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Naseri B, Mardi A, Khosrojerdi A, Baghbani E, Aghebati-Maleki L, Hatami-Sadr A, Heris JA, Eskandarzadeh S, Kafshdouz M, Alizadeh N, Baradaran B. Everolimus treatment enhances inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules' expression in monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Hum Immunol 2024; 85:110798. [PMID: 38569354 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2024.110798] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antigen-specific T-cell immunity is provided by dendritic cells (DCs), which are specialized antigen-presenting cells. Furthermore, they establish a link between innate and adaptive immune responses. Currently, DC modification is a new approach for the therapy of several disorders. During solid organ transplantation, Everolimus, which is a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, was initially utilized to suppress the immune system's functionality. Due to the intervention of Everolimus in various signaling pathways in cells and its modulatory properties on the immune system, this study aims to investigate the effect of treatment with Everolimus on the maturation and expression of immune checkpoint genes in monocyte-derived DCs. METHODS To isolate monocytes from PBMCs, the CD14 marker was used via the MACS method. Monocytes were cultured and induced to differentiate into monocyte-derived DCs by utilizing GM-CSF and IL-4 cytokines. On the fifth day, immature DCs were treated with Everolimus and incubated for 24 h. On the sixth day, the flow cytometry technique was used to investigate the effect of Everolimus on the phenotypic characteristics of DCs. In the end, the expression of immune checkpoint genes in both the Everolimus-treated and untreated DCs groups was assessed using the real-time PCR method. RESULTS The findings of this research demonstrated that the administration of Everolimus to DCs led to a notable rise in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR expression and a decrease in CD11c expression. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the expression of immune checkpoint molecules, namely CTLA-4, VISTA, PD-L1, and BTLA, in DCs treated with Everolimus. CONCLUSION The findings of this study show that Everolimus can target DCs and affect their phenotype and function in order to shift them toward a partially tolerogenic state. However, additional research is required to gain a comprehensive understanding of the precise impact of Everolimus on the activation status of DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Naseri
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Mardi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Arezou Khosrojerdi
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Elham Baghbani
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | | | | | | | - Mahshid Kafshdouz
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nazila Alizadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Zhang SW, Wang H, Ding XH, Xiao YL, Shao ZM, You C, Gu YJ, Jiang YZ. Bidirectional crosstalk between therapeutic cancer vaccines and the tumor microenvironment: Beyond tumor antigens. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 3:1005-1024. [PMID: 38933006 PMCID: PMC11197801 DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2022.03.009] [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: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has rejuvenated cancer therapy, especially after anti-PD-(L)1 came onto the scene. Among the many therapeutic options, therapeutic cancer vaccines are one of the most essential players. Although great progress has been made in research on tumor antigen vaccines, few phase III trials have shown clinical benefits. One of the reasons lies in obstruction from the tumor microenvironment (TME). Meanwhile, the therapeutic cancer vaccine reshapes the TME in an ambivalent way, leading to immune stimulation or immune escape. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the interaction between therapeutic cancer vaccines and the TME. With respect to vaccine resistance, innate immunosuppressive TME components and acquired resistance caused by vaccination are both involved. Understanding the underlying mechanism of this crosstalk provides insight into the treatment of cancer by directly targeting the TME or synergizing with other therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Han Wang
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Ding
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yu-Ling Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Shao
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chao You
- Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ya-Jia Gu
- Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yi-Zhou Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Ramalingam S, Shantha S, Muralitharan S, Sudhakar U, Thamizhchelvan H, Parvathi VD. Role of tissue markers associated with tumor microenvironment in the progression and immune suppression of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Med Oncol 2023; 40:303. [PMID: 37731058 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02169-5] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Head and neck cancers (HNC) continues to dominate major cancers contributing to mortality worldwide. Squamous cell carcinoma is the major type of HNC. Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma grouped under HNC is a malignant tumor occurring in the oral cavity. The primary risk factors of OSCC are tobacco, alcohol consumption, etc. This review focuses on modulations, mechanisms, growth and differentiation of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer cell surrounds itself with a group of elements forming a favorable environment known as tumor microenvironment (TME). It consists of numerous cells which includes immune cells, blood cells and acellular components that are responsible for the progression, immunosuppression, metastasis and angiogenesis of cancer. This review highlights the most important tissue biomarkers (mTOR, CAF, FOXp3, CD163, CD33, CD34) that are associated with TME cells. mTOR remains as the primary regulator responsible in cancer and its importance towards immune-suppression is highlighted. Tumor-associated macrophages associated with cancer development and its relationship with immunomodulatory mechanism and Tregs, which are potential blockers of immune response and its mechanism and aberrations are discussed. Cancer-associated fibroblasts that are a part of TME and their role in evading the immune response and myeloid derived suppressor cells that have slight control over the immune response and their mechanism in the tumor progression is further explained. These markers have been emphasised as therapeutic targets and are currently in different stages of clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suganya Ramalingam
- Department of Oral Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India
| | - Sivaramakrishnan Shantha
- Department of Oral Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India
| | - Susruthan Muralitharan
- Department of Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India
- Susrutha Diagnostics, Chennai, India
| | - Uma Sudhakar
- Department of Periodontics, Department of Dental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Guindy, Chennai, 600032, India
| | - Harikrishnan Thamizhchelvan
- Department of Oral Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India.
| | - Venkatachalam Deepa Parvathi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India.
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4
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Xiao C, Xiong W, Xu Y, Zou J, Zeng Y, Liu J, Peng Y, Hu C, Wu F. Immunometabolism: a new dimension in immunotherapy resistance. Front Med 2023; 17:585-616. [PMID: 37725232 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-023-1012-z] [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: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated unparalleled clinical responses and revolutionized the paradigm of tumor treatment, while substantial patients remain unresponsive or develop resistance to ICIs as a single agent, which is traceable to cellular metabolic dysfunction. Although dysregulated metabolism has long been adjudged as a hallmark of tumor, it is now increasingly accepted that metabolic reprogramming is not exclusive to tumor cells but is also characteristic of immunocytes. Correspondingly, people used to pay more attention to the effect of tumor cell metabolism on immunocytes, but in practice immunocytes interact intimately with their own metabolic function in a way that has never been realized before during their activation and differentiation, which opens up a whole new frontier called immunometabolism. The metabolic intervention for tumor-infiltrating immunocytes could offer fresh opportunities to break the resistance and ameliorate existing ICI immunotherapy, whose crux might be to ascertain synergistic combinations of metabolic intervention with ICIs to reap synergic benefits and facilitate an adjusted anti-tumor immune response. Herein, we elaborate potential mechanisms underlying immunotherapy resistance from a novel dimension of metabolic reprogramming in diverse tumor-infiltrating immunocytes, and related metabolic intervention in the hope of offering a reference for targeting metabolic vulnerabilities to circumvent immunotherapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyue Xiao
- Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Yiting Xu
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Ji'an Zou
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Yue Zeng
- Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Junqi Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Yurong Peng
- Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Chunhong Hu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
- Hunan Cancer Mega-Data Intelligent Application and Engineering Research Centre, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Fang Wu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China.
- Hunan Cancer Mega-Data Intelligent Application and Engineering Research Centre, Changsha, 410011, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Precision Therapy in Lung Cancer, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China.
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Xie M, Wang F, Chen B, Wu Z, Chen C, Xu J. Systematic pan-cancer analysis identifies SLC35C1 as an immunological and prognostic biomarker. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5331. [PMID: 37005450 PMCID: PMC10067962 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32375-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
GDP-amylose transporter protein 1 (SLC35C1) plays an important role in many types of cancer. Therefore, it is clinically important to further investigate the expression profile of SLC35C1 in human tumors to provide new molecular clues for the pathogenesis of glioma. In this study, we performed a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of SLC35C1 using a series of bioinformatics approaches and validated its differential tissue expression and biological function. The results showed that SLC35C1 was aberrantly expressed in different types of tumors and significantly correlated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free interval (PFI). More importantly, the expression level of SLC35C1 was closely correlated with Tumor Microenvironment (TME), immune infiltration and immune-related genes. In addition, we found that SLC35C1 expression was also closely related to Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB), Microsatellite Instability (MSI) and antitumor drug sensitivity in various cancer types. Functional bioinformatics analysis indicated that SLC35C1 may be involved in multiple signaling pathways and biological processes in glioma. Based on SLC35C1 expression, a risk factor model was found to predict OS of glioma. In addition, in vitro experiments showed that SLC35C1 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasive ability of glioma cells, while SLC35C1 overexpression promoted proliferation, migration, invasion and colony formation of glioma cells. Finally, quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that SLC35C1 was highly expressed in gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingchen Xie
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Jiangsu Road No. 16, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Fuxu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Jiangsu Road No. 16, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Bing Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Jiangsu Road No. 16, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zeyu Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Jiangsu Road No. 16, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Ci Chen
- Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Jiangsu Road No. 16, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Jiangsu Road No. 16, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong Province, China.
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Targeting mTOR as a Cancer Therapy: Recent Advances in Natural Bioactive Compounds and Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225520. [PMID: 36428613 PMCID: PMC9688668 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a highly conserved serine/threonine-protein kinase, which regulates many biological processes related to metabolism, cancer, immune function, and aging. It is an essential protein kinase that belongs to the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) family and has two known signaling complexes, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). Even though mTOR signaling plays a critical role in promoting mitochondria-related protein synthesis, suppressing the catabolic process of autophagy, contributing to lipid metabolism, engaging in ribosome formation, and acting as a critical regulator of mRNA translation, it remains one of the significant signaling systems involved in the tumor process, particularly in apoptosis, cell cycle, and cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, the mTOR signaling system could be suggested as a cancer biomarker, and its targeting is important in anti-tumor therapy research. Indeed, its dysregulation is involved in different types of cancers such as colon, neck, cervical, head, lung, breast, reproductive, and bone cancers, as well as nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Moreover, recent investigations showed that targeting mTOR could be considered as cancer therapy. Accordingly, this review presents an overview of recent developments associated with the mTOR signaling pathway and its molecular involvement in various human cancer types. It also summarizes the research progress of different mTOR inhibitors, including natural and synthetised compounds and their main mechanisms, as well as the rational combinations with immunotherapies.
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7
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Yang X, Ding Y, Sun L, Shi M, Zhang P, He A, Zhang X, Huang Z, Li R. WASF2 Serves as a Potential Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Ovarian Cancer: A Pan-Cancer Analysis. Front Oncol 2022; 12:840038. [PMID: 35359421 PMCID: PMC8964075 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.840038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family member 2 (WASF2) has been shown to play an important role in many types of cancer. Therefore, it is worthwhile to further study expression profile of WASF2 in human cancer, which provides new molecular clues about the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. Methods We used a series of bioinformatics methods to comprehensively analyze the relationship between WASF2 and prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), immune infiltration, tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and tried to find the potential biological processes of WASF2 in ovarian cancer. Biological behaviors of ovarian cancer cells were investigated through CCK8 assay, scratch test and transwell assay. We also compared WASF2 expression between epithelial ovarian cancer tissues and normal ovarian tissues by using immunohistochemical staining. Results In the present study, we found that WASF2 was abnormally expressed across the diverse cancer and significantly correlated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free interval (PFI). More importantly, the WASF2 expression level also significantly related to the TME. Our results also showed that the expression of WASF2 was closely related to immune infiltration and immune-related genes. In addition, WASF2 expression was associated with TMB, MSI, and antitumor drugs sensitivity across various cancer types. Functional bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that the WASF2 might be involved in several signaling pathways and biological processes of ovarian cancer. A risk factor model was found to be predictive for OS in ovarian cancer based on the expression of WASF2. Moreover, in vitro experiments, it was demonstrated that the proliferative, migratory and invasive capacity of ovarian cancer cells was significantly inhibited due to WASF2 knockdown. Finally, the immunohistochemistry data confirmed that WASF2 were highly expressed in ovarian cancer. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that WASF2 expression was associated with a poor prognosis and may be involved in the development of ovarian cancer, which might be explored as a potential prognostic marker and new targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuzhen Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meiting Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Andong He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaotan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhengrui Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruiman Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ruiman Li,
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Mafi S, Mansoori B, Taeb S, Sadeghi H, Abbasi R, Cho WC, Rostamzadeh D. mTOR-Mediated Regulation of Immune Responses in Cancer and Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2022; 12:774103. [PMID: 35250965 PMCID: PMC8894239 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.774103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a downstream mediator in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways, which plays a pivotal role in regulating numerous cellular functions including cell growth, proliferation, survival, and metabolism by integrating a variety of extracellular and intracellular signals in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Dysregulation of the mTOR pathway is frequently reported in many types of human tumors, and targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway has been considered an attractive potential therapeutic target in cancer. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling transduction pathway is important not only in the development and progression of cancers but also for its critical regulatory role in the tumor microenvironment. Immunologically, mTOR is emerging as a key regulator of immune responses. The mTOR signaling pathway plays an essential regulatory role in the differentiation and function of both innate and adaptive immune cells. Considering the central role of mTOR in metabolic and translational reprogramming, it can affect tumor-associated immune cells to undergo phenotypic and functional reprogramming in TME. The mTOR-mediated inflammatory response can also promote the recruitment of immune cells to TME, resulting in exerting the anti-tumor functions or promoting cancer cell growth, progression, and metastasis. Thus, deregulated mTOR signaling in cancer can modulate the TME, thereby affecting the tumor immune microenvironment. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding the crucial role of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in controlling and shaping the immune responses in TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Mafi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Behzad Mansoori
- The Wistar Institute, Molecular & Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Shahram Taeb
- Department of Radiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
- Medical Biotechnology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Hossein Sadeghi
- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Reza Abbasi
- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - William C. Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Davoud Rostamzadeh, ; ; William C. Cho, ;
| | - Davoud Rostamzadeh
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
- *Correspondence: Davoud Rostamzadeh, ; ; William C. Cho, ;
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el Hage A, Dormond O. Combining mTOR Inhibitors and T Cell-Based Immunotherapies in Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1359. [PMID: 33802831 PMCID: PMC8002586 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
mTOR regulates several processes that control tumor development, including cancer cell growth, angiogenesis and the immune response to tumor. Accordingly, mTOR inhibitors have been thoroughly explored in cancer therapy but have failed to provide long-lasting anticancer benefits. Several resistance mechanisms that counteract the antitumor effect of mTOR inhibitors have been identified and have highlighted the need to use mTOR inhibitors in combination therapies. In this context, emerging evidence has demonstrated that mTOR inhibitors, despite their immunosuppressive properties, provide anticancer benefits to immunotherapies. In fact, mTOR inhibitors also display immunostimulatory effects, in particular by promoting memory CD8+ T cell generation. Hence, mTOR inhibitors represent a therapeutic opportunity to promote antitumor CD8 responses and to boost the efficacy of different modalities of cancer immunotherapy. In this context, strategies to reduce the immunosuppressive activity of mTOR inhibitors and therefore to shift the immune response toward antitumor immunity will be useful. In this review, we present the different classes of mTOR inhibitors and discuss their effect on immune cells by focusing mainly on CD8+ T cells. We further provide an overview of the different preclinical studies that investigated the anticancer effects of mTOR inhibitors combined to immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivier Dormond
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland;
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10
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Peng X, He Y, Huang J, Tao Y, Liu S. Metabolism of Dendritic Cells in Tumor Microenvironment: For Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:613492. [PMID: 33732237 PMCID: PMC7959811 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.613492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are a type of an antigen-presenting cell which undertake a job on capturing antigens coming from pathogens or tumors and presenting to T cells for immune response. The metabolism of DCs controls its development, polarization, and maturation processes and provides energy support for its functions. However, the immune activity of DCs in tumor microenvironment (TME) is inhibited generally. Abnormal metabolism of tumor cells causes metabolic changes in TME, such as hyperglycolysis, lactate and lipid accumulation, acidification, tryptophan deprivation, which limit the function of DCs and lead to the occurrence of tumor immune escape. Combined metabolic regulation with immunotherapy can strengthen the ability of antigen-presentation and T cell activation of DCs, improve the existing anti-tumor therapy, and overcome the defects of DC-related therapies in the current stage, which has great potential in oncology therapy. Therefore, we reviewed the glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism of DCs, as well as the metabolic changes after being affected by TME. Together with the potential metabolic targets of DCs, possible anti-tumor therapeutic pathways were summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Peng
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Youe He
- Department of Translational Medicine, Cancer Biological Treatment Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jun Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yongguang Tao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Zou Z, Tao T, Li H, Zhu X. mTOR signaling pathway and mTOR inhibitors in cancer: progress and challenges. Cell Biosci 2020; 10:31. [PMID: 32175074 PMCID: PMC7063815 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-020-00396-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 434] [Impact Index Per Article: 108.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates cell proliferation, autophagy, and apoptosis by participating in multiple signaling pathways in the body. Studies have shown that the mTOR signaling pathway is also associated with cancer, arthritis, insulin resistance, osteoporosis, and other diseases. The mTOR signaling pathway, which is often activated in tumors, not only regulates gene transcription and protein synthesis to regulate cell proliferation and immune cell differentiation but also plays an important role in tumor metabolism. Therefore, the mTOR signaling pathway is a hot target in anti-tumor therapy research. In recent years, a variety of newly discovered mTOR inhibitors have entered clinical studies, and a variety of drugs have been proven to have high activity in combination with mTOR inhibitors. The purpose of this review is to introduce the role of mTOR signaling pathway on apoptosis, autophagy, growth, and metabolism of tumor cells, and to introduce the research progress of mTOR inhibitors in the tumor field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Zou
- 1Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China.,2Marine Medical Research Institute of Guangdong Zhanjiang (GDZJMMRI), Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory Zhanjiang, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China.,3Department of Pathology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Tao Tao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- 3Department of Pathology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Xiao Zhu
- 1Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China.,2Marine Medical Research Institute of Guangdong Zhanjiang (GDZJMMRI), Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory Zhanjiang, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
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Magaway C, Kim E, Jacinto E. Targeting mTOR and Metabolism in Cancer: Lessons and Innovations. Cells 2019; 8:cells8121584. [PMID: 31817676 PMCID: PMC6952948 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells support their growth and proliferation by reprogramming their metabolism in order to gain access to nutrients. Despite the heterogeneity in genetic mutations that lead to tumorigenesis, a common alteration in tumors occurs in pathways that upregulate nutrient acquisition. A central signaling pathway that controls metabolic processes is the mTOR pathway. The elucidation of the regulation and functions of mTOR can be traced to the discovery of the natural compound, rapamycin. Studies using rapamycin have unraveled the role of mTOR in the control of cell growth and metabolism. By sensing the intracellular nutrient status, mTOR orchestrates metabolic reprogramming by controlling nutrient uptake and flux through various metabolic pathways. The central role of mTOR in metabolic rewiring makes it a promising target for cancer therapy. Numerous clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the efficacy of mTOR inhibition for cancer treatment. Rapamycin analogs have been approved to treat specific types of cancer. Since rapamycin does not fully inhibit mTOR activity, new compounds have been engineered to inhibit the catalytic activity of mTOR to more potently block its functions. Despite highly promising pre-clinical studies, early clinical trial results of these second generation mTOR inhibitors revealed increased toxicity and modest antitumor activity. The plasticity of metabolic processes and seemingly enormous capacity of malignant cells to salvage nutrients through various mechanisms make cancer therapy extremely challenging. Therefore, identifying metabolic vulnerabilities in different types of tumors would present opportunities for rational therapeutic strategies. Understanding how the different sources of nutrients are metabolized not just by the growing tumor but also by other cells from the microenvironment, in particular, immune cells, will also facilitate the design of more sophisticated and effective therapeutic regimen. In this review, we discuss the functions of mTOR in cancer metabolism that have been illuminated from pre-clinical studies. We then review key findings from clinical trials that target mTOR and the lessons we have learned from both pre-clinical and clinical studies that could provide insights on innovative therapeutic strategies, including immunotherapy to target mTOR signaling and the metabolic network in cancer.
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