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Bottino C, Picant V, Vivier E, Castriconi R. Natural killer cells and engagers: Powerful weapons against cancer. Immunol Rev 2024. [PMID: 39180430 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13384] [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] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune effectors whose functions rely on receptors binding cytokines, recognizing self-molecules, or detecting danger signals expressed by virus-infected or tumor cells. The potent cytotoxic potential makes NK cells promising candidates for cancer immunotherapy. To enhance their activity strategies include cytokine administration, blocking of immune checkpoints, and designing of antibody-based NK cell engagers (NKCEs). NKCEs represent a cutting-edge approach to cancer therapy: they strengthen the NK-to-target cell interactions and optimize tumor killing, possibly overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. NK cells belong to the innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and are categorized into different subsets also including cells with a memory-like phenotype: this complexity needs to be explored in the context of cancer immunotherapy, particularly when designing NKCEs. Two strategies to enhance NK cell activity in cancer patients can be adopted: activating patients' own NK cells versus the adoptive transfer of ex vivo activated NK cells. Furthermore, the capability of NKCEs to activate γδ T cells could have a significant synergistic effect in immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Bottino
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Valentin Picant
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
| | - Eric Vivier
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille Immunopôle, Marseille, France
| | - Roberta Castriconi
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
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2
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Gao X, Wang Q, He H, Yang T, Zhang H, Zhao J, Yao X. Reconstitution of Natural Killer cells after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is facilitated by Huiyang-Guben decoction through activating the Smad7/Stat3 signal pathway. Mol Cell Biochem 2024; 479:1721-1733. [PMID: 37973706 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04882-1] [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: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cell is the first batch of re-constructed cell populations after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and its delayed reconstitution inevitably causes poor outcome. The traditional Chinese medicine Huiyang-Guben decoction (HYGB) has been clinically used in patients undergoing allo-HSCT, but its effect on NK cell reconstruction is still unclear. 40 patients with allo-HSCT therapy were randomly divided into the control group and the HYGB group, and were given oral administration of normal saline or HYGB for 4 weeks before allo-HSCT, respectively. NK cells were cultured and treated with transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and HYGB in vitro, and cell viability, cell apoptosis, and the function of NK cells were evaluated. Functional verification experiments were performed by knocking down signal transduction molecule 7 (Smad7) in NK cells before TGF-β and HYGB treatment. Clinical data suggested that HYGB intervention decreased the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease after allo-HSCT, and increased the proportion of NK cell population. Meanwhile, HYGB improved cell viability, restrained apoptotic cell death, and enhanced cell killing activity of NK cells in patients with allo-HSCT. Notably, we found that HYGB significantly increased the expression level of Smad7 and the phosphorylation level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) in NK cells from patients with allo-HSCT. Moreover, HYGB alleviated TGF-β-induced NK cell impairment and re-activated the Smad7/Stat3 signaling in vitro, while silencing Smad7 reversed the protective effect of HYGB on TGF-β-treated NK cells. HYGB promotes NK cell reconstruction and improves NK cell function after allo-HSCT through activating the Smad7/Stat3 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Gao
- Hematology Department, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan, No.157, Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Hematology Department, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan, No.157, Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Haitao He
- Hematology Department, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan, No.157, Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Tonghua Yang
- Hematology Department, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan, No.157, Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Haixi Zhang
- Hematology Department, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan, No.157, Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Hematology Department, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan, No.157, Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiangmei Yao
- Hematology Department, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan, No.157, Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan, China.
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3
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Chung DC, Garcia-Batres CR, Millar DG, Wong SWY, Elford AR, Mathews JA, Wang BX, Nguyen LT, Shaw PA, Clarke BA, Bernardini MQ, Sacher AG, Crome SQ, Ohashi PS. Generation of an Inhibitory NK Cell Subset by TGF-β1/IL-15 Polarization. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:1904-1912. [PMID: 38668728 PMCID: PMC11149900 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
NK cells have been shown to exhibit inflammatory and immunoregulatory functions in a variety of healthy and diseased settings. In the context of chronic viral infection and cancer, distinct NK cell populations that inhibit adaptive immune responses have been observed. To understand how these cells arise and further characterize their immunosuppressive role, we examined in vitro conditions that could polarize human NK cells into an inhibitory subset. TGF-β1 has been shown to induce regulatory T cells in vitro and in vivo; we therefore investigated if TGF-β1 could also induce immunosuppressive NK-like cells. First, we found that TGF-β1/IL-15, but not IL-15 alone, induced CD103+CD49a+ NK-like cells from peripheral blood NK cells, which expressed markers previously associated with inhibitory CD56+ innate lymphoid cells, including high expression of GITR and CD101. Moreover, supernatant from ascites collected from patients with ovarian carcinoma also induced CD103+CD49a+ NK-like cells in vitro in a TGF-β-dependent manner. Interestingly, TGF-β1/IL-15-induced CD103+CD56+ NK-like cells suppressed autologous CD4+ T cells in vitro by reducing absolute number, proliferation, and expression of activation marker CD25. Collectively, these findings provide new insight into how NK cells may acquire an inhibitory phenotype in TGF-β1-rich environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas C. Chung
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tumour Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carlos R. Garcia-Batres
- Tumour Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Douglas G. Millar
- Tumour Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephanie W. Y. Wong
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tumour Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alisha R. Elford
- Tumour Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jessica A. Mathews
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ben X. Wang
- Tumour Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Linh T. Nguyen
- Tumour Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patricia A. Shaw
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Blaise A. Clarke
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marcus Q. Bernardini
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Adrian G. Sacher
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Oncology & Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Q. Crome
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pamela S. Ohashi
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tumour Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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4
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Rastogi S, Mishra SS, Arora MK, Kaithwas G, Banerjee S, Ravichandiran V, Roy S, Singh L. Lactate acidosis and simultaneous recruitment of TGF-β leads to alter plasticity of hypoxic cancer cells in tumor microenvironment. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 250:108519. [PMID: 37625521 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Lactate acidosis is often observed in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of solid tumors. This is because glucose breaks down quickly via glycolysis, causing lactate acidity. Lactate is harmful to healthy cells, but is a major oncometabolite for solid cancer cells that do not receive sufficient oxygen. As an oncometabolite, it helps tumor cells perform different functions, which helps solid hypoxic tumor cells spread to other parts of the body. Studies have shown that the acidic TME contains VEGF, Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cathepsins, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), all of which help spread in direct and indirect ways. Although each cytokine is important in its own manner in the TME, TGF-β has received much attention for its role in metastatic transformation. Several studies have shown that lactate acidosis can cause TGF-β expression in solid hypoxic cancers. TGF-β has also been reported to increase the production of fatty acids, making cells more resistant to treatment. TGF-β has also been shown to control the expression of VEGF and MMPs, which helps solid hypoxic tumors become more aggressive by helping them spread and create new blood vessels through an unknown process. The role of TGF-β under physiological conditions has been described previously. In this study, we examined the role of TGF-β, which is induced by lactate acidosis, in the spread of solid hypoxic cancer cells. We also found that TGF-β and lactate work together to boost fatty acid production, which helps angiogenesis and invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saumya Rastogi
- School of Pharmaceutical & Population Health Informatics, DIT University, Dehardun, Uttarakhand-248009, India
| | - Shashank Shekher Mishra
- School of Pharmaceutical & Population Health Informatics, DIT University, Dehardun, Uttarakhand-248009, India
| | - Mandeep Kumar Arora
- School of Pharmaceutical & Population Health Informatics, DIT University, Dehardun, Uttarakhand-248009, India
| | - Gaurav Kaithwas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A central university), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sugato Banerjee
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India
| | - Velayutham Ravichandiran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India
| | - Subhadeep Roy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India.
| | - Lakhveer Singh
- School of Pharmaceutical & Population Health Informatics, DIT University, Dehardun, Uttarakhand-248009, India.
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5
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Fiordi B, Salvestrini V, Gugliotta G, Castagnetti F, Curti A, Speiser DE, Marcenaro E, Jandus C, Trabanelli S. IL-18 and VEGF-A trigger type 2 innate lymphoid cell accumulation and pro-tumoral function in chronic myeloid leukemia. Haematologica 2023; 108:2396-2409. [PMID: 37021528 PMCID: PMC10483352 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.282140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematologic malignancy associated to an unregulated growth of myeloid cells in bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB), characterized by the BCR-ABL1 translocation. Given the known cytokine impairment in the leukemic niche of CML, we investigated the impact of this microenvironmental dysregulation on innate lymphoid cells (ILC), whose role in cancer has recently emerged. Three ILC subsets are identified based on transcriptional profiles and cytokine secretion. We observed that interleukin 18 (IL-18) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) are increased in CML patients' sera and that ILC2 are enriched in CML PB and BM. We found that IL-18 drives ILC2 proliferation and that CML ILC2 highly express CXCR4 and CXCR7 BM-homing receptors, potentially explaining their enrichment in PB and BM, respectively. Next, we showed that ILC2 are hyper-activated through a tumor-derived VEGF-Adependent mechanism, which leads to higher IL-13 secretion. In response to IL-13, leukemic cells increase their clonogenic capacity. Finally, we discovered that the pro-tumoral axis involving VEGF-A, IL-18 and ILC2 was disrupted upon tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment, normalizing the levels of all these players in CML patients responding to therapy. Overall, our study uncovers the involvement of ILC2 in CML progression, mediated by VEGF-A and IL-18.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Fiordi
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Valentina Salvestrini
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Institute of Hematology « Seràgnoli », Bologna, Italy
| | - Gabriele Gugliotta
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Institute of Hematology « Seràgnoli », Bologna, Italy
| | - Fausto Castagnetti
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Institute of Hematology « Seràgnoli », Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Curti
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Institute of Hematology « Seràgnoli », Bologna, Italy
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Emanuela Marcenaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Genova, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Camilla Jandus
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sara Trabanelli
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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6
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Laufer Britva R, Keren A, Bertolini M, Ullmann Y, Paus R, Gilhar A. Involvement of ILC1-like innate lymphocytes in human autoimmunity, lessons from alopecia areata. eLife 2023; 12:80768. [PMID: 36930216 PMCID: PMC10023162 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we have explored the involvement of innate lymphoid cells-type 1 (ILC1) in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA), because we found them to be significantly increased around lesional and non-lesional HFs of AA patients. To further explore these unexpected findings, we first co-cultured autologous circulating ILC1-like cells (ILC1lc) with healthy, but stressed, organ-cultured human scalp hair follicles (HFs). ILClc induced all hallmarks of AA ex vivo: they significantly promoted premature, apoptosis-driven HF regression (catagen), HF cytotoxicity/dystrophy, and most important for AA pathogenesis, the collapse of the HFs physiological immune privilege. NKG2D-blocking or IFNγ-neutralizing antibodies antagonized this. In vivo, intradermal injection of autologous activated, NKG2D+/IFNγ-secreting ILC1lc into healthy human scalp skin xenotransplanted onto SCID/beige mice sufficed to rapidly induce characteristic AA lesions. This provides the first evidence that ILC1lc, which are positive for the ILC1 phenotype and negative for the classical NK markers, suffice to induce AA in previously healthy human HFs ex vivo and in vivo, and further questions the conventional wisdom that AA is always an autoantigen-dependent, CD8 +T cell-driven autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimma Laufer Britva
- Skin Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
- Department of Dermatology, Rambam Health Care CampusHaifaIsrael
| | - Aviad Keren
- Skin Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | | | - Yehuda Ullmann
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Rambam Medical CenterHaifaIsrael
| | - Ralf Paus
- Monasterium LaboratoryMünsterGermany
- Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of MiamiMiamiUnited States
- CUTANEONHamburgGermany
| | - Amos Gilhar
- Skin Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
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7
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Addressing Natural Killer Cell Dysfunction and Plasticity in Cell-Based Cancer Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061743. [PMID: 36980629 PMCID: PMC10046032 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic group 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC), known for their role as killers of stressed, cancerous, and virally infected cells. Beyond this cytotoxic function, NK cell subsets can influence broader immune responses through cytokine production and have been linked to central roles in non-immune processes, such as the regulation of vascular remodeling in pregnancy and cancer. Attempts to exploit the anti-tumor functions of NK cells have driven the development of various NK cell-based therapies, which have shown promise in both pre-clinical disease models and early clinical trials. However, certain elements of the tumor microenvironment, such as elevated transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, hypoxia, and indoalemine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), are known to suppress NK cell function, potentially limiting the longevity and activity of these approaches. Recent studies have also identified these factors as contributors to NK cell plasticity, defined by the conversion of classical cytotoxic NK cells into poorly cytotoxic, tissue-resident, or ILC1-like phenotypes. This review summarizes the current approaches for NK cell-based cancer therapies and examines the challenges presented by tumor-linked NK cell suppression and plasticity. Ongoing efforts to overcome these challenges are discussed, along with the potential utility of NK cell therapies to applications outside cancer.
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Korenevsky AV, Gert TN, Berezkina ME, Sinyavin SA, Mikhailova VA, Markova KL, Simbirtsev AS, Selkov SA, Sokolov DI. Protein Fractions of Natural Killer Cell Lysates Affect the Phenotype, Proliferation and Migration of Endothelial Cells in vitro. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093022070171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
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Franklin M, Connolly E, Hussell T. Recruited and Tissue-Resident Natural Killer Cells in the Lung During Infection and Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:887503. [PMID: 35844626 PMCID: PMC9284027 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.887503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are an important component of the innate immune system, and have a key role in host defense against infection and in tumor surveillance. Tumors and viruses employ remarkably similar strategies to avoid recognition and killing by NK cells and so much can be learnt by comparing NK cells in these disparate diseases. The lung is a unique tissue environment and immune cells in this organ, including NK cells, exist in a hypofunctional state to prevent activation against innocuous stimuli. Upon infection, rapid NK cell infiltration into the lung occurs, the amplitude of which is determined by the extent of inflammation and damage. Activated NK cells kill infected cells and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines to recruit cells of the adaptive immune system. More recent evidence has shown that NK cells also play an additional role in resolution of inflammation. In lung cancer however, NK cell recruitment is impaired and those that are present have reduced functionality. The majority of lung NK cells are circulatory, however recently a small population of tissue-resident lung NK cells has been described. The specific role of this subset is yet to be determined, but they show similarity to resident memory T cell subsets. Whether resident or recruited, NK cells are important in the control of pulmonary infections, but equally, can drive excessive inflammation if not regulated. In this review we discuss how NK cells are recruited, controlled and retained in the specific environment of the lung in health and disease. Understanding these mechanisms in the context of infection may provide opportunities to promote NK cell recruitment and function in the lung tumor setting.
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Corvino D, Kumar A, Bald T. Plasticity of NK cells in Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:888313. [PMID: 35619715 PMCID: PMC9127295 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.888313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial to various facets of human immunity and function through direct cytotoxicity or via orchestration of the broader immune response. NK cells exist across a wide range of functional and phenotypic identities. Murine and human studies have revealed that NK cells possess substantial plasticity and can alter their function and phenotype in response to external signals. NK cells also play a critical role in tumor immunity and form the basis for many emerging immunotherapeutic approaches. NK cells can directly target and lyse malignant cells with their inherent cytotoxic capabilities. In addition to direct targeting of malignant cells, certain subsets of NK cells can mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) which is integral to some forms of immune checkpoint-blockade immunotherapy. Another important feature of various NK cell subsets is to co-ordinate anti-tumor immune responses by recruiting adaptive and innate leukocytes. However, given the diverse range of NK cell identities it is unsurprising that both pro-tumoral and anti-tumoral NK cell subsets have been described. Here, NK cell subsets have been shown to promote angiogenesis, drive inflammation and immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment. To date, the signals that drive tumor-infiltrating NK cells towards the acquisition of a pro- or anti-tumoral function are poorly understood. The notion of tumor microenvironment-driven NK cell plasticity has substantial implications for the development of NK-based immunotherapeutics. This review will highlight the current knowledge of NK cell plasticity pertaining to the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, this review will pose critical and relevant questions that need to be addressed by the field in coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon Corvino
- Tumor-Immunobiology, Institute for Experimental Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ananthi Kumar
- Tumor-Immunobiology, Institute for Experimental Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tobias Bald
- Tumor-Immunobiology, Institute for Experimental Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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11
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Terrén I, Borrego F. Role of NK Cells in Tumor Progression. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2022; 113:169-187. [PMID: 35165864 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-91311-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are effector lymphocytes with the ability to generate an antitumor response. NK cells encompass a diverse group of subsets with different properties and have the capacity to kill cancer cells by different means. However, tumor cells have developed several mechanisms to evade NK cell-mediated killing. In this chapter, we summarize some aspects of NK cell biology with the aim to understand the competence of these cells and explore some of the challenges that NK cells have to face in different malignancies. Moreover, we will review the current knowledge about the role of NK cells in tumor progression and describe their phenotype and effector functions in tumor tissues and peripheral blood from cancer patients. Finally, we will recapitulate several findings from different studies focused on determining the prognostic value of NK cells in distinct cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñigo Terrén
- Immunopathology Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Francisco Borrego
- Immunopathology Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
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12
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Mortezaee K, Majidpoor J. The impact of hypoxia on immune state in cancer. Life Sci 2021; 286:120057. [PMID: 34662552 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia is a known feature of solid tumors and a critical promoter of tumor hallmarks. Hypoxia influences tumor immunity in a way favoring immune evasion and resistance. Extreme hypoxia and aberrant hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) activity in tumor microenvironment (TME) is a drawback for effective immunotherapy. Infiltration and activity of CD8+ T cells is reduced in such condition, whereas regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) show high activities. Highly hypoxic TME also impairs maturation and activity of dendritic cell (DCs) and natural killer (NK) cells. In addition, the hypoxic TME positively is linked positively with metabolic changes in cells of immune system. These alterations are indicative of a need for hypoxia modulation as a complementary targeting strategy to go with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keywan Mortezaee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
| | - Jamal Majidpoor
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Infectious Disease Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
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13
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A Brief Analysis of Tissue-Resident NK Cells in Pregnancy and Endometrial Diseases: The Importance of Pharmacologic Modulation. IMMUNO 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/immuno1030011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells are lymphocytes involved in the innate and adaptative immune response. These cells are located in peripheral blood and tissues with ample functions, from immune vigilant to tolerogenic reactions. In the endometrium, NK cell populations vary depending on age, hormones, and inflammation. When pregnancy occurs, tissue-resident NK cells and conventional NK cells are recruited to protect the fetus, a tolerogenic response. On the contrary, in the inflamed endometrium, various inflammatory cells down-regulate NK tolerance and impair embryo implantation. Therefore, NK cells’ pharmacological modulation is difficult to achieve. Several strategies have been used, from progesterone, lipid emulsions to steroids; the success has not been as expected. However, new therapeutic approaches have been proposed to decrease the endometrial inflammatory burden and increase pregnancy success based on understanding NK cell physiology.
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Rethacker L, Roelens M, Bejar C, Maubec E, Moins-Teisserenc H, Caignard A. Specific Patterns of Blood ILCs in Metastatic Melanoma Patients and Their Modulations in Response to Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061446. [PMID: 33810032 PMCID: PMC8004602 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized the treatment of metastatic melanoma patients, leading to durable responses. However, some patients still not respond to this clinically used immunotherapies and there is a lack of biomarkers leading to the choice of first-line therapies. Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) express immune checkpoint receptors and are involved in anti-melanoma immune response. The aim of this article is to study ILCs from peripheral blood of melanoma patients receiving Ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 treatment, and their association with clinical responses to this therapy. Our results show an impact of Ipilimumab on ILCs proportions and phenotype in blood. Moreover, the presence of anergic CD56dimCD16−DNAM-1− NK cells were associated with progression of the disease. These findings demonstrate the important role of ILC in the response to ICI. Abstract Immunotherapy targeting immune checkpoint receptors brought a breakthrough in the treatment of metastatic melanoma patients. However, a number of patients still resist these immunotherapies. Present on CD8+T cells, immune checkpoint receptors are expressed by innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), which may contribute to the clinical response. ILCs are composed of natural killer (NK) cells, which are cytotoxic effectors involved in tumor immunosurveillance. NK cell activation is regulated by a balance between activating receptors that detect stress molecules on tumor cells and HLA-I-specific inhibitory receptors. Helper ILCs (h-ILCs) are newly characterized ILCs that secrete cytokines and regulate the immune homeostasis of tissue. We investigated the modulation of blood ILCs in melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab. Circulating ILCs from metastatic stage IV melanoma patients and healthy donors were studied for their complete phenotypic status. Patients were studied before and at 3, 6, and 12 weeks of ipilimumab treatment. A comparison of blood ILC populations from donors and melanoma patients before treatment showed changes in proportions of ILC subsets, and a significant inverse correlation of CD56dim NK cells and h-ILC subsets was identified in patients. During treatment with ipilimumab, percentages of all ILC subsets were reduced. Ipilimumab also impacted the expression of the CD96/TIGIT/DNAM-1 pathway in all ILCs and increased CD161 and CTLA-4 expression by h-ILCs. When considering the response to the treatment, patients without disease control were characterized by higher percentages of CD56bright NK cells and ILC1. Patients with disease control displayed larger populations of activated CD56dimCD16+ DNAM-1+ NK cells, while anergic CD56dimCD16−DNAM-1− NK cells were prominent in patients without disease control. These results provide original findings on the distribution of ILC subsets in advanced melanoma patients and their modulation through immunotherapy. The effects of ipilimumab on these ILC subsets may critically influence therapeutic outcomes. These data indicate the importance of considering these innate cell subsets in immunotherapeutic strategies for melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Rethacker
- INSERM UMRS1160, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France; (L.R.); (M.R.)
| | - Marie Roelens
- INSERM UMRS1160, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France; (L.R.); (M.R.)
| | - Claudia Bejar
- Dermatology department, AP-HP Hôpital Avicenne and University Paris 13, 93008 Bobigny, France; (C.B.); (E.M.)
| | - Eve Maubec
- Dermatology department, AP-HP Hôpital Avicenne and University Paris 13, 93008 Bobigny, France; (C.B.); (E.M.)
| | - Hélène Moins-Teisserenc
- Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, AP-HP hopital Saint-Louis, Université de Paris, INSERM UMRS-1160, 75010 Paris, France;
| | - Anne Caignard
- INSERM UMRS1160, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France; (L.R.); (M.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-1-4249-4889; Fax: +33-1-4238-5345
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Ochayon DE, Waggoner SN. The Effect of Unconventional Cytokine Combinations on NK-Cell Responses to Viral Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:645850. [PMID: 33815404 PMCID: PMC8017335 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.645850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are soluble and membrane-bound factors that dictate immune responses. Dogmatically, cytokines are divided into families that promote type 1 cell-mediated immune responses (e.g., IL-12) or type 2 humoral responses (e.g., IL-4), each capable of antagonizing the opposing family of cytokines. The discovery of additional families of cytokines (e.g., IL-17) has added complexity to this model, but it was the realization that immune responses frequently comprise mixtures of different types of cytokines that dismantled this black-and-white paradigm. In some cases, one type of response may dominate these mixed milieus in disease pathogenesis and thereby present a clear therapeutic target. Alternatively, synergistic or blended cytokine responses may obfuscate the origins of disease and perplex clinical decision making. Most immune cells express receptors for many types of cytokines and can mediate a myriad of functions important for tolerance, immunity, tissue damage, and repair. In this review, we will describe the unconventional effects of a variety of cytokines on the activity of a prototypical type 1 effector, the natural killer (NK) cell, and discuss how this may impact the contributions of these cells to health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Ochayon
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Stephen N. Waggoner
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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