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Oyer JL, Croom-Perez TJ, Hasan MF, Rivera-Huertas JA, Gitto SB, Mucha JM, Zhu X, Altomare DA, Igarashi RY, Copik AJ. PM21-particle stimulation augmented with cytokines enhances NK cell expansion and confers memory-like characteristics with enhanced survival. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1383281. [PMID: 38711506 PMCID: PMC11070970 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
NK cell therapeutics have gained significant attention as a potential cancer treatment. Towards therapeutic use, NK cells need to be activated and expanded to attain high potency and large quantities for an effective dosage. This is typically done by ex vivo stimulation with cytokines to enhance functionality or expansion for 10-14 days to increase both their activity and quantity. Attaining a robust methodology to produce large doses of potent NK cells for an off-the-shelf product is highly desirable. Notably, past reports have shown that stimulating NK cells with IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 endows them with memory-like properties, better anti-tumor activity, and persistence. While this approach produces NK cells with clinically favorable characteristics supported by encouraging early results for the treatment of hematological malignancies, its limited scalability, variability in initial doses, and the necessity for patient-specific production hinder its broader application. In this study, stimulation of NK cells with PM21-particles derived from K562-41BBL-mbIL21 cells was combined with memory-like induction using cytokines IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 to produce NK cells with enhanced anti-tumor function. The use of cytokines combined with PM21-particles (cytokine and particle, CAP) significantly enhanced NK cell expansion, achieving a remarkable 8,200-fold in 14 days. Mechanistically, this significant improvement over expansion with PM21-particles alone was due to the upregulation of receptors for key stimulating ligands (4-1BBL and IL-2), resulting in a synergy that drives substantial NK cell growth, showcasing the potential for more effective therapeutic applications. The therapeutic potential of CAP-NK cells was demonstrated by the enhanced metabolic fitness, persistence, and anti-tumor function both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, CAP-NK cells were amenable to current technologies used in developing therapeutic NK cell products, including CRISPR/Cas9-based techniques to generate a triple-gene knockout or a gene knock-in. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the addition of cytokines enhanced the already effective method of ex vivo generation of therapeutic NK cells with PM21-particles, yielding a superior NK cell product for manufacturing efficiency and potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alicja J. Copik
- Burnett School of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
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Wang M, Krueger JB, Gilkey AK, Stelljes EM, Kluesner MG, Pomeroy EJ, Skeate JG, Slipek NJ, Lahr WS, Vázquez PNC, Zhao Y, Eaton EJ, Laoharawee K, Webber BR, Moriarity BS. Precision Enhancement of CAR-NK Cells through Non-Viral Engineering and Highly Multiplexed Base Editing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.05.582637. [PMID: 38496503 PMCID: PMC10942345 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.05.582637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells' unique ability to kill transformed cells expressing stress ligands or lacking major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) has prompted their development for immunotherapy. However, NK cells have demonstrated only moderate responses against cancer in clinical trials and likely require advanced genome engineering to reach their full potential as a cancer therapeutic. Multiplex genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 base editors (BE) has been used to enhance T cell function and has already entered clinical trials but has not been reported in human NK cells. Here, we report the first application of BE in primary NK cells to achieve both loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations. We observed highly efficient single and multiplex base editing, resulting in significantly enhanced NK cell function. Next, we combined multiplex BE with non-viral TcBuster transposon-based integration to generate IL-15 armored CD19 CAR-NK cells with significantly improved functionality in a highly suppressive model of Burkitt's lymphoma both in vitro and in vivo. The use of concomitant non-viral transposon engineering with multiplex base editing thus represents a highly versatile and efficient platform to generate CAR-NK products for cell-based immunotherapy and affords the flexibility to tailor multiple gene edits to maximize the effectiveness of the therapy for the cancer type being treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjing Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Joshua B Krueger
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alexandria K Gilkey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Erin M Stelljes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mitchell G Kluesner
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Emily J Pomeroy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Joseph G Skeate
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nicholas J Slipek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Walker S Lahr
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Patricia N Claudio Vázquez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Yueting Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ella J Eaton
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kanut Laoharawee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Beau R Webber
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Branden S Moriarity
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Li Y, Zhou S, Wu Q, Gong C. CRISPR/Cas gene editing and delivery systems for cancer therapy. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 16:e1938. [PMID: 38456346 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas systems stand out because of simplicity, efficiency, and other superiorities, thus becoming attractive and brilliant gene-editing tools in biomedical field including cancer therapy. CRISPR/Cas systems bring promises for cancer therapy through manipulating and engineering on tumor cells or immune cells. However, there have been concerns about how to overcome the numerous physiological barriers and deliver CRISPR components to target cells efficiently and accurately. In this review, we introduced the mechanisms of CRISPR/Cas systems, summarized the current delivery strategies of CRISPR/Cas systems by physical methods, viral vectors, and nonviral vectors, and presented the current application of CRISPR/Cas systems in cancer clinical treatment. Furthermore, we discussed prospects related to delivery approaches of CRISPR/Cas systems. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Li
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shiyao Zhou
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qinjie Wu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Changyang Gong
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Fetzko SL, Timothy LD, Parihar R. NK Cell Therapeutics for Hematologic Malignancies: from Potential to Fruition. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 2023; 18:264-272. [PMID: 37751103 DOI: 10.1007/s11899-023-00711-w] [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] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The current review focuses on the preclinical development and clinical advances of natural killer (NK) cell therapeutics for hematologic malignancies and offers perspective on the unmet challenges that will direct future discovery in the field. RECENT FINDINGS Approaches to improve or re-direct NK cell anti-tumor functions against hematologic malignancies have included transgenic expression of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), administration of NK cell engagers including BiKEs and TriKEs that enhance antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by co-engaging NK cell CD16 and antigens on tumors, incorporation of a non-cleavable CD16 that results in enhanced ADCC, use of induced memory-like NK cells alone or in combination with CARs, and blockade of NK immune checkpoints to enhance NK cytotoxicity. Recently reported and ongoing clinical trials support the feasibility and safety of these approaches. NK cell-based therapeutic strategies hold great promise as cost-effective, off-the-shelf cell therapies for patients with relapsed and refractory hematologic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Fetzko
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leander D Timothy
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robin Parihar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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5
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Audouze-Chaud J, Mathews JA, Crome SQ. Efficient and stable CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome-editing of human type 2 innate lymphoid cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1275413. [PMID: 37868976 PMCID: PMC10585162 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275413] [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: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a family of innate lymphocytes with important roles in immune response coordination and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. The ILC family includes group 1 (ILC1s), group 2 (ILC2s) and group 3 (ILC3s) 'helper' ILCs, as well as cytotoxic Natural Killer (NK) cells. Study of helper ILCs in humans presents several challenges, including their low proportions in peripheral blood or needing access to rare samples to study tissue resident ILC populations. In addition, the lack of established protocols harnessing genetic manipulation platforms has limited the ability to explore molecular mechanism regulating human helper ILC biology. CRISPR/Cas9 is an efficient genome editing tool that enables the knockout of genes of interest, and is commonly used to study molecular regulation of many immune cell types. Here, we developed methods to efficiently knockout genes of interest in human ILC2s. We discuss challenges and lessons learned from our CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing optimizations using a nucleofection transfection approach and test a range of conditions and nucleofection settings to obtain a protocol that achieves effective and stable gene knockout while maintaining optimal cell viability. Using IL-4 as a representative target, we compare different ribonucleoprotein configurations, as well as assess effects of length of time in culture and other parameters that impact CRISPR/Cas9 transfection efficiency. Collectively, we detail a CRISPR/Cas9 protocol for efficient genetic knockout to aid in studying molecular mechanism regulating human ILC2s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanne Audouze-Chaud
- Department of Immunology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Ajmera Transplant Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jessica A. Mathews
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Ajmera Transplant Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Q. Crome
- Department of Immunology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Ajmera Transplant Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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6
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Dahlvang JD, Dick JK, Sangala JA, Kennedy PR, Pomeroy EJ, Snyder KM, Moushon JM, Thefaine CE, Wu J, Hamilton SE, Felices M, Miller JS, Walcheck B, Webber BR, Moriarity BS, Hart GT. Ablation of SYK Kinase from Expanded Primary Human NK Cells via CRISPR/Cas9 Enhances Cytotoxicity and Cytokine Production. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:1108-1122. [PMID: 36881874 PMCID: PMC10073313 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
CMV infection alters NK cell phenotype and function toward a more memory-like immune state. These cells, termed adaptive NK cells, typically express CD57 and NKG2C but lack expression of the FcRγ-chain (gene: FCER1G, FcRγ), PLZF, and SYK. Functionally, adaptive NK cells display enhanced Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and cytokine production. However, the mechanism behind this enhanced function is unknown. To understand what drives enhanced ADCC and cytokine production in adaptive NK cells, we optimized a CRISPR/Cas9 system to ablate genes from primary human NK cells. We ablated genes that encode molecules in the ADCC pathway, such as FcRγ, CD3ζ, SYK, SHP-1, ZAP70, and the transcription factor PLZF, and tested subsequent ADCC and cytokine production. We found that ablating the FcRγ-chain caused a modest increase in TNF-α production. Ablation of PLZF did not enhance ADCC or cytokine production. Importantly, SYK kinase ablation significantly enhanced cytotoxicity, cytokine production, and target cell conjugation, whereas ZAP70 kinase ablation diminished function. Ablating the phosphatase SHP-1 enhanced cytotoxicity but reduced cytokine production. These results indicate that the enhanced cytotoxicity and cytokine production of CMV-induced adaptive NK cells is more likely due to the loss of SYK than the lack of FcRγ or PLZF. We found the lack of SYK expression could improve target cell conjugation through enhanced CD2 expression or limit SHP-1-mediated inhibition of CD16A signaling, leading to enhanced cytotoxicity and cytokine production.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D. Dahlvang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jenna K. Dick
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jules A. Sangala
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Philippa R. Kennedy
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Emily J. Pomeroy
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kristin M. Snyder
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Veterinary and Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Juliette M. Moushon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Claire E. Thefaine
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jianming Wu
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Veterinary and Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Sara E. Hamilton
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Martin Felices
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Miller
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Bruce Walcheck
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Veterinary and Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Beau R. Webber
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Branden S. Moriarity
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Geoffrey T. Hart
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Lead contact
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Pereira MSF, Sorathia K, Sezgin Y, Thakkar A, Maguire C, Collins PL, Mundy-Bosse BL, Lee DA, Naeimi Kararoudi M. Deletion of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta Reprograms NK Cell Metabolism. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:705. [PMID: 36765663 PMCID: PMC9913837 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of cytotoxicity and defective metabolism are linked to glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) overexpression in natural killer (NK) cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia or from healthy donors after expansion ex vivo with IL-15. Drug inhibition of GSK3β in these NK cells improves their maturation and cytotoxic activity, but the mechanisms of GSK3β-mediated dysfunction have not been well studied. Here, we show that expansion of NK cells with feeder cells expressing membrane-bound IL-21 maintained normal GSK3β levels, allowing us to study GSK3β function using CRISPR gene editing. We deleted GSK3B and expanded paired-donor knockout and wild-type (WT) NK cells and then assessed transcriptional and functional alterations induced by loss of GSK3β. Surprisingly, our data showed that deletion of GSK3B did not alter cytotoxicity, cytokine production, or maturation (as determined by CD57 expression). However, GSK3B-KO cells demonstrated significant changes in expression of genes related to rRNA processing, cell proliferation, and metabolic function, suggesting possible metabolic reprogramming. Next, we found that key genes downregulated in GSK3B-KO NK cells were upregulated in GSK3β-overexpressing NK cells from AML patients, confirming this correlation in a clinical setting. Lastly, we measured cellular energetics and observed that GSK3B-KO NK cells exhibited 150% higher spare respiratory capacity, a marker of metabolic fitness. These findings suggest a role for GSK3β in regulating NK cell metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo S. F. Pereira
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Kinnari Sorathia
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Yasemin Sezgin
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Aarohi Thakkar
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Colin Maguire
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Patrick L. Collins
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Bethany L. Mundy-Bosse
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Dean A. Lee
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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8
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Mohammadian Gol T, Ureña-Bailén G, Hou Y, Sinn R, Antony JS, Handgretinger R, Mezger M. CRISPR medicine for blood disorders: Progress and challenges in delivery. Front Genome Ed 2023; 4:1037290. [PMID: 36687779 PMCID: PMC9853164 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.1037290] [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: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood disorders are a group of diseases including hematological neoplasms, clotting disorders and orphan immune deficiency diseases that affects human health. Current improvements in genome editing based therapeutics demonstrated preclinical and clinical proof to treat different blood disorders. Genome editing components such as Cas nucleases, guide RNAs and base editors are supplied in the form of either a plasmid, an mRNA, or a ribonucleoprotein complex. The most common delivery vehicles for such components include viral vectors (e.g., AAVs and RV), non-viral vectors (e.g., LNPs and polymers) and physical delivery methods (e.g., electroporation and microinjection). Each of the delivery vehicles specified above has its own advantages and disadvantages and the development of a safe transferring method for ex vivo and in vivo application of genome editing components is still a big challenge. Moreover, the delivery of genome editing payload to the target blood cells possess key challenges to provide a possible cure for patients with inherited monogenic blood diseases and hematological neoplastic tumors. Here, we critically review and summarize the progress and challenges related to the delivery of genome editing elements to relevant blood cells in an ex vivo or in vivo setting. In addition, we have attempted to provide a future clinical perspective of genome editing to treat blood disorders with possible clinical grade improvements in delivery methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Mohammadian Gol
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Guillermo Ureña-Bailén
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yujuan Hou
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ralph Sinn
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Justin S. Antony
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rupert Handgretinger
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany,Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Markus Mezger
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany,*Correspondence: Markus Mezger,
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION New methods in cancer immunotherapy, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, have shown promising results in destroying malignant cells. However, limitations and side effects of CAR-T cell therapy, such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), neurotoxicity, and cytokine release syndrome, have motivated researchers to investigate safer alternative cells like natural killer (NK) cells. AREA COVERED NK cells can effectively recognize hematologic malignant cells and destroy them. Many clinical and preclinical studies investigate the efficacy of CAR-NK cells in treating lymphoma and other hematologic malignancies. The results of published clinical trials and preclinical studies have shown that CAR-NK cells could be an appropriate choice for treating lymphoma. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of CAR-NK cells, their role in treating B-cell and T-cell lymphoma, and the challenges faced by using them. We also highlight clinical trials using CAR-NK cells for treating lymphoma. EXPERT OPINION CAR-NK cells have shown promising results in cancer therapy, especially B-cell lymphoma, with a much lower risk for GVHD, cytokine release syndrome, and neurotoxicity than CAR-T cells. Further investigations are required to overcome the obstacles of CAR-NK cell therapy, both generally, and in cancers like T-cell lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaghayegh Khanmohammadi
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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10
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Huang J, Zhou Y, Li J, Lu A, Liang C. CRISPR/Cas systems: Delivery and application in gene therapy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:942325. [PMID: 36483767 PMCID: PMC9723151 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.942325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas systems in prokaryotes such as bacteria and archaea are the adaptive immune system to prevent infection from viruses, phages, or other foreign substances. When viruses or phages first invade the bacteria, Cas proteins recognize and cut the DNA from viruses or phages into short fragments that will be integrated into the CRISPR array. Once bacteria are invaded again, the modified CRISPR and Cas proteins react quickly to cut DNA at the specified target location, protecting the host. Due to its high efficiency, versatility, and simplicity, the CRISPR/Cas system has become one of the most popular gene editing technologies. In this review, we briefly introduce the CRISPR/Cas systems, focus on several delivery methods including physical delivery, viral vector delivery, and non-viral vector delivery, and the applications of disease therapy. Finally, some problems in CRISPR/Cas9 technology have been proposed, such as the off-target effects, the efficiency of DNA repair mechanisms, and delivery of CRISPR/Cas system safely and efficiently to the target location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Huang
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yitong Zhou
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Aiping Lu
- Institute of Integrated Bioinfomedicine and Translational Science (IBTS), School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao Liang
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Integrated Bioinfomedicine and Translational Science (IBTS), School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
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11
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Valeri A, García-Ortiz A, Castellano E, Córdoba L, Maroto-Martín E, Encinas J, Leivas A, Río P, Martínez-López J. Overcoming tumor resistance mechanisms in CAR-NK cell therapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:953849. [PMID: 35990652 PMCID: PMC9381932 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.953849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the impressive results of autologous CAR-T cell therapy in refractory B lymphoproliferative diseases, CAR-NK immunotherapy emerges as a safer, faster, and cost-effective approach with no signs of severe toxicities as described for CAR-T cells. Permanently scrutinized for its efficacy, recent promising data in CAR-NK clinical trials point out the achievement of deep, high-quality responses, thus confirming its potential clinical use. Although CAR-NK cell therapy is not significantly affected by the loss or downregulation of its CAR tumor target, as in the case of CAR-T cell, a plethora of common additional tumor intrinsic or extrinsic mechanisms that could also disable NK cell function have been described. Therefore, considering lessons learned from CAR-T cell therapy, the emergence of CAR-NK cell therapy resistance can also be envisioned. In this review we highlight the processes that could be involved in its development, focusing on cytokine addiction and potential fratricide during manufacturing, poor tumor trafficking, exhaustion within the tumor microenvironment (TME), and NK cell short in vivo persistence on account of the limited expansion, replicative senescence, and rejection by patient’s immune system after lymphodepletion recovery. Finally, we outline new actively explored alternatives to overcome these resistance mechanisms, with a special emphasis on CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genetic engineering approaches, a promising platform to optimize CAR-NK cell function to eradicate refractory cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Valeri
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena García-Ortiz
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Castellano
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Córdoba
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Maroto-Martín
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jessica Encinas
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandra Leivas
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Río
- Division of Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies, Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) and Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquín Martínez-López
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Joaquín Martínez-López,
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12
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Zhang X, Jin X, Sun R, Zhang M, Lu W, Zhao M. Gene knockout in cellular immunotherapy: Application and limitations. Cancer Lett 2022; 540:215736. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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13
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Elmas E, Saljoughian N, de Souza Fernandes Pereira M, Tullius BP, Sorathia K, Nakkula RJ, Lee DA, Naeimi Kararoudi M. CRISPR Gene Editing of Human Primary NK and T Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:834002. [PMID: 35449580 PMCID: PMC9016158 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.834002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antitumor activity of immune cells such as T cells and NK cells has made them auspicious therapeutic regimens for adaptive cancer immunotherapy. Enhancing their cytotoxic effects against malignancies and overcoming their suppression in tumor microenvironment (TME) may improve their efficacy to treat cancers. Clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genome editing has become one of the most popular tools to enhance immune cell antitumor activity. In this review we highlight applications and practicability of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and engineering strategies for cancer immunotherapy. In addition, we have reviewed several approaches to study CRISPR off-target effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezgi Elmas
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Noushin Saljoughian
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- CRISPR/Gene Editing Core, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Marcelo de Souza Fernandes Pereira
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Brian P. Tullius
- Pediatric Cellular Therapy, AdventHealth for Children, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Kinnari Sorathia
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Robin J. Nakkula
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Dean A. Lee
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- CRISPR/Gene Editing Core, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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14
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Zhi L, Su X, Yin M, Zhang Z, Lu H, Niu Z, Guo C, Zhu W, Zhang X. Genetical engineering for NK and T cell immunotherapy with CRISPR/Cas9 technology: Implications and challenges. Cell Immunol 2021; 369:104436. [PMID: 34500148 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2021.104436] [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: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become one of the most promising strategies in cancer therapies. Among the therapeutic alternatives, genetically engineered NK/T cell therapies have emerged as powerful and innovative therapeutic modalities for cancer patients with precise targeting and impressive efficacy. Nonetheless, this approach still faces multiple challenges, such as immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, exhaustion of immune effector cells in tumors, off-target effects manufacturing complexity, and poor infiltration of effector cells, all of which need to be overcome for further utilization to cancers. Recently, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology, with the goal of enhancing the efficacy and increasing the availability of engineered effector cell therapies, has shown considerable potential in the novel strategies and options to overcome these limitations. Here we review the current progress of the applications of CRISPR in cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, we discuss issues related to the NK/T cell applications, gene delivery methods, efficiency, challenges, and implications of CRISPR/Cas9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingtong Zhi
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Xin Su
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Meichen Yin
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Zikang Zhang
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Hui Lu
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Zhiyuan Niu
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Changjiang Guo
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Wuling Zhu
- Synthetic Biology Engineering Lab of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, PR China.
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, PR China.
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15
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Alves E, McLeish E, Blancafort P, Coudert JD, Gaudieri S. Manipulating the NKG2D Receptor-Ligand Axis Using CRISPR: Novel Technologies for Improved Host Immunity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:712722. [PMID: 34456921 PMCID: PMC8397441 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.712722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The activating immune receptor natural killer group member D (NKG2D) and its cognate ligands represent a fundamental surveillance system of cellular distress, damage or transformation. Signaling through the NKG2D receptor-ligand axis is critical for early detection of viral infection or oncogenic transformation and the presence of functional NKG2D ligands (NKG2D-L) is associated with tumor rejection and viral clearance. Many viruses and tumors have developed mechanisms to evade NKG2D recognition via transcriptional, post-transcriptional or post-translational interference with NKG2D-L, supporting the concept that circumventing immune evasion of the NKG2D receptor-ligand axis may be an attractive therapeutic avenue for antiviral therapy or cancer immunotherapy. To date, the complexity of the NKG2D receptor-ligand axis and the lack of specificity of current NKG2D-targeting therapies has not allowed for the precise manipulation required to optimally harness NKG2D-mediated immunity. However, with the discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins, novel opportunities have arisen in the realm of locus-specific gene editing and regulation. Here, we give a brief overview of the NKG2D receptor-ligand axis in humans and discuss the levels at which NKG2D-L are regulated and dysregulated during viral infection and oncogenesis. Moreover, we explore the potential for CRISPR-based technologies to provide novel therapeutic avenues to improve and maximize NKG2D-mediated immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Alves
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Emily McLeish
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Pilar Blancafort
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Jerome D. Coudert
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, WA, Australia
| | - Silvana Gaudieri
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
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16
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Robbins GM, Wang M, Pomeroy EJ, Moriarity BS. Nonviral genome engineering of natural killer cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:350. [PMID: 34134774 PMCID: PMC8207670 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02406-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes of the innate immune system capable of immune surveillance. Given their ability to rapidly and effectively recognize and kill aberrant cells, especially transformed cells, NK cells represent a unique cell type to genetically engineer to improve its potential as a cell-based therapy. NK cells do not express a T cell receptor and thus do not contribute to graft-versus-host disease, nor do they induce T cell-driven cytokine storms, making them highly suited as an off-the-shelf cellular therapy. The clinical efficacy of NK cell-based therapies has been hindered by limited in vivo persistence and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment characteristic of many cancers. Enhancing NK cell resistance to tumor inhibitory signaling through genome engineering has the potential to improve NK cell persistence in the tumor microenvironment and restore cytotoxic functions. Alongside silencing NK cell inhibitory receptors, NK cell killing can be redirected by the integration of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). However, NK cells are associated with technical and biological challenges not observed in T cells, typically resulting in low genome editing efficiencies. Viral vectors have achieved the greatest gene transfer efficiencies but carry concerns of random, insertional mutagenesis given the high viral titers necessary. As such, this review focuses on nonviral methods of gene transfer within the context of improving cancer immunotherapy using engineered NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle M Robbins
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Minjing Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Emily J Pomeroy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Branden S Moriarity
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. .,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. .,Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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17
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Kisseberth WC, Lee DA. Adoptive Natural Killer Cell Immunotherapy for Canine Osteosarcoma. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:672361. [PMID: 34164452 PMCID: PMC8215197 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.672361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in both humans and dogs. It is a highly metastatic cancer and therapy has not improved significantly since the inclusion of adjuvant chemotherapy into disease treatment strategies. Osteosarcoma is an immunogenic tumor, and thus development of immunotherapies for its treatment, especially treatment of microscopic pulmonary metastases might improve outcomes. NK cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system and can recognize a variety of stressed cells, including cancer cells, in the absence of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted receptor ligand interactions. NK cells have a role in controlling tumor progression and metastasis and are important mediators of different therapeutic interventions. The core hypothesis of adoptive natural killer (NK) cell therapy is there exists a natural defect in innate immunity (a combination of cancer-induced reduction in NK cell numbers and immunosuppressive mechanisms resulting in suppressed function) that can be restored by adoptive transfer of NK cells. Here, we review the rationale for adoptive NK cell immunotherapy, NK cell biology, TGFβ and the immunosuppressive microenvironment in osteosarcoma, manufacturing of ex vivo expanded NK cells for the dog and provide perspective on the present and future clinical applications of adoptive NK cell immunotherapy in spontaneous osteosarcoma and other cancers in the dog.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Kisseberth
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Dean A Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
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18
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Islam R, Pupovac A, Evtimov V, Boyd N, Shu R, Boyd R, Trounson A. Enhancing a Natural Killer: Modification of NK Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051058. [PMID: 33946954 PMCID: PMC8146003 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are potent innate immune system effector lymphocytes armed with multiple mechanisms for killing cancer cells. Given the dynamic roles of NK cells in tumor surveillance, they are fast becoming a next-generation tool for adoptive immunotherapy. Many strategies are being employed to increase their number and improve their ability to overcome cancer resistance and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. These include the use of cytokines and synthetic compounds to bolster propagation and killing capacity, targeting immune-function checkpoints, addition of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to provide cancer specificity and genetic ablation of inhibitory molecules. The next generation of NK cell products will ideally be readily available as an “off-the-shelf” product and stem cell derived to enable potentially unlimited supply. However, several considerations regarding NK cell source, genetic modification and scale up first need addressing. Understanding NK cell biology and interaction within specific tumor contexts will help identify necessary NK cell modifications and relevant choice of NK cell source. Further enhancement of manufacturing processes will allow for off-the-shelf NK cell immunotherapies to become key components of multifaceted therapeutic strategies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasa Islam
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Australia
| | - Aleta Pupovac
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Vera Evtimov
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Nicholas Boyd
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Runzhe Shu
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Richard Boyd
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Alan Trounson
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Australia
- Correspondence:
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19
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Chaudhry K, Dowlati E, Bollard CM. Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer cells: a promising cancer immunotherapy. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2021; 17:643-659. [PMID: 33821731 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2021.1911648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Introduction:Widespread success of CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for the treatment of hematological malignancies have shifted the focus from conventional cancer treatments toward adoptive immunotherapy. There are major efforts to improve CAR constructs and to identify new target antigens. Even though the Food and Drug Administration has approved commercialization of some CD19 CART cell therapies, there are still some limitations that restrict their widespread clinical use. The manufacture of autologous products for individual patients is logistically cumbersome and expensive and allogeneic T cell products may pose an appreciable risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).Areas covered:Natural killer (NK) cells are an attractive alternative for CART-based immunotherapies. They have the innate ability to detect and eliminate malignant cells and are safer in the 'off-the-shelf' setting. This review discusses the current progress within the CAR NK cell field, including the challenges, and future prospects. Gene engineered NK cells was used as the search term in PubMed and Google Scholar through to December 2020.Expert opinion:CAR NK cell therapies hold promise as an 'off-the-shelf' cell therapy for cancer. It is hoped that an enhanced understanding of their immunobiology and molecular mechanisms of action will improve their in vivo potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajal Chaudhry
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, WA, USA
| | - Ehsan Dowlati
- Department of Neurosurgery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, WA, USA
| | - Catherine M Bollard
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, WA, USA.,GW Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, WA, USA.,Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, WA, USA
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20
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CD38 deletion of human primary NK cells eliminates daratumumab-induced fratricide and boosts their effector activity. Blood 2021; 136:2416-2427. [PMID: 32603414 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020006200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell neoplasm that commonly expresses CD38. Daratumumab (DARA), a human monoclonal antibody targeting CD38, has significantly improved the outcome of patients with relapsed or refractory MM, but the response is transient in most cases. Putative mechanisms of suboptimal efficacy of DARA include downregulation of CD38 expression and overexpression of complement inhibitory proteins on MM target cells as well as DARA-induced depletion of CD38high natural killer (NK) cells resulting in crippled antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Here, we tested whether maintaining NK cell function during DARA therapy could maximize DARA-mediated ADCC against MM cells and deepen the response. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to delete CD38 (CD38KO) in ex vivo expanded peripheral blood NK cells. These CD38KO NK cells were completely resistant to DARA-induced fratricide, showed superior persistence in immune-deficient mice pretreated with DARA, and enhanced ADCC activity against CD38-expressing MM cell lines and primary MM cells. In addition, transcriptomic and cellular metabolic analysis demonstrated that CD38KO NK cells have unique metabolic reprogramming with higher mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Finally, we evaluated the impact of exposure to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on wild-type NK and CD38KO NK cell function and highlighted potential benefits and drawbacks of combining ATRA with DARA in patients with MM. Taken together, these findings provide proof of concept that adoptive immunotherapy using ex vivo expanded CD38KO NK cells has the potential to boost DARA activity in MM.
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21
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Lamb MG, Rangarajan HG, Tullius BP, Lee DA. Natural killer cell therapy for hematologic malignancies: successes, challenges, and the future. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:211. [PMID: 33766099 PMCID: PMC7992329 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02277-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The adoptive transfer of natural killer (NK) cells is an emerging therapy in the field of immuno-oncology. In the last 3 decades, NK cells have been utilized to harness the anti-tumor immune response in a wide range of malignancies, most notably with early evidence of efficacy in hematologic malignancies. NK cells are dysfunctional in patients with hematologic malignancies, and their number and function are further impaired by chemotherapy, radiation, and immunosuppressants used in initial therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Restoring this innate immune deficit may lead to improved therapeutic outcomes. NK cell adoptive transfer has proven to be a safe in these settings, even in the setting of HLA mismatch, and a deeper understanding of NK cell biology and optimized expansion techniques have improved scalability and therapeutic efficacy. Here, we review the use of NK cell therapy in hematologic malignancies and discuss strategies to further improve the efficacy of NK cells against these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret G Lamb
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Hemalatha G Rangarajan
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Brian P Tullius
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dean A Lee
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
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22
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Fix SM, Jazaeri AA, Hwu P. Applications of CRISPR Genome Editing to Advance the Next Generation of Adoptive Cell Therapies for Cancer. Cancer Discov 2021; 11:560-574. [PMID: 33563662 PMCID: PMC8193798 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-1083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) for cancer shows tremendous potential; however, several challenges preclude its widespread use. These include poor T-cell function in hostile tumor microenvironments, a lack of tumor-specific target antigens, and the high cost and poor scalability of cell therapy manufacturing. Creative genome-editing strategies are beginning to emerge to address each of these limitations, which has initiated the next generation of cell therapy products now entering clinical trials. CRISPR is at the forefront of this revolution, offering a simple and versatile platform for genetic engineering. This review provides a comprehensive overview of CRISPR applications that have advanced ACT. SIGNIFICANCE: The clinical impact of ACT for cancer can be expanded by implementing specific genetic modifications that enhance the potency, safety, and scalability of cellular products. Here we provide a detailed description of such genetic modifications, highlighting avenues to enhance the therapeutic efficacy and accessibility of ACT for cancer. Furthermore, we review high-throughput CRISPR genetic screens that have unveiled novel targets for cell therapy enhancement.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics
- Antigens, Neoplasm/metabolism
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy/adverse effects
- Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy/methods
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Disease Management
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
- Gene Editing/methods
- Genetic Engineering
- Genetic Therapy
- Humans
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/adverse effects
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Neoplasms/therapy
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Treatment Outcome
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Fix
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Amir A Jazaeri
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Patrick Hwu
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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23
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Gurney M, Stikvoort A, Nolan E, Kirkham-McCarthy L, Khoruzhenko S, Shivakumar R, Zweegman S, Van de Donk NWCJ, Mutis T, Szegezdi E, Sarkar S, O'Dwyer M. CD38 knockout natural killer cells expressing an affinity optimized CD38 chimeric antigen receptor successfully target acute myeloid leukemia with reduced effector cell fratricide. Haematologica 2020; 107:437-445. [PMID: 33375774 PMCID: PMC8804573 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2020.271908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a strong biological rationale for the augmentation of allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapies with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to enhance acute myeloid leukemia (AML) targeting. CD38 is an established immunotherapeutic target in multiple myeloma and under investigation as a target antigen in AML. CD38 expression on NK cells and its further induction during ex vivo NK cell expansion represent barriers to the development of a CD38 CAR-NK cell therapy. We set out to develop a CD38 CAR-NK cell therapy for AML, first by using an NK cell line which has low baseline CD38 expression and subsequently NK cells expanded from healthy donors. To overcome anticipated fratricide due to NK cell CD38 expression when using primary expanded NK cells, we applied CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to disrupt the CD38 gene during expansion, achieving a mean knockdown efficiency of 84%. The resulting CD38 knockdown expanded NK cells, after expression of an affinity optimized CD38 CAR, showed reduced NK-cell fratricide and an enhanced ability to target primary AML blasts. Furthermore, the cytotoxic potential of CD38 CAR-NK cells was augmented by pretreatment of the AML cells with all-trans retinoic acid which drove enhanced CD38 expression, offering a rational combination therapy. These findings support the further investigation of CD38 knockdown - CD38 CAR-NK cells as a viable immunotherapeutic approach to the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Gurney
- National University of Ireland Galway, Galway
| | - Arwen Stikvoort
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam
| | - Emma Nolan
- National University of Ireland Galway, Galway
| | | | | | | | - Sonja Zweegman
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam
| | | | - Tuna Mutis
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam
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24
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Design and Implementation of NK Cell-Based Immunotherapy to Overcome the Solid Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123871. [PMID: 33371456 PMCID: PMC7767468 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune effectors capable of broad cytotoxicity via germline-encoded receptors and can have conferred cytotoxic potential via the addition of chimeric antigen receptors. Combined with their reduced risk of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and cytokine release syndrome (CRS), NK cells are an attractive therapeutic platform. While significant progress has been made in treating hematological malignancies, challenges remain in using NK cell-based therapy to combat solid tumors due to their immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TMEs). The development of novel strategies enabling NK cells to resist the deleterious effects of the TME is critical to their therapeutic success against solid tumors. In this review, we discuss strategies that apply various genetic and non-genetic engineering approaches to enhance receptor-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity, improve NK cell resistance to TME effects, and enhance persistence in the TME. The successful design and application of these strategies will ultimately lead to more efficacious NK cell therapies to treat patients with solid tumors. This review outlines the mechanisms by which TME components suppress the anti-tumor activity of endogenous and adoptively transferred NK cells while also describing various approaches whose implementation in NK cells may lead to a more robust therapeutic platform against solid tumors.
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25
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Yilmaz A, Cui H, Caligiuri MA, Yu J. Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy. J Hematol Oncol 2020; 13:168. [PMID: 33287875 PMCID: PMC7720606 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-020-00998-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of the innate immune system. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) re-direct NK cells toward tumor cells carrying corresponding antigens, creating major opportunities in the fight against cancer. CAR NK cells have the potential for use as universal CAR cells without the need for human leukocyte antigen matching or prior exposure to tumor-associated antigens. Exciting data from recent clinical trials have renewed interest in the field of cancer immunotherapy due to the potential of CAR NK cells in the production of "off-the-shelf" anti-cancer immunotherapeutic products. Here, we provide an up-to-date comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in key areas of CAR NK cell research and identify under-investigated research areas. We summarize improvements in CAR design and structure, advantages and disadvantages of using CAR NK cells as an alternative to CAR T cell therapy, and list sources to obtain NK cells. In addition, we provide a list of tumor-associated antigens targeted by CAR NK cells and detail challenges in expanding and transducing NK cells for CAR production. We additionally discuss barriers to effective treatment and suggest solutions to improve CAR NK cell function, proliferation, persistence, therapeutic effectiveness, and safety in solid and liquid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Yilmaz
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Hanwei Cui
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Michael A Caligiuri
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, KCRB, Bldg. 158, 3rd Floor, Room 3017, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Jianhua Yu
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, KCRB, Bldg. 158, 3rd Floor, Room 3017, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
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26
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Lin CY, Gobius I, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes F. Natural killer cell engineering – a new hope for cancer immunotherapy. Semin Hematol 2020; 57:194-200. [DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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27
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Naeimi Kararoudi M, Tullius BP, Chakravarti N, Pomeroy EJ, Moriarity BS, Beland K, Colamartino ABL, Haddad E, Chu Y, Cairo MS, Lee DA. Genetic and epigenetic modification of human primary NK cells for enhanced antitumor activity. Semin Hematol 2020; 57:201-212. [PMID: 33256913 PMCID: PMC7809645 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2020.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy using genetically modified immune cells such as those expressing chimeric antigen receptors has shown dramatic outcomes in patients with refractory and relapsed malignancies. Natural killer (NK) cells as a member of the innate immune system, possessing both anticancer (cytotoxic) and proinflammatory (cytokine) responses to cancers and rare off-target toxicities have great potential for a wide range of cancer therapeutic settings. Therefore, improving NK cell antitumor activity through genetic modification is of high interest in the field of cancer immunotherapy. However, gene manipulation in primary NK cells has been challenging because of broad resistance to many genetic modification methods that work well in T cells. Here we review recent successful approaches for genetic and epigenetic modification of NK cells including epigenetic remodeling, transposons, mRNA-mediated gene delivery, lentiviruses, and CRISPR gene targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, Abigail Wexner Research Institute of Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | - Brian P Tullius
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, Abigail Wexner Research Institute of Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | - Nitin Chakravarti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Emily J Pomeroy
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | | | - Kathie Beland
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Elie Haddad
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Yaya Chu
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
| | - Mitchell S Cairo
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
| | - Dean A Lee
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, Abigail Wexner Research Institute of Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
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28
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NK Cell Adoptive Immunotherapy of Cancer: Evaluating Recognition Strategies and Overcoming Limitations. Transplant Cell Ther 2020; 27:21-35. [PMID: 33007496 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2020.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, the primary effector cells of the innate immune system, utilize multiple strategies to recognize tumor cells by (1) detecting the presence of activating receptor ligands, which are often upregulated in cancer; (2) targeting cells that have a loss of major histocompatibility complex (MHC); and (3) binding to antibodies that bind to tumor-specific antigens on the tumor cell surface. All these strategies have been successfully harnessed in adoptive NK cell immunotherapies targeting cancer. In this review, we review the applications of NK cell therapies across different tumor types. Similar to other forms of immunotherapy, tumor-induced immune escape and immune suppression can limit NK cell therapies' efficacy. Therefore, we also discuss how these limitations can be overcome by conferring NK cells with the ability to redirect their tumor-targeting capabilities and survive the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment. Finally, we also discuss how future iterations can benefit from combination therapies with other immunotherapeutic agents.
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29
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Pavlovic K, Tristán-Manzano M, Maldonado-Pérez N, Cortijo-Gutierrez M, Sánchez-Hernández S, Justicia-Lirio P, Carmona MD, Herrera C, Martin F, Benabdellah K. Using Gene Editing Approaches to Fine-Tune the Immune System. Front Immunol 2020; 11:570672. [PMID: 33117361 PMCID: PMC7553077 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.570672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome editing technologies not only provide unprecedented opportunities to study basic cellular system functionality but also improve the outcomes of several clinical applications. In this review, we analyze various gene editing techniques used to fine-tune immune systems from a basic research and clinical perspective. We discuss recent advances in the development of programmable nucleases, such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas-associated nucleases. We also discuss the use of programmable nucleases and their derivative reagents such as base editing tools to engineer immune cells via gene disruption, insertion, and rewriting of T cells and other immune components, such natural killers (NKs) and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). In addition, with regard to chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), we describe how different gene editing tools enable healthy donor cells to be used in CAR T therapy instead of autologous cells without risking graft-versus-host disease or rejection, leading to reduced adoptive cell therapy costs and instant treatment availability for patients. We pay particular attention to the delivery of therapeutic transgenes, such as CARs, to endogenous loci which prevents collateral damage and increases therapeutic effectiveness. Finally, we review creative innovations, including immune system repurposing, that facilitate safe and efficient genome surgery within the framework of clinical cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Pavlovic
- Genomic Medicine Department, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada (Andalusian Regional Government), Health Sciences Technology Park, Granada, Spain
- Maimonides Institute of Biomedical Research in Cordoba (IMIBIC), Cellular Therapy Unit, Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - María Tristán-Manzano
- Genomic Medicine Department, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada (Andalusian Regional Government), Health Sciences Technology Park, Granada, Spain
| | - Noelia Maldonado-Pérez
- Genomic Medicine Department, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada (Andalusian Regional Government), Health Sciences Technology Park, Granada, Spain
| | - Marina Cortijo-Gutierrez
- Genomic Medicine Department, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada (Andalusian Regional Government), Health Sciences Technology Park, Granada, Spain
| | - Sabina Sánchez-Hernández
- Genomic Medicine Department, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada (Andalusian Regional Government), Health Sciences Technology Park, Granada, Spain
| | - Pedro Justicia-Lirio
- Genomic Medicine Department, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada (Andalusian Regional Government), Health Sciences Technology Park, Granada, Spain
- LentiStem Biotech, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada (Andalusian Regional Government), Health Sciences Technology Park, Granada, Spain
| | - M. Dolores Carmona
- Maimonides Institute of Biomedical Research in Cordoba (IMIBIC), Cellular Therapy Unit, Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Concha Herrera
- Maimonides Institute of Biomedical Research in Cordoba (IMIBIC), Cellular Therapy Unit, Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Reina Sofía University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Francisco Martin
- Genomic Medicine Department, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada (Andalusian Regional Government), Health Sciences Technology Park, Granada, Spain
| | - Karim Benabdellah
- Genomic Medicine Department, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada (Andalusian Regional Government), Health Sciences Technology Park, Granada, Spain
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30
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Wilk AJ, Weidenbacher NLB, Vergara R, Haabeth OAW, Levy R, Waymouth RM, Wender PA, Blish CA. Charge-altering releasable transporters enable phenotypic manipulation of natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy. Blood Adv 2020; 4:4244-4255. [PMID: 32898247 PMCID: PMC7479957 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cells are an emerging cell therapy with promising results in oncology trials. However, primary human NK cells are difficult to transfect, hampering both mechanistic studies and clinical applications of NK cells. Currently, NK cell CAR modification relies on viral vectors or cell activation. The former raises cost and tolerability issues, while the latter alters NK cell biology. Here, we report that readily synthesized and inexpensive nonviral charge-altering releasable transporters (CARTs) efficiently transfect primary human NK cells with messenger RNA without relying on NK cell activation. Compared with electroporation, CARTs transfect NK cells more efficiently, better preserve cell viability, and cause minimal reconfiguration of NK cell phenotype and function. We use CARTs to generate cytotoxic primary anti-CD19 CAR NK cells, demonstrating this technology can drive clinical applications of NK cells. To our knowledge, CARTs represent the first efficacious transfection technique for resting primary human NK cells that preserves NK cell phenotype and can enable new biological discoveries and therapeutic applications of this understudied lymphocyte subset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Wilk
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine
- Program in Immunology
- Medical Scientist Training Program
| | | | - Rosemary Vergara
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine
| | | | - Ronald Levy
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | | | - Paul A Wender
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA; and
| | - Catherine A Blish
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA
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31
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Huang RS, Shih HA, Lai MC, Chang YJ, Lin S. Enhanced NK-92 Cytotoxicity by CRISPR Genome Engineering Using Cas9 Ribonucleoproteins. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1008. [PMID: 32528479 PMCID: PMC7256201 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are an attractive cell-type for adoptive immunotherapy, but challenges in preparation of therapeutic primary NK cells restrict patient accessibility to NK cell immunotherapy. NK-92 is a well-characterized human NK cell line that has demonstrated promising anti-cancer activities in clinical trials. Unlimited proliferation of NK-92 cells provides a consistent supply of cells for the administration and development of NK cell immunotherapy. However, the clinical efficacy of NK-92 cells has not reached its full potential due to reduced immune functions as compared to primary NK cells. Improvements of NK-92 functions currently rely on conventional transgene delivery by mRNA, plasmid and viral vector with limited efficiencies. To enable precise genetic modifications, we have established a robust CRISPR genome engineering platform for NK-92 based on the nucleofection of Cas9 ribonucleoprotein. To demonstrate the versatility of the platform, we have performed cell-based screening of Cas9 guide RNA, multiplex gene knockout of activating and inhibitory receptors, knock-in of a fluorescent gene, and promoter insertion to reactivate endogenous CD16 and DNAM-1. The CRISPR-engineered NK-92 demonstrated markedly enhanced cytotoxicity and could mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against hard to kill cancer cell lines. Our genome editing platform is straightforward and robust for both functional studies and therapeutic engineering of NK-92 cells.
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MESH Headings
- Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity
- Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- CRISPR-Associated Protein 9/genetics
- CRISPR-Associated Protein 9/metabolism
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Cell Survival
- Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
- GPI-Linked Proteins/genetics
- GPI-Linked Proteins/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Gene Targeting
- HEK293 Cells
- HeLa Cells
- Humans
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- Neoplasms/immunology
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Neoplasms/pathology
- Neoplasms/therapy
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/metabolism
- Receptors, IgG/genetics
- Receptors, IgG/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Rih-Sheng Huang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-An Shih
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Min-Chi Lai
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Jen Chang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Steven Lin
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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32
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CRISPR/Cas9-Based Gene Engineering of Human Natural Killer Cells: Protocols for Knockout and Readouts to Evaluate Their Efficacy. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2121:213-239. [PMID: 32147798 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0338-3_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes of our immune system with the ability to identify and kill certain virally infected and tumor-transformed cells. During the past 15 years, it has become increasingly clear that NK cells are involved in tumor immune surveillance and that they can be utilized to treat cancer patients. However, their ability to induce durable responses in settings of adoptive cell therapy needs to be further improved. One possible approach is to genetically engineer NK cells to augment their cytotoxicity per se, but also their ability to persist in vivo and home to the tumor-bearing tissue. In recent years, investigators have explored the potential of viral transduction and mRNA electroporation to modify NK cells. Although these methods have generated promising data, they are associated with certain limitations. With the increasing advances in the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, investigators have now turned their attention toward using this technology with NK cells as an alternative method. In this book chapter, we introduce NK cells and provide an historical overview of techniques to genetically engineer lymphocytes. Further, we elucidate protocols for inducing double-strand breaks in NK cells via CRISPR/Cas9 together with readouts to address its efficacy and functional outcome. We also discuss the pros and cons of the described readouts. The overall aim of this book chapter is to help introduce the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to the broader audience of NK cell researchers.
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33
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Hutzen B, Paudel SN, Naeimi Kararoudi M, Cassady KA, Lee DA, Cripe TP. Immunotherapies for pediatric cancer: current landscape and future perspectives. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2019; 38:573-594. [PMID: 31828566 PMCID: PMC6994452 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-019-09819-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The advent of immunotherapy has revolutionized how we manage and treat cancer. While the majority of immunotherapy-related studies performed to date have focused on adult malignancies, a handful of these therapies have also recently found success within the pediatric space. In this review, we examine the immunotherapeutic agents that have achieved the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration for treating childhood cancers, highlighting their development, mechanisms of action, and the lessons learned from the seminal clinical trials that ultimately led to their approval. We also shine a spotlight on several emerging immunotherapeutic modalities that we believe are poised to have a positive impact on the treatment of pediatric malignancies in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Hutzen
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - Siddhi Nath Paudel
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
- Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - Kevin A Cassady
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
- Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Ohio State University Wexner College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dean A Lee
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
- Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Ohio State University Wexner College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Timothy P Cripe
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA.
- Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Ohio State University Wexner College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Afolabi LO, Adeshakin AO, Sani MM, Bi J, Wan X. Genetic reprogramming for NK cell cancer immunotherapy with CRISPR/Cas9. Immunology 2019; 158:63-69. [PMID: 31315144 PMCID: PMC6742769 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer cells are potent cytotoxic lymphocytes specialized in recognizing and eliminating transformed cells, and in orchestrating adaptive anti-tumour immunity. However, NK cells are usually functionally exhausted in the tumour microenvironment. Strategies such as checkpoint blockades are under investigation to overcome NK cell exhaustion in order to boost anti-tumour immunity. The discovery and development of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology offer a flexible and efficient gene-editing capability in modulating various pathways that mediate NK cell exhaustion, and in arming NK cells with novel chimeric antigen receptors to specifically target tumour cells. Despite the high efficiency in its gene-editing capability, difficulty in the delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system remains a major bottleneck for its therapeutic applications, particularly for NK cells. The current review discusses feasible approaches to deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 systems, as well as potential strategies in gene-editing for NK cell immunotherapy for cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukman O. Afolabi
- Shenzhen Laboratory of Antibody EngineeringInstitute of Biomedicine and BiotechnologyShenzhen Institutes of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Department of BiochemistryFaculty of ScienceFederal University DutseDutseJigawa StateNigeria
| | - Adeleye O. Adeshakin
- Shenzhen Laboratory of Antibody EngineeringInstitute of Biomedicine and BiotechnologyShenzhen Institutes of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Musbahu M. Sani
- Department of BiochemistryFaculty of ScienceFederal University DutseDutseJigawa StateNigeria
| | - Jiacheng Bi
- Shenzhen Laboratory of Antibody EngineeringInstitute of Biomedicine and BiotechnologyShenzhen Institutes of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
| | - Xiaochun Wan
- Shenzhen Laboratory of Antibody EngineeringInstitute of Biomedicine and BiotechnologyShenzhen Institutes of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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Lee DA. Cellular therapy: Adoptive immunotherapy with expanded natural killer cells. Immunol Rev 2019; 290:85-99. [DOI: 10.1111/imr.12793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dean A. Lee
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio
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36
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Nayyar G, Chu Y, Cairo MS. Overcoming Resistance to Natural Killer Cell Based Immunotherapies for Solid Tumors. Front Oncol 2019; 9:51. [PMID: 30805309 PMCID: PMC6378304 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, the prognosis of several solid tumor malignancies remains poor. Different factors associated with solid tumors including a varied genetic signature, complex molecular signaling pathways, defective cross talk between the tumor cells and immune cells, hypoxic and immunosuppressive effects of tumor microenvironment result in a treatment resistant and metastatic phenotype. Over the past several years, immunotherapy has emerged as an attractive therapeutic option against multiple malignancies. The unique ability of natural killer (NK) cells to target cancer cells without antigen specificity makes them an ideal candidate for use against solid tumors. However, the outcomes of adoptive NK cell infusions into patients with solid tumors have been disappointing. Extensive studies have been done to investigate different strategies to improve the NK cell function, trafficking and tumor targeting. Use of cytokines and cytokine analogs has been well described and utilized to enhance the proliferation, stimulation and persistence of NK cells. Other techniques like blocking the human leukocyte antigen-killer cell receptors (KIR) interactions with anti-KIR monoclonal antibodies, preventing CD16 receptor shedding, increasing the expression of activating NK cell receptors like NKG2D, and use of immunocytokines and immune checkpoint inhibitors can enhance NK cell mediated cytotoxicity. Using genetically modified NK cells with chimeric antigen receptors and bispecific and trispecific NK cell engagers, NK cells can be effectively redirected to the tumor cells improving their cytotoxic potential. In this review, we have described these strategies and highlighted the need to further optimize these strategies to improve the clinical outcome of NK cell based immunotherapy against solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Nayyar
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Yaya Chu
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Mitchell S Cairo
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States.,Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States.,Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States.,Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
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37
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Cellular pathways in the development of human and murine innate lymphoid cells. Curr Opin Immunol 2018; 56:100-106. [PMID: 30579240 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are critical to effective immune surveillance against pathogens, have malignant counterparts, and contribute to disease. Thus, it is important to understand ILC development. All ILCs are derived from the common lymphoid progenitor cell; however, the exact mechanisms and signals that initiate their divergence from T cells, B cells and one and other are incompletely understood. Evidence now supports a stepwise developmental process that includes distinct cellular intermediates, progressively narrowed differentiation, and some plasticity. While the current models of human and murine ILC development share many similarities, they also include some distinct differences. Together these findings have established a working dynamic model of ILC development.
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