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Cavalluzzo B, Viuff MC, Tvingsholm SA, Ragone C, Manolio C, Mauriello A, Buonaguro FM, Tornesello ML, Izzo F, Morabito A, Hadrup SR, Tagliamonte M, Buonaguro L. Cross-reactive CD8 + T cell responses to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and homologous microbiota-derived antigens (MoAs). J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:87. [PMID: 38509571 PMCID: PMC10953141 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03004-z] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have recently shown extensive sequence and conformational homology between tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and antigens derived from microorganisms (MoAs). The present study aimed to assess the breadth of T-cell recognition specific to MoAs and the corresponding TAAs in healthy subjects (HS) and patients with cancer (CP). METHOD A library of > 100 peptide-MHC (pMHC) combinations was used to generate DNA-barcode labelled multimers. Homologous peptides were selected from the Cancer Antigenic Peptide Database, as well as Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes-derived peptides. They were incubated with CD8 + T cells from the peripheral blood of HLA-A*02:01 healthy individuals (n = 10) and cancer patients (n = 16). T cell recognition was identified using tetramer-staining analysis. Cytotoxicity assay was performed using as target cells TAP-deficient T2 cells loaded with MoA or the paired TuA. RESULTS A total of 66 unique pMHC recognized by CD8+ T cells across all groups were identified. Of these, 21 epitopes from microbiota were identified as novel immunological targets. Reactivity against selected TAAs was observed for both HS and CP. pMHC tetramer staining confirmed CD8+ T cell populations cross-reacting with CTA SSX2 and paired microbiota epitopes. Moreover, PBMCs activated with the MoA where shown to release IFNγ as well as to exert cytotoxic activity against cells presenting the paired TuA. CONCLUSIONS Several predicted microbiota-derived MoAs are recognized by T cells in HS and CP. Reactivity against TAAs was observed also in HS, primed by the homologous bacterial antigens. CD8+ T cells cross-reacting with MAGE-A1 and paired microbiota epitopes were identified in three subjects. Therefore, the microbiota can elicit an extensive repertoire of natural memory T cells to TAAs, possibly able to control tumor growth ("natural anti-cancer vaccination"). In addition, non-self MoAs can be included in preventive/therapeutic off-the-shelf cancer vaccines with more potent anti-tumor efficacy than those based on TAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Cavalluzzo
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 52, Naples, Italy
| | - Marie Christine Viuff
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Siri Amanda Tvingsholm
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Concetta Ragone
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 52, Naples, Italy
| | - Carmen Manolio
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 52, Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Mauriello
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 52, Naples, Italy
| | - Franco M Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncogenesis Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncogenesis Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Izzo
- Hepatobiliary Surgical Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond. G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Morabito
- Thoracic Medical Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Sine Reker Hadrup
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Maria Tagliamonte
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 52, Naples, Italy.
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 52, Naples, Italy.
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Balasco N, Tagliamonte M, Buonaguro L, Vitagliano L, Paladino A. Structural and Dynamic-Based Characterization of the Recognition Patterns of E7 and TRP-2 Epitopes by MHC Class I Receptors through Computational Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1384. [PMID: 38338663 PMCID: PMC10855917 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A detailed comprehension of MHC-epitope recognition is essential for the design and development of new antigens that could be effectively used in immunotherapy. Yet, the high variability of the peptide together with the large abundance of MHC variants binding makes the process highly specific and large-scale characterizations extremely challenging by standard experimental techniques. Taking advantage of the striking predictive accuracy of AlphaFold, we report a structural and dynamic-based strategy to gain insights into the molecular basis that drives the recognition and interaction of MHC class I in the immune response triggered by pathogens and/or tumor-derived peptides. Here, we investigated at the atomic level the recognition of E7 and TRP-2 epitopes to their known receptors, thus offering a structural explanation for the different binding preferences of the studied receptors for specific residues in certain positions of the antigen sequences. Moreover, our analysis provides clues on the determinants that dictate the affinity of the same epitope with different receptors. Collectively, the data here presented indicate the reliability of the approach that can be straightforwardly extended to a large number of related systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Balasco
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology IBPM-CNR c/o Department Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Maria Tagliamonte
- Immunological Models Lab, Istituto Nazionale Tumori—Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)—“Fond. G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.T.); (L.B.)
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Immunological Models Lab, Istituto Nazionale Tumori—Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)—“Fond. G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.T.); (L.B.)
| | - Luigi Vitagliano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging IBB-CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Antonella Paladino
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging IBB-CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
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Buonaguro L, Tagliamonte M. Peptide-based vaccine for cancer therapies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1210044. [PMID: 37654484 PMCID: PMC10467431 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1210044] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Different strategies based on peptides are available for cancer treatment, in particular to counter-act the progression of tumor growth and disease relapse. In the last decade, in the context of therapeutic strategies against cancer, peptide-based vaccines have been evaluated in different tumor models. The peptides selected for cancer vaccine development can be classified in two main type: tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and tumor-specific antigens (TSAs), which are captured, internalized, processed and presented by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to cell-mediated immunity. Peptides loaded onto MHC class I are recognized by a specific TCR of CD8+ T cells, which are activated to exert their cytotoxic activity against tumor cells presenting the same peptide-MHC-I complex. This process is defined as active immunotherapy as the host's immune system is either de novo activated or restimulated to mount an effective, tumor-specific immune reaction that may ultimately lead to tu-mor regression. However, while the preclinical data have frequently shown encouraging results, therapeutic cancer vaccines clinical trials, including those based on peptides have not provided satisfactory data to date. The limited efficacy of peptide-based cancer vaccines is the consequence of several factors, including the identification of specific target tumor antigens, the limited immunogenicity of peptides and the highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). An effective cancer vaccine can be developed only by addressing all such different aspects. The present review describes the state of the art for each of such factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Tagliamonte
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
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4
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Tagliamonte M, Cavalluzzo B, Mauriello A, Ragone C, Buonaguro FM, Tornesello ML, Buonaguro L. Molecular mimicry and cancer vaccine development. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:75. [PMID: 37101139 PMCID: PMC10131527 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01776-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of cancer immunotherapeutic strategies relies on the identification and validation of optimal target tumor antigens, which should be tumor-specific as well as able to elicit a swift and potent anti-tumor immune response. The vast majority of such strategies are based on tumor associated antigens (TAAs) which are shared wild type cellular self-epitopes highly expressed on tumor cells. Indeed, TAAs can be used to develop off-the-shelf cancer vaccines appropriate to all patients affected by the same malignancy. However, given that they may be also presented by HLAs on the surface of non-malignant cells, they may be possibly affected by immunological tolerance or elicit autoimmune responses. MAIN BODY In order to overcome such limitations, analogue peptides with improved antigenicity and immunogenicity able to elicit a cross-reactive T cell response are needed. To this aim, non-self-antigens derived from microorganisms (MoAs) may be of great benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tagliamonte
- Lab of Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS - "Fond. G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Beatrice Cavalluzzo
- Lab of Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS - "Fond. G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Mauriello
- Lab of Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS - "Fond. G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Concetta Ragone
- Lab of Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS - "Fond. G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Franco M Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncogenesis Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncogenesis Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Lab of Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS - "Fond. G. Pascale", Naples, Italy.
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5
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Ascierto PA, Avallone A, Bhardwaj N, Bifulco C, Bracarda S, Brody JD, Buonaguro L, Demaria S, Emens LA, Ferris RL, Galon J, Khleif SN, Klebanoff CA, Laskowski T, Melero I, Paulos CM, Pignata S, Ruella M, Svane IM, Taube JM, Fox BA, Hwu P, Puzanov I. Perspectives in Immunotherapy: meeting report from the Immunotherapy Bridge, December 1st-2nd, 2021. J Transl Med 2022; 20:257. [PMID: 35672823 PMCID: PMC9172186 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03471-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, immunotherapy has become an increasingly fundamental modality in the treatment of cancer. The positive impact of immune checkpoint inhibition, especially anti-programmed death (PD)-1/PD-ligand (L)1 blockade, in patients with different cancers has focused attention on the potential for other immunotherapeutic approaches. These include inhibitors of additional immune checkpoints, adoptive cell transfer (ACT), and therapeutic vaccines. Patients with advanced cancers who previously had limited treatment options available may now benefit from immunotherapies that can offer durable responses and improved survival outcomes. However, despite this, a significant proportion of patients fail to respond to immunotherapy, especially those with less immunoresponsive cancer types, and there remains a need for new treatment strategies.The virtual Immunotherapy Bridge (December 1st-2nd, 2021), organized by the Fondazione Melanoma Onlus, Naples, Italy in collaboration with the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer addressed several areas of current research in immunotherapy, including lessons learned from cell therapies, drivers of immune response, and trends in immunotherapy across different cancers, and these are summarised here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo A Ascierto
- Department of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Naples, Italy.
| | - Antonio Avallone
- Experimental Clinical Abdominal Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Nina Bhardwaj
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carlo Bifulco
- Providence Genomics and Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sergio Bracarda
- Medical and Translational Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria, Terni, Italy
| | - Joshua D Brody
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Sandra Demaria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leisha A Emens
- Magee Women's Hospital/UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Jérôme Galon
- INSERM, Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology/Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre Le Cancer/Centre de Recherche Des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Marseille, France
| | - Samir N Khleif
- The Loop Immuno Oncology Laboratory, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christopher A Klebanoff
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Immuno-Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)/Center for Cell Engineering, MSKCC/Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy/Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tamara Laskowski
- Head of New Therapeutic Products - Personalized Medicine, Lonza Global, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ignacio Melero
- Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Clinica Universidad de Navarra and CIBERONC, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Sandro Pignata
- Department of Urology and Gynecology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Ruella
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies and Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Janis M Taube
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University SOM, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bernard A Fox
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | - Igor Puzanov
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
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