cancer cells must resist this surveillance in order to progress and metastasise. INTRODUCTION The study aimed to explore the mechanism of how breast cancer cells become resistant to the cytotoxicity of NK cells. METHODS We established NK-resistant breast cancer cells by exposing MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF-7 cells to NK92 cells. Profiles of lncRNA were compared between the NK-resistant and parental cell lines. Primary NK cells were isolated by MACS, and the NK attacking effect was tested by non-radioactive cytotoxicity. The change in lncRNAs was analyzed by Gene-chip. The interaction between lncRNA and miRNA was displayed by Luciferase assay. The regulation of the gene was verified by QRT-PCR and WB. The clinical indicators were detected by ISH, IH, and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS UCA1 was found to be significantly up-regulated in both NK-resistant cell lines, and we confirmed such up-regulation on its own to be sufficient to render parental cell lines resistant to NK92 cells. We found that UCA1 up-regulated ULBP2 via the transcription factor CREB1, while it up-regulated ADAM17 by "sponging" the miR-26b-5p. ADAM17 facilitated the shedding of soluble ULBP2 from the surface of breast cancer cells, rendering them resistant to killing by NK cells. UCA1, ADAM17, and ULBP2 were found to be expressed at higher levels in bone metastases of breast cancer than in primary tumors. CONCLUSION Our data strongly suggest that UCA1 up-regulates ULBP2 expression and shedding, rendering breast cancer cells resistant to killing by NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Yi Yin
- Orthopaedic Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 445 Bayi Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, China
- Oncology Department of Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, No. 389 Xincun Road, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Third hospital of Nanchang, No. 2, Xiangshan Road, Xihu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330009, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Ding
- Oncology Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, No. 600 Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Run-Ze Gong
- Oncology Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, No. 600 Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Oncology Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, No. 600 Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Hai-Yan Hu
- Oncology Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, No. 600 Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Oncology Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, No. 600 Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Xiao-Bin Lv
- Central Laboratory of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 128 Xiangshan N Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330008, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Orthopaedic Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 445 Bayi Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, China
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15
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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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16
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Klussmeier A, Putke K, Klasberg S, Kohler M, Sauter J, Schefzyk D, Schöfl G, Massalski C, Schäfer G, Schmidt AH, Roers A, Lange V. High population frequencies of MICA copy number variations originate from independent recombination events. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1297589. [PMID: 38035108 PMCID: PMC10684724 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1297589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
MICA is a stress-induced ligand of the NKG2D receptor that stimulates NK and T cell responses and was identified as a key determinant of anti-tumor immunity. The MICA gene is located inside the MHC complex and is in strong linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B. While an HLA-B*48-linked MICA deletion-haplotype was previously described in Asian populations, little is known about other MICA copy number variations. Here, we report the genotyping of more than two million individuals revealing high frequencies of MICA duplications (1%) and MICA deletions (0.4%). Their prevalence differs between ethnic groups and can rise to 2.8% (Croatia) and 9.2% (Mexico), respectively. Targeted sequencing of more than 70 samples indicates that these copy number variations originate from independent nonallelic homologous recombination events between segmental duplications upstream of MICA and MICB. Overall, our data warrant further investigation of disease associations and consideration of MICA copy number data in oncological study protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Axel Roers
- Institute for Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University of Technology (TU) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Institute for Immunology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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17
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Portillo AL, Monteiro JK, Rojas EA, Ritchie TM, Gillgrass A, Ashkar AA. Charting a killer course to the solid tumor: strategies to recruit and activate NK cells in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1286750. [PMID: 38022679 PMCID: PMC10663242 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1286750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to expand and activate natural Killer (NK) cells ex vivo has dramatically changed the landscape in the development of novel adoptive cell therapies for treating cancer over the last decade. NK cells have become a key player for cancer immunotherapy due to their innate ability to kill malignant cells while not harming healthy cells, allowing their potential use as an "off-the-shelf" product. Furthermore, recent advancements in NK cell genetic engineering methods have enabled the efficient generation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing NK cells that can exert both CAR-dependent and antigen-independent killing. Clinically, CAR-NK cells have shown promising efficacy and safety for treating CD19-expressing hematologic malignancies. While the number of pre-clinical studies using CAR-NK cells continues to expand, it is evident that solid tumors pose a unique challenge to NK cell-based adoptive cell therapies. Major barriers for efficacy include low NK cell trafficking and infiltration into solid tumor sites, low persistence, and immunosuppression by the harsh solid tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review we discuss the barriers posed by the solid tumor that prevent immune cell trafficking and NK cell effector functions. We then discuss promising strategies to enhance NK cell infiltration into solid tumor sites and activation within the TME. This includes NK cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic mechanisms such as NK cell engineering to resist TME-mediated inhibition and use of tumor-targeted agents such as oncolytic viruses expressing chemoattracting and activating payloads. We then discuss opportunities and challenges for using combination therapies to extend NK cell therapies for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Portillo
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathan K. Monteiro
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Eduardo A. Rojas
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Tyrah M. Ritchie
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Amy Gillgrass
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ali A. Ashkar
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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18
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Zhang J, Luo Q, Li X, Guo J, Zhu Q, Lu X, Wei L, Xiang Z, Peng M, Ou C, Zou Y. Novel role of immune-related non-coding RNAs as potential biomarkers regulating tumour immunoresponse via MICA/NKG2D pathway. Biomark Res 2023; 11:86. [PMID: 37784183 PMCID: PMC10546648 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00530-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex class I related chain A (MICA) is an important and stress-induced ligand of the natural killer group 2 member D receptor (NKG2D) that is expressed in various tumour cells. Given that the MICA/NKG2D signalling system is critically embedded in the innate and adaptive immune responses, it is particularly involved in the surveillance of cancer and viral infections. Emerging evidence has revealed the important roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in different cancer types. We searched for all relevant publications in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science database using the keywords ncRNA, MICA, NKG2D, cancer, and miRNAs. All relevant studies published from 2008 to the 2023 were retrieved and collated. Notably, we found that miRNAs can target to NKG2D mRNA and MICA mRNA 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTR), leading to translation inhibition of NKG2D and MICA degradation. Several immune-related MICA/NKG2D pathways may be dysregulated in cancer with aberrant miRNA expressions. At the same time, the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis holds that circRNAs, lncRNAs, and mRNAs induce an abnormal MICA expression by directly targeting downstream miRNAs to mediate mRNA suppression in cancer. This review summarizes the novel mechanism of immune escape in the ncRNA-related MICA/NKG2D pathway mediated by NK cells and cancer cells. Moreover, we identified the miRNA-NKG2D, miRNA-MICA and circRNA/lncRNA/mRNA-miRNA-mRNA/MICA axis. Thus, we were particularly concerned with the regulation of mediated immune escape in the MICA/NKG2D pathway by ncRNAs as potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers of immunity and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China
| | - Qizhi Luo
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China
| | - Junshuang Guo
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China
| | - Quan Zhu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaofang Lu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China
| | - Leiyan Wei
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China
| | - Zhiqing Xiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China
| | - Manqing Peng
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China
| | - Chunlin Ou
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China.
| | - Yizhou Zou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, China.
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19
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Khaleafi R, Zeleznjak J, Cordela S, Drucker S, Rovis TL, Jonjic S, Bar-On Y. Reovirus infection of tumor cells reduces the expression of NKG2D ligands, leading to impaired NK-cell cytotoxicity and functionality. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1231782. [PMID: 37753084 PMCID: PMC10518469 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1231782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, reoviruses have been of major interest in immunotherapy because of their oncolytic properties. Preclinical and clinical trials, in which reovirus was used for the treatment of melanoma and glioblastoma, have paved the way for future clinical use of reovirus. However, little is known about how reovirus infection affects the tumor microenvironment and immune response towards infected tumor cells. Studies have shown that reovirus can directly stimulate natural killer (NK) cells, but how reovirus affects cellular ligands on tumor cells, which are ultimately key to tumor recognition and elimination by NK cells, has not been investigated. We tested how reovirus infection affects the binding of the NK Group-2 member D (NKG2D) receptor, which is a dominant mediator of NK cell anti-tumor activity. Using models of human-derived melanoma and glioblastoma tumors, we demonstrated that NKG2D ligands are downregulated in tumor cells post-reovirus-infection due to the impaired translation of these ligands in reovirus-infected cells. Moreover, we showed that downregulation of NKG2D ligands significantly impaired the binding of NKG2D to infected tumor cells. We further demonstrated that reduced recognition of NKG2D ligands significantly alters NK cell anti-tumor cytotoxicity in human primary NK cells and in the NK cell line NK-92. Thus, this study provides novel insights into reovirus-host interactions and could lead to the development of novel reovirus-based therapeutics that enhance the anti-tumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghad Khaleafi
- Department of Immunology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Jelena Zeleznjak
- Department of Histology and Embryology/Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Sapir Cordela
- Department of Immunology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shani Drucker
- Department of Immunology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tihana Lenac Rovis
- Department of Histology and Embryology/Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Stipan Jonjic
- Department of Histology and Embryology/Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Yotam Bar-On
- Department of Immunology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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20
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Kol I, Rishiq A, Cohen M, Kahlon S, Pick O, Dassa L, Stein N, Bar-On Y, Wolf DG, Seidel E, Mandelboim O. CLPTM1L is a GPI-anchoring pathway component targeted by HCMV. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202207104. [PMID: 37389656 PMCID: PMC10316631 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202207104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The GPI-anchoring pathway plays important roles in normal development and immune modulation. MHC Class I Polypeptide-related Sequence A (MICA) is a stress-induced ligand, downregulated by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) to escape immune recognition. Its most prevalent allele, MICA*008, is GPI-anchored via an uncharacterized pathway. Here, we identify cleft lip and palate transmembrane protein 1-like protein (CLPTM1L) as a GPI-anchoring pathway component and show that during infection, the HCMV protein US9 downregulates MICA*008 via CLPTM1L. We show that the expression of some GPI-anchored proteins (CD109, CD59, and MELTF)-but not others (ULBP2, ULBP3)-is CLPTM1L-dependent, and further show that like MICA*008, MELTF is downregulated by US9 via CLPTM1L during infection. Mechanistically, we suggest that CLPTM1L's function depends on its interaction with a free form of PIG-T, normally a part of the GPI transamidase complex. We suggest that US9 inhibits this interaction and thereby downregulates the expression of CLPTM1L-dependent proteins. Altogether, we report on a new GPI-anchoring pathway component that is targeted by HCMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Kol
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hadassah—Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ahmed Rishiq
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hadassah—Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Mevaseret Cohen
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hadassah—Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shira Kahlon
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hadassah—Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ophir Pick
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hadassah—Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Liat Dassa
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hadassah—Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Natan Stein
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hadassah—Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yotam Bar-On
- Department of Immunology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dana G. Wolf
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hadassah—Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- Clinical Virology Unit, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Einat Seidel
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hadassah—Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ofer Mandelboim
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hadassah—Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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21
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Li T, Jiao J, Ke H, Ouyang W, Wang L, Pan J, Li X. Role of exosomes in the development of the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1200201. [PMID: 37457718 PMCID: PMC10339802 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1200201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite numerous improved treatment methods used in recent years, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still a disease with a high mortality rate. Many recent studies have shown that immunotherapy has great potential for cancer treatment. Exosomes play a significant role in negatively regulating the immune system in HCC. Understanding how these exosomes play a role in innate and adaptive immunity in HCC can significantly improve the immunotherapeutic effects on HCC. Further, engineered exosomes can deliver different drugs and RNA molecules to regulate the immune microenvironment of HCC by regulating the aforementioned immune pathway, thereby significantly improving the mortality rate of HCC. This study aimed to declare the role of exosomes in the development of the immune microenvironment in HCC and list engineered exosomes that could be used for clinical transformation therapy. These findings might be beneficial for clinical patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanghua Li
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiapeng Jiao
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haoteng Ke
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenshan Ouyang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luobin Wang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Pan
- The Department of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hongkong, Hongkong SAR, China
| | - Xin Li
- Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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22
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Tang Y, Zang H, Wen Q, Fan S. AXL in cancer: a modulator of drug resistance and therapeutic target. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:148. [PMID: 37328828 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02726-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
AXL is a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) receptor tyrosine kinases family (RTKs), and its abnormal expression has been linked to clinicopathological features and poor prognosis of cancer patients. There is mounting evidence supporting AXL's role in the occurrence and progression of cancer, as well as drug resistance and treatment tolerance. Recent studies revealed that reducing AXL expression can weaken cancer cells' drug resistance, indicating that AXL may be a promising target for anti-cancer drug treatment. This review aims to summarize the AXL's structure, the mechanisms regulating and activating it, and its expression pattern, especially in drug-resistant cancers. Additionally, we will discuss the diverse functions of AXL in mediating cancer drug resistance and the potential of AXL inhibitors in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoxiang Tang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Hongjing Zang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Qiuyuan Wen
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
| | - Songqing Fan
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
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23
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Zhu Y, Zhao Z, Xue M, Wang D, Su G, Ju X, Yang Q, Zhang S, Fan D, Zhu H, Yu M, Li Y, Kong L, Zhou H. Ciclopirox olamine sensitizes leukemia cells to natural killer cell-mediated cytolysis by upregulating NKG2DLs via the Akt signaling pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 659:10-19. [PMID: 37030020 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.03.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The activating receptor natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) expressed by Natural killer (NK) cells functions as a "master-switch" in governing the awakening status of NK cells. The NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity has been declared to be related with the expression levels of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) expressed on tumor cells. Therefore, selective induction of NKG2DLs could be a reliable approach to enhance the efficacy of NK cell-mediated immunotherapy. Our existing study demonstrated that Ciclopirox Olamine (CPX), an off-patent antifungal agent, effectively elevated the expression of NKG2DLs on leukemia cells and sensitized leukemia cells to NK-cell mediated cytolysis. Induction of ROS production and AKT phosphorylation by CPX is essential for the up-regulation of NKG2DLs expressions. Inhibition of AKT by using AKT inhibitor MK2206 decreased both NKG2DLs expressions and NK cell cytotoxicity. These data indicated that increased sensitivity of CPX-treated leukemia cells to NK cell cytolysis was attributed to higher NKG2DLs expressions, resulting from activated AKT signaling pathway. Our findings support the ongoing development of CPX as an anti-tumor agent and suggest its promising immunotherapeutic value in the medication of leukemia.
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24
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Pan M, Wang F, Nan L, Yang S, Qi J, Xie J, Shao S, Zou H, Wang M, Sun F, Zhang J. αVEGFR2-MICA fusion antibodies enhance immunotherapy effect and synergize with PD-1 blockade. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:969-984. [PMID: 36227341 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-022-03306-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Antiangiogenic therapy has shown significant clinical benefits in gastric cancer (GC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, their effectiveness is limited by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The MHC class I chain-related molecules A and B (MICA/B) are expressed in many human cancers, enabling elimination of cancer cells by cytotoxic lymphocytes through natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) receptor activation. To improve antiangiogenic therapy and prolong its efficacy, we generated a bi-specific fusion protein (mAb04-MICA). This was comprised of an antibody targeting VEGFR2 fused to a MICA α1-α2 ectodomain. mAb04-MICA inhibited proliferation of GC and NSCLC cells through specific binding to VEGFR2 and had superior anti-tumor efficacy in both GC and NSCLC-bearing mouse models compared with ramucirumab. Further investigation revealed that the mAb04-MICA promoted NKG2D+ NK cell activation and induced the tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) polarization from M2 type to M1 type both in vitro and in vivo. The polarization of TAMs upon NKG2D and MICA mediated activation has not yet been reported. Moreover, given the up-regulation of PD-L1 in tumors during anti-angiogenesis therapy, anti-PD-1 antibody enhanced the anti-tumoral activity of mAb04-MICA through stimulating infiltration and activation of NKs and CD8+T cells in responding tumors. Our findings demonstrate that dual targeting of angiogenesis and NKG2D, or in combination with the PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, is a promising anti-tumor therapeutic strategy. This is accomplished through maintaining or reinstating tumor immunosurveillance during treatment, which expands the repertoire of anti-angiogenesis-based cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Pan
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Lidi Nan
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Siyu Yang
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Jinyao Qi
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Jiajun Xie
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Shuai Shao
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Hongyi Zou
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Min Wang
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Fumou Sun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Myeloma Center, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Juan Zhang
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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25
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Guo D, Jin C, Gao Y, Lin H, Zhang L, Zhou Y, Yao J, Duan Y, Ren Y, Hui X, Ge Y, Yang R, Jiang W. GPR116 receptor regulates the antitumor function of NK cells via Gαq/HIF1α/NF-κB signaling pathway as a potential immune checkpoint. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:51. [PMID: 36895027 PMCID: PMC9999509 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01005-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND NK cell is one of innate immune cells and can protect the body from cancer-initiating cells. It has been reported that GPR116 receptor is involved in inflammation and tumors. However, the effect of GPR116 receptor on the NK cells remains largely unclear. RESULTS We discovered that GPR116-/- mice could efficiently eliminate pancreatic cancer through enhancing the proportion and function of NK cells in tumor. Moreover, the expression of GPR116 receptor was decreased upon the activation of the NK cells. Besides, GPR116-/- NK cells showed higher cytotoxicity and antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo by producing more GzmB and IFNγ than wild-type (WT) NK cells. Mechanistically, GPR116 receptor regulated the function of NK cells via Gαq/HIF1α/NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, downregulation of GPR116 receptor promoted the antitumor activity of NKG2D-CAR-NK92 cells against pancreatic cancer both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicated that GPR116 receptor had a negatively effect on NK cell function and downregulation of GPR116 receptor in NKG2D-CAR-NK92 cells could enhance the antitumor activity, which provides a new idea to enhance the antitumor efficiency of CAR NK cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Guo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Chenxu Jin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yaoxin Gao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Haizhen Lin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jie Yao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yixin Duan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yaojun Ren
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xinhui Hui
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yujia Ge
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Renzheng Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Wenzheng Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rood, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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Clinical Significance of Plasma Soluble MICB in Children With EBV-associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2023; 45:e446-e454. [PMID: 36898046 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000002652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a potentially fatal systemic inflammation disease in children. The most common cause is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence B (MICB) is a membrane protein inducibly expressed upon cellular stress, viral infection, or malignant transformation, thus marking these cells for clearance through natural killer group 2 member D-positive lymphocytes. MICB can be released into plasma through several mechanisms, reducing NK cell cytotoxicity. METHODS We conducted clinical research on HLH patients and cell research in vitro. In the retrospective clinical part, 112 HLH patients (including EBV-HLH group and non-EBV-HLH group), 7 infectious mononucleosis patients, and 7 chronic active EBV infection patients were treated in Beijing Children's Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, from January 2014 to December 2020, were enrolled in this study. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods, and lactate dehydrogenase release tests were used to examine the expression of MICB mRNA, the soluble MICB (sMICB) levels, and the activity of NK cells in those patients. In vitro research, MICB overexpression-vector virus, MICB knockdown-vector virus, and empty-vector virus were transfected into two kinds of target cells, such as K562 and MCF7. The level of sMICB and NK cell killing activity between other groups was compared. Finally, we compared NK92 cell killing activity in different concentrations of sMICB. RESULTS In clinical studies, compared with the non-EBV-HLH group, the EBV-HLH group had lower NK cell killing activity (P < 0.05). The level of sMICB in the EBV-HLH group was significantly higher than in non-EBV-HLH, infectious mononucleosis, and chronic active EBV infection patients (P<0.05). A high level of sMICB was associated with poor treatment response and poor prognosis (P<0. 05). Cellular studies showed that an increased level of membrane MICB could positively correlate with the killing activity of NK92 cells (P<0. 05), and a high level of sMICB (1250 to 5000pg/ml) could reduce the killing activity of NK92 cells (P < 0.05). A high level of sMICB (2500pg/ml) could increase the release of cytokines from NK92 cells. CONCLUSION The expression level of sMICB in EBV-HLH patients increased, and a high level of sMICB at the initial onset indicated a poor treatment response. The killing activity of NK cells in EBV-HLH patients decreased more significantly. The high level of sMICB may inhibit the killing activity but increase the release of cytokines of NK92 cells.
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Li G, Nikkhoi SK, Hatefi A. Stem cell-assisted enzyme/prodrug therapy makes drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells vulnerable to natural killer cells through upregulation of NKG2D ligands. Med Oncol 2023; 40:110. [PMID: 36862260 PMCID: PMC10794068 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-01975-1] [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: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are believed to be responsible for cancer recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, a therapeutic approach is needed to eliminate both rapidly proliferating differentiated cancer cells and slow-growing drug-resistant CSCs. Using established ovarian cancer cells lines as well as ovarian cancer cells isolated from a patient with high-grade drug-resistant ovarian carcinoma, we demonstrate that ovarian CSCs consistently express lower levels of NKG2D ligands (MICA/B and ULBPs) on their surfaces, a mechanism by which they evade natural killer (NK) cells' surveillance. Here, we discovered that exposure of ovarian cancer (OC) cells to SN-38 followed by 5-FU not only acts synergistically to kill the OC cells, but also makes the CSCs vulnerable to NK92 cells through upregulation of NKG2D ligands. Since systemic administration of these two drugs is marred by intolerance and instability, we engineered and isolated an adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) clone, which stably expresses carboxylesterase-2 and yeast cytosine deaminase enzymes to convert irinotecan and 5-FC prodrugs into SN-38 and 5-FU cytotoxic drugs, respectively. Co-incubation of ASCs and prodrugs with drug-resistant OC cells not only led to the death of the drug-resistant OC cells but also made them significantly vulnerable to NK92 cells. This study provides proof of principle for a combined ASC-directed targeted chemotherapy with NK92-assisted immunotherapy to eradicate drug-resistant OC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geng Li
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA
| | | | - Arash Hatefi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA.
- Cancer Pharmacology Program, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
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Arianfar E, Khandoozi SR, Mohammadi S, Memarian A. Suppression of CD56 bright NK cells in breast cancer patients is associated with the PD-1 and TGF-βRII expression. Clin Transl Oncol 2023; 25:841-851. [PMID: 36414921 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02997-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer (NK) cells, as professional cytotoxic cells, play a key role against cancer in the early and metastatic stages. Their functional defects are highly associated with the initiation or progression of breast cancer (BC). Here, we investigated the phenotypic characterization of NK cells in 26 newly diagnosed BC patients in comparison to 12 healthy counterparts. METHODS Expression of CXCR3 and PD-1, and also NKG2D, and TGF-βRII were studied on CD56dim and CD56bright NK cells from fresh peripheral blood (PB) samples using flow cytometry. The plasma levels of IFN-γ and soluble MIC-A levels were also assessed by ELISA. RESULTS Both CD56dim and CD56bright NK subtypes showed lower CXCR3 and NKG2D expression in BC patients than healthy subjects. Furthermore, patients' CD56bright NK cells significantly showed higher expression levels of TGF-βRII and PD-1. Interestingly, increased concentration of MIC-A level in plasma of BC patients was associated with the higher TGF-βRII and PD-1 expression in all NK cells, while the plasma level of IFN-γ was associated with the lower TGF-βRII expression on CD56bright NK cells in these patients. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated phenotypically suppressed-NK cells, especially in the CD56bright subset of BC patients. It specifies their potential incompetence and outlines decrement of their anti-tumor activity, which could be interrelated with the tumor pathogenesis, TME immunosuppression, and so disease progression. The induction of compensatory mechanisms revives NK cells function and could be used in combination with the conventional treatments as a putative therapeutic approach for targeted immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Arianfar
- Student Research Committee, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | | | - Saeed Mohammadi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Ali Memarian
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. .,Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
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Chen D, Gao J, Ren L, Chen P, Yang Y, She S, Xie Y, Liao W, Chen H. A signature based on NKG2D ligands to predict the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radical resection. Cancer Med 2023; 12:6337-6347. [PMID: 36210637 PMCID: PMC10028019 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5318] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Due to the high recurrence, the HCC prognosis remains poor. Yet, the biomarkers for predicting the recurrence of high-risk patients are currently lacking. We aimed to develop a signature to predict the recurrence of HCC based on NKG2D ligands. METHODS The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to select recurrence-related variables of NKG2D ligands in HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). HCC patients from the OEP000321 dataset and Guilin cohort were used to validate the predictive signature. The mRNA expression of NKG2D ligands was measured by QRT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry analysis of HCC tissue microarray samples was used to identify the expression of NKG2D ligands. RESULTS In this study, NKG2D ligands expression in the mRNA and protein level was both abnormally expressed in HCC and associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS). Then, the recurrence-related variables of NKG2D ligands in HCC were selected by the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Among the eight NKG2D ligands, MICA (HR = 1.347; 95% CI = 1.012-1.793; p = 0.041), ULBP3 (HR = 0.453; 95% CI = 0.231-0.889; p = 0.021) and ULBP5 (HR = 3.617; 95% CI = 1.819-7.194; p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with RFS in the TCGA-LIHC cohort. Then, the signature was constructed by the three NKG2D ligands. The predictive effectiveness of this signature was also validated in the OEP000321 dataset and Guilin cohort. Further, HCC patients were classified into low-risk and high-risk subgroups by the predictive score. Compared with the low-risk group, the high-risk group had poor RFS in both training and validation cohorts. Importantly, compared with the low-risk patients with the G1-G2 stage, the levels of infiltrated NK-activated cells and NKG2D expression were both lower in the high-risk patients. CONCLUSIONS The signature based on MICA, ULBP3, and ULBP5 could predict HCC recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongbo Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for liver Disease, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Ren
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for liver Disease, Beijing, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Pu Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for liver Disease, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Yang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for liver Disease, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoping She
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for liver Disease, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Xie
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- Da Ren Biotech Limited, Hong Kong, China
| | - Weijia Liao
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Hongsong Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for liver Disease, Beijing, China
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Deregulation of host gene expression by HPV16 E8^E2 knock-out genomes is due to increased productive replication. Virology 2023; 581:39-47. [PMID: 36870121 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2023.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Productive replication of human papillomaviruses (HPV) only takes place in differentiating keratinocytes. The HPV16 E8^E2 protein acts as a repressor of viral gene expression and genome replication and HPV16 E8^E2 knock-out (E8-) genomes display enhanced viral late protein expression in differentiated cells. Global transcriptome analysis of differentiated HPV16 wild-type and E8-cell lines revealed a small number of differentially expressed genes which are not related to cell cycle, DNA metabolism or keratinocyte differentiation. The analysis of selected genes suggested that deregulation requires cell differentiation and positively correlated with the expression of viral late, not early transcripts. Consistent with this, the additional knock-out of the viral E4 and E5 genes, which are known to enhance productive replication, attenuated the deregulation of these host cell genes. In summary, these data reveal that productive HPV16 replication modulates host cell transcription.
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Tumor immunology. Clin Immunol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818006-8.00003-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Jiang G, Ng YY, Tay JCK, Du Z, Xiao L, Wang S, Zhu J. Dual CAR-T cells to treat cancers co-expressing NKG2D and PD1 ligands in xenograft models of peritoneal metastasis. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:223-234. [PMID: 35809118 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-022-03247-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
While the expression of either NKG2D ligands or PD-1 ligands has been reported in various types of cancers, the co-expression of the two sets of ligands in the same tumour tissues is still un-investigated. After examining 68 primary ovarian cancer samples, we observed around 80% of the co-expression in low grade serous and endometrioid ovarian cancer samples. We then constructed a dual CAR system that splits the conventional single-input of a 2nd generation CAR into two independent chimeric receptors, one composed of the NKG2D extracellular domain linked with DAP12 for T cell activation and another using the PD-1 extracellular domain linked with 4-1BB for costimulatory signal 2 input. Given the limitation of the low-affinity PD-1 receptor in recognizing cancer cells with low levels of PD-1 ligands, we also used a high-affinity scFv specific to PD-L1 in our combinatorial approach to expand the range of target cancer cells with different expression levels of PD-L1. The two types of dual CAR-T cells were generated through electroporation of non-viral piggyBac transposon plasmids and were effective in eliminating the target cancer cells. Especially, the dual CAR-T cells with anti-PD-L1 scFv were capable of eradicating established tumors in mouse models of peritoneal metastasis of colorectal cancer and ovarian cancer. Since both NKG2D ligands and PD-1 ligands have been marked as favourable cancer therapeutic targets, the new dual CAR-T cells developed in this study hold attractive application potential in treating metastatic peritoneal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyi Jiang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, 310022, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Yang Ng
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Johan C K Tay
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Zhicheng Du
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Lin Xiao
- Cheetah Cell Therapeutics, #501, No 2 Avenue, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu Wang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, 310022, People's Republic of China.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Jianqing Zhu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, 310022, People's Republic of China.
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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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Ghaedrahmati F, Esmaeil N, Abbaspour M. Targeting immune checkpoints: how to use natural killer cells for fighting against solid tumors. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2022; 43:177-213. [PMID: 36585761 PMCID: PMC9926962 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are unique innate immune cells that mediate anti-viral and anti-tumor responses. Thus, they might hold great potential for cancer immunotherapy. NK cell adoptive immunotherapy in humans has shown modest efficacy. In particular, it has failed to demonstrate therapeutic efficiency in the treatment of solid tumors, possibly due in part to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which reduces NK cell immunotherapy's efficiencies. It is known that immune checkpoints play a prominent role in creating an immunosuppressive TME, leading to NK cell exhaustion and tumor immune escape. Therefore, NK cells must be reversed from their dysfunctional status and increased in their effector roles in order to improve the efficiency of cancer immunotherapy. Blockade of immune checkpoints can not only rescue NK cells from exhaustion but also augment their robust anti-tumor activity. In this review, we discussed immune checkpoint blockade strategies with a focus on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells to redirect NK cells to cancer cells in the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhoodeh Ghaedrahmati
- Department of ImmunologySchool of MedicineIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
| | - Nafiseh Esmaeil
- Department of ImmunologySchool of MedicineIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran,Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non‐Communicable DiseaseIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
| | - Maryam Abbaspour
- Department of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyFaculty of PharmacyIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
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Kousar K, Ahmad T, Abduh MS, Kanwal B, Shah SS, Naseer F, Anjum S. miRNAs in Regulation of Tumor Microenvironment, Chemotherapy Resistance, Immunotherapy Modulation and miRNA Therapeutics in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213822. [PMID: 36430305 PMCID: PMC9699074 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
miRNAs are 20-22 long nucleotide non-coding ribonucleic acid molecules critical to the modulation of molecular pathways. Immune evasion and the establishment of a suitable tumor microenvironment are two major contributors that support tumor invasion and metastasis. Tumorigenic miRNAs support these two hallmarks by desensitizing important tumor-sensitive regulatory cells such as dendritic cells, M1 macrophages, and T helper cells towards tumors while supporting infiltration and proliferation of immune cells like Treg cells, tumor-associated M2 macrophages that promote self-tolerance and chronic inflammation. miRNAs have a significant role in enhancing the efficacies of immunotherapy treatments like checkpoint blockade therapy, adoptive T cell therapy, and oncolytic virotherapy in cancer. A clear understanding of the role of miRNA can help scientists to formulate better-targeted treatment modalities. miRNA therapeutics have emerged as diverse class of nucleic acid-based molecules that can suppress oncogenic miRNAs and promote the expression of tumor suppressor miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kousain Kousar
- Industrial Biotechnology, Atta Ur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
- Correspondence: (K.K.); (T.A.)
| | - Tahir Ahmad
- Industrial Biotechnology, Atta Ur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
- Correspondence: (K.K.); (T.A.)
| | - Maisa S. Abduh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Balquees Kanwal
- Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta Ur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Syeda Saba Shah
- Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta Ur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Faiza Naseer
- Industrial Biotechnology, Atta Ur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer e Millat University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Anjum
- Department of Biology, University of Hail, Hail 81442, Saudi Arabia
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Otmani K, Rouas R, Lewalle P. OncomiRs as noncoding RNAs having functions in cancer: Their role in immune suppression and clinical implications. Front Immunol 2022; 13:913951. [PMID: 36189271 PMCID: PMC9523483 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.913951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, microRNAs have been established as central players in tumorigenesis, but above all, they have opened an important door for our understanding of immune and tumor cell communication. This dialog is largely due to onco-miR transfer from tumor cells to cells of the tumor microenvironment by exosome. This review outlines recent advances regarding the role of oncomiRs in enhancing cancer and how they modulate the cancer-related immune response in the tumor immune microenvironment.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a type of noncoding RNA that are important posttranscriptional regulators of messenger RNA (mRNA) translation into proteins. By regulating gene expression, miRNAs enhance or inhibit cancer development and participate in several cancer biological processes, including proliferation, invasion metastasis, angiogenesis, chemoresistance and immune escape. Consistent with their widespread effects, miRNAs have been categorized as oncogenes (oncomiRs) or tumor suppressor (TS) miRNAs. MiRNAs that promote tumor growth, called oncomiRs, inhibit messenger RNAs of TS genes and are therefore overexpressed in cancer. In contrast, TS miRNAs inhibit oncogene messenger RNAs and are therefore underexpressed in cancer. Endogenous miRNAs regulate different cellular pathways in all cell types. Therefore, they are not only key modulators in cancer cells but also in the cells constituting their microenvironments. Recently, it was shown that miRNAs are also involved in intercellular communication. Indeed, miRNAs can be transferred from one cell type to another where they regulate targeted gene expression. The primary carriers for the transfer of miRNAs from one cell to another are exosomes. Exosomes are currently considered the primary carriers for communication between the tumor and its surrounding stromal cells to support cancer progression and drive immune suppression. Exosome and miRNAs are seen by many as a hope for developing a new class of targeted therapy. This review outlines recent advances in understanding the role of oncomiRs in enhancing cancer and how they promote its aggressive characteristics and deeply discusses the role of oncomiRs in suppressing the anticancer immune response in its microenvironment. Additionally, further understanding the mechanism of oncomiR-related immune suppression will facilitate the use of miRNAs as biomarkers for impaired antitumor immune function, making them ideal immunotherapy targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Otmani
- Experimental Hematology Laboratory, Hematology Department, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
- Hematology Department, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Khalid Otmani,
| | - Redouane Rouas
- Hematology Department, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Hematological Cell Therapy Unit, Hematology Department, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philippe Lewalle
- Experimental Hematology Laboratory, Hematology Department, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
- Hematology Department, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Hematological Cell Therapy Unit, Hematology Department, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
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Koch MS, Zdioruk M, Nowicki MO, Griffith AM, Aguilar-Cordova E, Aguilar LK, Guzik BW, Barone F, Tak PP, Schregel K, Hoetker MS, Lederer JA, Chiocca EA, Tabatabai G, Lawler SE. Perturbing DDR signaling enhances cytotoxic effects of local oncolytic virotherapy and modulates the immune environment in glioma. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 26:275-288. [PMID: 36032633 PMCID: PMC9391522 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
CAN-2409 is a replication-deficient adenovirus encoding herpes simplex virus (HSV) thymidine kinase (tk) currently in clinical trials for treatment of glioblastoma. The expression of tk in transduced cancer cells results in conversion of the pro-drug ganciclovir into a toxic metabolite causing DNA damage, inducing immunogenic cell death and immune activation. We hypothesize that CAN-2409 combined with DNA-damage-response inhibitors could amplify tumor cell death, resulting in an improved response. We investigated the effects of ATR inhibitor AZD6738 in combination with CAN-2409 in vitro using cytotoxicity, cytokine, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) assays in glioma cell lines and in vivo with an orthotopic syngeneic murine glioma model. Tumor immune infiltrates were analyzed by cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF). In vitro, we observed a significant increase in the DNA-damage marker γH2AX and decreased expression of PD-L1, pro-tumorigenic cytokines (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-4), and ligand NKG2D after combination treatment compared with monotherapy or control. In vivo, long-term survival was increased after combination treatment (66.7%) compared with CAN-2409 (50%) and control. In a tumor re-challenge, long-term immunity after combination treatment was not improved. Our results suggest that ATR inhibition could amplify CAN-2409's efficacy in glioblastoma through increased DNA damage while having complex immunological ramifications, warranting further studies to determine the ideal conditions for maximized therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilin S. Koch
- Harvey Cushing Neurooncology Research Laboratories, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mykola Zdioruk
- Harvey Cushing Neurooncology Research Laboratories, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Michal O. Nowicki
- Harvey Cushing Neurooncology Research Laboratories, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alec M. Griffith
- Department of Surgery, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Laura K. Aguilar
- Candel Therapeutics, 117 Kendrick St, Suite 450, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Brian W. Guzik
- Candel Therapeutics, 117 Kendrick St, Suite 450, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Francesca Barone
- Candel Therapeutics, 117 Kendrick St, Suite 450, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Paul Peter Tak
- Candel Therapeutics, 117 Kendrick St, Suite 450, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Katharina Schregel
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael S. Hoetker
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - James A. Lederer
- Department of Surgery, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - E. Antonio Chiocca
- Harvey Cushing Neurooncology Research Laboratories, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ghazaleh Tabatabai
- Department of Neurology and Interdisciplinary Neuro-Oncology, University Hospital Tübingen, Hertie Institut for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 6, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sean E. Lawler
- Harvey Cushing Neurooncology Research Laboratories, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Cyran AM, Zhitkovich A. HIF1, HSF1, and NRF2: Oxidant-Responsive Trio Raising Cellular Defenses and Engaging Immune System. Chem Res Toxicol 2022; 35:1690-1700. [PMID: 35948068 PMCID: PMC9580020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Cellular homeostasis is continuously challenged by damage
from
reactive oxygen species (ROS) and numerous reactive electrophiles.
Human cells contain various protective systems that are upregulated
in response to protein damage by electrophilic or oxidative stress.
In addition to the NRF2-mediated antioxidant response, ROS and reactive
electrophiles also activate HSF1 and HIF1 that control heat shock
response and hypoxia response, respectively. Here, we review chemical
and biological mechanisms of activation of these three transcription
factors by ROS/reactive toxicants and the roles of their gene expression
programs in antioxidant protection. We also discuss how NRF2, HSF1,
and HIF1 responses establish multilayered cellular defenses consisting
of largely nonoverlapping programs, which mitigates limitations of
each response. Some innate immunity links in these stress responses
help eliminate damaged cells, whereas others suppress deleterious
inflammation in normal tissues but inhibit immunosurveillance of cancer
cells in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Cyran
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Anatoly Zhitkovich
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
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Zhang E, Phan P, Zhao Z. Cellular nanovesicles for therapeutic immunomodulation: A perspective on engineering strategies and new advances. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 13:1789-1827. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
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Expressional regulation of NKG2DLs is associated with the tumor development and shortened overall survival in lung adenocarcinoma. Immunobiology 2022; 227:152239. [PMID: 35780757 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2022.152239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer group 2D ligands (NKG2DLs) are expressed on tumor cells as a ligand for Natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) receptors. NKG2DLs interact with NKG2D to induce immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity for eliminating tumors. Studies demonstrated that tumor cells can reduce NKG2DLs' expression to escape from anti-tumor immunity, leading to an aggressive cancer phenotype and poor prognosis in some cancers. However, these studies are limited and there is no comprehensive work on the regulation of NKG2DLs in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) which is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Here, we conducted an in silico analysis to evaluate the changes in NKG2DLs in LUAD by analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus datasets including tumor vs. normal comparisons, TNM stages, survival and infiltrating immune estimation profile. Results indicated that some members of NKG2DL were downregulated in LUAD as compared to normal samples. We determined that MICA (MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A) was the most and significantly downregulated ligand among others and the results were nearly consistent with the different datasets which we used. Furthermore, survival analysis revealed that down-regulated MICA transcript expression might be one of the prognostic indicators of LUAD. Interestingly, according to the immune cell infiltrating analysis, there wasn't a direct correlation between the MICA transcript expression and immune cell infiltration, while for MICB there was. In addition, in genetic alteration, DNA methylation and miRNA analyses, we did not observe critical outcomes that would clarify the down-regulated MICA expression in detail. Regardless, this study is highly comprehensive and contributes valuable suggestions to further functional studies about the regulation of NKG2DLs and promising immunotherapeutic approaches in LUAD.
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Gil Del Alcazar CR, Trinh A, Alečković M, Rojas Jimenez E, Harper NW, Oliphant MU, Xie S, Krop ED, Lulseged B, Murphy KC, Keenan TE, Van Allen EM, Tolaney SM, Freeman GJ, Dillon DA, Muthuswamy SK, Polyak K. Insights into Immune Escape During Tumor Evolution and Response to Immunotherapy Using a Rat Model of Breast Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2022; 10:680-697. [PMID: 35446942 PMCID: PMC9177779 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-21-0804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Animal models are critical for the preclinical validation of cancer immunotherapies. Unfortunately, mouse breast cancer models do not faithfully reproduce the molecular subtypes and immune environment of the human disease. In particular, there are no good murine models of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, the predominant subtype in patients. Here, we show that Nitroso-N-methylurea-induced mammary tumors in outbred Sprague-Dawley rats recapitulate the heterogeneity for mutational profiles, ER expression, and immune evasive mechanisms observed in human breast cancer. We demonstrate the utility of this model for preclinical studies by dissecting mechanisms of response to immunotherapy using combination TGFBR inhibition and PD-L1 blockade. Short-term treatment of early-stage tumors induced durable responses. Gene expression profiling and spatial mapping classified tumors as inflammatory and noninflammatory, and identified IFNγ, T-cell receptor (TCR), and B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, CD74/MHC II, and epithelium-interacting CD8+ T cells as markers of response, whereas the complement system, M2 macrophage phenotype, and translation in mitochondria were associated with resistance. We found that the expression of CD74 correlated with leukocyte fraction and TCR diversity in human breast cancer. We identified a subset of rat ER+ tumors marked by expression of antigen-processing genes that had an active immune environment and responded to treatment. A gene signature characteristic of these tumors predicted disease-free survival in patients with ER+ Luminal A breast cancer and overall survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving anti-PD-L1 therapy. We demonstrate the usefulness of this preclinical model for immunotherapy and suggest examination to expand immunotherapy to a subset of patients with ER+ disease. See related Spotlight by Roussos Torres, p. 672.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos R. Gil Del Alcazar
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anne Trinh
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Maša Alečković
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ernesto Rojas Jimenez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nicholas W. Harper
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael U.J. Oliphant
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shanshan Xie
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ethan D. Krop
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bethlehem Lulseged
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Katherine C. Murphy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tanya E. Keenan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- The Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Eliezer M. Van Allen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- The Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Sara M. Tolaney
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- The Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Gordon J. Freeman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Deborah A. Dillon
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Senthil K. Muthuswamy
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kornelia Polyak
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- The Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Ruppel KE, Fricke S, Köhl U, Schmiedel D. Taking Lessons from CAR-T Cells and Going Beyond: Tailoring Design and Signaling for CAR-NK Cells in Cancer Therapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:822298. [PMID: 35371071 PMCID: PMC8971283 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.822298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies utilize the capabilities of the immune system to efficiently target malignant cells. In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) equipped T cells showed promising results against B cell lymphomas. Autologous CAR-T cells require patient-specific manufacturing and thus extensive production facilities, resulting in high priced therapies. Along with potentially severe side effects, these are the major drawbacks of CAR-T cells therapies. Natural Killer (NK) cells pose an alternative for CAR equipped immune cells. Since NK cells can be safely transferred from healthy donors to cancer patients, they present a suitable platform for an allogeneic “off-the-shelf” immunotherapy. However, administration of activated NK cells in cancer therapy has until now shown poor anti-cancer responses, especially in solid tumors. Genetic modifications such as CARs promise to enhance recognition of tumor cells, thereby increasing anti-tumor effects and improving clinical efficacy. Although the cell biology of T and NK cells deviates in many aspects, the development of CAR-NK cells frequently follows within the footsteps of CAR-T cells, meaning that T cell technologies are simply adopted to NK cells. In this review, we underline the unique properties of NK cells and their potential in CAR therapies. First, we summarize the characteristics of NK cell biology with a focus on signaling, a fine-tuned interaction of activating and inhibitory receptors. We then discuss why tailored NK cell-specific CAR designs promise superior efficacy compared to designs developed for T cells. We summarize current findings and developments in the CAR-NK landscape: different CAR formats and modifications to optimize signaling, to target a broader pool of antigens or to increase in vivo persistence. Finally, we address challenges beyond NK cell engineering, including expansion and manufacturing, that need to be addressed to pave the way for CAR-NK therapies from the bench to the clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Eva Ruppel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Department for GMP Process Development & ATMP Design, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephan Fricke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Department for GMP Process Development & ATMP Design, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Köhl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dominik Schmiedel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Department for GMP Process Development & ATMP Design, Leipzig, Germany
- *Correspondence: Dominik Schmiedel,
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Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Immunotherapy for Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030843. [PMID: 35159109 PMCID: PMC8833963 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation in leukemia increase infection susceptibility, adverse side effects and immune cell inactivation. Natural killer (NK) cells are the first line of defense against cancer and are critical in the recognition and cytolysis of rapidly dividing and abnormal cell populations. In this review, we describe NK cells and NK cell receptors, functional impairment of NK cells in leukemia, NK cell immunotherapies currently under investigation including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), adoptive transfer, chimeric antigen receptor-NKs (CAR-NKs), bi-specific/tri-specific killer engagers (BiKEs/TriKEs) and potential targets of NK cell-mediated immunotherapy for leukemia in the future. Abstract Leukemia is a malignancy of the bone marrow and blood resulting from the abnormal differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). There are four main types of leukemia including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). While chemotherapy and radiation have been conventional forms of treatment for leukemia, these therapies increase infection susceptibility, adverse side effects and immune cell inactivation. Immunotherapies are becoming promising treatment options for leukemia, with natural killer (NK) cell-mediated therapy providing a specific direction of interest. The role of NK cells is critical for cancer cell elimination as these immune cells are the first line of defense against cancer proliferation and are involved in both recognition and cytolysis of rapidly dividing and abnormal cell populations. NK cells possess various activating and inhibitory receptors, which regulate NK cell function, signaling either inhibition and continued surveillance, or activation and subsequent cytotoxic activity. In this review, we describe NK cells and NK cell receptors, functional impairment of NK cells in leukemia, NK cell immunotherapies currently under investigation, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), adoptive transfer, chimeric antigen receptor-NKs (CAR-NKs), bi-specific/tri-specific killer engagers (BiKEs/TriKEs) and future potential targets of NK cell-based immunotherapy for leukemia.
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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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Reina-Ortiz C, Giraldos D, Azaceta G, Palomera L, Marzo I, Naval J, Villalba M, Anel A. Harnessing the Potential of NK Cell-Based Immunotherapies against Multiple Myeloma. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030392. [PMID: 35159200 PMCID: PMC8834301 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell-based therapies have emerged as promising anticancer treatments due to their potency as cytolytic effectors and synergy with concurrent treatments. Multiple myeloma (MM) is an aggressive B-cell malignancy that, despite development of novel therapeutic agents, remains incurable with a high rate of relapse. In MM, the inhospitable tumor microenvironment prevents host NK cells from exerting their cytolytic function. The development of NK cell immunotherapy works to overcome this altered immune landscape and can be classified in two major groups based on the origin of the cell: autologous or allogeneic. In this review, we compare the treatments in each group, such as autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NKs and allogeneic off-the-shelf NK cell infusions, and their combinatorial effect with existing MM therapies including monoclonal antibodies and proteasome inhibitors. We also discuss their placement in clinical treatment regimens based on the immune profile of each patient. Through this examination, we would like to discover precisely when each NK cell-based treatment will produce the maximum benefit to the MM patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Reina-Ortiz
- Apoptosis, Immunity & Cancer Group, Department Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Zaragoza and Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.G.); (I.M.); (J.N.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.-O.); (A.A.)
| | - David Giraldos
- Apoptosis, Immunity & Cancer Group, Department Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Zaragoza and Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.G.); (I.M.); (J.N.)
| | - Gemma Azaceta
- Hematology Department, Lozano Blesa Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (G.A.); (L.P.)
| | - Luis Palomera
- Hematology Department, Lozano Blesa Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (G.A.); (L.P.)
| | - Isabel Marzo
- Apoptosis, Immunity & Cancer Group, Department Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Zaragoza and Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.G.); (I.M.); (J.N.)
| | - Javier Naval
- Apoptosis, Immunity & Cancer Group, Department Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Zaragoza and Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.G.); (I.M.); (J.N.)
| | - Martín Villalba
- Institut of Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, University Hospital Center Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France;
- Institut Sainte-Catherine, 84918 Avignon, France
| | - Alberto Anel
- Apoptosis, Immunity & Cancer Group, Department Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Zaragoza and Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.G.); (I.M.); (J.N.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.-O.); (A.A.)
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Application of Microfluidic Systems for Breast Cancer Research. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13020152. [PMID: 35208277 PMCID: PMC8877872 DOI: 10.3390/mi13020152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control; breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. Due to early screening and advancements in therapeutic interventions, deaths from breast cancer have declined over time, although breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Most deaths are due to metastasis, as cancer cells from the primary tumor in the breast form secondary tumors in remote sites in distant organs. Over many years, the basic biological mechanisms of breast cancer initiation and progression, as well as the subsequent metastatic cascade, have been studied using cell cultures and animal models. These models, although extremely useful for delineating cellular mechanisms, are poor predictors of physiological responses, primarily due to lack of proper microenvironments. In the last decade, microfluidics has emerged as a technology that could lead to a paradigm shift in breast cancer research. With the introduction of the organ-on-a-chip concept, microfluidic-based systems have been developed to reconstitute the dominant functions of several organs. These systems enable the construction of 3D cellular co-cultures mimicking in vivo tissue-level microenvironments, including that of breast cancer. Several reviews have been presented focusing on breast cancer formation, growth and metastasis, including invasion, intravasation, and extravasation. In this review, realizing that breast cancer can recur decades following post-treatment disease-free survival, we expand the discussion to account for microfluidic applications in the important areas of breast cancer detection, dormancy, and therapeutic development. It appears that, in the future, the role of microfluidics will only increase in the effort to eradicate breast cancer.
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Lin HJ, Liu Y, Lofland D, Lin J. Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment and Molecular Aberrations Hijack Tumoricidal Immunity. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020285. [PMID: 35053449 PMCID: PMC8774102 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Immune therapy is designed to stimulate tumoricidal effects in a variety of solid tumors including breast carcinomas. However, the emergence of resistant clones leads to treatment failure. Understanding the molecular, cellular, and microenvironmental aberrations is crucial to uncovering underlying mechanisms and developing advanced strategies for preventing or combating these resistant malignancies. This review will summarize research findings revealing various mechanisms employed to hijack innate and adaptive immune surveillance mechanisms, develop hypoxic and tumor promoting metabolism, and foster an immune tolerance microenvironment. In addition, it will highlight potential targets for therapeutic approaches. Abstract Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among females in western countries, where women have an overall lifetime risk of >10% for developing invasive breast carcinomas. It is not a single disease but is composed of distinct subtypes associated with different clinical outcomes and is highly heterogeneous in both the molecular and clinical aspects. Although tumor initiation is largely driven by acquired genetic alterations, recent data suggest microenvironment-mediated immune evasion may play an important role in neoplastic progression. Beyond surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy, additional therapeutic options include hormonal deactivation, targeted-signaling pathway treatment, DNA repair inhibition, and aberrant epigenetic reversion. Yet, the fatality rate of metastatic breast cancer remains unacceptably high, largely due to treatment resistance and metastases to brain, lung, or bone marrow where tumor bed penetration of therapeutic agents is limited. Recent studies indicate the development of immune-oncological therapy could potentially eradicate this devastating malignancy. Evidence suggests tumors express immunogenic neoantigens but the immunity towards these antigens is frequently muted. Established tumors exhibit immunological tolerance. This tolerance reflects a process of immune suppression elicited by the tumor, and it represents a critical obstacle towards successful antitumor immunotherapy. In general, immune evasive mechanisms adapted by breast cancer encompasses down-regulation of antigen presentations or recognition, lack of immune effector cells, obstruction of anti-tumor immune cell maturation, accumulation of immunosuppressive cells, production of inhibitory cytokines, chemokines or ligands/receptors, and up-regulation of immune checkpoint modulators. Together with altered metabolism and hypoxic conditions, they constitute a permissive tumor microenvironment. This article intends to discern representative incidents and to provide potential innovative therapeutic regimens to reinstate tumoricidal immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huey-Jen Lin
- Department of Medical & Molecular Sciences, University of Delaware, Willard Hall Education Building, 16 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-302-831-7576; Fax: +1-302-831-4180
| | - Yingguang Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Liberty University, 306 Liberty View Lane, Lynchburg, VA 24502, USA;
| | - Denene Lofland
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tower Campus, Drexel University College of Medicine, 50 Innovation Way, Wyomissing, PA 19610, USA;
| | - Jiayuh Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine and Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, 108 N. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
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Wang J, Liu K, Xiao T, Liu P, Prinz RA, Xu X. Uric acid accumulation in DNA-damaged tumor cells induces NKG2D ligand expression and antitumor immunity by activating TGF-β-activated kinase 1. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2016159. [PMID: 35154904 PMCID: PMC8837239 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.2016159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA damage by genotoxic drugs such as gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) activates the ataxia telangiectasia, mutated (ATM)-Chk pathway and induces the expression of NKG2D ligands such as the MHC class I-related chain A and B (MICA/B). The mechanisms underlying this remain incompletely understood. Here we report that xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), a rate-limiting enzyme that produces uric acid in the purine catabolism pathway, promotes DNA damage-induced MICA/B expression. Inhibition of the ATM-Chk pathway blocks genotoxic drug-induced uric acid production, TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) activation, ERK phosphorylation, and MICA/B expression. Inhibition of uric acid production by the XOR inhibitor allopurinol blocks DNA damage-induced TAK1 activation and MICA/B expression in genotoxic drug-treated cells. Exogenous uric acid activates TAK1, NF-κB, and the MAP kinase pathway. TAK1 inhibition blocks gemcitabine- and uric acid-induced MAP kinase activation and MICA/B expression. Exogenous uric acid in its salt form, monosodium urate (MSU), induces MICA/B expression and sensitizes tumor cells to NK cell killing. MSU immunization with irradiated murine breast cancer cell line RCAS-Neu retards breast cancer growth in syngeneic breast cancer models and delays breast cancer development in a somatic breast cancer model. Our study suggests that uric acid accumulation plays an important role in activating TAK1, inducing DNA damage-induced MICA/B expression, and enhancing antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Kai Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tianxiang Xiao
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Penggang Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Richard A. Prinz
- Department of Surgery, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL USA
| | - Xiulong Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Il USA
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Pal A, Schneider J, Schlüter K, Steindorf K, Wiskemann J, Rosenberger F, Zimmer P. Different endurance exercises modulate NK cell cytotoxic and inhibiting receptors. Eur J Appl Physiol 2021. [PMID: 34477931 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-021-04735-z.pmid:34477931;pmcid:pmc8571223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Induction of IDO depends on the activation of AhR forming the AhR/IDO axis. Activated AhR can transcribe various target genes including cytotoxic and inhibiting receptors of NK cells. We investigated whether AhR and IDO levels as well as activating (NKG2D) and inhibiting (KIR2DL1) NK cell receptors are influenced by acute exercise and different chronic endurance exercise programs. METHODS 21 adult breast and prostate cancer patients of the TOP study (NCT02883699) were randomized to intervention programs of 12 weeks of (1) endurance standard training or (2) endurance polarized training after a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Serum was collected pre-CPET, immediately post-CPET, 1 h post-CPET and after 12 weeks post-intervention. Flow cytometry analysis was performed on autologous serum incubated NK-92 cells for: AhR, IDO, KIR2DL1 and NKG2D. Differences were investigated using analysis-of-variance for acute and analysis-of-covariance for chronic effects. RESULTS Acute exercise: IDO levels changed over time with a significant increase from post-CPET to 1 h post-CPET (p = 0.03). KIR2DL1 levels significantly decreased over time (p < 0.01). NKG2D levels remained constant (p = 0.31). Chronic exercise: for both IDO and NKG2D a significant group × time interaction, a significant time effect and a significant difference after 12 weeks of intervention were observed (IDO: all p < 0.01, NKG2D: all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Both acute and chronic endurance training may regulate NK cell function via the AhR/IDO axis. This is clinically relevant, as exercise emerges to be a key player in immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pal
- Division of Physical Activity, Prevention and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical Faculty Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Schneider
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Sports and Sport Science, Heidelberg University, Seminarstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - K Schlüter
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Sports and Sport Science, Heidelberg University, Seminarstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - K Steindorf
- Division of Physical Activity, Prevention and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Wiskemann
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - F Rosenberger
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - P Zimmer
- Institute for Sport and Sport Science, Division of "Performance and Health (Sports Medicine)" , TU Dortmund University, August-Schmidt-Straße 4, 44227, Dortmund, Germany.
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A comparative study of smica in various body fluids of diagnosed cervical cancer patients and healthy women. Obstet Gynecol Sci 2021; 65:37-45. [PMID: 34743476 PMCID: PMC8784934 DOI: 10.5468/ogs.21121] [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: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Cervical cancer (CC) is a major public health problem in women, and its early detection can help reduce morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to compare serum levels of soluble MHC class I-related chain A (sMICA) levels in various body fluids between women diagnosed with CC and healthy women. Methods A case-control study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital and a cancer center in Kolhapur, India. Overall, 150 individuals (100 CC patients and 50 healthy women) participated after providing informed written consent. Demographic data, histopathology history, parity, and tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) staging data were collected. Pap smears, saliva, blood, and urine samples were collected. Pap smears were examined microscopically, and sMICA levels in all samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Results The mean age of women with cervical cancer was 49.86±8.18 years. Squamous cell carcinoma (70%) was the most common histological variant in CC patients. Serum soluble sMICA levels differed significantly with parity and TNM staging (P<0.05). Mean levels of sMICA were significantly different in samples (CC cases vs. healthy patients; saliva: 166.721±108.718 vs. 0.039±0.005 pg/mL; urine: 82.921±45.580 vs. 0.010±0.005 pg/mL; serum: 35.756±10.799 vs. 0.039±0.005 pg/mL, P<0.001). Conclusion Levels of sMICA in body fluids can be considered as a diagnostic or prognostic tool to determine disease progression or tumor regression.
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