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Doraneh-Gard F, Amberger DC, Amend C, Weinmann M, Schwepcke C, Klauer L, Schutti O, Hosseini H, Krämer D, Rank A, Schmid C, Schmetzer HM. Anti-Leukemic Effects Induced by Dendritic Cells of Leukemic Origin from Leukemic Blood Samples Are Comparable under Hypoxic vs. Normoxic Conditions. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2383. [PMID: 39001445 PMCID: PMC11240788 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia can modulate the immune system by affecting the function and activity of immune cells, potentially leading to altered immune responses. This study investigated the generation of leukemia-derived dendritic cells (DCleu) from leukemic blasts and their impact on immune cell activation under hypoxic (5-10% O2) compared to normoxic (21% O2) conditions using various immunomodulatory Kits. The results revealed that DC/DCleu-generation was similar under hypoxic and normoxic conditions, with no significant differences observed in frequencies of generated DC/DCleu. Furthermore, the study showed that the activation of immune cells and their anti-leukemic activity improved when T cell-enriched immunoreactive cells were co-cultured with DC/DCleu which were generated with Kit I and M compared to the control after mixed lymphocyte cultures. The anti-leukemic activity was improved under hypoxic compared to normoxic conditions after MLCWB-DC Kit M. These findings suggest that DC/DCleu-cultures of leukemic whole blood with Kits under hypoxic conditions yield comparable frequencies of DC/DCleu and can even increase the anti-leukemic activity compared to normoxic conditions. Overall, this research highlights the potential of utilizing DC/DCleu (potentially induced in vivo with Kits) as a promising approach to enhance immune response in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Doraneh-Gard
- Medical Department III, Working-group Immune-Modulation, Klinikum Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | | | - Carina Amend
- Medical Department III, Working-group Immune-Modulation, Klinikum Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Weinmann
- Medical Department III, Working-group Immune-Modulation, Klinikum Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Schwepcke
- Medical Department III, Working-group Immune-Modulation, Klinikum Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Lara Klauer
- Medical Department III, Working-group Immune-Modulation, Klinikum Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Olga Schutti
- Medical Department III, Working-group Immune-Modulation, Klinikum Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Hedayatollah Hosseini
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Doris Krämer
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Hospital Hagen, 58097 Hagen, Germany
| | - Andreas Rank
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Schmid
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Helga Maria Schmetzer
- Medical Department III, Working-group Immune-Modulation, Klinikum Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 86156 Augsburg, Germany
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Schutti O, Klauer L, Baudrexler T, Burkert F, Schmohl J, Hentrich M, Bojko P, Kraemer D, Rank A, Schmid C, Schmetzer H. Effective and Successful Quantification of Leukemia-Specific Immune Cells in AML Patients' Blood or Culture, Focusing on Intracellular Cytokine and Degranulation Assays. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6983. [PMID: 39000091 PMCID: PMC11241621 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Novel (immune) therapies are needed to stabilize remissions or the disease in AML. Leukemia derived dendritic cells (DCleu) can be generated ex vivo from AML patients' blasts in whole blood using approved drugs (GM-CSF and PGE-1 (Kit M)). After T cell enriched, mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) with Kit M pretreated (vs. untreated WB), anti-leukemically directed immune cells of the adaptive and innate immune systems were already shown to be significantly increased. We evaluated (1) the use of leukemia-specific assays [intracellular cytokine production of INFy, TNFa (INCYT), and degranulation detected by CD107a (DEG)] for a detailed quantification of leukemia-specific cells and (2), in addition, the correlation with functional cytotoxicity and patients' clinical data in Kit M-treated vs. not pretreated settings. We collected whole blood (WB) samples from 26 AML patients at first diagnosis, during persisting disease, or at relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), and from 18 healthy volunteers. WB samples were treated with or without Kit M to generate DC/DCleu. After MLC with Kit M-treated vs. untreated WB antigen-specific/anti-leukemic effects were assessed through INCYT, DEG, and a cytotoxicity fluorolysis assay. The quantification of cell subtypes was performed via flow cytometry. Our study showed: (1) low frequencies of leukemia-specific cells (subtypes) detectable in AML patients' blood. (2) Significantly higher frequencies of (mature) DCleu generable without induction of blast proliferation in Kit M-treated vs. untreated samples. (3) Significant increase in frequencies of immunoreactive cells (e.g., non-naive T cells, Tprol) as well as in INCYT/DEG ASSAYS leukemia-specific adaptive-(e.g., B, T(memory)) or innate immune cells (e.g., NK, CIK) after MLC with Kit M-treated vs. untreated WB. The results of the intracellular production of INFy and TNFa were comparable. The cytotoxicity fluorolysis assay revealed significantly enhanced blast lysis in Kit M-treated vs. untreated WB. Significant correlations could be shown between induced leukemia-specific cells from several lines and improved blast lysis. We successfully detected and quantified immunoreactive cells at a single-cell level using the functional assays (DEG, INCYT, and CTX). We could quantify leukemia-specific subtypes in uncultured WB as well as after MLC and evaluate the impact of Kit M pretreated (DC/DCleu-containing) WB on the provision of leukemia-specific immune cells. Kit M pretreatment (vs. no pretreatment) was shown to significantly increase leukemia-specific IFNy and TNFa producing, degranulating cells and to improve blast-cytotoxicity after MLC. In vivo treatment of AML patients with Kit M may lead to anti-leukemic effects and contribute to stabilizing the disease or remissions. INCYT and DEG assays qualify to quantify potentially leukemia-specific cells on a single cell level and to predict the clinical course of patients under treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Schutti
- Department for Hematopoetic Cell Transplantation, Med. III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; (O.S.)
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Comprehensive Cancer Center at University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Lara Klauer
- Department for Hematopoetic Cell Transplantation, Med. III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; (O.S.)
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Comprehensive Cancer Center at University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Baudrexler
- Department for Hematopoetic Cell Transplantation, Med. III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; (O.S.)
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Comprehensive Cancer Center at University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Florian Burkert
- Department for Hematopoetic Cell Transplantation, Med. III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; (O.S.)
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Comprehensive Cancer Center at University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Joerg Schmohl
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Marcus Hentrich
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, Red Cross Hospital of Munich, 80634 Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Bojko
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, Red Cross Hospital of Munich, 80634 Munich, Germany
| | - Doris Kraemer
- Department of Heamatology and Oncology, St.-Josefs-Hospital Hagen, 58097 Hagen, Germany
| | - Andreas Rank
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Comprehensive Cancer Center at University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Schmid
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Comprehensive Cancer Center at University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Helga Schmetzer
- Department for Hematopoetic Cell Transplantation, Med. III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; (O.S.)
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Comprehensive Cancer Center at University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
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Palomares F, Pina A, Dakhaoui H, Leiva-Castro C, Munera-Rodriguez AM, Cejudo-Guillen M, Granados B, Alba G, Santa-Maria C, Sobrino F, Lopez-Enriquez S. Dendritic Cells as a Therapeutic Strategy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:165. [PMID: 38400148 PMCID: PMC10891551 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) serve as professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) bridging innate and adaptive immunity, playing an essential role in triggering specific cellular and humoral responses against tumor and infectious antigens. Consequently, various DC-based antitumor therapeutic strategies have been developed, particularly vaccines, and have been intensively investigated specifically in the context of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This hematological malignancy mainly affects the elderly population (those aged over 65), which usually presents a high rate of therapeutic failure and an unfavorable prognosis. In this review, we examine the current state of development and progress of vaccines in AML. The findings evidence the possible administration of DC-based vaccines as an adjuvant treatment in AML following initial therapy. Furthermore, the therapy demonstrates promising outcomes in preventing or delaying tumor relapse and exhibits synergistic effects when combined with other treatments during relapses or disease progression. On the other hand, the remarkable success observed with RNA vaccines for COVID-19, delivered in lipid nanoparticles, has revealed the efficacy and effectiveness of these types of vectors, prompting further exploration and their potential application in AML, as well as other neoplasms, loading them with tumor RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Palomares
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Av. Sanchez Pizjuan s/n, 41009 Seville, Spain; (A.P.); (H.D.); (C.L.-C.); (A.M.M.-R.); (G.A.); (F.S.)
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS) HUVR/CSIC/University of Seville, Avda. Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain;
| | - Alejandra Pina
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Av. Sanchez Pizjuan s/n, 41009 Seville, Spain; (A.P.); (H.D.); (C.L.-C.); (A.M.M.-R.); (G.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Hala Dakhaoui
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Av. Sanchez Pizjuan s/n, 41009 Seville, Spain; (A.P.); (H.D.); (C.L.-C.); (A.M.M.-R.); (G.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Camila Leiva-Castro
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Av. Sanchez Pizjuan s/n, 41009 Seville, Spain; (A.P.); (H.D.); (C.L.-C.); (A.M.M.-R.); (G.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Ana M. Munera-Rodriguez
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Av. Sanchez Pizjuan s/n, 41009 Seville, Spain; (A.P.); (H.D.); (C.L.-C.); (A.M.M.-R.); (G.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Marta Cejudo-Guillen
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS) HUVR/CSIC/University of Seville, Avda. Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain;
- Department of Pharmacology, Pediatry, and Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Av. Sanchez Pizjuan s/n, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Beatriz Granados
- Distrito Sanitario de Atención Primaria Málaga, Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía, 29004 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Gonzalo Alba
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Av. Sanchez Pizjuan s/n, 41009 Seville, Spain; (A.P.); (H.D.); (C.L.-C.); (A.M.M.-R.); (G.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Consuelo Santa-Maria
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain;
| | - Francisco Sobrino
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Av. Sanchez Pizjuan s/n, 41009 Seville, Spain; (A.P.); (H.D.); (C.L.-C.); (A.M.M.-R.); (G.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Soledad Lopez-Enriquez
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Av. Sanchez Pizjuan s/n, 41009 Seville, Spain; (A.P.); (H.D.); (C.L.-C.); (A.M.M.-R.); (G.A.); (F.S.)
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS) HUVR/CSIC/University of Seville, Avda. Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain;
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Unterfrauner M, Rejeski HA, Hartz A, Bohlscheid S, Baudrexler T, Feng X, Rackl E, Li L, Rank A, Filippini Velázquez G, Schmid C, Schmohl J, Bojko P, Schmetzer H. Granulocyte-Macrophage-Colony-Stimulating-Factor Combined with Prostaglandin E1 Create Dendritic Cells of Leukemic Origin from AML Patients' Whole Blood and Whole Bone Marrow That Mediate Antileukemic Processes after Mixed Lymphocyte Culture. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17436. [PMID: 38139264 PMCID: PMC10743754 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417436] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Although several (chemotherapeutic) protocols to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are available, high rates of relapses in successfully treated patients occur. Strategies to stabilize remissions are greatly needed. The combination of the (clinically approved) immune-modulatory compounds Granulocyte-Macrophage-Colony-Stimulating-Factor (GM-CSF) and Prostaglandine E1 (PGE-1) (Kit-M) converts myeloid blasts into dendritic cells of leukemic origin (DCleu). After stimulation with DCleu ex vivo, leukemia-specific antileukemic immune cells are activated. Therefore, Kit-M treatment may be an attractive immunotherapeutic tool to treat patients with myeloid leukemia. Kit-M-mediated antileukemic effects on whole bone marrow (WBM) were evaluated and compared to whole blood (WB) to evaluate the potential effects of Kit-M on both compartments. WB and WBM samples from 17 AML patients at first diagnosis, in persisting disease and at relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) were treated in parallel with Kit-M to generate DC/DCleu. Untreated samples served as controls. After a mixed lymphocyte culture enriched with patients' T cells (MLC), the leukemia-specific antileukemic effects were assessed through the degranulation- (CD107a+ T cells), the intracellular IFNγ production- and the cytotoxicity fluorolysis assay. Quantification of cell subtypes was performed via flow cytometry. In both WB and WBM significantly higher frequencies of (mature) DCleu were generated without induction of blast proliferation in Kit-M-treated samples compared to control. After MLC with Kit-M-treated vs. not pretreated WB or WBM, frequencies of (leukemia-specific) immunoreactive cells (e.g., non-naive, effector-, memory-, CD3+β7+ T cells, NK- cells) were (significantly) increased, whereas leukemia-specific regulatory T cells (Treg, CD152+ T cells) were (significantly) decreased. The cytotoxicity fluorolysis assay showed a significantly improved blast lysis in Kit-M-treated WB and WBM compared to control. A parallel comparison of WB and WBM samples revealed no significant differences in frequencies of DCleu, (leukemia-specific) immunoreactive cells and achieved antileukemic processes. Kit-M was shown to have comparable effects on WB and WBM samples regarding the generation of DCleu and activation of (antileukemic) immune cells after MLC. This was true for samples before or after SCT. In summary, a potential Kit-M in vivo treatment could lead to antileukemic effects in WB as well as WBM in vivo and to stabilization of the disease or remission in patients before or after SCT. A clinical trial is currently being planned.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hazal Aslan Rejeski
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Anne Hartz
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Sophia Bohlscheid
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Baudrexler
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Xiaojia Feng
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Elias Rackl
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Rank
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | | | - Christoph Schmid
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Schmohl
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Diakonieklinikum Stuttgart, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Peter Bojko
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Rotkreuzklinikum Munich, 80634 Munich, Germany
| | - Helga Schmetzer
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
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Baudrexler T, Boeselt T, Li L, Bohlscheid S, Boas U, Schmid C, Rank A, Schmohl J, Koczulla R, Schmetzer HM. Volatile Phases Derived from Serum, DC, or MLC Culture Supernatants to Deduce a VOC-Based Diagnostic Profiling Strategy for Leukemic Diseases. Biomolecules 2023; 13:989. [PMID: 37371569 DOI: 10.3390/biom13060989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reflect the metabolism in healthy and pathological conditions, and can be collected easily in a noninvasive manner. They are directly measured using electronical nose (eNose), and may qualify as a systemic tool to monitor biomarkers related to disease. Myeloid leukemic blasts can be transformed into leukemia-derived dendritic cells (DCleu) able to improve (anti-leukemic) immune responses. To profile immunological changes in healthy and acute myeloid leukemic (AML) patients' ex vivo cell cultures, we correlated the cell biological data with the profiles of cell culture supernatant-derived VOCs. DC/DCleu from leukemic or healthy whole blood (WB) were generated without (Control) or with immunomodulatory Kit M (Granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF) + prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)) in dendritic cell cultures (DC culture). Kit-pretreated/not pretreated WB was used to stimulate T cell-enriched immunoreactive cells in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC culture). Leukemia-specific adaptive and innate immune cells were detected with a degranulation assay (Deg) and an intracellular cytokine assay (InCyt). Anti-leukemic cytotoxicity was explored with a cytotoxicity fluorolysis assay (CTX). VOCs collected from serum or DC- and MLC culture supernatants (with vs. without Kit M pretreatment and before vs. after culture) were measured using eNose. Compared to the Control (without treatment), Kit M-pretreated leukemic and healthy WB gave rise to higher frequencies of mature (leukemia-derived) DC subtypes of activated and (memory) T cells after MLC. Moreover, antigen (leukemia)-specific cells of several lines (innate and adaptive immunity cells) were induced, giving rise to blast-lysing cells. The eNose could significantly distinguish between healthy and leukemic patients' serum, DC and MLC culture supernatant-derived volatile phases and could significantly separate several supernatant (with vs. without Kit M treatment, cultured vs. uncultured)-derived VOCs within subgroups (healthy DC or leukemic DC, or healthy MLC or leukemic MLC supernatants). Interestingly, the eNose could indicate a Kit M- and culture-associated effect. The eNose may be a prospective option for the deduction of a VOC-based profiling strategy using serum or cell culture supernatants and could be a useful diagnostic tool to recognize or qualify AML disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Baudrexler
- Medical Department III, Hospital Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Boeselt
- Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Phillipps-University of Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Lin Li
- Medical Department III, Hospital Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Sophia Bohlscheid
- Medical Department III, Hospital Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Ursel Boas
- Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Phillipps-University of Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Schmid
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Rank
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Schmohl
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Diaconia Hospital Stuttgart, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Rembert Koczulla
- Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Phillipps-University of Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Helga Maria Schmetzer
- Medical Department III, Hospital Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
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Dendritic Cell-Triggered Immune Activation Goes along with Provision of (Leukemia-Specific) Integrin Beta 7-Expressing Immune Cells and Improved Antileukemic Processes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010463. [PMID: 36613907 PMCID: PMC9820538 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010463] [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: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrin beta 7 (β7), a subunit of the integrin receptor, is expressed on the surface of immune cells and mediates cell-cell adhesions and interactions, e.g., antitumor or autoimmune reactions. Here, we analyzed, whether the stimulation of immune cells by dendritic cells (of leukemic derivation in AML patients or of monocyte derivation in healthy donors) leads to increased/leukemia-specific β7 expression in immune cells after T-cell-enriched mixed lymphocyte culture-finally leading to improved antileukemic cytotoxicity. Healthy, as well as AML and MDS patients' whole blood (WB) was treated with Kit-M (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) + prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)) or Kit-I (GM-CSF + Picibanil) in order to generate DCs (DCleu or monocyte-derived DC), which were then used as stimulator cells in MLC. To quantify antigen/leukemia-specific/antileukemic functionality, a degranulation assay (DEG), an intracellular cytokine assay (INTCYT) and a cytotoxicity fluorolysis assay (CTX) were used. (Leukemia-specific) cell subtypes were quantified via flow cytometry. The Kit treatment of WB (compared to the control) resulted in the generation of DC/DCleu, which induced increased activation of innate and adaptive cells after MLC. Kit-pretreated WB (vs. the control) led to significantly increased frequencies of β7-expressing T-cells, degranulating and intracellular cytokine-producing β7-expressing immune cells and, in patients' samples, increased blast lysis. Positive correlations were found between the Kit-M-mediated improvement of blast lysis (vs. the control) and frequencies of β7-expressing T-cells. Our findings indicate that DC-based immune therapies might be able to specifically activate the immune system against blasts going along with increased frequencies of (leukemia-specific) β7-expressing immune cells. Furthermore, β7 might qualify as a predictor for the efficiency and the success of AML and/or MDS therapies.
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