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Guillaume J, Perzolli A, Boes M. Strategies to overcome low MHC-I expression in paediatric and adult tumours. IMMUNOTHERAPY ADVANCES 2023; 4:ltad028. [PMID: 38223409 PMCID: PMC10787372 DOI: 10.1093/immadv/ltad028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has made significant advancements in cancer treatments, improving patients' survival rates and quality of life. Several challenges still need to be addressed, which include the considerable fraction of incomplete curative responses in cancer patients, the development of therapy resistance by tumours, and the occurrence of adverse effects, such as inflammatory and autoimmune complications. Paediatric tumours usually exhibit lower responsiveness to immunotherapies compared to adult tumours. Although the underlying reasons are not yet fully understood, one known mechanism by which tumours avoid immune recognition is through reduced cell surface expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) complexes. Accordingly, the reduced presentation of neoantigens by MHC-I hinders the recognition and targeting of tumour cells by CD8+ T cells, impeding T-cell-mediated cytotoxic anti-tumour responses. MHC-I downregulation indeed often correlates with a poorer prognosis and diminished response to immunotherapy. Understanding the mechanisms underlying MHC-I downregulation in different types of paediatric and adult tumours is crucial for developing strategies to restore MHC-I expression and enhance anti-tumour immune responses. We here discuss progress in MHC-I-based immunotherapies against cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Guillaume
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A Perzolli
- Princess Mȧxima Centre for Paediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Erasmus MC/Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Boes
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Paediatric Immunology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Xu T, Li ZY, Liu M, Zhang SB, Ding HH, Wu JY, Lin SY, Liu J, Wei JY, Zhang XQ, Xin WJ. CircFhit Modulates GABAergic Synaptic Transmission via Regulating the Parental Gene Fhit Expression in the Spinal Dorsal Horn in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:947-961. [PMID: 36637791 PMCID: PMC10264304 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-01014-5] [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: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective treatments for neuropathic pain are lacking due to our limited understanding of the mechanisms. The circRNAs are mainly enriched in the central nervous system. However, their function in various physiological and pathological conditions have yet to be determined. Here, we identified circFhit, an exon-intron circRNA expressed in GABAergic neurons, which reduced the inhibitory synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn to mediate spared nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. Moreover, we found that circFhit decreased the expression of GAD65 and induced hyperexcitation in NK1R+ neurons by promoting the expression of its parental gene Fhit in cis. Mechanistically, circFhit was directly bound to the intronic region of Fhit, and formed a circFhit/HNRNPK complex to promote Pol II phosphorylation and H2B monoubiquitination by recruiting CDK9 and RNF40 to the Fhit intron. In summary, we revealed that the exon-intron circFhit contributes to GABAergic neuron-mediated NK1R+ neuronal hyperexcitation and neuropathic pain via regulating Fhit in cis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xu
- Neuroscience Program of Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Li
- Neuroscience Program of Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Su-Bo Zhang
- Neuroscience Program of Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Huan-Huan Ding
- Department of Physiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Jia-Yan Wu
- Neuroscience Program of Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Su-Yan Lin
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Jia-You Wei
- Neuroscience Program of Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, and Department of Interventional Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Xue-Qin Zhang
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital) and School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510182, China.
| | - Wen-Jun Xin
- Neuroscience Program of Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
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Brisebarre A, Ancel J, Ponchel T, Loeffler E, Germain A, Dalstein V, Dormoy V, Durlach A, Delepine G, Deslée G, Polette M, Nawrocki-Raby B. Transcriptomic FHIT low/pHER2 high signature as a predictive factor of outcome and immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1058531. [PMID: 36544755 PMCID: PMC9760670 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1058531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In recent decades, the development of immunotherapy and targeted therapies has considerably improved the outcome of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Despite these impressive clinical benefits, new biomarkers are needed for an accurate stratification of NSCLC patients and a more personalized management. We recently showed that the tumor suppressor fragile histidine triad (FHIT), frequently lost in NSCLC, controls HER2 receptor activity in lung tumor cells and that tumor cells from NSCLC patients harboring a FHITlow/pHER2high phenotype are sensitive to anti-HER2 drugs. Here, we sought to identify the transcriptomic signature of this phenotype and evaluate its clinical significance. Materials and methods We performed RNA sequencing analysis on tumor cells isolated from NSCLC (n=12) according to FHIT/pHER2 status and a functional analysis of differentially regulated genes. We also investigated the FHITlow/pHER2high signature in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) (n=489) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) (n=493) cohorts and used the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) model to test the ability of this signature to predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Results We showed that up-regulated genes in FHITlow/pHER2high tumors were associated with cell proliferation, metabolism and metastasis, whereas down-regulated genes were related to immune response. The FHITlow/pHER2high signature was associated with the higher size of tumors, lymph node involvement, and late TNM stages in LUAD and LUSC cohorts. It was identified as an independent predictor of overall survival (OS) in LUAD cohort. FHITlow/pHER2high tumors were also predictive of poor response to ICI in both LUAD and LUSC cohorts. Conclusion These data suggest that ICI might not be a relevant option for NSCLC patients with FHITlow/pHER2high tumors and that anti-HER2 targeted therapy could be a good therapeutic alternative for this molecular subclass with poorer prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Brisebarre
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France
| | - Julien Ancel
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France,CHU Reims, Hôpital Maison Blanche, Service de Pneumologie, Reims, France
| | - Théophile Ponchel
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France
| | - Emma Loeffler
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France
| | - Adeline Germain
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France
| | - Véronique Dalstein
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France,CHU Reims, Pôle de Biologie Territoriale, Service de Pathologie, Reims, France
| | - Valérian Dormoy
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France
| | - Anne Durlach
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France,CHU Reims, Pôle de Biologie Territoriale, Service de Pathologie, Reims, France
| | - Gonzague Delepine
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France,CHU Reims, Hôpital Robert Debré, Service de Chirurgie cardio-vasculaire et thoracique, Reims, France
| | - Gaëtan Deslée
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France,CHU Reims, Hôpital Maison Blanche, Service de Pneumologie, Reims, France
| | - Myriam Polette
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France,CHU Reims, Pôle de Biologie Territoriale, Service de Pathologie, Reims, France
| | - Béatrice Nawrocki-Raby
- INSERM, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, P3Cell, UMR-S 1250, SFR CAP Santé, Reims, France,*Correspondence: Béatrice Nawrocki-Raby,
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Adoptive cell therapies in thoracic malignancies. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2022; 71:2077-2098. [PMID: 35129636 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-022-03142-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has gained great interest in thoracic malignancies in the last decade, first in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but also more recently in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). However, while 15-20% of patients will greatly benefit from immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs), a vast majority will rapidly exhibit resistance. Reasons for this are multiple: non-immunogenic tumors, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment or defects in immune cells trafficking to the tumor sites being some of the most frequent. Current progress in adoptive cell therapies could offer a way to overcome these hurdles and bring effective immune cells to the tumor site. In this review, we discuss advantages, limits and future perspectives of adoptive cell therapy (ACT) in thoracic malignancies from lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK), cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK), natural killer cells (NK), dendritic cells (DC) vaccines and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) to TCR engineering and CARs. Trials are still in their early phases, and while there may still be many limitations to overcome, a combination of these different approaches with ICBs, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy could vastly improve the way we treat thoracic cancers.
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Corley MJ, Pang APS, Rasmussen TA, Tolstrup M, Søgaard OS, Ndhlovu LC. Candidate host epigenetic marks predictive for HIV reservoir size, responsiveness to latency reversal, and viral rebound. AIDS 2021; 35:2269-2279. [PMID: 34482353 PMCID: PMC8563431 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify candidate host epigenetic biomarkers predicting latency reversal agents (LRA) efficacy and HIV-1 rebound kinetics during analytical treatment interruption (ATI). DESIGN Retrospective longitudinal epigenetic profiling study from 13 people with HIV (PWH) on virologically suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) that participated in a LRA (HDAC inhibitor) clinical trial (NCT01680094) and a subsequent optional ATI to monitor for viral recrudescence after ART cessation. METHODS Genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) in purified CD4+ T cells was measured at single-nucleotide resolution using the Infinium MethylationEPIC array. HIV-1 DNA and RNA measures were previously assessed by PCR-based methods and the association of DNAm levels at regulatory sites of the human genome were examined with reservoir size, responsiveness to LRA, and time to viral rebound following ATI. RESULTS A distinct set of 15 candidate DNAm sites in purified CD4+ T cells at baseline pre-LRA and pre-ATI significantly correlated with time to viral rebound. Eight of these DNAm sites occurred in genes linked to HIV-1 replication dynamics including (SEPSECS, cg19113954), (MALT1, cg15968021), (CPT1C, cg14318858), (CRTAM, cg10977115), (B4GALNT4, cg04663285), (IL10, cg16284789), (TFPI2, cg19645693), and (LIFR, cg26437306); with the remaining sites at intergenic regions containing regulatory elements. Moreover, baseline DNAm states related to total HIV-1 DNA levels and the fold change in unspliced cell-associated HIV RNA following LRA treatment. CONCLUSION Preexisting host epigenetic states may determine HIV-1 rebound kinetics and reservoir maintenance. These findings suggest integrating a suite of DNA methylation markers to improve optimal participant selection and drug regimen in future HIV cure clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Corley
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Alina PS Pang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Thomas A. Rasmussen
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Martin Tolstrup
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ole S. Søgaard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
- Department of Tropical Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
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6
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Hazini A, Fisher K, Seymour L. Deregulation of HLA-I in cancer and its central importance for immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e002899. [PMID: 34353849 PMCID: PMC8344275 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well accepted that many tumors undergo a process of clonal selection which means that tumor antigens arising at various stages of tumor progression are likely to be represented in just a subset of tumor cells. This process is thought to be driven by constant immunosurveillance which applies selective pressure by eliminating tumor cells expressing antigens that are recognized by T cells. It is becoming increasingly clear that the same selective pressure may also select for tumor cells that evade immune detection by acquiring deficiencies in their human leucocyte antigen (HLA) presentation pathways, allowing important tumor antigens to persist within cells undetected by the immune system. Deficiencies in antigen presentation pathway can arise by a variety of mechanisms, including genetic and epigenetic changes, and functional antigen presentation is a hard phenomenon to assess using our standard analytical techniques. Nevertheless, it is likely to have profound clinical significance and could well define whether an individual patient will respond to a particular type of therapy or not. In this review we consider the mechanisms by which HLA function may be lost in clinical disease, we assess the implications for current immunotherapy approaches using checkpoint inhibitors and examine the prognostic impact of HLA loss demonstrated in clinical trials so far. Finally, we propose strategies that might be explored for possible patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Hazini
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Kerry Fisher
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Len Seymour
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
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7
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Novel immunomodulatory properties of low dose cytarabine entrapped in a mannosylated cationic liposome. Int J Pharm 2021; 606:120849. [PMID: 34216770 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cancer treatment remains unsatisfactory with high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Immunomodulatory agents capable of promoting cellular antitumor immunity while inhibiting the local immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment could greatly improve cancer treatment. We have developed a multi-targeted mannosylated cationic liposome delivery system containing muramyl dipeptide (DS) and low doses of the chemotherapeutic agent cytarabine (Ara-C). Immunomodulation of primary immune cells and immortalized cancer cell lines by Ara-C/DS was assessed by measuring cytokine levels and surface marker expression. As a proof of concept, the generation of targeted cellular immunity was investigated in the context of responses to viral antigens. This report is the first demonstrating that Ara-C combined with DS can modulate immune responses and revert immunosuppression as evidenced by increased IFN-γ and IL-12p40 without changes in IL-10 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and increased CD80 and decreased CD163 on immunosuppressive macrophages. Furthermore, Ara-C/DS increased MHC class I expression on cancer cells while increasing the production of antigen-specific IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells in viral peptide-challenged lymphocytes from both humans and vaccinated mice. Taken together, these results are the first to document immunomodulatory properties of Ara-C linked with recognition of antigens and potentially the generation of antitumor immune memory.
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Algarra I, Garrido F, Garcia-Lora AM. MHC heterogeneity and response of metastases to immunotherapy. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 40:501-517. [PMID: 33860434 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-09964-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, immunotherapy has proven to be an effective treatment against cancer. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes perform an important role in this anti-tumor immune response, recognizing cancer cells as foreign, through the presentation of tumor antigens by MHC class I molecules. However, tumors and metastases develop escape mechanisms for evading this immunosurveillance and may lose the expression of these polymorphic molecules to become invisible to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In other situations, they may maintain MHC class I expression and promote immunosuppression of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Therefore, the analysis of the expression of MHC class I molecules in tumors and metastases is important to elucidate these escape mechanisms. Moreover, it is necessary to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in these alterations to reverse them and recover the expression of MHC class I molecules on tumor cells. This review discusses the role and regulation of MHC class I expression in tumor progression. We focus on altered MHC class I phenotypes present in tumors and metastases, as well as the molecular mechanisms responsible for MHC-I alterations, emphasizing the mechanisms of recovery of the MHC class I molecules expression on cancer cells. The individualized study of the HLA class I phenotype of the tumor and the metastases of each patient will allow choosing the most appropriate immunotherapy treatment based on a personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Algarra
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Angel M Garcia-Lora
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014, Granada, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain. .,Unidad de Biobanco, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.
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HLA class I loss in colorectal cancer: implications for immune escape and immunotherapy. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:556-565. [PMID: 33473191 PMCID: PMC8027055 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00634-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell-mediated immune therapies have emerged as a promising treatment modality in different malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, only a fraction of patients currently respond to treatment. Understanding the lack of responses and finding biomarkers with predictive value is of great importance. There is evidence that CRC is a heterogeneous disease and several classification systems have been proposed that are based on genomic instability, immune cell infiltration, stromal content and molecular subtypes of gene expression. Human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) plays a pivotal role in presenting processed antigens to T lymphocytes, including tumour antigens. These molecules are frequently lost in different types of cancers, including CRC, resulting in tumour immune escape from cytotoxic T lymphocytes during the natural history of cancer development. The aim of this review is to (i) summarize the prevalence and molecular mechanisms behind HLA-I loss in CRC, (ii) discuss HLA-I expression/loss in the context of the newly identified CRC molecular subtypes, (iii) analyze the HLA-I phenotypes of CRC metastases disseminated via blood or the lymphatic system, (iv) discuss strategies to recover/circumvent HLA-I expression/loss and finally (v) review the role of HLA class II (HLA-II) in CRC prognosis.
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Shukla A, Cloutier M, Appiya Santharam M, Ramanathan S, Ilangumaran S. The MHC Class-I Transactivator NLRC5: Implications to Cancer Immunology and Potential Applications to Cancer Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041964. [PMID: 33671123 PMCID: PMC7922096 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system constantly monitors the emergence of cancerous cells and eliminates them. CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which kill tumor cells and provide antitumor immunity, select their targets by recognizing tumor antigenic peptides presented by MHC class-I (MHC-I) molecules. Cancer cells circumvent immune surveillance using diverse strategies. A key mechanism of cancer immune evasion is downregulation of MHC-I and key proteins of the antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM). Even though impaired MHC-I expression in cancers is well-known, reversing the MHC-I defects remains the least advanced area of tumor immunology. The discoveries that NLRC5 is the key transcriptional activator of MHC-I and APM genes, and genetic lesions and epigenetic modifications of NLRC5 are the most common cause of MHC-I defects in cancers, have raised the hopes for restoring MHC-I expression. Here, we provide an overview of cancer immunity mediated by CD8+ T cells and the functions of NLRC5 in MHC-I antigen presentation pathways. We describe the impressive advances made in understanding the regulation of NLRC5 expression, the data supporting the antitumor functions of NLRC5 and a few reports that argue for a pro-tumorigenic role. Finally, we explore the possible avenues of exploiting NLRC5 for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhil Shukla
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada; (A.S.); (M.C.); (M.A.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Maryse Cloutier
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada; (A.S.); (M.C.); (M.A.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Madanraj Appiya Santharam
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada; (A.S.); (M.C.); (M.A.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Sheela Ramanathan
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada; (A.S.); (M.C.); (M.A.S.); (S.R.)
- CRCHUS, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H5N4, Canada
| | - Subburaj Ilangumaran
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada; (A.S.); (M.C.); (M.A.S.); (S.R.)
- CRCHUS, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H5N4, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-819-346-1110 (ext. 14834)
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